Door handle assembly, vehicle door and vehicle

Abstract

A door handle assembly for integration into a vehicle door including a support element coupled to the vehicle door, a handle element arranged on the support element, and a radar apparatus arranged on the support element or on or in the handle element and configured to emit radar radiation and to receive reflected radar radiation.

Claims

1. A door handle assembly for integration to a vehicle door, the door handle assembly comprising: a support element configured to be coupled to the vehicle door; a handle element arranged on the support element; a radar apparatus configured to emit radar radiation and receive reflected radar radiation, wherein the radar apparatus is disposed on either the support element or on or in the handle element; and a lens unit configured to at least partially deflect the radar radiation emitted by the radar apparatus, wherein the lens unit includes reflecting elements configured to at least partially focus the radar radiation into a predetermined solid angle range.

2. The door handle assembly of claim 1, further comprising a fixed handle element arranged on the support element, wherein the handle element is movable with respect to the fixed handle element, and wherein the radar apparatus is at least partially concealed by the fixed handle element.

3. The door handle assembly of claim 1, wherein the lens unit is disposed on the support element.

4. The door handle assembly of claim 3, wherein the lens unit includes at least one portion, wherein the at least one portion is opaque to block portions of the radar radiation.

5. The door handle assembly of claim 4, wherein the at least one portion includes at least one metallic or metallized layer and/or at least one electrically conductive material.

6. The door handle assembly of claim 5, wherein the lens unit includes a plastic element enclosing a cavity, wherein the cavity shields and/or focuses the radar radiation.

7. The door handle assembly of claim 3, wherein the lens unit is a radome configured to protect the radar apparatus.

8. The door handle assembly of claim 3, further comprising a radome configured to protect the radar apparatus, wherein the lens unit is positioned between the radar apparatus and the radome.

9. The door handle assembly of claim 8, wherein the lens unit is configured to at least partially compensate for radar radiation deflected by the radome.

10. The door handle assembly of claim 3, wherein the lens unit is at least partly formed of a plastic material.

11. The door handle assembly of claim 10, wherein the plastic material is at least partially transparent to facilitate propagation of the radar radiation through the plastic material, and wherein the plastic material is visually opaque.

12. The door handle assembly of claim 1, wherein the lens unit includes a fisheye lens configured to increase an aperture angle of the radar radiation emitted from the radar apparatus.

13. A vehicle door comprising: a support element configured to be coupled to a surface of the vehicle door; a handle element arranged on the support element; a radar apparatus configured to emit radar radiation and receive reflected radar radiation, wherein the radar apparatus is disposed on either the support element or on the handle element; and a lens unit provided with a fisheye lens configured to increase an aperture angle of the radar radiation emitted from the radar apparatus, wherein the lens unit includes reflecting elements configured to at least partially focus the radar radiation into a predetermined sold angle range.

14. The vehicle door of claim 13, wherein the lens unit includes an outer surface and an inner surface, wherein the inner surface is concave with respect to the support element.

15. The vehicle door of claim 14, wherein a portion of the outer surface is parallel to the support element.

16. The vehicle door of claim 14, wherein the radar apparatus is configured to emit the radar radiation at a first angular range, wherein the inner surface includes a focusing element configured to focus the radar radiation at a second angular range, wherein the second angular range is less than the first angular range.

17. A vehicle comprising: a vehicle door having an outer surface provided with a first color; a support element configured to be coupled to a surface of the vehicle door; a handle element arranged on the support element; a radar apparatus configured to emit radar radiation and receive reflected radar radiation, wherein the radar apparatus is disposed on either the support element or on or in the handle element; and a lens unit provided with a fisheye lens configured to increase an aperture angle of the radar radiation emitted from the radar apparatus, wherein the lens unit includes reflecting elements configured to at least partially focus the radar radiation into a predetermined solid angle range.

18. The vehicle of claim 17, further comprising a radome configured to protect the radar apparatus, wherein the radome is provided with the first color.

19. The vehicle of claim 17, wherein at least a portion of the radar apparatus is disposed in the support element.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The present invention is explained in more detail below on the basis of the embodiments illustrated in the Figures:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a schematic top view of a door handle assembly according to a first embodiment of the disclosure;

(3) FIG. 2 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a door handle assembly according to the first embodiment of the disclosure;

(4) FIG. 3 shows a schematic oblique view of a door handle assembly according to a second embodiment of the disclosure;

(5) FIG. 4 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of the door handle assembly according to the second embodiment of the disclosure;

(6) FIG. 5 shows a schematic partial cross-sectional view of a door handle assembly including a lens unit according to a first modification of the disclosure;

(7) FIG. 6 shows a schematic partial cross-sectional view of a door handle assembly including a lens unit according to a second modification;

(8) FIG. 7 shows a schematic partial cross-sectional view of a door handle assembly including a lens unit of a third modification;

(9) FIG. 8 shows a schematic partial cross-sectional view of a door handle assembly including a lens unit of a fourth modification;

(10) FIG. 9 shows a schematic partial cross-sectional view of a door handle assembly to illustrate compensation by a lens unit for radiation deflection caused by a radome;

(11) FIG. 10 shows a schematic view of a radar beam outside the radome;

(12) FIG. 11 shows a further schematic partial cross-sectional view of a door handle assembly to illustrate compensation for a radome induced deflection of radiation by a lens unit;

(13) FIG. 12 shows a schematic block diagram of a vehicle door including a door handle assembly according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; and

(14) FIG. 13 shows a schematic block diagram of a vehicle including a vehicle door according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

(15) The enclosed Figures are intended to provide a further understanding of the embodiments of the present invention. They illustrate embodiments and serve in connection with the description to explain the principles and concepts of the present invention. Further embodiments and many of the advantages mentioned above result from the description in combination with the Figures. The elements shown in the Figures are not necessarily drawn to scale.

(16) In the Figures, like elements, features and components, which are functionally identical and have the same effect, are each indicated with like reference signs, unless otherwise stated.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(17) As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention that may be embodied in various and alternative forms. The figures are not necessarily to scale; some features may be exaggerated or minimized to show details of particular components. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention.

(18) In order to compensate for tilting during non-vertical installation of radar apparatuses, document DE 10 2005 033414 A1 proposes to vary the thickness of a radome which is positioned in front of the radar apparatus. In this context, a radome is referred to as a protective cover of the radar apparatuses which provides protection protects against chemical and physical influences and is permeable to radar waves at the same time. Document DE 10 2010 042276 A1 discloses a radar sensor with at least three reference measuring ranges in order to be able to determine the mechanical sensor axis easily and reliably, thus enabling correct adjustment in case of maintenance. In document DE 10 2017 123981 A1 a lens including a negative refractive index is provided in front of a receiver configured to receive radar beams. Document DE 10237790 A1 refers to a device for detecting and evaluating objects in the surrounding area of a vehicle, and at least a portion of the radome is configured to be lens-shaped. Document DE 19951123 A1 refers to a radar transmitter, and a control circuit and a radar antenna are arranged in parallel. A radar sensor is known from document EP 2449406 B1, where a lens is arranged in front of the source, which is confined by a flat surface. Document EP 3422041 A1 refers to a housing for accommodating a beam-forming element as well as a sensor element, and a housing surface is surmounted by at least two collar elements, between which a flushing opening is located.

(19) In motor vehicles, radar sensors are typically positioned behind already existing plastic components, for example in the area of the bumper, or behind a specially provided radome, which may be attached to the radiator while formed as a logo. The radar sensors are thus usually located in the front or rear area of the vehicle. Mounting radar sensors in the door area is more difficult since the metal components of the door are impenetrable for radar radiation.

(20) A motor vehicle including a door is known from document DE 10 2016 220 084 A1, where a drive unit is configured to open and close the door automatically. A radar sensor is integrated into the door handle, and the door is opened if an approaching hand is detected on the basis of the radar data. The radar sensor may be installed in a handle plate of the door handle.

(21) FIG. 1 shows a schematic top view of a door handle assembly 1a, and FIG. 2 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of the same door handle assembly 1a.

(22) The door handle assembly 1a may include a support element 2 which acts as a support for a handle 3. The support element 2 thus forms a handle retaining bracket which is fixed to the door panel 6 when the vehicle door is assembled. The support element 2 may itself comprise coupling elements for this purpose or be coupled to the door panel 6 by means of additional coupling elements. The door panel 6 is thus not part of door handle assembly 1a, but the support element is configured to couple with the door panel 6 of the vehicle door.

(23) The handle 3 is configured to be a two-part handle and thus may include a first handle element 31, which is immovable, i.e. fixed to the support element 2, and a second handle element 32, which is movable and is moved back to the initial position after operating the handle 3. The vehicle door is unlocked by actuating i.e. operating the handle. The first handle element 31 and the second handle element 32 together form a unit such that the surfaces of the two handle elements 31, 32 merge into each other, provided that the movable handle element 32 is in the initial position. However, the present invention is not limited to the embodiment shown. As an example, the handle 3 may also be formed in one piece, i.e. the immovable first handle element 31 may be omitted.

(24) The door handle assembly 1a further may include a radar apparatus 4, which is preferably configured to have small dimensions. As an example, a radar transceiver which is as compact as possible may be provided for this purpose by means of semiconductor technology and such as by means of CMOS technology as part of the radar apparatus 4, i.e. a device which both emits radar waves and receives reflected radar waves.

(25) The radar apparatus 4 may comprise a transmitter-receiver antenna, which may be arranged on a common semiconductor chip including corresponding evaluation electronics. The radar apparatus 4 may be configured to evaluate electronic data such that a high signal-to-noise ratio may be achieved due to short signal paths. However, it is also possible to evaluate the sensor data acquired by the radar apparatus 4 externally, e.g. by means of evaluation electronics which are not part of door handle assembly 1a. In this case, the radar apparatus 4 is configured to transmit the sensor data to the evaluation electronics. The evaluation electronics may be a door control unit, for example.

(26) In the door handle assembly 1a shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the radar apparatus 4 is arranged on a section of the support element 2 which is not covered by the first handle element 31 and the second handle element 32. Radar apparatus 4 is shielded by a radome 7. The door panel 6 may have appropriate recesses to accommodate the door handle assembly such that the radar apparatus 4 is not obscured by metallic elements of the door panel 6. The radome 7 consists at least partially of plastic material, which is permeable to radar radiation.

(27) FIG. 3 shows a schematic oblique view of a further door handle assembly 1b, and FIG. 4 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of the same door handle assembly 1b. Door handle assembly 1b differs from door handle assembly 1a shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 by the positioning of the radar apparatus 4, which is fixed to the support element 2 in such a way that it is concealed by the fixed handle element 31. The fixed handle element 31 thus functions as a radome, thus protecting the radar apparatus 4 from environmental influences. The radar apparatus 4 is arranged parallel to a corresponding portion of the support element 2, and the portion runs parallel to the door panel 6 of the vehicle door upon installation of the door handle assembly 1b. The radar apparatus 4 may preferably be configured to emit radar radiation substantially symmetrical to the normal direction with respect to the parallel portion of the support element 2.

(28) According to further embodiments, radar apparatus 4 may also be tilted. As an example, the radar apparatus 4 may be oriented such that a surface of the radar apparatus 4 is substantially parallel to the inclined surface of the immobile handle element 31. On the one hand, this may prevent asymmetrical deflection of the radar radiation by the immovable handle element 31, which functions as a radome 7. On the other hand, such a tilted arrangement of the radar apparatus 4 allows improved detection of a certain solid angle range. When the door handle assembly 1b is installed, the emitting direction of the radar apparatus 4 may be slightly inclined against the direction of travel, i.e. slightly backwards, and may improve the blind spot monitoring for the driver.

(29) FIG. 5 shows a schematic partial cross-sectional view of a door handle assembly including a lens unit 5a. The door handle assembly may be one of door handle assemblies 1a or 1b described in FIGS. 1 and 2 or FIGS. 3 and 4, or any variation of these door handle assemblies 1a or 1b. However, lens unit 5a may be used with a different arrangement of radar apparatus 4. Lens unit 5a is configured to be a fisheye lens, thus dispersing the radar radiation S emitted by radar apparatus 4, such that the largest possible detection range, preferably at least 160 degrees, such as 180 degrees, may be achievable.

(30) FIG. 6 shows a schematic partial cross-sectional view of a door handle assembly including a lens unit 5b according to a second configuration, which may also be part of any of the door handle assemblies 1a or 1b described above. The lens unit 5b differs from the lens unit 5a illustrated in FIG. 5 in that it has a reflecting surface 5b1 which reflects part of the radar radiation S emitted by radar apparatus 4 and deflects it to another area of the lens unit 5b. The radar radiation S may be reflected at the reflecting surface 5b1 by total reflection at the transition interface. In addition or alternatively, the reflecting surface 5b1 may have a metallized layer which is configured to reflect the radar radiation S at least partially. This allows the radar radiation S to be focused, and certain solid angle ranges may be blanked out. The reflection at the reflecting surface 5b1 is taken into account by the evaluation electronics to determine the correct position of objects in the vicinity of the vehicle.

(31) FIG. 7 shows a schematic partial cross-sectional view of a door handle assembly including a lens unit 5c according to a third configuration, which may also be part of any of the door handle assemblies 1a or 1b described above. The lens unit 5c may include a focusing element 5c1 which focuses radar radiation S which is emitted by radar apparatus 4 and which is incident on the focusing element 5c1, or which focuses the radar radiation S to a specific solid angle range. Thus the radar apparatus 4 is suitable both for monitoring a wide solid angle range and for special monitoring of a specially selected solid angle range. In accordance with other embodiments, the lens unit 5c may have any number of focusing elements 5c1, such that several solid angle ranges may be specially monitored.

(32) FIG. 8 shows a schematic partial cross-sectional view of a door handle assembly including a lens unit 5d according to a fourth configuration. The lens unit 5d is formed by a movable or fixed handle element 31, 32. The lens unit 5d has a substantially hyperbolically shaped inner surface 5d1 and a trough-shaped outer surface 5d2, and the outer surface 5d2 has a flat first portion parallel to the support element 2 and second portions tapering towards the first portion. In general, the outer surface 5d2 may be predetermined by the configuration of the handle member 31, 32, and the inner surface 5d1 is configured to deflect the radar radiation in a desired manner. By this configuration a characteristic deflection of the radar radiation S may be achieved, and a large solid angle range may be detected.

(33) The lens units 5a-5d shown in FIGS. 5 to 8 may have several layers, and the layers may comprise composite materials for example. This may improve the refractive properties of the lens units 5a-5d.

(34) In addition, the lens units may have cavities, i.e. air chambers or cavities filled with a gel, for example, thereby the radar radiation may be focused on certain solid angle ranges or certain solid angle ranges may be shielded or blanked out.

(35) FIG. 9 shows a schematic partial cross-sectional view of a door handle assembly in order to illustrate compensation for radiation deflection caused by a radome 7 using a lens unit 5e. The surface of the radome 7 is inclined with respect to the surface of the radar apparatus 4 such that, in the absence of a lens unit 5e, an inhomogeneous solid angle distribution of the radar radiation S would result due to refractive effects. The lens unit 5e is shaped in such a way that the deflection of the radiation may be completely or substantially compensated. While the radar radiation S propagates inhomogeneously in a first region, which is indicated by a circled “1” and which is between the lens unit 5e and the radome 7, the radar radiation S propagates substantially homogeneously in a second region, which is indicated by a circled “2” and which is outside the radome 7. The lens unit 5e preferably may include a central convex region and adjoining portions having substantially parallel surfaces. Compensation may be achieved by suitable selection of the surface of the convex area. The exact shape of the lens unit 5e may be determined by computer-implemented modeling, especially by computer-implemented solution of an optimization problem. FIG. 9 has been created by such a calculation.

(36) FIG. 10 shows a schematic representation of the radar radiation S outside the radome 7, which was calculated by means of modeling. It may be seen that the radiation deflection due to the radome 7 is essentially compensated, i.e. the radar radiation S propagates essentially homogeneously.

(37) FIG. 11 shows a further schematic partial cross-sectional view of a door handle assembly explaining compensation of a radiation deflection caused by a radome by means of a lens unit 5e, which in turn has been calculated by modeling, and where it may be seen that the radar radiation S propagates substantially homogeneously outside the radome 7.

(38) The present disclosure is not limited to the embodiments shown. For example, a plurality of radar apparatuses 4 may be provided in the door handle assembly 1a, 1b. These may be differently aligned, for example. For example, one of the radar apparatuses 4 may be aligned parallel to the surface of a fixed handle element 31 as described above, while another radar apparatus 4 is aligned parallel to the support element 2 or door panel 6. By using the radar apparatuses 4 together, it is possible to monitor a large solid angle range.

(39) FIG. 12 shows a schematic block diagram of a vehicle door 8 including a door handle assembly 1c. Door handle assembly 1c may be any of the door handle assemblies 1a, 1b described above. For example, the door handle assembly may comprise one of the lens units 5a-5e described above.

(40) FIG. 13 shows a schematic block diagram of a motor vehicle including a vehicle door 8 which is illustrated in FIG. 12.

(41) The following is a list of reference numbers shown in the Figures. However, it should be understood that the use of these terms is for illustrative purposes only with respect to one embodiment. And, use of reference numbers correlating a certain term that is both illustrated in the Figures and present in the claims is not intended to limit the claims to only cover the illustrated embodiment.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

(42) 1a-c Door handle assembly

(43) 2 Support element

(44) 3 Door handle

(45) 31 Fixed handle element

(46) 32 Movable handle element

(47) 4 Radar apparatus

(48) 5a-e Lens unit

(49) 5b1 Reflective surface

(50) 5c1 Focusing element

(51) 5d1 Inner surface of the lens unit

(52) 5d2 Outer surface of the lens unit

(53) 6 Door panel

(54) 7 Radome

(55) 8 Vehicle door

(56) 9 Vehicle

(57) While exemplary embodiments are described above, it is not intended that these embodiments describe all possible forms of the invention. Rather, the words used in the specification are words of description rather than limitation, and it is understood that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Additionally, the features of various implementing embodiments may be combined to form further embodiments of the invention.