MOTOR VEHICLE DOOR

Abstract

A motor vehicle door equipped with a motor vehicle door lock, as well as with at least one first electromotive drive for the motor vehicle door lock, and with an emergency electrical power source for the first drive. According to the invention, the emergency power source is arranged in a component required for operation, for attaching in or to a door leaf.

Claims

1. A motor vehicle door, comprising: a motor vehicle door lock, a first electromotive drive for driving the motor vehicle door lock, and an electrical emergency power source for the first electromotive drive, wherein the emergency power source is arranged in an operationally required component of the motor vehicle door for attachment in or on a door leaf of the motor vehicle door.

2. The motor vehicle door of claim 1, wherein the component is at least one of an outer door handle, an inner door handle, and an outer door mirror.

3. The motor vehicle door of claim 1, wherein the component is designed as a component of the motor vehicle door lock.

4. The motor vehicle door of claim 1, wherein the component is designed as a control unit.

5. The motor vehicle door of claim 1, wherein the component is designed as one of a window lifter, a speaker, or an airbag.

6. The motor vehicle door of claim 1, further comprising a second electromotive drive for driving the motor vehicle door lock.

7. The motor vehicle door of claim 1, wherein the first electromotive drive has a transmission which acts on a locking mechanism of the motor vehicle door lock during emergency operation.

8. The motor vehicle door of claim 1, wherein the first electromotive drive has a manual transmission comprising a first shifting stage that is used in normal operation and a second shifting stage that is used in emergency operation.

9. The motor vehicle door of claim 1, further comprising a load switch which electrically connects the emergency power source to the first electromotive drive in emergency operation.

10. The motor vehicle door of claim 9, wherein the load switch is actuated in accordance with an emergency activation signal.

11. The motor vehicle door of claim 6, further comprising a load switch which electrically connects the emergency power source to an associated one of the first electromotive drive or the second electromotive drive in emergency operation.

12. The motor vehicle door of claim 3, wherein the component is a lock housing of the motor vehicle door lock.

13. The motor vehicle door of claim 1, wherein the electrical emergency power source comprises a plurality of different subunits, and each of the plurality of different subunits is arranged on a respective different operationally required component of the motor vehicle door for attachment in or on the door leaf of the motor vehicle door.

14. The motor vehicle door of claim 1, wherein the electrical emergency power source comprises one or more capacitors.

15. The motor vehicle door of claim 6, wherein second electromotive drive provides a higher torque as compared to the first electromotive drive.

16. The motor vehicle door of claim 8, further comprising a crash sensor that generates an activation signal to switch from operation of the first shifting stage to operation of the second shifting stage.

Description

[0028] The invention is explained in greater detail below with reference to a drawing which shows only one exemplary embodiment. In particular:

[0029] FIG. 1 schematically shows the motor vehicle door according to the invention and

[0030] FIGS. 2A-2C show different variants of the electromotive drive for the associated motor vehicle door lock.

[0031] In the drawings, a motor vehicle lock is shown, which, in a non-limiting way, is a motor vehicle door lock 1 within the scope of the exemplary embodiment. The motor vehicle door or motor vehicle side door 1 has a motor vehicle door lock 2, which is equipped with a mandatory locking mechanism 3 composed of a rotary latch and pawl. In addition, a first electromotive drive 4 for the motor vehicle door lock 2 or its locking mechanism 3 is provided. The electromotive drive 4 is located inside a housing of the motor vehicle door lock 2.

[0032] In addition to the first electromotive drive 4, a further second electromotive drive 5, which also operates on the locking mechanism 3, can be seen in the variant of the motor vehicle door lock 2 according to the illustration in FIG. 2A. The variant according to FIG. 2B is also equipped with a transmission 6 downstream of the electromotive drive 4. Finally, in the further variant according to FIG. 2C, the motor vehicle door lock 2 engages a manual transmission 7 downstream of the electromotive drive 4, with the aid of which the locking mechanism 3 can be acted upon.

[0033] An electrical emergency power source 8 is also part of the basic structure of the motor vehicle door or motor vehicle side door 1 in the example. With the aid of the electrical emergency power source 8, the electromotive drive 4, 5 can be supplied, as will be explained in more detail below. For this purpose, the electrical emergency power source 8 in the context of the exemplary embodiment is composed of one or more so-called “supercaps”, i.e. capacitors with a particularly high capacitance. The emergency power source 8 can completely or partially assume the function of a main power source 12 arranged in the interior of the motor vehicle body (not shown) and only indicated in FIG. 1.

[0034] In the example, the motor vehicle door or motor vehicle side door 1 is equipped with a door leaf 9, which can be opened and closed with the aid of a door handle 10 or outer door handle 10 relative to the motor vehicle body (not shown in more detail). Finally, a control unit 11 is also shown in the door leaf 9. The control unit 11 is used to control any safety systems arranged inside the door leaf 9, a window lifter and the door lock 2. Like the motor vehicle door lock 2 according to the exemplary embodiment, the control unit 11 is supplied with the required electrical energy during normal operation by the main power source 12.

[0035] Furthermore, and according to the invention, the emergency power source 8 is arranged in an operationally required component 2, 10, 11 for attachment in or on the door leaf 9. The operationally required component 2, 10, 11 for the motor vehicle door 1 is, in the context of the exemplary embodiment, the motor vehicle door lock 2, the outer door handle 10 and finally the control unit 11. That is, these components 2, 10, 11 are strictly required for the intended operation of the door leaf 9 and consequently of the motor vehicle door 1. In addition, such operationally required components 2, 10, 11, can also in principle include further components such as a window lifter, loudspeaker, airbag, door exterior mirror, inner door handle, etc., as has been explained in the introductory description.

[0036] Based on the illustration and the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 1, it can be seen that the emergency power source 8 is arranged in the operationally required component 2, 10, 11 for attachment in or on the door leaf 9, specifically in the control unit 11. In general, the emergency power source 8 can alternatively or additionally also be mounted in the outer door handle 10 in the motor vehicle door lock 2. However, this is not shown in detail. In any case, the emergency power source 8 uses the component 2, 10, 11 in question which is required in any case in terms of operation, for its attachment, wherein a housing, which is usually mandatory in this context, additionally ensures protection of the emergency power source 8 in question against environmental influences. The emergency power source 8 is charged in normal operation via the electrical connection of the control unit 11 to the main power source 12.

[0037] The control unit 11 can now switch between normal operation and emergency operation. In normal operation, the control unit 11 is supplied with the required electrical energy with the aid of the main power source 12. The same applies to the outer door handle 10 and in particular the motor vehicle door lock 2 and the electromotive drive 4 located in the interior of the motor vehicle door lock 2. However, if emergency operation occurs, the emergency power source 8 regularly ensures the electrical supply. For this purpose, the control unit 11 receives an emergency activation signal 13 which can originate, for example, from a crash sensor, according to the introductory explanations. This indicates a schematic switch shown in FIG. 1.

[0038] As long as the emergency activation signal 13 is not active, the switch in question is open. The schematic switch in the control unit 11 is only closed, and in turn ensures that a load switch 14 connected to the control unit 11 is likewise closed, when a crash is observed and the crash sensor accordingly outputs a corresponding signal. For this purpose, the load switch 14 is located in the interior of the outer door handle 10, but can in principle also be arranged at another location in the interior of the door leaf 9. In any case, the load switch 14 becomes active only when the control unit 11 has received the emergency activation signal 13, for example as a result of a crash, and accordingly switches from normal operation to emergency operation.

[0039] As a result, the emergency power source 8 now ensures the electrical power supply of the door lock 2. In the event of a crash, the connection of the control unit 11 to the main power source 12 indicated in FIG. 1 is generally interrupted. In principle, however, the main power source 12 can also provide or ensure at least in part the further electrical power supply of the control unit 11 as well as of the outer door handle 10 and the motor vehicle door lock 2 in case of emergency.

[0040] FIGS. 2A-2C show three different variants of the motor vehicle door lock 2 according to the invention. In the variant according to FIG. 2A, the first electromotive drive 4 operates on the locking mechanism 3 during normal operation and ensures at this point that the locking mechanism 3 can be opened quickly. For this purpose, in the example, the first electromotive drive 4 provides a relatively low torque which is sufficient for this purpose in normal operation. The first electromotive drive 4 is thereby supplied with the required electrical energy with the aid of the main power source 12.

[0041] However, if emergency operation occurs, the second electromotive drive 5 is activated, which can in principle also be used in normal operation, for example as a closing drive in the interior of the motor vehicle door lock 2. The second electromotive drive 5 is regularly supplied with the required electrical energy by means of the emergency power source 8. In order to also provide a perfect opening of the locking mechanism 3, also in this case, in emergency operation, the second electromotive drive 5 operates with high reduction ratio and usually relatively slowly, so that a possibly deformed door leaf 9 can also be opened with the aid of the second electromotive drive 5.

[0042] In the variant according to FIG. 2B, it is provided that the first or only electric motor drive 4 there operates directly, i.e. without the interposed transmission 6, on the locking mechanism 3 during normal operation. The main power source 12 again ensures the electrical power supply of the electromotive drive 4. The locking mechanism 3 is again opened quickly and with relatively low torque. In contrast, if emergency operation occurs, the transmission 6 is switched on. In this case, the electric motor drive 4 is regularly supplied with the required electrical energy with the aid of the emergency power source 8. By means of the transmission 6 which is then interposed, the electromotive drive 4 generally operates with a reduction ratio on the locking mechanism 3, so that the locking mechanism 3 can still be opened slowly and with an increased torque in comparison to normal operation, even in emergency operation.

[0043] The variant of the motor vehicle door lock 2 according to FIG. 2C works similarly to the variant according to FIG. 2B. In this case too, a transmission is arranged downstream of the electromotive drive 4, this time a manual transmission 7 with two shifting stages or a manual transmission. In normal operation, the electromotive drive 4 acts on the locking mechanism 3 via the first shifting stage. This corresponds to the desired fast low torque opening in normal operation. If, on the other hand, emergency operation and supply of the electromotive drive 4 with the aid of the emergency power source 8 occur, it is switched into the second shifting position, which in this case generally ensures a reduction of the electromotive drive 4 and the application of increased torque on the locking mechanism 3 compared to normal operation.

[0044] As already explained, after receiving the emergency actuation signal 13, the control unit 11 ensures that the emergency power source 8 can supply the motor vehicle door lock 2 with the required electrical energy via the load switch 14, which is then closed. At the same time, in the exemplary embodiment, the control unit 11 ensures that, in the variant according to FIG. 2A, a switchover takes place from the first electromotive drive 4 to the second electromotive drive 5. In the variant according to FIG. 2B, the control unit 11 also ensures that the transmission 6 is switched on during emergency operation. In the variant according to FIG. 2C, the control unit 11 finally ensures that a switchover takes place from the first shifting stage in normal operation to the second shifting stage of the transmission 7 during emergency operation.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0045] 1 motor vehicle door or motor vehicle side door [0046] 2, 10, 11 component [0047] 2 motor vehicle door lock [0048] 10 door handle or outer door handle [0049] 11 control unit [0050] 3 locking mechanism [0051] 4 first electromotive drive [0052] 5 second electromotive drive [0053] 6 transmission [0054] 7 transmission with two shifting stages or manual transmission [0055] 8 emergency power source [0056] 9 door leaf [0057] 12 main power source [0058] 13 emergency activation signal [0059] 14 load switch