Abstract
An exterior door handle for a vehicle particularly for an activation of an electric lock of the vehicle comprising: a door handle body with a wall, wherein the door handle body is configured such that an activation action is performable by a user at the door handle body in the deformation area, at least one inductive activation means which is arranged in the deformation area, at least one sensor device arranged within the door handle body for inductivity measurements at the activation means,
wherein the door handle body is at least configured elastically deformable in the deformation area and
the sensor device for the detection of the activation action is arranged spaced apart to the activation means such that the deformation of the door handle body is detectable by the inductivity measurement.
Claims
1. An exterior door handle for a vehicle comprising: a first portion and a second portion, a door handle body with a wall extending at least between the first portion and the second portion, wherein the wall is configured elastically deformable at least in at least one deformation area of the door handle body, thereby enabling a user to perform an activation action at the door handle body in the at least one deformation area, at least one activation means which is arranged in the at least one deformation area at the wall and configured as at least one electrically conducting element being galvanically separated from at least one sensor device, the at least one sensor device arranged within the door handle body for inductivity measurements at the at least one activation means and spaced apart from the at least one activation means, the at least one sensor device comprising at least one LDC-sensor, a supporting device having a first supporting element attached to the first portion and supporting the at least one sensor device at a first sensor bearing point, and a second supporting element attached to the second portion and supporting the at least one sensor device at a second sensor bearing point opposite to the first sensor bearing point; the supporting device thereby bearing the at least one sensor device independently from the at least one deformation area and enabling deformation of the door handle body caused by the activation action to be detected by an inductivity measurement of the at least one sensor device, whereby an alteration of a position, displacement or deformation of the wall and the at least one activation means in the at least one deformation area does not in a same manner affect a position of the at least one sensor device within the door handle body.
2. The exterior door handle according to claim 1, wherein at least a bearing point of the exterior door handle is provided at which the door handle body is supported at the vehicle and the bearing of the at least one sensor device occurs at the bearing point.
3. The exterior door handle according to claim 1, wherein at least the first sensor bearing point or the second sensor bearing point of the at least one sensor device or a bearing point of the exterior door handle is configured as a fixed bearing.
4. The exterior door handle according to claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor device is supported independently from the wall of the door handle body in the exterior door handle, in an inner space configured by the wall.
5. The exterior door handle according to claim 1, wherein the exterior door handle is configured as a fixed exterior door handle.
6. The exterior door handle according to claim 1, wherein the at least one activation means is configured at least as an electrically conducting film and/or an electrically conducting coating, being galvanically separated from the at least one sensor device.
7. The exterior door handle according to claim 1, wherein the at least one deformation area comprises a first deformation area and a second deformation area, and the at least one activation means comprises a first activation means and a second activation means; the first deformation area is provided with at least the first activation means on a side at the door handle body facing to the vehicle and the second deformation area is provided with at least the second activation means.
8. The exterior door handle according to claim 1, wherein a first sensor device and a second sensor device are provided within the door handle body.
9. The exterior door handle according to claim 8, wherein the at least one deformation area comprises a first deformation area and a second deformation area, wherein the first sensor device is configured for an inductivity measurement at the first deformation area and the second sensor device for an inductivity measurement at the second deformation area.
10. The exterior door handle according to claim 1, wherein the wall in the at least one deformation area of the door handle body comprises a structural adjustment, wherein at least the wall or the door handle body in the area of the structural adjustment comprises a sufficiently elastic deformability for the detection with the at least one sensor device.
11. The exterior door handle according to claim 1, wherein a structural adjustment is configured at an outer side of the door handle body.
12. A method for a detection of an activation action at an exterior door handle of a vehicle, wherein the activation action is performed by a user at a door handle body of the exterior door handle in a deformation area and a sensor device performs an inductivity measurement within the door handle body in order to detect the activation action, wherein at least an inductive activation means is arranged in the deformation area, spaced apart from the sensor device, and the sensor device is supported independently from the deformation area at at least one sensor bearing point for the detection of the activation action such that by the inductivity measurement a deformation of the door handle body is detected; wherein the door handle body comprises a wall extending between a first portion of the exterior door handle and a second portion of the exterior door handle, the wall configured elastically deformable at least in the deformation area; wherein the sensor device comprises at least one LDC-sensor, wherein the inductive activation means arranged in the deformation area at the wall is configured as at least one electrically conducting element being galvanically separated from the sensor device; wherein the sensor device is supported by a supporting device that bears the sensor device independent from the deformation area, the supporting device having a first supporting element attached to the first portion and supporting the sensor device at a first sensor bearing point, and a second supporting element attached to the second portion and supporting the sensor device at a second sensor bearing point opposite to the first sensor bearing point; wherein the independent bearing of the sensor device occurs in that an alteration of a position, displacement or deformation of the wall of the door handle body and the inductive activation means in the deformation area does not in a same manner affect a position of the sensor device within the door handle body.
13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the door handle body is configured elastically deformable in the deformation area, wherein the sensor device for the detection of the activation action is arranged spaced apart to the inductive activation means such that the deformation of the door handle body is detected by the inductivity measurement.
14. The method according to claim 12, wherein the sensor device transmits an opening signal during the detection of the activation action.
15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the sensor device transmits the opening signal during the detection of the activation action to an electric lock of the vehicle, wherein the detection occurs during the detection of a deformation of approximately 0.05 mm to 0.2 mm, or 0.1 mm.
16. The method according to claim 12, wherein a sensoric element is provided, wherein the sensoric element detects an approaching of the user.
17. The method according to claim 12, wherein an exterior door handle is used according to claim 1.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
(1) Further advantages, features and details of the invention result from the subsequent description in which embodiments of the invention area described in detail in relation to the drawings. Thereby, the features described in the claims and in the drawings can be essential for the invention each single by themselves or in any combination. It is shown:
(2) FIG. 1 a schematic perspective view of an exterior door handle according to the invention,
(3) FIG. 2 a further schematic perspective view of an exterior door handle according to the invention,
(4) FIG. 3 a schematic sectional view of an exterior door handle according to the invention,
(5) FIGS. 4-8 further schematic sectional views of an exterior door handle according to the invention,
(6) FIG. 9 a schematic view of a safety system according to the invention
(7) FIG. 10 a schematic view of method steps for visualizing a method according to the invention,
(8) FIG. 11 a schematic view of a circuit board of the exterior door handle according to the invention and
(9) FIG. 12 a further schematic view of a circuit board of the exterior door handle according to the invention.
(10) In the subsequent figures for the same technical features even in different embodiments the identic reference signs are used.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS
(11) FIG. 1 schematically an exterior door handle 10 according to the invention is shown, particularly the side of the exterior door handle 10 facing away from the vehicle. The exterior door handle 10 according to the invention comprises a door handle body 20 with a wall 22 wherein according to FIG. 1 a part of the wall 22 facing away from the vehicle is not shown in order to be able to show the inner side 20.1 of the door handle body 20. The wall 22 meaning a vehicle related part of the wall 22 and a part of the wall 22 facing away from the vehicle which is for example shown in FIG. 3 thereby configure a (at least partially closed) inner space (cavity) 20.3. The represented exterior door handle 10 can be releasably or detachably, particularly movably or immovably attached or fixed and/or geared by a fastening device 80 particularly in the area of a first bearing point 81a and/or a second bearing point 81b at a movable part 1 of the vehicle 3. At the inner side 20.1 of the wall 22 facing the motor vehicle possibly in a deformation area 40 a connecting means and/or a structural adjustment 50 is provided for example in form of a recess. In this area, particularly in the connecting means like an adhesive, for example an activation means 60 can be arranged which can be surveyed by a sensor device 30. It is further enabled that the activation means 60 is directly applied to the wall 22 in the deformation area 40 for example as a coating.
(12) In FIG. 2 schematically the side of the door handle body 20 is shown which is facing the motor vehicle. Further, the fastening device 80 with corresponding bearing means at bearing points 81 can be recognised which for example can be inserted into the respective acceptance of the movable part 1. The exterior door handle 10 shown in FIG. 2 is thereby immobily or movably mounted at part 1 and therewith configured as a fixed exterior door handle 10. Thereby at least one or to or all bearing means of the fastening device 80 can be configured as a fixed bearing at the at least one bearing point 81. The at least one bearing point 81 therewith configures a fixed bearing position. Further, in FIG. 2 the deformation area 40 is characterized. It can be recognised that an outer side 20.2 of the wall 22 which is normally visible by the outside of the user 5 and an even and closed surface of the exterior door handle 10 is configured. Therewith the deformation area 40 can not be recognized from the outside by the user 5.
(13) According FIG. 3 a sectional view through the sectional plane A-A characterized in FIG. 4. Here it can be recognized that the deformation area 40 configures a closed surface at the outer side at the outer side 20.2 of the door handle body 20 and at the inner side at the inner side 20.1 with the recess 50. Thereby it is visualized that a recess wall thickness 50.1 is significantly smaller than the wall thickness 22.1 of the wall 22 outside the deformation area 40. Hereby, a material weakness 50 results which enables a detectable deformation by a sensor device 30 during the activation action in the deformation area 40. The sensor device 30 is therefore arranged in a distance D to the deformation area 40 and/or of an activation means 60 in the deformation area 40. The deformability of the wall 22 in the deformation area 40 differs particularly from the deformability of the areas of wall 22 outside of the deformation area 40. Wherein the sensor device 30 with an activation action is not moved in the same manner like the wall 22 in the deformation area 40. When the sensor device 30 is mounted independent from the deformation area 40 at, at least one sensor bearing point 33, however, a structural adjustment 50 is necessarily not required. Even with an erroneous recess 50 it can be achieved due to the bearing of the sensor device 30 independent from the deformation area 40 that the deformation of the door handle body 20 is recognizable by the inductivity measurement. The structural adjustment 50 thereby effects a further increase of the sensitivity of the measurement.
(14) The sensor device 30 is arranged in a distance D from the deformation area 40 and/or from an activation means 60 in the deformation area 40. Further, it can be provided that the sensor device 30 is arranged on a circuit board 31 and/or electrically connected with an electronic system (possibly) on the same circuit board 31. The sensor device 30 is thereby arranged at a support device 32. The support device 32 is thereby configured such that a deformation in the deformation area 40 by the activation action is mainly not affecting the position of the sensor device 30 in the inner space 20. This deformation significantly and specifically affects the distance D between the sensor device 30 and the activation means 60 wherein the degree of the deformation is detectable by the distance D and/or the inductivity alteration.
(15) Further, it is shown in FIG. 3 that the bearing of the sensor device 30 in the inner space 20.3 of the door handle body 20 is preferably independent from the deformation area 40 and/or from a bearing of the activation means 60 and/or the wall 22. Thus the sensor device 30 can for example be arranged at the wall 22 such that a deformation or a movement in the deformation area 40 does not affect (mainly or in the same manner) the position of the sensor device 30. The sensor device 30 is hereto for example mounted in a rear area of the wall 22 which is at least partially separated or separable (for example with two parts) configured from a frontal area of the wall 22 with the deformation area 40.
(16) FIG. 4 shows a further schematic sectional view (according to the sectional plane B-B in FIG. 4a) of an exterior door handle 10 according to the invention wherein a recessed grip 21 is shown between a vehicle related outer side 20.2 of a wall 22 of a door handle body 20 and a movable part 1 of a vehicle 3. Further, a first bearing point 81a and a second bearing point 81b of the exterior door handle 10 are shown. The shown exterior door handle 10 is configured as a fixed exterior door handle 10 wherein a structural adjustment 50 to the inner side 20.1 of the wall 22 is provided. Further, a sensor device 30 for the surveillance of an activation means 60 is provided, wherein the activation means 60 is arranged within the recess 50 meaning in the deformation area 40. The activation means 60 is hereby particularly configured as a coating of the wall 22. In case a user 5 engages or grabs into the recessed grip 21 about the door handle body 20 and applies a force in the deformation area 40 a deformation of the wall 22 in the deformation area 40 occurs. This deformation effects that also a deformation of the activation means 60 and/or a diminishing of the distance D between the activation means 60 and the sensor device 30 occurs. The alteration of the distance D and/or the geometry of the activation means 60 can be recognized by an activity measurement by the sensor device 30 in order to detect the activation action.
(17) According to FIG. 5 it is possible that the exterior door handle 10 according to the invention is configured as moveably mounted, particularly pivotably mounted exterior door handle 10 at the moveable part 1. Thereby, it is shown that for the activation of the exterior door handle 10 a movement of the door handle body 20 in the direction of the arrow occurs. Additionally or at the same time thereby the application of force meaning the activation action can be detected in the deformation area 40 by the sensor device 30. It is for example possible that the sensor device 30 and the actuation of the exterior door handle 10 effects by a movement in the direction of the arrow an activation of a function of the vehicle 3 for example an opening of the electric lock 2. The activation means 60 is here for example configured as an electrically conductible plate.
(18) FIG. 6 shows an exterior door handle 10 according to the invention as a fixed exterior door handle 10, wherein here at the inner side a recess 50 is provided in the deformation area 40. Opposing to and spaced apart to the deformation area 40 and to an activation means 60 in the deformation area 40 a sensor device 30 is arranged which for example can be configured as an LDC sensor 30. In order to perform a particularly exact and reliable detection of an activation action by user 5 using an inductive measurement it can be provided that the sensor device 30 and/or a circuit board 31 of the sensor device 30 is mounted via a bearing device 32 independent from the deformation area 40. This is for example achieved in that the sensor device 30 is mounted via a bearing device 32 at a first bearing point 81a and at a second bearing point 81b at the exterior door handle 10 or the door handle body 20. At these positions the bearing device 32 can for example comprise sensor bearing points 33 meaning a first sensor bearing point 33a at a first bearing point 81a and a second sensor bearing point 33b at a second bearing point 81b.
(19) The exterior door handle 10 can preferably comprise no or only an inside structure adjustment 50. Alternatively or additionally, it is possible that according to FIGS. 7 and 8 an outer structural adjustment 50 is provided at at least one outer side 20.2 of a wall 22 of a door handle body 20 of the exterior door handle 10 according to the invention. This provides the advantage that the deformation area 40 at which particularly an activation action is performed by its user 5 is recognizable for the user. At this deformation area 40 for example an application or force can be applied to the wall 22 which affects a deformation of the wall 22 in the deformation area 40 and/or of an activation means 60 in the deformation area 40 and/or a reduction of a distance D between the activation means 62 and the sensor device 30. According to FIG. 8 thereby a first deformation area 40a and a second deformation area 40b can be provided which comprises a structural adjustment respectively. In the area of a first structural adjustment 50a in the first deformation area 40a thereby for example a first activation action and a second structural adjustment 50b in the second deformation area 40b a second activation action can be performed by the user 5 which affect the activation of different functions of the vehicle 3 respectively. Thus, for example a tensile stress by the first activation action can affect an opening and a compression load in the second deformation area 40b can affect a closing of the electric lock 2 by the second activation action. Accordingly, a first sensor device 30a for the conveyance of the first deformation area 40a and/or of a first activation means 60a and a second sensor device 30b for the conveyance of the second deformation area 40b and/or a second activation means 60b are provided. According to FIG. 7 further a sensor system 70 can be provided with at least one sensoric element 70.1 in order to detect further actions of the user 5. Hereby, for example an approaching by the user 5 can be detected in order to activate further functions of the vehicle 3 or a safety system 6 of the vehicle 3.
(20) In FIG. 9 schematically a safety system 6 according to the invention of a motor vehicle 3 is shown, wherein for example a sensor system 70 detects an approaching of the user 5. Further, it can be provided that a wake-up signal to an identification device 4 is sent in order to initialize an authentification process. Thereby, it can be provided that only after a successful authentification an opening of an electric lock 2 can occur by the activation action which is detected by a sensor device 30.
(21) In FIG. 10 schematically a method according to the invention is visualized. Thereby, according to a first method step 100.1 an activation action by a user 5 is performed at a door handle body 20 of an exterior door handle 10 in the deformation area 40. According to a second method step 100.2 by a sensor device 30 within the door handle body 20 an inductivity measurement is performed in order to detect activation action. According to a third method step 100.3 by the inductivity measurement a deformation of the door handle body 20 is detected due to the activation action.
(22) In FIG. 11 a lateral view of a circuit board 31 is shown, wherein it is shown that the sensor device 30 is arranged together with the sensoric elements 70.1 and electronic components 71 at the circuit board 31. The sensor device 30 is thereby arranged on the side of the circuit board 31 facing the deformation area 40.
(23) In FIG. 12 a further view of a circuit board 31 is shown as a top view. The arrangement of the sensor device 30 on the circuit board 31 is shown, wherein adjacently at least to sensoric elements 70.1 for example capacitive sensors are provided.
(24) The previous description of the embodiments describes the present invention only within the scope of examples. Naturally, single features of the embodiments as far as technical meaningful can be freely combined with one another without leaving the scope of the present invention.
REFERENCE LIST
(25) 1 moveable part 2 electric lock 3 vehicle 4 identification device 5 user 6 safety system 10 exterior door handle 20 door handle body 20.1 inner side 20.2 outer side 20.3 inner space 21 recessed grip 22 wall 22.1 wall thickness 30 sensor device, LDC sensor 30a first sensor device 30b second sensor device 31 circuit board 32 supporting device 33 sensor bearing point 33a first sensor bearing point 33b second sensor bearing point 40 deformation area 40a first deformation area 40b second deformation area 50 structural adjustment, recess, material weakening 50a first structural adjustment 50b second structural adjustment 50.1 recess wall thickness 60 activation means 60a first activation means 60b second activation means 70 sensor system 70.1 sensoric element 71 electronic component 80 fastening device 81 bearing point 81a first bearing point 81b second bearing point 100 method 100.1 first method step 100.2 second method step 100.3 third method step D distance
