ACTUATING APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING A LOCKING SYSTEM OF A MOTOR VEHICLE AND METHOD FOR RELEASING A MANUALLY OPERATED EMERGENCY UNLOCKING DEVICE AND MOTOR VEHICLE

Abstract

An actuating apparatus for controlling a locking system of a motor vehicle, including a circuit arrangement having a first input for receiving an operating signal and an output for providing a control signal to the locking system, the control signal being generated in dependence on the operating signal. The actuating apparatus further comprises a manually operated emergency unlocking device, and the circuit arrangement comprises a second input for receiving an event signal, wherein upon receipt of the event signal the manually operated emergency unlocking device is enabled for manual operation.

Claims

1-10. (canceled)

11. An apparatus for controlling a locking system of a motor vehicle, comprising a circuit arrangement having a first input for receiving an operating signal and an output for providing a control signal to the locking system, wherein the circuit arrangement is designed to generate the control signal in dependence on the operating signal, wherein the circuit arrangement has a second input for receiving an event signal, wherein the actuating apparatus comprises a manually operated emergency unlocking device, wherein the circuit arrangement is designed to release the manually operated emergency unlocking device for manual operation upon receipt of the event signal.

12. The actuating apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the manually operated emergency unlocking device is designed to operate the locking system by a manual application of force by a user to unlock the motor vehicle.

13. The actuating apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the emergency unlocking device comprises at least one Bowden cable.

14. The actuating apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the Bowden cable includes a handle element for transmitting a manual force.

15. The actuating apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the actuating apparatus further comprises an actuator designed to make the emergency unlocking device accessible for the release of manual operation on an exterior of the motor vehicle.

16. The actuating apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the actuator comprises a shape memory alloy wire designed to deform upon receiving the event signal and thereby release the emergency unlocking device.

17. The actuating apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the circuit arrangement comprises a radio sensor and/or an actuation sensor, wherein the radio sensor and the actuation sensor are designed to receive the operating signal.

18. The actuating apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the actuating apparatus further comprises a light element designed to illuminate the manually operated emergency unlocking device.

19. A method for releasing a manually operated emergency unlocking device of an actuating apparatus for controlling a locking system of a motor vehicle, wherein an operating signal is received via a first input and a control signal is provided via an output, wherein the control signal is generated as a function of the operating signal, wherein: upon receiving an event signal via a second input of the actuating apparatus the manually operated emergency unlocking device is released.

20. A motor vehicle having an actuating apparatus according to claim 11.

21. The actuating apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the actuating apparatus comprises an actuator designed to make the emergency unlocking device accessible for the release of manual operation on an exterior of the motor vehicle.

22. The actuating apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the actuating apparatus further comprises an actuator designed to make the emergency unlocking device accessible for the release of manual operation on an exterior of the motor vehicle.

23. The actuating apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the actuating apparatus further comprises an actuator designed to make the emergency unlocking device accessible for the release of manual operation on an exterior of the motor vehicle.

24. The actuating apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the circuit arrangement comprises a radio sensor and/or an actuation sensor, wherein the radio sensor and the actuation sensor are designed to receive the operating signal.

25. The actuating apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the circuit arrangement comprises a radio sensor and/or an actuation sensor, wherein the radio sensor and the actuation sensor are designed to receive the operating signal.

26. The actuating apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the circuit arrangement comprises a radio sensor and/or an actuation sensor, wherein the radio sensor and the actuation sensor are designed to receive the operating signal.

27. The actuating apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the circuit arrangement comprises a radio sensor and/or an actuation sensor, wherein the radio sensor and the actuation sensor are designed to receive the operating signal.

28. The actuating apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the circuit arrangement comprises a radio sensor and/or an actuation sensor, wherein the radio sensor and the actuation sensor are designed to receive the operating signal.

29. The actuating apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the actuating apparatus further comprises a light element designed to illuminate the manually operated emergency unlocking device.

30. The actuating apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the actuating apparatus further comprises a light element designed to illuminate the manually operated emergency unlocking device.

Description

[0025] Examples of embodiments of the invention are described below. For this purpose shows:

[0026] FIG. 1 a schematic representation of an actuating apparatus according to one embodiment;

[0027] FIG. 2 a side view of a motor vehicle with an actuating apparatus according to one embodiment.

[0028] The examples of embodiments explained below are preferred embodiments of the invention. In the examples of embodiments, the described components of the embodiments each represent individual features of the invention that are to be considered independently of one another, each of which also independently further the invention. Therefore, the disclosure is intended to include combinations of the features of the embodiments other than those shown. Furthermore, the described embodiments may also be supplemented by further of the already described features of the invention.

[0029] In the figures, identical reference signs denote elements with identical functions.

[0030] In FIG. 1, an actuating apparatus 10 according to one embodiment is shown schematically. In this embodiment, the actuating apparatus 10 has a dry space 12 in which a circuit arrangement 14 is arranged. The dry space 12 may be configured to protect the circuit arrangement 14 from environmental influences, in particular from moisture. The circuit arrangement 14 may comprise a circuit board on which a radio sensor and/or an actuation sensor is arranged. In particular, the circuit arrangement 14 may comprise an NFC sensor, a proximity sensor, such as Kessy, and/or a remote control sensor. Furthermore, an actuation field may be provided which is accessible to an exterior of the vehicle and which may in particular be a pressure sensitive field, such as for example a capacitive or inductive surface.

[0031] In the case of the radio sensor, a first input for receiving an operating signal may be provided, which in this embodiment may be an antenna 16, in particular a near field communication (NFC) antenna. Furthermore, the circuit arrangement 14 may be coupled to a locking system of a motor vehicle (not shown) via an output 18, via which a control signal for controlling the locking system may be provided by the circuit arrangement 14 in response to the operating signal.

[0032] In the present embodiment, the actuating apparatus 10 further comprises an emergency unlocking device 20 that is accommodated in a wet space of the actuating apparatus 10, that is, that it may be accessible to an exterior of the vehicle. The emergency unlocking device 20 may comprise an ejection mechanism 22 that may release a cover for manual operation of the locking system upon receipt of an event signal, wherein the emergency unlocking device 20 may in particular comprise a Bowden cable 24.

[0033] The event signal, which may be received via a second input 23, may be generated, for example, when a predetermined condition occurs. The predetermined condition may be, for example, an accident signal from the vehicle, which for example may be output at the same time as activation of the airbag. Alternatively or additionally, the predetermined condition can also be a threshold value of the voltage of a vehicle network that is undershot. This can be used, for example, to ensure that the emergency unlocking device is released before there is no more on-board voltage. This means that the vehicle's locking system can be controlled manually even without on-board voltage or with low on-board voltage.

[0034] In particular, a preloaded spring may be provided as the ejection mechanism 22, which is released when the event signal is received, thereby ejecting the Bowden cable 24. To release the preloaded spring 22, an actuator 26 may be provided which may be controlled by the circuit arrangement 14. In particular, the actuator 26 may comprise a wire 28 made of a shape memory alloy, such as nitinol, which may be deformed by an electrical voltage applied to the wire 28. This deformation can then release the preloaded spring 22 thereby allowing the spring 22 to eject the Bowden cable 24. By means of the bowden cable 24, a user can then operate the locking system by a manual application of force to unlock the vehicle.

[0035] In addition to releasing the manually operated emergency unlocking device 20, a light element 30 may further be provided to illuminate the emergency unlocking device 20, in particular the Bowden cable 24. Preferably, the light element 30 may be a LED lamp that may be powered by its own battery. The light element 30 allows the emergency unlocking device 20 to be found even in the dark.

[0036] FIG. 2 shows a side view of a motor vehicle 32 with an actuating apparatus 10, wherein the actuating apparatus 10 in this example can be arranged in a recessed grip, which for example can be located on one of the vehicle pillars. Alternatively, the actuating apparatus 10 may also be arranged in a recessed grip or in a handle which may be located on a side surface of a vehicle door. However, the actuating apparatus 10 is not limited thereto, but can be arranged at any desired location of the motor vehicle 32, since the emergency unlocking device 20 can be arranged flexibly by means of the Bowden cable 24.

[0037] Further, the Bowden cable 24 may comprise a handle element 34 through which a manual force of a user may be better transmitted to the locking system of the motor vehicle 32. Particularly preferably, the handle element 34 may simultaneously be a closure cap of the emergency unlocking device 20, which is ejected upon release of the emergency unlocking device 20 via an ejection mechanism 22, which may for example be an ejection spring. In addition, it may be provided that the locking cap, or the handle element 34, is removable in the event that on-board voltage of the motor vehicle 32 is no longer present.

[0038] In another exemplary embodiment, a method for releasing a manually operated emergency unlocking device 20 for controlling a locking system of a motor vehicle 32 is provided. In the method, an operating signal is received via a first input and a control signal is provided via an output, wherein the control signal is generated in response to the operating signal. Upon receiving an event signal via a second input 23 of the actuation device 10, the manually operated emergency unlocking device 20 is enabled.

[0039] Overall, the example shows how the invention can provide an actuating apparatus 10 for an electronic external door actuation.