Abstract
An actuating device for a movable part, in particular a cover of a vehicle body opening, including at least one actuator and at least one electromechanical switching element, wherein the electromechanical switching element can be brought from a first mode into a second mode by means of the actuator, wherein in the first mode the electromechanical switching element senses an actuation by means of the actuator and in the second mode the electromechanical switching element releases the actuator such that the actuator can be moved toward the movable part, wherein the electromechanical switching element has an electroactive polymer and/or a piezoelectric element.
Claims
1. An actuating device for a movable part, the actuating device comprising: at least one actuator; and at least one electromechanical switching element that is adapted to be brought from a first mode into a second mode by the actuator, wherein, in the first mode, the electromechanical switching element senses an actuation by the actuator, wherein, in the second mode, the electromechanical switching element releases the actuator such that the actuator is movable toward the movable part, and wherein the electromechanical switching element has an electroactive polymer and/or a piezoelectric element.
2. The actuating device according to claim 1, wherein an electronic unit controls the first and second modes of the electromechanical switching element.
3. The actuating device according to claim 1, wherein a first spring element acts on the actuator, as a result of which a position of the actuator is adapted to be changed.
4. The actuating device according to claim 1, wherein a locking mechanism, which is adapted to be brought into an open position and a closed position by the electromechanical switching element, is arranged on the electromechanical switching element, and wherein the locking mechanism is operatively connected to at least one second spring element.
5. The actuating device according to claim 1, wherein a mechanical emergency mechanism is provided, with which the movable part is adapted to be actuated, and wherein the movable part is adapted to be released from a closed position into an open position.
6. The actuating device according to claim 1, wherein the actuator has at least one activation element and/or at least one pressure element.
7. The actuating device according to claim 1, wherein the electromechanical switching element and/or the electronic unit are connectable to a control device of a vehicle, a central locking system and/or a passive entry system of a vehicle.
8. The actuating device according to claim 1, wherein at least one further electromechanical switching element is provided, which senses an authorized opening operation.
9. The actuating device according to claim 1, wherein the electromechanical switching element is adapted to be switched into the second mode only after a sensing operation.
10. The actuating device according to claim 1, wherein the movable part is a cover of a vehicle body opening.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0021] The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given hereinbelow and the accompanying drawings which are given by way of illustration only, and thus, are not limitive of the present invention, and wherein:
[0022] FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of an actuating device of the invention;
[0023] FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of an actuating device of the invention;
[0024] FIG. 3 shows an embodiment of an actuating device of the invention; and
[0025] FIG. 4 shows a schematic illustration of the electronic unit of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0026] An embodiment of actuating device 10 of the invention is shown in FIG. 1. In the depicted form, electromechanical switching element 12, most of an actuator 11, pressure element 18, and first spring element 13 are located in a housing 40. The housing in this case is made cylindrical or polygonal and is opened toward the one short side, so that a part of the actuator 11 and of activation element 17 extends out of housing 40. Actuator 11 in this case has an activation element 17, which is located at the upper end of actuator 11 and therefore emerges from housing 40 at least partially, whereby activation element 17 on the side that looks at or into the housing has a conically or obliquely-planar tapering design. As a result, the diameter or the edge dimension of activation element 17 is made smaller by a certain amount relative to the topmost end of actuator 11. A cylindrical part of actuator 11 is disposed at the conically or obliquely-planar tapering end of activation element 17, whereby the cylindrical or polygonal part of actuator 11 in its diameter or edge dimension is at most the size of the conical or obliquely-planar end of activating element 17. This part of actuator 11 runs within housing 40 in which electromechanical switching element 12 is situated. Therefore, the cylindrical or polygonal part of actuator 11 is surrounded within housing 40 by electromechanical switching element 12, so that electromechanical switching element 12 can exert a force on actuator 11 and the latter is held by switching element 12. Alternatively, electromechanical switching element 12 can also be located only on one side of actuator 11, whereby the geometry of actuator 11 would need to be adapted accordingly and the rear side of actuator 11 in this case would be planar or guided in a guide groove. In FIG. 1 pressure element 18, which is also designed with a larger diameter relative to the cylindrical or polygonal actuator 11, is located at the bottom end of actuator 11. First spring element 13, which with its one end rests against housing 40 and with the other end against pressure element 18, is situated at pressure element 18. In FIG. 1, actuating device 10 and therefore electromechanical switching element 12 are in the first mode in which movable part 20 closes an opening. Actuator 11 in this regard is operationally connected to movable part 20, whereby the actuator 11 has an emergency mechanism 16, by which the operative connection between actuator 11 and movable part 20 can be separated. In the shown position, spring element 13 is in a compressed position, the force of the electromechanical switching element, acting on actuator 11, being greater than the spring force of spring element 13. In the shown first mode, electromechanical switching element 12 is connected as a sensor and is linked to electronic unit 30 such that a change in capacitance of electromechanical switching element 12 due to a mechanical force application by actuator 11 is detected and sensed, whereby electronic unit 30 thereupon applies a voltage to electromechanical switching element 12, so that it is brought into the second mode, therefore into the actuator function. If electronic unit 30 switches electromechanical switching element 12 into the actuator mode, thus this results in a change in the shape of electromechanical switching element 12, in which electromechanical switching element 12 contracts, so that forces from electromechanical switching element 12 no longer act on actuator 11 and pressure element 18 can move accordingly in housing 40 toward movable part 20. Actuator 11 is moved toward movable part 20 by the spring force of spring element 13, so that due to the operative connection between actuator 11 or activation element 17 and movable part 20, movable part 20 springs open or releases the opening at least partially. In the no longer shown second mode in which electromechanical switching element 12 functions as an actuator, electromechanical switching element 12 contracts such that it is moved toward housing 40, so that sufficient space is released for pressure element 18 to be able to move in housing 40 toward movable part 20. The operative connection between actuator 11 and movable part 20 is brought about hereby by a hook connection, whereby the hook is situated on movable part 20 on an axis 50 and interacts via a corresponding counterpart, situated on activation element 17 and on axis 50. In this case, the connection between movable part 20 and activation element 17 can be released, e.g., in that actuator 11 moves on a circular path with activation element 17 in such a way that the hook on movable part 20 is released by the corresponding counterpart, which moves on the circular path with activation element 17. The rotational movement of actuator 11 or of activation element 17 in this case can also be brought about by electromechanical switching element 12 or a torsion spring.
[0027] An embodiment of actuating device 10 of the invention is shown in FIG. 2, whereby in this case electromechanical switching element 12 is also in the first mode, in which electromechanical switching element 12 can sense a force application by actuator 11 or activation element 17. In addition to first electromechanical switching element 12, there is a further electromechanical switching element 19 in FIG. 2, which can also function both as a sensor and as an actuator or solely as a sensor or solely as an actuator. The further electromechanical switching element 19 can sense a force application of pressure element 18, as a result of which an improper opening or movement of movable part 20 can be detected. If movable part 20 is moved out of its original position improperly, thus the further electromechanical switching element 19 can detect this because pressure element 18, which also has a conically or obliquely-planar tapering shape, can sense a change in capacitance in electromechanical switching element 19 and simultaneously due to the shape of pressure element 18 can prevent it from moving actuator 18 out of housing 40. In this respect, pressure element 18 can also be designed in such a way that it prevents an outward movement by means of a specific shape, a mechanical barrier, or a mechanical resistance. Accordingly, a mechanical force is exerted on actuator 11 by electromechanical switching element 19 as well. Only if electronic unit 30, which is firstly connected to first electromechanical element 12 and to the second electromechanical switching element 19, releases these, i.e., switches to the second or actuator mode, electromechanical switching elements 12 and 19 contract in such a way that, as described in FIG. 1, there is sufficient space in housing 40 that the actuator or pressure element 18 can move with its widest section through housing 40. Electronic unit 30 is designed in such a way that a control or regulation of the two electromechanical switching elements 12 and 19 can be achieved independently of one another. Therefore, firstly electromechanical switching element 19 can be connected, for example, to a central locking system or a passive entry system of a vehicle and thereby can realize an authorized access. In this regard, electromechanical switching element 19 can be released, for example, by a passive entry system or the released central locking system, so that after actuation of actuator 11 by movement of movable part 20, electromechanical switching element 12 senses an opening request by the user and after the signal is processed by electronic unit 30, releases actuator 11.
[0028] FIG. 3 shows an embodiment of actuating device 10 of the invention, whereby a locking mechanism 14 acts together with actuator 11. Locking mechanism 14 in this case is made hook-shaped, so that it can work together with a collar element of actuator 11. Hook-shaped locking mechanism 14 prevents actuator 11 with the collar-shaped part from being able to be moved past locking mechanism 14 in its closed position. Consequently, a movement of actuator 11 toward movable part 20 is prevented. Moreover, locking mechanism 14 works together with a second spring element 15 and electromechanical switching element 12. In this regard, the spring force of spring element 15 in the first mode of the electromechanical switching element is greater than the force of electromechanical switching element 12, which acts on locking mechanism 14. Therefore, locking mechanism 14 is held in a closed position in which actuator 11 cannot be moved toward movable part 20. Located on actuator 11 in FIG. 3 is an activation element 17, which acts during a movement of actuator 11, due to a force application on movable part 20, so that a change in capacitance is brought about in electromechanical switching element 12. Said change in capacitance is detected and evaluated by electronic unit 30, so that electromechanical switching element 12 then changes into the second mode in which electromechanical switching element 12 exerts a force on locking mechanism 14 that is greater than the spring force of spring element 15. Therefore, locking mechanism 14 is pressed toward spring element 15 and actuator 11 is released for a movement toward movable part 20. As a result, actuator 11 is moved by spring element 13 toward movable part 20 by the generated spring force.
[0029] Electronic unit 30 is illustrated schematically in FIG. 4. In this case, electronic unit 30 includes, inter alia, of a voltage supply 31, which supplies electromechanical switching elements 12 and/or 19 with a voltage. In addition, electronic unit 30 has a sensor control 32 and a changeover switch 33. Sensor control 32 evaluates the change in capacitance due to a force application to electromechanical switching elements 12 and/or 19 and provides a suitable signal to changeover switch 33, which switches electromechanical switching elements 12 and/or 19 from the first mode into the second mode. Either voltage supply 31 or sensor control 32 is connected to electromechanical switching elements 12 and/or 19 in changeover switch 33 by switching from the first to the second mode or vice versa.
[0030] The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are to be included within the scope of the following claims.
