CN109923273B

CN109923273B - Door handle system for a motor vehicle

Info

Publication number: CN109923273B
Application number: CN201780066086.XA
Authority: CN
Inventors: 马蒂亚斯·科赫; 妮科尔·利尔施
Original assignee: Witte Automotive GmbH
Current assignee: Witte Automotive GmbH
Priority date: 2016-10-27
Filing date: 2017-10-25
Publication date: 2022-05-03
Anticipated expiration: 2037-10-25
Also published as: CN109923273A; EP3507436B1; WO2018077915A1; EP3507436A1; DE102016120576A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a door handle system for a motor vehicle, comprising a fixed support, at least one component that is movable relative to the fixed support, and at least one sensor for detecting the orientation of the movable component relative to the fixed support.

Description

Door handle system for a motor vehicle

Technical Field

Background

Such door handle systems are known in principle. In such door handle systems, a microswitch is typically used to acquire the orientation of the movable member or members relative to the fixed bracket. However, these microswitches have the following disadvantages: the required working space is relatively large, is easy to wear and is easily influenced by external factors such as vibration, moisture or dust. Hall sensors may also be used in existing solutions to acquire the orientation of the movable member. But it requires the use of magnetic materials, thereby increasing manufacturing costs.

Disclosure of Invention

It is an object of the present invention to provide a door handle system of the type mentioned at the outset which is distinguished by an increased economy.

The solution of the invention to achieve the above object is a door handle system comprising a fixed support, at least one member movable relative to the fixed support, and at least one sensor for acquiring the orientation of the movable member relative to the fixed support, in particular an inductive sensor.

In principle, an inductive sensor measures changes in inductance caused by changes in the content of a conductive material (e.g., metal) within the detection range of the sensor. For this purpose, the inductive sensor forms an oscillating circuit whose frequency changes when the content of the electrically conductive material in the detection range of the sensor changes, for example when the metal content in the detection range increases or decreases.

Compared with a microswitch, an inductive sensor has the advantages of being non-contact and detecting basically without abrasion, and being not influenced by external factors such as vibration, moisture or dust. Both of these advantages contribute to achieving a continuous and reliable operation of the sensor. In addition, the structural space required by the inductive sensor is far smaller than that of the microswitch. In addition, compared with a hall sensor, the inductive sensor has the advantage that a conductive material (such as metal) is used for detection without using a magnetic material.

In addition to the absolute measurement of the orientation of the movable member, the inductive sensor can measure a plurality of positions of the movable member by a single inductive sensor.

In this way, the use of an inductive sensor not only makes it possible to achieve a compact installation space, but also reduces the production costs of the door handle system, both of which contribute to an increase in the economy of the door handle system.

Advantageous embodiments of the invention reference is made to the examples, the description and the figures of the present application.

The sensor may in principle be mounted on the movable member and detect movement of the movable member relative to a stationary conductive detection element, for example mounted on a stationary support. In most cases, according to a structurally advantageous solution, the sensor is mounted on the fixed support and acquires the orientation of the movable conductive detection element.

The conductive sensing element may be mounted directly on or in the movable member.

Alternatively, the conductive detection element may be mounted on or in a drive element for driving the movable member. Preferably, such a drive element is an integral part of a transmission connected between a motor (in particular an electric motor) and the movable member. The drive element can be, for example, a component of a worm gear, and in particular a worm wheel.

In principle, an embodiment can be used in which the detection element performs a linear movement across the detection range of the sensor.

According to an advantageous embodiment, however, the detection element executes a non-linear movement, such as a circular movement, across the detection range. For this purpose, the detection element can be arranged on or in a carrier body in the form of an eccentric, which carrier body is connected to the drive element in a rotationally fixed manner. The carrier serves to realize a rotational movement of the detection element, so that a change in the content of the electrically conductive material sufficient for position detection is realized in a very simple manner within the detection range of the sensor while providing a compact construction space, since the detection element can extend around the rotational axis of the carrier.

The detection element can be widened continuously in the direction of movement, irrespective of whether the detection element extends straight or is bent. Alternatively or additionally, the detection element can be successively raised in the direction of movement.

According to another embodiment, the detection element may be constituted by a series of discrete individual elements at a distance from each other. The distance and/or height and/or width of these individual elements may increase or decrease continuously, viewed in the direction of movement.

Each of these measures enables the content of conductive material picked up by the sensor to be varied when the detection element is moved within the detection range of the sensor.

Advantageously, the sensor outputs a signal when a predetermined orientation of the detection element is reached, which signal may trigger the deactivation of the motor and/or the electrical opening of the door lock, for example.

The movable member may refer to a handle portion, such as an exterior door handle. Preferably, the handle part can be accommodated in the fastening bracket in such a way that the outer side of the handle part is flush with the outer panel of the vehicle surrounding the door handle system.

Drawings

The invention is described below purely by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings by means of one possible embodiment. In the figure:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the door handle system of the present invention with the handle portion of the door handle system in a resting orientation;

FIG. 2 is a view of the door handle system of FIG. 1 with the handle portion deflected outwardly;

FIG. 3 is an electric drive for the door handle system of FIG. 1.

Detailed Description

Fig. 1 shows a door handle system for a motor vehicle. In particular, the door handle system is suitable for fitting into a door, in particular into a left side door of a motor vehicle. The door handle system comprises a mounting bracket 10 and a handle part 12, in this embodiment also an exterior door handle, which is mounted so as to be pivotable on the mounting bracket 10. In particular, the handle portion 12 is deflectable about a deflection axis 14, which in the present embodiment is oriented generally vertically. The handle portion 12 is shown in fig. 1 in a rest orientation in which it is fully received in the fixing bracket 10 such that the outer surface 16 of the handle portion 12 is substantially flush with the outer edge 18 of the fixing bracket.

That is, with the mounting bracket 10 placed flush into the vehicle outer panel, the outer surface 16 of the handle portion 12 in the rest orientation is flush with the vehicle outer panel.

In order to enable a user to manually operate the handle portion 12 in order to open the vehicle door, the door handle system comprises an electric drive 20 (fig. 3) integrated in the fixed bracket 10, which is coupled to the handle portion 12 in order to deflect it from the rest orientation shown in fig. 1 into an operating orientation shown in fig. 2, in which the handle portion 12, in particular a rear section of the handle portion 12, at least partially protrudes from the fixed bracket 10. For example, the electric drive 20 may always automatically deflect the handle portion 12 to the manoeuvring orientation when an authorized user approaches the vehicle.

As shown in fig. 3, the electric drive 20 comprises an electric motor 22, on the output shaft 24 of which a threaded spindle 26 is formed in a rotationally fixed manner. The screw 26 engages with a worm wheel 28, the rotation axis 30 of which coincides with the pivot axis 14 of the handle portion 12. Specifically, the worm gear 28 is mounted on the deflection shaft 14 in a rotationally fixed manner, so that twisting of the worm gear 28 directly causes deflection of the handle section 12.

To accurately deflect the handle portion 12 to the steering orientation, it is necessary to capture the orientation of the handle portion 12 relative to the fixed support 10. This orientation acquisition is performed by means of an inductive sensor 32 which detects the position of the conductive sensing element 34.

The detection element 34 in this embodiment is a metal foil which is elongate and is curved circumferentially around the deflection axis 14. The sensing element 34 tapers continuously toward one end thereof, and toward the left end thereof in fig. 3. In other words, the detection element 34 widens towards its right end in fig. 3, i.e. the width of the detection element 34 continuously increases as seen in the longitudinal direction of the detection element 34. It will be appreciated that the sensing element 34 may also widen in the opposite direction.

The metal foil is applied to a carrier 36 made of plastic material, which is mounted in a rotationally fixed manner on the deflection axis 14. In the present embodiment, the carrier body 36 has the shape of an eccentric wheel, but it is understood that the carrier body 36 may also have any other shape such that the detection element 34 extends circumferentially around the deflection axis 14. Also, it is not necessarily required to provide the detection element 34 with the dedicated carrier 36. For example, in the case of a worm wheel 28 made of a plastic material, the detection element 34 can also be mounted directly on the worm wheel 28, so that no special carrier 36 is required.

The detection element 34 is arranged in the detection range of the sensor 32 and moves relative to the sensor 32 when the worm wheel 28 is twisted and the grip part 12 is twisted, specifically, it passes through the detection range of the sensor 32 in the circumferential direction around the pivot axis 14. Due to the continuous widening of the detection element 34, viewed in the circumferential direction, the sensor 32 picks up different amounts of electrically conductive material depending on the particular rotational orientation of the worm wheel 28 and the carrier 36, which causes a corresponding frequency change of the oscillating circuit of the sensor 32, from which the position of the detection element 34 and thus of the handle section 12 can be determined absolutely.

In the present embodiment, the sensor 32 is arranged at a first location (1), for example above the carrier 36. Purely by way of example, fig. 3 also shows three further locations (2.-4.) for arranging the sensors 32. The only important point is that the sensor 32 is arranged opposite the detection element 34 in such a way that the detection element 34 moves through the detection range of the sensor 32 during the rotation of the worm wheel 28.

A certain preset frequency change up to the tank circuit may be defined as the switching point of the sensor 32, in which the handle portion 12 reaches its steering orientation and the motor 22 is stopped.

With the handle portion 32 in its operating orientation, the user can manually deflect the handle portion 12 through a range of operating orientations to operate a wire through the handle portion 12 that couples the handle portion 12 to the door lock mechanism and correspondingly effects manual opening of the door lock.

A servo opening of the door lock can also be used, wherein the door lock is not mechanically connected to the door handle system, but is electrically connected. In this case, the manual deflection of the handle portion 12 is likewise detected by the user via the sensor 32 within the range of operating orientations, and when a certain preset deflection orientation of the handle portion 12 is reached, a corresponding signal is output by the sensor 32 to the door lock in order to open it electrically.

List of reference numerals

10 fixed support

12 handle part

14 deflection axis

16 outer surface

18 outer edge

20 electric drive

22 electric motor

24 driven shaft

26 screw rod

28 worm wheel

30 rotating shaft

32 sensor

34 detection element

36 vector

Claims

1. Door handle system for a motor vehicle, comprising a fixed support (10), at least one movable element (12) relative to the fixed support (10), and at least one sensor (32) for detecting the orientation of the movable element (12) relative to the fixed support (10), characterized in that,

the sensor (32) is an inductive sensor, the sensor (32) is mounted on the fixed support (10) and acquires the orientation of a movable conductive detection element (34), the detection element (34) is continuously widened along the movement direction,

the inductive sensor is not a hall sensor,

wherein the movable conductive detection element (34) is a metal foil mounted on a carrier (36) composed of a plastic material, the carrier (36) having the shape of an eccentric, and the carrier (36) being connected in a relatively non-rotatable manner to a drive element for driving the movable member (12).

2. The door handle system according to claim 1,

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

the detection element (34) is successively raised in the direction of movement.

3. Door handle system for a motor vehicle, comprising a fixed support (10), at least one movable element (12) relative to the fixed support (10), and at least one sensor (32) for detecting the orientation of the movable element (12) relative to the fixed support (10), characterized in that,

the sensor (32) is an inductive sensor, the sensor (32) is mounted on the stationary support (10) and captures the orientation of a movable conductive detection element (34), the detection element (34) is composed of a series of discrete individual elements at a distance from each other,

the inductive sensor is not a hall sensor,

4. The door handle system of any one of the preceding claims,

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

the conductive sensing element (34) is mounted on or in the movable member (12).

5. The door handle system according to any one of claims 1 to 3,

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

the drive element is part of a transmission connected between a motor and the movable member (12).

6. The door handle system according to claim 5,

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

the motor is an electric motor (22).

7. The door handle system according to claim 5,

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

the drive element is a component of a worm gear.

8. The door handle system according to claim 7,

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

the drive element is a worm gear (28).

9. The door handle system according to any one of claims 1 to 3,

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

the sensor (32) outputs a signal when a predetermined orientation of the detection element (34) is reached in order to deactivate the motor and/or electrically open the door lock.

10. The door handle system according to any one of claims 1 to 3,

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

the movable member is a handle portion (12).

11. The door handle system of claim 10,

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

the movable member is an exterior door handle.

12. The door handle system according to claim 11,

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

the handle portion (12) can be accommodated in the fixing bracket (10) such that the outer side of the handle portion (12) is flush with the outer panel of the vehicle surrounding the door handle system.