CN113169737A - Vehicle device - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a device (10) for a vehicle for detecting an activation behavior for activating a function of the vehicle (1), in particular for activating the opening and/or unlocking of a hood of the vehicle (1) in a front, side and/or rear region (1.7,1.4,1.2) of the vehicle, comprising: at least one sensor device (20) for measuring a change in its environment, in particular the proximity of an activation means; a sensor control mechanism (170) electrically connected to the sensing device to provide a sensor signal specific to a parameter of the sensing device, the parameter specific to the measured environmental change and variable load component; a storage mechanism (250) electrically connected to the sensor control mechanism for repeatedly determining the sensor device parameter by means of a sensor signal; a compensation mechanism (230) for adjusting the sensor signal to compensate for the load component; a switch-on mechanism (220) for dynamically electrically connecting the storage mechanism to the conditioned sensor signal upon repeated determinations.

Description

Vehicle device

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a vehicle device. The invention also relates to a system and a method.

Background

It is known from the prior art to be able to provide a variable capacitance by means of a sensing device, such as a sensor electrode, which variable capacitance is exclusively corresponding to a change in the environment of the sensing device. This allows measuring environmental changes in a capacitive manner. In a vehicle, such capacitance measurements may be used to detect proximity and/or gestures, thereby activating vehicle functions.

The basis of capacitance measurement is usually the analysis of the sensor device by means of charge transport. But charge migration can cause disturbing emissions (disturbing effects of the sensing device on the environment). In addition, interfering effects from the environment (intrusion effects on the sensor) may adversely affect the measurements.

Other interfering influences on the measurement are also known, such as interfering capacitive effects (parasitic capacitances, capacitive loads on the vehicle body, for example).

Disclosure of Invention

The object of the invention is therefore to eliminate the aforementioned disadvantages at least in part. The object of the invention is, in particular, to provide improved capacitance measurement.

The object is achieved by a device having the features of the independent device claim, a system having the features of the independent system claim and a method having the features of the independent method claim. Further features and details of the invention emerge from the respective dependent claims, the description and the drawings. The features and details described in connection with the device of the invention are obviously also applicable in connection with the system of the invention and the method of the invention and vice versa, and therefore the disclosure in connection with these inventive aspects will always be or can be cross-referenced.

This object is achieved, in particular, by a device for a vehicle for detecting an activation behavior for activating a vehicle function, in particular for detecting an activation behavior for activating the opening and/or unlocking of a vehicle hood (as a corresponding function) in a front region, a side region and/or a rear region of the vehicle.

The device according to the invention can have at least the following components, in particular connected to the circuit board of the device:

at least one (in particular electrically conductive) sensor device for measuring a change in the environment of the sensor device and preferably the proximity of the activation means,

a sensor control (in particular electronic) which is electrically connected to the sensor element in order to provide a sensor signal which is specific to a parameter of the sensor element, wherein the parameter is preferably specific to the measured environmental change and to a variable load component,

storage means, in particular electronic, wherein the storage means are electrically connected to the sensor control means in order to repeatedly determine sensor device parameters by means of sensor signals,

a compensation mechanism for (electrically) adjusting the sensor signal, preferably to compensate for the load component and in particular to provide compensation thereby,

a switch-on means for electrically connecting the storage means to the adjusted sensor signal upon repeated determination (in particular dynamically and/or by connection).

This has the advantage that the load component can be reliably compensated for upon repeated determinations. In particular, compensation can also be carried out in a stepwise manner by means of a compensation mechanism, so that a plurality of compensation stages are provided, in which the maximum permissible capacitive load is branched off from the sensor signal in accordance with different (defined) components. Each stage may then have a fixed component, where the components of the different stages differ from each other. For example, the first stage has a component of 10%, the second stage has a component of 20%, and the third stage has a component of 30%, wherein this component is always (when determined) branched off from the sensor signal. Accordingly, the adjustment of the sensor signal and thus in particular the charge transfer to the storage means resulting therefrom is understood to mean: the component (of the sensor signal or of the charge transferred thereby) is branched off in dependence on a compensation setting. In other words, said component with respect to the signal strength (e.g. current strength or voltage amplitude) is reduced from the sensor signal. In this case, it can be provided that the compensation means is connected to the control device in a signal-technical manner, which also performs an evaluation of the storage means. The stages and thus the components are known in the analysis. For example, the charge in the storage means is evaluated in the analysis, wherein the charge is influenced by the sensor signal. The sensor signal may, for example, initiate a charge transfer to the storage mechanism, such that the amount of charge transferred to the storage mechanism is proportional to the signal strength of the sensor signal. For this purpose, the sensor signal is designed as a current signal and/or as a voltage signal. Depending on the activated stage of the compensation mechanism, the amount of charge transferred can be reduced by a defined component in each charge transfer. This allows a defined and adjustable reduction of the sensor signal by the compensation means, which can be taken into account in the evaluation. By means of said compensation, the storage means can also have only a small storage capacitance, so that the cost of the storage means can be reduced.

"dynamic" connection relates in particular to the case in which the connection can be made adjustably and/or repeatedly and/or synchronously during the determination. For example, it is possible to use a trigger signal having a certain characteristic (e.g., frequency and/or signal shape) for triggering the sensor device. The dynamic connection of the sensor signal, i.e., in particular the "connection of the storage means to the transmission path of the sensor signal", can then be carried out synchronously with the trigger signal and/or adapted to the characteristic. The switch-on means can be designed as a rectifying device, since they can effect a rectification of the sensor signal by means of a dynamic, in particular synchronous and/or controlled connection.

It is also advantageous if the vehicle is designed as a motor vehicle, in particular as a hybrid or electric vehicle, which preferably has a high-voltage on-board power supply and/or an electric motor. It may also be possible that the vehicle is designed as a fuel cell vehicle and/or as a passenger car and/or as a semi-autonomous vehicle or as an autonomous vehicle. The vehicle advantageously has a security system which allows authentication, for example by communication with an identity identifier (ID identifier). Upon the communication and/or verification, at least one function of the vehicle may be initiated. If authentication of the ID identifier is required for this purpose, the function may be a safety-relevant function, like vehicle unlocking and/or engine start permission. The security system can therefore also be designed as a passive access control system which, without active manual operation of the ID identifier, initiates a verification and/or a functional activation when an approach of the ID identifier to the vehicle is detected. For this purpose, for example, a wake-up signal is repeatedly emitted by the security system, which can be received in the proximity by the ID identifier and subsequently triggers the authentication. The function may also relate to activation of the vehicle lighting device and/or operation (opening and/or closing) of a cover, such as a front cover/door or a rear cover/door or a side cover/door. For example, the vehicle lighting is automatically activated when proximity is detected and/or the cover is operated when a user gesture is detected.

It is also conceivable to detect an activation behavior by means of the device according to the invention in order to activate a vehicle function. It can then be activated in particular outside the vehicle (i.e. it does not occur in the vehicle interior). In other words, the sensor device environment in which the change is detected is located outside the vehicle. If the device according to the invention successfully detects an activation behavior, the function can be triggered and/or the authentication can be initiated by the device, in particular by the control device. The activation behavior may be, for example, an approach and/or a gesture performed with the activation mechanism. When the activation means is a non-electronic object (and thus also not an ID identifier), the activation means or the activation behavior can advantageously also be detected. Alternatively, the activation means can be designed as a non-conductive and/or non-metallic and/or biological substance, for example a body part of the user. It is therefore particularly advantageous to use a capacitance measurement for detecting the activation behavior, since this does not require special precautions at the activation mechanism.

The device according to the invention is advantageously designed as an electronic circuit (circuit arrangement) and has a plurality of electronic components which can be mounted at least partially on a circuit board and are connected to one another by means of electrical conductor tracks. At least one of the components can also be designed as an integrated circuit (for example, as a control device in the form of a microcontroller). Several of the components can also be designed as SMD (surface mounted device) components. The sensor element can be embodied in an electrically conductive manner, for example as a printed conductor track or a planar electrode on a circuit board, or else be connected to the circuit board by way of a feed line (e.g. a wire). In the latter case, the sensor element is, for example, a part of a cable (e.g. a coaxial cable), designed as a planar electrode or as an elongated conductor. The sensor device can also be understood as a capacitive antenna in this case, since a variable sensor capacitance is provided by the sensor device. In addition, the variable sensor capacitance may alternatively be provided by a plurality of sensing devices operating simultaneously or alternately. The circuit board and/or the sensor device are integrated, for example, in a door handle or a bumper. The sensor device can be arranged such that the arrangement of the sensor device defines a detection range for the activation behavior.

In the device according to the invention, it is possible for the sensor element to be designed as a sensor electrode in order to provide a parameter which is specific to the measurement in the form of a variable capacitance (also referred to as sensor capacitance), wherein a change in capacitance can be specific to a change in the environment of the sensor element. The at least one shield may in turn be used to shield the sensor device from changes in the area to be shielded of its surroundings, so that said changes do not significantly lead to a change in capacitance.

Furthermore, it can be provided that a trigger signal is used for triggering the sensor device and that a sensor signal is used for evaluating the sensor device. The sensor signal can be correlated with a trigger signal. The charge transport in the sensing device may also be related to the trigger signal, since for example the voltage at the sensing device follows the trigger signal (or the voltage corresponding to the trigger signal).

It can be provided that the sensor signal and/or the charge transfer in the sensor element are substantially identical

Has the same frequency (operating frequency) as the trigger signal, and/or

Has the same signal shape as the trigger signal, preferably has a sinusoidal and/or periodic oscillation shape, and/or

Having a frequency in an operating frequency range, wherein the frequency of the trigger signal (operating frequency) is also in the operating frequency range,

-designed to be in phase or in polarity,

-having an equal direct voltage deviation and/or direct current deviation (or DC deviation),

-having a shortened spectrum adjusted by filtering means and/or analysis filtering means.

It is also conceivable for the sensor signal to be present in the form of an alternating current (or an alternating voltage) at least after (or by) filtering by the evaluation filter. The filtering can also be performed in a band-pass filtering manner by the analysis filtering means. The filter of the trigger signal can in particular be implemented by a filter means in a low-pass filter manner in order to maintain the dc voltage component in the trigger signal.

It may also be possible that the analysis filter means are designed to perform a transconductance transformation of the sensor signal instead of or in addition to a band-pass filtering. Transconductance conversion is here intended to mean, in particular, that a voltage is converted into a proportional and preferably equivalent current. Functionally, this may correspond to the function of a transconductance amplifier, perhaps with an amplification factor (scaling factor) of at most 1. However, unlike a transconductance amplifier, the evaluation filter may not have an operational amplifier, but rather a transconductance transformation is achieved by means of complex resistors and in particular by a series connection with a virtual zero.

The frequency of the sensor signal (as a periodic signal) may then depend on the operating frequency, i.e. in particular the frequency of the trigger signal at the output of the filter means of the control means. Advantageously, the single operating frequency can be used for both the activation and the evaluation of the sensor device, in particular for the capacitive sensor evaluation, for the entire inventive device, in order to carry out the activation and the evaluation of the sensor device in accordance with a defined operating frequency range. For this purpose, in particular, filtering is used for the electrical triggering (by means of the filter mechanism) and the evaluation (by means of the evaluation filter mechanism), wherein the filtering is adapted to the operating frequency (for example, designed as a low-pass and/or band-pass for switching on the operating frequency range). This allows an optimal analysis with respect to EMC (electromagnetic compatibility) conditions (at emission) and interference effects (at intrusion effects). The emission of the sensor device and the susceptibility to intrusion can also be set very precisely by generating the trigger signal and/or by adjusting the signal shape and/or the frequency of the trigger signal. However, in order to be able to use the set characteristic in the sensor analysis, the sensor signal can also be adjusted as a function of the trigger signal. The sensor signal can be assigned to charge transfer and also has defined characteristics. For this purpose, for example, a sensor control unit is used which outputs an amplified trigger signal as a sensor signal as a function of the charge transfer (and thus the sensor capacitance of the sensor element). This can be achieved, for example, by using an operational amplifier in the sensor control mechanism, which has negative feedback by means of a capacitor.

The storage means can preferably be designed as an electronic integrator, in particular for accumulating the received charge. Preferably, after charging and discharging the sensing device a plurality of times, a plurality of charge transfers may be used to charge the storage mechanism.

A further advantage that can be achieved within the scope of the invention is that the control means is electrically connected to the sensor device via the sensor control means in order to provide an electrical triggering of the sensor device via the sensor control means and in order to provide the sensor signal as a periodic signal, in particular sinusoidal and/or oscillating, to carry out a charge transfer between the sensor control means and the storage means in order to initiate the charge transfer alternately in different current directions, wherein the switch-on means are designed to: the storage mechanism is electrically connected to the conditioned sensor signal only when charge is transferred toward one of the current directions, or is electrically connected to the conditioned sensor signal via a full-wave rectification mechanism when charge is transferred toward both current directions. In this way, a dynamic connection can be made in order to thereby allow only charge transport towards the storage means. This allows charging of the storage means as a function of the signal strength of the sensor signal in order to analyze the sensor device parameter as a function of the load state of the storage means. In order to use the sensor signal for charging the storage means, an evaluation filter means can also be connected between the sensor control means and the storage means in order to carry out a filtering and/or a transconductance transformation of the sinusoidal signal.

According to an advantageous further development of the invention, provision can be made for an evaluation filter device to be provided, which is electrically connected to the sensor control device, in order to output the supplied sensor signal to the storage device in a filtered manner and in order to filter the sensor signal, preferably as a function of a voltage signal (in particular a trigger signal) generated by the signal generating device for charging and/or discharging the sensor device, and/or in order to supply the sensor signal as a current signal for carrying out a charge transfer to the storage device as a function of a sensor device parameter. The current signal may have a substantially signal shape corresponding to the voltage signal, preferably a sinusoidal shape. Preferably, the switching means are synchronously switched depending on the signal shape in order to constantly perform charge transfer to the storage means only in one of the specified current directions and/or to synchronously rectify charge transfer in the other current direction. The sensor signal can be present at the output of the sensor control unit, for example, in the form of a voltage signal, which is converted into a current signal by the evaluation filter unit (for example, by means of a transconductance transformation and in particular because of a series connection to the storage unit). This allows the parameters to be analyzed in terms of charge transfer to the storage mechanism. The filter can thus also be dependent on the trigger signal, since it switches only the operating frequency of the trigger signal (or the operating frequency range encompassing this operating frequency) on the basis of the bandpass filtering.

In the device according to the invention, it can be provided that only one half-wave of the sensor signal or current signal is forwarded to the storage means and preferably the other half-waves are blocked, so that the switching means forms a rectifying means. In other words, the compensating means is not directly and permanently connected to the input of the storing means. Instead, provision is made for the compensation means (perhaps via a virtual zero) to be repeatedly connected to the storage means and again disconnected therefrom. Accordingly, the invention can be distinguished in that the compensation means are connected to the storage means only if a defined (e.g. negative or positive) half wave is also switched on by the switching means, in particular the rectifier means. In other cases, the compensation mechanism is electronically isolated from the storage mechanism and therefore is not effective for the storage mechanism or the charge stored therein. In other words, the compensation at the storage means is performed only when the switch-on means (rectifying means) is switched on. Thus, the storage mechanism may "recognize" a virtual zero or ground potential so that no current flows back from the storage mechanism to the storage. The integration and thus the analysis of the parameters can therefore be carried out more stably and/or less easily to be disturbed and/or more reliably.

It can be provided within the scope of the invention that the switch-on means is designed as a rectifier means in order to carry out only the charge transfer to the storage means by means of the adjusted sensor signal by repeated switching. In this case, the compensating means can be connected to the storage means only during the transfer, and preferably the storage means and/or the compensating means and/or the evaluation filter means are connected to ground potential in other cases. The switching can be achieved here by repeatedly changing the on-off state of the switch-on means between a switch-off state (low resistance) and a switch-on state (high resistance, blocking resistance). In this way, it can be ensured that the storage means is charged only by the sensor signal and is not discharged. In other words, charge accumulation is effected for successive charge transfers, only charge transfer to the storage means being permitted here. By being connected to ground potential, the load on the evaluation filter can now be reduced, so that the filtering of the sensor signal can be carried out more reliably.

It is also conceivable within the scope of the invention for the switching means to be designed for connecting the compensation means and/or the evaluation filter means to the storage means via a virtual zero point, so that, depending on the switching state of the switching means, it is preferred for the compensation means and/or the evaluation filter means to be connected either to ground potential or to the virtual zero point. Since in this way it is always possible to connect at least approximately to ground potential, which is provided by a "real" ground potential or by a virtual zero, the load on the evaluation filter can be reduced, so that the filtering of the sensor signal can be carried out more reliably.

It can advantageously be provided within the scope of the invention that the compensation means are designed to always shunt a defined component of the transferred charge out of the storage means when the charge is repeatedly transferred to the storage means by means of the adjusted sensor signal, wherein the compensation means are preferably connected to the control device in order to determine the defined component depending on the load component in accordance with the compensation setting conditions. In order to perform said determination, i.e. for example to select a compensation setting condition, the control device may analyze the determined parameter and adjust the compensation setting condition accordingly. In this way, the (variable) load component can be determined flexibly as a function of this component, so that even when the load component changes, an evaluation can be carried out reliably.

It is also possible within the scope of the invention for the control device to be connected to the storage means and the compensating means in order to determine a compensation setting condition for the compensating means in dependence on the currently determined parameter. The currently determined parameter is determined by the control device, for example, by means of a measurement, for example, an analog-to-digital conversion, in that the voltage flowing through the storage means is measured. It is always possible to ensure that the optimum component is branched off. The compensation setting condition is, for example, a setting condition of how much of the sensor signal component is branched off. The compensation setting condition may be, for example, a trigger signal for a control device of the compensation mechanism.

It can also be provided that the compensation means have different compensation stages in order to activate the compensation stages under the control of the compensation setpoint and/or under the control of the control device and in order to tap off different defined fixed sensor signal components, in particular charge components, which are transmitted by the sensor signal, in the case of different compensation stages, and thus to provide the adjusted sensor signal. In particular, if the amplitude of the voltage at the storage means (or another parameter which is specific to the charge quantity of the storage means) exceeds one or more limit values, a switchover is made to a further compensation stage, in which case a further transfer charge component is tapped off. When one of the other limit values is then exceeded again, switching can take place again. In this way, a multi-stage load component compensation can be provided.

According to a further possibility, it can be provided that the compensation means have at least three or at least four or at least five or at least ten or at least sixteen (in particular according to 4-Bit) different compensation stages in order to tap off different defined fixed transfer charge components for different load components in the charge transfer. The compensation stage can be present, for example, in the form of a circuit adjustment in the compensation means (e.g. by connection and/or connection of various resistors). Thus ensuring a reliable compensation.

It is also conceivable within the scope of the invention for the sensor device to be designed as a sensor electrode in order to provide a parameter which is specific to the measurement in the form of a variable capacitance. In this case, the capacitance change may correspond exclusively to an environmental change. It is possible to electrically connect the sensor control means to the sensor device and the storage means in order to provide the sensor signal for repeated determination and to output it to the storage means, in particular in the form of an integrator, as a function of the charge transfer between the sensor device and the sensor control means. This is achieved, for example, by generating a sensor signal having a signal strength which is correlated with the charge transport. In this way, the sensor signal is generated by an amplification of the trigger signal or of the voltage of the sensor device, wherein the amplification is related to the capacitance. The charge which is transmitted and in particular accumulated in the storage means by the sensor signal is accordingly specifically associated with the capacitance change. This has the advantage that the capacitance change can be analyzed in a simple manner from the storage means.

It is also conceivable that the control device is connected to the storage means for analyzing the charge stored by the storage means for determining the parameter specific to the measurement, preferably by analog-to-digital conversion of the voltage at the storage means, preferably in order to determine the compensation setting condition on the basis of said analysis. The analysis may then be supplemented or replaced by analog-to-digital conversion, possibly with other measurement methods, to obtain as accurate a voltage measurement as possible.

It is also advantageous if a shielding for shielding the sensor element is provided to reduce the load component, wherein an electronic shielding control is preferably provided for this purpose to adjust the potential at the shielding as a function of the potential of the sensor element. The shielding element can optionally be connected to the potential of the sensor element directly by means of a shielding control. In this way the potential of the shield follows the potential of the sensing device. The shield control means may have a voltage follower or the like for controlling the shield potential accordingly.

It can be provided that the device is at least partially fastened as a capacitive sensor device in the vehicle bumper to monitor the rear region of the vehicle and to open the trunk lid (and/or the front lid and/or the sliding door on one side) of the vehicle as a function of the vehicle, in particular to facilitate the output of an opening signal and/or a verification check, wherein the position of the device on the vehicle is linked to the load component. Therefore, for example, disposing the device near the vehicle mechanism may increase the load component. In the same way, instead of the tail region, it is also possible to use the side regions or the front region for a comfortable functional activation.

It can preferably be provided within the scope of the invention that the sensor control means are connected to the sensor device for the transmission of electrical signals, in order to repeatedly output and/or input electrical charge from and/or to the sensor device by signal transmission, and in order to provide a sensor signal as a function of the charge transmission. In particular, the amount of charge in the sensing device is related to this parameter (e.g. the sensor capacitance), so charge transfer provides a reliable possibility for capacitance measurement and analysis.

Alternatively, it can be provided that the sensor control unit is connected for the purpose of electrical signal transmission (in particular charge transmission) to the sensor device via a first terminal, at which an electrical input signal (in particular in the form of a voltage) is applied as a function of the signal transmission. In addition, the sensor control mechanism may be electrically connected to the storage mechanism through the second terminal for providing the sensor signal. In other words, the sensor signal may be applied to the second terminal. The sensor control device may have an amplifying means for outputting the sensor signal at the second terminal in the form of an input signal amplified in dependence on the sensor device parameter. In particular, the input signal may be amplified as a function of, and in particular in proportion to, the variable sensor capacitance, and is thus a sensor signal that is specific to the sensor capacitance.

It can advantageously be provided within the scope of the invention that the control device, in particular at least one microcontroller, is electrically connected to the signal generating means in order to provide the sensor signal in the form of an oscillating and/or periodic signal, in particular sinusoidal, and in particular to the storage means in order to evaluate the amount of charge stored in the storage means after a charge transfer by the sensor signal to the storage means and/or the amount of charge accumulated after a plurality of charge transfers, and to carry out the detection as a function of the evaluation, preferably in order to output an activation signal for activating a vehicle function when the amount of charge exceeds a limit value. The signal control means can, for example, influence the signal shape and/or the frequency of the sensor signal in such a way that the signal generating means outputs a trigger signal which is applied to the terminals of the sensor control means. The trigger signal may have a signal shape and/or frequency which is used for triggering of the sensor device and for the sensor signal. For this purpose, the sensor signal-loaded terminal of the sensor control unit is connected, for example, via an operational amplifier, to the trigger signal-loaded terminal of the sensor control unit.

The subject of the invention is also a system having:

-a device according to the invention in which,

control means for outputting an activation signal in the event of detection of an activation behavior (with the aid of the device according to the invention, wherein the control means are in signal-technical communication with the device according to the invention for this purpose),

a controller which is connected (in particular in a signal-technical manner) to the control device in order to carry out a vehicle function upon receipt of an activation signal.

The system of the invention therefore brings about the same advantages as those explicitly described in relation to the device of the invention.

The subject matter of the invention is also a method for a vehicle for detecting an activation behavior for activating a vehicle function, in particular for activating the opening and/or unlocking of a vehicle hood in a front region, a side region and/or a rear region of the vehicle.

It is provided that the following steps are carried out, preferably in the order mentioned or in any sequence, wherein the individual steps can also be carried out repeatedly:

providing a sensor signal which is specific to a sensor element parameter, wherein the parameter is specific to the measured environmental change and the variable load component,

-adjusting the sensor signal to compensate for the load component,

repeatedly determining sensor device parameters by means of a storage means depending on the sensor signals in order to perform the detection of the activation behavior,

wherein the repeatedly determining comprises the steps of:

-dynamically causing the storage mechanism to be electrically connected to the conditioned sensor signal upon repeated determinations.

The method of the invention therefore brings about the same advantages as those explicitly described in relation to the device of the invention. Furthermore, the method can be adapted to operate the apparatus of the invention.

In the method according to the invention, it can also be provided that, for the initial precharging of the storage means in particular, the compensation means is connected to a potential, in particular ground potential, which is different from the potential at the storage means for charging the storage means capacitor, as a precharge potential, wherein the compensation means is preferably connected to a potential different from the precharge potential for the purpose of adjusting the charge transfer. This allows a particularly cost-effective pre-charging solution. For example, performing a precharge to provide the initial state required for analysis.

Drawings

Additional advantages, features and details of the present invention are from the following detailed description of the invention with reference to the drawings. The features mentioned in the claims and in the description can be of importance for the invention here individually or in any combination, where:

figure 1 shows a schematic view of the rear area of a vehicle with an inventive device and an inventive system,

figure 2 shows a schematic side view of a vehicle with the inventive device and the inventive system,

figure 3 shows a schematic circuit diagram of part of the device of the invention,

figure 4 shows a schematic circuit diagram of part of the device of the invention,

figure 5 shows a schematic view of a part of the inventive device or the inventive system,

figure 6 shows a schematic view of a part of the inventive device or the inventive system,

fig. 7 shows a schematic diagram for illustrating the system of the present invention.

Detailed Description

In the following figures, the same reference numerals are used for the same features even in different embodiments.

Fig. 1 shows a view of a rear region 1.2 of a vehicle 1 having the system according to the invention. The device 10 according to the invention can be integrated in the bumper 1.1 of the vehicle 1 in order to detect the activation behavior of the activation means 3 (e.g. legs 3) of the user 2 in the area of the bumper 1.1. For this purpose, the device 10 has a sensor element 20, which can be designed, for example, as a long and/or cable-like electrode 20 or as a flat electrode 20 (i.e., a planar electrode) or as a capacitive antenna. It is also possible that a cable (e.g. a coaxial cable) is used to form the sensing device 20. The detection of the activation behavior can lead to the trunk lid 1.3 of the vehicle 1 being opened. For this purpose, the device 10 can have signal communication with the control 8 of the vehicle 1, in order to output an activation signal to the control 8 by signal communication, which causes the opening of the trunk lid 1.3. The opening may be premised on a successful authentication with the identity identifier 5. In the same way, it is also possible to activate the cover, in particular the door 1.6, in the front region 1.7 and/or in the side region 1.4 of the vehicle by means of the device 10 according to the invention, the device 10 then being integrated, for example, in the door handle 1.5 or also in the bumper 1.1 or in a side sill.

Fig. 2 schematically shows a vehicle 1 in a side view. The side regions 1.4 and/or the front region 1.7 of the vehicle 1 can have the device 10 according to the invention instead of or in addition to the rear region 1.2. For example, the sensor device 20 is integrated into the door handle 1.5 of the vehicle in the side region 1.4 in order to detect an activation behavior in the region of the door handle 1.5. Thus, for example, it is possible for the device 10 to detect, as an activation action, in the side region 1.4: proximate to the sensing device 20. The activation behavior may include: the activation means 3 (e.g. a hand) protrudes into the door handle recess of the door handle 1.5. Provision can also be made in the bumper 1.1 for the sensor device 20 to be arranged in the front region 1.7 in order to open the front cover, for example, when an activation action is detected in the front region 1.7. Another possible function that can be activated by the activation action can be the opening of a sliding door 1.6 of the vehicle 1, for example by approaching a side sill of the vehicle.

In principle, the activation behavior may include: proximity sensing device 20 or also posture, etc. In particular, for detecting gestures, in addition to the single sensor device 20, at least one further sensor device 20' can be provided, which is arranged adjacent to the sensor device 20. This allows to identify the movement of the activation mechanism by different measurements of the sensing means 20, 20'. Similarly, a shielding shield 160 is provided adjacent to the sensor device 20 and/or another sensor device 20'. This arrangement is shown by way of example in fig. 1 in a bumper 1.1.

Fig. 3 shows a device 10 according to the invention for a vehicle 1, which detects an activation behavior for activating a function of the vehicle 1, in particular for detecting an activation behavior for activating the opening and/or unlocking of a cover 1.3,1.6, in particular a door 1.6, of the vehicle 1 in a front region, a side region and/or a rear region 1.7,1.4,1.2 of the vehicle 1, as described with reference to fig. 1 and 2.

The apparatus 10 of the present invention may have at least one sensing device 20 for measuring changes in the environment surrounding the sensing device 20. The change is determined, for example, by the activation behavior, for example, the proximity of the activation means 3. The sensor device 20 can be designed as an electrical conductor, such as a conductive surface (in particular when the device 10 is installed in the door handle 1.5) or an elongated and possibly flat electrode (in particular when installed in the bumper 1.1).

The sensitivity of the sensor device 20 with respect to environmental changes and thus with respect to the activation behavior can be briefly explained below, for example. The sensing device 20 may form a capacitance (hereinafter also referred to as sensor capacitance CS) compared to the ambient and/or ground potential 21. By generating an electrical potential at the sensing device 20 (by means of electrical triggering as described below), an electrical field can be generated in the environment. The sensor capacitance CS is affected by environmental changes and is therefore variable. In other words, the change in the sensor capacitance CS is associated with a change in the environment, i.e. with the presence of an activation action. The evaluation of the variable capacitance CS can be carried out, in particular, by evaluating the charge quantity stored in the sensor device 20 and deducing an environmental change and thus be used to detect an activation behavior. Thus, especially the charge transfer from and towards the sensing device 20 is adapted to: depending on the charge transfer (e.g. the amount of charge transferred and/or the current intensity and/or voltage measurable at the time) a sensor signal is provided which can be analyzed to determine the variable capacitance CS.

To perform electrical triggering, the control mechanism 100 (i.e., the triggering mechanism 100) may be employed. The control mechanism 100 may be electrically connected to the sensing device 20 via a control line KP in order to electrically trigger the sensing device 20 to achieve (i.e. allow) said measurement. For example, the electrical triggering can cause a (forced) charging and discharging of the sensor element 20 by means of charge transfer, in order to allow a capacitance measurement upon triggering of the sensor element 20. The electrical connection can be realized, for example, by means of a circuit connection via circuit board tracks. The device 10 of the present invention may be at least partially disposed on the circuit board as a circuit. The sensor element 20 and/or the further sensor element 20' and/or the at least one shielding element 160 can now be electrically connected to the control means 100 of the device 10 via electrical terminals of a circuit board, by means of conductor tracks, or can also be formed as conductor tracks. The measurement is provided, for example, by: an electrical potential is generated at the sensor element 20 by the control means 100 in order to charge the sensor element 20, and thus, for example, to carry out an evaluation of the variable capacitance CS as described above. It can also be a variable potential, so that the voltage at the sensor element 20 is generated, for example, as a periodic voltage and/or a sinusoidal voltage. For the analysis of the sensor device 20, an evaluation unit 200 is provided, which repeatedly determines at least one parameter of the sensor device 20 that is specific to the measurement in order to carry out the detection of the activation behavior. In the specifically described example, the variable capacitance CS is considered as the parameter.

It is also possible to provide at least one shielding element 160, which is arranged adjacent to the sensor element 20 (and thus within its operating range) in order to shield the sensor element 20. In order to achieve shielding by means of the shield 160, a shield control mechanism 150 is provided, which has an interface 150.a for the shield 160. The shield control mechanism 150 may be electrically connected to the control line KP and further also to the shield 160 via the shield control input 150.B to provide an (aforementioned) electrical triggering of the control mechanism 100 for the shield 160. In other words, the shield control mechanism 150 may provide the same electrical trigger for the shield 160 as used for the sensing device 20. To this end, the output voltage at the output 150.a of the shielding control mechanism 150, which is electrically connected to the shielding 160, follows the input voltage at the input 150.B of the shielding control mechanism 150, which is in turn electrically connected to the control line KP and thus also to the sensing device 20. In this way, the same trigger signal may be used for the sensing device 20 and the shield 160, so that the potentials at the sensing device 20 and the shield 160 are adjusted by the trigger signal in the same way.

To connect the shield control mechanism 150 to the control line KP, a connection point at the control line KP may be utilized. For this purpose, various positions on the control line KP are taken into account, for example directly on the current path to the sensor device 20 or between the filter means 140 and the sensor control means 170. Two possible connection points of the shield control input 150.B to the shield control mechanism 150 are shown in fig. 3 by dashed lines for exemplary purposes and not exhaustive. When using the connection point at terminal 170.C of the sensor control mechanism 170, the trigger signal output by the filter mechanism 140 may be used to adjust the potential at the shield 160. When using a connection point directly on the current path to the sensing device 20, a potential that is (substantially) equal to the potential loaded at the sensing device 20 is used to adjust the potential at the shield 160.

In order to balance the electrical triggering very reliably and, in particular, at the same time not to overload components at the connection point (e.g. sensor device 20 or control unit 100), shielding control unit 150 may have an operational amplifier 150.1 for the forced electrical guidance of shielding 160. An operational amplifier may be used to connect the control line KP to the shield 160, thus generating an output voltage (also referred to as a shield voltage) at the shield 160 that is equal to the input voltage on the control line KP. The input voltage then corresponds to a trigger voltage which is specific to and/or proportional to the voltage at the sensor element 20. Preferably, the shield control mechanism 150 may form a voltage follower, so that the potential at the shield 160 follows the potential at the control line KP and in particular at the sensing device 20. The direct negative feedback of the operational amplifier 150.1 can be correspondingly specified, so that the amplification factor is 1. The shield control input 150.B can now be (directly) electrically connected to the non-inverting (non-inverting high impedance) input of the operational amplifier 150.1, so that the input resistance of the shield control input 150.B is very large, so that only a low voltage is applied at the shield control input 150. B. While the shield terminal 150.a may be electrically connected (directly) to the output of the operational amplifier 150.1 and perhaps also to the inverting input of the operational amplifier 150.1 due to negative feedback, in order to provide a low impedance output compared to the input resistance.

It can also be seen in connection with fig. 3 that the control means 100 have signal generating means 130 which are electrically connected to the sensor device 20 for the electrical triggering of the sensor device 20 in order to repeatedly generate an electrical signal for charging the sensor device 20. An electrical signal, also referred to below as a trigger signal, can be used for the electrical triggering and is therefore provided for the sensor device 20, possibly also for the further sensor device 20' and in particular also for the at least one shield 160, to adjust the potential and/or the charging and discharging. The provision is carried out, for example, by an electrical signal being transmitted via at least a part of the control line KP to the sensor control unit 170 and/or the shield control unit 150. Thus, the trigger signal generated by the signal generating means 130 causes the trigger signal (possibly previously modified and in particular filtered) to be present at the terminal 170. C. The sensor device 20, the further sensor device 20' and/or the shielding element 160 can in turn be triggered in conjunction with a trigger signal by the sensor control 170 and/or the shielding control 150. For this purpose, the charge transfer (charging and/or discharging) at the sensor device 20 or at the further sensor device 20' and/or at the shield 160 (and thus also the occurrence of an electric field) is initiated in conjunction with the trigger signal. Analysis of the amount of transferred charge may allow analysis of the variable sensor capacitance CS. The time profile of charge transfer can be affected by the shaping of the electrical signal. For this purpose, the signal generating means 130 have, for example, a digital-analog converter 130.1, which can also be designed as part of the control device 300 (e.g., a microcontroller). The signal generating means 130 itself may also be part of the control device 300 as a whole. It is also conceivable for the signal generating means 130 to be integrated only partially into the control device 300 and for example for the digital-analog converter 130.1 to be designed separately therefrom. The defined signal shape of the trigger signal can thus be determined very reliably and precisely. The signal shape may possibly be further shaped and/or improved by subsequent filtering, so that the trigger signal then has, for example, a sinusoidal shape corresponding to the operating frequency. The control device 100 may therefore have a filter device 140, in particular an active filter 140, such as a low-pass filter. It can be located downstream of the signal generating device 130 as shown, in order to output a filtered trigger signal for the electrical trigger sensor system 20 to the sensor control device 170 via the control line KP, in particular by low-pass filtering. In this way, the trigger signal can be shaped according to a defined operating frequency, so that the emission of the sensor device 20 is preferably adjusted by the filter means 140. This advantageously makes it possible to achieve EMC (electromagnetic compatibility) setting conditions during operation of the device 10. In other words, the control unit 100 can have a filter unit 140, in particular an active filter 140, which connects the signal generating unit 130 to the control line KP in order to provide the electrical signal generated by the signal generating unit 130 at the control line KP with filtering, in particular low-pass filtering, and/or with shaping, and thus as a filtered electrical signal, preferably a sinusoidal signal. The active filtering is preferably implemented here by means of an operational amplifier 140.1 and a filter device 140.2, such as at least one capacitor and/or at least one resistor and/or at least one coil.

The electrical signal (trigger signal) at the control line KP and in particular at the terminal 170.C may now be output to the sensor device 20 via other components, such as the sensor control 170, and via the switching element 180 (perhaps via the terminal 180. a). In order to interrupt the charge transfer to the sensor element 20 caused thereby and, for example, to charge at least one further sensor element 20', the switching element 180 can be periodically switched off and then switched on again. The sensor control 170 may have an amplifier and/or a voltage follower and/or a voltage multiplier to generate the potential at the terminal 170.C at the sensing device 20, preferably the potential at the sensing device 20 follows the potential at the terminal 170.C, in the same way. For this purpose, the sensor control unit 170 has, for example, an operational amplifier 170.1 and/or at least one filter element 170.2, such as a capacitor 170.2. A further switching element 180 may, for example, be integrated in the path between the terminal 170.a and the further sensor device 20' and be switched on and off alternately, for example, by means of the switching element 180.

The sensor control unit 170 can have the operational amplifier 170.1 as a transmission element 170.1, which is electrically connected to the signal generating unit 130 in order to initiate repeated charge transmission to the sensor element 20 depending on the trigger signal (at the terminal 170. C). This allows at least partial charging and re-discharging of the sensing device 20, which in turn allows the analysis of the charge stored within the sensing device 20. For this purpose, for example, the quantity (quantity) of the charge transferred and/or the current intensity during the charge transfer can be evaluated. The charge and/or the current level is then specific to the sensor capacitance CS, in particular to the change in the sensor capacitance CS. For the analysis of the sensor device 20, the sensor control means 170 can also have at least one filter device 170.2 as an amplification means 170.2, which is electrically connected to the analysis means 200 (and also to the sensor device 20) and thus provides a sensor signal depending on the charge transfer. The sensor signal is specific to (e.g., proportional to) the sensor capacitance CS. In particular, the sensor signal is for example specific to the current strength of the voltage and/or current present at the terminal 170.a, and thus specific to the charge transfer or sensor capacitance CS.

In order to be able to deduce the sensor capacitance CS from the sensor signal, the amplifying mechanism 170.2 may be electrically connected to the sensing device 20 (as shown in fig. 3) in order to provide charge transfer (i.e. current flow) between the sensing device 20 and the amplifying mechanism 170.2. In addition, the amplifying means 170.2 may electrically connect the output of the transmission element 170.1 to the (in particular inverted) first input of the transmission element 170.1, so that the amplifying means 170.2 forms a negative feedback for the transmission element 170.1. When a trigger signal is applied to the (in particular non-inverting) second input of the transfer element 170.1, the negative feedback allows the charge transfer to be controlled by the trigger signal. In this way, a voltage follower for the sensor device 20 is provided by the sensor control mechanism 170 when the first input is directly electrically connected to the terminal 170.a (as also shown in fig. 3), so that the voltage at the (especially low impedance) terminal 170.a follows the trigger signal at the (especially high impedance) terminal 170. C. It corresponds to the control of the charge transfer at the terminal 170.a by the trigger signal and thus to the (in particular low impedance) sensor feed. The sensor signal can be provided by means of a device (amplifier device) formed by the transmission element 170.1 and the amplification means 170.2, which can be an electronic amplifier.

The transmission element 170.1 is preferably designed as an operational amplifier 170.1. While the amplification mechanism 170.2 has at least one or two filter devices 170.2, but wherein a capacitor C (e.g. with respect to a resistor R) may prevail. The arrangement of the device formed by the transmission element 170.1 and the amplification mechanism 170.2 can therefore also be regarded as an integrated circuit. The capacitor C allows an electronic amplifier to be provided by the device, where the sensor signal in the form of a voltage proportional to the sensor capacitance CS is generated as a function of charge transfer. In other words, the sensor control 170 has a device consisting of a transmission element 170.1 and an amplification mechanism 170.2 in order to provide an amplified sensor signal. That is, the sensor signal is related to and preferably proportional to the voltage U1 at the first terminal 170.a of the sensor control means 170 (or at the first input of the operational amplifier 170.1), amplified by an amplification factor. The amplification factor may depend on the sensor capacitance CS and the capacitance C of the capacitor C_MeasuringPreferably in proportion thereto. The voltage U1 (output signal) at terminal 170.a may in turn substantially correspond to the trigger signal in the form of voltage U0 at terminal 170.C, due to the use of a voltage follower or direct negative feedback. Thus, the following relationship is obtained for the sensor signal that may be present as voltage U2 at terminal 170.B of sensor control mechanism 170:

U2＝U0*(1+CS/C_measuring)

It can be seen that the sensor signal U2 is based on the variable sensor capacitance CS and the capacitance C_MeasuringBut is amplified, i.e., generated as an amplified voltage U0. Thus, the sensor signal may be used to determine the sensor capacitance CS. In order to achieve the shown linear relationship between the sensor signal and the sensor capacitance CSThe resistance R of the amplification means 170.2 is related to (1/(2 π f0 CS)_{Maximum of}) Is selected as large as possible, where f0 is the operating frequency, i.e. in particular the (average) frequency of the trigger signal, CS_{Maximum of}Is the maximum specified value of the sensor capacitance CS. Here, the capacitor C_MeasuringPerhaps chosen to be equal to the maximum sensor capacitance. C_MeasuringThe adjustment of (b) thus also allows for a dynamic range adjustment during the analysis of the sensor device 20. Furthermore, the arrangement of transmission element 170.1 and amplification means 170.2, in cooperation with sensor capacitance CS, provides a filter characteristic (in particular a bandpass characteristic) which can be adapted to the operating frequency.

The maximum variable sensor capacitance is, for example, the maximum capacitance (capacitance value) that the sensor capacitance CS can have when there is an activation action.

It is also conceivable for the amplification means 170.2 as at least one filter component 140.2 to have a capacitor C and/or a resistor R, the capacitor C (or the capacitance C of the capacitor C)_Measuring) And/or the resistance R is adapted to the maximum variable sensor capacitance CS. Preferably, the capacitance C of the capacitor C at this time_MeasuringMay correspond to a maximum variable sensor capacitance. The capacitor C can be designed for negative feedback in the transmission element 170.1 of the sensor control mechanism 170 (in particular the operational amplifier 170.1), so that a feedback capacitor C is preferably formed. The output of the transmission element 170.1, and in particular the output 170.B loaded with the sensor signal, can be fed back to the input of the transmission element 170.1 by means of a capacitor C. In addition, the input may be connected directly to terminal 170.a, which is connected to the sensor device 20 (perhaps via the switching element 180) and in turn loads the output signal or voltage of the sensor device 20. In this way, the output signal can be generated from (follow) the trigger signal by direct negative feedback. Furthermore, in this way, the trigger signal or the output signal can be amplified (by an amplification factor related to the sensor capacitance) at the sensor device 20 as a function of the charge transfer (initiated by the output signal) and then output as a sensor signal via an amplification at the terminal 170. B.

For the evaluation of the measured parameters, and in particular of the variable sensor capacitance CS, charge transfer from the sensor element 20 (or from another sensor element 20') to the sensor control unit 170 is specified according to the above description, in order to evaluate this charge transfer as a function of the sensor signal by the evaluation unit 200. In this case, the charge transfer from the sensor element 20 to the sensor control means 170 is repeated for repeated determinations, in order to charge the storage means 250, preferably the integrator 250, of the evaluation means 200 as a function of the amount of charge transferred at this time. In other words, the storage means 250 is charged as a function of the sensor signal and preferably in proportion to the sensor signal. In this manner, the charge stored by storage mechanism 250 can be specific to the change in capacitance CS. For this purpose, the storage mechanism 250 may provide the storage capacitance CL by means of a storage capacitor, for example.

The control device 300 can be connected to the storage means 250 of the analysis means 200 via a terminal 250.a in order to analyze the charge stored by the storage means 250 to determine a parameter specific to the measurement. In this case, therefore, an evaluation signal specific to the parameter and/or the stored charge is acquired and evaluated. The evaluation signal can be, for example, the voltage across the capacitor of the storage means 250.

It can also be seen in fig. 3 that the shield control 150 and the sensor control 170 are electrically connected to the common signal generating means 130 and the common filter means 140 via a control line KP. The electrical signal (trigger signal) generated by the signal generating means 130 and/or filtered by the filter means 140 is thus used at the control line KP not only for triggering the sensor element 20 but also for triggering the shielding element 160, preferably with substantially the same signal shape of the signal, preferably at least approximately sinusoidal, so that the potential difference between the sensor element 20 and the shielding element 160 is always minimized during triggering and/or measuring when the device 10 is in operation. Here, the shield 160 can be designed as an active shield 160 (so-called "active shield") for actively shielding the sensor device 20, so that the potential at the shield 160 actively follows the potential at the sensor device 20 by means of the shield control mechanism 150. This allows to improve the shielding of the sensor device 20 with respect to the vehicle 1, thereby reducing the load existing between the sensor device 20 and the vehicle 1. These loads usually occupy a considerable component in the analysis signal that is analyzed by the control device 300. The component of the evaluation signal that varies due to the variable sensor capacitance CS is therefore reduced, so that the evaluation is only made more difficult. To improve the analysis, a compensation mechanism 230 is optionally employed. This shunts a portion of the current from the storage mechanism 250, for example, depending on the magnitude of the analysis signal. The difficulty in analysis can be further reduced by using a shield 160 having an equal potential to the sensor device 20 for shielding.

The charging and discharging of the sensor device 20 can be repeatedly performed by charge transfer through the first terminal 170.a of the sensor control mechanism 170. The repeated charging and discharging may be controlled by the trigger signal (due to the periodically changing trigger signal voltage amplitude). Depending on the charge transfer, an electrical sensor signal can be output via the second terminal 170.B of the sensor control 170. It is possible to perform electrical filtering of the sensor signal. Accordingly, it can be a filter for the evaluation branch during the transmission of the sensor signal to the storage means 250, which therefore has no influence on the electrical triggering signal (at the control line KP) and thus on the charging of the sensor device 20. For this purpose, an analysis filter mechanism 210 may be used to perform filtering (e.g., bandpass filtering) of the electrical sensor signal. This enables the analysis filter mechanism 210 to filter out disturbing intrusion influences from the environment surrounding the sensor device 20. Thus, the analysis filter mechanism 210 is able to provide EMC filtering for the intrusion impact. For this purpose, the evaluation filter 210 has, for example, a complex resistance and also a filter element. It is conceivable here that the shape (for example, sinusoidal) of the electrical triggering signal (i.e., the trigger signal) at the control line KP is dependent on the signal voltage. The voltage of the sensor signal at terminal 170.B may have the same shape but perhaps an amplified magnitude (proportional to the sensor capacitance CS). However, the evaluation may depend on the charge transfer and thus the current flow during the transmission of the sensor signal to the storage means 250. The analysis filter means 210 may therefore have a transconductance transformer to perform a transconductance transformation of the sensor signal at the terminal 170. B. This transconductance conversion refers to converting a voltage into a current proportional thereto. In other words, the evaluation filter 210 can be designed and/or connected in the evaluation device 200 in such a way that the current with the shape (e.g., sinusoidal) at the output 210.a of the evaluation filter 210 is formed by the voltage of the electrical signal (sensor signal) with the shape at the second terminal 170. B. The transconductance converter is designed, for example, as a transconductance amplifier (in this case, an operational amplifier), but preferably achieves transconductance conversion without the need for an operational amplifier due to the connection to the storage mechanism 250. This can be achieved, for example, by evaluating the series circuit arrangement of the filter means 210 and the storage means 250. Furthermore, the downstream components 220, 250 can be low-impedance and/or the storage means 250 can have an inverting input (-) of an amplifying element, in particular an operational amplifier, for example at the input 250. B. The amplifier element of the storage means 250 can be designed such that a countermeasure is initiated immediately when a voltage is present at the input 250. B. For this purpose, the operational amplifier can adjust the voltage difference at its input to zero by means of feedback. This precaution and/or the serial arrangement of the analysis means 200 and the storage means 250 results in almost no voltage drop at the input 250.B or the output 210. a. In other words, at this point (at the input 250.B or at the output 210.a, when they are connected to one another by means of, for example, a switch of the rectifier 220), approximately the ground potential exists, so that this point can be regarded as a virtual zero.

Block 220 shown in fig. 3 may involve one or more rectifiers, and thus the rectification mechanism 220. The rectifying mechanism 220 may not require a diode or the like, and thus there is substantially no (or almost no) voltage drop across the rectifying mechanism 220. This can be achieved, for example, in that the rectification is carried out by means of at least one electronic switch which is switched on and off in a timed manner. In this way, a virtual zero can be provided for the input 250.B or the output 210.a (when the switch is on) when the electrical connection of the output 210.a to the input 250.B is established by the rectifying means 220 and in particular by the at least one switch. While the output 210.a of the evaluation filter 210 is held at ground potential 21 when the at least one switch is open. For example, which connects the output 210.a to ground potential 21 as a changeover switch for this purpose. In this way, the output 210.a can always be at least approximately loaded with ground potential, independently of the switching position of the at least one switch in the rectifier 220. Therefore, the load of the analysis filter mechanism 210 will be significantly reduced.

The rectification may be "coherent" rectification by means of at least one rectifier. This means that the at least one rectifier transfers the electrical signal (sensor signal) from the evaluation filter unit 210 to the storage unit 250 in each case in a defined period, preferably in phase synchronism with the electrical triggering. This results in coherently rectifying the sensor signal with respect to the trigger signal. To this end, each of the rectifiers may have at least one electronic switch. The periods can be set in such a way that only the positive (or negative) half-waves of the respectively set fundamental wave or harmonic of the electrical signal are transferred (for example, according to the first harmonic in the form of a fundamental wave at a frequency which is switched on as an intermediate frequency by the evaluation filter 210 and possibly according to further harmonics). Thus, the respective periods may be synchronized with the signal generating means 130 to adapt to the shape of the electrical triggering signal (trigger signal). In the case of a filtering by means of the evaluation filter 210, the phase shift between the voltage (as a function of the electrical signal at the control line KP) and the current (as a function of the signal at the output 210.a of the evaluation filter 210) is taken into account in the synchronization. Furthermore, the rectification may also be performed "non-coherently" with diodes.

It is also possible for the rectification to take place in the form of a half-wave rectification or, alternatively, for the positive and also negative half-waves of the sensor signal to be used for charge transfer to the storage means 250.

Furthermore, it can be provided that the frequency of the sensor signal (in the form of a periodic signal) is dependent on the operating frequency, i.e. the frequency of the trigger signal at the terminal 170.C (or at the output of the filter means 140). It is thus possible to use a unique operating frequency for the entire device 10 both for triggering and for evaluating the sensor system 20 in order to carry out the triggering and evaluation of the sensor system 20 in accordance with a defined operating frequency range. For this purpose, filtering is used in the electrical triggering (by means of the filter means 140) and the evaluation (by means of the evaluation filter means 210), wherein the filtering is adapted to the operating frequency (for example, designed as a low pass and/or band pass for switching on the operating frequency range). This allows an optimal analysis with respect to EMC conditions (at the time of transmission) and interference effects (at the time of intrusion).

Fig. 5 shows one possible design of the inventive apparatus 10 when used in conjunction with an elongated sensor device 20. This design is used, for example, when the sensor device 20 is installed in a front or rear bumper 1.1 of the vehicle 1. The movement of the activation means 3 under the bumper 1.1 can thus be detected as an activation action, as is also shown in fig. 6. Unlike the sensor device 20 in the form of printed conductors of the circuit board, which may be advantageously arranged in the door handle 1.5 to provide a rather limited detection range of space, a separate sensor device 20 is connected to the circuit board in the case of a large detection range. For this purpose, for example, sensor terminals 180.a of the printed circuit board are used, which provide an electrical connection to the switching elements 180. The switching element can in turn provide an electrical connection (for charging) via the sensor control means 170 and the control line KP and the filter means 140 to the signal generating means 130 or an electrical connection (for analysis) via the analysis filter means 210 and the rectifier means 220 to the storage means 250. The components 170, 140, 130, 210, 220, 250 may also be disposed on a circuit board.

The circuit board with its constituent components, i.e. the control unit 100 and/or the evaluation unit 200, can be understood as a common component, which is referred to below as the sensor circuit unit 400. It is optionally possible for the sensor circuit arrangement 400 to be designed as a separately operable and vehicle-mountable part. The sensor circuit arrangement 400 can be electrically connected to the sensor device 20 and possibly at least one further sensor device 20' by means of at least one sensor feed line 410 in order to mount the inventive device 10. The at least one further sensor component 20' may be connected to the sensor circuit arrangement 400 by at least one further sensor feed line 410. It is also optionally possible for the sensor circuit arrangement 400 to be electrically connected to at least one shield 160 or to a further shield via a shield line 420, in particular a shield feed line 420, or for the shield line 420 to form the shield 160 (i.e. possibly also a further shield).

Fig. 5 shows schematically a coaxial cable 450, as an exemplary embodiment of the inventive device 10, whose outer conductor 450.2 is used as the sensor element 20. In other words, the shielding 450.2 of the coaxial cable 450 forms the sensing device 20. To this end, sensor feed line 410 can be electrically connected to outer conductor 450.2 via terminal 180.a of sensor circuit arrangement 400. The terminal 180.a then transmits an electrical triggering signal, which is defined (i.e. generated and possibly filtered) by the signal generating means 130 and/or the filter means 140 and can also be output at the terminal 180.a via the sensor control means 170. In the same way, the shield feed line 420 can be connected to the shield 160 via the shield terminal 150.a of the sensor circuit arrangement 400 (see fig. 6), or the shield conductor 420 connected to the shield terminal 150.a itself forms the shield 160 (or perhaps also another shield). In particular in the latter case (as shown in fig. 5), it may be expedient to use the shield 160 as a passive shield 160. The inner conductor 450.1 (i.e. the core) of the coaxial cable 450 may be able to remain unconnected.

In use as a passive shield 160, the shield 160 is connected in operation (always or during charging and/or discharging of the sensing device 20) to a defined constant potential via a shield terminal 150. a. The potential of the shield 160 can correspond to the ground potential 21 or a potential different from the ground potential. In contrast, when used as an active shield 160, the potential of the shield 160 can follow and change accordingly depending on the potential of the sensing device 20.

Illustrated by the arrows in fig. 5: twisting of the feeder lines 410, 420 may be performed in order to mount the device 10 of the present invention on the vehicle 1. First, the shield 160 can now run parallel to the sensor feed line 410 as an elongated shield electrode 160 in the form of a shield line 420. The twisting may be performed, for example, by winding the sensor feed line 410 and the shield conductor 420 around each other and spirally. The twisted feed lines 410, 420 are highlighted with a dashed solid line. In this way, the susceptibility of the power supply lines 410, 420 to the effects of external electromagnetic interference can be reduced. For mounting, sensor feed line 410 can then be electrically connected to outer conductor 450.2, such that outer conductor 450.2 forms sensing device 20. Shield conductor 420 and core 450.1 of coaxial cable 450 may remain unconnected. Alternatively, shield conductor 420 is electrically connected to cable core 450.1. It is advantageous in this configuration that the shield 160 is used as a passive shield 160.

Alternatively, it is also useful to use the shield 160 or the shield conductor 420 as an active shield 160. To this end, a different connection at the coaxial cable 450 may be selected. Here, sensor feed line 410 can be electrically connected to core 450.1 (i.e., inner conductor 450.1) of coaxial cable 450 such that core 450.1 acts as a sensor feed line. The shield conductor 420, which in this case perhaps acts as a shield feed 420, can be electrically connected to the outer conductor 450.2 of the coaxial cable 450 (i.e., to the shield) such that the outer conductor 450.2 forms the active shield 160. The coaxial cable 450 and its cable core 450.1 can now be routed to the sensor device 20 as a feed line, but it is again designed to be separate from the coaxial cable 450. The outer conductor 450.2 acts as an active shield 160 so that the shielding of the sensor feed line 410 is improved. The feed lines 410, 420 to the coaxial cable 450 may be twisted as previously described, or it may be wires laid in parallel.

A separate sensor device 20, which is connected to the sensor circuit arrangement 400, for example by the aforementioned twisted feed lines 410, 420 and/or by a coaxial cable 450 together with an outer conductor 450.2 as an active shield 160 and/or by a variant different therefrom, is illustrated in fig. 6. The sensor element 20 can be designed, for example, as a conductive surface (so-called planar electrode 20) and/or as an electrical line or the like. The sensor device 20 is shown in the mounted arrangement (e.g. in the rear region) near the other parts of the vehicle 1. The part of the vehicle 1 that can be regarded as ground potential 21 is shown schematically at this time. The vehicle 1 may cause a load on the sensor device 20, which may be counteracted by shielding. The electric field, which may occur between the shield 160 and the sensor device 20 (and which may be minimized or eliminated by the shield 160 being used as an active shield 160), is illustrated by the arrows at this time, which is used for the measurement of the activation behavior or of the activation means 3.

The shown shape of the (active) shield 160 is particularly advantageous here. This shape is for example a U-shape, wherein two opposite sides 160.2 of the shield 160 shield the side regions, while a central portion 160.1 of the shield 160 shields the middle region or the respective vehicle side. In this way, the detection range can be very accurately defined by the open region 160.3 of the shield 160 between the sides 160.2. The shield 160 can be used, for example, as an active shield 160 in such a way that it is electrically connected to the shield (feed) line 420 or to the outer conductor 450.2 of the coaxial cable 450 (which is used as a feed line in this case). Furthermore, sensing device 20 can be electrically connected to sensor feed line 410 and/or core 450.1 of coaxial cable 450 (which is now used as a feed line). Alternatively, the shape may be designed to be other than U-shaped, especially when the shield 160 is wider than the sensing device 20.

As can be seen in connection with the circuit schematic in fig. 3, a sensor control mechanism 170 electrically connected to the sensor device 20 may provide a sensor signal at terminal 170.B that is specific to a parameter of the sensor device 20. The parameter is specific to the measured environmental change, but may also be specific to a variable load component. Depending on the environment and/or the arrangement of the sensor device 20 and/or environmental interference influences, for example, there may be certain influences on the sensor device 20 and on this parameter (e.g. sensor capacitance CS) during the measurement, which are not convincing with regard to the activation behavior. The sensor signal at terminal 170.B is in particular a voltage, the magnitude of which may be related to and perhaps proportional to the sensor capacitance CS. Furthermore, the sensor signal at the terminal 250.B can be present in the form of a current whose current strength is related to and perhaps proportional to the sensor capacitance CS. The amplitude and/or current intensity may have some component due to this load component that is not specific to environmental changes. Accordingly, a compensation mechanism 230 may be used to adjust the sensor signal to compensate for the load component. For this purpose, a certain component, for example at each repeated charge transfer, is diverted by the sensor signal to the compensation means 230. Accordingly, an adjusted sensor signal is generated from the sensor signal. The splitting may be carried out continuously. The switch-on means 220 can electrically connect the storage means 250 to the adjusted sensor signal (in particular dynamically) for evaluation, in repeated determinations.

Fig. 4 schematically illustrates that the compensation mechanism 230 may have a plurality of compensation stages. A first 230.1 and a second 230.2 compensating stage are shown by way of example. Since this load component may be variable (e.g. depending on the change in the influence of environmental disturbances), it is possible to switch between the compensation stages to change the component which is always branched off in the sensor signal. The switching can be initiated, for example, by means of the control device 300. In order to determine whether the switchover should be initiated, the control device 300 may, for example, analyze the determined parameters.

Fig. 7 schematically shows the steps of the method of the invention. In this case, according to a first method step 501, a sensor signal can be provided, wherein the sensor signal is specific to a parameter of the sensor device 20, and wherein the parameter is specific to the measured environmental change and the variable load component. Subsequently, an adjustment of the sensor signal to compensate for the load component can be performed according to a second method step 502. Subsequently, in a third method step 503, the parameters of the sensor device 20 can be determined repeatedly from the sensor signals by means of the storage means 250, in order to thereby carry out the detection of the activation behavior. The third method step 503, i.e. "execution of the iteration determination", may further comprise the following steps: causing the storage mechanism 250 to be electrically connected to the conditioned sensor signal upon repeated determinations, particularly dynamically.

The above description of embodiments describes the invention by way of example only. It is clear that the individual features of the embodiments can be freely combined with one another as far as technically expedient without departing from the scope of the invention.

List of reference numerals

1 vehicle

1.1 Bumpers

1.2 Tail region

1.3 trunk lid

1.4 side areas

1.5 door handle

1.6 door

1.7 front region

2 users

3 activating mechanism

5 identity recognizer

8 controller

10 device

20 sensor device, sensor electrode

20' another sensing device

21 to earth potential

100 control mechanism

130 signal generating mechanism, signal generator

130.1 digital-to-analog converter

140 filter mechanism, active filter, sine filter

140.1 operational amplifier

140.2 Filter device

150 shield control mechanism

A shield termination

150.1 operational amplifier

160 shield

160.1 center part

160.2 lateral, branch

160.3 detection Range, open area

170 sensor control mechanism, voltage follower

First terminal of A sensor control mechanism 170

170, second terminal of B sensor control mechanism 170

170.1 operational amplifier

170.2 Filter device

180 switching element

Output terminal of A switch element 180, sensor device terminal

200 analysis mechanism

210 analysis filtering mechanism

A first terminal or output of the analysis filter 210

220 rectifying mechanism, connecting mechanism

230 compensation mechanism

250 storage mechanism, integrator

A first terminal

B second terminal, input

300 control device, microcontroller

400 sensor circuit mechanism

410 sensor feeder

420 shielded feed line

450 coaxial cable

450.1 inner conductor and cable core

450.2 outer conductor

501 first method step

502 second method step

503 third method step

CL storage capacitor

CS sensor capacitance

And KP control circuit.

The claims (modification according to treaty clause 19)

1. Device (10) for a vehicle (1) for detecting an activation behavior for activating a function of the vehicle (1), in particular for detecting an activation behavior for activating an opening and/or unlocking of a hood (1.3,1.6) of the vehicle (1) in a front region, a side region and/or a rear region (1.7,1.4,1.2) of the vehicle (1), having:

-at least one sensing means (20) for measuring a change of environment of the sensing means (20), in particular the proximity of the activation means (3),

-sensor control means (170) electrically connected to the sensor device (20) for providing sensor signals specific to parameters of the sensor device (20), wherein the parameters are specific to the measured environmental changes and to variable load components,

-storage means (250) electrically connected to the sensor control means (170) for repeatedly determining parameters of the sensing device (20) by means of sensor signals,

-a compensation mechanism (230) for adjusting the sensor signal to compensate for the load component,

-a switch-on mechanism (220) for dynamically electrically connecting the storage mechanism (250) to the adjusted sensor signal upon repeated determinations.

2. Device (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that a control means (100) is electrically connected to the sensor means (20) by means of the sensor control means (170) in order to provide an electrical triggering of the sensor means (20) by means of the sensor control means (170) and in order to provide the sensor signal as a periodic signal, in particular sinusoidal and/or oscillating, in order to carry out a charge transfer between the sensor control means (170) and the storage means (250) in order to alternately initiate a charge transfer in different current directions, wherein the switch-on means (220) are designed to: the storage means (250) is electrically connected to the conditioned sensor signal only when charge transfer is performed in one of the current directions, or the storage means (250) is electrically connected to the conditioned sensor signal by full-wave rectification when charge transfer is performed in both current directions.

3. Apparatus (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that analysis filter means (210) are provided which are electrically connected to the sensor control means (170) for outputting the provided sensor signals filtered to the storage means (250) and for providing the sensor signals in the form of current signals for carrying out the charge transfer to the storage means (250) in dependence on the parameters of the sensor device (20).

4. Device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the switch-on means (220) are designed as rectifier means (220) to carry out only a charge transfer towards the storage means (250) by means of the adjusted sensor signal by repeatedly switching, and to connect the compensation means (230) to the storage means (250) only in said transfer, and preferably to connect the storage means (250) and/or the compensation means (230) to ground potential (21) otherwise.

5. Device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the switch-on means (220) are designed to connect the compensation means (230) and/or the analysis filter means (210) to the storage means (250) via a virtual zero point (250.B), so that the compensation means (230) and/or the analysis filter means (210) are connected either to ground potential (21) or to the virtual zero point (210.a,250.B), preferably depending on the switching state of the switch-on means (220).

6. Device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the compensation means (230) are designed to always shunt a defined component of the transferred charge when the charge is repeatedly transferred to the storage means (250) by means of the adjusted sensor signal, wherein the compensation means (230) are preferably connected to a control device (300) in order to determine the defined component depending on the load component depending on a compensation setting condition.

7. Device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a control device (300) is connected to the storage means (250) and the compensating means (230) in order to determine a compensation setting for the compensating means (230) depending on the currently determined parameters.

8. Device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the compensation means (230) have different compensation stages in order to activate the compensation stages under the control of compensation setting conditions and/or under the control of the control device (300) and in order to tap off different defined fixed components of the sensor signal, in particular of the charge transmitted by the sensor signal, in the different compensation stages, thereby providing the adjusted sensor signal.

9. Device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the compensation means (230) have at least three or at least four or at least five different compensation stages in order to tap off different defined fixed components of the charge transported in the charge transport for different load components.

10. Device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sensor device (20) is designed as a sensor electrode (20) to provide a parameter which is specific to the measurement in the form of a variable Capacitance (CS), wherein a change in the Capacitance (CS) is specific to an environmental change, wherein the sensor control means (170) are electrically connected to the sensor device (20) and to the storage means (250) in order to output the sensor signal for repeated determination to the storage means (250), in particular an integrator (250), as a function of a charge transfer between the sensor device (20) and the sensor control means (170), so that the charge which is transferred, in particular accumulated, by the sensor signal into the storage means (250) corresponds to the change in the Capacitance (CS).

11. Device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a control device (300) is connected to the storage means (250) for analyzing the charge stored by the storage means (250) for determining a parameter specific to the measurement, preferably by analog-to-digital conversion of the voltage at the storage means (250), preferably in order to determine a compensation setting in connection with said analysis.

12. Device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a shielding (160) for shielding the sensor element (20) is provided for reducing the load component, wherein preferably an electronic shielding control means (150) is provided for this purpose for adjusting the potential at the shielding (160) in dependence on the potential of the sensor element (20).

13. Device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the device (10) is at least partially fixed as a capacitive sensor device in a bumper (1.1) of the vehicle (1) for monitoring a rear region (1.2) of the vehicle (1) and for opening a trunk lid (1.3) of the vehicle (1) as a function of the vehicle (1), in particular for initiating an output of an opening signal and/or a verification check, wherein the position of the device (10) on the vehicle (1) is associated with the load component.

14. An apparatus (10) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sensor control means (170) are connected to the sensor device (20) for the transmission of electrical signals, in order to repeatedly output and input electric charges from and to the sensor device (20) by signal transmission, and in order to provide the sensor signal in dependence on said charge transmission.

15. Device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sensor control means (170) is connected for electrical signal transmission to the sensor device (20) via a first terminal (170.a) at which an electrical input signal is loaded depending on the signal transmission and is electrically connected for providing a sensor signal to the storage means (250) via a second terminal (170.B), wherein the sensor control means (170) has an amplification device (170.1,170.2) for outputting the sensor signal at the second terminal (170.B) in the form of an input signal amplified depending on a parameter of the sensor device (20).

16. Device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a control device (300), and in particular at least one microcontroller, is electrically connected to the signal generating means (130) in order to provide a sensor signal in the form of an oscillating and/or periodic signal, in particular sinusoidal, and in particular to the storage means (250) in order to analyze the amount of charge stored in the storage means (250) after one charge transfer by means of the sensor signal to the storage means (250) and/or the amount of charge accumulated after a plurality of charge transfers, and to carry out said detection in dependence on said analysis, preferably in order to output an activation signal for activating a function of the vehicle (1) when the amount of charge exceeds a limit value.

17. A system, having:

-a device (10) according to one of the preceding claims,

-control means (300) for outputting an activation signal in case of detecting an activation behavior,

-a controller (8) connected to the control device (300) for performing the vehicle (1) function upon receipt of an activation signal.

18. Method for a vehicle (1) for detecting an activation behavior for activating a function of the vehicle (1), in particular for activating an opening and/or unlocking of a hood (1.3,1.6) of the vehicle (1) in a front region, a side region and/or a rear region (1.7,1.4,1.2) of the vehicle (1), for which purpose at least one sensor device (20) is used for measuring an environmental change of the sensor device (20), in particular the approach of an activation means (3), wherein the following steps are carried out:

-providing a sensor signal specific to a parameter of the sensor device (20), wherein the parameter is specific to the measured environmental change and the variable load component,

-adjusting the sensor signal to compensate for the load component,

-repeatedly determining parameters of the sensing device (20) by means of a storage means (250) depending on the sensor signals in order to perform detection of an activation behavior,

wherein the repeatedly determining comprises the steps of:

-dynamically causing the storage mechanism (250) to be electrically connected to the conditioned sensor signal upon repeated determinations.

19. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a device (10) according to one of the preceding claims is operated.

Claims (18)

1. Device (10) for a vehicle (1) for detecting an activation behavior for activating a function of the vehicle (1), in particular for detecting an activation behavior for activating an opening and/or unlocking of a hood (1.3,1.6) of the vehicle (1) in a front region, a side region and/or a rear region (1.7,1.4,1.2) of the vehicle (1), having:

-at least one sensing means (20) for measuring a change in the environment of the sensing means (20), in particular the proximity of the activation means (3),

-a control mechanism (100) electrically connected with the sensing device (20) for providing an electrical sensor signal specific to a parameter of the sensing device (20), wherein the parameter is specific to the measured environmental change,

-analysis means (200) for repeatedly determining parameters of the sensing device (20) by means of transmitting sensor signals to storage means (250) to perform detection of activation behavior,

-analysis filtering means (210) of the analysis means (200) for band-pass filtering and/or transconductance transforming the sensor signal for transmission to the storage means (250).

2. Device (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the control means (100) provide a trigger signal for the electrical triggering of the sensor device (20) in order to initiate the charge transfer in the sensor device (20) by means of the trigger signal, wherein the evaluation filter means (210) provide a band-pass filter with an intermediate frequency and a bandwidth which are adapted to the frequency and in particular the signal shape of the trigger signal in order to suppress disturbing effects on repeated determination and/or on transmission to the storage means (250) and preferably disturbing intrusion effects on the device (10) from the environment.

3. Apparatus (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sensor control means (170) of the control means (100) is electrically connected to the sensor device (20) for initiating a charge transfer between the sensor device (20) and the sensor control means (170) and for providing the sensor signal depending on the charge transfer, wherein the analysis filter means (210) is electrically connected to the storage means (250) and the sensor control means (170) for filtering and transmitting the sensor signal filtered to the storage means (250).

4. Device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the storage means (250) are connected in series to the analysis filter means (210) via an input (250.B) and in that the input resistance of the storage means (250) is so small that a virtual zero is formed at the input (250.B), so that preferably the sensor signal is present at the input (250.B) after being filtered by the analysis filter means (210) in the form of a current signal having a signal shape and/or a frequency which are possessed by a voltage signal and/or a trigger signal of the sensor device (20).

5. Device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the evaluation filter means (210) are designed as passive or active filters.

6. Device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the bandwidth of the analysis filter means (210) is in the range of 100kHz to 1MHz, preferably 250kHz to 450kHz, and/or wherein the frequency is substantially 333 kHz.

7. Device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the control means (100) have filter means (140), in particular an active filter (140) and/or a low-pass filter, in order to provide an electrically triggered signal for the electrical triggering of the sensor device (20) filtered, in particular low-pass filtered, and/or shaped, in order to adjust the emission of the sensor device (20) preferably by means of the filter means (140).

8. Device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the control means (100) have filter means (140), in particular an active filter (140), which connect the signal generation means (130) to the sensor device (20) via a control line (KP) in order to supply the electrical trigger signal generated by the signal generation means (130) to the sensor device (20) via filtering, in particular low-pass filtering, and/or shaping, at the control line (KP) and thus in the form of a filtered electrical signal, preferably a sinusoidal signal.

9. Device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, in addition to the filter means (140) of the control means (100), the evaluation filter means (210) are provided for additionally filtering out the effects of intrusion on the sensor element (20) for determining the parameter, wherein the filter means (140) are preferably designed for filtering the sensor element (20) with a trigger signal and the evaluation filter means (210) are designed for filtering the storage means (250) with a sensor signal.

10. Device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sensor means (20) are designed as sensor electrodes (20) to provide a parameter which is specific to the measurement in the form of a variable Capacitance (CS), wherein a change in the Capacitance (CS) is specific to an environmental change, wherein the device (10) is designed for, for repeated determination:

-repeatedly initiating the transfer of charge between the sensing device (20) and the sensor control means (170) by means of a trigger signal and accordingly

-repeatedly initiating a charge transfer between the sensor control means (170) and a storage means (250), in particular an integrator (250), of the analysis means (200) by means of a sensor signal,

whereby the charge stored by the storage means (250) exclusively corresponds to the variation of the Capacitance (CS).

11. Device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a control device (300) is connected to the storage means (250) of the analysis means (200) in order to analyze the charge stored by the storage means (250) to determine the parameter specific to the measurement, preferably by means of an analog-to-digital conversion of the voltage in the storage means (250), preferably by means of an analog-to-digital converter of the control device (300).

12. Device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the device (10) is at least partially integrated as a capacitive sensor mechanism in a bumper (1.1) of the vehicle (1) for monitoring a rear region (1.2) of the vehicle (1) and for opening a trunk lid (1.3) of the vehicle (1) as a function of the vehicle (1), in particular for facilitating the output of an opening signal and/or a verification check.

13. The device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the device (10) is designed for repeated charging and discharging of the sensor element (20) by electrical triggering of the sensor element, and carrying out a charge transfer from the sensor signal to the storage means (250) in dependence on said charging and/or discharging, wherein the control device (300), and in particular at least one microcontroller, is electrically connected to the signal generating means (130) for initiating an electrical trigger in the signal generating means (130), and/or is electrically connected to the storage means (250) for analyzing the amount of charge stored in the storage means (250) after one charge transfer and/or the amount of charge accumulated after a plurality of charge transfers and performing a detection in dependence on said analysis, in order to output an activation signal for activating a function of the vehicle (1), preferably when the charge quantity exceeds a limit value.

14. Apparatus (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a sensor control means (170) is electrically connected to the sensor device (20) in order to generate a voltage signal with a defined frequency and/or signal shape, preferably a sinusoidal shape, at an output (170.B) in connection with a trigger signal and/or in connection with a charge transfer in the sensor device (20), wherein the analysis filter means (210) are designed for converting the voltage signal into a current signal with substantially the same signal shape and/or frequency for the charge transfer to the storage means (250) in order to obtain the sensor signal in the form of a current signal by means of a transconductance transformation, wherein the signal shape and/or frequency of the voltage signal preferably corresponds to the signal shape and/or frequency of the trigger signal.

15. Device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a rectifying means (220) is connected between the analysis filter means (210) and the storage means (250) in order to carry out, by repeated switching, only a charge transfer to the storage means (250) by means of a sensor signal towards the storage means (250), and preferably to connect the virtual zero point (250.B) of the storage means (250) to the analysis filter means (210) and in particular to the compensation means (230) only in the transfer, and preferably to connect the analysis filter means (210) to ground potential (21) otherwise.

16. A system, having:

-a device (10) according to one of the preceding claims,

-control means (300) for outputting an activation signal in case of detecting an activation behavior,

-a controller (8) connected to the control device (300) for performing the vehicle (1) function upon receipt of an activation signal.

17. Method for a vehicle (1) for detecting an activation behavior for activating a function of the vehicle (1), in particular for activating an opening and/or unlocking of a hood (1.3,1.6) of the vehicle (1) in a front region, a side region and/or a rear region (1.2,1.4,1.7) of the vehicle (1), for which purpose a sensor device (20) is used for measuring an environmental change of the sensor device (20), in particular the approach of an activation means (3), wherein the following steps are carried out:

-providing an electrical sensor signal specific to a parameter of the sensing device (20), wherein the parameter is specific to the measured environmental change,

-repeatedly determining a parameter of the sensing device (20) depending on the transmission of the sensor signal to the storage means (250),

-performing band-pass filtering and/or transconductance transformation of the sensor signal for transmission to the storage means (250).

18. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a device (10) according to one of the preceding claims is operated.

Images