CN214365543U

CN214365543U - Vehicle-mounted door handle device and vehicle

Info

Publication number: CN214365543U
Application number: CN202022379965.XU
Authority: CN
Inventors: 何增龙
Original assignee: Guangzhou Xiaopeng Motors Technology Co Ltd
Current assignee: Guangzhou Xiaopeng Motors Technology Co Ltd
Priority date: 2020-10-22
Filing date: 2020-10-22
Publication date: 2021-10-08
Anticipated expiration: 2030-10-22

Abstract

The application discloses vehicle door handle device and vehicle, vehicle door handle device includes door handle and heating element, heating element sets up on the door handle, heating element is used for heating the door handle. The vehicle-mounted door handle device comprises a heating assembly, wherein the heating assembly heats the door handle, so that frost attached to the door handle is unfrozen, the door handle can be smoothly ejected out of a vehicle door, and normal operation of the door handle in cold climate is guaranteed.

Description

Vehicle-mounted door handle device and vehicle

Technical Field

The application relates to the technical field of automobiles, in particular to an on-vehicle door handle device and a vehicle.

Background

With the development of automobile technology, the hidden door handle is gradually popularized on the automobile. A concealed door handle is a handle structure that can be housed within a vehicle door. Hidden door handles help reduce windage. However, a hidden door handle can be frozen and cannot open the door when the weather is cold. There is an urgent need for a solution to the problem of the hidden door handle being frozen.

SUMMERY OF THE UTILITY MODEL

The embodiment of the application provides an on-vehicle door handle device and a vehicle.

A vehicle door handle device of an embodiment of the present application includes a door handle and a heating assembly provided on the door handle for heating the door handle.

The vehicle-mounted door handle device comprises a heating assembly, wherein the heating assembly heats the door handle, so that frost attached to the door handle is unfrozen, the door handle can be smoothly ejected out of a vehicle door, and normal operation of the door handle in cold climate is guaranteed.

In certain embodiments, the heating assembly is housed within the door handle.

In some embodiments, the vehicle door handle apparatus includes a motor coupled to the door handle, the motor configured to drive the door handle to move relative to a vehicle door such that one end of the door handle is positioned outside the vehicle door.

In some embodiments, the vehicle door handle device includes a power source and a booster circuit connected between the power source and the motor, the booster circuit being configured to boost a voltage of the power source to supply the boosted voltage to the motor.

In some embodiments, the vehicle door handle apparatus includes a diode connected in parallel across the boost circuit.

In some embodiments, the vehicle door handle device includes a drive circuit connected between the voltage boost circuit and the motor, the drive circuit being configured to drive the motor to rotate.

In some embodiments, the vehicle door handle apparatus includes a microcontroller configured to control operation of at least one of the drive circuit, the boost circuit, and the heating assembly.

In some embodiments, the vehicle door handle apparatus includes a power source and a switch unit connected between the power source and the heating assembly.

In some embodiments, the heating assembly comprises a heating wire.

A vehicle of an embodiment of the present application includes a vehicle door on which the door handle is provided, and the vehicle-mounted door handle device of any of the above embodiments.

Additional aspects and advantages of the present application will be set forth in part in the description which follows and, in part, will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the present application.

Drawings

The above and/or additional aspects and advantages of the present application will become apparent and readily appreciated from the following description of the embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which:

fig. 1 is a schematic structural view of a vehicle door handle device according to an embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of the position of a door and door handle of an embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional schematic view of a door handle of an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 4 is a schematic structural view of a door handle of the embodiment of the present application;

fig. 5 is still another structural schematic view of the door handle of the embodiment of the present application;

fig. 6 is a schematic structural diagram of a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present application.

Description of the main element symbols:

a vehicle 1000;

a vehicle door 1100, a vehicle door handle device 100, a power source 110, a door handle 200, a first end portion 210, a second end portion 220, a heating unit 300, a heating wire 310, a motor 400, a booster circuit 500, a diode 600, a drive circuit 700, a microcontroller 800, and a switch unit 900.

Detailed Description

Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments of the present application, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like or similar reference numerals refer to the same or similar elements or elements having the same or similar function throughout. The embodiments described below with reference to the accompanying drawings are illustrative and are only for the purpose of explaining the present application and are not to be construed as limiting the present application.

In this application, unless expressly stated or limited otherwise, the first feature "on" or "under" the second feature may comprise direct contact of the first and second features, or may comprise contact of the first and second features not directly but through another feature in between. Also, the first feature being "on," "above" and "over" the second feature includes the first feature being directly on and obliquely above the second feature, or merely indicating that the first feature is at a higher level than the second feature. A first feature being "under," "below," and "beneath" a second feature includes the first feature being directly under and obliquely below the second feature, or simply meaning that the first feature is at a lesser elevation than the second feature.

The following disclosure provides many different embodiments or examples for implementing different features of the application. To simplify the disclosure of the present application, the components and settings of a specific example are described below. Of course, they are merely examples and are not intended to limit the present application. Moreover, the present application may repeat reference numerals and/or reference letters in the various examples, which have been repeated for purposes of brevity and clarity and do not in themselves dictate a relationship between the various embodiments and/or configurations discussed. In addition, examples of various specific processes and materials are provided herein, but one of ordinary skill in the art may recognize applications of other processes and/or use of other materials.

Referring to fig. 1 and 2, the present embodiment provides a vehicle door handle device 100, the vehicle door handle device 100 includes a door handle 200 and a heating element 300, the heating element 300 is disposed on the door handle 200, and the heating element 300 is used for heating the door handle 200.

The door handle device 100 for a vehicle according to the embodiment of the present invention includes the heating member 300, and the heating member 300 heats the door handle 200 to thaw frost attached to the door handle 200, so that the door handle 200 can be smoothly ejected from the vehicle door 1100, thereby ensuring the normal operation of the door handle 200 in cold weather.

In the embodiment of the present application, the vehicle door handle device 100 can be applied to a hidden door handle 200 of a vehicle, and the hidden door handle 200 can make the lines of the vehicle body smoother, thereby helping to reduce the wind resistance and increasing the cruising ability of the vehicle. The hidden door handle 200 is embedded in the vehicle door 1100, and when a user needs to use the hidden door handle 200, the user can send a signal through a vehicle key to enable the hidden door handle 200 to be ejected by himself, and then the user opens the vehicle door 1100 through the door handle 200.

Specifically, in cold rainy and snowy weather, so that the door handle 200 is frozen, the door handle 200 cannot be normally ejected. After the door handle 200 cannot be ejected for a plurality of times, the automobile system sends a signal to control the heating assembly 300 to start heating, heat is transferred to the door handle 200, and frost on the door handle 200 is gradually ablated. The heating time of the heating assembly 300 is different for different vehicle models. In one embodiment, the heating assembly 300 may preset a heating duration of one minute, and when the door handle 200 cannot be ejected, the heating assembly 300 starts to heat the door handle 200. After one minute of heating, door handle 200 attempts to eject, and if it fails, heating element 300 continues to heat for one minute, then door handle 200 attempts to eject again, and so on, creating a cycle until the frost is completely ablated and door handle 200 is normally ejected.

In another embodiment, one or more temperature sensors may be placed on the door handle 200, which may detect the temperature of the door handle 200, and the temperature sensors may be set to detect every 10 seconds. When the door handle 200 cannot be ejected and the temperature sensor detects that the temperature of the door handle 200 does not reach the set temperature, the vehicle system controls the heating member 300 to heat the door handle 200. The temperature sensor continuously detects that the heating assembly 300 is continuously heated when the temperature of the door handle 200 is detected not to reach the set temperature. The set temperature is a temperature that can ensure the frost on the door handle 200 to be melted, and after the temperature sensor detects that the temperature of the door handle 200 reaches the set temperature, the heating assembly 300 stops heating, and the door handle 200 is normally ejected. In this way, the manner in which the temperature sensor continuously detects, the heating power of the heating assembly 300 can also be determined for specific weather conditions. The door handle 200 is prevented from being heated for a long time by the heating assembly 300, and the excessive temperature and the energy waste of the door handle 200 are avoided.

In some embodiments, the heating assembly 300 can increase the heating power and reduce the duration of heating to reduce the waiting time of the user and avoid the problem of long waiting time of the user. In some embodiments, the user may also remotely control the heating assembly 300 to heat the door handle 200 by the car key, the door handle 200 is heated to a set temperature, and the door handle 200 does not pop up; when the user holds the car key close, the door handle 200 is normally ejected.

Referring to fig. 1, 2 and 3, in some embodiments, the heating element 300 is housed within the door handle 200.

In this manner, it is ensured that heat generated by the heating assembly 300 is transferred to the door handle 200, so that frost on the door handle 200 is ablated.

Specifically, the door handle 200 may have a hollow structure, and the hollow portion of the door handle 200 forms an accommodating space in which the heating assembly 300 may be placed. While the door handle 200 may be made of metal or thermally conductive plastic, etc., the heat generated by the heating assembly 300 may be transferred from the inside of the door handle 200 to the frost on the outside of the door handle 200. The heating assembly 300 is accommodated in the door handle 200, so that the door handle 200 can be heated more uniformly, and the problem of local overheating in the joining process is avoided. In addition, the hollow structure may reduce consumables, and may further reduce the weight of the vehicle door 1100.

Referring to fig. 2, 4 and 5, in some embodiments, vehicle door handle apparatus 100 includes a motor 400, motor 400 coupled to door handle 200, motor 400 configured to drive door handle 200 relative to vehicle door 1100 such that one end of door handle 200 is positioned outside of vehicle door 1100.

In this way, the motor 400 drives the door handle 200, ensuring the normal ejection of the door handle 200.

Specifically, the door handle 200 may be provided to be rotatable with respect to the vehicle door 1100, or may be provided to be movable with respect to the vehicle door 1100. The door handle 200 may be elongated, and the elongated door handle 200 may include two ends, a first end 210 and a second end 220.

In some embodiments, door handle 200 may be rotatably disposed relative to vehicle door 1100. The first end portion 210 may be connected to a motor 400 inside the vehicle door 1100, the motor 400 may be connected to the first end portion 210 through a gear structure, the motor 400 provides a torque, and the second end portion 220 may rotate relative to the first end portion 210 such that the second end portion 220 rotates outside the vehicle door 1100. At normal times, the second end 220 is embedded in the vehicle door 1100 to form the hidden door handle 200, and the second end 220 is not physically connected to the vehicle door 1100. So, make the whole more pleasing to the eye of car on the one hand, on the other hand can make the automobile body lines more smooth, helps reducing the windage, increases vehicle 1000 duration. In practical use, a user uses a car key to send a door opening signal, an automobile system receives the door opening signal and controls the motor 400 to rotate, the motor 400 rotates to drive the door handle 200 to rotate outwards, a space capable of containing a hand of the user is formed between the door handle 200 and the car door 1100, and the user manually holds the door handle 200 to open the car door 1100. In addition, when the user needs to close the door, the motor 400 may also retract the door handle 200 that has been ejected.

In some embodiments, door handle 200 may be movably disposed relative to vehicle door 1100. The first end portion 210 and the second end portion 220 can be simultaneously connected to the motor 400 in the vehicle door 1100, and the motor 400 drives the first end portion 210 and the second end portion 220 to move outwards and pop out relative to the vehicle door 1100. During ejection, the first end 210 and the second end 220 are simultaneously connected to the vehicle door 1100, while the portion between the first end 210 and the second end 220 is not connected, so that there is enough space to accommodate the user's hand. The recessed door handle 200 is formed by embedding the first end 210 and the second end 220 in the vehicle door 1100 at ordinary times. It is understood that the motor 400 and the door handle 200 may have a transmission for converting a rotational motion generated by the motor 400 into a translational motion of the door handle 200.

In practical use, a user uses a car key to send a door opening signal, an automobile system receives the door opening signal and controls the motor 400 to rotate, the motor 400 rotates to drive the door handle 200 to move outwards, a space capable of accommodating the hand of the user is formed between the door handle 200 and the car door 1100, and the user manually holds the door handle 200 to open the car door 1100. In addition, when the user needs to close the door, the motor 400 may also drive the door handle 200 that has been ejected to retract.

Referring to fig. 1 and 2, in some embodiments, the vehicle door handle apparatus 100 includes a power source 110 and a voltage boost circuit 500, the voltage boost circuit 500 is connected between the power source 110 and the motor 400, and the voltage boost circuit 500 is configured to boost a voltage of the power source 110 to supply the boosted voltage to the motor 400.

In this way, the voltage boost circuit 500 can increase the torque of the motor 400, so that the door handle 200 can be easily broken to break the ice layer and be ejected.

Specifically, the power source 110 is used to provide electrical energy to the motor 400, driving rotation of the motor 400, which in turn causes the door handle 200 to eject. The power source 110 may be a battery of an automobile, which may provide a supply voltage of a 12V lead acid battery. The voltage boosting circuit 500 can transmit the voltage boosting of the power source 110 to the motor 400, or the potential of the power source 110 is boosted after passing through the voltage boosting circuit 500. The motor 400 is driven by a higher voltage to generate a larger torque, so that the ejection torque of the door handle 200 is increased, and the door handle 200 is ejected by breaking the ice layer more easily. In some embodiments, a plurality of different boosting circuits 500 may be connected between the power source 110 and the motor 400, so that different voltage steps exist in the boosting process, and when the ice layer is not broken by the low-step boosting circuit 500, the motor 400 is driven to rotate by the higher-step boosting circuit 500.

Illustratively, the voltage of 12V supplied by the power source 110 is 24V after passing through the voltage boosting circuit 500, and the voltage received by the motor 400 is 2 times the original voltage. The current I at the motor 400 is calculated according to equation (1):

where R is the equivalent internal resistance of the motor 400, the equivalent internal resistance is unchanged. U is a voltage applied to motor 400, and the voltage becomes 2 times the original voltage after passing through booster circuit 500. Therefore, as can be seen from equation (1), the current I passing through the motor 400 becomes 2 times the original current. And the ampere force F generated by the motor 400 under the current is calculated according to the formula (2):

F＝B*I*L……(2)

wherein, B is the magnetic field intensity of the motor 400 of the door handle 200, the magnetic field intensity B of the motor 400 of the door handle 200 is determined by the permanent magnet in the motor 400, and the magnetic field intensity of the same motor 400 is not changed. The current I is the magnitude of the current flowing through the coil in the motor 400. L is the length of the coil within the magnetic field of the motor 400, and the length of the coil is unchanged when the motor 400 is unchanged. The ampere force F is also 2 times the original when the current through the coil of the motor 400 is 2 times the original. The ampere force F is represented by the magnitude of the eject force when the door handle 200 is ejected, that is, when the power supply voltage of the motor 400 of the door handle 200 is increased by 1 time, the eject force of the door handle 200 can be increased by 1 time.

Referring to fig. 1 and 2, in some embodiments, the vehicle door handle device 100 includes a diode 600, and the diode 600 is connected in parallel across the voltage boost circuit 500.

Thus, the door handle 200 is ensured to be ejected in a normal state, and the power supply 110 is prevented from being damaged due to the fact that high voltage flows back to the storage battery.

Illustratively, the diode 600 is connected in parallel between the input terminal and the output terminal of the voltage boost circuit 500, the diode 600 has a unidirectional conductivity, and the current flows from the power source 110 to the motor 400 through the diode 600 and cannot flow in the reverse direction. In one embodiment, when the door handle 200 is not frozen, the power source 110 supplies power to the motor 400 through the diode 600, and the motor 400 drives the door handle 200 to normally eject. In another embodiment, when the door handle 200 is frozen by frost, the power source 110 supplies power to the motor 400 through the voltage boosting circuit 500, and after passing through the voltage boosting circuit 500, the voltage is boosted, so that the motor 400 has a larger torque, and the door handle 200 is driven to burst the frost and be ejected. In yet another embodiment, the power source 110 supplies power to the motor 400 through the voltage boosting circuit 500, but the door handle 200 does not burst the frost, the heating assembly 300 heats the door handle 200 to melt the frost, the power source 110 supplies power to the motor 400 through the voltage boosting circuit 500, and the door handle 200 bursts the frost and is normally ejected.

Referring to fig. 1 and 2, in some embodiments, the vehicle door handle apparatus 100 includes a driving circuit 700, the driving circuit 700 is connected between the voltage boosting circuit 500 and the motor 400, and the driving circuit 700 is configured to drive the motor 400 to rotate.

In this manner, the driving circuit 700 ensures the normal operation of the motor 400, and the forward rotation and the reverse rotation of the motor 400 are realized by the driving circuit 700.

Specifically, the driving circuit 700 may implement forward and reverse rotation of the motor 400, thereby controlling the pop-up and the retraction of the door handle 200. The driving circuit 700 may be a driving chip of the H-bridge motor 400, and the specific type of the chip is not limited, for example, the driving chip may be DRV8872-Q1, which is sufficient for the requirements. When the door handle 200 is not frozen, the electric power provided by the power source 110 passes through the diode 600, the driving circuit 700 and the motor 400 in sequence, and finally the door handle 200 is driven to be normally ejected. When the door handle 200 is frozen, the electric energy provided by the power source 110 sequentially passes through the booster circuit 500, the driving circuit 700 and the motor 400, and finally drives the door handle 200 to open ice and eject.

Referring to fig. 1 and 2, in some embodiments, in-vehicle door handle device 100 includes a Microcontroller (MCU) 800, and microcontroller 800 is configured to control at least one of drive circuit 700, boost circuit 500, and heating element 300.

In this manner, the microcontroller 800 ensures the switching of the door handle 200 in both the normal eject and icebreaking eject modes.

Specifically, the microcontroller 800 may be a single chip microcomputer, and the microcontroller 800 may control operations of the driving circuit 700, the boosting circuit 500, and the heating assembly 300. The microcontroller 800 may control only any one of the driving circuit 700, the boosting circuit 500 and the heating assembly 300 to operate; the microcontroller 800 can also control any two of the driving circuit 700, the boosting circuit 500 and the heating assembly 300 to work; microcontroller 800 may also control the operation of all three of drive circuit 700, boost circuit 500, and heating assembly 300.

The microcontroller 800 may also be connected to an enable pin of the voltage boost circuit 500 to control the power supply circuit that the power supply 110 powers, i.e., the microcontroller 800 controls the connection state of the diode 600 or the voltage boost circuit 500. In one embodiment, the door handle 200 is not frozen, the microcontroller 800 turns off the enable pin, and the power supply 110 enters the power pin of the driving circuit 700 of the motor 400 through the diode 600 to control the door handle 200 to eject normally.

In another embodiment, the door handle 200 cannot be normally ejected by the frozen door handle 200, the microcontroller 800 opens the enable pin, the power source 110 enters the power pin of the driving circuit 700 of the motor 400 through the voltage boosting circuit 500, and the door handle 200 is controlled to eject with a larger torque.

In yet another embodiment, the door handle 200 cannot be normally ejected by the frozen door handle 200, the microcontroller 800 controls the heating assembly 300 to heat the door handle 200 to melt the frost, the microcontroller 800 turns off the enable pin, and the power supply 110 enters the power pin of the driving circuit 700 of the motor 400 through the diode 600 to control the door handle 200 to be normally ejected.

In still another embodiment, the door handle 200 cannot be normally ejected by the frozen door handle 200, the microcontroller 800 controls the heating assembly 300 to heat the door handle 200 to melt the frost, the microcontroller 800 opens the enable pin, the power source 110 enters the power pin of the driving circuit 700 of the motor 400 through the voltage boosting circuit 500, and the door handle 200 is controlled to eject with a larger torque.

In addition, the microcontroller 800 can also control the magnitude of the output voltage of the voltage boost circuit 500, the microcontroller 800 opens the enable pin, the power supply 110 enters the power supply pin of the driving circuit 700 of the motor 400 through the voltage boost circuit 500, and the rising voltage value can be continuously tried, and the door handle 200 is tried for a plurality of times until the ice breaking is successful, but the highest output voltage cannot exceed the tolerable safe voltage of the motor 400. If the ice layer cannot be broken even at the highest voltage, the door handle 200 is tried to break the ice after the heating element 300 is turned on to heat the ice layer.

Referring to fig. 1 and 2, in some embodiments, the vehicle door handle apparatus 100 includes a switch unit 900, and the switch unit 900 is connected between the power source 110 and the heating assembly 300.

In this manner, the heating process of the heating assembly 300 may be controlled by the switching unit 900.

Illustratively, the switching unit 900 may be a MOS transistor having three pins, wherein one control pin may be connected to the microcontroller 800. In this way, the microcontroller 800 may control the connection state of the other two pins of the MOS transistor, and the other two pins are respectively connected to the power source 110 and the heating assembly 300, so as to control the operating state of the heating assembly 300 through the microcontroller 800 and the switch unit 900.

The microcontroller 800 may also be connected to the vehicle system to process various signals. For example, when the door handle 200 cannot be ejected many times or the temperature sensor detects that the temperature of the door handle 200 is low, the car system transmits a signal to the microcontroller 800, and the microcontroller 800 controls the switch unit 900 such that the switch unit 900 connects the power source 110 and the heating assembly 300, and the heating assembly 300 operates to melt the frost on the door handle 200.

Referring to fig. 1 and 2, in some embodiments, the heating element 300 includes a heating wire 310.

As such, the heating assembly 300 generates heat through the heating wire 310, and the heat generated by the heating assembly 300 is transferred to the door handle 200, so that frost on the door handle 200 is ablated.

Specifically, the heating wire 310 and the door handle 200 are not in direct contact, and there is a material capable of conducting heat and electricity, or the heating assembly 300 further includes a heat conducting element, which is a material capable of conducting heat and electricity, such as ceramic. Thus, the safety can be further improved, and the heat generated by the heating wire 310 can be smoothly conducted to the door handle 200 through the heat conducting element, so that the frost on the door handle 200 is melted.

Referring to fig. 6, a vehicle 1000 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a vehicle door 1100 and the vehicle door handle device 100 according to any of the above embodiments, and a door handle 200 is provided on the vehicle door 1100.

The vehicle 1000 according to the embodiment of the present invention may be a pure electric vehicle or another powered vehicle without being limited to the type, and the vehicle 1000 may be provided with the in-vehicle door handle device 100 according to any of the above embodiments.

In the description of the embodiments of the present application, the terms "first", "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and are not to be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly indicating the number of technical features indicated. Thus, features defined as "first", "second", may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of the described features. In the description of the embodiments of the present application, "a plurality" means two or more unless specifically defined otherwise.

In the description herein, references to the description of the terms "one embodiment," "some embodiments," "an illustrative embodiment," "an example," "a specific example," or "some examples" or the like mean that a particular feature, structure, material, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment or example is included in at least one embodiment or example of the present application. In this specification, schematic representations of the above terms do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, materials, or characteristics described may be combined in any suitable manner in any one or more embodiments or examples.

Although embodiments of the present application have been shown and described above, it is to be understood that the above embodiments are exemplary and not to be construed as limiting the present application, and that changes, modifications, substitutions and alterations can be made to the above embodiments by those of ordinary skill in the art within the scope of the present application.

Claims

1. A vehicle door handle device, characterized by comprising:

a door handle; and

a heating assembly provided on the door handle, the heating assembly for heating the door handle;

the vehicle door handle device includes a motor connected to the door handle, the motor being configured to drive the door handle to move relative to a vehicle door such that one end of the door handle is positioned outside the vehicle door.

2. The vehicle door handle apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the heating assembly is housed within the door handle.

3. The vehicle door handle device according to claim 1, comprising a power source and a booster circuit connected between the power source and the motor, the booster circuit being configured to boost a voltage of the power source to supply the motor.

4. The vehicle door handle device according to claim 3, wherein the vehicle door handle device includes a diode connected in parallel across the booster circuit.

5. The vehicle door handle device according to claim 3, comprising a drive circuit connected between the voltage boosting circuit and the motor, the drive circuit being configured to drive the motor to rotate.

6. The vehicle door handle apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the vehicle door handle apparatus includes a microcontroller configured to control operation of at least one of the drive circuit, the booster circuit, and the heating component.

7. The vehicle door handle apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle door handle apparatus includes a power source and a switch unit connected between the power source and the heating assembly.

8. The vehicle door handle apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the heating member includes a heating wire.

9. A vehicle, characterized by comprising:

a vehicle door; and

the vehicle door handle apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the door handle is provided on the vehicle door.