DE102013009671B4 - Collision protection device for a vehicle door and vehicle with a collision protection device - Google Patents

Abstract

Collision protection device (13) for a vehicle door (3,4) of a vehicle (1), the vehicle door (3,4) being reversibly adjustable between a closed position (5) and an open position (7) by means of a servomotor (32), with a Anti-collision sensor (14) for generating a measurement signal which is characteristic of the distance between the vehicle door (3,4) and an object (42) closest to the vehicle door (3,4), the anti-collision sensor (14) being integrated into a cover strip (18 ) to delimit a vehicle side window (9) integrated or mounted on an inner side of the fascia strip (18) or for integration into or mounting on such a fascia strip (18).

Description

The invention relates to a collision protection device for a vehicle door and to a vehicle with such a collision protection device.

In the case of vehicle parts that are automatically adjusted between an open position and a closed position by means of a servomotor, so-called anti-trap devices (hereinafter referred to as anti-trap protection) are used for safety reasons. Such an anti-trap device monitors the adjustment movement of the vehicle part and stops or reverses it when the vehicle part comes into contact with an obstacle or approaches such an obstacle. Such anti-trap protection is known, for example, from the field of motorized window regulators.

Vehicle doors that can be adjusted by electric motors are now also being used in modern vehicles. In these vehicle doors, it is also desirable to prevent the vehicle door from colliding with an obstacle, such as a person or a parallel parked vehicle, in order to prevent damage to the vehicle door and/or damage or injury to the obstacle. There is therefore a need for collision protection devices that automatically monitor the travel of a vehicle door to avoid a collision.

However, the positioning of the sensors of such anti-collision devices is problematic, since on the one hand these sensors have to “see” the entire area around the vehicle door, and on the other hand they have to be integrated as far as possible within the vehicle surface (and in particular not visible) for design reasons and for reasons of the risk of damage and injury must. A concealed arrangement of the sensors is also particularly desirable in order to prevent the sensors from failing due to dirt or vandalism.

Out of DE 10 2009 044 762 A1 It is known to integrate the sensor of a collision protection device for a vehicle door into a side mirror of the vehicle. With this, however, effective collision protection can only be implemented for the front doors of the vehicle, since only these are constantly in the field of view of the sensor. The adjustment area of the rear doors, on the other hand, is regularly covered by the open front doors.

Out of DE 10 2007 062 473 A1 a vehicle door with at least two kinematic degrees of freedom is known. A method for actuating such a vehicle door is also described. An actuator for motorized support of an opening and/or closing movement and/or an unlocking or locking process is assigned to the door. The actuator is operatively connected to at least one sensor device. To control the at least one actuator, the signals from at least one sensor device are evaluated.

Out of DE 10 2005 023 002 A1 a door opening system is known in which the motor vehicle doors are pivoted open by means of a controllable drive unit. With at least one sensor in the vehicle door, the surroundings are scanned when the door is opened and the distances to objects in the surrounding area are measured. While the door is being opened, the current distance between the opening door and the neighboring objects is continuously measured. The distance measurement can be carried out from the sensor signals and the geometric conditions of the motor vehicle door as well as from the installation location of the sensor with a microcontroller using the software implemented for this purpose. The sequence control implemented in the microcontroller is also in communication with an operating unit. The control unit contains an actuator for each door to be opened with the system, with which the driver of the motor vehicle z. B. can start and initiate the sequence control in the microcontroller by pressing a button. The sequencer controls the controllable drive unit of the door opening system via a communication link and opens the door until either a safe distance from an obstacle in the pivoting range of the motor vehicle door is reached or until the door is fully open.

In DE 10 2004 005 225 A1 a driver assistance device is proposed for avoiding a collision of a vehicle door with an obstacle when the vehicle door is opened, in which an output unit is used to output information about the door opening. A measuring unit determines the vehicle's distance from obstacles in order to be able to output this information. When driving past the obstacle, the measurement result of a position is assigned to the travel path of the vehicle. The output unit is used to output a stopping point for opening the vehicle door.

the DE 10 2011 015 122 A1 relates to a door for a motor vehicle, in particular a passenger car, which can be pivoted about a pivot axis in an adjustment range relative to a body of the motor vehicle. The door comprises at least one detection device, by means of which a possible collision of the door with a Hin obstacle can be detected when the door is pivoted in the adjustment range. The detection device is at least essentially integrated in the door in the vertical direction below a belt edge of the door.

Out of DE 10 2008 041 354 A1 a method for automatically opening a vehicle door moved into the open position by a drive and an associated vehicle door opening device are known. An environment detection sensor controls the drive as a function of at least one detected obstacle in such a way that the vehicle door is brought into a collision-free open position with respect to the obstacle.

the DE 10 2007 002 700 A1 relates to a motor vehicle with a vehicle door that closes a door opening and can be unlocked and/or opened via an associated opening device. The motor vehicle also includes an emergency opening device, by means of which the vehicle door can be opened manually, at least in the unlocked state. The opening device is arranged in the area of a door gap between the vehicle door and the corresponding door opening.

The invention is based on the object of specifying a collision protection device which is improved in this respect.

This object is achieved according to the invention by a collision protection device for a vehicle door with the features of claim 1. Advantageous and partly inventive embodiments and further developments of the invention are presented in the dependent claims and the following description.

The collision protection device according to the invention is set up and provided for use in a vehicle door which can be reversibly adjusted from a closed position to an open position by means of a servomotor. For this purpose, the collision protection device comprises a collision protection sensor for generating a measurement signal that is characteristic of the distance between the vehicle door and an object that is closest to the vehicle door.

Here and below, characteristic means that the measurement signal contains quantitative information about the size of the distance between the vehicle door and the closest object, so that the distance can be clearly read from the measurement signal. The measurement signal can directly reflect the size of the distance. However, the measurement signal can also be directly or indirectly proportional to the distance. Furthermore, the measurement signal can also be related to the distance to be determined in a non-linear, for example logarithmic, exponential or polynomial (ie quadratic, cubic, etc.) relationship.

In trouble-free operation, the closest object is understood to be an object that is arranged outside of a travel range that is swept over by the vehicle door during the adjustment from the closed position to the open position. This object therefore does not form an obstacle that would interfere with the adjustment of the vehicle door. In contrast, the collision case is defined by the fact that the nearest object detected by the sensor is located within the travel range swept by the vehicle door and thus represents an obstacle to the adjustment.

According to the invention, the collision protection sensor is integrated in a cover strip or mounted on an inside of the cover strip (facing the vehicle interior), the cover strip delimiting a vehicle side window in the intended final assembly state. In this case, the cover strip forms, in particular, an intrinsic part of the collision protection device. As an alternative to this, the collision protection sensor is present separately from the cover strip when the collision protection device is in the unmounted state. In this case, the anti-collision sensor is set up and provided for integration into the cover strip or for installation behind the cover strip.

The arrangement of the collision protection sensor in or behind the cover strip results in an uninterrupted vehicle surface that is unproblematic in terms of design. In addition, the sensor hidden in the cover strip does not pose any risk of damage or injury and is itself protected against damage. On the other hand, the travel range in front of the vehicle door for the collision protection sensor positioned there can be clearly “seen” from the trim strip bordering the vehicle side window, so that the door opening (also and especially in the case of a rear door) can be effectively monitored by the collision protection sensor.

Preferably, the collision protection device also includes a collision protection control unit, which is set up to use the measurement signal of the collision protection sensor or a test variable derived from the measurement signal to determine whether the closest object is within the Travel range of the vehicle door is located. The collision protection control unit is preferably set up to close the opening of the vehicle door stop or reverse, ie reverse the direction of movement of the vehicle door, when the closest object is located in the travel range and thus forms an obstacle to the adjustment of the vehicle door.

In principle, within the scope of the invention, the fascia strip can delimit any vehicle side window, in particular a vehicle side window rigidly connected to the vehicle body. In a preferred embodiment, however, the fascia strip is set up to delimit a vehicle window (in particular at the rear) that is rigidly mounted in the vehicle door. Such a rigidly installed vehicle window is provided in many vehicle types in addition to a vehicle window that can be lowered by means of a window lifter. In the case of rear doors, the fixed window pane is usually arranged at the rear (i.e. rear side) with respect to the retractable window pane. There is often a gap between the window frame in which the vehicle pane is arranged and the movable vehicle pane for structural reasons, for example due to a rounding of the rear door in the area of a wheel housing of the vehicle. As a rule, this gap cannot be closed by means of the movable pane and is therefore partly closed by the rigid vehicle pane and partly by the cover strip. Behind (on the inside) of the fascia strip there is usually a cavity which is advantageously used for installing the collision protection sensor. Within the scope of the invention, the cover strip can also close the gap on the back of the retractable window pane alone, i.e. without a rigid vehicle pane. In this case, the cover strip is directly adjacent to the retractable vehicle window. The arrangement of the collision protection sensor in or behind the cover strip mounted on the vehicle door advantageously enables almost the entire travel range swept by the vehicle door to be monitored by the collision protection sensor during the entire adjustment process when the vehicle door is opened.

In a preferred embodiment, the collision protection sensor is an optical sensor. This optical sensor is designed in particular as a scanner that scans the travel range with a focused light beam, in particular a laser beam. In the context of the invention, it is conceivable that the optical sensor can be integrated into the cover strip in such a way that the cover strip has a homogeneous, uninterrupted surface on the outside. For this purpose, the cover strip is made, for example, from a material that is transparent to the wavelength of the laser beam.

Within the scope of the invention, however, the anti-collision sensor can also be a radar sensor or a capacitive distance sensor. In this case, the fascia strip is preferably made of plastic, which is transparent to electrical or electromagnetic fields of the wavelengths relevant for radar or capacitive measurements.

In an expedient embodiment, particularly if the collision protection sensor is designed as an optical sensor, the collision protection device comprises a sensor adjustment unit, by means of which the collision protection sensor can be reversibly adjusted between a rest position and a measuring position. In the rest position, the collision protection sensor is advantageously retracted from the vehicle's outer surface, so it is not visible from the outside and is thus protected from dirt and access. In the measuring position, on the other hand, the collision protection sensor protrudes beyond the outer surface of the vehicle in such a way that the upstream travel range can be seen from the collision protection sensor and can therefore be monitored. The sensor adjustment unit is expediently designed in such a way that the cover strip is adjusted automatically, i.e. together with the collision protection sensor. For this purpose, the fascia strip is preferably hinged to the vehicle by means of at least one hinge so that it can be opened to the outside of the vehicle and can be coupled to the collision protection sensor for joint adjustment.

In a further expedient embodiment of the collision protection device, the collision protection control unit is set up to recognize a specific, predetermined movement pattern of a person who is in the vicinity of the vehicle door, in particular when the vehicle door is closed, by evaluating the measurement signal or the test variable derived therefrom, and upon recognition of this movement pattern to initiate an adjustment of the vehicle door (towards the open position or the closed position). In particular, the collision protection control unit is set up to compare the measurement signal or the test variable derived therefrom with a predefined reference pattern that is characteristic of the predefined movement pattern. If the measurement signal or the test variable matches the reference pattern, the movement pattern is recognized by the collision protection control unit.

The collision protection control unit is thus advantageously used both to avoid a collision when the vehicle door moves and to initiate the opening of the vehicle door.

This configuration of the collision protection device is particularly part of a keyless access function to the vehicle (also referred to as "keyless go" or "keyless entry") appropriate. As part of such a keyless entry function, the vehicle doors are unlocked (or locked) when the presence of an electronic vehicle key (remote key) assigned to the vehicle is detected (or when it is detected that the electronic vehicle key is moving away from the vehicle). In an advantageous embodiment, the collision protection control unit is set up to only detect the movement pattern (or at least only cause the door to open when the movement pattern is detected) if the presence of the electronic vehicle key is detected at the same time.

The predetermined reference pattern can, for example, be characteristic of a meaningful hand signal, for example a spreading movement of the thumb from a position placed on the index finger. Furthermore, it is also conceivable within the scope of the invention that, when the vehicle door is open, a further (preferably opposite) hand signal, for example bringing the index finger and thumb together, triggers the closing of the vehicle door. It is also conceivable within the scope of the invention for the front vehicle door or the rear vehicle door to be opened depending on the position and orientation of the person in relation to the vehicle (at the time the hand signal is carried out).

A vehicle according to the invention comprises at least one vehicle door, in particular at least one vehicle door on each side of the vehicle, and a cover strip delimiting the side window of the vehicle. The vehicle also includes a collision protection device of the type described above, which is assigned to the vehicle door.

• 1 in schematischer Draufsicht ein Fahrzeug mit einer Vordertür und einer teilweise geöffneten Fondtür, sowie mit einer Kollisionsschutzvorrichtung mit einem Kollisionsschutzsensor, der an der Fondtür angeordnet ist,
• 2 in einem vergrößerten Ausschnitt II gemäß 1 die Fondtür sowie den an der Fondtür angeordneten Kollisionsschutzsensor,
• 3 in schematischer Seitenansicht die Fondtür mit der zugeordneten Kollisionsschutzvorrichtung, und
• 4 in Ansicht gemäß 2 die Fondtür mit einer im Stellwegbereich angeordneten Hand einer Person, die ein Bewegungsmuster ausführt.

An exemplary embodiment of the invention is explained in more detail below with reference to a drawing. Show in it:

• 1 in a schematic top view, a vehicle with a front door and a partially open rear door, and with a collision protection device with a collision protection sensor, which is arranged on the rear door,
• 2 in an enlarged section according to II 1 the rear door and the collision protection sensor located on the rear door,
• 3 in a schematic side view the rear door with the associated collision protection device, and
• 4 in view according to 2 the rear door with a person's hand placed in the range of the travel and performing a movement pattern.

Corresponding parts are always provided with the same reference symbols in all figures.

In 1 a vehicle 1 is shown, which is configured as a sedan, for example, and thus has two vehicle doors arranged one behind the other, viewed in the direction of travel 2 . The front vehicle door is referred to here as the front door 3 and the rear vehicle door as the rear door 4 . Both vehicle doors can be automatically pivoted along a travel X between a closed position 5 and an open position 7 . In the closed position 5, the respective vehicle door is in contact with the vehicle body (see front door 3 in 1 ). In the open position 7 (see dashed representation in 1 ) the respective vehicle door is swung out by about 80° to the direction of travel 2.

The rear door 4 has a front vehicle window 8 in the direction of travel 2, which can be lowered reversibly by means of a window lifter, not shown in detail. The front vehicle window 8 is bounded at the rear by a vehicle window (hereinafter referred to as rigid window 9) rigidly mounted on the rear door 4. The rigid pane 9 is located in a gap between the vehicle pane 8 and a rear edge 10 of the door. This gap is arranged above a rounded wheel housing 11 of the rear door 4 and can therefore not be covered by the movable vehicle pane 8 (see 3 ).

When the rear door 4 is opened, i.e. when it is moved from the closed position 5 to the open position 7, the rear door 4 covers a range of travel 12. In order to prevent the rear door 4 from hitting an obstacle that is arranged within the range of travel 12 when opening, does the vehicle 1 include a (in 3 shown in more detail) collision protection device 13. The collision protection device 13 in turn has a collision protection sensor 14, which is designed as a laser scanner and scans the travel range 12 by means of a (focused laser) light beam 16. The collision protection sensor 14 is arranged behind (on the vehicle interior side) a trim strip 18 .

The fascia strip 18 connects to the rear (rear side) of the fixed window 9 and covers its rear edge towards the rear edge 10 of the door. The fascia strip 18 is articulated on the back (rear side) so that it can move on the rear door 4 in such a way that it can be opened in the opposite direction to the direction of travel 2 . The arranged behind the cover bar 18 collision protection sensor 14 can from its hidden behind the cover bar 18 rest position in one in the 1 until 3 shown measuring position 20 out will drive. For this purpose, the collision protection sensor 14, as in 3 is indicated, coupled to a sensor control unit 22, by means of which the collision protection sensor 14 and the cover strip 18 are moved together between the measuring position 20 and the rest position. In the rest position, the fascia strip 18 is flush with the vehicle surface at a closing edge 24 on the rear door 4 and the collision protection sensor 14 is hidden behind the fascia strip 18 .

As in 3 is shown, the collision protection device 13 comprises a collision protection control unit 30 which is coupled in terms of circuitry to the collision protection sensor 14 and the sensor control unit 22 . The collision protection control unit 30 is further coupled to a door actuator motor 32 . The door control motor 32 acts on a door hinge 36 by means of a door mechanism 34 in order to move the rear door 4 between the closed position 5 and the open position 7 .

The collision protection control unit 30 is set up to activate the sensor adjustment unit 22 when the rear door 4 is opened in such a way that the collision protection sensor 14 is adjusted into the measuring position 20 . The collision protection control unit 30 then controls the collision protection sensor 14 in such a way that a surface referred to as a scanning surface 40 is scanned in a line, ie along a plurality of parallel lines, by means of the light beam 16 . The scanning surface 40 corresponds to almost the entire outer surface of the rear door 4. By means of triangulation or interferometry, the distance between the rear door 4 and a nearest object, for example the in 4 illustrated hand 42 of a person determined. In the event that the distance between the rear door 4 and the closest object is so small that it is located within the travel range 12, the closest object is interpreted by the collision protection control unit 30 as an obstacle. In this case, the opening of the rear door 4 is stopped by the collision protection control unit 30 . For this purpose, the collision protection control unit 30 outputs a stop signal S to the door control motor 32 .

In an optional version, shown in 4 , the collision protection control unit 30 is additionally set up to recognize a movement pattern of the hand 42 of a vehicle user which is arranged in the travel range 10 . If this movement pattern matches a reference pattern stored in collision protection control unit 30, collision protection control unit 30 outputs an opening signal O to door actuator motor 32 in order to move rear door 4 to open position 7 (in 4 represented by the dashed arrow). For example, the movement pattern is a spreading movement of index finger 46 and thumb 48 of hand 42, indicated by arrow 44.

reference list

1

vehicle

2

driving direction

3

In front of the door

4

rear door

5

closed position

7

open position

8th

vehicle window

9

rigid disk

10

rear edge of door

11

wheel arch curve

12

travel range

13

anti-collision device

14

anti-collision sensor

16

(laser) light beam

18

fascia bar

20

measuring position

22

sensor actuator

24

closing edge

30

collision protection control unit

32

door actuator

34

door mechanism

36

door hinge

40

scan surface

42

hand

44

Arrow

46

index finger

48

Thumb

X

travel

S

stop signal

O

opening signal

Claims (6)

Collision protection device (13) for a vehicle door (3,4) of a vehicle (1), the vehicle door (3,4) being reversibly adjustable between a closed position (5) and an open position (7) by means of a servomotor (32), with a Anti-collision sensor (14) for generating a measurement signal which is characteristic of the distance between the vehicle door (3,4) and an object (42) closest to the vehicle door (3,4), the collision protection sensor (14) being integrated into a cover strip (18) for delimiting a vehicle side window (9 ) integrated or mounted on an inside of the fascia strip (18) or set up for integration into or mounting on such a fascia strip (18). Anti-collision device (13) after claim 1 , wherein the fascia strip (18), in its intended installation state, delimits a vehicle window (9) rigidly installed in the vehicle door (3, 4), in particular at the rear. Anti-collision device (13) after claim 1 or 2 , wherein the anti-collision sensor (14) is an optical sensor. Collision protection device (13) according to one of Claims 1 until 3 , with a sensor adjustment unit (22) for the reversible adjustment of the collision protection sensor (14) from a retracted rest position relative to the vehicle outer surface into a measuring position (20) projecting beyond the vehicle outer surface. Collision protection device (13) according to one of Claims 1 until 4 , with a collision protection control unit (30) which is set up to recognize a specific predefined movement pattern of the object (42) when the vehicle door (3,4) is closed by evaluating the measurement signal of the collision protection sensor (14) or a test variable derived therefrom, and upon recognition initiate this movement pattern without adjusting the vehicle door (3.4). Vehicle (1) with at least one vehicle door (3,4), with a cover strip (18) delimiting a vehicle side window (9), and with a collision protection device (13) assigned to the vehicle door (3,4) according to one of the Claims 1 until 5 .

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