EP1246987B1 - Vehicle equipped with a system for remote control of an opening panel and system for producing such control - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to vehicles, in particular motor vehicles, which are equipped with systems for remote action at least one of their opening, for example at the level of a boot opening, to trigger the opening or closing. It also concerns systems allowing the realization of such an order.

There are, to date, a number of motor vehicles equipped with "hands free" access systems allowing a user to act on a vehicle, from outside the vehicle, if that user has an identifier transponder type, which is recognized by a transceiver recognition, fitted to the vehicle when it is in a defined geographical area in the vicinity of the vehicle. Such access system acts, for example, on the mechanism of locking / unlocking the locks of the openings of a motor vehicle, in order to allow the opening of these doors by one or more users, to from the moment when the recognition device, which includes the vehicle, detected the presence at a suitable distance of a given identifier.

There is usually no automatic opening of all openings of a vehicle and in particular of a motor vehicle, by the access system, in addition to unlocking the locks, insofar as such an opening complete simultaneous of all the openings does not necessarily have an interest in the case of motor vehicles. Such an opening could be a source of risks for a swing-open vehicle, and for this who would then be in his environment. However, it can be convenient for a user to be able to control the opening and / or the closing one of the openings, for example a door with lateral opening or a boot lid, without having to manipulate a control member. This has of interest, for example, for a user who wants to get into a vehicle a load he carries in his hands, without having to put this load to manually make the opening of the opening, or alternatively to close an opening when he has his hands full.

A means must then be provided for the user to trigger the opening and / or closing of an opening, according to his will, from the moment where he fulfills the conditions required to obtain such an opening.

A known remote control system makes it possible to control a automatic opening of a boot lid, it includes sensors that are arranged in the vicinity of the trunk, for example on either side of the license plate adjoining this trunk, and which are able to detect the presence of a hand nearby. The safe opening command is triggered by the successive detection of a user's hand in front of each of the sensors. This detection of successive presences of a hand in front of each of the detectors during the command movement by back and forth is planned to limit the risks of triggering by a user, or even by a third party, making gestures at the sensor level, without intention to order the opening. On the other hand, the triggering of a command by a movement of this kind is not necessarily practical, especially when the user is carrying a load that is not easy to handle, for example because of its size or weight.

Also known is document FR 2733783 which discloses a device in accordance with the preamble of claim 1. The invention proposes a control system for opening a vehicle and in particular for opening trunk of a vehicle, such as a vehicle automobile, this system being arranged to allow a user to act in distance on an actuator mechanism linked to the opening and housed in the vehicle.

According to one feature of the invention, the control system comprises means, at the vehicle level, to control at least one action of the actuator mechanism, from the signals produced by sensors of movement, when the same movement detected through these sensors according to their respective preferred axes is reflected by a movement determined according to a resulting axis whose orientation is a function of the combination of sensors realized.

According to a variant of the invention, the control system comprises means through which the speed of movement, along the axis preferred sensor or along the axis resulting from the sensors of the system of command, which is determined from the signals provided by each sensor, is used for the control of the actuator mechanism, in case detection of a movement.

According to a variant of the invention, the control system comprises means through which the distance traveled, according to the privileged axis of the sensor or along the axis resulting from the sensors of the control system, which is determined from the signals provided by each sensor, is exploited for controlling the actuator mechanism, in case of detection of a movement, in particular, for race control or opening purposes angular, at the actuator mechanism.

According to the invention, the orientation of the sensor (s) on the vehicle is fixed by way that the privileged axis of each sensor of the control system which is associated with the actuator mechanism of an opening is oriented to detect movements taking place in at least one of the corresponding directions respectively in the sense of opening or closing of the opening.

According to the invention, the vehicle comprises an opening actuator mechanism which is a mechanical or electromechanical assembly ensuring the opening and / or closing of the opening.

According to a variant of the invention, the vehicle comprises a system of door control which is associated with a "hands-free" access device controlling the locking and unlocking of at least one lock opening a vehicle.

According to a variant of the invention, the opening control system acts on an actuating mechanism ensuring the opening and / or closing of an opening, and includes, for this purpose, one or more motion sensors disposed on opening it or near the opening on the vehicle.

According to a variant of the invention, the control system comprises one or more motion sensors, ultrasonic transceivers or signals microwave.

According to a variant of the invention, the control system comprises means for controlling an opening actuator mechanism which are designed to determine the control action to be performed according to the direction of the displacement, as defined from the signals provided by the one or more sensors, preferably from a predetermined value of minimum threshold of displacement.

According to a variant of the invention, the direction of movement determined, necessary at the control of an opening when opening or closing by a mechanism actuator under the control of the means for controlling this mechanism, is chosen to correspond to the direction of opening movement or closure of the opening which is requested.

La figure 1 présente un schéma d'un système de commande destiné à permettre à un utilisateur d'agir à distance au niveau d'un mécanisme lié à un ouvrant d'un véhicule, ce système de commande, selon l'invention, étant ici supposé associé à un système de contrôle d'accès, tel qu'un système "mains libres".

La figure 2 présente un schéma de principe relatif au positionnement et au fonctionnement d'un capteur d'un système de commande, ce système étant associé à un ouvrant de coffre sur un véhicule, dans un exemple non limitatif de réalisation.

La figure 3 présente un schéma de principe relatif à une variante de mise en oeuvre de l'invention, telle qu'illustrée en figure 2.

Les figures 4 et 5 présentent respectivement un schéma de principe relatif à une seconde variante de mise en oeuvre de l'invention, telle qu'illustrée en figure 2.

La figure 6 présente un schéma de principe relatif à une troisième variante de mise en oeuvre de l'invention, telle qu'illustrée en figure 2.

The invention, its characteristics and its advantages are specified in the description which follows in conjunction with the figures mentioned below.

FIG. 1 shows a diagram of a control system intended to allow a user to act remotely at the level of a mechanism linked to an opening leaf of a vehicle, this control system according to the invention being here assumed to be associated with an access control system, such as a hands-free system.

FIG. 2 shows a block diagram relating to the positioning and operation of a sensor of a control system, this system being associated with a boot lid on a vehicle, in a nonlimiting embodiment.

FIG. 3 presents a block diagram relating to an alternative embodiment of the invention, as illustrated in FIG. 2.

FIGS. 4 and 5 respectively show a block diagram relating to a second alternative embodiment of the invention, as illustrated in FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 presents a schematic diagram relating to a third alternative embodiment of the invention, as illustrated in FIG. 2.

A schematic diagram presenting the essential elements of a control system enabling a user to act remotely on a actuator mechanism, linked to an opening of a vehicle, is presented, as a for example, in Figure 1. It is associated with a system of access "hands free", as mentioned above, it being understood that this association preferably envisaged, however, is not essential.

The control system according to the invention is intended to enable a user to act on an actuator mechanism 1 of an opening of a vehicle, no represented in this figure.

The invention is intended, in particular, to be implemented on a vehicle automobile and at the level of an opening, for example a boot lid. She is, of course, applicable to other openings that the vehicle is likely to involve.

The actuator mechanism 1, related to the opening which is considered here, is for example a mechanism to ensure the opening and / or closing of the opening. he is here assumed to be able to act in response to at least one control action executed by a user sent to him through a logic of 3. As known, the response of the actuator mechanism to a control can be obtained mechanically, for example by making intervene one or springs, or electromechanically, for example in involving an electric motor.

In an alternative embodiment, the actuator mechanism 1 is associated with a locking / unlocking mechanism 2 of a lock of the sash to which it is affected, so as to allow the opening of the opening, when the lock is unlocked and, possibly, to allow its closure, before a locking of the opening in the closed position is achieved. As he is known, locking and unlocking operations of at least one opening of a vehicle are likely to be controlled through a unit access control logic equipping the vehicle. This unit reacts for example an action performed by the user by means of a control device or remote control. It can possibly involve the presence of an identifier vehicle-specific user, in particular, if it is equipped with a system of access "hands free" as evoked above and such Figure 1. In the example presented and in a known form realization, the identifier assigned to a user is transponder type, and it is able to transmit an identification signal in response to a signal determined question. This interrogation signal is issued under the supervision a control logic 4, provided with identifier recognition means, whose vehicle is equipped. The transmission / reception device is here symbolized by the antenna 5 which is supposed to be connected to logic 4 by a transceiver, not shown.

As an example and as envisaged above, it is here assumed that the logic access control 4 allows to act on the mechanism of locking / unlocking 2 and cooperating with the control logic 3 acting on the actuator mechanism 1. These two logics are possibly combined in a logical set 6, as known from the person skilled in the art, their cooperation is effective in operations where the mechanisms 1 and 2 are involved.

According to the invention, it is provided that the control logic 3, which makes it possible to act on the actuator mechanism 1 linked to an opening, is provided with means to react according to the movement of an object, and in particular with one hand, in a delimited zone of command adjoining the opening.

Movement is determined from signals that are obtained from at least one motion sensor 7 which is, for example, placed on the vehicle nearby opening, as illustrated in Figures 2 and 6, or on the opening itself, as shown in FIG. 4. The sensor (s) can thus be placed above or below the level of the opening on the vehicle and example on a bumper next to this opening, when it is an opening of chest. A positioning on one side of the vehicle, close to an opening can also be considered to allow an order of this opening, when only lateral access is possible, because of the conditions of vehicle parking.

The sensor 7, envisaged above, comprises, for example, means to emit signals, for evaluation purposes, and to retrieve them, when they are reflected by an element constituting a reflector which is then located in the sensor field. This reflective element can in particular be a user's hand. The sensor 7 is, for example, constituted around a transceiver circuit for ultrasonic signals or a transceiver circuit of microwave signals, usual. It is supposed to have an axis motion detection system F, as shown diagrammatically in FIG. processing of the motion evaluation signals received by the sensor envisaged above, is carried out at the level of a logic of this sensor or the control logic 3 to determine the direction and, for example, the speed or distance traveled for a detected motion. This is realized by implementing logical means known to those skilled in the art. These means are, for example, located at the level of a unit of calculation of the control logic 3, duly programmed.

The control system, takes into account the movement a reflective element on the path followed by the waves emitted by the sensor 7, in a delimited control area. As known, the delimitation of this zone is a function of the radiation pattern provided for the design for the sensor 7, this diagram is here assumed to be of conical shape and oriented according to an axis F which is a preferred detection axis for the sensor. The cone the emission of the sensor 7 is provided narrow and of small extension in length, in order to avoid taking into account the movement of an object, forming a screen, in particularly above the vehicle, at a distance that is not likely to match the position of a hand of a user acting for the purpose of ordered.

An example of positioning of the sensor 7 for an opening 8, of the opening type trunk of a vehicle 9, is shown in Figure 2. The sensor 7 is disposed there below the level of the opening 8-on the vehicle and, for example, in the middle of the vehicle on the bumper 10, adjacent to this opening, the latter being here supposed to open by a rocking movement from bottom to top. The diagram D radiation of the sensor is vertically oriented and is supposed to cover a narrow zone, with a conical shape spreading upwards and adjoining the opening of chest. Of course, the orientation of the beam emitted by the sensor that translates the radiation pattern can be modified, depending on the shapes and the orientation of the part of the vehicle where the door is located to be controlled at distance, as well as those of this opening. In particular, it is possible to have a beam oriented in the opposite direction to that presented, for example if the sensor 7 is fixed at the top of the vehicle, above a vertical or quasivertical opening, and if he defines a control area below him that extends over at least a portion of the height of this opening. he is also possible to arrange the sensor so that the preferred axis F of the sensor is not approximately vertical. Indeed, as shown schematically in Figure 1, it is the vertical component "y" of the movement of the screen forming object to the waves transmitted by the sensor 7 which is taken into account by the logic 3, for determine whether the component of motion along the vertical axis corresponds to a predetermined movement characteristic of a command action executed by a user, as shown diagrammatically in FIG. 2, for a movement of a screen object which is symbolized by an arrow M., in a vertical plane x, y.

In a given form of implementation, it is expected that the movement of hand to control the opening from bottom to top of the boot lid 8, schematized in FIG. 2, corresponds to a movement made from below in high in the vertical orientation control area delimited by the sensor 7 This sensor is here supposed to be placed at the upper part of the bumper 10. realization of such a movement does not correspond to a usual action of a user at this level, in the absence of a control system the invention. It results in a vertical component according to the privileged axis of the sensor 7 which is taken into account if it corresponds to a movement predetermined, along this axis.

A hand movement in the opposite direction of the previous one may possibly be operated to control the closing of the sash by the mechanism 1, when this one is planned to realize such operations of opening / closing.

The commissioning of the control system according to the invention can possibly be conditioned by the detection of a user in the neighborhood of the opening. This can be achieved by using a detection system also equipping the vehicle and, for example, a detection system ultrasonic obstacles used for vehicle parking assistance.

It is also expected that the cooperation of a "hands-free" access system with a control system, according to the invention, at the level of a vehicle allows to perform a remote opening command, by detecting a movement defined close to an opening, that if the access system has determined the presence in the vicinity of the vehicle of an authorized user having an appropriate identifier. The actions of the various control systems of detection and access control mentioned above can of course be coordinates in different ways, according to user needs, insofar as the programming of the logic that supervises them is provided for this purpose

An alternative embodiment is illustrated in FIG. 3, in connection with a trunk opening 8 'provided with an actuator mechanism 1' and equipping a 9 'vehicle similar to that shown schematically in Figure 2.

The vehicle 9 'is equipped with a corresponding control system functionally to that defined in connection with Figure 1 and which comprises two motion sensors 7A 'and 7B'. These sensors make it possible to detect a movement of a reflective element and in particular of a hand of a user, in a delimited control zone near an opening, in order to determine if this movement corresponds to a command action executed by the user. The sensors 7A 'and 7B' are aligned along the opening, by example, on the bumper 10 'extending horizontally on the body of the vehicle below this opening. They are arranged so that their respective radiation patterns symmetrically overlap in the long of the opening. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the two sensors are arranged so that their respective preferred axes FA 'and FB', symmetrically inclined towards each other, are in the same plane, by vertical example, perpendicular to the median longitudinal plane of the vehicle where they overlap. The control logic, which supervises them, is for example programmed to trigger a control action only if it determines that there is equality of value and sense of meaning for the vertical component of displacement velocity obtained from measurements from a sensor and for that obtained from the measurements made by the other sensor.

In a preferred embodiment, the arrangement of the sensors of the system such as 7A 'and 7B' on the equipped vehicle and, in particular, the orientation of their respective priority axes FA ', FB' determine the orientation of a resulting axis R 'according to which a motion is taken into account, detected by the set that these sensors form, to determine if this movement corresponds to a predetermined command movement. This resulting axis R ' is assumed to be vertically oriented in the example shown in Figure 3, a other orientation can of course be chosen according to the needs, this orientation being, for example, oblique, or horizontal as envisaged for the embodiment illustrated in Figure 6.

In the exemplary implementation illustrated in FIG. 3, each of the sensors associated with an opening, in a control system according to the invention, makes measurements in the limited area that is defined by its diagram resignation. The control logic, which supervises these sensors, is, by example, programmed to trigger a command action, taking for criterion one or more speed conditions, for the movement determined according to the resulting axis R ', from the signals supplied by each sensor to the logic, in case of detection of the same movement by these sensors.

In a similar manner in the exemplary implementation illustrated in FIG. the control logic is programmed to trigger an action of control by taking as criterion one or more given speed conditions, for the movement determined according to the preferred axis F of the sensor 7, from the signals provided by this sensor, in case of detection of a movement of a element, and in particular with one hand, by this sensor.

The triggering of an action at the actuator mechanism by a control system according to the invention can for example be obtained, as soon as the speed of movement determined by the logic exceeds a threshold value predetermined minimum. Actions opening or closing of opening can be obtained, depending on the needs, depending on the direction of movement detected through the sensor (s).

In another form of implementation, the control logic that supervises the sensor or sensors is programmed to exploit the distance traveled, such that determined according to the privileged axis, such as F, of a single sensor or along the axis resulting, as R ', in the case of a set of sensors associated with the same opening, as a criterion, for the control of the actuator mechanism of this opening. To avoid an untimely command by a user, it is provided, in one embodiment, to trigger an order only from the moment the detected motion amplitude exceeds a minimum value of threshold determined. It is also planned to exploit the criterion of distance traveled to control the angular opening of a pivoting opening, such as the opening 11 of the vehicle illustrated in FIG. 4, or the extent of its travel in the case of an opening sliding, such as the opening 12 of the vehicle shown in Figure 6, so as to allow partial opening or closing. An opening of opening, proportional to the distance traveled by a hand in a direction of predetermined movement, can thus be obtained for a given command.

As it is known, moving an element in the control zone defined by one or more sensors, can be determined from measurements of velocity generated from pulse signals or Doppler type made from waves emitted continuously. The determination of the trajectory followed during the trip may also be achieved by a correlation of the velocity of the object making screen with its distance to the sensor.

FIGS. 4 and 5 relate to an implementation of the invention, at the level of of a vehicle comprising an opening 11 pivoting, where there is provided a sensor of movement 13 supposed positioned at a maneuvering handle that includes this opening. The sensor 13 is mounted so that its axis Preferred Detection F is oriented to detect motion carried out at least approximately vertically by a user for example at means of a hand in the control zone that corresponds to the diagram of radiation of this sensor. In the theoretical example given, this diagram of approximately ellipsoidal or ovoidal shape is oriented upwards according to the preferred axis F of the sensor, as shown schematically, so as to take account the movements of a reflective element and in particular of a hand in a control zone located above the sensor 13 and moving away outwardly and progressively from the opening 11, upwards of this opening 11 that it is adjacent.

FIG. 6 relates to an implementation of the invention, at the level of a vehicle comprising a sliding leaf 12 and at least one movement 14, here supposed to be fixed on a side wall of the vehicle along which slides the opening. The sensor 14 is mounted so that its axis privileged F detection is oriented to detect movements performed at least approximately horizontally by a user for example by means of a hand in the control zone that corresponds to the diagram of this sensor. In a preferred embodiment, the orientation of the sensor or possibly the sensors of the system of control associated with this sliding leaf, is chosen to ensure a motion detection in at least one of the senses respectively corresponding to the opening or closing direction of the opening.

This is to allow the user to control the sliding of the opening by a movement of the hand, along the vehicle and near opening it, in the desired direction of movement for the opening.

Claims (13)

1. A control system for openable-panel of a vehicle and in particular for trunk openable-panel (8 or 8'), allowing a user to act remotely on an actuator mechanism (1) secured to an openable-panel (8) of the vehicle, characterized in that it contains means (3), at the level of the vehicle, for controlling at least one action of the actuator mechanism, on the basis of the signals produced by motion sensors (7A', 7B'), when one and the same motion detected by way of these sensors along their respective favored axes is manifested as a determined motion along a resultant axis (R') whose orientation is dependent on the achieved combination of sensors, and that this determined motion correspond to a predetermined motion.
2. A control system for openable-panel as claimed in one of claims 1, in which the speed of motion, along the resultant axis (R') of the sensors (7A', 7B') of the control system, which speed is determined on the basis of the signals supplied by each sensor, is utilized for the control of the actuator mechanism, in the event of the detection of a motion.
3. A control system for openable-panel as claimed in one of claims 1, in which the distance (25) traveled, along the resultant axis (R') of the sensors (7A', 7B') of the control system, which is determined on the basis of the signal supplied by each sensor, is utilized for the control of the actuator mechanism, in the event of the detection of a motion.
4. A control system for openable-panel as claimed in one of claims 3, in which the distance traveled such as determined, along the resultant axis (R') of the sensors (7A', 7B') of the control system, on the basis of the signals supplied by each sensor, in the event of the detection of a motion, is utilized for travel or angular opening control purposes, at the level of the actuator mechanism.
5. A control system for openable-panel as claimed in one of claims 1 to 4, in which the orientation of the sensors on the vehicle is fixed in such a way that the favored axis of each sensor of the control system which is associated with the actuator mechanism of an openable-panel is oriented so as to detect motions occurring in at least one of the directions corresponding respectively to the direction of opening or of closing of the openable-panel.
6. A control system for openable-panel as claimed in one of claims 1 to 5, in which the openable-panel actuator mechanism (1) which is controlled is an openable-panel opening and/or closing electromechanical or mechanical assembly.
7. A control system for openable-panel as claimed in one of claims 1 to 6, in which the openable-panel control system is associated with a "hands free" access device (4, 5) which controls a mechanism for locking/unlocking (2) at least one lock of an openable-panel of the vehicle.
8. A control system for openable-panel as claimed in one of claims 1 to 7, in which the openable-panel control system acts on an actuator mechanism (1) ensuring the opening and/or the closing of an openable-panel (8 or 8'), this control system comprising motion sensors (7A', 7B') disposed on the openable-panel or in proximity to the openable-panel on the vehicle.
9. A control system for openable-panel as claimed in one of claims 1 to 8, in which the control system comprises one or more motion sensors, of the ultrasound transmitter/receiver type.
10. A control system for openable-panel as claimed in one of claims 1 to 8, in which the control system comprises one or more motion sensors, of the microwave frequency signal transmitter/receiver type.
11. A control system for openable-panel as claimed in one of claims 1 to 10, in which the means (3 and 7A', 7B') for controlling an openable-panel actuator mechanism (2) are designed so as to determine the control action to be effected as a function of the direction of motion as defined on the basis of the signal supplied by the sensor or sensors, preferably on the basis of a predetermined minimum threshold value of motion.
12. A control system for openable-panel as claimed in claim 11, in which the direction of the specified motion, required to control the opening or the closing of an openable-panel by an actuator mechanism (2) under the control of the means (3 and 7A', 7B') making it possible to control this mechanism, is chosen so as to correspond to the direction of motion of opening or of closing of the openable-panel which is requested.
13. A vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle, characterized in that it comprises a control system for an openable-panel as claimed in of previous claims.

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