EP1584777B1 - Closure system for a vehicle and method of operation thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

The system has a sensor (1) with two control surfaces (2,3), where the surface (3) is accessible by environmental influences. The sensor initiates locking/unlocking function through a locking device (9). A control unit (5) distinguishes the impact of environmental influences on the sensor from activation of the sensor through the control surface through detection of control surface selective signal changes at the sensor. An independent claim is included for a method for operating a locking system for a vehicle.

Description

The invention relates to a locking system for a vehicle having at least one vehicle access, wherein the locking system comprises an outer handle with at least one capacitive sensor, via which by means of a control unit and a vehicle-side transmitting / receiving unit in operative connection with a user-side data carrier in an activation of the on Outside handle arranged first button of the sensor, a locking / unlocking function of the vehicle by means of a locking device can be introduced.

The invention further relates to a method for operating a locking system for a vehicle, in which a locking / unlocking of one or more vehicle accesses by activating a first button of a arranged on an outer handle capacitive sensor, in operative connection with a control unit and with a user-side data carrier communicating on-board transmitting / receiving unit is initiated.

Modern vehicles, especially motor vehicles, are increasingly equipped with keyless locking systems to increase the ease of use. Such locking systems are for example from the DE 196 17 038 C2 and the DE 102 04 025 A1 known. In these, also called "Passive Entry" door locking systems, the operation of the usual radio remote control on the vehicle key for unlocking, or locking the vehicle via a locking device, in particular a central locking eliminates. Instead, when approaching or touching the outside door handle of the vehicle door, a sensor is activated which triggers actuation of the central lock if the operator is authorized to do so. The authorized operator carries with him a data carrier, which in approaching the vehicle in a bidirectional Communication with a vehicle-side transmitting / receiving unit occurs in the case of which his access authorization is checked by an exchange of numerical codes. As sensors usually capacitive sensors are used, which are at least partially integrated into the door handle. These sensors are designed as capacitors that are sensed when approached or touched by the operator, ie activated. As the operator's hand approaches, the capacitance between the electrodes of the capacitor changes by virtue of the operator forming a capacitive connection with the one electrode or the human hand acting as a dielectric between the electrodes. If the capacity exceeds a certain value, the sensor will respond. About the, detected by a control unit capacity, or capacity change, then the unlocking bel can be initiated before or simultaneously done a positive identification of the operator. For locking or re-locking of the vehicle then this or another separate capacitive sensor can be used. The operator activates the sensor by touching, resp. Passing a button of the sensor, again checking the authorization for an action via the data medium.

A problem with the known keyless locking systems has been found that their reliability can be affected by environmental influences. In particular, an inadvertent locking of the vehicle may be triggered if the operator with a valid data carrier is in the immediate vicinity of the outside door handle and then the button of the locking sensor of this door outside handle is subjected to water or snow. The capacitance of the sensor can thereby exceed a value that causes a malfunction due to environmental influences, since the capacitive sensor can not distinguish whether it is triggered by a human hand or by environmental influences. As a result, for example, people in the car can be locked inadvertently and unnoticed.

From the DE 196 20 059 A1 is a locking system with a so-called dynamic capacitive proximity sensor, or proximity switch known. This sensor will only switch if the capacitance between a pickup electrode associated with a door handle and a reference electrode (ground potential) changes at a speed greater than a limit speed. This should prevent malfunctions due to environmental influences.

A disadvantage of the known system has the effect that very different changes or change rates of the capacitances (capacity gradients) of the sensor can occur both during operation by the human hand as well as by rain or snow. So on the one hand, the operator can approach or remove very slowly, or operate the sensor very slowly, which would then lead to the door not being unlocked or locked as desired. On the other hand, rapid changes in capacity can also be generated by precipitation. Reliable protection against malfunctions is thus rather not achieved. In addition, a relatively complicated electronic circuit is necessary to detect and evaluate the speed changes of the capacity.

Object of the present invention is therefore to improve the known keyless locking systems for vehicles so that malfunction can be avoided with reduced effort and their reliability is increased.

The object is achieved according to the invention in conjunction with the preamble of claim 1, characterized in that the sensor has at least one second button, which is accessible to environmental influences and is not accessible or difficult to access for an operator, so that upon normal operation of the locking device, an act on this button can not be caused by the operator, but by environmental influences, by means of the second button an exposure of the sensor by environmental influences from the activation of the sensor by the operator via detection of button-selective signal changes to the sensor is distinguishable, because the control unit an environmental activation detects the sensor due to an act of both buttons.

The capacitive sensor for locking, or unlocking, not only consists of one, but at least two, spatially separated buttons. These buttons act as a two-part response electrode of the capacitive sensor, upon contact or approximation of which the capacitance of the capacitor formed by the sensor changes. The buttons are connected to the control unit via a vehicle logic. Capacitance changes at the buttons can be selectively detected by the control unit and can be evaluated by means of the vehicle logic, which is constructed, for example, as an electronic circuit arrangement with logic operations. Thus, with the aid of the second button, which is inaccessible to the operator, the control unit can easily distinguish an activation of the locking device of the vehicle by an authorized operator from a malfunction by the environmental influence of the capacitive sensor.

The locking function is both the locking / unlocking of individual vehicle access via individual vehicle locks as well as all vehicle access via a central locking system Understood. Vehicle access is not only vehicle doors, but also other accesses, such as trunk lids, hoods or vehicle tops. Under environmental influences are not only natural rainfall in the form of rain, snowfall or ice, but also artificially induced external influences, for example by a car wash understood.

The second button is not or hardly accessible to the operator, i. activatable, so that a normal operation of the locking device, an action on this button can not be caused by the operator, but by environmental influences. The sensor does not switch when both buttons are exposed to environmental influences, for example, by a capacitive humidification in case of rain, and at the same time the authorized operator, or the disk of the operator, located in the vicinity of the sensor. In particular, if the two buttons (with comparable capacity changes) are acted on, an environmental influence is recognized since the second button can not be actuated by the operator, and the environmental influences usually apply both buttons as long as the operator does not cover the first button. This increases the operational safety of the locking system. Unintentional actions of the locking device are avoided.

The sensor with the two buttons is particularly useful as a locked sensor for locking one or more vehicle doors, as it reliably prevents inadvertent entrapment of persons in the vehicle due to a malfunction of the locking system due to environmental influences on the capacitive sensor.

The Schliefisystem is particularly compact and inexpensive in construction and easy and safe to use, if the first button of the sensor in an easily accessible position on a handle front of the outside door handle (as in the previous capacitive sensors with a button) is located, and the second button is arranged at an inaccessible to the operator's hand point of the outside door handle. This is particularly easy to implement with a separate latched sensor. To lock the vehicle, the operator then simply strokes the handle front. Since the operator can not touch the second button, an accidental blocking of a desired locking is excluded. Particularly effectively, the locking system can be used in operative connection with an identification transmitter, in short ID transmitter, preferably a transponder), with which a data query for identifying the operator can be performed. It is conceivable that the control unit transmits an ontsprechendes signal to a clearly recognized admission of both buttons by environmental influences to the transmitting / receiving unit, whereupon the identification procedure is suppressed. As a result, the reliability of the system can be further improved.

The known methods for operating a locking device for a vehicle have the disadvantages described above.

Another object of the present invention is therefore to improve the known method for operating a locking device for a vehicle so that they ensure increased reliability.

The object is achieved by the Segentomol of claim 9.

Due to the fact that an exposure to the sensor caused by environmental influences is detected with the aid of the second button, reliably unwanted actions of the locking system are avoided. In particular, the vehicle is locked or secured if only the (well) accessible area of the sensor is touched and at the same time there is a valid data carrier, preferably an ID transmitter, in the immediate vicinity. If, on the other hand, both surfaces of the sensor are exposed to water, for example, the vehicle logic recognizes that it is not a human hand and no action (locking) is carried out. Of course, the vehicle is also locked when significantly different capacities occur at the two buttons due to activation of the first button by the operator and exposure of the second button to environmental influences. This ensures that the function of the locking system is ensured even when the sensor is exposed to environmental influences, for example when it rains.

Further details of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings, in which a preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated, for example. The FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of a locking system of a vehicle.

A locking system for a vehicle consists essentially of a capacitive sensor 1 and a locking device 9, which is controllable via a control unit 5.

The sensor 1 is formed with two buttons 2, 3 as Ansprechelelttroden. With a reference electrode, not shown, formed for example as a ground potential, the sensor 1 forms a capacitor with the buttons 2, 3, respectively. The first button 2 is arranged in a front side of an outside door handle 4 of a vehicle door (not shown). The second button 3 is located in an inaccessible position of the outside door handle 4, which in the FIG. 1 is indicated. The two shutter surfaces 2, 3 are connected to the control unit 5, which is advantageously arranged at a central location in the vehicle. The control unit 5 is in turn connected to the locking device 9 and to a transmitting / receiving unit 7. The transmitting / receiving unit 7 is arranged in the region of the vehicle door, advantageously in the outside door handle 4. At the outside door handle 4, a vehicle door lock 10 is provided for locking / unlocking the vehicle door, which can be actuated via the locking device 9, advantageously designed as a central locking. Furthermore, a data carrier 8 is present, which can be carried by an operator. The data carrier 8 is advantageously designed as an ID transmitter, for example in credit card format, in the transponder technology known per se. The ID transmitter 8 and the transmitting / receiving unit 7 are designed for bidirectional communication. The control unit 5 is also assigned a vehicle logic 6 with which the signals emanating from the sensor 1 or the buttons 2, 3 can be evaluated. The two buttons 2, 3 of the sensor 1 form a safety system for the closing device in operative connection with the control unit 5 and the ID transmitter 8.

A method for operating a locking system for a vehicle is essentially based on the fact that an actuation of a capacitive sensor 1 with two buttons 2 and 3 is selected to be switch-surface-selective,

The method of operation of the method will be explained using the example of a safety function against accidental locking of the vehicle on the device described above. For this purpose, a scenario is assumed in which an operator after leaving the vehicle is in the immediate vicinity of the outside door handle 4 of a vehicle door while other occupants are (still) in the vehicle. At the same time, the vehicle may be exposed to environmental influences in the form of rain. In this case, the outside door handle 4, in particular the two buttons 2 and 3, be charged with water. The operator carries the ID transmitter 8 with him via the transmitting / receiving unit 7 is a permission request to the ID transmitter (transponder) 8 wirelessly directed to lock the vehicle, in particular by the fact that the transponder 8 in an induction field of the send - / receiving unit 7 moves. The transponder 8 then sends out a signal, and a bidirectional dialogue takes place in which the control unit 5 uses a coding of the signals exchanged to authorize the system Operator to an action (interlock) checked. In the case of a positive check, ie if an authorization has been established, according to the prior art, due to the actuation of the button of the capacitive sensor and its associated capacitance change, this would be interpreted as a lock request, whereupon the vehicle would be inadvertently locked and the persons still in the vehicle would be locked up. According to the invention, this is now prevented by the control unit 5 selectively detecting the application of both buttons 2, 3 and the capacitance change caused thereby. In particular, the vehicle logic 6 registers a sensor signal of the second button 3, which is inaccessible to the operator, and recognizes that it is not a human hand. Thus, no unwanted action (lock) is executed. Of course, recognizes the vehicle logic, based on different sensor signals (capacitance changes) to the buttons even if at an admission of the second button 3 in the rain, the same time the operator by sweeping the first button 2 a locking request expressed. whereupon the control unit 5 performs the locking of the vehicle via the locking device 9 as desired.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

capacitive sensor

2

first button

3

second button

4

Outside door handle

5

control unit

6

vehicle logic

7

Transmit / receive unit

8th

disk

9

locking device

10

Vehicle door lock

Claims (9)

1. A closure system for a vehicle having at least one vehicle access point, wherein the closure system comprises an outer handle (4) with at least one capacitive sensor (1) via which, using a control unit (5) and a transmitter/receiver unit (7) mounted on the vehicle that cooperates with a data carrier (8) that is carried by the user, a locking/unlocking function of the vehicle can be initiated by means of a locking device (9) when a first control surface (2) of the sensor, which is mounted on the outer handle (4), is activated, characterized in that the sensor (1) has at least a second control surface (3) that is accessible to environmental influences and is arranged in a way that makes it impossible or very difficult for a user to access, so that in normal operation of the closure system this control surface cannot be contacted by the user, although it can be contacted by environmental influences, and wherein by means of the second control surface any contact made with the sensor (1) by environmental influences can be distinguished from activation of the sensor (1) by the user, by detecting control-surface-selective signal changes at the sensor (1), because the control unit (5) identifies environmentally induced activation of the sensor (1) from the fact that both control surfaces (2, 3) are contacted.
2. A closure system according to Claim 1, characterized in that at least one sensor (1) is designed as a separate locked state sensor for locking one or more vehicle access points.
3. A closure system according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the control surfaces (2, 3) are designed as electrode elements of the sensor (1).
4. A closure system according to any of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the control surfaces (2, 3) of the sensor (1) are connected with the control unit (5) via a vehicle logic unit (6).
5. A closure system according to any of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the sensor (1) is arranged on an outer handle (4) of a vehicle door.
6. A closure system according to any of Claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the first control surface (2) of the sensor (1) is arranged on a front side of the outer door handle (4) and also characterized in that the second control surface (3) is arranged at a point on the outer door handle (4) where it cannot be accessed by the hand of the user.
7. A closure system according to any of Claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the data carrier (8) is designed as an identification transmitter.
8. A closure system according to Claim 7, characterized in that the data carrier (8), which is designed as an identification transmitter, is a transponder.
9. A method for operating a closure system for a vehicle in which the locking/unlocking of one or more vehicle access points is initiated by activating a first control surface (2) of a capacitive sensor (1) arranged on an outer handle (4), cooperating with a control unit (5) and a transmitter/receiver unit (7) that is mounted on the vehicle and communicates with a data carrier (8) that is carried by the user, characterized in that by means of a vehicle logic unit (6) the control unit (5) monitors any contact made with the first control surface (2) of the sensor (1) and with at least one further control surface (3) that is arranged so as to be accessible to environmental influences but is impossible or difficult to be reached by the hand of the user, so that in normal operation of the closure device it is not possible for the user to make contact with this control surface, but contact can be made by environmental influences, and also characterized in that the vehicle is locked/unlocked when a wish to lock/unlock, as expressed by the first control surface (2) being activated by the user's hand, is recognized and authorization is determined by means of the data carrier (8), and also characterized in that the vehicle is not locked/unlocked if the control unit (5) detects environmentally induced activation of the sensor (1) from the fact that both control surfaces (2, 3) are contacted.

Images