EP3025001B1 - Door handle system for a vehicle door - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a door handle system for a vehicle door according to the preamble of claim 1. The invention relates in particular to a door handle system for a vehicle door, which can be moved automatically by means of a door actuator motor.

In modern (power) vehicles, especially passenger cars, usually the goal is pursued, the energy consumption - in conventionally used internal combustion engines to reduce fuel consumption. In addition to improving the drive technology itself (e.g., combustion and electric motors), it is often desirable to reduce the air resistance of the vehicle. For this purpose, as complete as possible, almost smooth vehicle outer surface is designed for the vehicle.

In the majority of vehicles, however, door handles are used to open the vehicle doors, which project in the manner of a handle from the vehicle surface or are arranged above a recessed grip formed in the vehicle surface. Such door handles interrupt both the vehicle surface and the aesthetic appearance of the vehicle, and also offer - especially in the case of an additionally used recessed grip - increased air resistance.

A door handle system according to the preamble of claim 1 is known from US 2004/0177478 A1 known. A similar door handle system is from the DE 10 2006 027 473 A1 known.

From the EP 1 402 138 B1 It is also known to cover the recessed grip flush with the door handle by means of a flap, so that the recessed grip is aerodynamically advantageous disguised. This flap is provided with a sensor by means of which the presence of the hand of the vehicle user, who operate the door handle wants to be detected in the immediate vicinity of the door handle. In the case of the presence of the hand near the door handle, the flap is automatically folded into the grip and thus released the door handle.

The invention has for its object to provide an improved door handle system for a vehicle.

This object is achieved by a door handle system with the features of claim 1. Advantageous and partly inventive embodiments and further developments of the invention are set forth in the dependent claims and the description below.

The door handle system according to the invention comprises a door handle and at least one flap for reversibly closing a recessed grip, which is set back on the rear side of the door handle relative to the surface of the vehicle door. In this recessed grip engages under normal use of the door handle regularly a hand of the vehicle user. Furthermore, the door handle system comprises an adjusting device by means of which the or each flap can be pivoted between a closed position concealing the recessed grip and a release position releasing the recessed grip. Furthermore, the door handle system comprises a distance sensor (also: proximity sensor) which is at least partially disposed on the flap or on at least one of the flaps. This means that - if the distance sensor is multi-part - at least the approach-sensitive part of the distance sensor is arranged on the flap. Furthermore, the door handle system comprises a control and evaluation unit which is set up to close an approach of a vehicle user to the or each flap on the basis of a first measurement signal output by the distance sensor in the closed position. Furthermore, the control and evaluation unit is adapted to control the detection device for adjusting the or each flap in the release position upon detection of the approach. According to the invention, the control and evaluation unit is also set up to determine whether the door handle is gripped by the vehicle user, preferably by his hand, on the basis of a second measuring signal output by the distance sensor in the release position is. In other words, in a first measuring mode in which the measuring range of the distance sensor, that is to say the volume volume monitored by the distance sensor, is oriented towards the outside of the vehicle, the control and evaluation unit is set to approximate the vicinity of the or each flap Vehicle user to monitor. In a second measuring mode, however, the measuring range of the same distance sensor is aligned in the recessed grip in order to be able to detect the gripping of the door handle by the vehicle user.

This is advantageous, in particular, for the case in which the vehicle door is a vehicle door which can be automatically adjusted by means of a door actuator motor, which is preferably used in conjunction with a keyless entry function (keyless entry / keyless go function). In this function, for example, the vehicle lock associated with the respective vehicle door is unlocked when the approaching person carries the (radio) key associated with the vehicle. The control and evaluation is in particular set up to interpret the gripping of the door handle as a door opening request of the vehicle user and consequently issue a door opening command to the door actuator for adjusting the vehicle door in its open position. As a result, the handling of the vehicle door is facilitated and thus increased the ease of use.

Advantageously, due to the automatic recognition of the door opening request, the door handle can be made immovable relative to the vehicle door. A traditionally coupled with the door handle unlocking mechanism for the vehicle door can thus be omitted.

The use of the or each flap for covering the recessed grip also advantageously makes it possible to make the vehicle surface smooth, in particular under aerodynamic aspects.

Preferably, the control and evaluation unit is further configured to detect a release of the door handle in the release position and then the or to move each flap back to its closed position. Optionally, the control and evaluation unit is expediently further configured, after opening the or each flap, to monitor the grip recess only for a predetermined time (for example, 2 to 15 seconds) for gripping the door handle. If no gripping of the door handle is detected during this time, the control and evaluation unit is expediently arranged to control the adjusting device for closing the or each flap. This easily prevents a misdetection of the approach (for example, when the vehicle user passes the vehicle door in close proximity to the or each flap) the or each flap remains in its release position until further notice.

In a preferred embodiment, the distance sensor is designed as a capacitive distance sensor. In this case, the or each flap in particular carries a respective sensor electrode of the capacitive distance sensor. For example, the sensor electrode is integrated in the respective flap. In manufacturing technology expedient design, the flap is this formed as a plastic injection molded part, in which the sensor electrode is encapsulated as an electrically conductive insert with plastic.

In an alternative embodiment, the or each flap itself forms a respective sensor electrode of the capacitive distance sensor. This is particularly advantageous in the case in which the surface of the flap facing the outside of the vehicle is formed from an electrically conductive, in particular metallic, material (for example sheet metal). This electrically conductive outer layer (in particular an electrically conductive lacquer layer) of the flap needs to be contacted in this case only with the corresponding terminal of the distance sensor. Alternatively, however, the flap can also be made of a sufficiently electrically conductive plastic, for example injection-molded, in the context of the invention. The design of the flap as a sensor electrode offers the advantage here that on the one hand, the space occupied by the flap and the sensor electrode space is particularly small and on the other hand, the entire (outer) surface of Flap can be used for sensing, which in turn increases the range of the distance sensor.

In one embodiment, the or each flap is pivoted in the release position against the wall of the recessed grip. The flap is here, for example, flush in the wall of the recessed grip or on this.

In an alternative embodiment, the or each flap is pivoted to the back of the door handle in the release position. In this case, the hand of the vehicle user when gripping the door handle is located directly on the or each flap, so that the distance to the sensitive part of the distance sensor, preferably so to the capacitive sensor electrode, is minimal. In the case of the capacitive distance sensor, the sensor capacitance of the sensor electrode is preferably maximized, so that the gripping around of the door handle can be detected in a simple manner.

In the context of the invention, it is fundamentally possible for the door handle to partially conceal the recessed grip from only one side, in particular from the upper side. In this case, the door handle when operated as intended - seen in the vertical direction of the vehicle - only from one side (for example, from below) are embraced. In a preferred embodiment, however, the door handle is designed such that it spans the recessed grip-preferably in the vehicle longitudinal direction-like a web. The door handle can thus be embraced (in the manner of a handle) from two sides. The recessed grip is in this embodiment of the door handle in the closed position expediently closed on both sides (for example, from above and below) of one flap.

In an alternative embodiment of the invention, two flaps are arranged on one side of the door handle, of which one is pivoted in the release position against the wall of the recessed grip and the other to the back of the door handle. The advantage of this embodiment is, in particular, that the flaps have a smaller (compared to a flap concealing the grip recess alone) smaller flap surface and thus in the release position on particular easy to fit flush in the wall of the recessed grip and in the back of the door handle. As a result, an almost smooth and homogeneous course of the wall of the recessed grip and in particular of the door handle is advantageously achieved. The door handle can thereby be perceived by the vehicle user when gripping as approximately smooth, ie without protruding edges of the swiveled flap, and thereby convey a high-quality operating feeling. In addition, in the case where each flap has a sensitive part of the distance sensor, preferably a capacitive sensor electrode, a particularly high adjustability of the respectively assigned to the closed position and the release position measuring ranges.

In the event that the door handle system has only one sensor electrode, the control and evaluation unit is expediently adapted to measure by means of this sensor electrode to ground. This means that the sensor capacitance of the capacitive distance sensor is determined between the sensor electrode and a grounded object arranged in the vicinity of the sensor electrode. In the context of the invention, however, it is also conceivable that the control and evaluation unit in each case performs a measurement against ground by means of a plurality of sensor electrodes.

In the event that the door handle system comprises a plurality of flaps and a plurality of sensor electrodes arranged on these flaps, however, in a preferred embodiment, these sensor electrodes are connected in pairs in the release position in pairs as a transmitting electrode and as a receiving electrode. In this case, the measuring range of the distance sensor covered by the measuring field between the transmitting and receiving electrodes can be determined particularly accurately in a simple manner in comparison to a distance sensor measuring against mass. By way of example, the "measuring field" is an alternating field generated by an electrical alternating voltage applied to the transmitting and receiving electrode. The transmitting and receiving electrodes thus form a sensor capacitor.

In a simple embodiment, the sensor electrodes are also in the unfolded state, i. in the closed position of the flaps, activated in pairs as sensor and receiver electrodes. Alternatively, the sensor electrodes are driven in the closed position for measurement against ground.

In particular, in the case that the recessed grip is covered in the closed position on both sides of the door handle by means of two flaps, the sensor electrodes are appropriately controlled in the release position such that arranged on one side of the door handle sensor electrodes in pairs as associated transmitting and receiving electrodes be used. As a result, an intervention in the recessed grip by means of the respective electrode pair can be detected precisely on each side of the door handle precisely. As a result, the error safety of detecting the gripping of the door handle is increased. In particular, it can be detected in a particularly simple manner, whether only a foreign body projects from only one side of the door handle into the recessed grip, or the door handle is embraced on both sides.

In the context of the invention, it is further conceivable that in addition to each arranged in the or each flap sensor electrode in the door handle itself, a sensor electrode ("grip electrode") is arranged. In the release position, this or each additional grip electrode cooperates with one of the sensor electrodes disposed on the flaps in each case according to the transmitter-receiver principle.

In a further optional embodiment, the or each sensor electrode is segmented in the vehicle longitudinal direction, so that by means of the control and evaluation unit, a direction of movement of the vehicle user or at least his hand can be determined. In this case, the control and evaluation unit is preferably adapted to detect in addition to an approximate frontal approach of the vehicle user to the door handle (ie, approximately in the normal direction on the door side) in addition a sweeping the or each flap in the vehicle longitudinal direction and this sweeping differently to evaluate the frontal approach. By way of example, the measurement signals output by the segments of the sensor electrode are evaluated in a time-dependent manner. Point the changes in the sensor capacitances measured by the respective segment have at least one predetermined time offset, the control and evaluation unit concludes that the segments are swept over in the longitudinal direction. Otherwise, the control and evaluation unit closes on a frontal approach.

In particular, it is provided to interpret the sweeping of the or each flap depending on the direction of a shut-off or unlocking the vehicle door, in particular for the central locking of the vehicle. In other words, the door or each flap is pivoted in a frontal approach to the door handle in the release position while the vehicle door is shut off when the vehicle user sweeps the or each flap, for example, towards the door lock of the respective vehicle door.

In a further embodiment, the control and evaluation unit is configured to activate a lighting device of the vehicle upon detection of the approach of the vehicle user to the or each flap. Such a lighting device is in particular the headlights of the vehicle, in particular the "stationary" or the "dipped beam". Alternatively, however, the illumination device may also be a light source arranged on the vehicle door or on the door handle, which illuminates the surroundings of the vehicle door or the recessed grip when activated.

In a further embodiment, the control and evaluation unit is set up to control a window regulator assigned to an adjustable pane of the vehicle door upon detection of the approach of the vehicle user to the or each flap. This is particularly advantageous when using so-called frameless vehicle doors, for example in convertibles or coupes. In this case, namely when opening the vehicle door, the disc is opened relative to its closed position by a small part of its travel, so that the disc can not jam in its arranged on the fixed vehicle frame window seal. The control and evaluation unit is expediently set up in addition to the opening of the or each flap, the disc of the vehicle door to this predetermined part of the Lower the travel. In particular, in the case of a cable-operated window regulator may alternatively be provided to control the window lift only for biasing the rope without lowering the disc.

Fig. 1

in schematischer Seitenansicht eine Fahrzeugtür mit einem Türgriffmodul,

Fig. 2

in schematischer Schnittdarstellung das Türgriffsystem in einer Schließstellung, bei der eine rückseitig zu dem Türgriff angeordnete Griffmulde durch zwei Klappen gegenüber der Fahrzeugaußenseite verschlossen ist,

Fig. 3

in Darstellung gemäß Fig. 2 das Türgriffsystem in einer Freigabestellung, bei der die Klappen zur Freigabe der Griffmulde eingeschwenkt sind, und

Fig. 4 bis 10

in Ansicht gemäß Fig. 2 verschiedene Ausführungsbeispiele des Türgriffsystems in der Schließstellung bzw. in der Freigabestellung.

Embodiments of the invention will be explained in more detail with reference to a drawing. Show:

Fig. 1

a schematic side view of a vehicle door with a door handle module,

Fig. 2

in a schematic sectional view of the door handle system in a closed position in which a grip arranged on the rear side of the door handle is closed by two flaps relative to the vehicle exterior,

Fig. 3

in illustration according to Fig. 2 the door handle system in a release position in which the flaps are pivoted to release the grip, and

Fig. 4 to 10

in view according to Fig. 2 Various embodiments of the door handle system in the closed position or in the release position.

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

In Fig. 1 By way of example, a vehicle door 1 with a door handle system 2 arranged thereon is shown. The vehicle door 1 is a frameless door which does not have a window frame which bounds the side window of the vehicle arranged on the vehicle door 1 toward the top side. Such a vehicle door 1 is used for example in convertibles or coupes. The door handle system 2 comprises a door handle 3, which is aligned in the vehicle longitudinal direction 4 and web-like spans a molded into the outer surface 5 of the vehicle door 1 recessed grip 6.

On the one hand to make the outer surface 5 of the vehicle door 1 smooth and thus to improve the aerodynamic properties of the vehicle, the recessed grip 6 in one in Fig. 2 shown closed position 10 to the outside through two flaps 12 and 14 closed. The flap 12 is in this case arranged with respect to the vehicle longitudinal direction 4 above the door handle 3. The flap 14 is accordingly arranged below the door handle 3. The door handle system 2 further comprises an adjusting device, by means of which the flaps 12 and 14 automatically between the in Fig. 2 shown closed position 10 and a in Fig. 3 shown release position 16 are adjustable. Of the adjusting device only each of the flap 12 and 14 associated adjusting lever 18 are shown for simplicity.

In an alternative embodiment, the door handle 3 and the flaps 12 and 14 may also be aligned vertically on the vehicle door 1. Such an orientation of the door handle 3 (and the flaps 12 and 14) is provided in particular for the case in which the vehicle door 1 is the tailgate of the vehicle.

The door handle system 2 further comprises a capacitive distance sensor and a non-illustrated control and evaluation unit. The control and evaluation unit is set up and provided to detect an approach of a vehicle user to the door handle 3 by means of the capacitive distance sensor and then to actuate the adjusting device for adjusting the flaps 12 and 14 from the closed position 10 to the release position 16. For this purpose, a capacitive sensor electrode 20 or 22 of the distance sensor is integrated into each flap 12 and 14, respectively. The sensor electrodes 20 and 22 act together as a transmitting and receiving electrode, so that in the closed position 10, a coarse horseshoe-shaped measuring field 24 to the outside of the vehicle door 1 propagates down (s. Fig. 2 ). The measuring area covered by the measuring field 24 is thus disposed in front of the door handle 3. The measuring field 24 is generated by applying an alternating electrical voltage to the sensor electrodes 20 and 22 as an alternating electric field. The sensor electrodes 20 and 22 thus form a sensor capacitor whose sensor capacitance is detected by the control and evaluation unit.

In Fig. 3 the arrangement of the flaps 12 and 14 is shown in its release position 16. The flaps 12 and 14 are in this case to the inside of the recessed grip 6, that is, pivoted to the wall 30 of the recessed grip 6. The alternating field generated in the release position 16 between the electrodes 20 and 22 (referred to as well measuring field 31) extends in the release position 16 approximately rectilinearly between the electrodes 20 and 22 and thus extends transversely across the bordered by a wall 30 of the recessed grip 6 interior (the Recessed grip 6). In the release position 16, therefore, the measuring range covered by the well measuring field 31 is located within the recessed grip 6 and at the back to the door handle 3.

In the door handle 3, a shield electrode 32 is arranged, which is connected to ground potential and arranged and provided to shield the well measuring field 31 in the release position 16 against influences from outside the grip 6. By the shield electrode 32 is thus prevented from the (the sensor electrodes 20 and 22 comprehensive) distance sensor, the presence or movement of the vehicle user outside of the grip 6 is detected.

The control and evaluation unit of the door handle system 2 is now set up in the context of a door opening method with the vehicle door 1 closed by means of arranged in the closed position 10 sensor electrodes 20 and 22, the immediate vicinity of the door handle 3 on an approach of a person (in short: a vehicle user) monitor. If the vehicle user is in the measuring field 24, the sensor capacitance of the sensor electrodes 20 and 22 is changed. This change in the sensor capacity is registered by the control and evaluation unit. The control and evaluation unit controls in this case the adjusting device for opening the flaps 12 and 14 in the release position 16, so that the vehicle user in the recessed grip 6 and can surround the door handle 3. In the release position 16 of the flaps 12 and 14, the control and evaluation unit monitors by means of the trough measuring field 31, whether the hand of the vehicle user is in the recessed grip 6. A change in the sensor capacity in the release position 16 by a predetermined value is indicative of the grip of the door handle 3 by the hand of the vehicle user. The control and evaluation unit interprets such a change in the sensor capacity as Door opening request of the vehicle user and then outputs a door opening signal to the door actuator motor of the vehicle door 1.

In order to prevent the flaps 12 and 14 are open for an indefinite time in the absence of embracing the door handle 3, the control and evaluation unit is adapted to the grip 6 after the opening of the flaps 12 and 14 only during a predetermined waiting time, for example during 10 seconds, to monitor the embrace of the door handle 3. Expires the waiting time without event, that is, without a gripping the door handle 3 is registered, controls the control and evaluation unit, the adjusting device for closing the flaps 12 and 14 at.

In the event that the sensor capacitance (with flaps 12 and 14 arranged in the release position 16) returns to its resting value (present in the grip 6 in the absence of the hand), the control and evaluation unit interprets such that the vehicle user releases the door handle 3 Has. In this case, the control and evaluation unit also controls the adjusting device for closing the flaps 12 and 14.

In 4 and FIG. 5 an alternative embodiment of the door handle system 2 is shown, in which the sensor electrodes 20 and 22 are driven in the closed position 10 such that by means of each sensor electrode 20 and 22, a distance measurement can be performed to ground. This is in Fig. 4 exemplified by in each case by each sensor electrode 20 and 22 emanating and exemplified linearly indicated field lines 34 indicated. In this measuring mode, each sensor electrode 20 or 22 thus forms a sensor capacitor with the nearest grounded object arranged in the surroundings of the vehicle. In the release position 16, the sensor electrodes 20 and 22 are in turn driven as transmitting and receiving electrodes, so that the distance sensor according to the embodiment of FIG FIGS. 2 and 3 can be used (s. Fig. 5 ).

According to a further alternative embodiment, shown in FIG Fig. 6 , two additional sensor electrodes (referred to as "grip electrodes 40 and 42") are additionally arranged in the door handle 3. In this exemplary embodiment, the distance sensor is set up to control the sensor electrode 20 and the grip electrode 40 as well as the sensor electrode 22 and the grip electrode 42 in pairs in the release position 16 as transmitting and receiving electrodes. Thus, in the release position 16, the sensor electrode 20 and the handle electrode 40 and the sensor electrode 22 and the grip electrode 42 each have a sensor capacitor with a respective associated well measuring field 44 and 46. By this control of the sensor electrodes 20 and 40 or 22 and 42, it is possible to separately detect an intervention in the recessed grip 6 on each side of the door handle 3 by means of the respectively associated electrode pair.

In a further embodiment according to FIGS. 7 and 8 the flaps 12 and 14 are pivotally hinged to the door handle 3, so that the flaps 12 and 14 are folded in the release position 16 to the back of the door handle 3. The troughs 12 and 14 in this case form part of the handle recess 6 facing surface of the door handle 3. The trough measuring field 31 of the sensor electrodes 20 and 22 extends in the illustrated embodiment in the release position 16 is approximately U-shaped and thus approximately parallel to the wall 30 of the recessed grip 6th

In a further alternative embodiment according to the FIGS. 9 and 10 the recessed grip 6 is closed in the closed position 10 on both sides of the door handle 3 by two flaps. In each case, one of the flaps (hereinafter referred to as upper trough flap 50 and lower trough flap 52) is in this case pivotable on the recessed grip 6, so that the upper and lower depression flaps 50 and 52 abut against the wall 30 of the recessed grip 6 in the release position 16. The other two flaps are referred to below as upper handle flap 54 and lower handle flap 56 and are pivoted in the release position 16 to the back of the door handle 3 (s. Fig. 10 ). At the dump flaps 50 and 52 and the handle flaps 54 and 56, a sensor electrode of the distance sensor is arranged in each case.

As in Fig. 9 2, the sensor electrodes in the closed position 10 are controlled in such a way that the sensor electrodes of the upper trough flap 50 and of the upper grip flap 54 form a common upper electrode. The sensor electrodes of the lower well flap 52 and the lower handle flap 56 are equally driven and thus form a common lower electrode. The upper electrode and the lower electrode are comparable to the embodiment according to FIG Fig. 2 as the transmitting and receiving electrode and form the horseshoe-shaped measuring field 24 to the outside of the door handle 3 out.

In the release position 16 (see Fig. 10 ), the sensor electrodes of the upper trough flap 50 and the upper handle flap 54 and the sensor electrodes of the lower trough flap 52 and the lower handle flap 56 are in turn driven in pairs as transmitting and receiving electrodes. Between the sensor electrodes of the upper trough flap 50 and the upper handle flap 54 thus forms a measuring field 60 and between the sensor electrodes of the lower trough flap 52 and the lower handle flap 56, a measuring field 62. The control and evaluation unit is comparable here as in the exemplary embodiment according to FIG Fig. 6 set up to detect the gripping of the door handle 3.

In an alternative (not shown) embodiment, the control and evaluation unit is adapted to control the sensor electrodes of the hollow and handle flaps 50 to 56 in the release position 16 alternately. In a first step, the sensor electrodes according to the embodiment according to Fig. 10 driven. In a second step, however, the sensor electrodes of the well flaps 50 and 52 are turned off. The sensor electrodes of the handle flaps 54 and 56 are then activated as transmitting and receiving electrodes. This second control essentially corresponds to the exemplary embodiment Fig. 8 , As a result of this alternating activation of the sensor electrodes, it is possible to detect an encompassing encompassing of the door handle 3 in a particularly precise manner and thus to increase the error safety of the door handle system 1.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

vehicle door

2

Door handle system

3

door handle

4

Vehicle longitudinal direction

5

outer surface

6

grip

10

closed position

12

flap

14

flap

16

release position

18

lever

20

sensor electrode

22

sensor electrode

24

measuring field

30

wall

31

Trough measurement field

32

shield grid

34

field line

40

grip electrodes

42

grip electrodes

44

Trough measurement field

46

Trough measurement field

50

upper dump flap

52

lower dump flap

54

upper handle flap

56

lower handle flap

60

measuring field

62

measuring field

Claims (10)

1. Door handle system (2) for a vehicle door (1),

   - having a door handle (3),

   - having at least one flap (12,14,50,52,54,56) for reversibly closing a handle recess (6) which is set back on the rear side of the door handle (3) with respect to the outer surface (5) of the vehicle door (1),

   - having an adjusting device, by means of which the or each flap (12,14,50,52,54,56) can be pivoted between a closed position (10) that covers the handle recess (6) and a release position (16) that releases the handle recess (6),

   - having a distance sensor which is arranged at least partially on the flap (12,14,50,52,54,56) or at least one of the flaps (12,14,50,52,54,56), and

   - having a control- and evaluation unit, which is adapted

   o to conclude that a vehicle user has approached the or each flap (12,14,50,52,54,56) using a first measurement signal emitted by the distance sensor in the closed position (10),

   o upon detection of the approach, to control the adjusting device for adjusting the or each flap (12,14,50,52,54,56) into the release position (16)

   characterised in that
   the control- and evaluation unit is adapted

   o to identify, using a second measurement signal emitted by the distance sensor in the release position (16), whether the door handle (3) has been gripped by the vehicle user.
2. Door handle system (2) according to claim 1,
   wherein the distance sensor is formed as a capacitive distance sensor, and wherein the or each flap (12,14,50,52,54,56) respectively carries a sensor electrode (20, 22).
3. Door handle system (2) according to claim 1,
   wherein the distance sensor is formed as a capacitive distance sensor, and wherein the or each flap (12,14,50,52,54,56) forms a sensor electrode (20, 22) of the capacitive distance sensor.
4. Door handle system (2) according to one of claims 1 to 3,
   wherein the or each flap (12,14,50,52,54,56) is pivoted against the wall (30) of the handle recess (6) in the release position (16).
5. Door handle system (2) according to one of claims 1 to 3,
   wherein the or each flap (12,14,50,52,54,56) is pivoted onto the rear side of the door handle (3) in the release position (16).
6. Door handle system (2) according to one of claims 1 to 5,
   wherein the door handle (3) spans the handle recess (6) in a web-like manner, wherein the handle recess (6) is closed by two flaps (12, 14) in the closed position (10), said flaps being arranged on either side of the door handle (3).
7. Door handle system (2) according to one of claims 1 to 6,
   wherein two flaps (50,52,54,56) are arranged on a respective side of the door handle (3), wherein one of the flaps (50,52) is pivoted against the wall (30) of the handle recess (6) in the release position (16) and the respective other one of the flaps (54, 56) is pivoted onto the rear side of the door handle (3).
8. Door handle system (2) according to claims 2 or 3 and 6 or 7,
   wherein the sensor electrodes (20,22) are respectively controlled by the control- and evaluation unit in pairs as a transmitting electrode and as a receiving electrode, at least in the release position (16).
9. Door handle system (2) according to one of claims 1 to 8,
   wherein the control- and evaluation unit is adapted to activate an illumination means of the vehicle upon detection of the approach of the vehicle user to the or each flap (12,14,50,52,54,56).
10. Door handle system (2) according to one of claims 1 to 9,
    wherein the control- and evaluation unit is adapted to control a window lifter upon detection of the approach of the vehicle user to the or each flap (12,14,50,52,54,56), said window lifter being assigned to a pane of the vehicle door (1).

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