EP4668239A1

EP4668239A1 - System comprising an electronic door latch arrangement for a vehicle

Info

Publication number: EP4668239A1
Application number: EP24183121.3A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Ömer INAN; Thosten BENDEL; Peter Szegeny; Marco Merletti; Holger Schiffer; Daniel Koch; Daniele NARDI
Original assignee: Kiekert AG
Current assignee: Kiekert AG
Priority date: 2024-06-19
Filing date: 2024-06-19
Publication date: 2025-12-24
Also published as: WO2025261687A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a System comprising an electronic door latch arrangement (1) for a vehicle (2) and a control unit (3) comprising a storage unit (5) and an interface (6) for contacting a corresponding interface of a service tool, wherein
the electronic door latch arrangement (1) has at least one sensor (4), wherein
the at least one sensor (4) is configured for acquiring signals of the electronic door latch arrangement (1) of at least one diagnosis-specific signal type,
the at least one sensor (4) is connected to the control unit (3) for transmitting the signals, and
the control unit (3) is configured for storing the signals in the form of diagnostic data in the storage unit (5) and providing the diagnostic data at the interface (6) connected to the storage unit (5) for transmitting data, such that the diagnostic data is retrievable employing the service tool. In this way a system for the simple and rapid provision of diagnostic data for the diagnosis of an electronic door latch arrangement (1) is provided.

Description

The invention relates to a system comprising an electronic door latch arrangement for a vehicle and a control unit comprising a storage unit and an interface for contacting a corresponding interface of a service tool.

Background

Electronically actuated door locks, door openers and door closers are increasingly being installed in vehicles to facilitate the opening, closing, unlocking and locking of the vehicle's doors and tailgate. The electronically actuated door lock, often referred to as an eLatch, is unlocked and locked electronically. The electronically actuated door opener, also known as presenter, is also electronically operated and is used to open the door. The electronically actuated door closer, also known as cincher, closes the open door. The electronically actuated door opener and the electronically actuated door closer as well as the electronically actuated door lock are often integrated in one component. The door can be opened and closed in different ways. For example, doors are known that perform a pivoting movement to open and close. However, there are also doors that are pushed or pulled in one direction. Such sliding doors can be equipped with an automatic system, for example, to create an electronically actuated sliding door. In the present case, electronically actuated door locks, electronically actuated door openers and electronically actuated door closers are subsumed under the term "electronic door latch arrangement".
Diagnosis of vehicles is usually carried out as part of a diagnostic communication on the vehicle using a service tool, e.g. a Unified Diagnostic Services Tool (UDS tool).
UDS is the name of a standard specification or a standard diagnostic protocol that uses standard protocols in accordance with ISO 14229-1 via CAN with ISO 15765. UDS defines a format of a diagnostic message and the like in diagnostic communication. For this purpose, the vehicle has an electronic control unit (ECU) equipped with an interface via which the service tool or the UDS tool can access the control unit in accordance with this diagnostic communication. Faults are stored in the form of diagnostic trouble codes (DTC) and can be called up with the service tool via a data identifier (DID) assigned to the respective diagnostic trouble code.
The data identifier can be used to retrieve specific data or parameters, such as certain diagnostic fault codes, from the electronic control unit in the vehicle. The data identifier makes it possible to access individual diagnostic fault codes with the service tool without having to retrieve all of these diagnostic fault codes. Unique data identifiers are assigned to the individual diagnostic fault code or parameter of the vehicle, such that these can be accessed with a data identifier corresponding to the data identifier by means of a request from the service tool.
The electronic door latch arrangement itself is becoming increasingly complex. This complexity requires regular functional checks. In the event of a defect in the electronic door latch arrangement in particular, it is necessary to carry out a diagnosis of the same in order to determine the cause of the defect and to be able to repair the electronic door latch arrangement and restore it to a functional state. However, the diagnosis of the electronic door latch arrangement is significantly more difficult due to the complexity of the electronic door latch arrangement. In particular, the electronic door latch arrangement is so complex that knowledge of how it works is virtually non-existent in workshops. It is difficult to determine whether the cause of the defect is in the electronic door latch arrangement or in its periphery elsewhere in the vehicle. Wiring errors, errors in peripheral control units, misaligned CAN messages can be defects that are misdiagnosed.
It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a system and a method for the simple and rapid provision of diagnostic data for the diagnosis of an electronic door latch arrangement.
The object of the invention is solved by the features of the independent claims. Preferred implementations are detailed in the dependent claims.
Thus, a system comprising an electronic door latch arrangement for a vehicle and a control unit comprising a storage unit and an interface for contacting a corresponding interface of a service tool is provided, wherein the electronic door latch arrangement has at least one sensor, wherein the at least one sensor is configured for acquiring signals of the electronic door latch arrangement of at least one diagnosis-specific signal type, the at least one sensor is connected to the control unit for transmitting the signals, such that the signals are transmittable to the control unit, and the control unit is configured for storing the signals in the form of diagnostic data in the storage unit and providing the diagnostic data at the interface connected to the storage unit for transmitting data, such that the diagnostic data is retrievable employing the service tool.
Signals of the diagnosis-specific signal type are correspondingly signals that can be used to determine a state of the electronic door latch arrangement. The at least one sensor is therefore configured for detecting signals of such a diagnosis-specific signal type. The detected signals are then transmitted to the storage unit. Because the diagnostic data is stored on the storage unit, it is possible to retrieve it at a later time and employ the diagnostic data to diagnose the electronic door latch arrangement. The diagnostic data is provided via an interface such that this diagnostic data can be accessed with a service tool, or the diagnostic data can be retrieved with the service tool. Corresponding signal types that are provided to allow diagnosis of the electronic door latch arrangement are, for example, a temperature of the electronic door latch arrangement, motion signals, an applied current or an applied voltage of the electronic door latch arrangement.
It is therefore essential to the invention that the signals of the at least one diagnosis-specific signal type are provided at the interface in the form of the diagnostic data so that they can then be retrieved and analyzed using a service tool. This enables much more comprehensive and, above all, more efficient diagnostics of the electronic door latch arrangement itself, as appropriately adapted sensors can be arranged in the electronic door latch arrangement according to the requirements for the required diagnosis-specific signal types. In principle, the interface can be designed in various ways for this purpose. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, however, it is provided that the interface enables wireless or wired diagnostic data transmission. In the present case, corresponding interface means such an interface that can be connected to the interface according to the invention for data transmission of the diagnosis data. This data transmission can be wired or wireless. Such a corresponding interface is provided, for example, with a Unified Diagnostic Services Tool (UDS tool). The UDS tool provides a standardized tool with a standardized interface with which the diagnostic data of the electronic door latch arrangement can be retrieved. The diagnostic data is thus provided with the system according to the invention, such that it is then possible to use the diagnostic data to determine faults or defects quickly and efficiently in the electronic door latch arrangement.
Diagnostic data means the signals of at least one diagnosis-specific signal type stored in the storage unit. If the diagnosis-specific signal type is temperature, the temperature signals are stored on the storage unit in the form of diagnostic data. This means that the temperatures acquired with the at least one sensor can then be provided at the interface and retrieved with the corresponding interface.
In principle, various sensors can be provided. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, however, the at least one sensor comprises a temperature sensor formed in the electronic door latch arrangement, wherein the at least one signal type is provided as a temperature, and the temperature sensor acquires the signals in the form of temperatures of the electronic door latch arrangement. Monitoring the temperature of the electronic door latch arrangement enables efficient diagnosis of the electronic door latch arrangement. If, for example, limit values have been exceeded or similar, malfunctions of the electronic door latch arrangement can be detected more quickly.
In principle, unforeseen temperature fluctuations can also indicate a defect in the electronic door latch arrangement, which are then detected as part of a maintenance interval in a workshop when the diagnostic data is retrieved. This in turn can also extend the service life of the electronic door latch arrangement. The fact that the temperature sensor is arranged directly in the electronic door latch arrangement means that unadulterated direct temperatures are recorded which, in contrast to methods that estimate temperatures based on movement data of the electronic door latch arrangement, enable exact temperature monitoring of the electronic door latch arrangement.
According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is provided in this context that the temperature sensor comprises a plurality of temperature probes, the temperature probes being arranged at different positions in the electronic door latch arrangement. This enables a corresponding spatial resolution of the temperature distribution in the electronic door latch arrangement, whereby diagnostic data is provided which allows diagnostics of the electronic door latch arrangement to be increased many times over in terms of efficiency and accuracy.
According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the at least one sensor comprises a motion sensor formed in the electronic door latch arrangement, wherein the at least one signal type is provided as a motion signal, and the motion sensor acquires the signals in the form of motion signals of the electronic door latch arrangement. The motion signal refers to a position or change in position of a door or moving parts, such as a latch or hook or an electric motor of electronic door latch arrangement. Providing the diagnostic data corresponding to these signals enables efficient diagnosis of the electronic door latch arrangement.
In general, it is possible to acquire motion signals at various moving components of the electronic door latch arrangement. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, however, the system comprises an electric motor formed in the electronic door latch arrangement, wherein the motion sensor is attached to the electric motor in such a way that a motion signal in the form of a rotation of the electric motor is detectable by the motion sensor. The rotation of the electric motor has a fixed relationship with the operation of the electronic door latch arrangement, as the rotation of the electric motor can acquire an opening or closing process.
It is possible to use different motion sensors to detect a rotation. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, however, the motion sensor is provided as a hall sensor. With the hall sensor, the rotation of the electric motor can be detected without contacting the electric motor itself. Due to this non-contact detection, the hall sensor is robust and reliable, as it is less susceptible to wear and environmental influences such as dust, dirt or vibrations. In addition, the hall sensor is highly accurate, which enables the exact position of the electric motor to be determined and in turn provides greater accuracy in the diagnostic data. Furthermore, a hall sensor is easy to integrate into the electronic door latch arrangement and has low costs.
In general, a number of actuations can be counted in different ways. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, however, the system further comprises a counting unit formed in the control unit, wherein the counting unit is connected to the storage unit for transmitting data, and the counting unit is adapted for storing the number of actuations in the storage unit in the form of diagnostic data. The counting unit can be used to predict wear on the electronic door latch arrangement. In principle, the condition of the electronic door latch arrangement depends on the number of times it is activated. This means that maintenance intervals of the electronic door latch arrangement can be provided depending on the number of activations, which result in corresponding action in the workshop upon diagnostic data provision via the interface before an actual defect has occurred. Above all, this also increases the reliability of the electronic door latch arrangement. In conjunction with the other diagnostic data, this synergy enables a high level of accuracy to be achieved in the diagnosis of the electronic door latch arrangement and, above all, in prophylaxis. In this context, according to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the system additionally comprises an auxiliary energy source in the form of a supercapacitor group, wherein the counting unit is configured for recording how often the electronic door latch arrangement has been operated with the auxiliary energy source.
According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the control unit is configured for storing the rotation of the electric motor in the form of movement profiles as diagnostic data in the storage unit. Using these movement profiles, defects can be detected efficiently by comparing them with known reference movement profiles.
Pursuant to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the at least one sensor comprises an ampere meter and/or a voltmeter formed in the electronic door latch arrangement, wherein the at least one signal type is provided as a current applied to the electronic door latch arrangement and/or a voltage applied to electronic door latch, and the ampere meter and/or the voltmeter acquires the signals in the form of the current values and/or the voltage values. This makes it possible to set limit values for the current and/or voltage, which makes it easier to detect short circuits or damage to the electric motor or similar.
According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the electronic door latch arrangement is an electronically actuated door lock.
The invention also relates to a use of the system as described above on a door of a vehicle.
The invention further concerns a method of providing diagnostic data of an electronic door latch arrangement comprising the system described above, comprising the following method steps:

acquiring signals of the at least one diagnosis-specific signal type of the electronic door latch arrangement with the at least one sensor,
storing the signals of the at least one diagnosis-specific signal type in the form of diagnostic data in the storage unit of the control unit, and
providing the diagnostic data at the interface of the control unit.

In principle, various signal types in the form of diagnostic data can be used to diagnose the electronic door latch arrangement. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, however, the at least one diagnosis-specific signal type is a temperature and/or a motion signal and/or a current applied to the electronic door latch arrangement and/or a voltage applied to the electronic door latch arrangement.
In this context, according to a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the at least one diagnosis-specific signal type is a transient of a temperature and/or a transient of the motion signal and/or a transient of a current applied to the electronic door latch arrangement and/or a transient of a voltage applied to the electronic door latch arrangement. A transient is a transient process or a signal section that announces such a transient process. The transients of the aforementioned signal types are therefore stored in the event log during the actuation of the electronic door latch arrangement. The transients enable even more precise diagnostics of the electronic door latch arrangement.
In general, these signals can be provided directly at the interface. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, however, it is provided that the signals are of the diagnosis-specific signal type motion signal, comprising the following further steps:

generating a movement profile based on the motion data in the storage unit, and
storing the movement profile in the form of diagnostic data in the storage unit of the control unit.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the method comprises the following further method steps:

detecting control signals of the control unit immediately before and during an actuation of the electronic door latch arrangement, and
storing the control signals in the form of diagnostic data in the storage unit of the control unit.

The control signals, which in this case are logic signals, can therefore be stored in the storage unit together with the signals in the form of diagnostic data. This enables even more precise diagnostics of the electronic door latch arrangement. Since corresponding signals can be acquired directly in response to the respective commands executed with the control unit. The control signals can therefore be associated with the signals measured by the sensors.
Furthermore, according to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the method comprises the following further method steps:

counting a number of actuations of the electronic door latch arrangement, and
storing the number of actuations of the electronic door latch arrangement in the form of diagnostic data.

It is possible for the diagnostic data to be updated each time the electronic door latch arrangement is operated, replacing previous diagnostic data in the event log. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, however, the signals are acquired successively. Accordingly, the diagnostic data is not overwritten but successively added to the storage unit, such that a history of the functionality of the electronic door latch arrangement can be retrieved.
The invention also comprises a computer program for providing diagnostic data of an electronic door latch arrangement, comprising instructions which, when the program is executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform the method as described above.
Further implementations and advantages of the method can be derived by the person skilled in the art from the system and method as described before.

Brief description of drawings

These and other aspects of the invention will be apparent from and elucidated with reference to the implementation described hereinafter.
In the drawings:

Fig. 1: schematically depicts a system comprising an electronic door latch arrangement in a vehicle and a control unit according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, and
Fig. 2: schematically depicts a scheme of a method according to a preferred embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 1 shows a system comprising an electronic door latch arrangement 1 and a control unit 3 in a vehicle 2. The control unit 3 comprises a storage unit 5 and an interface 6. The interface 6 is connected to the storage unit 5 for data transmission. The storage unit 5 is connected to both the interface and a counting unit 5 for data transmission. The control unit 3 is connected to sensors 4 in the electronic door latch arrangement 1 for signal transmission. The electronic door latch arrangement 1 has an electric motor 12, which is friction-locked connected to a mechanism not further described, which in turn enables the release of a door of the vehicle 2. A motion sensor 8 is connected to the electric motor 12, which is provided as a hall sensor and is used to acquire a rotation of the electric motor 12. At the same time, the voltage applied to the electronic door latch arrangement 1 is acquired by a voltmeter 10 and the current applied is acquired by an ampere meter 9. The electronic door latch arrangement 1 also has a temperature sensor 7, which is provided with three temperature probes 12 applied to the electric motor 12. The sensors 4 are connected to the control unit 3 for signal transmission, such that signals of diagnosis-specific signal types in the form of motion signals, temperatures and current values and voltage values applied to the electronic door latch arrangement 1 are transmitted to the control unit 3. The control unit 3 stores the signals in the form of diagnostic data in the storage unit 5. Each actuation of the electronic door latch arrangement 1 in the form of a motion signal is counted by the counting unit 11 and also stored in the form of diagnostic data in the storage unit 5. The diagnostic data stored in the storage unit 5 is finally transmitted to the interface 6 via the control unit 3, such that it can be retrieved employing a corresponding interface of a service tool.
Fig. 2 finally depicts a scheme of a method of providing diagnostic data of the electronic door latch arrangement 1, comprising the following method steps: The signals of the at least one diagnosis-specific signal type of the electronic door latch arrangement 1 are acquired with the at least one sensor 4 in a first step S1. In a further step S1a, control signals of the control unit 3 are detected immediately before and during an actuation of the electronic door latch arrangement. The number of actuations of the electronic door latch arrangement 1 are counted in the next step S1b. The acquired signals of the at least one signal type as well as the control signals and the number of actuations of the electronic door latch arrangement 1 are stored in steps S2, S2a and S2b in the form of diagnostic data in the storage unit 5. In a last step S3 the diagnostic data is provided at the interface 6 of the control unit 3.
While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, such illustration and description are to be considered illustrative or exemplary and not restrictive; the invention is not limited to the disclosed implementations. Other variations to be disclosed implementations can be understood and effected by those skilled in the art in practicing the claimed invention, from a study of the drawings, the disclosure, and the appended claims. In the claims, the word "comprising" does not exclude other elements or steps, and the indefinite article "a" or "an" does not exclude a plurality. The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to advantage. Any reference signs in the claims should not be construed as limiting scope.

List of reference symbols

1: electronic door latch arrangement
2: vehicle
3: control unit
4: sensor
5: storage unit
6: interface
7: temperature sensor
8: motion sensor
9: ampere meter
10: voltmeter
11: counting unit
12: electric motor
13: temperature probe

Claims

System comprising an electronic door latch arrangement (1) for a vehicle (2) and a control unit (3) comprising a storage unit (5) and an interface (6) for contacting a corresponding interface of a service tool, wherein
the electronic door latch arrangement (1) has at least one sensor (4), wherein

the at least one sensor (4) is configured for acquiring signals of the electronic door latch arrangement (1) of at least one diagnosis-specific signal type,

the at least one sensor (4) is connected to the control unit (3) for transmitting the signals, and

the control unit (3) is configured for storing the signals in the form of diagnostic data in the storage unit (5) and providing the diagnostic data at the interface (6) connected to the storage unit (5) for transmitting data, such that the diagnostic data is retrievable employing the service tool.
System according to the previous claim, wherein the at least one sensor (4) comprises a temperature sensor (7) formed in the electronic door latch arrangement (1), wherein the at least one signal type is provided as a temperature, and the temperature sensor (7) acquires the signals in the form of temperatures of the electronic door latch arrangement (1).
System according to the previous claim, wherein the temperature sensor (7) comprises a plurality of temperature probes (12), the temperature probes (12) being arranged at different positions in the electronic door latch arrangement (1).
System according to any one of the previous claims, wherein the at least one sensor (4) comprises a motion sensor (8) formed in the electronic door latch arrangement (1), wherein the at least one signal type is provided as a motion signal, and the motion sensor (8) acquires the signals in the form of motion signals of the electronic door latch arrangement (1).
System according to the previous claim with an electric motor (12) formed in the electronic door latch arrangement (1), wherein the motion sensor (8) is attached to the electric motor (12) in such a way that a motion signal in the form of a rotation of the electric motor (12) is detectable by the motion sensor (8) .
System according to the previous claim, wherein the motion sensor (8) is provided as a hall sensor.
System according to any one of the previous claims with a counting unit (11) formed in the control unit (3), wherein the counting unit (11) is connected to the storage unit (5) for transmitting data, and
the counting unit (11) is adapted for counting a number of actuations of the electronic door latch arrangement (1), and the control unit (3) is adapted for storing the number of actuations in the storage unit (5) in the form of diagnostic data.
System according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one sensor (4) comprises an ampere meter (9) and/or a voltmeter (10) formed in the electronic door latch arrangement (1), wherein the at least one signal type is provided as a current applied to the electronic door latch arrangement (1) and/or a voltage applied to electronic door latch (1), and
the ampere meter (9) and/or the voltmeter (10) acquires the signals in the form of the current values and/or the voltage values.
Use of the system according to any one of claims 1 to 8 on a door of the vehicle (2).
Method of providing diagnostic data of an electronic door latch arrangement (1) comprising the system according to any one of the claims 1 to 8, comprising the following method steps:
S1) acquiring signals of the at least one diagnosis-specific signal type of the electronic door latch arrangement (1) with the at least one sensor (4),

S2) storing the signals of the at least one diagnosis-specific signal type in the form of diagnostic data in the storage unit (5) of the control unit (3), and

S3) providing the diagnostic data at the interface (6) of the control unit (3).
Method according to the previous claim, wherein the at least one diagnosis-specific signal type is a transient of a temperature and/or a transient of a motion signal and/or a transient of a current applied to the electronic door latch arrangement (1) and/or a transient of a voltage applied to the electronic door latch arrangement (1).
Method according to any one of the previous two claims, comprising the following further method steps:
S1a) detecting control signals of the control unit (3) immediately before and during an actuation of the electronic door latch arrangement (1), and

S2a) storing the control signals in the form of diagnostic data in the storage unit (5) of the control unit (3).
Method according to any one of the claims 10 to 12, comprising the following further method steps:
S1b) counting a number of actuations of the electronic door latch arrangement (1), and

S2b) storing the number of actuations of the electronic door latch arrangement (1) in the form of diagnostic data.
Method according to any one of the claims 10 to 13, wherein the signals are acquired successively.
Computer program for providing diagnostic data of an electronic door latch arrangement (1), comprising instructions which, when the program is executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform a method according to any one of claims 10 to 14.