GB2496503A

GB2496503A - Motor vehicle having electrically actuated lock powered by solar panels

Info

Publication number: GB2496503A
Application number: GB201219740A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Andreas Heberer; Peter Eduard Schuessler; Wadim Wilenz
Original assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
Current assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
Priority date: 2012-11-02
Filing date: 2012-11-02
Publication date: 2013-05-15
Also published as: GB201219740D0

Abstract

A motor vehicle door 2 has a movable lock 13 for locking or releasing the door opener, an electrically operated actuator 14 for driving the movement of the lock 13 and at least one solar cell 8 which supplies the actuator 14 with energy. Preferably the solar cell 8 is integrated into a handle 7 of the motor vehicle door 2 and an intermediate storage system 15 may be present which can be charged by the solar cell 8. The capacity of intermediate storage device 15 is preferably sufficient to actuate lock 13 at least once. Optionally a transmitter (17, 18; Figure 3), (20, 21; Figure 4) is present via which electric drive energy can be supplied for the actuator and which may be only effective in one direction.

Description

Motor vehicle door

Description

The present invention relates to a motor vehicle door with a movable lock for locking or releasing the door opener.

For a long time it has been usual to couple such a lock mechanically, possibly via a Bowden cable, to actuating elements on the inner and outer side of the door in order to lock or unlock the door. The components of such a mechanical coupling must be adapted to the distances between lock and actuating elements and the space available for their installation, which if it does not prevent the use of identical components in the doors of different vehicle models, makes this appreciably difficult. In addition, the installation of such a mechanical coupling is time-consuming and accordingly costly.

It has therefore been proposed to replace the estab(ished mechanical coupling by an electrical coupling. An electrical actuator of such a coupling and switches contrclNng the actuator on the door inner and outer side can be used *:.. 25 identically in many models; however length and course of a wiring between switches and actuator is different from one model to another. One problem with * electrical door closing systems is the required operating safety; it must be ensured that the doors of a vehicle can still be opened and closed when the electrical on-board power supply of such a vehicle has largely failed. n.e.. * 30

". : Known from DE 10360418 Al is a motor vehicle closing system :.; comprising an electrical actuator for locking and unlocking a motor vehicle door in * which the actuator can be operated both with energy from the motor vehicle on-board power supply and from solar cells. The on-board power supply can provide the energy required for operation of the actuator if the solar cells are not in a position to do this, No gain in safety is thereby achieved for example, in the eveflt that a supply me of the actuator is destroyed by an accident.

It is therefore the object of the invention to provide a motor vehicle door with an electrically driven lock, which also has a high operating safety in the event of an accident.

The object is solved whereby in a motor vehicle door having a movable lock for locking or releasing the door opener and an electrical actuator for driving the movement of the lock, the door has at least one solar cell supplying the actuator with energy. The solar cell can provide the energy required for unlocking the door even when lines between the door and the vehicle battery are destroyed by an accident.

is The solar cell is preferably integrated in a handle of the door. Since the handle is generally located in the vicinity of the lock, the length of a wiring between solar cell and actuator and consequently the rise of its damage in the event of an accident can be minimized. In addition, a solar cell integrated in a handle can be wired without additional openings being required for this in an outer skin of the door carrying the handle.

In the simplest case, the at least one solar cell can be the only energy source of the actuator. As a result of a preferred embodiment, a transmitter is additionally provided via which electrical drive energy for the actuator can be fed into the door. It can thus be eliminated that in cases of frequent actuation and weak * light, sufficient energy is not provided for operation of the actuator.

The transmitter preferably only allows the transmission of energy in * one direction, from outside to the door. * *

"* ; In order to enable actuation of the lock even with a lack of ambient light, an intermediate storage device should be provided which can be charged via the solar cell and preferably, if present, also via the transmitter.

The capacity of this intermediate storage device should be sufficient for at least a single actuation of the lock.

In order to obtain the most extensive possible functionai safety even in the event of damage to the door, the intermediate storage device with the actuator is preferably combined in a compact assembly mounted in the door.

01 the generally plurality of side doors of a motor vehicle, preferably each individual one is configured as described above.

Further features and advantages of the invention are obtained from the following description of exemplary embodiments with reference to the appended figures. Features of the exemplary embodiments which are not mentioned in the claims are also deduced from this description and the figures. Such features can also occur in other combinations not specifically disclosed here. The fact that a plurality of such features are mentioned with one another in a same sentence or in another type of textual relationship therefore does not justify the conclusion that they can only occur in the specifically disclosed combination; instead, it should fundamentally be assumed that of a plurality of such features, individual ones can be omitted or modified insofar as this does not cast into question the functional capability of the invention. In the figures: Fig. I shows a view of a motor vehicle according to the invention; Fig. 2 shows a partially cutaway view of a door of the vehicle from Fig. 1; ". : 25 * Fig. 3 shows a circuit diagram of the closing system of the * door; and * Fig. 4 shows a modified embodiment of the closing system. * 30

*". : The motor vehicle 1 shown in perspective view in Fig. 1 has right and * left side doors, here front doors 2 and rear doors 3. The doors 2, 3 are each * pivotably hinged to a bodywork substructure concealed below a front fender 4 or a 8 pillar extending between the doors 2, 3. The doors 2, 3 usually each have a movable bolt, not visible in Fig. 1, on their rearward flank, which in the locked position, engages in a catch fixed to the bodywork, on the B pillar or on a rear edge of the bracket.

The outer surfaces of the doors 2, 3 are each formed in one piece from metal panels below a belt line Sot the bodywork. On both sides of a handle recess 6, these door panels each have openings concealed by a door handle 7 spanning the handle recess 6, by which means the door handle 7 is anchored on the door panel and optionally a support structure disposed behind the door pane! in the interior of the door 2 or 3.

The outer surfaces of the handles 7 are substantially filled by solar cells B. Figure 2 shows an enlarged detailed view of the front door 2, in which is a part of the door panel is cut away around the door handle 7 in order to be able to show elements inside the door 2. An electrical line 9 extends from the solar cells 8 of the door handle 7 through the openings in the door panel to a door closing assembly 10, which is mounted on a rearward narrow side 12 of the door 2 facing the B pillar, which is largely covered by the door panel 11 in the figure. In a notch on the narrow side 12, tips of bolts 13 which are movable with respect to one another are visible, which in the closed position of the door act on a catch of the B pillar. The movement of the bolts 13 is driven by an electrical actuator 14 of the assembly 10.

The assembly 10 further comprises a rechargeable battery or supercapacitor 15, which is charged by the solar cell 8 via the electrical line 9 and provides drive : 25 energy for the electrical actuator 14, The rechargeable battery 15 is further * connected to the on-board power supply of the vehicle via another electrical line 16 * ** * S. * so that in normal operation, the electrical actuator 14 is not dependent on the energy of the solar cell 8 for its function.

S

S. **eS * 30 Figure 3 shows a schematic circuit diagram of the closing system of ". : the door 2 or & A drawn-out plug-in connector 17 is provided on a front flank of the * 0e door 2, adjacent to the door hinge, in order to make a galvanic connection to the on- * board power supply of the motor vehicle. The solar cell 8, the rechargeable battery and the electrical actuator 14 are each connected to the plug-in connector 17 in parallel with one another. A diode 18 which is disposed in one of the cores of the line 16 prevents any discharging of the rechargeable battery 15 via the on-board power supply, if a short-circuit occurs there as a result of an accident.

In normal operation the on-board power supply is continuously in contact with the terminals of the rechargeable battery 15 via the diode 18 and maintains a charging state of the rechargeable battery 15 in which its energy content is sufficient for one or more actuations of the actuator 14. The actuator 14 in each case adjusts the lock 13 from a release into a locking position and back when a switch 19 on the outer door handle 7 or on a handle on the inner side of the door 2,3 is actuated, If the vehicle battery fails and cannot provide the required operating voltage, the vehicle cannot be started. Nevertheless, an opening and closing of the doors 2, 3 remains possible since in this case the solar cells 8 of each door 2 or 3 can provide for the necessary charging of the rechargeable battery 15.

is The galvanic connection between actuator 14 and on-board power supply of Fig. 3 via the plug-in connector 17, which possibly needs to be laid at some expense and requires protection from mechanical and climatic influences, can be replaced by various other techniques for energy transmission, in particular by an inductive coupling, as shown in Fig. 4. Here a receiver coil 20 of the door closing system cooperates with a transmitter coil, which is mounted fixed to the bodywork * on the bracket and is supplied with alternating current in normal operation from the on-board power supply in order to induce an alternating voltage in the receiver coil 20. This charges the rechargeable battery 15 via a rectifier 21. Any discharging of the rechargeable battery 15 to the on-board power supply is eliminated here by the rectifier 21, which similarly to a valve, only allows energy transmission in one * direction1 from the receiver coil 20 to the rechargeable battery 15.

S..... * S

A rear door of the vehicle I (concealed in Fig. 1) can be equipped * with a closing assembly 10 and a solar cell 8 which supplies this. * 30 S. * .. * S.

S. * -* ..

Claims

<claim-text>Patent claims 1. Motor vehicle door having a movable lock (13) for locking or releasing the door opener and an electrically operated actuator (14) for driving the movement of the lock (13), characterized in that the door (2, 3) has at least one solar cell (8) which supplies the actuator (14) with energy.</claim-text> <claim-text>2. The motor vehicle door according to claim 1, characterized in that the solar cell (8) is integrated in a handle (7) of the door (2, 3).</claim-text> <claim-text>3. The door according to claim 2, characterized by a transmitter (17 18; 20, 21) via which electric drive energy can be supplied for the actuator (14).</claim-text> <claim-text>4. The door according to claim 3, characterized in that the transmitter (17, 18; 20, 21) is only effective in one direction.</claim-text> <claim-text>5. The door according to claim 2, 3, or 4, characterized by an intermediate storage system (15), which can be charged via the solar cell (8).</claim-text> <claim-text>6. The door according to claim 5, characterized in that the capacity of the intermediate storage device (15) is sufficient for actuating the lock (13) at least once.</claim-text> <claim-text>7. The door according to claim 5 orG, characterized in that the intermediate * * storage device (15) with the actuator (14) is combined in an assembly (10) mounted in the door (2, 3).* 30 8. A motor vehicle characterized in that a plurality of side doors (2, 3) are side doors according to one of the preceding claims. ** . * * * 0</claim-text>