Device for Actuating an Electrical or Mechanical Closure Mechanism on a Vehicle Door and/or Shutter

• US 20070227203A1
• Filed: 04/05/2005
• Published: 10/04/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Franz-Josef Weber
• Original Assignee: Franz-Josef Weber
• Inventors: Weber, Franz-Josef
• Application Number:
  US11/578,878
• Publication Number:
  US 20070227203A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 70/91
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/78 as part of a hands-free locking or unlocking operation
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 85/16 a longitudinal grip part being pivoted at one end about an axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the grip part
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/964 Piezoelectric touch switches
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5155 Door

Abstract

The invention concerns a device for actuating an electrical or mechanical closure mechanism on a vehicle door and/or shutter, involving the use of a sensor (40) which responds to nearness or touch. For the device to identify unequivocally whether the sensor control (40) is actually performed by a human hand or inadvertently by an object, an auxiliary sensor (50) which, in the form of a detection element has a piezoelectric element (51), is arranged at the main sensor (40) contact zone. At least the auxiliary sensor (50) is covered with a flexible wall (28) which, upon contact, exerts a pressure on the piezoelectric element (51) and forms a common actuating location (28). When said actuating zone is contacted, the main sensor and the auxiliary sensor (40, 50) emit separate signals which however are evaluated in the same way (42). When the result of the evaluation is positive, an output signal is emitted, said signal shifting the lock to its locking position. The actuating of the handle (20) is then ineffective.

Claims

1. Arrangement for actuating an electrical or electromechanical closing device (10) on a door (12) and/or a hatch of a vehicle,

with a handle (20), which is used to open and/or to close a lock (30) provided on the door (12) and/or hatch,

with at least two sensors, which, upon approach or contact, transmit separate signals, the signals nevertheless being evaluated (42) jointly, with the result that

the lock (30) is switched between an unlocked position and a locked position,

where, in the unlocked position, the actuation of the handle (20) is functionally effective for the lock (30) but is not functionally effective in the locked position,

wherein

a capacitive main sensor (40) and an auxiliary sensor (50) equipped with a piezoelectric element (51) are arranged one on top of the other at a common actuating point;

in that

the common actuating point consists of an elastically resilient wall (28), which, when contacted, exerts pressure on the piezoelectric element (51); and

in that

a successful evaluation (43) of the signals coming from the main and auxiliary sensors (40, 50) switches the clock (30) to its locking position.

2. Arrangement according to claim 1, wherein, when contact is made with the actuating point (28), the piezoelectric element (51) of the auxiliary sensor (50) transmits a short power-on signal without registering the duration of the contact;

wherein

the duration of the contact, however, is determined by the main sensor (40); and

in that

the main sensor (40) initiates not only the switching of the lock (30) but also, as a function of the duration of contact, one or more additional functions in the vehicle.

3. Arrangement according to claim 2, wherein the additional functions in the vehicle are convenience functions involving movable parts in the vehicle.

4. Arrangement according to claim 3, wherein the convenience functions consist in that at least one opened window in the vehicle is closed and/or an alarm system is turned on and/or a roof panel in the vehicle is closed and/or the side mirrors of the vehicle are retracted.

5. Arrangement according to claim 1, wherein at least one capacitive electrode (41) of the main sensor (40), the piezoelectric element (51) of the auxiliary sensor (50), and the resilient actuating point (28) are situated in or on the handle (20) of the closing device (10).

6. Arrangement according to claim 1, wherein, in addition to the main and auxiliary sensors (40, 50) serving to lock the lock (30), an opening sensor (45) is also provided, which switches the lock (30) to its unlocked position upon approach or contact.

7. Arrangement according to claim 6, wherein the opening sensor (45) is located in the handle (20).

8. Arrangement according to claim 5, wherein at least one electrical component (42) for operations, for control, and/or for evaluation of the signals from the main and/or auxiliary sensor (40, 50) and the signals coming from the opening sensor (45) are located in the handle (20).

9. Arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the control unit (25) initiates the switching of the lock (30) between the locked position and the unlocked position only if the main and auxiliary sensors (40, 50) have been contacted by an authorized person.

10. Arrangement according to claim 9, wherein the authorized person carries an active or passive identification transmitter (ID transmitter) on his/her person;

in that

the ID transmitter communicates with an identification receiver (ID receiver) in the vehicle; and

in that

if the communication between the ID transmitter and the ID receiver is successful, the device (10) is released for actuation (23).