METHOD AND DEVICE FOR ACTUATING A DOOR OR A FLAP OF A VEHICLE

• US 20110118946A1
• Filed: 04/14/2009
• Published: 05/19/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/29/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hella KGaA Hueck & Company, Audi AG (Volkswagen AG), Volkswagen AG
• Original Assignee: Hella KGaA Hueck & Company, Audi AG (Volkswagen AG), Volkswagen AG
• Inventors: Thiele, Andreas, Weghaus, Ludger, Reimann, Martin, Ette, Bernd, Maier, Ruben
• Granted Patent: US 8,788,152 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/49
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/2036 by using the door logic and door and engine unlock means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/2054 by foot gestures
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/00 Power-operated mechanisms for wings motor-operated accessories in locks for completing closing or initiating opening of a wing E05B17/00
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/73 responsive to movement or presence of persons or objects
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/76 responsive to devices carried by persons or objects, e.g. magnets or reflectors E05F15/77 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/852 Sensors
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/858 by body parts
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/86 by hand
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2800/21 of identical elements, e.g. of identical compression springs
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2800/22 of not identical elements of the same category, e.g. combinations of not identical springs
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2800/426 against unauthorised use E05Y2400/51, E05Y2400/522 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/546 Tailgates
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 7/023 for measuring distance between sensor and object G01B7/082 and G01B7/102 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 7/00 Methods or arrangements for processing data by operating upon the order or content of the data handled logic circuits H03K19/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00658 operated by passive electrical keys

Abstract

In a method and a device (12) for actuating a door or flap (1) of a vehicle (10), the door or flap (1), if it is closed, is automatically opened or, if it is open, is automatically closed if a movement of an object with at least one change in direction is detected outside the vehicle (10) and at the same time a key (6) assigned to the vehicle (10) is detected.

Claims

1. A method for actuating a door or a flap of a vehicle, comprising

if the door or flap is closed, opening the door or flap automatically or if the door or flap is open, closing the door or flap automatically, when

a movement of an object comprising at least one change in direction is detected outside the vehicle, and

at the same time a key assigned to the vehicle is detected.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the movement is detected, when a first movement of the object and subsequently within a predefined period of time a second movement of the object is detected, wherein the first movement and the second movement substantially are opposite to each other.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the door or flap is opened or closed automatically only then, when the key is detected after the forward movement and before the reverse movement.

4. The method according to claim 2, wherein after the forward movement at least one of an optical and an acoustical indication is output, when the key is detected.

5. The method according to claim 2, wherein the door or flap is opened or closed automatically only then, when the key is detected after the forward and reverse movement.

6. The method according to claim 1 wherein the door or flap is opened or closed automatically only then, when a field strength, which is generated inside the vehicle by a signal transmitted by the key, has dropped below a predefined threshold value within a predefined period of time after the detection of the movement.

7. A device for actuating a door or a flap of a vehicle, wherein

the device comprises a mechanism for actuating the door or flap, at least two sensor devices spaced from each other, each comprising at least one sensor, and control means, the control means are designed such, that the control means by means of the mechanism open the door or flap, if it is closed, or close it, if it is open, when a movement of an object comprising at least one change in direction is detected outside the vehicle via the two sensor devices, and at the same time the control means detect a key assigned to the vehicle.

8. The device according to claim 7, wherein

from the at least two sensor devices at least one has an oblong form, and

from the at least two sensor devices at least two sensor devices are arranged substantially parallel to each other.

9. The device according to claim 7, wherein

the control means comprise a first sensor evaluation unit and at least a second sensor evaluation unit,

the first sensor evaluation unit is connected electrically to one sensor of the at least two sensors,

each of the at least one second sensor evaluation unit is connected electrically to one sensor of the other of the at least two sensors

each of the at least one second sensor evaluation unit is connected electrically to the first sensor evaluation unit, and

the first sensor evaluation unit has a master function and the at least one second sensor evaluation unit has a slave function.

10. The device according to claim 7, wherein

the control means comprise a first sensor evaluation unit and a second sensor evaluation unit,

the first sensor evaluation unit is connected electrically to one sensor device of the two sensor devices,

the second sensor evaluation unit is connected electrically to the other sensor device of the two sensor devices,

the first sensor evaluation unit and the second sensor evaluation unit are connected electrically to each other, and

the first sensor evaluation unit and the second sensor evaluation unit each have a master function having equal rights.

11. The device according to claim 9, wherein the control means comprise at least one control unit, which comprises an evaluation function for evaluating the at least two sensors and a control function for controlling the mechanism, and each sensor evaluation unit, that has a master function, is connected electrically to the at least one control unit.

12. A vehicle comprising a device according to claim 7.

13. The vehicle according to claim 12, wherein the at least two sensor devices substantially extend in the direction of the width of the vehicle centered at the rear end section of the vehicle, and the at least two sensor devices are aligned substantially parallel to a road surface and pointing towards the road surface.

14. The vehicle according to claim 12, wherein one of the at least two sensor devices runs in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle in front of an opening for a towing hitch of the vehicle, and a further of the at least two sensor devices runs in a longitudinal direction behind the opening for the towing hitch.

15. The vehicle according to claim 12, wherein the at least two sensor devices are integrated into a component of the vehicle mounted to the rear end of the vehicle and substantially consisting of plastic material, such that the at least two sensor devices are embedded in the plastic material such that they are completely protected against an outside area by the plastic material.

16. The vehicle according to claim 12, wherein

the at least two sensors for actuating the flap are arranged at at least one of:

a bumper of the vehicle,

at a spoiler of the vehicle,

at a diffuser of the vehicle, and

below a rear end of the body of the vehicle.

17. The vehicle according to claim 12, wherein

the at least two sensors for actuating the door are arranged at at least one of:

a side skirt of the vehicle and

below a side of the body of the vehicle.

18. The vehicle according to claim 12, wherein

from the at least two sensor devices at least one has an oblong form, and

from the at least two sensor devices at least two sensor devices are arranged substantially parallel to each other.

19. The vehicle according to claim 12, wherein

the control means comprise a first sensor evaluation unit and at least a second sensor evaluation unit,

the first sensor evaluation unit is connected electrically to one sensor of the at least two sensors,

each of the at least one second sensor evaluation unit is connected electrically to one sensor of the other of the at least two sensors

each of the at least one second sensor evaluation unit is connected electrically to the first sensor evaluation unit, and

the first sensor evaluation unit has a master function and the at least one second sensor evaluation unit has a slave function.

20. The vehicle according to claim 12, wherein

the control means comprise a first sensor evaluation unit and a second sensor evaluation unit,

the first sensor evaluation unit is connected electrically to one sensor device of the two sensor devices,

the second sensor evaluation unit is connected electrically to the other sensor device of the two sensor devices,

the first sensor evaluation unit and the second sensor evaluation unit are connected electrically to each other, and

the first sensor evaluation unit and the second sensor evaluation unit each have a master function having equal rights.