Method and device for actuating a door or a flap of a vehicle

• US 8,788,152 B2
• Filed: 04/14/2009
• Issued: 07/22/2014
• 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: Reimann, Martin, Weghaus, Ludger, Maier, Ruben, Thiele, Andreas, Ette, Bernd
• Primary Examiner(s): Tarcza, Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lee, Tyler J
• Application Number:
  US12/990,288
• Publication Number:
  US 20110118946A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,925 Days
• Field of Search: 701/49, 340/5.72, 296/146.4, 49/25
• 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:

detecting a first movement of a person by at least one movement sensor;

detecting a second movement of the person by the at least one movement sensor;

analyzing the first and second movements of the person to detect a predefined change in direction between the first and second movements; and

during a period after the first movement and before the second movement, wirelessly detecting the presence of a key assigned to the vehicle; and

in response to both (a) detecting the predefined change in direction between the first and second movements of the person and (b) detecting the presence of the key during the period after the first movement and before the second movement, automatically opening or closing the door or flap of the vehicle.

2. The method according to claim 1, comprising automatically opening or closing the door or flap of the vehicle only if the second movement of the person is detected within a predefined period of time after the first movement of the person is detected.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the door or flap is opened or closed automatically only if the key is detected after the first movement and before the second movement.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein:

the wireless detection of the presence of the key is initiated in response to the detection of the first movement of the person; and

at least one of an optical and an acoustical indication is output in response to the detection of the key.

5. The method according to claim 2, wherein the door or flap is opened or closed automatically only if the key is detected after the first and second movements of the person.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the door or flap is opened or closed automatically only if 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 second movement of the person.

20. The method according to claim 1, wherein the wireless detection of the presence of the key is initiated in response to the detection of the first movement of the person or the second movement of the person.

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

a mechanism for actuating the door or flap,

at least two sensor devices spaced from each other, each comprising at least one sensor, and

a control unit configured to;

detect a first movement of a person based on signals received from the at least one movement sensor regarding;

detect a second movement of a person based on signals received from the at least one movement sensor regarding;

analyze the first and second movements of the person to detect a predefined change in direction between the first and second movements; and

during a period after the first movement and before the second movement, wirelessly detecting the presence of a key assigned to the vehicle; and

in response to both (a) detecting the predefined change in direction between the first and second movements of the person and (b) detecting the presence of the key during the period after the first movement and before the second movement, automatically open or close the door or flap of the vehicle.

8. The device according to claim 7, wherein

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

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

9. The device according to claim 7, wherein

the control unit comprises 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 unit comprises 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.

21. The device according to claim 7, wherein the wireless detection of the presence of the key is initiated in response to the detection of the first movement of the person or the second movement of the person.

11. A vehicle comprising:

a door or a flap; and

a device for actuating the door or flap, comprising;

a mechanism for actuating the door or flap,

at least two sensor devices spaced from each other, each comprising at least one sensor, and

a control unit configured to;

detect a first movement of a person based on signals received from the at least one movement sensor regarding;

detect a second movement of a person based on signals received from the at least one movement sensor regarding;

analyze the first and second movements of the person to detect a predefined change in direction between the first and second movements; and

during a period after the first movement and before the second movement, wirelessly detecting the presence of a key assigned to the vehicle; and

in response to both (a) detecting the predefined change in direction between the first and second movements of the person and (b) detecting the presence of the key during the period after the first movement and before the second movement, automatically open or close the door or flap of the vehicle.

12. The vehicle according to claim 11, 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.

13. The vehicle according to claim 11, 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.

14. The vehicle according to claim 11, 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.

15. The vehicle according to claim 11, 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.

16. The vehicle according to claim 11, 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.

17. The vehicle according to claim 11, wherein

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

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

18. The vehicle according to claim 11, wherein

the control unit comprises 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.

19. The vehicle according to claim 11, wherein

the control unit comprises 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.

22. The vehicle according to claim 11, wherein the wireless detection of the presence of the key is initiated in response to the detection of the first movement of the person or the second movement of the person.

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

detecting a first movement of a person by at least one movement sensor;

detecting a key assigned to the vehicle;

in response to detecting both (a) the first movement of the person and (b) the key, automatically outputting feedback to the person by at least one of an optical indication and an acoustic indication;

after outputting the feedback to the person, detecting a second movement of the person by the at least one movement sensor;

analyzing the first and second movements of the person to detect a predefined change in direction between the first and second movements; and

if the predefined change in direction between the first and second movements is detected, automatically opening or closing the door or flap of the vehicle.

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

detecting a first movement of a person by at least one movement sensor;

in response to detecting the first movement of the person, automatically outputting feedback to the person by at least one of an optical indication and an acoustic indication;

after detecting the first movement of the person, wirelessly detecting the presence of a key assigned to the vehicle;

in response to detecting the presence of the key, detecting a second movement of the person by the at least one movement sensor;

analyzing the first and second movements of the person to detect a predefined change in direction between the first and second movements; and

if the predefined change in direction between the first and second movements is detected, automatically opening or closing the door or flap of the vehicle.