Method for actuating a closure element arrangement of a motor vehicle

• US 9,290,982 B2
• Filed: 11/07/2014
• Issued: 03/22/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Brose Fahrzeugteile GmbH & Company KG Hallstadt (Brose)
• Original Assignee: Brose Fahrzeugteile GmbH & Company KG Hallstadt (Brose)
• Inventors: Schuetz, Axel, Weidenbacher, Christian, Wunsch, Rainer
• Primary Examiner(s): REDMAN, JERRY E
• Application Number:
  US14/535,495
• Publication Number:
  US 20150128497A1
• Time in Patent Office: 501 Days
• Field of Search: 495/06, 49/25, 49/31, 296/56, 296/146.4, 296/146.8, 318/283, 318/286, 318/266, 318/466, 318/468
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/611 for swinging wings
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/73 responsive to movement or presence of persons or objects

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for actuating a closure element arrangement of a motor vehicle, wherein the closure element arrangement comprises a control arrangement and an operator-control-event sensor arrangement with at least one operator-control-event sensor element which is configured, in particular, as a proximity sensor, wherein within the scope of operator-control-event monitoring by means of the control arrangement the sensor measured values of the operator-control-event sensor arrangement are monitored to determine whether a predetermined operator control event is occurring, and the closure element arrangement is actuated as a function of the result of the operator-control-event monitoring. It is proposed that externally activated lifting of the motor vehicle is detected by means of the control arrangement, and the actuability of the closure element arrangement which is due to an operator control event is deactivated when a special condition due to the lifting of the motor vehicle occurs.

Claims

1. A method for actuating a closure element arrangement of a motor vehicle, wherein the closure element arrangement comprises a control arrangement and an operator-control-event sensor arrangement with at least one operator-control-event sensor element configured as a proximity sensor, the method comprising:

monitoring for operator control events with the control arrangement, comprising monitoring sensor measured values from the operator-control-event sensor arrangement to determine whether a predetermined operator control event is occurring, wherein the closure element arrangement is actuated based on the monitoring for operator control events;

detecting an occurrence of a special condition comprising an externally activated lifting of the motor vehicle with the control arrangement; and

deactivating actuation of the closure element arrangement due to an operator control event when the special condition occurs.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the closure element arrangement comprises a drive arrangement which is assigned to the closure element, and wherein the drive arrangement is actuated based on the operator-control-event monitoring.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the special condition comprises reaching a predetermined lifting height of the motor vehicle with a lifting platform.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the special condition comprises exceeding the predetermined lifting height of the motor vehicle compared to a vehicle underlying surface.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the special condition comprises a free suspension of the wheels of the motor vehicle as a result of the lifting of the motor vehicle.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein a special-condition sensor arrangement with at least one special-condition sensor element is provided for sensing the occurrence of the special condition, and wherein the special-condition sensor arrangement is checked for the occurrence of the special condition by the control arrangement.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the special-condition sensor arrangement serves for closed-loop control of a driving mode.

8. The method according to claim 6, wherein the special-condition sensor arrangement has a special-condition sensor element configured as a ride level sensor assigned to a chassis of the motor vehicle, and wherein the control arrangement monitors the ride level sensor for the occurrence of the special condition.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the ride level sensor serves to carry out motor-driven alignment of a lighting system of the motor vehicle.

10. The method according to claim 6, wherein the special-condition sensor arrangement comprises a special-condition sensor element which is configured as an electronic stability sensor, and wherein the special-condition sensor arrangement monitors the electronic stability sensor for the occurrence of the special condition.

11. The method according to claim 6, wherein the special-condition sensor arrangement comprises a special-condition sensor element configured as at least one of a position sensor and an acceleration sensor, for a motor vehicle alarm system, and wherein the special-condition sensor arrangement monitors the at least one of the position sensor and the acceleration sensor for the occurrence of the special condition.

12. The method according to claim 6, wherein the special-condition sensor arrangement comprises a special-condition sensor element configured as a tire-pressure-measuring means, and wherein the special-condition sensor arrangement monitors the tire-pressure-measuring means for the occurrence of the special condition.

13. The method according to claim 1, wherein the operator control event comprises an operator movement.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the operator control event is defined as a foot movement by the operator.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the operator control event is defined as a forward foot movement and return foot movement by the operator.

16. The method according to claim 13, wherein the sensor measured values generated by the at least one operator-control-event sensor element have a pulse shape with respect to time corresponding to the operator control event.

17. A control arrangement, comprising control hardware configured to carry out the method according to claim 1.