Closing device for a vehicle, and method for operating a closing device

• US 9,388,623 B2
• Filed: 06/29/2015
• Issued: 07/12/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Volkswagen AG
• Original Assignee: Volkswagen AG
• Inventors: Wolf, Richard, Ette, Bernd
• Primary Examiner(s): Khatib, Rami
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ziaeianmehdizadeh, Navid
• Application Number:
  US14/753,333
• Publication Number:
  US 20150300074A1
• Time in Patent Office: 379 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/245 where the antenna reception area plays a role
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/246 characterised by the challenge triggering
• 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: E05F 15/77 using wireless control
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/531 Doors
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/546 Tailgates

Abstract

A closing device includes an element which can be moved along a path, a drive, an operating element for detecting a closing request, and detector for detecting the position of an ID transmitter paired with the vehicle. The drive is designed to move the movable element along the path, and a closing movement of the movable element is started via the drive if the actuation of an operating element is detected, if an ID transmitter paired with the vehicle is detected in a first position region within a time window t following the actuation of the operating element, and if the ID transmitter paired with the vehicle is not detected in the first position region at least for a duration s, which begins at least within the time window t, after being detected in the first position region within the time window t.

Claims

1. A method for operating a closing device of a vehicle, the method comprising:

providing the closing device that includes an element that is movable along a path, a drive, an operating element for detecting a closing request and a detector for detecting a position of an ID transmitter assigned to the vehicle;

moving the movable element via the drive along the path; and

initiating a closing movement of the movable element via the drive based on;

detecting an actuation of the operating element and starting a time window t upon actuation of the operating element;

detecting whether the ID transmitter assigned to the vehicle is in a first position region within the time window t after the actuation of the operating element; and

determining if the ID transmitter assigned to the vehicle is not detected in the first position region for at least a time duration s which begins within the time window t, after being detected in the first position region within the time window t.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the ID transmitter assigned to the vehicle is detected in a third position region, which is situated outside the first position region, at least for a time duration s, which begins at least within the time window t, after being detected in the position region within the time window t.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the third position region comprises at least two partial position regions.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein one partial position region is situated in the rear region of the vehicle and one partial position region is situated in the region of the doors of the vehicle.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the movement of the movable element is stopped if the ID transmitter assigned to the vehicle is detected in a second position region.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the movable element is switched to an opening movement after the movable element is stopped, and wherein the opening movement is stopped when the movable element has reached a position that the movable element had assumed prior to the actuation of the operating element.

7. The method according to claim 5, wherein the second position region comprises at least one partial region of the first position region.

8. The method according to claim 5, wherein the movement of the movable element is stopped if a movement in the second position region is detected via parking distance sensors.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle is automatically locked either after the actuation of the operating element is detected or after the end of the closing movement.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein a signaling takes place after the actuation of the operating element via at least one of a signaling element on the operating element or a brake light, and wherein the signaling continues to take place at least until the closing movement of the movable element is started or until the time window t is closed.

11. A closing device for a vehicle comprising:

an element that is movable along a path;

a drive;

an operating element; and

a detector for detecting a position of an ID transmitter assigned to the vehicle,

wherein the drive moves the movable element along the path, and

wherein the closing device is actuated via the method according to claim 1.

12. The closing device according to in claim 11, wherein the movable element is a rear hatch, a trunk lid, a sliding door or a hinged door.

13. The closing device according to in claim 11, further comprising a third partial position region comprising at least two partial position regions, and one partial position region is situated in a rear region of the vehicle, and one partial position region is situated in a region of the doors of the vehicle.

14. The closing device according to claim 11, wherein the operating element is a pushbutton, a capacitive sensor or an optical sensor.

15. The closing device according to claim 11, wherein at least one of a brake light or a signaling element on the operating element is used for signaling that the operating element was actuated, and wherein the signaling remains active until the closing movement of the movable element is started or until the time window t is closed.

16. The closing device according to claim 11, wherein the operating element is positioned on the movable element.

17. The method according to claim 1, wherein if the ID transmitter assigned to the vehicle is detected in the first position region during the time duration s that is provided within the time window t and the time window t ends, the initiation of the closing movement is terminated, such that the operating element must be actuated again to initiate the closing movement.