Device For Actuating An Electric Or Mechanical Closing Device On A Door And/Or Lid Of A Vehicle

• US 20080021619A1
• Filed: 05/21/2005
• Published: 01/24/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Huf Hulsbeck & Furst GmbH & Co. KG
• Original Assignee: Huf Hulsbeck & Furst GmbH & Co. KG
• Inventors: Steegmann, Bearnd, Schindler, Mirko, Witte, Martin, Klein, Helmut
• Application Number:
  US11/597,861
• Publication Number:
  US 20080021619A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/49
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/78 as part of a hands-free locking or unlocking operation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7057 Permanent magnet

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for actuating an electric or electromechanical closing device (10) on a door (12) and/or a lid of a vehicle, said device comprising a sensor that reacts to an approach or contact. The aim of the invention is to provide a device that can clearly differentiate between the triggering of the sensor by a real human hand or by an erroneous object. To achieve this, a two-part auxiliary sensor (50), which consists of a permanent magnet (52) and a Hall element (51), is positioned in addition to the primary sensor (40) in the contact area of a handle (20). One part of the auxiliary sensor (50), e.g. the Hall clement (51), is situated on the displaceable handle (20) and the other part, namely the permanent magnet (52), on the fixed carrier (11). During a displacement (23) of the Hall clement (51) in relation to the permanent magnet (52), a signal is generated both in the auxiliary sensor (50) and the primary sensor (40), said signals being evaluated in common. Upon completion of the evaluation, an output signal is emitted, transferring the lock (30) into the locking position in which an actuation (23) of the handle (20) is 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,

where the handle (20) is supported in a bracket (10), which is attached to the door (12) or hatch,

with at least one sensor, which, upon approach or contact, switches the lock (30) 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

in addition to a main sensor (40), a two-part auxiliary sensor (50), consisting of a permanent magnet (52) and a Hall element (51), is located in the contact area (28);

wherein

one part of the auxiliary sensor (50), namely, the Hall element (51) or the permanent magnet (52), is mounted on the movable handle (20), whereas the other part, namely, the permanent magnet (52) or the Hall element (51), is seated on the stationary bracket (11);

wherein

although the main and auxiliary sensors (40, 50) transmit separate signals upon a vertical and/or horizontal movement (23) of the handle (20) with respect to the bracket (10), the two signals are evaluated (42) jointly; and

wherein

a successful evaluation (42) of the two signals switches the lock (30) to its locked position.

2. Arrangement according to claim 1, wherein, after the evaluation of the two signals, a joint output signal (43) is generated and sent to a control unit (25) in the vehicle;

and wherein

by means of an output signal (43) which characterizes a successful evaluation, the control unit (25) switches the state of at least one of the locks (30) in the vehicle.

3. Arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the main sensor (40) acts on the basis of capacitance and has at least one electrode (41);

and in that

the electrode (41) is connected to electrical components (42) for controlling the main sensor and/or for evaluating the signals.

4. Arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the Hall element (51) of the auxiliary sensor (50) is located next to the electrode (41) of the main sensor (40).

5. Arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the Hall element of the auxiliary sensor and the electrode of the main sensor are located in the handle of the closing device.

6. 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) is located in the handle (20).

7. Arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the permanent magnet (52) of the auxiliary sensor (50) is located under a cover piece (17), which is positioned next to the handle (20) of the closing device (10).

8. Arrangement according to claim 1, wherein, when contact is made with the handle (20), the Hall element (51) moves relative to the permanent magnet (52), as a result of which a short signal is transmitted by the Hall element, which also registers the duration of the contact;

and in that

as a function of the duration of contact, one or more additional functions in the vehicle are initiated in addition to the switching of the lock (30).

9. Arrangement according to claim 8, wherein the additional functions in the vehicle are convenience functions involving movable parts in the vehicle.

10. Arrangement according to claim 9, 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.

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

12. Arrangement according to claim 11, wherein the opening sensor (45) is located in the handle (20) of the closing device (10).

13. Arrangement according to claim 11, wherein at least one electrical component (42) for operations, for control, and/or for evaluation of the signals coming from the opening sensor (45) is located in the handle (20).

14. 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 contact takes place between an authorized person and the main and auxiliary sensors (40, 50).

15. Arrangement according to claim 14, 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).