Motor vehicle door locking system and door handle

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] This invention relates to a motor vehicle door locking system and a door handle for a motor vehicle door.

[0003] 2. Description of Related Art

[0004] In motor vehicle door locking systems to date, the inside door handle is usually mechanically connected to an assigned motor vehicle door lock. When the inside door handle is pulled, the door is unlatched for opening. As result of the inertia and/or sluggishness of the mechanism, unintentional opening of the assigned motor vehicle door is unlikely.

[0005] The use of an electric lock as a motor vehicle door lock with a pushbutton for electrical triggering and unlocking or opening has also been proposed. However, when compared with mechanical triggering, there is a much higher risk that unwanted actuation of the pushbutton or some other electrical actuating means will lead to unintentional opening of the assigned motor vehicle door.

[0006] An object of the present invention is to devise a motor vehicle door locking system and a door handle, particularly an inside door handle, in which unwanted opening of an associated motor vehicle door, when using an electrically triggered motor vehicle door lock (i.e., an electric lock), can be avoided.

[0007] Another object of this invention is to provide a second actuating means in addition to a first actuating means, such as a pushbutton or sensor, for electrical triggering of the motor vehicle door lock. Unlocking and/or opening of the assigned motor vehicle door lock is enabled only with simultaneous or successive actuation of the first and second actuating means. In this way, unwanted actuation of the first actuating means is prevented from leading to unintentional unlocking and/or opening of the motor vehicle door lock and thus of the assigned motor vehicle door.

[0008] According to one preferred embodiment, the two actuating means are located on different sides of an inside door handle which face away from one another so that different hand areas and/or fingers have to be used to actuate the two actuating means. Consequently, unintentional actuation of one of the two actuating means which point for example toward the interior of the motor vehicle, for example, by an arm or a leg of a vehicle passenger, does not lead to unwanted unlocking and/or opening of the assigned motor vehicle door lock since prior or simultaneous actuation of the other actuating means has not taken place.

[0009] According to another preferred embodiment, the actuating means are made and/or arranged such that it is necessary to reach around the inside door handle for actuation and thus for unlocking and opening the assigned motor vehicle door lock. This ensures that the operator, upon unlocking or opening of the motor vehicle door, holds the inside door handle in his hand and consequently is prepared for possible opening of the motor vehicle door.

[0010] Depending on the configuration, the second actuating means can also act such that only by its actuation is the first actuating means unblocked, and this can take place mechanically and/or electrically.

[0011] The term “actuation” in this invention should be understood first of all in a first sense as the mechanical action of an operator or a vehicle passenger (for example, with a hand or a finger) on a pushbutton, switch or the like or deformation of the handle section by the operator. But in a another sense, “actuation” is also defined as the approach, for example, to a sensor or a door handle and/or the touching of the door handle section or the like, in which the approach or touching can be detected and can be evaluated as an actuation.

[0012] It should be pointed out that the proposed inventive approach can also be used in an outside door handle or in other manipulation elements, which acquires independent importance and according to which a door handle as such is claimed. This door handle can accordingly be made as an inside door handle, an outside door handle, or as some other manipulation element.

[0013] The use of the proposed inventive approach in a motor vehicle door locking system with a passive entry function for unlocking of the motor vehicle door lock from the outside leads to additional advantages. The unlocking of the motor vehicle door lock begins, in this system, with a starting interval in order to activate the system when the operator approaches. This is followed by an authentication check interval to check the operator for authorization. For this purpose, the operator, for example, carries a remote control module with which the corresponding signals can be exchanged. Finally, the actual action interval follows, in which the motor vehicle door lock is unlocked. After completion of the action interval, the motor vehicle door lock can be opened.

[0014] According to another especially exemplary embodiment, one of the actuating means is used to start the above described starting interval. For this purpose, this actuating means can be made as a proximity switch. Subsequent actuation of the other actuating means then leads to the motor vehicle door lock being opened if the action interval, therefore unlocking, is completed. Here too, it is basically such that the opening of the motor vehicle door lock is only enabled with simultaneous or successive actuation of the two actuating means. Operation with two actuating means makes it possible to avoid waiting times for the operator during the starting interval, the authentication check interval, and the action interval. This applies especially when the actuating means which starts the starting interval is made as a proximity switch.

[0015] Other advantages, features, properties and aspects of this invention arise from the following description of one preferred embodiment using the drawings.

[0020] In the figures, the same reference numbers are used for the same or similar parts, the corresponding or comparable properties and advantages being achieved, even if a repeated description is omitted.

[0021] FIG. 1 schematically shows a motor vehicle 1 with a motor vehicle door locking system 2 which is only partially indicated, and which has several motor vehicle door locks 3, preferably for motor vehicle side doors 4, a motor vehicle rear hatch or the like. The installation position of the motor vehicle door locks 3 is schematically shown in FIG. 1 by arrows.

[0022] Preferably, each motor vehicle door lock 3 can be unlocked, locked and/or opened by a motor (e.g., an electric motor) as is shown in the schematic of the door locking system 2 as claimed in the invention as shown in FIG. 2. The motor vehicle door lock 3 in the illustrated example has an actuator or a drive 5 which acts on a conventional lock mechanism (here a ratchet 6), which is used as a safeguard with respect to associated latch 7 of the motor vehicle door lock 3. It goes without saying that other types of lock mechanisms can also be used here.

[0023] The actuator 5 can be embodied by an electric motor. However, the actuator 5 can also act or can be actuated pneumatically or hydraulically. In any case, the motor vehicle door lock 3 is or can preferably be electrically triggered. The motor vehicle door lock 3 has a control unit 8 for controlling or triggering the actuator 5 and/or for detecting, as well as evaluating the actuating signals. The motor vehicle door lock 3 or its control unit 8 is connected via a plug connection 9 to a central control means 10 of the motor vehicle 1 or of the motor vehicle door locking system 2.

[0024] A first actuating means 11 and a second actuating means 12 are assigned to the motor vehicle door lock 3 and can be directly connected electrically to the motor vehicle door lock 3 or its control unit 8 as illustrated in FIG. 2, as is indicated by the dashed lines 13. But, the actuating means 11, 12 can also be alternatively connected to the control means 10. In any case, the actuating means 11, 12 are used for electrical triggering of the assigned motor vehicle door lock 3.

[0025] In the illustrated example, the actuating means 11, 12 are assigned to an inside door handle 14, (e.g., are located on it and/or integrated into it, as indicated in FIG. 2). Other aspects of the inside door handle 14, provided in accordance with the invention, and of the motor vehicle door locking system 2 are detailed below using the enlarged schematic of the inside door handle 14 as shown in FIG. 3.

[0026] The inside door handle 14 is located on the inside 15 of the door on the assigned motor vehicle door 4 which is shown schematically and only in extracts in FIG. 3.

[0027] In FIG. 3, a hand 16 with fingers 17 of an operator (who is not shown) is indicated by the dot-dash line. The hand 16 is shown at least partially reaching around the inside door handle 14 and reaching with the fingers 17 in the inner area 18 of the inside door handle 14. In the illustrated example the first actuating means 11 is made preferably as a pushbutton 19 which can be actuated, for example, by means of a thumb 20 of the hand 16, as is indicated in FIG. 3.

[0028] The second actuating means 12 in the illustrated example has a sensor 21 which can detect the approach and/or the touch of the hand 16 or fingers 17, especially the fingers 17 reaching into the interior 18 and/or reaching around the inside door handle 14. The sensor 21 can work capacitively. However, it should also be understood that the sensor 21 can also work, for example, inductively, piezoelectrically or optically.

[0029] The sensor 21 can be made as a switch or can be evaluated by switching so that actuation can be detected. There is actuation especially when the hand 16 or the fingers 17 encompass or touch the inside door handle 14 and/or reach into the interior 18 at least in areas and/or partially. The corresponding evaluation of the detected signals is possible within the second actuating means 12, in the sensor 21, in the inside door handle 14, in the control unit 8 and/or in the control means 10. The corresponding also applies to the first actuating means 11.

[0030] If necessary, the sensor 21 can be made as a proximity switch and/or a touch-sensitive switch. Instead of the sensor 21, a pushbutton 19 or other suitable switching means or the like can also be used for the second actuating means 12.

[0031] With regard to the first actuating means 11, instead of employing a pushbutton 19, a sensor 21 or other suitable switching means or the like can be used.

[0032] Only when simultaneous actuation (e.g., actuation overlapping in time) of the two actuating means 11, 12 takes place or is detected, the assigned motor vehicle door lock 3 unlocks or opens. This can take place by the corresponding wiring of the actuating means 11, 12 and/or the corresponding evaluation of the actuating signals which have been output by the actuating means 11, 12 (e.g., in the control unit 8 and/or the control means 10). If necessary this evaluation can also be integrated into the inside door handle 14. In this situation, the inside door handle 14 is “intelligent”.

[0033] In addition to the requirement for simultaneous actuation of the two actuating means 11, 12, it can be provided that the actuation of the second actuating means 12 (i.e., reaching into the inside door handle 14 or its interior 18) must take place first, and only upon subsequent actuation of the first actuating means 11 (i.e., actuation of the pushbutton 19 with the thumb 20) unlocking or opening of the assigned motor vehicle door lock 3 takes place or is enabled.

[0034] Of course, the unlocking or opening of the motor vehicle door lock 3, which takes place when the two actuating means 11, 12 are actuated, can be overridden by a child safety lock or the like so that then unlocking or opening of the motor vehicle door lock does not take place.

[0035] Opening of the motor vehicle door lock 3 or of the motor vehicle door 4 by unintentional actuation of the opening pushbutton 19 or the like is prevented, since there are two actuating means 11, 12 and they are used and configured or evaluated such that the motor vehicle door lock 3 only unlocks or opens when the two actuating means 11, 12 are actuated at the same time. By the corresponding arrangement of the actuating means 11, 12, the simultaneous actuation requires at least partially encompassing the inside door handle 14 or reaching into the interior 18 which is encompassed by the inside door handle 14 or which is at least partially separated from it.

[0036] If necessary, the two actuating means 11, 12 can each have a pushbutton 19 and/or a sensor 21 and/or a suitable switch or the like. Preferably, the first actuating means 11 which is located on the side of the inside door handle 14 pointing towards the vehicle interior or on the top of the inside door handle 14 or which is integrated into it is made such that mechanical actuation (e.g., pushbutton 19) or deformation (e.g., a relatively powerful mechanical action) by the operator is necessary for actuation.

[0037] Conversely, the second actuating means 12 is preferably located on the side of the inside door handle 14 facing away or facing towards the interior 18 which is partially limited by the inside door handle 14 or on the bottom of the inside door handle 14 or is integrated into it and made such that approaching or touching (e.g., mechanical action of the operator) is sufficient as actuation. Thus, on the one hand, the desired security against unwanted unlocking or opening of the motor vehicle door 3, and on the other hand, simple operation are enabled, since the operator need focus solely on active actuation of the first actuating means 11.

[0038] The embodiments of the present invention can also be used fundamentally in an outside door handle or in other manipulation elements.

[0039] In addition or alternatively to the described electrical or electronic combination or evaluation of actuating signals from the two actuating means 11 and 12, the second actuating means 12 can also act mechanically on the first actuating means 11, for example, as a mechanical blocking device.

[0040] FIG. 4 shows a rough schematic perspective of a preferred embodiment for such a mechanical coupling between the first actuation means 11 and the second actuation means 12 in accordance with the invention. Only when both actuation means 11, 12 are actuated, which in FIG. 4 would be the second actuation means 12 being moved upwards to the same level of the first actuation means 11, can the motor vehicle door lock 3 be unlocked or opened. In this situation, the bar 22 is in a leveled position and actuates switch 23, which is correspondingly assigned to the motor vehicle door lock 3.

[0041] According to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the motor vehicle door locking system 2 is equipped with a passive entry function for unlocking the motor vehicle door lock 3. This has already been explained in the above. Upon unlocking by means of the passive entry function, in succession, a starting interval, an authentication check interval and an action interval are traversed. The starting interval is now preferably started by actuating at least one of the two actuating means 11, 12.

[0042] An especially compact arrangement can be achieved in that the actuation of the first actuating means 11 starts the starting interval and that the actuation of the second actuating means 12 causes opening of the motor vehicle door lock 3 if the action interval, therefore unlocking of the motor vehicle door lock 3, is completed.

[0043] In one exemplary embodiment of a motor vehicle door locking system 2 which is equipped with the passive entry function, the first actuating means 11, by which the starting interval can be started, is made as a proximity switch. Thus, this insures that the starting interval and the following intervals have already been traversed before the operator actuates the second actuating means 12. The second actuating means 12 is made here preferably as a pushbutton.

[0044] It is especially advantageous and practical when the first actuating means 11 is located on the side which faces away from the motor vehicle door 4 so that the approach of the operator can be detected early.

[0045] With respect to other advantageous configurations of the outside door handle in a motor vehicle door locking system 2 which is equipped with the passive entry function, reference should be made to the statements above.