FR3079047A1 - DOOR CONTROL MODULE, DOOR CONTROL ASSEMBLY AND VEHICLE DOOR THEREFOR - Google Patents

Abstract

A door control module (1) for a vehicle comprises: - an outer envelope (2) defining a deformable support surface (S); and - at least one force sensor (30; 40) coupled to the outer envelope (2) so as to measure a force exerted on the bearing surface (S). A door control assembly and an associated vehicle door (60) are also disclosed.

Description

Door control module, associated door control assembly and vehicle door

Technical field to which the invention relates

The present invention relates generally to the field of door opening systems for motor vehicles.

It relates more particularly to a door control module, as well as an associated door control assembly and a vehicle door.

TECHNOLOGICAL BACKGROUND

It is commonly used to open the door of a vehicle a handle which allows both the gripping of the door and, by mechanical action on at least one element of the handle, its opening.

The constraints linked to the ease of gripping are however contradictory with the desire to integrate the handle as close as possible to the line of the vehicle.

Object of the invention

In this context, the invention provides a door control module for a vehicle comprising an external envelope defining a deformable bearing surface, and at least one force sensor coupled to the external envelope so as to measure a force exerted on the bearing surface.

The support surface, whose microdeformations are measured by the force sensor, thus constitutes a relatively large interface for receiving user commands and is also easily integrated into the vehicle line.

The door control module can in practice comprise at least one other force sensor coupled to the external envelope.

The invention also provides a door control assembly comprising a door control module as mentioned above and a processor.

Other non-limiting and advantageous characteristics of this door control assembly, taken individually or in any technically possible combination, are the following:

- The processor is designed to select a first command when the measured effort is included in a first range of values and to select a second command when the measured effort is included in a second range of values distinct from the first range of values;

- The processor is designed to locate a support as a function of a first force value measured by said at least one force sensor and a second force value measured by said other force sensor;

- the processor is designed to select a predetermined command in the event of detection of a predetermined displacement of the localized support;

- The control assembly includes an actuator designed to move a vehicle door between a first position where the door is closed and a second position where the door is at least partially open;

- the processor is designed to determine a command intended for the actuator as a function of the force measured;

the door control assembly comprises an electronic control unit designed to activate the door control module with detection of an identifier by means of an antenna (the detection of this identifier comprising, for example, authentication of the identifier by the electronic control unit, the opening and / or unlocking of the door equipped with the door control module is then conditioned by the success of this authentication).

The invention finally provides a vehicle door having a cavity and comprising a door control module as presented above or a door control assembly as presented above. We can then provide that the door control module is housed in the aforementioned cavity.

It can also be provided that, the door having an external surface, the bearing surface is located in the extension of the external surface.

Detailed description of an exemplary embodiment

The description which follows with reference to the appended drawings, given by way of nonlimiting examples, will make it clear what the invention consists of and how it can be carried out.

In the accompanying drawings:

- Figure 1 is a sectional view of an exemplary embodiment of a door control module according to the invention;

- Figure 2 is a schematic representation of an example of a door control assembly according to the invention; and

- Figure 3 shows the main steps of a process using the door control module of Figure 1.

The door control module 1 shown in FIG. 1 is received in a cavity 62 of a vehicle door 60, as explained below.

The door control module 1 comprises an outer casing 2 formed by an upper shell 4 and a lower shell 6.

The outer shell 2 (that is to say the upper shell 4 on the one hand and the lower shell 6) is for example made of a relatively rigid plastic material (Young's modulus typically between 1 GPa and 10 GPa), such as polyamide (PA) or poly (butylene terephthalate) (PBT). Alternatively, the outer casing 2 could be made of a metallic material, such as aluminum or zamak. Furthermore, according to one possible embodiment, the external envelope 2 could contain at least one decorative piece made of a separate material, such as leather, wood or another type of plastic (the external envelope being able in this case be trained in biinjection).

The upper shell 4 defines, on its external surface and at the level of a central region C, a deformable support surface S (due in particular to the thickness of material used), generally planar, intended to receive stresses from the vehicle user 1 as explained below.

The upper shell 4 also has an annular peripheral region P from which extends (in the direction of the lower shell 6) a peripheral wall 3 whose end comes into contact with the lower shell 6.

The central region C (which carries the support surface S), the peripheral region P and the wall 3 are here made in one piece, for example by injection of the aforementioned plastic.

In particular, the central region C carrying the support surface S and the peripheral region P are interconnected with continuity of material. The face of the upper shell 4 carrying the support surface S does not exhibit any interruption or discontinuity of material.

Due to this continuity of material, provision can be made in practice to delimit the support surface S and the peripheral region P by means of a decorative pattern (affixed to the external face of the upper shell 4) or of a relief (formed at the level of the external face of the upper shell 4), this in order to allow the user to discern this bearing surface S.

According to one possible embodiment, transparent decor patterns could be provided on the support surface S (the upper shell 4 being opaque outside these transparent decor pattern); these decor patterns could be backlit by a lighting device (for example light-emitting diodes) provided within the door control module 1 (for example mounted on the printed circuit 20).

The face of the upper shell 4 carrying the bearing surface S thus extends over the entire relevant side of the door control module 1. In other words, the dimensions of the face of the upper shell 4 carrying the bearing surface S correspond here to the external dimensions of the door control module 1.

The lower shell 6, for its part, comprises a bottom wall 8 and an external peripheral wall 18 which extends from the bottom wall 8 in the direction of the upper shell 4, until it contacts the wall 3.

The upper shell 4 and the lower shell 6 thus form a sealed outer envelope 2 containing electrical and electronic circuits as described below.

The lower shell 6 (precisely the bottom wall 8) carries a printed circuit 20 connected to other electrical circuits of the vehicle (here an electronic control unit), here by means of cables 10 passing through the bottom wall 8 (with retention of the above-mentioned seal).

As can be seen in FIG. 1, the printed circuit 20 carries at least one force sensor, here two force sensors 30, 40. The printed circuit 20 could alternatively include a larger number of force sensors.

Each force sensor 30, 40 is mechanically coupled to the central region C forming the support surface S, with the interposition of an elastomer block 32, 42.

The force sensors 30, 40 can be stressed due to a deformation (here a micro-deformation) of the support surface S (the absence of discontinuity at the face of the upper shell 4 carrying the support surface Preventing any relative movement of two parts of the bearing surface, except by deformation).

As clearly visible in FIG. 1, the door control module 1 is mounted in the cavity 62 of the door 60 so that the bearing surface S is located in the extension of an external surface 64 of the door 60, here on either side of the door control module 1 (and in practice over the entire periphery of the door control module 1).

We can provide for example to do this that a wing 16 from the lower shell 6 is mounted in contact with a re-entrant wall 66 formed on the door 60 and defining at least partially the cavity 62, for example by screwing (not represented).

FIG. 2 schematically represents a door control assembly 50.

This door control assembly 50 comprises the door control module 1 described above with reference to FIG. 1, an electronic control unit 52, a door actuator 54 and a locking actuator 56. The control assembly here also comprises at least one antenna 58.

The door actuator 54 is designed to move the vehicle door concerned (that is to say the one equipped with the door control module 1) between a first position where the door is closed and a second position where the door is at least partially open.

According to a possible variant, the door control assembly 50 may not include such a door actuator 54. The door equipped with the door control module 1 can then include a raised or recessed portion allowing the door to be gripped , and in particular its opening (after unlocking, for example due to a support on the support surface S as described below and / or by means of the locking actuator 56).

The locking actuator 56 is designed to selectively lock or unlock the door equipped with the door control module 1 (as well as possibly the other doors of the vehicle) according to a command received from the electronic control unit 52, as described below.

The door control assembly 50 also includes a processor P designed to analyze the signals (that is to say in practice the measurements) supplied by the force sensor (s) 30, 40.

According to a possible embodiment, this processor P is a processor 22 on board the door control module 1, for example carried by the printed circuit 20. In this case, the analysis of the measurements made by the force sensors 30, 40 is carried out (by the processor P) within the door control module 1 and the door control module transmits to the control unit 52 data D representative of a command determined as a function of this analysis, as described further.

According to another possible embodiment, this processor P is the processor equipping the electronic control unit 52. In this case, the door control module 1 transmits data D (or alternatively signals) representative of the forces measured respectively by force sensors 30, 40.

In all cases, the processor P receives force values measured by the force sensors 30, 40 and determines the forces exerted respectively on a plurality of zones Z1, Z2, Z3 of the central region C forming the bearing surface S.

The processor P (whether it is a processor 22 on board the door control module 1 or a processor fitted to the electronic control unit 52) comprises at least one memory (not shown, for example a rewritable non-volatile memory) which stores computer program instructions designed to implement the operation of the processor P (in particular as described in the present description) when these instructions are executed by the processor P.

FIG. 3 presents the main steps of a method implemented within the door control assembly 50.

This process begins in step E100 in which the door control module 1 is inactive. The door control module 1 is for example powered down (no voltage being applied to the door control module 1 by the electronic control unit 52 via the cables 10). As a variant (in particular in the case where the control module is equipped with a processor 22 as indicated above), the door control module 1 is in a consumption-based operating mode (the processor 22 being for example in the waiting for a wake-up signal).

A user action on the support surface S of the door control module 1 will therefore have no consequences during step E100.

During a step E102, the electronic control unit 52 detects, by means of the antenna 58, an identifier 70 near the vehicle. The identifier 70 is for example a remote control (or keyfob according to the commonly used Anglo-Saxon name) carried by the user (for example the driver and / or the owner of the vehicle. The electronic control unit 52 can then for example authenticate the identifier 70 in order to ensure that it does indeed have the rights of access to the vehicle (for example in the form of data stored in the identifier 70).

After detection (and authentication) of the identifier 70 near the vehicle, the electronic control unit 52 sends an activation signal A to the door control module 1 (step E104).

The reception of this activation signal A at the door control module 1 causes the activation (or wake up) of the door control module 1.

In practice, the activation signal A is for example a supply voltage of the door control module 1 (voltage applied by means of the cables 10): the door control module 1 is then supplied (ie under voltage) under control of the electronic control unit 52.

As a variant, the activation signal A can be a wake-up signal (transmitted for example to the processor 22 equipping the door control module 1) causing the door control module 1 to switch from the aforementioned low consumption operating mode to a nominal consumption operating mode, in which the door control module 1 is fully active.

When the door control module 1 comprises a lighting device for backlighting decoration patterns provided on the support surface S (as already indicated), the activation signal A also causes this device to light up. lighting, which allows the user to clearly see the indications carried by the decor patterns.

The door control module 1 is then ready to carry out force measurements on the support surface S by means of the force sensors 30, 40, in particular when a user touches the support surface S.

Thus, as soon as a user exerts a force on the bearing surface S, the processor P (in practice a processor 22 on board the door control module 1 or a processor of the electronic control unit 52 as already indicated ) analyzes the measurements respectively carried out by the force sensors 30, 40 and determines, on the basis of this analysis, a command to be carried out (step E106).

Three possible examples of determining a command to be performed are described below on the basis of the measurements made by the force sensors 30, 40.

According to the first example presented, the memory of the processor P stores a table associating, for each zone Z1, Z2, Z3 of the support surface S, a command to be carried out.

When a user exerts a force on the bearing surface S at the level of a zone Z1, Z2, Z3, the external envelope 2 undergoes a microdeformation and the processor P thus determines, on the basis of the measurements carried out by the sensors force 30, 40, that a force is exerted at one of the zones Z1, Z2, Z3.

As long as the effort determined by processor P for zone Z1; Z2; Z3 concerned (on the basis of the measurements made by the force sensors 30, 40) is below the predetermined threshold, no command is associated (by the processor P) with the determined effort.

On the other hand, as soon as the effort determined by the processor P for the zone Z1; Z2; Z3 concerned (on the basis of the measurements made by the force sensors 30, 40) is greater than the predetermined threshold, the command provided for the zone Z1; Z2; Z3 concerned is selected by the processor P (here by reading the aforementioned table stored in the memory of the processor P).

According to the second example presented, several commands are provided for at least one zone Z1; Z2; Z3 of the support surface S, each command being associated (for example within a table stored in the memory of the processor P) with a range of values specific to the force determined by the processor P for this area Z1; Z2; Z3 (based on the measurements made by the force sensors 30, 40).

Thus, if the user exerts a force included in a first range of values on the zone Z1; Z2; Z3 concerned, the processor 22 selects a first command associated with this first range of values (here by consulting the table stored in the memory of the processor P). Such a first command is for example a command to close the door equipped with the door control module 1 (by means of the door actuator 54).

Likewise, if the user exerts a force included in a second range of values (distinct from the first range of values) in the zone Z1; Z2; Z3 concerned, the processor P selects a second command associated with this second range of values (here by consulting the table stored in the memory of the processor P). Such a second command is for example a command to lock the doors of the vehicle (by means of the locking actuator 56).

According to the third example presented, the processor P is programmed to locate a support on the support surface S as a function of the different force values measured respectively by the force sensors 30, 40. Reference may be made, for example, to the document WO 2016/022 576 for more explanations on this subject. The processor P can thus determine where the user places his finger on the support surface S.

The processor P can then select a predetermined command as a function of the movement of the user's finger, that is to say in practice as a function of the movement of the localized support point. The processor P can thus for example select this predetermined command upon detection of a predetermined displacement (stored for example in association with the predetermined command in the memory of the processor P).

For example, if a displacement of the support located by the processor P is detected in a given direction (and possibly in a given direction), the processor P selects said predetermined command.

According to a possible example, in the event of detection of a displacement of the support in a horizontal direction in a first direction (for example towards the left, seen from the user facing the support surface S), the processor P selects a command to open the door (by means of the door actuator 54). Note that the displacement of the support in a horizontal direction in the first direction (to the left) can be detected (by the processor P) if the force values measured by the first force sensor 30 are continuously decreasing on a given period of time and if the force values measured by the second force sensor 40 (situated horizontally of the first force sensor 30) are continuously increasing over this same given period of time.

Still according to this conceivable example, in the event of detection of a displacement of the support in the horizontal direction in a second direction opposite to the first direction (this second direction being to the right in the example taken above), the processor P selects a door closing command (by means of the door operator 54). Note that the displacement of the support in a horizontal direction in the second direction (to the right) can be detected (by the processor P) if the force values measured by the first force sensor 30 are continuously increasing over a given time period and if the force values measured by the second force sensor 40 (located horizontally of the first force sensor 30) are continuously decreasing over this same given time period

When the command to be carried out is determined by a processor 22 on board the door control module 1, the determined command is transmitted to the electronic control unit 52 (for example by means of data D as already indicated). (If the command to be carried out is determined within the electronic control unit 52, such a transmission is not necessary.)

The electronic control unit 52 can then execute in step E108 the command determined in step E106, for example by issuing the determined command to an actuator 54, 56.

As already indicated in the examples described above, the determined command can be:

- A door opening command O transmitted to the door actuator 54;

- a door closing command transmitted to the door actuator 54;

- a door locking command V transmitted to the locking actuator 56;

- a door unlocking command transmitted to the locking actuator 56.

According to another possible embodiment (possibly combinable with the various possibilities presented above), the door control module 1 may include an indicator (not shown) which makes it possible to provide feedback to the user following the determination of a command by the processor P (in particular when this determination is made by a processor 22 on board the door control module 1).

Such an indicator can be a haptic indicator (for example a vibrator mounted within the door control module 1), a light indicator (for example at least one light-emitting diode implanted within the door control module 1, possibly on the printed circuit 20) or an audio indicator (produced for example by means of an electro-acoustic transducer).

The processor P (for example the processor 22) can control, following the determination of a command on the basis of the values measured by the force sensors 30, 40 as already explained, the emission of a signal by the indicator (namely a vibration in the case of the haptic indicator, a light signal in the case of a light indicator and a sound signal in the case of the sound indicator).

In the case where several commands can be thus determined by the processor P as explained above, the processor P can command the emission by the indicator of a signal (chosen from different signals) associated with the determined command.

Claims (11)

1. Door control module (1) for vehicle comprising: - an outer casing (2) defining a deformable support surface (S); and - at least one force sensor (30; 40) coupled to the external envelope (2) so as to measure a force exerted on the support surface (S). 2. Door control module (1) according to claim 1, comprising another force sensor (40) coupled to the outer casing (2). 3. Door control assembly (50) comprising a door control module (1) according to claim 1 or 2 and a processor (22; 52). 4. Door control assembly (50) according to claim 3, in which the processor (22; 52) is designed to select a first command when the measured force is included in a first range of values and to select a second command when the force measured is included in a second range of values distinct from the first range of values. 5. Door control assembly (50) according to claim 3 taken in dependence on claim 2, wherein the processor (22; 52) is designed to locate a support according to a first force value measured by said at least one force sensor (30) and a second force value measured by said other force sensor (40). 6. Door control assembly (50) according to claim 5, in which the processor (22; 52) is designed to select a predetermined command in the event of detection of a predetermined movement of the localized support. 7. Door control assembly (50) according to one of claims 3 to 6, comprising an actuator (54) adapted to move a vehicle door (60) between a first position where the door (60) is closed and a second position where the door (60) is at least partially open. 8. Door control assembly (50) according to claim 7, wherein the processor (22; 52) is designed to determine a command (O) intended for the actuator (54) according to the force measured. 9. Door control assembly (50) according to one of claims 4 to 8, comprising an electronic control unit (52) designed to activate the door control module (1) with detection of an identifier (70) by means of an antenna (58). 10. Vehicle door (60) having a cavity (62) and comprising a door control module (1) according to claim 1 or 2 or an assembly 5 door control (50) according to one of claims 3 to 9, wherein the door control module (1) is housed in the cavity (62). 11. Vehicle door (60) according to claim 10, in which the door (60) has an external surface (64) and in which the bearing surface (S) is located in the extension of the external surface (64) .