阅读说明：本技术 用于检测锁定或解锁车门的意图的方法和相关联的检测装置 (Method for detecting an intention to lock or unlock a vehicle door and associated detection device ) 是由 G·施皮克 V·马里莫托 S·埃克哈特 于 2019-09-18 设计创作，主要内容包括：本发明涉及一种用于检测锁定或解锁机动车辆车门的意图的检测装置(D),所述装置(D)包括至少第一感应传感器(A1),其包括第一靶(20),包括线圈(B)的振荡电路(M1),用于测量所述电路的谐振频率的测量装置(M2)和印刷电路(10),所述装置(D)的特征在于,其包括第二感应传感器(A2),第二感应传感器包括：·呈环的形式的第二靶(30),使得环的第一端(E1)连接到固定电势,并且环的第二端(E2)连接到切换器件(S1),切换器件具有两种状态：-在第一状态(P1)中,环的第二端(E2)连接到所述固定电势,-在第二状态(P2)中,环的第二端(E2)连接到浮动电势,·用于控制切换器件(S1)的控制器件(M3),-第一感应传感器(A1)的线圈(B)与第二感应传感器(A2)共用。(The invention relates to a device (D) for detecting the intention to lock or unlock a motor vehicle door, said device (D) comprising at least a first inductive sensor (A1) comprising a first target (20), an oscillating circuit (M1) comprising a coil (B), a measuring device (M2) for measuring the resonant frequency of said circuit and a printed circuit (10), said device (D) being characterized in that it comprises a second inductive sensor (A2) comprising: a second target (30) in the form of a ring, such that a first end of the ring (E1) is connected to a fixed potential and a second end of the ring (E2) is connected to a switching device (S1), the switching device having two states: -in a first state (P1), the second end (E2) of the loop is connected to said fixed potential, -in a second state (P2), the second end (E2) of the loop is connected to a floating potential, -control means (M3) for controlling the switching means (S1), -the coil (B) of the first inductive sensor (a 1) is common to the second inductive sensor (a 2).)

1. A detection device (D) for detecting an intention to lock or unlock a motor vehicle door, said device (D) comprising at least a first inductive sensor (a 1) comprising a first target (20), an oscillating circuit (M1) comprising a coil (B), a measuring device (M2) for measuring the resonant frequency of said circuit and a printed circuit (10), said device (D) being characterized in that it comprises a second inductive sensor (a 2), said second inductive sensor (a 2) comprising:

a second target (30) in the form of a ring, such that a first end of the ring (E1) is connected to a fixed potential and a second end of the ring (E2) is connected to a switching device (S1), the switching device having two states:

-in a first state (P1), the second end (E2) of the loop is connected to the fixed potential,

-in a second state (P2), the second end (E2) of the ring is connected to a floating potential,

a control device (M3) for controlling the switching device (S1),

the coil (B) of the first inductive sensor (A1) is common to the second inductive sensor (A2).

2. Detection device (D) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the first target (20) and the second target (30) are located on both sides of the printed circuit (10) and in that the coil (B) comprises windings (Ba, Bb) formed by turns electrically connected to each other, each winding being located on one layer (10 a, 10B) of the printed circuit.

3. A detection device (D) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that said fixed potential is an electrical ground.

4. A detection method for detecting an intention to lock or unlock a motor vehicle door, the method being carried out by a detection device (D) comprising at least a first inductive sensor (a 1) comprising a first target (20), an oscillating circuit (M1) comprising a coil (B), a measuring device (M2) for measuring the resonant frequency of the circuit and a printed circuit (10), the method being characterized in that it comprises the steps of:

preassembling the detection device (D) with a second inductive sensor (a 2) comprising:

-a second target (30) in the form of a ring, such that a first end of the ring (E1) is connected to a fixed potential and a second end of the ring (E2) is connected to a switching device (S1), the switching device having two states:

in a first state (P1), the second end (E2) of the ring is connected to the fixed potential,

in a second state (P2), the second end (E2) of the ring is connected to a floating potential,

a control device (M3) for controlling the switching device (S1),

the coil (B) of the first inductive sensor (A1) is common with the second inductive sensor (A2),

positioning the switching device (S1) in the second state (P2) and obtaining a first measurement (N1) of the actual resonance frequency of the circuit (M1),

positioning the switching device (S1) in the first state (P1) and taking a second measurement (N2) of the actual resonance frequency of the circuit (M1),

the difference (Δ N) between the second measurement (N2) and the first measurement (N1) is calculated,

comparing the first measurement value (N1) with a first threshold value (Th 1),

-if the first measurement value (N1) is greater than the first threshold value (Th 1), then

Compares the difference of the measured values (Δ N) with a second threshold value (Th 2),

if the difference of the measured values (Δ N) is greater than a second threshold value (Th 2), checking is checked on the two inductive sensors (A1, A2), otherwise checking is checked on the first inductive sensor (A1),

-otherwise, if the first measurement value (N1) is smaller than the second threshold value (Th 1), then:

compares the difference of the measured values (Δ N) with a second threshold value (Th 2),

-confirming detection on the second inductive sensor (a 2) if the difference of the measured values (Δ N) is greater than a second threshold (Th 2), otherwise not confirming any detection.

5. Detection method according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said fixed potential is an electrical ground.

6. A door handle (P) for a motor vehicle, characterized in that it comprises a detection device (D) according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

7. A motor vehicle (V), characterized in that it comprises a detection device (D) according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a device for detecting the intention of a user to lock or unlock a motor vehicle door and a door handle comprising said device.

Background

Today, vehicle door handles are equipped with means for detecting the intention to lock or unlock the door. Said detection in combination with the identification of a "hands-free" electronic key fob carried by the user for remote access control allows remote locking and unlocking of the opening element of the vehicle. Thus, when a user carrying a corresponding electronic key fob and identified by the vehicle wishes to unlock the vehicle, he touches the door handle and the opening element of the vehicle is then automatically unlocked. By approaching or by pressing on the exact position of the door handle (called "unlocking zone"), the door (or alternatively all opening elements) is unlocked without any further action from the user. Conversely, when a user still carrying the key fob required and identified by the vehicle wishes to lock his vehicle, he closes his door and he temporarily presses on another precise location of the handle (referred to as the "lock zone"). This action makes it possible to automatically lock the opening element of the vehicle.

These means for detecting the intention of locking or unlocking generally comprise two inductive sensors in the form of two movable targets, each positioned facing a coil and each electrically connected to a respective control device, for example contained in a printed circuit, the inductive sensors being integrated into the door handle in a precise area dedicated to locking or unlocking. When the user's hand comes into contact with the handle, the targets can be displaced towards their respective coils.

Generally, the inductive sensor (that is to say the target and its corresponding coil) is dedicated to one zone, that is to say one target and one coil are dedicated to detecting the contact of the user's hand in the locking zone and one target and one coil are dedicated to detecting the contact of the user's hand in the unlocking zone.

The control device is controlled at a so-called resonant frequency F by means of an oscillating circuit of the "LC" type consisting of an inductor L (coil) and at least some capacitors C_RThe coil is excited (e.g. 5 MHz). The control device measures in return the actual resonance frequency F of the oscillating circuit_BDepending on the distance between the target and the coil. If the actual resonance frequency F of the circuit_BExceeding the resonance frequency F_RAnd more precisely if the actual resonance frequency F_BExceeds a first threshold value F_SThe pressing of the user's hand on the locking or unlocking area of the handle is effectively detected. In a manner known per se, the control device comprises at least a capacitor, a frequency oscillator and a measuring means for measuring the resonance frequency of the LC circuit. This is known to the person skilled in the art and will not be described in detail here.

The detection device also comprises a radio-frequency antenna, usually LF (Low frequency for english acronym "Low frequency"). The detection device is connected to an Electronic computer (ECU: english abbreviation for "Electronic Control Unit") of the vehicle and sends a presence detection signal thereto. The electronic computer of the vehicle recognizes the user as being authorized to access the vehicle in advance, or alternatively, performs the recognition after receiving the presence detection signal. To do so, it sends an identification request through the rf antenna to a key fob (or remote control) carried by the user. In response, the key fob transmits its identification code to the vehicle's electronic computer via RF (radio frequency) waves. If the electronic computer recognizes the identification code as one authorizing access to the vehicle, the locking/unlocking of the vehicle door (or all opening elements) is triggered. On the other hand, if the electronic computer does not receive any identification code or if the received identification code is erroneous, locking or unlocking is not performed.

Such vehicles are therefore equipped with a door handle comprising detection means, which themselves comprise a radio frequency antenna, usually of low frequency, and two inductive sensors connected to a microcontroller (integrated into a printed circuit) and supplied with voltage.

However, integrating two inductive sensors into the handle is expensive and not easy. In practice, the available space for integrating the electronic components into the handle is generally limited.

Disclosure of Invention

The invention proposes a method for detecting a locking or unlocking intention and an associated detection device, which have the advantage of being inexpensive and of allowing a significant saving in space compared to prior art solutions.

The invention proposes a device for detecting the intention to lock or unlock a motor vehicle door, said device comprising: at least a first inductive sensor comprising a first target, an oscillating circuit comprising a coil, a measuring device for measuring the resonant frequency of said circuit, and a printed circuit, said device being characterized in that it comprises a second inductive sensor comprising:

a second target in the form of a ring, such that a first end of the ring is connected to a fixed potential and a second end of the ring is connected to a switching device, the switching device having two states:

in a first state, the second end of the loop is connected to the fixed potential,

in a second state, the second end of the ring is connected to a floating potential,

control means for controlling the switching means.

The coil of the first inductive sensor is shared with the second inductive sensor.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the first target and the second target are located on both sides of the printed circuit, and the coil comprises windings formed by turns electrically connected to each other, each winding being located on a layer of the printed circuit.

Advantageously, the fixed potential is electrical ground.

The invention also relates to a method for detecting the intention to lock or unlock a motor vehicle door, the method being performed by a detection device comprising at least a first inductive sensor comprising a first target, an oscillating circuit comprising a coil, a measuring device for measuring the resonant frequency of said circuit, and a printed circuit, said method comprising the steps of:

preassembling the detection device with a second inductive sensor comprising:

-a second target in the form of a ring, such that a first end of the ring is connected to a fixed potential and a second end of the ring is connected to a switching device, the switching device having two states:

in a first state, the second end of the loop is connected to the fixed potential,

in the second state, the second end of the ring is connected to a floating potential,

-control means for controlling the switching means.

The coil of the first inductive sensor is shared with the second inductive sensor,

positioning the switching device in the second state and performing a first measurement of the actual resonance frequency of the circuit,

positioning the switching device in the first state and performing a second measurement of the actual resonance frequency of the circuit,

calculating the difference of the measurements between the second measurement and the first measurement,

comparing the first measurement value with a first threshold value,

-if the first measurement value is greater than the first threshold value, then

The difference in the measured values is compared to a second threshold,

if the difference in the measured values is greater than the second threshold value, detection is confirmed on both inductive sensors, otherwise detection is confirmed on the first inductive sensor,

-otherwise, if the first measurement value is smaller than the second threshold value:

the difference in the measured values is compared to a second threshold,

if the difference in the measured values is greater than the second threshold value, a detection is confirmed on the second inductive sensor, otherwise no detection is confirmed.

Advantageously, the fixed potential is electrical ground.

The invention is also applicable to a motor vehicle door handle comprising a detection device according to any one of the above listed features.

The present invention relates to any motor vehicle comprising a detection device according to any one of the above listed features.

Drawings

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following description, provided as a non-limiting example, and upon examination of the accompanying drawings, in which:

figure 1 is a schematic view of a device for detecting the intention of locking or unlocking according to the invention,

figure 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a door handle of a vehicle comprising the detection device of figure 1,

FIG. 3 is a flow chart illustrating a method for detecting an intention to lock or unlock according to the invention,

fig. 4 shows the variation of the induction measurements and the corresponding detections from four combinations A, B, C, D of the positions of two targets: figure 4a shows a first induction measurement associated with a first target as a function of time t, figure 4b shows a second induction measurement associated with a second target as a function of time t, and figure 4c shows a difference between the second induction measurement and the first induction measurement as a function of time t,

fig. 5 schematically shows a coil of a detection device according to the invention on two printed circuit layers, a first layer 10a and a second layer 10 b.

Detailed Description

In fig. 1 a detection device D according to the invention is shown. The device D comprises: at least a first inductive sensor a1 comprising a first target 20, a coil B, control means M1, M2 for controlling the sensor, and a printed circuit 10 comprising a microcontroller (not shown).

The first target 20 can be displaced toward the coil B by the user' S pressing on the deformable locking region S1 (or the unlocking region S2) located on the outer surface of the handle P.

Purely for illustrative purposes, it will be considered that the first sensor a1 is dedicated to detecting locking intent, and that the target 20 located inside the handle P is connected to a deformable locking region S1 (see fig. 2) located on the outer surface of the handle P.

The pressing by the user on this deformable locking region S1 (see fig. 2) causes the first target 20 to be displaced toward the coil B, and the detection of the locking intention is thus confirmed.

The control devices M1, M2 are in the form of:

a frequency oscillation circuit M1 or an LC oscillation circuit, including:

the capacitance of the capacitors C1, C2,

the inductor L (coil B),

for at a resonant frequency F_REnergized energizing means, such as inverter gate 40, such circuits being known to those skilled in the art and being of the form

For measuring the actual resonant frequency F of the oscillating circuit M1_BFor example, in a microcontroller located in the printed circuit 10 (see fig. 1 and 2).

According to the invention, the detection device D also comprises a second inductive sensor a2 dedicated to detecting the intention of unlocking, itself comprising:

a second target 30 in the form of a ring, such that a first end E1 of the ring is connected to a fixed potential, e.g. electrical ground, and a second end E2 of the ring is connected to a switching device S1, the switching device S1 having two states:

in the first state P1, the second end E2 of the ring is connected to the same fixed potential as the first end E1, for example electrical ground,

in the second state P2, the second end E2 of the ring is connected to a floating potential, that is to say a non-fixed potential,

a control device M3 for controlling the switching device S1.

The present invention also proposes that coil B of the first inductive sensor a1 is common to the second inductive sensor a 2. In other words, the coil is arranged such that it faces both the first target 20 and the second target 30.

In a preferred embodiment, the first sensor a1 is dedicated to lock detection and is located in the handle P so as to detect depression on the front surface of the handle P (that is, on the surface facing the outside of the vehicle V). This pressing is performed on the lock area S1 to lock the door of the vehicle V.

A second sensor a2 is dedicated to unlock detection and is located in the handle P to detect depression on the inner surface of the handle P (that is, on the surface between the handle P and the door oriented toward the vehicle V). This pressing is performed on the unlock region S2 to unlock the door of the vehicle V.

Two targets 20 and 30 are located on either side of the printed circuit 10, the printed circuit 10 being located inside the handle P.

In this preferred embodiment of the detection device D according to the invention, the coil B is composed of a plurality of planar windings along the plane of the printed circuit 10. The windings are made up of concentric turns. If the printed circuit 10 comprises a plurality of layers, a winding of turns of the coil B may be located on each layer, which is shown in fig. 5. According to the invention, it is also possible to have only one or two windings formed by turns on one or two layers of the printed circuit 10, said printed circuit 10 comprising at least two layers.

In fig. 5, the printed circuit 10 is composed of two layers 10a and 10 b. The first winding Ba of the coil B is located on the first layer 10 a. The second winding Bb of the coil B is located on the second layer 10B. The first winding Ba and the second winding Bb are preferably identical (but this is not limitative) and are electrically connected to each other by two vias V1 and V2 passing through the first layer 10a and the second layer 10 b. At least one winding (e.g., the first winding Ba) faces the first target 20 (not shown in fig. 5), and at least one winding (e.g., the second winding Bb) faces the second target 30 (see fig. 5).

The printed circuit 10 may of course comprise a plurality of layers, in which case each layer may comprise a winding formed by turns of the coil B according to the invention. The windings are connected to each other so as to form a single coil B common to both targets 20, 30 and hence common to both sensors a1, a 2.

Coil B is made up of windings on one or more layers of the printed circuit 10, having at least one winding facing the first target 20 and at least one winding facing the second target 30. Therefore, the actual resonance frequency F of the oscillation circuit M1_BDepending on the distance between the first target 20 and the coil B, but also on the distance between the second target 30 and the coil B.

"Ring" refers to a target A2 having an open, circular shape, with its two ends (first end E1 and second end E2) not meeting or electrically connected to each other (see FIG. 1).

"floating" potential refers to a potential that is not connected to any fixed potential. In the second state P2, the second terminal E2 is in this case connected to a potential which may take any value.

The switching device S1 is for example in the form of a switch or a transistor.

The control device M3 for controlling the switching device S1 is, for example, in the form of software integrated into a microcontroller located in the printed circuit 10.

The method for detecting the intention to lock or unlock a motor vehicle door shown in fig. 3 will now be described:

in a preliminary step (step E0, see fig. 3), the detection device D is equipped with a second inductive sensor a2 as described above.

The switching device S1 is then positioned (step E1) in the second state P2 such that the second end E2 of the second target 30 is electrically connected to the floating potential.

In this configuration, the second target 30 is no longer used as the target for the second inductive sensor a 2. In fact, in this configuration, current cannot flow in the second target 30 in the form of a loop, and therefore no current is induced in the second target 30, and therefore the second target 30 cannot act on the electromagnetic field from the coil B.Thus, if the actual resonant frequency F of the LC circuit is_BIn a variation, this is not due to a displacement of the second target 30 relative to the coil B, but only due to a displacement of the first target 20 towards the coil B.

In this configuration in which the switching device S1 is in the second state P2, the detection means is configured to detect a pressing on the first inductive sensor a1, that is, a pressing on the lock region S1.

Then to the actual resonance frequency F of the LC circuit_BA first measurement is made, referred to as N1.

Next, in a second step E2, the switching device S1 is positioned in the first state P1 such that the second end E2 of the second target 30 is electrically connected to the same potential as the first end E1, e.g., to electrical ground.

In this configuration, the second target 30 serves as the target for the second inductive sensor a 2. The first target a1, by itself, has served as the target for the first inductive sensor a1, regardless of the configuration of the switching device S1.

Then to the actual resonance frequency F of the LC circuit_BA second measurement is made, referred to as N2.

The detection method according to the invention is based on the assumption that the position of the first target 20 relative to the coil B and the position of the second target 30 relative to the coil B do not change between the first measurement value N1 and the second measurement value N2. Thus, the first measurement value N1 and the second measurement value N2 are performed very fast, and the switching of the switching device S1 between the second state P2 and the first state P1 is also very fast, on the order of microseconds or milliseconds.

In the next step (step E3), the difference between the second measured value N2 and the first measured value N1 of the actual resonance frequency of the LC circuit is calculated, namely:

∆N=N2-N1

next, the method according to the invention proposes to compare the first measured value N1 with a first threshold Th1 (step E4 a).

If the first measured value N1 is greater than the first threshold value Th1, the difference of the measured values Δ N is compared with the second threshold value Th2 (step E5 b).

If the difference in the measured values Δ N is greater than the second threshold value Th2, a check is confirmed on the two induction sensors A1, A2 (step E6 a),

if the difference in the measured values Δ N is less than the second threshold value Th2, the detection is confirmed on the two induction sensors a1, a2 and on the first induction sensor a1 (step E6 d).

Otherwise, if the first measured value N1 is less than the first threshold Th1, the difference N of the measured values is compared with the second threshold Th2 (step E5 b).

If the difference in the measured values Δ N is greater than the second threshold value Th2, a check is confirmed on the second inductive sensor A2 (step E6 b),

if the difference in measured values Δ N is less than the second threshold value Th2, no detection is confirmed on either the first inductive sensor A1 or the second inductive sensor A2 (step E6 c).

Of course, the method is repeated after each test. The switching device S1 transitions between the second state P2 and the first state P1 at a fixed frequency.

The detection method may be triggered and initiated when a compatible user key fob has been identified around the vehicle V, and may be placed in a standby state when no compatible user key fob is identified within a radius around the vehicle V.

Fig. 4 shows the change of the first measurement value N1, the second measurement value N2 and the difference value of the measurement values Δ N over time t for four possible detection scenarios A, B, C, D, where:

case "a" corresponds to deletion detection: no intention to lock or unlock is detected, no depression by the user.

Case "B" corresponds to a detection confirmation on the first inductive sensor a1 and therefore to a locking intention.

Case "C" corresponds to a detection confirmation on the second inductive sensor a2, and thus corresponds to an unlocking intention.

Situation "D" corresponds to the confirmation on the two inductive sensors a1 and a2, and therefore to the situation in which the user presses simultaneously on the two areas (locking or unlocking area), which may correspond, for example, to the confirmation of another function, for example, the closing of a window while locking the vehicle, or to the locking of the interior of the vehicle V.

Fig. 4a shows the variation of the first measurement N1 under four situations A, B, C, D.

Fig. 4b shows the variation of the second measurement N2 under four situations A, B, C, D.

FIG. 4c shows the change in the difference Δ N of the measured values in the four cases A, B, C, D.

For case A:

the first measured value N1 is smaller than the first threshold Th1, and the difference of the measured values Δ N is smaller than the second threshold Th 2.

For case B:

the first measured value N1 is greater than the first threshold value Th1, and the difference of the measured values Δ N is less than the second threshold value Th 2.

For case C:

the first measured value N1 is smaller than the first threshold Th1, and the difference of the measured values Δ N is greater than the second threshold Th 2.

For case D:

the first measured value N1 is greater than the first threshold value Th1, and the difference of the measured values Δ N is greater than the second threshold value Th 2.

The invention thus makes it possible, with justification, to integrate two inductive sensors into a door handle in an optimized (single LC circuit), inexpensive and robust manner, each sensor being dedicated to one intention of locking or unlocking the door.

The invention is ingenious in that a distinction is made between detections (locking, unlocking, both or no detection) by means of a specific design (in the form of a ring) of the target of one of the two sensors, one end of which is connected to an electric potential (fixed or floating) in a specific manner, allowing said sensor to function actively as an inductive or passive sensor (i.e. the target therefore no longer allows inductive detection).