WO2017198920A1 - External opening control for an opening leaf of a vehicle, of which the handle has two stable deployed positions, and vehicle having such a control - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to an external opening control (1) for an opening leaf of a vehicle, comprising a handle (5) coupled to a mechanism for locking the opening leaf and comprising a lock, the handle (5) being able to move between a rest position, a stable deployed position, and a stable over-deployed position having a degree of deployment greater than the degree of deployment of the deployed position. The control (1) also has motorized handle deployment means (9) that are configured to move the handle (5) from its over-deployed position to its deployed position if the handle (5) is not actuated by a user at the end of a predetermined time starting from its displacement to the over-deployed position.

Description

 OPENING OUTER OPENING CONTROL OF VEHICLE HAVING HANDLE WITH TWO STABLE DEPLOYED POSITIONS AND VEHICLE HAVING SUCH CONTROL

The invention lies in the field of external opening controls of vehicle openings, for example motor vehicles. The invention also relates to vehicles, for example motor vehicles, equipped with such controls.

The external opening controls (COE) of openings, such as doors, are conventionally mounted in a housing provided in said opening and comprise a handle for manually actuating the locking mechanism so as to open. For example, the handles may be in the form of a lever or a pallet, pivoting along a vertical axis or along a horizontal axis. The handles are generally mounted on a fixed support, for example a stirrup.

The handles may be mounted projecting relative to the outer wall of the opening (for example the door) or be arranged opposite a housing formed in this wall. When the external opening controls are arranged opposite such a housing, this housing defines an access zone between the handle and the wall allowing the user to insert his fingers in order to maneuver said handle . Nevertheless, this kind of external opening control has disadvantages from an aesthetic point of view related to the need to leave permanent access to the handle.

Furthermore, the protruding handles and the access areas to the handles formed in said housing are at the origin of aerodynamic disturbances and noise generation during the rolling of the vehicle. In addition, the protruding nature of the handles has been found to be dangerous and generate risks of snagging pedestrians and cyclists. This is one of the reasons why the size of the salient features is regulated and limited by the ECE 26 Vehicle Certification Standard. According to this standard, the side door handles can not project more than 40 mm. It has therefore been proposed door external opening controls whose handle is placed in surface continuity with the outer wall of the door, without requiring to define an area of permanent access to the handle. Such a command is by example described in document FR2800784. This document describes an external door opening control whose handle is movable between a rest position in which the handle and said outer surface of the door are on the same plane so that a user can not grasp the handle, and a use position in which the handle is spaced from the outer surface of the door so that it can be grasped by a user.

Another example is provided by GB2492319 which discloses retractable handle opening control. In this document, the handle is movable by mechanical action between a retracted position in which it is placed in surface continuity with the outer surface of the vehicle door and an extended position allowing the user to grasp and operate it for unlocking the door.

Such door opening commands that can be placed in surface continuity with the outer wall of a vehicle opening without leaving permanent access to the handle are called external opening commands of the "flush" type. In order to be seized, the handles are deployed by mechanical or motorized deployment means with electrical opening. Unfortunately, the grip of such a handle, for example associated with a side door, has drawbacks. Indeed, the degree of deployment of the handle will define a protrusion (that is to say a distance between the outer surface of the door and at least one end of the handle) whose size is regulated to be at the maximum of 40 mm as seen above. Limiting the size of the protrusion degrades the ergonomic delivery of hand passage to open the vehicle door

There is therefore a need for improving the ergonomic benefits related to controls for external opening openings, such as side doors, which is compatible with the regulatory requirements relating to their external projections.

The invention aims to meet at least one of the disadvantages encountered by the prior art. In particular, the object of the invention is to propose a new exterior opening control of a vehicle opening allowing a temporary deployment of the handle in an over-extended stable position.

For this purpose the invention relates to an external opening control of a vehicle opening, comprising a handle coupled to a locking mechanism of the opening and comprising a lock, the handle being movable between a resting position and a stable deployed position, remarkable in that the handle is also movable to a stable over-deployed position having a degree of deployment greater than the degree of deployment of the deployed position and in that that the control has motorized means of deployment of the handle configured to move the handle from the over-deployed position to the deployed position if the handle is not actuated by a user after a predetermined time from its movement to the over-stretched position.

According to particular embodiments, the invention may comprise one or the other of the following characteristics taken separately or according to all the possible combinations:

 - The handle is in the form of a lever or a pallet sized to close, preferably hermetically, a housing formed in the outer wall of the opening when the handle is in the rest position in said housing so that a user can not grasp said handle.

 The motorized means for deploying the handle are configured to move the handle from its rest position or from its deployed position to its over-deployed position in response to an unlocking command of the lock.

- The lock release command is a remote unlock command preferably PILP or ADML type

 - The motorized means of deployment of the handle are configured to move the handle from its over-deployed position or from its deployed position to its rest position in response to a lock lock command.

 - When the lock is unlocked, the motorized means of deployment of the handle are configured to move the handle from its over-extended position to its rest position or vice versa in response to a manual control deployment of the handle, preferably comprising a pressing on the handle generating a depression of said handle.

 - When the lock is locked, the motorized means of deployment of the handle are configured to move the handle from its deployed position to its rest position or vice versa in response to a manual control deployment of the handle, preferably comprising a pressing on the handle generating a depression of said handle.

- The outer opening control further comprises mechanical means of deployment of the handle, and is remarkable in that these mechanical means of deployment are configured to deploy the handle from its rest position to its deployed position that the lock locked or unlocked. - The motorized means of deployment of the handle comprise or are associated with a position sensor arranged to determine the position of the handle.

 The sensor is a non-contact position sensor, preferably the sensor is a hall effect sensor or an optical sensor.

 - The locking mechanism further comprises an actuator acting on the lock of the opening and being connected to the handle so as to reflect its movements, and is remarkable in that the position sensor cooperates with or is included in the actuator said mechanism.

 The motorized means for deploying the handle comprise an electronic control unit and a motor, the electronic control unit being configured to control the deployment of the handle towards its rest positions, deployed and overdamped via said motor, preferably the electronic control unit further comprises means for measuring time or is connected to means for measuring time.

 - The motorized means of deployment of the handle comprise an electronic control unit, and the sensor is arranged to transmit to said electronic unit the information relating to the position of the handle.

 The motorized means for deploying the handle configured to move the handle from the over-deployed position to the deployed position when the handle is not operated by a user after a predetermined time selected within a time interval of 1 to 10 minutes, preferably the predetermined time is less than or equal to 2 minutes.

 The deployed position of the handle defining a gap between at least one end of the handle and the outer surface of the opening, the control is remarkable in that the over-extended position of the handle defines a deviation d greater than the gap preferably, d is at a value greater than or equal to 1.1 × d, preferably greater than or equal to 1.5 × d.

 The degree of deployment of the handle in the deployed position corresponds to a projection of the handle less than or equal to 40 mm.

 - The opening is a side door.

The invention also relates to a remarkable vehicle in that it comprises at least one external opening control as defined above.

As will be understood from reading the definition that has just been given, the invention consists in providing in a first aspect a door opening control comprising not one but two stable positions of deployment of its handle . A first stable position deployed or regulatory and a second stable position over-deployed or ergonomic having a degree of deployment greater than the first, that is to say that the projection of the handle will be greater. Preferably, the deployed position respects a degree of regulatory deployment with respect to the external projections of the vehicles, currently not more than 40 mm. Thus, the over-deployed position places the protruding handle beyond the regulatory limits but temporarily and for a predetermined period of time of a few minutes only. In the absence of actuation of the opening command by the user, the handle is automatically returned to the deployed position.

According to a second aspect of the invention, the handle moves in the deployed or over-deployed position depending on the locking state of the vehicle. Thus, the handle will be moved to the deployed position when the vehicle (ie the door lock) is locked, and in the over-extended position when the vehicle is unlocked. The user can therefore know the locking state of the vehicle according to the degree of deployment of the handle of the outer opening control. Thus, when the deployment of the handle is done mechanically, the invention makes it possible to avoid risking its over-deployed position when there is not necessarily any intention to open the opening. This intention is highlighted by the unlocking of the vehicle. The invention is remarkable in that it does not place the handle in a position of the protrusion beyond the regulations when it can not be actuated to open the opening, or when the motorized means to bring it back into the deployed position are not solicited.

According to a third aspect of the invention, the opening control comprises a sensor arranged to determine the position of the handle. The sensor is preferably non-contact and preferably associated or located in the actuator of the locking mechanism coupled to the handle. The invention thus makes it possible to obtain, on the one hand, a standardization of the handles between the vehicles equipped with the invention and the others and, on the other hand, an ease of mounting said handles.

The invention will be well understood and other aspects and advantages will become clear from reading the description which follows, given by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing plates in which:

Figure 1 schematically illustrates the movement of the handle of an outer opening control according to the invention from its rest position to its overdeployed position. - Figure 2 schematically illustrates the movement of the handle of an outer opening control according to the invention from its overdeployed position to its deployed position.

 - Figure 3 schematically illustrates the movement of the handle of an outer opening control according to the invention from its rest position to its deployed position.

In the following description, the term "understand" is synonymous with "include" and is not limiting in that it allows the presence of other elements in the order or the vehicle to which it relates. It is understood that the term "understand" includes the words "consist of".

Reference will firstly be made to FIGS. 1 and 2 presenting an external opening control 1 of a vehicle opening, for example an opening 3 of a motor vehicle. The opening can be a door or a tailgate or a hood. Preferably, the opening is a side door of a motor vehicle.

The control 1 is arranged to be flush with the outer wall 3 of the opening of the vehicle and comprises in particular a handle 5 movable between a rest position, a stable deployed position and a stable over-extended position. In its rest position, the handle is placed in a housing (in our embodiment of this housing is formed by a stirrup 7) in surface continuity with the outer surface of the opening, so that the user can not not to seize it. In its stable deployed position, at least one of the ends of the handle is spaced from the outer surface of the opening so that the user can grasp said handle. According to the invention, the handle 5 is also movable to a stable over-deployed position having a degree of deployment greater than the degree of deployment of the deployed position, that is to say that at least one of the ends of the handle is removed the outer surface of the opening a distance d greater than the spacing distance from the deployed position. For example, the over-extended position of the gripping member 5 defines a deviation d of a value greater than or equal to 1.1 × d, preferably greater than or equal to 1.5 × d. More preferably, the degree of deployment of the handle in the deployed position respects the regulations in force, that is to say that is less than or equal to 40 mm. The over-extended position will for example have the projecting handle of 60 mm (ie 1.5 x 40 mm)

Thus, the handle of the outer opening control according to the invention has two stable positions of deployment, and the invention is remarkable in that the control external opening further has motorized means 9 for deployment of said handle 5 configured to move the handle 5 between its different positions for example by rotation about an axis 1 January. Figure 2 illustrates the movement of the handle 5 from its over-extended position to the extended position if the handle is not actuated by a user after a predetermined time from its movement to the over-extended position. Indeed, the over-deployed position is a temporary position adopted by the handle. Beyond a predefined time the handle 5 is automatically folded towards the stable position deployed by said motorized means 9 of deployment.

The handle 5 is coupled to a conventional locking mechanism of the opening (not shown in the figures) comprising a mechanical or electrical lock for locking or unlocking the door. The handle 5 is coupled to the lock of the locking mechanism, preferably by means of an actuator (not shown). The handle 5 will act on this lock to allow the opening of the opening.

Nevertheless, the external opening control 1 is configured not to trigger the opening of the opening when said handle 5 is in the rest position, in the deployed position or in the over-extended position. To trigger the opening, the user will have to grip the handle in the deployed or over-deployed position, and pull (or actuate) to move it to a third deployment position or actuation position even further away from the outer wall as the overdeployed position. The actuating position is nevertheless not a stable position so that once released, the handle 5 is brought back by means of elastic recalls (not shown) towards the stable position that it previously occupied or towards its position. rest. It will be understood that the opening of the opening itself is done by means well known to those skilled in the art and which will not be described further. The handle 5 of the outer opening control 1 can not generally be moved to the actuating position to open the door when the lock is locked. It is necessary to control the unlocking of the lock before being able to open said opening from the outside of the vehicle. Advantageously, it is possible to control the locking and unlocking of the lock (and therefore of the opening) either directly by the mechanical or electrical action of a key inserted in said lock, or remotely by electronic systems known by example using a remote control (PLIP system) or by an access and start-up system without manual intervention, called "hands-free access and start" (ADML). An ADML system makes it possible to unlock, in particular the doors of the vehicle without manual intervention by the user. For this, the user is provided with a recognition means or identifier that allows a control unit of the unlocking of the motor vehicle to recognize the authorized user, when the user is near a door of the motor vehicle.

According to a preferred implementation of the invention, the deployment of the handle 5 to its over-deployed position is associated with an unlocked state of the lock.

According to a variant of the invention, the motorized means 9 for deploying the handle are configured to move the handle 5 from its rest position to its deployed or overdeployed position in response to a manual control of deployment of said handle, for example a Push control. The motorized means 9 of deployment are then actuated by pressing the handle 5 to push it slightly (for example 2 mm). According to the invention, said motorized means 9 for deploying the handle 5 are then configured to move the handle 5 from its rest position to its over-deployed position when the lock is unlocked and to its deployed position only when the lock is locked. The user will therefore know the locked state of the lock according to the degree of deployment of the handle 5. Advantageously the motorized means 9 of deployment also configured to move the handle from its deployed or over-deployed position to its position of resting in response to manual pressure on said handle 5 generating a slight depression of said handle 5.

Complementarily or alternatively, the motorized means 9 for deploying the handle 5 are configured to move it from its rest position or from its deployed position to its over-deployed position in response to an unlocking command of the lock of the lock. opening. This unlocking command can be done directly or remotely as seen above. This unlocking command is a signal given by the user that he wishes to open the opening and in response to this signal, the motorized means 9 for deployment of the handle 5 will place it in its ergonomic position or overdeployed. It is understood that if nevertheless this placement in the ergonomic or over-extended position of the handle 5 is followed by no action on the part of the user, especially if the user does not actuate it in order to open the opening , it will be returned to the deployed position automatically after a given period of time. Conversely, the motorized means 9 for deploying the handle 5 are configured to move the handle 5 from its over-deployed position or from its deployed position to its rest position in response to a locking command of the lock. Advantageously, the control 1 further comprises mechanical means for deploying the handle 5. For example, and as illustrated in FIG. 3, the handle 5 will be projecting following a manual support on its surface generating a depression (no shown) of said member 5 in the stirrup 7, for example about ten millimeters. According to one embodiment of the invention, these mechanical means are configured to deploy the handle 5 from its rest position only to its deployed position that the lock is in the locked or unlocked position.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the motorized means 9 or mechanical deployment of the handle 5 comprise or are associated with a sensor 13 arranged to determine the position of the handle 5. This sensor 13 is advantageously a position sensor without contact, preferably an absolute sensor. For example, a person skilled in the art may use a magnetic sensor 13 with a hall effect or an optical sensor (angular or linear). When it is a magnetic sensor 13 having a hall effect, the latter is associated with a magnet 15 so that the sensor 13 will determine the position of the handle 5 as a function of the distance between the sensor 13 and said magnet 15. This measurement can be done directly when for example the magnet 13 is incorporated in the handle 5 itself facing a sensor 13 disposed in the stirrup. Nevertheless, those skilled in the art will benefit from making an indirect determination of the position of the handle. For example, according to a variant not shown of the invention, the sensor can cooperate or be included in the actuator of the opening control, said actuator adopting different positions associated with different positions of the handle so that it reflects the different positions adopted by the handle.

According to the invention, the motorized means for deploying the handle comprise a motor and an electronic control unit (not shown), preferably connected to a multiplexed network embedded on the vehicle. The electronic control unit further comprises time measuring means or is connected to time measuring means such as a clock. Preferably, the sensor 13 is arranged to transmit the information concerning the position of the handle to the electronic control unit. From the reception of the information of a positioning of the handle in the over-deployed position, the electronic unit will directly or indirectly make a countdown of the time spent in the over-deployed position and actuate the motor to move the handle in the deployed position after a given time. Thus, preferentially the motorized deployment means of the handle configured to move the handle from the over-deployed position to the deployed position when the handle is not actuated by a user after a predetermined time chosen in a time interval ranging from 1 to 10 minutes, preferably the predetermined time is less than or equal to 2 minutes. The information relating to the actuation of the handle can also be transmitted to the electronic unit by the sensor.

Claims

claims 1. External opening control (1) of a vehicle opening, comprising a handle (5) coupled to an opening mechanism of the opening and comprising a lock, the handle (5) being movable between a rest position and a stable deployed position, characterized in that the handle (5) is also movable to a stable over-deployed position having a degree of deployment greater than the degree of deployment of the deployed position and in that the control (1) has motorized means (9). ) of deployment of the handle configured to move the handle (5) from its over-deployed position to its extended position if the handle (5) is not actuated by a user after a predetermined time from its movement to the over-stretched position. 2. Opening control (1) according to claim 1, the control (1) is characterized in that the motorized means (9) for deployment of the handle are configured to move the handle (5) from its rest position or from its deployed position to its over-deployed position in response to an unlocking command of the lock. 3. Opening control (1) according to one of claims 1 to 2 characterized in that, when the lock is unlocked, the motorized means (9) of deployment of the handle are configured to move said handle (5) from its over-extended position to its rest position or conversely in response to a manual control deployment of the handle (5). 4. Opening control (1) according to one of claims 1 to 3, the control further comprising mechanical means of deployment of the handle (5), the control (1) being characterized in that these mechanical means of deployment are configured to deploy the handle (5) from its rest position to its deployed position that the lock is locked or unlocked. 5. Opening control (1) according to one of claims 1 to 4 characterized in that the motorized means (9) for deployment of the handle (5) comprise or are associated with a position sensor (13) arranged for determine the position of the handle (5). 6. Opening control (1) according to claim 5 characterized in that the position sensor (13) is a non-contact position sensor, preferably the sensor (13) is a hall effect sensor or an optical sensor. 7. Opening control according to one of claims 5 or 6, the locking mechanism further comprising an actuator acting on the lock of the opening and being connected to the handle (5) to reflect its movements, the control (1) being characterized in that the position sensor (13) of the handle cooperates with or is included in the actuator of said mechanism. 8. Opening control (1) according to one of claims 1 to 7 characterized in that the motorized means (9) for deploying the handle comprise an electronic control unit and a motor, the electronic control unit being configured to control the deployment of the handle to its rest positions, deployed and over-deployed via said motor, preferably the electronic control unit further comprises time measuring means or is connected to a time measuring means. 9. Opening control (1) according to one of claims 1 to 8 characterized in that the motorized means (9) of deployment of the handle (5) are configured to move the handle (5) from its over-deployed position to its deployed position when the handle (5) is not actuated by a user after a predetermined time selected in a time interval of 1 to 10 minutes, preferably less than or equal to 2 minutes. 10. Vehicle characterized in that it comprises at least one outer opening control (1) of an opening according to one of claims 1 to 9.