Control method and control system for a vehicle closing element

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9446739-B2
Application number	US-201314420222-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 1, 2013
Priority date	Aug 8, 2012
Publication date	Sep 20, 2016
Grant date	Sep 20, 2016

Abstract

A method for controlling an adjusting movement of a power-operated adjustable vehicle closing element, via which a body opening of a vehicle can be closed and which can automatically be adjusted for clearing the body opening in the presence of an operating event is provided.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method for controlling an adjusting movement of a power-operated adjustable vehicle closing element, via which a body opening of a vehicle can be closed and which can automatically be adjusted for clearing the body opening in the presence of an operating event, the method including the following steps:
monitoring at least one distant region in the surroundings of the vehicle by means of at least one first sensor element of the vehicle, wherein via the at least one first sensor element a person in the distant region is detectable in a contactless manner,
carrying out an authentification process in which the presence of a valid identification means in a defined surrounding region in the surroundings of the vehicle is checked when via the at least one first sensor element a person has been detected in the distant region,
monitoring at least one nearby region in the surroundings of the vehicle by means of at least one second sensor element of the vehicle, which is different from the first sensor element, wherein
an outermost edge of the nearby region is located closer to the vehicle than an outermost edge of the distant region,
via the at least one second sensor element the occurrence of an operating event is detectable in a contactless manner, in which a person performs a particular movement in the monitored nearby region with a body part, and
the at least one second sensor element for monitoring the nearby region only is activated when via the at least one first sensor element a person has been detected in the distant region,

and
adjusting the vehicle closing element when one after the other a person is detected in the distant region, a valid identification means is detected in the surrounding region, and an operating event has been detected in the at least one nearby region.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one second sensor element for monitoring the nearby region only is activated when in addition a valid identification means has been detected in the surrounding region.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein at least two spatially separate nearby regions are monitored, in order to detect a movement to be assessed as operating event.

4. The method according to claim 3 , wherein the at least one further nearby region is monitored by another sensor element.

5. The method according to claim 4 , wherein the at least one further nearby region is monitored by at least one further, third sensor element in a contactless manner.

6. The method according to claim 4 , wherein the at least one further nearby region is monitored by the first sensor element which also monitors the distant region.

7. The method according to claim 1 , wherein when monitoring the distant region it can be detected whether a person enters into the distant region.

8. The method according to claim 1 , wherein by means of the at least one first sensor element it is detected whether a person present within the distant region approaches the vehicle.

9. The method according to claim 1 , wherein after detecting a person in the distant region or after detecting a valid identification means in the surrounding region, a visually and/or acoustically perceptible message is issued at the vehicle by means of a signaling device.

10. The method according to claim 9 , wherein the message is issued by an illuminated signaling element at the vehicle and/or a signaling element provided for illumination at the vehicle.

11. The method according to claim 10 , wherein a signaling element provided at the vehicle for illumination illuminates at least one monitored nearby region.

12. The method according to claim 10 , wherein a signaling element changes its brightness and/or light color when an operating event has been detected.

13. The method according to claim 10 , wherein a signaling element flashes, in order to issue a visually perceptible message and/or indicate the successful detection of an operating event.

14. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the vehicle closing element is a side door or a liftgate and/or the identification means is a radio key of the vehicle.

15. A control system for a motorized adjusting device for adjusting a vehicle closing element, via which a body opening of a vehicle can be closed and which can automatically be adjusted for clearing the body opening in the presence of an operating event, in particular for carrying out the method according to claim 1 , comprising:
at least one first sensor element which is equipped and provided at the vehicle for monitoring at least one distant region in the surroundings of the vehicle in a contactless manner, so that via the at least one first sensor element a person in the distant region is detectable in a contactless manner,
at least one electronic control device which is equipped and provided to carry out an authentification process in which the presence of a valid identification means in a defined surrounding region in the surroundings of the vehicle is checked when via the at least one first sensor element a person has been detected in the distant region, and
at least one second sensor element which is different from the first sensor element and which is equipped and provided at the vehicle,
to monitor at least one nearby region in the surroundings of the vehicle in a contactless manner, which includes an outermost edge which is located closer to the vehicle than an outermost edge of the distant region,
to detect the occurrence of an operating event in a contactless manner, in which a person performs a particular movement in the monitored nearby region with a body part, and
to activate the at least one second sensor element for monitoring the nearby region only when via the at least one first sensor element a person has been detected in the distant region,

wherein the electronic control device furthermore is equipped and provided to automatically initiate an adjustment of the vehicle closing element when one after the other a person is detected in the distant region, a valid identification means is detected in the surrounding region, and an operating event has been detected in the at least one nearby region.

16. A method for controlling an adjusting movement of a power-operated adjustable vehicle closing element, via which a body opening of a vehicle can be closed and which can automatically be adjusted for clearing the body opening in the presence of an operating event, the method including the following steps:
monitoring at least one distant region in the surroundings of the vehicle by means of at least one first sensor element of the vehicle, wherein via the at least one first sensor element a person in the distant region is detectable in a contactless manner,
carrying out an authentification process in which the presence of a valid identification means in a defined surrounding region in the surroundings of the vehicle is checked when via the at least one first sensor element a person has been detected in the distant region,
monitoring at least one first nearby region in the surroundings of the vehicle by means of at least one second sensor element of the vehicle, which is different from the first sensor element, wherein
an outermost edge of the first nearby region is located closer to the vehicle than an outermost edge of the distant region, and
via the at least one second sensor element the occurrence of an operating event is detectable in a contactless manner, in which a person performs a particular movement in the monitored first nearby region with a body part,

monitoring at least one second

Assignees

• Brose Fahrzeugteile
• Brose Fahrzeugteile Gmbh & Co Kg

Inventors

• Herthan Bernd
• Weingartner Thomas
• Wurstlein Holger
• Geuther Udo

Classifications

• B60R25/24

  using electronic identifiers containing a code not memorised by the user · CPC title

• E05Y2400/852

  Sensors · CPC title

• H03K17/955

  using a capacitive detector · CPC title

• E05Y2400/858

  by body parts, e.g. by feet · CPC title

• H03K2217/960785

  with illumination · CPC title