Patent Description:
It is known to have a car door with a closing system that can be released with a mechanical arrangement built in a handle of the car, e.g. from <CIT> or <CIT>. Typically, the user seizes the mechanical arrangement located on the handle to trigger it. The user can then in a same move pull the door to open it.

This provision gives satisfaction in that the user is intuitively guided to operate the door because the mechanical arrangement reacts when gripping the handle.

It is also known to use electronic detectors in the automotive industry to facilitate the user command by limiting the force that should be applied to execute a task. Here, it is also known to add a sensing unit to a car door to unlock it for opening.

The use of a sensing unit can however result in a decrease of the user experience quality since the sensing unit could be located in a place that is not intuitive for the user.

The implementation of a sensing unit in a handle could also lead to another opening method that requires practice for the user. For example, it could be necessary to push or touch a button and then pull the door which implies realizing a two different movements in a precise order to open the door.

There is therefore a need for a better integration of the electronic sensing unit in a handle to facilitate the handling by the user.

The present invention aims to solve all or some of the disadvantages mentioned above.

For this purpose, the present invention relates to a car access assembly comprising a car door, a handle mounted on the car door, and an electronic sensing unit for the handle attached on the car door, the electronic sensing unit comprising:.

This provision enables to have a sensor that is fixed on the external side of the car and in the same time that is biased by a constraint applied to the handle. Given that the sensor cooperates simultaneously with the part of the car door and with the handle, the sensor can measure a constraint and therefore a command from a user pushing or pulling the handle.

According to an aspect of the invention, the external side refers to the side of the part of the car door facing the outside of the car. Preferably, the part comprises an internal side facing the interior of the car.

According to an aspect of the invention, the handle is an outside handle of the car for example on the driver side. By car it is understood every kind of vehicle in the automotive industry including bus, truck, personal vehicles etc..

According to an aspect of the invention, the sensor includes at least one strain gauge, said at least one strain gauge being configured to be deformed when the constraint is applied to the handle.

The second element of the fixing mechanism enables to transmit the constraint applied on the handle so as to deform the at least one strain gauge. It thus appears that when a user push or pulls the handle of the car, it implies the deformation of the at least one strain gauge.

According to an aspect of the invention, the at least one sensor is configured to close and to release a locking mechanism of the car door.

Preferably, when a compressing pressure is applied to the sensor transversally to the reference plane, namely when pushing the car door towards a closed position, a locking command is acquired.

Preferably, when an extending pressure is applied to the sensor transversally to the reference plane, namely when pulling the car door towards an open position, a releasing command is acquired.

In other words, in only one movement, the user can unlock and open the car door or close and lock the car door.

According to an aspect of the invention, the at least one strain gauge may be a full-bridge strain gauge or a half-bridge strain gauge.

According to an aspect of the invention, the sensor comprises a support on which the at least one strain gauge is attached, the support being configured to be attached on the external side or on an intermediate part mounted on the external side, the support extending parallel to the reference plane.

The fact that the support is substantially planar and extending parallel to the reference plane facilitates the insertion of the sensor between the handle and the external side.

According to an aspect of the invention, each sensor comprises two strain gauges mounted on the support. Preferably, the support is constituted of a metal material.

According to an aspect of the invention, the support at least one attaching portion configured to be fixed to the part of the car thanks to a corresponding third element of the fixing mechanism.

According to an aspect of the invention, the at least one attaching portion is an orifice or a slot configured for receiving the corresponding third element which is for example a screw, possibly with mounting ring(s).

Preferably, the support presents two attaching portions, the strain gauges being located between the two attaching portions according to a longitudinal direction of the support.

According to an aspect of the invention, the first element extends according to a main direction that is configured to be transversal to the reference plane when installed, the part of the car door and the support presenting each a through opening for the passage of the first element.

Both openings are aligned so that the first element is able to pass though. According to an aspect of the invention, the first element comprises a head configured to cooperate with an internal surface of the part of the car door opposed to the external side.

According to an aspect of the invention, the opening of the support is located between the two strain gauges according to the longitudinal direction of the support.

According to an aspect of the invention, the first element is a screw.

A screw is an efficient way to secure the support on the external side or on an intermediate part mounted on the external side.

According to an aspect of the invention, the second element presents a form complementary with a recess in the handle so that there is a cooperation by complementarity of form.

The complementarity of form is important as it enables the first element to move together with the handle when a user is pushing or pulling the handle.

According to an aspect of the invention, the second element is a nut.

According to an aspect of the invention, said nut is configured to cooperate with the screw to secure de support on the external side.

According to an aspect of the invention, the electronic sensing unit comprises two distinct sensors and two corresponding fixing mechanisms.

This provision enables to obtain a more accurate signal.

According to an aspect of the invention, the car access assembly comprises an additional fixing element for fixing the handle on the part of the car. Preferably, the additional fixing element is a screw configured to be cooperating with the handle and with the part of the car, said screw presenting an axis deviating from the main direction transversally to the reference plane. In particular, said deviation is <NUM>° more or less <NUM>° or <NUM>° more and less <NUM>°.

According to the invention, the handle comprises a guiding leg extending farther than the internal face of the part of the car door, the guiding leg being configured for guiding a signal transmitting device of the electronic sensing unit connected the sensor.

The guiding leg serves as a protection means for the signal transmitting device connected to the sensor. According to an aspect of the invention, the part of the car presents a notch for the passage of the guiding leg from the external side to a location farther than the internal surface of the part of the car.

According to an aspect of the invention, the guiding leg presents channel(s) for the signal transmitting device guiding.

According to an aspect of the invention, the signal transmitting device comprises electrical wire(s) or flexible printed circuit board(s) configured to transmit a signal from the sensor.

According to an aspect of the invention, the car access system also comprises an electronic control unit, said electronic control unit comprising a connector configured to cooperate with the signal transmitting device, the guiding leg presenting a housing for receiving said electronic control unit.

According to an aspect of the invention, the electronic control unit comprises a rigid printed circuit box configured to track the measures from the sensor. Preferably, the electronic control unit comprises an outlet cable to be connected to the car information management system.

Alternatively, the electronic control unit can comprise an outlet connector, for example accessible from the outside the housing of electronic control unit.

The electronic control unit may comprise a housing realized by potting for protecting the inner components. The outlet connector can be outside of the potting.

The different aspects defined above that are not incompatible can be combined.

The invention will be better understood with the aid of the detailed description that is set out below with reference to the appended drawing in which:.

In the following detailed description of the figures defined above, the same elements or the elements that are fulfilling identical functions may retain the same references so as to simplify the understanding of the invention.

As illustrated in <FIG>, an electronic sensing unit <NUM> for a handle <NUM> attached on a car door <NUM> is depicted.

The electronic sensing unit <NUM> comprises two sensors <NUM> attached on an external side <NUM> of a part <NUM> of the car door <NUM> extending according to a reference plane <NUM>.

The electronic sensing unit <NUM> comprises a fixing mechanism <NUM> for each sensor <NUM>, the fixing mechanism <NUM> comprising a first element <NUM> and a second element <NUM> configured to cooperate together; the first element <NUM> being also configured to cooperate with the part <NUM> of the car door <NUM> and the sensor <NUM> or with the handle <NUM>.

The second element <NUM> is configured to cooperate with the handle <NUM> or with the part <NUM> of the car door <NUM> and the sensor <NUM> so that a constraint applied to the handle <NUM> is transmitted to the sensors <NUM> for detection of a command.

The external side <NUM> refers to the side of the part <NUM> of the car door <NUM> facing the outside of the car. The part <NUM> comprises an internal side facing the interior of the car.

The handle <NUM> is an outside handle of the car for example on the driver side. By car it is understood every kind of vehicle in the automotive industry including bus, truck, personal vehicles etc..

Each sensor <NUM> includes at least one strain gauge <NUM>, said at least one strain gauge <NUM> being configured to be deformed when the constraint is applied to the handle <NUM>.

The second element <NUM> of the fixing mechanism <NUM> enables to transmit the constraint applied on the handle so as to deform the at least one strain gauge <NUM>. It thus appears that when a user push or pulls the handle <NUM> of the car, it implies the deformation of the at least one strain gauge <NUM>.

Each sensor <NUM> is configured to close and to release a locking mechanism of the car door <NUM>.

When a compressing pressure is applied to the sensors <NUM> transversally to the reference plane <NUM>, namely when pushing the car door <NUM> towards a closed position, a locking command is acquired.

When an extending pressure is applied to the sensor transversally to the reference plane <NUM>, namely when pulling the car door towards an open position, a releasing command is acquired.

In other words, in only one movement, the user can unlock and open the car door <NUM> or close and lock the car door <NUM>.

The at least one strain gauge <NUM> may be a full-bridge strain gauge or a half-bridge strain gauge.

Each sensor <NUM> comprises a support <NUM> on which the at least one strain gauge <NUM> is attached, the support <NUM> being configured to be attached on the external side <NUM> or on an intermediate part mounted on the external side <NUM>, the support <NUM> extending parallel to the reference plane <NUM>.

The fact that the support <NUM> is substantially planar and extending parallel to the reference plane <NUM> facilitates the insertion of the sensors <NUM> between the handle <NUM> and the external side <NUM>.

Each sensor <NUM> comprises two strain gauges <NUM> mounted on the support <NUM>. Preferably, the support <NUM> is constituted of a metal material.

The support <NUM> presents at least one attaching portion <NUM> configured to be fixed to the part <NUM> of the car thanks to a corresponding third element <NUM> of the fixing mechanism <NUM>.

The at least one attaching portion <NUM> is an orifice or a slot configured for receiving the corresponding third element <NUM> which is for example a screw, possibly with mounting ring(s).

Here, the support <NUM> presents two attaching portions <NUM>, the strain gauges <NUM> being located between the two attaching portions <NUM> according to a longitudinal direction <NUM> of the support <NUM>.

Each first element <NUM> extends according to a main direction <NUM> that is configured to be transversal to the reference plane <NUM> when installed, the part <NUM> of the car door <NUM> and the support <NUM> presenting each a through opening for the passage of the first element <NUM>.

Both openings are aligned so that the first element <NUM> is able to pass though. The first element <NUM> comprises a head <NUM> configured to cooperate with the internal surface of the part <NUM> of the car door <NUM> opposed to the external side <NUM>.

The opening of the support <NUM> is located between the two strain gauges <NUM> according to the longitudinal direction <NUM> of the support <NUM>. Here, the first element <NUM> is a screw.

A screw is an efficient way to secure the support <NUM> on the external side <NUM> or on an intermediate part mounted on the external side <NUM>.

The second element <NUM> presents a form complementary with a recess <NUM> in the handle <NUM> so that there is a cooperation by complementarity of form. The complementarity of form is important as it enables the first element <NUM> to move together with the handle <NUM> when a user is pushing or pulling the handle <NUM>.

Here, the second element <NUM> is a nut, said nut being configured to cooperate with the screw to secure the support <NUM> on the external side <NUM>.

As illustrated in the figures, the electronic sensing unit <NUM> comprises two distinct sensors <NUM> and two corresponding fixing mechanisms <NUM>.

A car access assembly <NUM> comprises the handle <NUM> mounted on the car door <NUM>, the car access assembly <NUM> also comprising an electronic sensing unit <NUM> described above. The handle can include a gasket <NUM> to be inserted between said handle <NUM> and the external side <NUM>.

The car access assembly <NUM> also comprises the car door <NUM>. There is also a car comprising at least one car access assembly <NUM> as described above.

The car access assembly comprises an additional fixing element <NUM> for fixing the handle <NUM> on the part <NUM> of the car. Preferably, the additional fixing element <NUM> is a screw configured to be cooperating with the handle <NUM> and with the part <NUM> of the car, said screw presenting an axis deviating from the main direction <NUM> transversally to the reference plane <NUM>.

In particular, said deviation is <NUM>° more or less <NUM>° as in <FIG> or <NUM>° more and less <NUM>° as in <FIG>.

As illustrated on <FIG>, the handle <NUM> comprises a guiding leg <NUM> extending farther than the internal face of the part <NUM> of the car, the guiding leg <NUM> being configured for guiding a signal transmitting device <NUM> connected the sensors <NUM>.

The guiding leg <NUM> serves as a protection means for the signal transmitting device <NUM> connected to the sensors <NUM>. The part <NUM> of the car presents a notch <NUM> in <FIG> for the passage of the guiding leg <NUM> from the external side <NUM> to a location farther than the internal surface of the part <NUM> of the car.

The guiding leg <NUM> presents channels <NUM> for the signal transmitting device <NUM> guiding.

The signal transmitting device <NUM> comprises electrical wires in the variant of <FIG> or flexible printed circuit boards configured to transmit a signal from the sensors <NUM> as in <FIG>. Wires can be shielded or not.

The car access system <NUM> may also comprises an electronic control unit <NUM> as in <FIG> variants, said electronic control unit <NUM> comprising a connector configured to cooperate with the signal transmitting device <NUM>, the guiding leg <NUM> presenting a housing for receiving said electronic control unit <NUM>.

The electronic control unit <NUM> comprises a rigid printed circuit box configured to track the measures from the sensors <NUM>. The electronic control unit <NUM> may comprise an outlet cable <NUM> as in <FIG> to be connected to the car information management system.

Alternatively, the electronic control unit <NUM> can comprise an outlet connector <NUM> as in <FIG> variant, which is accessible from the outside of the housing of electronic control unit <NUM>.

The electronic control unit <NUM> may comprise a housing realized by potting for protecting the inner components. The outlet connector <NUM> can be outside of the potting.

As goes without saying, the invention is not limited to the sole embodiment described above by way of example, it encompasses all the variants.

<FIG> shows another variant of the handle <NUM>, in which the handle <NUM> is attached from the external side <NUM>.

For this purpose, through holes <NUM> are arranged in the handle <NUM> so that the handle <NUM> can be fixed from the external side <NUM> of the car door <NUM>. The through holes <NUM> are closed by a cover <NUM> after the handle <NUM> has been fixed. Preferably, the cover <NUM> covers all through holes <NUM> in the handle <NUM> which are present for fixing the handle <NUM> to the car door <NUM>. The cover <NUM> is fitted on the handle <NUM> from an external side <NUM> thereof, the external side <NUM> of the handle <NUM> referring to the side of the handle <NUM> facing away from the car door <NUM>. As a result, the fixing mechanisms <NUM> are not visible. The access assembly <NUM> comprises a gasket body <NUM>, the gasket body <NUM> being mounted on the external side <NUM> of the car door <NUM> and in particular being fixedly connected to the car door <NUM>. The gasket body <NUM> can hold the second elements <NUM> for fixing the handle <NUM>, as well as the holder <NUM> with the sensors <NUM>, the second element <NUM> having a shape complementary to a recess <NUM> in the gasket body <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, the handle <NUM> may also have a clearance <NUM> through which a hand of a person may pass. In order to allow fastening of this handle <NUM> from the external side <NUM> of the car door <NUM>, the handle <NUM> has at least two through holes or recesses <NUM>, <NUM>' which are arranged in alignment one behind the other. These through holes <NUM>, <NUM>' are each covered by a cover <NUM>, <NUM>'. The first cover <NUM> as well as the first through hole <NUM> are arranged at the external side <NUM> of the handle <NUM>, and the second cover <NUM>' as well as the second through hole <NUM>' are arranged between the external side <NUM> of the handle <NUM> and the car door <NUM>. This allows a simple assembly to be performed by inserting an assembly tool through the first through hole <NUM> and second through hole <NUM>'. After the handle <NUM> is fixed, the two covers <NUM>, <NUM>' are mounted, which cover the through holes <NUM>, <NUM>' and allow an aesthetic appearance.

<FIG> shows another variation of the handle <NUM>. <FIG> shows the inner side <NUM> of the handle <NUM>, where the inner side <NUM> refers to the side of the handle <NUM> facing the car door <NUM>. Here, the handle <NUM> has a mounting aid <NUM>, which preferably consists of an elongated plate <NUM>, which is connected to the handle <NUM>. In particular, the handle <NUM> has a slot <NUM> on one side, into which a first end <NUM> of the plate <NUM> is inserted. The slot <NUM> is thereby configured in such a way that the plate <NUM> is fixed in its position and can be displaced in the longitudinal direction of the handle <NUM>, in particular it can be displaced in the direction of the reference plane <NUM>. The second end <NUM> of the plate <NUM> is connected, in particular screwed, to the handle <NUM>. In particular, the plate <NUM> can be angled on one side. The plate <NUM> has an elongated hole <NUM> in the elongated region <NUM> and a recess or bore <NUM> in the angled region <NUM>. Due to the sheet <NUM>, the handle <NUM> can be displaced in the longitudinal direction, in particular in the direction of the reference plane <NUM>, in order to compensate tolerances. The recess <NUM> at the angled region <NUM> of the plate <NUM> serves to fix the plate <NUM> to the screw <NUM>, which is screwed into the handle <NUM>. For this purpose, the screw <NUM> can have a circumferential gap <NUM>, in which, in the area of the recess <NUM>, the plate <NUM> is fixed. If the screw <NUM> is unscrewed or screwed in, the position of the handle <NUM> is adjusted in the longitudinal direction. Preferably, a tolerance compensation element <NUM> is arranged in the handle <NUM> for this purpose, into which the screw <NUM> is screwed.

Claim 1:
Car access assembly (<NUM>) comprising a car door (<NUM>), a handle (<NUM>) mounted on the car door (<NUM>), the car access assembly (<NUM>) also comprising an electronic sensing unit (<NUM>) for the handle (<NUM>) attached on the car door (<NUM>), the electronic sensing unit (<NUM>) comprising:
- a sensor (<NUM>) attached on an external side (<NUM>) of a part (<NUM>) of the car door (<NUM>) extending according to a reference plane (<NUM>),
- a fixing mechanism (<NUM>) for the sensor (<NUM>), the fixing mechanism (<NUM>) comprising a first element (<NUM>) and a second element (<NUM>) configured to cooperate together; the first element (<NUM>) being also configured to cooperate with the part (<NUM>) of the car door (<NUM>) and the sensor (<NUM>) or with the handle (<NUM>); the second element (<NUM>) being also configured to cooperate with the handle (<NUM>) or with the part (<NUM>) of the car door (<NUM>) and the sensor (<NUM>) so that a constraint applied to the handle (<NUM>) is transmitted to the sensor (<NUM>) for detection of a command,
wherein the handle (<NUM>) comprises a guiding leg (<NUM>) extending farther than the internal face of the part (<NUM>) of the car door (<NUM>), the guiding leg (<NUM>) being configured for guiding a signal transmitting device (<NUM>) of the electronic sensing unit (<NUM>) connected the sensor (<NUM>).