Door system for a motor vehicle and method for operating a door system

Abstract

A door system for a motor vehicle is provided. The door system includes a door for closing the interior space of a motor vehicle, a sensor for determining an opening angle of the door, a man-machine interface for inputting a desired maximum opening angle of the door, a brake device for arresting the door, and a door control for arresting the door through the use of the brake device if the opening angle of the door reaches the set maximum opening angle of the door or if an opening speed of the door falls below a limit value. A method for operating a door system is also provided.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1. is a schematic view of an exemplary embodiment of a door system for a motor vehicle in accordance with the invention; and

FIG. 2 is a state transition diagram of an exemplary mode of a method according to the invention for operating the door system shown in FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to the figures of the drawings in detail and first, particularly, to FIG. 1 thereof, there is shown an exemplary embodiment of a door system 1 for a motor vehicle wherein the motor vehicle is only schematically indicated by a dashed line. The door system 1 includes a door 2 for closing the interior of the motor vehicle, a brake device 3 for arresting the door 2, i.e. blocking a movement of the door 2, and a sensor 4 for determining an opening angle of the door 2. Suitable brake devices 3 are for example available from LORD CORPORATION (www.lord.com). In FIG. 1, the brake device 3 and the sensor 4 are shown as separate devices, however, they may also be integrated in one device.

The door system 1 includes a man-machine interface for inputting settings of the door system, wherein the man-machine interface is embodied as a touch screen 11 and a display control 10 is assigned to the man-machine interface. For example, desired maximum opening angles for the door 2 can be selected in this manner. In the present exemplary embodiment buttons 112, 113, and 114 are displayed by the touch screen 11 for this purpose. An operator can set the desired maximum opening angle to 30°, 50° or 70° by using these buttons 112, 113, and 114. In addition, a button 111 is provided for activating and deactivating a function that is denoted in the following as smart mode.

The door system 1 further includes a door control 15 for arresting the door 2 by the brake device 3 if the opening angle of the door 2 reaches the set maximum opening angle or, in case the smart mode function is activated, an opening speed of the door 2 falls below a limit value, in particular for at least a tolerance time. The door control 15 is connected to the display control 10 via a bus system 12 for data transfer. The door system 1 includes furthermore respectively at least an operating element 6 and, respectively, 5 disposed on a side of the door facing away from the interior of the motor vehicle or on a side of the door facing the interior of the motor vehicle for releasing the arresting of the door 2.

The door system 1 may also be provided such that the door system 1 includes an environment sensor 7 for detecting an obstacle in a vicinity of the motor vehicle, wherein the environment sensor 7 is for example embodied as an ultrasound sensor, a radar sensor or a laser sensor. Suitable environment sensors are for example disclosed in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2005/0280518 A1 which is hereby incorporated by reference. It is advantageous if the environment sensor 7 is used or can be used also by a driver assistance system. When an environment sensor 7 is provided, it is possible to detect with the door control 15 an imminent collision of the door 2 and the obstacle in dependence on an output signal of the environment sensor 7. When an obstacle is detected, a warning may be output and/or the door 2 may be arrested by the brake device 3.

FIG. 2 shows an exemplary mode of a method for operating the door system 1 represented as a state transition diagram. Reference numerals 20, 21, 22, 23, and 24 denote states and reference numerals 2021, 2120, 2121, 2122, 2123, 2221, 2324, 2421 and 2423 denote state transitions. In state 20, the door 2 is closed and the brake device is deactivated. By moving (state transition 2021) the door 2 (in particular beyond an opening limit value), the door system 1 makes a transition to state 21 in which the door 2 is moved. In this state, the door control 15 monitors the output signal of the sensor 4 for determining an opening angle of the door 2 and determines from this output signal the opening speed of the door 2 (state transition 2121).

If the so-called smart mode is activated, the door system makes a transition to the state 22, if the opening speed of the door 2 goes beyond a limit value for more than 150 milliseconds (state transition 2122). In state 22, the door 2 is arrested. In this state, the door control 15 monitors whether the operating element 5 or the operating element 6 is actuated. If the operating element 5 or the operating element 6 is actuated (state transition 2221), the door system 1 makes a transition back to state 21.

If the opening angle of the door 2 reaches the set maximum opening angle of the door 2 (state transition 2123), the door system 1 makes a transition from state 21 to state 23. In the state 23 the door 2 is also arrested. In this state, the door control 15 monitors whether the operating element 5 or the operating element 6 is actuated and whether the door 2 is moved in a direction towards closing the door 2. If either the operating element 5 and, respectively, the operating element 6 is actuated or the door 2 is moved in the direction of closing the door 2 (state transition 2324), then the door system 1 makes a transition from state 23 to state 24. In the state 24, the brake device is released and the door control 15 monitors the output signal of the sensor 4 for determining an opening angle of the door 2. When the opening angle of the door 2 reaches the set maximum opening angle of the door 2 (state transition 2423), the door system 1 transitions from state 24 back to state 23.

When the opening angle of the door 2 falls below a safety limit value (state transition 2421), the door control 15 regards the door 2 as being moved, i.e. the door system 1 transitions from state 24 to state 21.

If an environment sensor 7 is provided, then an additional state 25 is provided in which the door 2 is arrested. State transitions into state 25 may for example be provided from states 21 and 24.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

• 1 door system
• 2 door
• 3 brake device
• 4 sensor for determining an opening angle of a door
• 5,6 operating element
• 7 environment sensor
• 10 display control
• 11 touch screen
• 12 bus system
• 15 door control
• 20, 21, 22,
• 23, 24, 25 state
• 111, 112, 113, 114 button
• 2021, 2120, 2121,
• 2122, 2123, 2221,
• 2324, 2421, 2423 state transition

Claims

1. A door system for a motor vehicle, comprising: a door configured to close a motor vehicle interior;a sensor configured to determine an opening angle of said door;a man-machine interface configured to accept an input for setting a desired maximum opening angle for said door;a brake device configured to arrest said door; anda door control operatively connected to said sensor and to said man-machine interface, said door control being configured to arrest said door with said brake device if one of the opening angle of said door reaches the maximum opening angle set for said door and an opening speed of said door falls below a given limit value.

2. The door system according to claim 1, wherein said man-machine interface is configured to accept an input for selectively activating and deactivating a function for arresting said door with said brake device if the opening speed of said door falls below the given limit value.

3. The door system according to claim 1, wherein said door control arrests said door if the opening speed of said door falls below a given limit value for a given tolerance period.

4. The door system according to claim 1, wherein: said door has a side facing away from the motor vehicle interior; andan operating element for releasing an arresting of said door is disposed on said side of said door facing away from the motor vehicle interior.

5. The door system according to claim 1, wherein: said door has a side facing the motor vehicle interior; andan operating element for releasing an arresting of said door is disposed on said side of said door facing the motor vehicle interior.

6. The door system according to claim 1, including an environment sensor operatively connected to said door control, said environment sensor being configured to detect an obstacle in a vicinity of the motor vehicle.

7. The door system according to claim 6, wherein: said environment sensor provides an output signal to said door control; andsaid door control is configured to detect an imminent collision between said door and the obstacle in dependence on the output signal from said environment sensor.

8. A door system for a motor vehicle, comprising: a door configured to close a motor vehicle interior;a sensor configured to determine an opening angle of said door;a brake device configured to arrest said door;a door control operatively connected to said sensor, said door control being configured to arrest said door with said brake device if an opening speed of said door falls below a given limit value; andan operating element configured to release an arresting of said door.

9. The door system according to claim 8, wherein: said door has a side facing the motor vehicle interior; andsaid operating element is disposed on said side of said door facing the motor vehicle interior.

10. The door system according to claim 8, wherein: said door has a side facing away from the motor vehicle interior; andsaid operating element is disposed on said side of said door facing away from the motor vehicle interior.

11. A door system for a motor vehicle, comprising: a door configured to close a motor vehicle interior;a sensor configured to determine an opening angle of said door;a man-machine interface configured to accept an input for setting a desired maximum opening angle for said door;a brake device configured to arrest said door;a door control operatively connected to said sensor and to said man-machine interface, said door control being configured to arrest said door with said brake device if an opening angle of said door reaches the maximum opening angle set for said door; andan operating element configured to release an arresting of said door.

12. The door system according to claim 11, wherein: said door has a side facing the motor vehicle interior; andsaid operating element is disposed on said side of said door facing the motor vehicle interior.

13. The door system according to claim 11, wherein: said door has a side facing away from the motor vehicle interior; andsaid operating element is disposed on said side of said door facing away from the motor vehicle interior.

14. A method for operating a door system, the method which comprises: providing a door for closing an interior space of a motor vehicle;inputting a desired maximum opening angle for the door;determining an opening angle of the door; andarresting the door if one of the opening angle of the door reaches the maximum opening angle set for the door and an opening speed of the door falls below a given limit value.

15. The method according to claim 14, which comprises arresting the door if the opening speed of the door falls below a given limit value for a given tolerance period.

16. The method according to claim 14, which comprises releasing an arresting of the door by actuating an operating element.