Door handle assembly for a motor vehicle

Abstract

A vehicle door handle includes a sensor assembly for detecting an operation request. The door handle is fixed and actuates an electric lock. The sensor assembly includes a first capacitive sensor arranged in the door handle and oriented towards an inner side of the handle. It monitors a first handle section gripped when actuating the handle. Second and third sensors are arranged along an axial extension of the handle. The second sensor is oriented towards an outer side of the handle and monitors a touching from the outer side in a second handle section. The third sensor is oriented towards the inner side of the handle and monitors a touching from the inner side. The electronic control and evaluation device generates an opening signal when both the capacitive sensor detects a gripping of the door handle and the second sensor and the third sensor simultaneously each detect a touching.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. Vehicle door handle including a sensor assembly for detecting an operation request, wherein the vehicle door handle is formed as a fixed door handle for actuating an electric lock (e-latch),
 wherein the door handle is shaped in such a manner that a user in order to actuate it reaches behind the door handle into an open space between the door handle and the vehicle door, wherein a side of the door handle that is directed towards the vehicle is referred to as the inner side of the door handle and a side of the door handle that is facing away from the vehicle is referred to as the outer side, 
 wherein the door handle comprises an electronic control and evaluation device, which generates control signals for the electric door lock in dependence on signals from the sensor assembly, 
 wherein 
 the sensor assembly has at least one first capacitive sensor that is arranged in the door handle, whereby the at least one capacitive sensor is oriented towards the inner side of the door handle, and monitors a first handle section which is to be reached behind and grasped when actuating the handle, wherein the sensor assembly comprises at least a second and a third sensor which are arranged along the axial extension of the handle in an offset manner in relation to the capacitive sensor in the door handle, 
 wherein the at least one second sensor is oriented towards the outer side of the door handle, and monitors a touching of the door handle from the outer side in a second handle section, and 
 wherein the at least one third sensor is oriented towards the inner side of the door handle, and monitors a touching from the inner side in the second handle section, 
 wherein the sensor assembly is connected to the electronic control and evaluation device and wherein the electronic control and evaluation device generates an opening signal, when the capacitive sensor detects a reaching behind and grasping of the door handle, and at the same time the at least one second sensor and the at least one third sensor simultaneously each detect a touching. 
 
     
     
       2. Vehicle door handle according to  claim 1 , wherein the electronic control and evaluation device is designed for the activation and deactivation of the at least one second and third sensors, whereby the electronic control and evaluation device monitors the at least one first capacitive sensor and activates the at least one second and third sensors in dependence on the signals from the at least one first capacitive sensor. 
     
     
       3. Vehicle door handle according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one third sensor is designed as a force sensor, in particular as a piezo sensor or as a LDC-sensor. 
     
     
       4. Vehicle door handle according to  claim 3 , wherein the door handle is designed in a mechanically deformable manner, at least in sections, within the area of the at least one third sensor, so that a force transmission towards the sensor that is arranged within the door handle is improved, whereby the handle is arranged at least partially with a cover made from an elastomer in the section that is covering the at least one third sensor. 
     
     
       5. Vehicle door handle according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one second sensor is a capacitive sensor. 
     
     
       6. Vehicle door handle according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one second sensor is a force sensor. 
     
     
       7. Vehicle door handle according to  claim 1 , wherein additional force sensors are arranged along the handle extension, which detect the exerting of force from the inner side of the handle. 
     
     
       8. Method for detecting an operation request on a vehicle door handle, wherein the vehicle door handle is designed as a fixed door handle for actuating an electric lock (e-latch),
 whereby the door handle is shaped in such a manner that a user in order to actuate it reaches behind the door handle into an open space between the door handle and the vehicle door, wherein the side of the door handle that is directed towards the vehicle is referred to as the inner side of the door handle and the side of the door handle that is facing away from the vehicle is referred to as the outer side, 
 wherein the door handle comprises an electronic control and evaluation device, which generates control signals for the electric door lock in dependence on signals from the sensor assembly, 
 wherein a sensor assembly is designed for the detecting of an operation request, 
 comprising the steps of 
 detecting of a reaching behind and grasping of the door handle within a first section by means of a monitoring of the signals of a first capacitive sensor of the sensor assembly, 
 detecting of a touching of the door handle from the outside within a second section by means of a monitoring of the signals of a second sensor of the sensor assembly, 
 detecting of a touching of the door handle from the inner side within the second section by means of a monitoring of the signals of a third sensor of the sensor assembly, 
 generating control signals with the electronic control and evaluation device, wherein an opening signal is generated when a reaching behind and grasping of the door handle is detected and at the same time the second and the third sensor each detect a respective touching. 
 
     
     
       9. Method according to  claim 8 , wherein an activation and monitoring of the second sensor and of the third sensor is only carried out when a reaching behind and grasping of the door handle is detected. 
     
     
       10. Method according to  claim 8 , wherein a force exertion on the inner side of the door handle is detected by means of the third sensor.