US-12618271-B2 - Device for identifying a position of a vehicle handle

US12618271B2US 12618271 B2US12618271 B2US 12618271B2US-12618271-B2

Abstract

A device for identifying a position of a grip member of a vehicle handle includes a cam rotatably movable inside the device around an axis fixed relative to the grip member. The cam is rotatably secured to a lever, which is rotatably movable around the axis, so that an angular position of the cam around the axis is directly related to an angular position of the lever around the axis. The angular position of the lever is also mechanically related to the position of the grip member. The device includes at least one switch secured to the handle and complementary to a member of the cam, so that the at least one switch is configured to be in electrical contact with the member of the cam when the angular position of the cam is equal to one or more predetermined angular positions around the axis.

Inventors

Marco Savant
Anthony Guerin
Antonio LABALESTRA
Cannavo Antonino
Christophe Perrin

Assignees

MINEBEA ACCESSSOLUTIONS ITALIA S.P.A.

Dates

Publication Date: 20260505
Application Date: 20230919
Priority Date: 20220920

Claims (12)

1 . A device for identifying a position of a grip member of a vehicle handle, the device comprising: a cam rotatably movable inside the device around an axis, wherein the axis is fixed relative to the grip member, the cam being rotatably secured to a lever, which is rotatably movable around the axis, so that an angular position of the cam around the axis is directly related to an angular position of the lever around the axis, the angular position of the lever being also mechanically related to the position of the grip member; and at least one switch, wherein the at least one switch is secured to the vehicle handle in a mounted state, and being complementary to a member of the cam, so that the at least one switch is configured to be in electrical contact with the member of the cam when the angular position of the cam is equal to one or more predetermined angular positions around the axis, wherein the cam is rotatably secured to the lever through a resilient transmission axle; a housing member configured to be secured to the handle, the cam and the at least one switch being lodged inside the housing member, the at least one switch being secured to the housing member, the housing member is configured to move relative to the handle during a calibration phase of the switch and to be fixed relative to the handle once the calibration phase is complete.
2 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein the member of the cam is a portion of a surface of the cam.
3 . The device according to claim 2 , wherein the at least one switch protrudes from a surface facing the portion of the surface of the cam.
4 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein the member of the cam protrudes from a surface of the cam.
5 . The device according to claim 2 , wherein the at least one switch includes one or more blades on a printed circuit board (PCB).
6 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein the cam is rotatably secured to the lever through a rigid transmission axle.
7 . The device according to claim 1 , further comprising at least one electric wire connected to the at least one switch at one end and configured to provide a signal at another end to an electrical control unit of a vehicle, the signal being representative of the position of the grip member of the vehicle handle of the vehicle.
8 . A vehicle handle comprising: a grip member; and the device according to claim 1 .
9 . A vehicle comprising: the vehicle handle according to claim 8 .
10 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein the cam is configured to be disposed on the vehicle handle.
11 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein the device is a standalone device configured to be mounted on the vehicle handle.
12 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one switch is coupled to the housing member.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application claims priority to and the benefit of EP 22196543.7 filed on Sep. 20, 2022. The disclosures of the above applications are incorporated herein by reference. FIELD The present disclosure relates to the field of handles for vehicle doors, and in particular to devices for identifying a position of a handle. BACKGROUND The statements in this section merely provide background information related to the present disclosure and may not constitute prior art. It is known, to identify a position of a handle for a vehicle door by using switches or electronic devices. In particular, when considering a flush handle, which is configured to be either in a flush position, or in a deployed position, or in any other position, it is known to identify the current flush handle position via a corresponding position of a rod configured to slide longitudinally inside the handle, the rod having a specific shape arranged to activate a specific switch, the specific switch depending on the position of the rod, the position of the rod being mechanically related, through a lever, to the position of the handle. The deviation and tolerances of each single part of such mechanical arrangement can cause insufficient precision in the detection of the position of the handle. SUMMARY This section provides a general summary of the disclosure and is not a comprehensive disclosure of its full scope or all of its features. The present disclosure provides a device for identifying a position of a grip member of a vehicle handle, the device including a cam rotatably movable inside the device around an axis, the axis being fixed relative to the grip member, the cam being rotatably secured to a lever, which is rotatably movable around the axis, so that an angular position of the cam around the axis is directly related to an angular position of the lever around the axis, the angular position of the lever being also mechanically related to the position of the grip member. The device further includes one or several switch(es). The one or several switch(es) are secured to the handle and complementary to a member of the cam, so that the one or several switch(es) is configured to be in electrical contact with the member of the cam when the angular position of the cam is equal to one or more predetermined angular position(s) around the axis. According to these provisions, the tolerance chain to reach the predetermined angular position is reduced, and the precision is increased, so as a placement of the device in the handle is determined to avoid deformations of the device. In addition, the angular position of the housing member can be further adjusted, for example, during End-Of-Line testing. In that case, once the calibration of the switch box element, i.e., housing member, is completed, the position of the housing member on the handle assembly is blocked (e.g., via screwing or gluing). According to one form, the disclosure includes one or more of the following features, alone or in any combination technically compatible. According to a variation, the device further includes a housing member configured to be secured to the handle, the cam and the one or several switch(es) being lodged inside the housing member, and the one or several switch(es) being secured to the housing member. According to these provisions, switches are centralized, which has the advantage of focusing accuracy in one element only, i.e., the device, improving the industrialization flow with one fitting operation, one operation of sealing, and localization of wire layout. According to these provisions, the cam and the switch of the device are maintained and protected against the environment, and the device is a standalone device which may be mounted on the handle with proper centering and fixation. According to one form, the member of the cam is a portion of a surface of the cam. According to a form, the one or several switch(es) is protruding from a surface facing the portion of the surface of the cam. According to a form, the member is protruding from a surface of the cam. According to a form, the one or several switch(es) is one or more blades on a printed circuit board. According to a form, the cam is rotatably secured to the lever through a transmission axle which is rigid. According to a form, the cam is rotatably secured to the lever through a transmission axle which is resilient. According to these provisions, alignment errors are absorbed, and tension is smoothed. According to a form, the device further includes at least one electric wire connected to the one or several switch(es) at one end and configured to provide a signal at another end to an electrical control unit of the vehicle, the signal being representative of the position of the grip member of the vehicle handle of the vehicle. According to another aspect, the disclosure provides a vehicle handle including a grip member and a device for identifying a position of the