Flush-mounted door handle for vehicles
First Claim
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1. A flush handle system for a vehicle, comprising:
- a vehicle door defining inner and outer sides, the outer side having an outwardly facing flat outer surface, the outwardly facing flat outer surface defining an edge that extends around an opening in the outwardly facing flat outer surface;
a pocket formed in the vehicle door, wherein the pocket is connected to the opening;
an integrally formed handle that is immovable relative to the outer side of the vehicle door and extends over a portion of the pocket, the integrally formed handle including a vertical rear edge overlying the pocket whereby a user can insert fingers through the opening into the pocket and pull outwardly to open the vehicle door without moving the handle portion relative to the vehicle door;
an antenna to detect a specific key fob of the user when the user is within a predefined distance of the vehicle to authenticate the user to move a powered latch into an unlocked state in response to determining that the user has the specific key fob;
an unlatch sensor mounted to the vehicle door and to generate a predefined signal in response to detecting a hand of the user in the pocket at a predefined range of the unlatch sensor, wherein the unlatch sensor is selected from the group consisting of proximity sensors and touch sensors;
a proximity lock sensor comprising a touch surface to allow the user to unlock the vehicle door using a specific key fob detected by the antenna by touching the touch surface;
the powered latch defining locked and unlocked states and latched and unlatched configurations, wherein the powered latch retains the vehicle door in a closed position when the powered latch is in the latched configuration, and permits opening of the door when the powered latch is in the unlatched configuration; and
wherein the powered latch unlatches by shifting from the latched configuration to the unlatched configuration in response to the unlatch sensor generating the predefined signal and if the powered latch is in the unlocked state;
wherein the powered latch shifts from the unlocked state to the locked state in response to an actuation of the proximity lock sensor when the vehicle door is closed; and
wherein the locked and unlocked states of the powered latch correspond to manual door locks.
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Abstract
An electronic door latch includes a sensor mounted inside of an outer surface of the door. The sensor may be a proximity sensor, a touch sensor or other suitable sensor configured to determine if a user'"'"'s hand is present. The door latch release system further includes a powered latch that selectively retains the door latch in a closed position. The system may include a handle formed by a flange or other structure extending across a portion of a recess or pocket in the door. The system may include a receiver that utilizes a signal from a security transmitter (e.g. keyless entry fob).
142 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A flush handle system for a vehicle, comprising:
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a vehicle door defining inner and outer sides, the outer side having an outwardly facing flat outer surface, the outwardly facing flat outer surface defining an edge that extends around an opening in the outwardly facing flat outer surface; a pocket formed in the vehicle door, wherein the pocket is connected to the opening; an integrally formed handle that is immovable relative to the outer side of the vehicle door and extends over a portion of the pocket, the integrally formed handle including a vertical rear edge overlying the pocket whereby a user can insert fingers through the opening into the pocket and pull outwardly to open the vehicle door without moving the handle portion relative to the vehicle door; an antenna to detect a specific key fob of the user when the user is within a predefined distance of the vehicle to authenticate the user to move a powered latch into an unlocked state in response to determining that the user has the specific key fob; an unlatch sensor mounted to the vehicle door and to generate a predefined signal in response to detecting a hand of the user in the pocket at a predefined range of the unlatch sensor, wherein the unlatch sensor is selected from the group consisting of proximity sensors and touch sensors; a proximity lock sensor comprising a touch surface to allow the user to unlock the vehicle door using a specific key fob detected by the antenna by touching the touch surface; the powered latch defining locked and unlocked states and latched and unlatched configurations, wherein the powered latch retains the vehicle door in a closed position when the powered latch is in the latched configuration, and permits opening of the door when the powered latch is in the unlatched configuration; and wherein the powered latch unlatches by shifting from the latched configuration to the unlatched configuration in response to the unlatch sensor generating the predefined signal and if the powered latch is in the unlocked state; wherein the powered latch shifts from the unlocked state to the locked state in response to an actuation of the proximity lock sensor when the vehicle door is closed; and wherein the locked and unlocked states of the powered latch correspond to manual door locks. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A flush handle system for a vehicle, comprising:
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a vehicle door defining inner and outer sides, the outer side having a flat outer surface; a handle comprising an opening in the flat outer surface that leads to a pocket formed in the vehicle door and including a fixed non-movable flange extending over a portion of the pocket whereby a user can insert fingers into the pocket and pull outwardly on the flange to open the vehicle door without moving the flange relative to the vehicle door, wherein said flange has a flat outer surface that is coplanar with the flat outer surface of the vehicle door and a vertical edge extending over a portion of the pocket; an unlatch sensor mounted to the flange on an inner side thereof facing the pocket to generate a predefined signal in response to detecting a hand of the user in the pocket at a predefined range of the unlatch sensor, wherein the unlatch sensor is selected from the group consisting of proximity sensors and touch sensors; a proximity lock sensor mounted on an outer side of the flange, the proximity lock sensor selected from the group consisting of proximity sensors and touch sensors and to allow the user to lock the vehicle door by moving the user'"'"'s hand into a predetermined range of the proximity lock sensor; a powered latch defining locked and unlocked states and latched and unlatched configurations, wherein the powered latch retains the vehicle door in a closed position when the powered latch is in the latched configuration, and permits opening of the vehicle door when the powered latch is in the unlatched configuration; and a low frequency (LF) antenna to detect a specific key fob of the user when the use is within a predefined distance of the vehicle to authenticate the user to move the powered latch into the unlocked state in response to determining that the user has the specific key fob; wherein the powered latch unlatches by shifting from the latched configuration to the unlatched configuration in response to the unlatch sensor generating the predefined signal and if the powered latch is in the unlocked state; wherein the powered latch shifts from the unlocked state to the locked state in response to actuation of the proximity lock sensor when the vehicle door is closed; and wherein the locked and unlocked states of the powered latch correspond to manual door locks. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification