Automotive powered door activation using accelerometer

• US 10,102,702 B1
• Filed: 08/01/2017
• Issued: 10/16/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 08/01/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Wheeler, Joshua R., Amman, Scott A., Rangarajan, Ranjani, Busch, Leah N., Ji, An, Huber, John E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wong, K.
• Application Number:
  US15/665,685
• Time in Patent Office: 441 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 5/0486 Special type
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/73 responsive to movement or presence of persons or objects
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 2015/763 using acoustical sensors
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/85 User input means
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2800/00 Details, accessories and auxiliary operations not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/531 Doors
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 15/005 measuring translational acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 15/0915 of the shear mode type
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/167 Audio in a user interface, e.g. using voice commands for navigating, audio feedback
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2209/62 Comprising means for indicating the status of the lock
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2209/64 using a proximity sensor
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00174 Electronically operated locks; Circuits therefor; Nonmechanical keys therefor, e.g. passive or active electrical keys or other data carriers without mechanical keys mechanical locks with electric permutation E05B49/00; arrangements for sensing or reading record carriers G06K7/00; electronic switching H03K17/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00563 using personal physical data of the operator, e.g. finger prints, retinal images, voicepatterns
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/31 Voice input
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 15/22 Procedures used during a speech recognition process, e.g. man-machine dialogue
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 2015/223 Execution procedure of a spoken command

Abstract

Voice control is extended outside of an automotive vehicle by an access system associated with a door and window. An accelerometer is mounted on the window to generate a vibration signal. A passive entry system generates an unlock standby signal when an authorized user carrying a wireless fob is detected proximate the door. A voice recognizer in the vehicle is activated by the standby signal to scan the vibration signal for a spoken command for opening the door. A door actuator is activated by the voice recognizer when the command is detected.

Claims

1. A vehicle having a vehicle security feature, comprising:

a door with a window;

an accelerometer mounted with a sensing axis perpendicularly upon the window, generating a window vibration signal;

a passive entry system generating an unlock standby signal when an authorized user is proximate the door; and

a voice recognizer activated by the standby signal to scan the vibration signal for a spoken command for the security feature and to initiate a recognized command.

2. The vehicle of claim 1 further comprising a door actuator coupled to the door, wherein the security feature is comprised of automatic powered opening of the door, wherein the spoken command is comprised of a door opening command, and wherein the door actuator initiates opening of the door when the voice recognizer detects the door opening command while the standby signal is being generated.

3. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the door is a rear liftgate on a rear side of the vehicle.

4. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the door is a power sliding door on a lateral side of the vehicle.

5. The vehicle of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of doors with respective remote controlled door locks, wherein the security feature is comprised of unlocking the doors, wherein the spoken command is comprised of a door unlocking command, and wherein the door actuator initiates unlocking of at least one door when the voice recognizer detects the door unlocking command while the standby signal is being generated.

6. The vehicle of claim 1 further comprising a vehicle lighting system, wherein the security feature is comprised of activating the lighting system, wherein the spoken command is comprised of a lighting command, and wherein the lighting system initiates lighting system activation when the voice recognizer detects the lighting command while the standby signal is being generated.

7. The vehicle of claim 1 further comprising an emergency notification system, wherein the spoken command is comprised of an emergency command, and wherein the emergency notification system initiates a notification when the voice recognizer detects the door unlocking command while the standby signal is being generated.

8. The vehicle of claim 7 wherein the notification is comprised of an audible and visible panic alarm generated by the vehicle.

9. The vehicle of claim 7 wherein the notification is comprised of a wireless communication to an emergency response entity.

10. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the accelerometer is rigidly affixed to an inside surface of the window.

11. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the spoken command includes a prompting utterance and an action indicator.

12. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the voice recognizer is configured to initiate checking for the prompting utterance in response to the standby signal and to activate a user feedback signal upon detecting the prompting utterance.

13. The vehicle of claim 12 wherein the feedback signal is comprised of flashing a taillight on the vehicle.

14. A vehicle access system, comprising:

a door with a window;

an accelerometer mounted with a sensing axis perpendicularly upon the window, generating a window vibration signal;

a passive entry system generating an unlock standby signal when an authorized user is proximate the door;

a voice recognizer activated by the standby signal to scan the vibration signal for a spoken door opening command; and

a door actuator activated by the voice recognizer when detecting the command.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein the door is a rear liftgate on a rear side of a vehicle.

16. The system of claim 14 wherein the door is a power sliding door on a lateral side of a vehicle.

17. The system of claim 14 wherein the accelerometer is rigidly affixed to an inside surface of the window.

18. The system of claim 14 wherein the spoken command includes a prompting utterance and an action indicator.

19. The system of claim 18 wherein the voice recognizer is configured to initiate checking for the prompting utterance in response to the standby signal and to activate a user feedback signal upon detecting the prompting utterance.

20. The system of claim 19 wherein the feedback signal is comprised of flashing a taillight on the vehicle.