Vehicle entry systems

• US 10,384,645 B1
• Filed: 02/27/2018
• Issued: 08/20/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Chen, Linsheng, Hazebrouck, Laura Viviana, Diedrich, Jonathan, Siddiqui, Adil Nizam
• Primary Examiner(s): Lujak, Lori L
• Application Number:
  US15/906,434
• Publication Number:
  US 20190263355A1
• Time in Patent Office: 539 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10541 comprising a light source or a light guide
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2605/006 Transparent parts other than made from inorganic glass, e.g. polycarbonate glazings
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 1/08 arranged at vehicle sides
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/268 on windscreens or windows B60Q1/302 takes precedence; lighting devices for vehicle interior on or for windows B60Q3/208
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/12 lighting onto the surface to be illuminated
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/14 lighting through the surface to be illuminated
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/16 Circuits; Control arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/18 for varying the light intensity
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/23 using manual input of alphanumerical codes
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/305 using a camera
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 9/14 for producing polarised light
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0425 using a single imaging device like a video camera for tracking the absolute position of a single or a plurality of objects with respect to an imaged reference surface, e.g. video camera imaging a display or a projection screen, a table or a wall surface, on which a computer generated image is displayed or projected tracking a projected light spot to determine a position on a display surface G06F3/0386
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/044 by capacitive means

Abstract

A vehicle includes a door. A transparency is coupled to the door including an exterior substrate and an interior substrate. An interlayer is positioned between the exterior substrate and the interior substrate. A polarizer is positioned on the interlayer. An indicium is positioned on the interlayer. A light source is positioned to emit light onto the indicium.

Claims

1. A vehicle comprising:

a door;

a transparency coupled to the door, comprising

an exterior substrate;

an interior substrate;

an interlayer positioned between the exterior substrate and the interior substrate;

a polarizer positioned on the interlayer; and

an indicium positioned on the interlayer; and

a light source positioned to emit light onto the indicium.

2. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the polarizer is a circular polarizer.

3. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the polarizer is positioned between the exterior substrate and the interlayer.

4. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the indicium is positioned between the interior substrate and the interlayer.

5. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the light source is configured to emit ultraviolet light.

6. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the light source is positioned on the door.

7. The vehicle of claim 1, further comprising:

an imager configured to image the indicium.

8. The vehicle of claim 7, wherein the imager is positioned on the door.

9. The vehicle of claim 8, wherein the imager is positioned proximate the light source.

10. The vehicle of claim 8, wherein the imager is configured to sense visible light.

11. The vehicle of claim 9, wherein the imager is configured to sense infrared light.

12. A vehicle, comprising

a door;

a transparency coupled to the door, comprising

an interlayer positioned between an exterior substrate and an interior substrate;

a circular polarizer positioned between the exterior substrate and the interlayer; and

an indicium positioned between the interlayer and the interior substrate; and

a light source positioned to emit light onto the indicium.

13. The vehicle of claim 12, wherein the indicium is configured as a keypad.

14. The vehicle of claim 12, wherein the indicium comprises an ink configured to emit light when energized by the light source.

15. The vehicle of claim 12, wherein the interlayer comprises a polymeric material.

16. The vehicle of claim 12, further comprising:

a proximity sensor positioned proximate the indicium.

17. A vehicle entry system, comprising:

a transparency comprising;

an interlayer positioned between an exterior substrate and an interior substrate;

a circular polarizer; and

an indicium, wherein the indicium and the circular polarizer are positioned on opposite sides of the interlayer than one another; and

a light source positioned to emit light onto the indicium.

18. The vehicle entry system of claim 17, further comprising:

an imager configured to image the indicium.

19. The vehicle entry system of claim 18, wherein both the imager and the light source are positioned externally to the transparency.

20. The vehicle entry system of claim 17, further comprising:

a proximity sensor positioned proximate the indicium.