Effortless entry system

• US 20010052839A1
• Filed: 06/06/2001
• Published: 12/20/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc. (Continental AG)
• Original Assignee: Siemens VDO Automotive Corporation (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Nahata, Pratik Kumar, Li, Edwin T., Leifer, Tjarko, Cutkoski, Mark, Desai, Tejas B., Johnson, Susan A.
• Granted Patent: US 6,825,752 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/5.72
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/77 comprising sensors detecting the presence of the hand of a user
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/78 as part of a hands-free locking or unlocking operation
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2209/65 using means for sensing the user's hand
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00309 operated with bidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks

Abstract

The vehicle port control system comprises a capaciflective sensor, a port, a lock securing the port, and a control unit. The capaciflective sensor senses the presence of objects a predetermined distance from the vehicle port. The sensor communicates its readings to the control unit, which controls the actuation of the lock.

Claims

1. A vehicle port control system comprising:

a capaciflective sensor sensing an object a predetermined distance about said vehicle port;

a lock securing said port; and

a control unit in communication with said capaciflective sensor, controlling the actuation of said lock.

5. The vehicle port control system of

claim 1

wherein said object is at least a portion of a person.

6. The vehicle port control system of

claim 1

including a vehicle subsystem in communication with said control unit, responding to the presence of an object crossing said predetermined distance.

7. The vehicle port control system of

claim 1

including a latch controlling opening and closing of said port.

8. The vehicle port control system of

claim 7

wherein said latch includes a sensor in communication with said control unit that detects movement of said latch.

9. The vehicle port control system of

claim 8

wherein said sensor is an infrared sensor.

19. The vehicle port control system of

claim 7

wherein said latch includes a sensor in communication with said control unit that detects movement of said latch.

2. The vehicle port control system of

claim 2

including an electronic key device sending a key code to said control unit wherein said control unit actuates said lock when said key code matches said security code.

3. The vehicle port control system of

claim 2

wherein said electronic key device sends said key code when requested by said control unit.

4. The vehicle port control system of

claim 3

wherein said control unit requests said key code when said object crosses said predetermined distance.

10. A vehicle port control system comprising:

a vehicle port;

a capaciflective sensor sensing an object a predetermined distance about said port;

a control unit in communication with said capaciflective sensor, comparing a signal from said capaciflective sensor with a predetermined threshold.

11. The vehicle port control system of

claim 10

including a lock controlled by said control unit, securing said port.

12. The vehicle port control system of

claim 11

including an electronic key device sending a key code to said control unit wherein said control unit actuates said lock when said key code matches said security code.

13. The vehicle port control system of

claim 12

wherein said electronic key device sends said key code when requested by said control unit.

14. The vehicle port control system of

claim 13

wherein said control unit requests said key code when said object crosses said predetermined distance.

15. The vehicle port control system of

claim 10

wherein said object is at least a portion of a person.

16. The vehicle port control system of

claim 15

wherein said predetermined threshold relates to the presence of said at least portion of a person within said predetermined distance.

17. The vehicle port control system of

claim 10

including a vehicle subsystem in communication with said control unit, responding to the presence of an object crossing said predetermined distance.

18. The vehicle port control system of

claim 10

including a latch controlling opening and closing of said port.

20. A method of port control comprising the steps of:

establishing a voltage on a first surface;

establishing about the same voltage on a second surface spaced from the first surface;

establishing a lower voltage on a third surface spaced from the second surface, thereby propagating an electric field from the first surface, around the second surface, and to the third surface;

sensing changes in the electric field caused by the presence of an objected in the electric field;

generating an electric signal based on the changes in the electric field;

comparing the electric signal to a predetermined threshold; and

controlling a port based on the comparison.