MECHANICAL DOOR HANDLE SWITCH ASSEMBLY WITH A DAMPENING MECHANISM

• US 20060005590A1
• Filed: 07/12/2004
• Published: 01/12/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/12/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Lear Corporation
• Original Assignee: Lear Corporation
• Inventors: Schmidt, Robert M., Feldman, Mark G.
• Application Number:
  US10/710,444
• Publication Number:
  US 20060005590A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 70/257
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2325/105 Radio frequency identification data [RFID]
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/246 characterised by the challenge triggering
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 77/42 Means for damping the movement of lock parts, e.g. slowing down the return movement of a handle E05B77/38 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/78 as part of a hands-free locking or unlocking operation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5978 With switch
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7062 Electrical type [e.g., solenoid]

Abstract

A mechanical handle switch assembly (14) (“switch assembly”) is provided for actuating a vehicle-based system (12). The switch assembly (14) includes a door handle (28), which is coupled to a vehicle door (26) and utilized for actuation by a user. This door handle (28) is movable a predetermined travel distance, which includes a switch-triggering distance for actuating the vehicle-based system (12) and an unlatching distance for unlatching the vehicle door (26). The door handle (28) is coupled to a drive train mechanism (34) and utilized for actuating the drive train mechanism (34). The drive train mechanism (34) is operatively coupled to a switch device (18) for selectively closing the switch device (18) and actuating the vehicle-based system (12). The switch assembly (14) further includes a dampening mechanism (56) for slowing movement of the door handle (28) and increasing available processing time for the vehicle-based system (12).

Claims

1. A mechanical door handle switch assembly integrated within a door of a vehicle and utilized for actuating a vehicle-based system, comprising:

a door handle coupled to the door for actuation by a user, said door handle being movable for actuating the vehicle-based system and unlatching the door;

a drive train mechanism coupled to said door handle and being actuated by said door handle;

a switch device operatively coupled to said drive train mechanism and being selectively closed by said drive train mechanism; and

a damping mechanism coupled to one of said door handle and said drive train mechanism for slowing movement of said door handle and said drive train mechanism.

2. The mechanical door handle switch assembly recited in claim 1 wherein said door handle is movable within a predetermined travel distance, said door handle actuating said drive train mechanism and closing said switch device when said door handle is moved a substantially small portion of said predetermined travel distance.

3. The mechanical door handle switch assembly recited in claim 1 wherein said door handle is movable within a predetermined travel distance, said predetermined travel distance including a switch-triggering distance and an unlatching distance that is greater than and inclusive of said switch-triggering distance, said door handle being moved by said switch-triggering distance for actuating said switch device, said door handle being moved by said unlatching distance for unlatching the door.

4. The mechanical door handle switch assembly recited in claim 1 wherein said door handle has a pull configuration for unlatching the door.

5. The mechanical door handle switch assembly recited in claim 1 wherein said door handle has a lift configuration for unlatching the door.

6. The mechanical door handle switch assembly recited in claim 1 wherein said drive train mechanism is a gear mechanism.

7. The mechanical door handle switch assembly recited in claim 1 wherein said drive train mechanism is a cam mechanism.

8. The mechanical door handle switch assembly recited in claim 1 wherein said drive train mechanism is a lever mechanism.

9. The mechanical door handle switch assembly recited in claim 1 wherein said switch device is biased to an open position.

10. The mechanical door handle switch assembly recited in claim 1 wherein said damping mechanism is a gas compression device.

11. The mechanical door handle switch assembly recited in claim 1 wherein said damping mechanism is a viscous fluid device.

14. The passive entry system recited in claim 1 wherein said damping mechanism is a gas compression device.

15. The passive entry system recited in claim 1 wherein said damping mechanism is a viscous fluid device.

18. The passively-actuated vehicle system recited in claim 1 wherein said drive train mechanism is at least one of a gear mechanism, a cam mechanism, and a lever mechanism.

19. The passively-actuated vehicle system recited in claim 1 wherein said damping mechanism is a gas compression device.

20. The passively-actuated vehicle system recited in claim 1 wherein said damping mechanism is a viscous fluid device.

12. A passive entry system for a vehicle comprising:

a controller;

a vehicle-based transceiver coupled to said controller;

a portable transponder carried by a user and utilized for communicating with said vehicle based transponder;

a switch device coupled to one of said controller and said vehicle-based transceiver, said switch device for actuating said vehicle-based transceiver to transmit a challenge signal to said portable transponder;

a drive train mechanism coupled to said switch device for closing said switch device;

a door handle coupled to the door for actuation by a user, said door handle being movable within a predetermined distance including a switch-triggering distance and an unlatching distance that is greater than and inclusive of said switch-triggering distance, said switch-triggering distance for triggering said switch device and actuating said controller for determining whether said user is authorized to enter the vehicle, said unlatching distance for providing access to the vehicle;

a locking mechanism coupled to and actuated by said controller, said locking mechanism for unlocking said door when said controller determines that said user is an authorized entity and before said door handle has moved by said unlatching distance; and

a damping mechanism coupled to one of said door handle and said drive train mechanism for slowing movement of one of said door handle and said drive train mechanism.

13. The passive entry system recited in claim 12 wherein said switch-triggering distance is substantially less than said unlatching distance.

16. A passively-actuated vehicle system comprising:

a controller;

a vehicle-based transceiver coupled to said controller;

a portable transponder carried by a user and utilized for communicating with said vehicle based transponder;

a switch device coupled to one of said controller and said vehicle-based transceiver, said switch device for actuating said vehicle-based transceiver to transmit a challenge signal to said portable transponder;

a drive train mechanism coupled to said switch device for closing said switch device;

a door handle coupled to the door for actuation by a user, said door handle for providing access to the vehicle; and

a damping mechanism coupled to one of said door handle and said drive train mechanism for slowing movement of said door handle and said drive train mechanism.

17. The passively-actuated vehicle system recited in claim 16 wherein said door handle coupled to the door for actuation by a user, said door handle being movable within a predetermined distance including a switch-triggering distance and an unlatching distance that is greater than and inclusive of said switch-triggering distance, said switch-triggering distance for triggering said switch device and said unlatching distance for providing access to the vehicle.