Method and device for managing the consumption of energy of proximity sensor of a device for control of access to a motor vehicle cabin

• US 20060030973A1
• Filed: 07/22/2005
• Published: 02/09/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/23/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH (Continental AG)
• Original Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH (Continental AG)
• Inventors: Brillon, Alain
• Application Number:
  US11/186,801
• Publication Number:
  US 20060030973A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/1
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00373 whereby the wake-up circuit is situated in the lock
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00642 by battery
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2209/64 using a proximity sensor
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00309 operated with bidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks

Abstract

A method of managing the energy consumption of a proximity sensor mounted on a handle of a door of a vehicle. This sensor detects an actuation of the handle and activates a device for control of access to the vehicle. The method includes supplying the proximity sensor so as to instigate: either a mode of operation termed current, during which the proximity sensor is supplied electrically, so as to control a periodicity of measurements which is suitable for activating the access control device in a time span that is short enough, and in particular before the handle has been fully actuated, or a mode of operation termed idle, implemented after a predetermined duration of non-use of the vehicle, in which the proximity sensor is supplied electrically so as to control a periodicity of proximity measurements that is less than that of the current mode of operation.

Claims

1. A method of managing the consumption of energy of a proximity sensor (13) supplied from a motor vehicle battery and suitable for being mounted on a handle of a door for access to the cabin of said motor vehicle, with a view to detecting an actuation of said handle and of activating a device for control of access to said cabin, said method of management being characterized in that the proximity sensor (13) is supplied in such a way as to instigate:

either a mode of operation termed current, in the course of which the proximity sensor (13) is supplied electrically, so as to control a periodicity of proximity measurements which is suitable for activating the access control device in a time span, following a start of actuation of the handle, that is short enough to allow said access control device to perform an access control procedure and to possibly unlock the door before the handle has been fully actuated,

or a mode of operation termed idle, implemented after a predetermined duration of non-use of the vehicle, in the course of which the proximity sensor (13) is supplied electrically so as to control a periodicity of proximity measurements that is less than that of the current mode of operation, unsuitable, in practice, for activating the access control device in a time span, following an actuation of the handle, that is short enough to allow said access control device to perform its access control procedure and to possibly unlock the door before the handle has been fully actuated.

2. The method of management as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the proximity sensor (13) is supplied so as to obtain a ratio of the order of 1 to 100 between the periodicities of measurements of the modes of operation termed idle and current.

3. The method of management as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that, with a view to the instigation of one of the modes of operation, current or idle, the supply to the proximity sensor (13) is regulated, and consequently the periodicity of the measurements is adjusted, in a software manner in particular by using the frequency of an internal clock of a microprocessor.

4. The method of management as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that, with a view to the instigation of one of the modes of operation, current or idle, the supply to the proximity sensor (13) is regulated, and consequently the periodicity of the measurements is adjusted, in an analog manner, by varying the charging time of a capacitor (11) used so as to supply the proximity sensor (13) during the discharging thereof triggered for a predetermined charging voltage Vm.

10. The method of management as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that, with a view to the instigation of one of the modes of operation, current or idle, the supply to the proximity sensor (13) is regulated, and consequently the periodicity of the measurements is adjusted, in a software manner in particular by using the frequency of an internal clock of a microprocessor.

11. The method of management as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that, with a view to the instigation of one of the modes of operation, current or idle, the supply to the proximity sensor (13) is regulated, and consequently the periodicity of the measurements is adjusted, in an analog manner, by varying the charging time of a capacitor (11) used so as to supply the proximity sensor (13) during the discharging thereof triggered for a predetermined charging voltage Vm.

5. A device for managing the consumption of a proximity sensor (13) supplied from a motor vehicle battery and suitable for being mounted on a handle of a door for access to the cabin of said motor vehicle, with a view to detecting an actuation of said handle and of activating a device for control of access to said cabin, said management device being characterized in that it comprises:

means of electrical supply (2, 3, 4, 10, 11) of the proximity sensor (13) that are suitable for making it possible to instigate;

either a mode of operation termed current, in the course of which the proximity sensor (13) is supplied electrically, so as to control a periodicity of proximity measurements which is suitable for activating the access control device in a time span, following a start of actuation of the handle, that is short enough to allow said access control device to perform an access control procedure and to possibly unlock the door before the handle has been fully actuated,

or a mode of operation termed idle, implemented after a predetermined duration of non-use of the vehicle, in the course of which the proximity sensor (13) is supplied electrically so as to control a periodicity of proximity measurements that is less than that of the current mode of operation, unsuitable, in practice, for activating the access control device in a time span, following a start of actuation of the handle, that is short enough to allow said access control device to perform its access control procedure and to possibly unlock the door before the handle has been fully actuated,

a unit (1) for managing the means of electrical supply (2, 3, 4, 10, 11) which is able to make it possible to instigate one of the modes of operation, current or idle, of the proximity sensor (13).

6. The management device as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that the means of supply (2, 3, 4, 10, 11) of the proximity sensor (13) are suitable for obtaining a ratio of the order of 1 to 100 between the periodicities of measurements of the modes of operation termed idle and current.

7. The management device as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that the means of electrical supply of the proximity sensor (13) comprise a microprocessor incorporating an internal clock, connected to said proximity sensor and programmed, with a view to the instigation of one of the modes of operation, current or idle, so as to regulate the supply to the proximity sensor (13), and consequently to adjust the periodicity of the measurements.

8. The management device as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that the means of electrical supply (2, 3, 4, 10, 11) of the proximity sensor (13) comprise:

a capacitor (11) integrated into an RC circuit exhibiting a load resistor (4, 10) that can be adjusted between two values determining two different predetermined rates of charging of said capacitor,

means of selection (3) of the value of the load resistor (4, 10) of the capacitor (11),

and means of measurement (12) of the charging voltage Vin of the capacitor (11), which are suitable for triggering the discharging thereof and for supplying the proximity sensor (13), for a predetermined charging voltage Vin=Vm.

9. The management device as claimed in claim 8, characterized in that the load resistor consists of two resistors (4, 10) mounted in series, the means of selection of the value of said load resistor comprising a switch (3) mounted in parallel with one of said resistors.

12. The management device as claimed in claim 6, characterized in that the means of electrical supply of the proximity sensor (13) comprise a microprocessor incorporating an internal clock, connected to said proximity sensor and programmed, with a view to the instigation of one of the modes of operation, current or idle, so as to regulate the supply to the proximity sensor (13), and consequently to adjust the periodicity of the measurements.

13. The management device as claimed in claim 6, characterized in that the means of electrical supply (2, 3, 4, 10, 11) of the proximity sensor (13) comprise:

a capacitor (11) integrated into an RC circuit exhibiting a load resistor (4, 10) that can be adjusted between two values determining two different predetermined rates of charging of said capacitor,

means of selection (3) of the value of the load resistor (4, 10) of the capacitor (11),

and means of measurement (12) of the charging voltage Vin of the capacitor (11), which are suitable for triggering the discharging thereof and for supplying the proximity sensor (13), for a predetermined charging voltage Vin=Vm.