Self-compensating motion detector

• US 20070080049A1
• Filed: 10/06/2005
• Published: 04/12/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/06/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Strattec Security Corporation
• Original Assignee: Strattec Security Corporation
• Inventors: Esser, Erik, Janssen, David, Dimig, Steven
• Granted Patent: US 7,501,595 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 200/61.730
• 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 85/01 Mechanical arrangements specially adapted for hands-free locking or unlocking handles with means for initiation of a hands-free locking or unlocking process E05B81/78

Abstract

Apparatus and method for activating a passive entry system. The motion detector can include a latch input lever, a switch, and a damper. The damper can provide more resistance to the latch input lever in order to transfer motion to the switch in response to fast movement of the door handle. In some embodiments, the motion detector can include a switch actuator, a notched lever, and a switch. Movement of the notched lever can cause the switch actuator to contact the switch. In other embodiments, the motion detector can include a switch actuator, a notched lever, and a magnetic sensor switch. The magnetic sensor switch can include a magnetic switch member that moves in response to a second end of the switch actuator in order to complete a circuit to the passive entry system.

Claims

1. A motion detector coupled to a door latch and a door handle of a vehicle, the vehicle including a passive entry system, the motion detector comprising:

a latch input lever coupled to the door handle;

a switch connected to the passive entry system, the switch including a switch actuator; and

a damper including an input side coupled to the latch input lever and an output side proximate the switch actuator, the rotary damper providing more resistance in order to transfer motion from the input side to the output side in response to fast movement of the door handle, the rotary damper providing less resistance in order to not transfer motion from the input side to the output side in response to slow movement of the door handle.

2. The motion detector of claim 1 wherein the damper is one of a rotary damper and a linear damper.

3. The motion detector of claim 1 wherein the switch changes between a non- actuated state and an actuated state in response to fast movement of the door handle regardless of an initial position of the latch input lever.

4. The motion detector of claim 1 wherein the rotary damper is at least partially constructed of silicone.

5. The motion detector of claim 1 wherein the output side is rotatable about a pivot if the input side rotates with a sufficient velocity in response to fast movement of the door handle.

6. The motion detector of claim 1 wherein the output side includes a cam surface that rotates with movement of the output side to a position where the cam surface contacts the switch actuator.

7. The motion detector of claim 1 wherein rotary motion of the output side causes contacts on the switch to move and changes a state of the switch.

8. The motion detector of claim 6 and further comprising a torsion spring that causes the cam surface to rotate away from the switch changing a state of the switch.

9. The motion detector of claim 1 and further comprising a linkage coupled between the door handle and the latch input lever.

10. The motion detector of claim 1 wherein the switch wakes the passive entry system.

11. The motion detector of claim 1 and further comprising a vehicle control circuit connected to the switch.

12. A method of activating a passive entry system, the method comprising:

moving a door handle at one of a first fast rate and a second slow rate;

moving a latch input lever in response to movement of the door handle;

providing more resistance to the latch input lever in response to the first fast rate;

transferring motion from the door handle to the latch input lever and to a switch actuator in response to the first fast rate; and

actuating a switch in order to activate the passive entry system in response to movement of the switch actuator.

13. The method of claim 12 and further comprising providing more resistance to the latch input lever using a damper including an input side coupled to the latch input lever and an output side proximate the switch actuator.

14. The method of claim 13 and further comprising rotating the output side of the damper about a pivot if the input side rotates with a sufficient velocity in response to the first fast rate.

15. The method of claim 13 and further comprising providing a damper including an output side with a cam surface that rotates with movement of the input side to a position where the cam surface contacts the switch actuator.

16. The method of claim 13 and further comprising rotating the output side to cause contacts on the switch to close and change a state of the switch.

17. The method of claim 15 and further comprising providing a torsion spring that causes the cam surface to rotate away from the switch changing a state of the switch.

18. The method of claim 12 and further comprising providing less resistance to the latch input lever in response to the second slow rate and not transferring motion from the latch input lever to the switch actuator in response to the second slow rate.

19. The method of claim 12 and further comprising changing a state of the switch in response to the first fast rate regardless of an initial position of the latch input lever.

20. The method of claim 12 and further comprising providing a linkage between the door handle and the latch input lever.

21. The method of claim 12 and further comprising waking up the passive entry system by actuating the switch.

22. The method of claim 12 and further comprising connecting a vehicle control circuit to the switch.

23. A motion detector coupled to a door latch and a door handle of a vehicle, the vehicle including a passive entry system, the motion detector comprising:

a switch actuator having a first end and a second end;

a notched lever coupled to the door handle, the notched lever at least partially receiving the first end of the switch actuator; and

a switch connected to the passive entry system, the switch positioned adjacent to the second end of the switch actuator, movement of the notched lever causing the switch actuator to contact the switch.

24. The motion detector of claim 23 wherein the switch changes states in response to movement of the door handle at a first fast rate regardless of an initial position of the notched lever.

25. The motion detector of claim 23 and further comprising a pivot upon which the switch actuator rotates.

26. The motion detector of claim 23 wherein the first end of the switch actuator includes a projection that engages the notched lever.

27. The motion detector of claim 23 wherein the switch wakes the passive entry system.

28. The motion detector of claim 23 wherein movement of the door handle at a first fast rate causes the switch to activate the passive entry system, and wherein movement of the door handle at a second slow rate does not cause the switch to activate the passive entry system.

29. The motion detector of claim 23 and further comprising a vehicle control circuit connected to the switch.

30. A method of activating a passive entry system, the method comprising:

moving a door handle at one of a first fast rate and a second slow rate;

moving a notched lever in response to movement of the door handle;

moving a switch actuator in response to movement of the notched lever; and

actuating a switch in response to movement of the switch actuator in order to activate the passive entry system in response to the first fast rate of the door handle.

31. The method of claim 30 and further comprising changing a state of the switch in response to the first fast rate regardless of an initial position of the notched lever.

32. The method of claim 30 and further comprising rotating the switch actuator about a pivot.

33. The method of claim 30 and further comprising providing a switch actuator with a projection that engages the notched lever.

34. The method of claim 30 and further comprising waking the passive entry system by actuating the switch.

35. The method of claim 30 and further comprising not waking the passive entry system in response to the second slow rate of the door handle.

36. The method of claim 30 and further comprising connecting a vehicle control circuit to the switch.

37. A motion detector coupled to a door latch and a door handle of a vehicle, the vehicle including a passive entry system, the motion detector comprising:

a switch actuator having a first projection end and a second end;

a notched lever coupled to the door handle, the notched lever at least partially receiving the first projection end of the switch actuator; and

a magnetic sensor switch positioned adjacent to the second end of the switch actuator, the magnetic sensor switch including a magnetic switch member that moves in response to the second magnetic end in order to complete a circuit to the passive entry system.

38. The motion detector of claim 37 wherein the magnetic sensor switch completes the circuit to the passive entry system in response to movement of the door handle at a first fast rate regardless of an initial position of the notched lever.

39. The motion detector of claim 37 and further comprising a pivot upon which the switch actuator rotates.

40. The motion detector of claim 37 wherein the magnetic sensor switch wakes the passive entry system.

41. The motion detector of claim 37 wherein movement of the door handle at a first fast rate causes the magnetic sensor switch to activate the passive entry system and wherein movement of the door handle at a second slow rate does not cause the magnetic sensor switch to activate the passive entry system.

42. The motion detector of claim 37 and further comprising a vehicle control circuit connected to the magnetic sensor switch.

43. The motion detector of claim 37 wherein the magnetic sensor switch includes a case and a conductive member.

44. The motion detector of claim 37 wherein the second end is constructed of one of a magnetic material and a ferrous material.

45. A motion detector coupled to a door latch and a door handle of a vehicle, the vehicle including a passive entry system, the motion detector comprising:

a switch actuator having a first end and a second end;

a lever coupled to the door handle, the lever engaging the first end of the switch actuator; and

a proximity switch positioned adjacent to the second end of the switch actuator, the proximity switch changing state in response to the second end in order to complete a circuit to the passive entry system.

46. The motion detector of claim 45 wherein the proximity switch completes the circuit to the passive entry system in response to movement of the door handle at a first fast rate regardless of an initial position of the lever.

47. The motion detector of claim 45 and further comprising a pivot upon which the switch actuator rotates.

48. The motion detector of claim 45 wherein the proximity switch wakes the passive entry system.

49. The motion detector of claim 45 wherein movement of the door handle at a first fast rate causes the proximity switch to activate the passive entry system and wherein movement of the door handle at a second slow rate does not cause the proximity switch to activate the passive entry system.

50. The motion detector of claim 45 and further comprising a vehicle control circuit connected to the proximity switch.

51. The motion detector of claim 45 wherein the proximity switch includes at least one of a magnetic sensor switch, a Hall-effect sensor, a reed switch, a photo interrupter, and an optical sensor.

52. A method of activating a passive entry system, the method comprising:

moving a door handle;

moving a notched lever in response to movement of the door handle;

moving a switch actuator in response to movement of the notched lever, the switch actuator having a first projection end and a second end, the notched lever at least partially receiving the first projection end;

positioning a magnetic sensor switch adjacent to the second end of the switch actuator; and

moving a magnetic switch member of the magnetic sensor switch in response to movement of the second end in order to complete a circuit to the passive entry system.

53. The method of claim 52 and further comprising completing the circuit to the passive entry system in response to a first fast rate of the door handle regardless of an initial position of the notched lever.

54. The method of claim 52 and further comprising rotating the switch actuator about a pivot.

55. The method of claim 52 and further comprising waking the passive entry system.

56. The method of claim 53 and further comprising not completing the circuit to the passive entry system in response to a second slow rate of the door handle.

57. The method of claim 52 and further comprising connecting a vehicle control circuit to the magnetic switch member.

58. A motion detector coupled to a door latch and a door handle of a vehicle, the vehicle including a passive entry system, the motion detector comprising:

a lever coupled to the door handle; and

a proximity switch positioned adjacent to the lever, the proximity switch changing state in response to movement of the lever in order to complete a circuit to the passive entry system.

59. The motion detector of claim 58 wherein the proximity switch completes the circuit to the passive entry system in response to movement of the door handle regardless of an initial position of the lever.

60. The motion detector of claim 58 wherein the proximity switch wakes the passive entry system.

61. The motion detector of claim 58 wherein movement of the door handle at a first fast rate causes the proximity switch to activate the passive entry system and wherein movement of the door handle at a second slow rate does not cause the proximity switch to activate the passive entry system.

62. The motion detector of claim 58 and further comprising a vehicle control circuit connected to the proximity switch.

63. The motion detector of claim 58 wherein the proximity switch includes at least one of a magnetic sensor switch, a Hall-effect sensor, a reed switch, a photo interrupter, and an optical sensor.

64. The motion detector of claim 58 wherein the lever includes a plurality of notches.

65. A method of activating a passive entry system, the method comprising:

moving a door handle;

moving a lever in response to movement of the door handle;

positioning a proximity switch adjacent to the lever; and

changing a state of the proximity switch in response to movement of the lever in order to complete a circuit to the passive entry system.

66. The method of claim 65 and further comprising completing the circuit to the passive entry system in response to a first fast rate of the door handle regardless of an initial position of the lever.

67. The method of claim 65 and further comprising waking the passive entry system.

68. The method of claim 65 and further comprising not completing the circuit to the passive entry system in response to a second slow rate of the door handle.

69. The method of claim 65 and further comprising connecting a vehicle control circuit to the proximity switch.