KEYLESS ENTRY SYSTEM INCORPORATING CONCEALABLE KEYPAD
First Claim
1. A keyless entry system for a door having a latch operable between a locked condition, wherein a door is prevented from opening, and an unlocked condition, wherein a door can be opened, the keyless entry system comprising:
- a handle housing pivotally mountable to a door;
a grip cover for complementary engagement with the handle housing to cooperatively define a door handle grip;
a keyless entry pad associated with the grip cover, defining a plurality of keys, each one of the plurality of keys identified with a corresponding symbol to collectively form a textual representation of at least one of a vehicle and a user of a vehicle, the plurality of keys being immovable relative to the grip cover;
a plurality of sensors, each sensor in proximity to at least one of the plurality of keys and corresponding symbol, for detecting an object in the vicinity of at least one of the plurality of keys;
an illumination source adapted for selective illumination to selectively backlight the plurality of sensors and corresponding symbols; and
a light-controlling membrane extending over at least a portion of the keyless entry pad comprising a portion of the first surface;
wherein entering a keyless entry code into the keyless entry pad by selecting keys in a predetermined sequence enables a latch to be selectively disposed in either a locked condition or an unlocked condition; and
wherein in ambient light, the light-controlling membrane renders the at least one symbol invisible, and when the illumination source backlights the at least one sensor and the at least one symbol, the light-controlling membrane renders the at least one symbol visible.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A keyless entry system has a handle housing and a grip cover defining a door handle grip, a keyless entry pad defining a plurality of keys, each identified with a corresponding symbol, a plurality of sensors in proximity to the keys for detecting an object in the vicinity of the keys, an illumination source to selectively backlight the sensors and symbols, and a light-controlling membrane extending over the keyless entry pad. Entering a keyless entry code into the keyless entry pad by selecting keys in a predetermined sequence enables a latch to be selectively disposed in either a locked condition or an unlocked condition. In ambient light, the light-controlling membrane renders the symbol invisible. When the illumination source backlights the sensor and the symbol, the light-controlling membrane renders the symbol visible.
-
Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A keyless entry system for a door having a latch operable between a locked condition, wherein a door is prevented from opening, and an unlocked condition, wherein a door can be opened, the keyless entry system comprising:
-
a handle housing pivotally mountable to a door; a grip cover for complementary engagement with the handle housing to cooperatively define a door handle grip; a keyless entry pad associated with the grip cover, defining a plurality of keys, each one of the plurality of keys identified with a corresponding symbol to collectively form a textual representation of at least one of a vehicle and a user of a vehicle, the plurality of keys being immovable relative to the grip cover; a plurality of sensors, each sensor in proximity to at least one of the plurality of keys and corresponding symbol, for detecting an object in the vicinity of at least one of the plurality of keys; an illumination source adapted for selective illumination to selectively backlight the plurality of sensors and corresponding symbols; and a light-controlling membrane extending over at least a portion of the keyless entry pad comprising a portion of the first surface; wherein entering a keyless entry code into the keyless entry pad by selecting keys in a predetermined sequence enables a latch to be selectively disposed in either a locked condition or an unlocked condition; and wherein in ambient light, the light-controlling membrane renders the at least one symbol invisible, and when the illumination source backlights the at least one sensor and the at least one symbol, the light-controlling membrane renders the at least one symbol visible. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
-
-
17. A vehicle door handle mounted to a door and coupled with a latch operable between a latched condition, wherein the door is prevented from opening, and an unlatched condition, wherein the door can be opened, the vehicle door handle comprising:
-
a grip movably mounted to the door and coupled with the latch for operating the latch between the latched and unlatched conditions, the grip having a first surface facing generally outwardly away from the door, and a second surface facing generally inwardly toward the door; a keyless entry pad associated with the grip, comprising a portion of the first surface and defining a plurality of keys, each one of the plurality of keys identified with a corresponding symbol to collectively form a textual representation of at least one of the vehicle and a user of the vehicle, the plurality of keys being immovable relative to the grip cover; a plurality of sensors, each sensor in proximity to at least one of the plurality of keys and corresponding symbol, for detecting an object in the vicinity of at least one of the plurality of keys; an illumination source adapted for selective illumination to selectively backlight the plurality of sensors and corresponding symbols; and a light-controlling membrane extending over at least a portion of the keyless entry pad comprising a portion of the first surface; wherein entering a keyless entry code into the keyless entry pad by selecting keys in a predetermined sequence enables the latch to be selectively disposed in either a locked condition or an unlocked condition; and wherein in ambient light, the light-controlling membrane renders the at least one symbol invisible, and when the illumination source backlights the at least one sensor and the at least one symbol, the light-controlling membrane renders the at least one symbol visible. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
-
Specification