Keyless Entry Assembly Having Capacitance Sensor Operative for Detecting Objects
First Claim
1. A keyless entry assembly comprising:
- a carrier with an electrical conductor thereon, wherein the carrier is mountable to a user accessible portion of a vehicle, wherein the conductor capacitively couples to an electrically conductive object proximal to the conductor while the conductor is driven with an electrical charge such that capacitance of the conductor changes due to the conductor capacitively coupling with the object; and
a controller operable for driving the conductor with the electrical charge, measuring the capacitance of the conductor to determine whether an electrically conductive object is proximal to the conductor, and controlling a vehicle operation as a function of an electrically conductive object being proximal to the conductor.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A keyless entry assembly includes a carrier with an electrical conductor thereon, a light pipe having an indicator, and a controller. The light pipe is connected to the carrier such that the indicator and conductor are in alignment. The light pipe is operable for receiving light to illuminate the indicator. The carrier with the light pipe connected thereto is mountable to a user accessible portion of a vehicle. The conductor capacitively couples to an electrically conductive object proximal to the conductor while the conductor is driven with an electrical charge such that capacitance of the conductor changes due to the conductor capacitively coupling with the object. The controller is operable for driving the conductor with the electrical charge, measuring the conductor capacitance to determine whether an electrically conductive object is proximal to the conductor, and controlling a vehicle operation as a function of the object being proximal to the conductor.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A keyless entry assembly comprising:
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a carrier with an electrical conductor thereon, wherein the carrier is mountable to a user accessible portion of a vehicle, wherein the conductor capacitively couples to an electrically conductive object proximal to the conductor while the conductor is driven with an electrical charge such that capacitance of the conductor changes due to the conductor capacitively coupling with the object; and a controller operable for driving the conductor with the electrical charge, measuring the capacitance of the conductor to determine whether an electrically conductive object is proximal to the conductor, and controlling a vehicle operation as a function of an electrically conductive object being proximal to the conductor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A keyless entry assembly comprising:
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a carrier with an electrical conductor thereon; a light pipe having an indicator, the light pipe connected to the carrier such that the indicator is in alignment with the conductor, the light pipe being operable for receiving light to thereby illuminate the indicator; wherein the carrier with the light pipe connected thereto is mountable to a user accessible portion of a vehicle, wherein the conductor capacitively couples to an electrically conductive object proximal to the conductor while the conductor is driven with an electrical charge such that capacitance of the conductor changes due to the conductor capacitively coupling with the object; and a controller operable for driving the conductor with the electrical charge, measuring the capacitance of the conductor to determine whether an electrically conductive object is proximal to the conductor, and controlling a vehicle operation as a function of an electrically conductive object being proximal to the conductor.
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21. A keyless entry assembly comprising:
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a light pipe having an electrical conductor and an indicator in alignment with one another, the light pipe being operable for receiving light to thereby illuminate the indicator; wherein the light pipe is mountable to a user accessible portion of a vehicle, wherein the conductor capacitively couples to an electrically conductive object proximal to the conductor while the conductor is driven with an electrical charge such that capacitance of the conductor changes due to the conductor capacitively coupling with the object; and a controller operable for driving the conductor with the electrical charge, measuring the capacitance of the conductor to determine whether an electrically conductive object is proximal to the conductor, and controlling a vehicle operation as a function of an electrically conductive object being proximal to the conductor. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23)
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24. A keyless entry assembly comprising:
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a sealed housing having a conductor and a controller, the sealed housing attachable to a window of a vehicle door, the controller for driving the conductor with an electrical charge; and a harness within a protective covering attachable between the controller within the sealed housing and a frame of the vehicle door.
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Specification