Vehicle Keyless Entry Assembly Having Capacitance Sensor Operative for Detecting Objects
First Claim
1. An assembly for a vehicle, the assembly comprising:
- a sensor carrier;
a sensor in the form of an electrically conductive pad, wherein the sensor is mounted to the sensor carrier and the sensor carrier is positioned adjacent a panel such that the sensor is adjacent the panel, wherein the sensor capacitively couples to an electrically conductive object proximal to the panel while the sensor is driven with electrical charge such that capacitance of the sensor changes due to the sensor capacitively coupling with the object; and
a controller operable for driving the sensor with the electrical charge and controlling a vehicle operation as a function of the capacitance of the sensor.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A keyless entry assembly for a vehicle includes a sensor carrier, a sensor in the form of an electrically conductive pad, and a controller. The sensor is mounted to the sensor carrier and the sensor carrier is positioned adjacent a panel such that the sensor is adjacent the panel. The sensor capacitively couples to an electrically conductive object proximal to the panel while the sensor is driven with electrical charge such that capacitance of the sensor changes due to the sensor capacitively coupling with the object. The controller is operable for driving the sensor with the electrical charge and controlling a vehicle operation as a function of the capacitance of the sensor.
70 Citations
24 Claims
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1. An assembly for a vehicle, the assembly comprising:
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a sensor carrier; a sensor in the form of an electrically conductive pad, wherein the sensor is mounted to the sensor carrier and the sensor carrier is positioned adjacent a panel such that the sensor is adjacent the panel, wherein the sensor capacitively couples to an electrically conductive object proximal to the panel while the sensor is driven with electrical charge such that capacitance of the sensor changes due to the sensor capacitively coupling with the object; and a controller operable for driving the sensor with the electrical charge and controlling a vehicle operation as a function of the capacitance of the sensor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An assembly for a vehicle, the assembly comprising:
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a side-view minor having a mirror surface and an opposed undersurface; a sensor carrier; a sensor in the form of an electrically conductive pad, wherein the sensor is mounted to the sensor carrier and the sensor carrier is positioned adjacent the undersurface of the minor such that the sensor is adjacent the mirror, wherein the sensor capacitively couples to an electrically conductive object proximal to the mirror surface while the sensor is driven with electrical charge such that capacitance of the sensor changes due to the sensor capacitively coupling with the object; and a controller operable for driving the sensor with the electrical charge and controlling a vehicle operation as a function of the capacitance of the sensor. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A mirror assembly for a vehicle, the assembly comprising:
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a side-view minor having a mirror surface and an opposed undersurface; a sensor carrier; a plurality of sensors, each sensor formed by a respective electrically conductive pad, wherein the sensors are mounted to the sensor carrier and the sensor carrier is positioned adjacent the undersurface of the minor such that the sensors are adjacent the minor, wherein each sensor capacitively couples to an electrically conductive object proximal to the sensor while the sensor is driven with electrical charge such that capacitance of the sensor changes due to the sensor capacitively coupling with the object; and a controller operable for driving the sensors with the electrical charge and controlling a vehicle operation as a function of the capacitance of the sensors. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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21. An assembly for a vehicle, the assembly comprising:
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a mirror having a minor surface and an opposed undersurface; a sensor positioned adjacent the undersurface of the mirror, wherein the sensor capacitively couples to an electrically conductive object proximal to the minor while the sensor is driven with electrical charge such that the capacitance sensed by the sensor changes due to the sensor capacitively coupling with the object; a battery for providing the electrical charge which drives the sensor; a solar cell for charging the battery; and a controller operable for driving the sensor with the electrical charge from the battery and for controlling a vehicle operation as a function of the capacitance sensed by the sensor. - View Dependent Claims (22)
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23. An assembly for a vehicle, the assembly comprising:
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a window; a sensor positioned adjacent the window, wherein the sensor capacitively couples to an electrically conductive object proximal to the window while the sensor is driven with electrical charge such that the capacitance sensed by the sensor changes due to the sensor capacitively coupling with the object; a battery for providing the electrical charge which drives the sensor; a solar cell for charging the battery; and a controller operable for driving the sensor with the electrical charge from the battery and for controlling a vehicle operation as a function of the capacitance of the sensor. - View Dependent Claims (24)
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Specification