CONTROLLER APPARATUS AND SENSORS FOR A VEHICLE DOOR HANDLE

• US 20130079984A1
• Filed: 09/26/2012
• Published: 03/28/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Adam S. Kilgore, Brenda Cucci, Ian Craven, Joris Aerts
• Original Assignee: Tesla Motors Incorporated (Tesla Inc.)
• Inventors: Aerts, Joris, Kilgore, Adam S., Cucci, Brenda, Craven, Ian
• Granted Patent: US 9,151,089 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/36
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 1/00 Knobs or handles for wings; Knobs, handles, or press buttons for locks or latches on wings E05B5/00, E05B7/00 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 79/06 Mounting of handles, e.g. to the wing or to the lock
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/54 Electrical circuits for locking several wings simultaneously E05B77/48
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/76 Detection of handle operation; Detection of a user approaching a handle; Electrical switching actions performed by door handles
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 85/103 creating a completely closed wing surface
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 85/107 Pop-out handles, e.g. sliding outwardly before rotation
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 85/18 a longitudinal grip part being pivoted about an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the grip part
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00944 Details of construction or manufacture
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/57 Operators with knobs or handles

Abstract

In a vehicle door assembly, controllers processes signals from an extension force sensor and a retraction force sensor to control a door handle. As a motor retracts the handle, a swing arm in the vehicle door presses against the retraction force sensor causing the handle controller to stop the motor. Pushing on the retracted handle presses the swing arm against the retraction force sensor a second time causing the controllers to operate the motor and extend the handle. As the handle extends, the swing arm presses against the extension force sensor and the handle controller stops the motor as the handle is fully extended. Subsequently, a hand pulling on the door handle presses the swing arm against the extension force sensor a second time causing the controllers to unlatch a latch holding the vehicle door shut, and thereby allow the vehicle door to open.

Claims

1. A method of controlling a door handle move into an extended position from a vehicle door, comprising:

running a motor operatively coupled to a door handle to facilitate the door handle retracting into the vehicle door;

receiving a first retraction force signal response corresponding to a first retraction force applied to a retraction force sensor as a swing arm coupled to the door handle also retracts into the vehicle door and presses against the retraction force sensor;

instructing the motor operatively coupled to the door handle to stop running when the first retraction force signal indicates the first retraction force is greater than a retraction stop threshold;

receiving a second retraction force signal response corresponding to a second retraction force applied to the retraction force sensor as a result of an inward push on the door handle and the swing arm coupled to the door handle pressing against the retraction force sensor; and

instructing the motor operatively coupled to the door handle to facilitate extending the door handle from the retracted position into an extended position from the vehicle door in response to receiving the second retraction force signal response.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first retraction force is greater than a retraction stop threshold when a planar surface of the door handle is flush with an outer surface of the vehicle door.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the first retraction force corresponds to a force imparted by a biasing member that urges the swing arm and the door handle to retract.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the second retraction force from the inward push on the door handle is greater than the first retraction force.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the second retraction force is compared with a minimum push threshold force and a minimum push pulse width to determine whether the second retraction force is from a person giving an inward push on the door handle.

6. An apparatus that controls a door handle moving into an extended position from a vehicle door, comprising:

a processor capable of executing instructions;

a memory containing instructions when executed cause the processor to run a motor operatively coupled to a door handle to facilitate the door handle retracting into the vehicle door, receive a first retraction force signal response corresponding to a first retraction force applied to a retraction force sensor as a swing arm coupled to the door handle also retracts into the vehicle door and presses against the retraction force sensor, instruct the motor operatively coupled to the door handle to stop running when the first retraction force signal indicates the first retraction force is greater than a retraction stop threshold, receive a second retraction force signal response corresponding to a second retraction force applied to the retraction force sensor as a result of an inward push on the door handle and the swing arm coupled to the door handle pressing against the retraction force sensor, and instruct the motor operatively coupled to the door handle to facilitate extending the door handle from the retracted position into an extended position from the vehicle door in response to receiving the second retraction force signal response.

7. The apparatus that controls the door handle in claim 6, wherein the first retraction force is greater than a minimum stop threshold when a planar surface of the door handle is flush with an outer surface of the vehicle door.

8. The apparatus that controls the door handle in claim 6, wherein the first retraction force corresponds to a force imparted by a biasing member that urges the swing arm and the door handle to retract.

9. The apparatus that controls the door handle in claim 6, wherein the second retraction force from the inward push on the door handle is greater than the first retraction force.

10. The apparatus that controls the door handle in claim 6 wherein the second retraction force is compared with a minimum push threshold force and a minimum push pulse width to determine whether the second retraction force is from a person giving an inward push on the door handle.

11. A method of controlling a door handle that unlatches a vehicle door, comprising:

running a motor operatively coupled to a door handle to facilitate the door handle extending from the vehicle door;

receiving a first extension force signal response corresponding to a first extension force applied to an extension force sensor as a swing arm coupled to the door handle also extends from inside the vehicle door and comes into contact with the extension force sensor;

instructing the motor operatively coupled to the door handle to stop running when the first extension force signal indicates the first extension force is greater than an extension stop threshold;

receiving a second extension force signal response corresponding to a second extension force applied to the extension force sensor as a result of a pull on the door handle and the swing arm coupled to the door handle pressing against the extension force sensor; and

instructing a latch holding the vehicle door shut to unlatch and allow the vehicle door to open in response to receiving the second extension force signal response.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the first extension force is greater than a minimum stop threshold when a planar surface of the door handle is extended from an outer surface of the vehicle door.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein the first extension force operates to overcome an opposite force imparted by a biasing member that urges the swing arm and the door handle to retract.

15. The method of claim 11 wherein the second extension force from the pull on the door handle is greater than the first extension force.

16. The method of claim 11 wherein the second extension force is compared with a minimum pull threshold force and a minimum pull pulse width to determine whether the second extension force is from a person giving a pull on the door handle.

17. An apparatus for controlling a door handle that unlatches a vehicle door, comprising:

a processor capable of executing instructions;

a memory containing instructions when executed on the processor cause the processor to,

run a motor operatively coupled to a door handle to facilitate the door handle extending from the vehicle door,

receive a first extension force signal response corresponding to a first extension force applied to an extension force sensor as a swing arm coupled to the door handle also extends from inside the vehicle door and comes into contact with the extension force sensor,

instruct the motor operatively coupled to the door handle to stop running when the first extension force signal indicates the first extension force is greater than a extension stop threshold,

receive a second extension force signal response corresponding to a second extension force applied to the extension force sensor as a result of a pull on the door handle and the swing arm coupled to the door handle pressing against the extension force sensor, and

instruct a latch holding the vehicle door shut to unlatch and allow the vehicle door to open in response to receiving the second extension force signal response.

18. The apparatus in claim 17, wherein the first extension force is greater than a minimum stop threshold when a planar surface of the door handle is extended from an outer surface of the vehicle door.

19. The apparatus in claim 17, wherein the first extension force operates to overcome an opposite force imparted by a biasing member that urges the swing arm and the door handle to retract.

20. The apparatus in claim 17, wherein the second extension force from the pull on the door handle is greater than the first extension force.

21. The apparatus in claim 17, wherein the second extension force is compared with a minimum pull threshold force and a minimum pull pulse width to determine whether the second extension force is from a person giving a pull on the door handle.