Vehicle Closure Release With Attached Deployable Camera

• US 20150183366A1
• Filed: 12/23/2014
• Published: 07/02/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/27/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Huf North America Automotive Parts Mfg. Corp. (Huf Hulsbeck & Furst GmbH & Co. KG)
• Original Assignee: Huf North America Automotive Parts Mfg. Corp. (Huf Hulsbeck & Furst GmbH & Co. KG)
• Inventors: Da Deppo, Lynn D., Kamal, Ehab, Bauer, Steve, Newkirk, David
• Granted Patent: US 9,873,387 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/04 Mounting of cameras operative during drive; Arrangement of controls thereof relative to the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/004 outside the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/005 Connection with the vehicle part
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0082 collapsible, e.g. for storing after use
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0085 with adjustment by rotation in their operational position
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0094 characterised by means for covering after user, e.g. boxes, shutters or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/00 Details of viewing arrangements using cameras and displays, specially adapted for use in a vehicle

Abstract

A closure release for a closure of a vehicle has a camera attached thereto. The closure release is moveable between a primary position and a secondary position. In the primary position, the camera is in a stowed position within the closure and the closure release is in accessible for user operation. In the secondary position, the closure release is moved relative to the closure such that the camera is moved into a deployed position to provide a desired field of view.

Claims

1. An apparatus for operating a closure of a vehicle, the apparatus comprising:

a closure release operable to selectively uncouple the closure from the vehicle, the closure release being movable between a primary position and a secondary position; and

a camera coupled to the closure release;

wherein the camera is stowed when the closure release is in the primary position and deployed when the closure release is in the secondary position.

2. The apparatus as in claim 1, further comprising an actuation mechanism for moving the closure release between the primary position and the secondary position along a path of travel.

3. The apparatus as in claim 2, further comprising the closure and wherein, when the closure release is in the primary position, the camera is stowed inside the closure, and when the closure release is in the secondary position, the camera provides a desired field of view.

4. The apparatus as in claim 2, wherein, along the path of travel, the camera translates relative to the closure.

5. The apparatus as in claim 2, wherein, along the path of travel, the camera rotates relative to the closure.

6. The apparatus as in claim 2, wherein the actuation mechanism is configured to operate, at least in part, in response to a signal from a mobile radio key which is assigned to the motor vehicle.

7. The apparatus as in claim 2, wherein the actuation mechanism is configured to operate, at least in part, in response to a signal from a button located in an interior of the vehicle.

8. The apparatus as in claim 2, wherein the actuation mechanism is configured to operate, at least in part, in response to a signal resulting from an operation of a gear shifting device.

9. The apparatus as in claim 8, wherein the actuation mechanism is configured to move the closure release from the primary position to the secondary position when the signal from the operation of a gear shifting device is produced in response to a user shifting the gear shifting device into reverse and wherein the actuation mechanism is configured to move the closure release from the secondary position to the primary position when the signal from the operation of a gear shifting device is produced in response to a user shifting the gear shifting device out of reverse.

10. The apparatus as in claim 1, wherein, when the camera is in the secondary position, the camera is positioned to provide a rear field of view of the vehicle.

11. The apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the closure release comprises a pivoting pad assembly having a switch thereon which is operable to actuate a latch coupling the closure to the vehicle.

12. The apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the camera is positioned on a centerline of the vehicle in both the primary position and the secondary position.

13. The apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the closure release is positioned on a centerline of the vehicle in both the primary position and the secondary position.

14. The apparatus as in claim 1, wherein both the camera and the closure release are positioned on a centerline of the vehicle in both the primary position and the secondary position.

15. The apparatus as in claim 1, in which the camera is protected from environmental debris when in the primary position.

16. A method for operating a closure of a vehicle, the method comprising:

activating an actuation mechanism for moving a closure release having a camera coupled thereto between a primary position and a secondary position;

wherein, in the primary position, the closure release is operable to selectively decouple the closure from the motor vehicle at a latch and the camera is stowed within the closure, and wherein, in the secondary position, the camera coupled to the closure release is deployed.

17. The method as in claim 16, wherein in the secondary position, the camera provides a desired field of view.

18. The method as in claim 17, wherein the field of view is a rear field of view from the vehicle.

19. The method as in claim 16, wherein both the camera and the closure release are positioned on a centerline of the vehicle in both the primary position and the secondary position.

20. The method as in claim 16, wherein the camera is protected from environmental debris when in the primary position.