Assembly Module for a Motor Vehicle

• US 20170174179A1
• Filed: 01/07/2015
• Published: 06/22/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2014
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Huf Hulsbeck & Furst GmbH & Co. KG
• Original Assignee: Huf Hulsbeck & Furst GmbH & Co. KG
• Inventors: HELLER, Norbert, MLLER, Oliver, STICHERLING, Nadine, ZIEGLER, Alexander, MALABO YOMKIL, Jean, MNIG, Stefan, LINDIC, Iko, HACHE, Christof, SCHUMACHER, Helmut, SCHINDLER, Mirko, ETTE, Bernd
• Application Number:
  US15/115,523
• Publication Number:
  US 20170174179A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60D 1/42 for being adjustable
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/0231 Circuits relating to the driving or the functioning of the vehicle monitoring tyres B60C23/00; indicating overspeed B60K31/00; for dash boards B60K37/00, B60Q3/10; for indicating emergencies B60Q1/52; brake control systems B60T; registering or indicating the working of vehicles G07C5/00; measuring distance G01C, e.g. combinations of speed and distance G01C23/00; engine indicators G01L; measuring speed or acceleration G01P
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/037 for occupant comfort , e.g. for automatic adjustment of appliances according to personal settings, e.g. seats, mirrors, steering wheel
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/01 operating on vehicle systems or fittings, e.g. on doors, seats or windscreens
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/1004 Alarm systems characterised by the type of sensor, e.g. current sensing means using door lock sensors B60R25/1001
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/24 using electronic identifiers containing a code not memorised by the user
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/73 responsive to movement or presence of persons or objects
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 2015/765 using optical sensors using photoelectric cells E05F15/74
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/531 Doors
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/534 Fuel lids
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/536 Hoods
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/546 Tailgates
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/55 Windows
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00507 keyless data carrier having more than one function
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2209/64 using a proximity sensor
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00309 operated with bidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks

Abstract

The invention relates to an assembly module (20) for a motor vehicle (1), comprising an optical sensor system (30) which can be used a) to monitor a detection area (150) on the outside of the motor vehicle (1) in order to determine the proximity of a user (10), b) to emit a flash of laser light within the detection area (150), c) to detect a reflection of the flash of laser light (122) from the user (10) and d) to release a signal for carrying out an action on the motor vehicle (1) in the event a user (10) is detected in a predefined actuation area (180) within the detection area (150).

Claims

1-19. -19. (canceled)

20. An assembly module for a motor vehicle with an optical sensor system that is suitable for

a) monitoring a detection area located outside the motor vehicle in order to detect the proximity of a user,

b) emitting a laser light flash within the detection area,

c) detecting a reflection of the laser light flash by the user, and

d) triggering a signal for carrying out an action on the motor vehicle in case the user is detected in a predefined actuation area within the detection area.

21. The assembly module according to claim 20,

wherein

the optical sensor system is designed for triggering a signal for starting an authentication check between an ID transmitter and an access control system of the motor vehicle if the user is detected in the detection area and for only carrying out steps b) through d) if the authentication result is positive.

22. The assembly module according to claim 20,

wherein

the optical sensor system is designed for inhibiting steps b) through d) if no user has been detected in the detection area.

23. The assembly module according to claim 20,

wherein

the optical sensor system features an emitter unit for the emission of the laser light flash with a wavelength in the infrared range, particularly with a wavelength in the range of 905 nm +−

about 10 nm.

24. The assembly module according to claim 20,

wherein

the optical sensor system features at least one optical filter, particularly an infrared filter, for at least optically filtering out the emitted laser light flash or the reflection of the laser light flash.

25. The assembly module according to claim 20,

wherein

the optical sensor system features at least one polarizer for at least polarizing the emitted laser light flash or the reflection of the laser light flash.

26. The assembly module according to claim 20,

wherein

the optical sensor system features an optical system for broadening the Gaussian distribution of the intensity of the emitted laser light flash in order to supply the boundaries of the detection area with sufficiently high intensity.

27. The assembly module according to claim 20,

wherein

the optical sensor system has a cylindrical or essentially cylindrical structural shape.

28. The assembly module according to claim 20,

wherein

the optical sensor system is designed for a superposition, particularly a complete superposition, of at least the detection area or the actuation area with the emitted laser light flash.

29. The assembly module according to claim 20,

wherein

the optical sensor system features a control device with an emitter unit for the emission of the laser light flash, wherein the emitter unit is aligned such that its emitting direction is acutely angled relative to the horizontal line, particularly with an angle greater than about 30°

.

30. The assembly module according to claim 20,

wherein

the optical sensor system features a control device for determining the distance of the user from the optical sensor system by evaluating the time difference between the emission of the laser light flash and the detection of the reflection of the laser light flash by the user.

31. The assembly module according to claim 20,

wherein

the signal is triggered in order to carry out at least one of the following actions on the motor vehicle:

at least opening or closing the tailgate of the motor vehicle

at least opening or closing a sliding door of the motor vehicle

at least opening or closing a side door of the motor vehicle

at least opening or closing a window of the motor vehicle

at least opening or closing the engine hood of the motor vehicle

at least opening or closing the fuel tank cap of the motor vehicle

at least activating or deactivating an auxiliary heating system of the motor vehicle

at least activating or deactivating a window heating system of the motor vehicle

at least activating or deactivating a light function of the motor vehicle

at least folding in or folding out the side mirrors of the motor vehicle

at least activating or deactivating an alarm system of the motor vehicle

adjusting a user-specific setting in the motor vehicle, particularly the setting of the driver'"'"'s seat

at least retracting or extending a trailer hitch.

32. The assembly module according to claim 20,

wherein

the optical sensor system features a control device with a detection unit for carrying out step a), an emitter unit for carrying out step b), a receiver unit for carrying out step c) and an evaluation unit for carrying out step d).

33. The assembly module according to claim 20,

wherein

the emitter unit features at least one laser light source for the emission of the laser light flash, particularly for the successive pulsed emission of a plurality of laser light flashes.

34. The assembly module according to claim 33,

wherein

the at least one laser light source is arranged adjacent to the receiver unit.

35. The assembly module according to claim 20,

wherein

the emitter unit is designed for emitting the laser light flash along at least two emitting directions that meet in a focal point arranged within the detection area, particularly within the actuation area.

36. The assembly module according to claim 20,

wherein

the laser light flash is emitted into the actuation area that is smaller than the detection area and realized within the detection area.

37. A method for triggering a signal in order to carry out an action on a motor vehicle, wherein said method features the following steps:

a) monitoring a detection area located outside the motor vehicle in order to detect the proximity of a user

b) emitting a laser light flash within the detection area,

c) detecting a reflection of the laser light flash by the user, and

d) triggering a signal for carrying out an action on the motor vehicle in case the user is detected in a predefined actuation area within the detection area.

38. The method according to claim 37,

wherein

it is intended for the operation of an assembly module for a motor vehicle with an optical sensor system that is suitable for

a) monitoring a detection area located outside the motor vehicle in order to detect the proximity of a user,

b) emitting a laser light flash within the detection area,

c) detecting a reflection of the laser light flash by the user, and

d) triggering a signal for carrying out an action on the motor vehicle in case the user is detected in a predefined actuation area within the detection area.