ELECTRONIC VEHICLE ACCESS CONTROL SYSTEM

• US 20180128022A1
• Filed: 01/10/2018
• Published: 05/10/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 05/13/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Van Wiemeersch, John Robert, Kleve, Robert Bruce, Papanikolaou, Kosta
• Granted Patent: US 10,267,068 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 17/10 Illuminating devices on or for locks or keys; Transparent or translucent lock parts; Indicator lights
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 77/02 for accident situations
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 77/54 Automatic securing or unlocking of bolts triggered by certain vehicle parameters, e.g. exceeding a speed threshold triggered by vehicle collision E05B77/12
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/06 using rotary motors
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/14 operating on bolt detents, e.g. for unlatching the bolt
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/54 Electrical circuits for locking several wings simultaneously E05B77/48
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/64 Monitoring or sensing, e.g. by using switches or sensors
• 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 81/77 comprising sensors detecting the presence of the hand of a user
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 85/10 Handles
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 85/12 Inner door handles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/1082 Motor

Abstract

A vehicle door includes a powered latch mechanism and an interior door handle having first and second sensors disposed on opposite sides of the interior door handle. The first and second sensors are configured to detect the presence of a user'"'"'s hand to control operation of the powered latch mechanism. The powered latch may be unlatched if an unlatch switch is actuated and the first and second sensors detect the presence of a user'"'"'s hand.

Claims

1. An electronic control system for controlling vehicle access, comprising:

an electronic control system including a vehicle network operably interconnecting a programmable controller to a vehicle data system, the vehicle data system including at least one sensor configured to provide data concerning at least one vehicle operating parameter;

a plurality of electronically powered latch mechanisms that are configured to be actuated to shift from a latched configuration to an unlatched configuration upon receipt of a signal from the electronic control system;

first and second printed electronic circuit boards disposed on the interior handle, each having a plurality of electrically conductive elements;

first and second sets of capacitive electrodes disposed on the curved outer surfaces of the first and second printed electronic circuit boards, respectively, wherein the electrically conductive elements are electrically coupled to the electrodes and the electronic control system such that actuation of the first and second electrodes causes corresponding first and second signals to be transmitted to the electronic control system; and

an unlatch switch that is operably connected to the programmable controller;

an unlock switch that is operably connected to the programmable controller;

wherein the programmable controller has an internal door lock status memory, and the programmable controller is configured to set the door lock memory state to the unlocked state if the programmable controller receives a signal from the unlock switch, and wherein the programmable controller is configured to determine that a user has grasped the interior handle if any one of the first set of capacitive electrodes detect that a user'"'"'s hand is present at the same time as any one of the second set of capacitive electrodes also detects the presence of a hand, and wherein the programmable controller is configured to unlatch the powered latch mechanism when a signal from the unlatch switch is received if the door lock memory state is set to an unlocked state and the programmable controller has determined that a user'"'"'s hand is present.

2. The electronic control system of claim 1, wherein:

the capacitive electrodes generate a first voltage if a user'"'"'s hand is not present, and generate a second voltage if a user'"'"'s hand is present, and wherein the programmable controller is configured to determine if a user'"'"'s hand is present if a difference between the first and second voltages exceeds a predefined value.

3. The electronic control system of claim 2, wherein:

the programmable controller is configured to recalculate a baseline first voltage to compensate for changes in the first voltage due to changes in temperature.

4. The electronic control system of claim 1, wherein:

the programmable controller is configured to unlatch the powered latch mechanism only if the first and second sets of capacitive electrodes detect the presence of a user'"'"'s hand within a predefined time interval of actuation of the unlatch switch.

5. The electronic control system of claim 4, wherein:

the predefined time interval is three seconds.

6. The electronic control system of claim 1, wherein:

the programmable controller is configured to unlatch the powered latch when a vehicle speed is above a predefined vehicle speed only if the first and second sets of capacitive sensors simultaneously detect the presence of a user'"'"'s hand, and the unlatch switch is actuated twice within a predefined time interval.

7. The electronic control system of claim 1, wherein:

the first and second sets of capacitive electrodes comprise elongated sensors extending along opposite sides of the interior handle;

the programmable controller is configured to determine that a potential crash event has occurred if all of the capacitive electrodes simultaneously detect a user'"'"'s hand, and wherein, if a potential crash event is detected, the programmable controller only unlatches the powered latch if the unlatch switch is actuated twice within a predefined time interval.

8. The electronic control system of claim 1, including:

an acceleration sensor configured to measure lateral acceleration of a vehicle; and

wherein;

the programmable controller does not unlatch the powered latch if the acceleration sensor detects lateral acceleration above a predefined magnitude unless the unlatch switch is actuated twice within a predefined time.

9. The electronic control system of claim 1, wherein:

the interior handle includes a force sensor that detects a force applied to the handle by a user;

the programmable controller does not unlatch the powered latch unless the first and second sensors detect the presence of a user'"'"'s hand, the unlatch switch is actuated, and the force sensor detects a force exceeding a predefined magnitude.

10. The electronic control system of claim 1, wherein:

the programmable controller shifts from the unlocked state to the locked state if the second set of capacitive electrodes detect the presence of a user'"'"'s hand while the first set of capacitive electrodes simultaneously do not detect the presence of a user'"'"'s hand.

11. The electronic control system of claim 1, wherein:

the first and second electronic circuit boards include curved outer surfaces facing in opposite directions.

12. A vehicle door, comprising;

a door structure having a manually actuated switch on an interior side thereof;

an interior door handle having capacitive sensors disposed on opposite sides thereof;

;

a powered latch; and

a controller configured to unlatch the powered latch if the capacitive sensors detect a user'"'"'s hand on the opposite sides of the handle and the switch is actuated with a predefined time interval of the sensors detecting a user'"'"'s hand.

13. The vehicle door of claim 12, wherein:

the interior door handle includes first and second opposite ends that are secured to the door structure and a central portion that is spaced apart from the door structure to define a gap that, in use, receives a portion of a user'"'"'s hand.

14. The vehicle door of claim 12, wherein:

the manually actuated switch comprises a pushbutton switch that faces away from the door structure.

15. A method of controlling a powered door latch of a vehicle, the method comprising;

providing a door structure having an interior handle and a powered latch configured to selectively retain the door in a closed position;

providing capacitive sensors on opposite sides of the interior handle;

unlatching the powered latch only if the capacitive sensors on opposite sides of the handle detect a user'"'"'s hand.

16. The method of claim 15, including:

providing a switch; and

wherein;

the powered latch is unlatched only if the switch is actuated within a predefined time interval of detection of a user'"'"'s hand by the sensors.