VEHICLE DOOR ENTRY SYSTEM AND METHOD

• US 20190309563A1
• Filed: 04/10/2018
• Published: 10/10/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/10/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Salter, Stuart C., Dellock, Paul Kenneth, Johnson, Aaron Bradley, Kostrzewa, James
• Granted Patent: US 10,794,107 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/0023 the element being a sensor, e.g. distance sensor, camera
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/247 for illuminating the close surroundings of the vehicle, e.g. to facilitate entry or exit for reverse drive B60Q1/22; by opening a side door B60Q1/323
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2665 on rear-view mirrors lighting devices for vehicle interior on or for rear-view mirrors B60Q3/258
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/323 on or for doors illuminated exterior door handles B60Q1/2669; illuminated door locks E05B17/10
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/1207 with lamps; with turn indicators
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1223 with sensors or transducers
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/24 using electronic identifiers containing a code not memorised by the user
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/611 for swinging wings
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/73 responsive to movement or presence of persons or objects
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/74 using photoelectric cells
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 2015/765 using optical sensors using photoelectric cells E05F15/74
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/434 Electromotors; Details thereof
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/32 Position control, detection or monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/44 Sensors therefore E05Y2400/322, E05Y2400/33, E05Y2400/55, E05Y2400/56, E05Y2400/852 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/858 by body parts
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/531 Doors
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 8/12 using one transmitter and one receiver

Abstract

A door entry system for a vehicle is provided. The door entry system for a vehicle includes a door, an actuator, a puddle lamp generating light beam, a light sensor configured to sense reflected light from the light beam, and a controller processing a light signal generated by the light sensor and controlling activation of the actuator to open the door in response to sensing a user entering the beam of light.

Claims

1. A door entry system for a vehicle, comprising:

a door;

an actuator;

a puddle lamp generating a puddle light;

a light sensor configured to sense reflected light from the puddle light; and

a controller processing a light signal generated by the light sensor and controlling activation of the actuator to open the door in response to sensing a user entering the puddle light with a door open input command.

2. The door entry system of claim 1, wherein the controller detects distance of the user from the puddle lamp and activates the actuator further based on the distance being less than a predetermined value.

3. The door entry system of claim 2 further comprising a portable electronic device, wherein the controller determines the distance based on the electronic device.

4. The door entry system of claim 3, wherein the electronic device comprises a key fob.

5. The door entry system of claim 1, wherein the puddle lamp and the light sensor are located on a side view mirror assembly.

6. The door entry system of claim 5, wherein the puddle lamp and light sensor are mounted on a printed circuit board located within the side view mirror assembly.

7. The door entry system of claim 1, wherein the light sensor is located within a recessed tube outside of the puddle light to detect light reflected from a user.

8. The door entry system of claim 7, wherein the recessed tube is offset from the puddle lamp and angled in a direction below the puddle lamp.

9. The door entry system of claim 1, wherein the actuator comprises a motor.

10. The door entry system of claim 1, wherein the door comprises a pivoting door that pivots about a hinge assembly.

11. A vehicle door entry system, comprising:

a door;

an actuator;

a puddle lamp generating a puddle light;

a light sensor configured to sense reflected light from the puddle light; and

a controller processing a light signal generated by the light sensor and controlling activation of the actuator to open the door in response to sensing the reflected light from a user entering the puddle light with a door open command.

12. The vehicle door entry system of claim 11, wherein the puddle lamp and the light sensor are located on a side view mirror assembly.

13. The vehicle door entry system of claim 11, wherein the light sensor is located within a tube outside of the light beam to detect the reflected light reflected from a user.

14. The vehicle door entry system of claim 13, wherein the tube is offset from the puddle lamp and angled in a direction below the puddle lamp.

15. The vehicle door entry system of claim 11, wherein the door comprises a pivoting door that pivots about a hinge assembly and the actuator comprises a motor.

16. A method of opening a powered door on a vehicle, comprising:

activating a puddle lamp on the vehicle to generate a puddle light;

sensing light reflected from the puddle light by a user;

detecting a door opening input by the user based on the sensed reflected light; and

activating an actuator to open the door in response to detecting the door opening input.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising detecting distance of the user from the puddle lamp and activating the actuator further based on the distance being less than a predetermined value.

18. The method of claim 16 further comprising detecting location of a portable electronic device and determining the distance based on location of the electronic device.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the electronic device comprises a key fob.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein the step of detecting a door opening input comprises a detecting a rapid rise in the signal followed by a substantially level signal, followed by a rapid fall in the signal.