Security system for a motor vehicle opening leaf equipped with switches

• US 6,765,472 B2
• Filed: 12/19/2000
• Issued: 07/20/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Valeo Securite Habitacle (Valeo SE)
• Original Assignee: Valeo Securite Habitacle (Valeo SE)
• Inventors: Suparschi, Bogdan, Eychenne, Michel
• Primary Examiner(s): Horabik, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): BROWN, VERNAL U
• Application Number:
  US09/739,303
• Publication Number:
  US 20010004233A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,309 Days
• Field of Search: 340/5.72, 340/5.62, 340/5.61, 340/5.63, 340/5.64, 340/825.72, 340/825.69, 340/10.31, 340/547, 335/153, 335/136, 335/160, 200/18, 200/42.01, 200/50.33
• US Class Current: 340/5.62
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/3029 Handgrips grips in general B29L2031/463
• 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 85/01 Mechanical arrangements specially adapted for hands-free locking or unlocking handles with means for initiation of a hands-free locking or unlocking process E05B81/78
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00309 operated with bidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks

Abstract

A security system for a motor vehicle opening leaf is provided. The security system includes a lock for maintaining an opening leaf in a closed position, a handle for operating the lock having a pivotal mobile member for grasping and a fixed support, and an interrogation device. The interrogation device triggers interrogation for authorization to permit movement of the bodywork panel between the closed position and an open position. The interrogation device includes an antenna and first and second switches built into the handle for activating an unlocking interrogation (Id) and a locking interrogation (Iv) by movement of the pivotal mobile member of the handle relative to the fixed support without requiring other mechanical actuation.

Claims

1. A security system for a motor vehicle opening leaf comprising a bodywork panel with an external face and movable between a closed position and an open position, said security system comprising:

a lock for maintaining the opening leaf in the closed position,

a handle for operating the lock, the handle arranged on the external face of the bodywork panel of the opening leaf and comprising a pivotal mobile member for grasping and a fixed support, said pivotal mobile member being movable relative to the fixed support; and

an interrogation device to trigger interrogation for authorization for permitting movement of the bodywork panel between the closed position and the open position, said interrogation device comprising an antenna and further comprising first and second switches built into said handle for activating an unlocking interrogation (Id) and a locking interrogation (Iv) by movement of said pivotal mobile member of said handle relative to said fixed support without other mechanical actuation.

2. The security system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said interrogation device further comprises at least one magnet, and wherein said first and second switches comprise first and second sensitive elements, respectively, said sensitive elements each comprising a member selected from a reed switch and a Hall effect switch for switching when said magnet occupies a predetermined position with respect to said sensitive element.

3. The security system as claimed in claim 2, wherein:

said at least one magnet and said first and second sensitive elements are carried in either said pivotal mobile member or said fixed support;

said interrogation device further comprises at least one metal screen carried in either said pivotal mobile member or said fixed support and associated with said first and second switches for insertion between said at least one magnet and a corresponding one of said first and second sensitive elements; and

relative movement of said pivotal mobile member causes one or the other of said first and second sensitive elements to switch and trigger said unlocking interrogation (Id) or said locking interrogation (Iv).

4. The security system as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said first and second switches respectively comprise first and second sensitive elements;

said interrogation device further comprises a first magnet, a second magnet, a first screen insertable selectively between said first magnet and said first sensitive element, a second screen insertable selectively between said second magnet and said second sensitive element, and a third screen inserted between said first and second magnets for preventing said first and second magnets from interacting with said second and first sensitive elements, respectively;

said first and second sensitive elements and said first and second magnets are carried in either said pivotal mobile member or said fixed support;

said pivotal mobile member rests in a rest position (Pr), in which said first screen is inserted between said first magnet and said first sensitive element and in which said second screen is inserted between said second magnet and said second sensitive element;

said pivotal mobile member is movable into an unlocking interrogation position (Pd) for triggering said unlocking interrogation (Id), in which said first screen is not inserted between said first magnet and said first sensitive element for causing said first sensitive element to switch; and

said pivotal mobile member is movable into a locking interrogation position (Pv), for triggering said locking interrogation (Iv), in which said second screen is not inserted between said second magnet and said second sensitive element for causing said second sensitive element to switch.

5. The security system as claimed in claim 4, wherein in said unlocking interrogation position said second screen remains inserted between said second magnet and said second sensitive element for preventing switching of said second sensitive element, and wherein in said locking interrogation position said first screen remains inserted between said first magnet and said first sensitive element for preventing switching of said first sensitive element.

6. The security system as claimed in claim 3, wherein:

said at least one magnet comprises a common magnet, with said first and second sensitive elements arranged one opposite sides of said common magnet;

said at least one metal screen comprises first and second screens parallel to one another, said first screen insertable selectively between said first sensitive element and said common magnet and said second screen insertable selectively between said second sensitive element and said common magnet;

said pivotal mobile member rests in a rest position (Pr), in which said first screen is inserted between said common magnet and said first sensitive element and in which said second screen is inserted between said common magnet and said second sensitive element;

said pivotal mobile member is movable into an unlocking interrogation position (Pd) for triggering said unlocking interrogation (Id), in which said first screen is not inserted between said common magnet and said first sensitive element for causing said first sensitive element to switch; and

said pivotal mobile member is movable into a locking interrogation position (Pv), for triggering said locking interrogation (Iv), in which said second screen is not inserted between said common magnet and said second sensitive element for causing said second sensitive element to switch.

7. The security system as claimed in claim 6, wherein in said unlocking interrogation position said second screen remains inserted between said common magnet and said second sensitive element for preventing switching of said second sensitive element, and wherein in said locking interrogation position said first screen remains inserted between said common magnet and said first sensitive element for preventing switching of said first sensitive element.

8. The security system as claimed in claim 6, wherein said first and second sensitive elements face one another in a path in which said pivotal mobile member travels during movement, and wherein said first and second screens are offset from said path.

9. The security system as claimed in claim 3, further comprising a switching module carrying said at least one magnet and said first and second sensitive elements.

10. The security system as claimed in claim 9, wherein:

said at least one metal screen comprises first and second screens;

said switching module comprises first and second slots;

said first slot extends between said at least one magnet and said first sensitive element for permitting said first screen to be inserted between said at least one magnet and said first sensitive element; and

said second slot extends between said at least one magnet and said second sensitive element for permitting said second screen to be inserted between said at least one magnet and said second sensitive element.

11. The security system as claim in claim 2, wherein said at least one magnet is carried by one of said pivotal mobile member and said fixed support, and wherein said first and second sensitive elements are carried by the other of said pivotal mobile member and said fixed support.

12. The security system as claimed in claim 11, wherein:

said at least one magnet comprises first and second magnets carried by said one of said pivotal mobile member and said fixed support, said first and second magnets being separated by a gap in a path of movement of said pivotal mobile member;

said first and second sensitive elements are offset from said path;

said pivotal mobile member rests in a rest position (Pr), in which said first and second sensitive elements are located facing said gap and are not switched;

said pivotal mobile member is movable into an unlocking interrogation position (Pd) for triggering said unlocking interrogation (Id), in which said first sensitive element faces said first magnet and switches, and said second sensitive element faces said gap; and

said pivotal mobile member is movable into a locking interrogation position (Pv), for triggering said locking interrogation (Iv), in which said first sensitive element faces said gap and said second sensitive element faces said second magnet and switches.

13. The security system as claimed in claim 11, wherein:

said at least one magnet comprises a common magnet;

said first and second sensitive elements are separated by a gap in a path of movement of said pivotal mobile member;

said pivotal mobile member rests in a rest position (Pr), in which said common magnet is located facing said gap and said first and second switching elements are not switched;

said pivotal mobile member is movable into an unlocking interrogation position (Pd) for triggering said unlocking interrogation (Id), in which said common magnet faces said second sensitive element which switches; and

said pivotal mobile member is movable into a locking interrogation position (Pv), for triggering said locking interrogation (Iv), in which said common magnet faces said first sensitive element which switches.

14. The security system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said pivotal mobile member is pivotal outward along an unlocking travel path and pivotal inward along a locking travel path.

15. The security system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said antenna is incorporated into said pivotal mobile member.

16. The security system as claimed in claim 2, wherein:

said antenna and said first and second sensitive elements are carried by said pivotal mobile member or by said fixed support; and

said security system further comprises a harness common to said antenna and said first and second sensitive elements.