Vehicle proximity door opener

• US 6,856,239 B1
• Filed: 11/18/2002
• Issued: 02/15/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/18/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lear Corporation
• Original Assignee: Lear Corporation
• Inventors: Hicks, Thomas S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Horabik, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): SHIMIZU, MATSUICHIRO
• Application Number:
  US10/298,884
• Time in Patent Office: 820 Days
• Field of Search: 340/825.72, 340/825.69, 340/435, 340/426, 340/5.7, 340/425.5, 49/25, 493/60, 49/28, 49/32, 492/14, 491/39, 492/13, 296/155, 296/146.4, 307/10.1, 307/10.2, 702/56, 180/289, 292/144, 318/286, 318/280, 318/282
• US Class Current: 340/5.7
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/2036 by using the door logic and door and engine unlock means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/24 using electronic identifiers containing a code not memorised by the user
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00793 by Hertzian waves
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2209/65 using means for sensing the user's hand
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00182 operated with unidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00309 operated with bidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks

Abstract

In a vehicle having a door, the door having a closed position, a partially open position, and a fully open position, a system for proximity opening of the door includes a remote transmitter, a controller, an actuator, and a switch. The remote transmitter may be for transmitting a wireless first vehicle access signal. The controller may be for receiving the wireless first vehicle access signal and generating a control signal in response thereto. The actuator may be in communication with the controller, the actuator operative to move the door from the closed position to the partially open position in response to the control signal. The switch may be on the door, the switch exposed by movement of the door from the closed position to the partially open position and configured to present a second vehicle access signal when manually activated, the second vehicle access signal for use in moving the door from the partially open position to the fully open position.

Claims

1. In a vehicle having a door, the door having a closed position, a partially open position, and a fully open position, a system for proximity opening of the door comprising:

a remote transmitter for transmitting a wireless first vehicle access signal;

a controller for receiving the wireless first vehicle access signal and generating a control signal in response thereto;

an actuator in communication with the controller, the actuator operative to move the door from the closed position to the partially open position in response to the control signal; and

a switch on the door, the switch exposed by movement of the door from the closed position to the partially open position and configured to present a second vehicle access signal when manually activated, the second vehicle access signal for use in moving the door from the partially open position to the fully open position.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprising a second switch disposed interior to the vehicle and configured to present a third vehicle access signal when manually activated, the third vehicle access signal for use in moving the door from the closed position to the fully open position.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the switch is provided in communication with the controller, the controller generates a second control signal in response to the second vehicle access signal, and the actuator is operative to move the door from the partially open position to the fully open position in response to the second control signal.

4. The system of claim 2 wherein the second switch is provided in communication with the controller, the controller generates a third control signal in response to the third vehicle access signal, and the actuator is operative to move the door from the closed position to the fully open position in response to the third control signal.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the door includes a handle exposed by movement of the door from the closed position to the partially open position, the handle for use in manually moving the door from the partially open position to the fully open position.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the door is attached to the vehicle by a hinge and swings between the closed, partially open, and fully open positions.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the closed position comprises a primary latched position.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the partially open position comprises a secondary latched position.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the transmitter passively transmits the wireless first vehicle access signal.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein the transmitter transmits the wireless first vehicle access signal in response to manual activation.

11. In a vehicle having a door, the door having a closed position, a partially open, position, and a fully open position, a method for proximity opening of the door comprising:

receiving a remote wireless first vehicle access signal;

generating a control signal in response to the wireless first vehicle access signal;

moving the door from the closed position to the partially open position in response to the control signal; and

generating a second vehicle access signal in response to manual activation of a switch on the door exposed by movement of the door from the closed position to the partially open position, the second vehicle access signal for use in moving the door from the partially open position to the fully open position.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising generating a third vehicle access signal in response to manual activation of a second switch disposed interior to the vehicle, the third vehicle access signal for use in moving the door from the closed position to the fully open position.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein the switch is provided in communication with a controller, the controller generates a second control signal in response to the second vehicle access signal, and an actuator in communication with the controller is operative to move the door from the partially open position to the fully open position in response to the second control signal.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein the second switch is provided in communication with a controller, the controller generates a third control signal in response to the third vehicle access signal, and an actuator in communication with the controller is operative to move the door from the closed position to the fully open position in response to the third control signal.

15. The method of claim 11 wherein the door includes a handle exposed by movement of the door from the closed position to the partially open position, the handle for use in manually moving the door from the partially open position to the fully open position.

16. The method of claim 11 wherein the door is attached to the vehicle by a hinge and swings between the closed, partially open, and fully open positions.

17. The method of claim 11 wherein the closed position comprises a primary latched position.

18. The method of claim 11 wherein the partially open position comprises a secondary latched position.

19. The method of claim 11 wherein the remote wireless first vehicle access signal is transmitted passively.

20. The method of claim 11 wherein the remote wireless first vehicle access signal is transmitted actively.