Security configuration with an inductively coupled touch sensitive keypad in or on a window pane and motor vehicle with the security configuration

• US 7,852,199 B2
• Filed: 05/15/2007
• Issued: 12/14/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH (Continental AG)
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Klement, Thomas, Desai, Tejas Bhupendra, Muller, Norbert
• Primary Examiner(s): HOFSASS, JEFFERY A
• Application Number:
  US11/803,626
• Publication Number:
  US 20070276550A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,309 Days
• Field of Search: 340/426.1, 340/5.72, 340/5.7, 340/601, 340/602, 341/32, 341/33, 257/531, 257/532, 345/173
• US Class Current: 340/426.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/23 using manual input of alphanumerical codes
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/0825 Capacitive rain sensor
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00777 by induction
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2209/64 using a proximity sensor

Abstract

A security configuration in or for a motor vehicle, which includes a bodywork part, such as a door, and a window pane arranged in the bodywork part. The security configuration includes a touch-sensitive keypad integrated in or mounted to the window pane. The keypad has a plurality of touch sensors, each of which takes the form of resonant oscillating circuits and via which an actuation of a respective touch sensor can be picked up. An electronic evaluation system is configured for the purpose of detecting an actuation of the keypad and attributing said actuation to a respectively actuated touch sensor. There is also provided a motor vehicle which includes such a security configuration.

Claims

1. A security configuration in or for a vehicle having a bodywork part and a window pane disposed in the bodywork part, the security configuration comprising:

a touch-sensitive keypad disposed in or mounted on the window pane, said keypad including a plurality of touch sensors each in the form of a resonant oscillating circuit and capable of acquiring an actuation of a respective said touch sensor; and

an electronic evaluation system configured and disposed to detect an actuation of said keypad and to attribute each actuation to a respectively actuated said touch sensor, said electronic evaluation system including at least one coil element;

at least one of said touch sensors including a passive coil region inductively coupled to said coil element at least when said one of said touch sensors is actuated; and

said one of said touch sensors being unpowered.

2. The security configuration according to claim 1, wherein said electronic evaluation system is inductively coupled to said keypad.

3. The security configuration according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said touch sensors of said keypad has an inductive part, and said electronic evaluation system includes an inductive pick-up inductively coupled to said inductive part of said touch sensor.

4. The security configuration according to claim 1, wherein said passive coil region includes a drawn-out winding disposed for inductively coupling said one of said touch sensors to said coil element of said electronic evaluation system.

5. The security configuration according to claim 1, wherein said keypad is disposed at least partially in an externally visible region of the window pane and/or a region of said touch sensors that is inductively coupled to said electronic evaluation system is disposed in a region of the window pane that is not externally visible.

6. The security configuration according to claim 1, wherein individual said touch sensors are disposed integrally within a material of the window pane.

7. The security configuration according to claim 1, wherein individual said touch sensors are applied on a surface of the window pane.

8. The security configuration according to claim 7, wherein said touch sensors are mounted to a surface of the window pane oriented toward an interior of a passenger compartment of the vehicle.

9. The security configuration according to claim 1, wherein the bodywork part is a vehicle door and the window pane is disposed to be at least partially retractable into the vehicle door.

10. The security configuration according to claim 9, wherein said electronic evaluation system is mounted at a fixed location within the vehicle door.

11. The security configuration according to claim 1, wherein said electronic evaluation system includes a program-controlled unit for evaluation, said program controlled unit forming a part of a control device of the security configuration.

12. The security configuration according to claim 11, wherein said program-controlled unit is a microcontroller or a microprocessor.

13. The security configuration according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said touch sensors includes a variable capacitive part and an inductive part connected in parallel with each other.

14. The security configuration according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said touch sensors has a spiral coil.

15. In combination with a motor vehicle, at least one security configuration according to claim 1 installed in the motor vehicle.

16. The motor vehicle according to claim 15, wherein the bodywork part is a driver-side vehicle door.

17. The motor vehicle according to claim 15, wherein the security configuration is a component part of an access authorization system and/or an ignition authorization system.

18. The motor vehicle according to claim 15, wherein the window pane is a windshield pane of the motor vehicle and/or a rear window pane of the motor vehicle.

19. The motor vehicle according to claim 18, wherein the motor vehicle is provided with a rain sensor for detecting rain falling on the windshield pane and/or the rear window pane, and said rain sensor forms a component part of the security configuration.

20. The motor vehicle according to claim 19, wherein the electronic evaluation system controls a wiper speed of a windshield wiper of the motor vehicle depending on an amount of rain detected by said rain sensor unit.