Vehicle having an automatically opening flap

• US 8,228,166 B2
• Filed: 02/23/2007
• Issued: 07/24/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/28/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
• Original Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
• Inventors: Eberhard, Siegfried
• Primary Examiner(s): SYED, NABIL H
• Application Number:
  US11/709,727
• Publication Number:
  US 20070205863A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,978 Days
• Field of Search: 340/5.72, 340/5.61, 340/426.28, 340/426.29, 340/435, 340/541, 340/522, 340/523, 340/5.62, 340/5.64, 340/12.22, 340/12.23, 340/12.24, 49/26, 49/27, 49/25, 49/28
• US Class Current: 340/5.72
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/2036 by using the door logic and door and engine unlock means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/2054 by foot gestures
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 1/1091 with a gas spring E05F1/1292 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/00 Power-operated mechanisms for wings motor-operated accessories in locks for completing closing or initiating opening of a wing E05B17/00
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/43 responsive to disruption of energy beams, e.g. light or sound
• 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 15/76 responsive to devices carried by persons or objects, e.g. magnets or reflectors E05F15/77 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/77 using wireless control
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/44 Sensors not directly associated with the wing movement
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/852 Sensors
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/858 by body parts, e.g. by feet
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2800/22 of not identical elements of the same category, e.g. combinations of not identical springs
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2800/426 against unauthorised use, e.g. keys
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/546 Tailboards, tailgates or sideboards opening upwards
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00793 by Hertzian waves
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2209/63 Comprising locating means for detecting the position of the data carrier, i.e. within the vehicle or within a certain distance from the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00309 operated with bidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks

Abstract

A vehicle, particularly a motor vehicle, has a flap, which automatically opens as a result of an opening command. The opening command takes place without a manual operation of an unlocking/locking mechanism. A proximity sensor and a control device coupled therewith are present, the control device being constructed such that it recognizes the presence of a valid access authorization device within a surrounding area and, if a valid access authorization device is recognized, as a function of the presence of an unlocking signal of the proximity sensor, activates the unlocking/locking mechanism for releasing the automatically opening flap.

Claims

1. A vehicle, comprising:

a flap operatively configured to automatically open as a result of an opening command, the opening command being generated without a manual operation of an unlocking/locking mechanism;

a first proximity sensor arranged on the vehicle;

a second proximity sensor arranged on the vehicle;

a distance detection system arranged on the vehicle, the distance detection system being operational for an area situated behind the vehicle; and

a control device operatively coupled to the unlocking/locking mechanism and the first and second proximity sensors, the control device being configured to recognize a presence of a valid access authorization device for the vehicle within a defined area surrounding the vehicle;

wherein the distance detection system is arranged separately from the control device;

wherein the distance detection system is switched on only if the valid access authorization device is recognized by the control device;

wherein the first proximity sensor is switched on only with a response from the distance detection system;

wherein the control device is further operatively configured to activate the unlocking/locking mechanism only if the first and second proximity sensors are actuated within a defined time window; and

wherein, if the valid access authorization device is recognized, a detection signal of the first proximity sensor is present, and a detection signal of the second proximity sensor is present, the control device is operatively configured to activate the unlocking/locking mechanism for releasing the automatically opening flap.

2. The vehicle according to claim 1,

wherein the second proximity sensor is switched on only with a response from the distance detection system.

3. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the control device is operatively configured such that the unlocking/locking mechanism is only activated when the vehicle is stationary or when the vehicle is stationary and the ignition is switched-off.

4. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the first proximity sensor is operatively arranged on the vehicle with an operational direction for detecting objects being directed downward in a direction of a surface on which the vehicle is located.

5. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the first and second proximity sensors are operatively arranged on the vehicle with operational directions for detecting objects being directed downward in a direction of a surface on which the vehicle is located.

6. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the first proximity sensor is arranged below a rear bumper of the vehicle or arranged on a bottom side of the rear bumper while being integrated in the bumper, an operating direction of the first proximity sensor being directed toward a surface on which the vehicle is located.

7. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the first and second proximity sensors are arranged below a rear bumper of the vehicle or arranged on a bottom side of the rear bumper while being integrated in the bumper, operating directions of the first and second proximity sensors being directed toward a surface on which the vehicle is located.

8. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the automatically opening flap is at least one of a trunk lid, a rear door, a side door, a hood, and a fuel filler flap.

12. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the control device is further operatively configured to activate the unlocking/locking mechanism only if the first and second proximity sensors are actuated in a predetermined sequence.

15. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein if the valid access authorization device is recognized, the response from the distance detection system is present, the detection signal of the first proximity sensor is present, and the detection signal of the second proximity sensor is present, the control device is operatively configured to activate the unlocking/locking mechanism for releasing the automatically opening flap.

18. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the distance detection system operates by using ultrasound or radar.

19. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the distance detection system generates the response only if a distance of a user from the distance detection system is less than a minimum distance.

9. A system for a motor vehicle having a flap that automatically opens based on an opening command, the system comprising:

an access authorization device;

a first proximity sensor;

a second proximity sensor;

a distance detection system; and

a control device, the control device being operatively configured to recognize that the access authorization device is within a defined area;

wherein the distance detection system is arranged separately from the control device;

wherein the distance detection system is switched on only if the access authorization device is recognized by the control device;

wherein the first proximity sensor is switched on only with a response from the distance detection system;

wherein the control device is further operatively configured to activate the unlocking/locking mechanism only if the first and second proximity sensors are actuated within a defined time window; and

wherein the control device is further operatively configured to activate the automatically opening flap of the vehicle when the access authorization device is recognized, a detection signal of the first proximity sensor is present, and a detection signal of the second proximity sensor is present.

13. The system according to claim 9, wherein the control device is further operatively configured to activate the unlocking/locking mechanism only if the first and second proximity sensors are actuated in a predetermined sequence.

16. The system according to claim 9, wherein the second proximity sensor is switched on only with a response from the distance detection system.

10. A method for controlling a flap of a vehicle, the flap being automatically openable as a result of an opening command, the method comprising the acts of:

recognizing, by a control device, a presence of a valid access authorization device within a defined area surrounding the vehicle;

switching on a distance detection system arranged on the vehicle when the valid access authorization device is recognized by the control device;

detecting a response of the distance detection system;

switching on a first proximity sensor arranged on the vehicle when the response from the distance detection system is detected;

detecting a detection signal of the first proximity sensor;

detecting a detection signal of a second proximity sensor arranged on the vehicle; and

activating the automatically opening flap when the valid access authorization device is recognized, the detection signal of the first proximity sensor is present, and the detection signal of the second proximity sensor is present;

wherein the distance detection system is arranged separately from the control device; and

wherein the automatically opening flap is activated only if the first and second proximity sensors are actuated within a defined time window.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the act of activating the automatically opening flap only occurs when the vehicle is stationary or when the vehicle is stationary and the ignition of the vehicle is switched-off.

14. The method according to claim 10, wherein the automatically opening flap is activated only if the first and second proximity sensors are actuated in a predetermined sequence.

17. The method according to claim 10, wherein the second proximity sensor is switched on only with a response from the distance detection system.