Device for detecting an event in a vehicle or in the surrounds of a vehicle

• US 8,346,467 B2
• Filed: 03/26/2007
• Issued: 01/01/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/18/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vitesco Technologies France SAS
• Original Assignee: Continental Automotive France (Continental AG)
• Inventors: Vaysse, Bertrand, Satge, Laurent, Cantie, Frédéric, Bendhia, Karim
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Khoi
• Assistant Examiner(s): OH, HARRY Y
• Application Number:
  US12/301,260
• Publication Number:
  US 20090164072A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,108 Days
• Field of Search: 701/49, 701/301, 340/5.72, 340/426.28, 340/426.36, 340/540, 340/542, 340/547, 340/562, 340/545.1
• US Class Current: 701/301
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 7/0573 power driven arrangements, e.g. electrical
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 85/10 Handles

Abstract

A roof-cleaning device for moving side windows of a convertible vehicle an appropriate distance clear of a roof hinged to the vehicle body, and capable of detecting an event in or in the surroundings of the vehicle, includes:

• • a first motion detector designed to occupy a first operational state and a second standby state,
  • and a second detector coupled to the first detector and of lower power consumption, wherein
  • I. with the first detector in the standby state, if the second detector detects an event to which it is sensitive, then the first detector switches into the operational state so that it can play a part in moving the window clear of the roof,
  • II. and if, while in this operational state, the first detector detects the presence, intervention or action of the individual, then the windows are rolled down before the door is, or can be, opened.

Claims

1. A roof-clearing device for moving side windows (21) of a convertible vehicle (1) to an appropriate distance clear of a roof (7) hinged to the body (3) of said convertible vehicle (1), said device being capable of detecting an event in the vehicle or in the surroundings of the vehicle, comprising:

a contactless magnetic motion-sensing first detector (35) configured to occupy two states;

a first operational state in which the first detector (35) initiates, or is ready to initiate, control of an operation, and

a second standby state in which an electrical power consumption of the first detector (35) is lower than an electrical power consumption of the first detector in the first operational state; and

a capacitive proximity or contact sensing second detector (37), coupled to the first detector and configured to consume less electrical power than the first detector when the first detector is in the first operational state,

each of said first detector (35) and said second detector (37) being sensitive to a presence or to an action of an individual capable of bringing about said event, the second detector (37) also being sensitive to water falling or sprayed onto the vehicle (1),

wherein, with the first detector (35) in the standby state, if the second detector (37) detects, within the surroundings of the convertible vehicle (1) an event to which the second detector (37) is sensitive, then the first detector switches into the operational state,

wherein if, while the first detector is in the operational state, the first detector (35) detects said presence, intervention or action of said individual, then the first detector, via a motor, causes the windows to be rolled down clear of the roof before the door (31) is either of opened or becomes openable, and

wherein the first detector (35) is less sensitive to water falling or sprayed onto the vehicle (1) than the second detector (37).

2. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first detector (35) is placed in the standby state either of its own accord after remaining a predetermined period of time without detecting, or via the second detector (37).

3. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first detector (35) and the second detector (37) are built into a door handle (33) of the vehicle.

4. The device as claimed in claim 1,

wherein the first detector (35) is built into a door opening/closing mechanism of the door (25), and

wherein the second detector (37) is built into a door handle (33) of the vehicle.

5. A roof-clearing device for moving a window of a side door of a vehicle clear of a roof of the vehicle, said device comprising:

a contactless, motion-sensing first detector (35), configured to occupy one of i) a high-power operational first state, and ii) a low-power standby second state in which an electrical power consumption of the first motion detector (35) is lower than a power consumption of the first detector (35) in the operational first state; and

a proximity or contact sensing second detector (37) coupled to the first detector, the second detector (37) configured to consume less power in operation than said first detector when in the operational first state,

each of said first detector (35) and said second detector (37) being operatively sensitive to at least one of a presence and an action of a user of the vehicle, the second detector (37) also being operatively sensitive to water impinging upon the vehicle (1), and the first detector (35) being less sensitive to water impinging onto the vehicle (1) than the second detector (37),

wherein, upon the second detector (37) detecting an event to which the second detector is sensitive, the first detector exits the standby second state and enters the operational first state, and

upon the first detector, in the first operational state, detecting an event to which the first detector is sensitive, the first detector causes the window, via a motor, to lower by a distance sufficient from the roof of the vehicle for the door of the vehicle to be opened.

6. The device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the first detector is a contactless magnetic detector.

7. The device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the second detector is a capacitive detector.

8. The device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the first detector exits from the operational first state and enters the standby second state predetermined period of time free of detection of any event by either of the first detector and the second detector.

9. The device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the first detector and the second detector are built into a door handle of the door of the vehicle.

10. The device as claimed in claim 5,

wherein the first detector is built into a door opening/closing mechanism of the door, and

wherein the second detector is built into a door handle of the vehicle.