Proximity switch based door latch release

• US 9,447,613 B2
• Filed: 11/25/2014
• Issued: 09/20/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Salter, Stuart C., Lee, Yun Shin, Buttolo, Pietro, Gardner, Cornel Lewis
• Primary Examiner(s): BEE, ANDREW W.
• Application Number:
  US14/552,809
• Publication Number:
  US 20150077227A1
• Time in Patent Office: 665 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/00 Power-actuated vehicle locks
• 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 81/77 comprising sensors detecting the presence of the hand of a user
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 85/12 Inner door handles
• CPC Class Codes: E05C 19/02 Automatic catches, i.e. released by pull or pressure on the wing E05C19/06 takes precedence ; with locking means E05B63/22
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00714 with passive electrical components, e.g. resistor, capacitor, inductor

Abstract

A vehicle door latch assembly includes a first proximity sensor on a first side of a door handle and a second proximity sensor on a second side of the door handle. The assembly also includes a latch operative to latch the door closed and to unlatch the door to allow the door to open. The assembly further includes control circuitry for activating the latch to unlatch the door based on an object such as an operator'"'"'s hand sensed with both the first and second proximity sensors.

Claims

1. A method of actuating a vehicle latch assembly comprising:

detecting a user'"'"'s hand gripping an interior handle for a door m a vehicle with proximity sensors on first and second sides of the handle;

actuating a door latch to unlatch the door based on the hand gripping the handle;

detecting with the proximity sensors an object inside the vehicle not gripping the handle and in close proximity to the handle; and

activating a warning when the object is detected.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first side is substantially opposite the second side.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the latch comprises an electromagnetic latch.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of detecting when the vehicle is in park, wherein another warning is activated when the vehicle is not in park.

5. The method of claim 4 further comprising the step of waiting for a time delay if the vehicle is moving, and actuating the door latch to unlatch the door following the time delay when a hand is detected gripping the door handle.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of detecting movement of the hand in a direction on one of the proximity sensors and determining a swipe motion indicative of one of a door lock and unlock command to cause the door latch to lock or unlock based on the command.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of determining a size of the hand relative to one of the proximity sensors based on a plurality of sensor fields and providing an output signal only when the size exceeds a predetermined size.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the proximity sensors comprise capacitive sensors.

9. A method of controlling a vehicle door latch assembly comprising:

detecting a hand gripping a door handle in a vehicle with first and second proximity sensors on first and second sides of the door handle;

determining when the vehicle is moving;

waiting for a time delay when the vehicle is moving; and

actuating the door release to the unlocked position following expiration of the time delay.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the action comprises performing an action other than activating a door latch to an unlatched position immediately following the detection of a valid hand grip when the vehicle is moving.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the action comprises sounding an alarm.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the first side is substantially opposite the second side.

13. The method of claim 9 further comprising the step of detecting movement of the hand in a direction on one of the proximity sensors and determining a swipe motion indicative of one of a door lock and unlock command, to cause the door latch to lock or unlock based on the command.

14. The method of claim 9 further comprising the step of determining a size of the hand relative to one of the proximity sensors based on a plurality of sensor fields and providing an output signal only when the size exceeds a predetermined size.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein the proximity sensors comprise capacitive sensors.

16. A door latch assembly comprising:

first capacitive, sensors on a first side of an interior door handle;

a second capacitive sensor on a second side of the door handle;

a latch operative to latch the door closed and to unlatch the door to allow the door to open; and

control circuitry for activating the latch to unlatch the door based on a hand sensed with the first capacitive sensors and the second capacitive sensor, wherein the control circuitry further detects with the first and second capacitive sensors an object inside the vehicle that is not gripping the handle and is in close proximity to the handle, and further activates a warring, when the object is detected.

17. The door latch assembly of claim 16, wherein the second capacitive sensor comprises a plurality of second capacitive sensors.

18. The door latch assembly of claim 16, wherein the assembly determines at least one of a swipe and a hand size based on signals generated by the first capacitive sensors.

19. The door latch assembly of claim 16, wherein the control circuitry determines the hand gripping the handle and further determines if the vehicle is moving and performs an action other than activating the door latch to an unlatched position immediately following the detection of a hand gripping the handle when the vehicle is determined to be moving.