Gesture-activated hood release system

• US 9,777,516 B2
• Filed: 08/24/2015
• Issued: 10/03/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/24/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Farooq, Iskander, Cuddihy, Mark A., Rao, Manoharprasad K.
• Primary Examiner(s): ARTHUR JEANGLAUDE, GERTRUDE
• Application Number:
  US14/833,737
• Publication Number:
  US 20170058575A1
• Time in Patent Office: 771 Days
• Field of Search: 701 36, 701 49
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/2045 by hand gestures
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/2054 by foot gestures
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 2047/0056 by sensing the presence of a person, e.g. body heat sensor
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 47/0001 with electric actuators; Constructional features thereof for vehicles E05B81/04
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 79/20 using flexible connections, e.g. Bowden cables
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/58 including time control, e.g. for controlling run-time of electric motors
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/64 Monitoring or sensing, e.g. by using switches or sensors
• 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 83/24 for car bonnets

Abstract

A gesture-activated hood release system for a motor vehicle is provided. That system incorporates a gesture sensor, a first actuator and a second actuator. Further, the system includes a controller that is responsive to the gesture sensor to activate the first actuator and open a primary hood latch and then, after a predetermined time delay, activate the second actuator and open the secondary hood latch.

Claims

1. A gesture-activated hood release system, comprising:

a first actuator connected to a primary hood latch;

a second actuator connected to a secondary hood latch;

a sensor for sensing an operator gesture; and

a controller configured to activate said first actuator to release said primary hood latch and then activate said second actuator to release said secondary hood latch in response to a signal from said sensor.

2. The gesture-activated hood release system of claim 1 wherein said controller is configured to include a timer for delaying activation of said second actuator for a predetermined period of time following activation of said first actuator.

3. The gesture-activated hood release system of claim 2, wherein said controller is configured to include a wheel status input for receiving data respecting a rotation state of at least one wheel of said motor vehicle.

4. The gesture-activated hood release system of claim 3, wherein said controller is configured to include a transmission status input for receiving data respecting a transmission state of said motor vehicle.

5. The gesture-activated hood release system of claim 4, wherein said controller is configured to include an authorized operator input for confirming the presence of an authorized operator adjacent the motor vehicle.

6. The gesture-activated hood release system of claim 5 wherein said first actuator and said second actuator are linear actuators.

7. The gesture-activated hood release system of claim 1, wherein said sensor is mounted on a front section of said motor vehicle adjacent said hood.

8. The gesture-activated hood release system of claim 7, wherein said sensor is a proximity sensor.

9. The gesture-activated hood release system of claim 7, wherein said sensor is an IR-sensor.

10. The gesture-activated hood release system of claim 7, wherein said sensor is a digital camera.

11. The gesture-activated hood release system of claim 7, wherein said motor vehicle hood release system supplements manual hood release controls of a state of art motor vehicle.

12. The gesture-activated hood release system of claim 7, wherein said motor vehicle hood release system replaces manual hood release controls of a state of art motor vehicle.

13. A motor vehicle incorporating said gesture-activated hood release system as set forth in claim 1.

14. A gesture-activated hood release system, comprising:

a gesture sensor;

an actuator; and

a controller responsive to said gesture sensor to activate said actuator and open a secondary hood latch.

15. A method of opening a hood of a motor vehicle, comprising:

sensing, by sensor, an operator gesture;

releasing, by controller and cooperating actuators, a primary hood latch followed by a secondary hood latch; and

opening said hood.

16. The method of claim 15 including confirming electronically said motor vehicle is at rest before releasing said primary hood latch and said secondary hood latch.

17. The method of claim 16 including confirming electronically a transmission of said motor vehicle is in park before releasing said primary hood latch and said secondary hood latch.

18. The method of claim 17 including confirming electronically that an authorized user of said motor vehicle is present before releasing said primary hood latch and said secondary hood latch.

19. The method of claim 15 including confirming electronically a transmission of said motor vehicle is in park before releasing said primary hood latch and said secondary hood latch.

20. The method of claim 15 including confirming electronically that an authorized user of said motor vehicle is present before releasing said primary hood latch and said secondary hood latch.