Flush-mounted door handle for vehicles
First Claim
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1. A flush handle system for a vehicle, comprising:
- a vehicle door defining inner and outer sides, the outer side having an outwardly facing flat outer surface, the outwardly facing flat outer surface defining an edge that extends around an opening in the flat outer surface;
a pocket formed in the vehicle door, wherein the pocket is connected to the opening;
an integrally formed handle that is immovable relative to the outer side of the vehicle door and extends over a portion of the pocket whereby a user can insert fingers through the opening into the pocket and pull outwardly to open the vehicle door without moving the handle portion relative to the vehicle door, and wherein the handle does not protrude outwardly beyond the flat outer surface of the outer side of the door;
an unlatch sensor mounted to the vehicle door and to generate a predefined signal in response to detect a hand of the user in the pocket at a predefined range of the unlatch sensor, wherein the unlatch sensor is selected from the group consisting of proximity sensors and touch sensors;
a proximity lock sensor selected from the group consisting of proximity sensors and touch sensors and to allow the user to lock the vehicle door without using a specific key fob by moving the user'"'"'s hand into a predetermined range of the proximity lock sensor;
a powered latch defining locked and unlocked states and latched and unlatched configurations, wherein the powered latch retains the vehicle door in a closed position when the powered latch is in the latched configuration, and permits opening of the door when the powered latch is in the unlatched configuration; and
a low frequency (LF) antenna to detect the specific key fob of the user when the user is within a predefined distance of the vehicle to authenticate the user to move the powered latch into the unlocked state;
wherein the powered latch unlatches by shifting from the latched configuration to the unlatched configuration in response to the unlatch sensor generating the predefined signal and if the powered latch is in the unlocked state;
wherein the powered latch shifts from the unlocked state to the locked state in response to an actuation of the proximity lock sensor when the vehicle door is closed; and
wherein the locked and unlocked states of the powered latch correspond to manual door locks.
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Abstract
An electronic door latch includes a sensor mounted inside of an outer surface of the door. The sensor may be a proximity sensor, a touch sensor or other suitable sensor configured to determine if a user'"'"'s hand is present. The door latch release system further includes a powered latch that selectively retains the door latch in a closed position. The system may include a handle formed by a flange or other structure extending across a portion of a recess or pocket in the door. The system may include a receiver that utilizes a signal from a security transmitter (e.g. keyless entry fob).
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Citations
12 Claims
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1. A flush handle system for a vehicle, comprising:
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a vehicle door defining inner and outer sides, the outer side having an outwardly facing flat outer surface, the outwardly facing flat outer surface defining an edge that extends around an opening in the flat outer surface; a pocket formed in the vehicle door, wherein the pocket is connected to the opening; an integrally formed handle that is immovable relative to the outer side of the vehicle door and extends over a portion of the pocket whereby a user can insert fingers through the opening into the pocket and pull outwardly to open the vehicle door without moving the handle portion relative to the vehicle door, and wherein the handle does not protrude outwardly beyond the flat outer surface of the outer side of the door; an unlatch sensor mounted to the vehicle door and to generate a predefined signal in response to detect a hand of the user in the pocket at a predefined range of the unlatch sensor, wherein the unlatch sensor is selected from the group consisting of proximity sensors and touch sensors; a proximity lock sensor selected from the group consisting of proximity sensors and touch sensors and to allow the user to lock the vehicle door without using a specific key fob by moving the user'"'"'s hand into a predetermined range of the proximity lock sensor; a powered latch defining locked and unlocked states and latched and unlatched configurations, wherein the powered latch retains the vehicle door in a closed position when the powered latch is in the latched configuration, and permits opening of the door when the powered latch is in the unlatched configuration; and a low frequency (LF) antenna to detect the specific key fob of the user when the user is within a predefined distance of the vehicle to authenticate the user to move the powered latch into the unlocked state; wherein the powered latch unlatches by shifting from the latched configuration to the unlatched configuration in response to the unlatch sensor generating the predefined signal and if the powered latch is in the unlocked state; wherein the powered latch shifts from the unlocked state to the locked state in response to an actuation of the proximity lock sensor when the vehicle door is closed; and wherein the locked and unlocked states of the powered latch correspond to manual door locks. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A flush handle system for a vehicle, comprising:
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a vehicle door defining inner and outer sides, the outer side having a flat outer surface; a handle comprising an opening in the flat outer surface that leads to a pocket formed in the vehicle and extends over a portion of the pocket whereby a user can insert fingers into the pocket and pull outwardly to open the vehicle door without moving the handle relative to the vehicle door, wherein said handle is disposed inside of the flat outer surface of the outer side of the vehicle door; an unlatch sensor mounted to the door adjacent the pocket at a location that is inside of the portion of the outer surface defining a surface contour and to generate a predefined signal in response to detect a hand of the user in the pocket at a predefined range of the unlatch sensor, wherein the unlatch sensor is selected from the group consisting of proximity sensors and touch sensors; a proximity lock sensor selected from the group consisting of proximity sensors and touch sensors and to allow the user to lock the vehicle door without using a specific key fob by moving the user'"'"'s hand into a predetermined range of the proximity lock sensor; a powered latch defining locked and unlocked states and latched and unlatched configurations, wherein the powered latch retains the vehicle door in a closed position when the powered latch is in the latched configuration, and permits opening of the vehicle door when the powered latch is in the unlatched configuration; and a low frequency (LF) antenna to detect the specific key fob of the user when the use is within a predefined distance of the vehicle to authenticate the user to move the powered latch into the unlocked state; wherein the powered latch unlatches by shifting from the latched configuration to the unlatched configuration in response to the unlatch sensor generating the predefined signal and if the powered latch is in the unlocked state; wherein the powered latch shifts from the unlocked state to the locked state in response to actuation of the proximity lock sensor when the vehicle door is closed; wherein the locked and unlocked states of the powered latch correspond to manual door locks; wherein the door includes a lower portion, a window above the lower portion, and beltline between the window and the lower portion of the door, and wherein the door includes an upright structure extending vertically along a side edge of the window; and wherein the upright structure includes an outwardly facing outer side surface and an outwardly opening pocket, the upright structure further including a flange extending along at least one side of the pocket, the flange having an inner surface that faces generally opposite the outer side surface to form a handle, wherein the flange is rigidly fixed to the upright structure. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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Specification