System for remotely opening a land-vehicle door

• US 9,963,107 B2
• Filed: 09/21/2016
• Issued: 05/08/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 02/17/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: JVIS-USA LLC
• Original Assignee: JVIS-USA LLC
• Inventors: Murar, Jason T., Preisler, Darius J., Syrowik, David R.
• Primary Examiner(s): INGRAM, THOMAS P
• Application Number:
  US15/271,415
• Publication Number:
  US 20170232930A1
• Time in Patent Office: 594 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/247 for illuminating the close surroundings of the vehicle, e.g. to facilitate entry or exit for reverse drive B60Q1/22; by opening a side door B60Q1/323
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/32 for indicating vehicle sides , e.g. clearance lights
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2400/40 Welcome lights, i.e. specific or existing exterior lamps to assist leaving or approaching the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2900/30 Lamps commanded by wireless transmissions
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 5/005 automatically actuated
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 5/006 indicating risk of collision between vehicles or with pedestrians
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2325/20 Communication devices for vehicle anti-theft devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/24 using electronic identifiers containing a code not memorised by the user
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00507 keyless data carrier having more than one function
• 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 system for remotely opening a land vehicle door is provided. The system includes a mobile communication device supported on the vehicle and operative to produce a first signal in the form of a first electromagnetic field defined by a field envelope. A hand-held communication device is operative to detect the first electromagnetic field and produce a second signal in the form of a second electromagnetic field when the hand-held device is located within the field envelope. Control logic is coupled to the mobile device and is operative to determine if the hand-held device is an authorized hand-held device. The control logic is operative to determine if a pedestrian carrying an authorized hand-held device is located within the field envelope and to generate a door-opening command signal when the authorized device is located within the field envelope for a predetermined period of time.

Claims

1. A system for remotely opening a land vehicle door which moves through a volume of space defined by an opening envelope when the door moves from its closed position to its open position, the system comprising:

a mobile communication device supported on the vehicle for movement therewith and operative to produce a first signal in the form of a first electromagnetic field over a volume of space outside and adjacent the vehicle and defined by a field envelope;

a hand-held communication device operative to detect the first electromagnetic field and produce a second signal in the form of a second electromagnetic field when the hand-held device is located within the field envelope, the mobile device being operative to remove identification data from the second signal, the identification data identifying the hand-held device; and

control logic coupled to the mobile device, and being operative to determine if the hand-held device is an authorized hand-held device based on the identification data, the control logic being operative to determine if a pedestrian carrying an authorized hand-held device is located within the field envelope and to generate a door-opening command signal when the authorized device is located within the field envelope for a predetermined period of time wherein the mobile device is supported on the vehicle so that the opening envelope is in non-overlapping relationship to the field envelope.

2. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control logic is further operative to issue an illumination signal to actuate a source of light to illuminate an area externally of the vehicle for a pedestrian carrying an authorized hand-held device to identify where the pedestrian can safely stand during opening of the door.

3. The system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the source of light illuminates a ground surface adjacent the vehicle.

4. The system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the opening envelope is in non-overlapping relationship with the illuminated area.

5. The system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the source of light is supported within a housing of a tail-light assembly of the vehicle.

6. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the door is a gull-wing door.

7. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the door is a tailgate.

8. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the hand-held device comprises a key fob.

9. The system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a source of sound supported on the vehicle to emit sound which can be heard outside and adjacent to the vehicle to warn a pedestrian carrying an authorized hand-held device to stay out of the opening envelope.

10. A system for remotely opening a land vehicle door which moves through a volume of space defined by an opening envelope when the door moves from its closed position to its open position, the system comprising:

a mobile communication device supported on the vehicle for movement therewith and operative to produce a first signal in the form of a first electromagnetic field over a volume of space outside and adjacent the vehicle and defined by a field envelope;

a hand-held communication device operative to detect the first electromagnetic field and produce a second signal in the form of a second electromagnetic field when the hand-held device is located within the field envelope, the mobile device being operative to remove identification data from the second signal, the identification data identifying the hand-held device; and

control logic coupled to the mobile device, and being operative to determine if the hand-held device is an authorized hand-held device based on the identification data, the control logic being operative to determine if a pedestrian carrying an authorized hand-held device is located within the field envelope and to generate a door-opening command signal when the authorized device is located within the field envelope for a predetermined period of time wherein the hand-held device includes a motion sensor operative to provide a motion signal as a function of lack of motion of a pedestrian carrying the hand-held device within the field envelope for the predetermined period of time.

11. A system for remotely opening a land vehicle door which moves through a volume of space defined by an opening envelope when the door moves from its closed position to its open position, the system comprising:

a mobile communication device supported on the vehicle for movement therewith and operative to produce a first signal in the form of a first electromagnetic field over a volume of space outside and adjacent the vehicle and defined by a field envelope;

a hand-held communication device operative to detect the first electromagnetic field and produce a second signal in the form of a second electromagnetic field when the hand-held device is located within the field envelope, the mobile device being operative to remove identification data from the second signal, the identification data identifying the hand-held device;

a source of light supported on the vehicle to illuminate an area externally of the vehicle for viewing by a pedestrian carrying an authorized hand-held device to identify a location where the pedestrian can safely stand during opening of the door; and

control logic coupled to the mobile device and being operative to determine if the hand-held device is an authorized hand-held device based on the identification data, the control logic being operative to determine if a pedestrian carrying an authorized hand-held device is located within the field envelope and to generate a door-opening command signal when the authorized device is located within the field envelope for a predetermined period of time wherein the mobile device is supported on the vehicle so that the opening envelope is in non-overlapping relationship to the field envelope.

12. The system as claimed in claim 11, wherein the source of light illuminates a ground surface adjacent the vehicle.

13. The system as claimed in claim 11, wherein the opening envelope is in non-overlapping relationship with the illuminated area.

14. The system as claimed in claim 11, wherein the door is a gull-wing door.

15. The system as claimed in claim 11, wherein the door is a tailgate.

16. The system as claimed in claim 11, wherein the hand-held device comprises a key fob.

17. The system as claimed in claim 11, wherein the source of light is supported within a housing of a tail-light assembly of the vehicle.

18. The system as claimed in claim 11, further comprising a source of sound supported on the vehicle to emit sound which can be heard outside and adjacent to the vehicle to warn a pedestrian carrying an authorized hand-held device to stay out of the opening envelope.