Emblem for a motor vehicle with a sensor system for monitoring a detection region and an actuation region and method thereto

• US 10,336,295 B2
• Filed: 01/07/2015
• Issued: 07/02/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Huf Hulsbeck & Furst GmbH & Co. KG
• Original Assignee: Huf Hulsbeck & Furst GmbH & Co. KG
• Inventors: Heller, Norbert, Schumacher, Helmut, Schindler, Mirko, Muller, Oliver, Ette, Bernd, Sticherling, Nadine, Ziegler, Alexander, Malabo Yomkil, Jean, Monig, Stefan, Lindic, Iko, Hache, Christof
• Primary Examiner(s): Rushing, Mark S
• Application Number:
  US15/115,642
• Publication Number:
  US 20170166167A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,637 Days
• Field of Search: 340 561
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/10 actuating a signalling device
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/24 using electronic identifiers containing a code not memorised by the user
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/305 using a camera
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/70 with automatic actuation
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/531 Doors
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/546 Tailgates
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00309 operated with bidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks

Abstract

The invention relates to an emblem (80) for a motor vehicle (1), comprising an optical sensor system (30) which is suitable for a) monitoring a detection region (21) lying outside of the motor vehicle (1), b) triggering a signal for starting an authentication check between an ID transmitter (13) and the motor vehicle (1) in the event that a user (10) is detected in the detection region (21), c) monitoring an actuation region (22) which lies outside of the motor vehicle (1) and which differs from the detection region (21), and d) providing an operating signal for the motor vehicle (1) in the event that a user (10) is detected in the actuation region (22).

Claims

1. A method for operating an emblem for a motor vehicle, the method comprising:

a) monitoring a detection region located outside the motor vehicle,

b) triggering a signal for the start of an authentication check between an Id-transmitter and the motor vehicle in the case a user is detected in the detection region,

c) monitoring an actuation region which is located outside the motor vehicle and which differs from the detection region, and

d) providing an operating signal for the motor vehicle in the case that a user is detected in the actuation region,

wherein the motor vehicle comprises an emblem, which comprises an optical sensor system comprising an optical sensor configured for performing said method, and

wherein the optical sensor system at least receives or records images at least of the detection region or of the actuation region, wherein the images are pulsed images and non-pulsed images, wherein the pulsed images are created through the reflection of the emitted, pulsed light of the optical sensor system and the non-pulsed images are created through the light of at least the detection region or actuation region, in particular in that for the checking of a distance change the pulsed images are compared with the non-pulsed images.

2. The method according to claim 1,

wherein

following a positive authentication according to b), an illumination element that is arranged on the sensor system is operated in a first illumination state.

3. The method according to claim 2,

wherein

according to c) the illumination element is operated in a second illumination state, which differs from the first illumination state.

4. The method according to claim 3,

wherein

according to step d) the illumination element is operated in a third illumination state, which differs at least from the first or from the second illumination state, wherein in particular an opening operation of a moveable part of the motor vehicle is carried out.

5. The method according to claim 3,

wherein

providing the operating signal according to step d) takes place only when the illumination element is operated in the first or in the second illumination state, in particular in that at least the first or the second illumination state is operated only in a defined time during the step c).

6. The method according to claim 1,

wherein

the detection region is divided into at least two zones, into a near zone and a distant zone, wherein the near zone lies at a shorter distance to the sensor system than the distant zone, wherein a detection of the user according to step b) takes place only when the user is located in the near zone, in particular at least that the detection region is continuously monitored or that step b) takes place when the user is located in the near zone.

7. The method according to claim 6,

wherein

the sensor system carries out a check of a distance change in order to detect a user at least in the detection region or in the actuation region, which user approaches the motor vehicle, in particular in that the sensor system carries out a check of a distance change only in particular when the user is located in the near zone.

8. The method according to claim 6,

wherein

the sensor system can be switched between a rest mode and an operating mode, wherein the sensor system in the rest mode is switched until the user reaches the near zone, in particular in that the pulse frequency of the emitted light in the rest mode is lower than in the operating mode.

9. The method according to claim 1,

wherein

the detection of the user according to step c) or d) requires at least a defined gesture or action of the user.

10. The method according to claim 1,

wherein

step c) takes place within a defined time window, in particular when at least no gesture or action of the user takes place within the defined time window, the step d) is not carried out.

11. The method according to claim 1,

wherein

the sensor system emits light in the range that is not visible to the user, in particular in that the sensor system emits pulsed light.

12. The method according to claim 1,

wherein

a display element is provided, which for the step c) emits light in the visible range in order to create an actuation region for the user, in particular in that the actuation region lies in the detection region.

13. The method according to claim 1,

wherein

the sensor system comprises the optical sensor which receives light from at least the detection region or actuation region, wherein the sensor system comprises a control unit, which evaluates the data of the optical sensor.

14. The method according to claim 1,

wherein

the sensor system comprises a light module which emits light, so that a transmission region is created, wherein the optical sensor comprises a receiving region, which at least partially overlaps with the transmission region, wherein the region of the overlap forms the detection region.

15. The method according to claim 1,

wherein

the sensor system emits a plurality of light bundles, in particular light cones, which put together form the detection region.

16. The method according to claim 1,

wherein

each image is composed of a defined total number of pixels, wherein for the checking of at least the detection region or actuation region only a number of pixels is checked which is smaller than the possible total number.

17. The method according to claim 1,

wherein

during the step b) the Id-transmitter transmits an authentication code to an access control system of the motor vehicle and the access control system compares the authentication code with a stored code and in the case of agreement, triggers an unlocking signal.

18. The method according to claim 1,

wherein

step d) takes place only in the case of a defined movement of the user or of a part of the body of the user in/on the actuation region, in particular in that the part of the body is a foot or a hand of the user.

19. The method according to claim 1,

wherein

the actuation region is located at a distance to the ground and to the sensor system, wherein in particular the actuation region is located approximately at the same height to the sensor system.

20. The method according to claim 1,

wherein

the optical sensor system comprises the optical sensor and a non-optical sensor, wherein the non-optical sensor is a proximity sensor or a tactile sensor or a capacitive sensor, wherein in particular the non-optical sensor monitors the detection region and the optical sensor the actuation region.

21. The method according to claim 20,

wherein

the step b) starts only when the non-optical sensor detects a defined first action of the user, in particular the optical sensor is activated, in order to monitor the actuation region according to step c) and the operating signal is provided only according to step b), when a second action of the user takes place.

22. The method according to claim 1,

wherein

a protection query is integrated, which at least interrupts or blocks the step a) at least for a certain time when a certain number of first actions was detected which does not correspond to the defined action, in order to carry out step c).