Device for initiating an opening and locking procedure of a motor vehicle

• US 20030107473A1
• Filed: 11/07/2002
• Published: 06/12/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Pang, Peter, Goetz, Ulrich, Giehler, Elmar, Schaeffner, Daniel
• Granted Patent: US 6,847,289 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/5.72
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/246 characterised by the challenge triggering
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/77 comprising sensors detecting the presence of the hand of a user
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/78 as part of a hands-free locking or unlocking operation
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/962 Capacitive touch switches
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2217/960765 Details of shielding arrangements

Abstract

A device for initiating an opening and locking procedure of a motor vehicle is described; it has a first proximity sensor (11, 14) which generates an unlocking intent signal (20) for initiating an opening procedure of a closing system (46, 48) of a vehicle (40) when a user approaches the first proximity sensor (11, 14). A second proximity sensor (12, 16) is also provided, generating a locking intent signal (23) for initiating a locking procedure of the closing system (46, 48) of the vehicle (40) when a user approaches the second proximity sensor (12, 16).

Claims

1. A device for initiating an opening and locking procedure of a motor vehicle, having a first proximity sensor (11, 14) which generates an unlocking intent signal (20) for initiating an opening procedure of a closing system (46, 48) of a motor vehicle (40) when a user approaches the first proximity sensor (11, 14), having a second proximity sensor (12, 16) which generates a closing intent signal (22) for initiating a locking procedure of the closing system (46, 48) of the motor vehicle (40) when a user approaches the second proximity sensor (12, 16).

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the proximity sensor system (11, 14, 12, 16) includes at least one electrode (11, 12), an approach being detected by analysis of the capacitance.

3. The device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the first and/or second proximity sensor (11, 14, 12, 16) is situated in an outside door handle (34).

4. The device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the first proximity sensor (11, 14) is situated on the side of the outside door handle (34) which is facing the motor vehicle (40).

5. The device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the second proximity sensor (12, 16) is situated on the side of the outside door handle (34) which is facing away from the motor vehicle (40).

6. The device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the first and second proximity sensors (11, 14, 12, 16) are situated on a common circuit board.

7. The device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a power supply (18) is provided for supplying power to the first and/or second analyzer units (14, 16).

8. The device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the first and second electrodes (11, 12), the first and/or second analyzer units (14, 16) and the power supply (18) are situated in a housing (28, 30).

9. The device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein an authorization query is initiated with a transponder (42) carried by the user upon arrival of the unlocking intent signal (20) and/or the closing intent signal (22).

10. The device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein analysis of the signal of the first electrode (11) and/or generation of an unlocking intent signal (22) are performed only when the closing system (48) is in a locked state.

11. The device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one switching means (56) is provided, relaying either the output signal of the first electrode (11) or the output signal of the second electrode (12) to an analyzer unit (58).

12. The device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the switching means (56) is controlled as a function of the status of the closing system (48).

13. The device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a reference potential electrode (50) connected to a reference potential (52) is provided for shielding.

14. The device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the reference potential electrode (50) is situated between the first and second electrode (11, 12).

15. The device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the reference potential electrode (50) is situated between first and/or second electrodes (11, 12) and an electrically conducting layer (62) on the outside door handle (34).

16. The device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the first and/or second electrode (11, 12) is/are electroconductively connectable to the reference potential (52).

17. The device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the first and second electrodes (11, 12) are controlled at different points in time relatively to each other.

18. The device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein in the event of triggering of the first and second electrodes (11, 12), only the signal of the electrode (11, 12) which was triggered first is relayed.

19. The device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a new signal of the electrodes (11, 12) is relayed only if neither electrode (11, 12) has previously detected an approach of a person.