Vehicle Keyless Entry Assembly Having Capacitance Sensor Operative for Detecting Objects

• US 20110313619A1
• Filed: 08/30/2011
• Published: 12/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/21/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Uusi LLC (Nartron Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Uusi LLC (Nartron Corporation)
• Inventors: Washeleski, John M., Cox, Edward J. II, Blank, Andrew E., Shank, David W., Newman, Todd R.
• Granted Patent: US 9,845,629 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/36
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/40 Safety devices, e.g. detection of obstructions or end positions
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/546 Tailgates

Abstract

A keyless entry assembly for a vehicle includes a sensor carrier, a sensor in the form of an electrically conductive pad, and a controller. The sensor is mounted to the sensor carrier and the sensor carrier is positioned adjacent a panel such that the sensor is adjacent the panel. The sensor capacitively couples to an electrically conductive object proximal to the panel while the sensor is driven with electrical charge such that capacitance of the sensor changes due to the sensor capacitively coupling with the object. The controller is operable for driving the sensor with the electrical charge and controlling a vehicle operation as a function of the capacitance of the sensor.

Claims

1. An assembly for a vehicle, the assembly comprising:

a sensor carrier;

a sensor in the form of an electrically conductive pad, wherein the sensor is mounted to the sensor carrier and the sensor carrier is positioned adjacent a panel such that the sensor is adjacent the panel, wherein the sensor capacitively couples to an electrically conductive object proximal to the panel while the sensor is driven with electrical charge such that capacitance of the sensor changes due to the sensor capacitively coupling with the object; and

a controller operable for driving the sensor with the electrical charge and controlling a vehicle operation as a function of the capacitance of the sensor.

2. The assembly of claim 1 wherein:

the controller includes a printed circuit board;

wherein the sensor carrier includes an electrical trace electrically connected to the sensor;

wherein the sensor carrier and the PCB are adjacent to one another, and the electrical trace of the sensor carrier is electronically connected to the sensor and is electrically connected to the PCB in order to electrically connect the sensor and the PCB.

3. The assembly of claim 1 wherein:

the panel is a mirror.

4. The assembly of claim 3 wherein:

the sensor carrier is molded and positioned to provide a light pipe function to the minor.

5. The assembly of claim 1 wherein:

the panel is a glass panel.

6. The assembly of claim 1 wherein:

the panel is a lens.

7. The assembly of claim 1 wherein:

the panel is a plastic panel.

8. The assembly of claim 1 wherein:

the sensor is over-molded into the sensor carrier.

9. The assembly of claim 1 wherein:

the sensor is two-shot molded into the sensor carrier.

10. The assembly of claim 1 wherein:

the conductor is in the shape of an emblem identifying the vehicle.

11. The assembly of claim 1 wherein:

the vehicle operation includes at least one of moving a window of the vehicle, locking a door of the vehicle, unlocking a door of the vehicle, and opening a trunk lid of the vehicle.

12. An assembly for a vehicle, the assembly comprising:

a side-view minor having a mirror surface and an opposed undersurface;

a sensor carrier;

a sensor in the form of an electrically conductive pad, wherein the sensor is mounted to the sensor carrier and the sensor carrier is positioned adjacent the undersurface of the minor such that the sensor is adjacent the mirror, wherein the sensor capacitively couples to an electrically conductive object proximal to the mirror surface while the sensor is driven with electrical charge such that capacitance of the sensor changes due to the sensor capacitively coupling with the object; and

a controller operable for driving the sensor with the electrical charge and controlling a vehicle operation as a function of the capacitance of the sensor.

13. The assembly of claim 12 wherein:

the controller includes a printed circuit board;

wherein the sensor carrier includes an electrical trace electrically connected to the sensor;

wherein the sensor carrier and the PCB are adjacent to one another, and the electrical trace of the sensor carrier is electronically connected to the sensor and is electrically connected to the PCB in order to electrically connect the sensor and the PCB.

14. The assembly of claim 13 further comprising:

a mirror holder configured to hold the mirror, wherein the mirror holder includes a housing configured to house the sensor carrier and the PCB such that the sensor carrier with the sensor thereon and the PCB are sandwiched between the minor and the minor holder with the sensor positioned adjacent the undersurface of the mirror when the mirror is held by the mirror holder.

15. The assembly of claim 12 wherein:

the conductor is in the shape of an emblem identifying the vehicle.

16. The assembly of claim 12 wherein:

the sensor carrier is molded and positioned to provide a light pipe function to the minor surface.

17. A mirror assembly for a vehicle, the assembly comprising:

a side-view minor having a mirror surface and an opposed undersurface;

a sensor carrier;

a plurality of sensors, each sensor formed by a respective electrically conductive pad, wherein the sensors are mounted to the sensor carrier and the sensor carrier is positioned adjacent the undersurface of the minor such that the sensors are adjacent the minor, wherein each sensor capacitively couples to an electrically conductive object proximal to the sensor while the sensor is driven with electrical charge such that capacitance of the sensor changes due to the sensor capacitively coupling with the object; and

a controller operable for driving the sensors with the electrical charge and controlling a vehicle operation as a function of the capacitance of the sensors.

18. The assembly of claim 17 wherein:

the controller includes a printed circuit board;

wherein the sensor carrier includes electrical traces individually electrically connected to the sensors;

wherein the sensor carrier and the PCB are adjacent to one another, and the electrical traces of the sensor carrier are electronically connected to the sensors and are electrically connected to the PCB in order to electrically connect the sensors and the PCB.

19. The assembly of claim 18 further comprising:

a mirror holder configured to hold the minor, wherein the mirror holder includes a housing configured to house the sensor carrier and the PCB such that the sensor carrier with the sensors thereon and the PCB are sandwiched between the minor and the mirror holder with the sensors positioned adjacent the undersurface of the mirror when the mirror is held by the mirror holder.

20. The assembly of claim 17 wherein:

the conductors are in the shape of an emblem identifying the vehicle.

21. An assembly for a vehicle, the assembly comprising:

a mirror having a minor surface and an opposed undersurface;

a sensor positioned adjacent the undersurface of the mirror, wherein the sensor capacitively couples to an electrically conductive object proximal to the minor while the sensor is driven with electrical charge such that the capacitance sensed by the sensor changes due to the sensor capacitively coupling with the object;

a battery for providing the electrical charge which drives the sensor;

a solar cell for charging the battery; and

a controller operable for driving the sensor with the electrical charge from the battery and for controlling a vehicle operation as a function of the capacitance sensed by the sensor.

22. The assembly of claim 21 wherein:

the controller includes a printed circuit board having a wireless transmitter.

23. An assembly for a vehicle, the assembly comprising:

a window;

a sensor positioned adjacent the window, wherein the sensor capacitively couples to an electrically conductive object proximal to the window while the sensor is driven with electrical charge such that the capacitance sensed by the sensor changes due to the sensor capacitively coupling with the object;

a battery for providing the electrical charge which drives the sensor;

a solar cell for charging the battery; and

a controller operable for driving the sensor with the electrical charge from the battery and for controlling a vehicle operation as a function of the capacitance of the sensor.

24. The assembly of claim 23 wherein:

the controller includes a printed circuit board having a wireless transmitter.