FLUSH-MOUNTED DOOR HANDLE FOR VEHICLES

• US 20140000165A1
• Filed: 09/10/2012
• Published: 01/02/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Patel, Rajesh K., Papanikolaou, Kosta
• Granted Patent: US 9,957,737 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 49/31
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/76 Detection of handle operation; Detection of a user approaching a handle; Electrical switching actions performed by door handles
• 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: E05B 85/10 Handles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/1082 Motor

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).

Claims

1. A flush handle system, comprising:

a vehicle door defining inner and outer sides, and having an outer surface, a portion of which defines a surface contour;

a sidewardly opening handle comprising a pocket formed in the vehicle whereby a user can insert fingers into the pocket and pull outwardly to open the door;

a 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, wherein the sensor is selected from the group consisting of proximity sensors and touch sensors;

a visual indication on the door configured to convey the location of the sensor to a user;

a powered latch that retains the door in a closed position when the latch is in an engaged configuration, and permits opening of the door when the latch is in a released configuration; and

wherein;

the powered latch shifts from the engaged configuration to the released configuration if the sensor generates a predefined signal.

2. The flush handle system of claim 1, 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

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.

3. The flush handle system of claim 2, wherein:

a surface contour of the outer side surface of the upright structure over the flange is substantially identical to a surface contour of the outer side surface immediately adjacent the flange such that the appearance of the outer side surface of the upright structure over the flange is substantially the same as the appearance of the outer side surface immediately adjacent the flange.

4. The flush handle system of claim 3, including:

a light adjacent the handle that illuminates when the sensor determines that a user has actuated the switch.

5. The flush handle system of claim 4, wherein:

the sensor comprises a pressure sensing device that generates a signal when contacted by a user.

6. The flush handle system of claim 5, wherein:

the door includes a thin layer of material having a generally planar portion covering the sensor.

7. The flush handle system of claim 5, wherein:

the pocket has an oblong shape having a vertical dimension that is substantially great than a horizontal dimension;

the flange extends horizontally over a portion of the pocket and terminates at an elongated vertically extending distal edge.

8. The flush handle system of claim 7, wherein:

the vertically extending distal edge is substantially linear, and wherein an opposite edge surface of the pocket has a concave curved shape whereby the pocket defines an elongated opening having opposite upper and lower ends.

9. The flush handle system of claim 7, wherein:

the thin layer of material extends over the flange and includes an edge extending along the distal edge of the flange.

10. The flush handle system of claim 6, wherein:

the visual indicator comprises a plurality of parallel lines on the thin layer of material directly over the sensor.

11. The flush handle system of claim 1, wherein:

the sensor comprises a proximity sensor that generates a signal if an object is within a predefined distance of the sensor, and wherein the predefined distance is about 6-8 mm.

12. The flush handle system of claim 1, wherein:

the visual indicator comprises a pocket formed in the outer surface of the vehicle door.

13. The flush handle system of claim 1, including:

a controller and a receiver configured to receive a security signal from a hand-held transmitter; and

wherein;

the controller causes the powered latch to shift from the engaged position to the released position if the receiver receives a security signal and if the sensor is simultaneously actuated by an object.

14. The flush handle system of claim 13, wherein:

the electronic door latch release system defines a locked configuration in which the powered latch shifts from the engaged position to the released position if the receiver receives a security signal and the sensor is actuated, but not if the receiver does not receive a security signal and the sensor is actuated;

the electronic door latch release further defines a latched configuration in which the powered latch shifts from the unlatched position to the latched position if the sensor is actuated even if no security signal is received by the receiver from the hand held transmitter.

15. A vehicle, comprising:

a vehicle structure and a body having an outer surface;

an inner door structure defining inner and outer sides, a front portion, and a rear portion;

an outer door structure disposed on the outer side of the inner door structure, the outer door structure defining a surface contour that forms a substantially smooth, contiguous surface with the outer surface of the vehicle body when the door is in a closed position relative to the vehicle body;

a latch that shifts between latched and unlatched positions to selectively retain the door in a closed position;

a powered latch that latches and unlatches the door;

a pocket formed in at least one of the outer structure and the car body, the pocket defining an inwardly facing surface that is accessible to a user such that a user can insert fingers into the pocket and pull the door from a closed position to an open position upon unlatching of the latch.

16. The vehicle of claim 15, wherein the pocket has an inner portion that extends forward from an outwardly facing opening.

17. The vehicle of claim 16, wherein:

the inner portion defines an inwardly-facing surface shaped and configured to permit a user to pull outwardly on the inwardly facing surface to pull the door open.

18. The vehicle of claim 17, wherein:

the pocket defines a smoothly curved concave surface that faces outwardly at the opening.

19. The vehicle of claim 18, wherein:

the smoothly curved concave surface is at least partially formed in the outer door structure.

20. The vehicle of claim 18, including:

a sensor disposed adjacent the inwardly facing surface, the sensor being configured to determine if a user'"'"'s hand has been inserted into the pocket; and

wherein;

the powered latch does not unlatch unless the sensor determines that a user'"'"'s hand is present, and if other predefined conditions are present.