Proximity switch having lockout control for controlling movable panel

• US 9,143,126 B2
• Filed: 09/22/2011
• Issued: 09/22/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/22/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Salter, Stuart C., Hill, Anna, Singer, Jeffrey, Gardner, Cornel Lewis, Padilla, Beatriz Esthela
• Primary Examiner(s): Vazquez, Arleen M
• Assistant Examiner(s): HAWKINS, DOMINIC E
• Application Number:
  US13/240,394
• Publication Number:
  US 20130076121A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,461 Days
• Field of Search: 324/647, 324/606, 324/665, 324/672, 324/679, 324/705, 324/76.39, 324/76.41, 324/76.56, 324/76.2, 324/520, 324/527, 324/340, 324/702
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 7/0573 power driven arrangements, e.g. electrical
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/955 using a capacitive detector

Abstract

A vehicle proximity switch and method are provided having lockout control for controlling a movable panel on a vehicle. The switch includes a proximity sensor such, as a capacitive sensor, installed in a vehicle and providing a sense activation field. The proximity switch also includes control circuitry for processing the sense activation field to sense user activation of the switch and controls functionality when one or more lockout sensors are activated.

Claims

1. A proximity switch for controlling a movable panel, comprising:

a proximity sensor sensing a first object in a sense activation field;

one or more lockout sensors sensing a second object proximate the proximity sensor; and

control circuitry controlling movement of a movable panel based on the sensed first object in the activation field and preventing at least some movement of the movable panel when the one or more lockout sensors sense the second object.

2. The proximity switch of claim 1, wherein the control circuitry prevents one-touch closure of the movable panel when the one or more lockout sensors sense the second object.

3. The proximity switch of claim 1, wherein the control circuitry prevents closure of the movable panel when the one or more lockout sensors sense the second object, and wherein the second object is larger than the first object.

4. The proximity switch of claim 1, wherein the proximity switch is installed in a vehicle for use by a passenger in the vehicle to control a movable window panel.

5. The proximity switch of claim 4, wherein the movable window panel comprises a moonroof.

6. The proximity switch of claim 1, wherein the proximity sensor comprises a capacitive sensor.

7. The proximity switch of claim 1, wherein the one or more lockout sensors comprises first and second lockout sensors on opposite sides of the proximity sensor.

8. The proximity switch of claim 7, wherein the control circuitry controls the movable panel to prevent a function when both the first and second lockout sensors are activated.

9. The proximity switch of claim 1, wherein the one or more lockout sensors each comprises a capacitive sensor.

10. The proximity switch of claim 1 further comprising an output for providing an output signal to a motor to control the movable panel.

11. A vehicle capacitive switch for controlling a movable panel on a vehicle, comprising:

a capacitive sensor installed in a vehicle for sensing a first object in a sense activation field;

one or more lockout sensors for sensing a second object proximate the capacitive sensor; and

control circuitry controlling movement of the movable panel based on the sensed first object in the activation field and the one or more lockout sensors, and preventing movement of the movable panel when the one or more lockout sensors sense the second object.

12. A method of controlling a movable panel, said method comprising;

providing a sense activation field with a proximity sensor;

processing the sense activation field to sense a first object during user activation of the proximity sensor;

detecting an activation of one or more lockout sensors with a second object proximate to the proximity sensor; and

preventing at least some movement of the movable panel when activation of the one or more lockout sensors is detected.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the proximity sensor is installed in a vehicle for use by a passenger in the vehicle.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the movable panel comprises a moonroof.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein a one-touch closure of the movable panel is prevented when actuation of the one or more lockout sensors is detected.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein closure of the movable panel is prevented when activation of the one or more lockout sensors is detected, and wherein the second object is larger than the first object.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein the proximity sensor comprises a capacitive sensor.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein the one or more lockout sensors comprise first and second lockout sensors on opposite sides of the proximity sensor.

19. The method of claim 12, wherein movement of the movable panel is prevented when both the first and second lockout sensors are activated.