Assembly Module for a Motor Vehicle Comprising an Optical Sensor System and an Emergency Actuation Means

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017166166-A1
Application number	US-201515115592-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jan 7, 2015
Priority date	Jan 31, 2014
Publication date	Jun 15, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

The invention relates to an assembly module ( 20 ) for a motor vehicle ( 1 ), comprising an optical sensor system ( 30 ) which is suitable a) for monitoring a detection area ( 21 ) located outside of the vehicle ( 1 ), b) if a user ( 10 ) is detected in the detection area ( 21 ), for triggering a signal to commence an authentication check between an ID transponder ( 13 ) and the motor vehicle ( 1 ), c) for monitoring an actuation area ( 22 ) which is located outside of the vehicle ( 1 ) and which is different from the detection area ( 21 ), d) if a user ( 10 ) is detected in the actuation area ( 22 ), for providing a working signal for the vehicle ( 1 ), wherein an emergency actuation means ( 90 ) is provided for additionally triggering the working signal, which emergency actuation means is suitable e) for providing a working signal for the vehicle ( 1 ) via an activation of the emergency actuation means ( 90 ) by a body part ( 11, 12 ) of the user ( 10 ).

First claim

1 - 31 . (canceled)

32 . An assembly module for a motor vehicle with an optical sensor system that is suitable for
a) monitoring a detection area located outside the vehicle, b) triggering a signal for starting an authentication check between an ID transmitter and the motor vehicle if a user is detected in the detection area, c) monitoring an actuation area that is located outside the vehicle and differs from the detection area, d) making available an operating signal for the vehicle in case a user is detected in the actuation area, wherein an emergency actuation is provided for additionally triggering the operating signal and suitable for e) making available an operating signal for the vehicle upon activation of the emergency actuation with a body part of the user.

33 . The assembly module according to claim 32 ,
wherein the emergency actuation features an activating means, particularly in the form of a push-button or a switch.

34 . The module assembly according to claim 32 ,
wherein the activating means operates in a capacitive or inductive or contactless fashion or with a piezo-element.

35 . The assembly module according to claim 32 ,
wherein the sensor system is suitable for at least monitoring or generating the detection area or the actuation area with increased power, particularly when the sensor system is dirty.

36 . The assembly module according to claim 32 ,
wherein the optical sensor system features a sensor and a light module, by means of which light can be emitted in order to generate a detection area, wherein the sensor is designed for receiving light from at least the detection area or the actuation area, and wherein the detection area particularly is invisible to the user.

37 . The assembly module according to claim 32 ,
wherein a display element is provided in order to generate the actuation area, wherein the actuation area particularly is visible to the user.

38 . The assembly module according to claim 32 ,
wherein the sensor system is realized in such a way that the detection area is divided into at least two zones, namely into a near zone and a far zone, wherein the near zone is spaced apart from the sensor system by a shorter distance than the far zone, and wherein the detection of the user in accordance with step b) is not carried out until the user is located in the near zone.

39 . The assembly module according to claim 32 ,
wherein at least the light module or the sensor features a lens system, wherein the lens system particularly features at least a filter or the sensor system features a fixed lens system.

40 . The assembly module according to claim 32 ,
wherein the assembly module is arranged in a receptacle designed for installing at least the assembly module on the motor vehicle or the assembly module or the receptacle is suitable for being mounted on the vehicle tail or on a side of the vehicle, particularly such that the assembly module can be integrated into a handle strip of the motor vehicle.

41 . The assembly module according to claim 32 ,
wherein the optical sensor is an LDPD sensor.

42 . The assembly module according to claim 32 ,
wherein the optical sensor system is realized in such a way that the detection area is at least partially located above a ground area, on which the motor vehicle is parked.

43 . The assembly module according to claim 32 ,
wherein the operating signal is at least a signal for unlocking, locking, opening or closing a movable part of the motor vehicle, wherein the movable part particularly is a tailgate or a side door or sliding door.

44 . The assembly module according to claim 32 ,
wherein the light module, as well as the display element, is aligned in such a way that the actuation area is located closer to the motor vehicle than the detection area, particularly that two actuation areas are provided.

45 . A method for triggering an operating signal for a motor vehicle, particularly for operating an assembly module according to claim 32 with an optical sensor system that carries out the following steps:
a) monitoring a detection area located outside the vehicle,
b) triggering a signal for starting an authentication check between an ID transmitter and the motor vehicle if a user is detected in the detection area,
c) monitoring an actuation area that is located outside the vehicle and differs from the detection area,
d) making available an operating signal for the motor vehicle in case a user is detected in the actuation area,
wherein an emergency actuation is additionally provided for carrying out the following step:
e) additionally making available the operating signal for the motor vehicle upon activation of the emergency actuation with a body part of the user.

46 . The method according to claim 45 ,
wherein the emergency actuation is activated in at least a capacitive, inductive or contactless fashion.

47 . The method according to claim 45 ,
wherein step e) is carried out when the optical sensor system is at least defective or dirty.

48 . The method according to claim 45 ,
wherein the emergency actuation is only enabled when a defective and/or dirty optical sensor system is detected.

49 . The method according to claim 45 ,
wherein an authentication check between the ID transmitter and the motor vehicle is carried out after an activation of the emergency actuation in accordance with step e), wherein the operating signal for the motor vehicle is only made available in case of a positive authentication check.

50 . The method according to claim 45 ,
wherein the sensor system is operated with increased power, particularly for monitoring at least the detection area, the actuation area, for generating the detection area or the actuation area, if it is detected that the optical sensor system is dirty.

51 . The method according to claim 45 ,
wherein the detection area is divided into at least two zones, namely into a near zone and a far zone, wherein the near zone is spaced apart from the sensor system by a shorter distance than the far zone, wherein a detection of the user in accordance with step b) does not take place until the user is located in the near zone, and wherein the detection area particularly is permanently monitored.

52 . The method according to claim 45 ,
wherein the sensor system emits light in the invisible range to the user, wherein the sensor system particularly emits pulsed light.

53 . The method according to claim 45 ,
wherein a display element is provided and emits light in the visible range for step c) in order to generate an actuation area for the user.

54 . The method according to claim 45 ,
wherein the sensor system features a sensor that receives light at least from the detection area or the actuation area, wherein the sensor system features a control unit that evaluates the date of the sensor.

55 . The method according to claim 45 ,
wherein the sensor system carries out a check for a distance change in order to detect the user who approaches the motor vehicle at least in the detection area or in the actuation area, wherein the sensor system particularly does not carry out a check for a distance change until the user is located in the near zone.

56 . The method according to claim 45 ,
wherein the sensor system can be switched between a sleep mode and an operating mode,

Assignees

• Huf Huelsbeck & Fuerst Gmbh & Co Kg

Inventors

• Lindic Iko
• Schumacher Helmut
• Heller Norbert
• Müller Oliver
• Ette Bernd
• Sticherling Nadine
• Ziegler Alexander
• Malabo Yomkil Jean
• Mönig Stefan
• Schindler Mirko
• Hache Christof

Classifications

• B60R25/01

  operating on vehicle systems or fittings, e.g. on doors, seats or windscreens · CPC title

• B60R25/403

  Power supply in the vehicle · CPC title

• E05F2015/765

  using optical sensors · CPC title

• G07C2209/64

  using a proximity sensor · CPC title

• B60R25/24 Primary

  using electronic identifiers containing a code not memorised by the user · CPC title