Method for detecting a function actuation on vehicles

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9573565-B2
Application number	US-201414900029-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 27, 2014
Priority date	Jul 3, 2013
Publication date	Feb 21, 2017
Grant date	Feb 21, 2017

Abstract

A method for detecting a function actuation on a motor vehicle with a sensor device includes monitoring the signals of a proximity sensor as to a first signal reply S 1 . The signals of the proximity sensor are monitored for a time period T s wherein the method is interrupted when the signal reply changes by more than a value S t within the period of time T s . The signal device is actuated after time T s has expired in order to signal to the user that the actuation of time has expired. The signals of the proximity sensor are monitored for time T e wherein the method is continued when the signal of the proximity sensor changes by more than a predetermined value S e within the period of time T e . Otherwise, the method is interrupted. If the method is continued, the actuation of the function of the motor vehicle is detected and the function trigger is signaled to a control device in the motor vehicle.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method for detecting a function actuation on a motor vehicle with a sensor device, wherein the sensor device includes a proximity sensor for detecting the approach of a user, comprising the steps of:
monitoring the signals of the proximity sensor with regard to a signal change in the form of a characteristic first signal reply s 1 , which indicates an approach to the proximity sensor,
monitoring the signals of the proximity sensor for a period of time t s , wherein the method is interrupted when the signal reply of the proximity sensor changes by more than a predetermined value s t within the period of time t s ,
actuating a signal device after the period of time t s has expired in order to signal to the user that the actuation time has expired,
monitoring the signals of the proximity sensor for a period of time t e , wherein the method is continued when the signal of the proximity sensor changes by more than a predetermined value s e within the period of time t e , and otherwise the method is interrupted,
wherein when the method is continued, the actuation of the function on the motor vehicle is detected and the function trigger is signaled to a control device in the motor vehicle.

2. A method according to claim 1 , wherein prior to a function trigger, a wireless request is transmitted to an ID transponder, which the user can carry along, asking to verify the authorization for accessing the requested function.

3. A method according to claim 2 , wherein the request of the ID transponder is made prior to actuating the signal device and the method is continued only when a successful authorization has taken place.

4. A method according to claim 1 , wherein a capacitive sensor is used as proximity sensor.

5. A method according to claim 1 , wherein an optical signal device is used as the signal device.

6. A method according to claim 5 , wherein the sensor device is integrated in a vehicle badge.

7. A method according to claim 6 , wherein a badge light is used as signal device.

8. A method according to claim 5 , wherein the sensor device is integrated in a door handle.

9. A method according to claim 1 , wherein an audible signal device is used as the signal device.

10. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the function to be triggered results in opening a trunk lid of a motor vehicle.

11. A method according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of the periods of time t e and t s can be adjusted by means of a user input, preferably at a central control device of the vehicle.

12. A method according to claim 1 , wherein parallel to the above-mentioned operating procedure a second, alternative operating procedure is monitored, wherein an actuation is detected, when
the signal reply of the proximity sensor changes by more than a threshold value s a from its quiescent value within a first period of time t a , and
the signal reply of the proximity sensor approaches again the quiescent value within a double period of time 2t a and differs from this quiescent value by less than the threshold value s a .

13. A method according to claim 12 , wherein in testing the second, alternative operating procedure an actuation is detected only when the signal progression increases in a monotonous manner during the period of time 2t a for at least one third of this period of time and decreases in a monotonous manner for at least one third of this period of time.

14. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the period of time t s amounts to less than four seconds.

15. A method according to claim 14 , wherein the period of time t s amounts to less than three seconds.

16. A method according to claim 15 wherein the period of time t s amounts to less than two seconds.

Assignees

• Huf Huelsbeck & Fuerst Gmbh & Co Kg
• Huf Huelsbeck & Fuerst Gmbh & Co Kg

Inventors

• Schindler Mirko
• Van Gastel Peter
• Gerdes Bernd

Classifications

• E05B81/77

  comprising sensors detecting the presence of the hand of a user · CPC title

• B60R25/246

  characterised by the challenge triggering · CPC title

• E05F15/73

  responsive to movement or presence of persons or objects · CPC title

• E05B81/78

  as part of a hands-free locking or unlocking operation · CPC title

• E05Y2201/68

  Handles, cranks · CPC title