Communications: electrical – Selective – Intelligence comparison for controlling
Reexamination Certificate
2000-09-07
2004-10-26
Horabik, Michael (Department: 2635)
Communications: electrical
Selective
Intelligence comparison for controlling
C340S543000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06809630
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a motor vehicle door lock system with an outside door handle, and at least one sensor for detecting the approach of the hand of an operator to the outside door handle and/or touching and/or activating of the outside door handle.
2. Description of Related Art
Conventional electromechanical motor vehicle door lock systems having a radio remote control but without the passive entry function are generally known. In these conventional vehicle door lock systems, the operator presses a button on the remote control module. This activates the control electronics which passes through its reaction phase immediately. Because of the distance of the operator from the vehicle door, by the time the operator reaches the outside door handle on the motor vehicle door, the reaction phase of the control electronics has long been completed and the motor vehicle lock has been unlocked. By pulling on the outside door handle, the operator opens the motor vehicle door and the motor vehicle lock is opened either mechanically so that the detent pawl is lifted by the motion of the outside door handle, or electromechanically or pneumatically, the outside door handle delivering a control signal to the opening drive to raise the detent pawl.
Control electronics with a passive entry function, also known as an “electronic key”, differ from the above explained conventional motor vehicle door lock systems in that on the remote control module, no manipulation is necessary. Therefore a button need not be pressed to unlock the motor vehicle lock when approaching the motor vehicle. Rather this takes place all by itself when the operator approaches the motor vehicle.
As used herein, a passive entry function is defined especially as automatic data interrogation or identification of an operator held data medium, transponder or the like so as to ascertain whether an operator approaching the motor vehicle or about to open the vehicle or its door is authorized for access. This is generally checked by the corresponding electronics of the motor vehicle. With corresponding authorization of the operator, automatic unlocking of the vehicle lock takes place by a central interlock system which typically opens the door lock of the driver-side door or of the door being approached by the operator and the door with the handle being touched or activated.
A motor vehicle door lock system with a passive entry function for the control electronics requires a certain reaction phase or time which includes a starting interval to activate the system as the data medium or the remote control module approaches, an authorization check interval to check the operator for his/her authorization by using the coding of the signals exchanged between the remote control module and the control electronics, and finally, the actual action interval in which the action such as the unlocking of the motor vehicle lock takes place. A corresponding reaction phase is also required when locking the vehicle door lock system. However, this corresponding reaction phase is less critical because it is essentially unnoticed by the operator.
The length of the reaction phase of roughly a few hundred milliseconds (as compared to conventional motor vehicle door lock systems) is perceived as being long if the starting interval is begun only when the outside door handle is activated. Pulling the outside door handle or the like occur in a passive entry function under certain circumstances when the reaction phase of the control electronics has not yet been completed. In such occurrences, the operator can then become annoyed that he/she must pull the door handle a second time and this is interpreted as a “malfunction”.
Since the resulting total time of the reaction phase cannot be shortened as much as desired, attempts have already been made to conceal the delay time. The published German patent application DE -A- 195 21 024 discloses a motor vehicle door lock system in which the starting interval and the authorization check interval of the control electronics are shifted into a phase which precedes the actual operation phase which is noticeable to the operator. Then, only the remaining time which corresponds to the reaction time of mechanical, conventional motor vehicle door lock system is noticeable to the operator. A different solution is to have the starting interval of the control electronics initiated not only when the outside door handle is activated, but to use the approach of the hand of an operator to the outside door handle to initiate the starting interval. To do this, the provision of a proximity sensor on the outside door handle is known as disclosed in the published German patent applications DE - A - 197 52 974 and DE - A - 196 17 038. In these references, there is approximately 100 to 150 ms between the sensing of the approaching hand of the operator and the hand actually touching the outside door handle. The starting interval of the control electronics, i.e., the “awakening” of the control electronics, therefore begins so far prior to the actual pulling of the outside door handle that the starting interval, and usually also the authorization check interval, are already completed when the outside door handle is in fact moved by the hand of the operator.
The published German patent application DE - A - 196 17 038 which forms the starting point for the present invention discloses a lock system, especially for motor vehicles, with a passive entry function. One electrode of a capacitive sensor is located on an outside door handle while the other electrode of the capacitive sensor is located on the door-side in order to thereby acquire the approach of the hand of an operator to the outside door handle or in the area between the electrodes and subsequently, to activate the passive entry function.
The use of proximity sensors in motor vehicle door lock systems of the type under consideration entails various difficulties. On the one hand, the proximity sensors have a comparatively high closed-circuit current and on the other hand, it is difficult to set a stable, unequivocal response threshold for such proximity sensors. External effects such as rain, snow, dirt and dust greatly change the measured values in capacitive proximity sensors. Finally, in proximity sensors, the problem of the interfering electromagnetic radiation which they emit cannot be ignored. Therefore, because of these disadvantages, motor vehicle door lock systems with a passive entry function in which only actuation of the outside door handle by the hand of an operator begins the starting interval of the control electronics noted previously have major advantages over systems that utilize proximity sensors.
In addition, in the prior art motor vehicle door lock systems that utilize such proximity sensors, comparatively high complexity is necessary to guarantee proper operation. Furthermore, there is the problem of the comparatively high closed-circuit current. Accordingly, comparatively complex circuitry is necessary which leads to high costs in such systems.
Another problem of the prior art is that it is not possible to distinguish between the approach of the operator to the outside door handle and touching of the outside door handle. Therefore, approaching is acquired with a first sensor while touching or actuating the outside door handle is acquired with yet a second sensor. Accordingly the complexity and costs are further increased.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The primary object of the present invention is to devise a motor vehicle door lock system and a process for controlling such a system so that the approach of the operator (such as his/her hand) to an outside door handle and/or touching and/or activating of the outside door handle, can be easily detected. This detection allows passive entry function of the motor vehicle door lock system to be activated or the starting interval of the control electronics to be initiated.
The aforementioned object and other objects are achieved by a motor vehicle door lock system in accor
Berger Rainer Josef
Buedding Gregor
Dreimann Thomas
Gerhardt Christian
Schmitz Stephan
Bangachon William
Horabik Michael
Nixon & Peabody LLP
Safran David S.
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