Door handle assembly incorporating a vehicle occupant alert system

A method to alert a vehicle occupant of one or more vehicle related events, the method comprising:

• activating, via a computing device, a capacitive-touch sensor located on a handle member of a door handle assembly located on a vehicle door;
• detecting, via the computing device, when the touch sensor is being gripped by a user;
• in response to detecting the touch sensor being gripped by the user, via the computing device, activating a motor, wherein activation of the motor causes rotation of a cam, wherein rotation of the cam will impart vibrations throughout a handle base mounted to the vehicle door, and wherein the vibrations of the handle base will cause the handle member to vibrate;
• and
• in response to detecting the touch sensor being gripped by the user, via the computing device, illuminating a first lighting strip operatively embedded around a peripheral rim portion of a handle frame.

A system to alert a vehicle occupant of one or more vehicle related events, the system comprising:

• a memory configured to comprise one or more executable instructions and a processor configured to execute the executable instructions, wherein the executable instructions enable the processor to carry out the following steps:
• activating a capacitive touch sensor located on a handle member of a door handle assembly located on a vehicle door;
• detecting when the touch sensor is being gripped by a user;
• in response to detecting the touch sensor being gripped by the user, activating a motor, wherein activation of the motor causes rotation of a cam, wherein rotation of the cam will impart vibrations throughout a handle base mounted to the vehicle door, and wherein the vibrations of the handle base will cause the handle member to vibrate;
• and
• in response to detecting the touch sensor being gripped by the user, illuminating a first lighting strip operatively embedded around a peripheral rim portion of a handle frame.