# US 11,078,692 B2 · Method for detecting a user's intention to lock or unlock a motor vehicle door and associated device

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- Number: US 11,078,692 B2
- Document ID: US11078692B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/485,189
- Filed: 2017-02-17
- Published: 2019-12-05
- Granted: 2021-08-03
- Earliest claimed: 2017-02-17
- Assignees: Continental Automotive France; Continental Automotive GmbH
- Applicants: Continental Automotive France; Continental Automotive GmbH
- Inventors: Gabriel Spick; Mickael Guibbert
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11078692B2

## CPC

- E05B 81/77: {comprising sensors detecting the presence of the hand of a user}
- H03K 17/955: using a capacitive detector
- B60R 25/245: {where the antenna reception area plays a role}
- G01R 23/07: using response of circuits tuned on resonance, e.g. grid-drip meter
- G07C 9/00174: {Electronically operated locks; Circuits therefor; Nonmechanical keys therefor, e.g. passive or active electrical keys or other data carriers without mechanical keys (mechanical locks with electric permutation E05B49/00; arrangements for sensing or reading record carriers G06K7/00; electronic switching H03K17/00)}
- H03K 17/954: {controlled by an oscillatory signal}
- H03K 17/975: using a capacitive movable element
- E05B 81/78: as part of a hands-free locking or unlocking operation
- G07C 2209/08: With time considerations, e.g. temporary activation, valid time window or time limitations
- G07C 2209/65: using means for sensing the user's hand
- H03K 2017/9706: {Inductive element}
- H03K 2217/94036: Multiple detection, i.e. where different switching signals are generated after operation of the user is detected at different time instants at different locations during the actuation movement by two or more sensors of the same or different kinds
- H03K 2217/96054: Double function: touch detection combined with detection of a movable element
- H03K 2217/960705: Safety of capacitive touch and proximity switches, e.g. increasing reliability, fail-safe
- E05B: LOCKS; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR; HANDCUFFS
- H03K: PULSE TECHNIQUE (measuring pulse characteristics G01R; modulating sinusoidal oscillations with pulses H03C; transmission of digital information H04L; discriminator circuits detecting phase difference between two signals by counting or integrating cycles of oscillation H03D3/04; automatic control, starting, synchronisation or stabilisation of generators of electronic oscillations or pulses where the type of generator is irrelevant or unspecified H03L; coding, decoding or code conversion, in general H03M)
- B60R: VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- G01R: MEASURING ELECTRIC VARIABLES; MEASURING MAGNETIC VARIABLES (indicating correct tuning of resonant circuits H03J3/12)
- G07C: TIME OR ATTENDANCE REGISTERS; REGISTERING OR INDICATING THE WORKING OF MACHINES; GENERATING RANDOM NUMBERS; VOTING OR LOTTERY APPARATUS; ARRANGEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS FOR CHECKING NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE

## Abstract

A method for detecting the intention of a user to lock or unlock a motor-vehicle door with a detection device integrated into a handle. The method includes continuously measuring the resonant frequency of the detection device and successively comparing the measured resonant frequency to a first threshold representative of the approach of the user and to a second threshold, higher than the first threshold, representative of the contact of the user, the intention of the user to lock or unlock the door of the vehicle being validated only if a duration between the passage of the resonant frequency below the first threshold and the passage of the resonant frequency above the second threshold is shorter than a preset duration. An associated detection device is also disclosed.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for detecting an intention of a user to lock or unlock a motor-vehicle door with a detection device integrated into a handle, said method comprising:
continuously measuring a resonant frequency of said detection device and
successively comparing said measured resonant frequency to a first threshold representative of an approach of the user and to a second threshold, higher than the first threshold, representative of contact of the user, the intention to lock or unlock the door being validated only if:
a value of the measured resonant frequency is firstly lower than a first threshold, at a first measured time, then higher than the second threshold, at a second measured time, and
a duration between the second measured time and the first measured time is shorter than a preset duration.

### Claim 2

A device for detecting the intention of a user to lock or unlock a motor-vehicle door, said device being integrated into a handle and powered by a voltage source, the device comprising:
a coil,
a movable electrode a first face of which is oriented toward the handle, and a second face of which is located facing the coil, said movable electrode being able to move from a rest position, located in proximity to the handle, to a final position, located in proximity to the coil under the effect of a contact of the user on the handle,
a capacitor connected to ground, the movable electrode, the coil and the capacitor being connected together in order to form a resonant circuit a resonant frequency of which varies as a function of a variation in the capacitance of the movable electrode, and of the position of the movable electrode, said resonant frequency decreasing when the user approaches the handle and increasing when the user grips the handle and the electrode moves to the final position,
means for oscillating the frequency of said resonant circuit and means for measuring a resonant frequency of said resonant circuit,
means for comparing the resonant frequency to a first threshold and to a second threshold,
means for controlling the frequency-oscillating means, the measuring means and the frequency-comparing means,
a clock,
means for storing times in memory, said means being able to store a first time of passage of the resonant frequency below a first threshold and a second time of passage of the resonant frequency above a second threshold,
means for computing a duration between the first time and the second time, and
means for comparing said duration with a preset duration).

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The detection device as claimed in, claim 2, wherein one terminal of the coil is connected to the movable electrode and a second terminal of the coil is connected to the capacitor.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The detection device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the coil and the capacitor are located on a printed circuit board and the movable electrode is able to move by way of a conductive flexible link electrically connecting said movable electrode to the printed circuit board and having a pivot point.

### Claim 5 (depends on 2)

The detection device as claimed in, claim 2, wherein the coil and the capacitor are located on a printed circuit board and the movable electrode is able to move by way of a conductive flexible link electrically connecting said movable electrode to the printed circuit board and having a pivot point.

### Claim 6 (depends on 2)

The detection device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the frequency-oscillating means, the measuring means and the frequency-comparing means are located on the printed circuit board.

### Claim 7 (depends on 2)

The detection device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said device is integrated into a casing comprising a first portion, which is elastically deformable along a preset axis, having a zone of contact with the handle, and the movable electrode is, in a rest position, able to make contact with the first portion, and in a final position is in proximity to the coil.

### Claim 8 (depends on 2)

A motor-vehicle door handle, comprising, a device as claimed in claim 2.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The handle as claimed in claim 8, further comprising at least one elastically deformable zone aligned along the preset axis with the zone of contact, of dimensions larger than or equal to the dimensions of the zone of contact.

### Claim 10 (depends on 2)

A motor vehicle, comprising a device as claimed in claim 2.