Vehicle door handle with enhanced lighting and touch sensors

A vehicular exterior door system, the vehicular exterior door system comprising:

• a door handle assembly comprising a handle portion, wherein the door handle assembly is configured for mounting at a door handle region of a vehicle door of a vehicle;
• wherein, with the door handle assembly mounted at the door handle region, the handle portion is disposed at a pocket region of the door handle region;
• wherein the door handle assembly comprises a pocket lighting module comprising at least one light emitting diode, and wherein, with the door handle assembly mounted at the door handle region, the at least one light emitting diode is operable to emit light to illuminate the pocket region of the door handle region;
• wherein the door handle assembly comprises a plurality of touch sensors disposed at the handle portion, wherein the plurality of touch sensors are linearly arranged along the handle portion;
• wherein the linearly arranged touch sensors comprises a gap between each touch sensor, and wherein the at least one light emitting diode is disposed within a respective gap;
• wherein each of the plurality of touch sensors has a respective touch sensitivity, and wherein each of the plurality of touch sensors generates sensor data based on the respective touch sensitivity and detection of a touch at the respective touch sensor;
• wherein the plurality of touch sensors comprises at least two touch sensors having different respective touch sensitivities;
• a processor operable to process the sensor data generated by the plurality of touch sensors;
• wherein a controller, with the door handle assembly mounted at the door handle region, and responsive to processing at the processor of the sensor data generated by the plurality of touch sensors, determines a touch event at the door handle assembly;
• wherein, in order to determine the touch event, the controller determines that the sensor data generated by at least one touch sensor of the plurality of touch sensors comprises a sensor value that exceeds a first threshold value, and responsive to the sensor value exceeding the first threshold value, the controller determines that the sensor value remains above the first threshold value and below a second threshold value for a threshold period of time;
• wherein the determined touch event comprises a user touching the handle portion;
• and
• wherein the controller, responsive to the determined touch event, locks or unlocks the vehicle door.

A vehicular exterior door system, the vehicular exterior door system comprising:

• a door handle assembly comprising a handle portion, wherein the door handle assembly is configured for mounting at a door handle region of a vehicle door of a vehicle;
• wherein, with the door handle assembly mounted at the door handle region, the handle portion is disposed at a pocket region of the door handle region;
• wherein the door handle assembly comprises a pocket lighting module comprising at least one light emitting diode, and wherein, with the door handle assembly mounted at the door handle region, the at least one light emitting diode is operable to emit light to illuminate the pocket region of the door handle region;
• wherein the door handle assembly comprises a plurality of touch sensors disposed at the handle portion, wherein the plurality of touch sensors are linearly arranged along the handle portion;
• wherein each of the plurality of touch sensors has a respective touch sensitivity, and wherein each of the plurality of touch sensors generates sensor data based on the respective touch sensitivity and detection of a touch at the respective touch sensor;
• wherein the plurality of touch sensors are divided into a plurality of groups, and wherein outputs of touch sensors of the same group are processed together, and wherein each group of touch sensors provides a different touch zone along the handle portion;
• wherein each group of touch sensors comprises touch sensors having different touch sensitivities than touch sensors of other groups;
• a processor operable to process the sensor data generated by the plurality of touch sensors;
• wherein a controller, with the door handle assembly mounted at the door handle region, and responsive to processing at the processor of the sensor data generated by the plurality of touch sensors, determines a touch event at the door handle assembly;
• wherein the determined touch event comprises a user touching the handle portion;
• and
• wherein the controller, responsive to the determined touch event, locks or unlocks the vehicle door.