# US 12,000,181 B2 · Device for detecting by induction an intention to lock a motor vehicle door with a target on a lever arm > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,000,181 B2 - Document ID: US12000181B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/059,370 - Filed: 2019-05-21 - Published: 2021-08-05 - Granted: 2024-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2018-05-28 - Assignees: Vitesco Technologies GmbH - Applicants: Vitesco Technologies GmbH - Inventors: Alain Fontanet; Armand Castandet - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12000181B2 ## CPC - E05B 81/77: {comprising sensors detecting the presence of the hand of a user} - E05B 81/78: as part of a hands-free locking or unlocking operation - E05B 81/76: Detection of handle operation; Detection of a user approaching a handle; Electrical switching actions performed by door handles - H03K 17/97: using a magnetic movable element - H03K 2017/9706: {Inductive element} - 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) ## Abstract The invention relates to a device for detecting the intention to unlock an opening element (1) of a motor vehicle with a housing (4) containing a support element (12) having a region of contact (11) with a handle (2) and being associated with an amagnetic metal target (6), the device comprising a printed circuit board (9), a voltage source and at least one emitter primary coil (7). The support element (12) forms an elongated lever arm, the target (6) being arranged at its longitudinal free end with its other longitudinal end fixed to an anchoring point (14) on the housing (4) while being flexible toward the primary coil (7) under the action of the pressure from the user on the opening element handle (2) or frame which is transmitted to the contact region (11) located away from the target (6) by more than half of a length of the support element (12). ## Claims ### Claim 1 A device for detecting the intention of a user to lock or unlock an opening element of a motor vehicle, the device being configured to be integrated into an opening element handle or frame, the device comprising: a housing containing a support element forming a single elongated lever arm including a first longitudinal free end and a second longitudinal end fixed to an anchoring point on the housing, a variation in a position of the support element along a predetermined axis occurring under pressure from a hand of the user on the opening element handle or frame, the support element having a region of contact with the opening element handle or frame and being associated with an amagnetic metal target disposed at the first longitudinal free end of the single elongated lever arm, the contact region being disposed away from the target by more than half of a total length of the support element, the contact region being adjacent the anchoring point on an outer surface of the housing; a printed circuit board; a voltage source; and at least one emitter primary coil, the lever arm being flexible toward the at least one emitter primary coil under the action of the pressure from the user on the opening element handle or frame which is transmitted to the contact region. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The detection device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the support element is a flexible strip that is elastically returned to a position corresponding to no pressure from the hand of the user on the opening element handle or frame. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The detection device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the support element forms a single piece with the target, the support element being made of an amagnetic conductive metal material. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The detection device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the support element and the target are made of brass or bronze. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The detection device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the contact region is a convex portion of the support element which is turned away from the printed circuit board toward the exterior of the device. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The detection device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the support element forms a single piece with the target, the support element being made of an amagnetic conductive metal material. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The detection device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the support element and the target are made of brass or bronze. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The detection device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the contact region is a convex portion of the support element which is turned away from the printed circuit board toward the exterior of the device. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The detection device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the support element and the target are made of brass or bronze. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The detection device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the second longitudinal end of the support element which is fixed to the anchoring point on the housing is secured toward a longitudinal end of the housing, the support element extending over more than half of a length of the housing. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The detection device as claimed in claim 10, wherein the support element is borne outside the detection device on a longitudinal end of a cover enclosing the housing, the cover having an opening through which penetrates the first longitudinal free end of the support element bearing the target. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The detection device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the contact region is a convex portion of the support element which is turned away from the printed circuit board toward the exterior of the device. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The detection device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the contact region is a convex portion of the support element which is turned away from the printed circuit board toward the exterior of the device. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The detection device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one emitter primary coil is positioned on the printed circuit board and faces the target when the support element is in the flexed position, the target being borne on a face of the support element that is turned toward the at least one emitter primary coil and the printed circuit board. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The device as claimed in claim 14, further comprising at least one secondary coil that receives a magnetic field induced by said at least one emitter primary coil, a variation in the magnetic field and in an induced voltage received by said at least one secondary coil being detected by a detector configured to measure a parameter resulting from the induced voltage in the at least one secondary coil when the pressure from the hand of the user is applied to the opening element handle or frame. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The device as claimed in claim 15, wherein said at least one emitter primary coil and the at least one secondary coil are disposed in parallel respective planes, and perpendicular to a plane of the printed circuit board, a length of the target extending perpendicular to the first longitudinal free end of the support element. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The device as claimed in claim 15, wherein said at least one emitter primary coil and the at least one secondary coil are disposed in respective planes that are parallel to the plane of the printed circuit board, a length of the target extending parallel to and bearing against the first longitudinal free end of the support element. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the support element forms an electrode for a capacitive sensor, the device fulfilling the dual function of inductive sensor and capacitive sensor. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) An external handle or frame of an opening element of a motor vehicle, the external handle or frame comprising: the detection device as claimed in claim 1; and at least one elastically deformable external contour region that is aligned along the predetermined axis with the contact region. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) A motor vehicle, comprising: at least one external handle or frame of the opening element as claimed in claim 19. ### Claim 21 A device for detecting the intention of a user to lock or unlock an opening element of a motor vehicle, the device being configured to be integrated into an opening element handle or frame, the device comprising: a housing containing a support element forming a single elongated lever arm including a first longitudinal free end and a second longitudinal end fixed to an anchoring point on the housing, a variation in a position of the support element along a predetermined axis occurring under pressure from a hand of the user on the opening element handle or frame, the support element having a region of contact with the opening element handle or frame and being associated with an amagnetic metal target disposed at the first longitudinal free end of the single elongated lever arm, the contact region being disposed away from the target by more than half of a total length of the support element; a printed circuit board; a voltage source; at least one emitter primary coil, the lever arm being flexible toward the at least one emitter primary coil under the action of the pressure from the user on the opening element handle or frame which is transmitted to the contact region, the at least one emitter primary coil being positioned on the printed circuit board and facing the target when the support element is in the flexed position, the target being borne on a face of the support element that is turned toward the at least one emitter primary coil and the printed circuit board; and at least one secondary coil that receives a magnetic field induced by said at least one emitter primary coil, a variation in the magnetic field and in an induced voltage received by said at least one secondary coil being detected by a detector configured to measure a parameter resulting from the induced voltage in the at least one secondary coil when the pressure from the hand of the user is applied to the opening element handle or frame. ### Claim 22 A device for detecting the intention of a user to lock or unlock an opening element of a motor vehicle, the device being configured to be integrated into an opening element handle or frame, the device comprising: a housing containing a support element forming a single elongated lever arm including a first longitudinal free end and a second longitudinal end fixed to an anchoring point on the housing, a variation in a position of the support element along a predetermined axis occurring under pressure from a hand of the user on the opening element handle or frame, the support element having a region of contact with the opening element handle or frame and being associated with an amagnetic metal target disposed at the first longitudinal free end of the single elongated lever arm, the contact region being disposed away from the target by more than half of a total length of the support element, the contact region being adjacent the anchoring point; a printed circuit board; a voltage source; and at least one emitter primary coil, the lever arm being flexible toward the at least one emitter primary coil under the action of the pressure from the user on the opening element handle or frame which is transmitted to the contact region, wherein the support element and the target are made of brass or bronze, wherein the second longitudinal end of the support element which is fixed to the anchoring point on the housing is secured toward a longitudinal end of the housing, the support element extending over more than half of a length of the housing, and wherein the support element is borne outside the detection device on a longitudinal end of a cover enclosing the housing, the cover having an opening through which penetrates the first longitudinal free end of the support element bearing the target. ### Claim 23 A device for detecting the intention of a user to lock or unlock an opening element of a motor vehicle, the device being configured to be integrated into an opening element handle or frame, the device comprising: a housing containing a support element forming a single elongated lever arm including a first longitudinal free end and a second longitudinal end fixed to an anchoring point on the housing, a variation in a position of the support element along a predetermined axis occurring under pressure from a hand of the user on the opening element handle or frame, the support element having a region of contact with the opening element handle or frame and being associated with an amagnetic metal target disposed at the first longitudinal free end of the single elongated lever arm, the contact region being disposed away from the target by more than half of a total length of the support element, the contact region being adjacent the anchoring point; a printed circuit board; a voltage source; at least one emitter primary coil, the lever arm being flexible toward the at least one emitter primary coil under the action of the pressure from the user on the opening element handle or frame which is transmitted to the contact region, the at least one emitter primary coil being positioned on the printed circuit board and faces the target when the support element is in the flexed position, the target being borne on a face of the support element that is turned toward the at least one emitter primary coil and the printed circuit board; and at least one secondary coil that receives a magnetic field induced by said at least one emitter primary coil, a variation in the magnetic field and in an induced voltage received by said at least one secondary coil being detected by a detector configured to measure a parameter resulting from the induced voltage in the at least one secondary coil when the pressure from the hand of the user is applied to the opening element handle or frame.