Device and method for detecting intention to lock or unlock a motor vehicle opening element

A method for calibrating a device (4) for detecting a user's intention to lock or unlock a motor vehicle opening element, this device (4) being integrated into a handle (1), comprising:

• an inductive sensor that comprises an LC resonant circuit (9) consisting at least of a coil (7) and a main capacitor (C1, C2);
• a handle target (8) located facing the coil (7), this target (8) being able to move from a rest position to a displaced position, under the effect of the user pressing on the handle (1), the distance (D) between the coil (7) and the handle target (8) being modified between the rest position and the displaced position;
• a microcontroller (6) equipped with means (13) for measuring the resonant frequency (FRM) of the LC resonant circuit (9);
• an adjustment device for adjusting the value of the total capacitance (Ctotal) of the LC resonant circuit (9), this adjustment device providing at least two different total capacitance values for the LC resonant circuit (9),
• said method comprising the following steps:
• measuring the resonant frequency (FRMi) for each total capacitance value (Ctotal) of the LC resonant circuit (9) provided by the adjustment device;
• identifying the measured resonant frequency values (FRMi) that are in the saturation region of the microcontroller (6), these resonant frequency values being substantially equal and corresponding to the saturation frequency (FSAT) of the microcontroller (6);
• identifying the first measured resonant frequency value that is outside the saturation region of the microcontroller (6), and identifying the corresponding optimum configuration (COPT) of the adjustment device;
• applying said optimum configuration (COPT) to the adjustment device so that the LC resonant circuit (9) has a resonant frequency (FRM) corresponding to said first measured resonant frequency value that is outside the saturation region of the microcontroller (6).