Motor Vehicle With A Sensor Arrangement

Abstract

A motor vehicle with a sensor arrangement for monitoring some of the outside area around the motor vehicle for the presence of a user's limb or part of an object, where the sensor arrangement is installed and aligned such that a simple movement of the body, e.g. lifting and/or turning the leg or foot, is enough to move some of a leg or foot of a user standing next to the motor vehicle into the part of the outside area around the motor vehicle monitored by the sensor arrangement.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein:

The drawings illustrate the example design of a motor vehicle according to the invention. The following is shown:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the present invention, and

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of the rear end of a motor vehicle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The following description of the preferred embodiment(s) is merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the invention, its application, or uses.

A motor vehicle 7 in accordance with the invention (FIG. 2) has a sensor arrangement 1 with a capacitive sensor located somewhere along the rear bumper. The sensor arrangement 1 is mounted to the rear end of the vehicle 7 such that the detection range 6 of the capacitive sensor faces down. The detection range 6 of the sensor or the sensor arrangement 1 monitors some of the outside area around the motor vehicle 7. Making the detection range 6 of the sensor arrangement 1 face down allows a simple move of the body of a user standing behind the motor vehicle 7 to move their foot 5 into the detection range 6, i.e., towards the part 6 of the outside area around the motor vehicle 7 monitored by the sensor arrangement 1. Moving the foot into the detection range 6 of a motor vehicle 7 in accordance with the invention can generate a signal for opening the trunk lid 8.

The sensor arrangement 1 is connected to a means of control 2 of the motor vehicle 7. When an object or limb moves into the detection range 6 of the sensor arrangement 1, the sensor arrangement 1 will transmit a signal to the means of control 2. The means of control 2 is further connected to means 3 of unlocking and locking the motor vehicle and to means 4 of opening and closing doors, hoods and lids 8. Both types of means, i.e. 3 and 4, can be activated or deactivated by the means of control 2.

According to the invention, a motor vehicle 7 can be used as follows to open or close the trunk lid 8, for example.

A user wishing to open the trunk lid 8 approaches the motor vehicle 7. By moving the foot 5 into the detection range 6 of the sensor installation 1, the user will provoke a signal that the sensor arrangement 1 will transmit to the means of control 2. The user is authenticated in a usual manner through an ID transmitter carried by the user. The means of control 2 will then activate the means 3 for unlocking the trunk lid 8. The user could now open the trunk lid by hand. However, immediately after activating the means 3 for unlocking the trunk lid 8, the means of control 2 will activate the means 4 for opening the trunk lid 8. These means 4 include a drive which moves the trunk lid to an open position. The user, therefore, does not need to use their hands to open the trunk lid 8. The user can thus carry one or several objects in both hands without having to put them down before they are able to open the trunk lid 8. Instead, the user can immediately put the objects into the trunk when the trunk lid 8 has opened automatically.

Reference Items

1 Sensor arrangement

2 Means of control

3 Means of unlocking and locking

4 Means of opening and closing

5 Foot

6 Detection range

7 Motor vehicle

8 Trunk lid

As various modifications could be made to the exemplary embodiments, as described above with reference to the corresponding illustrations, without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the foregoing description and shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative rather than limiting. Thus, the breadth and scope of the present invention should not be limited by any of the above-described exemplary embodiments, but should be defined only in accordance with the following claims appended hereto and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A motor vehicle sensor arranged for monitoring an outside area around the motor vehicle for the presence of a user's limb or an object, comprising: a sensor, said sensor being mounted on said vehicle to sense an area adjacent the vehicle and aligned such that a movement of a user's body standing next to the motor vehicle into said sensed area around the motor vehicle, generates a signal from said sensor to an actuator in the vehicle in operative communication with said sensor.

2. The motor vehicle sensor as in claim 1, wherein the motor vehicle includes configuration for keyless control of a user's authorization to access and/or drive the motor vehicle.

3. The motor vehicle sensor as in claim 1, wherein the motor vehicle has motor-driven actuator deployed to unlock and/or lock a door, hood or lid.

4. The motor vehicle sensor as in claim 1, wherein the motor vehicle has motor-driven actuator deployed to open and/or close a door, hood or lid of the motor vehicle.

5. The motor vehicle sensor as in claim 1, further comprises a controller, said controller being in operative communication with said sensor.

6. The motor vehicle sensor as in claim 5, wherein the sensor signals to said controller whenever the sensor detects an object or limb moving into the part of the said area adjacent the vehicle monitored by the sensor.

7. The motor vehicle sensor as in claim 5, wherein the controller unlocks and/or locks a door, hood or lid when it receives a signal from the sensor.

8. The motor vehicle sensor as in claim 5, wherein the controller activates and/or deactivates an actuator for opening and/or closing in response to a signal from the sensor.

9. The motor vehicle sensor as in claim 1, wherein the motor vehicle has motor deployed to fold in and/or out a swiveling trailer hitch.

10. The motor vehicle sensor as in claim 9, wherein the controller activates and/or deactivates an actuator for folding in and/or out when it receives a signal from the sensor.

11. The motor vehicle sensor as in claim 1, wherein the sensor is installed proximate to a door, hood or lid of the motor vehicle.

12. The motor vehicle sensor as in claim 1, wherein the sensor is installed at the rear end of the motor vehicle.

13. The motor vehicle sensor as in claim 1, wherein the sensor is installed above a bottom edge of a bumper.

14. The motor vehicle sensor as in claim 1, wherein the area adjacent the motor vehicle monitored by the sensor is marked on the motor vehicle.

15. The motor vehicle sensor as in claim 1, wherein the area adjacent the motor vehicle monitored by the sensor is located under an outer shell of the motor vehicle.

16. The motor vehicle sensor as in claim 1, wherein the sensor includes a motion detector.

17. The motor vehicle sensor as in claim 1, wherein the sensor arrangement includes a capacitive sensor.

18. The motor vehicle sensor as in claim 1, wherein the sensor includes an infrared sensor.

19. The motor vehicle sensor as in claim 1, wherein the sensor includes an ultrasound sensor.

20. The motor vehicle sensor as in claim 1, wherein said sensor transmits a signal in response to a defined motion profile or sequence of movements of the leg or foot.

21. A method of enabling opening a door, hood and/or lid of a motor vehicle comprising: mounting a sensor to sense an area adjacent the vehicle connecting said sensor to an actuator, said actuator being deployed to actuate a door, hood, lock or lid in response to a signal from said sensor,said sensor signaling said actuator in response to a movement in said area adjacent the vehicle,wherein unlocking is activated when a user has been successfully authenticated by an ID transmitter.

22. The method as in claim 21, wherein the process of authentication is started by a movement into the area adjacent the motor vehicle monitored by the sensor.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein said movement is a sequence of motions by a user.

24. The method as in claim 22, wherein an at least partially open door, hood or lid activates closing prior to locking.

25. A motor vehicle having a sensor comprising: a sensor, said sensor being mounted on said vehicle to sense an area adjacent the vehicle and aligned such that a movement of a user's body standing next to the motor vehicle into said sensed area around the motor vehicle, generates a signal from said sensor to an actuator in the vehicle in operative communication with said sensor.