Patent Grant
11840172
The present invention relates to door handles for vehicles and, more particularly, to an exterior door handle for opening a side door of a vehicle.
A door handle for a vehicle door typically includes a handle portion that is pivotable relative to a base portion, whereby pivotal movement of the handle portion pulls at a cable or rod to electrically trigger or move a latch mechanism to release the latch and open the door. It is known to provide illumination or light sources at the side of the vehicle, such as to provide security lighting or convenience lighting at the side of the vehicle. For example, such lighting devices are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,349,450; 6,550,103; 5,371,659; 5,669,699; 5,823,654 and 5,497,305, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. Typically, such lighting devices provide illumination along the side of the vehicle and down to the ground at the side of the vehicle. Such illumination thus may have glare or bright spots at the side of the vehicle.
The present invention provides an illumination module or device for a vehicle, such as for an exterior door handle assembly, for providing illumination at the door handle of the vehicle to indicate operation of a security system of the vehicle.
According to an aspect of the present invention, a door handle assembly for a door of a vehicle includes a base portion mountable to the vehicle door and a handle portion that is disposed at the base portion and is movable or pivotable relative to the base portion and the vehicle door. The door handle assembly includes an illumination module comprising at least one illumination source and an iconistic/icon element and a cover element. The illumination source (such as, for example, a light emitting diode or electroluminescence light source or the like), when operated, backlights the icon element so that an icon of the icon element is viewable through the cover element at an exterior surface of the handle portion. The icon of the icon element comprises a security icon and the illumination module is operable to backlight the security icon when a security system of the vehicle is operational.
Optionally, an illumination module may provide lighting at or along the exterior of the door handle to enhance the viewability of the door handle when illuminated in low ambient lighting conditions. The illumination module may include a light pipe that extends along an exterior portion of the door handle, and may be operable responsive to a passive entry system or key fob signal or the like. The illumination module may include a door locking switch or button that is actuatable by a user grasping or touching the door handle exterior of the vehicle, such that the illumination module provides a common circuit element or circuit board for illumination of the door handle and for unlocking of the vehicle door and optionally for operation of a passive entry system of the door and/or vehicle.
These and other objects, advantages, purposes and features of the present invention will become apparent upon review of the following specification in conjunction with the drawings.
Referring now to the drawings and the illustrative embodiments depicted therein, a vehicle door handle assembly 10 is mountable to a door 12a of a vehicle 12 and operable to release a latch mechanism (not shown) of the door 12a to open the vehicle door (
Door handle assembly 10 may comprise any suitable type of door handle assembly, and may include or incorporate aspects of the door handle assemblies described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,407,203, and/or PCT Application No. PCT/US08/62347, filed May 2, 2008 and published Nov. 13, 2008 as International Publication No. WO 2008/137634, and/or U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/499,183, filed Jul. 8, 2009 and published Jan. 14, 2010 as U.S. Publication No. US-2010-0007463; Ser. No. 12/499,183, filed Oct. 12, 2009 and published Apr. 15, 2010 as U.S. Publication No. US-2010-0088855; and/or Ser. No. 12/976,594, filed Dec. 22, 2010, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,786,401, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. For example, handle assembly 10 may include a strap or handle portion 14 that is pivotable or movable or laterally movable relative to the door to move an actuating lever or member or arm or bell crank or the like, which in turn moves a cable or rod or linkage or the like to actuate or release the latch mechanism of the door to open the vehicle door. Although shown in
Optionally, and desirably, and as shown in
The illumination source may comprise any suitable illumination source, such as one or more light emitting diodes (LEDs), such as white light-emitting LEDs or high intensity power LEDs (such as the types described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,195,381 and/or 6,690,268, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties) or organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs) or electroluminescent light sources or the like. The illumination source may comprise a substantially white light-emitting illumination source, or may comprise a colored light-emitting illumination source (or a white light-emitting illumination source may emit light that passes through a color filter or the like) to provide color illumination (such as blue or other color as desired) at the door handle area depending on the particular application of the door handle assembly and illumination module. For example, the illumination module may emit or transmit colored light that may match or correspond to the interior and/or exterior lighting of the particular vehicle to which the door handle assembly is mounted.
In the illustrated embodiment (and with reference to
The cover 26 is partially received in or at or through an aperture 18a established at the end portion 18 of handle 14, whereby an outer wall or surface 26a of cover 26 may substantially correspond to the contours of the door handle assembly at the illumination module such that the door handle assembly has a substantially continuous outer surface or wall at the illumination module. As shown in
The cover 26 of illumination module 16 may be at least partially or substantially translucent or transparent such that illumination emitted via the illumination source or illumination sources is transmitted through cover 26 for viewing by a person outside the vehicle. Optionally, and as shown in
Optionally, and as shown in
Optionally, and desirably, the cover and/or housing may be overmolded over the illumination source or sources and circuitry to provide a substantially sealed and substantially water impervious illumination module. For example, the housing may be overmolded over and around a metal stamping or stamped circuit element or plate with the illumination source or sources (such as LEDs or the like) fastened thereto or otherwise established thereon, or the housing may be overmolded over and around a printed circuit board or element with the illumination sources established thereon.
Thus, the illumination module of the present invention comprises a small illumination device or module that is disposed at a handle portion of a vehicle door handle assembly, and is operable to backlight an icon at the door handle. The illumination or backlighting intensity may be low enough to provide a glow at the logo or icon or beacon, yet high enough to be seen or discerned in high ambient or daytime lighting conditions. Optionally, the backlighting intensity may be controlled or adjusted or varied, such as in response to an ambient light sensor, so that the backlighting intensity is increased during daytime lighting conditions and decreased or activated at a reduced intensity during nighttime lighting conditions.
Thus, the present invention provides a security beacon at or in the door handle of the vehicle so that it is more visible to a person exterior of the vehicle. The security beacon of the present invention would be disposed at the door handle of both the driver side and passenger side of the vehicle (such as at the front driver side door and at the front passenger side door). Optionally, and in addition to the security beacon function or application, the illumination device or module of the present invention may be operable as an indicator to provide the driver with feedback as the driver or user or operator uses his or her key fob or as the passive or keyless entry system (PKE system) of the vehicle operates. Optionally, the illumination device or module may display vehicle logos or the like, and may use variable color LEDs that could be linked to an interior lighting system of the vehicle, such as to a MYCOLOR™ interior lighting system of the vehicle or the like.
Referring now to
Door handle assembly 110 may comprise any suitable type of door handle assembly, and may include or incorporate aspects of the door handle assemblies described in U.S. Pat. Publication No. US 2006/0038418, published Feb. 23, 2006, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Handle or strap portion 114 includes a grasping portion 122 for a user to grab and pull at to open the vehicle door. The handle portion 114 also includes opposite end portions 123, 124 at opposite ends of the grasping portion 122. End portion 123 attaches to the linkages of the door mechanism at the base portion of the door handle, while end portion 124 pivotally or movably or laterally movably attaches or mounts to the vehicle door or to a bracket or the like at the vehicle door, such as in a known manner and/or such as described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,407,203, and/or PCT Application No. PCT/US08/62347, filed May 2, 2008 and published Nov. 13, 2008 as International Publication No. WO 2008/137634, and/or U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/499,183, filed Jul. 8, 2009 and published Jan. 14, 2010 as U.S. Publication No. US-2010-0007463; Ser. No. 12/499,183, filed Oct. 12, 2009 and published Apr. 15, 2010 as U.S. Publication No. US-2010-0088855; and/or Ser. No. 12/976,594, filed Dec. 22, 2010, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,786,401, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. Although shown as a strap type handle, the handle assembly may comprise any suitable type of vehicle door handle assembly, such as a paddle type vehicle door handle assembly (having a paddle or handle portion that is pivotable about a generally horizontal pivot axis to open the vehicle door, such as a handle assembly of the types described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,349,450; 6,550,103 and 6,907,643, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties) or other type of vehicle door handle assembly, while remaining within the spirit and scope of the present invention.
As shown in
As best shown in
In the illustrated embodiment, light emitting diode 121 is sidewardly mounted at circuit element 130 at a generally U-shaped portion of the circuit element, where two prongs or legs 130a protrude from a base or generally square-shaped portion 130b at which the switch circuitry is established. The illumination source 120 is partially received at an end of the light housing, with switch 132 protruding through an aperture 126a in light housing 126 that is generally aligned with aperture 116a of bezel 116. The prongs or legs 130a of circuit element 130 are received in correspondingly formed receptacles or attachment portions of light housing 126 and light pipe 128 is partially received in light housing 126 (and the circuit element 130 may be retained therein via a potting material or compound 131 or the like), such that, when assembled, light emanating from light emitting diode 121 is received at an end region or opening 128a (
Optionally, the light strip may be disposed behind a transparent or semi-transparent or colored or metallic colored and partially light transmitting panel or layer or cover or element, such that the light strip may be viewable when activated, but substantially not viewable or discernible behind the panel or layer or element when not activated. The partially light transmitting cover or panel or layer or element may be partially reflective or opaque or colored so as to provide an enhanced appearance to the door handle, where the illumination module or light strip is substantially hidden within the door handle and is viewable and discernible when activated or powered. The partially light transmitting cover or panel or layer or element may comprise a generally transparent or translucent element with a partially transmitting and partially opaque or reflective coating thereon or the element may be formed or dyed or colored with a material that allows for partial transmission of light therethrough and yet providing an opaque or reflective appearance at the door handle when the light strip is deactivated. Optionally, the cover material may utilize aspects of the door handles described in and/or PCT Application No. PCT/US08/62347, filed May 2, 2008 and published Nov. 13, 2008 as International Publication No. WO 2008/137634, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Optionally, the cover material or coating may be selected to allow for transmission of light emitted by the light strip while substantially attenuating or reflecting light having other wavelengths, such as by utilizing aspects of the transflective mirror substrates described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,274,501, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
Optionally, the door handle assembly may include a capacitive sensor or other sensor or sensing device for sensing the presence of a person at the door handle, so that the light strip may be activated or illuminated in response to a detected presence (such as in response to a detection of a person's hand at or near the door handle). Optionally, the sensor may detect the presence of a person and may recognize an authorized user or driver of the vehicle and the door may be automatically unlocked in response to such a detection.
When utilizing a light bar or strip at or on the surface of a door handle, the location of the light strip is at or on the Class A surface of the door handle and the person's hand may partially cover the light source during entry. However, the light strip may be activated and illumination provided as the person approaches the vehicle and before grasping the door handle so that the benefits of the illumination at the door handle are achieved before the person grasps the door handle to open the vehicle door. The illumination module or device may be activated by a passive entry system or tied into the vehicle's electrical structure to activate the illumination module of the door handle. Optionally, the light bar or strip may be provided in various colors that may be selected for the particular application and may be coupled with other exterior lighting schemes or trim color schemes to maintain a consistent lighting/trim theme for the vehicle.
Thus, the door handle of the present invention provides a generally or substantially uniform lighting pattern or glow along the handle portion of the vehicle door handle. The light source may be actuatable by a user depressing or touching (for applications where the door handle or button may be touch sensitive or proximity sensitive) the door handle, and/or the light source may be actuatable responsive to any other suitable input or signal, such as in response to at least one of a touch of the door handle, a movement of the strap or handle portion, actuation of a remote keyless entry module, or passive entry device, a motion detection at the vehicle, and an insertion of a key into a keyhole at the door handle. Preferably, the illumination source is deactuatable following a period of time after actuation of the illumination source. Optionally, the light module and/or illumination source may have a dimming control feature or function, such that the illumination source, when activated, is ramped up or progressively powered up to its full illumination state, and when deactivated, is ramped down or dimmed or progressively powered down to its deactivated state. The light module or device of the present invention utilizes an elongated light pipe that is disposed along the handle and that uses a single light emitting diode (or other suitable light source) to achieve substantially uniform lighting or illumination or backlighting along the exterior surface of the door handle and in a substantially small or tight packaging space.
The illumination module may provide a common circuit element or circuit board for providing the lighting feature (such as responsive to a touch or proximity at the door handle and/or to a passive entry system or key fob signal or the like) and for providing a door unlocking feature via the button and associated circuitry of the module. The door thus may be unlocked responsive to a passive entry system or key fob signal or optionally a touch or proximity sensor at the door handle (in conjunction with a recognition by a passive entry system that the user is authorized to unlock and enter the vehicle), and may be locked via a user pressing the button at the door handle, whereby the circuitry of the module may lock the vehicle door (and may illuminate or energize the light emitting diode to illuminate the door handle and confirm to the user that the door is locked).
The illumination source may comprise any suitable illumination source, such as a light emitting diode (LED), such as a white LED or high intensity power LED (such as the types described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,195,381 and/or 6,690,268, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties) or organic light emitting diode (OLED) or electroluminescent light source or the like. The illumination source may comprise a substantially white light emitting illumination source, or may comprise a colored light emitting illumination source (or a white light emitting illumination source may emit light that passes through a color filter or the like) to provide color illumination (such as blue or other color as desired) at and along the door handle depending on the particular application of the door handle assembly and illumination module. For example, the illumination module may emit or transmit colored light that may match or correspond to the interior and/or exterior lighting of the particular vehicle to which the door handle assembly is mounted.
Optionally, other lighting means may be implemented to provide substantially uniform lighting or backlighting or glow along an outer surface of the door handle. For example, and with reference to
Optionally, and with reference to
In the illustrated embodiment, light strip or assembly 318 is disposed along an outer portion of the handle portion 314 and includes a light housing 326, a light pipe 327 (such as a flexible light pipe or element) and a lens 328, which are received or disposed between strap portion 314 and bezel portion 316. The illumination source 320 is disposed at an end of the light strip 318 and is operable to emit light into the light housing 326 and along the light pipe 327 to provide substantially uniform lighting along the light strip 318 at and along the outer surface of the door handle.
As best shown in
The illumination source 320 is partially received at an end of the light housing, with switch 332 protruding through an aperture 326a in light housing 326 that is generally aligned with aperture 316a of bezel 316. The circuit element 330 is received in a correspondingly formed receptacle or attachment portion 326b of light housing 326 and light pipe 327 is partially received in light housing 326 (and the circuit element 330 may be retained therein via a potting material or compound 331 or the like), such that, when assembled, light emanating from light emitting diode 321 is received at an end region or opening 327a of light pipe 327 and is transmitted along light pipe 327. An outer surface or portion or cover or lens 328a of cover 328 is received at or at least partially through a slot or aperture 316b of bezel portion 316, and outer surface or portion 328a of cover 328 may be translucent or transparent (and may comprise a diffusing material or the like or may comprise one or more backlit icons or indicia or logo or the like) so that light emitted by light emitting diode 321 is guided along light pipe 327 and emanates or transmits through cover or outer surface or lens 328a of cover 328 at bezel portion 316.
Optionally, and with reference to
Optionally, and with reference to
As shown in
Ground illuminating light emitting diode 414 is disposed behind a light reflecting/light directing structure or lens 422 (that may be part of cover 418) that is configured to direct or guide or reflect light emanating from ground illumination light emitting diode 414 generally downwardly and to the right in
Projecting light emitting diode 412 is also disposed at circuit element 420 and is disposed behind a lens assembly 424 that guides and directs and focuses light emanating from projecting light emitting diode 412 (when projecting light emitting diode 412 is powered) generally downwardly and rearwardly and/or away from the vehicle to project the desired light or color or image at the side of the vehicle. Optionally, the lens assembly 424 may include an icon element or template or the like so that, when projecting light emitting diode 412 is powered, light emanating from projecting light emitting diode 412 backlights an icon (or indicia or logo or the like) established at the icon element so that an image of the icon is viewable at illumination module and/or is projected by illumination module and onto the ground area adjacent the vehicle (or elsewhere at or near the side of the vehicle depending on the lens assembly and angle of the circuit element and lens assembly).
Optionally, and as shown in
The cover 418 of illumination module 410 may be at least partially or substantially translucent or transparent at least at the illumination sources such that illumination emitted via the illumination sources is transmitted through the cover at the illumination regions and toward the vehicle side or door or ground area. The illumination regions may have a lens or aperture thereat to direct the light in the desired direction and in the desired manner. Optionally, the illumination regions of the cover may provide a diffusing optic or diffusing effect or frosting to diffuse or spread out the emitted light to provide substantially uniform illumination and to limit or substantially preclude bright spots at the vehicle side or door when the illumination source is activated.
As shown in
Therefore, the illumination module 410 provides a dual function and is operable to provide a light projection function (such as projection of non-white light, such as a selected color or such as a variable color or the like to optionally coordinate with an interior color scheme of the vehicle or the like) with one (or more) light emitting diode (or other suitable light source) and a ground illumination function (such as via one or more white light-emitting light emitting diodes or other suitable light source). The illumination module comprises a self-contained unitary sealed module with two light emitting diodes and any suitable lens/light guiding element to provide the desired illumination effect with each of the illumination sources.
The illumination module thus may comprise a small, self-contained module that includes a housing that substantially encases the illumination sources and circuitry of the illumination module. The housing and/or cover attached thereto includes an outer wall that substantially corresponds to the contours of the door handle assembly or mirror assembly at the illumination module such that the outer vehicle surface has a substantially continuous outer surface or wall at the illumination module. The module and housing may be substantially sealed so as to be substantially impervious to water, dirt, debris and the like, so that the module is well suited for the exterior application at the vehicle door handle.
Optionally, the illumination module may include a single illumination source, such as a single light emitting diode, such that the illumination module is operable to provide both ground illumination and light projection with a single or common illumination source of light emitting diode. For example, and with reference to
As shown in
As shown in
The condenser or optic element 530 also includes an outer portion 530b that more broadly or diffusely directs or guides or reflects light emanating from the light emitting diode 512 around (and not through) the masking element 532 and projecting lenses 524a, 524b, whereby the light that passes through outer portion 530b of condenser 530 is directed or guided or reflected to and through the ground illumination lens portion 522b of lens 522 at cover 518. The condenser may have refractive properties to provide redirection or guiding of the light toward the ground illumination lens portion 522b of the cover. The condenser or optic element 530 may comprise any suitable material, and may comprise a molded polycarbonate or plastic element or the like. Optionally, the outer surface of the outer portion 530b of condenser 530 (and optionally the inner surface of the condenser as well) may have a reflective coating or layer to reflect light in the desired direction towards the lens portion 522b of lens 522 at cover 518 to enhance the intensity of light passing through the condenser and lens portion 522b for illuminating the ground at or near the side of the vehicle. Optionally, the illumination source or light emitting diode may comprise a 90 degree light emitting diode (having an angled or 90 degree light pattern) or the like such that a substantial amount of light is directed or emitted at least partially towards the side walls of the condenser to enhance the amount of light that passes through and along the condenser towards the ground illumination lens portion 522 at cover 518 (while still providing sufficient light for passing through central portion 530a of condenser for providing the projecting illumination at the ground area at or near the side of the vehicle).
As shown in
As shown in
The condenser 530 and light emitting diode 512 are disposed behind the light reflecting/light directing structure or lens 522b (that may be part of cover 518) that is configured to direct or guide or reflect light emanating from light emitting diode 512 generally downwardly and to the right in
Also, the light emitting diode 512 is disposed behind the central portion of the condenser 530 and the lens assembly 524, which function to guide and direct and focus some of the light emanating from light emitting diode 512 (when light emitting diode 512 is powered) through the masking element and generally downwardly and rearwardly and/or away from the vehicle to project the desired light or color or image or icon at the side of the vehicle. The lens assembly 524 includes or is disposed at the iconistic element or icon element or template or masking element 532 or the like so that, when light emitting diode 512 is powered, light emanating from light emitting diode 512 backlights or passes through an icon (or indicia or logo or the like) established at the icon element 532 so that an image of the icon is viewable at illumination module and/or is projected by illumination module and onto the ground area adjacent the vehicle (or elsewhere at or near the side of the vehicle depending on the lens assembly and angle of the circuit element and lens assembly).
Optionally, the masking element may comprise a clear plastic or glass element with an icon established thereat (such as by providing the icon or form at clear portions of the masking element, with the surrounding portions of the masking element being darkened or less clear or having reduced light transmissivity). The projected image thus may be a white light icon that is generally a brighter white than the surrounding ground illuminator light (such as shown in
The cover 518 of illumination module 510 may be at least partially or substantially translucent or transparent at least at the illumination source such that illumination emitted via the illumination source is transmitted through the cover at the illumination regions and toward the vehicle side or door or ground area. The illumination regions may have a lens or aperture thereat to direct the light in the desired direction and in the desired manner. Optionally, the illumination regions of the cover may provide a diffusing optic or diffusing effect or frosting to diffuse or spread out the emitted light to provide substantially uniform illumination and to limit or substantially preclude bright spots at the vehicle side or door when the illumination source is activated.
Therefore, the illumination module 510 provides a dual function and is operable to provide a light projection function (such as projection of non-white light, such as a selected color or such as a variable color or the like to optionally coordinate with an interior color scheme of the vehicle or the like) with a single light emitting diode (or other suitable light source) and a ground illumination function (such as via one or more white light-emitting light emitting diodes or other suitable light source) via the same or common light emitting diode (or via a common set of light emitting diodes, such as two or more light emitting diodes that operate together to provide both the ground illumination and icon projection features). The illumination module comprises a self-contained unitary sealed module with a light emitting diode and any suitable lens/light guiding element to provide the desired illumination effect with the common illumination source.
The illumination module thus may comprise a small, self-contained module that includes a housing that substantially encases the illumination sources and circuitry of the illumination module. The housing and/or cover attached thereto includes an outer wall that substantially corresponds to the contours of the door handle assembly or mirror assembly at the illumination module such that the outer vehicle surface has a substantially continuous outer surface or wall at the illumination module. The module and housing may be substantially sealed so as to be substantially impervious to water, dirt, debris and the like, so that the module is well suited for the exterior application at the vehicle door handle.
Thus, the light module 510 provides the function of ground illumination and projection light by the use of a single or common light emitting diode. Typically, projection lights provide a very narrow beam of light. When projected on the ground, the “illumination circle” is about 300-500 mm (such as shown, for example, in
Although shown and described as being disposed at an exterior rearview mirror assembly and/or door handle and/or exterior portion of a vehicle for providing illumination at a side of a vehicle, it is envisioned that the light module of the present invention is suitable for other applications. For example, a light module of the present invention may be disposed at an interior portion of a vehicle, such as at an interior rearview mirror assembly (such as at a mirror casing or behind a reflective element and viewable through the reflective element or the like) of the vehicle or the like, whereby actuation of the light module may provide broad illumination of the dashboard and/or instrument panel of the vehicle (generally beneath the mirror assembly), and may project a beam of light to illuminate (such as at a greater intensity of light as compared to the broad illumination) a targeted portion of the interior of the vehicle (such as for map reading or the like). Also, for example, a light module of the present invention may be suitable for use in non-automotive lighting applications, such as residential lighting or commercial lighting or the like. For example, a light module of the present invention may be converted to replace a household or residential or commercial business or office building light bulb, whereby the light module may provide normal lighting (that broadly illuminates the area surrounding the light module) in addition to projection lighting, such as in a similar manner as described above. A light module for such an application may be similar to light module 510, discussed above, and may have a condenser and ground illumination lens that provide the desired range of illumination. For example, for a light bulb for a recessed light, the light bulb may provide illumination that covers a wide region below the light (so as to illuminate a desired or appropriate sized area or zone of a floor below the recessed light), and may provide an icon projected at a center (or non-centered) region of the ground or floor illumination. For example, such a light bulb may be disposed in a hallway and may provide broad illumination of the hallway, with a projected icon that provides directions or the like on the floor of the hallway to help a person find their targeted destination, such as in an office building or the like.
Optionally, the door handle assembly or mirror assembly or illumination module may include or may be associated with an antenna for receiving signals from or communicating with a remote device. For example, the antenna (such as, for example, an antenna of the types described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,977,619, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety) may communicate a signal to the door locking system via a wire connection or the like, or wirelessly, such as via a radio frequency signal or via an infrared signal or via other wireless signaling means. Such connections can include cables, wires, fiber optic cables or the like. The communication to the locking system may be via a vehicle bus or multiplex system, such as a LIN (Local Interconnect Network) or CAN (Car or Controlled Area Network) system, such as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,291,905; 6,396,408 and/or 6,477,464, which are all hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. The vehicle door may then be unlocked and/or the illumination source or sources may be activated as a person carrying a remote signaling device approaches the door handle. Optionally, other systems may be activated in response to the remote signaling device, such as vehicle lighting systems, such as interior lights, security lights or the like (such as security lights of the types disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,280,069; 6,276,821; 6,176,602; 6,152,590; 6,149,287; 6,139,172; 6,086,229; 5,938,321; 5,671,996; 5,497,305; 6,416,208 and/or 6,568,839, all of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties), or the vehicle ignition, or any other desired system, while remaining within the spirit and scope of the present invention. The door handle and/or illumination module may be in communication with other systems and/or controls of the vehicle door and/or vehicle, such as by utilizing aspects of the door systems described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/499,183, filed Jul. 8, 2009 and published Jan. 14, 2010 as U.S. Publication No. US-2010-0007463, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
Optionally, and with reference to
In accordance with the present invention, a NFC-enabled smartphone 618 is authenticated to a user's vehicle via the controller and near field communication chip of the vehicle door handle. The process for this authentication may be done through the vehicle's center stack user interface or some other method of validating an authorized user. Once authenticated, the user can then approach the locked vehicle and place the smartphone in the vicinity of the NFC-enabled door handle. This action would wake up the door handle's NFC system and quickly identify the smartphone as an authorized user. After such identification is made, communication signals or messages can be sent to various or selected systems and/or accessories of the vehicle that would cause selected or desired actions, such as in a similar manner as what is done with a known key fob of a vehicle (such as unlocking doors, opening trunks or decklids, activating an alarm, activating one or more lights of the vehicle, starting the vehicle's engine and/or the like). Actions such as unlocking doors and loading personalization presets are common in vehicles, and could thus be controlled via a user's smartphone.
Thus, the communication system of the present invention includes a door handle that provides a communication link between a user or vehicle owner's smartphone and various or selected accessories or systems of the vehicle. A user can thus approach the vehicle (and the door handle), and when the smartphone is within a threshold distance of the door handle, the controller of the door handle may receive signals from (and may send signals to) the smartphone to identify the smartphone as an authorized user. After identification or verification of an authorized device, the smartphone may communicate signals to the handle controller, whereby the handle controller may control one or more accessories or systems of the vehicle. Although shown and described as having the control and near field communication chip incorporated in a vehicle door handle, it is envisioned that such a control and near field communication chip (which may be provided as a control module or unit or the like) may be located elsewhere at an exterior portion of a vehicle, such as at an exterior rearview mirror assembly of the vehicle (such as a driver side and/or passenger side exterior rearview mirror assembly) or the like, while remaining within the spirit and scope of the present invention. The control unit (such as a control at an exterior door handle or exterior mirror or the like) may communicate to the vehicle accessory/system via any suitable manner, such as via a wireless communication link or a wired communication link or via a vehicle communication network or bus or the like.
Optionally, the door handle assembly of the present invention may include a soft touch handle portion, such as utilizing the principles described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,349,450; 6,550,103 and 6,907,643, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. Optionally, the door handle assembly may include an antenna or the like, such as for sensing or transmitting signals, such as described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,977,619, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
Optionally, the illumination module and/or an exterior rearview mirror assembly of the vehicle may incorporate a blind spot indicator device or element and/or a turn signal indicator device or element, such as by utilizing aspects of the devices described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 8,058,977; 7,944,371; 7,492,281; 6,198,409; 5,929,786 and/or 5,786,772, and/or U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/187,725, filed Aug. 7, 2008, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,786,704, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. The signal indicator or indication module may include or utilize aspects of various light modules or systems or devices, such as the types described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,581,859; 6,227,689; 6,582,109; 5,371,659; 5,497,306; 5,669,699; 5,823,654; 6,176,602 and/or 6,276,821, and/or PCT Application No. PCT/US2006/018567, filed May 16, 2006 and published Nov. 23, 2006 as International Publication No. WO 2006/124682, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. Optionally, the exterior rearview mirror assembly may include a wide angle reflector at or integral with the reflective element, such as by utilizing aspects of the elements described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,748,856; 7,255,451; 7,195,381; 6,717,712; 7,126,456; 6,315,419; 7,097,312 and/or 6,522,451, and/or U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/187,725, filed Aug. 7, 2008, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,786,704, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.
Changes and modifications to the specifically described embodiments may be carried out without departing from the principles of the present invention, which is intended to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims as interpreted according to the principles of patent law.
The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/302,932, filed May 17, 2021, now U.S. Pat. No. 11,325,564, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/929,325, filed Apr. 27, 2020, now U.S. Pat. No. 11,007,978, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/390,070, filed Apr. 22, 2019, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,632,968, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/482,870, filed Apr. 10, 2017, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,266,151, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/072,638, filed Mar. 17, 2016, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,616,808, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/456,166, filed Aug. 11, 2014, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,290,970, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/674,458, filed Nov. 12, 2012, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,801,245, which claims the filing benefits of U.S. provisional applications, Ser. No. 61/602,148, filed Feb. 23, 2012, Ser. No. 61/592,743, filed Jan. 31, 2012, and Ser. No. 61/559,398, filed Nov. 14, 2011, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.
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