Active approach detection with macro capacitive sensing

US10821937B1 · kind B1 · utility

Assignee

• Ford Global Technologies, LLC · US

Inventors

• Stuart C. Salter · White Lake, US
• Pietro Buttolo · Dearborn Heights, US
• John Robert Van Wiemeersch · Harper Woods, US
• Paul Kenneth Dellock · Northville, US
• Ali Hassani · Ann Arbor, US
• Ryan Edwin Hanson · Livonia, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Jan 24, 2020
• Grant date: Nov 3, 2020
• Expiry date: Jan 24, 2040

Classification

• Technology area (CPC B): Performing Operations; Transporting
• CPC primary: B60R25/305
• WIPO field: Transport
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

The disclosure is directed to a vehicle capacitive sensor system configured to detect activity, such as a person approaching the vehicle, from a distance from the vehicle (e.g., 5 meters, 10 meters, etc.). The system may initiate various levels of wakeup procedures based on a predicted user intention for use of the vehicle, and may utilize a Phone-as-a-Key (PaaK) system or key fobs in addition to the capacitive field sensors. The system may reduce or eliminate lag time associated with vehicle wakeup operations by enabling features, such as a Passive Entry Passive Start (PEPS) system, in advance of the person making physical contact with a vehicle trigger point. The disclosure includes capacitive sensors integrated with vehicle body panels and moldings, such that vehicle surfaces, either alone or in groups, can function as macro capacitive sensors for detecting various metrics associated with changing capacitive fields.