CN116027434A

CN116027434A - Proximity sensing system for a lamp assembly

Info

Publication number: CN116027434A
Application number: CN202111255836.2A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 内森·格雷戈里·史密斯; 史蒂文·克罗斯比; 安德鲁·诺曼; 乔纳森·罗杰斯
Original assignee: Ford Global Technologies LLC
Current assignee: Ford Global Technologies LLC
Priority date: 2021-10-27
Filing date: 2021-10-27
Publication date: 2023-04-28

Abstract

The invention provides a vehicle lamp assembly with a capacitive sensor. The assembly includes a lamp housing; a lamp lens, and a chromium reflective element disposed adjacent to the lamp lens. The capacitive sensor has an active plate electrically connected to the sensor. The active plate is disposed proximate the chromium reflective element to form a parasitic capacitive coupling between the active plate and the chromium reflective element. The assembly further includes a controller for processing the signals generated from the sensors and actuating the actuators based on the signals generated from the sensors. The actuator operates the vehicle door.

Description

Proximity sensing system for a lamp assembly

Technical Field

The present application relates to a light assembly for a vehicle having an integrated proximity sensing system that outputs a signal to a control circuit that causes an actuator to activate and operate a vehicle element (e.g., open a vehicle door) when the proximity of a person is detected.

Background

Modern vehicles are often equipped with touch-sensitive access systems to ensure automatic unlocking/release and opening of the hatch, trunk lid or doors of the vehicle. Capacitive sensors for this application include a plurality of sensor electrodes that can detect objects in a "detection zone" space in front of the sensor electrodes. The control circuit is typically coupled to the sensor electrode and detects a change in capacitance of the sensor electrode relative to a reference potential. These sensors may be coupled to a portion of the vehicle (e.g., a taillight area, lower fender, or bumper) and are typically used to operate a door, trunk, or tailgate of a motor vehicle by detecting the proximity of a body part. In some applications, the sensors may be combined and monitored in conjunction with the proximity of the key fob to ensure that the person providing the touch input is also authorized to enter the vehicle. It is an object of the present invention to provide a light assembly with an integrated proximity sensing system that is simple, inexpensive, unobtrusive and provides a secure detection of an actuation request to easily lock or unlock a door of a vehicle. More specifically, the actuator includes a novel capacitive sensor assembly that uses parasitic coupling effects between the reflective element of the lamp assembly and the active plate of the sensor to detect a body part of the user. It is desirable to provide a proximity sensing system that is integrated into a lamp assembly and that allows a compact system to be constructed using reduced components. The invention allows an inexpensive activation system to be realized in an even more cost-effective manner by using existing components of a usual tail light assembly in a new and improved manner.

Disclosure of Invention

According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a lamp assembly for a vehicle having an integrated proximity sensing system is provided. The lamp assembly includes a lamp housing, a lamp lens, and a conductive element disposed between the lens and the housing. In one embodiment, the conductive element is a chrome coating on the reflector. A proximity sensing system is disposed in the lamp housing. In one embodiment, the proximity sensing system is a capacitive sensor. The capacitive sensor includes a first electrode in the form of a conductive active plate disposed on the sensor body and a second electrode physically isolated from the first electrode but electrically coupled to the first electrode to generate an activation field. In one embodiment, the capacitive sensor may include a dielectric layer disposed between the first and second electrodes. The active plate of the sensor is arranged such that its surface area is substantially parallel to the chromium reflective element. The active plate is physically isolated from the chrome reflective element but the parasitic capacitance is coupled to the chrome reflective element such that any change in parasitic capacitance can be detected by the capacitive sensor. The chromium reflective element is chrome plated and has electrical conductivity. The sensor is connected to a controller for processing signals generated by a user from the sensor within the activation field. The controller is also connected to an actuator, such as an electric motor or a solenoid, and operates the actuator in accordance with signals from the capacitive sensor.

In another embodiment, the active plate of the capacitive sensor is arranged remote from the sensor body. The active plate is arranged closer to the chromium reflective element and is connected by a non-conductive adhesive. In this embodiment, the active plate is electrically connected to the sensor via an electrical circuit. As in the previous embodiment, the active plate forms a parasitic capacitive coupling to the chromium reflective element. It should be noted that in both embodiments only the active plate is electrically connected by a circuit, while the chromium reflective element is wirelessly coupled to the active plate by parasitic capacitive coupling.

Drawings

Example embodiments will be more clearly understood from the following brief description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings. The accompanying drawings represent non-limiting example embodiments as described herein.

FIG. 1 is a cross-section of a lamp assembly showing components according to one embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a cross-section of a lamp assembly showing components according to another embodiment of the present disclosure;

fig. 3 shows a block diagram of an integrated sensor in a lamp assembly.

It should be noted that these figures are intended to illustrate general features of methods, structures, and/or materials used in certain example embodiments and to supplement the written description provided below. However, the drawings are not to scale and may not accurately reflect the precise structural or performance characteristics of any given embodiment, and should not be construed as limiting or restricting the scope of the values or attributes encompassed by the example embodiments. The use of similar or identical reference numbers in the various figures is intended to indicate the presence of similar or identical elements or features.

Detailed Description

The disclosed lamp assembly with integrated proximity sensing system will be better understood from a reading of the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. The detailed description and drawings merely provide examples of the various inventions described herein. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the disclosed examples may be changed, modified and altered without departing from the scope of the invention described herein. Many variations are contemplated for different applications and design considerations; however, for the sake of brevity, each of the contemplated variations is not separately described in the following detailed description.

Examples of various embodiments of the lamp assembly are provided throughout the following detailed description. The relevant features in the examples may be the same, similar, or different in different examples. For brevity, no redundant explanation of relevant features will be made in each example. Rather, the use of related feature names will prompt the reader that features with related feature names may be similar to those in the previously explained examples. Features specific to a given example will be described in this particular example. The reader should understand that a given feature need not be the same as or similar to a particular description of the relevant feature in any given drawing or example.

Fig. 1 is a cross-section of a lamp assembly, showing components according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. In the illustrated example, the proximity sensor is configured as a capacitive sensor as shown and described herein. The capacitive sensor has a sensor body 60 and one electrode in the form of an active plate 40 and another electrode (not visible in the figures) disposed within the sensor body. The sensor electrodes are connected to a measurement circuit and periodically measure capacitance. The active plate of the sensor is wirelessly coupled to the conductive elements in the lamp assembly that form the coupling. The active plate also charges a conductive element that is the positive element of the capacitive sensor. When a body part of a person approaches a conductive element in the lamp assembly, it will change the charge level in the element, and the measurement circuit will detect this change and convert it into a trigger signal. The system is calibrated so that even the hand of a gloved person can be detected by the system.

In this embodiment, active plate 40 is disposed in front of and attached to sensor body 60. Active plate 40 may be attached to sensor body 60 by an adhesive. In alternative embodiments, the active plate may be molded into the sensor body. Active plate 40 is electrically connected to the sensor circuit. The capacitive sensor is disposed behind and adjacent to the chrome reflective element 30 of the lamp assembly 10 such that the active plate 40 disposed on the sensor body 60 forms an effective parasitic capacitive coupling with the chrome reflective element 30. The chrome reflective element 30 is electrically isolated from the vehicle and is not part of any sensor circuitry. The bulb is typically arranged in a chrome reflective element. The chromium reflective element 30 optically collects light from the bulb and distributes it uniformly over the surface. The optical function may act as a reflector and/or a light guide, depending on the function related to the lighting system that should be implemented. Any element on the vehicle having a metallized surface or chrome plating and being electrically insulating may be used in place of the chrome reflective element 30, however in this particular disclosure, the chrome reflective element of the lamp assembly is used as an example. The transparent lamp lens 20 covers the side of the chrome reflective element 30 facing the exterior of the vehicle. The capacitive sensor provides an activation field surrounding the outermost surface of the lens 20 and can detect changes in the charge level of the chromium reflective element caused when the vehicle user's finger is within the activation field of the capacitive sensor (e.g., when touching the lens 20). If the change in charge level detected by the coupling between active plate 40 and chrome reflective element 30 of the sensor reaches or exceeds a predetermined threshold level, this results in a corresponding change in capacitance between the sensor electrodes and the sensor triggers a signal to the controller to activate the actuator accordingly. The controller is in electrical communication with the actuator. In this configuration, when the controller receives a signal from the sensor, the controller may process the signal and respond by activating/deactivating the actuator accordingly. Further, the control unit may control the operation of the actuator according to a predetermined control logic.

The controller may include circuitry such as a processor and memory. According to some examples, a routine for controlling the actuator is stored in the memory and executed by the processor. Further, the controller may receive input from one or more user input devices and/or one or more vehicle devices configured to detect the presence of an active user.

As shown in fig. 1, the structural assembly 10 may include a lamp housing 70, a lamp lens 20, and a chrome reflective element 30. The lamp housing 70 supports other components of the lamp assembly and provides mounting points. Such a lamp housing 70 also preferably performs the function of protecting the electrical/electronic devices located inside the lamp assembly 10 from external influences. In one example, the lamp lens 20 is mounted to the housing by fasteners. The lamp lens 20 may be made of a light-transmitting material such as, but not limited to, transparent glass, resin, or plastic material (e.g., transparent PC (polycarbonate), PMMA (polymethyl methacrylate), etc.). The entire lamp assembly 10 is received in a sheet metal housing 80 structure adapted to receive the lamp assembly 10. The lamp assembly 10 of the present invention is configured such that it can be inserted into an opening, or chassis, of a body of a motor vehicle at a rear or side surface of the motor vehicle and securely attached to a metal plate using appropriate fasteners. The sensor assembly within the light is activated by the user accessing the light lens 20 and the controller triggers the actuator to operate the rear hatch and enable the luggage compartment to open automatically. The system can control any actuator in the vehicle based on detection of a sensor assembly integrated in the vehicle lamp. The lamp assembly according to the invention is still able to fulfill its inherent function in the lighting device, while at the same time integrating the proximity detection system.

Referring to fig. 2, a cross-section of a lamp assembly 10 is shown illustrating components according to another embodiment of the present disclosure. In this embodiment, the active plate 40 of the sensor forming one of the electrodes is physically located away from the sensor body 60, but remains in electrical connection with the sensor circuitry. In this embodiment, sensor body 60 may be positioned inside or outside of lamp assembly 10 with lines 90 connecting active plate 40 to the sensor. In this embodiment, active plate 40 is attached to the chromium reflective element with adhesive 95. The adhesive 95 is non-conductive. The surface of active plate 40 is adjacent to chromium reflective element 30 to create a parasitic capacitive coupling effect. The chrome reflective element 30 is electrically isolated from the vehicle and is not part of any sensor circuitry. The surface of active plate 40 may be substantially parallel to the surface of chromium reflective element 30. The active plate of the sensor may be any conductive material (e.g. copper). The change in parasitic capacitance between active plate 40 and the chrome reflective element may be due to human interaction (e.g., a finger or hand approaching the lamp assembly).

Referring to fig. 3, a block diagram of an integrated sensor circuit in the lamp assembly 10 is shown. As shown, the chrome reflective element 30 is physically isolated from the circuitry of the vehicle, but capacitively coupled to the active plate 40 of the sensor. Active plate 40 is electrically conductive and forms a direct electrical connection to the capacitive sensor through line 90. The surface area of active plate 40 overlaps a portion of the surface area of chrome reflective element 30 by a predetermined area to form a wireless, invisible parasitic capacitive coupling 110. In one embodiment, the spacing between active plate 40 and chromium reflective element 30 has a dielectric (e.g., plastic). The sensor assembly is electrically connected to the controller to send a signal when the user's proximity is detected. The controller is electrically connected to the actuator to activate hatch operation upon processing the signal. For simplicity and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in the further course of the present description, when the position of the trunk and/or hatch is explicitly referred to and explained with reference to the rear of the vehicle, i.e. as reference to the taillight assembly, the same inventive concept can also be applied to a headlight or a direction indicator adapted to detect the approach of a person without the need for inventive effort.

The above disclosure includes a number of different inventions having independent utility. Although each of these inventions has been disclosed in a particular form, the specific embodiments thereof as disclosed and illustrated herein are not to be considered in a limiting sense as numerous variations are possible. The subject matter of the present invention includes all novel and non-obvious combinations and subcombinations of the various elements, features, functions and/or properties disclosed hereinabove as well as inherent to those skilled in the art related to such invention.

The following claims particularly point out certain combinations and subcombinations regarded as novel and nonobvious. These claims may refer to "an" element or "a first" element or the equivalent thereof. Such claims should be understood to include incorporation of one or more such elements, neither requiring nor excluding two or more such elements. Other combinations and subcombinations of the disclosed features, functions, elements, and/or properties may be claimed through amendment of the present claims or through presentation of new claims in this or a related application.

Claims

1. A vehicle lamp assembly includes a lamp housing; a lamp lens, a conductive element disposed adjacent the lamp lens, a capacitive sensor having an active plate electrically connected to the sensor, and the active plate disposed in close proximity to the conductive element to form a parasitic capacitive coupling between the active plate and the conductive element.

2. The vehicle lamp assembly of claim 1 wherein the capacitive coupling charges the conductive element of the lamp assembly.

3. The vehicle lamp assembly of claim 1, wherein the capacitive sensor is configured to detect a change in a charge level of the conductive element in the lamp assembly and generate a signal to a controller when the change is above a predetermined threshold.

4. The vehicle lamp assembly of claim 1 wherein the conductive element is a chrome coating on a reflector of the lamp.

5. The vehicle lamp assembly of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to process signals from the capacitive sensor and activate an actuator to operate a vehicle door.

6. The vehicle lamp assembly of claim 1 wherein a body part of a person is proximate the lamp lens to change the charge level of the conductive element by capacitive coupling.

7. The vehicle lamp assembly of claim 1, wherein the active plate is made of an electrically conductive material.

8. The vehicle lamp assembly of claim 1, wherein the conductive material is energized as a positive electrode of the capacitive sensor.

9. The vehicle lamp assembly of claim 1, wherein the active plate is connected to the conductive element by an adhesive.

10. The vehicle lamp assembly of claim 5 wherein the adhesive is a dielectric insulating material.

11. The vehicle lamp assembly of claim 1, wherein the door is comprised of at least one of the following: lifting doors, sliding doors, hinged doors, gull wing doors, pickup tail doors, electric pedals, vehicle windows, lower opening windows, sliding windows, turnover windows, opaque skylights, light-transmitting skylights, walk-in functions, cargo storage boxes with locks, engine cover displays, deployable handles and fuel door covers.

12. A vehicle, comprising: a light assembly having a conductive element, a door covering an opening, a door actuator, a sensor assembly detecting an activation signal for activating the door actuator, and a controller connected to the sensor assembly to process the signal received from the sensor assembly and control operation of the door actuator, wherein the sensor has an electrode disposed adjacent the conductive element inside the light assembly to form a parasitic capacitive coupling.

13. The vehicle of claim 10, wherein the conductive element inside the lamp assembly is electrically isolated from vehicle circuitry.

14. The vehicle of claim 10, wherein the electrode of the sensor assembly disposed adjacent the conductive element within a lamp is an active plate.