US 11,668,120 B2
Automatic door release with mechanical linkage
Thomas Young, Royal Oak, MI (US); Rajinder Pal Singh, Plymouth, MI (US); Marcus Merideth, Westland, MI (US); and Kostandinos Papanikolaou, Huntington Woods, MI (US)
Assigned to Rivian IP Holdings, LLC, Plymouth, MI (US)
Filed by Rivian IP Holdings, LLC, Plymouth, MI (US)
Filed on Jul. 27, 2020, as Appl. No. 16/939,550.
Prior Publication US 2022/0025680 A1, Jan. 27, 2022
Int. Cl. E05B 81/76 (2014.01); E05B 77/54 (2014.01); E05B 81/70 (2014.01); E05B 81/72 (2014.01); B60R 25/34 (2013.01); B60R 25/32 (2013.01); B60R 25/01 (2013.01); B60R 25/33 (2013.01); E05B 81/90 (2014.01); E05B 81/64 (2014.01); B60R 25/24 (2013.01)
CPC E05B 81/76 (2013.01) [B60R 25/01 (2013.01); B60R 25/24 (2013.01); B60R 25/32 (2013.01); B60R 25/34 (2013.01); E05B 77/54 (2013.01); E05B 81/70 (2013.01); E05B 81/72 (2013.01); B60R 25/33 (2013.01); E05B 81/64 (2013.01); E05B 81/90 (2013.01); E05Y 2900/531 (2013.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system for managing door operation of a vehicle, the system comprising:
a door comprising:
a door handle configured for mechanical actuation,
an indicator coupled to the door handle and actuated by motion of the door handle, wherein the indicator is configured to move between a first position when the door handle is not actuated to a second position when the door handle is actuated, and
a latch feature configured to be engaged for latching the door closed;
a doorjamb configured for the door to close against, the doorjamb comprising:
a proximity sensor configured to generate a sensor signal indicative of a position of the indicator, and
a latching mechanism configured to secure and release the latch feature of the door; and
control circuitry coupled to the sensor and the latching mechanism, the control circuitry configured to:
receive the sensor signal from the proximity sensor, and
control the latching mechanism based on the sensor signal.