US 11,680,431 B2
Vehicular exterior door system with touch sensors at door handle
Rodney K. Blank, Zeeland, MI (US); Eric Peterson, West Olive, MI (US); Nathan Z. Hellwig, Caledonia, MI (US); Michael T. McNally, Caledonia, MI (US); Gregory A. Huizen, Hudsonville, MI (US); and Kenneth C. Peterson, Ada, MI (US)
Assigned to MAGNA MIRRORS OF AMERICA, INC., Holland, MI (US)
Filed by Magna Mirrors of America, Inc., Holland, MI (US)
Filed on Sep. 12, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/931,201.
Application 17/931,201 is a continuation of application No. 17/249,905, filed on Mar. 18, 2021, granted, now 11,441,338.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/705,229, filed on Jun. 17, 2020.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/991,332, filed on Mar. 18, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2023/0003058 A1, Jan. 5, 2023
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. E05B 81/76 (2014.01); B60Q 1/26 (2006.01); E05B 85/10 (2014.01); E05B 17/10 (2006.01)
CPC E05B 81/77 (2013.01) [B60Q 1/2669 (2013.01); E05B 17/10 (2013.01); E05B 85/10 (2013.01); E05Y 2900/531 (2013.01)] 38 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A vehicular exterior door system, the vehicular exterior door system comprising:
a door handle assembly comprising a handle portion, wherein the door handle assembly is configured for mounting at a door handle region of a vehicle door of a vehicle;
wherein, with the door handle assembly mounted at the door handle region, the handle portion is disposed at a pocket region of the door handle region;
wherein the door handle assembly comprises a pocket lighting module comprising at least one light emitting diode, and wherein, with the door handle assembly mounted at the door handle region, the at least one light emitting diode is operable to emit light to illuminate the pocket region of the door handle region;
wherein the door handle assembly comprises a plurality of touch sensors disposed at the handle portion, wherein the plurality of touch sensors are linearly arranged along the handle portion;
wherein a respective touch sensor of the plurality of touch sensors generates sensor data based on detection of touch at the respective touch sensor;
wherein the plurality of touch sensors comprises at least four touch sensors;
a processor operable to process sensor data generated by individual touch sensors of the plurality of touch sensors;
wherein the vehicular exterior door system, with the door handle assembly mounted at the door handle region, and responsive to processing at the processor of the sensor data generated by individual touch sensors of the plurality of touch sensors, determines a touch event at the door handle assembly;
wherein the determined touch event comprises a user touching the handle portion; and
wherein the vehicular exterior door system, responsive to the determined touch event, unlocks the vehicle door.