US 12,246,677 B2
Method for opening an opening panel of a motor vehicle by motion detection, using a doppler radar, and associated detection device
Wladia Waszak, Toulouse (FR); Franck D'Araujo, Toulouse (FR); and Eric Servel, Toulouse (FR)
Assigned to VITESCO TECHNOLOGIES GMBH, Regensburg (DE)
Appl. No. 17/627,158
Filed by VITESCO TECHNOLOGIES GmbH, Regensburg (DE)
PCT Filed Jul. 7, 2020, PCT No. PCT/EP2020/069063
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Jan. 14, 2022,
PCT Pub. No. WO2021/008930, PCT Pub. Date Jan. 21, 2021.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/875,202, filed on Jul. 17, 2019.
Claims priority of application No. 1910041 (FR), filed on Sep. 12, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2022/0250584 A1, Aug. 11, 2022
Int. Cl. B60R 25/30 (2013.01); B60R 25/01 (2013.01); E05F 15/73 (2015.01); G01S 13/56 (2006.01); G01S 13/931 (2020.01); B60R 25/20 (2013.01)
CPC B60R 25/30 (2013.01) [B60R 25/01 (2013.01); E05F 15/73 (2015.01); G01S 13/56 (2013.01); G01S 13/931 (2013.01); B60R 25/2054 (2013.01); E05Y 2400/44 (2013.01); E05Y 2400/45 (2013.01); E05Y 2400/858 (2013.01); E05Y 2900/548 (2013.01); G01S 2013/93272 (2020.01)] 12 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for opening an opening element of a motor vehicle provided with a detection device configured to detect a predetermined movement of a body part of a user, the detection device including at least one Doppler radar including an antenna, a transmission/reception device configured to transmit and receive radar waves, and a processor configured to process reflected radar waves, the method comprising:
alternating between
i) detection modes of transmitting the radar waves at a first transmission frequency during which transmission of the radar waves at a second transmission frequency is inactive, the second transmission frequency being less than the first transmission frequency, and
ii) standby modes of transmitting the radar waves at the second transmission frequency during which transmission of the radar waves at the first frequency is inactive, during the standby modes of transmitting the radar waves at the second transmission frequency during which transmission of the radar waves at the first frequency is inactive:
phase demodulating the reflected radar waves by a first demodulator and determining a first signal that is an I signal, representing a phase variation of the reflected waves as a function of time, an output of the first demodulator being connected to an input of a directional coupler that separates the transmitted radar waves from the received radar waves,
phase-shift demodulating the reflected radar waves by a second demodulator and a phase shifter connected to the second demodulator, and determining a second signal that is a Q signal, representing a phase variation of the reflected waves shifted as a function of time, an output of the phase shifter being connected to the input of the directional coupler and to an oscillator that generates the transmitted radar waves,
comparing a predetermined threshold to a maximum value among absolute values of the I signal and absolute values of the Q signal,
while in a standby mode, upon determining that a maximum of the absolute values of the I signal or the absolute values of the Q signal is greater than the predetermined threshold, exiting the standby mode and triggering a detection mode of transmitting the radar waves at the first transmission frequency during which transmission of the radar waves at the second transmission frequency is inactive, and
while in the detection mode of transmitting the radar waves at the first transmission frequency during which transmission of the radar waves at the second transmission frequency is inactive, opening the opening element when the predetermined movement is detected during the detection mode.