CPC E05B 81/77 (2013.01) [B60Q 3/267 (2017.02); B60R 25/2045 (2013.01); E05B 85/18 (2013.01)] | 16 Claims |
1. A vehicular exterior door handle assembly, the vehicular exterior door handle assembly comprising:
a base portion configured to mount at an exterior door handle region of a vehicular door;
a handle portion pivotable relative to the base portion;
wherein the handle portion, with the base portion mounted at the exterior door handle region of the vehicular door, is pivotable between a non-deployed orientation, where an outer surface of the handle portion is coplanar with an outer surface of the vehicular door at the exterior door handle region, and a deployed orientation, where the handle portion is at least partially accommodated in a door handle pocket of the vehicular door;
a light projection device operable to project an icon or character onto the outer surface of the handle portion when the handle portion is in the deployed orientation; and
wherein, with the handle portion in the deployed orientation, the vehicular door can be opened by a person;
wherein, with the handle portion in the deployed orientation, a person's fingers can be partially inserted into the door handle pocket to open the vehicular door;
a pocket sensing device that detects presence of the person's fingers in the door handle pocket;
wherein the pocket sensing device comprises a plurality of light emitting diodes and at least one light sensor that detects presence of the person's fingers in the door handle pocket; and
wherein the pocket sensing device, via episodically energizing individual ones of the plurality of light emitting diodes, determines movement of the person's fingers within the door handle pocket.
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