US 11,851,920 B2
Vehicular exterior door handle assembly with light projection and gesture sensing
Kenneth C. Peterson, Ada, MI (US); and Justin E. Sobecki, Rockford, MI (US)
Assigned to Magna Mirrors of America, Inc., Holland, MI (US)
Filed by Magna Mirrors of America, Inc., Holland, MI (US)
Filed on Apr. 27, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/302,186.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/706,574, filed on Aug. 26, 2020.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/704,216, filed on Apr. 28, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2021/0332619 A1, Oct. 28, 2021
Int. Cl. E05B 81/76 (2014.01); E05B 85/18 (2014.01); B60R 25/20 (2013.01); B60Q 3/267 (2017.01)
CPC E05B 81/77 (2013.01) [B60Q 3/267 (2017.02); B60R 25/2045 (2013.01); E05B 85/18 (2013.01)] 16 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
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.