IP Library Granted Patent US 7,852,199
Granted Patent B2
US 7,852,199 · App. 11/803,626 · Granted Dec 14, 2010

Security configuration with an inductively coupled touch sensitive keypad in or on a window pane and motor vehicle with the security configuration

View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,852,199
App. No.
11/803,626
Granted
Dec 14, 2010
Kind
B2
Abstract

A security configuration in or for a motor vehicle, which includes a bodywork part, such as a door, and a window pane arranged in the bodywork part. The security configuration includes a touch-sensitive keypad integrated in or mounted to the window pane. The keypad has a plurality of touch sensors, each of which takes the form of resonant oscillating circuits and via which an actuation of a respective touch sensor can be picked up. An electronic evaluation system is configured for the purpose of detecting an actuation of the keypad and attributing said actuation to a respectively actuated touch sensor. There is also provided a motor vehicle which includes such a security configuration.

Claims (24)

1. A security configuration in or for a vehicle having a bodywork part and a window pane disposed in the bodywork part, the security configuration comprising:

a touch-sensitive keypad disposed in or mounted on the window pane, said keypad including a plurality of touch sensors each in the form of a resonant oscillating circuit and capable of acquiring an actuation of a respective said touch sensor; and

an electronic evaluation system configured and disposed to detect an actuation of said keypad and to attribute each actuation to a respectively actuated said touch sensor, said electronic evaluation system including at least one coil element;

at least one of said touch sensors including a passive coil region inductively coupled to said coil element at least when said one of said touch sensors is actuated; and

said one of said touch sensors being unpowered.

2. The security configuration according to claim 1 , wherein said electronic evaluation system is inductively coupled to said keypad.

3. The security configuration according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of said touch sensors of said keypad has an inductive part, and said electronic evaluation system includes an inductive pick-up inductively coupled to said inductive part of said touch sensor.

4. The security configuration according to claim 1 , wherein said passive coil region includes a drawn-out winding disposed for inductively coupling said one of said touch sensors to said coil element of said electronic evaluation system.

5. The security configuration according to claim 1 , wherein said keypad is disposed at least partially in an externally visible region of the window pane and/or a region of said touch sensors that is inductively coupled to said electronic evaluation system is disposed in a region of the window pane that is not externally visible.

6. The security configuration according to claim 1 , wherein individual said touch sensors are disposed integrally within a material of the window pane.

7. The security configuration according to claim 1 , wherein individual said touch sensors are applied on a surface of the window pane.

8. The security configuration according to claim 7 , wherein said touch sensors are mounted to a surface of the window pane oriented toward an interior of a passenger compartment of the vehicle.

9. The security configuration according to claim 1 , wherein the bodywork part is a vehicle door and the window pane is disposed to be at least partially retractable into the vehicle door.

10. The security configuration according to claim 9 , wherein said electronic evaluation system is mounted at a fixed location within the vehicle door.

11. The security configuration according to claim 1 , wherein said electronic evaluation system includes a program-controlled unit for evaluation, said program controlled unit forming a part of a control device of the security configuration.

12. The security configuration according to claim 11 , wherein said program-controlled unit is a microcontroller or a microprocessor.

13. The security configuration according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of said touch sensors includes a variable capacitive part and an inductive part connected in parallel with each other.

14. The security configuration according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of said touch sensors has a spiral coil.

15. In combination with a motor vehicle, at least one security configuration according to claim 1 installed in the motor vehicle.

16. The motor vehicle according to claim 15 , wherein the bodywork part is a driver-side vehicle door.

17. The motor vehicle according to claim 15 , wherein the security configuration is a component part of an access authorization system and/or an ignition authorization system.

18. The motor vehicle according to claim 15 , wherein the window pane is a windshield pane of the motor vehicle and/or a rear window pane of the motor vehicle.

19. The motor vehicle according to claim 18 , wherein the motor vehicle is provided with a rain sensor for detecting rain falling on the windshield pane and/or the rear window pane, and said rain sensor forms a component part of the security configuration.

20. The motor vehicle according to claim 19 , wherein the electronic evaluation system controls a wiper speed of a windshield wiper of the motor vehicle depending on an amount of rain detected by said rain sensor unit.

Assignments (3)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 7, 2025
From: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
To: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE TECHNOLOGIES GMBH
Reel/Frame 070441/0899 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 7, 2010
From: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
To: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
Reel/Frame 025104/0787 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 14, 2008
From: DESAI, TEJAS BHUPENDRA; KLEMENT, THOMAS; MUELLER, NORBERT
To: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
Reel/Frame 021232/0416 →