Granted Patent B2

US 12,291,901 · App. 18/056,017 · Granted May 6, 2025

Inventors: Reinaldo Mensch (Wuppertal, DE); Ralf Höhn (Velbert, DE); Karsten Steinhauer (Essen, DE)

Assignee: Witte Automotive GmbH

E05B81/77E05B81/78

Abstract

Claims (26)

1. A vehicle, which comprises an unlocking mechanism for an electric vehicle lock, wherein at least one contactless, triggering device for actuating the unlocking mechanism and a status indicator of the unlocking mechanism are provided,

wherein the triggering device is non-visibly arranged on a vehicle panel and/or on a body section, and the status indicator is arranged in an outwardly visible region of the vehicle in a channel strip element, in a body section, and/or in a paneling element,

wherein the triggering device comprises a first detection region and is configured to unlock the vehicle lock upon a first detection of a first approach and/or gesture in the first detection region of the triggering device,

and the triggering device comprises a second detection region to open the vehicle lock upon a second detection of a second approach and/or gesture in the region of, in the direction of, or very close to the status indicator and/or the channel strip element and/or a stationary exterior door handle,

wherein the first detection region comprises a number of capacitive sensors that are arranged vertically behind the vehicle panel and/or the body section,

wherein the status indicator is arranged separately from the triggering device and perpendicularly to the triggering device.

2. The vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the triggering device comprises the number of capacitive sensors which are arranged between the vehicle panel and/or the body section, on which the triggering device is arranged, and the channel strip element and/or the exterior door handle.

3. The vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the triggering device is configured to detect at least one vertical movement as the locking request, unlocking request, and/or opening request.

4. The vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the status indicator is configured to indicate a current status and/or a status change of the triggering device and/or of the locking mechanism, unlocking mechanism, and/or opening mechanism of the electronic vehicle lock.

5. The vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the status indicator and the triggering device are coupled to one another in terms of signaling.

6. The vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein a vehicle authentication system is coupled to the triggering device and the vehicle lock, in order, in the event of a locking signal, unlocking signal, or opening signal triggered due to an identified gesture and/or movement of a user, to additionally verify whether the user is also authorized to lock, unlock, or open the vehicle lock.

7. The vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the vehicle lock is opened by a further movement and/or gesture detected by triggering device in a first direction and/or in the direction of the status indicator, the channel strip element, and/or the exterior door handle.

8. The vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the status indicator extends horizontally in an area of the channel strip element.

9. The vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the status indicator extends horizontally in an area of the body section.

10. The vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the status indicator extends horizontally in an area of the paneling element.

11. The vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the second detection region is different from the first detection region.

12. The vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the status indicator is arranged separately from the triggering device and on another vehicle part than the triggering device.

13. The vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the status indicator is arranged below the second detection region.

14. The vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the status indicator is arranged close to a handle element.

15. The vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the status indicator extends over a length in a longitudinal direction of a handle element.

16. The vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the status indicator is arranged on the channel strip element which is formed as a handle.

17. The vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the triggering device has at least one detection module which is arranged in the region of the status indicator and/or of the channel strip element and/or of the stationary exterior door handle.

18. The vehicle according to claim 17 , wherein the detection module comprises at least one gesture module and/or one touch module.

19. The vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the first detection region of the triggering device extends in the vertical direction of the vehicle.

20. The vehicle according to claim 19 , wherein the second detection region of the triggering device extends below the first detection region.

21. The vehicle according to claim 20 , wherein the second detection region is formed offset in the longitudinal direction relative to the first detection region.

Assignments (1)

Priority Claims (2)

Continuity (1)

References Cited (25)