Vehicular access system with extendable and retractable door handle assembly
A vehicular access system includes a door handle assembly having (i) a base mounted at a door of a vehicle, (ii) a handle movable relative to the base and (iii) an electrically operable actuator that is electrically operated to move the handle relative to the base. The handle is movable between a recessed position and a partially extended position. The vehicular access system controls operation of the electrically operable actuator to move the handle between the recessed position and the partially extended position. The vehicular access system detects an authorized user and determines movement of the detected authorized user. Responsive to determination that the authorized user is approaching the door of the vehicle, the vehicular access system unlocks the door handle assembly and controls operation of the electrically operable actuator to move the handle to the partially extended position.
1 . A vehicular access system, the vehicular access system comprising:
a door handle assembly comprising (i) a base mounted at a door of a vehicle, (ii) a handle movable relative to the base and (iii) an electrically operable actuator that is electrically operated to move the handle relative to the base;
wherein the handle is movable between a recessed position, where the handle is at least partially recessed at the base so as to be not readily graspable by a person at the door of the vehicle, and a partially extended position, where the handle extends partially outward from the base to be graspable by a person at the door of the vehicle;
wherein the vehicular access system controls operation of the electrically operable actuator to move the handle between the recessed position and the partially extended position;
wherein the vehicular access system detects an authorized user and determines movement of the detected authorized user via a sensor disposed at or near the door of the vehicle; and
wherein, based on the determined movement of the detected authorized user, and responsive to determination that the authorized user is approaching the door of the vehicle, the vehicular access system unlocks the door handle assembly and controls operation of the electrically operable actuator to move the handle to the partially extended position.
2 . The vehicular access system of claim 1 , wherein determining movement of the detected authorized user comprises determining a motion vector of the detected authorized user that is indicative of a direction that the detected authorized user is moving relative to the vehicle, and wherein the vehicular access system determines that the authorized user is approaching the door of the vehicle by comparing determined motion vectors of the detected authorized user as the detected authorized user moves relative to the vehicle.
3 . The vehicular access system of claim 1 , wherein the vehicular access system controls the electrically operable actuator to move the handle from the recessed position to the partially extended position responsive to a signal.
4 . The vehicular access system of claim 3 , wherein the signal comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of (a) a signal from a passive entry device, (b) a signal from a remote transmitting device and (c) a signal indicative of the detected authorized user actuating a door unlock button of the vehicle.
5 . The vehicular access system of claim 1 , wherein the electrically operable actuator provides a manual override that allows the detected authorized user to manually move the handle relative to the base.
6 . The vehicular access system of claim 5 , wherein the manual override is provided via at least partial disengagement of gears of the electrically operable actuator when the detected authorized user moves a portion of the handle inward towards the base.
7 . The vehicular access system of claim 1 , wherein, responsive to determination of a lockout condition, the vehicular access system limits movement of the handle from the recessed position towards the partially extended position.
8 . The vehicular access system of claim 7 , wherein the lockout condition comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of (i) the vehicle being in a forward propulsion setting, (ii) the vehicle being in a reverse propulsion setting, (iii) a predetermined time period following the vehicle being powered on and (iv) the vehicle moving above a threshold speed.
9 . The vehicular access system of claim 1 , wherein the door handle assembly comprises one selected from the group consisting of (a) a strap handle assembly for opening a side door of a vehicle, (b) a paddle handle assembly for opening a side door of a vehicle and (c) a liftgate handle assembly for opening a liftgate of a vehicle.
10 . The vehicular access system of claim 1 , wherein the handle is pivotally mounted to the base and the electrically operable actuator electrically operates to pivot the handle from the recessed position to the partially extended position.
11 . The vehicular access system of claim 1 , wherein the handle, when in the recessed position, is at least partially received in the base so as to be not readily graspable by a person until the handle is moved toward the partially extended position.
12 . The vehicular access system of claim 1 , wherein the vehicular access system controls operation of the electrically operable actuator to move the handle from the partially extended position towards the recessed position responsive to elapsing of a period of time after the handle is moved from the recessed position to the partially extended position.
13 . The vehicular access system of claim 1 , wherein the sensor is disposed at the door of the vehicle.
14 . The vehicular access system of claim 13 , wherein the door handle assembly comprises the sensor.
15 . The vehicular access system of claim 13 , wherein the sensor comprises a passive entry device.
16 . The vehicular access system of claim 1 , wherein the vehicular access system controls operation of the electrically operable actuator of the door handle assembly via a control module at the door of the vehicle.
17 . A vehicular access system, the vehicular access system comprising:
a door handle assembly comprising (i) a base mounted at a door of a vehicle, (ii) a handle movable relative to the base and (iii) an electrically operable actuator that is electrically operated to move the handle relative to the base;
wherein the handle is movable between a recessed position, where the handle is at least partially recessed at the base so as to be not readily graspable by a person at the door of the vehicle, and a partially extended position, where the handle extends partially outward from the base to be graspable by a person at the door of the vehicle;
wherein the vehicular access system controls operation of the electrically operable actuator to move the handle between the recessed position and the partially extended position;
wherein the vehicular access system detects an authorized user and determines movement of the detected authorized user via a sensor at the door of the vehicle;
wherein, based on the determined movement of the detected authorized user, and responsive to determination that the detected authorized user is approaching the door of the vehicle, the vehicular access system unlocks the door handle assembly and controls operation of the electrically operable actuator to move the handle to the partially extended position; and
wherein, based on the determined movement of the detected authorized user, and responsive to determination that the detected authorized user is not approaching the door of the vehicle, the vehicular access system does not unlock the door handle assembly and does not control operation of the electrically operable actuator to move the handle to the partially extended position.
18 . The vehicular access system of claim 17 , wherein determining movement of the detected authorized user comprises determining a motion vector of the detected authorized user that is indicative of a direction that the detected authorized user is moving relative to the vehicle, and wherein the vehicular access system determines that the detected authorized user is approaching the door of the vehicle by comparing determined motion vectors of the detected authorized user as the detected authorized user moves relative to the vehicle.
19 . The vehicular access system of claim 17 , wherein the vehicular access system controls the electrically operable actuator to move the handle from the recessed position to the partially extended position responsive to a signal.
20 . The vehicular access system of claim 19 , wherein the signal comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of (a) a signal from a passive entry device, (b) a signal from a remote transmitting device and (c) a signal indicative of the detected authorized user actuating a door unlock button of the vehicle.
21 . The vehicular access system of claim 17 , wherein the electrically operable actuator provides a manual override that allows the detected authorized user to manually move the handle relative to the base.
22 . The vehicular access system of claim 21 , wherein the manual override is provided via at least partial disengagement of gears of the electrically operable actuator when the detected authorized user moves a portion of the handle inward towards the base.
23 . The vehicular access system of claim 17 , wherein, responsive to determination of a lockout condition, the vehicular access system limits movement of the handle from the recessed position towards the partially extended position.
24 . The vehicular access system of claim 23 , wherein the lockout condition comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of (i) the vehicle being in a forward propulsion setting, (ii) the vehicle being in a reverse propulsion setting, (iii) a predetermined time period following the vehicle being powered on and (iv) the vehicle moving above a threshold speed.
25 . The vehicular access system of claim 17 , wherein the door handle assembly comprises one selected from the group consisting of (a) a strap handle assembly for opening a side door of a vehicle, (b) a paddle handle assembly for opening a side door of a vehicle and (c) a liftgate handle assembly for opening a liftgate of a vehicle.
26 . The vehicular access system of claim 17 , wherein the handle is pivotally mounted to the base and the electrically operable actuator electrically operates to pivot the handle from the recessed position to the partially extended position.
27 . The vehicular access system of claim 17 , wherein the handle, when in the recessed position, is at least partially received in the base so as to be not readily graspable by a person until the handle is moved toward the partially extended position.
28 . The vehicular access system of claim 17 , wherein the door handle assembly comprises the sensor.
29 . The vehicular access system of claim 17 , wherein the sensor comprises a passive entry device.
30 . The vehicular access system of claim 17 , wherein the vehicular access system controls operation of the electrically operable actuator of the door handle assembly via a control module at the door of the vehicle.
31 . A vehicular access system, the vehicular access system comprising:
a door handle assembly comprising (i) a base mounted at a door of a vehicle, (ii) a handle movable relative to the base and (iii) an electrically operable actuator that is electrically operated to move the handle relative to the base;
wherein the handle is movable between a recessed position, where the handle is at least partially recessed at the base so as to be not readily graspable by a person at the door of the vehicle, and a partially extended position, where the handle extends partially outward from the base to be graspable by a person at the door of the vehicle;
wherein the vehicular access system controls operation of the electrically operable actuator to move the handle between the recessed position and the partially extended position;
wherein the vehicular access system detects an authorized user and determines movement of the detected authorized user;
wherein the vehicular access system detects the authorized user via at least one selected from the group consisting of (a) a signal from a passive entry device, (b) a signal from a remote transmitting device carried by the authorized user and (c) a sensor at the door of the vehicle;
wherein, based on the determined movement of the detected authorized user, and responsive to determination that the detected authorized user is approaching the door of the vehicle, the vehicular access system unlocks the door handle assembly and controls operation of the electrically operable actuator to move the handle to the partially extended position; and
wherein the vehicular access system controls operation of the electrically operable actuator to move the handle from the partially extended position towards the recessed position responsive to elapsing of a period of time after the handle is moved from the recessed position to the partially extended position.
32 . The vehicular access system of claim 31 , wherein determining movement of the detected authorized user comprises determining a motion vector of the detected authorized user that is indicative of a direction that the detected authorized user is moving relative to the vehicle, and wherein the vehicular access system determines that the detected authorized user is approaching the door of the vehicle by comparing determined motion vectors of the detected authorized user as the detected authorized user moves relative to the vehicle.
33 . The vehicular access system of claim 31 , wherein the electrically operable actuator provides a manual override that allows the detected authorized user to manually move the handle relative to the base.
34 . The vehicular access system of claim 33 , wherein the manual override is provided via at least partial disengagement of gears of the electrically operable actuator when the detected authorized user moves a portion of the handle inward towards the base.
35 . The vehicular access system of claim 31 , wherein, responsive to determination of a lockout condition, the vehicular access system limits movement of the handle from the recessed position towards the partially extended position.
36 . The vehicular access system of claim 35 , wherein the lockout condition comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of (i) the vehicle being in a forward propulsion setting, (ii) the vehicle being in a reverse propulsion setting, (iii) a predetermined time period following the vehicle being powered on and (iv) the vehicle moving above a threshold speed.
37 . The vehicular access system of claim 31 , wherein the door handle assembly comprises one selected from the group consisting of (a) a strap handle assembly for opening a side door of a vehicle, (b) a paddle handle assembly for opening a side door of a vehicle and (c) a liftgate handle assembly for opening a liftgate of a vehicle.
38 . The vehicular access system of claim 31 , wherein the handle is pivotally mounted to the base and the electrically operable actuator electrically operates to pivot the handle from the recessed position to the partially extended position.
39 . The vehicular access system of claim 31 , wherein the handle, when in the recessed position, is at least partially received in the base so as to be not readily graspable by a person until the handle is moved toward the partially extended position.
40 . The vehicular access system of claim 31 , wherein the vehicular access system detects the authorized user and determines movement of the detected authorized user via the sensor at the door of the vehicle.
41 . The vehicular access system of claim 40 , wherein the door handle assembly comprises the sensor.
42 . The vehicular access system of claim 31 , wherein the vehicular access system controls operation of the electrically operable actuator of the door handle assembly via a control module at the door of the vehicle.
43 . The vehicular access system of claim 31 , wherein, responsive to determination that the detected authorized user is not approaching the door of the vehicle, the vehicular access system does not unlock the door handle assembly and does not control operation of the electrically operable actuator to move the handle to the partially extended position.