Patents by Inventor Joël Garnault

Joël Garnault has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 7233080
    Abstract: The invention concerns a method for processing a motor vehicle detection signals. It consists in taking into account data concerning the surroundings to interpret the detection signals and deliver actuating signals. The invention also concerns a device for implementing said method and an opening panel handle (1) and a vehicle comprising such a device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2007
    Assignee: Valeo Electronique
    Inventors: Joël Garnault, Thierry Benard
  • Patent number: 6998968
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a door handle, in particular for a motor vehicle, comprising at least one presence sensor having at least one electrode for detecting the presence of a user at said handle, wherein it comprises conducting means having at least one proximal end directly or indirectly connected by capacitive coupling to said detection electrode and at least one distal end emerging in electrical insulation on the outer surface of the handle so as to create at least one new zone for detecting the presence of a user. The invention also relates to a hands-free access system for a motor vehicle comprising such a door handle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2006
    Assignee: Valeo Electronique
    Inventors: Joël Garnault, Ciprian Musat, Jean-Claude Huth
  • Publication number: 20040217601
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a door handle, in particular for a motor vehicle, comprising at least one presence sensor having at least one electrode for detecting the presence of a user at said handle, wherein it comprises conducting means having at least one proximal end directly or indirectly connected by capacitive coupling to said detection electrode and at least one distal end emerging in electrical insulation on the outer surface of the handle so as to create at least one new zone for detecting the presence of a user. The invention also relates to a hands-free access system for a motor vehicle comprising such a door handle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2004
    Publication date: November 4, 2004
    Inventors: Joel Garnault, Ciprian Musat, Jean-Claude Huth
  • Publication number: 20040039511
    Abstract: The invention concerns a method for processing a motor vehicle detection signals. It consists in taking into account data concerning the surroundings to interpret the detection signals and deliver actuating signals. The invention also concerns a device for implementing said method and an opening panel handle (1) and a vehicle comprising such a device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2003
    Publication date: February 26, 2004
    Inventors: Joel Garnault, Bernard Thierry
  • Patent number: 6360572
    Abstract: The invention relates to a handle (10) for operating an opening leaf of a motor vehicle comprising an operating lever handle (14) which is intended to be moved by the user from a position of rest into a position for opening, and a transmission member (22) which normally moves with the lever handle (14) from a position of rest into a position of opening and which is connected to a linkage (64) for operating a lock, wherein the transmission member (22) is connected to the lever handle (14) by means of a disengageable mechanism (49, 22, 68, 66), the engagement of which is brought about by the vehicle antitheft unit and which, in its disengaged state, stores up at least some of the mechanical energy of opening applied to the lever handle by the user so as then to restore this energy to the transmission member during engagement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2002
    Assignee: Valeo Securite Habitacle
    Inventor: Joël Garnault
  • Patent number: 6234039
    Abstract: An antitheft device is provided for locking a motor vehicle steering column against rotation. The steering column includes a gear wheel which is fixed coaxially to the steering column shaft, and a pinion with an axis parallel to the steering column axis. The pinion is mounted for rotation in a moveable pinion support which is displaceable between a disengaged position, in which the pinion is disengaged from the gear wheel, and an engaged position in which the pinion is in mesh with the gear wheel. The steering lock also includes a clutch for preventing rotation of the pinion about its axis on the pinion support below a specific torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2001
    Assignee: Valeo Securite Habitacle
    Inventors: Joël Garnault, Jean-Claude Boulay
  • Patent number: 6053067
    Abstract: An antitheft device is provided for locking a motor vehicle steering column against rotation. The steering column includes a gear wheel which is fixed coaxially to the steering column shaft, and a pinion with an axis parallel to the steering column axis. The pinion is mounted for rotation in a moveable pinion support which is displaceable between a disengaged position, in which the pinion is disengaged from the gear wheel, and an engaged position in which the pinion is in mesh with the gear wheel. The steering lock also includes a clutch for preventing rotation of the pinion about its axis on the pinion support below a specific torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2000
    Assignee: Valeo Securite Habitacle
    Inventors: Joel Garnault, Jean-Claude Boulay
  • Patent number: 5929769
    Abstract: A system for unlocking and/or opening an openable member of a motor vehicle comprises a control unit, transmitter/receiver means connected to said control unit, and a transponder worn or carried by a user. The transmitter/receiver means of the vehicle comprise at least one antenna situated on the openable member or in the vicinity thereof, said transmitter/receiver means entering into dialogue with the transponder only when it is situated in the immediate vicinity of said antenna. The control unit causing the openable member to be unlocked and/or opened when the transponder is presented in a predetermined sequence to the antenna(s) of the transmitter/receiver means of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 27, 1999
    Assignee: Valeo Securite Habitacle
    Inventor: Joel Garnault
  • Patent number: 5844470
    Abstract: Opening of a motor vehicle door, having a door lock, is controlled by a system which includes: a door handle pivoted on the door for displacement between a rest position and an open position and connected to the door lock through a linkage; an intermediate lever which is pivoted about a pivot axis on the door and which is connected to the linkage; and a motorized mechanism interposed between the door handle and the intermediate lever. The motorized mechanism is arranged to assume, selectively, an inhibiting state in which manipulation of the door handle has no effect on the intermediate lever, and an operational state in which manipulation of the handle causes simultaneous displacement of the intermediate lever. When this mechanism is actuated to shift it from its inhibiting state to its operational state, the intermediate lever is displaced until the door lock is unlocked.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 1, 1998
    Assignee: Valeo Securite Habitacle
    Inventors: Joel Garnault, Haja Rabeony, Jean-Claude Boulay
  • Patent number: 5732580
    Abstract: A motor vehicle door lock or the like comprises a locking mechanism for securing and releasing the door, operated by a lock which is disengageable from the locking mechanism. The disengageable lock comprises a stator, a tubular intermediate sleeve, a rotor operable by a key, and a control lever for actuating the locking mechanism. The control lever is coupled to the rotor through a driving sleeve. The lock also includes an indexer which is moveable axially between a rest, or engaged, position and a disengaged position when the intermediate sleeve is rotated during actuation of the rotor by an incorrect key. This axial movement of the indexer displaces the driving member axially to a position in which the driving member is prevented from rotating. The indexer is fixed in rotation to the intermediate sleeve, and is also free to rotate with respect to the stator when in the disengaged position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 31, 1998
    Assignee: Valeo Securite Habitacle
    Inventors: Joel Garnault, Christophe Menager
  • Patent number: 4837508
    Abstract: The device includes a comparator (4) fed by a quasi-sinusoidal signal (3) delivered by a variable reluctance sensor, for converting alternations of the signal into pulses acceptable by digital computing means. According to the invention, the device includes a selectively connectable feedback resistor (R5) for varying the threshold of the comparator in such a way as to check, at a given frequency of the signal, the correctness of the amplitude of the signal (3) provided by the sensor. The device may be used for the checking of the operational state of a variable reluctance sensor delivering a signal indicating the speed of rotation of a shaft fitted in a motor vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 1988
    Date of Patent: June 6, 1989
    Assignee: Bendix France
    Inventor: Joel Garnault