Patents by Inventor Alain Fontanet

Alain Fontanet 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).

  • Publication number: 20240418543
    Abstract: An inductive position sensor includes a primary winding, a first secondary winding, and a second secondary winding superimposed on the first secondary winding, wherein each turn comprises two turn segments referred to as transverse segments, each oriented substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis, and at least two segments referred to as longitudinal segments arranged each time between two transverse segments, and the transverse segments are irregularly distributed along the longitudinal axis. An area of the sensor having along the longitudinal axis a density of transverse segments substantially higher than the density of segments outside of the area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2023
    Publication date: December 19, 2024
    Applicant: Vitesco Technologies GmbH
    Inventors: Alain FONTANET, Jérémie BLANC
  • Patent number: 12162430
    Abstract: A device for “hands-free” unlocking/locking of a door of a motor vehicle includes a radiofrequency antenna and radiofrequency transmission/reception system to authenticate portable equipment of a user, at least one capacitive sensor to detect the approach and/or the contact of a member of the user in a predetermined zone, an electronic unit controlling the unlocking of the door, an emergency access device, and a chain. The emergency access device includes a body, a graspable pull member connected to a lock actuator and movable between retracted and deployed positions, a retention pin sliding transverse to the pull member, an electric ejector configured to control the sliding of the retention pin, and a control unit for the electric ejector adapted to control the electric ejector in two modes, the control unit controlling the electric ejector in vibration mode as a function of an authentication status of the equipment of the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2024
    Assignee: VITESCO TECHNOLOGIES GMBH
    Inventors: Michele Ciocchetta, Alain Fontanet
  • Patent number: 12050116
    Abstract: Disclosed is an inductive position sensor including, on the one hand, a primary winding and, on the other hand, at least two secondary windings each having a plurality of turns formed of a succession of sides and produced on two opposite faces of a printed circuit board. Two pairs of two adjacent sides of each turn of at least one secondary winding form a first point directed toward a first longitudinal end and a second point directed toward a second longitudinal end of the printed circuit board, a projection on a plane of the printed circuit board of the two adjacent sides of each pair defining between them an acute projected angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2024
    Assignee: VITESCO TECHNOLOGIES GMBH
    Inventors: Alain Fontanet, Jean-Louis Roux
  • Publication number: 20240249867
    Abstract: An inductive position sensor includes, on the one hand, a primary coil and, on the other hand, at least one secondary coil that includes at least two secondary windings each consisting of a plurality of turns formed on two layers of a printed circuit board. Each of the turns has a first generally concave portion placed on one layer of the printed circuit board and a second generally concave portion placed on another layer of the printed circuit board. Among the first portions and second portions of the turns of the two secondary windings, at least some of these first and second portions are arranged in mirror symmetry on either side of a transverse separation plane, this transverse separation plane being located between the two secondary windings and being orthogonal to the longitudinal direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2022
    Publication date: July 25, 2024
    Inventor: Alain FONTANET
  • Patent number: 12000181
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for detecting the intention to unlock an opening element (1) of a motor vehicle with a housing (4) containing a support element (12) having a region of contact (11) with a handle (2) and being associated with an amagnetic metal target (6), the device comprising a printed circuit board (9), a voltage source and at least one emitter primary coil (7). The support element (12) forms an elongated lever arm, the target (6) being arranged at its longitudinal free end with its other longitudinal end fixed to an anchoring point (14) on the housing (4) while being flexible toward the primary coil (7) under the action of the pressure from the user on the opening element handle (2) or frame which is transmitted to the contact region (11) located away from the target (6) by more than half of a length of the support element (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2024
    Assignee: VITESCO TECHNOLOGIES GMBH
    Inventors: Alain Fontanet, Armand Castandet
  • Patent number: 11773630
    Abstract: A vehicle opening panel emergency access device, having: a body; a graspable pull member that is able to move between: a retracted position and a deployed position; a retention pin that is designed to occupy: a locking position and a position for releasing the pull member; an electric ejector designed to control the sliding of the retention pin; a control unit for control according to two modes: an unlocking mode in which the electric ejector drives the retention pin from its locking position to its release position; and a percussion mode in which the electric ejector drives the retention pin in oscillation between its locking position and an intermediate position between the locking position and the release position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Inventor: Alain Fontanet
  • Patent number: 11725429
    Abstract: An emergency access device for an opening element of a vehicle, including: a body; a pull tab; a retention needle; a mechanical ejector; and an electric ejector which includes: a magnetic circuit surrounding the ferromagnetic core of the retention needle; an activation coil connected to an electric magnetization circuit, the activation coil being designed to magnetize the magnetic circuit and attract the ferromagnetic core of the retention needle; and a detection coil for detecting the position of the retention needle, the detection coil being connected to a detection circuit designed to measure the inductance of the detection coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Inventors: Alain Fontanet, Steffen Eckhardt
  • Publication number: 20230174013
    Abstract: A device (D) for “hands-free” unlocking/locking of a door of a motor vehicle (V), said device (D) being intended to be placed on board said vehicle (V), and comprising a radiofrequency antenna (A) and radiofrequency transmission/reception means (50) capable of authenticating portable equipment (SD) of a user, at least one capacitive sensor for detecting the approach and/or the contact (C) of a member of the user in a predetermined zone (Z), an electronic unit (40) controlling the unlocking of the door, said device (D) being characterized in that it further comprises an emergency access device (E) comprising: a) a body (1); b) a graspable pull member (3) connected to a lock actuator (4) and movable between: a retracted position, in which the pull member (3) is retracted in the body (1); and a deployed position, in which the pull member (3) projects outside the body (1); c) a retention pin (6) sliding transverse to the pull member (3) and adapted to assume: a blocking position, in which it is disposed against
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2021
    Publication date: June 8, 2023
    Inventors: Michele CIOCCHETTA, Alain FONTANET
  • Publication number: 20220396982
    Abstract: An emergency access device for an opening element of a vehicle, including: a body; a pull tab; a retention needle; a mechanical ejector; and an electric ejector which includes: a magnetic circuit surrounding the ferromagnetic core of the retention needle; an activation coil connected to an electric magnetization circuit, the activation coil being designed to magnetize the magnetic circuit and attract the ferromagnetic core of the retention needle; and a detection coil for detecting the position of the retention needle, the detection coil being connected to a detection circuit designed to measure the inductance of the detection coil.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2020
    Publication date: December 15, 2022
    Inventors: Alain Fontanet, Steffen Eckhardt
  • Publication number: 20220333412
    Abstract: A vehicle opening panel emergency access device, having: a body; a graspable pull member that is able to move between: a retracted position and a deployed position; a retention pin that is designed to occupy: a locking position and a position for releasing the pull member; an electric ejector designed to control the sliding of the retention pin; a control unit for control according to two modes: an unlocking mode in which the electric ejector drives the retention pin from its locking position to its release position; and a percussion mode in which the electric ejector drives the retention pin in oscillation between its locking position and an intermediate position between the locking position and the release position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2020
    Publication date: October 20, 2022
    Inventor: Alain Fontanet
  • Patent number: 11441925
    Abstract: A method for defining a measurement range, called the useful span, of the inductive position sensor with emission of a cosine and sine signal by at least one first receiver winding and at least one second receiver winding, respectively. The cosine signal emitted by the one or more second receiver windings is taken as reference signal between the two sine and cosine signals for an adjustment of at least one parameter of the sine signal depending on a corresponding parameter of the cosine signal, at least one of the dimension and positioning parameters of the one or more first receiver windings being configured to generate a sine signal having the at least one parameter of the sine signal adjusted with respect to the cosine signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Inventor: Alain Fontanet
  • Publication number: 20220136868
    Abstract: Disclosed is an inductive position sensor including, on the one hand, a primary winding and, on the other hand, at least two secondary windings each having a plurality of turns formed of a succession of sides and produced on two opposite faces of a printed circuit board. Two pairs of two adjacent sides of each turn of at least one secondary winding form a first point directed toward a first longitudinal end and a second point directed toward a second longitudinal end of the printed circuit board, a projection on a plane of the printed circuit board of the two adjacent sides of each pair defining between them an acute projected angle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2020
    Publication date: May 5, 2022
    Inventors: Alain FONTANET, Jean-Louis ROUX
  • Patent number: 11230864
    Abstract: A device for detecting the intention to lock or unlock a vehicle opening element integrated into a handle and including a housing, a variation in the position of a target occurring under pressure from a user on the handle. A primary coil has turns wound in a plane parallel to the plane of the surface of the target. A receiver secondary coil that receives a magnetic field induced by the primary coil and has its turns wound in a plane parallel to the plane of the turns of the primary coil and with the target at least partially intercalated between the primary and secondary coils when pressure is applied to the handle. A variation in the magnetic field received by the secondary coil is detected by a measurement device for measuring a parameter resulting from the voltage induced in the secondary coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignees: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE FRANCE, CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventors: Alain Fontanet, Armand Castandet
  • Publication number: 20210238897
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for detecting the intention to unlock an opening element (1) of a motor vehicle with a housing (4) containing a support element (12) having a region of contact (11) with a handle (2) and being associated with an amagnetic metal target (6), the device comprising a printed circuit board (9), a voltage source and at least one emitter primary coil (7). The support element (12) forms an elongated lever arm, the target (6) being arranged at its longitudinal free end with its other longitudinal end fixed to an anchoring point (14) on the housing (4) while being flexible toward the primary coil (7) under the action of the pressure from the user on the opening element handle (2) or frame which is transmitted to the contact region (11) located away from the target (6) by more than half of a length of the support element (12).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2019
    Publication date: August 5, 2021
    Inventors: Alain FONTANET, Armand CASTANDET
  • Publication number: 20210040782
    Abstract: A device for detecting the intention to lock or unlock a vehicle opening element integrated into a handle and including a housing, a variation in the position of a target occurring under pressure from a user on the handle. A primary coil has turns wound in a plane parallel to the plane of the surface of the target. A receiver secondary coil that receives a magnetic field induced by the primary coil and has its turns wound in a plane parallel to the plane of the turns of the primary coil and with the target at least partially intercalated between the primary and secondary coils when pressure is applied to the handle. A variation in the magnetic field received by the secondary coil is detected by a measurement device for measuring a parameter resulting from the voltage induced in the secondary coil.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2019
    Publication date: February 11, 2021
    Inventors: Alain Fontanet, Armand Castandet
  • Publication number: 20200400465
    Abstract: A method for defining a measurement range, called the useful span, of the inductive position sensor with emission of a cosine and sine signal by at least one first receiver winding and at least one second receiver winding, respectively. The cosine signal emitted by the one or more second receiver windings is taken as reference signal between the two sine and cosine signals for an adjustment of at least one parameter of the sine signal depending on a corresponding parameter of the cosine signal, at least one of the dimension and positioning parameters of the one or more first receiver windings being configured to generate a sine signal having the at least one parameter of the sine signal adjusted with respect to the cosine signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2018
    Publication date: December 24, 2020
    Applicants: Continental Automotive France, Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventor: Alain FONTANET
  • Patent number: 10816364
    Abstract: An inductive position sensor including at least two secondary windings consisting of a plurality of turns that are formed on two opposite faces of a printed circuit board and divided into first and second sectors. The first and second sectors are divided, in one turn width, into a first portion on one face of the printed circuit board and a second portion on an opposite face. The second portion of the first sector is extended by a first portion of the second sector and the first portion of the first sector is connected to the second portion of the second sector of a neighboring turn. The portions are connected pairwise by a respective via passing through the printed circuit board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignees: Continental Automotive France, Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventor: Alain Fontanet
  • Publication number: 20200173812
    Abstract: An inductive position sensor including at least two secondary windings consisting of a plurality of turns that are formed on two opposite faces of a printed circuit board and divided into first and second sectors. The first and second sectors are divided, in one turn width, into a first portion on one face of the printed circuit board and a second portion on an opposite face. The second portion of the first sector is extended by a first portion of the second sector and the first portion of the first sector is connected to the second portion of the second sector of a neighboring turn. The portions are connected pairwise by a respective via passing through the printed circuit board.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2018
    Publication date: June 4, 2020
    Inventor: Alain Fontanet
  • Patent number: 10527459
    Abstract: This inductive position sensor is designed to measure the angular position of a shaft or the like and includes a support on which are realized, on the one hand, a primary winding, and on the other hand, at least two secondary windings in phase opposition with respect to each other. Each secondary winding is defined by a set of at least two loops in phase with each other. The secondary windings are connected in series and each arranged symmetrically with respect to a middle line so as to form each time a pattern on either side of this middle line, the two patterns having a separation between them in the area of said middle line. An assembly including such a sensor and a target with two oppositely directed helices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignees: Continental Automotive France, Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Alain Fontanet, Jean-louis Roux
  • Publication number: 20200003584
    Abstract: An inductive position sensor designed to measure the angular position of a shaft or the like and includes a support on which are realized, on the one hand, a primary winding, and on the other hand, at least two secondary windings in phase opposition with respect to each other. Each secondary winding is defined by a set of at least two loops in phase with each other. The secondary windings are connected in series and each arranged symmetrically with respect to a middle line so as to form each time a pattern on either side of this middle line, the two patterns having a separation between them in the area of said middle line. An assembly including such a sensor and a target with two oppositely directed helices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2019
    Publication date: January 2, 2020
    Inventors: Alain Fontanet, Jean-louis Roux