Patents by Inventor Gabriel SPICK

Gabriel SPICK 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: 11955967
    Abstract: Disclosed is an assembly of a non-magnetic and metallic target for an inductive sensor and its support, the target being flexible under pressure and under the release of the pressure in a reciprocating movement toward and away from the support. The target includes a central portion surrounded by flexible fixing tabs, a first end of which is secured to the central portion and a second end of which is fixed to the support, the fixing tabs being evenly distributed around the central portion, a first portion of each fixing tab closest to the central portion being stiffer relative to a portion of the fixing tab farthest away from the central portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: VITESCO TECHNOLOGIES GMBH
    Inventors: Florian Brunet-Lugardon, Bertrand Perillat, Gabriel Spick
  • Patent number: 11933084
    Abstract: A presence detection sensor for unlocking an opening panel of a motor vehicle, said sensor comprising a microcontroller implementing an analog-digital converter and comprising a first input, a second input forming the voltage reference of said analog-digital converter, a third input for supplying the microcontroller with voltage, and a plurality of inputs-outputs, and a capacitive voltage divider connected to at least one of the inputs-outputs of the plurality of inputs-outputs. The sensor comprises a resistive module connected between the first input and the second input of the microcontroller and a capacitive module connected between the second input of the microcontroller and a ground.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: VITESCO TECHNOLOGIES GMBH
    Inventors: Olivier Elie, Gabriel Spick
  • Patent number: 11927036
    Abstract: A device for detecting an intention of a user to lock or unlock an opening element of a motor vehicle includes a capacitive sensor and incorporates an inductive sensor with an amagnetic metal target moving under the action of the hand of the user on the handle or the frame, the target being associated with a coil placed in an oscillating circuit being connected to an inductive measurement circuit detecting the intention of the user to lock or unlock the opening element. The intention is only confirmed when detected by both the capacitive and inductive sensors, the target of the inductive sensor being borne by the electrode of the capacitive sensor and a member supporting the electrode being elastically deformable under the action of the user on the handle or the frame, the inductive and capacitive measurement circuits being independent of each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: VITESCO TECHNOLOGIES GMBH
    Inventors: Gabriel Spick, Nicolas Gerard, Bertrand Vaysse
  • Patent number: 11465585
    Abstract: Disclosed is an activation module for a function in a motor vehicle accommodated in a component, the module including a detection and communication device including at least one communication antenna transmitting at a high frequency and a device for detecting a deformation of the component, the communication antenna being connected to a printed circuit board including a unit for measuring voltage variation across the terminals of the communication antenna, a unit for interpreting the measuring unit and transmission and reception unit with an electronic control unit having a unit for activating the function. The communication antenna is movable relative to the printed circuit board under the action of the deformation of the component, the measuring unit then detecting a voltage variation across the terminals of the communication antenna.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: VITESCO TECHNOLOGIES GMBH
    Inventors: Gabriel Spick, Olivier Elie, Olivier Gerardiere
  • Patent number: 11459801
    Abstract: A device for detecting the intention of a user to lock or to unlock a motor vehicle door. The device being incorporated within a handle, including: a capacitive sensor for detecting the approach and/or the contact of a hand of the user toward/with the handle, including at least one electrode, located in proximity to a detection surface of the handle, that is capable of detecting the approach of the hand of a user toward the detection surface; a microcontroller; and a voltage source. At least a portion of the electrode takes a continuous shape of successive arches which allow water to flow away and are connected to one another at their bases by junctions, the junctions being pressed against the detection surface, thus forming a sealtight interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Inventors: Gabriel Spick, Olivier Gerardiere
  • Patent number: 11421453
    Abstract: A device for detecting a user's intention to lock or to unlock a motor vehicle door. The device contained in a watertight housing, integrated into a non-watertight handle, the lower part of which includes drainage holes, a part of the housing being immersed in water. The device including: a capacitive approach and/or contact detection sensor, having at least one detection electrode, a variable detection capacitance representative of the approach of the user's hand, a charging/discharging capacitor Cs, and a protective electrode Ep situated in the part of the housing that is immersed in water, electrically coupled to the detection electrode and connected to a terminal of the charging/discharging capacitor Cs such that the protective electrode Ep is simultaneously at the same potential as the terminal of the charging/discharging capacitor during the various steps of charging/discharging the detection capacitor and the charging/discharging capacitor that are necessary to estimate the detection capacitance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Inventors: Gabriel Spick, Bertrand Vaysse, Bernadette Peris, Stéphan Baudru
  • Patent number: 11414902
    Abstract: A device for detecting a user's intention to lock or unlock a motor vehicle opening element, this device being integrated into a handle, including: an inductive sensor that includes an LC resonant circuit consisting at least of a coil and a main capacitor; a handle target; a microcontroller equipped with a unit for measuring the resonant frequency of the LC resonant circuit; an adjustment device for adjusting the value of the total capacitance of the LC resonant circuit, this adjustment device providing at least two different total capacitance values for the LC resonant circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: VITESCO TECHNOLOGIES GMBH
    Inventors: Gabriel Spick, Olivier Elie
  • Patent number: 11402236
    Abstract: Disclosed is a device for detecting a user's intention to lock or unlock a motor vehicle opening element, the device being intended to be integrated into a handle or into a frame of the opening element and including a voltage source, a printed circuit and at least one sensor for detecting an approach and/or contact of a hand of the user on the handle or the frame. A detection unit of the detection sensor is at least partially in the form of a metallized layer borne by part of an outer contour of a foam block in contact against the housing through a bearing face, the face of the foam block opposite the bearing face bearing the majority of the metallized layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: VITESCO TECHNOLOGIES GMBH
    Inventors: Bertrand Vaysse, Gabriel Spick
  • Publication number: 20220235589
    Abstract: A presence detection sensor for unlocking an opening panel of a motor vehicle, said sensor comprising a microcontroller implementing an analog-digital converter and comprising a first input, a second input forming the voltage reference of said analog-digital converter, a third input for supplying the microcontroller with voltage, and a plurality of inputs-outputs, and a capacitive voltage divider connected to at least one of the inputs-outputs of the plurality of inputs-outputs. The sensor comprises a resistive module connected between the first input and the second input of the microcontroller and a capacitive module connected between the second input of the microcontroller and a ground.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2020
    Publication date: July 28, 2022
    Inventors: Olivier Elie, Gabriel Spick
  • Patent number: 11390246
    Abstract: Disclosed is a device for detecting intention to lock or unlock a door of a motor vehicle, the device including at least a first inductive sensor, including a first target, an oscillating circuit including a coil, a unit measuring a resonant frequency of the circuit, and a printed circuit. The device includes a second inductive sensor including: a second target in the form of a loop, such that a first end of the loop is connected to a fixed potential, and a second end of the loop is connected to a switch having two states, in a first state, the second end of the loop is connected to the fixed potential, in a second state, the second end of the loop is connected to a floating potential; and a controller for the switch. The coil of the first inductive sensor is common to the second inductive sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: VITESCO TECHNOLOGIES GMBH
    Inventors: Gabriel Spick, Vincent Marimoutou, Steffen Eckhardt
  • Patent number: 11336332
    Abstract: A device for a handle of a motor vehicle door. The device includes, integrated into the door, a primary module that supplies power by inductive coupling to a secondary module integrated into the handle. The primary module includes a primary coil and the secondary module having a secondary coil positioned facing the primary coil. The secondary coil also serves as a repeater for contactless communication between the primary module and a terminal. If the handle is retractable, the device also allows the position of the handle during its movement between a deployed position and a retracted position to be estimated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignees: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE FRANCE, CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventors: Gabriel Spick, Olivier Gérardière, Yannis Escalante
  • Patent number: 11333784
    Abstract: A presence detection device including a sensor connected to a microcontroller, the sensor including a first detection capacitor arranged in a first detection area, and a second detection capacitor arranged in a second detection area. The microcontroller is configured to recurrently repeat a phase of measuring a measurement signal by charging/discharging the first detection capacitor from/into the second detection capacitor, and to detect a presence of a user in the first detection area and/or the second detection area according to the measurement signal. Also disclosed are a motor vehicle including a detection device and a detection method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignees: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE FRANCE, CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventors: Gabriel Spick, Yannis Escalante, Olivier Gerardiere
  • Publication number: 20220094361
    Abstract: Disclosed is an assembly of a non-magnetic and metallic target for an inductive sensor and its support, the target being flexible under pressure and under the release of the pressure in a reciprocating movement toward and away from the support. The target includes a central portion surrounded by flexible fixing tabs, a first end of which is secured to the central portion and a second end of which is fixed to the support, the fixing tabs being evenly distributed around the central portion, a first portion of each fixing tab closest to the central portion being stiffer relative to a portion of the fixing tab farthest away from the central portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2019
    Publication date: March 24, 2022
    Inventors: Florian BRUNET-LUGARDON, Bertrand PERILLAT, Gabriel SPICK
  • Publication number: 20220032872
    Abstract: Disclosed is a device for detecting intention to lock or unlock a door of a motor vehicle, the device including at least a first inductive sensor, including a first target, an oscillating circuit including a coil, a unit measuring a resonant frequency of the circuit, and a printed circuit. The device includes a second inductive sensor including: a second target in the form of a loop, such that a first end of the loop is connected to a fixed potential, and a second end of the loop is connected to a switch having two states, in a first state, the second end of the loop is connected to the fixed potential, in a second state, the second end of the loop is connected to a floating potential; and a controller for the switch. The coil of the first inductive sensor is common to the second inductive sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2019
    Publication date: February 3, 2022
    Inventors: Gabriel SPICK, Vincent MARIMOUTOU, Steffen ECKHARDT
  • Publication number: 20210355718
    Abstract: Disclosed is a device detecting intention to lock or unlock a vehicle door, including: a first capacitive sensor including a first electrode, detecting the approach and/or contact of a human body part in a predetermined region around the handle; a first sensor controller, generating a first approach and/or contact detection signal; a second capacitive sensor including a second electrode, detecting the approach of a human body part in the predetermined region, wherein: the first and second electrodes are each separate segments electrically connected to one another, the segments of the first electrode and of the second electrode are alternately juxtaposed; a second sensor controller generate a second approach and/or contact detection signal; a correlator to calculate a correlation value between the first signal and the second signal; and a confirmation unit comparing the correlation value with a predetermined value to detect intention to lock or unlock the door.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2019
    Publication date: November 18, 2021
    Inventors: Gabriel SPICK, Mathieu GIRODIN, Steffen ECKHARDT
  • Publication number: 20210317689
    Abstract: A device for detecting a user's intention to lock or unlock a motor vehicle opening element, this device being integrated into a handle, including: an inductive sensor that includes an LC resonant circuit consisting at least of a coil and a main capacitor; a handle target; a microcontroller equipped with a unit for measuring the resonant frequency of the LC resonant circuit; an adjustment device for adjusting the value of the total capacitance of the LC resonant circuit, this adjustment device providing at least two different total capacitance values for the LC resonant circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2019
    Publication date: October 14, 2021
    Inventors: Gabriel SPICK, Olivier ELIE
  • Publication number: 20210246694
    Abstract: Disclosed is a device for detecting an intention of a user to lock or unlock an opening element of a motor vehicle. The device includes a capacitive sensor and incorporates an inductive sensor with an amagnetic metal target moving under the action of the hand of the user on the handle or the frame, the target being associated with a coil placed in an oscillating circuit being connected to an inductive measurement circuit detecting the intention of the user to lock or unlock the opening element. The intention is only confirmed when detected by both the capacitive and inductive sensors, the target of the inductive sensor being borne by the electrode of the capacitive sensor and a member supporting the electrode being elastically deformable under the action of the user on the handle or the frame, the inductive and capacitive measurement circuits being independent of each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2019
    Publication date: August 12, 2021
    Inventors: Gabriel SPICK, Nicolas GERARD, Bertrand VAYSSE
  • Patent number: 11078692
    Abstract: A method for detecting the intention of a user to lock or unlock a motor-vehicle door with a detection device integrated into a handle. The method includes continuously measuring the resonant frequency of the detection device and successively comparing the measured resonant frequency to a first threshold representative of the approach of the user and to a second threshold, higher than the first threshold, representative of the contact of the user, the intention of the user to lock or unlock the door of the vehicle being validated only if a duration between the passage of the resonant frequency below the first threshold and the passage of the resonant frequency above the second threshold is shorter than a preset duration. An associated detection device is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Inventors: Gabriel Spick, Mickael Guibbert
  • Publication number: 20210231464
    Abstract: Disclosed is a device for detecting a user's intention to lock or unlock a motor vehicle opening element, the device being intended to be integrated into a handle or into a frame of the opening element and including a voltage source, a printed circuit and at least one sensor for detecting an approach and/or contact of a hand of the user on the handle or the frame. A detection unit of the detection sensor is at least partially in the form of a metallized layer borne by part of an outer contour of a foam block in contact against the housing through a bearing face, the face of the foam block opposite the bearing face bearing the majority of the metallized layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2019
    Publication date: July 29, 2021
    Inventors: Bertrand VAYSSE, Gabriel SPICK
  • Publication number: 20210173072
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for detecting the approach of an object on a lateral side of a moving motor vehicle with door handles on lateral sides, each including an ultra-high-frequency antenna detecting a portable user apparatus near the vehicle and identifying it to validate hands-free access to the vehicle for the user, the method including: each antenna emitting an electromagnetic field, a first radiated power per steradian of which, in a first zone directed outside of the vehicle and defined by a first aperture angle, is greater than a second radiated power per steradian in a second, lateral zone directed toward the other antenna and defined by a second aperture angle; and, when the vehicle is moving, validating approach detection by antenna reception of an electromagnetic field emitted by the other antenna and reflected by the object, whose received power is higher than a predetermined minimum received power.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2019
    Publication date: June 10, 2021
    Inventors: Gabriel SPICK, Olivier ELIE, Olivier GERARDIERE