Abstract: A light module for illuminating an outer component of a vehicle, including: a housing for fastening the light module to the vehicle; a cover mounted on the housing; an inner space delimited between the housing and the cover; a printed circuit board in the inner space; a light source on the printed circuit board and configured for emitting an illumination beam-; and a light guide in the housing facing the light source and extending outside the inner space for guiding the illumination beam along the outer component. The light guide includes an optical fiber extending outside the inner space and a lens positioned between the light source and an entry opening of the optical fiber, such that the illumination beam emitted by the light source is focalized toward the entry opening of the optical fiber. A process for manufacturing such light module is also described.

Abstract: A visual recognition system for a vehicle, comprising a plastic capping and an electronic module positioned near an internal face of the plastic capping; said electronic module comprising a sealed housing, a printed circuit board positioned inside the housing, and an optical sensor positioned inside the housing and connected to the printed circuit board; wherein the housing comprises at least one transparent part which is placed in front of the optical sensor and is transparent to visible light; wherein the plastic capping comprises at least one portion which forms a first optical lens placed in front of the optical sensor and the transparent part; and wherein the optical sensor is designed to capture an image outside the vehicle through the transparent part and the first optical lens. A method for implementing such system is also described.

Abstract: A method for controlling access to a vehicle, the vehicle being equipped with an access module and a keypad, an user having a portable device configured to communicate with said access module, the access module being designed to determine a relative position of the portable device with respect to the vehicle, the keypad being positioned outside the vehicle, wherein when the access module detects that the portable device is inside the vehicle and is in an inactive state, wherein said portable device is unable to authorize user access to the vehicle and start of the vehicle, then vehicle unlocking is authorized by a multiple switch operation in a predetermined sequence on the keypad, and wherein after vehicle unlocking, the access module puts the portable device in an active state, wherein said portable device is able to authorize user access to the vehicle.

Abstract: A light module for illuminating an outer component of a vehicle, including: a housing for fastening the light module to the vehicle; a cover mounted on the housing; an inner space delimited between the housing and the cover; a printed circuit board in the inner space; a light source on the printed circuit board and configured for emitting an illumination beam; and a light guide in the housing facing the light source and extending outside the inner space for guiding the illumination beam along the outer component; wherein the housing and the printed circuit board are provided with complementary indexing means tightly fitted relative to each other, for directly positioning the light source mounted on the printed circuit board relative to the light guide in the housing. A process for manufacturing such light module is also described.

Abstract: A light module for illuminating an outer component of a vehicle, including: a housing for fastening the light module to the vehicle; a cover mounted on the housing; an inner space delimited between the housing and the cover; a printed circuit board in the inner space; a light source on the printed circuit board and configured for emitting an illumination beam; and a light guide in the housing facing the light source and extending outside the inner space for guiding the illumination beam along the outer component; wherein the housing and the printed circuit board are provided with complementary indexing means tightly fitted relative to each other, for directly positioning the light source mounted on the printed circuit board relative to the light guide in the housing. A process for manufacturing such light module is also described.

Abstract: A light module includes a light source configured for emitting an illumination beam, and an optical fiber guiding the illumination beam between a first end facing the light source and a second end opposite the light source. The light module further includes a reflector positioned at the second end of the optical fiber and reflecting the illumination beam back from the second end toward the first end of the optical fiber.

Abstract: A light module for illuminating an outer component of a vehicle, including: a housing for fastening the light module to the vehicle; a cover mounted on the housing; an inner space delimited between the housing and the cover; a printed circuit board in the inner space; a light source on the printed circuit board and configured for emitting an illumination beam-; and a light guide in the housing facing the light source and extending outside the inner space for guiding the illumination beam along the outer component. The light guide includes an optical fiber extending outside the inner space and a lens positioned between the light source and an entry opening of the optical fiber, such that the illumination beam emitted by the light source is focalized toward the entry opening of the optical fiber. A process for manufacturing such light module is also described.

Abstract: A light module for illuminating an outer component of a vehicle, includes a housing, a cover on the housing, an inner space between the housing and the cover, a circuit board in the inner space, a light source on the circuit board and configured for emitting an illumination beam, and a light guide in the housing facing the light source and extending outside the inner space for guiding the illumination beam along the outer component, and a connection system for connecting the circuit board outside the light module. The housing and the cover are each made of a plastic material; and the cover integrates, on the one hand, the connection system and, on the other hand, a heatsink insert made of metal and having an inner surface in contact with the circuit board and an outer surface extending outside the inner space of the light module.

Abstract: A keyless entry system may include one or more Near Field Communication (NFC) devices. Also described herein is a keyless entry system including a NFC device and a keypad. In a particular embodiment there is provided a vehicular keyless entry system that is integrated with a vehicle trim component. Some implementations include an antenna carried by or embedded in the trim component.

Abstract: A visual recognition system for a vehicle, comprising a plastic capping and an electronic module positioned near an internal face of the plastic capping; said electronic module comprising a sealed housing, a printed circuit board positioned inside the housing, and an optical sensor positioned inside the housing and connected to the printed circuit board; wherein the housing comprises at least one transparent part which is placed in front of the optical sensor and is transparent to visible light; wherein the plastic capping comprises at least one portion which forms a first optical lens placed in front of the optical sensor and the transparent part; and wherein the optical sensor is designed to capture an image outside the vehicle through the transparent part and the first optical lens. A method for implementing such system is also described.

Abstract: A biometric shifter for a vehicle includes a shifter body having an outer surface with a grip portion configured to be gripped by an operator's hand, the shifter body defining a chamber, the grip portion having an opening that communicates with the chamber, a vein reader sensor disposed within the chamber at a first distance from the opening in the grip portion, wherein the first distance is configured to optimize biometric verification of an operator's hand on the grip portion of the shifter body.

Abstract: A method for controlling access to a vehicle, the vehicle being equipped with an access module and a keypad, an user having a portable device configured to communicate with said access module, the access module being designed to determine a relative position of the portable device with respect to the vehicle, the keypad being positioned outside the vehicle, wherein when the access module detects that the portable device is inside the vehicle and is in an inactive state, wherein said portable device is unable to authorize user access to the vehicle and start of the vehicle, then vehicle unlocking is authorized by a multiple switch operation in a predetermined sequence on the keypad, and wherein after vehicle unlocking, the access module puts the portable device in an active state, wherein said portable device is able to authorize user access to the vehicle.

Abstract: A vehicle entry device is designed to equip a vehicle and may include: a housing defining a cavity and adapted to be fixed to the vehicle; and an electronics module disposed in the cavity, including: a printed circuit board; an antenna connected to the printed circuit board and configured to capture a NFC signal, wherein the antenna includes windings directly arranged on the printed circuit board; an NFC receiver connected to the printed circuit board, in communication with the antenna and configured to receive the NFC signal from the antenna; and a processing element connected to the printed circuit board, in communication with the NFC receiver and configured to provide a control signal to a control system equipping the vehicle, based on the NFC signal transmitted by the NFC receiver, said control signal allowing access to the vehicle. A vehicle trim component may be equipped with such vehicle entry device.

Abstract: A control system for a vehicle, comprising: a central unit-configured to actuate several functions of the vehicle, including unlocking, locking and starting the vehicle; an antenna arrangement integrated to the vehicle; a personal electronic device; a first multi-directional signal transmitted from the antenna arrangement to the personal electronic device; and a second multi-directional signal transmitted from the personal electronic device to the antenna arrangement, in response to the first multi-directional signal; wherein the second multi-directional signal is processed by the control system to evaluate a position of the personal electronic device outside or inside the vehicle. If the personal electronic device is evaluated outside the vehicle, then unlocking the vehicle is authorized and starting the vehicle is forbidden. If the personal electronic device is evaluated inside the vehicle, then starting the vehicle is authorized. A method for controlling a vehicle is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for authorizing a driver to activate at least one system of a vehicle, includes a preliminary phase that includes an initialization step, an enrollment step scanning enrollment biometric data of the driver, an access step for the driver to enter the vehicle, and a storage step registering enrollment biometric data in memory. The method also includes a subsequent phase that includes an authentication step scanning authentication biometric data of the driver and comparing said authentication biometric data with the enrollment biometric data in the memory, then an activation step wherein, if the authentication biometric data match with the enrollment biometric data, in authorizing the driver to activate the at least one system of the vehicle, or a refusal step wherein, if the authentication biometric data does not match with the enrollment biometric data, in forbidding the driver to activate the at least one system of the vehicle.

Abstract: In at least some implementations, a method for preventing inadvertant operation of a vehicle access system that includes a plurality of inputs involves providing a keypad operable to output signals to control a vehicle system based on entry of a code via the inputs, detecting when a predetermined access sequence is inputted via the inputs and outputting a signal to a vehicle system to allow access to the vehicle, and operating the keypad in a disabled mode wherein the keypad output signals are not outputted. The disabled mode may be activated either actively or passively or both, and the disabled mode may be terminated either actively or passively or both.

Abstract: A biometric recognition system for a vehicle includes a support portion, a vein reader sensor disposed on the support portion, and a control member configured to control a function of the vehicle. The control member has a top surface and a bottom surface and defines an opening extending through the control member from the top surface to the bottom surface. The control member is moveable relative to the support portion to a first position. The opening is aligned with the vein reader sensor and the top surface is a first distance from the vein reader sensor when the control member is in the first position. The first distance is configured to optimize biometric verification of an operator's hand gripping the control member.

Abstract: A method for authorizing a driver to activate at least one system of a vehicle, based on a biometric authentication process. The method comprises an enrollment step, a reservation step, an access step, an authentication step, then an activation step or a refusal step. In the access step, when device enters a predetermined range from the vehicle, device provides the vehicle identifier to vehicle, while vehicle provides the device identifier to device, thus establishing a wireless communication between device and vehicle. Driver is granted access to vehicle upon completion of a secured protocol. Device provides biometric data to vehicle via the wireless communication. In the authentication step, vehicle processes the data to restore the enrollment biometric data. A reader equipping vehicle is used for scanning authentication biometric data of driver. The authentication biometric data are then compared with the enrollment biometric data registered in the vehicle.

Abstract: A vehicle entry device is designed to equip a vehicle and may include: a housing defining a cavity and adapted to be fixed to the vehicle; and an electronics module disposed in the cavity, including: a printed circuit board; an antenna connected to the printed circuit board and configured to capture a NFC signal, wherein the antenna includes windings directly arranged on the printed circuit board; an NFC receiver connected to the printed circuit board, in communication with the antenna and configured to receive the NFC signal from the antenna; and a processing element connected to the printed circuit board, in communication with the NFC receiver and configured to provide a control signal to a control system equipping the vehicle, based on the NFC signal transmitted by the NFC receiver, said control signal allowing access to the vehicle. A vehicle trim component may be equipped with such vehicle entry device.

Abstract: A biometric recognition system for a vehicle includes a support portion, a vein reader sensor disposed on the support portion, and a control member configured to control a function of the vehicle. The control member has a top surface and a bottom surface and defines an opening extending through the control member from the top surface to the bottom surface. The control member is moveable relative to the support portion to a first position. The opening is aligned with the vein reader sensor and the top surface is a first distance from the vein reader sensor when the control member is in the first position. The first distance is configured to optimize biometric verification of an operator's hand gripping the control member.