FR3147580A1 - Method and device for controlling a motorized vehicle shutter - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method and a device for controlling (10) a motorized shutter (6) of a vehicle (2). The method comprises: detecting an external authentication device (DV1) in the vicinity of the vehicle (2); in response to said detection, unlocking a locking system (20) of the motorized shutter (6); and controlling the motorized shutter (6) during which, if an opening command (CM1) is received, opening the motorized shutter (6) in response to said opening command (CM1). Abstract: Figure 1

Description

Method and device for controlling a motorized vehicle shutter

The present invention relates to a method and a device for controlling a vehicle flap, in particular but not exclusively for a motor vehicle. The invention aims in particular at controlling the opening of a vehicle flap (for example a tailgate or a trunk flap).

Technological background

It is becoming increasingly common to equip motor vehicles with a motorised rear shutter that can be opened using an automatic opening function. This automatic opening can be activated in various ways depending on the case, for example manually using an opening button located on the vehicle, or remotely using a gesture that the user makes near the vehicle (the “full arms” function) or via a remote control, badge or other. The remote control allows the user to trigger the opening of the rear shutter without having to physically touch the vehicle.

Such a rear flap is, for example, a tailgate or a trunk flap generally mounted to pivot along a horizontal axis, or a trunk door generally mounted to pivot along a vertical axis.

To enable the automatic opening of a vehicle shutter, the shutter is equipped with motorized drive means, generally motorized cylinders which are activated in response to an opening command which can be received in various ways as mentioned above.

Despite their relative efficiency, motorized shutters currently suffer from certain limitations and constraints. One problem with these automatic opening functions is the overall time required to implement said function, between the moment when opening is requested by the user and the moment when the motorized shutter is opened. This overall time can be relatively long before the motorized shutter is fully opened, which limits the quality of the user experience. This waiting time can cause frustration and discomfort for the user, particularly when the user is carrying a load throughout the shutter opening process, a common situation, for example, when the arms-loaded function is implemented. The user would therefore like the shutter to open as quickly as possible to allow him to quickly place his load in the trunk.

Summary of the present invention

One of the objects of the present invention is to solve at least one of the problems or deficiencies of the technological background described above.

Another object of the invention is to enable rapid and secure opening of a motorized vehicle shutter, for example of the rear shutter type or other.

According to a first aspect, the present invention relates to a method for controlling a motorized shutter of a vehicle, said method being implemented by a control device, said vehicle comprising a system for locking the motorized shutter, said method comprising:
- detection of an external authentication device near the vehicle;
- in response to said detection, unlocking of the motorized shutter locking system;
- control of the motorized shutter comprising: if an opening command is received, opening of the motorized shutter in response to said opening command.

In a particular example, the motorized shutter is a rear shutter of the vehicle. Such a rear shutter is, for example, a trunk lid or a trunk flap, or a trunk door.

The present invention advantageously makes it possible to quickly, efficiently and securely control a motorized vehicle shutter, such as for example a rear shutter or other. Indeed, the opening of the motorized shutter can be actuated by the user in various ways depending on the case, for example manually by means of an opening button with which the vehicle is equipped, or remotely by means of a gesture that the user performs near the vehicle ("full arms" function) or via a remote control, badge or other. To speed up the process of opening a motorized vehicle shutter and thus minimize the user's waiting time, the unlocking of the motorized shutter is triggered early, that is to say upon detection of the external authentication device near the vehicle (for example at a distance less than a threshold distance). Thus, it is not necessary to wait for a command to open the motorized shutter to be received to trigger the unlocking. Upon receipt of such an opening command, the motorized shutter can be immediately triggered, which reduces the user's waiting time and therefore improves the user experience.

The method according to the invention may include other characteristics which may be taken separately or in combination, in particular among the embodiments which follow.

According to a particular embodiment, the unlocking of the locking system is triggered in response to said detection, independently of any unlocking command received from outside the vehicle.

According to a particular embodiment, the method comprises, after unlocking the locking system:
- receipt of a said command to open the motorized shutter;
- in response to said opening command, opening of the motorized shutter.

According to a particular embodiment, said detection comprises:
- receiving authentication data from outside the vehicle;
- authentication of the external authentication device from the authentication data; and
- detection of the external authentication device near the vehicle if the authentication of the external control device is successful.

According to a particular embodiment, the control comprises:
- measurement of a waiting time elapsed from the detection of the external authentication device near the vehicle;
- if the waiting time reaches a maximum time without any said opening command being received, locking of the locking system.

According to a particular embodiment, the maximum delay is equal to, or substantially equal to, 3 seconds.

According to a second aspect, the present invention relates to a device for controlling a motorized shutter of a vehicle, for example a rear shutter or other, the device comprising a memory associated with a processor configured for implementing the steps of the control method according to the first aspect of the present invention.

It should be noted that the various embodiments mentioned above in relation to the control method according to the first aspect of the invention as well as the associated advantages apply in a similar manner to the control device according to the second aspect of the invention.

According to a third aspect, the present invention relates to a vehicle, for example of the automobile type or of the land motor vehicle type, comprising a control device according to the second aspect of the present invention.

According to a fourth aspect, the present invention relates to a computer program which comprises instructions adapted for the execution of the steps of the control method according to the first aspect of the present invention, this in particular when the computer program is executed by at least one processor. In other words, the different steps of the detection method are determined by computer program instructions. This computer program is configured to be implemented in a control device of the second aspect of the invention, or more generally in a computer.

Such a computer program may use any programming language, and may be in the form of source code, object code, or intermediate code between source code and object code, such as in a partially compiled form, or in any other desirable form.

According to a fifth aspect, the present invention relates to a recording medium (or information medium), readable by the detection device according to the second aspect or more generally by a computer (or a processor), on which is recorded a computer program comprising instructions for executing the steps of the control method according to the first aspect of the present invention.

On the one hand, the recording medium may be any entity or device capable of storing the program. For example, the medium may include a storage medium, such as a ROM memory, a CD-ROM or a microelectronic circuit type ROM memory, or a magnetic recording medium or a hard disk.

On the other hand, this recording medium may also be a transmissible medium such as an electrical or optical signal, such a signal being able to be conveyed via an electrical or optical cable, by conventional or hertzian radio or by self-directed laser beam or by other means. The computer program according to the present invention may in particular be downloaded from a network such as the Internet.

Alternatively, the recording medium may be an integrated circuit in which the computer program is incorporated, the integrated circuit being adapted to perform or to be used in performing the method in question.

Brief description of the figures

Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will emerge from the description of the particular and non-limiting exemplary embodiments of the present invention below, with reference to the appended figures 1 to 5, in which:

schematically illustrates a vehicle comprising a motorized shutter and a control device, according to at least one particular and non-limiting exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

schematically illustrates the vehicle of the , according to at least one particular and non-limiting embodiment of the present invention;

schematically illustrates the vehicle of the , according to at least one particular and non-limiting embodiment of the present invention;

schematically illustrates the control device on board the vehicle shown in Figures 1-3, according to at least one particular and non-limiting exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and

illustrates a diagram of different steps of a method for controlling a motorized vehicle shutter such as for the vehicle shown in Figures 1-3, according to at least one particular and non-limiting exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Description of examples of implementation

A method of controlling and a device for controlling a motorized vehicle shutter will now be described in the following with reference to Figures 1-5. Unless otherwise indicated, elements common or similar to several figures bear the same reference signs and have identical or similar characteristics, so that these common elements are generally not described again for the sake of simplicity.

The terms “first(s)”, “second(s)”, etc. are used in this document by arbitrary convention to enable the identification and distinction of different elements (such as operations, means, etc.) implemented in the embodiments described below.

It has been observed that the problem of the relatively long overall time of the process of opening a motorized vehicle shutter is mainly linked to the sequence of the different steps of the opening process implemented on board the vehicle. This process requires in particular the detection of the user near the vehicle, the taking into account of the opening request issued by the user, the unlocking of the lock of the motorized shutter and the opening of the motorized shutter following unlocking. The waiting time required for the automatic opening of such a motorized shutter cannot be explained simply by the relative slowness of the opening movement of the shutter. It has been observed that a certain latency is imposed by the electronic control system on board the vehicle to carry out each of these steps, which is one of the causes leading to a relatively long overall time.

As previously indicated, the invention relates in particular to a method for controlling a motorized shutter of a vehicle, the latter comprising a system for locking the motorized shutter. Although embodiments are described below in the context of controlling a rear vehicle shutter, it should be noted that the invention applies more generally to controlling any motorized vehicle shutter, rear or otherwise. It may be, for example, a tailgate or a trunk flap. This trunk flap may optionally take the form of a trunk door.

A shutter is said to be motorized to the extent that it is equipped with drive means allowing it to open (and possibly close) automatically. The opening movement of a motorized shutter can thus be achieved without requiring manual action by a user to physically move said shutter.

The motorized shutter controlled in the invention may be that of a vehicle of the automobile or other type, or more generally of any vehicle of the motorized land vehicle type.

To speed up the process of opening a motorized vehicle shutter and thus minimize the waiting time of a user, the invention provides in particular for triggering the unlocking of a rear vehicle shutter early, that is to say upon detection of an external authentication device near the vehicle, and this even before the reception of a possible opening command from the user.

According to a particular and non-limiting example of embodiment, the control method, implemented by a control device, comprises:
- detection of an external authentication device near the vehicle;
- in response to said detection, unlocking of the motorized shutter locking system;
- control of the motorized shutter comprising: if an opening command is received, opening of the motorized shutter in response to said opening command.

There schematically illustrate a vehicle 2 comprising a motorized shutter 6 and a control device 10 (also called hereinafter “device”) according to a particular and non-limiting embodiment of the invention.

Figures 2 and 3 schematically illustrate implementations of the device 10 and the vehicle 2 of the , according to specific examples of implementation.

The vehicle 2 is for example of the automobile type. Alternatively, the vehicle 2 may be for example a coach, a bus, a truck, a utility vehicle or a motorcycle, or more generally a vehicle of the motorized land vehicle type. The type and characteristics of the vehicle 2 may be adapted by the person skilled in the art as appropriate.

For example, the motorized shutter 6 is a rear shutter of the vehicle 2, that is to say a shutter generally positioned at the rear of the vehicle 2 and providing access to the passenger compartment of the vehicle from the rear.

The configuration of the motorized shutter 6 may vary depending on the case. As an example, it is considered that the rear shutter 6 is a trunk hatch (or a trunk flap) generally mounted pivoting along a horizontal axis. Alternatively, the motorized shutter 6 may be a trunk door generally mounted pivoting along a vertical axis.

As illustrated in , the rear flap 6 is able to open (and possibly also to close) automatically. To do this, the vehicle 2 has drive means (or motorized drive means) 18 configured to drive (or move) the rear flap 6 during an opening operation MV1 from a closed position P1 to an open position P2 ( ). These drive means 18 are motorized, which allows automatic opening (and possibly closing) of the shutter without a manual (drive) action by a user being required to physically move the shutter. This rear shutter 6 can thus be opened by actuating the opening (opening movement noted MV1) from the low position P1 to the high position P2, which allows access to the rear passenger compartment of the vehicle 2.

As illustrated (figures 1-2), it is considered by way of example that the drive means 18 comprise motorized cylinders capable of automatically opening the rear flap 6.

The control device 10 is configured to control the rear shutter 6, in particular when a user UR1 requests the opening of the rear shutter 6. In other words, the rear shutter 6 is configured to automatically initiate an opening operation MV1 under the control of the control device 10. To do this, the control device 10 is coupled to the drive means 18 (FIGS. 1-2) to control the opening movement MV1 of the rear shutter 6, for example by sending at least one opening command CM1 to the drive means 18.

As illustrated in Figures 1-3, the vehicle 2 has a detection system 14 and a locking system 20, these being coupled to the control device 10. The control device 10, the detection system 14 and the locking system 20 together form a (or are part of a) protection system denoted SY1 ( ).

According to a particular example, the detection system 14 is included (in whole or in part) in the control device 10.

More specifically, the control device 10 is configured to control the locking system 20 with which the rear shutter 6 is equipped. The locking system 20 makes it possible to automatically lock or unlock the rear shutter 6. To do this, the locking system 20 comprises, for example, an electric lock (or equivalent) electrically controlled by the device 10. When the locking system is in the locked state, the opening MV1 of the motorized shutter 6 is prohibited. The opening of the motorized shutter 6 is only possible once the locking system 20 has been unlocked. Thus, the device 10 can actuate the unlocking of the locking system 20 upon detection of an external device DV1 in the vicinity, and this even before an opening command CM1 is received (as described below in particular examples). Once in the unlocked state, the rear shutter 6 can thus be opened by actuating the drive means 18 under the control of the device 10.

Furthermore, the detection system (or identification system, or authentication system) 14 is configured to detect an external authentication device DV1 when the latter is close to the vehicle 2 (for example at a distance less than a threshold distance). This external authentication device DV1, also called hereinafter external device (or authentication device), is a portable device that the user UR1 is likely to carry on him and which allows the latter to be recognized by the vehicle 2. If the external authentication device is recognized (or authenticated) successfully, the rear flap 6 can be unlocked automatically by the control device 10.

The nature and configuration of the external control device DV1 may vary depending on the case. It may be, for example, a remote control that can be activated remotely by the user UR1, or a badge, or a smartphone or equivalent, or more generally any portable device, external to the vehicle 2, and capable of cooperating with the detection system 14 to allow the detection and recognition of the user UR1 when the latter brings the external device DV1 close to the vehicle 2.

For this purpose, the external device DV1 is for example configured to send signals SG1 comprising authentication data DT1, these signals SG1 being able to be picked up remotely by the detection system 14 on board the vehicle 2 when the external device DV1 is within communication range of the detection system 14 (FIGS. 1-3). For this purpose, the detection system 14 may comprise for example detection antennas 14a, on board the vehicle 2 ( ), allowing to receive the SG1 signals emitted by the external device DV1.

The device 10 can receive detection data generated by the detection system 14 upon detection of the external device DV1, these detection data being processed by the device 10 to detect the presence of the external device DV1 near the vehicle 2.

The control device 10 is also configured to receive and process an opening command CM1 received from the user UR1 and to control the rear flap 6 in response to this opening command. In response to such an opening command CM1, the device 10 is configured to trigger the opening MV1 of the rear flap 6 in order to provide access to the rear passenger compartment of the vehicle 2, as described below in particular examples.

The opening command CM1 requiring the opening of the rear flap 6 can be transmitted in various ways by the user UR1 to the control device 10 depending on the case. The user UR1 can for example send the opening command CM1 by manually actuating an opening control button (or means) 22a with which the vehicle 2 can be equipped. Such a button can for example be integrated into the rear flap 6 so as to be accessible by the user UR1 (for example on the bodywork of the vehicle 2). According to one example, the user UR1 sends the opening command CM1 remotely, for example by means of a gesture that he performs near the vehicle (function “arms full”) and which is detected by a motion sensor 22b (for example of the magnetic field sensor type) with which the vehicle 2 can be equipped (for example in the rear bumper), or even via an external device such as the external control device DV1 for example. According to one example, the external control device DV1 is not only used to detect the user UR1 near the vehicle 2 but also to send an opening command CM1.

The use of an external device, such as the DV1 device, or the use of a gesture near the vehicle 2, advantageously allows the user UR1 to control the opening MV1 of the rear shutter 6 without needing to physically touch the vehicle 2.

As illustrated in figures 1-3, the vehicle 2 may comprise an on-board network NT1, that is to say an on-board communication network allowing the control device 10 to communicate (and interact) with the various on-board elements of the vehicle 2, in particular with the detection system 14, the drive means 18, the locking system 20, or where appropriate one or more of the button 22a and the motion sensor 22b.

According to a particular example illustrated in , the control device 10 comprises at least one processor 11 and a non-volatile memory (not shown). The control device 10 is configured to implement a control process (or method) as described below. For this purpose, the control device 10 may comprise a computer program PG1 stored in the non-volatile memory (a flash memory or ROM for example), this computer program PG1 comprising instructions for implementing the control method (or process) as described below. The processor 11 is thus configured to execute in particular the instructions defined by the computer program PG1.

The control device 10 may for example take the form of a (or comprise a) calculator, or a combination of calculators. An example of implementation of the control device 10 is described later.

As indicated above, the control device 10 is configured to implement a control process. This process is now described in conjunction with FIGS. 1-3 according to particular embodiments.

As an example, assume that vehicle 2 is stationary and that a user UR1, carrying the external control device DV1, approaches vehicle 2. At this initial stage, it is assumed that the locking system 20 is in the locked state.

During a first operation, called a detection operation, the control device 10 detects the external authentication device DV1 in the vicinity of the vehicle 2 by means of the detection system 14. This detection occurs for example when the external device 10 is positioned at a distance from the vehicle 2 less than a threshold distance which may vary depending on the case. It is considered that the external device DV1 is detected in the vicinity of the vehicle 2 even before any opening command CM1 is received from the user UR1 to request the opening of the rear flap 6.

According to a particular example, the detection system 14 receives, by means of the detection antennas 14a embedded in the vehicle 2, authentication signals SG1 received from the external control device DV1. The detection system then sends to the control device 10 detection data representative of the authentication signals SG1 received. From this detection data, the device 10 detects the presence of the external device 10 in the vicinity of the vehicle 2.

According to a particular example, the device 10 performs an authentication of the external control device DV1 from authentication data DT1 included (or coded) in the authentication signals SG1 received from outside the vehicle 2. To do this, the device 10 compares for example the authentication data DT1 with reference data. If the authentication data DT1 match the reference data, the external device DV1 is successfully authenticated and the external device DV1 is therefore detected near the vehicle 2. Otherwise, the authentication fails and the external device DV1 is therefore not detected near the vehicle 2. This authentication allows the device 10 to ensure that the signals SG1 received indeed come from the legitimate external device DV1, and therefore that it comes from the legitimate user UR1 or with his consent.

During a second operation, called the unlocking operation, the control device 10 unlocks the locking system 20 of the rear flap 6 in response to the detection (first operation) of the external device DV1 in the vicinity of the vehicle 2. In other words, the device triggers the unlocking of the locking system 20 upon detection of the external device DV1 in the vicinity, and in any event before receiving any possible opening command CM1 requiring the opening of the rear flap 6. The unlocking of the locking system 20 is therefore carried out independently of any unlocking command CM1 received from outside the vehicle 2.

By triggering the unlocking early, immediately upon detection of the external device DV1 near the vehicle 2, and therefore without waiting for the reception of a possible opening command CM1, it is possible to advantageously accelerate the process of automatic opening of the rear flap 6. This unlocking can typically be triggered while the user UR1 (and his external device DV1) is still at a distance from the vehicle 2, for example at a distance of 3 meters, or more generally at a distance at which the detection means 14 are capable of detecting the external device DV1.

During a third operation, called a control operation, a control of the rear shutter 6 is carried out. During this control, the device 10 determines whether an opening command CM1 is received. If an opening command CM1 is received, the device 10 triggers the opening MV1 of the rear shutter in response to the opening command CM1. To do this, the device 10 actuates the drive means 18 so that the rear shutter 6 opens from the closed position P1 to the open position P2 ( ).

It should be noted that the unlocking of the rear shutter 6 has already been carried out before the receipt of the command CM1, which saves execution time since the device 10 can actuate the drive means 18 upon receipt of the opening command CM1 to trigger the opening MV1 of the rear shutter 6, so as to minimize the waiting time. It has been measured under certain conditions that the time required to unlock a motorized shutter is approximately 1.5 seconds. Since the unlocking step is carried out before the receipt of the opening command CM1, the process of opening the rear shutter is therefore significantly shortened.

As indicated above, the device 10 can perform authentication from the authentication data DT1 received in the signals SG1. According to a particular example, the device 10 rejects the opening command CM1 if the authentication of the external device DV1 fails. In this case, the control process ends and the rear shutter 6 remains in the closed position P1.

According to one example, the device 10 detects, as an opening command CM1, by means of the motion sensor 22b, a gesture made by the user UR1 near the vehicle 2 (for example a movement with his foot detected according to the “arm loaded” function).

According to a particular example, the device 10 receives the opening command CM1 by wireless communication from the external control device DV1 located near the vehicle 2. The opening command CM1 is for example received by means of the antennas 14a ( ) or any other suitable communication interface of the detection system.

According to a particular example, the device 10 receives the opening command CM1 in the form of a manual actuation of the control button 22a with which the vehicle 2 is possibly equipped, for example at the level of the bodywork of the rear flap 6.

According to a particular example, during the control of the third operation, the control device 10 measures a waiting time elapsing from the detection of the external authentication device DV1 near the vehicle (first operation). If this waiting time reaches a maximum time without any said opening command CM1 being received, the device 10 triggers the locking of the locking system 20, which therefore switches from the unlocked state to the locked state. In other words, if no opening command CM1 arrives from the user UR1 within a predefined maximum time, the device 10 relocks the rear flap 6. This maximum time can be adapted according to the case and can be for example equal, or substantially equal, to 3 seconds.

By forcing the locking system 20 to return to the locked state after a maximum delay without any opening request CM1 being received, it is advantageous to secure the rear shutter 6 by preventing it from opening, to the extent that it is considered that the intention of the user UR1 was not to quickly open the rear shutter 6. It is thus possible to achieve an optimal compromise between rapid execution of the opening process and securing the rear shutter 6.

The present invention advantageously makes it possible to control the motorized shutter 6 of the vehicle 2, such as for example a rear shutter or other, quickly, efficiently and securely. Indeed, the opening of the motorized shutter 6 can be actuated by the user in various ways depending on the case, for example manually by means of an opening button with which the vehicle can be equipped, or remotely by means of a gesture that the user performs near the vehicle ("full arms" function) or via a remote control, badge or other. To speed up the process of opening the motorized shutter 6 and thus minimize the waiting time of the user UR1, the unlocking of the motorized shutter 6 is triggered early, that is to say upon detection of the external authentication device DV1 near the vehicle 2 (for example at a distance less than a threshold distance). Thus, it is not necessary to wait for an opening command CM1 of the motorized shutter to be received to trigger the unlocking. Upon receipt of such an opening command, the motorized shutter can be immediately triggered, which reduces the waiting time of the user UR1 and therefore improves his user experience. The user UR1 can quickly deposit a load in the vehicle 2 thanks to the accelerated opening process.

There schematically illustrates a control device 10 intended to equip a vehicle, such as the vehicle 2 as previously described with reference to FIGS. 1-3, according to a particular and non-limiting exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The control device 10 corresponds for example to a device embedded in the vehicle 2, for example a calculator.

The control device 10 is for example configured for the implementation of the operations of the control process as previously described with regard to FIGS. 1-3 and/or the steps of the method described below with regard to FIGS. . Examples of such a control device include, but are not limited to, on-board electronic equipment such as a vehicle on-board computer, an electronic calculator such as an ECU (“Electronic Control Unit”), a smartphone, a tablet, a laptop. The elements of the control device 10, individually or in combination, can be integrated into a single integrated circuit, into several integrated circuits, and/or into discrete components. The control device 10 can be implemented in the form of electronic circuits or software (or computer) modules or even a combination of electronic circuits and software modules.

The control device 10 comprises one (or more) processor(s) 11 configured to execute instructions for carrying out the steps of the control method (or process) and/or for executing the instructions of the software(s) embedded in the control device 10. The processor 11 may include integrated memory, an input/output interface, and various circuits known to those skilled in the art. The control device 10 further comprises at least one memory 41 corresponding for example to a volatile and/or non-volatile memory and/or comprises a memory storage device which may comprise volatile and/or non-volatile memory, such as EEPROM, ROM, PROM, RAM, DRAM, SRAM, flash, magnetic or optical disk.

The computer code of the embedded software(s) comprising the instructions to be loaded and executed by the processor 11 is for example stored in the memory 41. The memory 41 can constitute an information medium according to a particular embodiment in that it comprises a computer program (for example PG1 represented in ) comprising instructions for carrying out the steps of the control method (or process) of the invention.

According to various particular and non-limiting exemplary embodiments, the control device 10 is coupled in communication with other similar devices or systems and/or with communication devices, for example a TCU (from the English “Telematic Control Unit” or in French “Telematic Control Unit”), for example via a communication bus or through dedicated input/output ports.

According to a particular and non-limiting exemplary embodiment, the control device 10 comprises a block 42 of interface elements for communicating with external devices, for example a remote server or the “cloud”, or the vehicle 2 when the control device 10 corresponds to a smartphone or a tablet for example. The interface elements of the block 42 comprise one or more of the following interfaces:

- RF radio frequency interface, for example Wi-Fi® type (according to IEEE 802.11), for example in the 2.4 or 5 GHz frequency bands, or Bluetooth® type (according to IEEE 802.15.1), in the 2.4 GHz frequency band, or Sigfox type using UBN (Ultra Narrow Band) radio technology, or LoRa in the 868 MHz frequency band, LTE (Long-Term Evolution), LTE-Advanced;

- USB interface (from the English “Universal Serial Bus” or “Universal Serial Bus” in French);

- HDMI interface (from the English “High Definition Multimedia Interface”).

According to another particular and non-limiting exemplary embodiment, the control device 10 comprises a communication interface 43 which makes it possible to establish communication with other devices (such as other computers of the on-board system or on-board sensors such as the radar sensor 16) via a communication channel 45. This communication channel 45 is for example established by means of the on-board network NT1 represented in . The communication interface 43 corresponds for example to a transmitter configured to transmit and receive information and/or data via the communication channel 45. The communication interface 43 corresponds for example to a wired network of the CAN (Controller Area Network), CAN FD (Controller Area Network Flexible Data-Rate), FlexRay (standardized by the ISO 17458 standard), Ethernet (standardized by the ISO/IEC 802-3 standard) or LIN (Local Interconnect Network) type.

The control device 10 is for example coupled to the detection system 14, to the locking system 20 and to the drive means 18 (and where appropriate to the control button 22a and/or to the motion sensor 22b) via the block 42 of interface elements and/or the communication interface 43.

According to a particular and non-limiting exemplary embodiment, the control device 10 can provide output signals to one or more external devices, such as a display screen, whether touch-sensitive or not, one or more speakers and/or other peripherals (projection system) via respective output interfaces. According to a variant, one or other of the external devices is integrated into the control device 10.

There illustrates a diagram of the different steps of a method for controlling a motorized shutter of a vehicle, such as for example the motorized shutter 6 of the vehicle 2 as previously described (figures 1-4). The method is for example implemented by the control device 10 previously described, this device being able to be embedded in the vehicle 2.

In a first step 51, an external authentication device DV1 is detected near the vehicle 2.

In a second step 52, in response to said detection, the locking system 20 of the motorized shutter 6 is unlocked.

In a third step 53, the control device 10 carries out a control of the motorized shutter 6, this control comprising: if an opening command CM1 is received, opening of the motorized shutter 6 in response to said opening command CM1.

According to alternative embodiments, the variants and examples of the operations described above in relation to figures 1-4 apply to the steps of the method for controlling the .

A person skilled in the art will understand that the embodiments and variants described above constitute only non-limiting examples of implementation of the invention. In particular, a person skilled in the art may envisage any adaptation or combination of the embodiments and variants described above, in order to meet a very specific need.

The present invention is therefore not limited to the exemplary embodiments described above but extends in particular to a control method which would include secondary steps without thereby departing from the scope of the present invention. The same would apply to a device configured for the implementation of such a method.

The present invention also relates to a vehicle, for example an automobile or more generally a land motor vehicle, comprising the control device 10 described above with reference in particular to FIGS. 1-5.

Claims (10)

Method for controlling a motorized shutter (6) of a vehicle (2), said method being implemented by a control device (10), said vehicle comprising a locking system (20) of the motorized shutter, said method comprising:
- detection (51) of an external authentication device (DV1) near the vehicle;
- in response to said detection, unlocking (52) of the motorized shutter locking system (6);
- control (53) of the motorized shutter (6) comprising: if an opening command (CM1) is received, opening of the motorized shutter in response to said opening command. Method according to claim 1, in which the unlocking of the locking system (20) is triggered in response to said detection, independently of any unlocking command (CM1) received from outside the vehicle. A method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the method comprises, after unlocking the locking system (20):
- reception of a said opening command (CM1) of the motorized shutter;
- in response to said opening command, opening of the motorized shutter. A method according to any preceding claim, wherein said detection (51) comprises:
- reception of authentication data (DT1) from outside the vehicle (2);
- authentication of the external authentication device (DV1) from the authentication data (DT1); and
- detection of the external authentication device (DV1) near the vehicle if the authentication of the external control device is successful. A method according to any preceding claim, wherein the control comprises:
- measurement of a waiting time elapsed from the detection of the external authentication device (DV1) near the vehicle;
- if the waiting time reaches a maximum time without any said opening command being received, locking of the locking system. A method according to any preceding claim, wherein the maximum delay is equal to, or substantially equal to, 3 seconds. Computer program (PG1) comprising instructions for implementing the method according to any one of the preceding claims, when these instructions are executed by a processor (11). Computer-readable recording medium (41) on which is recorded a computer program (PG1) comprising instructions for executing the steps of the method according to any one of claims 1 to 6. Device (10) for controlling a motorized shutter (6) of a vehicle (2), said device (10) comprising a memory (41) associated with at least one processor (11) configured for implementing the steps of the method according to any one of claims 1 to 6. Vehicle (2) comprising the device (10) according to claim 9.