A handle assembly for a closure of a vehicle includes a force-based sensor disposed beneath an uninterrupted class-A surface and responsive to a force applied thereto. The handle assembly includes a handle ECU, configured to monitor the force-based sensor and to communicate with an electronic latch controller. A super-capacitor is disposed on a PCB within the handle assembly for providing electrical power to the handle ECU and the force-based sensor. The handle ECU includes one or more feedback devices such as LED lights, acoustic, and haptic devices to provide information about the status of the closure and the electronic latch system. The handle assembly is also configured to provide different responses to two or more different levels of force applied to the force-based sensor. An output interface in the handle assembly provides wired and wireless backup communications to the electronic latch controller.

An electronic push button for a motor vehicle door handle, including an activation pattern supported by a membrane that is flexible in the direction of an electric switch carried by a printed circuit board, the activation pattern defining an activation surface that is pressed by an operator's finger in order to push the activation pattern in the direction of the electric switch. The activation pattern is made up of a set of studs that extend parallel to one another away from the electric switch, with the majority of the studs being spaced apart from one another, the set of studs discontinuously delimiting an outer contour of the activation surface of the electronic push button.

A system and method for a key, comprising a key blade having a socket that releasably engages a key head. A method includes cutting an original key head from an original key, forming a socket onto a cut end of the key blade, and attaching a key head onto the socket.

An electronic push button for a motor vehicle door handle, including an activation pattern supported by a membrane that is flexible in the direction of an electric switch carried by a printed circuit board, the activation pattern defining an activation surface that is pressed by an operator's finger in order to push the activation pattern in the direction of the electric switch. The activation pattern is made up of a set of studs that extend parallel to one another away from the electric switch, with the majority of the studs being spaced apart from one another, the set of studs discontinuously delimiting an outer contour of the activation surface of the electronic push button.

An apparatus and method is disclosed for electronic locks with a selectable power off function. The electronic lock includes an electronic controller disposed within a lock housing and operable to control a state of the lock between locked and unlocked positions. An electronic actuator electrically coupled to the controller is movable between first and second positions corresponding to a locked position and an unlocked position of the lock, respectively. The electronic lock further includes at least one electrical energy storage device and a selector switch coupled to the controller to define a desired state of the lock between one of an electrically locked (EL) and an electrically unlocked (EU) state in an electric power off condition.

A handle assembly for a closure of a vehicle includes a force-based sensor disposed beneath an uninterrupted class-A surface and responsive to a force applied thereto. The handle assembly includes a handle ECU, configured to monitor the force-based sensor and to communicate with an electronic latch controller. A super-capacitor is disposed on a PCB within the handle assembly for providing electrical power to the handle ECU and the force-based sensor. The handle ECU includes one or more feedback devices such as LED lights, acoustic, and haptic devices to provide information about the status of the closure and the electronic latch system. The handle assembly is also configured to provide different responses to two or more different levels of force applied to the force-based sensor. An output interface in the handle assembly provides wired and wireless backup communications to the electronic latch controller.

An apparatus and method is disclosed for electronic locks with a selectable power off function. The electronic lock includes an electronic controller disposed within a lock housing and operable to control a state of the lock between locked and unlocked positions. An electronic actuator electrically coupled to the controller is movable between first and second positions corresponding to a locked position and an unlocked position of the lock, respectively. The electronic lock further includes at least one electrical energy storage device and a selector switch coupled to the controller to define a desired state of the lock between one of an electrically locked (EL) and an electrically unlocked (EU) state in an electric power off condition.

An installation-free rechargeable access control system is disclosed which automates the action of locking and unlocking a single-cylinder deadbolt on a door. In various embodiments, the present teachings provide a portable electronic module that can enhance the usage of deadbolts in place, instead of replacing the deadbolt mechanism itself. In various embodiments, the access control system can authenticate users and rotate a deadbolt using one or more peripheral sensing sources and wireless protocols.

An apparatus and method is disclosed for electronic locks with a selectable power off function. The electronic lock includes an electronic controller disposed within a lock housing and operable to control a state of the lock between locked and unlocked positions. An electronic actuator electrically coupled to the controller is movable between first and second positions corresponding to a locked position and an unlocked position of the lock, respectively. The electronic lock further includes at least one electrical energy storage device and a selector switch coupled to the controller to define a desired state of the lock between one of an electrically locked (EL) and an electrically unlocked (EU) state in an electric power off condition.

An apparatus and method is disclosed for electronic locks with a selectable power off function. The electronic lock includes an electronic controller disposed within a lock housing and operable to control a state of the lock between locked and unlocked positions. An electronic actuator electrically coupled to the controller is movable between first and second positions corresponding to a locked position and an unlocked position of the lock, respectively. The electronic lock further includes at least one electrical energy storage device and a selector switch coupled to the controller to define a desired state of the lock between one of an electrically locked (EL) and an electrically unlocked (EU) state in an electric power off condition.