Power locking door handle with capacitive sensing
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An exterior handle assembly for a vehicle door, comprising:
- a base adapted to be surface mounted on the door;
a hand grip connected to the base and with an open field between the base and the hand grip to receive an operator'"'"'s hand;
a power lock motor in the base;
a printed circuit board in the base to provide system controls for the handle assembly, with the system controls normally being in a sleep mode when an operator is not at the vehicle;
a first capacitive sensor on the printed circuit board and adapted to recognize a user'"'"'s fob and to wake up the system controls when an operator'"'"'s hand enters the open field;
a second capacitive sensor on the printed circuit board to cooperate with the first capacitive sensor to prevent actuation of the power lock motor in response to weather induced capacitive changes in the open field; and
the printed circuit board adapted to send an unlock signed to the power lock motor after recognizing a user fob.
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Abstract
A power locking door handle with capacitive sensing is provided for heavy duty vehicles. The door handle includes a base surface mounted to the exterior of the vehicle door and a hand grip mounted or formed with the base. The handle may be a pull type or push button type. A power lock motor and printed circuit board with a capacitive sensor are sealed within the base. When an operator'"'"'s hand is inserted between the hand grip and the base, the capacitive sensor sends a signal via the PCB to the motor to unlock the door latch. A key lock cylinder on the base overrides the lock motor if power to the motor is disabled.
31 Citations
18 Claims
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1. An exterior handle assembly for a vehicle door, comprising:
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a base adapted to be surface mounted on the door; a hand grip connected to the base and with an open field between the base and the hand grip to receive an operator'"'"'s hand; a power lock motor in the base; a printed circuit board in the base to provide system controls for the handle assembly, with the system controls normally being in a sleep mode when an operator is not at the vehicle; a first capacitive sensor on the printed circuit board and adapted to recognize a user'"'"'s fob and to wake up the system controls when an operator'"'"'s hand enters the open field; a second capacitive sensor on the printed circuit board to cooperate with the first capacitive sensor to prevent actuation of the power lock motor in response to weather induced capacitive changes in the open field; and the printed circuit board adapted to send an unlock signed to the power lock motor after recognizing a user fob. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A handle assembly for the exterior of a vehicle passenger door, comprising:
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a base having an internal PCB with a 1st capacitive sensor and an internal power lock assembly to lock and unlock the door; a handle mounted on the base to open the door; the first capacitive sensor to sense presence of an operator'"'"'s fob and to wake up a control system when an operators'"'"' hand enters a space between the base and the handle, and then actuating the power lock assembly to unlock a door latch associated with the door; and a second capacitive sensor on the PCB to prevent actuation of the power lock assembly absent an operator'"'"'s hand adjacent the handle. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification