Motor vehicle door handle

• US 20040217601A1
• Filed: 01/22/2004
• Published: 11/04/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/01/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Valeo Electronique
• Original Assignee: Valeo Electronique
• Inventors: Musat, Ciprian, Huth, Jean-Claude, Garnault, Joel
• Granted Patent: US 6,998,968 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 292/336.3
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/77 comprising sensors detecting the presence of the hand of a user
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/78 as part of a hands-free locking or unlocking operation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/57 Operators with knobs or handles

Abstract

The disclosure relates to a door handle, in particular for a motor vehicle, comprising at least one presence sensor having at least one electrode for detecting the presence of a user at said handle, wherein it comprises conducting means having at least one proximal end directly or indirectly connected by capacitive coupling to said detection electrode and at least one distal end emerging in electrical insulation on the outer surface of the handle so as to create at least one new zone for detecting the presence of a user. The invention also relates to a hands-free access system for a motor vehicle comprising such a door handle.

Claims

1. Door handle (1), in particular for a motor vehicle, comprising at least one presence sensor (8, 9) having at least one electrode. (10) for detecting the presence of a user at said handle, wherein it comprises conducting means (17, 18, 3) having at least one proximal end (22) directly or indirectly connected by capacitive coupling to said detection electrode and at least one distal end (23) emerging in electrical insulation on the outer surface of the handle so as to create at least one new zone for detecting the presence of a user.

2. Door handle according to claim 1, wherein it has a grasping part (2) with an inner housing (6), formed by an elongated cavity in this grasping part, which houses said presence sensor (8, 9).

3. Door handle according to claim 1, wherein said presence sensor has at least two electrodes (10) and wherein for each electrode said conducting means (17, 18,3) have an associated proximal end (22) positioned near this electrode.

4. Door handle according to claim 3, wherein said proximal end (22) of said conducting means is formed by a metal blade (17) positioned near said electrode (10) and of which at least one part is approximately parallel to it.

5. Door handle according to claim 4 taken together, wherein said conducting means are formed by a single metal blade (17).

6. Door handle according to claim 3, wherein said presence sensor (8, 9) is carried by a support module (7) inserted in said housing (6) and wherein said metal blade (17) takes the form of a spring positioning and/or holding said support module (7) in said housing (6).

7. Door handle according to claim 6, wherein said metal blade (17) is fixed on said support module (7) or on said presence sensor (8, 9).

8. Door handle according to claim 1, wherein it also comprises at least one opening (21) emerging at the outer surface of the handle and wherein said distal end (23) of said conducting means is flush with this outer surface.

9. Door handle according to claim 8, wherein said conducting means have a number of distal ends (23) flush with the outer surface of the handle at the positions of the associated openings (21).

10. Door handle according to claim 9, wherein said openings (21) are aligned parallel to a longitudinal axis of said grasping part (2) of the handle.

11. Door handle according to claim 8, wherein said conducting means (17, 18, 3) are held in said opening (21) by fastening means that also serve as electrical insulator.

12. Door handle according to claim 11, wherein said fastening means are formed by a glue or clipping means of plastic material.

13. Door handle according to claim 8, wherein said conducting means are overmoulded in an insulating material.

14. Door handle according to claim 13, wherein said insulating material overmolding said conducting means form plugging means for said openings.

15. Door handle according to claim 1, wherein said conducting means (17,3) have an intermediate part constituted by means (18) of plugging said housing (6) of said presence sensor (8, 9).

16. Door handle according to claims 5 taken together with claim 15, wherein said metal blade (17, 19) is fixed to and/or formed from the material of said plugging means (18).

17. Door handle according to claim 1, wherein said distal end (23) of said conducting means includes a movable part.

18. Door handle according to claim 17, wherein said movable part is a lock cache, notably of a backup lock.

19. Door handle according to claim 17, wherein said distal end forms a conductive part of a handle part (3) fixed relative to the door and wherein said presence sensor is housed in a mobile grasping part of the handle.

20. Door handle according to claim 1, wherein it is made of a plastic material.

21. Door handle according to claim 20, wherein its outer surface is covered with a conductive coating (5).

22. Door handle according to claim 21, wherein said conducting means have a conductivity higher than that of said conductive coating of the handle.

23. Door handle according to claim 21, wherein said conductive coating (5) is a metalized paint or a direct metalization.

24. Door handle according to claim 1, wherein the handle is made of metal and wherein it also includes electrical insulation means forming a sheath for said conducting means.

25. Door handle according to claim 1, wherein said presence sensor is an approach sensor (9) to detect the approach of a user near the handle.

26. Door handle according to claim 1, wherein said presence sensor is a tactile sensor (8) to detect a user touching the handle.

27. Door handle according to claim 26, wherein said new detection zone of the tactile sensor is delimited by the shape of said distal end (23) of said conducting means (17, 18,3).

28. Door handle according to claim 1, wherein said presence sensor is of capacitive type, 29. Hands-free access system for a motor vehicle comprising at least one door handle according to claim 1.