For a motor vehicle, an outside element providing a capacitive sensor, and a piece of bodywork including such an outside element

• US 6,879,250 B2
• Filed: 04/04/2002
• Issued: 04/12/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/04/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Compagnie Plastic Omnium (Burelle)
• Original Assignee: Compagnie Plastic Omnium (Burelle)
• Inventors: Fayt, Arnold, Guyon, Sebastien, Hilmarcher, Olivier
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery
• Assistant Examiner(s): Previl, Daniel
• Application Number:
  US10/115,070
• Publication Number:
  US 20020158582A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,104 Days
• Field of Search: 340/436, 340/435, 340/434, 340/468, 340/472, 340/480, 340/562, 150/154, 150/166, 362/510, 362/549, 200/61.43, 200/61, 280/29, 280/727, 280/762, 280/770
• US Class Current: 340/436
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 19/445 Guard strips
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 19/483 with obstacle sensors of electric or electronic type
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2019/1886 Bumper fascias and fastening means therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/3283 side-mounted antennas, e.g. bumper-mounted, door-mounted mounted on windscreens H01Q1/1271
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/38 formed by a conductive layer on an insulating support patch antennas H01Q9/0407; microstrip dipole antennas H01Q9/065; microstrip slot antennas H01Q13/106; transmission line microstrip antennas H01Q13/206; manufacturing reflecting surfaces using insulating material for supporting the reflecting surface H01Q15/142
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/44 using equipment having another main function to serve additionally as an antenna , e.g. means for giving an antenna an aesthetic aspectH01Q1/27 - H01Q1/34 take precedence

Abstract

The invention relates to an outside element for a motor vehicle, the element being designed to be fitted to the vehicle, e.g. on its bodywork, and comprising an essentially non-conductive protective screen (3), the element being characterized in that behind said protective screen if further comprises an electrically insulating film having two faces, each of which is covered at least in part in an electrically conductive material. The invention also provides a piece of bodywork provided with such a conductive element.

Claims

1. An element for a motor vehicle for fitting onto an outside surface of the vehicle the element comprising:

an essentially non-conductive capping for fitting onto a side door, a rear door, or a bumper shield of the vehicle; and

an electrically insulating film situated behind said capping, and having two faces, each of which is coated at least in part with an electrically conductive material;

wherein the element forms a capacitor with any obstacles with which the vehicle might come into contact to determine whether a distance between the vehicle and the obstacles is increasing or decreasing.

2. An element according to claim 1, in which the capping is made of a plastic material.

3. An element according to claim 2, in which the plastic material is transparent or translucent.

4. An element according to claim 3, in which the plastic material is a methacrylate, a polypropylene, or a polycarbonate.

5. An element according to claim 2, in which the plastic material is opaque.

6. An element according to claim 5, in which the plastic material is colored by being bulk-dyed, by non-electrostatic painting, or by overmolding a film.

7. An element according to claim 1, in which the electrically insulating film is made of a thermoplastic polyester.

8. An element according to claim 1, in which the electrically conductive material forms an open-work pattern, at least on one face.

9. An element according to claim 1, in which the film is shaped by thermoforming to have a particular geometrical configuration corresponding to the capping.

10. An element according to claim 1, in which the film is fixed to capping.

11. An element according to claim 1, in which the film is fixed directly to the vehicle, and in which the capping is likewise fixed directly to the vehicle, over the film.

12. A piece of bodywork, in particular a door panel, a rear door panel, or a bumper shield, including an outside element according to claim 1.