Human body detecting device and door locking device

• US 7,091,823 B2
• Filed: 08/29/2003
• Issued: 08/15/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Aisin Seiki Co., Ltd. (Aisin Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Aisin Seiki Co., Ltd. (Aisin Corp.)
• Inventors: Ieda, Kiyokazu, Murakami, Yuichi, Mushiake, Eiji
• Primary Examiner(s): Zimmerman, Brian
• Assistant Examiner(s): Yang, Clara
• Application Number:
  US10/650,803
• Publication Number:
  US 20040066294A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,082 Days
• Field of Search: 340/5.72, 340/562, 326/517
• US Class Current: 340/5.72
• 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: H03K 17/955 using a capacitive detector
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/57 Operators with knobs or handles

Abstract

A human body detecting device includes a door handle provided on an outer panel, a first sensor electrode provided on the obverse side of the door handle, and a second sensor electrode provided on the reverse side of the door handle. The human body is detected in response to variation of capacitance between the outer panel and two sensor electrodes.

Claims

1. A human body detecting device, comprising:

a door handle provided on an outer panel;

a first sensor electrode provided on the obverse side of the door handle;

a second sensor electrode provided on the reverse side of the door handle;

a first impedance element provided between the first sensor electrode and the second sensor electrode;

a second impedance element provided between the second sensor electrode and the outer panel; and

a signaling device applying alternating current between the first sensor electrode and the outer panel.

2. A human body detecting device, according to claim 1, wherein the first sensor electrode detects increase in the capacitance by the human body, and the second sensor electrode detects decrease in the capacitance by the human body.

3. A door locking device, comprising:

a door handle provided on an outer panel of a vehicle door;

a human body detecting device detecting that human body approaches or contacts the obverse side and reverse side of the door handle, the human body detecting device comprising;

a first sensor electrode provided on the obverse side of the door handle;

a second sensor electrode provided on the reverse side of the door handle;

a first impedance element provided between the first sensor electrode and the second sensor electrode;

a second impedance element provided between the second sensor electrode and the outer panel; and

a signaling device applying alternating current between the first sensor electrode and the outer panel,

wherein the vehicle door is locked when the human body approaches or contacts the obverse side of the door handle and the vehicle door is unlocked when the human body approaches or contacts the reverse side of the door handle.