Capacitive sensor

• US 7,116,117 B2
• Filed: 02/15/2005
• Issued: 10/03/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/16/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Nakano, Ryuichi, Suda, Hirohide
• Primary Examiner(s): Deb, Anjan
• Assistant Examiner(s): He, Amy
• Application Number:
  US11/059,489
• Publication Number:
  US 20050179415A1
• Time in Patent Office: 595 Days
• Field of Search: 324/661, 324/688, 324/658
• US Class Current: 324/688
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/46 responsive to changes in electrical capacitance
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/45 Control modes
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/54 Obstruction or resistance detection
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/531 Doors
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/955 using a capacitive detector
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2217/960745 Capacitive differential; e.g. comparison with reference capacitance

Abstract

A capacitive sensor includes: a first sensing electrode connected to a first reference capacitor in which is stored reference electric charge; a second sensing electrode connected to a second reference capacitor in which is stored reference electric charge; and a shield electrode to which is applied electric potential equal to that of the first sensing electrode and the second sensing electrode. The first sensing electrode positions adjacent to a detecting surface of the capacitive sensor, and the second sensing electrode positions opposite to the detecting surface in such a manner that the first and second sensing electrodes are spaced apart and facing to each other. The shield electrode is configured to partly expose the first and second sensing electrodes on the side of the detecting surface, and the shield electrode extends toward the detecting surface beyond the first sensing electrode.

Claims

1. A capacitive sensor comprising:

a first sensing electrode connected to a first reference capacitor in which is stored reference electric charge;

a second sensing electrode connected to a second reference capacitor in which is stored reference electric charge; and

a shield electrode to which is applied electric potential equal to that of the first sensing electrode and the second sensing electrode,

wherein the first sensing electrode is provided adjacent to a detecting surface of the capacitive sensor, and the second sensing electrode is provided opposite to the detecting surface in such a manner that the first and second sensing electrodes are spaced apart and facing to each other,

wherein the shield electrode is configured to partly expose the first and second sensing electrodes on the side of the detecting surface, and

wherein an extending portion of the shield electrode extends toward the detecting surface beyond an edge of the first sensing electrode at one side of the first and the second sensing electrodes, said edge being provided adjacent to the detecting surface.

2. A capacitive sensor according to claim 1, wherein the capacitive sensor is fixed to an opening/closing member attached to a vehicle body in such a manner that the first and the second sensing electrodes extend in a direction transverse of the opening/closing portion, and wherein the shield electrode protrudes from the first sensing electrode at one side closer to an outside of the vehicle body.

3. A capacitive sensor according to claim 1, wherein the capacitive sensor is fixed to an opening/closing member attached to a vehicle body in such a manner that the first and the second sensing electrodes extend in a direction transverse of the opening/closing portion, and wherein the shield electrode protrudes from the first sensing electrode at one side closer to an interior of the vehicle body.

4. An entrapment prevention apparatus comprising:

an opening/closing member which is attached to a vehicle body and performs an opening/closing operation relative to the vehicle body;

the capacitive sensor of claim 1 which is fixed to the opening/closing member;

a difference detection circuit which detects a difference value between electric potential of the first sensing electrode and electric potential of the second sensing electrode of the capacitive sensor;

a signal processing circuit which outputs a detection signal when the difference value to be detected is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold difference value; and

a drive device which stops or reversely moves the opening/closing member based on the detection signal outputted while the opening/closing member is moving relative to the vehicle body.

5. A capacitive sensor comprising:

first and second sensing electrodes which are spaced apart from each other, said first sensing electrode having first and second edges;

a shield electrode which is spaced from and surrounds the sensing electrodes; and

a coating member which holds the sensing electrodes and the shield electrode and which is made of an insulating material,

wherein the coating member includes a mounting portion for attaching the capacitive sensor to a fixing member,

wherein the mounting portion is provided with a core member, and a same electric potential is applied to the core member and the shield electrode,

wherein both the core member and an extending portion of the shield electrode extend toward the detecting surface beyond a second edge of the first sensing electrode, the second edge being provided opposite the first edge and adjacent to the detecting surface.

6. A capacitive sensor according to claim 5, wherein the core member is integral with the shield electrode.

7. A capacitive sensor according to claim 6, wherein the mounting portion includes a fitting groove for mounting the capacitive sensor to the fixing member, and wherein the shield electrode opens at a detecting surface and the core member and the fitting groove open at a side opposite to the detecting surface.

8. A capacitive sensor according to claim 5, wherein the shield electrode and the core member are made of metal.

9. A capacitive sensor according to claim 8, wherein the mounting portion includes a fitting groove for mounting the capacitive sensor to the fixing member, and wherein the shield electrode opens at a detecting surface and the core member and the fitting groove open at a side opposite to the detecting surface.

10. A capacitive sensor according to claim 5, wherein the mounting portion includes a fitting groove for mounting the capacitive sensor to the fixing member, and wherein the shield electrode opens at a detecting surface and the core member and the fitting groove open at a side opposite to the detecting surface.

11. A capacitive sensor according to claim 5, wherein the mounting portion includes a fitting groove defined between a portion of the core member that is perpendicular to the detecting surface and the shield electrode, said fitting groove being sized for insetting the fixing member within, wherein the fitting groove for inserting the fixing member extends towards the detecting surface to approximately the first edge of the first sensing electrode, the first edge being provided away from the detecting surface.