Human body detecting device

• US 7,132,768 B2
• Filed: 12/24/2002
• Issued: 11/07/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/26/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aisin Seiki Co., Ltd. (Aisin Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Aisin Seiki Co., Ltd. (Aisin Corp.)
• Inventors: Murakami, Yuichi, Ieda, Kiyokazu, Mushiake, Eiji
• Primary Examiner(s): Deberadinis, Robert L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): KAPLAN, HAL IRA
• Application Number:
  US10/327,090
• Publication Number:
  US 20030128116A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,414 Days
• Field of Search: 307/652, 340/545.4, 340/545.7, 340/545.8, 340/561, 340/563
• US Class Current: 307/652
• 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: G07C 2009/00373 whereby the wake-up circuit is situated in the lock
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00793 by Hertzian waves
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2209/65 using means for sensing the user's hand
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/3283 side-mounted antennas, e.g. bumper-mounted, door-mounted mounted on windscreens H01Q1/1271
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/955 using a capacitive detector
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2017/9602 characterised by the type or shape of the sensing electrodes

Abstract

A human body detecting device for detecting an approach of a human body includes a sensor electrode provided in a housing and having detecting portions for detecting the approach of the human body to the housing. Each of the detecting portions is provided at a respective surface side in the housing.

Claims

1. A human body detecting device for detecting an approach of a human body, comprising:

a sensor electrode provided in a housing which is a door handle of a vehicle, the sensor electrode comprising a first detecting portion and a second detecting portion for detecting the approach of the human body to the housing;

the sensor electrode being bent in U-shape so that the first detecting portion includes an outwardly extending portion extending along one side wall of the housing and the second detecting portion includes an inwardly extending portion extending along the other side wall of the housing;

a transmitting antenna provided in a space between the outwardly extending portion and the inwardly extending portion to communicate with a transmitters

the outwardly extending portion being provided at a vehicle-door side of the housing and the inwardly extending portion being provided at a side of the housing opposite the vehicle-door side of the housing;

the inwardly extending portion comprising two inwardly extending portions which extend so that a space exists between the two inwardly extending portions, with a radio wave emitted by the transmitting antenna being emitted to outside the door handle through the space between the two inwardly extending portions.

2. A human body detecting device according to claim 1, wherein;

the sensor electrode is branched from a base portion thereof into a first electrode piece and a second electrode piece, and wherein the first electrode piece and the second electrode piece are bent in the same direction in a U-shape whereby the outwardly extending portion constitutes a part of the first electrode piece and the two inwardly extending portions constitute a part of the first electrode piece and a part of the second electrode piece.

3. A human body detecting device according to claim 1, wherein;

the sensor electrode includes a first electrode piece having a rectangular-frame shape, and a second electrode piece and a third electrode piece each having another rectangular-frame shape shorter than that of the first electrode piece in a longitudinal direction, wherein the second electrode piece and the third electrode piece are electrically connected to opposite ends of the first electrode piece respectively so as to face to each other with a predetermined distance therebetween, the outwardly extending portion constituting at least a part of the first electrode piece and the two inwardly extending portions constituting at least a part of one of the second and third electrode pieces.

4. A human body detecting device for detecting an approach of a human body, comprising:

a sensor electrode provided in a housing which is a door handle for a vehicle and comprising a first detecting portion and a second detecting portion for detecting the approach of the human body to the housing;

the first detecting portion comprising a first electrode piece extending along one side wall of the housing and the second detecting portion comprising a second electrode piece extending along the other side wall of the housing;

a transmitting antenna provided in a space between the first electrode piece and the second electrode piece;

the first electrode piece being provided at a vehicle-door side and the second electrode piece being provided at an opposite side to the vehicle-door;

the first electrode piece and the second electrode piece being parallel to one another with a predetermined distance between the first and second electrode pieces; and

the second electrode piece comprising a radio wave emission surface so that a radio wave transmitted from the transmitting antenna is emitted outside the vehicle-door through the radio wave emission surface.

5. A human body detecting device according to claim 4, wherein;

the sensor electrode has a rectangular shape, and a space for radio wave transmission is formed on a surface provided at the opposite side to the vehicle door of the sensor electrode.

6. A human body detecting device according to claim 4,

wherein;

the sensor electrode includes the first electrode piece and the second electrode piece being plate shaped.

7. A human body detecting device according to claim 6, wherein;

a third electrode piece and a fourth electrode piece of a plate shape are provided at an upper side and a lower side relative to the transmitting antenna in the door handle.

8. A human body detecting device according to claim 4, wherein the radio wave emission surface is a meshed surface from which the radio wave from the transmitting antenna is emitted.

9. A human body detecting device for detecting an approach of a human body, comprising:

a sensor electrode provided in a housing which is a door handle for a vehicle and having a first detecting portion and a second detecting portion for detecting the approach of the human body to the housing, the first detecting portion extending along one side wall of the housing and the second detecting portion extending along the other side wall of the housing, the first detecting portion being provided at a vehicle-door side and the second detecting portion being provided at an opposite side to the vehicle-door,

the first detecting portion comprising a first electrode piece and a second electrode piece, the first electrode piece and the second electrode piece extending so that a predetermined distance exists between the first and second electrode pieces;

the second detecting portion comprising a third electrode piece and a fourth electrode piece, the third electrode piece and the fourth electrode piece extending so that a space exists between the third and fourth electrode pieces;

a transmitting antenna provided in a space between the first electrode piece, the second electrode piece, the third electrode piece and the fourth electrode piece, with a radio wave emitted by the transmitting antenna being emitted to outside the door handle through the space between the third electrode piece and the fourth electrode piece.

10. A human body detecting device according to claim 9, wherein;

the third electrode piece and the fourth electrode piece are electrically connected to the first electrode piece and the second electrode piece so as to face to each other with a predetermined distance therebetween.

11. A human body detecting device according to claim 9, wherein;

the sensor electrode includes twelve electrode pieces interconnected so as to form a single rectangular shape in which each edge of the rectangular shape is constituted by one of the electrode pieces and a transmitting antenna is provided in a space surrounded by the twelve electrode pieces.