Electrostatic capacitance sensor and flap type handle having electrostatic capacitance sensor

• US 7,292,051 B2
• Filed: 03/07/2006
• Issued: 11/06/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Omron Corporation
• Original Assignee: Omron Corporation
• Inventors: Negoro, Kazuhiro, Mafune, Shoji
• Primary Examiner(s): Benson; Walter
• Assistant Examiner(s): ZHU, JOHN X
• Application Number:
  US11/370,227
• Publication Number:
  US 20060197540A1
• Time in Patent Office: 609 Days
• Field of Search: 324/690, 324/660, 307 91- 102
• US Class Current: 324/690
• 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: E05B 85/18 a longitudinal grip part being pivoted about an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the grip part
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/955 using a capacitive detector
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/975 using a capacitive movable element

Abstract

A flap type handle equipped with an electrostatic capacitance sensor, in which sensitivity adjustment can be easily performed without changing the specification of a sensor body 3, reduces the difference in detection sensitivity with respect to the position and perform required balance adjustment. A sensor body is fixed to a handle base portion. The detection face of the sensor body is oriented to a predetermined detection range at the inner surface side of a hand flap. An electrically conductive face is provided to the inner surface of the handle flap so as to cover the detection range. A connecting electric conductor for electromagnetically couple the electrically conductive face and the detection electrode at least under the non-operation of the handle flap is provided. The connecting electric conductor or/and the electrically conductive face are subjected to detection sensitivity adjusting trimming (provided with a cut-out or the like).

Claims

1. An electrostatic capacitance sensor comprising

a sensor body and

a detection electrode provided to the sensor body,

the electrostatic capacitance sensor detecting an approach to a predetermined detection range of a dielectric material based on variation of floated capacitance formed by the detection electrode, wherein:

a detection face of the sensor body is oriented to face the detection range, and

an electrically conductive face is provided so as to cover the detection range, and

a connecting electric conductor for electromagnetically coupling the electrically conductive face and the detection electrode at least at the detection time, wherein the electrically conductive face functions as an extension of the detection electrode out of the sensor body;

wherein at least one of the connecting electric conductor and the electrically conductive face is subjected to trimming by creating a cut-out or the like for adjusting the detection sensitivity with respect to position.

2. The electrostatic capacitance sensor according to claim 1, wherein the electrically conductive face is constructed by forming an electrically conductive layer on the surface of a member covering the detection range.

3. The electrostatic capacitance sensor according to claim 1, wherein the electrically conductive face is formed on the surface of a resin member covering the detection range by resin molding.

4. The electrostatic capacitance sensor according to claim 1, wherein the electrically conductive face is constructed by an electrically conductive member disposed so as to cover the detection range.

5. The electrostatic capacitance sensor according to claim 4, wherein the electrically conductive member is integral with the connecting electric conductor.

6. A flap type handle with an electrostatic capacitance sensor comprising

a flap type handle body including a hand flap constructed so that a human hand is inserted to the inner surface side thereof and operated to pull the hand flap,

the hand flap being fixed to a handle base portion so as to be operable in the pull direction, the handle base portion being fixed to a door;

and

the handle body being equipped with a sensor body of the electrostatic capacitance sensor for detecting approach of a dielectric material on the basis of variation of floated capacitance constructed by a detection electrode provided to the sensor body to detect the human hand, wherein;

the sensor body is secured to the handle base portion,

the detection face of the sensor body is oriented to face a predetermined detection range at the inner surface side of the handle flap,

an electrically conductive face is provided to the inner surface of the handle flap so as to cover the detection range, and

a connecting electric conductor for electromagnetically coupling the electrically conductive face and the detection electrode at least at the detection time, wherein the electrically conductive face functions as an extension of the detection electrode out of the sensor body;

wherein at least one of the connecting electric conductor and the electrically conductive face is subjected to trimming by creating a cut-out or the like for adjusting the detection sensitivity with respect to position.

7. The flap type handle with the electrostatic capacitance sensor according to claim 6, wherein the connecting electric conductor is set to a conduction state (contact state or the like) to the electrically conductive face, and

at least a part thereof is disposed so as to be overlapped and confronted to the detection electrode, whereby the electrically conductive face and the detection electrode are electromagnetically coupled to each other.

8. The flap type handle with the electrostatic capacitance sensor according to claim 6, wherein the connecting electric conductor is formed of a material having such a characteristic as to have elasticity or plasticity and be deformed in accordance with the shape of a bonded face and brought into close contact with the bonded face, and

the connecting electric conductor is pinched between the detection face of the sensor body and the handle flap under the non-operation of the handle flap.

9. The flap type handle with the electrostatic capacitance sensor according to claim 7, wherein the connecting electric conductor is formed of a material having such a characteristic as to have elasticity or plasticity and be deformed in accordance with the shape of the bonded face and brought into close contact with the bonded face, and

the connecting electric conductor is pinched between the detection face of the sensor body and the handle flap under the non-operation of the handle flap.