Detector with capacitance sensor for detecting object being caught by door

• US 7,400,153 B2
• Filed: 04/20/2006
• Issued: 07/15/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/16/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company), Mitsuba Corporation, Omron Automotive Electronics Company Limited (Nidec Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company), Mitsuba Corporation, Omron Corporation
• Inventors: Sueyasu, Hiroyuki, Okushima, Akihiro, Shoji, Shinichi, Kurumado, Yukinori, Nagayama, Keiichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Hirshfeld; Andrew H
• Assistant Examiner(s): ZHU, JOHN X
• Application Number:
  US11/408,513
• Publication Number:
  US 20060186900A1
• Time in Patent Office: 817 Days
• Field of Search: 324/522, 324/658, 324/548, 324/661, 324/686, 735/143.2, 733/350.4, 737/74, 737/80, 307/10.1, 307/9.1
• US Class Current: 324/686
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/46 responsive to changes in electrical capacitance
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2800/40 Protection E05Y2400/50, E05Y2400/52 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/531 Doors
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/962 Capacitive touch switches
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2217/960725 Charge-transfer

Abstract

A detector for detecting an object that may be feared to or about to be caught by a closing door such as a slide door of a vehicle incorporates a capacitance sensor with a directionality characteristic in the direction of its detection surface. The detector has a main body enclosing detection electrodes, an insulating material placed in between and a shield electrode serving to provide the directionality. A protective cover may cover the shield electrode and the detection electrodes. A water-repellant finish may be provided at least on a portion of the outer surface of the main body including the detection surface for preventing water drops from remaining or becoming larger. A plurality of mutually adjacent protrusions may be formed on the protective cover with thickness decreasing in the direction of protrusion for making it difficult for water drops to remain.

Claims

1. A detector for detecting an object being caught by a door, said detector comprising:

detection electrodes;

an insulating material insulating said detection electrodes from each other;

a main body provided on an open end part of said door, said main body containing said detection electrodes and said insulating material;

a sensor circuit which, together with said main body, forms a capacitance sensor having specified directionality;

means for grounding said door;

a shield electrode inside said main body, said shield electrode being open toward said detection surface, said detection electrodes being disposed inside said shield electrode; and

a protective cover covering said shield electrode and said detection electrodes;

wherein said main body includes a detection surface defined by said directionality and said detector further comprises means for grounding said door; and

wherein said detection surface with said protective cover has a plurality of mutually adjacent protrusions with thickness decreasing in the direction of protrusion.

2. The detector of claim 1 wherein a water-repellant finish is provided over at least a portion of said protective cover and over said detection surface.

3. A detector for detecting an object being caught by a door, said detector comprising:

detection electrodes;

an insulating material insulating said detection electrodes from each other;

a main body provided on an open end part of said door, said main body containing said detection electrodes and said insulating material;

a sensor circuit which, together with said main body, forms a capacitance sensor having specified directionality;

a shield electrode inside said main body, said shield electrode being open toward said detection surface, said detection electrodes being disposed inside said shield electrode; and

a protective cover covering said shield electrode and said detection electrodes;

wherein said main body includes a detection surface defined by said directionality, said detection surface being at a position farther protruding from the open end part of said door;

wherein portions of said door adjacent to said main body and external surface of said main body are provided with a water-repellant finish; and

wherein said detection surface with said protective cover has a plurality of mutually adjacent protrusions with thickness decreasing in the direction of protrusion.

4. The detector of claim 3 wherein a water-repellant finish is provided over at least a portion of said protective cover and over said detection surface.

5. The detector of claim 3 wherein said water-repellant finish comprises a silicon tape.

6. The detector of claim 3 wherein a hem part is formed on said open end part of said door for closing said open end part by overlapping with said door, and said main body is disposed on inner side of said hem part towards said door.

7. The detector of claim 6 wherein said hem part is also provided with said water-repellant finish.