Cord switch and detecting apparatus using the same

• US 7,534,957 B2
• Filed: 10/31/2006
• Issued: 05/19/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ASMO Company Limited (DENSO Corporation), Hitachi Metals Limited (Hitachi Metals (Thailand) Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: ASMO Company Limited (DENSO Corporation), Hitachi Cable Limited (Proterial Ltd.)
• Inventors: Hayakawa, Yoshikazu, Abe, Tomiya, Aoyama, Takashi, Shimizu, Masaaki, Kato, Manabu, Ohtaka, Tatsuya, Yamaura, Akira
• Primary Examiner(s): Mayo, III; William H
• Application Number:
  US11/590,002
• Publication Number:
  US 20070117445A1
• Time in Patent Office: 931 Days
• Field of Search: 174/36, 174/110.R, 174/113, 174/115
• US Class Current: 174/36
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/962 Capacitive touch switches
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2017/9602 characterised by the type or shape of the sensing electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2217/960755 Constructional details of capacitive touch and proximity switches
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2217/96078 Sensor being a wire or a strip, e.g. used in automobile door handles or bumpers

Abstract

A cord switch 1 has wire electrodes 12A, 12B spirally arranged along an inner surface of a hollow part 10 of a hollowed insulator 11 in a longitudinal direction such that the wire electrodes do not electrically contact with each other, an outer electrode 13 provided around an outer periphery surface of the hollowed insulator 11 and jacketed with an insulating layer 14. An electrostatic capacitance is formed between the outer electrode 13 and a wire electrode for grounding, and a floating electrostatic capacitance is formed between the outer electrode 13 and the earth. The close approach of the human body to the cord switch 1 can be detected in a non-contact manner by measuring the alteration in the electrostatic capacitance.

Claims

1. A cord switch, comprising:

a hollowed insulator having restorability,

a plurality of wire electrodes arranged along an inner surface of a hollow part of the hollowed insulator in a longitudinal direction such that the wire electrodes do not electrically contact with each other when the hollowed insulator is in a restored state; and

an outer electrode provided around an outer periphery surface of the hollowed insulator, the outer electrode forming an electrostatic capacitance between the outer electrode and one of the wire electrodes and forming a floating electrostatic capacitance between the outer electrode and the earth.

2. The cord switch, according to claim 1, wherein:

the outer electrode comprises fine conductive wires wound around the outer periphery surface of the hollowed insulator.

3. The cord switch, according to claim 1, wherein:

the outer electrode comprises fine conductive wires braided to cover the outer periphery surface of the hollowed insulator.

4. The cord switch, according to claim 1, wherein:

the outer electrode comprises a strip-shaped conductive member wound around the outer periphery surface of the hollowed insulator.

5. The cord switch, according to claim 1, wherein:

the outer electrode comprises a conductive member provided around the outer periphery surface of the hollowed insulator along the longitudinal direction, the conductive member having a strip-shape.

6. The cord switch, according to claim 1, wherein:

the outer electrode is jacketed with an insulating layer.

7. The cord switch, according to claim 1, wherein:

each of the wire electrodes comprises a metal strand wire coated with a conductive electrode member.

8. The cord switch, according to claim 7, wherein:

the hollowed insulator comprises a restorative rubber and the conductive electrode members comprise a conductive rubber.

9. The cord switch, according to claim 7, wherein:

the hollowed insulator comprises a restorative resin and the conductive electrode members comprise a conductive plastic.

10. The cord switch according to claim 1, wherein:

the wire electrodes include a first wire electrode for being provided with a signal and a second wire electrode for grounding, and the electrostatic capacitance is formed between the second wire electrode and the outer electrode.

11. The cord switch according to claim 1, wherein:

the outer electrode is configured to connect to a detecting unit for measuring the electrostatic capacitance and the floating electrostatic capacitance.

12. A detecting apparatus, comprising:

a cord switch comprising;

a hollowed insulator having restorability,

a plurality of wire electrodes including a first wire electrode for being provided with a signal and a second wire electrode for grounding, the wire electrodes being arranged along an inner surface of a hollow part of the hollowed insulator in a longitudinal direction such that the wire electrodes do not electrically contact with each other when the hollowed insulator is in a restored state; and

an outer electrode provided around an outer periphery surface of the hollowed insulator, the outer electrode forming an electrostatic capacitance between the outer electrode and the second wire electrode and forming a floating electrostatic capacitance between the outer electrode and the earth;

a first detecting unit for detecting an alteration in an electric potential or an alteration in a current flow between the first wire electrode and the second wire electrode; and

a second detecting unit, connected to the outer electrode, for detecting an alteration in the electrostatic capacitance and an alteration in the floating electrostatic capacitance by measuring the electrostatic capacitance and the floating electrostatic capacitance.

13. The detecting apparatus, according to claim 12, wherein:

the number of the wire electrodes is 2n, n being a positive integer.

14. The detecting apparatus, according to claim 13, wherein:

the cord switch comprises four wire electrodes, and each two of the wire electrodes are connected in series.

15. The detecting apparatus, according to claim 13, wherein:

the cord switch comprises four wire electrodes, and each two of the wire electrodes are connected in parallel.

16. The detecting apparatus, according to claim 12, further comprising:

a third wire electrode connected in series between the first wire electrode for signal and the second wire electrode;

a resistor connected between the first wire electrode and the second wire electrode via the third wire electrode.

17. The detecting apparatus according to claim 12, wherein:

the electrostatic capacitance formed between the second wire electrode and the outer electrode is measured for detecting the alteration in the electrostatic capacitance.