Opening/closing device

• US 7,958,672 B2
• Filed: 03/22/2006
• Issued: 06/14/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: ASMO Company Limited (DENSO Corporation)
• Original Assignee: ASMO Company Limited (DENSO Corporation)
• Inventors: Ishihara, Hidenori
• Primary Examiner(s): Redman; Jerry
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kelly; Catherine A
• Application Number:
  US11/815,357
• Publication Number:
  US 20090100755A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,910 Days
• Field of Search: 49/26, 49/27, 49/28, 493/60, 200/61.43, 296/155
• US Class Current: 49/26
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 5/06 slidable; foldable
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/46 responsive to changes in electrical capacitance
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2800/40 Physical or chemical protection
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/531 Doors

Abstract

A conductive movable body opens and closes an opening portion formed in a conductive opening forming body. The movable body has a front edge portion positioned in a front side in the closing direction of the movable body. The opening portion has an opposed edge portion opposed to the front edge portion. The sensor is arranged in a layout body corresponding to one of the opening forming body and the movable body, and is arranged in one of the front edge portion and the opposed edge portion. The sensor is capable of detecting a conductive object-to-be-detected on the basis of a change of a capacitance between a sensor electrode and the object-to-be-detected coming close to the sensor electrode. A guard electrode is provided between the layout body and the sensor electrode. An electric potential of the guard electrode is kept equal to an electric potential of the sensor electrode or kept at a fixed rate with respect to the electric potential of the sensor electrode. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent an improper operation of a capacitance type sensor in the opening and closing apparatus.

Claims

1. An opening and closing apparatus comprising:

a conductive movable body which is movable in a closing direction and an opening direction opposite the closing direction so as to open and close an opening portion formed in a conductive opening forming body, the movable body having a front edge portion positioned in a front side in the closing direction of the movable body, and the opening portion having an opposing edge portion opposing to the front edge portion;

a sensor arranged in a layout body, which is one of the opening forming body and the movable body, the sensor being arranged in one of the front edge portion and the opposing edge portion, the sensor having a sensor electrode, and the sensor being capable of detecting a conductive object-to-be-detected on the basis of a change of a capacitance between the sensor electrode and the object-to-be-detected coming close to the sensor electrode;

a support member made of insulative resin material for fixing the sensor to the layout body, the support member having a frame member made of a conductive material;

a guard electrode supported by the frame member to be provided between the layout body and the sensor electrode, the guard electrode made of a conductive resin material being electrically connected to the sensor electrode and the frame member; and

a circuit device electrically connected to the gaurd electrode, wherein the circuit device controls a voltage of the guard electrode to keep an electric potential of the guard electrode equal to an electric potential of the sensor electrode or at a fixed rate with respect to the electric potential of the sensor electrode.

2. The opening and closing apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the support member is provided with a holding portion for holding the sensor, and a mounting portion for attaching the holding portion to the layout body, and

wherein the holding portion has the guard electrode.

3. The opening and closing apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the guard electrode is integrally formed with the support member.

4. The opening and closing apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the frame member has a protruding portion protruding out from the mounting portion, and the protruding portion forms the guard electrode.

5. The opening and closing apparatus according to claim 1,

further comprising a connection member electrically connected to the guard electrode, and the circuit device electrically connected to the connection member.

6. The opening and closing apparatus according to claim 5,

wherein the sensor has an accommodating portion accommodating the circuit device, and

wherein the connection member includes a needle portion provided in one of the accommodating portion and the support member, and wherein, in a state in which the support member supports the sensor, the needle portion is inserted into the other of the accommodating portion and the support member.

7. The opening and closing apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the sensor is provided with a contact type detecting portion having a pair of conductive bodies, and the contact type detecting portion is capable of detecting the object-to-be-detected on the basis of a resistance value or a voltage value between the pair of conductive bodies which is changed in correspondence to a pressing force applied from the object-to-be-detected, and

wherein the pair of conductive bodies are coaxially arranged with the sensor electrode.

8. The opening and closing apparatus according to claim 7,

wherein the sensor is arranged in the movable body, and the contact type detecting portion protrudes forward from the movable body with respect to the closing direction.

9. The opening and closing apparatus according to claim 8,

wherein one of the pair of conductive bodies also functions as the sensor electrode.

10. The opening and closing apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein an insulating coating is formed on an outer surface of the guard electrode.