Door handle arrangement for vehicles

• US 9,353,557 B2
• Filed: 12/31/2013
• Issued: 05/31/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/12/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Huf North America Automotive Parts Mfg. Corp. (Huf Hulsbeck & Furst GmbH & Co. KG)
• Original Assignee: Huf North America Automotive Parts Mfg. Corp. (Huf Hulsbeck & Furst GmbH & Co. KG)
• Inventors: Sanborn, James, Campbell, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Lugo, Carlos
• Application Number:
  US14/145,365
• Publication Number:
  US 20140367975A1
• Time in Patent Office: 882 Days
• Field of Search: 292/336.3, 200/302.1, 200/302.2, 200/306
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/76 Detection of handle operation; Detection of a user approaching a handle; Electrical switching actions performed by door handles
• 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 85/14 Handles pivoted about an axis parallel to the wing
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 85/16 a longitudinal grip part being pivoted at one end about an axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the grip part
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/955 using a capacitive detector
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/962 Capacitive touch switches
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/975 using a capacitive movable element
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/57 Operators with knobs or handles

Abstract

A door handle arrangement for vehicles including an electrically insulating cover having an outer actuating surface for a user characterized by at least one metal actuating electrode disposed on the inner side of the cover that is on the side of the cover facing away from the actuating surface. The cover is elastically deformable by an actuation in the area of the actuating surface. The arrangement includes at least one sensor electrode that is disposed at a distance from the actuating element and opposite the inner side of the cover, wherein the sensor electrode lies opposite the actuating electrode at least in certain sections so that the distance between actuating electrode and sensor electrode is variable during deformation of the cover in the region of the actuating surface. The arrangement also includes a control and evaluation device which is coupled at least to the sensor electrode to detect a capacitance between sensor electrode and actuating electrode.

Claims

1. A door handle arrangement for vehicles, comprising:

a body;

an electrically insulating cover connected to the body and having an outer actuating surface for a user and a metal actuating electrode including a metal layer coupled to an inner side of the actuating surface, the actuating surface being elastically deformable by an actuation in the area of the actuating surface,

a sensor electrode disposed at a distance from the actuating electrode and opposite the inner side of the actuating surface, wherein the sensor electrode is disposed within the body of the door handle arrangement and lies opposite the actuating electrode so that the distance between actuating electrode and sensor electrode is variable during deformation of the cover in the region of the actuating surface,

at least one static spacer disposed between the actuating electrode and the sensor electrode and configured to maintain a spacing between the actuating electrode and a substrate supporting the sensor electrode; and

a control and evaluation device in communication with the sensor electrode to detect a capacitance between the sensor electrode and the actuating electrode.

2. The door handle arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the door handle arrangement is not adversely affected by external factors as the sensing field is internal to the door handle.

3. The door handle arrangement according to claim 1, whereby a capacitive sensing activation field is interior to the door handle.

4. The door handle arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the actuating electrode is configured as an adhesive film.

5. The door handle arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the actuating electrode is configured as a spreadable coating.

6. The door handle arrangement according to claim 5, wherein the actuating electrode and an outer metallic coating are in contact with one another or configured to be continuous.

7. The door handle arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the actuating electrode is configured as a dip coating.

8. The door handle arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the actuating electrode is configured as a electrochemical deposited coating.

9. The door handle arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the substrate is a printed circuit board.

10. The door handle arrangement according to claim 9, wherein on the side of the printed circuit board facing away from the sensor electrode, a reinforcing layer of a stiff material is brought in contact with the printed circuit board, in order to prevent deformation of the printed circuit board during actuation.

11. The door handle arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the at least one spacer in certain sections delimits the minimal spacing between the cover and the sensor electrode.

12. The door handle arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the outer side of the cover is provided with a metal coating.

13. The door handle arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the actuating electrode is connected to a vehicle mass providing a ground.

14. The door handle arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the cover is configured integrally with the actuating surface.

15. The door handle arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the sensor electrode is rigidly coupled to the body of the door handle arrangement.

16. The door handle arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the at least one spacer includes a first spacer disposed on a first side of the sensor electrode and a second spacer disposed on a second side of the sensor electrode, the first side being opposite the second side.