Electronic sensor unit for detecting the noncontact actuation of a door or flap on a motor vehicle

• US 9,606,255 B2
• Filed: 09/12/2013
• Issued: 03/28/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/25/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Huf Hulsbeck & Furst GmbH & Co. KG
• Original Assignee: Huf Hulsbeck & Furst GmbH & Co. KG
• Inventors: Sieg, Berthold, Kiehl, Erik
• Primary Examiner(s): Hollington, Jermele M
• Assistant Examiner(s): RHODES-VIVOUR, TEMILADE S
• Application Number:
  US14/430,797
• Publication Number:
  US 20150226870A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,293 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/323 on or for doors illuminated exterior door handles B60Q1/2669; illuminated door locks E05B17/10
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/2054 by foot gestures
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/74 using photoelectric cells
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 2015/765 using optical sensors using photoelectric cells E05F15/74
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/44 Sensors therefore E05Y2400/322, E05Y2400/33, E05Y2400/55, E05Y2400/56, E05Y2400/852 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/822 Light emitters, e.g. LEDs
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/852 Sensors
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/858 by body parts
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2800/106 Lighting
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/531 Doors
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/546 Tailgates
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/548 Trunk lids
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/20 Light sources comprising attachment means
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 3/00 Electric or magnetic prospecting or detecting; Measuring magnetic field characteristics of the earth, e.g. declination, deviation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/00 Details not covered by groups G06F3/00 - G06F13/00 and G06F21/00 architectures of general purpose stored program computers G06F15/76
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2101/00 Indexing scheme relating to the type of digital function generated
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 21/00 Processes or apparatus adapted for the manufacture or treatment of semiconductor or solid state devices or of parts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/955 using a capacitive detector
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2217/960785 with illumination

Abstract

An electronic motor vehicle sensor unit includes a housing, a control and evaluation device arranged in the housing, and at least one capacitive sensor electrode with a detection region (X, X′). The capacitive sensor electrode is coupled to the control and evaluation device and is arranged in the housing. The sensor unit further includes a lighting device with an illuminant that can emit an optical signal, wherein the lighting device is coupled to the control and evaluation device, and a target region (Y) identifying the detection region (X) can be marked outside the housing with the lighting device. The housing, the control and evaluation device, the at least one capacitive sensor electrode and the lighting device form an integrated assembly.

Claims

1. An electronic sensor unit for a motor vehicle, comprising

a housing,

a control and evaluation system disposed in the housing, which can be coupled to a control system for the motor vehicle,

at least one capacitive sensor electrode having a detection range (X), wherein the capacitive sensor electrode is coupled to the control and evaluation system and is disposed in the housing, and wherein a capacitance change in the capacitive sensor electrode can be detected by the control and evaluation system,

a lighting system with a lamp, which can emit an optical signal, wherein the lighting system is coupled to the control and evaluation system, and a target region (Y), which is provided by the ground, characterizing the detection range (X) can be marked outside the housing, and wherein

the housing, the control and evaluation system, the at least one capacitive sensor electrode and the lighting system form an integral assembly.

2. The electronic sensor unit according to claim 1, wherein the electronic sensor unit has two capacitive sensor electrodes, which are coupled to the control and evaluation system and are disposed at a spacing to one another in the housing.

3. The electronic sensor unit according to claim 1, wherein the capacitive sensor electrode(s) is/are designed as (a) flat electrode(s).

4. The electronic sensor unit according to claim 1, wherein the electrical sensor unit comprises a lens assembly.

5. The electronic sensor unit according to claim 1, wherein a self-cleaning coating is allocated to the lighting system in the region of the lamp.

6. The electronic sensor unit according to claim 1, wherein the electronic sensor unit comprises a nozzle assembly that provides to the lighting system a cleaning fluid, wherein the nozzle assembly is adapted to be coupled to the control and evaluation system.

7. The electronic sensor unit according to claim 1, wherein the lamp of the lighting system is disposed directly on a printed circuit board for the control and evaluation system.

8. The electronic sensor unit according to claim 1, wherein the housing has at least one articulated region, which divides the housing into numerous housing sections, and connects the housing sections to one another such that the housing sections are movable.

9. The electronic sensor unit according to claim 8, wherein the capacitive sensor electrodes are disposed in different housing sections.

10. The electronic sensor unit according to claim 1, wherein the housing can be plastically deformed, at least in a sub-region, such that the electronic sensor unit can be adapted to the shape of a substrate onto which the electronic sensor unit is to be attached.

11. The electronic sensor unit according to claim 1, wherein a sub-region of the housing exhibits an adhesive coating.

12. An electronic sensor unit for a motor vehicle, comprising:

a housing having disposed therein;

a control and evaluation system, which is adapted to be coupled to a control system for the motor vehicle;

at least one capacitive sensor electrode which is coupled to the control and evaluation system, the at least one capacitive sensor electrode having a detection range (X); and

a lighting system coupled to the control and evaluation system and comprising a lamp that emits an optical signal when projecting a target region (Y) onto the ground, the target region (Y) characterizing the detection range (X) of the at least one capacitive sensor electrode;

wherein the control and evaluation system detects a capacitance change in the at least one capacitive sensor electrode when an intrusion occurs within the detection range (X) of the at least one capacitive sensor electrode.

13. The electronic sensor unit according to claim 12, wherein the housing, the control and evaluation system, the at least one capacitive sensor electrode and the lighting system form an integral assembly.

14. The electronic sensor unit according to claim 12, wherein the electronic sensor unit has two capacitive sensor electrodes, which are coupled to the control and evaluation system and are disposed at a spacing to one another in the housing.

15. The electronic sensor unit according to claim 12, wherein the capacitive sensor electrode(s) is/are designed as (a) flat electrode(s).

16. The electronic sensor unit according to claim 12, wherein the electrical sensor unit comprises a lens assembly.

17. The electronic sensor unit according to claim 12, wherein a self-cleaning coating is allocated to the lighting system in the region of the lamp.

18. The electronic sensor unit according to claim 12, wherein the electronic sensor unit comprises a nozzle assembly that provides to the lighting system a cleaning fluid, wherein the nozzle assembly is adapted to be coupled to the control and evaluation system.

19. The electronic sensor unit according to claim 12, wherein the lamp of the lighting system is disposed directly on a printed circuit board for the control and evaluation system.

20. The electronic sensor unit according to claim 12, wherein the housing has at least one articulated region, which divides the housing into numerous housing sections, and connects the housing sections to one another such that the housing sections are movable.