Approach detection device

• US 9,953,525 B2
• Filed: 06/04/2013
• Issued: 04/24/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Huf Hulsbeck & Furst GmbH & Co. KG
• Original Assignee: Huf Hulsbeck & Furst GmbH & Co. KG
• Inventors: Buschmann, Gerd, Raulin, Sebastian
• Primary Examiner(s): Lim, Steven
• Assistant Examiner(s): Adnan, Muhammad
• Application Number:
  US14/405,987
• Publication Number:
  US 20150161887A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,785 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/042 using inductive or magnetic detectors
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/955 using a capacitive detector
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2217/960755 Constructional details of capacitive touch and proximity switches

Abstract

An approach detection device for motor vehicles includes a sensor carrier and a sensor electronic system disposed in a receiving space therein. The device includes a capacitive approach sensor coupled to an evaluation circuit which has a capacitive surface for detecting approaches. The device is mounted via a carrier frame, including a fastening section, to a vehicle body part and includes a detection opening. The sensor carrier is fastened to the carrier frame such that the active capacitive surface of the sensor is oriented toward the detection opening. A receiving space is defined by the detection opening and the sensor carrier and is formed in the region of the detection opening. A sealing element is disposed in the receiving space on the sensor carrier.

Claims

1. An approach detection device for a motor vehicle, comprising:

a sensor carrier with a receiving space,

a sensor electronics system disposed in the receiving space of the sensor carrier, having at least one capacitive approach sensor coupled to an evaluation circuitry, which has a capacitive surface for detecting approaches, and

a carrier frame, comprising a fastening section, by means of which the approach detection device can be mounted to a vehicle body part of the motor vehicle, and comprising a detection opening,

wherein the sensor carrier is fastened to the carrier frame such that the active capacitive surface of the capacitive approach sensor is oriented toward the detection opening, and is exposed thereby, and wherein a receiving space, defined by the detection opening and the sensor carrier, is formed in the region of the detection opening, and having a sealing means, which is disposed in the receiving space on the sensor carrier, at least in the region of the active capacitive surface of the capacitive approach sensor, wherein the sealing means fills the detection opening,

wherein, when the approach detection device is not mounted to the vehicle body part, the sealing means extends beyond the plane of the carrier frame defined by the fastening section of the carrier frame, such that the sealing means is compressed in the receiving space when the approach detection device is mounted with its fastening section to the vehicle body part,

wherein the sealing means includes at least one through hole for reducing an expansion pressure of the sealing means, wherein the expansion pressure is generated by a compression of the sealing means when the approach detection device is mounted to the vehicle body, and

wherein the sensor carrier includes at least one projection complementary to the at least one through hole, the at least one projection anchoring the sealing means when the approach detection device is mounted to the vehicle body part.

2. The approach detection device according to claim 1, wherein the sensor carrier has at least one projection, complementary to at least one through hole defined in the sealing means, in the exposed region of the receiving space.

3. The approach detection device according to claim 1, wherein an adhesive coating is disposed, at least in sections, on the surface of the fastening section of the carrier frame facing the vehicle body part of the motor vehicle, with which the approach detection device can be mounted to the vehicle body part of the motor vehicle.

4. The approach detection device according to claim 1, wherein the sealing means is multi-layered, wherein the layers abutting the sensor carrier and provided for adjoining the vehicle body part are softer than a layer between the layer abutting the sensor carrier and the layer adjoining the vehicle body part.

5. The approach detection device according to claim 1, wherein an adapter layer, which exposes the detection opening, is disposed on the fastening section, with which the approach detection device can be mounted to the vehicle body part of the motor vehicle.

6. The approach detection device according to claim 1, wherein the carrier frame comprises numerous retaining means, with which the sensor carrier is anchored in or on the carrier frame.

7. The approach detection device according to claim 1, wherein the sensor carrier has a support section and the sensor electronics system has a plug-in connector, wherein the plug-in connector is releasably attached in the support section.

8. The approach detection device of claim 1 wherein the sealing means comprises a foam material.

9. An approach detection device for motor vehicles, comprising:

a sensor carrier including a receiving space,

a sensor electronics system disposed in the receiving space of the sensor carrier, the sensor electronics system comprising evaluation circuitry and at least one capacitive approach sensor, which has a capacitive surface for detecting approaches, coupled to the evaluation circuitry,

a carrier frame, comprising a detection opening and a fastening section, adapted to be mounted to a vehicle body part of the motor vehicle by the fastening section, and

wherein the sensor carrier is fastened to the carrier frame such that the active capacitive surface of the capacitive approach sensor is oriented toward the detection opening, and is exposed thereby, and wherein a receiving space, defined by the detection opening and the sensor carrier, is formed in the region of the detection opening, and including a sealing member, which is disposed in the receiving space on the sensor carrier, at least in the region of the active capacitive surface of the capacitive approach sensor such that the complete detection opening is filled,

wherein, when the approach detection device is not mounted to the vehicle body part, the sealing means extends beyond the plane of the carrier frame defined by the fastening section of the carrier frame, such that the sealing means is compressed in the receiving space when the approach detection device is mounted with its fastening section to the vehicle body part,

at least one projection extending from the sensor carrier,

wherein the sealing means includes at least one through hole for reducing an expansion pressure of the sealing means, wherein the expansion pressure is generated by a compression of the sealing means when the approach detection device is mounted to the vehicle body, and

wherein the at least one projection extends through the at least one through hole to anchor the sealing means when the approach detection device is mounted to the vehicle body part.

10. The approach detection device of claim 9 wherein the sealing member is disposed in the carrier frame in front of the sensor carrier.

11. The approach detection device of claim 9 wherein the sealing member comprises at least two layers, a first layer being relatively softer than a second layer.

12. The approach detection device of claim 11 wherein the sealing member comprises first, second and third layers, wherein the first and third layers are relatively softer than is the second layer.

13. The approach detection device of claim 9 further comprising at least one retaining member adapted to retain the sensor carrier to the carrier frame.

14. The approach detection device of claim 9 further comprising an adhesive coating disposed on a fastening section of the carrier frame.

15. The approach detection device of claim 9 wherein the sensor carrier comprises a support section and the sensor electronics system includes a plug-in connector which is releasably attached to the support section.

16. The approach detection device of claim 9 wherein the sealing means comprises a foam material.