Human body detecting device

• US 20030128116A1
• Filed: 12/24/2002
• Published: 07/10/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/26/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aisin Seiki Co., Ltd. (Aisin Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Aisin Seiki Co., Ltd. (Aisin Corp.)
• Inventors: Murakami, Yuichi, Ieda, Kiyokazu, Mushiake, Eiji
• Granted Patent: US 7,132,768 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/562
• 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: G07C 2009/00373 whereby the wake-up circuit is situated in the lock
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00793 by Hertzian waves
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2209/65 using means for sensing the user's hand
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/3283 side-mounted antennas, e.g. bumper-mounted, door-mounted mounted on windscreens H01Q1/1271
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/955 using a capacitive detector
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2017/9602 characterised by the type or shape of the sensing electrodes

Abstract

A human body detecting device for detecting an approach of a human body includes a sensor electrode provided in a housing and having detecting portions for detecting the approach of the human body to the housing. The detecting portions of the sensor electrode detect at least two different surfaces of the housing, and each of the detecting portions is provided at each surface side in the housing.

Claims

1. A human body detecting device for detecting an approach of a human body, comprising:

a sensor electrode provided in a housing and having detecting portions for detecting the approach of the human body to the housing; and

the detecting portions of the sensor electrode detecting at least two different surfaces of the housing, each of the detecting portions being provided at each surface side in the housing.

2. A human body detecting device according to claim 1, wherein;

the sensor electrode is bent in a U-shape to form an outwardly extending portion on one side wall of the sensor electrode and an inwardly extending portion on the other side wall of the sensor electrode, and wherein the outwardly extending portion on the one side wall of the sensor electrode is provided at one surface side in the housing as one of the detecting portions and the inwardly extending portion on the other side wall of the sensor electrode is provided at the other surface side in the housing as the other one of the detecting portions.

3. A human body detecting device according to claim 1, wherein;

the housing is a door handle for a vehicle forming a hollow portion therein, in which the detecting portions are housed at a vehicle-door side and at an opposite side to the vehicle door respectively, wherein the detecting portion on the opposite side to the vehicle door is provided with a space for radio wave transmission and a transmitting antenna is provided in a space between the detecting portions.

4. A human body detecting device according to claim 2, wherein;

the housing is a door handle for a vehicle forming a hollow portion therein, in which the detecting portions are housed at a vehicle-door side and at an opposite side to the vehicle door respectively, wherein the detecting portion on the opposite side to the vehicle door is provided with a space for a radio wave transmission and a transmitting antenna is provided in a space between the detecting portions.

5. A human body detecting device according to claim 4, wherein;

the sensor electrode is branched from a base portion thereof into a first electrode piece and a second electrode piece, and wherein the first electrode piece and the second electrode-piece are bent in the same direction in the U-shape whereby the outwardly extending portion and the inwardly extending portion are formed respectively as the detecting portions of the first electrode piece and the second electrode piece.

6. A human body detecting device according to claim 3, wherein;

the sensor electrode has a rectangular tube shape, and a space for radio wave transmission is formed on a surface provided at the opposite side to the vehicle door of the sensor electrode.

7. A human body detecting device according to claim 3, wherein;

the sensor electrode includes a first electrode piece and a second electrode piece each forming an outwardly extending portion, and another sensor electrode includes a third electrode piece and a fourth electrode piece each forming an outwardly extending portion which has the same shape as the outwardly extending portion of the first electrode piece and the second electrode piece respectively, wherein the third electrode piece, and the fourth electrode piece are electrically connected to the first electrode piece and the second electrode piece so as to face to each other with keeping a predetermined distance therebetween.

8. A human body detecting device according to claim 1, wherein;

the sensor electrode includes twelve electrode pieces being interconnected each other so as to form a single rectangular shape by constituting each side thereof by each electrode pieces and a transmitting antenna is provided in a space surrounded by the twelve electrode pieces.

9. A human body detecting device according to claim 1, wherein;

the sensor electrode includes a first electrode piece having a rectangular-frame shape, and a second electrode piece and a third electrode piece each having another rectangular-frame shape shorter than that of the first electrode piece in a longitudinal direction, wherein the second electrode piece and the third electrode piece are electrically connected to one end and the other end of the first electrode piece respectively so as to face to each other with keeping a predetermined distance therebetween, and a transmitting antenna is provided in a space surrounded by the first electrode piece, the second electrode piece and the third electrode piece.

10. A human body detecting device according to claim 1, wherein;

the sensor electrode includes a pair of first electrode piece and second electrode piece of a plate shape, wherein the pair of first electrode piece and second electrode piece are provided in parallel by keeping a predetermined distance therebetween, and a transmitting antenna is provided in a space between the first electrode piece and the second electrode piece.

11. A human body detecting device according to claim 10, wherein;

a third electrode piece and a fourth electrode piece of a plate shape are provided at an upper side and a lower side relative to the transmitting antenna in the door handle.