Vehicle door handle system

• US 6,740,834 B2
• Filed: 11/15/2002
• Issued: 05/25/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Honda Motor Company), Kabushiki Kaisha Honda Lock
• Original Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Honda Motor Company), Kabushiki Kaisha Honda Lock
• Inventors: Yamamoto, Naoto, Namiki, Toru, Fujiwara, Hiroto, Sueyoshi, Masahiko, Asakura, Suguru
• Primary Examiner(s): Friedhofer, Michael A.
• Application Number:
  US10/295,029
• Publication Number:
  US 20030122556A1
• Time in Patent Office: 557 Days
• Field of Search: 702/37, 702/55, 702/58, 180/287, 200/600, 200/5.R, 200/61.58 R, 200/61.85, 200/61.93, 200/293.1, 307/9.1, 307/10.R, 307/10.1, 307/10.2, 340/825.31, 340/825.34, 340/825.69, 340/522, 340/426, 340/539, 340/573.1
• US Class Current: 200/600
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/246 characterised by the challenge triggering
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/78 as part of a hands-free locking or unlocking operation
• 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: G07C 2009/00793 by Hertzian waves
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2209/65 using means for sensing the user's hand
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/962 Capacitive touch switches
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2017/9602 characterised by the type or shape of the sensing electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2217/96073 Amplitude comparison

Abstract

A vehicle door handle system includes a pair of electrodes disposed within an operating handle located on the outer surface side of a door along the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. A detection circuit for detecting a change in capacitance between the two electrodes is connected to the two electrodes.

Claims

1. A vehicle door handle system comprising:

an operating handle disposed on an outer side surface of a vehicle door along a longitudinal direction of the vehicle;

a pair of electrodes disposed, in their entirety, within the operating handle; and

a detection circuit that detects a change in capacitance between the two electrodes, the detection circuit being connected to the two electrodes.

2. The vehicle door handle system according to claim 1, wherein the operating handle comprises:

a handle main body made of a synthetic resin;

a cover made of a synthetic resin and covering an outer side surface of the handle main body; and

a metal frame fixedly housed between the handle main body and the cover, wherein the detection circuit is installed within the frame.

3. The vehicle door handle system according to claim 2, wherein the frame is an electrode of the pair of electrodes, and wherein the other electrode is covered with an insulating coating and is affixed to the frame.

4. The vehicle door handle system according to claim 1, wherein the operating handle comprises:

a handle main body made of a synthetic resin; and

a cover made of a synthetic resin and covering an outer side surface of the handle main body;

wherein the pair of electrodes and a base plate upon which is provided the detection circuit are fixedly housed within a recess formed in the handle main body, wherein the pair of electrodes are covered with the base plate, and

wherein an interior of the recess is filled with a potting material to embed the pair of electrodes and the base plate.

5. The vehicle door handle system according to claim 4, further comprising:

a rigid metal ground plate fixed to the handle main body and covering the recess, the ground plate being disposed between the cover and the handle main body.

6. The vehicle door handle system according to either one of claim 4 or claim 5, wherein the pair of electrodes are integrally covered with an insulator, and wherein each electrode is a fiat plate.

7. The vehicle door handle system according to claim 1, wherein the operating handle comprises:

a handle main body made of a synthetic resin;

a cover made of a synthetic resin and covering an outer side surface of the handle main body; and

a rigid metal ground plate disposed between the cover and the handle main body and fixed to the handle main body, wherein the rigid metal ground plate covers the pair of electrodes from a side of the cover.

8. A vehicle door handle system comprising:

an operating handle disposed on an outer side surface of a vehicle door along a longitudinal direction of the vehicle;

a pair of electrodes disposed within the operating handle; and

a detection circuit that detects a change in capacitance between the two electrodes, the detection circuit being connected to the two electrodes,

wherein the operating handle comprises;

a handle main body made of a synthetic resin;

a cover made of a synthetic resin and covering an outer side surface of the handle main body; and

a metal frame fixedly housed between the handle main body and the cover, wherein the detection circuit is installed within the frame,

wherein the frame is an electrode of the pair of electrodes, and

wherein the other electrode is covered with an insulating coating and is affixed to the frame.

9. The vehicle door handle system according to claim 8, wherein the pair of electrodes and a base plate upon which is provided the detection circuit are fixedly housed within a recess formed in the handle main body, wherein the pair of electrodes are covered with the base plate, and wherein an interior of the recess is filled with a potting material to embed the pair of electrodes and the base plate.

10. The vehicle door handle system according to claim 9, further comprising:

a rigid metal ground plate fixed to the handle main body and covering the recess, the ground plate being disposed between the cover and the handle main body.

11. The vehicle door handle system according to either one of claim 9 or claim 10, wherein the pair of electrodes are integrally covered with an insulator, and wherein each electrode is a flat plate.

12. The vehicle door handle system according to claim 8, wherein the operating handle further comprises:

a rigid metal ground plate disposed between the cover and the handle main body and fixed to the handle main body, wherein the rigid metal ground plate covers the pair of electrodes from a side of the cover.

13. A vehicle door handle system comprising:

an operating handle disposed on an outer side surface of a vehicle door along a longitudinal direction of the vehicle;

a pair of electrodes disposed within the operating handle; and

a detection circuit that detects a change in capacitance between the two electrodes, the detection circuit being connected to the two electrodes,

wherein the operating handle comprises;

a handle main body made of a synthetic resin; and

a cover made of a synthetic resin and covering an outer side surface of the handle main body;

wherein the pair of electrodes and a base plate upon which is provided the detection circuit are fixedly housed within a recess formed in the handle main body, wherein the pair of electrodes are covered with the base plate, and

wherein an interior of the recess is filled with a potting material to embed the pair of electrodes and the base plate.

14. The vehicle door handle system according to claim 13, wherein the operating handle comprises:

a metal frame fixedly housed between the handle main body and the cover, wherein the detection circuit is installed within the frame.

15. The vehicle door handle system according to claim 13, further comprising:

a rigid metal ground plate fixed to the handle main body and covering the recess, the ground plate being disposed between the cover and the handle main body.

16. The vehicle door handle system according to either one of claim 13 or claim 14, wherein the pair of electrodes are integrally covered with an insulator, and wherein each electrode is a fiat plate.

17. The vehicle door handle system according to claim 13, wherein the operating handle comprises:

a rigid metal ground plate disposed between the cover and the handle main body and fixed to the handle main body, wherein the rigid metal ground plate covers the pair of electrodes from a side of the cover.