JP4079646B2 - Vehicle door outside handle device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a vehicle door outside handle device.
[0002]
[Prior art]
When constructing a keyless entry system, as a conventional example in which a communication antenna is arranged in an outside handle device that is an exposed element from a vehicle body, for example, one described in JP-T-2001-520337 is known. Yes. In this conventional example, an antenna is housed inside the handle, and a change in capacitance due to insertion of a hand into a gap formed between the antenna or the cover on which the conductive plating is applied to the handle and the vehicle body is detected. To change the antenna to the communication state.
[0003]
The antenna communicates with a portable device carried by a driver outside the vehicle, confirms the ID of the portable device, and if it matches, operates the door locking device in the unlocking direction.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the above-described conventional example, when the user leaves the vehicle, the user can perform automatic locking by communicating with the portable device again, or a separate locking operation using a portable device or a key plate by the driver. In the former case, the processing in the control unit is complicated, and in the latter case, the portable device or the like has to be taken out again to obtain it, resulting in poor usability.
[0005]
Further, it is possible to arrange a lock switch on the handle base fixed to the vehicle body side. However, in this case, there is a problem that the wiring work in the vehicle body increases and the mounting workability is lowered.
[0006]
The present invention has been made to solve the above-described drawbacks, and an object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle door outside handle device capable of locking a door with a simple operation when the vehicle leaves.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
According to the present invention, the object is
A proximity sensor or a detection electrode 2 of a contact detection sensor and an antenna 3 of a transmission / reception device that communicates with the outside of the vehicle are accommodated in the handle 1 so that the driver can approach or touch the vehicle. A vehicle door outside handle device that performs communication between the transmission / reception device and the portable device on the driver side to detect unlocking of the door, etc.
The handle 1 has a handle main body 1c that is formed in a longitudinal direction in the vehicle front-rear direction and protrudes to the outside of the door panel 6 to a position away from the door panel 6.
In the handle main body 1c, the detection electrode 2 such as the proximity sensor is disposed over the entire length on the door panel 6 side, and the antenna 3 is provided on the surface side of the detection electrode 2 opposite to the door panel 6. In the longitudinal direction of the handle main body 1c of the antenna 3, the detection electrode 4a of the capacitive touch sensor 4 that generates a locking operation signal for the door is provided in the center portion, and the detection electrode such as the proximity sensor. Arranged at a position deviating from the surface side of 2,
The detection electrode 4a of the touch sensor 4 is covered and accommodated by the outer shell on the opposite side of the door panel 6 of the handle body 1c , and an operation point indicating mark 5 is provided at the touch sensor 4 sensitive position of the outer shell. This is accomplished by providing a door outside handle device.
[0008]
When the driver leaves the vehicle, touching the operation point indicating mark 5 formed on the outer outer shell of the handle body 1c , that is, the outwardly exposed surface, the capacitance of the detection electrode 4a of the touch sensor 4 is increased. The contact signal is sent from the measurement circuit in the touch sensor 4. This contact signal is transmitted to the door lock device via, for example, a control unit housed in the vehicle body, and the door lock device is shifted to the locked state.
[0009]
Therefore, in this invention, the driver can perform the locking operation only by lightly touching the operation point instruction mark 5 of the handle body 1c when leaving the vehicle. For this reason, for example, since the control unit only needs to be configured to output the locking signal preferentially when receiving the detection signal from the touch sensor 4, the control becomes simple, and the driver can Therefore, it is not necessary to obtain a portable device again and the usability is improved.
[0010]
Further, unlocking operation of the door in order to be integrated into the handle body 1c, in order to build a keyless entry system by performing the wiring to the handle body 1c, thereby improving the mounting workability to the vehicle body.
[0011]
Further, since the touch sensor 4 is housed in the handle 1 and the surface is covered with the outer shell of the handle 1, the touch sensor 4 is not tampered as compared with the case where a push button switch or the like is used. .
[0012]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the present invention. The outside handle device is formed by attaching the handle 1 to a handle base 7 fixed to a door panel 6 of the vehicle. By rotating the handle 1 about the pivot axis 7a with the handle base 7, the operation unit 8 connected to a door lock device (not shown) arranged inside the door is operated, and the door lock device is released. Further, an auxiliary lock 9 that can be operated by a key plate is disposed on the handle base 7, and the door lock device can be locked and unlocked by operating the auxiliary lock 9.
[0013]
FIG. 2 shows the handle 1 of the handle device. The handle 1 is provided with a hinge connecting portion 1a to the handle base 7 at one end portion, is formed in a longitudinal direction in the vehicle longitudinal direction (vehicle length direction), and includes a synthetic resin including an arm portion 1b on which the hinge connecting portion 1a is formed. The handle body 1c is made. In almost all regions except the arm portion 1b of the handle body 1c, a concave groove that opens toward the door panel 6 is provided, and the antenna 3 and the capacitance sensor 10 that operates as a proximity sensor are provided in the concave groove. After the antenna unit is housed, it is closed by a synthetic resin cover 11.
[0014]
The antenna 3 of the antenna unit is formed in a rod shape that is long in the longitudinal direction of the handle 1 by winding a conductive wire around a core made of a ferromagnetic material such as ferrite, and is disposed at the center of the handle body 1c.
[0015]
The capacitance sensor 10 includes a detection electrode 2 formed of a metal material such as stainless steel, and a circuit unit in which a capacitance detection circuit for detecting a change in capacitance of the detection electrode 2 is sealed in a package 10a. The circuit portion and the conductive wires of the antenna 3 are collected in the cable 12 and drawn out of the handle 1. The detection electrode 2 is disposed over almost the entire length of the handle body 1c, and is fastened to the handle body 1c together with the cover 11 by a bolt 13.
[0016]
A capacitive touch sensor 4 is fixed on the detection electrode 2 of the capacitive sensor 10. Similar to the capacitance sensor 10 described above, the touch sensor 4 includes a detection electrode 4a formed of a metal material such as stainless steel and a circuit unit sealed in a package 4b. It is arranged and fixed on the surface side. Further, an operation point instruction mark 5 is formed at a position directly above the detection electrode 4a by recessing the outer wall surface of the handle body 1c.
[0017]
The touch sensor 4 adjusts the detection threshold value in the circuit unit so as to output a detection signal when it touches the detection electrode 4a, more precisely, when the operation point instruction mark 5 is touched. The input / output lines are inserted into the handle body 1c and gathered into the cable 12 and connected to a control unit (not shown). When the control unit receives a detection signal from the touch sensor 4, the control unit generates a locking signal. The door lock device is shifted to the locked state.
[0018]
Therefore, in this embodiment, when the human body approaches the handle 1 or touches the handle 1 to open the door, the change in the capacitance of the detection electrode 2 is detected by the capacitance detection circuit, The detection signal is input via a cable to a control unit (not shown) installed in the vehicle. The control unit that has received the detection signal drives the communication circuit to emit a communication radio wave from the antenna 3 and communicates with the portable terminal device on the driver side, and the identity of the portable terminal device is confirmed to match. And unlocking the locking device.
[0019]
Further, the lock device can be shifted to the locked state simply by the driver getting out of the vehicle and touching the operation point instruction mark 5 on the handle body 1c. Since the touch sensor 4 is covered with the outer shell of the handle body 1c, there is no risk of mischief or the like, and there is no performance deterioration due to intrusion of rain or the like.
[0020]
FIG. 3 shows a modification of FIG. Note that, in the present modification and the following description of the embodiment, components that are substantially the same as those of the above-described embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals in the drawings, and description thereof is omitted.
[0021]
In this modification, the circuit portions of the capacitance sensor 10 and the touch sensor 4 are sealed in the same package 10a, and the package 10a is sandwiched between the cover 11 and the outer shell of the handle body 1c. Arranged. In this way, by making the package 10a common, manufacturing efficiency is improved.
[0022]
FIG. 4 shows a second embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the antenna unit is integrally formed in advance and fixed to the handle body 1c. FIG. 4A shows a case in which a synthetic resin case 14 is used for integration. The synthetic resin case 14 has a cylindrical shape with one end open, and an open end is formed in a wide mouth. The
[0023]
The antenna 3 is entirely inserted into the case 14 with the holder 3a at the base end of the antenna 3 positioned on the opening end side, and the capacitance sensor 10 has a case in which the package 10a is superimposed on the holder 3a of the antenna 3. The detection electrode 2 of the capacitance sensor 10 protrudes out of the case 14 from the electrode insertion opening 14 a provided in the case 14 in the state of being accommodated in the case 14 and accommodated in the case 14. The case 14 is formed with a sensor holding portion 14b, and the touch sensor 4 is inserted into the sensor holding portion 14b and then fixed with an adhesive or the like.
[0024]
Note that, as described above, the touch sensor 4 can be inserted into the case 14 together with the antenna 3 as shown in FIG. In this case, the electrostatic capacity detection circuit of the touch sensor 4 is sealed in the package 10a of the electrostatic capacity sensor 10, and the detection electrode 4a protruding from the shared package 10a is provided in the open end of the case 14. Placed in.
[0025]
After housing the antenna 3 and the like in the case as described above, the case 14 is filled with the filling resin material 15 and integrated as a whole. In this state, the case is fixed to the handle body 1c, and then pulled out from the antenna unit. The external connection line 16 is connected to a control unit in the vehicle, for example.
[0026]
Further, in the above, the case where the antenna unit is integrated via the case 14 has been shown, but as shown in FIG. 5, it is possible to integrate using the molded resin 17. In FIG. 5B, the antenna 3 and the capacitance sensor 10 are only the antenna body, the detection electrode 2 of the capacitance sensor 10 and the detection electrode 4a of the touch sensor 4 without the package 10a and the holder 3a. Are integrated by a synthetic resin for molding. At the time of integral molding with the molding resin 17, a substrate housing portion 17a is formed in the molded portion, and the mounting substrate 18 is housed in the substrate housing portion 17a.
[0027]
The mounting substrate 18 is electrically connected to the antenna body exposed on the inner wall of the substrate housing portion 17a at the time of molding, and the detection electrodes 4a and the like via the lead portions 19 of the detection electrodes 2 and 4a. The external connection line 16 is connected by pattern wiring or the like formed on the mounting substrate 18. In addition, the capacitance detection circuit of the capacitance sensor 10 and the touch sensor 4 is mounted on the mounting substrate 18, and the lead portion 19 of the detection electrode 4a is connected to the input terminal of the capacitance detection circuit for output. The antenna unit is pulled out via the external connection line 16 connected to the terminal side.
[0028]
The mounting substrate 18 accommodated in the substrate accommodating portion 17a as described above is sealed with the potting resin 20 or the like filled in the substrate accommodating portion 17a, thereby preventing water droplets and dust from adhering to the pattern or the like.
[0029]
【The invention's effect】
As is clear from the above description, according to the present invention, the door can be locked with a simple operation when the vehicle leaves, and the locking switch is integrated into the handle, so that the wiring is not routed. And the mounting workability is improved. Further, since the touch sensor is covered with the outer shell of the handle and is not exposed to the outside, it is not mischievous or deteriorated by rainwater or the like.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an overall view showing the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a handle.
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a modification of FIG.
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of an antenna unit showing a second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of an antenna unit showing a modification of FIG.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Handle 2 Detection electrode 3 Antenna 4 Touch sensor 4a Detection terminal 5 Operation point indication mark

Claims (2)

The proximity sensor or contact detection sensor detection electrode and the antenna of the transmitter / receiver that communicates with the outside of the vehicle are housed in the handle, and the proximity or contact of the driver to the vehicle is detected by the proximity sensor. A door outside handle device for a vehicle that performs communication between the transmission / reception device and the portable device on the driver side to unlock the door, etc.
The handle has a handle body that is formed in a longitudinal direction in the vehicle front-rear direction and is attached to protrude outward from the door panel to a position away from the door panel.
In the handle body, the detection electrode such as the proximity sensor is disposed over the entire length on the door panel side, and the antenna is disposed in the center on the surface side of the detection electrode opposite to the door panel, In addition, in the longitudinal direction of the handle body of the antenna, a detection electrode of a capacitive touch sensor that generates a lock operation signal to the door is disposed at a position away from the surface side of the detection electrode such as the proximity sensor. ,
A vehicle door outside handle device in which a detection electrode of the touch sensor is covered and accommodated by an outer shell on the opposite side of the door panel of the handle body , and an operation point indication mark is provided at a touch sensor sensitive position of the outer shell. The vehicle door outside handle device according to claim 1, wherein the operation point instruction mark is a recess having a recessed outer shell.

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