EP1518981B1 - External door handle - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to an outside door handle of the type referred to in the preamble of claim 1 (as known, for example, from US-A-5 340 174). The functions triggered by the capacitive sensor contained in the outside door handle may include, for example, an access authorization to the vehicle and serve for more comfortable opening and closing. The corresponding outside door handles have one or more functional surfaces via which the capacitive sensor can be addressed.

A disadvantage of such an arrangement, however, is that it may cause interference of the capacitive sensors and so an unwanted operation or locking of the door mechanism is done. These disturbances lead to malfunctions and thus to energy loss.

In the case of door handles with a functional surface, the disturbances often come about through environmental influences, such as rain or increased humidity. In addition, the outside door handle also has a second or even additional functional areas are additionally accompanied by the problem that the capacitive sensors of the different functional areas influence one another and thus further malfunctions occur.

The object of the invention is therefore to avoid the aforementioned disadvantages and to provide a cost-effective outside door handle with at least one capacitive sensor, which works trouble-free despite environmental impact. This is inventively achieved by the measures mentioned in claim 1, which has the following special significance.

As a connecting means between the electrically conductive diaphragm and the handle rest is a screw. However, at the same time this generates a clamping pressure which electrically connects the diaphragm with the ground potential located in the handle interior. As a result, the interference caused by the environmental influences are derived directly to the ground potential, so that the emergence of malfunction of the capacitive sensors is avoided.

Such a screw connection, which additionally generates a clamping pressure, is simple and inexpensive to produce. It represents an effective and quick way of contacting the panel with the ground potential of the vehicle.

Fig. 1:

einen erfindungsgemäßen Türaußengriff in Draufsicht mit geschlossener Blende, perspektivisch

Fig. 2:

einen erfindungsgemäßen Türaußengriff bei entfernter Blende, perspektivisch

Fig. 3a:

eine Detailansicht der Schraubverbindung bei entfernter Blende mit metallischer Zunge, perspektivisch

Fig. 3b:

eine Detailansicht der Schraubverbindung bei entfernter Blende mit metallischem Draht, perspektivisch

Fig. 4:

einen erfindungsgemäßen Türaußengriff bei entfernter Blende in Draufsicht

Fig. 5:

eine Detailansicht des Anschlusses der metallischen Zunge an das Massepotential des Fahrzeugs bei entfernter Blende in Draufsicht.

Particularly advantageous is the use of a conductor which is connected at one end to the diaphragm and at the other end to the connection of the ground potential of the vehicle. Thus, a simple electrically conductive connection between the diaphragm and the ground potential is possible. Further advantages and embodiments of the invention will become apparent from the dependent claims, as well as the following description and the drawings. In the drawings, the subject invention is shown in several embodiments. Show it:

Fig. 1:

an outside door handle according to the invention in plan view with closed aperture, in perspective

Fig. 2:

an outside door handle according to the invention with the panel removed, in perspective

Fig. 3a:

a detailed view of the screw with remote aperture with metallic tongue, in perspective

3b:

a detailed view of the screw with remote aperture with metallic wire, in perspective

4:

an outside door handle according to the invention with the panel removed in plan view

Fig. 5:

a detailed view of the terminal of the metallic tongue to the ground potential of the vehicle with the diaphragm removed in plan view.

The outside door handle 10 shown in Fig. 1 consists of an electrically conductive aperture 11 and a handle portion 12. These two parts are connected by a connecting means 14 with each other. Here, the aperture 11 is often made of chrome or chromium-plated material, which is easy and inexpensive to manufacture and has a nice visual effect.

In the apparent from Fig. 2 handle interior 13 of the outside door handle 10 is a capacitive sensor 20, which serves to trigger functions on the vehicle. These functions may be, for example, that the vehicle automatically opens and closes after the access authorization of the person operating the outside door handle has been established. Other examples include the start-up of open windows or the activation of the alarm system of the vehicle.

In order to avoid disturbances of the capacitive sensors 20, the electrically conductive diaphragm 11 is connected to the ground potential of the vehicle. The connection 21 to the ground potential is located in the interior 13 of the outside door handle 10. This connection of the electrically conductive panel 11 to the terminal 21 of the ground potential is realized via an electrical conductor 30 and a screw 15, which also at the same time the connecting means 14 of the diaphragm 11 with the handle ridge 12 represents.

An electrical conductor 30 is connected at its one end 31 via the screw 15 with the diaphragm 11, while the other end 32 of the conductor 30 is connected to the interior located in the handle 13 terminal 21 of the ground potential of the vehicle. This conductor 30 connects so easily and inexpensively, the aperture 11 with the ground potential of the vehicle.

In the embodiment shown in Fig. 3a, the electrical conductor 30 is designed as a metallic tongue 34. This has a hole 35 through which the screw 15 is guided. Advantageously, the hole 35 at the end 31 of the metallic tongue 34 is designed as a plate spring 36. The plate spring 36 is generated by crimping the inner edge 37 around the hole 35 around. If now a clamping pressure 16 is generated by tightening the screw 15, this is particularly secured by the special design of the metallic tongue 34. The plate spring 36 prevents namely the loosening of the screw 15 and amplifies the clamping pressure 16. Since both the diaphragm 11 and the handle 12 are often made of plastic, which can begin to flow with time, the plate spring 36 additionally secures the connection between the Aperture 11 and the handle ridge 12, so that even with a flowing deformation of these two parts a connection is ensured.

An alternative embodiment is shown in Fig. 3b. Here, the electrical conductor 30 is a metallic wire 33 which is clamped by the screw 15. The metallic wire 33 may at its one end 31 and a ring or ring sector-like training, through which the screw 15 is guided. As a result, a better clamping of the metallic wire 33 comes about.

In order to avoid corrosion on the diaphragm 11 and / or the electrical conductor 30, it is advisable to produce the conductor 30 from a stainless sheet or wire whose potential of the electrochemical series is close to the potential of the material from which the diaphragm 11 consists. In fact, in the case of corrosion of the conductor 30, it would not be possible to ensure the continuity of the electrical connection between the diaphragm 11 and the terminal 21 of the ground potential of the vehicle. In addition, corrosion on the diaphragm 11 would still lead to an ugly appearance, which affects the attractiveness of the vehicle.

In a preferred embodiment, the conductor 30 is connected to a in the handle interior 13 located film 22, which in turn is connected to the ground potential of the vehicle. Such a film 22 is space-saving and easy to assemble. Conveniently, the conductor 30 is soldered at its other end 32 to the terminal 21 of the ground potential, or with the film 22. This type of connection ensures a conductive connection that is easy to implement and does not require additional fasteners such as screws, rivets or the like. In order to make the material of the conductor 30 solderable, in some embodiments, a prior at least partial coating of the conductor 30 with tin is advantageous.

In a further preferred embodiment, the handle interior 13 of the exterior door handle 10 is at least partially filled by its intended use with a filler to protect the electronics 20 from moisture and environmental influences.

In order to avoid corrosion of the junction between the metallic conductor 30 and the terminal 21 to the ground potential of the vehicle, it is advisable to arrange this joint within the filled with filling material area. Since this prevents contact with moisture, the risk of the formation of a galvanic element is banned and it must be addressed in the selection of materials in a special way to the potentials in the electrochemical series of voltages.

The embodiments shown here merely represent, for example, realizations of the invention. This is not limited thereto, but rather various modifications and designs are possible. So it is conceivable, for example, to provide the handle remainder directly with a shape that represents the connection to the ground potential of the vehicle or the connection to the ground potential in such a way that the aperture can be connected directly via the screw, without the use of an electrical conductor , Furthermore, other embodiments of the electrical conductor are conceivable. The one end of the conductor may have various shapes, for example, form a half or partial ring and / or be provided with leaf springs.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

10

Outside door handle

11

cover

12

handle rest

13

handle affairs

14

connecting means

15

screw

16

clamping pressure

20

Capacitive sensor

21

Connection to the ground potential

22

foil

30

Electrical conductor

31

One end of 30

32

Other end of 30

33

Metallic wire

34

Metallic tongue

35

hole

36

Belleville spring

37

Inner edge of 36

38

beading

Claims (13)

1. External door handle (10) for motor vehicles, having at least one capacitive sensor (20) for initiating functions on the vehicle, the handle (10) being partly provided with an electrically conductive shield (11),
   and furthermore consisting of a remaining handle section (12) which is connected to the shield (11) via connecting means (14),
   and further comprising a handle interior (13), while in the handle interior (13) is a connection (21) to the earth potential of the vehicle,
   characterised in that
   the connecting means (14) between the shield (11) and remaining handle section (12) is a screw (15),
   and in that the screw (15) generates a clamping pressure (16) which connects the shield (11) to the connection (21) to the earth potential.
2. External door handle according to claim 1, characterised in that an electrical lead (30) is connected at one end (31) to the shield (11) via the screw (15),
   while the other end (32) of the lead (30) is connected to the connector (21) of the earth potential.
3. External door handle according to claim 2, characterised in that the lead (30) consists of a metal wire (33).
4. External door handle according to claim 2, characterised in that the lead (30) is in the form of a metal tongue (34).
5. External door handle according to one of claims 3 or 4, characterised in that the lead (30) comprises or forms a hole (35) through which the screw (15) is passed.
6. External door handle according to one of claims 4 or 5, characterised in that, at its end (31) in contact with the shield (11), the tongue (34) forms a plate spring (36) through which the screw (15) is passed.
7. External door handle according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterised in that the shield (11) consists of chromium or chromium-plated material.
8. External door handle according to one of claims 2 to 7, characterised in that the lead (30) consists of a rustproof sheet metal whose electrochemical series potential is similar to the potential of the material from which the shield (11) is made.
9. External door handle according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterised in that the lead (30) is attached, in the handle interior (13), to a foil (22) which is in turn connected to the earth potential of the vehicle.
10. External door handle according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterised in that the lead (30) is attached to the connection (21) to the earth potential by soldering.
11. External door handle according to claim 10, characterised in that the material of the lead (30) is made suitable for soldering by at least partially plating it with tin.
12. External door handle according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterised in that the interior (13) of the external door handle (10) is at least partly filled with a filling material before being used for its intended purpose.
13. External door handle according to claim 12, characterised in that the other end (32) of the lead (30), which is attached to the connection (21) to the earth potential, is within the area filled with filling material.

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