Classifications

• • G—PHYSICS
  • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
  • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
  • G06F3/00—Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
  • G06F3/01—Input arrangements or combined input and output arrangements for interaction between user and computer
  • G06F3/03—Arrangements for converting the position or the displacement of a member into a coded form
  • G06F3/041—Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
  • G06F3/044—Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means by capacitive means
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H03—ELECTRONIC CIRCUITRY
  • H03K—PULSE TECHNIQUE
  • H03K17/00—Electronic switching or gating, i.e. not by contact-making and –breaking
  • H03K17/94—Electronic switching or gating, i.e. not by contact-making and –breaking characterised by the way in which the control signals are generated
  • H03K17/945—Proximity switches
  • H03K17/955—Proximity switches using a capacitive detector
• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E05—LOCKS; KEYS; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS; SAFES
  • E05B—LOCKS; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR; HANDCUFFS
  • E05B81/00—Power-actuated vehicle locks
  • E05B81/54—Electrical circuits
  • E05B81/64—Monitoring or sensing, e.g. by using switches or sensors
  • E05B81/76—Detection of handle operation; Detection of a user approaching a handle; Electrical switching actions performed by door handles
  • E05B81/77—Detection of handle operation; Detection of a user approaching a handle; Electrical switching actions performed by door handles comprising sensors detecting the presence of the hand of a user
• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E05—LOCKS; KEYS; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS; SAFES
  • E05B—LOCKS; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR; HANDCUFFS
  • E05B81/00—Power-actuated vehicle locks
  • E05B81/54—Electrical circuits
  • E05B81/64—Monitoring or sensing, e.g. by using switches or sensors
  • E05B81/76—Detection of handle operation; Detection of a user approaching a handle; Electrical switching actions performed by door handles
  • E05B81/78—Detection of handle operation; Detection of a user approaching a handle; Electrical switching actions performed by door handles as part of a hands-free locking or unlocking operation
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
  • G01D—MEASURING NOT SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR A SPECIFIC VARIABLE; ARRANGEMENTS FOR MEASURING TWO OR MORE VARIABLES NOT COVERED IN A SINGLE OTHER SUBCLASS; TARIFF METERING APPARATUS; MEASURING OR TESTING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • G01D5/00—Mechanical means for transferring the output of a sensing member; Means for converting the output of a sensing member to another variable where the form or nature of the sensing member does not constrain the means for converting; Transducers not specially adapted for a specific variable
  • G01D5/12—Mechanical means for transferring the output of a sensing member; Means for converting the output of a sensing member to another variable where the form or nature of the sensing member does not constrain the means for converting; Transducers not specially adapted for a specific variable using electric or magnetic means
  • G01D5/14—Mechanical means for transferring the output of a sensing member; Means for converting the output of a sensing member to another variable where the form or nature of the sensing member does not constrain the means for converting; Transducers not specially adapted for a specific variable using electric or magnetic means influencing the magnitude of a current or voltage
  • G01D5/24—Mechanical means for transferring the output of a sensing member; Means for converting the output of a sensing member to another variable where the form or nature of the sensing member does not constrain the means for converting; Transducers not specially adapted for a specific variable using electric or magnetic means influencing the magnitude of a current or voltage by varying capacitance
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
  • G01R—MEASURING ELECTRIC VARIABLES; MEASURING MAGNETIC VARIABLES
  • G01R27/00—Arrangements for measuring resistance, reactance, impedance, or electric characteristics derived therefrom
  • G01R27/02—Measuring real or complex resistance, reactance, impedance, or other two-pole characteristics derived therefrom, e.g. time constant
  • G01R27/26—Measuring inductance or capacitance; Measuring quality factor, e.g. by using the resonance method; Measuring loss factor; Measuring dielectric constants ; Measuring impedance or related variables
  • G01R27/2605—Measuring capacitance
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H05—ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • H05K—PRINTED CIRCUITS; CASINGS OR CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS OF ELECTRIC APPARATUS; MANUFACTURE OF ASSEMBLAGES OF ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS
  • H05K1/00—Printed circuits
  • H05K1/16—Printed circuits incorporating printed electric components, e.g. printed resistor, capacitor, inductor
  • H05K1/162—Printed circuits incorporating printed electric components, e.g. printed resistor, capacitor, inductor incorporating printed capacitors
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H03—ELECTRONIC CIRCUITRY
  • H03K—PULSE TECHNIQUE
  • H03K2217/00—Indexing scheme related to electronic switching or gating, i.e. not by contact-making or -breaking covered by H03K17/00
  • H03K2217/94—Indexing scheme related to electronic switching or gating, i.e. not by contact-making or -breaking covered by H03K17/00 characterised by the way in which the control signal is generated
  • H03K2217/96—Touch switches
  • H03K2217/9607—Capacitive touch switches
  • H03K2217/960755—Constructional details of capacitive touch and proximity switches
  • H03K2217/960765—Details of shielding arrangements
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H05—ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • H05K—PRINTED CIRCUITS; CASINGS OR CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS OF ELECTRIC APPARATUS; MANUFACTURE OF ASSEMBLAGES OF ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS
  • H05K1/00—Printed circuits
  • H05K1/02—Details
  • H05K1/0213—Electrical arrangements not otherwise provided for
  • H05K1/0237—High frequency adaptations
  • H05K1/025—Impedance arrangements, e.g. impedance matching, reduction of parasitic impedance
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H05—ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • H05K—PRINTED CIRCUITS; CASINGS OR CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS OF ELECTRIC APPARATUS; MANUFACTURE OF ASSEMBLAGES OF ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS
  • H05K2201/00—Indexing scheme relating to printed circuits covered by H05K1/00
  • H05K2201/09—Shape and layout
  • H05K2201/09209—Shape and layout details of conductors
  • H05K2201/09654—Shape and layout details of conductors covering at least two types of conductors provided for in H05K2201/09218 - H05K2201/095
  • H05K2201/09672—Superposed layout, i.e. in different planes
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H05—ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • H05K—PRINTED CIRCUITS; CASINGS OR CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS OF ELECTRIC APPARATUS; MANUFACTURE OF ASSEMBLAGES OF ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS
  • H05K2201/00—Indexing scheme relating to printed circuits covered by H05K1/00
  • H05K2201/10—Details of components or other objects attached to or integrated in a printed circuit board
  • H05K2201/10007—Types of components
  • H05K2201/10151—Sensor

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a capacitive presence sensor adapted to be disposed in a handle of a motor vehicle door. It finds a particular but non-limiting application in the field of motor vehicles.
• the capacitive sensor is generally connected to a management unit that triggers the locking or unlocking of the opening according to the information delivered by the electrode, that is to say according to the capacity variation of this last.
• a disadvantage is that such a capacitive sensor has an electrode sensitive to the value of the capacity of the environment.
• this sensor is disposed in a lever for gripping a handle which has a decorative conductive element, for example on the outer face of this lever, the sensitivity of the electrode is reduced by the presence of this decorative conductive element.
• the decorative conductive element thus varies the electric field of the sensor.
• a capacitive presence sensor disposed in the lever for gripping a motor vehicle opening handle comprising:
• first capacitance measuring electrode defining a first detection zone and a second capacitance measuring electrode defining a second detection zone;
• guard plane capable of minimizing a capacitive coupling between said first electrode and said second electrode
• said sensor being connected to a processing unit connected to said first electrode, to said second electrode and to the guard plane, said processing unit being adapted to periodically and alternately position said guard plane at the same potential as said first electrode or at the same potential as said second electrode.
• the two measurement electrodes are arranged perpendicularly to each other, one being oriented towards the opening of the vehicle, namely towards the area where one hand is to be detected, and the second being directed towards the upper part of the gripping lever.
• handle which part can receive a decorative conductive element.
• the second electrode which is a bi-electrode is an insert. It consists of a pair of metal bars welded. Subsequently, signal processing is required to separate the capacitive information from each of the electrodes.
• a disadvantage of such a capacitive sensor is that it is bulky and requires a reported component which makes it mechanically fragile. Moreover, if the sensor incorporates a low frequency antenna, the performance thereof is reduced by the parasitic effect of the patch on the antenna. In this context, the present invention aims to solve the aforementioned drawback.
• a capacitive presence sensor adapted to be disposed in the lever for gripping a motor vehicle opening handle comprising:
• first capacitance measuring electrode defining a first detection zone and a second capacitance measuring electrode defining a second detection zone;
• guard plane adapted to minimize a capacitive coupling between said first electrode and said second electrode
• said sensor being connected to a processing unit connected to said first electrode, to said second electrode and to the guard plane, said processing unit being adapted to periodically and alternately position said guard plane at the same potential as said first electrode or at the same potential as said second electrode,
• a printed circuit comprising a first face and a second face, said first electrode comprising a surface that extends along said first face and said second electrode comprising a surface that extends along said second face; and in that :
• the guard plane is composed of a conductive track arranged between the first electrode and the second electrode, passing through the thickness of said printed circuit and comprising a first printed surface extending along said first face of the printed circuit and a second printed surface extending along said second face of the printed circuit.
• this new sensor structure without insert removes mechanical problems, and at the same time unwanted spurious effects on a low frequency antenna.
• the presence sensor may furthermore include one or more additional characteristics among the following:
• the first surface of the conductive track is of length at least equal to the length of said second electrode, and the second surface of the conductive track is of length at least equal to the length of said first electrode.
• the capacitive presence sensor further comprises a second second electrode arranged so that the second two electrodes are located on either side of the first electrode in a plane perpendicular to said presence sensor.
• the first electrode is offset from the second electrode in a plane perpendicular to said printed circuit so as to obtain detection directions respectively corresponding to the first detection zone and the second detection zone which are oblique.
• the first electrode is adapted to be positioned opposite said opening.
• the second electrode is adapted to be positioned opposite a conductive element.
• a motor vehicle opening handle comprising a gripping lever characterized in that it comprises a presence sensor disposed in said gripping lever, according to any one of the preceding features.
• FIG. 1 is a diagram of a capacitive presence sensor disposed in the lever for gripping a handle of a motor vehicle opening according to a first non-limiting embodiment of the invention
• FIG. 2 is a diagram of a diagram of a capacitive presence sensor disposed in the lever for gripping a handle of a motor vehicle leaf according to a second non-limiting embodiment of the invention
• FIG. 3 is a perspective representation of the capacitive presence sensor of FIG. 2 incorporating an antenna
• FIG. 4 shows a section of an opening comprising a handle provided with a gripping lever in which is integrated a capacitive presence sensor according to Figure 2 or according to Figure 3.
• the capacitive presence sensor 1 disposed in the gripping lever L of an opening handle 2 of a motor vehicle V is illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 4.
• FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate the capacitive presence sensor 1 according to a cross-sectional view.
• FIG. 1 represents a first nonlimiting embodiment of the capacitive presence sensor 1. According to this mode, it includes:
• first capacitance measurement electrode E1 defining a first detection zone Z1 and a second capacitance measurement electrode E2 defining a second detection zone Z2;
• a printed circuit 10 comprising a first face 101 and a second face 102, said first electrode E1 comprising a surface that extends along said first face 101 and said second electrode E2 comprising a surface that extends along said second face 102.
• the printed circuit 10 is a PCB ("Printed Circuit Board").
• the capacitive presence sensor 1 further comprises:
• guard plane 13 able to minimize a capacitive coupling between said first electrode E1 and said second electrode E2;
• the capacitive presence sensor 1 is furthermore connected to a processing unit UT of the vehicle V.
• This processing unit UT is in particular connected to said first electrode E 1, to said second electrode E 2 and to the guard plane 13.
• the processing unit UT is also adapted to positively and periodically and alternately to the guard plan. 13 at the same potential as said first electrode E1 or at the same potential as said second electrode E2.
• the processing unit UT is formed by a microcontroller provided with means for measuring the electrical capacitance of the electrodes. The setting of a microcontroller can be changed in a simple way.
• the first electrode E1 and the second electrode E2 are respectively lying on the two faces 102, 101 of the printed circuit 10, which makes it possible to reduce the bulk of the presence sensor 1.
• the electrodes E1 and E2 are tracks printed on the printed circuit board 10.
• first electrode E1 and the second electrode E2 are arranged such that said first zone Z1 and said second zone Z2 are offset in space.
• first electrode E1 is shifted relative to the second electrode E2 in a plane perpendicular to said printed circuit 10 so as to obtain detection directions d1, d2 respectively corresponding to the first detection zone Z1 and to the second detection zone Z2 which are oblique.
• the directions d1 and d2 are orthogonal with respect to each other.
• the first detection zone Z1 corresponds to the zone where the hand will be inserted into the gripping lever L of the handle of the opening 2
• the second detection zone Z2 corresponds to the zone where an element can be located.
• conductor such as a decorative chrome element, namely for example the upper part (called side portion) of the handle lever L of the handle of the opening 2 (described later in the description).
• Detection direction means a direction in which the gradient of the electric field is maximum, an electrode E1, E2 establishing magnetic field lines corresponding to a given detection area. Thanks to the different orientation of the detection directions d1, d2, and to the guard plane, a detection is made inside the handle and on its lateral face (s) (on the top and / or below). The detection zones (inside and opposite the chromed element) are therefore well differentiated;
• the guard plane 13 is composed of a conductive track arranged between the first electrode E1 and the second electrode E2. It passes through the thickness e of the printed circuit 10 and has a first printed surface 130 which extends along said first face 101 of the printed circuit 10 and a second printed surface 131 which extends along said second face 102 of the printed circuit 10. printed circuit 10.
• the potential of the conductive track 13 is positioned at the same level as that of the first electrode E1, or is positioned at the same level as that of the second electrode E2. We are talking about an active daycare plan.
• each electrode E1, E2 is connected to the processing unit UT by means of a single connection C.
• Each single connection C alternately forms the measuring input E adapted to measure the capacitance variation of the corresponding electrode or the control output S adapted to control the potential of the corresponding electrode.
• the guard plane 13 is connected to the processing unit UT by means of a DC connection. It makes it possible to position the potential of the conductive track 13 at the potential of the electrode E1 or of the electrode E2.
• the positioning of the potential is ensured in a periodic and alternating between the first electrode E1 and the second electrode E2, namely at the same potential as the electrode which makes a capacitive signal measurement.
• the signal measurements are indeed acquired alternately by the electrode E1, then by the electrodes E2.
• the presence sensor 1 alternately looks in the direction d1 and then in the direction d2. It recovers each signal measured on E1 and E2 separately.
• the second electrode E2 when the first electrode E1 acquires the capacitive signal, the second electrode E2 is inactive, and when the second electrode E2 acquires the capacitive signal, the first electrode E1 is inactive.
• the second electrode E2 when the first electrode E1 acquires the capacitive signal, the second electrode E2 is positioned as an output element of the processing unit UT at the same potential as the guard plane 13, namely at Same potential as the first electrode E1. In the same way, when the second electrode E2 acquires the capacitive signal, the first electrode E1 is positioned as an output element of the processing unit UT at the same potential as the guard 13, namely at the same potential as the second electrode E2. This implementation avoids having additional parasitic capacitances on the guard plan 13.
• the voltage applied to the electrodes E1, E2 is alternative.
• the voltage varies between 0V and 3V.
• the guard plane 13 will thus follow the alternating voltage of the electrode to the potential of which it is positioned.
• each electrode E1, E2 will deliver a signal (capacity value) representative of a hand, or raindrops, a signal that will no longer be parasitized by the coupling.
• the guard plan prevents the chrome element from influencing the electric field around the lever L. This element does not interfere with the detection of the hand.
• FIG. 2 represents a second nonlimiting embodiment of the capacitive presence sensor 1.
• it further comprises a second second electrode E2 arranged so that the two second electrodes E2 are located on either side of the first electrode E1 in a plane perpendicular to said presence sensor 1.
• a second second detection zone Z2 is created.
• This second zone Z2 is placed facing the lower part of the gripping lever L and will thus make it possible to detect a hand that comes under said lever.
• this makes it possible to carry out a front detection of the gripping lever L. It will be possible to detect a front-facing hand or any other object such as the body, a wall, etc.
• the presence sensor 1 can be mounted on a gripping lever L which is located on a left or right door of the vehicle V.
• FIG 3 is a perspective representation of the presence sensor 1 according to the mode shown in Figure 2 with an integrated antenna BF. As can be seen in this figure, the two electrodes E2 are arranged flat on the printed circuit 10. The volume of the presence sensor is thus reduced with respect to a sensor comprising electrodes arranged perpendicular to said printed circuit board 10.
• a low frequency antenna 4 is positioned on the printed circuit 10 near the electrodes E1 and E2. Such an antenna may be necessary to ensure communication between the sensor 1 and an electronic card adapted to trigger the locking or unlocking of the opening 2 of the vehicle V.
• the first surface 130 (illustrated by horizontal hatching) of the conductive track 13 is of length at least equal to the length of said second electrode E2, and the second surface 131 of the conductive track 13 is of length at least equal to the length of said first electrode E1. In the example taken, they are greater than the electrodes E1, E2.
• the detection zones Z1 and Z2 thus do not overlap at all.
• a signal measured by the electrode E1 comes to parasitize a signal measured by an electrode E2 and vice versa so as not to be able to distinguish the signal measured at the origin.
• FIG. 4 illustrates a sectional view of an opening 2 (door, trunk) of a motor vehicle on which is mounted a handle comprising a gripping lever L.
• the gripping lever L integrates the presence sensor 1 according to the second embodiment of FIG. production.
• the user To open the opening 2, in the example taken, the user must pass his hand between the handle lever L and the opening 2 in the direction of the arrow F. The hand is positioned in the ES space.
• the lever L comprises a conductive element 3 which is for example a decorative chrome element.
• the decorative conductive element is for example electrically floating, that is to say that it is not connected to the mass of the vehicle, this reduces the manufacturing costs.
• the first electrode E1 is adapted to be positioned facing the opening 2, while a second electrode E2 is adapted to be positioned opposite the conductive element 3 .
• the processing unit UT (not shown in this figure) of the sensor 1 is connected to the first electrode E1 and the second electrodes E2 to detect their capacitance variations.
• a triggering action on the opening of the motor vehicle is triggered according to the signatures of the capacitance variations of each of the two electrodes E1, E2 due to the approach of a hand of the two detection zones Z1, Z2.
• the capacity signatures of each of the electrodes E1, E2 are complementary information that will enable the processing unit UT to determine whether it is a hand that fits into the handle L or if it is raining.
• the capacitance variations of the electrodes E1, E2 are important since the hand in the ES space stimulates the detection zone Z2 and the detection zone Z1 at the same time.
• the electrode E1 is not stimulated at the same time as the electrode E2 lying opposite the lateral part) because the raindrop is too small to stimulate the two electrodes at the same time.
• the other second electrode facing the lower part is not stimulated.
• the capacitance variations of the first electrode E1 and of this second electrode E2 are shifted in time because the raindrop falls either on the lateral part (top) of the gripping lever L, namely at the level of the detection zone Z2 either inside the lever L, namely at the detection zone Z1.
• the capacitance variations of the first electrode E1 are greater than those of the second electrodes E2 because in a non-limiting embodiment, the electrode E1 has a larger area than the electrodes E2. It is recalled that the capacity is proportional to the surface.
• the capacitance variations of the second electrodes E2 would be as great as those of the first electrode E1 and one could not differentiate the hand from the rain.
• the capacitance variations of the electrodes E1, E2 are lower than those corresponding to a hand inserted into the lever L. It is the same, when there is a chromed element decorative and if the hand touches it or approaches it (or any other object such as the body or wall) without inserting it into the lever.
• the signatures make it possible to filter unwanted phenomena such as the unlocking of a door in an untimely manner when the user is located near the sensor 1 that includes a vehicle but has not approached its door. hand of the sensor 1 and raining or that he simply put his hand on or in front of the handle L.
• the description of the invention is not limited to the embodiments described above.
• the conductive element 3 is not positioned facing the second electrode E2, but is positioned on the outer face of the gripping lever L and facing the first electrode E1.
• the control unit UT has two connections respectively for the measurement input E and the control output S.
• the described invention has the following advantages in particular: it makes it possible to overcome any mechanical problem related to mechanical attachment of lateral and metallic electrodes.
• the side electrodes are replaced by tracks arranged on a plane parallel to the electrode E1;

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
• Microelectronics & Electronic Packaging (AREA)
• Human Computer Interaction (AREA)
• Lock And Its Accessories (AREA)
• Switches That Are Operated By Magnetic Or Electric Fields (AREA)
• Steering Controls (AREA)

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• 2013
  • 2013-12-19 FR FR1303017A patent/FR3015690B1/fr active Active
• 2014
  • 2014-12-19 US US15/105,698 patent/US9797169B2/en active Active
  • 2014-12-19 EP EP14816254.8A patent/EP3084962A2/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 2014-12-19 JP JP2016541316A patent/JP6567527B2/ja active Active
  • 2014-12-19 CN CN201480069654.8A patent/CN106464252B/zh active Active
  • 2014-12-19 WO PCT/EP2014/078743 patent/WO2015091950A2/fr active Application Filing

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