JP2006193960A - Door handle device and door member equipped therewith and smart entry system equipped with the door member - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a door handle device detecting opening and closing operation by using a piezo-electric sensor obtaining sufficient detection sensitivity even if it has a flexible structure by only contacting at low pressure. <P>SOLUTION: The door handle device is so constituted that the piezo-electric sensor 4 has flexibility to enable it to attach to a handle type door handle 3 and that infinitesimal displacement of the door handle 3 can be detected by high sensitivity. Accordingly, sufficient signal output is obtained only by simply coming into contact with the door handle 3, and a touch on the door handle 3 can be detected. Since it is not necessary to make an electrode exposed, it is hard to have an influence of disturbance, adhered dust, rain, snow or the like. Further, since the piezo-electric sensor 4 can have flexible deformation, there are few conditions of an installation place, and an installation space can be also decreased. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a handle device that is provided with a sensor in a handle device including a door handle and senses an operation of the handle device.

  When unlocking the door by operating the door handle of the vehicle, a sensor is provided to detect contact and operation of the door handle, and when a detection signal is output from this sensor, the door is operated under a predetermined condition. Some have the function of unlocking.

  For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a vehicle door handle device that releases a door lock using a contact bonding type switch such as a membrane switch as a sensor. This membrane switch has a well-known structure, and is formed by printing a pair of electrode portions arranged at a predetermined interval on the opposed inner surfaces of a pair of flexible film-like handle rates arranged to face each other via a spacer. This membrane switch is normally in an off state, and the electrode parts come into contact with each other when an elastic body such as silicon rubber placed on the handle rate is pressed by a trigger so as to be positioned on the electrode part. Thus, the on state is established.

  Further, Patent Document 2 discloses an automobile human body proximity detection sensor that uses a capacitance type sensor as a sensor to release a door lock. An outer handle using a human body proximity detection sensor for an automobile is formed in a hollow shape, and a parallel cable constituting a capacitive sensor as a non-contact sensor is formed in the hollow portion in the longitudinal direction of the grip portion of the outer handle. Is accepted to extend along. The parallel cable is connected to a shield wire provided so that the base end portion extends to the outside through an opening provided near the pivot portion of the outer handle, and the other end of the shield wire is connected to the circuit board. Is done.

By the way, in recent years, with respect to a general door lock releasing method in which a key is inserted into a key hole of a door handle to unlock the door, a personal identification card, transmitter, etc. without inserting the key into the key hole A so-called keyless entry device for releasing a door lock using a door has been applied to a door of an automobile or a house. This type of vehicle radio wave lock device is disclosed in Patent Document 3. In this radio wave lock device for a vehicle, the control unit is operated by pulling a door handle of the vehicle, while the portable transceiver is in a transmission state by receiving a transmission / reception code from the transceiver on the vehicle side. The control unit performs the unlocking process based on the unique code from. And the detection means which detects that the door handle was pulled is provided, and the transmission / reception code is transmitted from the transmitter / receiver on the vehicle side based on the detection signal from this detection means.
JP 2002-322834 A JP-A-10-308149 JP-A-8-53964

  However, the contact junction type switch used in the above-described conventional door handle device has a problem that it does not operate with a light touch such as contact failure due to secular change or contact. In addition, since there is a stroke up to contact joining, a time difference from the moment of touching to the operation of the switch is inevitably generated, and this causes a deterioration in response. For example, when the door handle is grabbed and pulled, if the door is pulled suddenly, the lock means cannot be released in time, and the locked state remains, or rattling occurs. This adversely affects the operation feeling of having to hold the door handle and wait for a predetermined time before pulling it out.

  On the other hand, the capacitance type sensor has a problem that it malfunctions when the door handle gets wet due to rain or a car wash, and a problem that it does not operate even if it touches the door handle when wearing gloves. In addition, there is a problem in that it is extremely difficult to adjust the sensitivity because the capacitance varies depending on the person and varies depending on the shoes worn.

  It is preferable to use a piezoelectric sensor as a contact switch that can increase the detection sensitivity and can be separated from a noise component and can be switched on and off with a touch feeling that reacts even with a slight touch.

  However, a general piezoelectric sensor is a rigid body in which piezoelectric elements made of ceramics or the like are arranged. If there is a restriction on the sensor placement area, there is a problem that the piezoelectric sensor cannot be placed and incorporated at a desired location. is there.

  Although it is conceivable to use an optical sensor that is a non-contact type, there are many malfunctions due to weather conditions such as dust, rain, and snow adhering to the sensor, which is not practical.

  Under these circumstances, a door operation device using a contact bonding type switch, a capacitance type sensor, a general piezoelectric sensor or an optical sensor, and a keyless entry device equipped with these door handle devices have a good operation fee. It has been difficult to realize ring, operation reliability, and embeddability.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above situation, and provides a door handle device that detects an opening / closing operation using a piezoelectric sensor that has a flexible structure and can obtain sufficient detection sensitivity even by contact at low pressure. With the goal.

  In order to solve the conventional problems, a door handle device according to the present invention includes a handle-type door handle for opening and closing a door, and a flexible piezoelectric sensor that is deformed based on displacement of the door handle. Detecting means for detecting at least one of contact of a person or an object to the door handle, an opening operation by the door handle, and a closing operation by the door handle based on an output signal of the piezoelectric sensor, and the piezoelectric sensor Is deformed even by a minute displacement of the door handle by directly or indirectly contacting the arm portion that operates in conjunction with the door handle, so that the displacement of the door handle can be detected with high sensitivity.

  In this door handle device, the piezoelectric sensor has flexibility and can be attached by being deformed softly.

  In the door handle device of the present invention, the piezoelectric sensor has flexibility, can be flexibly deformed and attached to the door handle, and minute displacement of the door handle can be detected with high sensitivity. Therefore, a sufficient signal output can be obtained by simply touching the door handle, and at least one of contact with the door handle, opening operation with the door handle, and closing operation with the door handle can be detected. Further, since it is not necessary to expose the electrode, it is not easily affected by disturbance, adhering dust, rain, snow, or the like. In addition, since the piezoelectric sensor can be flexibly deformed, there are few restrictions on the installation location and the installation space is reduced. Therefore, the piezoelectric sensor can be installed according to the current configuration without having to change the door handle configuration. It becomes possible to do.

  A first invention is a handle-type door handle for opening and closing a door, a flexible piezoelectric sensor that can be deformed based on displacement of the door handle, and the door handle based on an output signal of the piezoelectric sensor. Detecting means for detecting at least one of contact of a person or an object to the object, an opening operation by the door handle, and a closing operation by the door handle, and the piezoelectric sensor is operated in conjunction with the door handle. It can be deformed by displacement of the door handle by directly or indirectly contacting the door.

  In this door handle device, the piezoelectric sensor has flexibility and can be attached to the door handle, and a minute displacement of the door handle when a person or an object contacts the door handle can be detected with high sensitivity. Therefore, a sufficient signal output can be obtained by simply touching the door handle, and at least one of contact with the door handle, opening operation with the door handle, and closing operation with the door handle can be detected. Further, since it is not necessary to expose the electrode, it is not easily affected by disturbance, adhering dust, rain, snow, or the like. In addition, since the piezoelectric sensor can be flexibly deformed, there are few restrictions on the installation location, and it is easy to install it in an appropriate shape according to the configuration of each door handle, and the arrangement space is also reduced. Even if the configuration of the current door handle is not significantly changed, it can be added.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, there is provided an elastic body provided so as to come into contact with a part of the arm portion by being urged by a predetermined pressure when the door handle is not used. It is intended to support a part of. When the door handle is slightly displaced by contact of a person or an object with the door handle, the arm portion is displaced in conjunction with the door handle. When the elastic body is displaced, a part of the piezoelectric sensor supported by the elastic body is deformed together with the elastic body, and an output signal corresponding to the deformation is generated. Based on the output signal of the piezoelectric sensor, the minute displacement of the door handle can be detected with high sensitivity. The elastic body contacts and displaces a part of the arm portion until the biased predetermined pressure disappears, but the piezoelectric sensor sufficiently outputs a signal in response to the displacement.

  Further, since the piezoelectric sensor receives the displacement of the arm portion through the elastic body, for example, the piezoelectric sensor comes into contact with the arm portion and wears, or the shock due to a sudden operation of the door handle is directly received. And reliability is improved.

  In addition, when the pressure applied to the elastic body is released along with the door handle opening operation, the elastic body is not displaced any further, so that the piezoelectric sensor is not deformed. This prevents excessive deformation from being applied to the piezoelectric sensor and disconnection.

  In the third invention, in particular, the elastic body of the second invention is formed into a substantially plate shape, and one end is fixed to form a cantilever, and a predetermined pressure is urged from the arm portion with an extremely simple shape. Can be realized.

  In the fourth aspect of the invention, a part of the elastic body of the second or third aspect of the invention is urged by a predetermined torsional stress when the door handle is not used, and comes into contact with a part of the arm portion. When the door handle is slightly displaced due to contact of a person or an object with the door handle, the arm part is displaced in conjunction with the door handle, and a part of the elastic body is part of the arm part until the biased torsional stress disappears. Displaces in contact with the part. At that time, a part of the elastic body is twisted and deformed in a direction to release the biased torsional stress, that is, in a direction to return from the twisted shape to the original shape. At this time, a part of the piezoelectric sensor supported by the elastic body is also deformed by being twisted together with a part of the elastic body, and an output signal corresponding to the deformation is generated. Based on the output signal of the piezoelectric sensor, the minute displacement of the door handle can be detected with high sensitivity.

  According to a fifth invention, particularly in any one of the second to fourth inventions, the piezoelectric sensor includes a bent portion in a direction extending from the support portion of the elastic body. The bent portion is also deformed, and an output signal corresponding to the deformation of the bent portion is uttered. Accordingly, an output signal corresponding to the deformation of the bent portion is also output by superimposing it on the output signal accompanying the deformation of the elastic body and the output signal accompanying the deformation of the torsion, so that the sensitivity of the piezoelectric sensor is improved.

  In the sixth invention, in particular, in any one of the second to fifth inventions, the piezoelectric sensor and the elastic body are molded integrally with the detection means, and the door handle device can be efficiently assembled.

  The seventh invention is a door member provided with the door handle device according to any one of the first to sixth inventions. As a result, the operability of the door handle portion of the smart entry system is improved by applying to a smart entry system with a door such as a building or a front door.

  The seventh invention is a smart entry system provided with the door handle device according to any one of the first to sixth inventions, and the door handle device is a smart entry system for doors such as side doors and tailgates. When applied, the operability of the door handle part of the smart entry system can be improved.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments.

(Embodiment 1)
A first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 1 is an external view of an automobile door provided with a door handle device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, the door 1 is provided with a handle type door handle 3 attached to an outer panel (door panel) 2. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the door handle device taken along the line AA in FIG. 1 (viewed from the upper side of the vehicle body). In the drawing, the left side is the front of the vehicle body and the right side is the rear of the vehicle body. FIG. 3 is an external view of the door handle device as viewed from the direction B of FIG. 2, that is, from the vehicle interior side. 2 and 3, a flexible cable-like piezoelectric sensor 4 is mounted on the frame portion 6 together with the detecting means 5. Connected to the detection means 5 are a power supply cable 7a and a detection signal output cable 7a and a connector 7b. The detection means 5 is connected to the mounting brackets 5a and 5b, and is fixed to the frame portion 6 with screws 5c.

  The piezoelectric sensor 4 is supported and fixed to the elastic body 8 by an end portion (support portion 8a in the drawing) made of a leaf spring and a tip portion (support portion 8b in the drawing) of the piezoelectric sensor 8. In addition, the piezoelectric sensor 4 includes a bent portion 4a in a direction extending from the end portion side of the elastic body 8 (support portion 8a in the drawing). The elastic body 8 is joined at the other end in the direction of the fixing portion 8c by welding to the mounting bracket 5a of the detection means 5, and the piezoelectric sensor 4 and the elastic body 8 are molded integrally with the detection means 5 via the mounting bracket 5a. Yes.

  The elastic body 8 is fixed in a cantilever shape by a fixing portion 8c. The elastic body 8 is in contact with the arm portion 9 that operates in conjunction with the door handle 3 and the end portion 9a. Here, the elastic body 8 originally has a shape bent at a predetermined angle near the fixed portion 8c toward the outside of the passenger compartment. However, when the door handle 3 is not used (contact of a person or an object or opening operation by the door handle). In a steady state in which there is no closing operation and only the door panel is attached), the elastic body 8 is pushed into the vehicle interior side by the end portion 9a with a predetermined pressing force, so that the door handle 3 is not used. Sometimes the elastic body 8 is not bent in the vicinity of the fixing portion 8c.

  A part of the bell crank arm 10 is in contact with the arm portion 9, and a part of the balance weight 11 is in contact with the bell crank arm 10. Since the coiled spring 12 urges the balance weight 11 with a predetermined spring pressure, the spring pressure of the spring 12 is applied to the arm portion 9 via the balance weight 11 and the bell crank arm 10 to constantly The door handle 3 is pressed in the closing direction (vehicle interior side). Further, the pressing biasing of the end portion 9 a against the elastic body 8 is caused by the spring pressure of the spring 12 acting on the end portion 9 a via the arm portion 9, and the end portion 9 a is caused by the spring pressure of the spring 12. The spring characteristics of the elastic body 8 are set so that the pressing force applied to the elastic body 8 is larger than the repulsive force of the elastic body 8 as a leaf spring.

  The door handle 3 is provided with an operation center arm portion 13 on the side opposite to the arm portion 9, and when the door handle 3 is pulled to the outside of the passenger compartment, the door handle 3 has the operation center arm portion 13 as a substantial rotation center. Rotates and displaces. A key cylinder 14 is disposed adjacent to the arm portion 9.

  FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the piezoelectric sensor 4. The piezoelectric sensor 4 is formed by coaxially forming a center electrode 4b, a piezoelectric body 4c, an outer electrode 4d, and a coating layer 4e, and has a configuration excellent in flexibility as a whole. The center electrode 4b may be an ordinary metal single wire, but here, an electrode in which a metal coil is wound around an insulating polymer fiber is used. The insulating polymer fiber and the metal coil are each preferably a polyester fiber commercially used in electric blankets and a copper alloy containing 5 wt% silver.

  The piezoelectric body 4c is obtained by kneading a polyethylene resin and a piezoelectric ceramic (here, lead zirconate titanate) powder, and is continuously extruded together with the center electrode 4b to form a flexible piezoelectric body 4c. . As the piezoelectric ceramic, it is preferable to use a lead-free material, for example, a bismuth sodium titanate or alkali niobate piezoelectric ceramic material from the viewpoint of environmental considerations.

  After extruding the piezoelectric body 4c around the center electrode 4b, the piezoelectric body 4c is polarized by applying a DC voltage of several kV between the center electrode 4b and the pseudo electrode brought into contact with the surface of the piezoelectric body 4c. . Thereby, the piezoelectric body 4c has a piezoelectric effect. The outer electrode 4d is constituted by using a band-like electrode in which a metal film is bonded on a polymer layer, and winding this around the piezoelectric body 4c. As the polymer layer, polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is used, and an electrode having an aluminum film adhered to both sides thereof has high thermal stability at 120 ° C. and is also commercially mass-produced. preferable. In order to shield from electrical noise in the external environment, the outer electrode 4d is preferably wound around the piezoelectric body 4c so as to partially overlap. The covering layer 4e is preferably made of vinyl chloride in terms of reliability, but it is preferable to use a non-vinyl chloride material such as a thermoplastic elastomer in consideration of the environment.

  The detection means 5 is at least one band-pass filter unit composed of an operational amplifier and peripheral components, and if necessary, a band elimination filter composed of an operational amplifier and peripheral components to remove signal components including the natural vibration frequency of the door 1 Part or a low-pass filter part. A determination unit is provided for detecting at least one of a contact of a person or an object to the door handle 3 and an opening operation or a closing operation by the door handle 3 based on an output signal of the filter unit. A comparator is used as the determination unit. Each of the filter unit and the determination unit uses a low current consumption type element of 1 mA or less.

  As a characteristic of the band-pass filter unit, for example, a frequency range of 3 Hz to 8 Hz is obtained as a characteristic frequency band by analyzing the frequency of the output signal from the piezoelectric sensor 4 when the door handle 3 is experimentally operated. Set the characteristics to pass.

  For setting the band elimination filter unit or the low pass filter unit, for example, a characteristic frequency band is confirmed by frequency analysis of the output signal from the piezoelectric sensor 4 when the door 1 is intentionally hit. And do it. For example, if the door 1 is intentionally hit, a signal having a peak mainly in the frequency region of 10 Hz or higher can be confirmed from the output signal of the piezoelectric sensor 4. In this case, the low-pass filter unit removes the frequency region of 10 Hz or higher. Set so that it has proper characteristics. In addition, when the intensity | strength of a natural vibration is small and the influence on the output signal of the piezoelectric sensor 4 is small, it is not necessary to provide a band elimination filter part or a low-pass filter part.

  Furthermore, since it is assumed that the natural vibration characteristics of the door differ depending on the vehicle type, door size, weight, etc., based on the above experimental analysis, the bandpass filter unit, the band elimination filter unit, the lowpass filter unit It is preferable to optimize the setting.

  In order to remove extraneous electrical noise, it is preferable that the detection means 5 is electrically shielded by covering the whole with a shield member. Further, a countermeasure against strong electric field may be taken by adding a feedthrough capacitor, an EMI filter or the like to the input / output part of the detection means 5.

  Next, the operation will be described. In order to open the door, when a finger is placed on the door handle 3 and the door handle 3 is grasped and pulled outside the vehicle compartment, the door handle 3 is displaced outside the vehicle compartment and the arm portion 9 is interlocked with the door handle 3. Is displaced. Even if the hand is lightly touched on the side wall surface of the vehicle interior of the door handle 3, minute vibrations are generated and the door handle 3 is displaced, and the arm portion 9 is also displaced in conjunction therewith. FIGS. 5A and 5B are schematic views showing how the door handle 3, the piezoelectric sensor 4, the elastic body 8, and the arm portion 9 are displaced at this time. Here, FIG. 5A corresponds to the AA cross section of FIG. 1, and the elastic body 8 is displaced when the door handle 3 is pulled outside the passenger compartment (in the direction S in the figure), and the elastic body 8 still remains. FIG. 5B is a schematic diagram of the state in contact with the arm portion 9, and FIG. 5B is a state in which the elastic body 8 is displaced by further pulling the door handle 3 outward (in the direction S in the figure) from the state of FIG. It is the schematic of the state which finished and was separated from the arm part 9. FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 5A, when the door handle 3 is displaced to the outside of the passenger compartment, the end portion 9a of the arm portion 9 is displaced to the outer side of the passenger compartment and is urged by the end portion 9a with a predetermined pressure. While the elastic body 8 is also in contact with the end portion 9a, the support portion 8a side is displaced outward from the passenger compartment with the vicinity of the fixed portion 8c as a center. When the elastic body 8 is displaced, the piezoelectric sensor 4 supported by the elastic body 8 is also bent and deformed at a point K in FIG. 5A, and a bending force is exerted on the bent portion 4a because a tensile force is applied to the outside of the passenger compartment. The part 4a is deformed in the direction in which the radius of curvature becomes large. The piezoelectric sensor 4 generates an output signal in which a voltage signal generated by the piezoelectric effect due to the bending deformation at the point K and a voltage signal generated by the piezoelectric effect due to the deformation of the bending portion 4a are superimposed.

  As for the displacement of the elastic body 8, the door handle 3 is further pulled to the outside of the passenger compartment, the end 9a of the arm portion 9 is displaced to the outside of the passenger compartment, and the pressing force on the elastic body 8 by the end 9a is eliminated. 5B, as shown in FIG. 5B, when the pressing force is not applied to the elastic body 8 by the end portion 9a, the elastic body 8 is not displaced any more, and the piezoelectric sensor 4 is not deformed. However, at this time, the piezoelectric sensor 4 sufficiently outputs a signal in response to the displacement generated because the door handle 3 has already been operated.

  FIG. 6 is a characteristic diagram showing the signal V amplified and filtered in the detection means 5 and the determination output J of the determination unit at this time. In the figure, the vertical axis represents V and J in order from the top, and the horizontal axis represents time t. When the piezoelectric sensor 4 is deformed by the operation of the door handle 3 as described above, the piezoelectric sensor 4 outputs a signal corresponding to the deformation acceleration of the piezoelectric sensor 4 due to the piezoelectric effect. At this time, a signal having a frequency of about 3 to 8 Hz appears in the output signal, and the signal is amplified and filtered in the detection means 5 to obtain a signal as shown in V of FIG.

  If the absolute value | V−V0 | of the amplitude from V0 of V0 is equal to or greater than D0, the determination unit has at least one of contact of a person or an object with the door handle 3, an opening operation with the door handle 3, and a closing operation with the door handle 3. It determines with having occurred, and the pulse signal of Lo-> Hi-> Lo is output as a determination output at the time t1. The absolute value of the amplitude is used because the polarity of the signal in FIG. 6 may be reversed depending on the position and deformation state of the piezoelectric sensor 4. Specifically, a window comparator may be used as the determination unit.

  Even if the door handle 3 is pushed from the outside of the passenger compartment, the arm portion 9 is slightly displaced toward the passenger compartment side, and the elastic body 8 is pushed toward the passenger compartment side, so that the piezoelectric sensor 4 is deformed. Is possible.

  Due to the above action, in this door handle device, the piezoelectric sensor 4 has flexibility and can be attached to the door handle 3, and a minute displacement of the door handle 3 can be detected with high sensitivity. Accordingly, a sufficient signal output can be obtained by simply touching the door handle 3, and at least one of contact with the door handle 3, opening operation by the door handle, and closing operation by the door handle can be detected. Further, since it is not necessary to expose the electrode, it is not easily affected by disturbance, adhering dust, rain, snow, or the like. Furthermore, since the piezoelectric sensor 4 can be deformed flexibly, there are few restrictions on the installation location, and the arrangement space is also reduced.

  Further, when the door handle 3 is slightly displaced due to contact of a person or an object with the door handle 3, the arm portion 9 is displaced in conjunction with the door handle 3, and a part of the elastic body 8 is not moved until the urged pressure disappears. The arm portion 9 is displaced in contact with the end portion 9a. When the elastic body 8 is displaced, a part of the piezoelectric sensor 4 supported by the elastic body 8 is deformed together with the elastic body 8, and an output signal corresponding to the deformation is generated. And based on the output signal of the piezoelectric sensor 8, the minute displacement of the door handle 3 can be detected with high sensitivity.

  Further, since the piezoelectric sensor 4 receives the displacement of the arm portion 9 via the elastic body 8, for example, the piezoelectric sensor 4 comes into contact with the arm portion 9 and wears, or receives an impact caused by a sudden operation of the door handle 3. Reliability is improved.

  In addition, when the pressure applied to the elastic body 8 is released along with the opening operation of the door handle 3, the elastic body 8 is not displaced any further, so that the piezoelectric sensor 4 is not deformed. As a result, excessive deformation is not applied to the piezoelectric sensor 4 and disconnection occurs.

  In addition, the elastic body 8 is formed in a substantially plate shape and is fixed at one end to have a cantilever shape, and a configuration in which a predetermined pressure is urged from the arm portion 9 with a very simple shape can be realized.

  The piezoelectric sensor 4 is provided with a bent portion 4a in a direction extending from the support portion 8a of the elastic body 8, and the bent portion 4a of the piezoelectric sensor 4 is also deformed with the displacement of the elastic body 8, so that the bent portion 4a. An output signal corresponding to the deformation of the voice is produced. Accordingly, an output signal corresponding to the deformation of the bent portion 4a is also output in superposition with the output signal accompanying the deformation of the elastic body 8, so that the sensitivity of the piezoelectric sensor 4 is improved.

  Further, the piezoelectric sensor 4 and the elastic body 8 are molded integrally with the detecting means 5, and the door handle device can be assembled efficiently.

  In the first embodiment, the piezoelectric sensor 4 is configured to indirectly contact the arm portion 9 that operates in conjunction with the door handle 3 via the elastic body 8, but operates in conjunction with the door handle 3. The piezoelectric sensor 4 can be deformed by the displacement of the door handle 3 when the piezoelectric sensor 4 is in direct or indirect contact with a part of the bell crank arm 10 or the balance weight 11. Good.

  Alternatively, the piezoelectric sensor 4 may be disposed around the spring 12 so that the piezoelectric sensor 4 detects a displacement in the rotational direction of the spring 12 due to the operation of the door handle 3.

  In particular, in this embodiment, since a flexible piezoelectric sensor is used, the piezoelectric sensor itself can be deformed into an appropriate shape without greatly changing the configuration of the current door handle. There is an effect that it can be easily attached corresponding to various configurations.

(Embodiment 2)
A second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

  This embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that a part of the elastic body 8 is in contact with a part of the arm portion 9 (end portion 9a) so that a predetermined torsional stress is applied to the elastic body 8. It is in the point. 7A is a schematic diagram of the piezoelectric sensor 4 when the elastic body 8 is not used, and FIG. 7B is an elastic body 8 when the door handle 3 is pulled outside the vehicle compartment. These are schematic views of the piezoelectric sensor 4. As shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, the elastic body 8 originally has a shape twisted in the R direction of FIG. 7B in the vicinity of the fixed portion 8c, and the vehicle interior in the vicinity of the fixed portion 8c. Although it has a bent shape on the outside at a predetermined angle, when the door handle 3 is not used (when there is no contact with a person or an object, or there is no opening or closing operation by the door handle), the spring pressure of the spring 12 For this reason, the elastic body 8 is pushed by a predetermined pressure toward the vehicle interior side by the end portion 9a, so that when the door handle 3 is not used, there is almost no twisting and bending in the vicinity of the fixing portion 8c of the elastic body 8. It has become. Here, the spring characteristics of the elastic body 8 are set so that the pressing force of the end 9a to the elastic body 8 by the spring pressure of the spring 12 is larger than the repulsive force of the elastic body 8 as a leaf spring.

  As in the first embodiment, when the door handle 3 is slightly displaced by contact of a person or an object with the door handle 3, the arm portion 9 is displaced in conjunction with the door handle 3 and is urged. A portion of the elastic body 8 is displaced in contact with the end portion 9a of the arm portion 9 until there is no more. When the elastic body 8 is displaced, a part of the piezoelectric sensor 4 supported by the elastic body 8 is deformed together with the elastic body 8, and an output signal corresponding to the deformation is generated.

  Further, a part of the elastic body 8 is urged by a predetermined torsional stress when the door handle is not used and is in contact with the end portion 9a of the arm portion 9. When 3 is slightly displaced, the arm portion 9 is displaced in conjunction with the door handle 3, and a part of the elastic body 8 comes into contact with the end portion 9 a of the arm portion 9 and is displaced until the biased torsional stress disappears. At that time, a part of the elastic body 8 is twisted and deformed in a direction to release the biased torsional stress, that is, in a direction to return from the twisted shape to the original shape. At this time, a part of the piezoelectric sensor 4 supported by the elastic body 8 is twisted and deformed together with a part of the elastic body, and an output signal corresponding to the deformation is generated.

  Therefore, a voltage signal corresponding to both bending and twisting is output from the piezoelectric sensor 4 in a superimposed manner. Thereby, it is possible to detect the minute displacement of the door handle 3 with higher reliability than in the case where only the bending deformation shown in the first embodiment occurs.

  Even if the door handle 3 is pushed from the outside of the passenger compartment, the arm portion 9 is slightly displaced toward the passenger compartment side, and the elastic body 8 is pushed toward the passenger compartment side, so that the piezoelectric sensor 4 is deformed. Is possible.

  In the second embodiment, the elastic body 8 may be deformed only by twisting without bending the elastic body 8.

  Further, the configuration that causes torsional deformation to the piezoelectric sensor 4 is not limited to the configuration of the second embodiment, and at least one of contact of a person or an object with the door handle 3, opening operation by the door handle 3, and closing operation is not limited. Any other configuration may be adopted as long as it causes torsional deformation to the piezoelectric sensor 4 by one.

  In the first and second embodiments, a leaf spring is used as the elastic body 8, but another elastic body such as a coil spring or a torsion bar may be used.

  In the first and second embodiments, the elastic body 8 is used. However, the piezoelectric sensor 4 may be directly brought into contact with a part of the arm portion 9, and the displacement of the arm portion 9 is directly applied to the piezoelectric sensor 4. The sensitivity is improved because it is transmitted.

  Further, instead of the elastic body 8, the covering layer 4e of the piezoelectric sensor 4 is formed of an elastic body having a predetermined elastic modulus, or a structure having a predetermined elastic modulus by changing the shape of the covering layer 4e. Further, when the door handle is not used, a part of the piezoelectric sensor 4 may urge a predetermined pressure to contact a part of the arm part.

  In addition, it is possible to provide a vehicle in which the door handle device of the first and second embodiments is applied to a smart entry system using a door such as a side door or a tailgate, or a building applied to a smart entry system using a door such as a front door. .

  In the first and second embodiments, the flexible piezoelectric sensor is used. However, another sensor that generates an output signal corresponding to the deformation based on the displacement of the door handle, for example, a static electricity whose capacitance changes due to the deformation. A capacitance-type cable-shaped or band-shaped sensor, an optical fiber-type sensor whose transmitted light amount changes due to deformation, or the like may be used.

  As described above, in the door handle device according to the present invention, the piezoelectric sensor has flexibility and can be attached to the handle type door handle, so that the minute displacement of the door handle can be detected with high sensitivity. Therefore, a sufficient signal output can be obtained by simply touching the door handle, and the touch on the door handle can be detected. For example, it can be applied as a highly sensitive switch in many fields other than the door handle. The present invention can be applied to a door opening / closing control switch for taking in / out an object or a human body in / out, a movement control switch for a mobile article storage, and the like.

1 is an external view of an automobile door provided with a door handle device in Embodiment 1 of the present invention. Sectional drawing of the door handle apparatus in the AA cross section of FIG. 1 by the door handle apparatus in Embodiment 1 of this invention FIG. 2 is an external view of the door handle device according to the first embodiment of the present invention as viewed from the direction B in FIG. Sectional drawing of the piezoelectric sensor 4 in Embodiment 1 of this invention (A) Schematic diagram of a state in which the elastic body 8 is displaced when the door handle 3 is pulled outside the passenger compartment (in the direction S in the figure) and the elastic body 8 is still in contact with the arm portion 9 (b). FIG. 5A is a schematic view of the state where the door handle 3 is further pulled from the state of FIG. The characteristic diagram which shows the signal V amplified and filtered by the detection means in Embodiment 1 of this invention, and the determination output J of a determination part (A) Schematic diagram of the elastic body 8 and the piezoelectric sensor 4 when the door handle 3 is not used in the second embodiment of the present invention (b) The door handle 3 in the second embodiment of the present invention is pulled outside the vehicle compartment. Schematic of elastic body 8 and piezoelectric sensor 4 in the state

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Door 3 Door handle 4 Piezoelectric sensor 4a Bending part 5 Detection means 8 Elastic body 8a, 8b Support part 9 Arm part 9a End part

Claims (8)

A handle-type door handle for opening and closing the door, a flexible piezoelectric sensor that deforms based on displacement of the door handle, contact of a person or an object with the door handle based on an output signal of the piezoelectric sensor, Detecting means for detecting at least one of an opening operation by the door handle and a closing operation by the door handle, and the piezoelectric sensor is in direct or indirect contact with an arm portion that operates in conjunction with the door handle. A door handle device that can be deformed by displacement of the door handle. The elastic body provided so that predetermined | prescribed press was urged | biased and contacted with a part of arm part at the time of a door handle non-use may be supported, and a part of piezoelectric sensor may be supported by the said elastic body. Door handle device. The door handle device according to claim 2, wherein the elastic body is formed into a substantially plate shape, and one end is fixed to be a cantilever shape. 4. The door handle device according to claim 2, wherein a part of the elastic body is urged by a predetermined torsional stress when the door handle is not used and contacts a part of the arm portion. The door handle device according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the piezoelectric sensor has a bent portion in a direction extending from a portion supported by the elastic body. The door handle device according to any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein the piezoelectric sensor and the elastic body are molded integrally with the detection means. The door member provided with the door handle apparatus of any one of Claims 1-6. The smart entry system provided with the door handle device of any one of Claims 1-6.

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