JP6511963B2 - Electrostatic sensor - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an electrostatic sensor having a plurality of electrodes that can individually detect an object to be detected in a non-contact state.

  Conventionally, various sensors have been proposed as such electrostatic sensors (for example, Patent Document 1).

JP, 2014-126365, A

  In such an electrostatic sensor, in order to prevent the plurality of electrodes from being exposed as they are in an environment having water or a foreign substance containing water, they may be disposed in a form incorporated in a mounting member. In this case, the plurality of electrodes located at the back of the mounting member are spread so as to face the detection surface of the mounting member as a whole.

  By the way, when the detection surface of the mounting member is covered with water or a film of a foreign substance containing water, and, for example, the film is conductive or capacitively coupled to GND (ground), the film is an electric flux similar to metal. And significantly reduce the detection sensitivity of the detection object by each electrode. And as a result, it may become impossible to distinguish which electrode among a plurality of electrodes is detecting a to-be-detected body.

  An object of the present invention is to provide an electrostatic sensor which can more reliably distinguish which one of a plurality of electrodes detects an object to be detected.

The electrostatic sensor which solves the above-mentioned subject is built in a mounting member, is divided mutually mutually on an insulating substrate which spreads so as to be opposite to a detection surface of the mounting member, and the insulating substrate, An electrostatic sensor comprising: a plurality of electrodes for individually detecting an object to be detected in contact with or close to a surface , wherein a plurality of outer electrodes as the plurality of electrodes and each of the plurality of outer electrodes And an inner electrode disposed on the circumferential side and detecting the detected object in cooperation with the outer electrode, wherein the plurality of inner electrodes are in an operating state of detection of the detected object. When the outer electrode is in a non-operating state and the detection level of any of the plurality of inner electrodes exceeds the threshold level, the deviation between the detection level of the inner electrode and the detection level of the other inner electrode is a threshold deviation. A determination unit that determines whether to exceed The judgment unit determines that the deviation does not exceed the threshold deviation, thereby switching the plurality of outer electrodes to the detection state of the detection target and switching the plurality of inner electrodes to the non-operation state. Ru and a switching unit.

  According to this configuration, the plurality of electrodes are divided and arranged on the outer peripheral portion of the insulating substrate. As a result, the detection region formed by the plurality of electrodes has directivity on the outer peripheral side of the insulating substrate, and thus spreads in a more clearly divided state on the outer peripheral side. Therefore, even if the detection surface is covered with water or a film of a foreign substance containing water, for example, the film is electrically conducted or capacitively coupled to GND, and even if this film blocks electric lines of force in the same manner as metal, the plurality of It is possible to more reliably distinguish which one of the electrodes is detecting the object to be detected.

Moreover, according to said structure, said to-be-detected body can be detected by cooperation of each said outer side electrode and each said inner electrode.
Further, according to the above configuration, the detection sensitivity of the object to be detected can be suitably ensured, for example, by operating the plurality of inner electrodes which can easily ensure the occupied area (detection region), for example. . On the other hand, when it is determined by the determination unit that the deviation does not exceed the threshold deviation, that is, the detection surface is covered with water or a foreign substance film containing water, etc., so that the detection sensitivity of the plurality of inner electrodes decreases. When it can not be distinguished which electrode is being detected, the switching unit can switch the plurality of outer electrodes to the operating state, and redundancy can be further improved.
In addition, a "detection surface" means the thing of the surface which spreads in the range which assumed contact | abutting or proximity | contact of a to-be-detected body beforehand.
In the electrostatic sensor, it is preferable that each of the plurality of electrodes be disposed including the thick surface of the insulating substrate.

  According to this configuration, by arranging each of the plurality of electrodes including the thick surface of the insulating substrate, a detection region in which the plurality of electrodes are formed is directed to the outer peripheral side of the insulating substrate The properties can be further enhanced, and the detection areas can be further extended to the outer peripheral side of the insulating substrate while being separated from each other.

The term "thickness plane" refers to a side surface of the insulating substrate which has a much larger area than the other surfaces, that is, a so-called main surface (main surface or back surface).
The electrostatic sensor includes a transmission electrode for generating an electric field, and a plurality of reception electrodes as the plurality of electrodes for receiving the electric field generated by the transmission electrode, any one of the transmission electrode and the plurality of reception electrodes Preferably, one and the other are disposed on both main surfaces of the insulating substrate.

  According to this configuration, the lines of electric force of the electric field generated by the transmission electrode extend across the thick surface of the insulating substrate from the outer peripheral side thereof and are connected to the plurality of reception electrodes, thereby receiving the plurality of receptions. The detection region formed between the electrode and the transmission electrode can be extended to the outer peripheral side of the insulating substrate while being separated from each other. And which of the plurality of electrodes (receiving electrodes) detects the detected object can be more reliably distinguished.

  The present invention has the effect of being able to more reliably distinguish which of the plurality of electrodes is detecting the object to be detected.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a vehicle to which a first embodiment of an electrostatic sensor is applied. (A) is a front view which shows the sensor body about the electrostatic sensor of the embodiment, (b) is sectional drawing in alignment with the 2B-2B line | wire of (a). The block diagram which shows the electric constitution about the electrostatic sensor of the embodiment. The flowchart which shows the detection aspect etc. about the electrostatic sensor of the embodiment. (A), (b) is a perspective view which shows the sensor body about 2nd Embodiment of an electrostatic sensor. The perspective view which shows the sensor body about the deformation | transformation form of an electrostatic sensor.

First Embodiment
Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the electrostatic sensor will be described.
As shown in FIG. 1, an opening 2a is formed at the rear of a body 2 of a vehicle 1 such as a car. Further, the back door 3 is attached to the rear of the body 2 so as to be openable and closable via a door hinge (not shown) provided at the upper part of the opening 2a. The back door 3 is opened by being pushed upward around the door hinge.

  A door drive unit 4 is installed at the rear of the body 2. The door drive unit 4 mainly includes an electric drive source such as an electric motor, for example, and opens and closes the back door 3 by being mechanically linked with the back door 3 via an appropriate door drive mechanism. To drive. In addition, a door lock 5 for locking and unlocking the back door 3 in the closed state is installed at the end of the back door 3 on the vehicle interior side, and a door lock drive unit 6 is installed. The door lock drive unit 6 is mainly composed of an electric drive source such as an electric motor, for example, and is mechanically linked with the door lock 5 through an appropriate lock drive mechanism to be mounted on the door lock 5. Lock and unlock drive.

  The door drive unit 4 and the door lock drive unit 6 are both electrically connected to a door ECU (Electronic Control Unit) 7 composed of, for example, an MCU (microcomputer), and individually driven and controlled by the door ECU 7.

  A mark 8 such as a company name, for example, is installed at the center of the outer surface of the back door 3, and a substantially elliptical plate-like sensor body 10 is installed on the back of the mark 8. The sensor body 10 is for detecting, for example, a user's finger as a detected body in contact with or in proximity to the mark 8. For example, the sensor body 10 is electrically connected to a determination unit made of an MCU and a control unit 20 as a switching unit. It is done. The control unit 20 is also electrically connected to the door ECU 7.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 (a) and 2 (b), the mark 8 as a mounting member is, for example, a substantially oval plate-like lid wall 8a made of a resin material and a substantially box opening toward the lid wall 8a. And a shaped storage wall 8b. The housing wall 8 b forms an internal space S which is substantially closed by being fitted to the lid wall 8 a. In addition, the surface exposed to the vehicle outer side of the cover wall 8a forms the design surface 8c as a detection surface.

  The sensor body 10 is fixed to the housing wall 8 b in a state of being housed in the internal space S. The sensor body 10 is provided with a substantially elliptical insulating substrate 15 made of, for example, a glass epoxy substrate. The insulating substrate 15 extends so as to face the design surface 8 c in a state in which the major axis direction and the minor axis direction extend in the width direction and the height direction of the vehicle. That is, the direction orthogonal to the main surface of the insulating substrate 15 substantially coincides with the general normal direction of the design surface 8c.

  A pair of substantially wedge-shaped inner electrodes 11 and 12 divided in the height direction of the vehicle is formed on the back surface 15a of the insulating substrate 15 on the side away from the lid wall 8a. Below the inner electrode 12, outer electrodes 13 and 14 as a pair of substantially arc-shaped electrodes are formed. That is, the two outer electrodes 13 and 14 are arranged separately on the outer peripheral portion of the insulating substrate 15. Each of the outer electrodes 13 and 14 has a substantially L-shaped cross section so as to include a side surface intersecting the main surface (rear surface 15a) of the insulating substrate 15 in the circumferential direction, ie, a thick surface 15b. That is, each of the outer electrodes 13 and 14 has arc-shaped walls 13a and 14a covering the thick surface 15b. Both inner electrodes 11 and 12 constitute 1 ch (channel) and 2 ch respectively, and both outer electrodes 13 and 14 respectively constitute 3 ch and 4 ch. The electrodes 11 to 14 of each channel change the capacitance formed by the user's finger H close to this. In Drawing 2 (b), board thickness of electrodes 11-14 is expanded and drawn for convenience.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the electrodes 11 to 14 are connected to the control unit 20. The control unit 20 outputs an oscillation signal to each of the electrodes 11 to 14, for example, to output a detection signal [V] of a voltage level corresponding to the capacitance. The control unit 20 detects the finger H of the user in proximity to each of the electrodes 11 to 14 by inputting the detection signal.

  The output of the oscillation signal by the control unit 20 and the input of the corresponding detection signal are normally performed to both the inner electrodes 11 and 12. The output of the oscillation signal by the control unit 20 may be simultaneously performed on both the inner electrodes 11 and 12 or may be switched in a short time and sequentially performed. At this time, detection regions formed by the both inner electrodes 11 and 12 are respectively formed on the upper and lower portions of the lid wall 8a.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 2 (b), the design surface 8c of the mark 8 (lid wall 8a) is covered with water or a film W of water or other foreign matter (such as muddy water) adhering to it. When W is conducted or capacitively coupled to GND (ground), the film W cuts electric lines of force in the same manner as metal, and the detection sensitivity of the user's finger H by the inner electrodes 11 and 12 is reduced. Then, it can not be distinguished which of the inner electrodes 11 and 12 is detected. In this case, the output of the oscillation signal by the control unit 20 and the input of the detection signal corresponding thereto are performed to the both outer electrodes 13 and 14 instead of the both inner electrodes 11 and 12. The output of the oscillation signal by the control unit 20 may be performed simultaneously on both the outer electrodes 13 and 14, or may be switched in a short time and performed in order. At this time, as shown in the figure, the detection areas of the outer electrodes 13 and 14 are formed above and below the mark 8, respectively. That is, the detection regions formed by the both outer electrodes 13 and 14 are more clearly divided on the outer peripheral side (upper and lower) by having directivity on the outer peripheral side (radial outer side) of the insulating substrate 15 Spread in the state. In particular, by arranging each of both outer electrodes 13 and 14 including the thick surface 15b of insulating substrate 15, the detection region formed by both outer electrodes 13 and 14 is on the outer peripheral side of insulating substrate 15. The directivity can be further enhanced, and the detection regions can be further extended to the outer peripheral side of the insulating substrate 15 while being separated from each other.

  Here, when the user performs an operation of bringing the finger H into contact with or in proximity to the mark 8 (design surface 8c), an operation on the desired object can be obtained. That is, when the user's finger H contacts or approaches the mark 8, the detection signals of the both inner electrodes 11, 12 or the detection signals of the both outer electrodes 13, 14 change. For example, when the user's finger H contacts or approaches the top of the mark 8, the level of the detection signal of the inner electrode 11 becomes larger than the level of the detection signal of the inner electrode 12, or The level is greater than the level of the detection signal of the outer electrode 14. On the contrary, when the user's finger H contacts or approaches the lower part of the mark 8, the level of the detection signal of the inner electrode 12 becomes higher than the level of the detection signal of the inner electrode 11, or the detection of the outer electrode 14 The level of the signal becomes larger than the level of the detection signal of the outer electrode 13. The control unit 20 detects an operation on an object desired by the user based on such change in the level of the detection signal, that is, based on which position of the user the finger H of the mark 8 contacts or approaches Do.

  Next, an operation detection mode or the like by the control unit 20 corresponds to an operation in which the user brings the finger H into contact with or approaches the upper part and the lower part of the mark 8 respectively corresponds to an operation for opening and closing the back door 3. explain. This processing is in a state where the oscillation signal is output to both inner electrodes 11 and 12 by control unit 20 (operation state of detection of an object to be detected), and for both outer electrodes 13 and 14. When the output of the oscillation signal or the like is not performed (non-operation state), the detection is started when the level of the detection signal of either of the inner electrodes 11 and 12 exceeds the predetermined upper threshold level Ls.

  As shown in FIG. 4, when the process shifts to this routine, the control unit 20 determines in step S1 the magnitude DLi of the deviation between the level L1 of the detection signal of the inner electrode 11 and the level L2 of the detection signal of the inner electrode 12. It is determined whether (= | L1-L2 |) exceeds a predetermined threshold deviation ΔLi (determination unit). Then, when it is determined that the magnitude of the deviation DLi exceeds the threshold deviation ΔLi, the control unit 20 can distinguish which position on the mark 8 the user's finger H is in contact with or in proximity to, It transfers to step S2 and performs an output process.

  Specifically, when the level L1 of the detection signal of the inner electrode 11 is larger than the level L2 of the detection signal of the inner electrode 12, the control unit 20 causes the user's finger H to contact the upper portion of the mark 8 or An operation signal indicating that the back door 3 is to be opened is output to the door ECU 7 assuming that the back door 3 is in proximity. At this time, it is needless to say that the door ECU 7 drives and controls the door drive unit 4 so as to open the back door 3. On the contrary, when the level L1 of the detection signal of the inner electrode 11 is smaller than the level L2 of the detection signal of the inner electrode 12, the control unit 20 causes the user's finger H to contact or approach the lower part of the mark 8. And outputs an operation signal indicating that the back door 3 is to be closed to the door ECU 7. At this time, it goes without saying that the door ECU 7 drives and controls the door drive unit 4 so as to close the back door 3.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S1 that the deviation magnitude DLi is less than or equal to the predetermined threshold deviation ΔLi, the control unit 20 can not distinguish which position of the mark 8 the user's finger H is in contact with or in proximity to. In step S3, the switching process is performed. That is, the control unit 20 switches the state of outputting the oscillation signal to both outer electrodes 13 and 14 (the operation state of detection of the detection target), and the oscillation signal to both inner electrodes 11 and 12 Switching to a state where no output etc. is made (non-operating state) (switching unit).

  Subsequently, the control unit 20 proceeds to step S4, and the magnitude DLo (= | L3-L4 |) of the deviation between the level L3 of the detection signal of the outer electrode 13 and the level L4 of the detection signal of the outer electrode 14 It is determined whether or not a predetermined threshold deviation ΔLo is exceeded. Then, when it is determined that the magnitude of the deviation DLo exceeds the threshold deviation ΔLo, the control unit 20 can distinguish which position on the mark 8 the user's finger H is in contact with or in proximity to, It transfers to above-mentioned step S2, and performs an output process. Specifically, when the level L3 of the detection signal of the outer electrode 13 is larger than the level L4 of the detection signal of the outer electrode 14, the control unit 20 causes the user's finger H to contact the upper portion of the mark 8 or An operation signal indicating that the back door 3 is to be opened is output to the door ECU 7 assuming that the back door 3 is in proximity. On the contrary, when the level L3 of the detection signal of the outer electrode 13 is smaller than the level L4 of the detection signal of the outer electrode 14, the control unit 20 causes the user's finger H to contact or approach the lower part of the mark 8. And outputs an operation signal indicating that the back door 3 is to be closed to the door ECU 7.

  On the other hand, when it is determined in step S4 that the deviation magnitude DLo is less than or equal to the predetermined threshold deviation ΔLo, the control unit 20 determines which position of the mark 8 the user's finger H is still in contact with or in proximity to. If it is impossible, the process ends.

As described above in detail, according to the present embodiment, the following effects can be achieved.
(1) In the present embodiment, the plurality of outer electrodes 13 and 14 are arranged separately in the outer peripheral portion of the insulating substrate 15. As a result, the detection region formed by the plurality of outer electrodes 13 and 14 has directivity on the outer peripheral side of the insulating substrate 15 and thus spreads out on the outer peripheral side in a more clearly divided manner. Therefore, even if the design surface 8c is covered with water or a film W of a foreign substance containing water, for example, the film W conducts or capacitively couples with GND, and the film W cuts electric lines of force in the same manner as metal. It is possible to more reliably distinguish which of the plurality of outer electrodes 13 and 14 detects the user's finger H of the user. In other words, if the user's finger H approaches or touches above or below the design surface 8c (above or below the sensor body 10), the operation can be distinguished more reliably.

  (2) In the present embodiment, each of the both outer electrodes 13 and 14 is disposed including the thick surface 15b of the insulating substrate 15, so that the detection region formed by the both outer electrodes 13 and 14 is the insulating substrate. The directivity on the outer peripheral side of 15 can be further enhanced, and the detection regions can be further extended to the outer peripheral side of the insulating substrate 15 while being separated from each other. Then, it is possible to more reliably distinguish which outer electrode 13 or 14 of the plurality of outer electrodes 13 or 14 detects the finger H of the user. In other words, if the user's finger H approaches or contacts above or below the design surface 8c, the operation can be more reliably distinguished.

Further, each of the both outer electrodes 13 and 14 can expand the detection region without expanding the area of the insulating substrate 15 by using the thick surface 15 b of the insulating substrate 15.
(3) In the present embodiment, the finger H of the user can be detected by the cooperation of the outer electrodes 13 and 14 and the inner electrodes 11 and 12.

  (4) In the present embodiment, for example, the detection sensitivity of the user's finger H can be suitably secured by operating the plurality of inner electrodes 11 and 12 which can easily secure the occupied area (detection region), for example. it can. On the other hand, when control unit 20 determines that deviation size DLi is equal to or less than predetermined threshold deviation ΔLi (ie, does not exceed), that is, design surface 8c is covered with water or foreign matter film W containing water. When the detection sensitivity of the inner electrodes 11 and 12 decreases and it becomes impossible to distinguish which electrode is detected, the control unit 20 can switch the plurality of outer electrodes 13 and 14 to the operating state. , Redundancy can be further improved.

  (5) In the present embodiment, by arranging and fixing the plurality of electrodes 11 to 14 on the insulating substrate 15, it is possible to suppress, for example, variations in the relative positions of the electrodes 11 to 14, and hence the electrodes 11 to 14 Variations in the detection sensitivity of Further, for example, in comparison with the case where a plurality of strip-like electrodes that function in the same manner are arranged in a disjoint state, the plurality of electrodes 11 to 14 can be arranged at closer intervals from one another, and the installation space is effectively used. The detection area of the electrodes 11 to 14 can be secured. Furthermore, the plurality of electrodes 11 to 14 can be reinforced by the insulating substrate 15.

  (6) In the present embodiment, the sensor body 10 (a plurality of electrodes 11 to 14 and the like) is attached to the mark 8 and separated from GND or an object corresponding to GND (for example, a metal panel forming the back door 3) By setting the above distance, for example, even when the design surface 8c is covered with the film W, it is possible to suppress a decrease in detection sensitivity of the plurality of electrodes 11 to 14.

(7) In the present embodiment, it is possible to detect the finger H in a non-contact state by using a change in capacitance formed by the sensor body 10 (electrodes 11 to 14) and the user's finger H is there.
Second Embodiment
Hereinafter, a second embodiment of the electrostatic sensor will be described. Note that the second embodiment is a configuration in which the sensor body of the first embodiment is modified, and thus detailed description of the same parts will be omitted.

  As shown in FIGS. 5 (a) and 5 (b), the sensor body 40 according to the present embodiment includes a substantially disc-shaped insulating substrate 46 made of, for example, a glass epoxy substrate, and a main surface on one side of the insulating substrate 46 (for example, Front surface) A plurality of (three) reception electrodes 41, 42 and 43 as substantially arcuate electrodes disposed on the outer peripheral portion of 46a. In addition, the sensor body 40 has a substantially circular inner reception electrode 44 disposed at the center of the opposite main surface (for example, the back surface) 46 b of the insulating substrate 46 and the main surface 46 b so as to surround the inner reception electrode 44. And an annular transmission electrode 45 disposed at the outer peripheral portion of The plurality of receiving electrodes 41 to 43 and the inner receiving electrode 44 constitute mutually different ch (1 ch to 4 ch), and receive the electric field generated by the transmitting electrode 45. That is, the sensor body 40 (electrostatic sensor) adopts the principle of the mutual capacitance method for detecting the detection target.

  In this case, the sensor body 40 is accommodated in the internal space S in a state in which the insulating substrate 46 extends so as to face the design surface 8c. At this time, the receiving electrode 41 or the like may be disposed on the side away from the lid wall 8a, or may be disposed on the opposite side.

As described above in detail, according to the present embodiment, in addition to the effects of (1) and (5) to (7) in the embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.
(1) In the present embodiment, one or the other of the transmission electrode 45 and the plurality of reception electrodes 41 to 43 is disposed on the main surfaces 46 a and 46 b (surface and back surface) of the insulating substrate 46. Therefore, electric lines of force of the electric field generated by the transmission electrode 45 extend from the outer peripheral side of the thick surface 46c of the insulating substrate 46 so as to straddle the plurality of reception electrodes 41 to 43. As a result, in the detection region formed by the plurality of reception electrodes 41 to 43 with the transmission electrode 45, the directivity on the outer peripheral side of the insulating substrate 46 is further enhanced. That is, the detection regions formed between the plurality of reception electrodes 41 to 43 and the transmission electrode 45 can be extended to the outer peripheral side of the insulating substrate 46 in a state in which the detection regions are separated from each other. Then, which of the plurality of receiving electrodes 41 to 43 detects the user's finger H can be more reliably distinguished. In other words, if the user's finger H approaches or contacts the outer peripheral side of the design surface 8c, the operation can be more reliably distinguished.

  (2) In the present embodiment, the transmission electrode 45 is disposed at the outer peripheral portion of the insulating substrate 46. As a result, the directivity in which the detection region formed by the plurality of receiving electrodes 41 to 43 similarly disposed on the outer peripheral portion of the insulating substrate 46 between the transmitting electrode 45 and the transmitting electrode 45 is located on the outer peripheral side of the insulating substrate 46 is further enhanced. As a result, the detection regions can be further extended to the outer peripheral side of the insulating substrate 46 while being separated from each other.

  (3) In the present embodiment, the structure of the sensor body 40 can be further simplified by sharing one transmission electrode 45 for the plurality of reception electrodes 41 to 43. In particular, since the detection sensitivity is improved in proportion to the area of the transmission electrode 45, the transmission electrode 45 has a substantially annular shape extending around the entire periphery of the outer periphery of the insulating substrate 46. The detection sensitivity can be further improved compared to the case of

The above embodiment may be modified as follows.
As shown in FIG. 6, a substantially disk-shaped insulating substrate 35 made of, for example, a glass epoxy substrate, and a substantially circular inner electrode 31 disposed at the center of the main surface (front or back) of the insulating substrate 35 The sensor body 30 may have a plurality (three) of substantially arc-shaped outer electrodes 32, 33, 34 disposed on the outer peripheral portion of the insulating substrate 35 so as to surround the inner electrode 31. The plurality of outer electrodes 32 to 34 are divided and arranged on the outer peripheral portion of the insulating substrate 35 to form mutually different ch (2 ch to 4 ch). Each of the outer electrodes 32 to 34 has a substantially L-shaped cross section so as to include a side surface intersecting the main surface of the insulating substrate 35 in the circumferential direction, that is, a thick surface 35a.

  In this case, the sensor body 30 is accommodated in the internal space S in a state in which the insulating substrate 35 extends so as to face the design surface 8c. At this time, the inner electrode 31 or the like may be disposed on the side away from the lid wall 8a, or may be disposed on the opposite side. Even if such a change is made, the same effect as (1), (2), (5) to (7) of the above embodiment can be obtained.

Each of the plurality of outer electrodes 32 to 34 may not be disposed including the thick surface 35 a of the insulating substrate 35.
In the first embodiment, all of the outer electrodes 13 and 14 and the inner electrodes 11 and 12 may be always in the detection operating state.

In the first embodiment, both the inner electrodes 11 and 12 may be omitted, and the user's finger H may be detected with only the outer electrodes 13 and 14.
In the first embodiment, each of the outer electrodes 13 and 14 may not be disposed including the thick surface 15 b of the insulating substrate 15. That is, the arc-shaped walls 13a and 14a of the outer electrodes 13 and 14 may be omitted.

In the first embodiment, the outer electrodes 13 and 14 may be disposed on the surface 15c (see FIG. 2B) which is the side of the insulating substrate 15 opposite to the lid wall 8a.
In the first embodiment, the pair of electrodes may be arranged on the outer periphery of the surface 15 c of the insulating substrate 15. In this case, each of the two electrodes may constitute a channel independent of the outer electrodes 13 and 14. Alternatively, each of the two electrodes may be connected to the arcuate wall 13a, 14a. In this case, each of the two electrodes can be further extended in cooperation with the outer electrodes 13 and 14 while the detection regions are separated from each other on the outer peripheral side (upper and lower) of the insulating substrate 15.

In the second embodiment, the inner receiving electrode 44 may be omitted.
In the second embodiment, the sensor body (40) may have a plurality of transmission electrodes. In this case, the plurality of transmission electrodes may be individually provided to the plurality of reception electrodes 41 to 43. For example, the plurality of transmission electrodes may be arranged separately on the outer peripheral portion of the main surface 46 b of the insulating substrate 46.

In the second embodiment, the transmission electrode 45 may be omitted. That is, it may be a sensor body (electrostatic sensor) that employs the principle of the self-capacitance method for detection of the detection target.
In each of the above embodiments, the various electrodes (inner electrode, outer electrode, receiving electrode, inner receiving electrode, transmitting electrode) are made of conductive foil such as copper foil on the entire main surface (front or back) of the insulating substrate. While sticking, you may form by removing the unnecessary part of the said foil mechanically and chemically. Alternatively, the various electrodes may be formed by depositing a pattern made of a conductor such as copper on the main surface of the insulating substrate by plating or depositing the pattern by deposition.

  Alternatively, the various electrodes may be formed by sticking a metal plate such as copper on the main surface of the insulating substrate. In particular, in the case of an electrode including a thick surface of an insulating substrate, for example, a notch may be formed on the outer periphery of the insulating substrate, and a bent portion that can be fitted to the notch may be formed in the electrode. In this case, the tip of the bent portion which has reached the opposite main surface of the insulating substrate may be folded along the main surface. That is, the electrode may be positioned and fixed in such a manner as to sandwich the peripheral edge of the notch in cooperation with the bending portion.

  In each of the embodiments, the number of electrodes (outer electrodes, receiving electrodes) provided on the outer peripheral portion of the insulating substrate is arbitrary as long as it is plural. However, if it is desired to make detection sensitivity substantially uniform among the plurality of electrodes, it is preferable that the shape and arrangement of the plurality of electrodes have rotational symmetry.

  In each of the embodiments, the shape of the insulating substrate is arbitrary, and may be, for example, a substantially circular, a substantially oval, or a substantially polygonal plate. However, if it is desired to make the detection sensitivity substantially uniform among the plurality of electrodes (outside electrodes, receiving electrodes) provided on the outer peripheral portion of the insulating substrate, the shape of the insulating substrate has rotational symmetry along with the shape and arrangement of the plurality of electrodes. It is preferable to have.

In each of the embodiments, the insulating substrate may be a paper epoxy substrate, a Teflon (registered trademark) substrate, or the like.
In each of the above-described embodiments, the operation in which the user brings the finger H into contact with or approaches the upper and lower portions of the mark 8 may correspond to the operation in which the back door 3 is closed and opened, respectively.

  In each of the above embodiments, the operation in which the user brings the finger H into contact with or approaches the upper part and the lower part of the mark 8 may correspond to the operation for locking and unlocking the door lock 5, respectively. , And may correspond to an operation for unlocking operation and locking operation of the door lock 5.

  In each of the above-described embodiments, the user places the hand H in contact with or approaches one of the upper and lower portions of the mark 8 on the back door 3 so that engagement / disengagement operation with the striker on the body 2 side can be performed electrically May correspond to the operation of releasing the latch mechanism.

In each of the embodiments, the control unit 20 may directly drive and control the door drive unit 4 or the door lock drive unit 6 without using the door ECU 7.
In each of the embodiments, monitoring of the detection signal by the control unit 20 may be performed by analog processing or digital processing.

In each of the embodiments, the function of the control unit 20 may be realized by, for example, a hardware configuration combining logic circuits.
-In each said embodiment, although the insulated substrate (sensor body) was spread so as to oppose the design surface 8c of the mark 8, the range which assumed contact or proximity of a to-be-detected body (user's finger H) previously It is sufficient if it is a surface (detection surface) that extends in For example, any surface such as a surface (surface facing in a direction substantially orthogonal to the outer shape) forming the outer shape of the mounting member (vehicle 1) may be a surface that allows the user to directly view or directly contact the body.

  In the embodiment, the mounting member is a swing or sliding side door (front door, rear door, etc.), a trunk lid, or the like, which can be opened and closed electrically by an appropriate location other than the mark 8 of the back door 3. It may be a door lock installed. Alternatively, the mounted member may be a door mirror, a bonnet, a sunroof, a filler door, or the like which can be opened and closed electrically. Alternatively, the mounting member may be the body 2 itself of the vehicle 1 (for example, a center pillar, a rear pillar adjacent to the back door 3, etc.), a steering, an instrument panel or the like. Alternatively, the mounting member may be a facility such as an automatic door, a toilet seat device, a hot water supply device, or a power generation device installed in a building or the like.

  In the embodiment, the detection target may be a body (for example, a foot) other than the user's finger H. Alternatively, the detection target may be a glove in which a conductive yarn is woven, a so-called touch pen, or the like.

  In the embodiment, the mark 8 may be an emblem indicating the brand, the vehicle type, the grade, and the like of the vehicle 1. This mark 8 is optional as long as it is a character, a figure, a symbol or a three-dimensional shape or a combination thereof.

  H: finger (detected body), 8: mark (attachment member), 8c: design surface (detection surface), 11, 12: inner electrode, 13, 14, 32 to 34: outer electrode (electrode), 15 , 35, 46: Insulating substrate, 15a: back surface, 15b, 35a: thick plate surface, 15c: surface, 20: control unit (determination unit, switching unit), 41 to 43: reception electrode (electrode), 45: transmission electrode , 46a, 46b ... main surfaces.

Claims (3)

An insulating substrate which is built in the mounting member and extends to face the detection surface of the mounting member;
It is an electrostatic sensor provided with a plurality of electrodes which are disposed separately on the outer peripheral portion of the insulating substrate and individually detect objects to be detected that are in contact with or close to the detection surface .
A plurality of outer electrodes as the plurality of electrodes;
And an inner electrode disposed on an inner peripheral side of each of the plurality of outer electrodes and detecting the object in cooperation with the outer electrodes.
The plurality of outer electrodes are in the non-operation state when the plurality of inner electrodes are in the detection state of the detection target,
A determination unit that determines whether a deviation between a detection level of the inner electrode and a detection level of the other inner electrode exceeds a threshold deviation when a detection level of any of the plurality of inner electrodes exceeds a threshold level When,
The determination unit determines that the deviation does not exceed the threshold deviation, thereby switching the plurality of outer electrodes to the detection state of the detection target and switching the plurality of inner electrodes to the non-operation state. An electrostatic sensor with a switching unit . In the electrostatic sensor according to claim 1,
The electrostatic sensor, wherein each of the plurality of electrodes is disposed including a thick surface of the insulating substrate. In the electrostatic sensor according to claim 1 or 2,
A transmitting electrode for generating an electric field;
A plurality of receiving electrodes as the plurality of electrodes for receiving the electric field generated by the transmitting electrode;
An electrostatic sensor, wherein any one and the other of the transmission electrode and the plurality of reception electrodes are disposed on both main surfaces of the insulating substrate.