JPWO2019171848A1 - Operation detection device and door handle - Google Patents

Abstract

The control has an electrostatic sensor formed by a first lead wire and a second lead wire housed inside the case, and a control unit connected to the first lead wire and the second lead wire. A voltage is applied to each of the first lead wire and the second lead wire to measure the capacitance in each, and when the operating body is detected by the electrostatic sensor, the said An operation detection device, characterized in that the first lead wire and the second lead wire are arranged in a substantially perpendicular direction to a detection surface on which the operating body comes into contact with the case.

Description

The present invention relates to an operation detection device and a door handle.

Doors of automobiles and the like are provided with a door handle for opening and closing the door. In recent years, the door opening and closing is locked or unlocked by touching or gesturing the door with a hand close to the door handle. There are also things that can do. Such a door handle is provided with an electrostatic sensor or the like for detecting the operation of a hand, and the electrostatic sensor is installed inside the door handle in a state of being put in a case.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2003-221948

The door handle as described above is provided with a locking electrostatic sensor for locking the door and an unlocking electrostatic sensor for unlocking the door. The unlocking electrostatic sensor is installed inside the door handle, and when the finger of a person's hand approaches the door handle and is detected by the unlocking electrostatic sensor, the door is unlocked.

As a hand operation for unlocking the door, put the hand inside the door handle, bring the hand close to the door handle, and bring it into contact with the inner surface of the door handle. For this reason, if the hand touches a surface other than the inner surface of the door handle, the operation is not intended to release the door lock. Therefore, the door lock may be released even in such a case. Not preferred.

Therefore, there is a demand for an operation detection device that serves as an unlocking electrostatic sensor that can detect that the operation is to unlock the door handle only when a hand approaches from a specific direction. In other words, there is a demand for an operation detection device capable of detecting an operation by the hand when the hand approaches from a specific direction.

According to one aspect of the present embodiment, the electrostatic sensor formed by the first lead wire and the second lead wire housed inside the case is connected to the first lead wire and the second lead wire. The control unit has a control unit, and the control unit applies a voltage to each of the first lead wire and the second lead wire, and measures the capacitance in each of the first lead wire and the second lead wire. The first lead wire and the second lead wire are arranged in a substantially vertical direction with respect to the detection surface in which the operating body comes into contact with the case when the operating body is detected. To do.

According to the disclosed operation detection device, it is possible to detect a manual operation when a hand approaches from a specific direction.

Explanatory drawing of the door to which the door handle in this embodiment is attached Perspective view of the door handle in this embodiment Top view of the door handle in this embodiment An exploded perspective view of the door handle in the present embodiment Perspective view of the electrostatic sensor for unlocking in this embodiment Top view of the unlocking electrostatic sensor in this embodiment Front view of the electrostatic sensor for unlocking in this embodiment Perspective view of the inner case in this embodiment Perspective view of the unlocking electrostatic sensor in the inner case External view of the control unit according to this embodiment Explanatory drawing of the inside of the control unit in this embodiment Cross-sectional view of the door handle in this embodiment Explanatory drawing of unlocking of door by door handle in this Embodiment Perspective view of a modified example of the electrostatic sensor for unlocking in this embodiment Front view of a modified example of the electrostatic sensor for unlocking in this embodiment Perspective view of the modified example of the electrostatic sensor for unlocking in the inner case.

The embodiment for carrying out will be described below. The same members and the like are designated by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted. Further, in the present application, the X1-X2 direction, the Y1-Y2 direction, and the Z1-Z2 direction are defined as directions orthogonal to each other. Further, the surface including the X1-X2 direction and the Y1-Y2 direction is described as the XY surface, the surface including the Y1-Y2 direction and the Z1-Z2 direction is described as the YZ surface, and the Z1-Z2 direction and the X1-X2 direction are described as the YZ surface. The including surface is referred to as a ZX surface.

Generally, in a door handle using an electrostatic sensor, the hand that is the operating body approaches the door handle, the distance between the electrode that becomes the electrostatic sensor and the hand becomes shorter, and the capacitance during this period increases and is static. When the electric capacity exceeds a predetermined value, it is detected as if the operation was performed manually. Such a change in capacitance can be detected by applying a predetermined voltage to the electrode and the amount of current flowing through it. Therefore, no matter what direction the hand approaches the door handle, if the hand approaches the door handle, the operation by the hand will be detected.

Therefore, even if the movement of the hand is not intended to unlock the door, the door may be unlocked when the hand approaches the door handle, and the door is unlocked in this way. That is not desirable.

(Door handle and operation detection device)
A vehicle door handle and an operation detection device will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4. FIG. 1 is an explanatory view of a door of a vehicle such as an automobile to which the door handle 100 is attached according to the present embodiment, FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the door handle 100, FIG. 3 is a top view, and FIG. Is an exploded perspective view.

As shown in FIG. 1, the door handle 100 in the present embodiment is attached to the door 10 of an automobile or the like, and the operation detection device in the present embodiment is built in the door handle 100.

The door handle case, which is the housing portion of the door handle 100, is formed of an outer case 110 and an inner case 120, and an unlocking electrostatic sensor 130 is inside the case covered by the outer case 110 and the inner case 120. , The locking electrostatic sensor 140, the control unit 150, the inner lid 160, and the like are provided.

The door handle 100 is attached so that the inner Z2 side facing the door 10 is the inner case 120 side, and the outer Z1 side opposite to the side facing the door 10 is the outer case 110 side. When unlocking the door handle 100, generally, an operation of putting a hand inside the door handle 100 and bringing the hand into contact with the inner surface 121 of the door handle 100 is performed. Therefore, when unlocking the door, the hand is moved from the Z2 side toward the Z1 side with respect to the door handle 100, and the hand is brought into contact with the Z2 side surface which is the inner surface 121 of the door handle 100. The inner surface 121 of the door handle 100 has a central portion recessed toward the Z1 side so that it can be easily gripped by a human hand. In the present application, in the door handle 100, the inner surface 121 of the door handle 100 may be described as a detection surface.

(Electrostatic sensor for unlocking)
As shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, the unlocking electrostatic sensor 130 according to the present embodiment has two unlocking leads called parallel cables, that is, a first unlocking lead wire 131 and a second unlocking lead wire 131. The first unlocking lead wire 131 is on the Z1 side, and the second unlocking lead wire 132 is on the Z2 side. The outer periphery of the first unlocking lead wire 131 and the second unlocking lead wire 132 is covered with an insulating material. Therefore, the first unlocking lead wire 131 and the second unlocking lead wire 132 are arranged substantially perpendicular to the inner surface 121 of the door handle 100, and are more than the first unlocking lead wire 131. The second unlocking lead wire 132 is arranged so as to be on the inner surface 121 side which is the detection surface side. That is, the first unlocking lead wire 131 and the second unlocking lead wire 132 are aligned in the Z1-Z2 direction with respect to the inner surface 121 substantially parallel to the Y1-Y2 direction, and the first unlocking is performed. The second unlocking lead wire 132 is arranged so as to be on the Z2 side of the leading wire 131. 5 is a perspective view of the unlocking electrostatic sensor 130, FIG. 6 is a top view, and FIG. 7 is a front view.

Since the parallel cable forming the two unlocking leads that serve as the unlocking electrostatic sensor 130 can be bent relatively freely, the shape of the unlocking electrostatic sensor 130 can be relatively easily desired. Can be in the shape of. In the present embodiment, the unlocking electrostatic sensor 130 formed by the first unlocking lead wire 131 and the second unlocking lead wire 132 is spirally wound on a plane parallel to the XY plane. ing. By winding the unlocking electrostatic sensor 130 in a spiral shape in this way, the value of the detected capacitance increases. In particular, the value of the capacitance detected for hand contact or proximity from the Z direction perpendicular to the XY plane becomes large.

As shown in FIG. 8, a groove 122 for accommodating the unlocking electrostatic sensor 130 is provided inside the inner case 120 in the present embodiment, and as shown in FIG. 9, this groove 122 is provided. By inserting the unlocking electrostatic sensor 130 into the groove 122, the state in which the first unlocking lead wire 131 is arranged on the Z1 side and the second unlocking lead wire 132 is arranged on the Z2 side is maintained. To.

In the present embodiment, one end of the first unlocking lead wire 131 and one end of the second unlocking lead wire 132, which are the outer ends of the unlocking electrostatic sensor 130, are shown in FIG. It is connected to the control unit 150 shown in 10 and 11, respectively. A circuit board 152 on which a control circuit 151 as a control unit is mounted is provided inside the control unit 150, and the circuit board 152 on which the control circuit 151 is mounted controls so that water does not enter from the outside. It is covered by the unit housing. The control unit housing is formed by a case 153 and a lid portion 154, and is fixed with an O-ring 155 inserted between the case 153 and the lid portion 154. The control unit housing of the control unit 150 The structure is such that water does not enter the inside from the outside. 10 is an enlarged view of the upper surface side of the control unit 150, and FIG. 11 is an enlarged view of the inside of the control unit 150 with the lid portion 154 removed.

As shown in FIG. 12, the unlocking electrostatic sensor 130 is located inside the inner case 120, which is an operation surface for unlocking the door handle 100, rather than the outer surface 111 of the outer case 110 of the door handle 100. It is arranged so as to be close to the surface 121 of. The operation detection device in the present embodiment is formed by the unlocking electrostatic sensor 130 and the control unit 150. Further, FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of the door handle according to the present embodiment cut along a plane parallel to the ZX plane, and the control unit 150 is omitted for convenience.

(Detection by operation detection device)
Next, the detection by the operation detection device in the present embodiment will be described. In the operation detection device according to the present embodiment, from the control circuit 151 which is the control unit in the control unit 150, the first unlocking lead wire 131 and the second unlocking lead wire 132 in the unlocking electrostatic sensor 130 A voltage is applied to each, and the capacitance of the first unlocking lead wire 131 and the second unlocking lead wire 132 is measured.

When the hand, which is the operating body, approaches the unlocking electrostatic sensor 130, the value of the capacitance detected by the first unlocking lead wire 131 and the second unlocking lead wire depending on the approaching direction of the hand. It is different from the value of capacitance detected by 132.

Specifically, it will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 to 7. When the hand approaches the unlocking electrostatic sensor 130 from the Z2 side toward the Z1 side, the distance between the hand and the second unlocking wire 132 is larger than the distance between the hand and the first unlocking wire 131. It gets shorter. Therefore, in this case, the value of the capacitance detected by the second unlocking wire 132 is larger than the value of the capacitance detected by the first unlocking wire 131, and the second unlocking wire 132 The value obtained by subtracting the value of the capacitance detected by the first unlocking wire 131 from the value of the capacitance detected by the unlocking wire 132 is positive.

Further, when the hand approaches the unlocking electrostatic sensor 130 from the Z1 side toward the Z2 side, the distance between the hand and the second unlocking wire 132 is larger than the distance between the hand and the first unlocking wire 131. The distance becomes shorter. Therefore, in this case, the value of the capacitance detected by the second unlocking wire 132 is smaller than the value of the capacitance detected by the first unlocking wire 131, and the second unlocking wire 132 The value obtained by subtracting the value of the capacitance detected by the first unlocking wire 131 from the value of the capacitance detected by the unlocking wire 132 is negative.

In addition, it is not judged by the positive or negative of the value, but it is judged based on whether each value exceeds a predetermined value, or whether it is a change in the positive direction or a change in the negative direction. May be good. In consideration of the variation and fluctuation of the output reference value for each electrostatic sensor, the determination may be made by comparison with a predetermined value or based on the direction of change.

When the hand approaches the unlocking electrostatic sensor 130 from the Y1 side or from the Y2 side, the distance between the hand and the first unlocking lead wire 131 and the distance between the hand and the second unlocking lead wire 131. It is approximately equal to the distance of 132. Therefore, in this case, the value of the capacitance detected by the first unlocking lead wire 131 and the value of the capacitance detected by the second unlocking lead wire 132 are substantially equal, and the second unlocking lead wire 132 is used. The value obtained by subtracting the value of the capacitance detected by the first unlocking wire 131 from the value of the capacitance detected by the unlocking wire 132 is approximately 0.

As described above, when unlocking the door 10, the hand approaches the door handle 100 from the Z2 side toward the Z1 side and comes into contact with the surface of the door handle 100 on the Z2 side. Therefore, if the value obtained by subtracting the value of the capacitance detected by the first unlocking wire 131 from the value of the capacitance detected by the second unlocking wire 132 is positive, the hand Can be determined to exist on the Z2 side of the door handle 100, and only in this case, the door is unlocked.

If the value obtained by subtracting the value of the capacitance detected by the first unlocking wire 131 from the value of the capacitance detected by the second unlocking wire 132 is 0, the hand Can be determined to exist on the Y1 side or the Y2 side of the door handle 100, and in this case, the door is not unlocked.

If the value obtained by subtracting the value of the capacitance detected by the first unlocking wire 131 from the value of the capacitance detected by the second unlocking wire 132 is negative, the hand Can be determined to exist on the Z1 side of the door handle 100, and even in this case, the door is not unlocked.

By performing such control, the door is unlocked only when the operation is intended to unlock the door in which the hand contacts the surface of the door handle 100 on the Z2 side, and thus the door is not intended to be unlocked. It is possible to prevent the door lock from being released by the movement of the hand, and it is possible to prevent erroneous detection of the release of the door lock.

FIG. 13 shows the capacitance detected by the first unlocking lead wire 131 and the second unlocking lead wire 132 when the hand touches the door handle 100 on the Z2 side or on the Z1 side. It shows the value obtained by subtracting the capacitance detected by the first unlocking lead wire 131 from the capacitance detected by the second unlocking lead wire 132.

As shown in FIG. 13, when a hand comes into contact with the Z2 side of the door handle 100, the capacitance detected by the first unlocking lead wire 131 and the second unlocking lead wire 132 cause the capacitance. Although the detected capacitances increase together, the capacitance detected by the second unlocking wire 132 is larger than the capacitance detected by the first unlocking wire 131, and the second one. The value obtained by subtracting the capacitance detected by the first unlocking lead wire 131 from the capacitance detected by the unlocking lead wire 132 is positive.

Further, even when a hand comes into contact with the Z1 side of the door handle 100, the capacitance detected by the first unlocking lead wire 131 and the capacitance detected by the second unlocking lead wire 132. However, the capacitance detected by the second unlocking wire 132 is smaller than the capacitance detected by the first unlocking wire 131, and the second unlocking wire 132 The value obtained by subtracting the capacitance detected by the first unlocking lead wire 131 from the capacitance detected by the first unlocking wire 131 becomes negative.

Although not shown in FIG. 13, when the hand comes into contact with the door handle 100 on the Y1 side or the Y2 side, the capacitance detected by the first unlocking lead wire 131 and the second The capacitance detected by the unlocking lead wire 132 increases, but the capacitance detected by the first unlocking lead wire 131 and the capacitance detected by the second unlocking lead wire 132 Are substantially equal, and the value obtained by subtracting the capacitance detected by the first unlocking wire 131 from the capacitance detected by the second unlocking wire 132 is approximately 0.

Therefore, in the control circuit 151 of the control unit 150, the value obtained by subtracting the capacitance detected by the first unlocking wire 131 from the capacitance detected by the second unlocking wire 132 becomes positive. By controlling the door to be unlocked only in such a case, it is possible to prevent the door from being accidentally unlocked.

Therefore, in the door handle 100 of the present embodiment, the door is unlocked when the hand touches the Z2 side of the door handle 100, but the door is unlocked when the hand touches the Z1 side of the door handle 100 or Y1. If the door is touched on the side or the Y2 side, it is determined that the operation is not intended to unlock the door, and the door is not unlocked.

That is, the door handle 100 in the present embodiment is not detected as an operation of unlocking the door when the hand comes into contact with the Z1 side, the Y2 side, or the Y1 side of the door handle 100, and the hand is not detected. Only when the door handle 100 comes into contact with the Z2 side, it is detected that the operation of unlocking the door has been performed.

The operation detection device in the present embodiment can be applied to other than the door handle of the vehicle. For example, it can be applied to a so-called kick sensor used in a vehicle.

(Modification example)
Next, a modified example of the door handle in the present embodiment will be described. As shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, the door handle in the present embodiment may have the unlocking electrostatic sensor 130a formed in a meander shape on a plane parallel to the XY plane. .. FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the unlocking electrostatic sensor 130a formed in a meander shape, and FIG. 15 is a front view. Also in the unlocking electrostatic sensor 130a, the first unlocking lead wire 131a and the second unlocking lead wire 132a are arranged so as to be arranged in the Z1-Z2 direction, and the Z1 side is for the first unlocking. The lead wires 131a and Z2 are installed so as to be the second unlock lead wire 132a.

Note that FIG. 16 shows a state in which such a meander-shaped unlocking electrostatic sensor 130a is housed in the inner case 120. In this case, the inner case 120 is formed with a groove having a shape corresponding to the meander-shaped unlocking electrostatic sensor 130a, and the unlocking electrostatic sensor 130a is inserted in the groove.

By forming the unlocking electrostatic sensor 130 in a meander shape in this way, it is possible to increase the value of the detected capacitance. In particular, the value of the capacitance detected with respect to the contact or proximity of the hand from the Z direction perpendicular to the XY plane can be increased.

Although the embodiments have been described in detail above, the embodiments are not limited to the specific embodiments, and various modifications and changes can be made within the scope of the claims.

This international application claims priority based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2018-040685 filed on March 7, 2018, and the entire contents of the application shall be incorporated into this international application.

10 Door 100 Door handle 110 Outer case 111 Outer surface 120 Inner case 121 Inner surface 130 Unlocking electrostatic sensor 131 First unlocking lead wire 132 Second unlocking lead wire 140 Locking electrostatic sensor 150 Control Unit 151 Control circuit 152 Circuit board 153 Case 154 Lid 155 O-ring 160 Inner lid

Claims (9)

An electrostatic sensor formed by the first and second conductors placed inside the case,
A control unit connected to the first lead wire and the second lead wire,
Have,
A voltage is applied to each of the first lead wire and the second lead wire by the control unit, and the capacitance in each is measured.
When the operating body is detected by the electrostatic sensor, the first lead wire and the second lead wire are arranged in a substantially vertical direction with respect to the detection surface in which the operating body comes into contact with the case. An operation detection device characterized by this. The control unit is characterized in that it detects the operation of the operating body based on the difference between the capacitance detected by the first lead wire and the capacitance detected by the second lead wire. The operation detection device according to 1. The second lead wire is arranged closer to the detection surface than the first lead wire.
The first aspect of the present invention, wherein the operation of the operating body is detected based on a value obtained by subtracting the capacitance detected by the first lead wire from the capacitance detected by the second lead wire. Operation detection device. The third aspect of the present invention is characterized in that, when the value exceeds a predetermined value, or when the value changes in the positive direction, the control unit determines that the operation has been performed by the operating body. The operation detection device described. 4. The control unit determines that the operation has not been performed by the operating body when the value is equal to or less than a predetermined value or when the value changes in the negative direction. The operation detection device described in. The operation detection device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the electrostatic sensor is spirally wound or arranged in a miander shape inside the case. The operation detection device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the electrostatic sensor is formed of a parallel cable. The case is a door handle case formed by an inner case and an outer case.
The operation detection device according to any one of claims 1 to 7 is provided.
A door handle that is characterized by being attached to the door of a vehicle. The door handle according to claim 8, wherein the inner case is formed with a groove into which the electrostatic sensor is inserted.

Images