Capacitive sensor, door handle and vehicle

Abstract

The utility model provides a capacitance sensor, door handle and vehicle, capacitance sensor includes: including: induction circuit and induction piece, induction piece and induction circuit connection, induction piece far away from the induction circuit one side is provided with induction surface, induction surface is cambered surface, or, induction surface and the plane of induction circuit form angle setting. Wherein the induction sheet is made of a metal sheet type material and has certain soft ductility, and the induction surface can be made into an inclined surface or an arc surface, so that the shape design of the door handle is not limited any more, the door handle can be made into a shape with an inclined surface or an arc surface, the design attractiveness of the door handle is improved, and customer requirements are further met.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of automotive door handles, specifically to a capacitive sensor, a door handle, and a vehicle. Background Technology

[0002] In the current era of rapid development of new energy vehicles, concealed door handles have emerged. Traditional door handles have a built-in mechanical button that requires the user to trigger a signal from the car key to unlock the door. In concealed door handles, the mechanical button is replaced by a capacitive touch sensor.

[0003] Currently, most capacitive touch sensors use rigid PCBs and connect to the circuit board of the door handle via pins to generate and transmit capacitive signals. Since rigid PCBs are planar in shape, the door handle structure is limited to a planar design to ensure the uniformity of the capacitive signal, thus restricting the diversity of door handle designs. Utility Model Content

[0004] In view of this, the present invention aims to provide a capacitive sensor, a door handle, and a vehicle to solve the problem that the existing capacitive sensors have a planar structure, which limits the shape design of the door handle.

[0005] To address the aforementioned problems, this invention provides a capacitive sensor for use on door handles, comprising:

[0006] Induction circuit;

[0007] A sensing element is connected to the sensing circuit; a sensing surface is provided on the side of the sensing element away from the sensing circuit, and the sensing surface is arc-shaped, or the sensing surface is set at an angle to the plane where the sensing circuit is located.

[0008] In one embodiment of this utility model, the difference between the maximum and minimum distances between the sensing surface and the plane where the sensing circuit is located is less than or equal to 10 mm.

[0009] In one embodiment of this utility model, the sensing surface is arc-shaped and convex outward in a direction away from the sensing circuit.

[0010] In one embodiment of this utility model, the sensing surface is set at an angle to the plane where the sensing circuit is located, and the sensing sheet is also provided with an adsorption plane, which is set along a direction parallel to the plane where the sensing circuit is located.

[0011] In one embodiment of the present invention, the capacitive sensor includes at least two sensing elements and a plurality of pins. The at least two sensing elements are arranged at intervals along a direction parallel to the plane where the sensing circuit is located, and each sensing element is connected to the sensing circuit through at least two pins.

[0012] To address the aforementioned issues, this utility model also provides a door handle, comprising: a mounting housing, a circuit board, and a capacitive sensor as described above;

[0013] The circuit board and the sensing element are mounted in the mounting housing, and the sensing circuit is disposed on the circuit board;

[0014] The mounting housing has a mounting surface and a touch surface, the mounting surface being used to connect with the door panel, and the touch surface being positioned facing the interior of the vehicle compartment;

[0015] The shape of the touch surface is adapted to the shape of the sensing surface.

[0016] In one embodiment of this utility model, the touch surface and the sensing surface are arranged at intervals along a direction perpendicular to the circuit board, and the distance between the touch surface and the sensing surface is less than 6mm.

[0017] In one embodiment of this utility model, a sensing area is provided on the touch surface, the size of the sensing area is adapted to the size of the sensing surface, and the sensing area is covered with a waterproof material that protrudes from the touch surface.

[0018] In one embodiment of the present invention, the door handle is further provided with a protective layer, which covers the outside of the circuit board and the sensing sheet and is located inside the mounting housing;

[0019] The side wall of the mounting housing is also provided with a transmission through hole. The capacitive sensor also includes a transmission harness. One end of the transmission harness passes through the transmission through hole and is connected to the circuit board, and the other end is connected to the vehicle's control terminal.

[0020] To address the aforementioned problems, this utility model also provides a vehicle, including a door, on which a door handle as described above is mounted.

[0021] Compared with the prior art, the capacitive sensor provided in this embodiment of the invention has the following advantages:

[0022] This utility model provides a capacitive sensor, including a sensing circuit and a sensing element. The sensing element is connected to the sensing circuit, and a sensing surface is provided on the side of the sensing element away from the sensing circuit. The sensing surface is curved, or the sensing surface is angled to the plane of the sensing circuit. The sensing element is made of a metal sheet material with a certain degree of flexibility, allowing the sensing surface to be made into an inclined or curved shape. This frees up the design of door handles, enabling them to be made with inclined or curved surfaces, thus improving the aesthetics of the door handle design and further meeting customer needs. Attached Figure Description

[0023] Figure 1 The diagram shown is a structural schematic of the first type of capacitive sensor provided by this utility model.

[0024] Figure 2 The diagram shown is a structural schematic of the second type of capacitive sensor provided by this utility model.

[0025] Figure 3 The image shown is a side view of the structure of the second type of capacitive sensor provided by this utility model.

[0026] Figure 4 The diagram shown is a structural schematic of the first type of door handle provided by this utility model.

[0027] Figure 5 The image shown is provided by this utility model. Figure 4 The structural side view of the mounting housing.

[0028] Figure 6 The diagram shown is an exploded view of the structure of the first type of car door handle provided by this utility model.

[0029] Figure 7 The diagram shown is a structural schematic of the second type of door handle provided by this utility model.

[0030] Figure 8 The image shown is provided by this utility model. Figure 7 The structural side view of the mounting housing.

[0031] Figure 9 The diagram shown is an exploded view of the structure of the second type of door handle provided by this utility model.

[0032] The explanations of the reference numerals in the accompanying drawings are as follows:

[0033] 1-Circuit board;

[0034] 2-Induction sheet; 20-Induction surface; 21-Adsorption part; 210-Adsorption plane;

[0035] 3-Transmission harness;

[0036] 4-pin;

[0037] 5-Mounting housing; 50-Mounting surface; 51-Touch surface; 52-Waterproof material; 53-Protective layer; 54-Transmission through hole; 510-Sensing area. Detailed Implementation

[0038] The technical solutions of the present utility model will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings of the embodiments. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present utility model, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present utility model, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative effort are within the protection scope of the present utility model.

[0039] In the description of this utility model, it should be understood that the terms "center", "longitudinal", "transverse", "length", "width", "thickness", "upper", "lower", "front", "rear", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inner", "outer", "clockwise", "counterclockwise", "axial", "circumferential", "radial", etc., indicating the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings, are only for the convenience of describing this utility model and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation of this utility model.

[0040] Furthermore, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated. Thus, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of that feature. In the description of this utility model, "a plurality of" means two or more, unless otherwise explicitly specified.

[0041] As those skilled in the art will understand, with the increasing demand for concealed door handles, the design requirements for capacitive sensors are also becoming more stringent, and users' demands for the comfort and aesthetics of concealed door handles are also gradually increasing. Existing capacitive sensors mostly adopt a PCB design. Because the rigid PCB is planar, in order to ensure the uniformity of the capacitive signal, the door handle structure is also limited to a planar structure set along a direction parallel to the door sheet metal, thus restricting the diversified development of door handle designs.

[0042] Based on this, please refer to Figure 1 and Figure 2This utility model provides a capacitive sensor, including: a sensing circuit (not shown in the figure) and a sensing sheet 2. The sensing sheet 2 is connected to the sensing circuit. A sensing surface 20 is provided on the side of the sensing sheet 2 away from the sensing circuit. The sensing surface 20 is arc-shaped, or the sensing surface 20 is angled to the plane of the sensing circuit. Preferably, in this embodiment, the sensing sheet 2 is a metal sheet structure with good conductivity and ductility, which allows the sensing surface 20 to be set into a sloping or arc-shaped shape. This makes the shape design of the door handle no longer limited, and it can be made into a shape with a sloping or arc-shaped surface to further meet the requirements of user comfort and aesthetics. Of course, in other embodiments, the sensing sheet 2 can also be made of other materials with conductivity and ductility. Those skilled in the art can configure it according to the actual situation.

[0043] In an optional embodiment, the sensing circuit is disposed on the circuit board 1 of the door handle. Correspondingly, the circuit board 1 may also be provided with a control circuit for locking and unlocking the door handle. The sensing circuit occupies only a part of the circuit board 1.

[0044] It needs to be explained that, in Figure 1 and Figure 2 In this context, the plane containing the sensing circuit can be understood as the connection surface between the circuit board 1 and the sensing element 2.

[0045] As will be understood by those skilled in the art, the core principle of a capacitive sensor is to detect changes in capacitance caused by electric field distortion resulting from the approach or contact of a human body (or other conductor). When a human body or other conductor approaches the electrode, the electric field is distorted, the electrode capacitance changes, the charge transfer circuit monitors the amount of charge transfer, and converts it into a voltage / current / capacitance signal, which is output through transmission harness 3.

[0046] Specifically, in this embodiment, the electrode structure is an induction sheet 2, which constitutes the physical basis of capacitive sensing. The charge transfer circuit, filter circuit, and signal modulation modules such as the signal amplifier are all mounted on the circuit board 1. After the capacitive signal is formed, it can be transmitted via a standard communication protocol (such as I...). 2 (Protocols such as C and SPI) are used to connect to the vehicle's control terminal via wired or wireless means to transmit the capacitive signal generated when a person approaches or touches the sensor 2 to the control terminal, which then issues a command to unlock the door or keep the door locked.

[0047] Optionally, the sensing element 2 is electrically connected to the circuit board 1. The sensing element 2 can have its pins 4 soldered onto the pads of the circuit board 1 through through-hole soldering (THD), surface mount technology (SMT), or by conductive materials (such as conductive silver paste printing, conductive adhesive strips, etc.). It can also be connected to the circuit board 1 through connectors (such as board-to-board connectors, cable interface connectors, etc.).

[0048] In some embodiments, the difference between the maximum and minimum distances between the sensing surface 20 and the plane where the sensing circuit is located is less than or equal to 10 mm. With this setting, the tilt angle of the sensing surface 20 can be controlled within a reasonable range, which on the one hand ensures the stability of the capacitive touch function, and on the other hand ensures user experience and aesthetics, avoiding inconvenience to users due to excessive tilt angle.

[0049] Furthermore, to ensure the sensitivity of the capacitive sensor, the size of the sensing element 2 should be within a reasonable range. For example, the length of the sensing element 2 along the direction parallel to the sensing circuit (in this embodiment, it can be the length direction of the circuit board 1, i.e.) Figure 1 The width of the sensing element 2 in the X direction (in this embodiment, it can be the width direction of the circuit board 1, i.e., ...) should be between 18mm and 80mm. Figure 1 The Y-direction of the sensor should be between 8mm and 25mm. This ensures that the size of the sensor 2 is not too small, which would affect the sensing range and make it difficult for the user to easily achieve the desired effect; on the other hand, it prevents the sensor 2 from being too large, which could lead to the risk of the user accidentally unlocking the door, and also ensures the stable operation of the capacitive touch function.

[0050] Please refer to Figure 1 The sensing surface 20 is curved and convex outwards in the direction away from the sensing circuit. This curved surface design allows the corresponding door handle to also be designed with a curved surface, improving the tactile experience for the user and preventing accidental damage. In some other embodiments, the sensing surface 20 may also be concave inwards towards the sensing circuit, or it may be wavy to enhance the aesthetics of the door handle. Alternatively, the sensing surface 20 may be partially flat and partially curved, depending on user needs or the interior design requirements of the vehicle. Those skilled in the art can configure it accordingly.

[0051] Please refer to Figure 2 and Figure 3 The sensing surface 20 is angled to the plane of the sensing circuit, and the sensing element 2 also has an adsorption surface 210, which is parallel to the plane of the sensing circuit. Thus, the adsorption surface 210 allows the sensing element 2 to be adsorbed and mounted during SMT (Surface Mount Technology) processes. Those skilled in the art will understand that SMT processes enable the miniaturization and high performance of electronic products by directly mounting leadless or short-lead components onto the surface of the circuit board 1.

[0052] In this embodiment, the sensing sheet 2 is provided with an adsorption part 21. The adsorption part 21 extends from one side of the sensing surface 20 to the other side in a direction parallel to the plane where the sensing circuit is located, so as to form an adsorption plane 210. The adsorption plane 210 can be a rectangular surface, a circular surface, a triangular surface, a trapezoidal surface, or an irregular plane. Those skilled in the art can configure the shape of the adsorption plane 210 according to the cross-sectional shape of the adsorption nozzle. This embodiment does not limit this.

[0053] Please continue to refer to this. Figure 3 The capacitive sensor includes multiple pins 4 and at least two sensing elements 2. The at least two sensing elements 2 are arranged at intervals along a direction parallel to the plane of the sensing circuit. Each sensing element 2 is connected to the circuit board 1 via at least two pins 4. For example, the at least two sensing elements 2 can be arranged along the length of the circuit board 1 (in... Figure 3 The sensors are arranged at intervals (in the X direction) to effectively expand the sensing area 510; at least two sensing elements 2 can also be arranged along the width direction of the circuit board 1 (in the X direction). Figure 3 The spacing (in the Y direction) can be arranged, or it can be arranged irregularly on the circuit board 1. As those skilled in the art will understand, a certain gap can be left between two adjacent sensing plates 2 to prevent mutual interference. Even if the user's finger is located between two sensing plates 2, the two sensing plates 2 will generate sensing capacitance due to the proximity of the finger, thereby achieving the purpose of unlocking.

[0054] Specifically, in Figure 1 and Figure 2 In the illustrated embodiment, each sensing element 2 is provided with four pins 4. In other embodiments, each sensing element 2 may be provided with two or more pins 4. The specific number of pins 4 can be comprehensively evaluated in combination with structural, mechanical, and process aspects.

[0055] Preferably, to reduce the impact of parasitic capacitance, the cross-sectional area of ​​pin 4 of the capacitive sensor should be less than 3mm*3mm. Simultaneously, one or more pins 4 of the capacitive sensor should be designed as DIP (Dual In-line Package) pins to reduce functional failures caused by poor soldering during manufacturing.

[0056] In another embodiment, please refer to Figures 4 to 5 as well as Figures 7 to 8This utility model embodiment also provides a door handle, including: a mounting housing 5, a circuit board 1, and a capacitive sensor as described above; the circuit board 1 and the sensing element 2 are mounted in the mounting housing 5, and the sensing circuit is disposed on the circuit board 1; the mounting housing 5 has a mounting surface 50 and a touch surface 51, the mounting surface 50 is used to connect with the door panel, and the touch surface 51 is disposed facing the interior of the vehicle compartment; the shape of the touch surface 51 is adapted to the sensing surface 20. Thus, by using the above-mentioned capacitive sensor, the sensing surface 20 of the sensing element 2 can be set as an arc surface or a slope, so that the touch surface 51 of the mounting housing 5 can also achieve diversified design, thereby meeting the needs of different users and improving the user experience and practicality.

[0057] Optionally, the aforementioned sensor 2 is connected to the sensing circuit on the circuit board 1 only through pin 4. The circuit board 1 may also be provided with a control circuit for locking and unlocking the door handle, as well as other functional circuits. Those skilled in the art can make the settings according to actual needs, and this embodiment does not limit this.

[0058] It should be noted that, in this embodiment, the material of the mounting housing 5 can be plastic materials such as ABS (acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene), PC (polycarbonate), PBT (polybutylene terephthalate), or other materials with dielectric stability, signal transmission, structural strength and environmental adaptability.

[0059] In one embodiment, the touch surface 51 and the sensing surface 20 are arranged at intervals along a direction perpendicular to the circuit board 1. To ensure that the signal change caused by human touch is sufficient to detect a touch event, the distance between the touch surface 51 and the sensing surface 20 is less than 6mm. This is to avoid the situation where the user cannot detect the touch event even after continuous pressing due to the excessive distance between the touch surface 51 and the sensing surface 20, resulting in the inability to unlock the door.

[0060] Please refer to Figure 6 and Figure 9 In this embodiment, a sensing area 510 is provided on the touch surface 51. The size of the sensing area 510 is adapted to the size of the sensing surface 20. A waterproof material 52 is covered on the sensing area 510, and the waterproof material 52 protrudes from the touch surface 51. Optionally, in this embodiment, the waterproof material 52 can be closed-cell foam, which is a polymer material composed of independent closed-cell structures. The closed-cell structure makes the bubbles independent of each other, forming a continuous barrier that is impermeable to air and water. Covering the sensing area 510 of the touch surface 51 corresponding to the sensing surface 20 with closed-cell foam can fill the assembly gaps and prevent water vapor condensation from causing false triggering of the capacitive sensor.

[0061] For further details, please refer to... Figure 6 and Figure 9The door handle is also provided with a protective layer 53, which covers the outside of the circuit board 1 and the sensing element 2 and is located inside the mounting housing 5. In an optional embodiment, the protective layer 53 can be injection molded from polyurethane to form a protective layer 53 between the circuit board 1, the sensing element 2, and the mounting housing 5, thereby preventing moisture from entering the circuit board 1 and the sensing element 2 and causing the capacitive sensor to fail. In other embodiments, the protective layer 53 can also be made of other materials with similar properties.

[0062] Please refer to Figure 5 and Figure 7 The side wall of the mounting housing 5 is also provided with a transmission through hole 54. The capacitive sensor also includes a transmission harness 3. One end of the transmission harness 3 passes through the transmission through hole 54 and is connected to the circuit board 1, while the other end is connected to the vehicle's control terminal. It should be noted that in this embodiment, the transmission harness 3 is used to transmit the capacitive signal to ensure transmission stability. In the event of an unexpected situation, the signal will not fail to be transmitted due to other reasons, and the door lock will not be unable to open. The vehicle's control terminal can be an MCU (Micro Controller Unit), an ECU (Electronic Control Unit), or other specific control software. Of course, in some other embodiments, the capacitive sensor and the vehicle's control terminal can also use a communication connection to exchange information; this embodiment does not limit this.

[0063] In another embodiment, this utility model also provides a vehicle, including a door (not shown in the figure), on which a door handle as described above is mounted. Thus, by mounting the door handle as described above on the door, and utilizing a capacitive sensor with a beveled or curved sensing surface 20, a door handle of a corresponding shape can be manufactured. On the one hand, this breaks through the shape limitations of door handles, flexibly realizing diverse automotive door handle designs, improving the user experience, and further enhancing the practicality and aesthetics of the door handle. On the other hand, by using the aforementioned mutually matched capacitive sensor and door handle, the formation and transmission of capacitive signals can be stabilized, thereby ensuring the realization of capacitive touch functionality.

[0064] The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present utility model and is not intended to limit the present utility model. Any modifications or equivalent substitutions made within the spirit and principles of the present utility model should be included within the protection scope of the present utility model.

Claims

1. A capacitive sensor, characterized in that, Applied to door handles, including: Induction circuit; A sensing element is connected to the sensing circuit; a sensing surface is provided on the side of the sensing element away from the sensing circuit, and the sensing surface is arc-shaped, or the sensing surface is set at an angle to the plane where the sensing circuit is located.

2. The capacitive sensor according to claim 1, characterized in that, The difference between the maximum and minimum distances between the sensing surface and the plane where the sensing circuit is located is less than or equal to 10 mm.

3. The capacitive sensor according to claim 1, characterized in that, The sensing surface is arc-shaped and convex outward in a direction away from the sensing circuit.

4. The capacitive sensor according to claim 1, characterized in that, The sensing surface is set at an angle to the plane where the sensing circuit is located. The sensing sheet is also provided with an adsorption plane, which is set in a direction parallel to the plane where the sensing circuit is located.

5. The capacitive sensor according to claim 1, characterized in that, The capacitive sensor includes at least two sensing elements and multiple pins. The at least two sensing elements are arranged at intervals along a direction parallel to the plane of the sensing circuit, and each sensing element is connected to the sensing circuit through at least two pins.

6. A door handle, characterized in that, include: Mounting housing, circuit board, and capacitive sensor as described in any one of claims 1 to 5; The circuit board and the sensing element are mounted in the mounting housing, and the sensing circuit is disposed on the circuit board; The mounting housing has a mounting surface and a touch surface, the mounting surface being used to connect with the door panel, and the touch surface being positioned facing the interior of the vehicle compartment; The shape of the touch surface is adapted to the shape of the sensing surface.

7. The door handle according to claim 6, characterized in that, The touch surface and the sensing surface are arranged at intervals along a direction perpendicular to the circuit board, and the distance between the touch surface and the sensing surface is less than 6mm.

8. The door handle according to claim 6, characterized in that, The touch surface is provided with a sensing area, the size of which is adapted to the size of the sensing surface. The sensing area is covered with a waterproof material that protrudes from the touch surface.

9. The door handle according to claim 6, characterized in that, The door handle is also provided with a protective layer, which covers the outside of the circuit board and the sensing element and is located inside the mounting housing; The side wall of the mounting housing is also provided with a transmission through hole. The capacitive sensor also includes a transmission harness. One end of the transmission harness passes through the transmission through hole and is connected to the circuit board, and the other end is connected to the vehicle's control terminal.

10. A vehicle, characterized in that, Includes a vehicle door, wherein the vehicle door is equipped with a door handle as described in any one of claims 6 to 9.

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