Vehicle Door Handle Capacitive Sensor Water Removal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing door handle apparatuses for vehicles suffer from incorrect user operation detection due to accidental contact or water retention on the sensing electrode, leading to false locking/unlocking scenarios.
Innovation Solution
A door handle apparatus with a sensing electrode positioned inside the upper-outer surface of the door handle, equipped with a water-removing mechanism featuring projecting portions on a tapered surface to prevent water accumulation and ensure accurate user detection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the sensing electrode is provided at the outer portion of the door handle, then the user operation can be detected, but the human detecting sensor may incorrectly detect the user's operation when the user's body accidentally contacts the detecting portion
Solution Approach 1:
The sensing electrode is moved from the outer surface to the inner side of the door handle, changing the spatial dimension and position of the detecting portion. This dimensional change allows the sensor to detect user operations through the door handle material while being protected from accidental external contact, thus resolving the contradiction between detection capability and false detection prevention
2Reliability
If the sensing electrode is provided at the upper portion of the door handle, then accidental contact by user's body is reduced, but water may be retained on the detecting portion causing incorrect detection
Solution Approach 1:
The sensing electrode is positioned on the inner side of the door handle rather than on the upper external surface. This dimensional repositioning protects the sensor from water accumulation while maintaining detection capability through the handle material, resolving the contradiction between preventing false detection from water and maintaining detection accuracy
3Measurement precision
If the sensing electrode is provided inside the upper-outer surface of the door handle, then water accumulation is prevented and detection accuracy is maintained, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sensing electrode is integrated into the door handle structure itself, merging the sensor with the handle body. This integration allows the sensing function to be embedded within the upper-outer surface without requiring separate external sensor housings or complex mounting structures, thus maintaining detection accuracy while minimizing device complexity
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution effectively prevents false detection by removing water and minimizing accidental contact, enhancing the accuracy of user operation detection and reducing production costs by allowing a single design for both right-hand and left-hand vehicle doors.
Implementation Method 1
an electric capacitance is generated between a sensing electrode of the human detecting sensor and the vehicle door, and a level of the electric capacitance changes when a user's hand approaches the sensing electrode of the human detecting sensor provided at the door handle
Data Source
AI summary
A door handle apparatus for a vehicle includes a door handle adapted to be provided at a vehicle exterior of a vehicle door and operated in order to open/close the vehicle door, a sensing electrode provided inside of an upper-outer surface of the door handle, a sensor for detecting a user approaching the sensing electrode on the basis of a variation of an electric capacitance generated by the sensing electrode, controlling device for controlling the vehicle door so as to be locked/unlocked on the basis of information detected by the sensor and water-removing device provided on the upper-outer surface of the door handle in order to remove water retained in the vicinity of the sensing electrode.