Capacitive Vehicle Door Handle Sensing With Staged Electrode Activation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Door handles equipped with capacitance sensors for vehicle doors face challenges in reducing power consumption, as existing designs consume significant battery power from vehicle batteries.
Innovation Solution
A door handle design featuring a capacitance sensor with a substrate and multiple second sensor electrodes, where only the first sensor electrode is initially powered to detect hand approach, and upon detection, voltage is applied to the second sensor electrodes to determine the hand's position, minimizing power usage by reducing the number of electrodes actively powered at any given time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If voltage is applied to all sensor electrodes continuously, then detection precision is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic action by applying voltage to sensor electrodes only during specific detection phases rather than continuously. The controller selectively activates first sensor electrodes for initial detection, then activates second sensor electrodes only when hand approach is detected, creating a periodic rather than continuous power consumption pattern that reduces overall energy usage while maintaining detection precision when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the sensor electrode system into multiple groups (first sensor electrodes and second sensor electrodes) that are activated at different times and for different purposes. This segmentation allows the system to use only the necessary subset of electrodes for each detection task, reducing power consumption while maintaining detection precision through coordinated activation of different electrode groups.
2Reliability
If multiple sensor electrodes are activated simultaneously, then detection reliability is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the sensor electrodes into first sensor electrodes for initial hand approach detection and second sensor electrodes for coordinate position detection. This segmentation enables the system to activate only the necessary electrode group for each detection stage, maintaining detection reliability through multi-stage verification while reducing power consumption by avoiding simultaneous activation of all electrodes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements preliminary action by using first sensor electrodes to detect hand approach before activating the second sensor electrodes for coordinate detection. This preliminary detection stage ensures that the more power-intensive second electrode group is activated only when actually needed, maintaining detection reliability through sequential verification while minimizing overall power consumption.
3Measurement precision
If voltage is applied to sensor electrodes during inactivity, then detection precision is maintained, but battery life decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies periodic action by maintaining voltage application to sensor electrodes only during active detection periods rather than during prolonged inactivity. The controller monitors detection status and applies voltage selectively, ensuring detection precision is maintained during use while extending battery life by eliminating unnecessary power consumption during inactive periods between door operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements discarding and recovering by discontinuing voltage application to sensor electrodes when no hand approach is detected, effectively discarding the power consumption during inactivity. When detection is needed again, the system recovers by reactivating the electrodes, thus maintaining detection precision when required while extending battery life through selective power management during inactive periods.
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
This approach significantly reduces power consumption by limiting active electrode power usage until hand proximity is detected, making it suitable for vehicle door handles where prolonged inactivity may occur, thus extending battery life.
Implementation Method 1
a capacitance sensor configured to apply a voltage to electrodes disposed in the capacitance sensor and measure capacitances
Data Source
AI summary
A door handle including a capacitance sensor configured to detect an operation body is provided. The capacitance sensor includes a substrate formed of an insulator and having a surface, at least one first sensor electrode disposed on the surface of the substrate, a plurality of second sensor electrodes disposed on the surface of the substrate, and a controller. The number of the plurality of second sensor electrodes is greater than the number of the at least one first sensor electrode. The controller applies a voltage to the plurality of second sensor electrodes and detects a coordinate position of the operation body, in a case where a capacitance between the operation body and the at least one first sensor electrode is greater than or equal to a predetermined value.