Door handle apparatus for a vehicle

Abstract

A door handle apparatus for a vehicle includes a door handle including an outer side handle portion formed with a grip portion, a rotating portion rotatably supported by a supporting member, an operating portion operating a door opening and closing mechanism, and an encasement accommodating electronic components, an unlock electrode accommodated in the encasement and configuring an unlock capacitive sensor detecting changes of an electric capacity between the unlock electrode and the outer panel, an unlock signal circuit transmitting an unlock signal based on the changes of the electric capacity between the unlock electrode and the outer panel, and a lock electrode provided between an end of the grip portion at the side of the rotating portion and the rotating portion and configuring a lock capacitive sensor detecting the changes of the electric capacity.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing and additional features and characteristics of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description considered with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a door, to which a door handle for a vehicle is attached, according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example of an on-board equipment of a door handle apparatus for the vehicle;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a portable unit of the door handle apparatus for the vehicle;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view of the door handle apparatus according to the first embodiment viewed from a direction of a line IV-IV of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a plain view illustrating a cross sectional surface of a part of the door handle apparatus according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along a line VI-VI of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along a line VII-VII of FIG. 4;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along a line VIII-VIII of FIG. 4;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged sectional view of the door handle according to a second embodiment viewed from a direction of a line IV-IV of FIG. 1;

FIG. 10 is an elevation view of the door handle apparatus according to the second embodiment;

FIG. 11 is a sectional view taken along a line XI-XI of FIG. 10; and

FIG. 12 is an enlarged sectional view of the door handle according to another embodiment viewed from the direction of a line IV-IV of FIG. 1.

Claims

1. A door handle apparatus for a vehicle, comprising: a door handle including: an outer side handle portion provided at an outer surface of an outer panel of a door of the vehicle and formed with a grip portion with a space relative to the outer surface of the outer panel;a rotating portion extending from an end of the outer side handle portion into inside of the door by penetrating the outer panel and rotatably supported by a supporting member fixed to an inner surface of the outer panel;an operating portion extending from the other end of the outer side handle portion into the inside of the door by penetrating the outer panel, the operating portion operating a door opening and closing mechanism; andan encasement facing the outer panel and accommodating electronic components;an unlock electrode accommodated in the encasement and contributing to detect an electric capacity between the unlock electrode and the outer panel;an unlock signal circuit transmitting an unlock signal based on the electric capacity between the unlock electrode and the outer panel; and a lock electrode provided between an end of the grip portion at the side of the rotating portion and the rotating portion and contributing to detect the electric capacity.

2. A door handle apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the lock electrode is provided at at least one of an upper side wall and a lower side wall of the outer side handle portion, which are positioned between the end of the grip portion at the side of the rotating portion and the rotating portion.

3. A door handle apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein at least a part of the door handle is made of resin, and the lock electrode is inserted into the door handle by insert molding or be assembly conducted after the door handle is formed to be held by the door handle.

4. A door handle apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 2, wherein at least a part of the door handle is made of resin, and the lock electrode is inserted into the door handle and held by insert molding or be assembly conducted after the door handle is formed to be held by the door handle.

5. A door handle apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising: a first handle member being made of resin and formed with the encasement; anda second handle member which surface is metal plated and covering the encasement and being engaged with the first handle member, wherein a front side of the lock electrode is opened by providing a notch or an opening hole at a metal plated portion of the second handle member.

6. A door handle apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 2, further comprising: a first handle member being made of resin and formed with the encasement; anda second handle member which surface is metal plated and covering the encasement and being engaged with the first handle member, wherein a front side of the lock electrode is opened by providing a notch or an opening hole at a metal plated portion of the second handle member.

7. A door handle apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 3, further comprising: a first handle member being made of resin and formed with the encasement; anda second handle member which surface is metal plated and covering the encasement and being engaged with the first handle member, wherein a front side of the lock electrode is opened by providing a notch or an opening hole at a metal plated portion of the second handle member.

8. A door handle apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising: a first handle member being made of resin and formed with the encasement; anda second handle member which surface is metal plated and covering the encasement and being engaged with the first handle member, wherein a notch or an opening hole is provided at a portion which faces the lock electrode in the metal plated portion.

9. A door handle apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 2, further comprising: the first handle member being made of resin and formed with the encasement; anda second handle member which surface is metal plated and covering the encasement and being engaged with the first handle member, wherein a notch or an opening hole is provided at a portion which faces the lock electrode in the metal plated portion.

10. A door handle apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 3, further comprising: the first handle member being made of resin and formed with the encasement; anda second handle member which surface is metal plated and covering the encasement and being engaged with the first handle member, wherein a notch or an opening hole is provided at a portion which faces the lock electrode in the metal plated portion.

11. A door handle apparatus for a vehicle, comprising: a door handle including: an outer side handle portion provided at an outer surface of an outer panel of a door of the vehicle and formed with a grip portion with a space relative to the outer surface of the outer panel;a rotating portion extending from an end of the outer side handle portion into inside of the door by penetrating the outer panel and rotatably supported by a supporting member fixed to an inner surface of the outer panel;an operating portion extending from the other end of the outer side handle portion into the inside of the door by penetrating the outer panel, the operating portion operating a door opening and closing mechanism; andan encasement facing the outer panel and accommodating electronic components;an unlock electrode accommodated in the encasement and configuring an unlock capacitive sensor detecting changes of an electric capacity between the unlock electrode and the outer panel;an unlock signal circuit transmitting an unlock signal based on the changes of the electric capacity between the unlock electrode and the outer panel; anda lock electrode provided between an end of the grip portion at the side of the rotating portion and the rotating portion and configuring a lock capacitive sensor detecting changes of the electric capacity.