Patent Grant
7984938
This application is based on and claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 with respect to Japanese Patent Application No. 2006-078380 filed on Mar. 22, 2006 and Japanese Patent Application No. 2006-072367 filed on Mar. 16, 2006, the entire content of which are incorporated herein by reference.
The present invention relates to a door handle device for a vehicle, which is used for opening/closing a vehicle door.
Known door handles for a vehicle which are mounted on an outer panel of a door to protrude outwardly therefrom and are operated for opening/closing the door have been disclosed. Electronic components built in the door handle are connected to a control unit provided outside the door handle via a wire harness. For example, according to a door handle described in DE19633894C (column 3-5; FIG. 1), a connector 30 is provided on a tip end of an arm 11, which is provided to extend towards inside of the door relative to a door panel 40, to protrude in a longitudinal direction of a vehicle. A micro switch 53 for outputting door lock signals is provided in the door handle so as to be remotely operable. Terminals of the micro switch 53 are connected to terminals of the connector 30 by wire harnesses 18.
With the construction of the door handle for the vehicle described in DE19633894C, a board, which is mounted with a control circuit connected to electronic components such as a micro switch built in the door handle, is not provided in the door handle. Thus, the terminals of the electronic components are connected to the terminals of the connector via the wire harnesses and the electronic components have to be connected to the board provided outside the door handle through the connector, which complicates assembling operation.
A need thus exists for a door handle device, in which a connector is configured so that a board mounted with a control circuit, which is linked to electronic components built in the door handle, and which is connectable to terminals of the electronic components and to a terminal of the connector.
In light of the foregoing, the present invention provides a door handle device for a vehicle, which includes a handle outer portion provided at an outside of an outer panel of a door for the vehicle, a grip portion provided between the outer panel and the handle outer portion with a space between the grip portion and the outer panel, a rotating portion extended from a first end of the handle outer portion into the door penetrating through the outer panel and rotatably supported by a support member fixed to an inside of the outer panel, an operating portion extended from a second end of the handle outer portion into the door penetrating through the outer panel, the operating portion operating a door opening/closing mechanism, a first handle member made of resin and formed with a housing portion which houses an electronic component and is arranged opposing to the outer panel, a second handle member covering the housing portion and assembled to the first handle member, and the rotating portion and the operating portion formed at either one of the first handle member and the second handle member. The first handle member is provided with a first connector, which protrudes in a vehicle width direction penetrating through the outer panel, and a board housing portion, which houses a board mounted with a control circuit connected to the electronic component in a state where the board is connected to a terminal of the first connector and a terminal of the electronic component, and the board housing portion is covered with the second handle member in a state where the board is housed therein. The first connector and the board housing portion are formed between the rotating portion and the grip portion.
According to the present invention, on the resin made first handle member which is formed with the housing portion, the first connector is provided at the end portion of the door handle at the rotating center side so as to protrude in the vehicle width direction through the outer panel of the door and towards inside of the door. The board mounted with the control circuit which is connected to the electronic components is housed in the housing portion in a state where the board is connected to the terminal of the electronic components and the terminal of the first connector. Accordingly, because it is not necessary to connect respective terminals of the electronic components, the board and the connector via wire harnesses, assembling of the door handle per se and the assembling of the door handle to the door can be readily achieved.
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:
Embodiments of the present invention will be explained with reference to illustrations of drawing figures as follows.
The door lock ECU 8 sends a request code to the transmitting portion 7, and a request signal having a frequency, for example, of 134 kHz which is formed by modulating the request code is transmitted from the transmitting antenna 6 to a portable transmitting and receiving device 9. In the vehicle 2, a receiving antenna 10 is built, for example, in a rear view mirror provided in a vehicle compartment. A signal from the portable transmitting and receiving device 9 with a frequency of for example 300 MHz, which is received by the receiving antenna 10, is demodulated at a receiving portion 11 and inputted into the door lock ECU 8. The door lock ECU 8 is connected to a memory 12. A variety of plural codes, each different from one another, such as a request code and transponder ID code, or the like, is stored in the memory 12. The memory 12 is a non-volatile memory such as EEPROM, which retains the stored information even when not powered.
The door lock ECU 8 is connected to a motor drive circuit 14 which activates a motor 13 provided on the door opening/closing mechanism. When a lock signal or an unlock signal is inputted from a lock/unlock signal circuit 15 to the door lock ECU 8, the door lock ECU 8 outputs a motor normal rotation signal or a motor reverse rotation signal to the motor drive circuit 14 respectively to lock or unlock the door opening/closing mechanism. The lock/unlock signal circuit 15 includes a lock signal circuit and an unlock signal circuit and is connected to a capacitive sensor 21 for unlocking (i.e., serving as an electric component) and a capacitive sensor 22 for locking (i.e., serving as an electric component) which are provided at the door handle 1.
A request signal having a frequency of, for example, 134 kHz is constantly transmitted from the transmitting antenna 6 of the on-vehicle transmitting and receiving device 5 of the smart entry system to the portable transmitting and receiving device 9, and upon receiving the request signal, the portable transmitting and receiving device 9 replies to the on-vehicle transmitting and receiving device 5 by sending a signal having a frequency of, for example, 300 MHz which is obtained by modulating the transponder ID code. The signal having the frequency of 300 MHz which is received by the receiving antenna 10 of the on-vehicle transmitting and receiving device 5 is demodulated in the receiving portion 11 to be inputted into the door lock ECU 8. The door lock ECU 8 receives the transponder ID code which is originally from the memory 20 of the portable transmitting and receiving device 9, identifies the transponder ID code with an ID code stored in the memory 12, and activates the lock/unlock signal circuit 15 when the transponder ID code and the ID code in the memory 12 are matched. When a conductor such as a user's hand comes close to or comes in contact with the capacitive sensor 21 for unlocking or the capacitive sensor 22 for locking the door handle 1 in a state where the lock/unlock signal circuit 15 is activated, the lock/unlock signal circuit 15 outputs an unlocking signal or a locking signal, and the door lock ECU 8 locks or unlocks the door opening/closing mechanism on the basis of the unlocking signal or the locking signal.
The door handle 1 is constructed by assembling a resin made first handle member 30 and a resin made second handle member 31 by screws 32 so that the first handle member 30 closes an elongated recess portion of the second handle member 31 from the outer panel 4 side. The first handle member 30 is formed with a housing portion 33, which houses electric components, facing the outer panel 4. The rotating portion 26 and the operating portion 28 are formed on the second handle member 31 which is assembled to the first handle member 30 and covers the housing portion 33. An external surface of the second handle member 31 is paint coated for appearance.
An electrode 34 for unlocking of the capacitive sensor 21 for unlocking and the transmitting antenna 6 are housed in the housing portion 33 as electronic components. The transmitting antenna 6 is formed by winding a coil around a resin made case which houses, for example, a ferrite plate or amorphous, or the like. The housing portion 33 of the first handle member 30 is formed with a holding portion 35 which holds the electrode 34 for unlocking and the transmitting antenna 6. That is, the first handle member 30 is formed by insert molding by inserting the electrode 34 for unlocking onto a bottom wall 36 of the housing portion 33 which faces the outer panel 4. A bottom wall portion which is formed by insert molding by inserting the electrode 34 for unlocking onto the handle member 30 serves as an example of the holding portion 35 which holds the electrode 34 for unlocking in the housing portion 33. As shown in
As foregoing, the housing portion 33 houses the electrode 34 for unlocking of the capacitive sensor 21 for unlocking, which detects a change of the capacitance between the outer panel 4 and the electrode 34 for unlocking, and the electrode 34 for unlocking is supported by the bottom wall 36 by insert molding. An unlock signal circuit portion of the lock/unlock signal circuit 15 detects a change of the capacitance between the electrode 34 for unlocking and the outer panel 4 to output a door-unlocking signal.
As shown in
Terminals (i.e., a second terminal) 41 of the electrode 34 for unlocking, terminals (i.e., a fourth terminal) 42 of the electrode 40 for locking, and terminals (i.e., a third terminal) 43 of the connector 39 are projected outwardly from a bottom wall of the board housing portion 38 in the vehicle width direction in the board housing portion 38. In order to hold a board 44 which is mounted with the lock/unlock signal circuit 15 connected to the electrode 34 for unlocking and the electrode 40 for locking in a state where the board 44 is connected to the terminals of the electrode 34 for unlocking, the electrode 40 for locking, and the connector 39, as shown in
The board 44 which is supported by the board holding portion 47 and housed in the board housing portion 38 are connected to terminals 41, 42, 43 of the electrode 34 for unlocking, the electrode 40 for locking, and the connector 39 respectively to be soldered. After housing the board 44, the board housing portion 38 is covered with the second handle member 31 in a state where the both lateral walls of the board housing portion 38 are in contact with internal walls of the both lateral walls of the second handle member 31. The first handle member 30 and the second handle member 31 are assembled via screws 32. The connector 39 is coupled to a connector 52 of a wire harness 53 connected to the transmitting portion 7.
As shown in
Although terminals (i.e., a first terminal) 45 of the transmitting antenna 6 are connected to the board 44 and thus are connected to the transmitting portion 7 via a pattern formed on the board 44 and the connector 39 according to the first embodiment of the present invention, instead, a power supply circuit and the transmitting portion 7 may be mounted on the board 44, for example, a driver may be mounted on the board 44.
According to the first embodiment of the present invention, when a conductor such as a user's hand comes close to or comes in contact with a portion of the capacitive sensor 22 for locking the door handle 1, the lock/unlock signal circuit 15 detects a change of the capacitance between the electrode 40 for locking and the outer panel 4 to output a lock signal. Instead of the foregoing construction, a push button switch having a point of tangency opened and closed by an operation of a push button may be provided at the door handle 1 so that the push button can be pushed from the outside and the lock signal is inputted into the door lock ECU 8 when the point of tangency is closed. In those circumstances, the push button switch is connected to an input and output circuit of the door lock ECU 8 and only an unlock signal circuit is mounted on the board 44. The capacitive sensor 22 for locking and the lock signal circuit or the push button switch serve as a lock signal transmitting means 48 for transmitting door lock signals.
As explained above, the connector 39 is provided at an end portion of the first handle member 30 at a rotation center side of the door handle 1 which is made of resin and formed with the housing portion 33 so as to protrude inwardly in the vehicle width direction relative to the outer panel 4 of the door 3 of the vehicle 2. Also, the board 44 on which the lock/unlock signal circuit (i.e., control circuit) 15 connected to the electronic components 6, 21, 22 is mounted is housed in the housing portion 33 while being connected to the connector 39 and the electronic components 6, 21, 22 via the terminals. Accordingly, because it is not necessary to use wire harnesses to connect terminals of the electronic components 6, 21, 22, the connector 39 and the board 44, assembling of the door handle 1 per se and assembling of the door handle 1 to the door 3 is readily conducted.
Although the board housing portion 38 is formed at the first handle member 30 between the rotating portion 26 of the door handle 1 and the grip portion 25 according to the first embodiment of the present invention, the board housing portion 38 may be formed at any portion of the first handle member 30.
According to the first embodiment of the present invention, because the housing portion 33 which faces the outer panel 4 of the door 3 of the vehicle 2 is formed on the first handle member 30, the electrode 34 for unlocking and the transmitting antenna 6 are housed in the housing portion 33 to be supported by the support portion 35 as a sub-assembly, the number of parts when assembling the second handle member 31 to the first handle member 30 by means of the screws 32 to cover the housing portion 33 is reduced, which facilitates the assembling process and reduces manufacturing cost. Further, the electrode 34 for unlocking and the transmitting antenna 6 are held at the first handle member 30 as an assembly without providing facilities for integrally forming the electrode 34 for unlocking and the transmitting antenna 6 with resin mold at lower manufacturing cost. Still further, because only a part of the bottom wall 36 of the housing portion 33 of the first handle member 30 is intervening between the electrode 34 for unlocking and the outer panel 4 of the door 3 of the vehicle 2, when a conductor such as a hand is inserted between the door handle 1 and the outer panel 4, the capacitance between the electrode 34 for unlocking and the outer panel 4 changes adequately so that that the conductor such as the user's hand comes close to or comes in contact with the door handle 1 can be securely detected without an erroneous operation.
Further, because the board 44 which is mounted with the unlock signal circuit and the lock signal circuit is housed in the board housing portion 38 formed at the first handle member 30 and is supported by the board support portion therein, while the board 44 is connected to the terminals of the electrode 34 for unlocking, the terminals of the electrode 40 for locking and the terminals of the transmitting antenna 6, not only to readily assemble the board 44 to the first handle member 30 in a state where the board 44 is connected to the electrode 34 for unlocking, the electrode 40 for locking, and the transmitting antenna 6 via the terminals, but also the board 44 can be supported by the first handle member 30 with low manufacturing cost along with the electrode 34 for unlocking, the electrode 40 for locking, and the transmitting antenna 6 as a sub-assembly. In case the push button switch is applied instead of the capacitive sensor 22 for locking, the board 44 which is mounted with the unlock signal circuit is housed in the board housing portion 38 while the board 44 is being connected to the terminals of the electrode 34 for unlocking and the transmitting antenna 6.
The board 44 which is at least mounted with the unlock signal circuit is connected to the terminals 43 of the connector 39 which is integrally provided at the first handle member 30, the board 44 can be readily assembled to the first handle member 30.
As shown in the first embodiment of the present invention, with the construction where the lock signal transmitting means 48, for outputting the door lock signal to the door handle 1, is provided along with the unlock capacitive sensor 21 for outputting the door unlock signal to the door handle 1, the vehicle door can be securely locked or unlocked by individually confirming each locking and unlocking intention.
Further, in case the resin made first handle member 30 is formed by insert molding by inserting the electrode 34 for unlocking into the first handle member 30 in order to hold the electrode 34 for unlocking at the housing portion 33, because a layer of the resin intervening between the electrode 34 for unlocking and the outer panel 4 of the door 3 of the vehicle 2 can be formed evenly in a predetermined thickness, variations in the sensitivity of the capacitive sensor 21 for unlocking can be reduced.
A second embodiment of a door handle device for a vehicle will be explained with reference to
Accordingly, because the wire harness 153 which includes the connector 152 coupled to the connector 139 provided at the first handle member 130 is supported by the support portion 157 provided at the first and second handle members 130, 131, upon the rotation of the door handle 101, the connector 139 and the connector 152 rotate together, which prevents the separation of the connector 139 and the connector 152 due to unreasonable force.
According to the second embodiment of the present invention, the first handle member 130 is formed by insert molding by penetrating terminals 143 of the connector 139 through a bottom wall of a board housing portion 138 in a vehicle width direction. Instead of the foregoing construction, a resin made terminal holding body through which the terminals 143 of the connector 139 penetrate may be formed separately, and by securing the separate terminal holding body to the bottom wall of the board housing portion 138 so that the terminal holding body closes an opening formed on the bottom wall of the board housing portion 138, the terminals 143 of the connector 139 may be formed penetrating through the bottom wall of the board housing portion 138 in the vehicle width direction.
As shown in an example illustrated in
As shown in an example illustrated in
A third embodiment of the present invention will be explained with reference to
When the both side walls of the board housing portion 438 in which the electrode 440 for locking of the capacitive sensor 422 for locking is inserted by insert molding are covered with the second handle member 431 which is plated with the metal on an external surface thereof in a state where the side walls of the board housing portion 438 are in contact with inside of the side walls of the second handle member 431, the capacitance between the electrode 440 for locking and the outer panel 404 does not change even when a user's hand comes close to or comes in contact with a portion of the door handle 401 provided with the capacitive sensor 433 for locking.
In light of the foregoing, according to the third embodiment of the present invention, as shown in
In light of the foregoing, according to the third embodiment of the present invention, as shown in
According to the embodiment of the present invention, on the resin made first handle member which is formed with the housing portion, the first connector is provided at the end portion of the door handle at the rotating center side so as to protrude in the vehicle width direction through the outer panel of the door and towards inside of the door. The board mounted with the control circuit which is connected to the electronic components is housed in the housing portion in a state where the board is connected to the terminal of the electronic components and the terminal of the first connector. Accordingly, because it is not necessary to connect respective terminal of the electronic components, the board and the connector via wire harnesses, assembling of the door handle per se and the assembling of the door handle to the door can be readily achieved.
According to the embodiment of the present invention, because the wire harness which includes the second connector coupled to the first connector provided at the first handle member is supported by the support portion which is provided at either one of the first and second handle members, the first and second connectors are rotated together when the door handle is rotated, which prevents the first and second connectors from being detached from each other due to unreasonable unbalanced force.
According to the embodiment of the present invention, because the pad which intervenes between the outer panel of the door and the door handle extends to cover the first connector provided at the first handle member and the second connector connected to the first connector and the connecting portion thereof, the water leaking in the door is prevented from leaking in the connector through the connecting portion.
According to the embodiment of the present invention, because the pad covers top and bottom of the first connector and the second connector connected to the first connector and the connecting portion thereof, the water leaking in the door is prevented from leaking in the connector through the connecting portion by a simple construction.
According to the embodiment of the present invention, because the housing portion which faces the outer panel of the door of the vehicle is formed at the first handle member and the electrode for unlocking and the antenna are housed in the housing portion to be held by the holding portion as the sub assembly, the number of parts when the second handle member is assembled to the first handle member while covering the housing portion is reduced, the assembling is readily performed, and the manufacturing cost is reduced. Further, without providing additional facilities for integrally forming the electrode for unlocking and the antenna by molding resin, the electrode for unlocking and the antenna can be held at the housing portion of the first handle member as the sub assembly at low manufacturing cost. Further, because only the bottom wall of the housing portion of the first handle member is intervened between the electrode for unlocking and the outer panel of the vehicle door, when a conductor such as a user's hand is inserted between the door handle and the outer panel, the capacitance between the electrode for unlocking and the outer panel changes adequately to securely detect that the conductor such as the user's hand comes close to or comes in contact with the door handle without errors.
According to the embodiment of the present invention, because the board is connected to the terminal of the antenna and the electrode for unlocking when the board mounted with the unlock signal circuit is housed in the board housing portion formed at the first handle member and held by the board holding portion, the board can be readily assembled to the first handle member while connected to the terminal of the antenna and the electrode for unlocking. In addition, along with the electrode for unlocking and the antenna, the board can be supported by the first handle member as the sub assembly at lower manufacturing cost.
According to the embodiment of the present invention, the board mounted with the unlock signal circuit is connected to the terminal of the first connector which is integrally provided at the first handle member, the board can be readily assembled to the first handle member.
According to the embodiment of the present invention, because the lock signal transmitting means for outputting the door lock signal is provided at the door handle, the vehicle door can be securely locked and unlocked by confirming individual locking and unlocking intention.
According to the embodiment of the present invention, the electrode for locking is provided at the first handle member and the board mounted with the unlock signal circuit and the lock signal circuit is connected to the terminal of the electrode for locking to be held by the board housing portion. Accordingly, the board can be readily assembled to the first handle member while being connected to the terminal of the electrode for locking, and along with the electrode for unlocking, the antenna and the board the electrode for locking is supported by the first handle member as the sub assembly with low cost.
According to the embodiment of the present invention, the electrode for locking is provided at the first handle member and the board mounted with the unlock signal circuit and the lock signal circuit is connected to the terminal of the electrode for locking to be held by the board housing portion. Accordingly, the board can be readily assembled to the first handle member while being connected to the terminal of the electrode for locking, and along with the electrode for unlocking, the antenna and the board the electrode for locking is supported by the first handle member as the sub assembly with low cost.
According to the embodiment of the present invention, the resin made first handle member is formed by insert molding by inserting the electrode for unlocking thereto. Accordingly, because the resin layer intervened between the electrode for unlocking and the outer panel of the vehicle door can be formed thin and evenly in a predetermined thickness, the variations in the sensitivity of the capacitance sensor for unlocking can be reduced to enhance the level of sensitivity.
The principles, preferred embodiment and mode of operation of the present invention have been described in the foregoing specification. However, the invention which is intended to be protected is not to be construed as limited to the particular embodiments disclosed. Further, the embodiments described herein are to be regarded as illustrative rather than restrictive. Variations and changes may be made by others, and equivalents employed, without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Accordingly, it is expressly intended that all such variations, changes and equivalents which fall within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined in the claims, be embraced thereby.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
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| Number | Date | Country | |
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| 20070216175 A1 | Sep 2007 | US |
