Patent ID: 8382170
Filing Date: 2013-02-26
Classification: B60R,E05B,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A door handle device arranged in a door of a vehicle and capable of operating a door opening/closing mechanism of the vehicle, the door handle device comprising: a support member arranged at an inner side of an outer panel of the door; a door handle arranged on an outer side of the outer panel and including a first end, a second end, a pivot portion extending through the outer panel from the first end and pivotally supported by the support member, and an operation portion extending through the outer panel from the second end so as to be capable of operating the opening/closing mechanism, wherein the door handle includes a first handle case, which has a grip arranged to define a gap with an outer surface of the outer panel, and a second handle case, which covers the first handle case so as to form an outer portion of the door handle, with the second handle case including an upper wall and a lower wall, which face toward each other; a lock detection electrode arranged on the door handle and capacitance-coupled to the outer panel; a first capacitance sensor connected to the lock detection electrode, which detects issuance of a door lock command based on a change in a capacitance between the outer panel and the lock detection electrode; an unlock detection electrode arranged in the grip so as to be capacitance-coupled to the outer panel; and a second capacitance sensor connected to the unlock detection electrode, which detects issuance of an unlock command based on a change in a capacitance between the outer panel and the unlock detection electrode; wherein the lock detection electrode is arranged proximal to and facing toward an inner surface of at least one of the upper wall and lower wall, the lock detection electrode includes an electrode end face facing toward the outer panel, the electrode end face is formed to have at least one cutout portion for preventing a connection between the electrode end face and the outer panel through water droplets, which move into and between the electrode end face and the outer panel, and the lock detection electrode is arranged between the grip and the first end.