Patent ID: 8403384
Filing Date: 2013-03-26
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 grip arranged between the first and second ends and defining a gap with an outer surface of the outer panel, 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; a circuit substrate arranged in the door handle and including a ground electrode; a lock detection electrode mounted on the circuit substrate and capacitance-coupled to the outer panel; a capacitance sensor connected to the lock detection electrode, which detects issuance of a door lock command based on a change in a first capacitance between the outer panel and the lock detection electrode; an auxiliary electrode capacitance-coupled to the ground electrode to form a second capacitance connected in parallel to the first capacitance between the auxiliary electrode and the ground electrode; wherein the lock detection electrode and the auxiliary electrode are integrally formed; wherein the handle includes a case having an upper wall and a lower wall, which face toward each other; the lock detection electrode includes two electrodes arranged in symmetry with respect to a center line extending from the first end to the second end along the middle of the space between the upper wall and the lower wall; and the auxiliary electrode electrically and mechanically connects the two electrodes.