Patent ID: 7984937

Claim:
A door handle apparatus for a vehicle, comprising: a door handle mounted on an outer surface of an outer panel of a door of the vehicle, the door handle including: an outer side handle portion and an inner side handle portion, the inner side handle portion having a grip portion, a space being formed between the outer surface of the outer panel and the grip portion; 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; an unlock electrode unit accommodated in a first encasement located between the outer and inner side handle portions, the unlock electrode unit including a first electrode, wherein the unlock electrode unit detects a first electric capacity between the first electrode and the outer panel when a user inserts his hand into the space between the grip portion and the outer surface of the outer panel, the first electric capacity being transmitted to a microprocessor on the door opening and closing mechanism to unlock the door; and a lock electrode unit accommodated in a second encasement located between the rotating portion and an end of the grip portion closest to the rotating portion considered with reference to a longitudinal direction of the vehicle, the lock electrode unit including a second electrode, wherein the lock electrode unit detects a second different electric capacity between the second electrode and the outer panel when the user places his hand close to or in contact with one or both sides of the second encasement, the second electric capacity being transmitted to the microprocessor on the door opening and closing mechanism to lock the door.