Patent ID: 7402917

Claim:
A system for detecting the presence of a user external a motor vehicle opening panel comprising, a handle carried by the opening panel; a user presence sensor comprising a monitoring module, at least one measurement electrode and at least one reference electrode; said electrodes each being connected to the monitoring module and positioned at least in part at the level of the handle, electromagnetic coupling being established between said electrodes so as to define at least one user presence detection zone creating at least one zone of nondetection of presence of the user, the detection of the presence of the user at the level of said zone allowing the control of at least one given function at the level of the vehicle, wherein the system also comprises means for creating at least one zone of nondetection of presence of the user by local modification of the presence detection zone; wherein the means for creating said zone of nondetection of presence comprise means of masking of the measurement electrode at the level of the desired nondetection zone and wherein the means of masking are formed by a metallic element connected to a reference potential.