Proximity sensor

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11155206-B2
Application number	US-201816175070-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 30, 2018
Priority date	Nov 20, 2017
Publication date	Oct 26, 2021
Grant date	Oct 26, 2021

Abstract

A proximity sensor installed inside a vehicle can include: an outer frame formed of a first non-conductive substance and including a first metal layer; an inner frame formed of a second non-conductive substance, including a second metal layer, and disposed in an interior of the outer frame; a sensor electrode contacting the second metal layer; and a sensor Integrated Circuit (IC) connected to the sensor electrode and configured to detect an approach or a contact of a user's hand. The first metal layer can be connected to the ground (GND) so as to confine a sensing field of the sensor electrode to the interior of the outer frame.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A proximity sensor installed inside a vehicle, the proximity sensor comprising:
an outer frame formed of a first non-conductive substance;
an inner frame formed of a second non-conductive substance and disposed in an interior of the outer frame, the inner frame comprising a first inner frame, a second inner frame, and a third inner frame, which are separated from one another;
a first metal layer covering the outer frame, the second inner frame, and the third inner frame;
a second metal layer covering the first inner frame;
a sensor electrode contacting the second metal layer; and
a sensor Integrated Circuit (IC) connected to the sensor electrode and configured to detect an approach or a contact of a user's hand,
wherein the first metal layer is connected to a ground (GND) so as to confine a sensing field of the sensor electrode to the interior of the outer frame.

2. The proximity sensor of claim 1 , further comprising: a printed circuit board (PCB) having the sensor IC mounted thereon and including a ground layer forming the ground (GND).

3. The proximity sensor of claim 1 , further comprising: a connector connecting the first metal layer to the ground (GND).

4. The proximity sensor of claim 3 , wherein the outer frame comprises a metal complex, and the connector is formed by metalizing an electrode recess formed by irradiating laser to the outer frame.

5. The proximity sensor of claim 3 , wherein the connector comprises at least one of a wire, a flexible PCB, and a conductive tool.

6. The proximity sensor of claim 1 , wherein the outer frame includes a closed loop forming a range of a sensing field of the sensor electrode.

7. The proximity sensor of claim 6 , wherein the inner frame is formed to divide the closed loop of the outer frame into at least two portions.

8. The proximity sensor of claim 1 , further comprising: non-conductive ribs disposed between the first and second inner frames and between the first and third inner frames.

9. The proximity sensor of claim 1 , wherein the inner frame comprises a metal complex, and the sensor electrode is formed by metalizing an electrode recess formed by irradiating laser to the inner frame.

Assignees

• Hyundai Motor Co Ltd
• Kia Motors Corp

Inventors

• Kwon Gideok
• Oh seok jun
• Kim Moo Yong
• Seok Donghee
• Lee Jong Bok
• Ro Heejin

Classifications

• H03K17/962

  Capacitive touch switches · CPC title

• G06F3/0416 Primary

  Control or interface arrangements specially adapted for digitisers · CPC title

• H03K2217/960755

  Constructional details of capacitive touch and proximity switches · CPC title

• G06F3/044

  by capacitive means · CPC title

• B60Y2400/308

  Electric sensors · CPC title