Operation input device and door handle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2020207189-A1
Application number	US-202016818101-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 13, 2020
Priority date	Sep 29, 2017
Publication date	Jul 2, 2020
Grant date	—

Abstract

An operation input device includes a resistance element to generate a capacitance between an operating medium and the resistance element in response to an approach of the operating medium to the resistance element, and a power source to supply electric charge to one end and the other end of the resistance element. A first electric unit measures a first electric charge transfer amount supplied to the one end of the resistance element in response to generation of the capacitance. A second unit measures a second electric charge transfer amount supplied to the other end of the resistance element in response to generation of the capacitance. A controller is connected to the first and second units, and detects a position of the operating medium in a direction perpendicular to a surface of the resistance element based on a sum of the first and second electric charge transfer amounts.

First claim

1 . An operation input device, comprising:
a resistance element configured to generate a capacitance between an operating medium and the resistance element in response to an approach of the operating medium to the resistance element; a power source configured to supply electric charge to one end and the other end of the resistance element; a first electric charge amount measuring unit configured to measure a first electric charge transfer amount supplied to the one end of the resistance element in response to generation of the capacitance; a second electric charge amount measuring unit configured to measure a second electric charge transfer amount supplied to the other end of the resistance element in response to the generation of the capacitance; and a controller connected to the first electric charge amount measuring unit and the second electric charge amount measuring unit and configured to detect a first position of the operating medium in a direction perpendicular to a surface of the resistance element based on a sum of the first and second electric charge transfer amounts.

2 . The operation input device as claimed in claim 1 , the controller is configured to detect a second position of the operating medium in a direction parallel to the surface of the resistance element based on a first value of the first electric charge transfer amount with respect to the sum of the first and second electric charge transfer amounts or on a second value of the second electric charge transfer amount with respect to the sum of the first and second electric charge transfer amounts.

3 . The operation input device as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the controller is configured to calculate the first position of the operating medium in the direction perpendicular to the surface of the resistance element by performing correction based on the second position of the operating medium in the direction parallel to the surface of the resistance element for the first value of the first electric charge transfer amount with respect to the sum of the first and second electric charge transfer amounts or the second value of the second electric charge transfer amount with respect to the sum of the first and second electric charge transfer amounts.

4 . The operation input device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to detect the second position of the operating medium in the direction parallel to the surface of the resistance element by correcting a value of the second electric charge transfer amount with respect to the sum of the first and second electric charge transfer amounts based on a ratio between a first distance from the one end of the resistance element to the operating medium and a second distance from the other end of the resistance element to the operating medium.

5 . The operation input device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the power source is configured to apply alternating-current voltages having approximately a same amplitude of voltage and a same phase, to the one end and the other end of the resistance element.

6 . The operation input device as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising:
a shield electrode provided between the resistance element and the controller.

7 . A door handle, comprising:
a door handle member; and an operation input device as claimed in claim 1 .

Assignees

• Alps Alpine Co Ltd

Inventors

• Fujiyoshi Tatsumi
• Shigetaka Hiroshi
• Takai Daisuke

Classifications

• H03K17/9645

  Resistive touch switches · CPC title

• H03K2217/96078

  Sensor being a wire or a strip, e.g. used in automobile door handles or bumpers · CPC title

• H03K17/955

  using a capacitive detector · CPC title

• H03K17/962

  Capacitive touch switches · CPC title

• H03K2217/960725

  Charge-transfer · CPC title