An opening switch for a vehicle having a decorative cover assembly, a sensor housing region, and a microelectromechanical (MEMS) sensor mounted in the sensor housing region. The decorative cover assembly has an inner surface, an outer surface, an anchor portion, and a deflection portion. When contact from a vehicle user occurs at the deflection portion in the decorative cover assembly, a microdeflection occurs. The microdeflection has a microdeflection apex, and the microdeflection apex is spaced from other surfaces in the sensor housing region when the contact from the user occurs at the deflection portion in the decorative cover assembly. The MEMS sensor is configured to generate an output signal that is indicative of a force of the contact from the user. The force integrated switch can include haptic feedback and/or backlighting.

A vehicular exterior component, such as a handle assembly for a closure of a vehicle, includes a force-based sensor disposed behind an outer wall and responsive to forces applied thereto. The vehicular exterior component may include a force-sensitive printed circuit board (PCB) configured to detect touch forces at either of an inner surface or an outer surface of the outer wall of the vehicular exterior component and to distinguish between those different touch forces in order to provide corresponding unlock or lock signals. A short-range RADAR antenna may be disposed within the vehicular exterior component and adjacent to the outer wall. A passive keyless entry (PKE) antenna may also disposed within the vehicular exterior component and adjacent to the outer wall.

A vehicular door structure includes a door handle provided in a door panel that configures a part of a vehicular door, a latch mechanism provided in the vehicular door and configured to be engaged with a striker provided on a vehicle body, an unlatch portion provided in the door handle and configured to be at least partially exposed to an outside and swing with respect to the door handle, an electric unlatch operation mechanism having an actuator that is configured to disengage the latch mechanism from the striker as the unlatch portion is made to swing, and a lock sensor portion provided in a part of the unlatch portion, the part being exposed to the outside, the lock sensor portion being configured to detect a change in an electrostatic capacity.

A vehicular door structure includes a door handle provided in a door panel that configures a part of a vehicular door, a latch mechanism provided in the vehicular door and configured to be engaged with a striker provided on a vehicle body, an unlatch portion provided in the door handle and configured to be at least partially exposed to an outside and swing with respect to the door handle, an electric unlatch operation mechanism having an actuator that is configured to disengage the latch mechanism from the striker as the unlatch portion is made to swing, and a lock sensor portion provided in a part of the unlatch portion, the part being exposed to the outside, the lock sensor portion being configured to detect a change in an electrostatic capacity.

The present invention relates to an electric door handle (10) for a vehicle door, comprising a main body (20) for arrangement in the vehicle door, wherein a hand grip (30) is mounted on the main body (20) so as to be movable within a range of movement (BB) between a mechanically defined first end position (EP1) and a mechanically defined second end position (EP2) by means of a handle bearing (32), further comprising an electric drive (40) for a movement of the hand grip (30) between the two end positions (EP1, EP2) and at least one sensor means (50) for determining the position of the hand grip (30) between the two end positions (EP1, EP2), wherein the electric drive (40) comprises a transmission device (42) for load-free positioning of the hand grip (30) in a gripping position (GP) of the hand grip (30) at a distance from the end positions (EP1, EP2) and for load-free positioning of the hand grip (30) in a travel position (FP) at a distance from the end positions (EP1, EP2) and from the gripping position (GP).

An opening detection device for an opening element such as a door or window including a module that is applied to an inner side of the opening element, wherein the module includes means for detecting movement of the opening element, first presence detection means forming a conical beam defining what is termed a trust perimeter encompassing an operating distance over which an operator operates the mechanism for opening the opening element on the first side of the opening element, second presence detection means for detecting a presence on what is termed a mistrust perimeter circumscribed around the opening element and means for processing data from the detection means, for memory storage and for computation that are connected to the detection means.

An opening detection device for an opening element such as a door or window including a module that is applied to an inner side of the opening element, wherein the module includes means for detecting movement of the opening element, first presence detection means forming a conical beam defining what is termed a trust perimeter encompassing an operating distance over which an operator operates the mechanism for opening the opening element on the first side of the opening element, second presence detection means for detecting a presence on what is termed a mistrust perimeter circumscribed around the opening element and means for processing data from the detection means, for memory storage and for computation that are connected to the detection means.

The present application improves operability. In the door opening/closing detection apparatus, the handle is axially supported rotatably on the base with the axis direction in vertical direction. When the handle's gripping portion is rotated from the neutral position to the push operation position rotated toward the outside of the vehicle, the first switch is activated by the handle's switch operation portion. Meanwhile, when the handle's gripping portion is rotated from the neutral position to the pull operation position rotated toward the interior of the vehicle, the handle's cam surface activates the second switch. This allows detection of operations on the handle while keeping the direction of push and pull operations on the gripping portion of the handle in line with the opening/closing direction of the door D. This allows the passenger to intuitively recognize the operation to the handle when opening and closing the door D, leading to improved operability.

The present application improves operability. In the door opening/closing detection apparatus, the handle is axially supported rotatably on the base with the axis direction in vertical direction. When the handle's gripping portion is rotated from the neutral position to the push operation position rotated toward the outside of the vehicle, the first switch is activated by the handle's switch operation portion. Meanwhile, when the handle's gripping portion is rotated from the neutral position to the pull operation position rotated toward the interior of the vehicle, the handle's cam surface activates the second switch. This allows detection of operations on the handle while keeping the direction of push and pull operations on the gripping portion of the handle in line with the opening/closing direction of the door D. This allows the passenger to intuitively recognize the operation to the handle when opening and closing the door D, leading to improved operability.

A door opener for a vehicle includes a housing; an operation lever attached to the housing such as to be rotatable around a rotation shaft between an initial position and a terminal position; a first switch configured to generate a control signal; a connector connected to a second switch that mechanically opens a door of a vehicle; a tactile sensation generating mechanism; and an elastic body that returns the operation lever. The first and second switch are turned off when a rotation angle of the operation lever is in a first angle range. When the rotation angle is in a second angle range, the first switch is turned on, a tactile sensation is generated by the tactile sensation generating mechanism, and the second switch remains turned off. When the rotation angle is in a third angle range, the second switch is turned on.