FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to door handle assemblies for motor vehicles, and more specifically to door handle assemblies including sensor-based control features.

BACKGROUND

Door handle assemblies for motor vehicles which include keyless entry features are generally known. It is desirable to provide improved door handle assemblies with one or more sensor-based control features.

SUMMARY

The present invention may comprise one or more of the features recited in the attached claims, and/or one or more of the following features and combinations thereof. A door handle assembly is provided for a motor vehicle door having a latch controllable between a latched condition in which the door is prevented from opening and an unlatched condition in which the door is not prevented from opening. In one aspect, the door handle assembly may comprise a handle base configured to be secured to a door of the motor vehicle and configured to operatively couple to the latch for controlling the latch, the handle base having a first surface spaced apart from and generally facing the door and a second surface opposite the first surface thereof, a grip cover having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface thereof, the grip cover coupled to the handle base with the first surface of the grip cover facing the second surface of the handle base such that the first surface of the handle base and the second surface of the grip cover cooperatively define a door handle grip, a first sensor configured to produce a first sensor signal, the first sensor positioned relative to the handle base to define a first detection surface of the handle base along at least a portion of the first surface thereof, the first sensor producing a detectable change in the first sensor signal upon detection of one of an object within a detection proximity of the first detection surface and deflection of the portion of the handle base defining the first detection surface to within a detection proximity of a sensing surface of the first sensor, the detectable change in the first sensor signal enabling the latch to unlock or unlatch, and a second sensor configured to produce a second sensor signal, the second sensor positioned relative to the grip cover to define a second detection surface of the grip cover along at least a portion of the second surface thereof, the second sensor producing a detectable change in the second sensor signal upon detection of one of an object within a detection proximity of the second detection surface and deflection of the portion of the grip cover defining the second detection surface to within a detection proximity of a sensing surface of the second sensor, the detectable change in the second sensor signal enabling the latch to lock or latch.

In another aspect, the door handle assembly may comprise a handle base configured to be secured to the motor vehicle door and configured to operatively couple to the latch for controlling the latch, the handle base having an outer surface spaced apart from and generally facing the door and an inner surface opposite the outer surface thereof, a grip cover having an inner surface and an outer surface opposite the inner surface thereof, the grip cover and the handle base coupled together to define a closed inner space between the inner surface of the grip cover and the inner surface of the handle base, a circuit board disposed in the closed inner space and having sensor signal conditioning circuitry mounted thereto, and an inductive proximity sensor electrically connected to the sensor signal conditioning circuitry and configured to produce an inductive proximity sensor signal, the inductive proximity sensor mounted to the grip cover with a sensing surface of the inductive proximity sensor spaced apart from a portion of the inner surface of the grip cover opposite a portion of the outer surface of the grip cover defining a detection surface thereon, the portion of the inner surface of the grip cover having an electrically conductive layer disposed thereon, the inductive proximity sensor producing a detectable change in the inductive proximity sensor signal upon detection of a deflection of the portion of the grip cover defining the detection surface sufficient to move the electrically conductive layer within a detection proximity of the sensing surface of the inductive proximity sensor, the detectable change in the inductive proximity sensor signal enabling the latch to lock, unlock, latch or unlatch.

In yet another aspect, the door handle assembly may comprise a handle base configured to be secured to the motor vehicle door and configured to operatively couple to the latch for controlling the latch, the handle base having an outer surface spaced apart from and generally facing the door and an inner surface opposite the outer surface thereof, a grip cover having an inner surface and an outer surface opposite the inner surface thereof, the grip cover and the handle base coupled together to define a closed inner space between the inner surface of the grip cover and the inner surface of the handle base, a circuit board disposed in the closed inner space and having sensor signal conditioning circuitry mounted thereto, and an inductive proximity sensor electrically connected to the sensor signal conditioning circuitry and configured to produce an inductive proximity sensor signal, the inductive proximity sensor affixed to the grip cover opposite a portion of the outer surface of the grip cover defining a detection surface thereon, and an electrically conductive layer disposed carried by the grip cover and spaced apart from the inductive proximity sensor, the inductive proximity sensor producing a detectable change in the inductive proximity sensor signal upon detection of a deflection of the portion of the grip cover defining the detection surface sufficient to move the inductive proximity sensor within a detection proximity of the electrically conductive layer, the detectable change in the inductive proximity sensor signal enabling the latch to lock, unlock, latch or unlatch.

