detection mechanism

Abstract

The present application provides a detection mechanism. The elongation performance of the detection unit is improved. In a sensor (22) of a steering wheel (10), a sensor electrode (24) and an insulator (34) are combined by a hot melt adhesive material (36). Here, the sensor electrode (24) is in contact with the insulator (34) at a first protrusion (28), and a through hole (36A) is formed in the hot melt adhesive material (36). Therefore, the hot melt adhesive material (36) can be easily elongated through the through hole (36A), thereby improving the elongation of the sensor (22).

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present application relates to a detection mechanism that detects contact of a person with a contact body. BACKGROUND

[0002] The electrostatic capacitance sensor described in Patent Document 1 is provided to a rim of a steering wheel of a vehicle, a sensor electrode is bonded to a surface side of a foamed sheet, and a ground electrode is sewn to a back side of the foamed sheet.

[0003] Here, in the electrostatic capacitance sensor, the sensor electrode is bonded to the foamed sheet by an adhesive.

[0004] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2021-18692 SUMMARY

[0005] In view of the above, an object of the present application is to obtain a detection mechanism capable of improving elongation performance of a detection portion.

[0006] The detection mechanism of the first aspect of the present application includes: a detection portion provided to a contact body, which detects contact of a person with the contact body; a conductive body provided to the detection portion; an insulating body provided to the detection portion; a bonding material provided between the conductive body and the insulating body in the detection portion, which bonds the conductive body and the insulating body by curing; and a protrusion provided to at least one of the conductive body and the insulating body, which forms a through-hole in the bonding material by the conductive body and the insulating body being in contact at a position where the protrusion is provided.

[0007] In the detection mechanism of the second aspect of the present application, which is based on the detection mechanism of the first aspect of the present application, the protrusion provided to the conductive body is in contact with the protrusion provided to the insulating body.

[0008] The detection mechanism of the third aspect of the present application includes: a detection portion provided to a contact body, which detects contact of a person with the contact body; a conductive body provided to the detection portion, which is in a cloth shape by weaving a first wire and a second wire; an insulating body provided to the detection portion; and a bonding material provided between the conductive body and the insulating body in the detection portion, which bonds the conductive body and the insulating body by curing, and the bonding material is not provided to a contact portion of the first wire and the second wire.

[0009] In the detection mechanism of the fourth aspect of the present application, which is based on any one of the detection mechanisms of the first to third aspects of the present application, the conductive body is provided to only one side of the insulating body in the detection portion.

[0010] In the detection mechanism of the first aspect of the present application, the detection portion of the contact body detects contact of a person with the contact body. In addition, a binding material is provided between the conductive body and the insulator of the detection portion, and the conductive body and the insulator are bound by curing of the binding material.

[0011] Here, a protrusion is provided in at least one of the conductive body and the insulator, and the conductive body and the insulator are in contact at the position where the protrusion is provided, whereby a through-hole is formed in the binding material. Therefore, the binding material is easily elongated through the through-hole, whereby the elongation performance of the detection portion can be improved.

[0012] In the detection mechanism of the second aspect of the present application, the protrusion of the conductive body is in contact with the protrusion of the insulator. Therefore, a through-hole can be appropriately formed in the binding material.

[0013] In the detection mechanism of the third aspect of the present application, the detection portion of the contact body detects contact of a person with the contact body. In addition, a binding material is provided between the conductive body and the insulator of the detection portion, and the conductive body and the insulator are bound by curing of the binding material. In addition, the conductive body is in a cloth shape by weaving the first wire and the second wire.

[0014] Here, the binding material is not provided at the contact portion of the first wire and the second wire of the conductive body. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the case where the binding material restricts the relative inclination in the contact portion of the first wire and the second wire, thereby restricting the elongation of the conductive body, and thus it is possible to improve the elongation performance of the detection portion.

[0015] In the detection mechanism of the fourth aspect of the present application, the conductive body is provided only on one side of the insulator in the detection portion. Therefore, unlike the case where the conductive body is provided on both sides of the insulator in the detection portion, it is possible to improve the elongation performance of the detection portion. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0016] Figure 1 is a front view of a steering wheel according to the first embodiment of the present application, as viewed from the front side.

[0017] Figure 2 (A) of FIG. 1, and Figure 2 (B) of FIG. 1 are views that show a main portion of the steering wheel according to the first embodiment of the present application, Figure 2 (A) of FIG. 1 is a front view as viewed from the front side, Figure 2 (B) of FIG. 1 is a rear view as viewed from the rear side.

[0018] Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view of a main portion of the steering wheel according to the first embodiment of the present application, as viewed from the front side.

[0019] Figure 4is a plan view of a sensor of a steering wheel according to the first embodiment of the present application, as viewed from a surface side.

[0020] Figure 5 (A) of FIG. 1, and Figure 5 (B) of FIG. 1 is a view of a sensor of a steering wheel according to the first embodiment of the present application, Figure 5 (A) of FIG. 1 is an enlarged plan view, Figure 5 (B) of FIG. 1 is an enlarged sectional view Figure 5 of the 5B-5B line sectional view of (A) of FIG. 1).

[0021] Figure 6 (A) of FIG. 1, and Figure 6 (B) of FIG. 1 is an enlarged sectional view of a sensor of a steering wheel according to the second embodiment of the present application, Figure 5 (A) of FIG. 1 shows a disassembled state, Figure 5 (B) of FIG. 1 shows an assembled state.

[0022] Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0023] 10... steering wheel (contact body); 20... detection mechanism; 22... sensor (detection portion); 24... sensor electrode (conductive body); 24A... first line; 24B... second line; 28... first protrusion (protrusion); 30... counter electrode (conductive body); 34... insulator; 36... hot melt adhesive material (bonding material); 36A... through hole; 50... steering wheel (contact body); 52... second protrusion (protrusion). DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0024] [First Embodiment]

[0025] In Figure 1 , a steering wheel 10 as a contact body according to the first embodiment of the present application is shown by a front view as viewed from a front side. In addition, in the drawing, a front side of the steering wheel 10 is indicated by an arrow FR, a right side of the steering wheel 10 is indicated by an arrow RH, and an upper side of the steering wheel 10 is indicated by an arrow UP.

[0026] The steering wheel 10 according to the present embodiment is disposed on a vehicle front side of an occupant (driver, contact person) seated on a driver's seat, opposite to the driver's seat on a vehicle rear side. In addition, the front side, the right side, and the upper side of the steering wheel 10 face the rear side, the right side, and the upper side of the vehicle, respectively.

[0027] As Figure 1As shown, a hub portion 10A as a fixed portion is provided at a central portion of the steering wheel 10, and a rim portion 10B as a contact portion is provided at an outer peripheral portion of the steering wheel 10. Three spoke portions 10C as connection portions are provided between the hub portion 10A and the rim portion 10B, and the spoke portions 10C extend outward from the hub portion 10A to left and right sides and a lower side, and connect the hub portion 10A and the rim portion 10B.

[0028] A metal core 12 as a skeleton member is provided in the steering wheel 10.

[0029] A plate-shaped hub core 12A is provided at a central portion of the core 12, and constitutes the hub portion 10A. The hub core 12A is fixed to a vehicle rear side end (a vehicle upper side end) of a cylindrical steering shaft 14 as a support shaft of a vehicle, and the steering shaft 14 is disposed coaxially with the rim portion 10B. The steering wheel 10 (the core 12) is supported by the steering shaft 14 so as to be rotatable integrally therewith, and by a rider gripping the rim portion 10B and performing a circumferential rotation operation on the steering wheel 10, the steering shaft 14 is rotated about a central axis, and the vehicle is steered.

[0030] A circular ring-shaped rim core 12B is provided at an outer peripheral portion of the core 12, and constitutes the rim portion 10B. Three long strip-shaped spoke cores 12C are provided between the hub core 12A and the rim core 12B, and the spoke cores 12C extend outward from the hub core 12A to left and right sides and a lower side (a radial direction outside of the steering wheel 10), and connect the hub core 12A and the rim core 12B integrally, and constitute the spoke portions 10C.

[0031] A plate-shaped pad 16 as a covering member is provided at the hub portion 10A and the spoke portions 10C, and is attached to and covers front sides of the hub core 12A and the spoke cores 12C.

[0032] A circular ring-shaped inner member 18 (see FIG. 1) as a provided member is provided at the entire rim portion 10B in a longitudinal direction (a circumferential direction of the steering wheel 10) and a circumferential direction (a direction about the longitudinal direction), and is made of a soft resin (for example, polyurethane), and has a circular shape in a cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. The rim core 12B is housed in the inner member 18, and the inner member 18 is fixed to the rim core 12B. Figure 3 A substantially long strip-shaped rectangular plate-shaped sensor 22 (see (A) of FIG. 2 and (B) of FIG. 3) as a detection portion constituting a detection mechanism 20 is provided at left and right side portions of the rim portion 10B.

[0033] Figure 2 The sensor 22 is fixed to the rim core 12B, and detects a position of the sensor 22 in the longitudinal direction of the rim portion 10B, and outputs a detection signal corresponding to the detected position to a control unit 24. Figure 2 The control unit 24 is provided in the vehicle, and is connected to the sensor 22. The control unit 24 receives the detection signal from the sensor 22, and controls a display of a display portion 26.​Figure 3 , Figure 4 The sensor 22 is attached to the outer periphery of the inner component 18. The long side of the sensor 22 is configured to be bent along the long side of the disk rim 10B, with one side of the long side of the sensor 22 ( Figure 4 The direction of arrow L) is downward along the long side of the disk rim 10B. The sensor 22 is configured to be curved circumferentially along the disk rim 10B in the width direction, and one side of the sensor 22 in the width direction ( Figure 4 The direction of the arrow W is towards the circumferential rear side of the rim portion 10B. The central side of the sensor 22 in the width direction is arranged on the radial outer side of the steering wheel 10 of the rim portion 10B, and the two ends of the sensor 22 in the width direction are arranged on the radial inner side of the steering wheel 10 of the rim portion 10B.

[0034] A generally elongated rectangular array of sensor electrodes 24, which serve as conductors (sensor parts), is provided on the surface side portion (radially outer portion of disk edge portion 10B) of sensor 22. The long side and the width side of sensor electrode 24 face the long side and the width side of sensor 22, respectively.

[0035] Sensor electrode 24 (reference) Figure 5 (A) and Figure 5 (B) is formed into a fabric by weaving a resin-made first thread 24A (one of the longitudinal and transverse threads) and a resin-made second thread 24B (the other of the longitudinal and transverse threads), with the first thread 24A and the second thread 24B being the same twisted thread. The first thread 24A is inclined in the direction towards the width direction of the sensor electrode 24 as it is towards the long side of the sensor electrode 24, and the second thread 24B is inclined in the direction towards the width direction of the sensor electrode 24 as it is towards the other side of the long side of the sensor electrode 24. The first thread 24A and the second thread 24B are inclined at, for example, 45° relative to the long side direction and the width direction of the sensor electrode 24.

[0036] In the sensor electrode 24, after the first wire 24A and the second wire 24B are braided, a metal plating 26 is formed on the entire outer periphery of the first wire 24A and the second wire 24B. Therefore, the sensor electrode 24 becomes conductive through the metal plating 26, thereby connecting the first wire 24A and the second wire 24B at their intersection. In the sensor electrode 24, a first protrusion 28 with a generally V-shaped cross-section is formed at the intersection of the first wire 24A and the second wire 24B (see reference). Figure 5 (B) The first protrusion 28 is formed at the intersection of the first line 24A and the second line 24B by either the first line 24A or the second line 24B disposed on the back side of the sensor 22 (radially inner side of the disk edge 10B) and protrudes toward the back side of the sensor 22.

[0037] The sensor electrode 24 is not elongated in the extension direction of the first line 24A and the extension direction of the second line 24B, and is elongated in a direction different from the extension direction of the first line 24A and the extension direction of the second line 24B, so that the sensor electrode 24 is elongated in the longitudinal direction when assembled to the rim portion 10B. Therefore, the first line 24A and the second line 24B are inclined in opposite directions to each other, so that the inclination angle of the first line 24A and the second line 24B with respect to the longitudinal direction of the sensor electrode 24 is small.

[0038] A substantially long rectangular cloth-shaped cancel electrode 30 as an electric conductor (cancel portion) is provided at the back surface side portion (radially inner portion of the rim portion 10B) of the sensor 22, and the cancel electrode 30 is substantially the same structure as the sensor electrode 24. In the cancel electrode 30, a first protrusion 28 (refer to (B) of FIG. 6) is formed at the intersection portion of the first line 24A and the second line 24B, and the first protrusion 28 is formed by the first line 24A or the second line 24B disposed at the surface side (radially outer side of the rim portion 10B) of the sensor 22 at the intersection of the first line 24A and the second line 24B, and protrudes toward the surface side of the sensor 22. Figure 5

[0039] The end portion of the sensor electrode 24 on the longitudinal direction side and the width direction side, and the end portion of the cancel electrode 30 on the longitudinal direction side and the width direction side are electrically connected to a control device 32 (ECU, refer to (A) of FIG. 1) of the vehicle, respectively. Figure 4

[0040] A substantially long rectangular sheet-shaped insulator 34 as an insulating portion is provided between the sensor electrode 24 and the cancel electrode 30, and the longitudinal direction side and the width direction side of the insulator 34 face the longitudinal direction side and the width direction side of the sensor 22, respectively.

[0041] A layer-shaped hot melt adhesive material 36 as a bonding material is formed at the surface side (radially outer side of the rim portion 10B) and the back surface side (radially inner side of the rim portion 10B) of the insulator 34 (refer to (B) of FIG. 6), and the hot melt adhesive material 36 is solidified after being heated and melted. Figure 5

[0042] At the surface side of the insulator 34, the sensor electrode 24 intrudes into the melted hot melt adhesive material 36, and then the hot melt adhesive material 36 is solidified, so that the sensor electrode 24 and the insulator 34 are bonded by the hot melt adhesive material 36. The first protrusion 28 of the sensor electrode 24 is in contact with the surface side of the insulator 34, and a through hole 36A is formed by the first protrusion 28 in the hot melt adhesive material 36. The hot melt adhesive material 36 is thinned, and the hot melt adhesive material 36 is not disposed at the contact portion of the intersection of the first line 24A and the second line 24B of the sensor electrode 24. ​​​

[0043] On the back surface side of the insulator 34, the counter electrode 30 invades the molten hot melt adhesive material 36, and then the hot melt adhesive material 36 is cured, whereby the counter electrode 30 is bonded to the insulator 34 by the hot melt adhesive material 36. The first protrusion 28 of the counter electrode 30 is in contact with the back surface side of the insulator 34, and a through-hole 36A is formed in the hot melt adhesive material 36 by the first protrusion 28. The hot melt adhesive material 36 is thinned, and the hot melt adhesive material 36 is not disposed at the contact portion of the intersection of the first line 24A and the second line 24B of the counter electrode 30.

[0044] The insulator 34 is made of resin, and the insulator 34 electrically insulates the sensor electrode 24 and the counter electrode 30. The insulator 34 and each hot melt adhesive material 36 are elastically elongated in all directions, and the insulator 34 and each hot melt adhesive material 36 are elongated in the long direction together with the sensor electrode 24 and the counter electrode 30 when assembled in the rim portion 10B.

[0045] The leather 38, which is a peripheral member constituting the detection mechanism 20, is provided on the entire outer periphery of the rim portion 10B, and covers the sensor 22 and constitutes the surface side (radially outer side) of the rim portion 10B.

[0046] Next, the effects of the present embodiment will be described.

[0047] In the steering wheel 10 of the above structure, the occupant holds the rim portion 10B, and when the surface side of the leather 38 of the rim portion 10B is contacted by the hand of the occupant, in the control device 32, the electrostatic capacitance occurring between the hand of the occupant and the sensor electrode 24 of the sensor 22 is detected, whereby the holding of the rim portion 10B by the occupant (contact of the hand with the leather 38) is detected. In addition, the sensor electrode 24 of the sensor 22 and the counter electrode 30 are controlled to the same potential by the control device 32. Thereby, the parasitic capacitance occurring between the sensor electrode 24 and the rim core 12B can be limited by the counter electrode 30, and thus the change in the electrostatic capacitance occurring between the hand of the occupant and the sensor electrode 24 due to the parasitic capacitance can be suppressed, and thus the decrease in the detection accuracy of the detection of the holding of the rim portion 10B by the occupant can be suppressed.

[0048] In addition, when the sensor 22 is assembled in the rim portion 10B (the outer periphery of the inner member 18), the sensor 22 (the sensor electrode 24, the counter electrode 30, the insulator 34, and the pair of hot melt adhesive materials 36) is elongated in the long direction. Therefore, in the sensor electrode 24 and the counter electrode 30, the first line 24A and the second line 24B are inclined in opposite directions to each other.

[0049] Here, on the surface side of the insulator 34, the sensor electrode 24 is in contact with the insulator 34 at the first protrusions 28, and thus the through holes 36A are formed in the hot melt adhesive material 36, and on the back side of the insulator 34, the counter electrode 30 is in contact with the insulator 34 at the first protrusions 28, and thus the through holes 36A are formed in the hot melt adhesive material 36. Therefore, even in the case where the elasticity of each hot melt adhesive material 36 is lower than that of the insulator 34, each hot melt adhesive material 36 can easily be elongated and bent by the through holes 36A, and thus the elongation performance and the bending performance of the sensor 22 in the longitudinal direction can be improved. Thus, the sensor 22 can be easily wound around the outer periphery of the inner member 18 to be assembled.

[0050] In addition, in the sensor electrode 24 and the counter electrode 30, the hot melt adhesive material 36 is not disposed at the contact portions at the intersections of the first line 24A and the second line 24B, and the first line 24A and the second line 24B are not bonded by the hot melt adhesive material 36 at the intersections. Therefore, when the sensor electrode 24 and the counter electrode 30 are elongated in the longitudinal direction, the relative movement at the intersections (contact portions) of the first line 24A and the second line 24B, which is caused by the hot melt adhesive material 36, and thus the elongation of the sensor electrode 24 and the counter electrode 30 in the longitudinal direction can be suppressed, and thus the elongation performance of the sensor 22 in the longitudinal direction can be improved. Thus, the sensor 22 can be easily wound around the outer periphery of the inner member 18 to be assembled.

[0051] [Second Embodiment]

[0052] In Figure 6 (A) and Figure 6 (B), the sensor 22 of the steering wheel 50 as a contact body according to the second embodiment of the present application is shown by an enlarged sectional view.

[0053] The steering wheel 50 according to the present embodiment is substantially the same structure as the above-described first embodiment, but the following aspects are different.

[0054] As shown in (A) and (B) of Figure 6 (A) and Figure 6 (B), in the steering wheel 50 according to the present embodiment, in the sensor 22, the insulator 34 is, for example, a foamed resin, and a plurality of second protrusions 52, for example, triangular cross-sectional shapes, are formed on the surface side and the back side of the insulator 34 as protrusions, and the sizes of the second protrusions 52 are not equal on the surface side and the back side of the insulator 34, respectively.

[0055] On the surface side of the insulator 34, the second protrusion 52 protrudes toward the surface side of the insulator 34 (the sensor electrode 24 side) and contacts the first protrusion 28 of the sensor electrode 24, and a through-hole 36A is formed in the hot melt adhesive material 36 by the first protrusion 28 and the second protrusion 52. On the back side of the insulator 34, the second protrusion 52 protrudes toward the back side of the insulator 34 (the counter electrode 30 side) and contacts the first protrusion 28 of the counter electrode 30, and a through-hole 36A is formed in the hot melt adhesive material 36 by the first protrusion 28 and the second protrusion 52.

[0056] Here, even in the present embodiment, the same effects as those of the first embodiment described above can be obtained.

[0057] In addition, on the surface side of the insulator 34, the first protrusion 28 of the sensor electrode 24 protrudes and contacts the second protrusion 52 of the insulator 34, and a through-hole 36A is formed in the hot melt adhesive material 36. Also, on the back side of the insulator 34, the first protrusion 28 of the counter electrode 30 protrudes and contacts the second protrusion 52 of the insulator 34, and a through-hole 36A is formed in the hot melt adhesive material 36. Therefore, on the surface side and the back side of the insulator 34, the first protrusion 28 and the second protrusion 52 can appropriately contact each other, and a through-hole 36A can be appropriately formed in the hot melt adhesive material 36.

[0058] Further, in the first embodiment and the second embodiment described above, the hot melt adhesive material 36 is not disposed at the contact portion at the intersection of the first line 24A and the second line 24B in the sensor electrode 24 and the counter electrode 30. However, the hot melt adhesive material 36 can be disposed at the contact portion at the intersection of the first line 24A and the second line 24B in at least one of the sensor electrode 24 and the counter electrode 30.

[0059] In addition, in the first embodiment and the second embodiment described above, the sensor electrode 24 and the counter electrode 30 are in a cloth shape. However, at least one of the sensor electrode 24 and the counter electrode 30 can be in a sheet shape made of metal, and in this case, the first protrusion 28 can be formed on the side of the insulator 34 of at least one of the sensor electrode 24 and the counter electrode 30.

[0060] In addition, in the first and second embodiments described above, the counter electrode 30 and the hot melt adhesive material 36 are provided on the back surface side of the insulator 34 of the sensor 22. However, the counter electrode 30 and the hot melt adhesive material 36 can not be provided on the back surface side of the insulator 34 in the sensor 22. Thus, the elongation performance and the bending performance of the sensor 22 in the longitudinal direction can be further improved, so that the sensor 22 can be more easily wound around the outer periphery of the inner member 18 to be assembled, and the cost of the sensor 22 can be reduced. In this case, the counter electrode 30 can also be provided on the outer periphery of the inner member 18.

[0061] In addition, in the first and second embodiments described above, the sensor 22 is provided to the steering wheel 10, 50 (contact body). However, the sensor 22 can be provided to a contact body other than the steering wheel 10, 50 (for example, a seat of a vehicle).

Claims

1. A detection mechanism, characterized by, Possessing: a detection portion provided to a contact body, which detects contact of a person with the contact body; a conductive body provided to the detection portion; an insulating body provided to the detection portion; a bonding material provided between the conductive body and the insulating body in the detection portion, which bonds the conductive body and the insulating body by curing; and a protrusion provided to at least one of the conductive body and the insulating body, which forms a through-hole in the bonding material by contact of the conductive body and the insulating body at a position of provision, the bonding material is easily elongated by the through-hole, whereby the elongation performance of the detection portion can be improved.

2. The detection mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that the protrusion provided to the conductive body is in contact with the protrusion provided to the insulating body.

3. The detection mechanism according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the conductive body is provided only on one side of the insulating body in the detection portion.

4. A detection mechanism characterized by, Possessing: a detection portion provided to a contact body, which detects contact of a person with the contact body; a conductive body provided to the detection portion, which is made into a cloth shape by weaving a first wire and a second wire; an insulating body provided to the detection portion; and a bonding material provided between the conductive body and the insulating body in the detection portion, which bonds the conductive body and the insulating body by curing, and the bonding material is not provided to a contact portion of the first wire and the second wire.

5. The detection mechanism according to claim 4, characterized in that the conductive body is provided only on one side of the insulating body in the detection portion.

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