Conduction structure

Abstract

To make a terminal conductive with a conductive resin by a simple configuration.SOLUTION: In a conductive structure 10, a conductive resin 20 is constituted by molding a resin 20B mixed with a conductive material 20A, and in the peripheral part of the conductive resin 20, mixing density of the conductive material 20A is reduced. Here, a projection part 28 of a terminal 26 enters into inside from the peripheral surface of the conductive resin 20, and is made conductive with the conductive material 20A of the conductive resin 20. For this reason, the terminal 26 can be made conductive with the conductive resin 20 by a simple configuration.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a conduction structure in which a terminal is electrically connected to a conductive resin.

Background Art

[0002] In the handle described in Patent Document 1 below, a conductive material is contained in a urethane-based paint to form a sensor layer, and a conductive filler is dispersed in an organic binder of an adhesive to form a conductive adhesive.

[0003] Here, in this handle, an insertion recess is provided on the peripheral surface of the sensor layer, and a conductive adhesive and a terminal are inserted into the insertion recess, and the terminal is electrically connected to the conductive material of the sensor layer through the conductive filler of the conductive adhesive.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] In consideration of the above facts, an object of the present invention is to obtain a conduction structure capable of electrically connecting a terminal to a conductive resin with a simple configuration.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The conduction structure according to the first aspect of the present invention is configured by molding a resin mixed with a conductive material, and includes a conductive resin used for detecting a human body, and a terminal provided with a protruding portion that protrudes and penetrates inward from the peripheral surface of the conductive resin to be electrically connected to the conductive material.

[0007] The conduction structure according to the second aspect of the present invention is the conduction structure according to the first aspect of the present invention, wherein the conductive material is in a fibrous form.

[0008] In the conduction structure of the third aspect of the present invention, in the conduction structure of the first aspect or the second aspect of the present invention, the protruding portion with a large protruding amount and the protruding portion with a small protruding amount are provided on the terminal.

[0009] In the conduction structure of the fourth aspect of the present invention, in the conduction structure of the third aspect of the present invention, the protruding portion with a large protruding amount is electrically connected to the conductive material, and the protruding portion with a small protruding amount is not electrically connected to the conductive material.

[0010] In the conduction structure of the fifth aspect of the present invention, in the conduction structure of the third aspect or the fourth aspect of the present invention, the protruding portion with a small protruding amount is arranged around the protruding portion with a large protruding amount.

Advantages of the Invention

[0011] In the conduction structure of the first aspect of the present invention, a resin mixed with a conductive material is molded to form a conductive resin, and the mixing density of the conductive material is reduced in the peripheral portion of the conductive resin. Further, the conductive resin is used to detect a human body.

[0012] Here, the protruding portion of the terminal penetrates from the peripheral surface of the conductive resin to the inside and is electrically connected to the conductive material. Therefore, the terminal can be electrically connected to the conductive resin with a simple structure.

[0013] In the conduction structure of the second aspect of the present invention, the conductive material is in a fibrous form. Therefore, the protruding portion of the terminal can be appropriately electrically connected to the conductive material, and the terminal can be appropriately electrically connected to the conductive resin.

[0014] In the conduction structure of the third aspect of the present invention, the protruding portion with a large protruding amount and the protruding portion with a small protruding amount are provided on the terminal. Therefore, even if the protruding portion with a large protruding amount is provided, the decrease in the strength of the conductive resin due to the protruding portion with a small protruding amount is small, and the terminal can be firmly bonded to the conductive resin by the protruding portion with a small protruding amount.

[0015] In the conduction structure according to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the protruding portion with a large protruding amount is electrically connected to the conductive material, and the protruding portion with a small protruding amount is not electrically connected to the conductive material. Therefore, even if a protruding portion with a small protruding amount is provided, the terminal can be well electrically connected to the conductive resin by the protruding portion with a large protruding amount.

[0016] In the conduction structure according to the fifth aspect of the present invention, a protruding portion with a small protruding amount is arranged around the protruding portion with a large protruding amount. Therefore, the terminal can be effectively coupled to the conductive resin by the protruding portion with a small protruding amount.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0017]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0018] [First Embodiment] FIG. 1 shows a front view seen from the front of a steering 12 to which a conductive structure 10 according to the first embodiment of the present invention is applied. In the drawing, the upper side of the steering 12 is indicated by an arrow UP, the right side of the steering 12 is indicated by an arrow RH, and the front side of the steering 12 is indicated by an arrow FR.

[0019] The steering 12 (steering wheel) in this embodiment faces the front side of the driver's seat of the vehicle, and the steering 12 is disposed in front of the occupant (driver, human body) sitting on the driver's seat. The front, upper, and right sides of the steering 12 are respectively directed toward the rear, upper, and right sides of the vehicle.

[0020] As shown in FIG. 1, the central portion of the steering 12 is a boss portion 12A, and the peripheral portion of the steering 12 is a rim portion 12B that is annular in a front view and substantially circular in cross-section as a gripping portion. Three spoke portions 12C are provided as connecting portions between the boss portion 12A and the rim portion 12B, and the spoke portions 12C extend from the boss portion 12A to the left, right, and lower sides and are connected to the rim portion 12B.

[0021] The boss portion 12A is fixed to the vehicle rear end (vehicle upper end) of a columnar steering shaft 14 as a support member in the vehicle, and the steering shaft 14 is disposed coaxially with the rim portion 12B. The steering 12 is integrally rotatably supported by the steering shaft 14, and when the occupant grips the rim portion 12B and rotates the steering 12 in the circumferential direction, the steering shaft 14 is rotated around the central axis, and the vehicle is steered.

[0022] The conductive structure 10 according to this embodiment is provided with a pair of long plate-shaped garnishes 16 as decorative members, and the garnishes 16 are disposed on the front side and the inner peripheral side of the steering 12 at the left and right portions of the rim portion 12B. The garnish 16 extends in the circumferential direction of the steering 12, and the garnish 16 is disposed from the upper side of the connection portion with the left or right spoke portion 12C in the rim portion 12B to the connection portion with the lower spoke portion 12C in the rim portion 12B.

[0023] The garnish 16 is fitted into the recess 18 of the main body portion of the rim portion 12B, and the front surface of the garnish 16 is flush with the peripheral surface of the main body portion of the rim portion 12B. A plate-shaped protruding plate 16A is integrally provided at the longitudinal intermediate portion of the garnish 16. The protruding plate 16A protrudes to the inner peripheral side of the steering 12 and covers the front side of the connection portion of the left or right spoke portion 12C with the rim portion 12B. A plate-shaped convex plate 16B is integrally provided at the lower end portion of the garnish 16. The convex plate 16B protrudes upward and covers the front side of the connection portion of the lower spoke portion 12C with the rim portion 12B.

[0024] The front surface (front side surface) of the garnish 16 (including the protruding plate 16A and the convex plate 16B) constitutes a decorative layer 16C as a decorative portion (dielectric portion). The decorative layer 16C has, for example, a wood grain pattern formed thereon and decorates the steering 12.

[0025] On the back side of the decorative layer 16C, a conductive resin 20 (see FIG. 2) as a detection portion is provided on the garnish 16 (including the protruding plate 16A and the convex plate 16B). The conductive resin 20 constitutes the end surface and the back surface (rear side surface) of the garnish 16. The conductive resin 20 is formed by injection molding a resin 20B mixed with a fibrous conductive material 20A having conductivity (for example, carbon fiber) using a mold. The entire peripheral portion (including the entire peripheral surface) of the conductive resin 20 has a low mixing density of the conductive material 20A, and a skin layer 20C as a peripheral portion (low mixing portion) is formed. The conductive resin 20 has conductivity due to the conductive material 20A, and the skin layer 20C has a low mixing density of the conductive material 20A and low conductivity. Further, the inner portion of the conductive resin 20 inside the skin layer 20C is an inner portion 20D as a conductive portion (high mixing portion), and the inner portion 20D has a high mixing density of the conductive material 20A and high conductivity.

[0026] The conductive resin 20 is electrically connected to a control board 24 as a control unit via a harness 22 as wiring at the convex plate 16B portion of the garnish 16. The harness 22 is routed inside the lower spoke portion 12C, and the control board 24 is fixed inside the boss portion 12A.

[0027] As shown in FIG. 2, at one end of the harness 22 (the end on the garnish 16 side), a substantially plate-shaped terminal 26 made of metal is provided. The terminal 26 is fixed to the harness 22 and is electrically conductive. On the back side (front side) of the terminal 26, a plurality of columnar protrusions 28 are formed, and the plurality of protrusions 28 protrude forward. The protruding amounts of the plurality of protrusions 28 are the same, and the protruding amount of the protrusion 28 is equal to or greater than the wall thickness dimension of the skin layer 20C of the conductive resin 20. The protrusion 28 penetrates inward from the back side (rear side, peripheral surface) of the conductive resin 20, and the back side of the terminal 26 is joined to the back side of the conductive resin 20, so that the terminal 26 is coupled to the conductive resin 20. The protrusion 28 penetrates through the skin layer 20C of the conductive resin 20 and enters the inner portion 20D of the conductive resin 20. As a result, the protrusion 28 is electrically connected to the conductive material 20A of the inner portion 20D.

[0028] When the terminal 26 is coupled to the conductive resin 20, a laser 30A is irradiated on the back side of the terminal 26 by a laser device 30 in a predetermined pattern to form recesses, thereby forming a plurality of protrusions 28 on the back side of the terminal 26 (see FIG. 3(A)). Next, with the back side of the terminal 26 fixed to a jig, the back side of the conductive resin 20 is pressed by a shaft 32, and the terminal 26 is heated from the front side by an IH (Induction Heating) heating device 34 (see FIG. 3(B)). As a result, the conductive resin 20 is melted from the back side, and immediately after the plurality of protrusions 28 of the conductive resin 20 penetrate inward from the back side of the conductive resin 20 due to the pressure from the shaft 32, the conductive resin 20 is cooled, and the terminal 26 is coupled to the conductive resin 20 (see FIG. 3(C)).

[0029] Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described.

[0030] In the steering 12 configured as described above, the conductive resin 20 of the garnish 16 and the control board 24 are electrically connected via the terminals 26 and the harness 22. When the hand of an occupant touches the front surface of the garnish 16 (especially when the occupant grips the rim portion 12B), in the control board 24, based on the capacitance between the hand of the occupant and the conductive resin 20 of the garnish 16 becoming equal to or greater than a predetermined capacitance, the contact of the hand of the occupant with the front surface of the garnish 16 is detected.

[0031] By the way, a resin 20B mixed with the conductive material 20A is molded to form the conductive resin 20. In the skin layer 20C around the conductive resin 20, the mixing density of the conductive material 20A is reduced, and in the inner portion 20D of the conductive resin 20, the mixing density of the conductive material 20A is increased.

[0032] Here, the protruding portion 28 of the terminal 26 penetrates inward from the peripheral surface (rear surface) of the conductive resin 20 and is electrically connected to the conductive material 20A of the conductive resin 20. For this reason, the terminal 26 can be electrically connected to the conductive resin 20 with a simple configuration. Furthermore, in order to electrically connect the terminal 26 to the conductive resin 20, it is possible to eliminate the need to remove the skin layer 20C from the conductive resin 20, and it is possible to eliminate the need to adhere the terminal 26 to the conductive resin 20 with an adhesive (curing of the adhesive is also unnecessary). The number of steps for electrically connecting the terminal 26 to the conductive resin 20 can be reduced, and the cost can be reduced. Moreover, the protruding amount of the protruding portion 28 of the terminal 26 can be made small, the connecting portion of the terminal 26 to the conductive resin 20 can be miniaturized, and the degree of freedom of the connecting position of the terminal 26 to the conductive resin 20 can be increased.

[0033] Furthermore, the protruding portion 28 penetrates the skin layer 20C of the conductive resin 20 and enters the inner portion 20D of the conductive resin 20. For this reason, the protruding portion 28 can be electrically connected well to the conductive material 20A, and the terminal 26 can be electrically connected well to the conductive resin 20.

[0034] Moreover, the conductive material 20A is in a fibrous form. For this reason, the protruding portion 28 of the terminal 26 can be electrically connected appropriately to the conductive material 20A, and the terminal 26 can be electrically connected appropriately to the conductive resin 20.

[0035] [Second Embodiment] In FIG. 4(A), a disassembled state of a conductive structure 50 according to the second embodiment of the present invention is shown in a cross-sectional view, and in FIG. 4(B), a combined state of the conductive structure 50 is shown in a cross-sectional view.

[0036] The conductive structure 50 according to the present embodiment has substantially the same configuration as the first embodiment described above, but is different in the following points.

[0037] As shown in FIGS. 4(A) and 4(B), in the conductive structure 50 according to the present embodiment, a plurality of protrusions 28 with a large protrusion amount (hereinafter referred to as "high protrusions 28A") and a plurality of protrusions with a small protrusion amount (hereinafter referred to as "low protrusions 28B") are respectively formed on the back surface (front surface) of the terminal 26, and the plurality of low protrusions 28B are arranged on the entire circumference of the plurality of high protrusions 28A. The protrusion amount of the high protrusions 28A is equal to or greater than the thickness dimension of the skin layer 20C of the conductive resin 20, and the protrusion amount of the low protrusions 28B is less than the thickness dimension of the skin layer 20C. The high protrusions 28A penetrate the skin layer 20C of the conductive resin 20 and enter the inner part 20D of the conductive resin 20. As a result, the high protrusions 28A are electrically connected to the conductive material 20A in the inner part 20D. The low protrusions 28B penetrate the skin layer 20C of the conductive resin 20 and do not enter the inner part 20D of the conductive resin 20. As a result, the low protrusions 28B are not electrically connected to the conductive material 20A of the conductive resin 20 (the skin layer 20C and the inner part 20D).

[0038] Here, also in the present embodiment, the same operations and effects as those of the first embodiment can be achieved.

[0039] Furthermore, the high protrusions 28A and the low protrusions 28B are provided on the terminal 26. The high protrusions 28A are electrically connected to the conductive material 20A in the inner part 20D of the conductive resin 20, while the low protrusions 28B are not electrically connected to the conductive material 20A of the conductive resin 20. Therefore, even if the low protrusions 28B are provided, the terminal 26 can be satisfactorily electrically connected to the conductive resin 20 by the high protrusions 28A.

[0040] Also, if the protruding amount of the protruding portion 28 that penetrates into the conductive resin 20 is large, the strength reduction of the conductive resin 20 due to the protruding portion 28 becomes large, and the bonding strength of the protruding portion 28 to the conductive resin 20 becomes small. On the other hand, if the protruding amount of the protruding portion 28 that penetrates into the conductive resin 20 is small, the strength reduction of the conductive resin 20 due to the protruding portion 28 becomes small, and the bonding strength of the protruding portion 28 to the conductive resin 20 becomes large. Therefore, even if the high protruding portion 28A is provided, the terminal 26 can be firmly bonded to the conductive resin 20 by the low protruding portion 28B.

[0041] Furthermore, the low protruding portion 28B is disposed around the high protruding portion 28A. For this reason, peeling of the protruding portion 28 from the conductive resin 20 can be effectively suppressed by the low protruding portion 28B, and the terminal 26 can be effectively bonded to the conductive resin 20 by the low protruding portion 28B.

[0042] In addition, in the first and second embodiments, the conductive resin 20 of the garnish 16 serves as an electrode for detecting contact of an occupant with the garnish 16.

[0043] However, the conductive resin 20 may serve as an electrocardiogram electrode for detecting an electrocardiogram waveform of an occupant. In this case, on the front side of the conductive resin 20 (electrocardiogram electrode), the decorative layer 16C is not provided and the skin layer 20C is removed. Then, the differential voltage between the left and right electrocardiogram electrodes that the left and right hands of the occupant contact respectively is detected, and the electrocardiogram waveform of the occupant is detected.

[0044] Furthermore, the conductive resin 20 may be additionally provided as a DRL electrode (Driven Right Leg electrode) on the steering wheel 12 (especially the rim portion 12B). In this case, on the front side of the conductive resin 20 (DRL electrode), the decorative layer 16C is not provided and the skin layer 20C is removed. Then, when the hand of the occupant contacts the DRL electrode, and the common-mode signal noise that has penetrated into a pair of electrocardiogram electrodes through the occupant is inverted and amplified and fed back to the occupant through the DRL electrode, the common-mode signal noise that penetrates into a pair of electrocardiogram electrodes through the occupant is reduced.

[0045] Furthermore, in the above-described first and second embodiments, the conductive material 20A is in a fibrous form. However, the conductive material 20A may be in a particulate form.

[0046] Also, in the above-described first and second embodiments, the conductive structures 10 and 50 are applied to the steering 12. However, the conductive structures 10 and 50 may be applied to other than the steering 12.

Description of Reference Numerals

[0047] 10... Conductive structure, 20... Conductive resin, 20A... Conductive material, 20B... Resin, 26... Terminal, 28... Protrusion, 28A... High protrusion (protrusion), 28B... Low protrusion (protrusion), 50... Conductive structure

Claims

1. A conductive resin structure formed by molding a resin mixed with a conductive material, and used for detecting a human body. A terminal provided with a protruding portion that protrudes and penetrates inward from the circumferential surface of the conductive resin to conduct with the conductive material. A conduction structure comprising the above.

2. The conduction structure according to claim 1, wherein the conductive material is fibrous.

3. The conduction structure according to claim 1, wherein the terminal is provided with a protruding portion having a large protrusion amount and a protruding portion having a small protrusion amount.

4. The conduction structure according to claim 3, wherein the protruding portion having a large protrusion amount is conducted with the conductive material, and the protruding portion having a small protrusion amount is not conducted with the conductive material.

5. The conduction structure according to claim 3, wherein the protruding portion having a small protrusion amount is disposed around the protruding portion having a large protrusion amount.

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