Detection device for steering

Abstract

To suppress an electrode part from cracking when the electrode part is deformed.SOLUTION: In a steering 12, detection electrodes 24 and DRL electrodes 28 are provided in garnishes 20, and connection parts 30 are sandwiched between the detection electrodes 24 and the DRL electrodes 28 to connect the detection electrodes 24 to the DRL electrodes 28, where the connection parts 30 have flexibility. Therefore, when the garnishes 20 are deformed, the connection parts 30 warp, so as to suppress the garnishes 20 from cracking.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a steering detection device provided with electrodes used for detecting a human body. [Background technology]

[0002] In the steering wheel occupant information detection sensor described in Patent Document 1 below, an attachment part is provided on the steering wheel, and a conductive member is provided on the attachment part, and the conductive member detects contact of an occupant with the attachment part.

[0003] Here, in this steering wheel occupant information detection sensor, it is preferable that cracking of the attachment part can be suppressed when the attachment part is deformed. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2018-203061 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] In consideration of the above, an object of the present invention is to provide a steering detector that can suppress cracking of the electrode portion when the electrode portion is deformed. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] A first aspect of the present invention provides a steering detection device comprising: a first electrode provided on a steering wheel that is operated to steer a vehicle and used to detect a human body; a second electrode provided on the steering wheel and used to detect a human body; and a flexible connecting portion that connects the first electrode and the second electrode while being sandwiched between the first electrode and the second electrode.

[0007] A second aspect of the steering detection device of the present invention includes a first decorative member that is provided on a steering wheel that is operated to steer a vehicle and that decorates the steering wheel, a first electrode that is provided on the first decorative member and that is used to detect a human body, a second decorative member that is provided on the steering wheel and that decorates the steering wheel, a second electrode that is provided on the second decorative member and that is used to detect a human body, and a flexible connecting portion that connects the first decorative member and the second decorative member while being sandwiched between the first decorative member and the second decorative member.

[0008] A steering detector according to a third aspect of the present invention is the steering detector according to the first or second aspect of the present invention, wherein the connecting portion insulates the first electrode from the second electrode.

[0009] A steering detector according to a fourth aspect of the present invention is the steering detector according to any one of the first to third aspects of the present invention, wherein the connecting portion is stretchable.

[0010] A steering detection device of a fifth aspect of the present invention is a steering detection device of any one of the first to fourth aspects of the present invention, in which the connecting portion is arranged at a position between a fixing portion on the first electrode side to the steering and a fixing portion on the second electrode side to the steering.

[0011] A steering detection device of a sixth aspect of the present invention is a steering detection device of any one of the first to fifth aspects of the present invention, in which a strength reduction portion of the steering is arranged at a position between a fixing portion on the first electrode side to the steering and a fixing portion on the second electrode side to the steering. [Effects of the Invention]

[0012] In a first aspect of the present invention, a steering detector is provided in which a vehicle is steered by operating a steering wheel. The steering wheel is provided with a first electrode and a second electrode, which are used to detect a human body. A connecting portion connects the first electrode and the second electrode while being sandwiched between the first electrode and the second electrode.

[0013] Here, the connecting portion is flexible, so that when the electrode portion, which is the portion between the first electrode, the second electrode, and the connecting portion, is deformed, the connecting portion bends, thereby preventing cracks in the electrode portion.

[0014] In a steering detector according to a second aspect of the present invention, a vehicle is steered by operating a steering wheel. A first decorative member and a second decorative member are provided on the steering wheel, and the first decorative member and the second decorative member decorate the steering wheel. The first decorative member and the second decorative member are provided with a first electrode and a second electrode, respectively, and the first electrode and the second electrode are used to detect a human body. A connecting portion connects the first decorative member and the second decorative member while being sandwiched between the first decorative member and the second decorative member.

[0015] Here, the connecting portion is flexible, so when the electrode portion, which is the portion between the first decorative member, the second decorative member, and the connecting portion, is deformed, the connecting portion bends, thereby preventing cracks in the electrode portion.

[0016] In the steering detector according to the third aspect of the present invention, the connecting portion insulates the first electrode from the second electrode, which allows the first electrode to be insulated from the second electrode with a simple configuration.

[0017] In the steering detector according to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the connecting portion has flexibility, so that when the electrode portion is deformed, the connecting portion expands and contracts, thereby effectively preventing cracks in the electrode portion.

[0018] In the steering detector of the fifth aspect of the present invention, the connecting portion is disposed between the fixing portion on the first electrode side to the steering wheel and the fixing portion on the second electrode side to the steering wheel, so that the connecting portion can bend appropriately when the steering wheel is deformed between the fixing portion on the first electrode side and the fixing portion on the second electrode side.

[0019] In a sixth aspect of the steering detector of the present invention, a strength-reducing portion of the steering wheel is disposed between a portion fixed to the steering wheel on the first electrode side and a portion fixed to the steering wheel on the second electrode side, which allows the steering wheel to be easily deformed between the portion fixed to the first electrode side and the portion fixed to the second electrode side. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0020] [Figure 1] 1 is a front view showing a steering wheel to which a steering detection device according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied, as viewed from the front side; [Figure 2] (A) and (B) are front views showing the garnish of a steering detection device according to an embodiment of the present invention, where (A) shows the normal state of the electrode body and (B) shows the gripped state of the electrode body. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0021] 1 shows a front view of a steering wheel 12 to which a steering detection device 10 according to a first embodiment of the present invention is applied. In the drawing, the arrow UP indicates the top of the steering wheel 12, and the arrow RH indicates the right side of the steering wheel 12.

[0022] In this embodiment, the steering wheel 12 faces the front of the driver's seat of the vehicle, and is disposed in front of the occupant (driver, human body) seated in the driver's seat. The front, upper, and right sides of the steering wheel 12 are directed toward the rear, upper, and right sides of the vehicle, respectively.

[0023] 1, the central portion of the steering wheel 12 is a boss portion 12A, and the peripheral portion of the steering wheel 12 is a rim portion 12B that serves as a grip portion and has a circular shape in front view and a substantially circular cross section. Three spoke portions 12C are provided between the boss portion 12A and the rim portion 12B as connecting portions, and the spoke portions 12C extend leftward, rightward, and downward from the boss portion 12A and are connected to the rim portion 12B.

[0024] The boss portion 12A is fixed to the rear end (upper end) of a cylindrical steering shaft 14 serving as a support member for the vehicle, and the steering shaft 14 is disposed coaxially with the rim portion 12B. The steering wheel 12 is supported by the steering shaft 14 so as to be rotatable integrally with the steering wheel 12, and when an occupant grips the rim portion 12B and rotates the steering wheel 12 in the circumferential direction, the steering shaft 14 rotates about the central axis, thereby steering the vehicle.

[0025] An airbag 16 is housed inside the boss portion 12A, and in the event of a vehicle collision, the airbag 16 is inflated and the boss portion 12A is ruptured, causing the airbag 16 to deploy in front of the steering wheel 12.

[0026] The left and right parts of the rim part 12B have reduced strength parts 18 provided directly above the connection parts with the left and right spoke parts 12C, respectively, and the reduced strength parts 18 have reduced strength compared to other parts of the rim part 12B.

[0027] The steering detector 10 according to this embodiment is provided with a pair of elongated plate-shaped garnishes 20 (see FIG. 2(A)) serving as electrode portions (electrode bodies, decorative members), and the garnishes 20 are arranged on the front side of the left and right portions of the rim portion 12B and on the inner peripheral side of the steering wheel 12. The garnishes 20 extend in the circumferential direction of the steering wheel 12, and are arranged from above the reduced strength portion 18 of the rim portion 12B to below the connection portion between the rim portion 12B and the spoke portion 12C.

[0028] The garnish 20 is fitted into a recess 22 in the main body of the rim portion 12B, and the front side of the garnish 20 is flush with the peripheral surface of the main body of the rim portion 12B. Fixing portions 20A are provided at the upper and lower ends of the back side of the garnish 20, and the garnish 20 is fixed to the main body of the rim portion 12B at the fixing portions 20A. A plate-shaped protrusion 20B is integrally formed at the middle portion of the longitudinal direction of the garnish 20, and protrudes toward the inner periphery of the steering wheel 12 to cover the front side of the connection portion of the spoke portion 12C with the rim portion 12B.

[0029] The upper portion of the garnish 20 (including the upper portion of the protrusion 20B) serves as a detection electrode 24 serving as a first electrode, and the detection electrode 24 is made of a conductive resin with a fibrous conductive material mixed into the resin, thereby providing electrical conductivity. The left and right detection electrodes 24 are each electrically connected to an ECU 26 serving as a detection unit.

[0030] The lower portion of the garnish 20 (including the lower portion of the protrusion 20B) serves as a DRL electrode 28 (Driven Right Leg electrode) serving as a second electrode. The DRL electrode 28 is made of a conductive resin and is therefore conductive. The left and right DRL electrodes 28 are electrically connected to the ECU 26.

[0031] A connecting portion 30 is provided between the detection electrode 24 and the DRL electrode 28 of the garnish 20, and the connecting portion 30 connects the detection electrode 24 and the DRL electrode 28 while being sandwiched between them. The connecting portion 30 is made of rubber, and is flexible and stretchable, while insulating the detection electrode 24 from the DRL electrode 28. The connecting portion 30 also extends to and is fixed to the protruding tip surface of the protrusion 20B.

[0032] Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described.

[0033] In the steering wheel 12 configured as described above, a garnish 20 is provided on the left and right sides of the rim portion 12B, and the garnish 20 is provided with a detection electrode 24 and a DRL electrode 28, and the connecting portion 30 is sandwiched between the detection electrode 24 and the DRL electrode 28 to connect the detection electrode 24 and the DRL electrode 28.

[0034] When the occupant's hands 32 grip the rim portion 12B, the left hand 32 typically contacts the detection electrodes 24 and DRL electrodes 28 of the left garnish 20, and the right hand 32 contacts the detection electrodes 24 and DRL electrodes 28 of the right garnish 20 (see FIG. 2(B)). The ECU 26 then detects the differential voltage between the left and right detection electrodes 24 to detect the occupant's electrocardiogram waveform. Furthermore, common-mode signal noise that has entered the pair of detection electrodes 24 via the occupant is inverted and amplified in the ECU 26 and fed back to the occupant via the pair of DRL electrodes 28, thereby reducing the common-mode signal noise that has entered the pair of detection electrodes 24 via the occupant.

[0035] Incidentally, in the event of a vehicle collision (particularly a frontal collision), if the airbag 16 is deployed in front of the steering wheel 12 and the load from the occupant's head acts on the upper part of the rim portion 12B via the airbag 16, the rim portion 12B will be deformed (bent) particularly at the strength-reduced portion 18, and the upper part of the rim portion 12B will be tilted rearward (toward the front of the vehicle), thereby protecting the occupant's head.

[0036] Here, the connecting portion 30 of the garnish 20 is flexible. Therefore, when the rim portion 12B is deformed and the garnish 20 is deformed, the connecting portion 30 bends, thereby preventing the garnish 20 (the detection electrode 24 and the DRL electrode 28) from cracking.

[0037] Furthermore, the connecting portion 30 of the garnish 20 is flexible. Therefore, when the garnish 20 is deformed, the connecting portion 30 expands and contracts, thereby effectively preventing cracking of the garnish 20 (the detection electrode 24 and the DRL electrode 28).

[0038] Furthermore, the garnish 20 is fixed to the steering wheel 12 at an upper fixing portion 20A of the detection electrode 24 and a lower fixing portion 20A of the DRL electrode 28, and the strength-reduced portion 18 of the rim portion 12B is disposed at a position between the fixing portion 20A on the detection electrode 24 side (upper side) and the fixing portion 20A on the DRL electrode 28 side (lower side). This makes it possible for the rim portion 12B to easily deform between the fixing portion 20A on the detection electrode 24 side and the fixing portion 20A on the DRL electrode 28 side in the event of a vehicle collision.

[0039] Furthermore, the connecting portion 30 of the garnish 20 is disposed at a position between the fixing portion 20A on the detection electrode 24 side (upper side) and the fixing portion 20A on the DRL electrode 28 side (lower side). Therefore, when the rim portion 12B is deformed between the fixing portion 20A on the detection electrode 24 side and the fixing portion 20A on the DRL electrode 28 side, the connecting portion 30 can bend appropriately, and cracking of the garnish 20 (the detection electrode 24 and the DRL electrode 28) can be appropriately suppressed.

[0040] Furthermore, the connecting portion 30 of the garnish 20 insulates the detection electrode 24 from the DRL electrode 28. Therefore, the detection electrode 24 can be insulated from the DRL electrode 28 by the connecting portion 30, and the detection electrode 24 can be insulated from the DRL electrode 28 with a simple configuration.

[0041] Furthermore, in the garnish 20, the detection electrode 24 and the DRL electrode 28 are integrated by the connecting portion 30. This reduces the number of parts, and the detection electrode 24 and the DRL electrode 28 can be easily assembled to the steering wheel 12.

[0042] In this embodiment, the upper portion of the garnish 20 is the detection electrode 24, and the lower portion of the garnish 20 is the DRL electrode 28. However, the upper portion of the garnish 20 may be the DRL electrode 28, and the lower portion of the garnish 20 may be the detection electrode 24. Furthermore, the upper and lower portions of the garnish 20 may be the detection electrodes 24 (first electrode and second electrode), and in this case, the detection electrodes 24 may be mutually conductive.

[0043] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the detection electrode 24 and the DRL electrode 28 (first electrode and second electrode) in the garnish 20 are made of a conductive resin. However, in the garnish 20, the first electrode may be provided on a first decorative member (a member that decorates the steering wheel 12) that is an insulator, and the second electrode may be provided on a second decorative member (a member that decorates the steering wheel 12) that is an insulator. The first decorative member and the second decorative member may be connected with a connecting portion sandwiched between the first decorative member and the second decorative member. Furthermore, if the first electrode is provided inside or on the back side of the first decorative member, capacitance between the occupant and the first electrode may be detected when the occupant touches the first decorative member, thereby detecting the occupant's contact with the first decorative member. Furthermore, if the second electrode is provided inside or on the back side of the second decorative member, capacitance between the occupant and the second electrode may be detected when the occupant touches the second decorative member, thereby detecting the occupant's contact with the second decorative member.

[0044] Furthermore, in this embodiment, one of the first and second electrodes of the garnish 20 may be an electrode (e.g., detection electrode 24) that detects the occupant's electrocardiogram waveform, and the other of the first and second electrodes of the garnish 20 may be an electrode that detects the occupant's contact with the garnish 20. [Explanation of symbols]

[0045] 10···Steering detection device, 12···Steering, 18···Weakened strength portion, 20···Garnish (electrode portion), 20A···Fixing portion, 24···Detection electrode (first electrode), 28···DRL electrode (second electrode), 30···Connecting portion

Claims

1. a first electrode provided on a steering wheel that is operated to steer a vehicle and used to detect a human body; a second electrode provided on the steering wheel and used to detect a human body; a flexible connecting portion that connects the first electrode and the second electrode in a state where the connecting portion is sandwiched between the first electrode and the second electrode; A steering detection device comprising:

2. a first decoration member provided on a steering wheel that is operated to steer a vehicle and that decorates the steering wheel; a first electrode provided on the first decorative member and used to detect a human body; a second decoration member provided on the steering wheel and decorating the steering wheel; a second electrode provided on the second decorative member and used to detect a human body; a flexible connecting portion that connects the first decorative member and the second decorative member while being sandwiched between the first decorative member and the second decorative member; A steering detection device comprising:

3. 2. The steering detector according to claim 1, wherein the connecting portion insulates the first electrode from the second electrode.

4. The steering detector according to claim 1, wherein the connecting portion has flexibility.

5. The steering detector according to claim 1 , wherein the connecting portion is disposed at a position between a portion fixed to the steering wheel on the side of the first electrode and a portion fixed to the steering wheel on the side of the second electrode.

6. 2. The steering detection device according to claim 1, wherein the strength reduction portion of the steering wheel is disposed at a position between a portion fixed to the steering wheel on the side of the first electrode and a portion fixed to the steering wheel on the side of the second electrode.

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