Heater device

Abstract

A heating wire (11) provided to an insulating base material (10) generates heat when energized. A detection line (12) provided to the insulating base material (10) is wiring for detecting contact or approach by an object. When contact or approach by an object is detected by a change in the capacitance of the detection line (12), a control unit (3) sets the amount of power supplied to the heating wire (11) to be lower than in a normal state, or stops the power supply. This heater device (1) is configured so as to reduce the influence of electromagnetic noise (EN) generated from a noise generation component (9) disposed facing the detection line (12) on the detection of contact or approach by an object by the control unit (3).

Description

Heater device Cross-reference to related applications

[0001] This application is based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2024-227488 filed on December 24, 2024, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

[0002] This disclosure relates to a heater device for a vehicle.

[0003] Conventionally, a heater device mounted on a vehicle and radiating radiant heat to warm passengers is known.

[0004] The heater device described in Patent Document 1 is a planar heater including a heating wire and a detection wire provided on an insulating base material. This heater device includes a transmission electrode and a reception electrode as detection wires in order to detect that an object has come into contact or proximity by a mutual capacitance method. And, when the control unit detects human contact or proximity due to a change in the capacitance between the transmission electrode and the reception electrode, this heater device is configured to reduce the amount of current supplied to the heating wire below the normal state or stop the current supply.

[0005] Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2020-60313

[0006] By the way, in the future, for vehicles equipped with a heater device, in order to expand the interior space of the vehicle, it is expected that the space inside the instrument panel will be reduced. Also, in the future, it is considered that the number of electrical components provided inside the instrument panel will increase. Therefore, when attaching the heater device to the instrument panel, it is conceivable that noise generating components that generate electromagnetic noise, such as vehicle-side harnesses or electrical components provided inside the instrument panel, will be arranged near the heater device. In that case, when the capacitance of the detection wire changes greatly due to electromagnetic noise generated from the noise generating components, the heater device may erroneously detect human contact or proximity.

[0007] An object of this disclosure is to provide a heater device capable of suppressing erroneous detection of human contact or proximity.

[0008] According to one aspect of this disclosure, a heater device mounted on a vehicle comprises an insulating substrate, a heating wire provided on the insulating substrate that generates heat when an electric current is passed through it, a detection wire provided on the insulating substrate for detecting contact or proximity of an object, and a control unit that, when it detects contact or proximity of an object by a change in the capacitance of the detection wire, reduces the amount of current supplied to the heating wire to a level lower than normal or stops the current supply, and is configured to reduce the influence of electromagnetic noise generated from a noise-generating component positioned opposite the detection wire on the control unit's detection of contact or proximity of an object.

[0009] According to this, even if the noise-generating component on the vehicle side is positioned near the heater device, the control unit can suppress false detection of human contact or proximity. In this disclosure, "noise-generating component positioned opposite the detection line" means that in addition to being positioned so that a part of the noise-generating component and the detection line overlap in a planar projection viewed from the normal direction of the insulating substrate, the noise-generating component is also positioned around the outer edge of the insulating substrate in a region outside the planar projection.

[0010] This figure shows an example of a heater device according to the first embodiment mounted on the instrument panel of a vehicle. This figure shows the inside of the instrument panel on which the heater device according to the first embodiment is installed. This is a schematic diagram of the heater device according to the first embodiment, viewed from the normal direction of the heater body. This is an enlarged view of part IV in Figure 3. This is a graph to explain the change in capacitance of one of the multiple detection blocks provided in the heater device according to the first embodiment when a human body comes into contact with or comes into close proximity to that detection block. This is a graph to explain the change in capacitance of one detection block when a noise generating component generates electromagnetic noise in the heater device according to the first embodiment. This is a schematic diagram of the heater device of the comparative example, viewed from the normal direction of the heater body. This is a graph to explain the change in capacitance of the detection line when a noise generating component generates electromagnetic noise in the heater device of the comparative example. This is a graph to explain the experimental results of experiments conducted by the inventors regarding the relationship between the length of a noise generating component arranged opposite to one detection block, the distance between the noise generating component and the detection line, and the noise target. This is a schematic diagram of the heater device according to the second embodiment, viewed from the normal direction of the heater body. This is a schematic diagram of the heater device according to the third embodiment, viewed from the normal direction of the heater body. This is a schematic diagram of the heater device according to the fourth embodiment, viewed from the normal direction of the heater body. This is a diagram showing the inside of an instrument panel on which the heater device according to the fifth embodiment is installed. This is a diagram showing the inside of an instrument panel on which the heater device according to the sixth embodiment is installed. This is a diagram showing the inside of an instrument panel on which the heater device according to the seventh embodiment is mounted. This is a diagram showing the inside of an instrument panel on which the heater device according to the eighth embodiment is installed. This is a schematic diagram of the heater device according to the eighth embodiment, viewed from the normal direction of the heater body, showing the inside of an instrument panel on which the heater device according to the ninth embodiment is installed.

[0011] The embodiments of this disclosure will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the following embodiments, parts that are the same or equivalent to each other will be denoted by the same reference numerals, and their descriptions will be omitted.

[0012] (First Embodiment) The first embodiment will now be described. As shown in Figure 1, the heater device 1 is installed in the passenger compartment of a vehicle and constitutes part of the passenger compartment heating system. The heater device 1 is a thin, plate-shaped surface heater and comprises a heater body 2 that generates heat when power is supplied and a control unit 3 that controls the drive of the heater body 2. The heater device 1 mainly radiates heat in the thickness direction of the heater body 2 and is used to warm occupants seated in the seats inside the passenger compartment.

[0013] The heater device 1 is installed, for example, in a part of the instrument panel 4. Specifically, the heater device 1 is installed on the underside of the steering column cover 7 that covers the steering column 6 supporting the steering wheel 5, or on the dashboard 8 located below the steering column cover 7. The heater device 1 is installed along its respective mounting surface. Note that the steering column cover 7 and the dashboard 8 are part of the instrument panel 4.

[0014] As shown in Figure 2, inside the instrument panel 4 where the heater device 1 is installed, noise-generating components 9 that produce electromagnetic noise EN, such as vehicle-side harnesses or electrical components, are arranged near the heater device 1. An example of a vehicle-side harness that could be a noise-generating component 9 is one that integrates a signal line that transmits a drive signal to the control unit 3, a power line that supplies power to the heater device 1, and a ground line.

[0015] Figure 3 is a schematic diagram showing the heater body 2 of the heater device 1 in a planar configuration. In Figure 3, for the sake of clarity, the control unit 3 and noise generating component 9, which are arranged in the direction normal to the heater body 2, are shown with dashed lines to clearly indicate the multiple detection blocks 20 which will be described later. This is also the case in the schematic diagrams of the heater device 1 (i.e., schematic diagrams viewed from the direction normal to the heater body 2) that will be referenced in each embodiment described later. As shown in Figures 2 and 3, a part of the heater body 2 and a part of the noise generating component 9 are arranged opposite each other. In the first embodiment, in the planar projection viewed from the direction normal to the heater body 2, a part of the heater body 2 and a part of the noise generating component 9 are arranged to overlap. In other words, a part of the noise generating component 9 is arranged alongside the heater body 2.

[0016] As shown in Figure 4, the heater body 2 includes an insulating substrate 10, a heating element 11, a detection element 12, and the like. In Figure 4, hatching is used to clearly show the heating element 11 and the detection element 12, although it is not a cross-section, for the sake of clarity. The insulating substrate 10 is made of a resin material (e.g., polyimide film) that has excellent electrical insulation properties and can withstand high temperatures. The heating element 11 and the detection element 12 are provided in a predetermined layer of the insulating substrate 10. The heating element 11 and the detection element 12 may be provided in the same layer of the insulating substrate 10, or they may be provided in different layers. The heating element 11 and the detection element 12 may also be covered with an insulating layer not shown.

[0017] The heating wire 11 is arranged on the surface of the insulating substrate 10, folded back at predetermined intervals in a meandering manner. The heating wire 11 is made of a metal material that generates heat when an electric current is passed through it. Both ends of the heating wire 11 are electrically connected to the control unit 3, and the current is controlled by the control unit 3. When current is passed through the heating wire 11 by the current control of the control unit 3, the heating wire 11 generates heat.

[0018] The detection wire 12 is also arranged by being folded back at predetermined intervals so as to meander along the surface of the insulating substrate 10. The detection wire 12 is wiring for detecting contact or proximity of an object. The detection wire 12 is made of a metallic material capable of generating an electric field.

[0019] As shown in Figure 3, the detection wire 12 arranged on the insulating substrate 10 is divided into multiple electrically independent detection blocks 20 (in other words, multiple detection sections or multiple detection areas) at least in the portion facing the noise generating component 9. In the first embodiment, the detection wire 12 is divided into multiple electrically independent detection blocks 20 not only in the portion facing the noise generating component 9, but throughout the entire heater body 2.

[0020] In Figure 3, all elements with the letters a, b, c, etc. appended after the reference numeral 20 indicate a detection block 20. Also, in Figure 3, to distinguish between multiple detection blocks 20, and for the sake of explanation, although not cross-sections, each of the multiple detection blocks 20 is given a different hatching pattern. These same details are also present in the schematic diagrams of the heater device 1 (i.e., schematic diagrams viewed from the normal direction of the heater body 2) which will be referenced in each embodiment described later.

[0021] In the following description of the first embodiment, the multiple detection blocks 20 may be referred to as "first detection block 20a," "second detection block 20b," "third detection block 20c," and "fourth detection block 20d," respectively, from left to right in Figure 3. The first to fourth detection blocks 20a to 20d are electrically independent; the detection lines 12 constituting each detection block 20 are not in contact with each other on the insulating substrate 10 and are not electrically connected. The number, shape, size, etc., of the multiple detection blocks 20 are not limited to those shown in the figure and can be set arbitrarily. This is also true for each embodiment described later.

[0022] Both ends of the detection wires 12 constituting each detection block 20 are electrically connected to a detection circuit (not shown) provided by the control unit 3. Specifically, both ends of the detection wires 12 constituting the first detection block 20a are electrically connected to a detection circuit provided by the control unit 3. Similarly, both ends of the detection wires 12 constituting the second to fourth detection blocks 20b to 20d are also electrically connected to a detection circuit provided by the control unit 3.

[0023] The control unit 3 comprises a processor that performs control processing and calculation processing, a microcomputer including a storage unit such as ROM or RAM for storing programs and data, and its peripheral circuits. The storage unit is made of a non-transitional physical storage medium. The control unit 3 detects the temperature using a temperature sensor (not shown) provided on the insulating substrate 10. The control unit 3 then controls the power supply to the heating wire 11 by on / off control or duty cycle control in order to control the temperature to a predetermined target temperature.

[0024] Furthermore, the control unit 3 applies a pulsed voltage from the detection circuit to the detection lines 12 that constitute each of the multiple detection blocks 20. When an object such as a crew member's finger comes into contact with or approaches the heater body 2, the capacitance stored in the pseudo-capacitor formed between the object and the detection line 12 that constitutes one of the multiple detection blocks 20 changes. The control unit 3 is configured to detect the change in capacitance of each of the multiple detection blocks 20. When the amount of change in capacitance of any one of the multiple detection blocks 20 exceeds a predetermined threshold, the control unit 3 detects contact or proximity of an object.

[0025] When the control unit 3 detects contact or proximity of an object, it reduces the amount of current supplied to the heating wire 11 to a lower level than normal or stops the current supply. Both the heating wire 11 and the detection wire 12 are formed in a linear shape and have low heat capacity. Therefore, because the heater body 2 of this heater device 1 has a small heat capacity, it can rapidly lower the temperature when an object comes into contact with it.

[0026] Figure 5 shows the change in capacitance of one of the multiple detection blocks 20 (for example, the first detection block 20a) of the heater device 1 of the first embodiment when an occupant's finger or the like comes into contact with or comes into close proximity to that detection block 20. As shown in Figure 5, when the capacitance becomes greater than a predetermined threshold Th at time T1, the control unit 3 detects that an object has come into contact with or come into close proximity to that object. Also, when the capacitance becomes less than a predetermined threshold Th at time T2, the control unit 3 detects that an object is not coming into contact with or coming into close proximity to that object.

[0027] On the other hand, Figure 6 shows the change in capacitance of the first detection block 20a when electromagnetic noise EN is generated from the noise generating component 9 in the heater device 1 of the first embodiment. As described above, the first detection block 20a is a divided portion of the detection line 12 arranged on the insulating substrate 10 that is positioned opposite the noise generating component 9. As a result, the influence of the electromagnetic noise EN generated by the noise generating component 9 on the first detection block 20a is smaller than the influence of the electromagnetic noise EN on all the detection lines 12 arranged on the insulating substrate 10. Therefore, as shown in Figure 6, even if the noise generating component 9 generates electromagnetic noise EN, the amount of change in capacitance at time T11 to T12 becomes smaller than a predetermined threshold Th, and the control unit 3 does not detect contact or proximity of an object. Thus, the heater device 1 of the first embodiment can suppress the control unit 3 from falsely detecting contact or proximity of a human body due to electromagnetic noise EN generated from the noise generating component 9.

[0028] To compare with the heater device 1 of the first embodiment described above, a comparative example heater device 30 will be described. As shown in Figure 7, in the comparative example heater device 30, the detection line 12 constitutes a single detection block 200 throughout the entire area of ​​the heater body 2.

[0029] Figure 8 shows the change in capacitance of the detection line 12 (i.e., a single detection block 200) when electromagnetic noise EN is generated from the noise generating component 9 in the comparative example heater device 30. In the comparative example heater device 30, the magnitude of the electromagnetic noise EN generated from the noise generating component 9 is assumed to be the same as that of the first embodiment. As shown in Figure 8, when the noise generating component 9 generates electromagnetic noise EN, the capacitance becomes larger than a predetermined threshold Th at time T21. Therefore, the control unit 3 incorrectly detects that an object is in contact or nearby. When the noise generating component 9 stops or reduces the electromagnetic noise EN, the capacitance becomes smaller than a predetermined threshold Th at time T22, and the control unit 3 detects that the object is not in contact or nearby. Thus, in the comparative example heater device 30, there is a risk that the control unit 3 may incorrectly detect contact or proximity of an object due to the electromagnetic noise EN generated by the noise generating component 9.

[0030] Next, with reference to Figure 9, the inventors will explain the results of their experiments regarding the relationship between the length of the noise generating component 9, which is positioned opposite one detection block 20, the distance between the noise generating component 9 and the detection line 12, and the noise target in the configuration of the heater device 1 of the first embodiment.

[0031] This experiment was conducted by arranging the heater body 2 and the noise generating component 9 so that they overlapped (i.e., were facing each other) in a planar projection viewed from the normal direction of the heater body 2. A LIN signal line was used as the noise generating component 9. LIN stands for Local Interconnect Network. The LIN signal line is an example of a signal line that transmits a drive signal to the control unit 3.

[0032] In Figure 9, the area α hatched with a solid line indicates the area α that satisfies the noise target, and the area β hatched with a dashed line indicates the area β that does not satisfy the noise target. The area α that satisfies the noise target is the area in which the control unit 3 does not falsely detect contact or proximity of an object due to the electromagnetic noise EN generated by the noise-generating component 9. The area β that does not satisfy the noise target is the area in which the control unit 3 falsely detects contact or proximity of an object due to the electromagnetic noise EN generated by the noise-generating component 9. In the following explanation, the boundary between the area α that satisfies the noise target and the area β that does not satisfy the noise target is referred to as the "noise target boundary TB".

[0033] Furthermore, in the following explanation, the length of the noise generating component 9 positioned opposite one detection block 20 will be referred to as the "wrap length of the noise generating component 9" as appropriate, and the distance between the noise generating component 9 and the detection line 12 will be referred to as the "distance of the noise generating component 9" as appropriate.

[0034] As shown in Figure 9, when the wrap length of the noise generating component 9 is between 0 and L_a, the distance of the noise generating component 9 that becomes the noise target boundary TB is H_a. Therefore, when the wrap length of the noise generating component 9 is between 0 and L_a, the distance of the noise generating component 9 is greater than or equal to H_a, and the noise target is satisfied within the range α.

[0035] When the wrap length of the noise generating component 9 is between L_a and L_b, there is a linear relationship between the wrap length of the noise generating component 9 that constitutes the noise target boundary TB and the distance to the noise generating component 9. In this disclosure, "linear relationship" includes not only a perfectly linear relationship but also a relationship that approximates linearity due to manufacturing tolerances, etc. When the wrap length of the noise generating component 9 is L_b, the distance to the noise generating component 9 that constitutes the noise target boundary TB is H_b. Therefore, when the wrap length of the noise generating component 9 is between L_a and L_b, the range α that satisfies the noise target is obtained by gradually increasing the distance to the noise generating component 9 from H_a or greater to H_b or greater.

[0036] When the wrap length of the noise generating component 9 is between L_b and L_c, the distance of the noise generating component 9 that constitutes the noise target boundary TB becomes greater than H_c. Therefore, when the wrap length of the noise generating component 9 is longer than L_b, the noise target is not satisfied if the distance of the noise generating component 9 is at least closer than H_c.

[0037] In this experimental result, L_a is, for example, 25 mm, L_b is, for example, 75 mm, and L_c is, for example, 120 mm. H_a is, for example, 5 mm, H_b is, for example, 10 mm, and H_c is, for example, 20 mm. However, these values ​​may vary depending on the magnitude of the electromagnetic noise EN generated by the noise generating component 9, the sensitivity of the detection line 12, etc.

[0038] Based on these experimental results, the heater device 1 of the first embodiment sets the overlap length of the noise generating component 9 (i.e., the length of the noise generating component 9 positioned opposite one detection block 20) ​​to between 0 and L_b. This makes it possible to set the noise target range α by setting the distance of the noise generating component 9 to a predetermined distance or greater (i.e., from H_a or greater to H_b or greater) according to the overlap length of the noise generating component 9. The predetermined distance can be appropriately set through experiments or other means, depending on the magnitude of the electromagnetic noise EN generated by the noise generating component 9 on the vehicle side on which the heater device 1 is mounted, and the sensitivity of the detection line 12 of the heater device 1.

[0039] The heater device 1 of the first embodiment described above provides the following effects: (1) The heater device 1 of the first embodiment is configured to reduce the influence of electromagnetic noise EN generated from the noise generating component 9 on the control unit 3's detection of contact or proximity of an object. As a result, even when the noise generating component 9 on the vehicle side is placed near the heater device 1, the heater device 1 can suppress the control unit 3 from falsely detecting contact or proximity of a human body.

[0040] (2) The detection wire 12 of the heater device 1 of the first embodiment is divided into a plurality of electrically independent detection blocks 20 in the portion that is positioned opposite the noise generating component 9. The control unit 3 is configured to detect contact or proximity of an object by the change in capacitance of each of the plurality of detection blocks 20. With this configuration, by dividing the portion of the detection wire 12 that is positioned opposite the noise generating component 9 into a plurality of detection blocks 20, the electromagnetic noise EN that each of the plurality of detection blocks 20 receives from the noise generating component 9 is reduced. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the control unit 3 from falsely detecting contact or proximity of a human body due to electromagnetic noise EN generated from the noise generating component 9. On the other hand, when a human body comes into contact with or comes close to any one of the plurality of detection blocks 20, the capacitance of that detection block 20 changes sufficiently, so the control unit 3 can detect contact or proximity of a human body. Furthermore, by dividing the detection wire 12 into a plurality of detection blocks 20, the heater device 1 of the first embodiment can suppress false detection of contact or proximity of a human body without increasing the number of components or increasing the size of the device. Therefore, the heater device 1 of the first embodiment can further improve the degree of freedom in mounting space without increasing manufacturing costs.

[0041] (3) The control unit 3 of the heater device 1 of the first embodiment is configured to detect contact or proximity of an object when the change in capacitance of any one of the plurality of detection blocks 20 exceeds a predetermined threshold Th. According to this, a specific method for detecting contact or proximity of an object by the control unit 3 is illustrated.

[0042] (4) In the first embodiment, the wrap length of the noise generating component 9 is equal to or less than the upper limit value L_b of the range in which the wrap length of the noise generating component 9 and the distance of the noise generating component 9 have a linear relationship at the noise target boundary TB. According to this, by setting the distance of the noise generating component 9 to be a predetermined distance or more according to the wrap length of the noise generating component 9, it is possible to suppress the control unit 3 from erroneously detecting contact or proximity of a human body due to the electromagnetic noise EN generated from the noise generating component 9.

[0043] (5) In the first embodiment, the noise generating component 9 is a harness having a signal line that transmits a drive signal to the control unit 3. According to this, as the noise generating component 9 that generates the electromagnetic noise EN, a vehicle-side harness is exemplified. Therefore, even when the space inside the instrument panel 4 where the harness is arranged is narrow, it is possible to suppress the control unit 3 from erroneously detecting contact or proximity of a human body.

[0044] (Second Embodiment) The second embodiment will be described. The second embodiment is obtained by changing or defining a part of the configuration of the detection line 12 with respect to the first embodiment, and since the other parts are the same as those of the first embodiment, only the parts different from the first embodiment will be described.

[0045] As shown in FIG. 10, also in the second embodiment, the detection line 12 arranged on the insulating base material 10 is divided into a plurality of electrically independent detection blocks 20 at least at a portion facing the noise generating component 9. Note that the detection line 12 is not limited to the portion facing the noise generating component 9, and is divided into a plurality of electrically independent detection blocks 20 over the entire area of the heater main body 2.

[0046] In the second embodiment, the length L1 of the noise generating component 9 arranged opposite to the first detection block 20a is equal to or less than two-thirds of the length L of the noise generating component 9 arranged opposite to all the detection lines 12 arranged on the insulating base material 10. Also, the length L2 of the noise generating component 9 arranged opposite to the second detection block 20b is equal to or less than two-thirds of the length L of the noise generating component 9 arranged opposite to all the detection lines 12 arranged on the insulating base material 10.

[0047] In the second embodiment described above, for each of the plurality of detection blocks 20, the length in which one detection block 20 and the noise generating component 9 are arranged opposite to each other is 2 / 3 or less of the length of the noise generating component 9 arranged opposite to all the detection lines 12 provided on the insulating base material 10. According to this, the length of each of the plurality of detection blocks 20 arranged opposite to the noise generating component 9 is shorter than the length of the noise generating component 9 arranged opposite to all the detection lines 12 provided on the insulating base material 10. Therefore, with respect to the electromagnetic noise EN received by all the detection blocks 20 from the noise generating component 9, the electromagnetic noise EN received by each of the plurality of detection blocks 20 arranged opposite to the noise generating component 9 from the noise generating component 9 becomes smaller. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the control unit 3 from erroneously detecting the contact or proximity of the human body due to the electromagnetic noise EN generated from the noise generating component 9.

[0048] (Third Embodiment) The third embodiment will be described. The third embodiment is also one in which a part of the configuration of the detection line 12 is changed or defined with respect to the first embodiment and the like, and since the other parts are the same as those in the first embodiment and the like, only the parts different from the first embodiment and the like will be described.

[0049] As shown in FIG. 11, also in the third embodiment, the detection line 12 arranged on the insulating base material 10 is divided into a plurality of electrically independent detection blocks 20 at least at the part arranged opposite to the noise generating component 9. Note that the detection line 12 is not limited to the part arranged opposite to the noise generating component 9, and is divided into a plurality of electrically independent detection blocks 20 over the entire area of the heater main body 2.

[0050] In the third embodiment, the number of detection blocks 20 arranged opposite to the noise generating component 9 is more than half of the number of all the detection blocks 20 provided on the insulating base material 10. Specifically, in the third embodiment, five detection blocks 20 (that is, the first to fifth detection blocks 20a to 20e) are provided on the insulating base material 10. Among them, three detection blocks 20 (that is, the first to third detection blocks 20a to 20c) are arranged opposite to the noise generating component 9.

[0051] In the third embodiment described above, the number of detection blocks 20 positioned opposite the noise generating component 9 is greater than half the total number of detection blocks 20 provided on the insulating substrate 10. This makes it possible to shorten the length of each of the multiple detection blocks 20 positioned opposite the noise generating component 9 by increasing the number of detection blocks 20. As a result, the electromagnetic noise EN received by each of the multiple detection blocks 20 from the noise generating component 9 is reduced. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the control unit 3 from falsely detecting human contact or proximity due to electromagnetic noise EN generated from the noise generating component 9.

[0052] (Fourth Embodiment) The fourth embodiment will now be described. The fourth embodiment also has some modifications to the configuration of the detection line 12 compared to the first embodiment, etc., and is otherwise the same as the first embodiment, etc., so only the parts that differ from the first embodiment, etc. will be described.

[0053] As shown in Figure 12, in the fourth embodiment as well, the detection line 12 arranged on the insulating substrate 10 is divided into a plurality of electrically independent detection blocks 20. However, in the fourth embodiment, the detection blocks 20 are provided in the portion of the insulating substrate 10 excluding the portion facing the noise generating component 9. That is, in the planar projection viewed from the normal direction of the heater body 2, no detection blocks 20 are provided in the region facing the noise generating component 9. Specifically, a first detection block 20a is provided on one side of the noise generating component 9 (for example, above the region facing the noise generating component 9 in Figure 12) with respect to the region of the insulating substrate 10 facing the noise generating component 9. A second detection block 20b is provided on the other side of the noise generating component 9 (for example, below the region facing the noise generating component 9 in Figure 12) with respect to the region of the insulating substrate 10 facing the noise generating component 9.

[0054] In the fourth embodiment described above, the detection block 20 is provided on the insulating substrate 10 in a portion excluding the portion facing the noise generating component 9. This reduces the amount of electromagnetic noise EN that each of the multiple detection blocks 20 receives from the noise generating component 9. Therefore, even when the noise generating component 9 is placed near the heater device 1, it is possible to suppress the control unit 3 from falsely detecting human contact or proximity due to the electromagnetic noise EN generated by the noise generating component 9.

[0055] (Fifth Embodiment) The fifth embodiment will now be described. The fifth embodiment specifies the distance to the noise generating component 9 (i.e., the distance between the heater body 2 and the noise generating component 9) compared to the first embodiment, etc., and is otherwise the same as the first embodiment, etc., so only the parts that differ from the first embodiment, etc. will be described.

[0056] As shown in Figure 13, in the fifth embodiment, the distance H of the noise generating component 9 is set to be greater than or equal to a predetermined distance. Specifically, the distance H of the noise generating component 9 is set to be at least one-fifth of the maximum length of the noise generating component 9 that is positioned opposite one detection block 20. The maximum length of the noise generating component 9 that is positioned opposite one detection block 20 is set to be within the range (i.e., from L_a to L_b) in which the overlap length of the noise generating component 9 and the distance H of the noise generating component 9 have a linear relationship with the noise target boundary TB, based on the experimental results shown in Figure 9. For example, when L_a is 25 mm and H_a is 5 mm, the distance H of the noise generating component 9 is 5 mm or more. When L_b is 75 mm and H_b is 10 mm, the distance H of the noise generating component 9 is 15 mm or more. Therefore, it is possible to set each of the multiple detection blocks 20 to a range α that satisfies the noise target.

[0057] In the fifth embodiment described above, the distance H of the noise generating component 9 is at least one-fifth of the maximum length of the noise generating component 9 that is positioned opposite one detection block 20. This makes it possible to set the distance between the noise generating component 9 and the detection block 20 according to the wrap length of the noise generating component 9, thereby setting each of the multiple detection blocks 20 positioned opposite the noise generating component 9 to a range α that satisfies the noise target. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the control unit 3 from falsely detecting human contact or proximity due to electromagnetic noise EN generated from the noise generating component 9.

[0058] (Sixth Embodiment) The sixth embodiment will now be described. The sixth embodiment is a modified version of the fifth embodiment.

[0059] As shown in Figure 14, in the sixth embodiment, the heater device 1 includes a fixing member 13 for fixing the heater body 2 and the noise generating component 9. The fixing member 13 is configured to fix the noise generating component 9 to the heater body 2 while the distance H of the noise generating component 9 is set to at least one-fifth of the maximum length of the noise generating component 9 that is arranged opposite one detection block 20. An example of the noise generating component 9 is a vehicle-side harness. An example of the fixing member 13 is a clip for fixing the harness. The clip is attached to the heater body 2.

[0060] In the sixth embodiment described above, the noise generating component 9 is prevented from approaching the detection block 20, thereby suppressing the control unit 3 from falsely detecting human contact or proximity due to electromagnetic noise EN.

[0061] (Seventh Embodiment) The seventh embodiment will now be described. The seventh embodiment adds or modifies a configuration to reduce the influence of electromagnetic noise EN on object detection by the control unit 3 compared to the first embodiment, etc., and is otherwise the same as the first embodiment, etc., so only the parts that differ from the first embodiment, etc. will be described.

[0062] As shown in Figure 15, the heater device 1 of the seventh embodiment includes a noise shield 14 between the noise generating component 9 and the detection line 12, capable of shielding the noise generated by the noise generating component 9. The noise shield 14 is formed of, for example, metal or a material containing metal. The noise shield 14 is provided at least in a portion facing the noise generating component 9.

[0063] In the sixth embodiment described above, the noise shield 14 provided between the noise generating component 9 and the detection line 12 reduces the electromagnetic noise EN received by the detection line 12 from the noise generating component 9. Therefore, even when the noise generating component 9 is placed near the heater device 1, it is possible to suppress the control unit 3 from falsely detecting human contact or proximity due to the electromagnetic noise EN.

[0064] (Eighth Embodiment) The eighth embodiment will now be described. The eighth embodiment is a modification of the arrangement of the noise generating component 9 compared to the first embodiment, etc., and is otherwise the same as the first embodiment, etc., so only the parts that differ from the first embodiment, etc. will be described.

[0065] As shown in Figures 16 and 17, in the eighth embodiment, the heater body 2 of the heater device 1 is described as having a plate-like shape extending on the XY plane in a three-dimensional coordinate system defined by the XYZ coordinate axes. In the eighth embodiment, a noise generating component 9 is arranged inside the instrument panel 4 on which the heater device 1 is installed, around the outer edge 21 of the heater body 2 (i.e., at an opposing position). The noise generating component 9 is positioned at a location offset from the outer edge 21 of the heater body 2 in any direction on the XY plane. Specifically, in the example of the eighth embodiment, the noise generating component 9 is positioned offset from the outer edge 21 of the heater body 2 in the -X direction and extends in the Y direction. Furthermore, the noise generating component 9 is positioned substantially parallel to the outer edge 21 of the heater body 2 that is provided in the -X direction and extends in the Y direction. In this disclosure, the noise generating component 9 shown in the eighth embodiment is also positioned opposite the detection line 12. In other words, the noise generating component 9 is positioned opposite the outer edge of the insulating substrate 10 on which the detection line 12 is provided.

[0066] As shown in Figure 17, in the eighth embodiment as well, the detection line 12 of the heater device 1 is divided into a plurality of electrically independent detection blocks 20 in the portion facing the noise generating component 9. Specifically, in the example of the eighth embodiment, among the plurality of detection blocks 20, the first detection block 20a and the second detection block 20b, which are facing the noise generating component 9, are arranged in the Y direction.

[0067] The heater device 1 of the eighth embodiment described above can also achieve the same effects and advantages as the heater device 1 of the first embodiment and the like.

[0068] (Ninth Embodiment) The ninth embodiment will now be described. The ninth embodiment is similar to the first embodiment, etc., in that the arrangement of the noise generating component 9 has been changed, and other aspects are the same as the first embodiment, etc. Therefore, only the parts that differ from the first embodiment, etc. will be described.

[0069] As shown in Figure 18, in the ninth embodiment as well, the heater body 2 of the heater device 1 is described as having a plate-like shape extending on the XY plane in a three-dimensional coordinate system defined by the XYZ coordinate axes. In the ninth embodiment as well, inside the instrument panel 4 on which the heater device 1 is installed, a noise generating component 9 is arranged around the outer edge 21 of the heater body 2 of the heater device 1 (i.e., at an opposing position). Specifically, the noise generating component 9 is arranged at a position offset from the heater body 2 in any direction of the X or Y axis, and at a position offset from the heater body 2 in any direction of the Z axis. Specifically, in the example of the ninth embodiment, the noise generating component 9 is arranged at a position offset from the heater body 2 in the -X direction and the -Z direction, and extends in the Y direction. Furthermore, the noise generating component 9 is arranged substantially parallel to the outer edge 21 of the heater body 2, which is provided in the -X direction and extends in the Y direction. Furthermore, in this disclosure, the noise generating component 9 shown in the ninth embodiment is also positioned opposite the detection line 12. In other words, the noise generating component 9 is positioned opposite the outer edge of the insulating substrate 10 on which the detection line 12 is provided.

[0070] In the ninth embodiment, as shown in Figure 17 in the description of the eighth embodiment, the detection line 12 of the heater device 1 is divided into a plurality of electrically independent detection blocks 20 in the portion facing the noise generating component 9. Specifically, in the example of the ninth embodiment, among the plurality of detection blocks 20, the first detection block 20a and the second detection block 20b, which are facing the noise generating component 9, are arranged in the Y direction.

[0071] The heater device 1 of the ninth embodiment described above can also achieve the same effects and advantages as the heater device 1 of the first embodiment and the like.

[0072] (Other Embodiments) (1) In the above embodiments, the heater device 1 was described as detecting when an object is in contact with or close to the heater body 2 using a self-capacitance method, but it is not limited to this, and for example, it may be detected using a mutual capacitance method. In that case, the detection line 12 is composed of a transmitting electrode line and a receiving electrode line. When an object such as a crew member's finger comes into contact with or close to the heater body 2, the capacitance stored in the pseudo-capacitor formed between the transmitting electrode line and the receiving electrode line, which constitute the detection line 12 of one of the plurality of detection blocks 20, decreases. The control unit 3 detects contact with or close to an object when the amount of change in capacitance of any one of the plurality of detection blocks 20 (specifically, the absolute value of the decrease) exceeds a predetermined threshold. The heater device 1 may also detect when an object is in contact with or close to the heater body 2 using any method other than the self-capacitance method or the mutual capacitance method.

[0073] (2) In the above embodiments, the heater device 1 was described as being installed in part of the instrument panel 4, for example, but it is not limited to this and may be installed in any location, such as at the driver's feet, to the side of the driver, in front of the driver, under the seat, or beside the seat.

[0074] (3) In each of the above embodiments, the noise generating component 9 was described as a component on the vehicle side, but it is not limited to this, and may be a component of the heater device 1 (for example, a harness extending from the control unit 3), or it may be an electrical component that is retrofitted to the vehicle.

[0075] This disclosure is not limited to the embodiments described above and can be modified as appropriate. Furthermore, the embodiments and parts thereof are not unrelated to each other and can be combined as appropriate, except in cases where the combination is clearly impossible. In addition, it goes without saying that the elements constituting the embodiments are not necessarily essential unless they are explicitly stated to be particularly essential or are clearly considered essential in principle. Furthermore, when numerical values ​​such as the number, numerical values, quantities, or ranges of the components of the embodiments are mentioned in the embodiments, they are not limited to those specific numbers unless they are explicitly stated to be particularly essential or are clearly limited to a specific number in principle. Furthermore, when the shapes, positional relationships, etc. of the components are mentioned in the embodiments, they are not limited to those shapes, positional relationships, etc. unless they are explicitly stated to be particular or are clearly limited to a specific shape, positional relationship, etc. in principle.

[0076] (Perspective of this Disclosure) The above disclosure can be understood, for example, from the following perspectives. [First Perspective] A heater device mounted on a vehicle, comprising: an insulating substrate (10); a heating wire (11) provided on the insulating substrate and generating heat when energized; a detection wire (12) provided on the insulating substrate for detecting contact or proximity of an object; and a control unit (3) that, when it detects contact or proximity of an object by a change in the capacitance of the detection wire, reduces the amount of current supplied to the heating wire to a lower level than the normal state or stops the current supply, wherein the heater device is configured to reduce the influence of electromagnetic noise (EN) generated from a noise generating component (9) positioned opposite the detection wire on the control unit's detection of contact or proximity of an object. [Second Perspective] The heater device according to the first perspective, wherein the portion of the detection wire positioned opposite the noise generating component is divided into a plurality of electrically independent detection blocks (20); and the control unit is configured to detect contact or proximity of an object by a change in the capacitance of each of the plurality of detection blocks. [Third viewpoint] The heater device according to the second viewpoint, wherein the control unit is configured to detect contact or proximity of an object when the change in capacitance of any one of the plurality of detection blocks exceeds a predetermined threshold (Th). [Fourth viewpoint] The heater device according to the second or third viewpoint, wherein the length (L1, L2) between each of the plurality of detection blocks and the noise generating component is two-thirds or less of the length (L) of the noise generating component that is positioned opposite to all of the detection lines provided on the insulating substrate. [Fifth viewpoint] The heater device according to any one of the second to fourth viewpoints, wherein the number of detection blocks positioned opposite to the noise generating component is greater than half of the total number of detection blocks provided on the insulating substrate. [Sixth viewpoint] The heater device according to any one of the first to third viewpoints, wherein the detection line is divided into a plurality of electrically independent detection blocks (20) in the portion facing the noise generating component, and the detection blocks are provided in the portion of the insulating substrate excluding the portion facing the noise generating component.[Seventh viewpoint] In the relationship between the distance between the noise generating component and the detection line and the length of the noise generating component arranged opposite to one of the detection blocks, the boundary between the range (α) in which the control unit does not erroneously detect contact or proximity of the object due to the electromagnetic noise generated by the noise generating component and the range (β) in which the control unit erroneously detects contact or proximity of the object due to the electromagnetic noise generated by the noise generating component is called the noise target boundary (TB), and when the length of the noise generating component arranged opposite to one of the detection blocks is within a predetermined range (L_a to L_b), the noise target boundary has a linear relationship between the distance between the noise generating component and the detection line and the length of the noise generating component arranged opposite to one of the detection blocks, and the length in which one of the detection blocks and the noise generating component are arranged opposite to each other is less than or equal to the upper limit of the predetermined range (L_b), as described in any one of the second to fifth viewpoints. [Eighth viewpoint] In a plurality of detection blocks, when the maximum length of the noise generating component arranged opposite one of the detection blocks is within the predetermined range, the distance (H) between the noise generating component and the detection block is one-fifth or more of the maximum length of the noise generating component arranged opposite one of the detection blocks, as described in the seventh viewpoint. [Ninth viewpoint] The heater device according to the eighth viewpoint, further comprising a fixing member (13) for fixing the noise generating component to the insulating substrate while the distance between the noise generating component and the detection block is one-fifth or more of the maximum length of the noise generating component arranged opposite one of the detection blocks, as described in the eighth viewpoint. [Tenth viewpoint] The heater device according to any one of the first to ninth viewpoints, further comprising a noise shield (14) for shielding the noise generated by the noise generating component between the noise generating component and the detection line. [Eleventh viewpoint] The heater device according to any one of the first to tenth viewpoints, wherein the noise generating component is a harness having a signal line for transmitting a drive signal to the control unit.

Claims

1. A heater device mounted on a vehicle, comprising: an insulating substrate (10); a heating wire (11) provided on the insulating substrate and generating heat when energized; a detection wire (12) provided on the insulating substrate for detecting contact or proximity of an object; and a control unit (3) that, when contact or proximity of an object is detected by a change in the capacitance of the detection wire, reduces the amount of current supplied to the heating wire to a level lower than the normal state or stops the current supply, wherein the heater device is configured to reduce the influence of electromagnetic noise (EN) generated from a noise generating component (9) positioned opposite the detection wire on the control unit's detection of contact or proximity of an object.

2. The heater device according to claim 1, wherein the detection line is divided into a plurality of electrically independent detection blocks (20) in the portion facing the noise generating component, and the control unit is configured to detect contact or proximity of the object by a change in the capacitance of each of the plurality of detection blocks.

3. The heater device according to claim 2, wherein the control unit is configured to detect contact or proximity of an object when the change in capacitance of any one of the plurality of detection blocks exceeds a predetermined threshold (Th).

4. The heater device according to claim 2 or 3, wherein in each of the plurality of detection blocks, the length (L1, L2) between one detection block and the noise generating component is two-thirds or less of the length (L) of the noise generating component that is positioned opposite to all of the detection lines provided on the insulating substrate.

5. The heater device according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the number of detection blocks positioned opposite the noise generating component is greater than half the total number of detection blocks provided on the insulating substrate.

6. The heater device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the detection line is divided into a plurality of electrically independent detection blocks (20) in the portion facing the noise generating component, and the detection blocks are provided in the portion of the insulating substrate excluding the portion facing the noise generating component.

7. In the relationship between the distance between the noise generating component and the detection line and the length of the noise generating component arranged opposite to one of the detection blocks, the boundary between the range (α) in which the control unit does not erroneously detect contact or proximity of the object due to electromagnetic noise generated by the noise generating component and the range (β) in which the control unit erroneously detects contact or proximity of the object due to electromagnetic noise generated by the noise generating component is called the noise target boundary (TB), and when the length of the noise generating component arranged opposite to one of the detection blocks is within a predetermined range (L_a to L_b), the noise target boundary has a linear relationship between the distance between the noise generating component and the detection line and the length of the noise generating component arranged opposite to one of the detection blocks, and the length of the detection block and the noise generating component arranged opposite to one of the detection blocks is less than or equal to the upper limit of the predetermined range (L_b), as described in claim 2 or 3.

8. In a plurality of detection blocks, when the maximum length of the noise generating component arranged opposite one of the detection blocks is within the predetermined range, the distance (H) between the noise generating component and the detection block is one-fifth or more of the maximum length of the noise generating component arranged opposite one of the detection blocks, as described in claim 7.

9. The heater device according to claim 8, further comprising a fixing member (13) for fixing the noise generating component to the insulating substrate, wherein the distance between the noise generating component and the detection block is one-fifth or more of the maximum length of the noise generating component arranged opposite to one of the detection blocks.

10. The heater device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a noise shield (14) for shielding the noise generated by the noise generating component is provided between the noise generating component and the detection line.

11. The heater device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the noise generating component is a harness having signal lines for transmitting a drive signal to the control unit.

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