Steering Wheel Heating Conductor with Constant Potential Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems for heating a steering wheel and detecting contact simultaneously face mutual electrical interference, requiring complex shielding and separate power sources, which complicates the design and increases costs.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus with a steering wheel armature made of electrically conductive material and an external electric heating conductor, connected to a control and evaluation device that maintains the armature at a constant potential during measurements, eliminating interference and allowing the same conductor to function for both heating and sensing without additional shielding.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a steering wheel heating system and contact sensor system are integrated simultaneously, then both heating function and contact detection function are achieved, but mutual electrical interference occurs between the two systems
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies periodic action by alternating between heating operation and measuring operation in distinct time intervals. During heating operation, the heating conductor operates normally. During measuring operation, the heating conductor is switched off and the armature potential is held constant to enable accurate contact detection. This temporal separation eliminates mutual electrical interference while maintaining both heating and sensing functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies equipotentiality by maintaining the steering wheel armature at a constant predetermined potential during measuring operation. This eliminates potential differences between the armature and heating conductor that would cause electrical interference, creating a stable electrical environment for accurate contact detection while allowing the heating function to operate normally in other time intervals.
2Reliability
If shielding mats and separate power sources are used to eliminate electrical interference, then measurement reliability is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the heating conductor and sensing function into a single integrated system. The same electric heating conductor serves dual purposes: heating the steering wheel during heating operation and detecting contact during measuring operation. This eliminates the need for separate sensor mats, shielding mats, and additional power sources, significantly reducing system complexity and manufacturing costs while maintaining reliable contact detection through temporal separation and constant potential maintenance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies universality by making the heating conductor multi-functional. It performs both heating function (during heating operation) and contact sensing function (during measuring operation when switched off). This single component replaces what would traditionally require separate dedicated heating elements and sensor elements, simplifying the overall system architecture and reducing component count.
3Duration of action of stationary object
If the heating conductor is used simultaneously for both heating and sensing without temporal separation, then continuous heating is maintained, but electrical interference prevents accurate contact detection
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic action by dividing operation into alternating heating intervals and measuring intervals. During heating intervals, the heating conductor operates to maintain temperature. During measuring intervals, the heating conductor is switched off and the armature potential is stabilized to enable precise contact detection. The periodic switching ensures both heating effectiveness and measurement precision are achieved at different times.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary action by performing potential stabilization of the armature before conducting contact measurements. The control device ensures the armature reaches and maintains the predetermined constant potential during measuring operation, creating optimal measurement conditions before contact detection begins. This preliminary preparation eliminates electrical interference and ensures accurate measurement results.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach simplifies the design, reduces costs, and provides reliable contact detection by maintaining a constant electrical influence from the armature, enabling robust and interference-free measurements without the need for additional shielding or power sources.
Implementation Method 1
an electric heating conductor arranged outside of the steering wheel armature... operated temporarily in a heating operation as a heating element for heating the steering wheel
Implementation Method 2
the control and evaluation device is configured so as to maintain the steering wheel armature on a predetermined and especially constant potential at least during each measuring operation
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus for heating a steering wheel and for detecting a steering wheel contact comprises a steering wheel armature (10) made from electrically conductive material and an electric heating conductor (12) arranged outside of the steering wheel armature (10). The apparatus further comprises a control and evaluation device (18) connected to the steering wheel armature (10) and the electric heating conductor (10) by means of which control and evaluation device the electric heating conductor (12) is repeatedly operated temporarily during a heating operation as a heating element for heating the steering wheel and temporarily during a measuring operation as a sensor element for detecting a steering wheel contact. The control and evaluation device (18) is configured so as to maintain the steering wheel armature (10) on a predetermined and especially constant potential at least during each measuring operation.