JP2000028742A - Electrode connection structure body of crew member detection sensor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide the electrode connection structure body of a crew member detection sensor for connecting a cable to a cloth-shaped antenna electrode with a conductivity being formed at a base member with stable electromechanical strength. SOLUTION: An extended electrode part 5a where an antenna electrode 5 in a conductive cloth shape being formed on the surface of a base member 4 is partially extended is folded back on the reverse side of the base member 4. A connection terminal 11 is electromechanically connected to a three-layer overlapped part (m) of the antenna electrode 5. The base member 4, the folds- back extended electrode 5a, and a cable 6 is electromechanically connected to the connection terminal 11. The connection terminal 11 is provided with a pair of conductive locking tools 12 and 13 that are through the overlapped part (m), suppresses and pinches the antenna electrode 5 and the fold-back extension electrode part 5a from upper and lower portions, and are connected electromechanically, and the cable 6 is electromechanically connected one locking tool 13 by a crimp type terminal 14 or the like.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electrode connection structure for an occupant detection sensor, and more particularly, to an electrode (antenna electrode) of an occupant detection sensor and a dedicated cable arranged on a seat for detecting the occupant's seating state. The improvement of the connection structure.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, an airbag device is a device for reducing the impact received by an occupant at the time of a collision of an automobile.
It has become indispensable to the safety of automobiles. In recent years, it has been installed not only in a driver's seat but also in a passenger seat. For this reason, even if the vehicle collides, the occupant seated not only in the driver's seat but also in the passenger seat can be protected from the impact due to the collision by the deployment operation of the airbag device.

[0003] In an automobile equipped with such an airbag device, an occupant detection sensor for detecting whether or not an occupant is seated in a passenger seat is installed, and the passenger seat is detected based on a detection signal of the occupant detection sensor. There has been proposed an occupant detection system that determines an occupant's seating state or the like and sets the airbag in one of a deployable state and an undeployable state when a vehicle collides. An occupant detection sensor of this occupant detection system uses a weight sensor for measuring the weight of the occupant, and an occupant seated on a sheet is photographed by a camera, and the presence or absence of the occupant, seating status, adult It is proposed to determine whether the child is a child or a child.

In the former occupant detection system using a weight sensor, it is possible to roughly determine whether the occupant in the passenger seat is an adult or a child, and based on the determination result, the airbag can be deployed or cannot be deployed. Although it can be set in one of the two states, it is possible to avoid unforeseen situations in the event of a car collision, but the weight varies greatly between individuals, and it is possible for children and adults to be heavier than adults. Chip. Further, in the case of the occupant detection system using the latter camera, the occupant's seating status, the judgment of whether the occupant is an adult or a child, and the judgment of whether a child in a child seat is facing forward or backward can be made quite accurately. However, there is a problem that the processing apparatus becomes complicated and expensive because the seating status pattern must be determined from various data obtained by performing image processing on image data captured by a camera.

Therefore, the present applicant has previously proposed an occupant detection system capable of solving such a problem. The basic principle of this proposal is to make use of the disturbance of a weak electric field (Electric Field) generated by an antenna electrode arranged on a sheet or the like. A weak electric field is selectively generated in the vicinity of the plurality of antenna electrodes, and the occupant is seated on the seat based on the current flowing through each of the antenna electrodes according to the electric characteristics of an object located near these antenna electrodes. (E.g., the presence or absence of a seat, identification of whether the occupant is an adult or a child, etc.).
In particular, if the number of antenna electrodes is increased, it is possible to obtain a lot of information about the occupant on the sheet, and the occupant can be detected more accurately.

An occupant detection system using this principle will be described with reference to FIGS. The passenger seat 1 shown in FIG. 8 has a seating portion 1a and a backrest portion 1b, and the occupant detection sensor 3 is disposed on the seating portion 1a and the backrest portion 1b. The occupant detection sensor 3 is configured to be flexible in consideration of the occupant's sitting comfort. For example, a plurality of conductive antenna electrodes 5 are fixed to one surface of a base member 4 such as a non-woven fabric by sticking or sewing. It was done. The antenna electrode 5 is formed by weaving a thread-like metal into a fabric,
Each antenna electrode 5 is wired with a signal processing circuit 8 of a control unit 7 and a dedicated cable 6 as shown in FIG.

The control unit 7 has a signal processing circuit 8 and its power supply circuit (not shown) incorporated in one housing, and is installed in a base 1c that supports the seat 1. The signal processing circuit 8 has a frequency of 100 KHz through the switching element 9 and the cable 6 to each antenna electrode 5.
A high frequency low voltage of about 5 to 12 V is applied,
Signal data relating to a current flowing based on the weak electric field of each antenna electrode 5 is processed to calculate occupant seating status data. The cable 5 is a shielded cable composed of, for example, a signal line and a shield line for shielding the signal line. The cable 5 shields transmission / reception signals between the antenna electrode 5 and the signal processing circuit 8 from external noise, and performs signal processing of the signal processing circuit 8. Increase accuracy.

The signal processing circuit 8 calculates various types of seating status data indicating the occupant seating status of various parts of the seat 1 to calculate a seating pattern of the passenger in the seat 1. Various kinds of seating patterns and the like are stored in the signal processing circuit 8 in advance, and the seating patterns and the like calculated based on the input data are compared with the previously stored seating patterns and the like. A seating pattern to be performed is extracted and determined. The seating pattern stored in the signal processing circuit 8 is, for example, an empty seating pattern in which no occupant is seated on a sheet, a pattern in which an adult is normally seated on a sheet,
For example, a pattern in which a child is seated on a sheet. When the seating pattern is detected and specified by the signal processing circuit 8, a signal based on the detected pattern is transmitted from the signal processing circuit 8 to, for example, an airbag device (not shown), and the vehicle temporarily collides with the airbag device. However, a signal for setting so that the airbag does not deploy is transmitted, or a signal for setting so that the airbag deploys is transmitted.

[0009]

The occupant detection sensor 3 includes a plurality of cloth-like antennas having conductivity on the surface (or back surface) of one base member 4 as shown in FIG. The electrodes 5 are arranged in a predetermined arrangement pattern, and the tip of a cable 6 is electrically and mechanically connected to each antenna electrode 5 via a dedicated connection terminal 10. The connection terminal 10 is of a hook type or a pin type which is crimped and fixed to the antenna electrode 5 and the base member 4. However, since the cloth-like antenna electrode 5 and the base member 4 such as a non-woven fabric cannot be made unnecessarily thick from the viewpoint of comfort when sitting on a sheet, the antenna electrode 5 of the connection terminal 10 is required. In addition, the mechanical connection strength and the contact area with the base member 4 are insufficient, and the durability is also insufficient.
Accordingly, if the occupant detection sensor 3 is attached to a seat or the like and an external force is applied when the occupant is seated, the electrical and mechanical connection between the antenna electrode 5 and the cable 6 may be impaired, and there is a problem in reliability. Was.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an electrode connecting structure of an occupant detection sensor for connecting a cable to a conductive cloth-like antenna electrode formed on a base member with stable electric and mechanical strength. To provide.

[0011]

The technical means for achieving the above object of the present invention is to provide a occupant detection sensor having a conductive antenna electrode disposed on one surface of a base member.
And an antenna electrode of an occupant detection sensor in an occupant detection system that detects a occupant's seating state by processing a current signal flowing through the antenna electrode based on an electric field generated around the antenna electrode by a signal processing circuit. A cable connection structure, wherein a desired portion of the antenna electrode is a base.
An extended electrode portion extending in the peripheral direction of the base member is folded back on the other surface of the base member, and the antenna electrode and the base member on one surface of the base member at the folded portion are folded back. A connection terminal is electrically and mechanically connected to a portion overlapping with the electrode portion, and a cable is electrically connected to the connection terminal.

In a second aspect of the present invention, the connection terminal is formed by overlapping the antenna electrode, the base member, and the folded extension electrode portion on one surface of the base member. It is characterized in that it is electrically and mechanically connected by penetrating and holding, and a cable is electrically connected to a part of the connection terminal.

Here, the overlapped portion of the antenna electrode, the base member, and the folded extending electrode portion on one surface of the base member in the occupant detection sensor is formed by forming the upper and lower layers with the antenna electrode and the folded extending electrode portion. The intermediate layer is a part having a large mechanical strength of a three-layer structure in which the intermediate layer is a base member. Therefore, the connection terminal can be attached to the overlapping portion with sufficient mechanical strength, and the cable can be attached to this connection terminal with sufficient electrical and mechanical strength. Further, the upper and lower surfaces of the overlapped portion are the electrode surfaces of the antenna electrode and the folded extended electrode portion, and by electrically connecting the connection terminals to the upper and lower electrode surfaces, the electrical connection area is enlarged and the antenna electrode And the electrical connection area of the connection terminals and cables increases.

[0014]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Various embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 8 to 9 show the occupant detection sensor 3 in the occupant detection system shown in FIGS.
The same or corresponding parts are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

The electrode connection structure of the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 (a) and 1 (b) is a conductive cloth-shaped antenna disposed on one surface of the base member 4, for example, the surface. Electrode 5
The extended electrode portion 5a extending from a part of the peripheral edge of the base member 4 is folded back on the back surface (the other surface) of the base member 4, and the folded extended electrode portion 5a, the antenna electrode 5, and the base member 4 are joined together. The cable 6 is electrically and mechanically connected via a connection terminal 11 to a superposed portion m that superimposes on a layer. In FIG. 1, the connection terminal 11 is electrically and mechanically coupled to the overlapping portion m,
An embodiment in which the cable 6 is electrically and mechanically connected to the cable is shown.

For example, when the occupant detection sensor 3 is manufactured by attaching a plurality of rectangular conductive cloth-like antenna electrodes 5 to the peripheral edge of the surface of a base member 4 such as a rectangular nonwoven fabric by sticking, thermocompression bonding, or the like. As shown by the chain line in FIGS. 2 and 3, an extended electrode portion 5a is integrally formed at the center of the outer peripheral edge of the antenna electrode 5, and this extended electrode portion 5a is formed from the end of the base member 4 to the back surface. Fold it back and fix it to the back by sticking or thermocompression bonding. The extended electrode portion 5a folded back on the back surface of the base member 4 is superimposed on a part of the antenna electrode 5 on the surface of the base member 4 to form the antenna electrode 5, the base member 4, and the folded extended electrode portion 5a. The connection terminal 11 is fixed to the overlapping portion m, and the distal end of the cable 6 is connected to the connection terminal 11.

The connection terminal 11 is electrically and mechanically connected to the overlapped portion m with a crimping force or an elastic force. For example, the connection terminal 11 is a one-touch-type elastic pressure terminal for elastically clamping the overlapped portion m from above and below. A specific example is shown in FIG. Connection terminal 11 in FIG.
Is composed of a pair of metal first stoppers 12 and second stoppers 13. The first stopper 12 has a structure in which a pin portion 12b projects from the center of the lower surface of a circular push plate portion 12a, and a locking portion 12c projects from the outer periphery of the tip portion of the pin portion 12b. FIG. 4 shows the second stopper 13, which is an annular disc spring having an outer diameter substantially equal to the outer diameter of the pressing plate 12 a of the first stopper 12, and an electrode pressing portion 13 a. A plurality of tongue-shaped spring portions 13b extending obliquely from the inner peripheral edge toward the center of the electrode pressing portion, and a cable connecting portion 13c integrally extending from a part of the outer peripheral edge of the electrode pressing portion 13a. Is done.
The distal end of the cable 6 is electrically and mechanically crimped and fixed to the cable connecting portion 13c by using a crimp terminal 14 having a well-known sleeve shape, for example.

As shown in FIG. 2, the connection terminal 11 comprising a pair of first and second stoppers 12 and 13 is connected to the occupant detection sensor 3 as shown in FIG.
Is attached to the overlapping portion m as follows. Polymerization part m
A mounting hole 15 through which the pin portion 12b of the first stopper 12 is inserted is formed in advance in a part of the
The pin portion 12b of the stopper 12 penetrates through the mounting hole 15, and the locking portion 12c is projected to the rear side of the overlapped portion m. In this state, the spring portion 13 of the second stopper 13 is placed from the back side of the overlapped portion m.
b into the pin portion 12b of the first stopper 12, and
The tip of 3b is resiliently locked to the locking portion 12c of the pin portion 12b. At this time, the overlapped portion m is elastically pressed from above and below by the pressing plate portion 12a of the first stopper 12 and the electrode pressing portion 13a of the second stopper 13.

The first and second stoppers 12, 13 as described above
Can be easily and quickly carried out by a one-touch method. Each of the stoppers 12, 13 attached in this way makes the first stopper 12 resiliently contact the antenna electrode 5 on the surface of the base member. Since the second stopper 13 is in elastic contact with the folded extending electrode portion 5a on the back surface of the base member, the substantial electrical contact area of the connection terminal 11 with the antenna electrode 5 is increased. Also, the overlapping portion m is composed of the antenna electrode 5 and the base member 4.
And three layers of the folded extended electrode portion 5a are superposed portions having high mechanical strength.
Can be mounted with stable mechanical strength. Further, the cable 6 is fixed to the second stopper 13 by crimping with a crimp terminal 14,
The electrical and mechanical connection strength between the connection terminal 11 and the cable 6 is stabilized. Accordingly, the cable 6 is always connected to the antenna electrode 5 of the occupant detection sensor 3 via the connection terminal 11 while always being electrically stable and having high mechanical strength.

Next, another embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 to 7. The second embodiment of FIG.
The second embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that the electrode pressing portion 13a 'of the second stopper 13' is flat. By thus making the electrode pressing portion 13a 'flat, the folded extended electrode portion 5a is formed.
It is easy to increase the contact area with the electrode, and it is also easy to form various shapes such as a rectangle and a circle corresponding to the shape of the folded extended electrode portion 5a.

In the third embodiment shown in FIG. 6, the first stopper 12 of the connection terminal 11 is fixed to the overlapping portion m via the lug terminal 16, and the cable 6 is electrically and mechanically connected to the lug terminal 16. Things. The lug terminal 16 is pressed against the antenna electrode 5 by the pressing plate portion 12a of the first stopper 12 and is electrically and mechanically connected, so that the antenna electrode 5 and the cable 6 have stable strength and a large electrical contact area. Connected by

FIG. 7 shows an example in which the shape of the antenna electrode 5 on the surface of the base member 4 and the shape of the extended electrode portion 5a are changed. The extended electrode portion 5a shown in FIG. It extends from the end of the rectangular antenna electrode 5 having a small width by half the width of the antenna electrode 5. The extended electrode portion 5a shown in FIG. 7B extends from the end of the antenna electrode 5 having a smaller width with the same width. Such a change in the width of the extended electrode portion 5a is changed in accordance with a change in the number, width, shape, and arrangement pattern of the antenna electrodes 5 in one base member 4.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment. For example, the connection terminal may be constituted by first and second stoppers, and may be formed by pressing and deforming the pin of the first stopper. It can be attached to the part,
The lug terminals of the embodiments can be combined. The base member may be a cloth member or a sheet member having an insulating property. The electrical and mechanical connection between the connection terminal and the cable can be performed by welding, welding, soldering, or the like, in addition to crimping. In addition, one or more antenna electrodes may be used. Furthermore, the occupant detection sensor according to the present invention can be applied not only to occupant detection based on a signal obtained only by transmission but also to an occupant detection system based on a combination of transmission and reception.

[0024]

According to the present invention, the antenna electrode of the occupant detection sensor comprising the base member and the conductive antenna electrode is formed at the overlapped portion where the extended electrode portion of the base member and the antenna electrode is overlapped. Since the cable is connected via the connection terminal, the connection terminal can be connected to the antenna electrode and the extended electrode portion with a large electric contact area and a large mechanical strength,
An electrode connection structure of an occupant detection sensor having excellent durability and reliability can be provided, and the reliability of an occupant detection system of an automobile using the occupant detection sensor can be improved.

In particular, if the connection terminal used for electrical and mechanical connection with the antenna electrode is a connection terminal having a structure in which the overlapping portion of the occupant detection sensor is penetrated and clamped, the connection terminal and the occupant detection sensor are connected. The electrical and mechanical connection strength of the polymerized portion is further improved and becomes stable.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a view showing a first embodiment of an electrode connection structure of an occupant detection sensor according to the present invention, wherein FIG. 1 (a) is a plan view and FIG. 1 (b) is a line AA in FIG. 1 (a). FIG.

FIG. 2 is an exploded cross-sectional view of the electrode connection structure of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a partial plan view of an occupant detection sensor in the electrode connection structure of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of connection terminals and cables in the electrode connection structure of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a partial plan view of an antenna electrode in an occupant detection sensor for explaining fourth and fifth embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a seat provided with an occupant detection sensor used in an occupant detection system which is a premise of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a circuit block diagram of an occupant detection system installed on the seat of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a conventional electrode connection structure of an occupant detection sensor.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Seat 3 Occupant detection sensor 4 Base member 5 Antenna electrode 5a Extension electrode part m Overlapping part 6 Cable 8 Signal processing circuit 11 Connection terminal 12 First stopper 12a Push plate part 12b Pin part 12c Lock part 13,13 'Second stopper 13a, 13a' electrode pressing part 13b spring part 13c cable connection part 14 crimp terminal 15 mounting hole 16 lug terminal

Continuing from the front page (72) Inventor Tsutomu Fukui 1-4-1 Chuo, Wako-shi, Saitama Pref. Inside of Honda R & D Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Nobuhiro Koshiro 1-4-1 Chuo, Wako-shi, Saitama Co., Ltd. Inside the Honda R & D Center (72) Inventor Takashi Ino 1-4-1 Chuo, Wako-shi, Saitama Prefecture Stock Company Inside the Honda R & D Center Kazuma Isonaga 1-4-1, Chuo Wako-shi, Saitama Stock Company F term in the Honda R & D Co., Ltd. (reference) 2G005 DA02 DA03 2G036 AA28 BA12 CA12 5E085 BB12 CC03 FF01 HH06 JJ06

Claims (2)

[Claims] An occupant detection sensor having a conductive antenna electrode disposed on one surface of a base member is disposed on a sheet, and an antenna electrode is provided based on an electric field generated around the antenna electrode. A signal processing circuit that processes a current signal flowing through the antenna, and detects a seating state of the occupant, etc. in the occupant detection system. Is extended on the other surface of the base member, and the antenna electrode, the base member, and the folded extended electrode on one surface of the base member at the folded portion are provided. An electrode connection structure for an occupant detection sensor, wherein a connection terminal is electrically and mechanically connected to a portion overlapping with a part, and a cable is electrically connected to the connection terminal. 2. The electric machine according to claim 1, wherein the connection terminal penetrates and sandwiches the overlapping portion of the antenna electrode, the base member and the folded electrode portion on one surface of the base member. The electrode connection structure for an occupant detection sensor according to claim 1, wherein a cable is electrically connected to a part of the connection terminal.