JP2001291536A - Connecting terminal between electro-conductive cloth and electric wire - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a connecting terminal connecting an inelastic electro- conductive cloth used for a crewman detection sensor to an electric wire. SOLUTION: This is equipped with a hook 102 having a high conductivity, made of a plastic material, having a protrusion in the central part, and a contact 101 having a canned part in which the protrusion is inserted in one end and having a barrel wherein an electric wire 104 is crimped to the other end. The protrusion of the hook 102 is having a base pillar part and a caulking part formed on the base pillar part, and the material of the hook 102 is made of copper.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a connection terminal between a conductive cloth and an electric wire, and more particularly to a connection terminal between a conductive cloth and an electric wire used for an occupant detection sensor.

[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.

A conventional connection terminal between a conductive cloth and an electric wire will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIGS. 2A to 2C are a perspective view and a perspective view showing a first conventional example. (For example, JP-A-2000-
No. 28742). The principle of this technique is that a weak electric field (E) generated by an antenna electrode arranged on a sheet or the like is used.
In this method, a weak electric field is selectively generated around a plurality of antenna electrodes arranged on a sheet, and the electric field of an object located in the vicinity of the antenna electrodes is selectively generated. It detects the occupant's seating status (eg, whether or not the occupant is seated, whether the occupant is an adult or a child, etc.) based on the current flowing through each antenna electrode according to the characteristic characteristics. 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.

A passenger seat 1 shown in FIG. 2A has a seating portion 1a and a backrest portion 1b, and an 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 electrodes 5 are formed by, for example, weaving a thread-like metal into a cloth or applying a conductive paint on the cloth surface. Each antenna electrode 5 has a control unit as shown in FIG. 7 and a dedicated cable 6.

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 supporting 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 representing the occupant seating status of various parts of the seat 1 to calculate the 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.

The occupant detection sensor 3 includes a plurality of conductive cloth-like antenna electrodes 5 on the front surface (or the back surface) of one base member 4 as shown in FIG. 2C, for example. The antenna 6 is arranged in a predetermined arrangement pattern, and the distal end of the cable 6 is electrically and mechanically connected to each antenna electrode 5 via a dedicated connection terminal 10. The connection terminal 10
Hook-type or pin-type ones that are crimped and fixed to the antenna electrode 5 and the base member 4 are used. 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.

FIGS. 3A and 3B are a plan view and a sectional view showing a second conventional example. In this prior art, an extended electrode portion 5a extending from one surface of a base member 4, for example, a part of a peripheral edge of a conductive cloth-like antenna electrode 5 disposed on the surface is provided. 4 and is folded back on the other surface (the other surface), and the folded extended electrode portion 5a, the antenna electrode 5, and the base
The cable 6 is electrically and mechanically connected via a connection terminal 11 to a superimposed portion m where the member 4 is superimposed into three layers. FIG. 1 shows an example in which the connection terminal 11 is electrically and mechanically coupled to the overlapping portion m, and the cable 6 is electrically and mechanically coupled to the connection terminal 11.

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 a chain line in FIGS. 4 and 5, 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 by a caulking force or an elastic force. For example, the connection terminal 11 is a one-touch type elastically pressed 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. 6 shows the second stopper 13 which is an annular disc spring, and has an annular electrode pressing portion 13a having an outer diameter substantially equal to that of the pressing plate portion 12a of the first stopper 12, and an electrode pressing portion 13a. 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.

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 clamped by the pressing plate portion 12a of the first stopper 12 and the electrode pressing portion 13a of the second stopper 13 from above and below.

The first and second stoppers 12, 13 as described above
Can be easily and quickly carried out in a one-touch manner, and each of the stoppers 12 and 13 thus mounted 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 resilient contact with the folded extension 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. Therefore, 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.

[0016]

The above-described conventional connection terminal between the conductive cloth and the electric wire utilizes the elasticity of the conductive cloth, and thus has a drawback that it cannot be applied to a conductive cloth having no elasticity.

[0017]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, a connection terminal for connecting a conductive cloth and an electric wire is a occupant detection sensor in which a conductive antenna electrode is 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 connection structure for a cable, comprising a hook (102) made of a plastic material having good electrical conductivity and having a projection at a central portion, and a can-shaped portion having a hole at one end into which the projection is inserted. Contact (1) with a barrel to which the wire (104) can be crimped at the end
01).

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the connection terminal between the conductive cloth and the electric wire is provided such that the protrusion of the hook (102) has a first diameter and a height; And a swaged portion having a second diameter and height.

The connection terminal between the conductive cloth and the electric wire according to the third invention is the same as the first invention, wherein the material of the hook (102) is copper.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the diameter of the hole of the contact (101) fits into the caulking portion.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the connection terminal between the conductive cloth and the electric wire in the first aspect gives the compliance by making the bottom of the can-shaped portion of the contact (101) rise upward.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the connection terminal for connecting the conductive cloth and the electric wire comprises a plurality of punched holes (110, 120) at the bottom of the can-shaped portion of the contact (101) for increasing the compliance. ) Is provided.

[0023]

Next, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIGS. 1A and 1B are a plan view and an enlarged sectional view showing an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 (a),
In the connection terminal between the conductive cloth and the electric wire shown in (b), an occupant detection sensor having a conductive antenna electrode disposed on one surface of a base member is disposed on a sheet, and the periphery of the antenna electrode is provided. A connection structure between an antenna electrode and a cable of an occupant detection sensor in an occupant detection system for processing a current signal flowing through an antenna electrode based on an electric field generated by a signal processing circuit to detect an occupant's seating state, etc. Hook 102 made of a conductive and flexible material and having a protrusion at the center, a contact having a can-shaped part having a hole at one end with a hole into which the protrusion is inserted, and a barrel at the other end capable of crimping an electric wire 104. 101.

The protrusion of the hook 102 has a base portion having a first diameter and a height, and a caulking portion formed on the base portion and having a second diameter and a height. Have. The material of the hook 102 is, for example, copper.

The diameter of the hole of the contact 101 fits into the caulking portion, and the bottom of the can-shaped portion of the contact 101 is raised upward to provide compliance. A plurality of punched holes 110 and 120 are provided in the bottom of the can-shaped portion of the contact 101 to increase the compliance.

The contact 101 has a spring structure capable of following the contraction of the conductive cloth 103 due to thermal and mechanical stress. The conductive cloth 103 to be connected is sandwiched between the hooks 102 and mechanically fastened. The other side is an electric wire 104
Has a barrel that can be crimped, and is connected to an electric wire.

According to the present invention, a conical spring structure can generate a connection load of several tens of N levels, can withstand mechanical fastening, and can follow contraction of the conductive cloth due to thermal and mechanical stress. , A constant contact resistance can be maintained, and the reliability can be improved.

[0029]

The connection terminal between the conductive cloth and the electric wire of the present invention is as follows.
Since the contact and the hook are caulked, there is an effect that a conductive cloth having no elasticity can be connected to the electric wire.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIGS. 1A and 1B are a plan view and an enlarged cross-sectional view illustrating an embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 2A to 2C are a perspective view and a perspective view showing a first conventional example.

FIGS. 3A and 3B are a plan view and a sectional view showing a second conventional example.

FIG. 4 is a partial sectional view of FIG. 3;

5 is a partial plan view of FIG. 4,

FIG. 6 is a partial top view of FIG. 4;

[Explanation of symbols]

 101 contact 102 hook 103 conductive cloth 104 electric wire

Continued on the front page F-term (reference)

Claims (6)

[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. The signal processing circuit processes the current signal flowing through the occupant detection system that detects the occupant's seating status and the like.This is a connection structure between the antenna electrode and the cable of the occupant detection sensor. A contact (10) made of a hook (102) having a projection at the center and a barrel (10) having a can-shaped part at one end having a hole into which the projection is inserted, and having a barrel at the other end capable of crimping an electric wire (104).
1) A connection terminal between a conductive cloth and an electric wire, comprising: 2. The projection of the hook (102) having a base having a first diameter and a height and being formed on the base and having a second diameter and a height. The connection terminal according to claim 1, further comprising a caulking portion. 3. The connection terminal according to claim 1, wherein the material of the hook (102) is copper. 4. The terminal according to claim 1, wherein the diameter of the hole of the contact (101) fits into the caulked portion. 5. The connection terminal according to claim 1, wherein the bottom of the can-shaped portion of the contact (101) is raised upward to provide compliance. 6. A terminal according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of punched holes (110, 120) are provided at the bottom of said can-shaped portion of said contact (101) to increase said compliance.