JP2006300559A - Pressure sensitive sensor and switching device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a pressure sensitive sensor which can be easily formed and which detects the contact with a foreign body based on the variation of a current value of a current flowing between a core electrode 33 and a sensor electrode 36, in a foreign body detection sensor. <P>SOLUTION: The foreign body detection sensor is provided with the core electrode 33, a pressure sensitive body 34 provided to the outer circumference of the core electrode 33, the sensor electrode 36 disposed so that the pressure sensitive body 34 is interposed between it and the core electrode 33, and an outer skin 37 covering the sensor electrode 36 from the outside. The pressure sensitive body 34, in which nickel powder is dispersed, forms a band-like shape, and is spirally wound around the core electrode 33. The pressure sensitive body 34 is deformed when pressed and its resistance value is varied. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a pressure sensor that detects contact of an object to be detected, and a switchgear including the pressure sensor.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, some vehicles are provided with an opening / closing device that slides (opens / closes) a door panel along the front-rear direction of the vehicle by a driving force such as a motor. The opening / closing device is provided with a pressure sensitive sensor in order to detect a foreign object being caught between the door panel and the vehicle body during the closing operation. An example of the pressure sensor is disclosed in Patent Document 1.

The pressure-sensitive sensor disclosed in Patent Document 1 is formed on a core electrode, a pressure-sensitive body formed on the outer periphery of the core electrode, an outer electrode wound around the pressure-sensitive body, and an outer periphery of the outer electrode. Insulated outer skin.
JP 2000-210404 A

  By the way, in order to form a pressure sensitive body on the outer periphery of the core electrode, it is conceivable to form an insulating resin material in which a magnetic material is dispersed by extrusion molding. However, when a cylindrical pressure-sensitive body is formed by extrusion molding on the outer periphery of the core electrode, there is a problem that it takes time to adjust the content of the magnetic material in the insulating resin material and the position adjustment of the core electrode. .

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a pressure sensor that is easily formed and an opening / closing device including the pressure sensor.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the invention according to claim 1 forms a belt-like shape in which the first electrode and the magnetic material are dispersed, and is wound around the first electrode in a spiral shape and pressurized. And a second electrode disposed so that the pressure sensitive body is interposed between the first electrode and the second electrode disposed outside. And detecting a contact of an object to be detected based on a change in a current value of a current flowing between the first electrode and the second electrode via the pressure sensitive body. A characteristic pressure-sensitive sensor was obtained.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the pressure-sensitive sensor according to the first aspect, the magnetic material is oriented along a direction in which the first electrode and the second electrode face each other.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the pressure-sensitive sensor according to the first or second aspect, the first electrode is formed in a cylindrical shape or a columnar shape, and the pressure-sensitive body is the first pressure sensor. It is wound around the first electrode so as to be coaxial with the electrode, and the second electrode is provided so as to be coaxial with the first electrode.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the pressure-sensitive sensor according to any one of the first to third aspects, the pressure-sensitive body has a pitch larger than the width of the pressure-sensitive body. It is wound around the electrode.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the pressure-sensitive sensor according to the fourth aspect, an insulator is provided in a gap formed by the pressure-sensitive body when the pressure-sensitive body is wound around the first electrode. Has been placed.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a moving body that opens and closes an opening formed in a fixed body, driving means that drives the moving body to open and close, and the movement forward in the traveling direction when the moving body is closed. 6. The device according to claim 1, wherein the device is disposed at any one of a peripheral portion of the body and a peripheral portion of the opening facing the moving body in a traveling direction when the moving body is closed. And a control device for controlling the driving means so that the moving body is stopped or fully opened when contact of the detected object is detected by the pressure sensor. An opening / closing device characterized by

(Function)
According to the first aspect of the present invention, the band-shaped pressure sensitive body is wound spirally around the first electrode. Accordingly, the pressure sensitive body can be provided more easily than the case where the cylindrical pressure sensitive body is formed on the outer periphery of the first electrode by extrusion molding. Therefore, a pressure sensitive sensor can be formed easily. In addition, since the pressure-sensitive body is wound spirally around the first electrode, the detected object is pressure-sensitive regardless of the direction in which the detected object contacts the pressure-sensitive sensor. The body will be pressurized. Therefore, the inconvenience that the contact of the detected object is not detected depending on the direction in which the detected object contacts is reduced.

  According to the invention described in claim 2, the magnetic material is oriented along the direction in which the first electrode and the second electrode face each other. Therefore, when the detected object comes into contact with the pressure sensor, the direction of the pressing force applied from the detected object to the pressure sensitive body is likely to coincide with the orientation direction of the magnetic material. Therefore, when the object to be detected comes into contact with the pressure sensor, the resistance value of the pressure sensitive body is likely to change.

  According to the invention described in claim 3, the first electrode, the second electrode, and the pressure sensitive body are provided so as to be coaxial. Therefore, even if the pressure sensor is arranged in a state of being curved in the axial direction, the function deterioration of the pressure sensor is prevented. In addition, since the pressure-sensitive sensor formed coaxially is not limited in the mounting direction in the circumferential direction, it is easier to mount the pressure-sensitive sensor than a flat plate-shaped pressure sensor.

  According to the invention described in claim 4, the pressure-sensitive body is wound around the first electrode, whereby a spiral gap is formed by the pressure-sensitive body. Therefore, the amount of the pressure sensitive body used for the pressure sensitive sensor can be reduced by this gap. In addition, it becomes easier to bend the pressure-sensitive sensor in the axial direction than when the pressure-sensitive body is wound around the first electrode without a gap.

  According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, when the insulator is disposed in the gap formed by the pressure sensitive body, the insulator is not disposed in the gap when the pressure sensitive body is wound around the first electrode. As a result, it becomes easier to make the pitch for winding the pressure sensitive body constant. Further, the magnetic material is not dispersed in the insulator. Therefore, the manufacturing cost is reduced as compared with the case where the entire outer peripheral surface of the first electrode is covered with the pressure sensitive body.

  According to the invention described in claim 6, the switchgear includes the pressure sensitive sensor described in any one of claims 1-5. Therefore, a pressure-sensitive sensor is provided in the peripheral portion of the moving body on the front side in the traveling direction during the closing operation of the moving body and the peripheral portion of the opening facing the moving body in the traveling direction during the closing operation of the moving body. When the detected object comes into contact with any one of the peripheral edges from a plurality of directions, the contact of the detected object is detected by the pressure sensor. Then, when the contact of the detection object is detected by the pressure sensor, the control device controls the driving means to stop or fully open the moving body. Therefore, when the detected object comes into contact with the peripheral edge where the pressure sensor is disposed, the pressing force applied to the detected object from the peripheral edge can be kept small.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a pressure sensor that is easily formed, and a switchgear including the pressure sensor.

DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, an embodiment in which the present invention is embodied in a foreign object detection sensor provided in an electric slide door device mounted on a vehicle will be described with reference to the drawings.
As shown in FIG. 1, an entrance 3 is formed on the left side surface of the vehicle body 2, and a door panel 4 for opening and closing the entrance 3 is attached to the vehicle body 2 so as to be slidable substantially in the front-rear direction. It has been. A vehicle 1 shown in FIG. 1 is equipped with an electric slide door device 6 (see FIG. 2) that opens and closes the entrance / exit 3 by sliding the door panel 4 by the driving force of a slide motor 5 (see FIG. 2). The electric sliding door device 6 includes a foreign object detection unit 7 (see FIG. 2) for detecting a foreign object (detected object) existing between the door panel 4 and the vehicle body 2 during the closing operation of the door panel 4. As shown in FIG. 2, the foreign object detection unit 7 includes a control circuit device 8 that controls the operation of the electric sliding door device 6 and a foreign object detection sensor 9.

  The control circuit device 8 is disposed inside the door panel 4 and is supplied with electric power from the battery 11 of the vehicle 1. The control circuit device 8 is electrically connected to the slide motor 5 of the slide actuator 12, the closer motor 14 of the closer actuator 13, the position detection device 15, and the operation switch 16.

  The slide actuator 12 includes a slide motor 5 and a speed reduction mechanism (not shown) that decelerates the rotation of the slide motor 5. The slide motor 5 is rotated in accordance with a drive signal input from the control circuit device 8. The rotation of the slide motor 5 is decelerated by a reduction mechanism and output from an output shaft (not shown) of the slide actuator 12. The door panel 4 is slid by the driving force output from the output shaft of the slide actuator 12.

  The closer actuator 13 includes a closer motor 14 and a speed reduction mechanism (not shown) that reduces the rotation of the closer motor 14. Here, the door panel 4 is provided with a locking mechanism (not shown) such as a latch. This locking mechanism is used to fix the door panel 4 so that it cannot move relative to the vehicle body 2 when the door panel 4 is in a state in which the doorway 3 is closed (a state in which the door panel 4 is disposed at the fully closed position). belongs to. The closer motor 14 is rotated in response to a drive signal input from the control circuit device 8 to operate the lock mechanism and move the door panel 4 to a position where the lock can be locked by the lock mechanism.

  The position detection device 15 is disposed between the rotation shaft (not shown) of the slide motor 5, the output shaft (not shown) of the slide actuator 12, and the rotation shaft of the slide motor 5 and the output shaft of the slide actuator 12. It is provided corresponding to any of the reduction gears (not shown) constituting the reduction mechanism. The position detection device 15 detects the rotation amount of any one of the rotation shaft, the output shaft, and the reduction gear from the time when the slide motor 5 starts driving. The position detection device 15 outputs a position detection signal corresponding to the detected rotation amount to the control circuit device 8. The control circuit device 8 detects the sliding amount of the door panel 4, that is, the position of the door panel 4 based on the position detection signal input from the position detection signal. The position detection device 15 includes, for example, a magnet that rotates together with any one of the rotation shaft, the output shaft, and the reduction gear, and a Hall element that is disposed to face the magnet.

  The operation switch 16 is disposed on a dashboard (not shown) provided in the vehicle interior. When the operation switch 16 is operated by the occupant so as to open the entrance / exit 3, an open signal for sliding the door panel 4 to open the entrance / exit 3 is input from the operation switch 16 to the control circuit device 8. The When the open signal is input, the control circuit device 8 outputs a drive signal for opening the door panel 4 to the slide motor 5. On the other hand, when the operation switch 16 is operated by the occupant so as to close the entrance / exit 3, a closing signal for sliding the door panel 4 from the operation switch 16 to the control circuit device 8 so as to close the entrance / exit 3 is issued. Entered. When the close signal is input, the control circuit device 8 outputs a drive signal for closing the door panel 4 to the slide motor 5. When the slide motor 5 is driven and the door panel 4 is closed, and the half latch detection means (not shown) detects that the lock mechanism is in the half latch state, the control circuit device 8 causes the closer motor 14 to A drive signal is output.

The foreign object detection sensor 9 includes a sensor main body 21, a current detection element 22, and a capacitance detection device 23, and is controlled by the control circuit device 8.
As shown in FIG. 1, the sensor main body 21 is disposed along an end portion on the front side in the traveling direction when the door panel 4 is closed, that is, along an end portion 4 a on the front side of the vehicle 1 in the door panel 4. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the sensor main body 21 has a coaxial cable shape. Specifically, the sensor main body 21 includes a core wire 31. The core wire 31 is formed of a conductive metal material and has a cylindrical shape. A cylindrical conductive rubber layer 32 is formed on the outer periphery of the core wire 31. The core wire 33 and the conductive rubber layer 32 constitute a core electrode 33. The conductive rubber layer 32 is made of a rubber material containing carbon, and is formed so as to be coaxial with the core wire 31.

  A pressure sensitive body 34 is provided on the outer periphery of the conductive rubber layer 32 so as to be coaxial with the core electrode 33. The pressure sensitive body 34 is made of a rubber material in which nickel powder as a magnetic material is dispersed, and has a belt shape. A cross section obtained by cutting the pressure sensitive body 34 along the longitudinal direction of the pressure sensitive body 34 has a rectangular shape. In addition, the thickness of the pressure sensitive body 34 is constant along the longitudinal direction of the pressure sensitive body 34. As shown in FIG. 5, the nickel powder in the pressure sensitive body 34 is magnetically oriented along the thickness direction of the pressure sensitive body 34. In FIG. 5, the orientation direction of the nickel powder is indicated by a double arrow. As shown in FIG. 4, such a pressure sensitive body 34 is spirally wound around the outer periphery of the conductive rubber layer 32 at a pitch P <b> 1 larger than the width W <b> 1 of the pressure sensitive body 34. Here, the pitch P1 means a distance that the pressure sensitive body 34 travels in the axial direction of the core electrode 33 by being wound around the conductive rubber layer 32 (core electrode 33). Then, the pressure-sensitive body 34 is wound around the outer periphery of the conductive rubber layer 32 at a pitch P1 larger than the width W1 of the pressure-sensitive body 34, so that a spiral gap 35 is formed by the pressure-sensitive body 34. In this state where the pressure sensitive body 34 is wound around the conductive rubber layer 32, the orientation direction of the nickel powder in the pressure sensitive body 34 (shown by a double-headed arrow in FIG. 4) is the radial direction of the sensor body 21. Along. When the pressure sensitive body 34 is deformed by being pressed along the thickness direction of the pressure sensitive body 34, that is, along the radial direction of the sensor body 21, the resistance value becomes small.

  A sensor electrode 36 is provided on the outer periphery of the pressure-sensitive body 34 so that the pressure-sensitive body 34 is interposed between the pressure-sensitive body 34 and the core electrode 33. The sensor electrode 36 is provided so as to be coaxial with the core electrode 33, thereby facing the core electrode 33 in the radial direction. The sensor electrode 36 is formed of a conductive knitting element and has a cylindrical shape. An insulating outer skin 37 is formed on the outer periphery of the sensor electrode 36 so as to be coaxial with the core electrode 33. The outer skin 37 covers the outer peripheral surface of the sensor electrode 36.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the core electrode 33 is electrically connected to the current detection element 22. The sensor electrode 36 is electrically connected to the capacitance detection device 23. The current detection element 22 and the capacitance detection device 23 are electrically connected to the control circuit device 8. A current is supplied to the sensor electrode 36 via the control circuit device 8.

  The current detection element 22 constitutes a contact-type sensor that contacts the foreign matter existing between the door panel 4 and the vehicle body 2 and detects the foreign matter together with the core electrode 33, the pressure sensitive body 34, and the sensor electrode 36. Yes. The current detection element 22 is for detecting the current value of the current flowing between the sensor electrode 36 and the core electrode 33 via the pressure sensitive body 34. When a pressing force is applied to the sensor body 21 from the outside, that is, when the pressure sensitive body 34 is pressurized, the resistance value of the pressure sensitive body 34 changes, and a current flows between the sensor electrode 36 and the core electrode 33. It begins to flow. That is, the current value of the current flowing between the sensor electrode 36 and the core electrode 33 changes. At this time, the current detection element 22 outputs a current detection signal to the control circuit device 8 based on the current value of the current flowing between the sensor electrode 36 and the core electrode 33.

  The capacitance detection device 23, together with the sensor electrode 36, constitutes a capacitance type sensor that detects foreign matter existing between the door panel 4 and the vehicle body 2 without contact. The capacitance detection device 23 is driven by the control circuit device 8 and detects a change in capacitance between the sensor electrode 36 and the ground (ground), based on the change in the capacitance in the sensor electrode 36. The capacitance detection signal is output to the control circuit device 8. The configuration shown in FIG. 2 and the operation obtained from the configuration of FIG. 2 are examples, and may be changed as appropriate.

Next, the operation of the foreign object detector 7 when the door panel 4 is closed will be described.
When the close signal is input from the operation switch 16, the control circuit device 8 outputs a drive signal to the slide motor 5 to close the door panel 4. At the same time, the control circuit device 8 drives the foreign object detection sensor 9.

  If a foreign object exists between the door panel 4 and the vehicle body 2 (the entrance / exit 3) during the sliding movement of the door panel 4, the capacitance changes between the sensor electrode 36 and the foreign object. The capacitance detection device 23 outputs a capacitance detection signal to the control circuit device 8 based on the change in capacitance. When the capacitance detection signal is input, the control circuit device 8 determines that there is a foreign object between the door panel 4 and the vehicle body 2 and outputs a stop signal to the slide motor 5 to stop the door panel 4. Then, the slide motor 5 is stopped by the stop signal, and the door panel 4 is stopped.

  On the other hand, if a foreign object is caught between the door panel 4 and the vehicle body 2 (the entrance / exit 3) during the sliding movement of the door panel 4, or if a foreign object contacts the front end 4a of the vehicle 1 in the door panel 4, the sensor A pressing force is applied to the main body 21 from the foreign matter. Due to this pressing force, the pressure sensitive body 34 is deformed and the resistance value of the pressure sensitive body 34 changes, and the current value of the current flowing between the sensor electrode 36 and the core electrode 33 changes. The current detection element 22 outputs a current detection signal to the control circuit device 8 based on a change in the current value of the current flowing between the sensor electrode 36 and the core electrode 33. The control circuit device 8 detects that a foreign object has contacted the sensor body 21 based on the current detection signal. When the control circuit device 8 detects the contact of a foreign object to the sensor body 21 and detects the foreign object sandwiched between the door panel 4 and the vehicle body 2, the control circuit device 8 sends a drive signal for moving the door panel 4 to the fully open position. 5 is output. When the drive signal is input, the slide motor 5 is driven in a direction to open the door panel 4, and the door panel 4 is slid to the fully open position.

  The control circuit device 8 detects the position of the door panel 4 based on the position detection signal input from the position detection device 15. When the control circuit device 8 detects that the door panel 4 has been slid to a position that is a predetermined distance (for example, 3 to 5 cm) to the fully closed position, a capacitance detection signal is input from the capacitance detection device 23. Even if it is, the electrostatic capacitance detection signal is invalidated. Then, the control circuit device 8 detects a foreign object by validating only the current detection signal input from the current detection element 22.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the following actions and effects are obtained.
(1) The pressure sensitive body 34 is spirally wound around the core electrode 33. Therefore, the position adjustment (position adjustment in the radial direction) of the core electrode 33 that is performed when the pressure-sensitive body is formed on the outer periphery of the core electrode 33 by extrusion molding may be omitted. Therefore, the pressure sensitive body 34 can be provided more easily than the case where a cylindrical pressure sensitive body is formed on the outer periphery of the core electrode 33 by extrusion molding, and the sensor main body 21 provided in the foreign matter detection sensor 9 can be easily provided. Can be formed. As a result, the manufacturing cost can be reduced.

  Further, when a cylindrical pressure-sensitive body is formed on the outer periphery of the core electrode 33 by extrusion molding as in the past, the core electrode 33 may be disposed at a position displaced from the center of the pressure-sensitive body. In such a case, the resistance value between the core electrode 33 and the sensor electrode 36 opposed via the pressure sensitive body is different in the circumferential direction, and the contact is made so that the same amount of pressing force is applied from the foreign matter. Nevertheless, the value of the current flowing between the core electrode 33 and the sensor electrode 36 via the pressure sensitive body varies depending on the location where the foreign object comes into contact. As a result, the sensor sensitivity varies depending on the location where the foreign object comes into contact. However, in this embodiment, the pressure-sensitive body 34 has a band shape with a constant thickness, and the pressure-sensitive body 34 is wound around the core electrode 33 in a spiral shape. The thickness of the pressure sensitive body 34 along the direction is constant in the circumferential direction. Therefore, when contact is made so that the same amount of pressing force is applied from the foreign matter, the core electrode 33 via the pressure sensitive body 34 is used regardless of where the foreign matter comes into contact with the sensor body 21 in any circumferential direction. The value of the current flowing between the sensor electrode 36 and the sensor electrode 36 changes similarly. Therefore, it is prevented that the sensor sensitivity varies depending on the location where the foreign object comes into contact.

  Furthermore, since the pressure-sensitive body 34 is wound spirally around the core electrode 33, the foreign matter is not affected by the pressure-sensitive body 34 regardless of the direction in which the foreign body contacts the sensor body 21. Will be pressurized. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the inconvenience that foreign matter is not detected depending on the direction in which the foreign matter comes into contact.

  (2) In a state in which the pressure sensitive body 34 is wound around the core electrode 33, the orientation direction of the nickel powder oriented along the thickness direction of the pressure sensitive body 34 is the radial direction of the sensor body 21, that is, the core electrode 33. And the direction in which the sensor electrode 36 faces. Therefore, when a foreign substance contacts the sensor main body 21, the direction of the pressing force applied from the foreign substance to the pressure sensitive body 34 easily matches the orientation direction of the nickel powder. Therefore, the resistance value of the pressure-sensitive body 34 is easily changed by the contact of the foreign matter, and the sensor sensitivity of the foreign matter detection sensor 9 can be increased.

  (3) The degree of change in the resistance value of the pressure-sensitive body 34 is such that when the direction of the pressing force applied by the foreign matter is in contact with the orientation direction of the nickel powder, the pressure sensitivity when the nickel powder is not oriented. It is larger than when a foreign object touches the body. Therefore, in the pressure-sensitive body 34 having oriented nickel powder, the inclusion of nickel powder in the rubber material constituting the pressure-sensitive body 34 is compared to the case of producing a pressure-sensitive body having unoriented nickel powder. The amount can be reduced. As a result, the manufacturing cost can be reduced.

  Further, when the content of nickel powder is reduced as compared with a pressure sensitive body in which the nickel powder is not oriented, the ratio of the rubber material in the pressure sensitive body 34 is increased, so that the pressure sensitive body 34 is easily deformed. Therefore, the sensor main body 21 provided with the pressure sensitive body 34 can be easily bent, and the sensor main body 21 is hardly damaged when bent. Furthermore, when the content of nickel powder in the pressure sensitive body 34 decreases, the dielectric constant of the pressure sensitive body 34 becomes smaller. Therefore, when the pressure sensitive body 34 having the oriented nickel powder is used for the foreign matter detection sensor 9, the core electrode 33 and the sensor electrode 36 are compared with the case where the pressure sensitive body having the unoriented nickel powder is used. The capacitance between them becomes small. The stray capacitance generated between the foreign matter and the sensor electrode 36 due to the proximity of the foreign matter to the sensor electrode 36 is not oriented when the foreign matter detection sensor 9 is provided with a pressure sensitive body having nickel powder that is not oriented. This is the same as the case where the foreign object detection sensor 9 is provided with the pressure sensitive body 34 having a lower nickel powder content than the pressure sensitive body having the nickel powder. Therefore, when the electrostatic capacitance between the core electrode 33 and the sensor electrode 36 is smaller, when the foreign substance comes close to the sensor electrode 36 and a stray capacitance is generated between the foreign substance and the sensor electrode 36, the sensor electrode 36. The change in the capacitance detected at is increased. Therefore, by providing the foreign matter detection sensor 9 with the pressure sensitive body 34 having a lower nickel powder content than the pressure sensitive body having the non-oriented nickel powder, the pressure sensitive body having the non-oriented nickel powder is removed from the foreign matter. As compared with the case where the detection sensor 9 is provided, the sensitivity of the capacitance type sensor can be improved.

  (4) The core electrode 33, the pressure sensitive body 34, and the sensor electrode 36 are provided so as to be coaxial. For this reason, even if the sensor main body 21 is arranged in a state of being curved in the axial direction, the function deterioration of the foreign object detection sensor 9 is prevented. Accordingly, the degree of freedom in the shape of the location where the sensor body 21 is disposed can be increased. Moreover, since the sensor body 21 formed coaxially is not limited in the mounting direction in the circumferential direction, it is easier to mount the sensor body 21 than the flat sensor body. As a result, the manufacturing time of the electric sliding door device 6 can be shortened and the manufacturing cost can be reduced.

  (5) The pressure sensitive body 34 is spirally wound around the outer periphery of the conductive rubber layer 32 at a pitch P1 larger than the width W1 of the pressure sensitive body 34. Therefore, when the pressure sensitive body 34 is wound around the conductive rubber layer 32, a spiral gap 35 is formed by the pressure sensitive body 34. Therefore, the amount of the pressure sensitive body 34 used for the foreign matter detection sensor 9 can be reduced by the gap 35. As a result, the manufacturing cost can be reduced as compared with the case where the pressure sensitive body 34 is wound around the conductive rubber layer 32 without a gap. Further, when the pressure sensitive body 34 is wound around the conductive rubber layer 32, a spiral gap 35 is formed by the pressure sensitive body 34, so that the pressure sensitive body 34 is wound around the conductive rubber layer 32 without a gap. Compared to the above, it becomes easier to bend the sensor body 21 in the axial direction. Accordingly, the degree of freedom in the shape of the location where the sensor body 21 is disposed can be further increased.

  (6) The pressure sensitive body 34 provided in the sensor main body 21 has a band shape and is wound around the core electrode 33 (conductive rubber layer 32). Therefore, by adjusting the size of the pitch P1 when the pressure sensitive body 34 is wound around the core electrode 33, it is possible to detect the contact of foreign substances of various sizes. That is, when the pressure sensitive body 34 is wound around the conductive rubber layer 32, the width W2 (see FIG. 4) of the spiral gap 35 formed by the pressure sensitive body 34 is smaller than the size of the foreign object to be detected. What is necessary is just to set the pitch P1 which winds the pressure sensitive body 34 so that it may become. Therefore, the larger the detection target, the more the amount of the pressure sensitive body 34 wound around the core electrode 33 can be reduced, and the manufacturing cost can be further reduced.

  (7) A sensor main body 21 is disposed on the door panel 4 along an end 4 a of the door panel 4 on the front side of the vehicle 1. For this reason, when a foreign object comes into contact with the front end 4 a of the vehicle 1 in the door panel 4 from a plurality of directions, the contact of the foreign object is detected by the foreign object detection sensor 9. The control circuit device 8 drives the slide motor 5 so that the door panel 4 is moved to the fully open position when the foreign object detection sensor 9 detects the contact of the foreign object. Accordingly, when a foreign object comes into contact with the front end 4a of the door panel 4 on which the sensor main body 21 is disposed, the pressing force applied to the foreign object from the door panel 4 can be reduced.

In addition, you may change embodiment of this invention as follows.
In the above embodiment, the control circuit device 8 drives the slide motor 5 so as to move the door panel 4 to the fully open position when it detects that a foreign object is caught between the door panel 4 and the vehicle body 2. However, the control circuit device 8 may have a configuration in which the slide motor 5 is stopped and the door panel 4 is stopped when a foreign object is detected between the door panel 4 and the vehicle body 2.

  As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the pressure sensitive body 34 is wound around the core electrode 33 at a pitch P <b> 1 larger than the width W <b> 1 of the pressure sensitive body 34, thereby forming a gap 35 formed by the pressure sensitive body 34. The insulator 41 may be disposed. The insulator 41 is made of a flexible insulating resin material (including rubber and elastomer). The insulator 41 is wound at the same time as the pressure-sensitive body 34 is wound. When the insulator 41 is arranged in the gap 35 as described above, the pitch P1 around which the pressure sensitive body 34 is wound around the core electrode 33 as compared with the case where only the pressure sensitive body 34 is wound around the core electrode 33 while forming the gap 35. Can be kept constant. Accordingly, the pressure sensitive body 34 can be easily wound around the core electrode 33. When the insulator 41 and the pressure sensitive body 34 are equal in thickness, the outer peripheral surfaces of the pressure sensitive body 34 and the insulator 41 (the outer surface along the radial direction of the core electrode 33) are flush with each other. Therefore, the sensor electrode 36 can be easily provided on the outer periphery of the pressure sensitive body 34 and the insulator 41. Furthermore, since the insulator 41 does not contain nickel powder, the insulator 41 is formed at a lower cost than the pressure sensitive body 34. Therefore, when the insulator 41 is disposed in the gap 35, the manufacturing cost of the foreign object detection sensor 9 can be further reduced as compared with the case where the pressure sensitive body 34 is wound around the core electrode 33 without a gap.

  In the case where the insulator 41 is arranged in the gap 35, as shown in FIG. 8, it is easier to wind the pressure-sensitive body 42 integrally formed with the insulator 41 around the core electrode 33. The pressure sensitive body 34 can be wound around the core electrode 33. The insulator 41 and the pressure sensitive body 42 shown in FIG. 8 extend in parallel. When the sensor electrode 36 is provided only on the outer surface in the radial direction of the pressure-sensitive body 34, when forming the outer skin 37, the gap 35 may be filled with the same material as the outer skin 37 to form an insulator.

  In the above embodiment, the pressure sensitive body 34 is wound with a pitch P1 larger than the width W1 of the pressure sensitive body 34. However, the pressure sensitive body 34 has a pitch equal to the width W1 of the pressure sensitive body 34. A configuration may be employed in which the gap 35 is not formed.

  In the above embodiment, the pressure-sensitive body 34 has a rectangular cross-sectional shape cut along a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction. However, the cross-sectional shape of the pressure-sensitive body 34 cut along the direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the pressure-sensitive body 34 is not limited to a rectangular shape, and may be a circular shape, an elliptical shape, a semicircular shape, a polygonal shape, or the like. Good. At this time, the nickel powder in the pressure sensitive body 34 may or may not be oriented. When the nickel powder in the pressure sensitive body 34 is oriented, the nickel powder is oriented so that the orientation direction of the nickel powder is along the radial direction of the sensor body 21 when the pressure sensitive body 34 is wound around the core electrode 33. Orient. In other words, the pressure sensitive body 34 is wound around the core electrode 33 so that the orientation direction of the nickel powder in the pressure sensitive body 34 is along the radial direction of the core electrode 33 (coincident with the radial direction of the sensor body 21).

  In the above embodiment, the pressure-sensitive body 34 is formed of a rubber material in which nickel powder is dispersed, but the pressure-sensitive body 34 includes an insulating resin material having elasticity in which nickel powder is dispersed (including rubber and elastomer). ).

  In the above embodiment, nickel powder is dispersed in the rubber material constituting the pressure sensitive body 34. However, the material dispersed in the rubber material is not limited to nickel powder, but may be any powder or granular magnetic material. For example, powdered ferrite, powdered alnico, powdered carbon, powdered or granular iron plated with copper, glass beads plated with gold, powdered or granular nickel Examples include silver-plated ones. In addition, when nickel powder is used like the said embodiment, the foreign material detection sensor 9 can be manufactured more cheaply.

  In the above embodiment, the core electrode 33 is composed of the core wire 31 and the conductive rubber layer 32, but is not limited thereto. For example, the core wire 31 may be used as the core electrode 33 and the pressure sensitive body 34 may be wound directly around the core wire 31. At this time, the core wire 31 may be composed of a plurality of electric wires, or may be composed of one electric wire. Alternatively, a core electrode 33 may be formed by winding a conductive tape around the outer periphery of a cylindrical insulating core. Further, a core electrode 33 may be formed by depositing a conductive material (such as aluminum) on the outer peripheral surface of a cylindrical insulating core. The core electrode 33 may have a cylindrical shape as well as a columnar shape.

  In the above embodiment, the sensor electrode 36 is formed of a conductive knitting element, but is not limited thereto. For example, the sensor electrode 36 may be formed by winding a conductive tape, copper wire or the like around the outer periphery of the pressure-sensitive body 34 wound around the core electrode 33. The sensor electrode 36 may be formed by depositing a conductive material (aluminum or the like) on the outer periphery of the pressure-sensitive body 34 wound around the core electrode 33.

In the above embodiment, the sensor body 21 has a circular cross section cut along the radial direction, but the cross section cut along the radial direction may have an elliptical shape.
In the above embodiment, the current detection element 22 is used to detect the contact of a foreign object with respect to the sensor body 21 based on the change in the current value of the current flowing between the core electrode 33 and the sensor electrode 36 via the pressure sensitive body 34. is doing. However, the detection of contact of a foreign object with respect to the sensor body 21 is detected based on a change in the voltage value between the core electrode 33 and the sensor electrode 36 via the pressure sensor 34 or a change in the resistance value of the pressure sensor 34. It may be a thing. At that time, a change in the voltage value between the core electrode 33 and the sensor electrode 36 and a change in the resistance value of the pressure-sensitive body 34 flow between the core electrode 33 and the sensor electrode 36 via the pressure-sensitive body 34, for example. It is detected based on a change in the current value of the current.

In the above embodiment, the foreign matter detection sensor 9 includes both a contact type sensor and a capacitance type sensor, but may be used only as a contact type sensor.
In the above embodiment, the sensor main body 21 is disposed along the front end 4 a of the vehicle 1 in the door panel 4, but is not limited thereto. For example, in the vehicle 1, the sensor main body 21 may be disposed at the peripheral portion of the entrance 3 that faces the door panel 4 in the traveling direction when the door panel 4 is closed. Further, the sensor body 21 is arranged at the peripheral edge on the front side in the advancing direction when the back door of the vehicle 1 is closed or at the peripheral edge on the front side in the advancing direction when the closing operation is performed on the trunk door. Also good. Further, the sensor main body 21 may be disposed at the peripheral edge of the opening of the vehicle body 2 that is opened and closed by the back door, or at the peripheral edge of the opening of the vehicle body 2 that is opened and closed by the trunk door.

  In the above embodiment, the foreign object detection sensor 9 is provided in the electric sliding door device 6 mounted on the vehicle 1 and is used for detecting the presence of foreign objects between the vehicle body 2 and the door panel 4 and the inclusion of foreign objects. ing. However, the foreign object detection sensor 9 may be used for the purpose of detecting contact of a foreign object in addition to detecting the foreign object in the vehicle 1.

The technical idea that can be grasped from the above embodiment and each of the above modifications will be described below.
(A) The pressure-sensitive sensor according to claim 5, wherein the pressure-sensitive body is integrally formed with the insulator. If comprised in this way, an insulator will also be wound around the 1st electrode simultaneously by winding a pressure sensitive body around the 1st electrode. Therefore, the pressure sensitive body and the insulator can be wound around the first electrode more easily.

The perspective view which shows the vehicle provided with the foreign material detection sensor. The block diagram which shows the electric constitution of an electric slide door apparatus. The perspective view of a sensor main body. Sectional drawing which cut the sensor main body along the axial direction. The expansion perspective view of a pressure sensitive body. The perspective view of the sensor main body of another example. Sectional drawing which cut the sensor main body of another example along the axial direction. The expansion perspective view of the pressure sensitive body of another example in which the insulator was formed integrally.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 2 ... Car body as a fixed body, 3 ... Entrance / exit as an opening part, 4 ... Door panel as a moving body, 4a ... End part as a peripheral part of the moving body in the advancing direction at the time of closing operation of a moving body, 5 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS ... Slide motor as drive means, 6 ... Electric sliding door device as opening / closing device, 8 ... Control circuit device as control device, 9 ... Foreign object detection sensor as pressure sensor, 33 ... Core electrode as first electrode 34, 42 ... pressure-sensitive body, 35 ... gap, 36 ... sensor electrode as second electrode, 37 ... outer skin, 41 ... insulator, P1 ... pitch, W1 ... width of pressure-sensitive body.

Claims (6)

A first electrode;
A pressure-sensitive body in which a magnetic material is dispersed and has a belt-like shape, spirally wound around the first electrode, and deformed by being pressed to change its resistance value;
A second electrode disposed so that the pressure sensitive body is interposed between the first electrode and the first electrode;
An object to be detected based on a change in a current value of a current flowing between the first electrode and the second electrode via the pressure-sensitive body. A pressure-sensitive sensor that detects a contact of the sensor. The pressure-sensitive sensor according to claim 1,
The pressure sensor according to claim 1, wherein the magnetic material is oriented along a direction in which the first electrode and the second electrode face each other. In the pressure sensitive sensor according to claim 1 or 2,
The first electrode is formed in a cylindrical shape or a columnar shape,
The pressure sensitive body is wound around the first electrode so as to be coaxial with the first electrode,
The pressure sensor, wherein the second electrode is provided so as to be coaxial with the first electrode. The pressure-sensitive sensor according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The pressure-sensitive sensor, wherein the pressure-sensitive body is wound around the first electrode at a pitch larger than the width of the pressure-sensitive body. The pressure-sensitive sensor according to claim 4,
A pressure-sensitive sensor, wherein an insulator is disposed in a gap formed by the pressure-sensitive body when the pressure-sensitive body is wound around the first electrode. A moving body that opens and closes an opening formed in the fixed body;
Driving means for opening and closing the movable body;
Either the peripheral portion of the moving body on the front side in the traveling direction during the closing operation of the moving body or the peripheral portion of the opening facing the moving body in the traveling direction during the closing operation of the moving body. The pressure-sensitive sensor according to any one of claims 1 to 5, which is disposed;
An opening / closing apparatus comprising: a control device that controls the driving means so that the moving body is stopped or fully opened when contact of the detection object is detected by the pressure sensor.

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