JP2017140915A - Heater device, steering wheel, and transport device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a heater device that has improved accuracy of detecting whether or an operator is gripping a steering wheel by improving temperature characteristics.SOLUTION: A heater device 25 comprises a heater wire 26 and a shield electrode 21K. The shield electrode 21K comprises a first shield electrode part 21K1 positioned opposite a first wiring pattern 21A1 in the heater wire 26 and a second shield electrode part 21K2 positioned opposite a second wiring pattern 21A2 in the heater wire 26. The first and second shield electrode parts 21K1 and 21K2 are arranged opposite each other in a direction vertical to the circumferential direction of a rim 21, and a connection part K of the first and second shield electrode parts 21K1 and 21K2 is connected in series so as to be opposed to a connection part A of the first and second wiring patterns 21A1 and 21A2.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 9

Description

  The present invention relates to a heater device, a steering wheel including the heater device, and a transportation device including the steering wheel.

  In recent years, in order to prevent accidents in transportation devices such as cars, railroads, airplanes, ships, etc. for transporting people and cargo, the need for a device that detects whether a transport device operator is asleep The nature is increasing.

  For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a technique for continuously monitoring contact between an operator's hand and a steering wheel of a vehicle using a heater (heater device) of the steering wheel.

  Patent Document 2 discloses a capacitance detection device that is a device that detects contact between an operator's hand and a steering wheel of a vehicle. In addition, a steering wheel including this capacitance detection device and a heater is also described.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a capacitance detection device disclosed in Patent Document 2. As illustrated in FIG.

  The capacitance detection device includes a sensing electrode 926 and a shield electrode 928 disposed between the trim 922 of the steering wheel 918 and the metal frame 924. In such a capacitance detection device, the capacitance between the sensing electrode 926 and the vehicle chassis is detected. The steering wheel 918 is provided with a heater (not shown), and the heater and the electrostatic capacity detection device constitute a heater device.

JP 2002-340712 A International Publication No. 2013/117719 JP 2011-121477 A

  However, the heater device in Patent Document 1 or 2 has a problem that the accuracy of detecting whether the operator is holding the steering wheel may be lowered depending on the temperature characteristics.

  Specifically, in the heater device of Patent Document 1, it is assumed that the sensitivity of detecting whether or not the hand has touched the steering wheel changes due to the heating of the steering wheel. In addition, whether the hand touches the steering wheel when the temperature of the steering wheel changes, such as when the air conditioner's warm or cold air is blown directly on the steering wheel or when it enters the sun from the shade and is exposed to direct sunlight. It is assumed that the sensitivity to detect changes. That is, this heater device has a temperature characteristic, and may detect that the hand is touched even though the hand is not touching the steering wheel. Further, in the heater device (capacitance detection device including a heater) of Patent Document 2, the temperature characteristics are improved by the shield electrode. However, depending on the shape of the sensing electrode 926, the shielding of the electric field by the shield electrode may be insufficient, and the temperature characteristics may be noticeable.

  A heater device according to a first aspect of the present invention is a heater device disposed on a steering wheel including a rim, the base material attached to the rim, the heater wire disposed on the base material, and the heater A shield electrode disposed on the inner side of the rim than the wire, and a sensor unit connected to a front end or a rear end of the heater wire and measuring a capacitance of the heater wire, wherein the heater wire is connected in series A first wiring pattern and a second wiring pattern to be connected are formed, and the first and second wiring patterns are (a) the directions from the front end side to the rear end side of the heater wires are opposite to each other. So as to be arranged along a first direction which is the circumferential direction of the rim, and (b) arranged so as to face each other in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, In the radial direction of the rim A first shield electrode portion disposed opposite to the first wiring pattern, and a second shield electrode portion disposed opposite to the second wiring pattern in the radial direction of the rim. The first and second shield electrode portions are (c) disposed so as to face each other in the second direction, and (d) the connecting portion of the first and second shield electrode portions is The first and second wiring patterns are connected in series so as to face each other in the radial direction of the rim.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a heater device, a steering wheel, and a transportation device that have improved temperature characteristics and improved accuracy in detecting whether an operator is holding the steering wheel.

FIG. 1 is a view showing a conventional heater device. FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining a wiring pattern of another heater device of the prior art. FIG. 3 is a schematic view of the steering wheel and its peripheral portion of the vehicle according to the first embodiment. FIG. 4A is a front view of the steering wheel according to the first embodiment. FIG. 4B is a side view of the steering wheel according to the first embodiment. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the rim of the steering wheel according to the first embodiment. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a wiring path of a wiring pattern of the heater device according to the first embodiment. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a wiring block of a wiring pattern of the heater device according to the first embodiment. FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining the problem of the shield electrode. FIG. 9 is a diagram showing the arrangement and configuration of the shield electrode in the first embodiment. FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining a signal path of a sensor signal in the first embodiment. FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating another example of the arrangement and configuration of the shield electrode in the first embodiment. FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating the heater device according to the first embodiment. FIG. 13A is a diagram for explaining a position where the wiring pattern of the heater device according to the first embodiment is embedded in the steering wheel. FIG. 13B is a diagram for explaining a position where the wiring pattern of the heater device according to the first embodiment is embedded in the steering wheel. FIG. 13C is a view for explaining a position where the wiring pattern of the heater device according to the first embodiment is embedded in the steering wheel. FIG. 14 is a view for explaining the operating principle of the heater device according to the first embodiment. FIG. 15 is a block diagram of the vehicle according to the first embodiment. FIG. 16A is a diagram illustrating a wiring path of a wiring pattern of the heater device according to the second embodiment. FIG. 16B is a diagram showing the arrangement and configuration of shield electrodes in the second embodiment. FIG. 17 is a diagram for explaining a position where the wiring pattern of the heater device according to the second embodiment is embedded in the steering wheel. FIG. 18 is a diagram showing a modification of the wiring pattern and the shield electrode.

  A heater device according to a first aspect of the present invention for solving the above-described problem is a heater device that is disposed on a steering wheel that includes a rim, and a base material that is attached to the rim, and is disposed on the base material. A heater wire, a shield electrode disposed inside the rim with respect to the heater wire, and a sensor unit that is connected to a front end or a rear end of the heater wire and measures a capacitance of the heater wire, The heater wire forms a first wiring pattern and a second wiring pattern connected in series, and the first and second wiring patterns are (a) a rear end side from a front end side of the heater wire. Are arranged along a first direction which is the circumferential direction of the rim so that the directions toward each other are opposite to each other, and (b) arranged so as to face each other in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The shield electrode A first shield electrode portion disposed opposite to the first wiring pattern in the radial direction of the rim; and a second shield electrode portion disposed opposite to the second wiring pattern in the radial direction of the rim. And (c) the first and second shield electrodes are arranged so as to face each other in the second direction, and (d) the first and second shield electrodes. The partial connection portions are connected in series so as to face the connection portions of the first and second wiring patterns in the radial direction of the rim.

  As a result, even if the overall shape of the first and second wiring patterns of the heater wire corresponding to the sensing electrode 926 is substantially U-shaped, a substantially U-shaped shield electrode that matches the shape is used. , Temperature characteristics can be improved. As a result, it is possible to improve the accuracy of detecting whether the operator is holding the steering wheel.

  Here, further problems in the conventional configuration will be described. FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the configuration of the heater device of Patent Document 3. As shown in FIG. By adopting the heater device having the wiring pattern shown in FIG. 2 in the heater of Patent Document 1, it is possible to detect contact between the operator's hand and the steering wheel. However, in this case, the capacitance of the wiring pattern 921A depends on which part of the steering wheel the operator's hand is in contact with, that is, on which part of the heater the operator's hand is placed. The size is different. Therefore, there is a problem that a difference in detected frequencies changes.

  Even when the contact between the hand and the steering wheel is detected not by the difference in frequency but by the difference in capacitance, if the position of the operator's hand touching the steering wheel is different, the impedance seen from the sensor unit that measures the capacitance will be Different. Therefore, even if the operator grips the steering wheel in the same gripping state, if the gripping position is different, the amount of increase in capacitance is not the same. The “gripping state” means the contact area of the operator's hand with the steering wheel.

  For example, when the operator places his hand above the region 9TC1 in FIG. 2 and grips the steering wheel, and when the operator places his hand above the region 9TC2 and grips the steering wheel in the same manner, the capacitance is The amount of increase in capacitance measured by the sensor unit to be measured is not the same.

  Therefore, even if the techniques of Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 3 are combined, only a sensing device with low accuracy for detecting whether the operator is holding the steering wheel can be obtained.

  Therefore, in the heater device according to the second aspect of the present invention, each of the first and second wiring patterns includes N wiring blocks (N is an integer of 2 or more) connected in series, and The N wiring blocks in one wiring pattern and the N wiring blocks in the second wiring pattern are arranged in such a manner that the arrangement directions of the N wiring blocks from the front end side to the rear end side of the heater wire are mutually aligned. The sensor unit is arranged along the first direction so as to be opposite to each other and opposed to each other in the second direction. The sum may be substantially equal to the sum of the sensitivities of the sensor units with respect to the electrostatic capacitances in other sets of wiring blocks facing each other.

  Thereby, it can suppress that detection sensitivity changes with positions which touch a steering wheel.

  In the heater device according to the third aspect of the present invention, in each of the N wiring blocks included in each of the first and second wiring patterns, a part of the heater wire is repeatedly folded in a meander shape. Each of the first and second shield electrode portions is opposed to each of the plurality of meander portions included in the first or second wiring pattern in the radial direction of the rim. May be formed in a state of being connected in series.

  Thereby, temperature characteristics can be further improved.

  In the heater device according to the fourth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, each wiring block repeats the return of the heater wire in the first direction and the direction opposite to the first direction, and the second direction or the second direction. It arrange | positions so that it may extend in the opposite direction.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the heater device according to the first aspect, the heater wire further forms a spoke wiring pattern disposed on the spokes of the steering wheel in addition to the first and second wiring patterns. The spoke wiring pattern is far from the front end or rear end of the heater wire from the side where the sensor unit is connected.

  A sixth aspect of the present invention is directed to the steering wheel and includes the heater device according to any one of the first to fifth aspects.

  In the steering wheel according to the seventh aspect of the present invention, in the sixth aspect, the first wiring pattern of the heater device is disposed on the back side of the rim that does not face the operator.

  An eighth aspect of the present invention is directed to a transportation apparatus and includes the steering wheel according to any of the sixth and seventh aspects.

  Note that each of the embodiments described below shows a preferred specific example of the present invention. Numerical values, shapes, materials, components, arrangement positions and connection forms of components, steps, order of steps, and the like shown in the following embodiments are merely examples, and are not intended to limit the present invention. The invention is specified by the claims. Therefore, among the constituent elements in the following embodiments, constituent elements that are not described in the independent claims indicating the highest concept of the present invention are not necessarily required to achieve the object of the present invention, but are more preferable. It will be described as constituting a form.

  A vehicle will be described as an example of the transportation device.

(First embodiment)
FIG. 3 is a schematic view of the steering wheel and its peripheral portion of the vehicle according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The vehicle 1 includes a steering wheel 2, a speaker 3, a display device 4 such as a liquid crystal display, a shift lever 76, a driver seat 77, a passenger seat 78, a second controller 8, and a windshield 79. The speaker 3 and the display device 4 are examples of an alerting device. Further, the steering wheel 2 includes a heater device 25. The heater device 25 includes two heater elements 21HE and a first control unit 24. The first control unit 24 is electrically connected to the second control unit 8 via a connection line (not shown). The second control unit 8 is electrically connected to the speaker 3 and the display device 4 via a connection line (not shown).

  4A is a front view of the steering wheel 2, and FIG. 4B is a right side view of the steering wheel 2. FIG. The steering wheel 2 has an annular rim 21, a pad 22 located at the center of the steering wheel 2, and a spoke 23 that connects the rim 21 and the pad 22. A heater element 21 HE is embedded in the rim 21, and a first control unit 24 is disposed inside the pad 22. A plurality of connection lines 29 are arranged inside one of the three spokes 23. The two heater elements 21HE are electrically connected to the first control unit 24 via the connection line 29.

  When the steering wheel 2 is in the neutral position, the upper region of the rim 21 is the upper portion 21S, and the lower region is the lower portion 21T. In the neutral position, the right side region of the rim 21 when viewed from the operator of the steering wheel 2 is a right side portion 21R, and the left side region is a left side portion 21L. Furthermore, in the neutral position, a region of the rim 21 that faces the operator of the steering wheel 2 is a front side portion 21U, and a region opposite to the front side portion 21U is a back side portion 21V.

  In the present embodiment, the “neutral position” means the position of the steering wheel 2 that is steered so that the vehicle 1 goes straight (the position at which the steering angle = 0 °). Further, the “neutral position” is not limited to the vehicle 1 but is the position of the steering wheel 2 that is steered so that the transport device goes straight.

  FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the rim 21 taken along line 3-3 shown in FIG. 4A. In FIG. 5, the region on the inner peripheral side in the radial direction of the rim 21 is an inner peripheral portion 21I, and the region on the outer peripheral side in the radial direction of the rim 21 is an outer peripheral portion 21O. The rim 21 includes a metal core material 21F, a resin layer 21G covering the core material 21F, and a heater element 21HE. Here, the heater element 21HE includes a nonwoven fabric 21H as a base material, a wiring pattern 21A in which heater wires are sewn on the nonwoven fabric 21H, and a shield electrode 21K disposed inside the rim 21 with respect to the wiring pattern 21A. It is comprised by. The heater element 21HE is adhesively fixed to the resin layer 21G so that the heater element 21HE surrounds the periphery of the resin layer 21G. The rim 21 further includes a surface layer 21J made of, for example, leather, wood, resin, etc., and the surface layer 21J covers the heater element 21HE.

  In FIG. 5, in order to facilitate understanding of the embedded state of the wiring pattern 21 </ b> A of the heater element 21 </ b> HE, all the portions to be indicated by dotted lines are indicated by solid lines because they are originally hidden in the nonwoven fabric 21 </ b> H. Further, the thicknesses of the nonwoven fabric 21H, the wiring pattern 21A, and the shield electrode 21K are also deformed in consideration of ease of viewing. The shield electrode 21K is disposed on the inner side of the rim 21 (on the core material 21F side) than the wiring pattern 21A formed by the heater wire, and is embedded under the surface layer 21J of the rim 21 together with the wiring pattern 21A.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating the wiring pattern 21A of the heater element 21HE of the heater device 25 according to the present embodiment. In the present embodiment, the wiring pattern 21 </ b> A of the heater element 21 </ b> HE for warming the steering wheel 2 is used to detect contact of the operator's hand with the steering wheel 2. The wiring pattern 21A is configured by repeatedly folding a single heater wire 26 and placing it on the nonwoven fabric 21H. Here, the single heater wire 26 may be a wire obtained by combining a plurality of thin metal wires into one. The heater wire 26 of the wiring pattern 21A is sewn to the nonwoven fabric 21H and integrated with the nonwoven fabric 21H. In FIG. 6, the shield electrode 21K is not shown for easy understanding of the wiring pattern 21A, but the shield electrode 21K is more than the wiring pattern 21A composed of the heater wire 26 integrated with the nonwoven fabric 21H. Arranged inside the rim 21. And the heater element 21HE is comprised from the nonwoven fabric 21H which this heater wire 26 was sewn on, and the shield electrode which is not illustrated in FIG.

  The wiring pattern 21A is accurately arranged on the nonwoven fabric 21H in order to make the temperature distribution uniform. By embedding the heater element 21HE in which the wiring pattern 21A is accurately arranged in this manner under the surface layer 21J of the rim 21, the accuracy of measuring the capacitance (described in detail later) is improved.

  In the present embodiment, the circumferential direction of the rim 21 is defined as a first direction (hereinafter referred to as a Y direction), and a direction perpendicular to the first direction is defined as a second direction (hereinafter referred to as an X direction). To do. Further, the direction from the core material 21F to the surface layer 21J in the cross-sectional view of the rim 21 shown in FIG. 5 will be described as the radial direction.

  In FIG. 6, the left-side nonwoven fabric portion 21HL is a nonwoven fabric 21H that is bonded and fixed to the resin layer 21G of the left-side portion 21L of the rim 21 when the steering wheel 2 is in the neutral position. Both ends 21H1 in the X direction of the left-side nonwoven fabric portion 21HL are disposed in the vicinity of the top portion 21IT of the inner peripheral portion 21I shown in FIG. 5, and the left-side nonwoven fabric portion 21HL is bonded and fixed to the resin layer 21G.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the first control unit 24 includes a sensor unit 24 </ b> S for measuring the capacitance of the wiring pattern 21 </ b> A and a power supply unit 24 </ b> P that controls supply of power to the heater wire 26. The wiring pattern 21A includes a sensor unit side end 21AC connected to the sensor unit 24S and an end opposite to the sensor unit side end 21AC in the wiring path between the wiring pattern 21A and the first control unit 24. And an opposite end portion 21AD which is a portion. In addition, since the ground in the circuit of the sensor unit 24S is common with the ground of the power supply unit 24P, the description of the ground is omitted in FIG.

  The wiring pattern 21A includes a first wiring pattern 21A1 and a second wiring pattern 21A2 connected in series. The first wiring pattern 21A1 includes a plurality of wiring blocks 21A11 to 21A14 connected in series. The second wiring pattern 21A2 includes a plurality of wiring blocks 21A21 to 21A24 connected in series. The first wiring pattern 21A1 and the second wiring pattern 21A2 are arranged at positions facing each other in the X direction with a boundary portion 21A3 extending in the Y direction substantially interposed therebetween.

  FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of a pair of wiring blocks 21A12 and 21A23 facing each other in the X direction in FIG. 6 as an example. The wiring blocks 21A12 and 21A23 will be described below with reference to FIG.

  The wiring block 21A12 is included in the first wiring pattern 21A1 closer to the sensor unit side end 21AC than the opposite side end 21AD on the wiring of the wiring pattern 21A. The wiring block 21A23 is included in the second wiring pattern 21A2 closer to the opposite end 21AD than the sensor unit side end 21AC on the wiring of the wiring pattern 21A.

  The wiring blocks 21A12 and 21A23 are configured in a pattern in which a plurality of folding portions 21A4 are connected by a plurality of folding portions 21A5 and extend along the X direction or the direction opposite to the X direction. The folding portion 21A4 extends so that the angle formed with the Y direction is smaller than the angle formed with the X direction.

  As shown in FIG. 6, in the first wiring pattern 21A1, the heater wire 26 of the leftmost wiring block 21A11 starting from the sensor portion side end 21AC extends in the Y direction to constitute an adjacent wiring block 21A12. The heater wire 26 further extends in the Y direction and constitutes an adjacent wiring block 21A13. Thus, the first wiring pattern 21A1 is configured by arranging the plurality of wiring blocks 21A11 to 21A14 side by side in the Y direction substantially from the sensor-side end 21AC. The heater wire 26 constituting the rightmost wiring block 21A14 extends in the X direction across the boundary 21A3, and constitutes the wiring block 21A21 of the second wiring pattern 21A2.

  The heater wire 26 extends from the right end wiring block 21A21 of the second wiring pattern 21A2 to the adjacent wiring block 21A22 in the opposite direction to the Y direction, thereby forming the wiring block 21A22. As described above, the plurality of wiring blocks 21A21 to 21A24 are arranged side by side in the direction opposite to the Y direction across the first wiring pattern 21A1 and the boundary portion 21A3, so that the second wiring pattern 21A2 is configured. Is done. Then, in the wiring block 21A24 at the left end of the second wiring pattern 21A2, the heater wire 26 is terminated at the opposite end 21AD.

  The sensor unit side end 21AC is provided at one edge of the left end wiring block 21A11 in the Y direction. The opposite end 21AD is provided at one edge of the left end wiring block 21A24 in the Y direction. The sensor portion side end portion 21AC is an edge portion in the Y direction of the folding portion 21A4 of the first wiring pattern 21A1. On the other hand, the opposite end 21AD is an edge in the Y direction of the folding part 21A4 of the second wiring pattern 21A2. A connection line 29 to the first control unit 24 is connected to the sensor-side end 21AC and the opposite-side end 21AD.

  Next, the shield electrode 21K in the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining the problem of the shield electrode.

  When the wiring pattern 21A generates heat in the heater device 25, for example, the temperature of the resin layer 21G made of urethane rises. When the heater element 21HE does not include the shield electrode 21K, the sensitivity of sensing by the sensor unit 24S changes due to the temperature change of the resin layer 21G. That is, it has temperature characteristics. In order to improve such temperature characteristics, it is necessary to prevent an electric field (lines of electric force) from being generated between the wiring pattern 21A and the metal core material 21F.

  Therefore, for example, the shield electrode disclosed in Patent Document 2 is made to face all of the wiring pattern 21A so that an electric field (lines of electric force) does not occur between the wiring pattern 21A and the metal core material 21F. It is assumed that they will be placed. For example, as shown in FIG. 8, a shield electrode having a substantially long rectangular flat plate shape is disposed. However, the shield electrode shown in FIG. 8 cannot sufficiently improve the temperature characteristics.

  Specifically, by simultaneously inputting the same signal as the signal (sensor signal) input to the wiring pattern 21A to the shield electrode, the electric field between the wiring pattern 21A and the metal core material 21F can be shielded. it can. The sensor signal is a pulse signal having periodicity. When a sensor signal is input to the wiring pattern 21A, the sensor signal flows along the heater wire 26 of the wiring pattern 21A. On the other hand, when a signal similar to the sensor signal (shield signal) is input to the shield electrode shown in FIG. 8, the signal path of the shield electrode is shorter than the heater wire 26 of the wiring pattern 21A. A phase shift occurs between the sensor signal and the shield signal toward the end. If there is such a phase shift, an electric field is generated between the wiring pattern 21A and the metal core material 21F, and the temperature characteristics cannot be sufficiently improved.

  FIG. 9 is a diagram showing the arrangement and configuration of the shield electrode 21K in the present embodiment. In FIG. 9, in order to make the wiring pattern 21A and the shield electrode 21K easy to understand, they are shown by solid lines and shaded areas, but the shield electrode 21K is disposed on the back side (the back side of the paper) of the nonwoven fabric 21H. ing.

  The shield electrode 21K in the present embodiment is arranged to face the wiring pattern 21A composed of the heater wires 26 in the radial direction of the rim 21, but is formed in a substantially U shape unlike the shield electrode shown in FIG. ing. That is, the shield electrode 21K includes a first shield electrode portion 21K1 disposed to face the first wiring pattern 21A1, and a second shield electrode portion 21K2 disposed to face the second wiring pattern 21A2. Have The first and second shield electrode portions 21K1 and 21K2 are disposed so as to face each other in the X direction (second direction). Further, the first and second shield electrode portions 21K1, 21K2 are connected so that the connection portion K faces the connection portion A of the first and second wiring patterns 21A1, 21A2 in the radial direction of the rim 21. The second shield electrode portions 21K1 and 21K2 are connected in series.

  Further, the end of the first shield electrode portion 21K1 opposite to the connection portion K, that is, the end corresponding to the sensor portion side end portion 21AC, and the sensor portion 24S are connected via a connection line 29.

  The sensor unit 24S outputs a sensor signal to the wiring pattern 21A via the connection line 29 and outputs a shield signal to the shield electrode 21K via the other connection line 29. These signals are output in phase. Note that a change in capacitance in the wiring pattern 21A is detected by observing the waveform of the sensor signal flowing in the wiring pattern 21A.

  FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining the signal path of the sensor signal.

  The sensor signal flows along the heater line 26 in the wiring pattern 21A. Here, in the wiring block in the wiring pattern 21A, the heater wire 26 is repeatedly folded in a meander shape. Further, the length of a part of the meandering heater wire 26 is sufficiently shorter than the wavelength of the sensor signal. Therefore, the sensor signal flowing in a part of the heater wire 26 repeatedly folded in the meander shape and the sensor signal flowing in a part adjacent to the part cancel each other. Therefore, the signal path of the sensor signal flowing through the heater wire 26 can be approximated as shown in (b) or (c) of FIG.

  The signal path of the shield signal in the shield electrode 21K shown in FIG. 9 is similar to the signal path of the sensor signal approximated as shown in FIG. Therefore, the shield electrode 21K shown in FIG. 9 can suppress a phase shift between the sensor signal and the shield signal. As a result, the generation of an electric field between the wiring pattern 21A and the metal core material 21F can be suppressed, and the temperature characteristics can be sufficiently improved.

  FIG. 11 is a diagram showing another example of the arrangement and configuration of the shield electrode 21K in the present embodiment. In FIG. 11, as in FIG. 9, the wiring pattern 21 </ b> A and the shield electrode 21 </ b> K are respectively shown by a solid line and shaded for easy understanding, but the shield electrode 21 </ b> K is the back side of the nonwoven fabric 21 </ b> H (back of the page). Side).

  As described above, the signal path of the sensor signal flowing through the heater wire 26 can be approximated as shown in FIG. Therefore, the shield electrode 21K in the present embodiment includes a first shield electrode portion 21K1 including a plurality of electrode pieces 21K11 to 21K18 and a second shield electrode portion 21K2 including a plurality of electrode pieces 21K21 to 21K28. Good. These electrode pieces 21K11 to 21K18 and 21K21 to 21K28 are arranged so as to face a part of the above-described meander-shaped heater wire 26 in the radial direction of the rim 21.

  That is, each of the wiring blocks 21A11 to 21A14 included in the first wiring pattern 21A1 has a meander portion in which a part of the heater wire 26 is repeatedly folded in a meander shape. Similarly, each of the wiring blocks 21A21 to 21A24 included in the second wiring pattern 21A2 has a meander portion in which a part of the heater wire 26 is repeatedly folded in a meander shape. With respect to such a wiring pattern 21A, the first shield electrode portion 21K1 in the present embodiment has an electrode piece 21K11 that faces each of the plurality of meander portions included in the first wiring pattern 21A1 in the radial direction of the rim 21. ~ 21K18 are formed in a state of being connected in series. Similarly, in the second shield electrode portion 21K2 in the present embodiment, electrode pieces 21K21 to 21K28 that face each other in the radial direction of the rim 21 are connected in series to the plurality of meander portions included in the second wiring pattern 21A2. It is formed in the state.

  The signal path of the shield signal in the shield electrode 21K shown in FIG. 11 is similar to the signal path of the sensor signal approximated as shown in FIG. Here, the signal path of the sensor signal approximated as shown in FIG. 10B is a signal path closer to the reality than the signal path of the sensor signal approximated as shown in FIG. Therefore, the shield electrode 21K shown in FIG. 11 can further suppress the phase shift between the sensor signal and the shield signal. As a result, the generation of an electric field between the wiring pattern 21A and the metal core material 21F can be further suppressed, and the temperature characteristics can be further improved.

  FIG. 12 is a front view of the heater device 25 of the present embodiment. In FIG. 12, the shield electrode 21K is omitted in order to make the wiring pattern 21A easily visible. On the left side of the first controller 24, the left-side nonwoven fabric portion 21HL described with reference to FIG. 6 is disposed. The wiring pattern 21 </ b> A of the left-side nonwoven fabric portion 21 </ b> HL and the first control unit 24 are electrically connected via a connection line 29. Further, on the right side of the first control unit 24 in the drawing, a right-side nonwoven fabric portion 21HR to be embedded in the right-side portion 21R of the rim 21 is disposed. The wiring pattern 21 </ b> A of the right side nonwoven fabric part 21 </ b> HR and the first control unit 24 are electrically connected via a connection line 29. The non-woven fabric portion 21HR for the right side and the wiring pattern 21A disposed thereon and the non-woven fabric portion 21HL for the left side portion and the wiring pattern 21A disposed thereon have a line-symmetric shape across the center line of the first control unit 24. doing.

  In this embodiment, the nonwoven fabric 21H is divided into two regions, a left-side nonwoven fabric portion 21HL and a right-side nonwoven fabric portion 21HR, and each is provided with a wiring pattern 21A. Therefore, it is easier to wrap the nonwoven fabric 21H around the resin layer 21G of the rim 21 than when all the wiring patterns 21A are arranged in one nonwoven fabric without dividing the nonwoven fabric 21H. In addition, the nonwoven fabric 21H is not limited to what is divided | segmented into two area | regions, The nonwoven fabric divided into three or more may be sufficient as one nonwoven fabric.

  13A, 13B, and 13C are diagrams for explaining which part of the rim 21 is embedded in which part of the wiring pattern 21A. 13A, 13B, and 13C show the front surface, the back surface, and the right side surface of the steering wheel 2, respectively. In the present embodiment, the wiring blocks 21A6 and 21A7 of the first wiring pattern 21A1 of the wiring pattern 21A and the wiring blocks 21A8 and 21A9 of the second wiring pattern 21A2 in the nonwoven fabric portion 21HL for the left side in FIG. It is embedded in the portions 21P6, 21P7, 21P8, and 21P9 of the left side portion 21L of the rim 21 indicated by 13A and 13B. Moreover, the wiring blocks 21A6 and 21A7 of the first wiring pattern 21A1 of the wiring pattern 21A and the wiring blocks 21A8 and 21A9 of the second wiring pattern 21A2 in the nonwoven fabric portion 21HR for the right side in FIG. 12 are respectively shown in FIGS. 13A and 13B. Embedded in a portion 21P6, 21P7, 21P8, 21P9 of the right side portion 21R of the rim 21.

  In FIG. 12, the wiring blocks 21A6 to 21A9 in the left side nonwoven fabric portion 21HL and the right side nonwoven fabric portion 21HR are surrounded by dotted lines for easy understanding. 13A, 13B, and 13C are hatched to clarify the ranges of the respective portions 21P6, 21P7, 21P8, and 21P9 of the rim 21.

  Here, an operation principle regarding sensing of the heater device 25 in the present embodiment will be described. The heater device 25 has a capacitance between the wiring pattern 21 </ b> A and a ground such as a chassis of the vehicle 1. When the operator's hand touches the steering wheel 2, the capacitance between the wiring pattern 21A and the hand increases, so the capacitance of the wiring pattern 21A viewed from the sensor unit 24S increases. In the first control unit 24, the sensor unit 24S measures the capacitance of the wiring pattern 21A.

  The first control unit 24 generates an analog voltage signal (first signal SG1) corresponding to the measured capacitance. Then, the second control unit 8 continuously monitors the first signal SG1 to calculate the amount of increase in capacitance, and determines whether or not the operator's hand is touching the steering wheel 2. In addition, the amount of increase in capacitance increases as the area of the operator's hand covering the rim 21 increases.

  FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating that if the gripping state of the operator with respect to the steering wheel 2 is constant, the amount of increase in capacitance is constant regardless of where the hand is placed. In FIG. 14, as in FIG. 12, the shield electrode 21K is omitted in order to make the wiring pattern 21A easily visible. Here, the wiring blocks 21A11 to 14 shown in FIG. 6 are further divided into two in the Y direction to form wiring blocks 21A11 to 21A18. Similarly, the wiring blocks 21A21 to 24 shown in FIG. 6 are further divided into two in the Y direction to form wiring blocks 21A21 to 21A28. Even if the wiring blocks 21A11 to 21A18 and 21A21 to 21A28 are defined, the definition of the wiring pattern 21A including the first wiring pattern 21A1 and the second wiring pattern 21A2 can be applied as it is.

  That is, generally for each of the various wiring patterns 21A, each of the first wiring pattern 21A1 and the second wiring pattern 21A2 includes N wiring blocks (N is an integer of 2 or more) connected in series. Consists of. For example, N = 4 in the wiring pattern 21A of FIG. 6, and N = 8 in the wiring pattern 21A of FIG.

  The numerical values (1 to 16) shown in FIG. 14 indicate the amount of increase in capacitance detected by the sensor unit 24S when the operator's hand touches the steering wheel 2. Each numerical value is a relative numerical value in each of the wiring blocks 21A11 to 21A18 of the first wiring pattern 21A1 and each of the wiring blocks 21A21 to 21A28 of the second wiring pattern 21A2.

  The increase amount ΔC1 of the capacitance detected by the sensor unit 24S in the wiring block 21A11 at the left end of the drawing closest to the sensor unit 24S on the wiring of the wiring pattern 21A is set to 16 at the maximum. ΔC1 in each of the wiring blocks 21A11 to 21A18 of the first wiring pattern 21A1 decreases as the distance from the sensor unit 24S increases. ΔC1 in the wiring block 21A18 at the right end of the first wiring pattern 21A1 is set to 9.

  The increase amount ΔC2 of the capacitance detected by the sensor unit 24S in the wiring block 21A21 of the second wiring pattern 21A2 that is further from the sensor unit 24S than the wiring block 21A18 on the wiring of the wiring pattern 21A is 8. ΔC2 in each of the wiring blocks 21A21 to 21A28 of the second wiring pattern 21A2 decreases as the distance from the sensor unit 24S increases. ΔC2 in the wiring block 21A28 at the left end of the sheet of the second wiring pattern 21A2 is set to 1 which is the minimum.

  In FIG. 14, a block arrow below the paper surface indicates that the increase amount ΔC <b> 1 of the capacitance detected by the sensor unit 24 </ b> S in each of the wiring blocks 21 </ b> A <b> 11 to 21 </ b> A18 of the first wiring pattern 21 </ b> A1 It shows a change from a large value (16) to a medium value (9). Further, the block arrow at the top of the drawing indicates that the increase amount ΔC2 of the capacitance detected by the sensor unit 24S in each of the wiring blocks 21A21 to 21A28 of the second wiring pattern 21A2 is relatively middle as the wiring block in the left direction of the drawing. It shows that the value (8) is reduced to a small value (1).

  When the operator holds the steering wheel 2, the hand contacts the front side portion 21U and the back side portion 21V where the positions of the rim 21 in the Y direction are substantially equal. For example, when the hand is placed above the wiring blocks 21A11 and 21A28, ΔC1 is 16 for the wiring block 21A11 and ΔC2 is 1 for the wiring block 21A28, so that the capacitance detected by the sensor unit 24S increases. The amount is 17 (= 16 + 1). That is, when the position in the Y direction is substantially equal and the hand is placed above the set of wiring blocks facing each other across the boundary 21A3, the increase in capacitance detected by the sensor unit 24S is ΔC1 and ΔC2. However, both are constant at 17.

  In the present embodiment, a set of wiring block 21A11 and wiring block 21A28, a set of wiring block 21A12 and wiring block 21A27, a set of wiring block 21A13 and wiring block 21A26, a set of wiring block 21A14 and wiring block 21A25, a wiring block 21A15 and wiring Assume that the operator places his hand above any of the group of block 21A24, the group of wiring block 21A16 and wiring block 21A23, the group of wiring block 21A17 and wiring block 21A22, or the group of wiring block 21A18 and wiring block 21A21 However, the impedance is not different. When the operator holds the steering wheel 2, the hand contacts the front side portion 21U and the back side portion 21V of the rim 21 at the same time. Since the hand is simultaneously placed above the first wiring pattern 21A1 close to the sensor unit 24S and the second wiring pattern 21A2 far from the sensor unit 24S on the wiring of the wiring pattern 21A, above which set of wiring blocks The impedance will be the same even if the hand is placed on.

  Since the impedance is almost constant regardless of the position where the hand is placed, if the gripping state of the operator with respect to the steering wheel 2 is constant, the increase in capacitance detected by the sensor unit 24S is also placed on the hand. It is constant regardless of the position.

  When the heater element 21HE is embedded in the rim 21, the capacitance in each wiring block is affected by the position of the heater element 21HE. Therefore, the sum of the increase amounts of the capacitance detected by the sensor unit 24S is not necessarily the same between a set of mutually facing wiring blocks and another set of mutually facing wiring blocks. There is variation. However, for example, even if there is a variation of about 20% in the sum of the increase in capacitance detected by the sensor unit 24S, the second control unit 8 determines whether the operator's hand is touching the steering wheel 2. It is possible to correctly determine whether or not.

  Therefore, the wiring blocks 21A11 to 21A18 of the first wiring pattern 21A1 and the wiring blocks 21A21 to 21A28 of the second wiring pattern 21A2 are not necessarily the same pattern. The sum of the sensitivity of the sensor unit 24S with respect to the electrostatic capacitance in the mutually opposing wiring block group may be substantially equal to the sum of the sensitivity of the sensor unit 24S with respect to the electrostatic capacitance in the other mutually opposing wiring block group. . Substantially equal means that even if there is a variation of about 20%, it is allowed.

  Here, in FIGS. 13A, 13B, and 13C, the wiring blocks 21A6 and 21A7 of the first wiring pattern 21A1 of the wiring pattern 21A shown in FIG. Further, the wiring blocks 21A8 and 21A9 of the second wiring pattern 21A2 of the wiring pattern 21A are arranged on the front side of the rim 21. The sensitivity of the sensor unit 24S with respect to the capacitance in the wiring blocks 21A6 and 21A7 is higher than the sensitivity of the sensor unit 24S with respect to the capacitance in the wiring blocks 21A8 and 21A9. When the wiring blocks 21A6 and 21A7 of the first wiring pattern 21A1 are arranged on the front side portion 21U of the rim 21, even if the hand touches only the front side portion 21U of the rim 21, the sensor unit 24S has a relatively large increase in capacitance. Detect the amount. In that case, the second control unit 8 erroneously determines that the hand holds the steering wheel 2 firmly. In order to avoid such erroneous detection, the wiring blocks 21A8 and 21A9 of the second wiring pattern 21A2 are arranged on the front side portion 21U of the rim 21. Thereby, it is possible to prompt the operator to securely hold the steering wheel 2.

  However, the present embodiment is not limited to such a configuration, and the configuration is such that the wiring blocks 21A6 and 21A7 of the first wiring pattern 21A1 and the wiring blocks 21A8 and 21A9 of the second wiring pattern 21A2 are arranged in reverse. It does not matter. For example, the end of the heater wire 26 connecting the sensor unit 24S is reversed from the power supply unit 24P, and the second wiring pattern 21A2 is connected to the sensor unit side end 21AC from the opposite end 21AD on the wiring of the wiring pattern 21A. It may be close to. Therefore, in general, the sensor unit 24 </ b> S that measures the capacitance of the heater wire 26 is connected to the front end or the rear end of the heater wire 26.

  When the operator holds the steering wheel 2 firmly, the hand contacts the back side 21V of the rim 21 with a large contact area. Otherwise, the contact area is small or zero. When the operator firmly holds the steering wheel 2, the area where the hand contacts the back side portion 21V is larger than the area where the hand contacts the front side portion 21U. Therefore, if the sensor part 24S embeds the first wiring pattern 21A1 with high sensitivity for detecting hand contact in the back side part 21V of the rim 21, the accuracy of detecting the gripping state of the steering wheel 2 by the operator is increased.

  Further, the first wiring pattern 21A1 only needs to be embedded mainly in the back side portion 21V among the front side portion 21U and the back side portion 21V of the rim 21 facing the operator. Note that the phrase “the first wiring pattern 21A1 is embedded mainly in the back side portion 21V of the front side portion 21U and the back side portion 21V of the rim 21 facing the operator” is “the first wiring pattern 21A1 is In other words, it is embedded in only the back side 21V of the front side 21U and the back side 21V of the rim 21 ".

  In the present embodiment, wiring patterns 21A are embedded in the left side 21L and the right side 21R of the rim 21, respectively. The sensor unit 24S of the first control unit 24 monitors the increase in capacitance in the wiring pattern 21A. Thereby, the state in which the hand is holding the left side portion 21L and / or the right side portion 21R of the rim 21 is accurately detected.

  FIG. 15 is a block diagram of the vehicle 1 in the present embodiment. In the first control unit 24, the first sensor unit 24S1 measures the capacitance CL of the wiring pattern 21A embedded in the left side 21L of the rim 21. The second sensor unit 24S2 measures the electrostatic capacitance CR of the wiring pattern 21A embedded in the right side 21R of the rim 21. Then, the processing unit 24PR generates an analog voltage signal (first signal SG1) corresponding to the magnitudes of the electrostatic capacitances CL and CR, and outputs the analog voltage signal to the second control unit 8 provided in the vehicle 1. The second control unit 8 determines the gripping state between the operator's hand and the steering wheel 2 based on the input first signal SG1.

  When it is determined that the gripping state is not preferable, the second control unit 8 outputs the second signal SG2 to the speaker 3 provided in the vehicle 1 and outputs the third signal SG3 to the display device 4. The speaker 3 that has received the second signal SG2 outputs a warning sound such as “Please hold the steering wheel”. The display device 4 that has received the third signal SG3 displays a warning such as “Please hold the steering wheel firmly for safety”.

  According to the heater device 25 and the steering wheel 2 of the present embodiment, the temperature characteristics of the capacitance detected by the sensor unit 24S can be effectively improved by the shield electrode 21K. Furthermore, according to the heater device 25 and the steering wheel 2 of the present embodiment, if the gripping state of the operator with respect to the steering wheel 2 is constant, the capacitance detected by the sensor unit 24S regardless of where the hand is placed. The amount of increase is also constant. Thereby, the precision which detects the holding state with respect to the steering wheel 2 of an operator's hand improves. In addition, the vehicle 1 including the steering wheel 2 according to the present embodiment can appropriately warn the operator because the accuracy of detecting the grip state of the operator's hand with respect to the steering wheel 2 is improved. Thereby, the safety of the vehicle 1 is improved.

  The first wiring pattern 21A1 and the second wiring pattern 21A2 are configured by connecting a plurality of folding portions 21A4 with a plurality of folding portions 21A5, and extend along the X direction. The folding portion 21A4 extends so that the angle formed with the Y direction is smaller than the angle formed with the X direction. That is, the folding part 21A4 substantially extends in the Y direction.

  Therefore, even if the wiring pattern 21A is pulled in the X direction perpendicular to the Y direction, the heater wire 26 can be prevented from being broken or disconnected. In addition, breakage or disconnection of the heater wire 26 due to the wiring pattern 21A being extended in the Y direction can be prevented by providing a plurality of wiring blocks.

  Further, since the folding portion 21A4 substantially extends in the Y direction, the shape of the wiring pattern 21A is not easily raised on the surface layer 21J of the rim 21, and therefore, it is possible to suppress the appearance of the steering wheel 2 from being impaired. Further, it is difficult for the operator to feel uncomfortable due to the shape of the wiring pattern 21A.

  In addition, since the vehicle 1 includes a warning device such as the speaker 3 and the display device 4, the operator can be alerted to hold the steering wheel 2 firmly, and as a result, traffic accidents can be reduced. In the present embodiment, the alerting device is not limited to the speaker 3 and the display device 4 and is a device that issues a warning to the operator of the steering wheel 2 to alert the operator.

  In the present embodiment, the first control unit 24 measures and processes the capacitance of the wiring pattern 21A, thereby converting the first signal SG1 obtained by converting the capacitance into an analog voltage signal to the second control unit 8. Output to. Here, the first control unit 24 may output the first signal SG1 obtained by digitizing the analog voltage signal. The first control unit 24 processes the measured capacitance data to generate an analog voltage signal or a digital signal, and further proceeds to determine the contact state between the operator's hand and the steering wheel 2. May be.

  In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 12, the non-woven fabric 21H is divided into a non-woven fabric portion 21HL for the left side and a non-woven fabric portion 21HR for the right side, and the wiring pattern 21A is arranged. It is not limited to. The non-woven fabric 21H can be divided into three or more, and the wiring patterns 21A and the sensor portions 24S can be provided in correspondence with the three or more. With this configuration, it is possible to detect with high accuracy which part of the steering wheel 2 is in contact with which part of the steering wheel 2 with which contact area.

  Further, in the configuration of FIG. 12, the two nonwoven fabric portions 21HL and 21HR are used, but the wiring pattern 21A may be divided into a plurality of pieces and arranged in one nonwoven fabric 21H.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the wiring pattern 21A is configured by repeatedly folding one heater wire 26 and placing it on the non-woven fabric 21H. However, the heater wire 26 is configured not only by one but also by a plurality. May be.

  In the present embodiment, the sensor portion side end portion 21AC and the opposite end portion 21AD are provided at one edge portion in the Y direction in the outermost wiring block with respect to the Y direction. However, the present invention is not limited to such a configuration, and the sensor portion side end portion 21AC and the opposite end portion 21AD are provided at the edge portion in the X direction in the outermost wiring block with respect to the Y direction. It is good also as a structure.

(Second Embodiment)
A second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 16A to 17. FIG. 16A is a diagram illustrating a wiring path to the wiring pattern 21B and the first control unit 24 of the heater device 35 of the present embodiment. In FIG. 16A, the shield electrode 21K is not shown for easy understanding of the wiring pattern 21B. FIG. 16B is a diagram showing the arrangement and configuration of the shield electrode 21K in the present embodiment. The shield electrode 21K in the present embodiment is disposed so as to face the wiring pattern 21B made of the heater wire 26 integrated with the nonwoven fabric 21H in the radial direction of the rim 21. And the heater element 21HE is comprised from the nonwoven fabric 21H to which this heater wire 26 was sewn, and the shield electrode 21K. In FIG. 16B, as in FIGS. 9 and 11, in order to make the wiring pattern 21A and the shield electrode 21K easy to understand, each is shown by a solid line and a shaded area, but the shield electrode 21K is the back side of the nonwoven fabric 21H. It is arranged on the back side. FIG. 17 is a diagram for explaining which part of the wiring pattern 21B is embedded in which part of the steering wheel 2, and shows the front side surface (the surface on the side facing the operator) of the steering wheel 2. FIG.

  The heater device 35 of the present embodiment includes a heater element 21HE embedded in the steering wheel 2 and a sensor unit 24S. FIG. 16A shows a heater element 21HE embedded in the left side portion 21L of the steering wheel 2. The heater element 21HE includes a left-side nonwoven fabric portion 21HL and a wiring pattern 21B disposed on the left-side nonwoven fabric portion 21HL.

  In the first embodiment, the wiring pattern 21 </ b> A is not embedded in the spokes 23 of the steering wheel 2. In the present embodiment, the wiring pattern 21B includes a spoke wiring pattern portion 21BS embedded in the spoke 23 in addition to the wiring pattern similar to the first embodiment. Below, it demonstrates centering around the difference with 1st Embodiment, and abbreviate | omits or simplifies description about a common matter.

  In FIG. 16A, the wiring pattern 21B includes two spoke wiring pattern portions 21BS embedded in the spokes 23. The spoke wiring pattern portion 21BS on the lower side of the drawing is embedded in a portion 21PS (see FIG. 17) on the front side surface of the spoke 23. Further, the spoke wiring pattern portion 21BS on the upper side of the drawing is embedded in a portion corresponding to the portion 21PS shown in FIG. The spoke wiring pattern portion 21BS warms the spoke 23 and makes it easier for the operator to grip the spoke 23.

  The two spoke wiring pattern portions 21BS are closer to the opposite end portion 21BD than the sensor portion side end portion 21BC on the wiring of the wiring pattern 21B. Therefore, since the sensitivity of the sensor unit 24S with respect to the capacitance in the spoke wiring pattern portion 21BS is low, even if the operator's hand is placed above the spoke wiring pattern portion 21BS, the increase in capacitance detected by the sensor unit 24S. The amount is small. Therefore, when the second control unit 8 determines whether or not the operator firmly holds the steering wheel 2, the influence of the spoke wiring pattern unit 21BS on the determination is small.

  Similarly to FIG. 12, the wiring pattern 21 </ b> B provided on the right side nonwoven fabric portion 21 </ b> HR and the wiring pattern 21 </ b> B provided on the left side nonwoven fabric portion 21 </ b> HL are lined across the center line of the first control unit 24. It has a symmetrical shape. The wiring pattern 21B provided on the right-side nonwoven fabric portion 21HR also includes two spoke wiring pattern portions 21BS.

  The spoke wiring pattern portion 21BS is a wiring pattern separate from the adjacent wiring blocks 21B14, 21B15, 21B23, and 21B24. Assume that the wiring blocks 21B14 and 21B15 and the wiring blocks 21B23 and 21B24 are extended to the area of the spoke wiring pattern portion 21BS in order to eliminate the spoke wiring pattern portion 21BS and warm the spoke 23. In that case, even if the holding state is the same, the combination of the wiring block 21B14 and the wiring block 21B24 and the combination of the wiring block 21B15 and the wiring block 21B23 have the same increase in capacitance as the other wiring block sets. do not become. Therefore, it is impossible to detect with high accuracy how much contact area the operator's hand is in contact with the steering wheel 2.

  As shown in FIG. 17, in the present embodiment, three spokes 23 are provided on the steering wheel 2, but even if a total of four spokes 23 are provided on the left side 21 </ b> L and two on the right side 21 </ b> R. Good. In this case, referring to FIG. 16A, two spoke wiring pattern portions 21BS are provided in the upper area of the wiring pattern 21B, and two spoke wiring pattern portions 21BS are provided in the lower area of the wiring pattern 21B. It is done. The number of spoke wiring pattern portions 21BS can be an arbitrary number.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 16B, the shield electrode 21K in the present embodiment is disposed so as to face the wiring pattern 21B composed of the heater wire 26 integrated with the nonwoven fabric 21H in the radial direction of the rim 21. As in the first embodiment, the shield electrode 21K is formed in a substantially U shape. The first shield electrode portion 21K1 of the shield electrode 21K is arranged to face the first wiring pattern 21A1 in the radial direction of the rim 21, and the second shield electrode portion 21K2 is the second wiring pattern 21A2. Are arranged so as to face each other in the radial direction of the rim 21. In the present embodiment, the end of the second shield electrode portion 21K2 opposite to the connection portion K, that is, the end corresponding to the sensor portion side end portion 21BC, and the sensor portion 24S are connected via the connection line 29. It is connected.

  In addition, 1st Embodiment and 2nd Embodiment are illustrations and can also take various deformation | transformation forms.

  FIG. 18 is a diagram illustrating a modification of the wiring pattern and the shield electrode 21K. In FIG. 18, attention is paid to the wiring pattern, shield electrode 21 </ b> K, and sensor unit 24 </ b> S provided in the steering wheel 2, and other components are omitted.

  For example, the heater wire 26 forms a first wiring pattern 201A1 and a second wiring pattern 201A2 connected in series. The first wiring pattern 201A1 corresponds to the first wiring pattern 21A1 in the first embodiment and the second embodiment, but has only one wiring block. Similarly, the second wiring pattern 201A2 corresponds to the second wiring pattern 21A2 in the first embodiment and the second embodiment, but has only one wiring block. A wiring pattern 201A is composed of the first and second wiring patterns 201A1 and 201A2. The first and second wiring patterns 201A1, 201A2 are: (a) a first direction (Y) that is a circumferential direction of the rim 21 so that directions from the front end side to the rear end side of the heater wire 26 are opposite to each other. (B) are arranged so as to face each other in a second direction (X direction) perpendicular to the first direction.

  Even if, for example, the shield electrode shown in FIG. 8 is used for such a wiring pattern 201A, a problem of temperature characteristics arises. Therefore, the temperature characteristics can be improved also for the wiring pattern 201A by using the shield electrode 21K shown in FIG. 9 in the first embodiment.

  That is, also in the present modification example, the shield electrode 21K includes the first shield electrode portion 21K1 arranged to face the first wiring pattern 201A1 in the radial direction of the rim 21 and the second shield electrode 21K1 in the radial direction of the rim 21. A second shield electrode portion 21K2 disposed to face the wiring pattern 201A2. The first and second shield electrode portions 21K1 and 21K2 are arranged to face each other in the second direction (X direction). Further, the first and second shield electrode portions 21K1 and 21K2 are connected so that the connection portion K faces the connection portions A of the first and second wiring patterns 201A1 and 201A2 in the radial direction of the rim 21. The second shield electrode portions 21K1 and 21K2 are connected in series.

  Even for such a wiring pattern 201A, the temperature characteristics can be sufficiently improved by the shield electrode 21K.

  Further, for example, the second control unit 8 can be provided with a storage unit for storing the data of the first signal SG1 for a long period of time. In recent years, development of so-called automatic driving technology in which an operator operates the vehicle 1 without grasping the steering wheel 2 of the vehicle 1 has been activated. For the automatic driving technology of the vehicle 1, video information from a camera attached to the vehicle 1, position information from a global positioning system (GPS), distance information measured by a laser radar device, and the like are used. If the steering wheel 2 of the present invention is applied to such an automatic driving vehicle 1, it becomes possible to analyze the gripping state of the operator with respect to the steering wheel 2 later.

  For example, when the autonomous driving vehicle 1 causes a traffic accident, the gripping state of the steering wheel 2 of the operator can be specified by analyzing the data of the first signal SG1 stored in the storage unit. Therefore, it is possible to determine after the accident whether or not the responsibility of the accident is a mistake in the steering wheel 2 operation by the operator, whether or not it is a bug in the automatic driving program, and whether the responsibility of the other vehicle in the accident is greater. Increases nature.

  In the first embodiment and the second embodiment, the heater devices 25 and 35 having a characteristic in the wiring pattern are disclosed in order to detect contact of the operator with the steering wheel 2. Thereby, the contact of the operator with the steering wheel 2 can be detected only by connecting the sensor unit 24S to the heater element 21HE that heats the steering wheel 2. In addition, the wiring pattern shown in the above embodiment can also be used when a dedicated wiring pattern for detecting contact of the operator with the steering wheel 2 can be embedded in the rim 21. In that case, since it becomes a structure different from a heater apparatus, it becomes a grip sensor apparatus.

  In that case, the grip sensor device is disposed on a steering wheel provided with a rim, a base material, a wiring pattern in which one electrode wire is disposed on the base material, and a sensor that measures the capacitance of the wiring pattern. The wiring pattern is the wiring pattern shown in each embodiment.

  In the first embodiment and the second embodiment, the vehicle 1 has been described, but other than that, for example, a transport device for transporting humans and cargo such as railways, airplanes, ships and the like, and the steering wheel thereof, the heater of the present invention. The device can be applied.

  In the present invention, the term “steering wheel” includes various types of steering grips and handles. Accordingly, the present invention is not limited to the use of vehicles such as automobiles, and aircraft control sticks and ship rudders also belong to the technical scope of the steering wheel in the present invention.

  It is possible to provide a heater device, a steering wheel, and a transportation device with improved accuracy in detecting a state in which an operator holds the steering wheel.

1 Vehicle (Transport Equipment)
2 Steering wheel 3 Speaker 4 Display device 8 Second controller 21 Rim 21A, 21B, 201A, 921A Wiring pattern 21A1, 201A1 First wiring pattern 21A2, 201A2 Second wiring pattern 21A3 Boundaries 21A11-21A18, 21A21-21A28 , 21A6, 21A7, 21A8, 21A9, 21B14, 21B15, 21B23, 21B24 Wiring block 21AC, 21BC Sensor side end 21AD, 21BD Opposite side end 21BS Spoke wiring pattern part 21H Non-woven fabric (base material)
21K shield electrode 21K1 first shield electrode portion 21K2 second shield electrode portion 21K11-21K18, 21K11-21K18 electrode piece 23 spoke 24 first control unit 24S sensor unit 24P power supply unit 25, 35 heater device 26 heater wire 29 connection line A, K connection part

Claims (8)

A heater device disposed on a steering wheel having a rim,
A base material attached to the rim;
A heater wire disposed on the substrate;
A shield electrode disposed inside the rim from the heater wire;
A sensor unit that is connected to a front end or a rear end of the heater wire and measures a capacitance of the heater wire;
The heater wire forms a first wiring pattern and a second wiring pattern connected in series,
The first and second wiring patterns are:
(A) arranged along a first direction that is a circumferential direction of the rim so that directions from the front end side to the rear end side of the heater wire are opposite to each other; and
(B) arranged to face each other in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction,
The shield electrode is
A first shield electrode portion disposed opposite to the first wiring pattern in the radial direction of the rim; and a second shield disposed opposite to the second wiring pattern in the radial direction of the rim. An electrode portion,
The first and second shield electrode portions are:
(C) arranged to face each other in the second direction, and
(D) The connection portion of the first and second shield electrode portions is connected in series so as to face the connection portion of the first and second wiring patterns in the radial direction of the rim. apparatus. Each of the first and second wiring patterns is
It consists of N wiring blocks (N is an integer of 2 or more) connected in series,
N wiring blocks in the first wiring pattern and N wiring blocks in the second wiring pattern are:
The N wiring blocks arranged from the front end side to the rear end side of the heater wire are arranged along the first direction so as to be opposite to each other, and are opposed to each other in the second direction. Placed in
The sum of the sensitivity of the sensor unit with respect to the capacitance in the set of wiring blocks facing each other is substantially equal to the sum of the sensitivity of the sensor unit with respect to the capacitance in another set of wiring blocks facing each other.
The heater device according to claim 1. Each of the N wiring blocks included in each of the first and second wiring patterns has a meander portion in which a part of the heater wire is repeatedly folded in a meander shape,
Each of the first and second shield electrode portions includes:
3. The heater device according to claim 2, wherein electrode pieces facing each other in a radial direction of the rim are formed in series with each of a plurality of meander portions included in the first or second wiring pattern. . Each of the wiring blocks is arranged so that the heater wire extends in the second direction or the direction opposite to the second direction by repeatedly folding back the first direction and the direction opposite to the first direction.
The heater device according to claim 2 or 3. In addition to the first and second wiring patterns, the heater wire further forms a spoke wiring pattern disposed on the spokes of the steering wheel, and the spoke wiring pattern is formed at a front end or a rear end of the heater wire. Of which is far from the side to which the sensor unit is connected,
The heater apparatus of any one of Claims 1-4. The heater device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, comprising the heater device.
Steering wheel. The first wiring pattern of the heater device is disposed on the back side of the rim that does not face the operator.
The steering wheel according to claim 6. The steering wheel according to claim 6 or 7,
Transportation equipment.

Images