JP2019095229A - Capacitance sensor and steering - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a capacitance sensor and steering capable of improving the accuracy of touch determination.SOLUTION: A capacitance sensor 30 includes a dielectric body 34. a sensor electrode 32, and an isolation region 32A. The sensor electrode 32 is extended on one surface of the dielectric body 34 using the first direction as a longitudinal direction, and a capacitance is generated between the sensor electrode and an object coming into contact with another surface of the dielectric body 34. The isolation region 32A crosses the sensor electrode 32 and electrically isolates the sensor electrode 32. The isolation region 32A crosses the sensor electrode 32 in the second direction having an angle value θ1 less than 90 degrees with respect to the first direction.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

  The present invention relates to a capacitance sensor and a steering, and more particularly, to a capacitance sensor disposed in the steering and a technique effectively applied to a steering having the capacitance sensor.

  Patent Document 1 below discloses a capacitive touch sensor. The capacitive touch sensor includes the front panel of the electronic device, and a plurality of detection electrodes disposed with the air vent portion interposed in the detection layer on the back surface of the front panel. In the capacitive touch sensor, a voltage is applied to the detection electrode, and a change in capacitance generated between the finger in contact with the front panel surface and the detection electrode is detected. The detected capacitance is compared with a threshold, and when the capacitance is larger than the threshold, it is determined that the finger is in contact with the front panel surface (touch determination).

  In the above-mentioned capacitive touch sensor, when the finger touches the front panel surface in the separation region between the detection electrodes, the detected capacitance is the number of detection electrodes even if it is the contact area originally determined as a touch determination. It may be smaller than the threshold because it is divided by. At this time, it is determined that the touch is not made (non-touch determination).

  By the way, for example, when the capacitive touch sensor is applied to an automatic driving system of a vehicle such as a car and is used as a sensor for switching between an automatic driving mode and a manual driving mode, the further accuracy of the touch determination Is required.

JP, 2014-186403, A

  The present invention provides a capacitance sensor capable of improving the accuracy of touch determination and a steering having the capacitance sensor in consideration of the above facts.

  An electrostatic capacitance sensor according to a first embodiment of the present invention comprises: a dielectric; and an object extending in a first direction on one surface of the dielectric with a first direction as a longitudinal direction and in contact with the other surface facing the one surface of the dielectric. And across the sensor electrode along one surface of the dielectric in a second direction having a tilt angle of less than 90 degrees with respect to the first direction, and electrically And a separation area for separating into

  The capacitive sensor comprises a dielectric and a sensor electrode. The sensor electrode is extended on a surface of the dielectric in a first direction as a longitudinal direction, and generates capacitance between the sensor electrode and an object in contact with the other surface of the dielectric. The object is, for example, a human hand, a finger or the like.

Here, the capacitance sensor includes a separation region. The separation region crosses the sensor electrode along one surface of the dielectric in a second direction having a tilt angle of less than 90 degrees with respect to the first direction to electrically separate the sensor electrode. Since the separation area has an inclination angle, the overlapping area between the separation area and the object can be reduced, and conversely, the facing area between the object and the sensor electrode can be increased around the separation area.
Therefore, the capacitance can be increased around the separation region.

  In the capacitance sensor according to the second embodiment of the present invention, in the capacitance sensor according to the first embodiment, the inclination angle of the separation region is set to 30 degrees to 50 degrees.

  According to the capacitance sensor of the second embodiment, since the inclination angle of the separation area is set to 30 degrees to 50 degrees, the overlapping area between the separation area and the object is reduced, and conversely, the object around the separation area The facing area between the sensor electrode and the sensor electrode can be increased. Therefore, the capacitance can be increased around the separation region.

  A capacitance sensor according to a third aspect of the present invention is the capacitance sensor according to the first or second aspect, wherein the detection portion is connected to the sensor electrode and detects the capacitance, and the detection portion And a determination unit that compares the capacitance detected by the threshold value with a threshold and determines the magnitude of the capacitance with respect to the threshold.

The capacitance sensor according to the third embodiment further includes a detection unit and a determination unit. The detection unit is connected to the sensor electrode and detects the capacitance. The determination unit compares the capacitance detected by the detection unit with a threshold to determine the magnitude of the capacitance with respect to the threshold.
For this reason, in the vicinity of the separation region, the increased capacitance is detected by the detection unit, and the increased capacitance is compared with the threshold to determine the magnitude with respect to the threshold. Therefore, the accuracy of the touch determination and the non-touch determination Can be improved.

  In the steering according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention, the grip portion disposed around the steering axis, the dielectric provided on the grip portion along the steering axis, and the first direction around the steering axis is a longitudinal direction. A sensor electrode extending on the inner surface of the dielectric and generating capacitance between an occupant contacting the inner surface and the opposite outer surface of the dielectric, and an inclination angle less than 90 degrees with respect to the first direction And a capacitive sensor having a separation region for electrically separating the sensor electrodes along the inner surface of the dielectric in a second direction having

  The steering according to the fifth embodiment comprises a grip and a capacitance sensor. The gripping portion is disposed around the steering axis. The capacitive sensor comprises a dielectric and a sensor electrode. A dielectric is provided in the grip along the steering axis. The sensor electrode is extended on the inner surface of the dielectric with the first direction around the steering axis as the longitudinal direction, and generates capacitance with an occupant in contact with the outer surface of the dielectric.

Here, the capacitance sensor includes a separation region. The separation region crosses the sensor electrode along the inner surface of the dielectric in a second direction having a tilt angle of less than 90 degrees with respect to the first direction to electrically separate the sensor electrode. Since the separation area has an inclination angle, the overlapping area between the separation area and the object can be reduced, and conversely, the facing area between the object and the sensor electrode can be increased around the separation area.
Therefore, the capacitance can be increased around the separation region. Therefore, it is possible to provide the steering in which the electrostatic capacitance sensor with the electrostatic capacitance increased around the separation area is disposed in the grip portion.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a capacitance sensor capable of improving the accuracy of touch determination and a steering having the capacitance sensor.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS It is a schematic block diagram of the electrostatic capacitance sensor which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention, and the steering equipped with this electrostatic capacitance sensor. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the steering shown in FIG. 1 taken along the line A-A and viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows. It is the expansion schematic block diagram to which the code | symbol B part of the steering shown by FIG. 1 was expanded. (A) is an enlarged configuration view showing a sensor electrode, a separation area and an object (hand of an occupant) of the capacitance sensor shown in FIG. 1, (B) is a sensor electrode of the capacitance sensor according to a comparative example, a separation area And an enlarged block diagram showing an object. It is an expansion block diagram corresponding to Drawing 4 (A) of the electrostatic capacitance sensor concerning a 2nd embodiment of the present invention.

First Embodiment
Hereinafter, a capacitance sensor according to a first embodiment of the present invention and steering of a vehicle having the capacitance sensor will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4. Here, as appropriate, the arrow FR shown indicates the forward direction of the vehicle, the arrow W indicates the width direction of the vehicle, and the arrow UP further indicates the upward direction of the vehicle. The application direction of the capacitance sensor and the steering is not limited to the embodiment.

(Configuration of steering)
As shown in FIG. 1, a steering 10 as a steering wheel constituting a steering device (steering device) is disposed in a vehicle (not shown). The steering 10 is provided with a core 24. The cored bar 24 is formed, for example, by casting an alloy material. For example, a magnesium alloy material is used as the alloy material.

The core 24 is provided with a boss 14 at its center. The boss portion 14 is fixed to a steering shaft (steering shaft) 12 which constitutes a steering device of the vehicle. A rim cored bar portion 24A that constitutes a part of the cored bar 24 is provided around the boss portion 14 and around the boss portion 14. The rim cored bar portion 24A is installed facing the driver's seat, and an occupant seated in the driver's seat (may be described as an "object" in the explanation of the capacitance sensor) is formed substantially annularly as viewed from the front. It is done.
Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the cross section of the rim cored bar portion 24A cut along the axial direction of the steering shaft 12 is bifurcated and has a C-shape which is opened on the vehicle front side of the steering shaft 12 It is done. In the present embodiment, the iron weight 22 constituting the cored bar 24 is fitted in the rim cored bar portion 24A. When the occupant is viewed from the front, the shape of the weight 22 is substantially annular.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of spokes 16 that constitute the core 24 are provided between the boss 14 and the rim core 24A. The spoke portion 16 is configured to connect the boss portion 14 and the rim cored bar portion 24A, and the boss portion 14, the spoke portion 16 and the rim cored bar portion 24A are integrally formed. That is, when the rim cored bar portion 24A is rotated around the steering shaft 12, the boss portion 14 is rotated via the spoke portion 16 and the steering shaft 12 fixed to the boss portion 14 is rotated about that axis It is assumed.

  The right half semi-annular portion of the rim core 24A disposed along the circumference of the steering shaft 12 as viewed from the front of the occupant is a grip 20 (R ). Similarly, the left semicircular ring-shaped portion of the rim cored bar portion 24A is a holding portion 20 (L) which can be held by the left hand. As shown in FIG. 2, in each of the gripping portions 20 (R) and 20 (L), the circumferential region of the rim cored bar portion 24A centered on the rim cored bar portion 24A serves as a core material. Is covered by the soft member 26 of FIG. The soft member 26 is made of a synthetic resin material that is softer than the rim cored bar portion 24A, in this case, a hard urethane resin material.

(Configuration of capacitance sensor)
In the steering 10 according to the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, two (divided into two) capacitance sensors 30 (R) and capacitance sensors 30 (L) are disposed. . In the present embodiment, the two capacitance sensors 30 (R) and the capacitance sensor 30 (L) may be described as one “capacitance sensor 30”.
More specifically, one capacitance sensor 30 (R) is disposed along the periphery of the steering shaft 12 in the right grip 20 (R). The other capacitive sensor 30 (L) is disposed along the periphery of the steering shaft 12 in the left grip 20 (L). When divided into a plurality of capacitance sensors 30 (R) and capacitance sensors 30 (L), when the occupant grips the right gripping portion 20 (R), the left gripping portion 20 (L) is gripped Capacitance at each time can be detected, and the accuracy of the detection position can be improved.

The capacitance sensor 30 (L) on the left side is configured to include a dielectric 34 and a sensor electrode 32 (L) as shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3.
A dielectric 34 is provided along the periphery of the steering shaft 12 in the gripping portion 20 (L), and is further provided to cover all of the circumferential direction centering on the rim cored portion 24A of the gripping portion 20 (L) It is formed of ten decorative materials. Here, as the dielectric 34, a leather material (outer leather material) which is not slippery at the time of operation, has a good touch, and is excellent in decoration with a high-class feeling is used. As shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, the dielectric 34 covers all of the circumferential direction centering on the rim core 24A of the grip portion 20 (L), and at the inside of the annular rim core 24A. And the sewing thread 34A is used.
Moreover, as a leather material of the dielectric 34, if it has a function as a dielectric, either real leather or synthetic leather can be used. Furthermore, as the dielectric 34, a resin material, a resin material having at least a surface layer decorated, or the like can be used.

  The sensor electrode 32 (L) is disposed on the inner surface of the grip portion 20 (L), which is one surface of the dielectric 34 and on the side of the rim cored portion 24A. When the circumferential direction around the steering shaft 12 is taken as a first direction as viewed from the occupant, the sensor electrode 32 (L) is extended with the first direction as a longitudinal direction (along the grip portion 20 (L)) . Specifically, the sensor electrode 32 (L) is wound along a circumferential surface around the rim cored bar portion 24A of the soft member 26. Here, the sensor electrode 32 (L) has a conductive cloth, for example, a conductive cloth in which a polyester fiber is nickel-plated, and further, an acrylic conductive adhesive is applied to one side of the conductive cloth. Conductive cloth can be used practically.

On the other hand, the capacitance sensor 30 (R) on the right side includes the dielectric 34 and the sensor electrode 32 (R) as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 3 (see further FIG. 2). The structure of the capacitance sensor 30 (R) is the same as the structure of the capacitance sensor 30 (L).
That is, the dielectric 34 is provided on the grip 20 (R) along the periphery of the steering shaft 12 and is further provided to cover all of the circumferential direction centering on the rim core 24A of the grip 20 (R). It is formed of the decorative material. As the decorative material, for example, a leather material of the same material formed integrally with or integrally with the decorative material as the dielectric 34 disposed in the grip portion 20 (R) is used.
The sensor electrode 32 (R) is disposed on the inner surface of the rim cored bar portion 24A which is one surface of the dielectric 34 in the grip portion 20 (R). The sensor electrode 32 (R) is extended with the first direction as a longitudinal direction. Similar to the sensor electrode 32 (L), the sensor electrode 32 (R) is wound along the circumferential surface of the soft member 26 and is formed using the same material.
The sensor electrode 32 (R) and the sensor electrode 32 (L) may be simply described as the “sensor electrode 32”.

  As shown in FIG. 1, since the capacitance sensor 30 (R) and the capacitance sensor 30 (L) are divided into two, the sensor electrode 32 (R) passes through the separation region 32A and the separation region 32B. And the sensor electrode 32 (L). Each of the separation area 32A and the separation area 32B is an area where the sensor electrode 32 (R) and the sensor electrode 32 (L) are electrically separated (no current flows). In the non-operating state of the steering 10 in which the front tire of the vehicle is directed straight ahead, the separation area 32A is located at the top of the steering 10, and the separation area 32B is located at the bottom of the steering 10.

As shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 (A), in the capacitance sensor 30, the separation region 32A located on the top of the steering 10 comprises the sensor electrode 32 (R) and the sensor electrode 32 (L). It is configured to cross.
Explaining in detail, as shown in FIG. 4A, first, the sensor electrode 32 (R) and the sensor electrode 32 (L) are extended with the first direction as the longitudinal direction. The separation region 32A is configured to cross the sensor electrode 32 (R) and the sensor electrode 32 (L) in the vehicle longitudinal direction in a second direction having an inclination angle θ1 of less than 90 degrees with respect to the first direction. Here, the inclination angle θ1 is set in the range of 30 degrees to 50 degrees. Further, the angle θ2 formed by the second direction and the vertical direction is an angle obtained by subtracting the inclination angle θ1 from 90 degrees, and is set in the range of 60 degrees to 40 degrees here. The edge 30R1 along the separation region 32A of the sensor electrode 32 (R) has a constant width (separation region width or sensor electrode spacing) α with respect to the edge 30L1 along the separation region 32A of the sensor electrode 32 (L) And set in parallel.
In the present embodiment, the separation area 32A is configured to cross the sensor electrode 32 (R) and the sensor electrode 32 (L) from the upper left side to the lower right side in FIG. 4A. , And may be configured to cross from the upper right side to the lower left side.

As shown in FIG. 1, the sensor electrode 32 (L) of the capacitance sensor 30 (L) on the left side is connected to the first detection unit 42, and the first detection unit 42 is connected to the determination unit 40. The sensor electrode 32 (R) of the capacitance sensor 30 (R) on the right side is connected to the second detection unit 44, and the second detection unit 44 is connected to the determination unit 40.
In the first detection unit 42, a constant voltage as a detection voltage is mainly applied to the sensor electrode 32 (L) of the capacitance sensor 30 (L) in the grip unit 20 (L), and an object such as an occupant's hand (or finger) The change in capacitance that occurs when the contact with the dielectric 34 is detected as a change in detection voltage. Similarly, in the second detection unit 44, a constant voltage as a detection voltage is mainly applied to the sensor electrode 32 (R) of the capacitance sensor 30 (R) in the grip unit 20 (R), and the occupant's hand is dielectric The change in capacitance that occurs when contacting the body 34 is detected as a change in sensed voltage.
In the determination unit 40, the capacitances detected by each of the first detection unit 42 and the second detection unit 44 are compared with the threshold value, and the magnitude of the capacitance with respect to the threshold value is determined. When the capacitance is larger than the threshold value, the determination unit 40 determines that the hand has touched the gripping unit 20 (L) or the gripping unit 20 (R) (referred to as touch determination). Conversely, when the capacitance is smaller than the threshold value, the determination unit 40 determines that the hand is not touched on the gripping unit 20 (L) or the gripping unit 20 (R) (determined as non-touch determination) .
The touch determination information is transmitted to, for example, an automatic driving system (not shown) and used to switch between the automatic driving mode and the manual driving mode.

(Operation and effect of the present embodiment)
Capacitance sensor 30 according to the present embodiment includes dielectric 34 and sensor electrode 32 as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3. The sensor electrode 32 is extended on one surface (inner surface, see FIG. 2) of the dielectric 34 with the first direction as a longitudinal direction, and is in contact with the other surface (outer surface) of the dielectric 34 (e.g. Create a capacitance with the hand or finger).

  Here, as shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 (A), the capacitance sensor 30 has a separation region 32A. As shown in FIG. 4A, the separation region 32A crosses the sensor electrode 32 along one surface of the dielectric 34 in a second direction having an inclination angle θ1 of less than 90 degrees with respect to the first direction. The sensor electrode 32 is electrically separated. That is, the separation region 32A forms the sensor electrode 32 (R) and the sensor electrode 32 (L). Since the separation area 32A has the inclination angle θ1, the overlapping area 50A (hatched portion) between the separation area 32A and the object (the hand 50 of the occupant shown in FIG. 4A) is reduced, and conversely, the separation area The facing area of the object and the sensor electrode 32 (“facing area S1” described later) can be increased around the periphery 32A.

More specifically, in FIG. 4A, the sensor electrode 32 (R) and the sensor electrode 32 (L) are in contact with an occupant's hand 50 schematically represented as an object via the dielectric 34 (not shown). State is shown. Further, the sensor electrode 32 (R) and the sensor electrode 32 (L) schematically show a state in which the sensor electrode 32 (R) and the sensor electrode 32 (L) are spread in the vehicle longitudinal direction. When the occupant grips the grip portion 20 (R) and the grip portion 20 (L) of the steering 10 over substantially the entire circumferential direction, the first direction is compared with the width W1 of the occupant's hand 50 in the same direction as the first direction. The length L1 of the hand 50 in the direction (arrow FR direction) orthogonal to the direction
Since the separation region 32A is set to the width α, the opposing area S1 between the sensor electrode 32 (R) and the sensor electrode 32 (L) and the hand 50 is expressed by the following equation (1).
S1 = W1 (L1-α / sin θ2) (1)

On the other hand, FIG. 4B shows a capacitance sensor 30P as a comparative example. The capacitance sensor 30P is configured to cross the sensor electrode 32 in a direction (arrow FR direction) perpendicular to the first direction. In the capacitance sensor 30P, the configuration of the sensor electrode 32 (R) of the capacitance sensor 30 (R) and the sensor electrode 32 (L) of the capacitance sensor 30 (L) is a capacitance according to the present embodiment. It is identical to the corresponding configuration of the sensor 30. The end 32R2 of the sensor electrode 32 (R) is set parallel to the end 32L2 of the sensor electrode 32 (L). The separation region 32A is set to the width β.
At this time, the opposing area S2 between the sensor electrode 32 (R) and the sensor electrode 32 (L) and the hand 50 is expressed by the following equation (2).
S2 = (W2-β) L2 (2)
The area denoted by reference numeral 50B is an overlapping area of the separation area 32A and the hand 50.

The width α of the separation region 32A of the capacitance sensor 30 is the same as the width β of the separation region 32A of the capacitance sensor 30P, the length L1 of the hand 50 is the same as the length L2, and the width W1 of the hand 50 is the width W2 It is set identically. Also, usually, the length L1 of the hand 50 is about 1.5 times to 2.0 times the width W1.
Under such conditions, sin θ2 in the above equation (1) is larger than 2/3 (sin θ2> 2/3 or θ2> 42 degrees). That is, compared to the overlapping area 50B of the separation area 32A of the electrostatic capacity sensor 30P according to the comparative example and the hand 50, the overlapping area 50A of the separation area 32A of the electrostatic capacity sensor 30 according to the present embodiment and the hand 50 Becomes smaller. And, conversely, in the periphery of the separation region 32A, the opposing area S1 of the sensor electrode 32 of the electrostatic capacitance sensor 30 and the hand 50 is equal to the opposing area S2 of the sensor electrode 32 of the electrostatic capacitance sensor 30P and the hand 50. growing. As the angle θ2 approaches 90 degrees, the facing area S1 can be increased.
Therefore, the facing area S1 between the hand 50 and the sensor electrode 32 can be increased around the separation region 32A, so that the capacitance can be increased. Therefore, the capacitance sensor 30 capable of improving the accuracy of touch determination can be provided.

Further, as shown in FIG. 4A, in the capacitance sensor 30 according to the present embodiment, the hand 50 has the first direction as the short direction and the vertical direction perpendicular to the first direction as the longitudinal direction. I assume. The separation region 32A crosses the sensor electrode 32 from one end side (upper left end in FIG. 4A) of the hand 50 to the other end side (lower right end in FIG. 4A) in the lateral direction. It is assumed. When the width α of the separation region 32A and the width β of the separation region 32A shown in FIG. 4B are made constant (identical), the longitudinal direction from one end side in the longitudinal direction of the hand 50 shown in FIG. The overlapping area 50A between the separation area 32A shown in FIG. 4A and the hand 50 shown in FIG. 4A can be smaller than the separation area 32A crossing the sensor electrode 32 toward the other end. In other words, the facing area S1 of the hand 50 and the sensor electrode 32 can be increased in the vicinity of the separation region 32A shown in FIG. 4A.
Therefore, the capacitance can be increased around the separation region 32A.

  Furthermore, in capacitance sensor 30 according to the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4A, since inclination angle θ1 of separation region 32A is set to 30 degrees to 50 degrees, in the vicinity of separation region 32A The facing area S1 of the hand 50 and the sensor electrode 32 can be increased. Therefore, the capacitance can be increased around the separation region 32A.

Further, as shown in FIG. 1, the capacitance sensor 30 according to the present embodiment further includes a first detection unit 42, a second detection unit 44, and a determination unit 40. The first detection unit 42 is connected to the sensor electrode 32 (L) to detect capacitance. The second detection unit 44 is connected to the sensor electrode 32 (R) to detect capacitance. The determination unit 40 compares the capacitance detected by the first detection unit 42 or the second detection unit 44 with a threshold, and determines the magnitude of the capacitance with respect to the threshold.
Therefore, around the separation region 32A between the sensor electrode 32 (L) and the sensor electrode 32 (R), the increased capacitance is detected by the first detection unit 42 and the second detection unit 44, and the increased static Since the capacitance is compared with the threshold to determine the magnitude relative to the threshold, the accuracy of the touch determination and the non-touch determination can be improved.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 1, the steering 10 according to the present embodiment includes a grip 20 (R), a grip 20 (L), and a capacitance sensor 30. The grip portion 20 (R) and the grip portion 20 (L) are disposed around the steering shaft 12. The capacitance sensor 30 includes a dielectric 34 and a sensor electrode 32 as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3. The dielectric 34 is provided on the grips 20 (R) and 20 (L) along the steering shaft 12. The sensor electrode 32 is extended on the inner surface of the dielectric 34 with the first direction around the steering axis 12 as the longitudinal direction, and the occupant's hand 50 (see FIG. 4A) contacting the outer surface Create a capacitance between

Here, the capacitance sensor 30 includes a separation area 32A. The separation region 32A crosses the sensor electrode 32 along the inner surface of the dielectric 34 in the second direction having the inclination angle θ1 less than 90 degrees with respect to the first direction, and electrically separates the sensor electrode 32. Since the separation area 32A has the inclination angle θ1, the overlapping area 50A between the separation area 32A and the hand 50 is reduced, and conversely, the facing area S1 between the hand 50 and the sensor electrode 32 is increased around the separation area 32A. be able to.
Therefore, the capacitance can be increased around the separation region. Therefore, it is possible to provide the steering 10 in which the electrostatic capacitance sensor 30 whose capacitance is increased around the separation area 32A is disposed at the holding portion 20 (R) and the holding portion 20 (L).
In such a steering 10, for example, it is possible to improve the accuracy of switching between the automatic driving mode and the manual driving mode in the automatic driving system.

Second Embodiment
Next, referring to FIG. 5, a capacitance sensor 30 and a steering wheel 10 according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the present embodiment, the same components as or substantially the same components as the components of capacitance sensor 30 and steering 10 according to the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description will be given. Is omitted.

In capacitance sensor 30 according to the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, separation region 32 extends from the upper left side to the lower right side of sensor electrode 32 and has an S-shape having a folded portion in the middle of the extended arrangement. It is formed in a shape and configured to cross the sensor electrode 32. The edge 32R3 of one of the separated sensor electrodes 32 (R) is parallel to the edge 32L3 of the other separated sensor electrode 32 (L), and the width of the separated region 32A is fixed.
In the direction perpendicular to the first direction, in the middle portion of the sensor electrode 32, the inclination angle (θ1; see FIG. 4A) of the separation region 32A with respect to the first direction is less than 90 degrees and 0 degrees It is considered to be close to the angle.
The configuration of the capacitance sensor 30 other than the separation area 32A and the configuration of the steering 10 are the same as the configuration of the capacitance sensor 30 and the configuration of the steering 10 according to the first embodiment.

In the electrostatic capacitance sensor 30 and the steering wheel 10 according to the present embodiment, the same operational effects as those obtained by the electrostatic capacitance sensor 30 and the steering wheel 10 according to the first embodiment can be obtained.
Further, in the capacitance sensor 30 according to the present embodiment, the overlapping region 50C of the separation region 32A and the hand 50 is further smaller than the overlapping region 50A of the capacitance sensor 30 according to the first embodiment. For this reason, in the capacitance sensor 30, the capacitance can be further increased around the separation region 32A.

[Supplementary explanation of the above embodiment]
The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and can be modified as follows without departing from the scope of the invention.
For example, although the above embodiment provided the inclination angle θ1 in the upper separation area 32A of the steering 10, the present invention may also provide the inclination angle θ1 in the lower separation area 32B of the steering 10.
Further, in the above embodiment, the capacitance sensor 30 includes the two capacitance sensors 30 (L) and the capacitance sensor 30 (R). In the present invention, the separation area 32A exists in the upper part of the steering wheel 10, and the sensor electrode 32 (L) and the sensor electrode 32 (R) are electrically connected in the lower part of the steering wheel 10 to form one electrostatic capacitance sensor It may be 30.
Furthermore, in the present invention, the capacitance sensor 30 may be divided into three or more.
Moreover, although the said embodiment illustrated ring-shaped steering 10, this invention may be rectangular-shaped steering.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Steering, 12 ... Steering shaft, 20 (L), 20 (R) ... Gripping part 30, 30, 30 (L), 30 (R) ... Capacitance sensor, 32, 32 (L), 32 (R) ... sensor electrode, 32A, 32B ... separation area, 34 ... dielectric, 40 ... determination unit, 42 ... first detection unit, 44 ... second detection unit, 50 ... hand (object).

Claims (4)

With dielectrics,
A sensor electrode which is extended on a surface of the dielectric with a first direction as a longitudinal direction, and which generates capacitance between an object that contacts the other surface facing the one surface of the dielectric;
A separation region that crosses the sensor electrode along one surface of the dielectric in a second direction having a tilt angle of less than 90 degrees with respect to the first direction to electrically separate the sensor electrode;
Capacitance sensor equipped with   The capacitance sensor according to claim 1, wherein the inclination angle of the separation area is set to 30 degrees to 50 degrees. A detection unit connected to the sensor electrode for detecting a capacitance;
A determination unit that compares the capacitance detected by the detection unit with a threshold and determines the magnitude of the capacitance with respect to the threshold;
The capacitance sensor according to claim 1, further comprising: A grip disposed around the steering axis,
A dielectric provided on the grip portion along the periphery of the steering axis,
A sensor electrode extending on the inner surface of the dielectric with the first direction around the steering axis as the longitudinal direction and generating capacitance between the occupant contacting the outer surface facing the inner surface of the dielectric and the opposing outer surface , And a second region having a separation region for electrically separating the sensor electrode along the inner surface of the dielectric in a second direction having a tilt angle of less than 90 degrees with respect to the first direction. Capacitance sensor,
Steering equipped.