JP6788857B2 - Steering heater - Google Patents

Description

The present disclosure relates to, for example, a steering heater wound around the steering wheel of a vehicle.

Conventionally, a heater device including a base material using a urethane foam resin and a cord-shaped heater arranged on the base material has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1). The heater device is installed on the wheel portion of the steering wheel.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2011-121477 JP-A-2017-216240

However, since the polymer foam such as urethane foam resin constituting the above-mentioned base material is soft, a person may feel a sense of discomfort when gripping the steering wheel. Therefore, it is conceivable that a non-woven fabric having an appropriate hardness and low cost is used as the base material, and the heater wire is sewn on this base material. In this case, when the base material on which the heater wire is sewn is wound around the steering wheel, wrinkles are formed on the base material on the inner circumference side of the steering wheel due to the difference in circumference between the inner circumference side of the steering wheel and the outer circumference side of the steering wheel. It becomes easier to approach. If the base material is wrinkled, the heater wire arranged on the inner peripheral side of the steering wheel will protrude from the surface of the base material, and the heater wire will be arranged at a position different from the assumed position. Therefore, the heater wire may be short-circuited or the appearance may be poor. On the other hand, the outer peripheral side of the steering wheel may be extended and wound around the steering wheel so that the base material on the inner peripheral side of the steering wheel does not wrinkle. However, when a hard base material is used, the steering wheel It is difficult to extend the outer peripheral side.

Therefore, the present disclosure provides a steering heater capable of suppressing the occurrence of wrinkles of the base material arranged on the inner peripheral side of the steering wheel by improving the elasticity of the base material.

The steering heater according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes a base material wound around a steering wheel, a heater wire that generates heat when a current flows, and a sewing thread that sews the heater wire onto one surface of the base material. The base material is formed with a plurality of through holes having a diameter smaller than the sewing pitch of the seam of the sewing thread for sewing the heater wire, and when the base material is wound around the steering wheel, the steering wheel is formed. The number of the through holes formed in the base material located on the outer peripheral side of the steering wheel is larger than the number of the through holes formed in the base material located on the inner peripheral side of the steering wheel.
Further, the steering heater according to another aspect of the present disclosure includes a base material wound around the steering wheel, a heater wire that generates heat when a current flows, and a sewing thread that sews the heater wire onto one surface of the base material. The base material is provided with a plurality of through holes having a diameter smaller than the sewing pitch of the stitches of the sewing thread for sewing the heater wire, and when the base material is wound around the steering wheel, the base material is formed. The number of the through holes formed in the base material gradually decreases from the outer peripheral side of the steering wheel toward the inner peripheral side of the steering wheel.
Further, the steering heater according to another aspect of the present disclosure includes a base material wound around the steering wheel, a heater wire that generates heat when a current flows, and a sewing thread that sews the heater wire onto one surface of the base material. A plurality of through holes having a diameter smaller than the sewing pitch of the seam of the sewing thread for sewing the heater wire are formed on the base material, and two adjacent through holes among the plurality of through holes are formed. The pitch of is different from the sewing pitch.
Further, the steering heater according to another aspect of the present disclosure includes a base material wound around the steering wheel, a heater wire that generates heat when a current flows, and a sewing thread that sews the heater wire onto one surface of the base material. The base material is provided with a plurality of through holes having a diameter smaller than the sewing pitch of the stitches of the sewing thread for sewing the heater wire, and when the base material is wound around the steering wheel, the base material is formed. The first density of the number of through holes per unit area of the base material located on the outer peripheral side of the steering wheel is the first density of the through holes per unit area of the base material located on the inner peripheral side of the steering wheel. Greater than the second density of numbers.

It should be noted that these comprehensive or specific embodiments may be realized by any combination of systems, methods, or integrated circuits.

According to the present disclosure, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of wrinkles on the base material arranged on the inner peripheral side of the steering wheel by improving the elasticity of the base material.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a passenger compartment of a vehicle in which a grip sensor according to the first embodiment is arranged. FIG. 2 is a front view showing the grip sensor according to the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a cross section of the rim around which the steering heater of the grip sensor is wound according to lines III-III of FIG. 1, and a partially enlarged cross-sectional view of a part of the rim. FIG. 4 is a front view showing a base material of the steering heater of the grip sensor according to the first embodiment. FIG. 5 is a partially enlarged front view showing the steering heater of the grip sensor according to the first embodiment. FIG. 6 is a further partially enlarged top view of the steering heater and a cross-sectional view of the steering heater in the VI-VI line shown by the alternate long and short dash line in FIG. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of the passenger compartment of the vehicle in which the grip sensor is arranged according to the second embodiment. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of the steering heater according to the second embodiment. FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of a cross section of the rim to which the electrode portion is attached according to the second embodiment. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing how to wind the electrode portion around the rim according to the second embodiment. FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining the detection sensitivity in the second embodiment. FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an example of the tip end portion of the first base material and the tip end portion of the second base material according to the first modification of the second embodiment. FIG. 13A is a diagram showing another example of the tip end portion of the first base material and the tip end portion of the second base material according to the first modification of the second embodiment. FIG. 13B is a diagram showing the directions of the currents flowing through the first sensor electrode and the second sensor electrode according to the first modification of the second embodiment. FIG. 14 is a diagram showing an example of the tip end portion of the first base material and the tip end portion of the second base material according to the second modification of the second embodiment. FIG. 15 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of the steering heater according to the third modification of the second embodiment. FIG. 16 is a diagram showing the state of the electrode portion before and after winding the electrode portion around the rim in the third embodiment. FIG. 17 is a diagram showing an example of the overlapping area of the finger and the first sensor electrode and the second sensor electrode before and after winding the electrode portion around the rim in the third embodiment.

The steering heater according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes a base material wound around a steering wheel, a heater wire that generates heat when a current flows, and a sewing thread that sews the heater wire onto one surface of the base material. The base material is formed with a plurality of through holes having a diameter smaller than the sewing pitch of the stitches of the sewing thread for sewing the heater wire.

Even when a material harder than the conventional base material is used as the base material, the base material can be easily stretched by forming a plurality of through holes in the base material. That is, the base material tends to stretch on the outer peripheral side of the steering wheel. Further, on the inner peripheral side of the steering wheel, a plurality of through holes can absorb wrinkles generated in the base material.

Further, since the diameter of the through hole is smaller than the sewing pitch when sewing the heater wire, it is possible to suppress the possibility of blank punching in which the sewing machine needle at the time of sewing fits into the through hole.

Therefore, by improving the elasticity of the base material, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of wrinkles on the base material arranged on the inner peripheral side of the steering wheel. As a result, in this steering heater, it is possible to reduce short circuits of heater wires, poor appearance, and the like. Further, it becomes easier for the operator to wind the steering heater around the steering wheel, and workability is improved.

In the steering heater according to another aspect of the present disclosure, when the base material is wound around the steering wheel, the number of through holes formed in the base material located on the outer peripheral side of the steering wheel is determined. The number is larger than the number of through holes formed in the base material located on the inner peripheral side of the steering wheel.

According to this, the base material located on the outer peripheral side of the steering wheel is more easily stretched than the base material located on the inner peripheral side of the steering wheel. Therefore, it becomes easier for the operator to wind the steering heater around the steering wheel, and the workability is further improved.

Further, since the number of the plurality of through holes formed on the inner peripheral side of the steering wheel having a shorter circumference than the plurality of through holes formed on the outer peripheral side of the steering wheel is reduced, it is not suitable for the base material. It is not necessary to make the necessary holes. Therefore, it is possible to suppress a decrease in the strength of the base material.

In the steering heater according to another aspect of the present disclosure, when the base material is wound around the steering wheel, the number of through holes per unit area of the base material located on the outer peripheral side of the steering wheel is the first. One density is larger than the second density of the number of through holes per unit area in the base material located on the inner peripheral side of the steering wheel.

Even in this case, the same effect as described above is obtained.

In the steering heater according to another aspect of the present disclosure, when the base material is wound around the steering wheel, the number of the through holes formed in the base material is the steering wheel from the outer peripheral side of the steering wheel. It gradually decreases toward the inner circumference of the wheel.

According to this, the elongation rate of the base material decreases from the outer peripheral side of the steering wheel toward the inner peripheral side of the steering wheel according to the peripheral length that decreases from the outer peripheral side of the steering wheel toward the inner peripheral side of the steering wheel. Become. Therefore, the base material easily adapts to the shape of the steering wheel. Therefore, in this steering heater, the occurrence of wrinkles on the base material arranged on the inner peripheral side of the steering wheel can be further suppressed.

In the steering heater according to another aspect of the present disclosure, when the base material is wound around the steering wheel, the base material is described as described from the outer peripheral side of the steering wheel toward the inner peripheral side of the steering wheel. It gradually decreases from the first density to reach the second density.

Even in this case, the same effect as described above is obtained.

In the steering heater according to another aspect of the present disclosure, the pitch of two adjacent through holes among the plurality of through holes is different from the sewing pitch.

For example, if the pitches of two adjacent through holes among the plurality of through holes are the same as the sewing pitch, a plurality of seams and a plurality of stitches are used when sewing the heater wire on one surface of the base material by the sewing thread. In the majority of through holes, the seams and through holes may overlap. In this case, the heater wire cannot be sewn on one surface of the base material by the sewing thread, and the heater wire may be arranged at a position different from the assumed position.

However, in this steering heater, since the pitch of the two adjacent through holes and the sewing pitch are different, when the heater wire is sewn on one surface of the base material by the sewing thread, the size of the plurality of seams and the plurality of through holes is large. In many cases, it is possible to prevent the seams and the through holes from overlapping each other, that is, it is possible to prevent the sewing machine needle at the time of sewing from being blanked by fitting into the through holes. Therefore, the heater wire can be reliably sewn on one surface of the base material by the sewing thread. As a result, it becomes difficult for the heater wire to protrude from one surface of the base material, and it is possible to prevent the heater wire from being short-circuited or having a poor appearance.

The steering heater according to another aspect of the present disclosure further includes a control circuit unit electrically connected to one end of the heater wire, and the control circuit unit is electrically connected to the heater wire to form the heater. The wire is used as a sensor electrode to detect contact between the human body and the steering wheel.

By electrically connecting the control circuit unit to the heater wire in this way, it is possible to detect contact or grip with the steering wheel. Therefore, it is not necessary to mount a sensor electrode different from the heater wire on the steering heater, so that the increase in the number of assembly steps and the number of parts in the steering heater are suppressed. As a result, this steering heater can suppress an increase in manufacturing cost.

The present inventor has found that the following problems occur with respect to the conductive heater of Patent Document 2, that is, the steering heater.

The conductive heater of Patent Document 2 includes two heaters / sensors. These two heaters / sensors are then wrapped around the rim of the steering wheel. At this time, the two heaters / sensors are arranged at a close distance. However, a dead zone in which the heater / sensor does not exist is generated between these two heaters / sensors, and the sensitivity to contact or grip by a human hand is lowered in the dead zone. Further, in the conductive heater of Patent Document 2, a dead zone is generated in a range that is easily touched by human hands. As a result, even though a human hand is touching the steering wheel, it may be determined that the hand is not touching the steering wheel because the touched part of the steering wheel is a dead zone. ..

In order to solve such a problem, in the steering heater according to another aspect of the present disclosure, the base material is attached to the rim of the steering wheel along the circumferential direction of the rim, and the base material is attached to the rim. The two ends of the substrate in the circumferential direction face each other, and the sensor electrode is a plane perpendicular to the circumferential direction of the rim and intersects the plane intersecting the two ends. , Arranged on the substrate.

For example, when a person's finger or the like lightly touches a portion of the rim where the two ends of the base material are arranged, the range that can be touched by the finger or the like is a narrow range of the rim and the rim at that portion. It is often the range along the line of intersection where the plane perpendicular to the circumference and the surface of the rim intersect. In the steering heater according to one aspect of the present disclosure, the sensor electrodes are arranged so as to intersect the plane thereof. Therefore, it is possible to increase the possibility that the sensor electrodes are arranged in a range that can be touched by a finger or the like as described above. As a result, it is possible to improve the detection sensitivity to the contact of the hand by the steering heater, specifically, the detection sensitivity at the portion where the two ends are arranged to face each other.

Further, in the steering heater according to another aspect of the present disclosure, the base material is composed of a first base material and a second base material, and the sensor electrode is a first sensor electrode arranged on the first base material. And a second sensor electrode arranged on the second base material, one of the two ends is the end of the first base material, and the other of the two ends. May be the end of the second substrate.

Thereby, the contact or grip of the human hand with respect to the rim can be appropriately detected at each of the portion of the rim where the first sensor electrode is arranged and the portion where the second sensor electrode is arranged.

Further, in the steering heater according to another aspect of the present disclosure, each edge of the two ends may be inclined with respect to the plane.

Thereby, the sensor electrode can be easily arranged on the base material so that the sensor electrode intersects the above-mentioned plane perpendicular to the circumferential direction by simply inclining the edge of each of the two ends of the base material. Can be done. Therefore, a steering heater with high detection sensitivity can be easily generated. Also, since their ends are not complex structures, they can easily be brought close together and opposed when the substrate is attached to the rim.

Further, in the steering heater according to another aspect of the present disclosure, each of the two end portions has a convex portion and a concave portion, and the convex portion and the said portion at one end of the two end portions. The concave portion, the concave portion at the other end portion, and the convex portion may be aligned in the circumferential direction. For example, each edge of the two ends may be crank-shaped. Alternatively, each of the two ends may be formed in a fork shape and may have a plurality of the convex portions and a plurality of the concave portions.

As a result, since the convex portion and the concave portion of the respective end portions are fitted, the end portions can be aligned more accurately. As a result, the sensor electrodes can be more appropriately intersected with the plane perpendicular to the circumferential direction described above.

Further, in the steering heater according to another aspect of the present disclosure, each of the two end portions has a notch along the circumferential direction, and a part of the sensor electrode is arranged by the notch. It is divided into a region and an electrodeless region in which the sensor electrode is not arranged, and when the base material is attached to the rim, each of the two ends is said to be the other end different from the end. Inserted into the notch, each of the electrode regions of the two ends may overlap the surface side of the rim with respect to the electrodeless region of the other end.

Thereby, the sensor electrode can be easily intersected with the above-mentioned plane perpendicular to the circumferential direction without inclining the edges of the two ends of the base material or forming the ends uneven.

Further, in the steering heater according to another aspect of the present disclosure, the circuit for passing a current through the heater wire is a part of the heater wire and is arranged at one of the two ends. The first line portion and the other portion of the heater wire are arranged adjacent to and substantially parallel to the first line portion, and are arranged at the other of the two end portions. Currents in opposite directions may be passed through the second wire portion.

As a result, the electromagnetic field generated by the current flowing through each of the first wire portion and the second wire portion can be canceled out, and the generation of noise can be suppressed.

Further, the rim of the steering wheel is provided with a base material attached along the circumferential direction of the rim and a sensor electrode arranged on the base material, and two ends of the base material in the circumferential direction of the rim. The portions face each other, and the sensor electrodes are arranged on the base material so as to be a plane perpendicular to the circumferential direction of the rim and intersect the planes intersecting the two ends. The sensor electrode may generate heat when a current is passed to warm the rim.

Therefore, it is possible to increase the possibility that the sensor electrodes are arranged in a range that can be touched by a finger or the like as described above. As a result, it is possible to improve the detection sensitivity to the contact of the hand by the steering heater, specifically, the detection sensitivity at the portion where the two ends are arranged to face each other.

Hereinafter, embodiments will be specifically described with reference to the drawings.

It should be noted that all of the embodiments described below show comprehensive or specific examples. Numerical values, shapes, materials, components, arrangement positions and connection forms of components, steps, order of steps, etc. shown in the following embodiments are examples, and are not intended to limit the present disclosure. Further, among the components in the following embodiments, the components not described in the independent claims indicating the highest level concept are described as arbitrary components.

Further, each figure is a schematic view and is not necessarily exactly illustrated. Further, in each figure, the same components are designated by the same reference numerals. Further, in the following embodiments, expressions such as a substantially T character are used. For example, substantially the same means not only that they are exactly the same, but also that they are substantially the same, that is, they include an error of, for example, a few percent. Further, substantially the same means the same to the extent that the effects of the present disclosure can be achieved. The same applies to expressions using other "abbreviations".

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a passenger compartment of a vehicle 1 in which the grip sensor 10 according to the first embodiment is arranged.

As shown in FIG. 1, the vehicle 1 includes a steering wheel 200, a speaker, and a display device such as a liquid crystal display. The speaker and the display device are configured as, for example, a warning device.

The steering wheel 200 provides a steering angle to the steering wheel of the vehicle 1. The steering wheel 200 includes a rim 210, a substantially T-shaped spoke 202 integrally formed on the inner peripheral surface of the rim 210, and a horn that covers a horn switch (not shown) arranged in the central portion of the spoke 202. It has a switch cover.

The rim 210 is a grip portion for being gripped by the driver's hand and has a ring shape. The rim 210 has a core metal 201b of FIG. 3, which is an annular core made of metal, and a resin layer 201a that covers the core metal 201b. A grip sensor 10 is wound around the rim 210. Further, the outer circumference of the grip sensor 10 is covered with a surface layer 11d of FIG. 3 made of leather, wood, resin or the like.

The grip sensor 10 is a device for detecting the grip of the rim 210 by the driver's hand, and is provided on the rim 210 of the vehicle 1. The grip sensor 10 is a capacitance type proximity sensor that detects the presence of an occupant of the vehicle 1 having the steering wheel 200. The grip sensor 10 may detect the contact or grip of the rim 210 by hand as the information of the occupant.

FIG. 2 is a front view showing the grip sensor 10 according to the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 2, specifically, the grip sensor 10 includes a steering heater 11 embedded in the rim 210 and a control circuit unit 12 that detects grip based on a signal from the steering heater 11. .. Further, FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a cross section of the rim 210 around which the steering heater 11 of the grip sensor 10 is wound according to the line III-III of FIG.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the steering heater 11 includes a base material 11a, a heater wire 11b, and a sewing thread 11c.

The base material 11a is a non-woven fabric formed in the form of a long sheet by a material having elasticity, flexibility and ductility. For example, the base material 11a is made of a synthetic resin such as polyethylene (PE) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET). The base material 11a in the present embodiment does not use a polymer foam such as urethane foam. The base material 11a is formed according to the shape and size of the rim 210.

FIG. 4 is a front view showing the base material 11a of the steering heater 11 of the grip sensor 10 according to the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 4, a plurality of through holes 11a1 are formed in the base material 11a. When the base material 11a is wound around the steering wheel 200, the penetration formed in the base material 11a located on the outer peripheral side of the rim 210 of the steering wheel 200 (hereinafter, may be referred to as the outer peripheral side of the steering wheel 200). The number of holes 11a1 is larger than the number of through holes 11a1 formed in the base material 11a located on the inner peripheral side of the rim 210 of the steering wheel 200 (hereinafter, may be referred to as the inner peripheral side of the steering wheel 200). There are many. In other words, when the base material 11a is wound around the steering wheel 200, the first density of the number of through holes 11a1 per unit area in the base material 11a located on the outer peripheral side of the steering wheel 200 is within the steering wheel 200. It is larger than the second density of the number of through holes 11a1 per unit area in the base material 11a located on the peripheral side. Therefore, in the portion where the base material 11a comes into contact with the outer peripheral side of the rim 210, that is, in the central portion of the base material 11a in the lateral direction (hereinafter, the central portion of the base material 11a), the number of through holes 11a1 per unit area. Is a through hole 11a1 per unit area in the portion where the base material 11a contacts the inner peripheral side of the rim 210, that is, the edge portion in the lateral direction of the base material 11a (hereinafter, the edge portion of the base material 11a). More than the number of. The number of through holes 11a1 per unit area in the edge portion of the base material 11a includes 0. In this case, the edge portion of the base material 11a does not have the through hole 11a1.

Further, the number of through holes 11a1 of the base material 11a gradually decreases from the outer peripheral side of the steering wheel 200 toward the inner peripheral side of the steering wheel 200. In other words, when the base material 11a is wound around the steering wheel 200, the base material 11a gradually decreases from the first density toward the steering wheel 200 from the outer peripheral side of the steering wheel 200 to reach the second density. Therefore, the density of the through holes 11a1 gradually decreases from the central portion of the base material 11a toward the edge portion of the base material 11a.

In the present embodiment, the density of the number of through holes 11a1 formed in the central portion of the base material 11a is higher than the density of the number of through holes 11a1 formed in the edge portion of the base material 11a. When the edge portion of the base material 11a is arranged on the outer peripheral side of the rim 210, the density of the number of through holes 11a1 in the edge portion increases. Therefore, the density of the number of through holes 11a1 in the central portion of the base material 11a does not necessarily increase.

Further, in the present embodiment, the density of the number of through holes 11a1 formed in the base material 11a varies depending on the location of the base material 11a, but may be the same at any location of the base material 11a. That is, a plurality of through holes 11a1 may be formed at equal intervals in the base material 11a.

FIG. 5 is a partially enlarged front view showing the steering heater 11 of the grip sensor 10 according to the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 5, the pitch N of two adjacent through holes 11a1 among the plurality of through holes 11a1 is different from the sewing pitch H.

Here, the pitch N of the two adjacent through holes 11a1 is the distance between the center point of the opening surface of one through hole 11a1 and the center point of the opening surface of the other through hole 11a1. Further, since the density of the number of through holes 11a1 differs depending on the location, it is preferable that the pitch N and the sewing pitch H of the two adjacent through holes 11a1 are all different. Further, the minimum pitch N and the sewing pitch H may be different.

Here, the sewing pitch H is the distance between the first seam of the base material 11a formed by the sewing thread 11c and the second seam of the base material 11a formed by the sewing thread 11c next to the first seam.

Further, the opening diameter L of the through hole 11a1 (also referred to as the diameter of the through hole 11a1) is smaller than the sewing pitch H. If the opening diameter L of the through hole 11a1 is larger than the sewing pitch H, the through hole 11a1 and the seam of the base material 11a are likely to overlap each other, so that the heater wire 11b is sewn to the base material 11a by the sewing thread 11c. It becomes difficult.

Further, the base material 11a holds the heater wire 11b on the surface. Here, the surface is the surface of the base material 11a on the side where the heater wire 11b is held. The base material 11a is attached to the rim 210. More specifically, the base material 11a is attached to the rim 210 so as to sandwich the heater wire 11b with the rim 210. The surface is an example of one surface of the base material 11a.

The heater wire 11b is made of a conductive wire, and one end (that is, end a) and the other end (that is, end b) of the heater wire 11b are connected to the control circuit unit 12. Here, the heater wires 11b are arranged in a zigzag shape on the surface of the base material 11a. Specifically, the heater wire 11b is a metal wire such as a copper wire, and is sewn on the surface of the base material 11a by the sewing thread 11c so that a zigzag pattern is formed. Here, the fact that the heater wire 11b is sewn on the surface of the base material 11a by the sewing thread 11c means that the heater wire 11b is held by the base material 11a by the sewing thread 11c sewn on the base material 11a. is there.

Although the heater wire 11b in the present embodiment is sewn on the surface of the base material 11a by the sewing thread 11c, it may be fixed to the base material 11a by thermocompression bonding or the like. Further, the heater wire 11b may have a planar structure made of a conductor or a resistor. The heater wire 11b is made of a conductive wire, but may have any form as long as it is a conductive member. That is, since the grip sensor 10 also functions the heater wire 11b as a sensor electrode, in this case, the heater wire 11b may not be formed in a linear shape but may be formed in a plate shape.

FIG. 6 is a further partially enlarged top view of the steering heater 11 and a cross-sectional view showing the steering heater 11 in the VI-VI line shown by the alternate long and short dash line in FIG. As shown in FIG. 6, the sewing thread 11c is sewn to the base material 11a along the extending direction of the heater wire 11b in order to fix the heater wire 11b to the base material 11a. Specifically, the sewing thread 11c has a needle thread 11c1 and a bobbin thread 11c2. The needle thread 11c1 is sewn to the base material 11a so as to penetrate from the front surface to the back surface of the base material 11a, and the bobbin thread 11c2 is sewn to the base material 11a so as to penetrate from the back surface to the front surface of the base material 11a. There is. The sewing thread 11c is sewn to the base material 11a by entwining the needle thread 11c1 and the bobbin thread 11c2. Further, the sewing thread 11c may be any thread, and the constituent material is not particularly limited.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the control circuit unit 12 is embedded in spokes 202, for example. The control circuit unit 12 detects whether or not the hand is in contact with the rim 210 and detects the contact position of the hand based on the signal transmitted from the heater wire 11b. If the control circuit unit 12 does not detect contact even though the vehicle 1 is being driven, the control circuit unit 12 may cause the alerting device to alert the driver. For example, a warning device such as a speaker calls attention to the driver by a warning sound or voice. The display device may also display a warning message urging the driver to firmly grasp the steering wheel 200.

The control circuit unit 12 includes a power supply circuit 12a and a detection circuit 12b.

The power supply circuit 12a is electrically connected to the end b which is the other end of the heater wire 11b. Further, the power supply circuit 12a heats the heater wire 11b by passing an electric current through the heater wire 11b. As a result, the heater wire 11b can heat the rim 210 of the steering wheel 200. In the control circuit unit 12, the middle of the wiring from the end a of the heater wire 11b to the detection circuit 12b is connected to the ground via an inductor (not shown) so that the current flows from the power supply circuit 12a to the heater wire 11b. Has been done.

The detection circuit 12b is electrically connected to an end a which is one end of the heater wire 11b. The detection circuit 12b uses the heater wire 11b to detect manual contact or grip on the rim 210. That is, the detection circuit 12b passes an alternating current through the heater wire 11b. The detection circuit 12b detects a change in capacitance in the heater wire 11b based on the current value of the current flowing through the heater wire 11b. When a hand comes into contact with a portion of the rim 210 where the heater wire 11b is arranged, the capacitance of the heater wire 11b corresponding to the contact portion changes. The control circuit unit 12 detects the contact of the hand with the rim 210 from the signal output from the heater wire 11b in response to the change in the capacitance. In this way, the control circuit unit 12 can detect whether or not the rim 210 on which the heater wire 11b is arranged is touched.

(Summary)
As described above, in the steering heater 11 of the present embodiment, a material harder than the conventional base material 11a is used for the base material 11a by forming a plurality of through holes 11a1 in the base material 11a. Also, the base material 11a can be easily stretched. That is, the elasticity of the base material 11a can be improved by the plurality of through holes 11a1. Further, since the peripheral lengths of the outer circumference of the steering wheel 200 and the inner circumference of the steering wheel 200 in the base material 11a wound around the steering wheel 200 are different, the density of the number of the plurality of through holes 11a1 is set on the outer peripheral side of the steering wheel 200. By making the size smaller toward the inner peripheral side of the steering wheel 200, the elongation rate of the base material 11a increases from the inner peripheral side of the steering wheel 200 toward the outer peripheral side of the steering wheel 200. Therefore, the base material 11a can easily fit the shape of the steering wheel 200. Further, on the inner peripheral side of the steering wheel 200, since the plurality of through holes 11a1 can absorb the wrinkles of the base material 11a, the wrinkles are less likely to occur. Further, since the opening diameter of the through hole 11a1 is smaller than the sewing pitch when sewing the heater wire 11b, it is possible to suppress the possibility of a blank shot in which the sewing machine needle at the time of sewing fits into the through hole 11a1.

As described above, in the steering heater 11, the operator can easily wind the steering heater 11 around the steering wheel 200, and the workability is improved. Further, since the heater wire 11b is sewn to the base material 11a by the sewing thread 11c, the heater wire 11b is less likely to pop out from the surface of the base material 11a. Therefore, in the steering heater 11, the heater wires 11b are less likely to be short-circuited, and a good appearance can be maintained.

(Embodiment 2)
Unless otherwise specified, the configuration of the steering heater 100 of the present embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment, and the same components are designated by the same reference numerals and detailed description of the configurations will be omitted.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of the passenger compartment of the vehicle 1 in which the grip sensor 10 according to the present embodiment is arranged.

The vehicle 1 includes a steering wheel 200, a speaker 301, and a display device 302 such as a liquid crystal display. The speaker 301 and the display device 302 are configured as, for example, a warning device.

The steering wheel 200 is for steering the vehicle 1. The steering wheel 200 includes a ring-shaped rim 201, a substantially T-shaped spoke 202 integrally formed on the inner peripheral surface of the rim 201, and a horn switch (not shown) arranged at the center of the spoke 202. ) Is covered with a horn switch cover 203.

The grip sensor 10 is a sensor that detects, for example, the grip of the rim 201 of the steering wheel 200 by the driver of the vehicle 1, and is provided on the steering wheel 200 of the vehicle 1 as shown in FIG. The grip sensor 10 detects the contact of the hand with the rim 201, including the grip of the rim 201 by the hand. Specifically, the steering heater 100 of the grip sensor 10 further includes an electrode portion 110 embedded in the rim 201 of the steering wheel 200 and a detection circuit 120 that detects hand contact based on a signal from the electrode portion 110. A harness 130 for electrically connecting the electrode portion 110 to the detection circuit 120 is provided. The detection circuit 120 is embedded in the spoke 202, for example.

The electrode unit 110 has at least one sensor electrode described later. In this sensor electrode, the capacitance changes depending on whether or not the driver of the vehicle 1 is touching the rim 201 of the steering wheel 200. The detection circuit 120 measures a value (for example, a current value) corresponding to the capacitance of the sensor electrode, and detects contact with the rim 201 by the driver's hand based on the value. Then, when the detection circuit 120 does not detect the contact even though the vehicle 1 is being driven, the detection circuit 120 causes the alerting device to execute the alerting to the driver. The driving of the vehicle 1 at this time may be automatic driving or manual driving. For example, the speaker 301 of the alert device alerts the driver with a warning sound or voice. The display device 302 displays a warning message urging the driver to firmly grasp the steering wheel 200. As a result, traffic accidents can be reduced.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of the steering heater 100 according to the present embodiment.

As described above, the steering heater 100 includes an electrode portion 110, a detection circuit 120, and a harness 130. The electrode portion 110 includes a base material 111 and a sensor electrode 112. The base material 111 is attached to the rim 201 of the steering wheel 200 along the circumferential direction of the rim 201. The sensor electrode 112 is arranged on the base material 111.

Specifically, the base material 111 includes a first base material 111a and a second base material 111b. Each of the first base material 111a and the second base material 111b is made of, for example, a non-woven fabric, and is formed in the form of a long sheet in one direction. Further, the sensor electrode 112 includes a first sensor electrode 112a arranged on the first base material 111a and a second sensor electrode 112b arranged on the second base material 111b. That is, the electrode portion 110 includes a first electrode portion 110a having a first base material 111a and a first sensor electrode 112a, and a second electrode portion 110b having a second base material 111b and a second sensor electrode 112b. In the following description, the electrode portion 110 means either one or both of the first electrode portion 110a and the second electrode portion 110b. Similarly, the base material 111 means one or both of the first base material 111a and the second base material 111b, and the sensor electrode 112 is one or both of the first sensor electrode 112a and the second sensor electrode 112b. Means both.

The first sensor electrode 112a and the second sensor electrode 112b are respectively configured as conductive wires. For example, each of the first sensor electrode 112a and the second sensor electrode 112b is a metal wire such as a copper wire, and is formed on the first base material 111a or the second base material 111b so that a zigzag pattern is formed. It is sewn. That is, the first sensor electrode 112a is sewn on one surface of the first base material 111a so as to be repeatedly folded back at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the first base material 111a. Similarly, the second sensor electrode 112b is sewn on one surface of the second base material 111b so as to be repeatedly folded back at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the second base material 111b. Further, the end a of the first sensor electrode 112a is arranged on one end side of the first base material 111a in the longitudinal direction, and the end b of the second sensor electrode 112b is arranged on one end side of the second base material 111b in the longitudinal direction. Will be done. The end a of the first sensor electrode 112a and the end b of the second sensor electrode 112b are electrically connected to the detection circuit 120.

The end portion of the first base material 111a in the longitudinal direction in which the end a of the first sensor electrode 112a is arranged is hereinafter referred to as a proximal end portion 114a, and the proximal end portion in the longitudinal direction thereof. The end portion on the opposite side to 114a is hereinafter referred to as a tip portion 113a. Similarly, the end portion of the second base material 111b in the longitudinal direction in which the end b of the second sensor electrode 112b is arranged is hereinafter referred to as a base end portion 114b, and the base end in the longitudinal direction thereof. The end portion opposite to the portion 114b is hereinafter referred to as a tip portion 113b.

Here, in the present embodiment, the front surface and the back surface of the first base material 111a and the second base material 111b, which are formed in a sheet shape, are formed in a substantially parallelogram shape. Specifically, the edges of both ends of the first base material 111a in the longitudinal direction, that is, the edges of the tip portion 113a and the base end portion 114a are not parallel to the lateral direction of the first base material 111a. It is tilted with respect to the lateral direction. Similarly, the edges of both ends of the second base material 111b in the longitudinal direction, that is, the edges of the tip portion 113b and the base end portion 114b of the second base material 111b are parallel to the lateral direction of the second base material 111b. Rather, it is tilted with respect to its lateral direction. The longitudinal direction and the lateral direction of the base material 111 are two directions orthogonal to each other along one surface of the base material 111.

Further, the first sensor electrode 112a is not arranged up to the respective edges of the tip portion 113a and the base end portion 114a of the first base material 111a, and the first sensor electrode 112a and their edges are separated from each other. .. Similarly, the second sensor electrode 112b is not arranged up to the respective edges of the tip portion 113b and the base end portion 114b of the second base material 111b, and the second sensor electrode 112b and their edges are separated from each other. There is. As described above, in the present embodiment, since the sensor electrode 112 is separated from the edge of the base material 111, the possibility of disconnection due to the sensor electrode 112 protruding from the edge of the base material 111 can be suppressed. ..

As described above, the detection circuit 120 is electrically connected to the end a of the first sensor electrode 112a and the end b of the second sensor electrode 112b via the harness 130, and the first sensor electrode 112a and the second sensor A current for detecting the contact of the driver's hand is passed through the electrode 112b. Specifically, the detection circuit 120 has a value corresponding to the capacitance of the first sensor electrode 112a and a second value by passing an alternating current through each of the first sensor electrode 112a and the second sensor electrode 112b, for example. A value corresponding to the capacitance of the sensor electrode 112b is measured. The detection circuit 120 detects the contact of the steering wheel 200 with the rim 201 by a human hand based on the measured value. That is, when the value measured with respect to the first sensor electrode 112a is larger than the threshold value, the detection circuit 120 detects the contact of the hand with the portion of the rim 201 where the first sensor electrode 112a is arranged. Similarly, when the value measured with respect to the second sensor electrode 112b is larger than the threshold value, the detection circuit 120 detects the contact of the hand with the portion of the rim 201 where the second sensor electrode 112b is arranged.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of a cross section of the rim 201 to which the electrode portion 110 is attached.

The rim 201 has a core metal 201b which is a metal annular core, and a resin layer 201a made of urethane resin or the like covering the core metal 201b.

The base material 111 of the electrode portion 110 is wound around the resin layer 201a so that the surface on which the sensor electrode 112 is arranged faces the resin layer 201a side. Therefore, the sensor electrode 112 is hidden by the base material 111. The surface of the base material 111 wound in this way on which the sensor electrode 112 is not arranged is covered with a surface layer made of leather, wood, resin, or the like.

The sensor electrode 112 arranged on the rim 201 in this way forms a capacitance with the core metal 201b. This capacitance is relatively small. Here, when the portion of the rim 201 where the sensor electrode 112 is arranged is grasped by the driver's hand, a capacitance is also formed between the sensor electrode 112 and the hand. Therefore, the detection circuit 120 can detect the grip or contact of the rim 201 by hand from the change in the capacitance of the sensor electrode 112 to be measured.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing how the electrode portion 110 is wound around the rim 201. Specifically, FIG. 10A shows a state in which the ends of the first electrode portion 110a and the second electrode portion 110b are butted against each other. FIG. 10B shows an example of how to wind the first electrode portion 110a and the second electrode portion 110b around the rim 201, respectively.

For example, as shown in FIG. 10B, the first electrode portion 110a is wound around the left side of the rim 201 of the steering wheel 200 in the neutral state. Similarly, the second electrode portion 110b is wound on the right side of the rim 201 of the steering wheel 200 in the neutral state. As a result, the entire rim 201 is covered with the first electrode portion 110a and the second electrode portion 110b. The neutral state is the state of the steering wheel 200 when the vehicle 1 travels straight.

Therefore, the detection circuit 120 individually separates the contact of the left side portion of the rim 201 where the first electrode portion 110a is arranged and the contact of the right side portion of the rim 201 where the second electrode portion 110b is arranged. Can be detected.

As described above, when the electrode portion 110 is wound around the rim 201, the two ends of the base material 111 in the circumferential direction of the rim 201 face each other. Specifically, the two longitudinal ends of the first electrode portion 110a in the first base material 111a and the two longitudinal ends of the second electrode portion 110b in the second base material 111b are the rim 201. They face each other along the circumferential direction of. That is, the tip 113a of the first base material 111a and the tip 113b of the second base material 111b are the rims of the upper end of the rim 201 in the steering wheel in the neutral state, as shown in FIG. They face each other along the circumferential direction of 201. Similarly, the base end portion 114a of the first base material 111a and the base end portion 114b of the second base material 111b are the lower ends of the rim 201 in the steering wheel in the neutral state, along the circumferential direction of the rim 201. opposite.

Here, the edges of the tip portion 113a and the base end portion 114a of the first base material 111a in the present embodiment are inclined as described above, and the tip portion 113b and the base end portion 114b of the second base material 111b are inclined. Each edge is also inclined as described above. These edges are sloping along the same direction. By winding the first electrode portion 110a and the second electrode portion 110b around the rim 201 as shown in FIG. 10, a human hand touches the portion of the rim 201 where the sensor electrode 112 is arranged. Can be increased in probability of detecting. That is, the contact detection sensitivity can be increased.

FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining the detection sensitivity in the present embodiment. Specifically, FIG. 11A shows a partial configuration of another steering heater for comparison with the steering heater 100 of the present embodiment, and FIG. 11B shows the present embodiment. The configuration of a part of the steering heater 100 of the above is shown.

For example, as shown in FIG. 11A, the first electrode portion 110c and the second electrode portion 110d, which are different from the electrode portion 110 in the present embodiment, are wound around the rim 201 as comparison objects of detection sensitivity. When such a first electrode portion 110c and a second electrode portion 110d are wound around the rim 201, the tip portion 113c of the first base material 111c of the first electrode portion 110c and the second base material 111d of the second electrode portion 110d The tip portion 113d of the rim 201 faces the rim 201 along the circumferential direction.

In addition, in FIG. 11A, one surface of the tip portion 113c of the first base material 111c and the tip portion 113d of the second base material 111d facing each other is viewed from the front along the XY plane. The state of the tip portion 113c and the tip portion 113d at the time of this is shown. The XY plane is a plane along the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction orthogonal to each other, and the Z-axis direction is a direction perpendicular to the XY plane. For example, the X-axis direction is the arrangement direction of the tip portion 113c and the tip portion 113d, or the longitudinal direction of the first base material 111c and the second base material 111d. The Y-axis direction is the lateral direction of the first base material 111c and the second base material 111d. The above-mentioned arrangement direction (that is, the X-axis direction) corresponds to the circumferential direction of the rim 201. Further, the core metal 201b of the rim 201 is oriented in either one of the Z-axis directions from the first base material 111c and the second base material 111d.

Here, as shown in FIG. 11A, the edge of the tip portion 113c of the first base material 111c in the first electrode portion 110c and the edge of the tip portion 113d of the second base material 111d in the second electrode portion 110d. Is not tilted. That is, their edges are parallel to the lateral direction (that is, the Y-axis direction) of the first base material 111c and the second base material 111d, and perpendicular to the longitudinal direction (that is, the X-axis direction). Therefore, as described above, when the first electrode portion 110c and the second electrode portion 110d are wound around the rim 201, the first sensor electrode 112c of the first electrode portion 110c and the second sensor electrode 112d of the second electrode portion 110d A dead zone D is generated between the two. The dead zone D is a range in which the first sensor electrode 112c and the second sensor electrode 112d of the rim 201 are not arranged, and the tip portion 113c of the first base material 111c and the tip portion of the second base material 111d are not arranged. It is formed along the boundary line with 113d. In other words, the dead zone D is formed along the line of intersection at the intersection of the plane perpendicular to the circumferential direction of the rim 201 at the position between the tip portions 113c and 113d and the surface of the rim 201. Even if a human hand touches the dead zone D, since the first sensor electrode 112c and the second sensor electrode 112d are not arranged in the dead zone D, the capacitance of the first sensor electrode 112c and the second sensor electrode 112d is electrostatic. The change in capacity becomes small. As a result, hand contact cannot be detected accurately.

For example, when the driver of the vehicle 1 lightly touches the upper end portion of the rim 201, it is relatively likely that he / she touches the dead zone D and does not touch other parts of the rim 201. Specifically, when the driver touches the upper end of the rim 201, he / she touches the upper end of the rim 201 with his / her index finger, or pinches the upper end of the rim 201 with his / her index finger and thumb. As described above, the range lightly touched by a human finger at the upper end of the rim 201 is a narrow range of the rim 201, and the plane perpendicular to the circumferential direction at the upper end of the rim 201 and the surface of the rim 201 It is often in the range along the intersecting lines. Therefore, the above-mentioned dead zone D tends to include a range that can be lightly touched by a human finger or the like, and there is a high possibility that the hand touches the portion of the dead zone D on the rim 201. As a result, in the steering heater having the first electrode portion 110c and the second electrode portion 110d, the detection sensitivity at the upper end portion of the rim 201 is lowered.

However, in the steering heater 100 of the present embodiment, the above-mentioned dead zone is out of the range where it can be lightly touched by a human finger or the like. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 11B, the edge of the tip 113a of the first electrode portion 110a in the first base material 111a is inclined, and the tip of the second electrode portion 110b in the second base material 111b is inclined. The edge of the portion 113b is also inclined.

Note that FIG. 11B shows one surface of the tip 113a of the first base material 111a and the tip 113b of the second base material 111b facing each other, as in the case of FIG. 11A. , The state of the tip portion 113a and the tip portion 113b when viewed from the front along the XY plane is shown. For example, the X-axis direction is the arrangement direction of the tip portion 113a and the tip portion 113b, or the longitudinal direction of the first base material 111a and the second base material 111b. The Y-axis direction is the lateral direction of the first base material 111a and the second base material 111b. The above-mentioned arrangement direction (that is, the X-axis direction) corresponds to the circumferential direction of the rim 201. Further, the core metal 201b of the rim 201 is oriented in either one of the Z-axis directions from the first base material 111a and the second base material 111b. Hereinafter, also in FIGS. 12 to 14, the tip portion 113a and the tip portion when each one surface of the tip portion 113a and the tip portion 113b is viewed from the front along the XY plane, as in the case of FIG. 11B. The state of the part 113b is shown.

That is, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 11B, the edges of the two tip portions 113a and 113b are adjacent to each other and substantially parallel to each other, and are inclined in the Y-axis direction. ing. Therefore, in the present embodiment, when the first base material 111a and the second base material 111b are attached to the rim 201, the respective edges of the two tip portions 113a and 113b are perpendicular to the circumferential direction of the rim 201. It is tilted with respect to a flat surface. As a result, the sensor electrode 112 is a plane perpendicular to the circumferential direction of the rim 201 and intersects the plane intersecting the two tip portions 113a and 113b. As a result, the sensor electrode 112 can be arranged in a range where it can be lightly touched by a human finger or the like. In other words, the dead zone can be tilted and shifted from that range.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, even when the driver of the vehicle 1 lightly touches the upper end portion of the rim 201, the probability of detecting that the driver touches the portion where the sensor electrode 112 of the rim 201 is arranged is detected. Can be enhanced. As a result, the detection sensitivity of the steering heater 100, specifically, the detection sensitivity at the upper end of the rim 201 can be improved.

Further, in the present embodiment, the sensor electrode 112 is based on the sensor electrode 112 so as to intersect the above-mentioned plane perpendicular to the circumferential direction only by inclining the edges of the two tip portions 113a and 113b. It can be easily arranged on the material 111. Therefore, the steering heater 100 having high detection sensitivity can be easily generated. Further, since the tip portions 113a and 113b are not complicated structures, when the base material 111 is attached to the rim 201, the tip portions 113a and 113b can be easily brought close to each other and face each other.

The base end portion 114a of the first base material 111a and the base end portion 114b of the second base material 111b also face each other at the lower end portion of the rim 201. The edges of these base end portions 114a and 114b are also inclined in the same manner as the edges of the tip portions 113a and 113b. Therefore, also at the lower end of the rim 201, the dead zone is inclined and deviated from the range where it can be lightly touched by a human finger or the like. Therefore, in the present embodiment, even when the driver of the vehicle 1 lightly touches the lower end portion of the rim 201, the probability of detecting that the driver touches the portion where the sensor electrode 112 of the rim 201 is arranged is detected. Can be enhanced. As a result, the detection sensitivity of the steering heater 100, specifically, the detection sensitivity at the lower end of the rim 201 can be improved.

(Modification example 1)
In the above embodiment, the edge of the tip portion 113a of the first base material 111a and the edge of the tip portion 113b of the second base material 111b are inclined, but the present disclosure is not limited to such a configuration. In this modification, the tip 113a of the first base material 111a and the tip 113b of the second base material 111b each have a convex portion and a concave portion, and face each other in an intricate state.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an example of the tip portion 113a of the first base material 111a and the tip portion 113b of the second base material 111b according to the present modification.

Each of the tip portion 113a of the first base material 111a and the tip portion 113b of the second base material 111b has a convex portion and a concave portion as described above. The convex portion and the concave portion of the tip portion 113a, which is one end of the two tip portions 113a and 113b, and the concave portion and the concave portion of the tip portion 113b, which is the other end portion, are the circumferences of the rim 201. Fitted in the direction.

Specifically, the tip portion 113a of the first base material 111a has a convex portion 115a and a concave portion 116a. The tip 113b of the second base material 111b also has a convex portion 115b and a concave portion 116b, similarly to the tip portion 113a of the first base material 111a. The corners of the convex portions 115a and 115b and the concave portions 116a and 116b are substantially right angles. That is, the edges of the two tip portions 113a and 113b are crank-shaped.

Further, a part of the first sensor electrode 112a is also arranged on the convex portion 115a on the tip portion 113a of the first base material 111a, and a part of the second sensor electrode 112b is arranged on the tip portion 113b of the second base material 111b. It is also arranged on the convex portion 115b. However, even in the example shown in FIG. 12, the first sensor electrode 112a is not arranged up to the edge of the tip portion 113a, that is, the edges of the convex portion 115a and the concave portion 116a, as in the above embodiment. 1 The sensor electrode 112a and their edges are separated from each other. Similarly, the second sensor electrode 112b is not arranged up to the edge of the tip portion 113b, that is, the respective edges of the convex portion 115b and the concave portion 116b, and is separated from the second sensor electrode 112b and their edges. .. As a result, the possibility of disconnection due to the sensor electrode 112 protruding from the edge of the base material 111 can be suppressed.

The convex portion 115a at the tip portion 113a of the first base material 111a and the concave portion 116b at the tip portion 113b of the second base material 111b are fitted in the circumferential direction of the rim 201. Similarly, the concave portion 116a at the tip portion 113a of the first base material 111a and the convex portion 115b at the tip portion 113b of the second base material 111b are fitted in the circumferential direction of the rim 201.

Even in the case of the example shown in FIG. 12, the sensor electrode 112 is a plane perpendicular to the circumferential direction of the rim 201 and intersects the plane intersecting the two tip portions 113a and 113b. Further, in the case of the example shown in FIG. 12, since the convex portion 115a and the concave portion 116a of the tip portion 113a and the convex portion 115b and the concave portion 116b of the tip portion 113b are fitted, the tip portions 113a and 113b are twisted. It can be aligned accurately. As a result, the sensor electrode 112 can be more appropriately crossed with the plane perpendicular to the circumferential direction described above.

Therefore, in the example shown in FIG. 12, even when the driver of the vehicle 1 lightly touches the upper end portion of the rim 201, as in the above embodiment, the driver of the vehicle 1 touches the portion where the sensor electrode 112 of the rim 201 is arranged. It is possible to increase the probability of detecting the touch. As a result, the detection sensitivity of the steering heater 100, specifically, the detection sensitivity at the upper end of the rim 201 can be improved.

The base end portion 114a of the first base material 111a and the base end portion 114b of the second base material 111b may also have the same configuration as the tip portions 113a and 113b shown in FIG. In this case, even when the driver of the vehicle 1 lightly touches the lower end portion of the rim 201, the probability of detecting that the driver touches the portion where the sensor electrode 112 of the rim 201 is arranged is increased. Can be done. As a result, the detection sensitivity of the steering heater 100, specifically, the detection sensitivity at the lower end of the rim 201 can be improved.

In the example shown in FIG. 12, the tip portions of the first base material 111a and the second base material 111b each have only one convex portion and one concave portion, but the number of each of the convex portion and the concave portion may be plural. Good.

FIG. 13A is a diagram showing another example of the tip portion 113a of the first base material 111a and the tip portion 113b of the second base material 111b according to the present modification.

The tip portion 113a of the first base material 111a is formed in a fork shape and has a plurality of convex portions 115a and a plurality of concave portions 116a. In the example shown in FIG. 13A, the tip 113a has two protrusions 115a and two recesses 116a. The tip portion 113b of the second base material 111b is also formed in a fork shape like the tip portion 113a of the first base material 111a, and has a plurality of convex portions 115b and a plurality of concave portions 116b. In the example shown in FIG. 13A, the tip 113b has two recesses 116b and two protrusions 115b.

Further, a part of the first sensor electrode 112a is also arranged on each of the two convex portions 115a on the tip portion 113a of the first base material 111a, and a part of the second sensor electrode 112b is of the second base material 111b. It is also arranged on each of the two convex portions 115b on the tip portion 113b. However, also in the example shown in FIG. 13A, the first sensor electrode 112a is arranged up to the edge of the tip portion 113a, that is, the edges of the two convex portions 115a and the two concave portions 116a, as in the above embodiment. The first sensor electrode 112a and their edges are separated from each other. Similarly, the second sensor electrode 112b is not arranged up to the edge of the tip portion 113b, that is, the edge of each of the two convex portions 115b and the two concave portions 116b, and the second sensor electrode 112b and their edges are not arranged. It is separated. As a result, the possibility of disconnection due to the sensor electrode 112 protruding from the edge of the base material 111 can be suppressed.

The two convex portions 115a at the tip portion 113a of the first base material 111a and the two concave portions 116b at the tip portion 113b of the second base material 111b are fitted in the circumferential direction of the rim 201, respectively. .. Similarly, the two concave portions 116a at the tip portion 113a of the first base material 111a and the two convex portions 115b at the tip portion 113b of the second base material 111b are fitted in the circumferential direction of the rim 201, respectively. ..

Even in the case of the example shown in FIG. 13A, the sensor electrode 112 is a plane perpendicular to the circumferential direction of the rim 201 and intersects the plane intersecting the two tip portions 113a and 113b. Further, in the case of the example shown in FIG. 13A, since the two convex portions 115a and the two concave portions 116a of the tip portion 113a and the two convex portions 115b and the two concave portions 116b of the tip portion 113b are fitted, they are fitted. The tip portions 113a and 113b of the above can be aligned more accurately. As a result, the sensor electrode 112 can be more appropriately intersected with the above-mentioned plane perpendicular to the circumferential direction.

Therefore, even in the example shown in FIG. 13A, as in the above embodiment, even when the driver of the vehicle 1 lightly touches the upper end portion of the rim 201, the hand is placed on the portion where the sensor electrode 112 of the rim 201 is arranged. It is possible to increase the probability of detecting the touch. As a result, the detection sensitivity of the steering heater 100, specifically, the detection sensitivity at the upper end of the rim 201 can be improved.

The base end portion 114a of the first base material 111a and the base end portion 114b of the second base material 111b may also have the same configuration as the tip portions 113a and 113b shown in FIG. 13A. In this case, even when the driver of the vehicle 1 lightly touches the lower end portion of the rim 201, the probability of detecting that the driver touches the portion where the sensor electrode 112 of the rim 201 is arranged is increased. Can be done. As a result, the detection sensitivity of the steering heater 100, specifically, the detection sensitivity at the lower end of the rim 201 can be improved.

Here, the detection circuit 120 has the first sensor electrode 112a arranged at the tip 113a of the first base material 111a and the second sensor electrode 112b arranged at the tip 113b of the second base material 111b. On the other hand, currents in opposite directions may be passed.

FIG. 13B is a diagram showing the directions of the currents flowing through the first sensor electrode 112a and the second sensor electrode 112b.

For example, a substantially U-shaped portion of the first sensor electrode 112a is arranged as a U-shaped portion on each convex portion 115a of the tip portion 113a of the first base material 111a. Further, a substantially U-shaped portion of the second sensor electrode 112b is also arranged as a U-shaped portion on each convex portion 115b of the tip portion 113b of the second base material 111b. Then, the U-shaped portion of the first sensor electrode 112a and the U-shaped portion of the second sensor electrode 112b are adjacent to each other. Specifically, the linear first line portion included in the U-shaped portion of the first sensor electrode 112a and the linear second line portion included in the U-shaped portion of the second sensor electrode 112b are adjacent to each other. Arranged approximately in parallel.

Therefore, the detection circuit 120 in the present modification relates to the first line portion included in the U-shaped portion of the first sensor electrode 112a and the second line portion included in the U-shaped portion of the second sensor electrode 112b. , Pass currents in opposite directions. As a result, the electromagnetic field generated in each U-shaped portion of the first sensor electrode 112a and the electromagnetic field generated in each U-shaped portion of the second sensor electrode 112b cancel each other out, and the generation of noise can be suppressed. ..

As described above, in this modification, the detection circuit 120 is a part of the conductive wire, and the first wire portion arranged at one of the two tip portions 113a and 113b and the conductive wire. The other portion of the two, which is arranged adjacent to the first line portion and substantially parallel to the first line portion, and which is arranged on the other of the two tip portions 113a and 113b, with respect to each other. Pass the current in the opposite direction. As a result, the generation of noise can be suppressed. In the example shown in FIG. 13A, the U-shaped portion of the first sensor electrode 112a and the U-shaped portion of the second sensor electrode 112b are alternately arranged along the Y-axis direction, so that a high noise suppression effect is achieved. Can be obtained.

(Modification 2)
The shapes of the tip portion 113a of the first base material 111a and the tip portion 113b of the second base material 111b in the present disclosure are not limited to the above-described embodiment and modification 1. In this modification, the tip 113a of the first base material 111a and the tip 113b of the second base material 111b each have a notch and face each other in an intricate state.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing an example of the tip portion 113a of the first base material 111a and the tip portion 113b of the second base material 111b according to the present modification.

Each of the two tip portions 113a and 113b has a notch along the circumferential direction of the rim 201, and the notch allows the electrode region in which a part of the sensor electrode 112 is arranged and the sensor electrode 112 to be arranged. It is divided into no electrodeless regions. Then, when the first base material 111a and the second base material 111b are attached to the rim 201, each of the two tip portions 113a and 113b is inserted into a notch in the other tip portion different from the tip portion. Further, the respective electrode regions of the two tip portions 113a and 113b are overlapped on the surface side of the rim 201 with respect to the electrodeless region of the other tip portion.

Specifically, as shown in FIG. 14A, the tip portion 113a of the first base material 111a has a notch 117a. The notch 117a is located substantially in the center of the first base material 111a in the lateral direction (that is, in the Y-axis direction), and is formed along the circumferential direction of the rim 201. The notch 117a divides the tip 113a into an electrode region 118a in which the first sensor electrode 112a is arranged and an electrodeless region 119a in which the first sensor electrode 112a is not arranged.

The tip 113b of the second base material 111b also has a notch 117b like the tip 113a of the first base material 111a. The notch 117b is located substantially in the center of the first base material 111a in the lateral direction (that is, in the Y-axis direction), and is formed along the circumferential direction of the rim 201. The notch 117b divides the tip 113b into an electrode region 118b where the second sensor electrode 112b is arranged and an electrodeless region 119b where the second sensor electrode 112b is not arranged.

Therefore, in this modification, the first sensor electrode 112a is not arranged in a wide range of the tip portion 113a, is arranged only in the electrode region 118a, and is not arranged in the electrodeless region 119a. Similarly, the second sensor electrode 112b is not arranged in a wide range of the tip portion 113b, is arranged only in the electrode region 118b, and is not arranged in the electrodeless region 119b. However, also in the example shown in FIG. 14, as in the above embodiment, the first sensor electrode 112a is not arranged up to the edge of the electrode region 118a at the tip portion 113a, and the first sensor electrode 112a and its edge Are separated. Similarly, the second sensor electrode 112b is not arranged up to the edge of the electrode region 118b at the tip portion 113b, and is separated from the second sensor electrode 112b and its edge. As a result, the possibility of disconnection due to the sensor electrode 112 protruding from the edge of the base material 111 can be suppressed.

When such a first base material 111a and a second base material 111b are wound around the rim 201, the tip portion 113a of the first base material 111a is inserted into the notch 117b in the tip portion 113b of the second base material 111b. .. Similarly, the tip 113b of the second base material 111b is inserted into the notch 117a in the tip 113a of the first base material 111a.

As a result, as shown in FIG. 14B, the tip portion 113a of the first base material 111a and the tip portion 113b of the second base material 111b are overlapped with each other. Specifically, the electrode region 118a of the tip portion 113a is overlapped with the outside of the electrodeless region 119b of the tip portion 113b (for example, the positive side in the Z-axis direction, that is, the upper side). On the contrary, the electrodeless region 119a of the tip portion 113a is overlapped with the inside of the electrode region 118b of the tip portion 113b (for example, the negative side in the Z-axis direction, that is, the lower side). Therefore, the tip portion 113a of the first base material 111a and the tip portion 113b of the second base material 111b face each other in the Z-axis direction.

Even in this modification, the sensor electrode 112 is a plane perpendicular to the circumferential direction of the rim 201 and intersects the plane intersecting the two tip portions 113a and 113b. Further, in this modification, the sensor electrode 112 is formed on a plane perpendicular to the circumferential direction without inclining the edges of the two tip portions 113a and 113b or forming the tip portions 113a and 113b in an uneven manner. It can be easily crossed.

Therefore, in this modification as well, as in the above embodiment, even when the driver of the vehicle 1 lightly touches the upper end portion of the rim 201, the hand touches the portion where the sensor electrode 112 of the rim 201 is arranged. You can increase the probability of detecting that. As a result, the detection sensitivity of the steering heater 100, specifically, the detection sensitivity at the upper end of the rim 201 can be improved.

In this modified example, each region of the tip portion 113a and each region of the tip portion 113b are overlapped, but the first sensor electrode 112a and the second sensor electrode 112b are not overlapped. As a result, it is possible to prevent the thickness of the portion of the rim 201 in which the tip portion 113a and the tip portion 113b are arranged from becoming unnaturally thicker than the thickness of the other portion.

The base end portion 114a of the first base material 111a and the base end portion 114b of the second base material 111b may also have the same configuration as the tip portions 113a and 113b shown in FIG. In this case, even when the driver of the vehicle 1 lightly touches the lower end portion of the rim 201, the probability of detecting that the driver touches the portion where the sensor electrode 112 of the rim 201 is arranged is increased. Can be done. As a result, the detection sensitivity of the steering heater 100, specifically, the detection sensitivity at the lower end of the rim 201 can be improved.

(Modification 3)
In the above embodiment and modifications 1 and 2 thereof, the steering heater 100 detects the contact or grip of the hand with respect to the rim 201 of the steering wheel 200. In this modification, the steering heater has not only a function of detecting contact or grip of the hand, but also a function of a heater for warming the rim 201.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of the steering heater according to the present modification.

The steering heater 101 includes an electrode unit 110 and a control circuit unit 140.

The electrode portion 110 includes a first electrode portion 110a and a second electrode portion 110b, as in the above embodiment. Both ends a1 and a2 of the first sensor electrode 112a included in the first electrode unit 110a are connected to the control circuit unit 140 via the harness 130. Similarly, both ends b1 and b2 of the second sensor electrode 112b included in the second electrode unit 110b are also connected to the control circuit unit 140 via the harness 130.

The control circuit unit 140 includes the above-mentioned detection circuit 120 and the power supply circuit 141. Similar to the above-described embodiment and its modifications 1 and 2, the detection circuit 120 allows a human hand to contact or grip the rim 201 by passing an alternating current through the first sensor electrode 112a and the second sensor electrode 112b. To detect. The power supply circuit 141 causes heat to be generated by passing a direct current through each of the first sensor electrode 112a and the second sensor electrode 112b. As a result, the power supply circuit 141 warms the rim 201 of the steering wheel 200.

In the middle of the wiring that electrically connects the end a1 of the first sensor electrode 112a and the detection circuit 120 so that the current flows from the power supply circuit 141 to the first sensor electrode 112a, an inductor (not shown) is used. Is connected to the ground. Similarly, an inductor (not shown) is inserted in the middle of the wiring that electrically connects the end b1 of the second sensor electrode 112b and the detection circuit 120 so that a current flows from the power supply circuit 141 to the second sensor electrode 112b. It is connected to the ground via.

In such a modified example, since the rim 201 is warmed up, a person such as a driver of the vehicle 1 can comfortably grip the rim 201. In the example shown in FIG. 15, the electrode portion 110 includes the first electrode portion 110a and the second electrode portion 110b of the above embodiment, but the first electrode portion 110a and the second electrode of the above-described modification 1 or 2 are provided. The unit 110b may be provided.

(Embodiment 3)
Unless otherwise specified, the configuration of the steering heater 11 of the present embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment and the like, and the same reference numerals are given to the same configurations, and detailed description of the configurations will be omitted.

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing the state of the electrode portions before and after winding the electrode portions (first electrode portion 110a and second electrode portion 110b) in the third embodiment around the rim.

As shown in FIG. 16, the first base material 311a and the second base material 311b are formed with a plurality of through holes 11a1 shown in the first embodiment. The first sensor electrode 112a is arranged on the first base material 311a, and the second sensor electrode 112b is arranged on the second base material 311b.

Before winding the electrode portion around the rim, the tip portion 113a of the first electrode portion 110a passes through the first portion B1 where the angle formed by the edge of the tip portion 113a and the circumferential direction is an obtuse angle, and the rim A straight line V1 orthogonal to the circumferential direction and the tip 113b of the second electrode portion 110b, passing through the second portion B2 where the angle between the edge of the tip 113b and the circumferential direction is obtuse, and the rim The area between the circumferential direction of and the straight line V2 orthogonal to the circumferential direction is defined as an entry region. The entry region is a region between the straight line V1 and the straight line V2. Before winding the electrode portion around the rim, the width of the entry region in the circumferential direction is, for example, slightly larger than that of the index finger. Next, the width of the entry region after the electrode portion is wound around the rim is larger than that before the electrode portion is wound around the rim, and is slightly larger than the hand.

This is because when the first electrode portion 110a and the second electrode portion 110b are wound around the rim 201, the first electrode portion 110a and the second electrode portion 110b are stretched in the circumferential direction, so that the tip of the first base material 111a The tip portion 113b of the portion 113a and the second base material 111b is also extended in the circumferential direction. In the present embodiment, since a plurality of through holes 11a1 are formed in the first base material 311a and the second base material 311b, the first base material 311a and the second base material 311b are easily stretchable. That is, as compared with the first base material and the second base material in which the plurality of through holes 11a1 are not formed, the first base material 311a and the second base material 311b have the first electrode portion 110a and the second electrode portion 110b. When wrapped around the rim 201, it is greatly stretched. Then, following the elongation of the first base material 311a and the second base material 311b, the first sensor electrode 112a arranged at the tip portion 113a and the second sensor electrode 112b arranged at the tip portion 113b are in the circumferential direction. Move to.

When such a steering heater 11 is wound around the rim 201, when a finger touches the steering heater 11 across the tip 113a of the first electrode portion 110a and the tip 113b of the second electrode portion 110b, FIG. As shown in FIG. 17, the overlapping area between the finger and the first sensor electrode 112a and the second sensor electrode 112b increases. 16 and 17 are diagrams showing an example of the overlapping area of the finger and the first sensor electrode 112a and the second sensor electrode 112b before and after winding the electrode portion around the rim in the third embodiment. is there. In FIG. 17, after winding is shown by a two-dot chain line, and before winding is shown by a solid line.

As shown in FIG. 17, when looking at the overlap between the finger and the first sensor electrode 112a and the second sensor electrode 112b, the two-dot chain line after winding is the finger and the first sensor as compared with the solid line before winding. The overlapping area with the electrode 112a and the second sensor electrode 112b is large.

In such a steering heater 11, since the first base material 311a and the second base material 311b are easily stretched, the steering heater 11 can be easily wound around the rim 201, and workability is improved. Further, since the overlapping area where the finger and the first sensor electrode 112a and the second sensor electrode 112b overlap increases, it is possible to reduce the area that becomes a dead zone at the boundary portion between the tip portion 113a and the tip portion 113b.

In particular, in the case of the configuration in which the tip portion 113a and the tip portion 113b are inclined with respect to the lateral direction as in the present embodiment, the tip portion is extended in the pulling direction by the first base material 311a and the second base material 311b. Since the portion 113a and the tip portion 113b also extend in the pulling direction, the entry region can be expanded, so that the contact detection sensitivity at the boundary portion between the tip portion 113a and the tip portion 113b can be increased.

(Other variants)
The steering heater according to the present disclosure has been described above based on each of the above embodiments, but the present disclosure is not limited to these embodiments. As long as it does not deviate from the purpose of the present disclosure, various modifications that can be conceived by those skilled in the art may be included in the scope of the present disclosure.

For example, in the steering heater in each of the above embodiments, the opening diameter of the through hole of the base material increases from the outer peripheral side of the steering wheel toward the inner peripheral side of the steering wheel when the base material is wound around the steering wheel. It may be smaller. Therefore, the total opening area of the through holes per unit area in the base material located on the outer peripheral side of the steering wheel is larger than the total opening area of the through holes per unit area in the base material located on the inner peripheral side of the steering wheel. large.

For example, in the above-described embodiment and each modification thereof, each of the first sensor electrode 112a and the second sensor electrode 112b is made of a conductive wire such as a metal wire, but may be a so-called solid electrode. That is, each of the first sensor electrode 112a and the second sensor electrode 112b may be made of a metal plate, a metal foil, or the like. In this case, each of the first sensor electrode 112a and the second sensor electrode 112b may be bonded to the first base material 111a or the second base material 111b by an adhesive. The adhesive may be, for example, double-sided tape. Further, each pattern of the first sensor electrode 112a and the second sensor electrode 112b may have a zigzag shape or any other shape.

Further, in the above-described embodiment and each modification thereof, the base material 111 is composed of two base materials, the first base material 111a and the second base material 111b, but may be a single base material. In this case, the base end portion 114a of the first base material 111a and the base end portion 114b of the second base material 111b in the above-described embodiment and each modification thereof are integrally bonded without distinction. Further, the number of base materials contained in the electrode portion 110 may be two or three or more. In this case, the ends of the base materials adjacent to each other have the same configurations as those of the above-described embodiment and the respective modifications thereof, and are arranged on the rim 201 so as to face each other.

Further, in the first modification, the tip portion 113a has the convex portion 115a and the concave portion 116a, and the tip portion 113b has the convex portion 115b and the concave portion 116b. What kind of shape is the convex portion and the concave portion? It may be. For example, the convex portion may be pointed. Further, in the example shown in FIG. 12, the tip portions 113a and 113b each have one convex portion and one concave portion, but may have a plurality of convex portions and a plurality of concave portions, respectively. Even in this case, the edges of the tip portions 113a and 113b are formed in a crank shape. Further, in the example shown in FIG. 13A, the tip portions 113a and 113b each have two convex portions and two concave portions, but may have three or more convex portions and three or more concave portions, respectively.

Further, in the above-described embodiment and each modification thereof, the shapes of the two end portions of the base material 111 facing each other are formed point-symmetrically as shown in FIGS. 11 to 14. However, in the present disclosure, the shapes of the two ends need not be formed point-symmetrically, and may be any shape.

Further, in the above embodiment, the base end portions 114a and 114b also have the same configurations as the tip portions 113a and 113b, but the base end portions 114a and 114b and the tip portions 113a and 113b have different configurations. You may have.

In addition, it is realized by arbitrarily combining the components and functions in each embodiment within the range obtained by applying various modifications that can be conceived by those skilled in the art to each of the above embodiments and the purpose of the present disclosure. The form to be used is also included in the present disclosure.

The steering heater of the present disclosure can be applied to, for example, a steering wheel of a vehicle or a grip of a motorcycle.

11, 100, 101 Steering heater 11a, 111 Base material 11a1 Through hole 11b Heater wire 11c Sewing thread 12, 140 Control circuit unit 12a 141 Power supply circuit 12b, 120 Detection circuit 110 Electrode unit 110a First electrode unit 110b Second electrode unit 111a, 311a 1st base material 111b, 311b 2nd base material 112 Sensor electrode 112a 1st sensor electrode 112b 2nd sensor electrode 113a, 113b Tip portion 114a, 114b Base end portion 115a, 115b Convex portion 116a, 116b Concave portion 130 Harness 200 Steering wheel

Claims (15)

The base material that is wrapped around the steering wheel and
A heater wire that generates heat when an electric current flows,
A sewing thread for sewing the heater wire on one surface of the base material is provided.
The base material is formed with a plurality of through holes having a diameter smaller than the sewing pitch of the seam of the sewing thread for sewing the heater wire .
When the base material is wound around the steering wheel, the number of through holes formed in the base material located on the outer peripheral side of the steering wheel is the number of the bases located on the inner peripheral side of the steering wheel. More than the number of through holes formed in the material,
Steering heater. The base material that is wrapped around the steering wheel and
A heater wire that generates heat when an electric current flows,
A sewing thread for sewing the heater wire on one surface of the base material is provided.
The base material is formed with a plurality of through holes having a diameter smaller than the sewing pitch of the seam of the sewing thread for sewing the heater wire.
When the base material is wound around the steering wheel, the number of the through holes formed in the base material gradually decreases from the outer peripheral side of the steering wheel toward the inner peripheral side of the steering wheel. ,
Scan Tearing heater. The base material that is wrapped around the steering wheel and
A heater wire that generates heat when an electric current flows,
A sewing thread for sewing the heater wire on one surface of the base material is provided.
The base material is formed with a plurality of through holes having a diameter smaller than the sewing pitch of the seam of the sewing thread for sewing the heater wire.
The pitch of two adjacent through holes among the plurality of through holes is different from the sewing pitch.
Scan Tearing heater. The base material that is wrapped around the steering wheel and
A heater wire that generates heat when an electric current flows,
A sewing thread for sewing the heater wire on one surface of the base material is provided.
The base material is formed with a plurality of through holes having a diameter smaller than the sewing pitch of the seam of the sewing thread for sewing the heater wire.
When the base material is wound around the steering wheel, the first density of the number of through holes per unit area in the base material located on the outer peripheral side of the steering wheel is set to the inner peripheral side of the steering wheel. Greater than the second density of the number of through holes per unit area in the location substrate,
Scan Tearing heater. When the base material is wound around the steering wheel, the base material gradually decreases from the first density toward the inner peripheral side of the steering wheel from the outer peripheral side of the steering wheel, and the second density gradually decreases. To
The steering heater according to claim 4 . Further, a control circuit unit electrically connected to one end of the heater wire is provided.
The control circuit unit is electrically connected to the heater wire, and uses the heater wire as a sensor electrode to detect contact between the human body and the steering wheel.
The steering heater according to any one of claims 1 to 5 . The base material is attached to the rim of the steering wheel along the circumferential direction of the rim.
The two ends of the substrate in the circumferential direction of the rim face each other and
The sensor electrode is a plane perpendicular to the circumferential direction of the rim and is arranged on the substrate so as to intersect the plane intersecting the two ends.
The steering heater according to claim 6 . The base material is composed of a first base material and a second base material.
The sensor electrode includes a first sensor electrode arranged on the first base material and a second sensor electrode arranged on the second base material.
One of the two ends is the end of the first substrate.
The other of the two ends is the end of the second substrate.
The steering heater according to claim 7 . The steering heater according to claim 7 or 8 , wherein each edge of the two ends is inclined with respect to the plane. Each of the two ends has a convex portion and a concave portion.
The convex portion and the concave portion at one end of the two end portions, and the concave portion and the convex portion at the other end portion are aligned in the circumferential direction.
The steering heater according to claim 7 or 8 . Each edge of the two ends is crank-shaped,
The steering heater according to claim 10 . Each of the two ends is formed in a fork shape and has a plurality of the protrusions and a plurality of the recesses.
The steering heater according to claim 10 . Each of the two ends has a notch along the circumferential direction, and the notch allows an electrode region in which a part of the sensor electrode is arranged and an electrodeless region in which the sensor electrode is not arranged. It is divided into
When the substrate is attached to the rim
Each of the two ends is inserted into the notch at the other end that is different from the end.
Each of the electrode regions of the two ends overlaps the surface side of the rim with respect to the electrodeless region of the other end.
The steering heater according to claim 7 or 8 . The circuit for passing a current through the heater wire is a part of the heater wire, the first wire portion arranged at one of the two ends, and the other of the heater wires. A current flows in opposite directions to the second wire portion which is a portion and is arranged adjacent to the first wire portion and substantially parallel to the first wire portion and is arranged at the other end of the two end portions. ,
The steering heater according to any one of claims 7 to 13 . A base material attached to the rim of the steering wheel along the circumferential direction of the rim,
A sensor electrode arranged on the base material is provided.
The two ends of the substrate in the circumferential direction of the rim face each other and
The sensor electrode is a plane perpendicular to the circumferential direction of the rim, and is arranged on the base material so as to intersect the plane intersecting the two ends.
The sensor electrode generates heat when an electric current is passed to warm the rim.
Steering heater.

Images