Grip detection device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10077064-B2
Application number	US-201515116973-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 9, 2015
Priority date	Feb 7, 2014
Publication date	Sep 18, 2018
Grant date	Sep 18, 2018

Abstract

A grip detection device comprises an electrostatic capacity sensor mounted on a rim of a steering wheel; and a determination unit that detects gripping of the steering wheel based on a detection result of the electrostatic capacity sensor, a plurality of electrode units of elongated shape configuring the electrostatic capacity sensor extending along a direction in which the rim extends and being provided in parallel along a circumferential direction of the rim, of the plurality of electrode units, at least two electrode units are commonly connected, and at least one electrode unit not commonly connected to the commonly connected two electrode units is disposed between the commonly connected two electrode units, the determination unit determining that a driver has gripped the steering wheel when proximity of a human body has been detected by each of at least two electrode units not commonly connected to each other.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A grip detection device, comprising:
a steering wheel;
an electrostatic capacity sensor mounted on a rim of said steering wheel: and
a determination unit that determines whether a driver has gripped the steering wheel or not based on proximity detection of a human body by said electrostatic capacity sensor,
wherein
said electrostatic capacity sensor includes a plurality of electrode units comprising an electrostatic capacity detection electrode of elongated shape,
a plurality of said electrode units extend along a direction in which said rim extends, and are provided in parallel along a circumferential direction of said rim having the direction in which said rim extends as its axial center,
furthermore, in a plurality of said electrode units, at least two electrode units are commonly connected, and at least one electrode unit not commonly connected to the commonly connected two electrode units is disposed between the commonly connected two electrode units, and
said determination unit determines that the driver has gripped the steering wheel when proximity of the human body has been detected by each of at least two electrode units not commonly connected to each other,
a plurality of the electrode units are divided into at least three groups, and electrode units belonging to an identical group are commonly connected each other, and
the determination unit determines that the driver has gripped the steering wheel when proximity of the human body has been detected by one electrode unit and other electrode unit belonging to different group from the one electrode unit.

2. The grip detection device according to claim 1 , wherein the proximity of the human body is detected by the one electrode unit separately and independently from the other electrode unit belonging to the different group from the one electrode unit, and the proximity of the human body is detected by the other electrode unit separately and independently from the one electrode unit.

3. The grip detection device according to claim 1 , wherein
a plurality of said electrode units are provided in parallel along a circumferential direction of said rim, such that adjacent electrode units belong to different groups each other.

4. A grip detection device, comprising:
a steering wheel;
an electrostatic capacity sensor mounted on a rim of said steering wheel; and
a determination unit that determines whether a driver has gripped the steering wheel or not based on proximity detection of a human body by said electrostatic capacity sensor,
wherein
said electrostatic capacity sensor includes a plurality of electrode units comprising an electrostatic capacity detection electrode of elongated shape,
a plurality of said electrode units extend along a direction in which said rim extends, and are provided in parallel along a circumferential direction of said rim having the direction in which said rim extends as its axial center,
furthermore, in a plurality of said electrode units, at least two electrode units are commonly connected, and at least one electrode unit not commonly connected to the commonly connected two electrode units is disposed between the commonly connected two electrode units, and
said determination unit determines that the driver has gripped the steering wheel when proximity of the human body has been detected by each of at least two electrode units not commonly connected to each other,
a plurality of said electrode units are divided into at least three groups, and electrode units belonging to an identical group are commonly connected each other, and
said determination unit determines that the driver has gripped the steering wheel when proximity of the human body has been detected by each of at least one electrode unit of all of different groups.

5. The grip detection device according to claim 4 , wherein
a plurality of said electrode units are provided in parallel along a circumferential direction of said rim, such that adjacent electrode units belong to different groups each other.

6. A grip detection device, comprising:
a steering wheel;
an electrostatic capacity sensor mounted on a rim of said steering wheel: and
a determination unit that determines whether a driver has gripped the steering wheel or not based on proximity detection of a human body by said electrostatic capacity sensor,
wherein
said electrostatic capacity sensor includes a plurality of electrode units comprising an electrostatic capacity detection electrode of elongated shape,
a plurality of said electrode units extend along a direction in which said rim extends, and are provided in parallel along a circumferential direction of said rim having the direction in which said rim extends as its axial center,
furthermore, in a plurality of said electrode units, at least two electrode units are commonly connected, and at least one electrode unit not commonly connected to the commonly connected two electrode units is disposed between the commonly connected two electrode units, and
said determination unit determines that the driver has gripped the steering wheel when proximity of the human body has been detected by each of at least two electrode units not commonly connected to each other,
a plurality of said electrode units are divided into at least two groups, and electrode units belonging to an identical group are commonly connected each other,
said determination unit determines that the driver has gripped the steering wheel when proximity of the human body has been detected by each of one electrode unit and an electrode unit belonging to a different group from the one electrode unit,
a plurality of said electrode units are provided in parallel along a circumferential direction of said rim, such that adjacent electrode units belong to different groups each other.

Assignees

• Fujikura Ltd

Inventors

• Iguchi Yusuke
• Togura Takeshi

Classifications

• B62D1/046 Primary

  Adaptations on rotatable parts of the steering wheel for accommodation of switches · CPC title

• G01R27/2605

  Measuring capacitance (capacitive sensors G01D5/24) · CPC title

• G01D5/24

  by varying capacitance · CPC title

• B62D1/06

  Rims, e.g. with heating means; Rim covers (B62D1/11 takes precedence) · CPC title