Touch sensor unit

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10370878-B2
Application number	US-201815927087-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 21, 2018
Priority date	Mar 30, 2017
Publication date	Aug 6, 2019
Grant date	Aug 6, 2019

Abstract

The disclosure provides a touch sensor unit. A conductive component is arranged between a pair of electrodes which are arranged inside an insulating tube, and the conductive component includes: a body section, which extends in a longitudinal direction of the insulating tube; and a convex section, which is arranged on an outer circumference of the body section, extends along the longitudinal direction of the body section, and sinks into the pair of electrodes. Short circuit or non-short circuit and so on of the electrodes can be detected by detecting the resistance value of the conductive component. Merely by inserting the conductive component into one end in the longitudinal direction of the electrodes, the pair of electrodes are electrically connected, and only the convex section sinks into the pair of electrodes, therefore the insertion load of the conductive component can be reduced, and the terminal treatment can be simplified.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A touch sensor unit, which is used to detect contact of a blocking, comprising:
a hollow insulating component, which deforms elastically due to a stress of an external force;
a pair of electrodes, which are arranged inside the insulating component, extend spirally along a longitudinal direction of the insulating component, and are placed to be capable of contacting with each other by an elastic deformation of the insulating component; and
a conductive component, which is arranged at one end of the longitudinal direction of the pair of electrodes, and electrically connects with the pair of electrodes respectively;
wherein the conductive component comprises:
a body section, which is arranged between the pair of electrodes, and extends along the longitudinal direction of the insulating component; and
a convex section, which is arranged on an outer circumference of the body section, extends along the longitudinal direction of the body section, and sinks into the pair of electrodes.

2. The touch sensor unit according to claim 1 , wherein
at least three convex sections are arranged in a circumferential direction of the body section.

3. The touch sensor unit according to claim 1 , wherein
a length of the body section is a length obtained by winding the pair of electrodes which are spirally arranged for at least half a circumference respectively.

4. The touch sensor unit according to claim 1 , wherein
the conductive component comprises a head which abuts on one end in the longitudinal direction of the pair of electrodes.

5. The touch sensor unit according to claim 1 , wherein
the conductive component is made of a conductive resin material.

6. The touch sensor unit according to claim 1 , wherein
the touch sensor unit is arranged on an automatic opening/closing device mounted on a vehicle.

7. The touch sensor unit according to claim 1 , wherein
the conductive component is made of a steel plate having a surface coated with a conductive paint.

8. The touch sensor unit according to claim 7 , wherein
the conductive paint is coated on a part of the surface of the conductive component.

Assignees

• Mitsuba Corp

Inventors

• Orihara Yasuhiro
• Kubota Hideki
• Shoda Minori
• Okada Mitsuhiro

Classifications

• H01H2235/00

  Springs · CPC title

• H01H13/26

  Snap-action arrangements depending upon deformation of elastic members · CPC title

• H01H13/12 Primary

  Movable parts; Contacts mounted thereon · CPC title

• H01H13/10

  Bases; Stationary contacts mounted thereon · CPC title

• E05F15/40

  Safety devices, e.g. detection of obstructions or end positions · CPC title