Load detection sensor unit

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10933769-B2
Application number	US-201616074510-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 4, 2016
Priority date	Feb 22, 2016
Publication date	Mar 2, 2021
Grant date	Mar 2, 2021

Abstract

A load detection sensor unit 1A includes: a load detection sensor 5 that has a sensor sheet 50 having a pair of resinous insulating sheets 56s and 57s, a first electrode 56e provided on a surface of one insulating sheet 56s, and a second electrode 57e forming a pair with the first electrode 56e, and a metal plate 60 provided in at least a portion overlapping with the first electrode 56e and the second electrode 57e on one surface of the sensor sheet 50; and a pressing member 4 that has a pressing portion 46 disposed on the side of the metal plate 60 opposite to the side of the sensor sheet 50 and pressing the metal plate 60. The pressing portion 46 is harder than the seat cushion SC and the sensor sheet 50 and the metal plate 60 are bonded by an adhesive layer 70.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A load detection sensor unit that is disposed below a seat cushion, the load detection sensor unit comprising:
a load detection sensor that has a sensor sheet having a pair of resinous insulating sheets, a first electrode provided on one of surfaces facing each other in the pair of insulating sheets, and a second electrode disposed between the pair of insulating sheets and forming a pair with the first electrode, and a metal plate provided in at least a portion overlapping with the first electrode and the second electrode on one surface of the sensor sheet;
a pressing member that has a pressing portion disposed on the side of the metal plate opposite to the side of the sensor sheet and pressing the metal plate; and
a pedestal on which a block larger than at least the first electrode and the second electrode in the sensor sheet is disposed, wherein
the pressing portion is harder than the seat cushion and,
the sensor sheet and the metal plate are bonded by an adhesive layer, and
wherein, in the sensor sheet, a circumferential portion of at least a region overlapping with the first electrode and the second electrode in a pedestal facing surface to be a surface opposite to a surface to which the metal plate is attached and facing the pedestal is not adhered to the pedestal.

2. The load detection sensor unit according to claim 1 , wherein, in the sensor sheet disposed on the pedestal, the entire pedestal facing surface is not adhered to the pedestal.

3. The load detection sensor unit according to claim 1 , wherein, in the sensor sheet disposed on the pedestal, the region is adhered to the pedestal and the entire pedestal facing surface other than the region is not adhered.

4. The load detection sensor unit according to claim 1 , further comprising a movement regulation member that regulates a relative movement of the sensor sheet and the pedestal in a sheet surface direction of the sensor sheet.

5. The load detection sensor unit according to claim 4 , wherein the movement regulation member is inserted into through-holes formed in the sensor sheet and the pedestal.

6. The load detection sensor unit according to claim 5 , wherein the movement regulation member is a part of the pressing member.

7. The load detection sensor unit according to claim 1 , wherein the pressing member has a top wall that has an area larger than a contact area of the pressing portion with respect to the metal plate and receives the pressing force from the seat cushion.

8. The load detection sensor unit according to claim 7 , wherein the top wall has a larger area than the first electrode and the second electrode, and
the pressing portion has a smaller area than the first electrode and the second electrode.

9. The load detection sensor unit according to claim 1 , wherein a thickness of the adhesive layer is 10 μm or more and is 0.8 times or less of a thickness of the insulating sheet contacting the adhesive layer in the pair of insulating sheets.

10. The load detection sensor unit according to claim 1 , wherein a tip of the pressing portion has a convex curved surface shape.

11. The load detection sensor unit according to claim 1 , wherein a tip of the pressing portion has a planar shape.

12. The load detection sensor unit according to claim 11 , wherein the sensor sheet further has a spacer provided with openings corresponding to the pair of electrodes between the pair of insulating sheets, and
an area of the planar shape of the tip of the pressing portion is 3.0 mm 2 or more and is 0.8 times or less of an area of the opening.

13. A load detection sensor unit that is disposed below a seat cushion, the load detection sensor unit comprising:
a load detection sensor that has a sensor sheet having a pair of resinous insulating sheets, a first electrode provided on one of surfaces facing each other in the pair of insulating sheets, and a second electrode disposed between the pair of insulating sheets and forming a pair with the first electrode, and a metal plate provided in at least a portion overlapping with the first electrode and the second electrode on one surface of the sensor sheet;
a pressing member that has a pressing portion disposed on the side of the metal plate opposite to the side of the sensor sheet and pressing the metal plate;
a pedestal on which a block larger than at least the first electrode and the second electrode in the sensor sheet is disposed; and
a movement regulation member that regulates a relative movement of the sensor sheet and the pedestal in a sheet surface direction of the sensor sheet, wherein
the pressing portion is harder than the seat cushion and,
the sensor sheet and the metal plate are bonded by an adhesive layer.

14. The load detection sensor unit according to claim 13 , wherein the movement regulation member is inserted into through-holes formed in the sensor sheet and the pedestal.

15. The load detection sensor unit according to claim 14 , wherein the movement regulation member is a part of the pressing member.

16. A load detection sensor unit that is disposed below a seat cushion, the load detection sensor unit comprising:
a load detection sensor that has a sensor sheet having a pair of resinous insulating sheets, a first electrode provided on one of surfaces facing each other in the pair of insulating sheets, and a second electrode disposed between the pair of insulating sheets and forming a pair with the first electrode, and a metal plate provided in at least a portion overlapping with the first electrode and the second electrode on one surface of the sensor sheet; and
a pressing member that has a pressing portion disposed on the side of the metal plate opposite to the side of the sensor sheet and pressing the metal plate, wherein
the pressing portion is harder than the seat cushion and,
the sensor sheet and the metal plate are bonded by an adhesive layer, and
wherein the pressing member has a top wall that has an area larger than a contact area of the pressing portion with respect to the metal plate and receives the pressing force from the seat cushion.

17. The load detection sensor unit according to claim 16 , wherein the top wall has a larger area than the first electrode and the second electrode, and
the pressing portion has a smaller area than the first electrode and the second electrode.

Assignees

• Fujikura Ltd

Inventors

• Nakazaki Shigeru
• Kawahira Tetsuya
• Kikukawa Naohiro
• Kameshima Takashi

Classifications

• B60R21/01516 Primary

  using force or pressure sensing means · CPC title

• B60N2/0033

  mounted on or in the foam cushion · CPC title

• B60N2/0032

  mounted on springs · CPC title

• B60N2/7094

  Upholstery springs · CPC title

• A47C7/62

  Accessories for chairs · CPC title