# US 10,370,878 B2 · Touch sensor unit > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,370,878 B2 - Document ID: US10370878B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/927,087 - Filed: 2018-03-21 - Published: 2018-10-04 - Granted: 2019-08-06 - Earliest claimed: 2017-03-30 - Assignees: Mitsuba Corporation - Applicants: MITSUBA Corporation - Inventors: Yasuhiro Orihara; Hideki Kubota; Minori Shoda; Mitsuhiro Okada - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10370878B2 ## CPC - E05B 81/77: {comprising sensors detecting the presence of the hand of a user} - E05B 81/04: Electrical (electrical circuits E05B81/54) - E05B 81/21: {with means preventing or detecting pinching of objects or body parts} - E05F 15/40: Safety devices, e.g. detection of obstructions or end positions - G06F 3/03547: {Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface} - H01H 3/141: {Cushion or mat switches} - H01H 3/161: {for actuation by moving a closing member, e.g. door, cover or lid (the switch controlling enclosed equipment H01H9/226; switches operated by a removable member, wherein one single insertion movement of a key comprises an unlocking stroke and a switch actuating stroke, e.g. security switch for safety guards H01H27/002)} - B60K 35/10: Input arrangements, i.e. from user to vehicle, associated with vehicle functions or specially adapted therefor - B60K 2360/143: Touch sensitive instrument input devices - E05B: LOCKS; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR; HANDCUFFS - E05F: DEVICES FOR MOVING WINGS INTO OPEN OR CLOSED POSITION; CHECKS FOR WINGS; WING FITTINGS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, CONCERNED WITH THE FUNCTIONING OF THE WING - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - H01H: ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES (contact cables H01B7/10; electrolytic self-interrupters H01G9/18; emergency protective circuit arrangements H02H; switching by electronic means without contact-making H03K17/00) - B60K: ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GAS EXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS IN VEHICLES ## 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. ## Claims ### Claim 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. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The touch sensor unit according to claim 1, wherein at least three convex sections are arranged in a circumferential direction of the body section. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) 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. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) 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. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The touch sensor unit according to claim 1, wherein the conductive component is made of a conductive resin material. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) 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. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) 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. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The touch sensor unit according to claim 7, wherein the conductive paint is coated on a part of the surface of the conductive component.