# US 11,029,438 B2 · Capacitive-coupling sensor and method for producing the same > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,029,438 B2 - Document ID: US11029438B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/516,707 - Filed: 2019-07-19 - Published: 2019-11-07 - Granted: 2021-06-08 - Earliest claimed: 2017-10-19 - Assignees: Sumitomo Riko Company Limited - Applicants: Sumitomo Riko Company Limited - Inventors: Shigeaki Takamatsu; Ryo Minoshima - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11029438B2 ## CPC - B32B 27/302: {comprising aromatic vinyl (co)polymers, e.g. styrenic (co)polymers} - G01V 3/08: operating with magnetic or electric fields produced or modified by objects or geological structures or by detecting devices (with electromagnetic waves G01V3/12) - B32B 5/02: characterised by structural features of a {fibrous or filamentary} layer {(layer formed of metallic wires B32B15/02; layer formed of natural mineral fibres B32B19/02; layer formed of wood fibres B32B21/02)} - B32B 5/022: {Non-woven fabric} - B32B 5/26: another layer {next to it} also being fibrous or filamentary {(relative arrangement of fibres or filaments of different layers B32B5/12)} - B32B 7/12: using interposed adhesives or interposed materials with bonding properties - B32B 15/14: next to a fibrous or filamentary layer - B32B 25/02: with fibres or particles {being present as additives in the layer} - B32B 25/08: of synthetic resin - B32B 25/14: comprising {synthetic rubber copolymers (B32B25/18 and B32B25/20 take precedence)} - B32B 25/20: comprising silicone rubber - B32B 27/12: next to a fibrous or filamentary layer - B32B 27/20: using fillers, pigments, thixotroping agents - B32B 27/32: comprising polyolefins {(comprising vinyl (co)polymers or acrylic (co)polymers B32B27/30)} - G01L 1/14: by measuring variations in capacitance or inductance of electrical elements, e.g. by measuring variations of frequency of electrical oscillators - H03K 17/955: using a capacitive detector - H03K 17/962: {Capacitive touch switches} - B32B 2255/02: on fibrous or filamentary layer - B32B 2255/205: Metallic coating - B32B 2260/023: Two or more layers - B32B 2260/046: Synthetic resin - B32B 2262/0284: Polyethylene terephthalate [PET] or polybutylene terephthalate [PBT] - B32B 2264/102: Oxide or hydroxide - B32B 2264/104: Oxysalt, e.g. carbonate, sulfate, phosphate or nitrate particles - B32B 2274/00: Thermoplastic elastomer material - B32B 2307/202: Conductive - B32B 2307/206: Insulating - B32B 2307/302: Conductive - B32B 2307/304: Insulating - B32B 2307/3065: Flame resistant or retardant, fire resistant or retardant - B32B 2307/536: Hardness - B32B 2307/54: Yield strength; Tensile strength - B32B 2457/00: Electrical equipment - B32B 2605/00: Vehicles - B62D 1/046: {Adaptations on rotatable parts of the steering wheel for accommodation of switches} - B62D 1/065: {Steering wheels with heating and ventilating means (heating and ventilation of steering wheel when connected to vehicle HVAC B60H1/00292)} - H03K 2217/960765: Details of shielding arrangements - B32B: LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM - G01V: GEOPHYSICS; GRAVITATIONAL MEASUREMENTS; DETECTING MASSES OR OBJECTS; TAGS (means for indicating the location of accidentally buried, e.g. snow-buried, persons A63B29/02) - G01L: MEASURING FORCE, STRESS, TORQUE, WORK, MECHANICAL POWER, MECHANICAL EFFICIENCY, OR FLUID PRESSURE (weighing G01G) - H03K: PULSE TECHNIQUE (measuring pulse characteristics G01R; modulating sinusoidal oscillations with pulses H03C; transmission of digital information H04L; discriminator circuits detecting phase difference between two signals by counting or integrating cycles of oscillation H03D3/04; automatic control, starting, synchronisation or stabilisation of generators of electronic oscillations or pulses where the type of generator is irrelevant or unspecified H03L; coding, decoding or code conversion, in general H03M) - B62D: MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS (steering, or guiding on a desired track, of agricultural machines or implements A01B69/00; wheels, castors, axles, increasing wheel adhesion B60B; vehicle tyres, tyre inflation or tyre changing B60C; connections between vehicles of a train or the like B60D; vehicles for use on rail and road, amphibious or convertible vehicles B60F; suspension arrangements B60G; heating, cooling, ventilating or other air treating devices B60H; windows, windscreens, non-fixed roofs, doors or similar devices, protective coverings for vehicles not in use B60J; propulsion plant arrangements, auxiliary drives, transmissions, controls, instrumentation or dashboards B60K; electric equipment or propulsion of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L; power supply for electrically-propelled vehicles B60M; passenger accommodation not otherwise provided for B60N; adaptations for load transportation or to carry special loads or objects B60P; arrangement of signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor, for vehicles in general B60Q; vehicles, vehicle fittings or vehicle parts not otherwise provided for B60R; servicing, cleaning, repairing, supporting, lifting, or manoeuvring, not otherwise provided for, B60S; brake arrangements, brake control systems or parts thereof B60T; air-cushion vehicles B60V; motor-cycles, accessories therefor B62J, B62K; testing of vehicles G01M) ## Abstract A capacitive-coupling sensor includes: a detection electrode layer that generates capacitance between the detection electrode layer and an object to be detected; a shield electrode layer; and an insulating layer disposed between the detection electrode layer and the shield electrode layer. The insulating layer includes a thermoplastic elastomer, and the insulating layer has a thermal conductivity of 0.3 W/m·K or more and a volume resistivity of 1×1012 Ω·cm or more. When the detection electrode layer and the shield electrode layer are made of conductive cloths, the conductive cloth for the detection electrode layer is placed on a front surface of the insulating layer and the conductive cloth for the shield electrode layer is placed on a back surface of the insulating layer forming a laminate. The laminate is pressed in a front-back direction under heating to fuse the insulating layer to the conductive cloths, producing the capacitive-coupling sensor. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A capacitive-coupling sensor, comprising: a detection electrode layer that generates capacitance between the detection electrode layer and an object to be detected; a shield electrode layer; and an insulating layer disposed between the detection electrode layer and the shield electrode layer, wherein the detection electrode layer surrounds an entire circumference of the insulating layer, the insulating layer includes a thermoplastic elastomer, the insulating layer has a thermal conductivity of 0.3 W/m·K or more and a volume resistivity of 1×1012 Ω·cm or more, and the capacitive-coupling sensor is disposed in a steering wheel. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The capacitive-coupling sensor according to claim 1, wherein the insulating layer includes an inorganic filler. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The capacitive-coupling sensor according to claim 2, wherein the inorganic filler includes particles having a thermal conductivity of 20 W/m·K or more. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The capacitive-coupling sensor according to claim 2, wherein the inorganic filler includes flame retardant particles. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The capacitive-coupling sensor according to claim 4, wherein the flame retardant particles are magnesium hydroxide. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The capacitive-coupling sensor according to claim 1, wherein a type A durometer hardness of the insulating layer is 35 or more and less than 90. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The capacitive-coupling sensor according to claim 1, wherein the insulating layer has a tensile strength of 0.1 MPa or more and a breaking elongation of 100% or more. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The capacitive-coupling sensor according to claim 1, wherein the thermoplastic elastomer is one or more selected from a styrene-based elastomer and an olefin-based elastomer. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The capacitive-coupling sensor according to claim 1, wherein at least either of the detection electrode and insulating layers or the shield electrode and insulating layers are fixed to each other without using an adhesive. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The capacitive-coupling sensor according to claim 1, wherein both the detection electrode and insulating layers as well as the shield electrode and insulating layers are fixed to each other without using an adhesive. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The capacitive-coupling sensor according to claim 1, wherein the detection electrode layer is made of conductive rubber or a conductive cloth. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The capacitive-coupling sensor according to claim 1, wherein the shield electrode layer is made of a conductive cloth. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The capacitive-coupling sensor according to claim 1, wherein the detection electrode layer and the shield electrode layer are made of conductive cloths, and at least part of the conductive cloths is embedded in the insulating layer. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The capacitive-coupling sensor according to claim 1, wherein the steering wheel includes a heater layer, and the shield electrode layer is disposed on a heater layer side. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The capacitive-coupling sensor according to claim 14, wherein the shield electrode layer and the heater layer are fixed to each other without using an adhesive. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) A method for producing the capacitive-coupling sensor according to claim 13, the method comprising: placing the conductive cloth that serves as the detection electrode layer on a front surface of the insulating layer and placing the conductive cloth that serves as the shield electrode layer on a back surface of the insulating layer to form a laminate; and fusing the insulating layer to the conductive cloths by pressing the laminate in a front-back direction under heating. ### Claim 17 (depends on 2) The capacitive-coupling sensor according to claim 2, wherein the inorganic filler has at least either of magnesium oxide particles and aluminum oxide particles. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The capacitive-coupling sensor according to claim 1, wherein: at least one of the detection electrode layer and the shield electrode layer is made of a conductive cloth; and the conductive cloth is a woven fabric or a non-woven fabric of polyester fibers plated with copper or nickel. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) A steering wheel comprising the capacitive-coupling sensor according to claim 1, a core, and a heater layer disposed between the capacitive-coupling sensor and the core, wherein in the capacitive-coupling sensor, the insulating layer includes an inorganic filler including particles having a thermal conductivity of 20 W/m·K or more, the thermoplastic elastomer of the insulating layer is one or more selected from a styrene-based elastomer and an olefin-based elastomer, and at least part of the detection electrode layer and the shield electrode layer is embedded in the insulating layer. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The capacitive-coupling sensor according to claim 1, wherein the insulating layer is a flexible layer that is a thickest layer in the capacitive-coupling sensor.