# US 11,299,191 B2 · Systems and methods for shielding a hand sensor system in a steering wheel > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,299,191 B2 - Document ID: US11299191B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/179,128 - Filed: 2018-11-02 - Published: 2019-05-09 - Granted: 2022-04-12 - Earliest claimed: 2014-05-22 - Assignees: Joyson Safety Systems Acquisition LLC - Applicants: Joyson Safety Systems Acquisition LLC - Inventors: Dwayne Van'tZelfde; Phillip Bernard Maguire; Justin Richard McCurdy - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11299191B2 ## CPC - B62D 1/06: Rims, e.g. with heating means; Rim covers (B62D1/11 takes precedence) - 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 17/962: {Capacitive touch switches} - H05K 9/0071: {Active shielding} - H03K 2217/960755: Constructional details of capacitive touch and proximity switches - H03K 2217/960765: Details of shielding arrangements - 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) - 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) - H05K: PRINTED CIRCUITS; CASINGS OR CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS OF ELECTRIC APPARATUS; MANUFACTURE OF ASSEMBLAGES OF ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS ## Abstract Systems and methods of shielding a hand sensor system in a steering wheel are disclosed herein. An exemplary hand sensor system includes a sensor mat and a heater mat that is disposed between the sensor mat and a frame of the steering wheel. A power source selectively provides a heating current to the heater mat to provide heat to the steering wheel and a shielding voltage signal to the heater mat to provide electrical shielding for the sensor mat when heating is not needed or when sensing takes priority over heating. Alternatively, the system may include a shield mat that is separate from the heater mat and is disposed between the sensor mat and the heater mat. In addition, to isolate the signal carried by individual sensor return wires, a metallic or insulating covering or conduit may be provided around the wires or portions thereof. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system for shielding a hand sensor system in a steering wheel comprising: a sensor mat comprising one or more sensing loops, each of the sensing loops defining a sensing zone; a heater mat disposed between a steering wheel frame and the sensor mat, the heater mat comprising one or more conductive loops, each of the conductive loops defining a conductive zone, wherein the sensor mat is disposed around the heater mat; an electronic control unit in communication with the heater mat, the electronic control unit comprising a power generator configured for selectively generating a first electrical current or a second electrical current on the one or more conductive loops, the first electrical current configured for heating at least a portion of the steering wheel and the second electrical current configured for shielding the sensor mat from interference from the steering wheel frame, the first electrical current being larger than the second electrical current; and wherein the sensing zone and the heating zone occupy corresponding positions along the steering wheel. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein: the one or more sensing loops comprises a first sensing loop and a second sensing loop, the first sensing loop being spaced apart from the second sensing loop, the one or more conductive loops comprises a first conductive loop adjacent the first sensing loop and a second conductive loop adjacent the second sensing loop, the power generator is configured for generating the first electrical current for the first conductive loop of the heater mat in response to receiving a first presence signal from the first sensing loop indicating presence of a hand adjacent the first sensing loop, and the power generator is configured for generating the first electrical current for the second conductive loop of the heater mat in response to receiving a second presence signal from the second sensing loop indicating presence of a hand adjacent the second sensing loop. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The system of claim 2, wherein the power generator is further configured for generating the second electrical current for the first or second conductive zone in response to receiving an override signal indicating that sensing in the first or second sensing zone, respectively, takes priority over heating. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The system of claim 2, wherein the power generator is further configured for generating the second electrical current for the first conductive loop of the heater mat in response to a temperature of the first sensing zone reaching a first set temperature and for generating the second electrical current for the second conductive loop of the heater mat in response to a respective temperature of the second sensing zone reaching a second set temperature. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the power generator is configured for alternately generating the first electrical current and the second electrical current periodically. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The system of claim 5, wherein the power generator is configured for alternately generating the first electrical current for 1 to 2 seconds and the second electrical current for 1 to 2 seconds. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the first electrical current is between 6 amperes and 8 amperes. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the second electrical current is less than 50 microamperes. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising a metallic shield disposed around at least a portion of one or more wires connected to the sensor mat, the metallic shield configured for isolating an electrical signal carried by the shielded wire from another wire adjacent the shielded wire. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The system of claim 9, wherein: the one or more sensing loops comprises a first sensing loop and a second sensing loop, a first wire extends from the first sensing loop and a second wire extends from the second sensing loop and a portion of the second wire crosses over the first sensing loop; and the metallic shield extends around at least the portion of the second wire that crosses over the first sensing loop. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10, wherein the metallic shield extends around the second wire that extends from the second sensing loop. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, further comprising a conduit comprising a dielectric material, wherein at least a portion of the first or second wires are disposed within the conduit. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12, wherein the conduit comprises a first conduit for at least a portion of the first wire and a second conduit for at least a portion of the second wire. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising a conduit comprising dielectric material, wherein at least a portion of one or more wires connected to each sensor loop are disposed within the conduit.