Electrode structure, steering wheel, and method for manufacturing steering wheel
AssigneePanasonic Automotive Systems Co., Ltd.
InventorsYasuhiro Yamashita, Takumi Yamada, Takateru Sawada
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Abstract
An electrode structure includes an insulator and a first electrode that is in the shape of a line, where the first electrode is disposed on a first surface of the insulator, and the first surface is on an opposite side of the insulator relative to a surface of the insulator that faces a core metal of a steering wheel. The insulator includes an engagement portion that engages an engagement-target portion included in the core metal. After the electrode structure is engaged with the core metal, a foam is shaped into a mold to form the steering wheel.
Claims20
An electrode structure disposed on an outer circumference of a core metal of a steering wheel provided in a vehicle, the electrode structure comprising:
- an insulator;
- and
- a first electrode in a shape of a line, the first electrode being disposed on a first surface of the insulator, the first surface being on an opposite side of the insulator relative to a second surface of the insulator that faces the core metal of the steering wheel, wherein
- the insulator includes a first engagement portion that engages with an engagement-target portion included in the core metal,
- the first engagement portion extends from the second surface of the insulator,
- the first engagement portion is inserted into the engagement-target portion,
- the first engagement portion includes a fastener hole into which a fastener is inserted, and
- the insulator engages with the engagement-target portion included in the core metal by inserting the fastener, which passes through the engagement-target portion, into the fastener hole of the first engagement portion.
An electrode structure disposed on an outer circumference of a core metal of a steering wheel provided in a vehicle, the electrode structure comprising:
- a first insulator;
- a resin sheet disposed on a first surface of the first insulator, the first surface being on an opposite side of the first insulator relative to a second surface of the first insulator that faces the core metal of the steering wheel;
- a first electrode in a shape of a line, the first electrode being disposed on one surface of the resin sheet;
- and
- a second electrode disposed on an other surface of the resin sheet, the other surface being a rear surface of the one surface of the resin sheet and being a surface of the resin sheet that faces the first surface of the first insulator, wherein
- the first insulator includes an engagement portion that engages with an engagement-target portion included in the core metal,
- the first electrode is configured to be switchable between functioning as a sensor electrode that detects a driver's grip on the steering wheel and functioning as a heater wire that warms the steering wheel,
- the engagement portion extends from the second surface of the first insulator,
- the engagement portion is inserted into the engagement-target portion,
- the engagement portion includes a fastener hole into which a fastener is inserted, and
- the first insulator engages with the engagement-target portion included in the core metal by inserting the fastener, which passes through the engagement-target portion, into the fastener hole of the engagement portion.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.