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US 2018/0022374 A1Published application
Steering wheel grip detection device
AssigneePanasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
InventorsSHINJI FUJIKAWA, YUTA OKAZAKI, HIROSHI NAITOU, TSUYOSHI NISHIO, NOBUHARU KATSUKI
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A steering wheel grip detection device includes a series circuit including an inductance element, a thermostat incorporated into a steering wheel, and a heater incorporated into the steering wheel; an electrostatic sensor circuit that detects a grip of the steering wheel by means of an electric or electromagnetic field; and a voltage detecting circuit that detects an open/closed state of the thermostat.
Claims16
A steering wheel grip detection device comprising:
- a series circuit electrically connected to between a positive electrode and a negative electrode of a power supply and including a first inductance element, a thermostat incorporated into a steering wheel, and a heater incorporated into the steering wheel;
- and
- an electrostatic sensor circuit electrically connected to an end of the heater to which the first inductance element is electrically connected, or to a middle of a wiring path of the heater, the electrostatic sensor circuit detecting a contact with the steering wheel by means of an electric or electromagnetic field,
- wherein the steering wheel grip detection device includes a voltage detecting circuit electrically connected:
- to between a wiring path of the positive electrode and any one of connecting points between the first inductance element, the thermostat, and the heater;
- to between a wiring path of the negative electrode and any one of connecting points between the first inductance element, the thermostat, and the heater;
- to two ends of the first inductance element;
- to two ends of the heater;
- or to two ends of the thermostat,
- wherein output of the voltage detecting circuit is electrically connected to the electrostatic sensor circuit, and
- wherein the electrostatic sensor circuit corrects output of the electrostatic sensor circuit based on an open or closed state of the thermostat obtained from output of the voltage detecting circuit.
8 more elements
A steering wheel grip detection device comprising:
- a series circuit electrically connected to between a positive electrode and a negative electrode of a power supply and including a first inductance element, a thermostat incorporated into a steering wheel, and a heater incorporated into the steering wheel;
- and
- an electrostatic sensor circuit electrically connected to an end of the heater to which the first inductance element is electrically connected, or to a middle of a wiring path of the heater, the electrostatic sensor circuit detecting a contact with the steering wheel by means of an electric or electromagnetic field,
- wherein the steering wheel grip detection device includes a current detecting circuit electrically series-connected to a wiring path of the series circuit,
- wherein output of the current detecting circuit is electrically connected to the electrostatic sensor circuit, and
- wherein the electrostatic sensor circuit corrects output of the electrostatic sensor circuit based on an open/closed state of the thermostat obtained from output of the current detecting circuit.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.