Steering apparatus, apparatus of detecting condition and method of detecting condition of mobile body

• US 20030218544A1
• Filed: 02/14/2003
• Published: 11/27/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/19/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Shinada, Akira
• Application Number:
  US10/367,336
• Publication Number:
  US 20030218544A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/575
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/18 for vehicle drivers or machine operators
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00292 for steering wheels steering wheels with heating or ventilation means independent from the HVAC system of the vehicle B62D1/065
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00742 by detection of the vehicle occupants' presence; by detection of conditions relating to the body of occupants, e.g. using radiant heat detectors
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 2001/003 Component temperature regulation using an air flow
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 1/065 Steering wheels with heating and ventilating means heating and ventilation of steering wheel when connected to vehicle HVAC B60H1/00292
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 1/12 Hand levers

Abstract

The invention relates to a steering apparatus, an apparatus of detecting condition and a method of detecting a condition of a mobile body, which are applicable to an automobile, for example, so as to solve uncomfortableness of a driver, while accuracy in detection can be improved when tension of the driver is detected in accordance with perspiration of the driver. According to the invention, plural air outlets for blowing air to a palm side are provided at a portion held by a hand.

Claims

1. A steering apparatus of a mobile body in which a portion held by a user'"'"'s hand is fixed in a given position, comprising plural air outlets for blowing air to a palm side, the air outlets being provided at the portion held by the hand.

2. A steering apparatus of a mobile body according to claim 1, comprising

a heater for heating the air to be blown through the air outlets.

3. A steering apparatus of a mobile body according to claim 1, comprising:

plural air inlets for inducting the air having been blown through the air outlets;

outlet side temperature sensor for detecting temperature of the air to be blown through the air outlets;

an outlet side humidity sensor for detecting humidity of the air to be blown through the air outlets;

an inlet side temperature sensor for detecting temperature of the air to be inducted through the air inlets;

an inlet side humidity sensor for detecting humidity of the air to be inducted through the air inlets; and

a determination unit for determining condition of a user by comparing a result of the detection of temperature and humidity by the outlet side temperature and humidity sensors with a result of the detection of temperature and humidity by the inlet side temperature and humidity sensors.

4. A steering apparatus of a mobile body according to claim 3, wherein determination of the condition by the determination unit is determination of tension of the user on the basis of variation of perspiration quantity of the user'"'"'s hand.

5. A steering apparatus of a mobile body according to claim 4, wherein the determination unit detects increase of the perspiration quantity and infers a cause of the increase of the perspiration quantity.

6. An apparatus of detecting condition comprising:

an air outlet for blowing air to a palm side of a user'"'"'s hand, the air outlet being provided at the portion held by the user'"'"'s hand;

an air inlet for inducting the air having been blown through the air outlet;

an outlet side temperature sensor for detecting temperature of the air to be blown through the air outlet;

an outlet side humidity sensor for detecting humidity of the air to be blown through the air outlet;

an inlet side temperature sensor for detecting temperature of the air to be inducted through the air inlet;

an inlet side humidity sensor for detecting humidity of the air to be inducted through the air inlet; and

a determination unit for determining condition of a user by comparing a result of the detection of temperature and humidity by the outlet side temperature and humidity sensors with a result of the detection of temperature and humidity by the inlet side temperature and humidity sensors.

7. A method of detecting condition, comprising:

a step of blowing air to a palm side of a user'"'"'s hand through an air outlet provided at a portion held by the user'"'"'s hand;

and a step of detecting perspiration of a user by comparing temperature and humidity of the air to be blown to the palm side through the air outlet with temperature and humidity of the air having been blown to the palm side.