HAND SENSING ON STEERING WHEEL USING HEATER ELEMENT

• US 20140151356A1
• Filed: 11/27/2013
• Published: 06/05/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Joyson Safety Systems Acquisition, LLC (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: TK Holdings Incorporated (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Bennett, Jeff, MAGUIRE, Philip B.
• Granted Patent: US 9,346,480 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 219/204
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/002 Seats provided with an occupancy detection means mounted therein or thereon detection means responsive to presence or absence of children B60N2/266
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 1/046 Adaptations on rotatable parts of the steering wheel for accommodation of switches
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 1/06 Rims, e.g. with heating means; Rim covers B62D1/11 takes precedence
• 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: H05B 1/0236 for vehicles

Abstract

A steering wheel system for vehicle includes a steering wheel configured to be gripped by an occupant and a first electrode positioned within a first sensing zone on the steering wheel. The first electrode is configured to generate heat when a first signal is supplied to the first electrode. The first electrode is configured to be used to determine the proximity of a hand of an occupant of the vehicle to the first sensing zone when a second signal is supplied to the first electrode. The steering wheel system also includes a controller configured to control the supply of the first and second signals to the first electrode based on the proximity of the hand of the occupant to the first sensing zone.

Claims

1. A steering wheel system for a vehicle. comprising:

a steering wheel configured to be gripped by an occupant;

a first electrode positioned within a first sensing zone on the steering wheel; and

wherein the first electrode is configured to generate heat when a first signal is supplied to the first electrode;

wherein the first electrode is configured to be used to determine the proximity of a hand of an occupant of the vehicle to the first sensing zone when a second signal is supplied to the first electrode;

and a controller configured to control the supply of the first and second signals to the first electrode based on the proximity of the hand of the occupant to the first sensing zone.

2. The steering wheel system of claim 1, further comprising a second electrode positioned within a second sensing zone on the steering wheel;

wherein the second electrode is configured to generate heat when a first signal is supplied to the second electrode;

wherein the second electrode is configured to be used to determine the proximity of a hand of the occupant of the vehicle to the second sensing zone when a second signal is supplied to the second electrode;

wherein the controller is configured to control the supply of the first and second signals to the second electrode based on the proximity of the hand of the occupant to the second sensing zone.

3. The steering wheel system of claim 2, wherein the first and second electrodes are arranged in a parallel configuration.

4. The steering wheel system of claim 2, wherein the controller is configured to supply the first and second signals to the first and second electrodes on an alternating basis at a pre-determined time interval.

5. The steering wheel system of claim 2, wherein the first and second electrodes are arranged in a series configuration.

6. The steering wheel system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to supply the first and second signals in a time multiplexed manner when the occupant'"'"'s hand is determined to be proximate to the first sensing zone.

7. The steering wheel system of claim 3, wherein a first inductor is positioned on a first side of the first and second electrodes and a second inductor is positioned on a second side of the first and second electrodes, opposite the first side.

8. The steering wheel system of claim 3, wherein the first electrode is positioned between a first inductor and a second inductor;

wherein the second electrode is positioned between a third inductor and a fourth inductor.

9. A steering wheel system for a vehicle, comprising:

a steering wheel;

a first electrode positioned within a first sensing zone on the steering wheel; and

a second electrode positioned within a second sensing zone on the steering wheel;

wherein each of the first and second electrodes are configured to generate heat when a first signal is supplied to the electrode;

wherein each of the first and second electrodes are configured to be used to determine the proximity of a hand of an occupant of the vehicle to one of the sensing zones when a second signal is supplied to the electrode;

a sensing circuit for determining the proximity of the hand of an occupant of the vehicle to one of the sensing zones based on the second signal supplied to the first and second electrodes.

10. The steering wheel system of claim 9, further comprising a controller configured to control the supply of the first and second signals to the first and second electrodes based on an output of the sensing circuit.

11. The steering wheel system of claim 10, wherein the first and second electrodes are arranged in a parallel configuration.

12. The steering wheel system of claim 11, wherein the controller is configured to supply the first and second signals to the first and second electrodes on an alternating basis at a pre-determined time interval.

13. The steering wheel system of claim 10, wherein the first and second electrodes are arranged in a series configuration.

14. The steering wheel system of claim 10, wherein the controller is configured to supply the first and second signals in a time multiplexed manner when the occupant'"'"'s hand is determined to be proximate to at least one of the sensing zones.