Conductive fiber connecting method and structure

• US 8,991,917 B2
• Filed: 10/19/2009
• Issued: 03/31/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Toyota Boshoku Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Boshoku Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Kato, Kohei, Akaike, Fumitoshi, Nishimura, Seiya
• Primary Examiner(s): PIZIALI, ANDREW T
• Application Number:
  US12/581,383
• Publication Number:
  US 20100101858A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,989 Days
• Field of Search: 174/68.2, 442/110, 442/185, 442/228, 442/232, 442/376, 442/378, 297/217.2, 297/217.3
• US Class Current: 297/217.3
• 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: B60N 2/0033 mounted on or in the foam cushion
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/58 Seat coverings
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2210/12 Capacitive; Electric field
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01532 using electric or capacitive field sensors
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/61 connecting to flexible printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables or like structures
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/63 connecting to another shape cable
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2201/26 for vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 4/04 using electrically conductive adhesives
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/038 Textiles used as reinforcing materials for organic insulating substrates H05K1/0366
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/0281 Conductive fibers
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/10386 Clip leads; Terminals gripping the edge of a substrate
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/10409 Screws
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 3/325 by abutting or pinching, i.e. without alloying process; mechanical auxiliary parts therefor adaptations of leads inserted in holes for press-fit connections H05K3/308

Abstract

A method and a structure of electrically connecting a conductive fiber in fabric to an external device electrically connects the conductive fiber to the external device by pressing a conductive member that is electrically connected to the external device against the fabric.

Claims

1. A vehicle seat comprising:

a frame member, a cushion provided on the cushion frame, and a cushion cover that covers the cushion,

the cushion cover including;

a seating surface having a conductive fiber connecting structure in which a conductive fiber in fabric is electrically connected to a capacitance detector electrically connected to the frame member,

the conductive fiber connecting structure including;

a conductive member that electrically connects the conductive fiber to the capacitance detector; and

an adhesive that is applied to one side of the conductive member so that the conductive member adheres to the fabric and contacts the conductive fiber, thereby electrically connecting the conductive fiber with the capacitance detector.

2. The vehicle seat according to claim 1, wherein the fabric includes a plurality of parallel conductive fibers, and the conductive member adheres to the fabric in a manner so as to create a bridge between each of the plurality of conductive fibers.

3. The vehicle seat according to claim 1, wherein the edges of two sheets of the fabric are overlapped face to face, the overlapping edges of the two sheets of the fabric are sandwiched from the outside by the conductive member, and the conductive member adheres to the overlapping edges of the two sheets.

4. The vehicle seat according to claim 1, wherein the conductive member is an adhesive tape made of a conductive material.

5. The vehicle seat according to claim 1, wherein the fabric includes a nonconductive material and the conductive fiber, and the nonconductive material is wound around the conductive fiber.

6. The vehicle seat according to claim 1, wherein the capacitance detector is configured to detect a capacitance between the conductive fiber and the frame member so as to determine whether an occupant is seated in the vehicle seat.

7. The vehicle seat according to claim 1, wherein the adhesive is disposed at one of a rear end portion of the cushion and a middle portion of the cushion.

8. A vehicle seat comprising:

a frame member, a cushion provided on the frame member, and a cushion cover that covers the cushion,

the cushion cover including;

a seating surface having a conductive fiber connecting structure in which a conductive fiber in fabric is electrically connected to a capacitance detector electrically connected to the frame member,

the conductive fiber connecting structure including;

a conductive member that electrically connects the conductive fiber to the capacitance detector,

wherein the conductive member is pressed against the fabric such that the conductive member contacts the conductive fiber, and the conductive fiber is electrically connected to the capacitance detector.

9. The vehicle seat according to claim 8, wherein the conductive member is an adhesive tape made of a conductive material.

10. The vehicle seat according to claim 8, wherein the conductive member is a clip in which at least a pair of retaining portions are formed of conductive material;

and the clip grabs the fabric from an end portion of the fabric.

11. The vehicle seat according to claim 8, wherein the conductive member remains pressed against the fabric by being pressed against the fabric and is fastened to the fabric using a fastening member.

12. The vehicle seat according to claim 11, wherein the conductive member is formed from a pair of retaining members that sandwich both sides of the fabric;

and the conductive member is fastened to the fabric by fastening together the retaining members by using the fastening member.

13. The vehicle seat according to claim 8, wherein the fabric includes a plurality of parallel conductive fibers, and the conductive member is connected to the plurality of conductive fibers in a manner so as to create a bridge between each of the plurality of conductive fibers.

14. The vehicle seat according to claim 8, wherein the edges of two sheets of the fabric are overlapped face to face, the overlapping edges of the fabric sheets are sandwiched from the outside by the conductive member.

15. The vehicle seat according to claim 8, wherein the fabric includes a nonconductive material and the conductive fiber, and the nonconductive material is wound around the conductive fiber.

16. The vehicle seat according to claim 8, wherein the capacitance detector is configured to detect a capacitance between the conductive fiber and the frame member so as to determine whether an occupant is seated in the vehicle seat.