Touch sensor and airbag cover integrated input device

• US 9,643,560 B2
• Filed: 08/22/2014
• Issued: 05/09/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sekisui Polymatech Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Polymatech Japan Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Honmatsu, Yoshifumi, Abe, Yasuyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Freedman, Laura
• Application Number:
  US14/912,969
• Publication Number:
  US 20160207489A1
• Time in Patent Office: 991 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0235 of flat type, e.g. LCD
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/001 Vehicle control means, e.g. steering-wheel or column
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0004 Frontal collision
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0032 Position of passenger
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/21506 comprising tearing tabs, legs or the like for holding the lid before deployment
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/203 in steering wheels or steering columns
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/215 characterised by the covers for the inflatable member B60R21/2176 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2165 characterised by a tear line for defining a deployment opening
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/21658 with integrated switches, e.g. horn switches
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 1/046 Adaptations on rotatable parts of the steering wheel for accommodation of switches

Abstract

A touch sensor usable in a portion which an airbag comes out of, such as the center portion of a steering wheel, and an airbag cover integrated input device including the touch sensor are provided. More specifically, a touch sensor attached to an airbag cover provided outside the airbag, and having end portions that form an insertion portion which the airbag passes through during the deployment of an airbag system is provided. Moreover, an airbag cover integrated input device in which the airbag cover has a thin wall portion that tears open during the deployment of the airbag system, and the end portions of the touch sensor are placed along the thin wall portion of the airbag cover is provided.

Claims

1. A touch sensor attached to an airbag cover provided outside an airbag, comprising:

a single resin film having a first portion and a second portion defined respectively by a cutout insertion portion formed in three directions by a cutout from the single resin film in a state before the airbag is inflated;

an electrode portion and a wire formed and arranged on the resin film so as to avoid crossing the cutout insertion portion between the first portion and the second portion of the resin film, wherein the wire is made in two parts which are arranged respectively on the first portion and the second portion of the resin film so as to avoid crossing the cutout insertion portion and so as to avoid crossing a tear portion of the airbag cover which is configured to be arranged under the cutout insertion portion.

2. The touch sensor according to claim 1,

wherein the insertion portion is a slit.

3. The touch sensor according to claim 1,

wherein the resin film is partially overlapped at the insertion portion.

4. An airbag cover integrated input device including the touch sensor according to claim 1 and the airbag cover.

5. The airbag cover integrated input device according to claim 4,

wherein the airbag cover has a thin wall portion that tears open during the deployment of the airbag system, and the insertion portion is placed along the thin wall portion.

6. The airbag cover integrated input device according to claim 4, wherein the airbag cover has a curved shape, and the touch sensor has a shape that follows the curved shape.

7. The airbag cover integrated input device according to claim 4, wherein the touch sensor and the airbag cover are integrated.

8. The airbag cover integrated input device according to claim 4, further including a display placed above the touch sensor.

9. The airbag cover integrated input device according to claim 4, provided in a center portion of a steering wheel.

10. The touch sensor according to claim 1, wherein the insertion portion is formed in a H-shape on the resin film.