Pressure-sensitive sensor, connector and combining structure thereof

• US 20010017587A1
• Filed: 02/28/2001
• Published: 08/30/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 02/29/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
• Original Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
• Inventors: Suzuki, Yasuhiro, Ogasawara, Kazuyoshi
• Granted Patent: US 6,483,054 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/545.7
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 10/00 Sealing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/443 specially adapted for vehicle windows or roofs
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/55 Windows
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/08 by opening, e.g. of door, of window, of drawer, of shutter, of curtain, of blind
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 3/142 of the elongated strip type

Abstract

A pressure-sensitive sensor is provided with a tube member having a hollow portion defined by an inner wall and made of flexible material, a first belt-like electrode disposed on an upper side of the tube member in the tube member and a second belt-like electrode disposed on a lower side of the hollow portion in the tube member so as to oppose the first belt-like electrode. When the pressure-sensitive sensor is pressed, the first belt-like electrode and the second belt-like electrode are capable of contacting each other so as to ensure conductivity. Further the pressure-sensitive sensor has a contact adjusting portion provided on an inner wall of the tube member and for adjusting a contact between the first belt-like electrode and the second belt-like electrode. Additionally, a connector capable of being combined with such a pressure-sensitive sensor is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A pressure-sensitive sensor comprising:

a tube member having a hollow portion defined by an inner wall thereof and made of flexible material, the tube member extending in a predetermined direction;

a first belt-like electrode disposed on a upper side of the hollow portion of the tube member and extending in the predetermined direction;

a second belt-like electrode disposed on a lower side of the hollow portion of the tube member so as to oppose the first belt-like electrode and extending in the predetermined direction, the first belt-like electrode and the second belt-like electrode being capable of contacting each other ensuring conductivity when the pressure-sensitive sensor is pressed; and

a contact adjusting portion provided on the inner wall of the tube member and adjusting a contact between the first belt-like electrode and the second belt-like electrode.

2. A pressure-sensitive sensor according to

claim 1

, wherein the section of the tube member is formed in a trapezoidal shape.

3. A pressure-sensitive sensor according to

claim 1

, wherein the first belt-like electrode is formed in the shape of an inverted-L letter such that the first belt-like electrode is stretched on a top face of the inner wall of the tube member and a side face thereof.

4. A pressure-sensitive sensor according to

claim 1

, wherein the contact adjusting portion has a separating protrusion extended from a lower face of the inner wall of the tube member between the lower face and a side face of the inner wall of the tube member in order to separate the first belt-like electrode and the second belt-like electrode.

5. A pressure-sensitive sensor according to

claim 1

, wherein the contact adjusting portion has a concave portion provided in a side face of the inner wall of the tube member between the first belt-like electrode and the second belt-like electrode.

6. A pressure-sensitive sensor according to

claim 1

, wherein a first metallic conductor is buried in the first belt-like electrode while a second metallic conductor is buried in the second belt-like electrode.

7. A pressure-sensitive sensor according to

claim 1

, wherein the first belt-like electrode and the second belt-like electrode are respectively formed using conductive rubber or conductive resin.

8. A connector for use in a pressure-sensitive sensor connecting a wire to the pressure-sensitive sensor so as to ensure conductivity, the pressure-sensitive sensor provided with:

a tube member having a hollow portion defined by an inner wall thereof and made of flexible material, the tube member extending in a predetermined direction;

a first belt-like electrode disposed on a upper side of the hollow portion of the tube member and extending in the predetermined direction; and

a second belt-like electrode disposed on a lower side of the hollow portion of the tube member so as to oppose the first belt-like electrode and extending in the predetermined direction, the first belt-like electrode and the second belt-like electrode being capable of contacting each other when the pressure-sensitive sensor is pressed,

the connector comprising;

a housing main body;

an insertion link portion provided on a side of the housing main body and formed so as to be enlarged gradually from a front end thereof to a base portion thereof so that the insertion link portion is capable of being inserted into the hollow portion in the pressure-sensitive sensor from an end of the pressure-sensitive sensor;

terminals ends of which are capable of being respectively connected to the first electrode and the second electrode so as to ensure conductivity in a condition that the insertion link portion is inserted into the hollow portion; and

an engagement connecting portion provided on the other side of the housing main body and capable of being fit to a mating connector linked to a terminal of the wire so that the other end of the terminal is connected to the terminal so as to ensure conductivity.

9. A connector according to

claim 8

, wherein a sectional shape of the hollow portion in the pressure-sensitive sensor and that of the insertion link portion of the connector are formed in a corresponding shape.

10. A connector according to

claim 9

, wherein the sectional shape of the hollow portion in the pressure-sensitive sensor is formed in a trapezoidal shape and that of the insertion link portion of the connector is formed in a trapezoidal shape.

11. A connector according to

claim 9

, wherein the sectional shape of the insertion link portion of the connector is changed such that the sectional shape is smaller than the sectional shape of the hollow portion in the pressure-sensitive sensor on the side of a front end thereof while the sectional shape is larger than the sectional shape of the hollow portion in the pressure-sensitive sensor on the side of a base portion thereof.

12. A connector according to

claim 8

, wherein the connector has a stopper portion making a contact with an end face of the tube member of the pressure-sensitive sensor in a condition that the insertion link portion of the connector is inserted into the hollow portion of the pressure-sensitive sensor completely.

13. A connector according to

claim 8

, wherein the ends of the terminals are respectively formed corresponding to an external shape of the insertion link portion of the connector.

14. A connector according to

claim 13

, wherein the ends of the terminals respectively have elasticity.

15. A connector according to

claim 14

, wherein the ends of the terminals are respectively deformed when the insertion link portion of the connector is inserted into the hollow portion in the pressure-sensitive sensor.

16. A connector according to

claim 8

, wherein the pressure-sensitive sensor has a contact adjusting portion provided on an inner wall of the tube member and adjusting a contact between the first belt-like electrode and the second belt-like electrode.

17. A combining structure of a pressure-sensitive sensor and a connector, comprising:

a pressure-sensitive sensor provided with;

a tube member having a hollow portion defined by an inner wall thereof and made of flexible material, the tube member extending in a predetermined direction;

a first belt-like electrode disposed on a upper side of the hollow portion of the tube member and extending in the predetermined direction; and

a second belt-like electrode disposed on a lower side of the hollow portion of the tube member so as to oppose the first belt-like electrode and extending in the predetermined direction, the first belt-like electrode and the second belt-like electrode being capable of contacting each other when the pressure-sensitive sensor is pressed, and

a connector provided with;

a housing main body;

an insertion link portion provided on a side of the housing main body and formed so as to be enlarged gradually from a front end thereof to a base portion thereof so that the sectional shape is capable of being inserted into the hollow portion in the pressure-sensitive sensor from an end of the pressure-sensitive sensor;

terminals ends of which are capable of being respectively connected to the first electrode and the second electrode so as to ensure conductivity in a condition that the insertion link portion is inserted into the hollow portion; and

an engagement connecting portion provided on the other side of the housing main body and capable of being fit to a mating connector linked to a terminal of the wire so that the other end of the terminal is connected to the terminal so as to ensure conductivity.

18. A connector according to

claim 17

, wherein the pressure-sensitive sensor has a contact adjusting portion provided on an inner wall of the tube member and adjusting a contact between the first belt-like electrode and the second belt-like electrode.