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CN-121990033-A - Steering device

CN121990033ACN 121990033 ACN121990033 ACN 121990033ACN-121990033-A

Abstract

The present invention provides a steering device, which is provided with a capacitive sensor part, wherein the capacitive sensor part is provided with an electrode arranged on a rim part so as to detect the holding action of an occupant on the rim part. The rim portion has a skeleton portion extending along a closed curve of a predetermined shape and forming a skeleton of the rim portion, and a skin portion covering the rim portion circumferentially over the entire circumference. When the region on the hub side in the cross section of the rim portion cut perpendicularly with respect to the closed curve is defined as the inner diameter side region and the region on the opposite side of the inner diameter side region is defined as the outer diameter side region, the electrode extends circumferentially between the frame portion and the skin portion and over the inner diameter side region.

Inventors

  • ODATE SHOTARO

Assignees

  • 本田技研工业株式会社

Dates

Publication Date
20260508
Application Date
20251103
Priority Date
20241108

Claims (9)

  1. 1. A steering device (100) for a vehicle is provided with: a hub portion (20) that is connected to the steering shaft (11); a rim portion (30) extending around the hub portion (20) along a closed curve (CL 1) of a predetermined shape over the entire circumference around the hub portion (20) and gripped by a passenger, and A spoke portion (40) connecting the hub portion (20) and the rim portion (30), The steering device is characterized in that, Further provided with a capacitive sensor unit (60), wherein the capacitive sensor unit (60) has an electrode (61) provided on the rim unit (30) to detect the gripping operation of the rim unit (30) by an occupant, The rim portion (30) has a skeleton portion (31) forming the skeleton of the rim portion (30) and a skin portion (33) covering the rim portion (30) over the entire circumference, When an area on the hub portion (20) side in a cross section of the rim portion (30) cut perpendicularly with respect to the closed curve (CL 1) is defined as an inner diameter side area (AR 1), and an area on the opposite side of the inner diameter side area (AR 1) is defined as an outer diameter side area (AR 2), the electrode (61) extends between the skeleton portion (31) and the skin portion (33) and over the inner diameter side area (AR 1) in the circumferential direction.
  2. 2. The steering device according to claim 1, wherein, The electrode (61) extends over the circumferential direction in a region (AR 3) on the base end side of the steering shaft (11) in the inner diameter side region (AR 1) of the cross section of the rim portion (30).
  3. 3. Steering device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The rim portion (30) further has a base portion (32) surrounding the skeleton portion (31) over the entire circumference, The electrode (61) has a first electrode layer (611) attached to the surface of the base (32), a second electrode layer (612) disposed so as to face the surface skin (33) and face the first electrode layer (611), and an insulating layer (613) interposed between the first electrode layer (611) and the second electrode layer (612).
  4. 4. A steering apparatus according to claim 3, wherein, The electrode structure further comprises an adhesive part (63), wherein the adhesive part (63) is arranged on the surface of the base part (32) and is used for adhering the first electrode layer (611).
  5. 5. A steering apparatus according to claim 3, wherein, The base (32) has a concave locking portion (36) for locking an end portion of the electrode (61) in the circumferential direction.
  6. 6. Steering device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The sensor portion (60) further has a wire (45) having one end electrically connected to the electrode (61) and extending along the spoke portion (40).
  7. 7. The steering device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by further comprising: a detection unit (14) that detects at least one of the shape and posture of an occupant; a determination unit (52) for determining that the rim portion (30) is gripped based on the magnitude of the capacitance detected by the electrode (61) and the magnitude between the threshold value (Ca), and And a threshold setting unit (51) that sets the threshold (Ca) according to at least one of the body shape and the posture of the occupant detected by the detection unit (14).
  8. 8. The steering device according to claim 7, wherein, The determination unit (52) calculates the shortest distance from the lower limb of the occupant to the rim portion (30) from at least one of the body shape and the posture of the occupant detected by the detection unit (14), and sets the threshold (Ca) to a larger value as the shortest distance is shorter.
  9. 9. Steering device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The electrode (61) is a plurality of electrodes (61A, 61B, 61C, 61D) divided into a plurality of parts in the circumferential direction and arranged on the rim portion (30), The steering device further comprises a grip region determination unit that determines the grip region of the occupant on the rim portion (30) on the basis of signals from the plurality of electrodes (61A, 61B, 61C, 61D).

Description

Steering device Technical Field The present invention relates to a steering device capable of detecting a grip state of a steering wheel. Background In recent years, efforts to provide for the use of sustainable transportation systems that take into account people in a weaknesses among transportation participants are becoming increasingly active. To achieve this object, developments relating to driving assistance techniques are being made. In such a background, a device is known in which a capacitance sensor is provided in a rim portion of a steering wheel, and the state of the grip of a driver on the rim portion is detected by the capacitance sensor. Such a device is described in patent document 1, for example. In the device described in patent document 1, a conductive portion functioning as a contact sensor is provided along the entire periphery of a rim portion, and a blank portion for cutting or trimming the conductive portion is provided at a lower portion in the circumferential direction of the rim portion so as to reduce the contact sensitivity. Thus, when the abdomen of the occupant and the thigh of the lower limb contact the rim portion, erroneous detection of the rim portion being gripped is prevented. However, even if a blank is provided in a lower portion in the circumferential direction of the rim portion as described in patent document 1, the occupant's body may contact the rim portion in a region other than the blank due to the posture of the occupant, the tilting operation of the steering wheel, the turning position of the steering wheel, and the like. In this case, the rim portion may be erroneously detected to be gripped. Prior art literature Patent literature Patent document 1 Japanese patent publication No. 6674556 (JP 6674556B). Disclosure of Invention The steering device for a vehicle according to one aspect of the present invention includes a hub portion that is coupled to a steering shaft, a rim portion that extends around the hub portion along a closed curve of a predetermined shape around the circumference of the hub portion and is gripped by an occupant, and a spoke portion that connects the hub portion and the rim portion. The steering device further includes a capacitive sensor unit having an electrode provided in the rim unit for detecting a gripping operation of the rim unit by an occupant, the rim unit having a frame unit forming a frame of the rim unit and a skin unit covering the rim unit over a circumferential entire periphery, wherein an area on the hub unit side in a cross section of the rim unit cut perpendicularly with respect to the closed curve is defined as an inner diameter side area, and when an area on the opposite side of the inner diameter side area is defined as an outer diameter side area, the electrode extends between the frame unit and the skin unit and extends circumferentially over the inner diameter side area. Drawings The objects, features and advantages of the present invention are further elucidated by the following description of embodiments in connection with the accompanying drawings. Fig. 1 is a side view showing a schematic structure in the vicinity of a driver's seat of a vehicle having a steering device according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 2 is a view from II of FIG. 1; FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line III-III of FIG. 2; fig. 4A is a front view of a rim portion of the steering wheel showing a gripping operation of an occupant; fig. 4B is a main part sectional view of fig. 4A; FIG. 5 is a main part cross-sectional view of the rim portion of FIG. 3; Fig. 6A is a cross-sectional view showing a main portion of a base material of an example in which a concave portion for positioning an electrode is provided on a surface of the base material of a rim portion; fig. 6B is a cross-sectional view showing a main part of a rim portion in which an example of a recess for positioning an electrode is provided on a surface of a base material of the rim portion; fig. 7 is a block diagram showing a control structure of a steering device according to an embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 8 is a flowchart showing an example of processing performed by the controller of fig. 7; Fig. 9 is a view schematically showing a positional relationship between a steering wheel and a lower limb of an occupant; Fig. 10 is a front view showing a modification of the rim portion. Detailed Description An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to fig. 1 to 10. The steering device according to the embodiment of the invention is mounted on a vehicle. The vehicle is, for example, an autonomous vehicle having an automatic driving function that does not require a driving operation by a driver. The vehicle may be a manually driven vehicle that requires a driving operation by a driver. An example of application of the steering device to an autonomous vehicle will be described below. The autonomous vehicle is co