A steering wheel includes a grip portion configured to be gripped by a driver and a heating wire disposed along a circumferential direction of the grip portion. The grip portion includes a base having an outer profile shaped along a surface shape of the grip portion, end portions of the base are joined on at least one parting line extending in an axial direction of the grip portion, and a part of the heating wire exists on the parting line.

A steering wheel includes a ring part, a boss part, spoke parts that connect the ring part and the boss part, a steering wheel main body that includes a core and a covering layer covering the ring part and the spoke parts in the vicinity of the ring part of the core, and a heater unit that warms up at least a portion of the ring part. The heater unit includes a heater main body that includes a base material having a sheet body and a linear heater, and is disposed in a state where an outer face side of the heater main body is covered by a cover layer of the covering layer and a connection part that connects the linear heater and a terminal of a lead wire for power feeding.

According to various implementations, a sensor mat includes a mat substrate, a sensor electrode, and a shield electrode. At least a portion of the sensor and shield electrodes are spaced apart from and parallel to each other on a first surface of the mat substrate. The shield electrode is electrically coupled to a voltage source to create a capacitance between the shield electrode and the sensor electrode, and the sensor electrode is used to detect a change in the capacitance. The shield electrode may also be alternately used for heating the surface of the vehicle part adjacent the mat. For example, the sensor may be disposed adjacent a portion of a steering wheel or a seat assembly and is used for sensing presence of an occupant's hands or body adjacent the steering wheel or seat assembly.

A sensor device includes a sensor structure wrapped around a surface of a steering wheel element. The sensor structure includes a substrate material, first sensor lines made from conductive material and formed on the substrate material, second sensor lines made from conductive material, and feed lines. The first sensor lines extend in a first direction. The second sensor lines extend in a second direction. The first direction and the second direction have a non-zero angle between them. The sensor device includes an electronic control unit configured to measure capacitive values of the sensor structure and detect touch or proximity of fingers or hands, which are distinguishable in their position on the surface, based on the measurement. The feed lines are configured to electrically connect the first sensor lines to the electronic control unit.

An apparatus for heating a steering wheel and for detecting a steering wheel contact comprises a steering wheel armature (10) made from electrically conductive material and an electric heating conductor (12) arranged outside of the steering wheel armature (10). The apparatus further comprises a control and evaluation device (18) connected to the steering wheel armature (10) and the electric heating conductor (10) by means of which control and evaluation device the electric heating conductor (12) is repeatedly operated temporarily during a heating operation as a heating element for heating the steering wheel and temporarily during a measuring operation as a sensor element for detecting a steering wheel contact. The control and evaluation device (18) is configured so as to maintain the steering wheel armature (10) on a predetermined and especially constant potential at least during each measuring operation.

A capacitive sensor device for use with a steering wheel is provided. The steering wheel includes a rim and a spoke that is connected to the inner side of the rim, and the sensor device is provided on the spoke. The sensor device includes an electrode configured to be capacitively coupleable to an object to be detected, and includes a controller configured to detect a change in capacitance of the electrode, and determine whether the object is in proximity to the rim or the spoke based on the change in the capacitance of the electrode. The change in the capacitance occurs in response to the object being in proximity to the rim or the spoke.

A thermoelectric module includes an N-type thermoelectric material and a P-type thermoelectric material disposed so as to be spaced apart from the N-type thermoelectric material. A flexible electrode is electrically connected to the N-type thermoelectric material and the P-type thermoelectric material. The flexible electrode is configured to bend to match a curvature of an object, e.g., a steering wheel of a vehicle.

An electric heating member, in particular for automotive application, includes an electrically conductive, flat-shaped textile member of uniform thickness and a layer of flexible, polymeric plastic material that is adhesively bonded to a surface of the textile member. The electrically conductive textile member is formed by at least two electrically conductive textile member parts that are arranged side by side and are electrically separated. At least one of the at least two textile member parts is electrically connected to electric terminals that are connectable to an electric heater power supply unit. The electric heating member is particularly intended to be used for heating a vehicle steering wheel.

An electrode structure includes an insulator and a first electrode that is in the shape of a line, where the first electrode is disposed on a first surface of the insulator, and the first surface is on an opposite side of the insulator relative to a surface of the insulator that faces a core metal of a steering wheel. The insulator includes an engagement portion that engages an engagement-target portion included in the core metal. After the electrode structure is engaged with the core metal, a foam is shaped into a mold to form the steering wheel.

A process for forming a molded, heatable steering wheel assembly may include providing or obtaining a steering wheel frame including at least one hand grip coupled to one or more spokes, coupling at least one heating element to, or spacing the at least one heating element from, at least a portion of the at least one hand grip to form a steering wheel assembly, placing the steering wheel assembly in a mold, dispensing a formable medium into the mold such that the formable medium encases at least the at least one hand grip and the at least one heating element, and curing the formable medium to form the molded, heatable steering wheel assembly.