A sensor arrangement for capacitive detection of an object, including: an electrode arrangement having a heating element as an electrode; a detection device providing a detection signal to a sensor electrode and capacitively detecting the presence of an object near the sensor electrode; a high-side switch connected between a heating power source having a first potential and the heating element; a low-side switch connected between the heating element and a second potential; and a gate controller closing the high-side switch and low-side switch in a heating mode and opening the high-side switch and low-side switch in a detection mode. A decoupling MOSFET is connected between the high-side switch and heating element. The gate controller closes the MOSFET in the heating mode and opens the MOSFET in the detection mode. During the detection mode, the decoupling circuit provides a third potential at a first node between the high-side switch and MOSFET.

A decorative member for a steering wheel which is used for being attached to a resin member formed around a ring core metal of a steering wheel. The decorative member includes a base layer attached to the resin member, a design part arranged on the base layer, and a heater arranged between the design part and the base layer. The base layer may include an extraction part at an intermediate position in a longitudinal direction thereof such that a lead wire connected with the heater is led out of the extraction part.

A heating and capacitive sensing device for a steering wheel of a motor vehicle. The device includes a support made from an electrically insulating flexible material to which at least an electrically conductive first track and at least an electrically conductive second track are fixed. An electronic control unit including a capacitance reading module is electrically connected to the at least one second track. The electronic control unit is configured to control the at least one first track and at least one second track, so that the at least one first track is suited to generate heat for heating the steering wheel, and at least one second track is configured to operate as a capacitive sensor means by sending capacitance values to the electronic control unit.

A self-standing sandwich structure includes at least one capacitive sensor member and/or at least one heater member for automotive vehicle application. The self-standing sandwich structure includes an upper protective layer that is attached, for manufacturing and storage purposes, to a carrier film member of sufficiently low surface energy for enabling separating the carrier film member and the upper protective layer in a non-destructive manner, a lower protective layer, a bottom adhesive layer that is attached to the lower protective layer, and at least an upper electrically conductive layer arranged between the upper protective layer and the lower protective layer.

A vehicle steering wheel having a rim to be gripped by a driver of the vehicle, a trim casing arranged to cover a body of the rim so as to at least partially form an outer surface of the rim, a flexible heating device inserted between the trim casing and the body of the rim, comprising at least one heating track, wherein the heating track is a surface track deposited on the flexible heating device, and in that the rim body comprises at least one groove arranged to house at least one part of the flexible heating device, said at least one part comprising a portion of the surface track.

An electrode structure includes: a base material; a conductive fabric on a first surface of the base material; and one or more conductive wires on a second surface of the base material so as to be electrically insulated from the conductive fabric. The second surface is opposite to the first surface of the base material. The base material includes: a first area and a second area. The first area is fitted into a groove of the rim and the second area is placed in a part of a rim of a steering wheel other than the groove, when the base material is attached to the rim. The one or more conductive wires are arranged at a lower wiring density in the first area than in the second area.

The steering heater 11 is provided on the surface of the skin material 23. The resistance value of the steering heater 11 is set to a level at which a heat quantity for heating the steering wheel 2 to a desired degree according to a voltage supplied from a power supply 32 which will be described later can be secured. The resistance value of the steering heater 11 is 1Ω or less, or the like, for example. When the resistance value of the steering heater 11 is set to 1Ω or less, for example, if the power supplied from the power supply 32 is about 13V, the heat quantity of the steering heater 11 is about 170 W and thus can appropriately heat the steering wheel 2.

The present invention relates to a combined capacitive sensor and heating apparatus (10, 60, 70) having a capacitive sensor device for detecting the presence of a capacitively effective actuation means in a detection region of the sensor device, and having a heating device, wherein the sensor and heating apparatus (10, 60, 70) has an electrical combined sensor and heating element (4), wherein a synchronization device (40) is configured to capture an actual voltage applied to the first electrical path (P1) between the first pole (V+) of a voltage source and the first connection (5) of the combined sensor and heating element (4) and/or an actual current flow and/or to capture an actual voltage applied between the second connection (6) of the combined sensor and heating element (4) and the second pole (GND) and/or an actual current flow and to detect an instantaneous actual state of the heating device on the basis thereof, and to control the sensor device and/or output at least one control signal for at least partially controlling the sensor device on the basis of the detected actual state of the heating device.

The invention relates to a heatable touch sensor and a steering wheel. It has an optical waveguide which is connected to an electrical heat conductor. The optical waveguide changes its transmission behavior, which is determined, with a change in position or bending. The heat conductor is a resistance heater which emits heat by applying an electrical voltage and by the associated current flow. The touch sensor operates by means of optical interferometry, which enables a very high sensing accuracy.

An operator control unit for a steering wheel and a steering wheel having such an operator control unit. The operating control unit having a housing which is insertable into a steering wheel spoke of the steering wheel and which has at least one housing side wall and a housing base, having an electrical contact element provided in the housing, and having at least one actuating element which is mounted movably on the housing and which acts with an electrical switching action on the contact element. In order to extend the functionality of the operator control unit but maintain the compact structural form, it is proposed that the operator control unit have a fan for a steering wheel temperature control arrangement and a flow channel which is acted on by the fan, which flow channel is formed by the housing base and has an inlet and outlet opening on the housing.