IP Library › Granted Patent US 11,774,303
Granted Patent B2
US 11,774,303 · App. 17/286,875 · Granted Oct 3, 2023

Accelerator, steering wheel, six-axis sensor, engine, bumper and the like

Inventors: Atsushi Kitamura (Shizuoka, JP); Shigeyuki Adachi (Nagano, JP); Toshiaki Asakawa (Shizuoka, JP); Eiji Misaizu (Kanagawa, JP)
Assignee: MINEBEA MITSUMI Inc.
G01L1/2287B60R21/0136E05F15/44G01B7/16B62D1/046
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,774,303
App. No.
17/286,875
Granted
Oct 3, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

An accelerator is an automobile accelerator. The accelerator includes a sensor configured to detect a force to press the accelerator. The sensor includes a flexible substrate and a resistor formed of a film containing Cr, CrN, and Cr 2 N, on or above the substrate. The sensor is configured to detect the force to press the accelerator as a change in a resistance value of the resistor.

Claims (54)

1. An automotive accelerator comprising:

a sensor configured to detect a force to press the accelerator,

wherein the sensor includes:

a flexible substrate; and

a functional layer formed of metal, an alloy, or a metal compound, the functional layer being provided directly on one surface of the substrate;

a resistor formed of a film containing Cr, CrN, and Cr 2 N, the resistor being provided directly on one surface of the functional layer,

wherein a main component of the resistor is α-Cr,

wherein the functional layer includes a function of promoting crystal growth of the α-Cr and depositing a film of which a main component is α-Cr, and

wherein the sensor is configured to detect the force to press the accelerator as a change in a resistance value of the resistor.

2. The accelerator according to claim 1 , wherein the sensor is provided on a side surface of the accelerator.

3. The accelerator according to claim 1 , wherein the accelerator is formed of a material having great stiffness.

4. The accelerator according to claim 1 , wherein the resistor includes:

multiple first resistive portions of which a longitudinal direction of each is directed to a first direction and that are juxtaposed on one side of the substrate; and

multiple second resistive portions of which a longitudinal direction of each is directed to a second direction intersecting with the first direction and that are juxtaposed on another side of the substrate.

5. An automotive steering wheel comprising:

a sensor configured to detect a force to grip the steering wheel,

wherein the sensor includes:

a flexible substrate; and

a functional layer formed of metal, an alloy, or a metal compound, the functional layer being provided directly on one surface of the substrate;

a resistor formed of a film containing Cr, CrN, and Cr 2 N, the resistor being provided directly on one surface of the functional layer,

wherein a main component of the resistor is α-Cr,

wherein the functional layer includes a function of promoting crystal growth of the α-Cr and depositing a film of which a main component is α-Cr, and

wherein the sensor is configured to detect the force to grip the steering wheel as a change in a resistance value of the resistor.

6. The steering wheel according to claim 5 , further comprising a core formed of a material having great stiffness; and

a resin portion with which the outer periphery of the core is coated,

wherein the sensor is provided inside the core.

7. The steering wheel according to claim 6 , wherein the sensor is provided around an entirety of a circumference inside the core.

8. The steering wheel according to claim 5 , wherein the resistor includes:

multiple first resistive portions of which a longitudinal direction of each is directed to a first direction and that are juxtaposed on one side of the substrate; and

multiple second resistive portions of which a longitudinal direction of each is directed to a second direction intersecting with the first direction and that are juxtaposed on another side of the substrate.

9. An automotive door comprising:

an inner panel;

an outer panel; and

at least one sensor provided at a predetermined location inside the outer panel, the sensor being configured to detect a force to press the outer panel at the predetermined location,

wherein the sensor includes:

a flexible substrate;

a functional layer formed of metal, an alloy, or a metal compound, the functional layer being provided directly on one surface of the substrate; and

a resistor formed of a film containing Cr, CrN, and Cr 2 N, the resistor being provided directly on one surface of the functional layer,

wherein a main component of the resistor is α-Cr,

wherein the functional layer includes a function of promoting crystal growth of the α-Cr and depositing a film of which a main component is α-Cr, and

wherein the sensor is configured to detect the force to press the outer panel as a change in a resistance value of the resistor.

10. The door according to claim 9 , wherein multiple sensors are provided at locations inside the outer panel.

11. The door according to claim 9 , wherein the resistor includes:

multiple first resistive portions of which a longitudinal direction of each is directed to a first direction and that are juxtaposed on one side of the substrate; and

multiple second resistive portions of which a longitudinal direction of each is directed to a second direction intersecting with the first direction and that are juxtaposed on another side of the substrate.

12. A system for opening and closing a door, comprising:

the door according to claim 9 ; and

an opening and closing mechanism configured to open or close the door based on the detecting of the force to press the outer panel.

13. A system for opening and closing a door, comprising:

the door according to claim 9 ; and

an opening and closing mechanism configured to unlock the door or to open or close the door, upon occurrence of a condition in which multiple sensors are pressed in a predetermined specific order.

14. A system for opening and closing a door, comprising:

the door according to claim 9 ; and

an opening and closing mechanism configured to unlock the door or to open or close the door, upon occurrence of a condition in which the sensor is traced in a predetermined specific input pattern.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 20, 2021
From: KITAMURA, ATSUSHI; ADACHI, SHIGEYUKI; ASAKAWA, TOSHIAKI; MISAIZU, EIJI
To: MINEBEA MITSUMI INC.
Reel/Frame 055971/0783 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2018-199285 · Oct 23, 2018 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20210381913A1 · Dec 9, 2021
Cited By (3)
US 12,196,628 US 12,306,053 US 12,613,088