Abstract: A seat has an occupant detecting function and is installed in a vehicle. The seat includes a seating portion, a capacitance sensor, a controller, and a supporting member. The seating portion is adapted to support buttocks and thighs of an occupant of the vehicle. The seating portion includes a seat cushion therein. The capacitance sensor is attached to the seating portion. The controller is installed to the seating portion and configured to apply a voltage to the sensor and to detect a value of an electric current, which passes through the sensor because of the voltage. The supporting member supports the controller from a lower side thereof in a vertical direction, such that the controller is rotatable about the supporting member when the seating portion is pressed by the occupant.

Abstract: A testing apparatus for testing whether an occupant detection sensor normally operates is disclosed. The testing apparatus includes: a ground that is an electrically-conductive structural member of the seat; an electrode plate that is electrically-conductive and is on the seat at a time of testing; multiple capacitors that are electrically connected between the electrode plate and the ground and are different in electrostatic capacity from each other; a switch mechanism that selects and switches one capacitor of the multiple capacitors; and a determination result check portion that determines, while switching the one capacitor by the switch mechanism, whether a signal outputted from the occupant detection sensor is a determination result corresponding to the switched one capacitor.

Abstract: A capacitive occupant sensor includes a sensor mat having a base member and a main electrode arranged on the base member. The main electrode has a first electrode, and a second electrode to cover the first electrode. The second electrode is cheaper than the first electrode. The base member is constructed by U-parts, and an opening of the U-part is defined to be surrounded by two extending portions and a bent portion connecting the extending portions. The first electrode is located adjacent to the opening, when the first electrode is patterned on the bent portion.

Abstract: A load detecting device includes a substrate, a load receiver arranged on a first face of the substrate, a load detecting element arranged between the substrate and the load receiver, and a supporting portion to support the substrate. The supporting portion is made of metal. The supporting portion is located to overlap with the load receiver in a direction approximately perpendicular to the substrate. The supporting portion has a plurality of projections contacting with a second face of the substrate opposite from the first face. The projections located adjacent to each other are distanced from each other through a trench.

Abstract: A testing apparatus for testing whether an occupant detection sensor normally operates is disclosed. The testing apparatus includes: a ground that is an electrically-conductive structural member of the seat; an electrode plate that is electrically-conductive and is on the seat at a time of testing; multiple capacitors that are electrically connected between the electrode plate and the ground and are different in electrostatic capacity from each other; a switch mechanism that selects and switches one capacitor of the multiple capacitors; and a determination result check portion that determines, while switching the one capacitor by the switch mechanism, whether a signal outputted from the occupant detection sensor is a determination result corresponding to the switched one capacitor.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a load sensor including a load detection element and a support element is provided. The support element includes a base and a spring. The spring includes a support portion, a connection portion bonding to the base, and a connecting member coupling the support portion and the connection portion. The support element transmits a detection load to the load detection element via the base and the spring. The method includes: sandwiching the load detection element between the base and the support portion; bonding the connection portion on the base so that the connecting member is deformed beyond the elastic deformation region to reach the plastic deformation region; pressing the support portion so that a contact surface of the support portion is plastically deformed; and returning deformation of the connecting member to be in the elastic deformation region.

Abstract: A capacitive occupant sensor includes a sensor mat having U-parts arranged in a first direction and, a second direction perpendicular to each other. The U-parts located adjacent to each other are connected in the second direction so as to define S-parts, in a manner that openings of the U-parts alternately open toward a first side of the first direction or a second side of the first direction. The S-parts located adjacent to each other are combined in the first direction, in a manner that the opening open toward the first side and the opening open toward the second side oppose to each other in the first direction. The mat has a meandering structure defined by the S-parts.

Abstract: A wheel-side end of a connection link is freely inclined relative to the wheel. A shaft-side end of the connection link is movable substantially in a width direction of the vehicle for steering the wheel. A steering shaft body is substantially in a rod shape extending substantially in the width direction. A steering shaft end is fixed to one end of the steering shaft body and freely inclined relative to the shaft-side end. The steering shaft body and the steering shaft end are movable substantially in the width direction according to an operation of a steering device. A load sensor is interposed between the steering shaft end and the steering shaft body for detecting load applied in an axial direction of the steering shaft to detect force applied to the wheel.

Abstract: A detection element detects at least compression load. A first member has a surface provided with the detection element. A preload adjusting member is substantially in a column shape and has a tip end configured to apply pressure to the detection element. The first member and the second member are connected with each other and configured to transmit load to the detection element. The second member has a fitted portion, which has an inner circumferential periphery being press-fitted with the preload adjusting member. The second member causes elastic deformation in response to adjustment of press-fitting of the preload adjusting member and causes change in preload applied to the detection element.

Abstract: A capacitive occupant sensor includes a sensor mat having a base member and a main electrode arranged on the base member. The main electrode has a first electrode, and a second electrode to cover the first electrode. The second electrode is cheaper than the first electrode. The base member is constructed by U-parts, and an opening of the U-part is defined to be surrounded by two extending portions and a bent portion connecting the extending portions. The first electrode is located adjacent to the opening, when the first electrode is patterned on the bent portion.

Abstract: A capacitive occupant sensor includes a sensor mat having U-parts arranged in a first direction and, a second direction perpendicular to each other. The U-parts located adjacent to each other are connected in the second direction so as to define S-parts, in a manner that openings of the U-parts alternately open toward a first side of the first direction or a second side of the first direction. The S-parts located adjacent to each other are combined in the first direction, in a manner that the opening open toward the first side and the opening open toward the second side oppose to each other in the first direction. The mat has a meandering structure defined by the S-parts.

Abstract: A detection element detects at least compression load. A first member has a surface provided with the detection element. A preload adjusting member has a tip end configured to apply pressure to the detection element. The first member and the second member are connected with each other and configured to transmit load to the detection element. The second member has a fitted portion, which has an inner circumferential periphery defining a thread groove, which is screwed with the preload adjusting member. The second member causes elastic deformation in response to adjustment of screwing of the preload adjusting member and causes change in preload applied to the detection element. A buffer member is interposed between the preload adjusting member and the detection element.

Abstract: A load detecting device includes a substrate, a load receiver arranged on a first face of the substrate, a load detecting element arranged between the substrate and the load receiver, and a supporting portion to support the substrate. The supporting portion is made of metal. The supporting portion is located to overlap with the load receiver in a direction approximately perpendicular to the substrate. The supporting portion has a plurality of projections contacting with a second face of the substrate opposite from the first face. The projections located adjacent to each other are distanced from each other through a trench.

Abstract: A seat has an occupant detecting function and is installed in a vehicle. The seat includes a seating portion, a capacitance sensor, a controller, and a supporting member. The seating portion is adapted to support buttocks and thighs of an occupant of the vehicle. The seating portion includes a seat cushion therein. The capacitance sensor is attached to the seating portion. The controller is installed to the seating portion and configured to apply a voltage to the sensor and to detect a value of an electric current, which passes through the sensor because of the voltage. The supporting member supports the controller from a lower side thereof in a vertical direction, such that the controller is rotatable about the supporting member when the seating portion is pressed by the occupant.

Abstract: A detection element detects at least compression load. A first member has a surface provided with the detection element. A preload adjusting member has a tip end configured to apply pressure to the detection element. The first member and the second member are connected with each other and configured to transmit load to the detection element. The second member has a fitted portion, which has an inner circumferential periphery defining a thread groove, which is screwed with the preload adjusting member. The second member causes elastic deformation in response to adjustment of screwing of the preload adjusting member and causes change in preload applied to the detection element. A buffer member is interposed between the preload adjusting member and the detection element.

Abstract: A wheel-side end of a connection link is freely inclined relative to the wheel. A shaft-side end of the connection link is movable substantially in a width direction of the vehicle for steering the wheel. A steering shaft body is substantially in a rod shape extending substantially in the width direction. A steering shaft end is fixed to one end of the steering shaft body and freely inclined relative to the shaft-side end. The steering shaft body and the steering shaft end are movable substantially in the width direction according to an operation of a steering device. A load sensor is interposed between the steering shaft end and the steering shaft body for detecting load applied in an axial direction of the steering shaft to detect force applied to the wheel.

Abstract: A detection element detects at least compression load. A first member has a surface provided with the detection element. A preload adjusting member is substantially in a column shape and has a tip end configured to apply pressure to the detection element. The first member and the second member are connected with each other and configured to transmit load to the detection element. The second member has a fitted portion, which has an inner circumferential periphery being press-fitted with the preload adjusting member. The second member causes elastic deformation in response to adjustment of press-fitting of the preload adjusting member and causes change in preload applied to the detection element.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a load sensor including a load detection element and a support element is provided. The support element includes a base and a spring. The spring includes a support portion, a connection portion bonding to the base, and a connecting member coupling the support portion and the connection portion. The support element transmits a detection load to the load detection element via the base and the spring. The method includes: sandwiching the load detection element between the base and the support portion; bonding the connection portion on the base so that the connecting member is deformed beyond the elastic deformation region to reach the plastic deformation region; pressing the support portion so that a contact surface of the support portion is plastically deformed; and returning deformation of the connecting member to be in the elastic deformation region.

Abstract: A low-noise electric structure of an electric power steering device for automotive vehicles is provided which includes a controller including a substrate on which drive devices working to drive an electric motor are installed. The drive devices, power supply terminal joints, and motor terminal joints are concentrated on a portion of the substrate, thereby permitting a path of current flowing from the power supply terminal joints to the motor terminal joints to be shortened. This results in a decrease in quantity of heat generated from a circuit line extending between the power supply terminal joints and the motor terminal joints.

Abstract: In a pedal force detection device, a pedal arm unit is provided with a first arm at which a pedal is mounted, a second arm apart from the pedal and a connection portion for connecting the first and second arms. A load sensor having a matrix made of a ceramics is fixed between the first and second arms. When the pedal is depressed by a pedal force, the first arm approaches the second arm due to a resilient deformation so that the load sensor is compressed by a load. Thus, the pedal force can be determined based on the load detected by the load sensor.