Abstract: A steering wheel grip detection device includes a positive electrode terminal electrically connected to a positive electrode of a power source and a negative electrode terminal electrically connected to a negative electrode of the power source. The steering wheel grip detection device further includes a thermostat, a heater, and an inductance element that are electrically connected with one another in this order in series wiring from the positive electrode terminal to the negative electrode terminal, as well as a capacitor through which a wiring path from the thermostat to the heater is electrically connected with the negative electrode terminal. The steering wheel grip detection device has an electrostatic sensor circuit that is electrically connected with a wiring path from the inductance element to the heater and that detects a grip on a steering wheel by a capacitance value of the heater.

Abstract: A steering wheel grip detection device includes a series circuit including an inductance element, a thermostat incorporated into a steering wheel, and a heater incorporated into the steering wheel; an electrostatic sensor circuit that detects a grip of the steering wheel by means of an electric or electromagnetic field; and a voltage detecting circuit that detects an open/closed state of the thermostat.

Abstract: A steering wheel heater device including: a steering wheel heater configured of an electrical resistor which produces heat by electrical energy; an inductor; at least one switch; and a sensor circuit, wherein the inductor is connected in series to a first terminal of the steering wheel heater, the at least one switch turns on and off the supply of power to the steering wheel heater, the sensor circuit is electrically connected to the first terminal and determines whether a detected subject is in contact with a steering wheel based on a magnitude of capacitance of the steering wheel heater, and the at least one switch is at least one of a switch connected in series to the first terminal of the steering wheel heater via the inductor and a switch connected in series to a second terminal of the steering wheel heater.

Abstract: A steering wheel heater device including: a heating wire; a power line connected in series to the heating wire, for supplying the heating wire with power; a ground line connected in series to the heating wire; a lead-out wire connected to a point along a wiring pattern formed of the heating wire; and a contact detection circuit electrically connected to the wiring pattern formed of the heating wire through the lead-out wire, wherein a portion of the wiring pattern is connected in series between the ground line and the contact detection circuit.

Abstract: An electrostatic steering wheel hold detection device includes: a first heater element located in a steering wheel, and has one end electrically connected to a power source; an inductor—that is electrically connected to an other end of the first heater element; a second heater element that is included in the steering wheel, and has one end electrically connected to the other end of the first heater element via the inductor; and a sensor circuit that is electrically connected to a connection point between the first heater element and the inductor, and detects, from a change in capacitance at the connection point, whether or not the steering wheel is held. An other end of the second heater element is electrically connected to a ground. The second heater element is located lower than the first heater element in the steering wheel when the steering wheel is in a neutral position.

Abstract: A heater device includes: a base member; a heater wire; and a sensor which measures capacitance of the heater wire, wherein the heater wire forms a first wiring pattern and a second wiring pattern connected in series, the first wiring pattern and the second wiring pattern each include N wire blocks, the N wire blocks included in the first wiring pattern and the second wiring pattern are disposed in a manner that arrangement of the N wire blocks included in the first wiring pattern and arrangement of the N wire blocks included in the second wiring pattern are reversed in the circumferential direction of the rim and facing each other in a direction perpendicular to the circumferential direction, and a sum of sensitivity of the sensor to capacitance of a pair of wire blocks facing each other is substantially equal to that of another pair.

Abstract: A steering wheel grip detection device includes a positive electrode terminal electrically connected to a positive electrode of a power source and a negative electrode terminal electrically connected to a negative electrode of the power source. The steering wheel grip detection device further includes a thermostat, a heater, and an inductance element that are electrically connected with one another in this order in series wiring from the positive electrode terminal to the negative electrode terminal, as well as a capacitor through which a wiring path from the thermostat to the heater is electrically connected with the negative electrode terminal. The steering wheel grip detection device has an electrostatic sensor circuit that is electrically connected with a wiring path from the inductance element to the heater and that detects a grip on a steering wheel by a capacitance value of the heater.

Abstract: A grip sensor includes: a plurality of capacitive detectors which are disposed in a grip of a steering wheel of a vehicle, and output values which vary according to whether a human body is in contact; and a controller which determines, at a preset timing, a reference value to be subtracted from the values output from the plurality of capacitive detectors, to determine whether the human body is in contact, wherein the controller identifies, from among values output from the plurality of capacitive detectors at the preset timing, one or more values each having an absolute value smaller than a first threshold, and determines, as the reference value, one of the one or more values identified or an average of the one or more values identified.

Abstract: A steering wheel grip detection device includes a series circuit including an inductance element, a thermostat incorporated into a steering wheel, and a heater incorporated into the steering wheel; an electrostatic sensor circuit that detects a grip of the steering wheel by means of an electric or electromagnetic field; and a voltage detecting circuit that detects an open/closed state of the thermostat.

Abstract: An electrostatic steering wheel hold detection device includes: a first heater element located in a steering wheel, and has one end electrically connected to a power source; an inductor -that is electrically connected to an other end of the first heater element; a second heater element that is included in the steering wheel, and has one end electrically connected to the other end of the first heater element via the inductor; and a sensor circuit that is electrically connected to a connection point between the first heater element and the inductor, and detects, from a change in capacitance at the connection point, whether or not the steering wheel is held. An other end of the second heater element is electrically connected to a ground. The second heater element is located lower than the first heater element in the steering wheel when the steering wheel is in a neutral position.

Abstract: A heater device includes: a base member; a heater wire; and a sensor which measures capacitance of the heater wire, wherein the heater wire forms a first wiring pattern and a second wiring pattern connected in series, the first wiring pattern and the second wiring pattern each include N wire blocks, the N wire blocks included in the first wiring pattern and the second wiring pattern are disposed in a manner that arrangement of the N wire blocks included in the first wiring pattern and arrangement of the N wire blocks included in the second wiring pattern are reversed in the circumferential direction of the rim and facing each other in a direction perpendicular to the circumferential direction, and a sum of sensitivity of the sensor to capacitance of a pair of wire blocks facing each other is substantially equal to that of another pair.

Abstract: An electrostatic grip detection device includes a base material, a heater wire, a sensor wire, and a detection unit. The heater wire is formed in the base material. The sensor wire is formed in the base material, and has a first end electrically connected to the heater wire and a second end opened. The detection unit is electrically connected to at least one of the heater wire and the sensor wire, and senses a change in electrostatic capacitance of at least one of the heater wire and the sensor wire.

Abstract: A steering wheel heater device including: a steering wheel heater configured of an electrical resistor which produces heat by electrical energy; an inductor; at least one switch; and a sensor circuit, wherein the inductor is connected in series to a first terminal of the steering wheel heater, the at least one switch turns on and off the supply of power to the steering wheel heater, the sensor circuit is electrically connected to the first terminal and determines whether a detected subject is in contact with a steering wheel based on a magnitude of capacitance of the steering wheel heater, and the at least one switch is at least one of a switch connected in series to the first terminal of the steering wheel heater via the inductor and a switch connected in series to a second terminal of the steering wheel heater.

Abstract: A steering wheel heater device including: a heating wire; a power line connected in series to the heating wire, for supplying the heating wire with power; a ground line connected in series to the heating wire; a lead-out wire connected to a point along a wiring pattern formed of the heating wire; and a contact detection circuit electrically connected to the wiring pattern formed of the heating wire through the lead-out wire, wherein a portion of the wiring pattern is connected in series between the ground line and the contact detection circuit.

Abstract: A grip sensor includes: a plurality of capacitive detectors which are disposed in a grip of a steering wheel of a vehicle, and output values which vary according to whether a human body is in contact; and a controller which determines, at a preset timing, a reference value to be subtracted from the values output from the plurality of capacitive detectors, to determine whether the human body is in contact, wherein the controller identifies, from among values output from the plurality of capacitive detectors at the preset timing, one or more values each having an absolute value smaller than a first threshold, and determines, as the reference value, one of the one or more values identified or an average of the one or more values identified.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus for executing a processing flow including a plurality of steps, includes a determination unit which determines whether or not a processing flow to be executed includes an instruction required step that requires an instruction of a user, a selection unit which selects, when the processing flow to be executed includes the instruction required step, a notification destination of information required to display an operation window for accepting the instruction of the user, a notification control unit which notifies the notification destination selected by the selection unit of the operation window, and an execution unit which executes processing of the instruction required step according to instruction contents input via the operation window.

Abstract: A start date of check-out processing of setting a shared document accessible by a plurality of users via a network into an exclusive state is reserved as a check-out start date based on an instruction of a user. In the exclusive state, the shared document can be updated by the user but cannot be updated by other users. When current date has reached the check-out start date, the shared document is set into the exclusive state for the user. The shared document can be released from the exclusive state in response to an instruction of the user checking-out the shared document. An expected check-in date to release the shared document from the exclusive state after the check-out start date can be reserved. This invention enables reservation for a document operation and prevents any decrease in the operation efficiency of users.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for obtaining room entry information associated with a user, extracting executable operation flows, and displaying an operational screen for executing the extracted operation flows.

Abstract: An image collector/transmitter with the smallest transmission cost is provided which can collect images from image keeping locations with the smallest transmission cost without lowering user services such as selection of an output receiver. Position information indicating the keeping location of image data is managed, and when a print order is issued from an external apparatus, the image data for the print order is collected in accordance with the managed position information, and the collected image data and a print request for the print order are transmitted to a printer controller.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a mail reception unit configured to access a mail server based on designated mail account information and perform reception of an electronic mail, a mail management unit configured to store the electronic mail received by the mail reception unit in a readable state, a reading unit configured to read a document image and generate document image data, a detection unit configured to detect electronic mail identification information contained in the document image data, a retrieval unit configured to search for an electronic mail corresponding to the electronic mail the mail management unit identification information, and a printing unit configured to perform printing of the electronic mail stored in the mail management unit.