US 12,448,023 B2
Capacitive sensor device, steering wheel comprising a capacitive sensor device, method for operating a capacitive sensor device and/or a steering wheel, and vehicle comprising a capacitive sensor device
Micha Jonathan Kizler, Bietigheim-Bissingen (DE); and Georg Poslowsky, Bietigheim-Bissingen (DE)
Assigned to Valeo Schalter und Sensoren GmbH, Bietigheim-Bissingen (DE)
Appl. No. 18/273,881
Filed by Valeo Schalter und Sensoren GmbH, Bietigheim-Bissingen (DE)
PCT Filed Jan. 18, 2022, PCT No. PCT/EP2022/050938
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Jul. 24, 2023,
PCT Pub. No. WO2022/157127, PCT Pub. Date Jul. 28, 2022.
Claims priority of application No. 10 2021 101 455.7 (DE), filed on Jan. 25, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2024/0425098 A1, Dec. 26, 2024
Int. Cl. B62D 1/04 (2006.01); B62D 1/06 (2006.01); G01R 5/24 (2006.01)
CPC B62D 1/046 (2013.01) [B62D 1/065 (2013.01); G01R 5/24 (2013.01)] 16 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A capacitive sensor device for recognizing the presence of a human body part in a detection region of the sensor device for recognizing the presence of a human hand in a gripping region of a steering wheel, the sensor device comprising:
at least one first sensor electrode having an associated detection region and a first electrode section and a second sensor electrode having a second electrode section,
the at least one first sensor electrode and the second sensor electrode being separated from one another by a dielectric between them, forming a first capacitive element, and the at least one first sensor electrode together with its surroundings further forming a second capacitive element;
a measuring apparatus configured to determine a measurement variable dependent on a current difference between a first current flowing in the first electrode section of the at least one first sensor electrode and a second current flowing in the second electrode section of the second sensor electrode,
wherein the measuring apparatus comprises an electrical coil having at least one winding,
the electrical coil being arranged so that, and the first electrode section of the first sensor electrode and the second electrode section of the second sensor electrode, at least in sections, being arranged in each case relative to one another and in each case relative to the coil in such a manner and being coupled to the coil, so that a measurement variable dependent on a current difference between a first current flowing in the first electrode section and a second current flowing in the second electrode section is generated in the coil by the current difference.