Trw Automotive Safety Systems Gmbh

Zf Automotive Safety Germany Gmbh

Heinz Lefringhausen

Guido Hirzmann

Volker Stegmann

Norbert Staudt

Alexander Lammers

Klaus Weigand

Lars Wuschik

An apparatus for heating a steering wheel and for detecting a steering wheel contact comprises a steering wheel armature () made from electrically conductive material and an electric heating conductor () arranged outside of the steering wheel armature (). The apparatus further comprises a control and evaluation device () connected to the steering wheel armature () and the electric heating conductor () by means of which control and evaluation device the electric heating conductor () is repeatedly operated temporarily during a heating operation as a heating element for heating the steering wheel and temporarily during a measuring operation as a sensor element for detecting a steering wheel contact. The control and evaluation device () is configured so as to maintain the steering wheel armature () on a predetermined and especially constant potential at least during each measuring operation.

Apparatus and method for heating a steering wheel and for sensing contact with the steering wheel

A vehicle steering wheel () includes a movable airbag module () which can be depressed by a limited axial stroke for generating a horn signal. The vehicle steering wheel () further includes a sensor system () operating in a contactless manner for determining the stroke.

Vehicle steering wheel with an airbag module

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Mainhausen, Germany

Heinz Lefringhausen