Bend sensor horn switch assembly

Abstract

A horn switch assembly including an airbag module cover, a bend sensor and a backing plate. The module cover has a front outer face and a rear inner face deformably depressible from the front face. A plurality of parallel, spaced-apart, elongated force concentration ribs are located on the rear inner face of the cover. The bend sensor is positioned under the force concentrators and includes a flexible substrate and a variable resistance circuit connectable to a horn control circuit. The variable resistance circuit has a plurality of spaced-apart resistive elements connected by a plurality of conductive strips. The variable resistance circuit is arranged in a plural of parallel spaced-apart columns adhered to the substrate so that the columns are generally perpendicular to the force concentration ribs and each resistive element is positioned under a force concentration rib. The generally rigid backing plate has a forward surface positioned under the bend sensor. A plurality of parallel spaced-apart elongated support ribs extend forwardly from the backing plate so that the support ribs are generally parallel to and offset from the force concentration ribs and are generally perpendicular to the bend sensor columns so that each conductive strip is positioned over a support rib and each resistive element is positioned between two adjacent support ribs. Pressure applied to the front outer face of the airbag module cover will deformably depress the inner face towards the bend sensor causing at least one force concentration rib to bend at least one resistive element about two adjacent support ribs.