JP2010014694A - Load detection fiber - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention provides conductivity that can provide a regularity in the position and number of contacts when external force is applied to a light-weight and space-saving conductive fiber, stabilize the signal for the load, and accurately take changes in the load. Provided is a load sensing fiber using a fiber.
The present invention has a conductive wire 11 provided with electrodes 14a and 14b for supplying power and partially covered with an insulating layer 13, the wire 11 being the insulating layer. 13 is a load detection fiber 1 that is placed so as to be in contact with each other through exposed portions 17 that are not covered by the insulating layer 13 when an external force is applied. Here, the wire 11 has an insulating portion 15 whose surface is partially covered by the insulating layer 13 and the exposed portion 17 that is not covered by the insulating layer 13, and extends along the longitudinal direction of the wire 11. The exposed portion 17 is disposed between the plurality of insulating portions 15.
[Selection] Figure 4A

Description

  The present invention includes a component capable of sensing by converting mechanical input into electricity or other energy, such as a load sensing fiber, particularly a sensor for obtaining position information such as load measurement and coordinate measurement. The present invention relates to a load detection fiber, a load detection fabric using the same, and a method for manufacturing the load detection fiber.

  Recently, stimulus-responsive materials that generate electrical resistance, volume change, solubility change, and the like in response to external stimuli such as light, temperature, pH, external force, and chemical substances have attracted attention.

  Especially, in the pressure sensor which is one of the stimulus responsive materials, as a planar pressure sensor generally used conventionally, carbon particles are kneaded into rubber, and the resistance change due to compression is read, There are methods that apply mechanical and pneumatic pressure gauges. However, these generally have some thickness and weight, and need to be additionally installed on the surface to be evaluated.

  In view of these, a sensor using a fibrous material or a cloth-like material that can be sensed in a lightweight and space-saving manner is desired. In response to such a long-awaited technical problem, a pressure-sensitive sensor described in Patent Document 1 has been proposed. Such a pressure-sensitive sensor reads a resistance change of a non-woven fabric made of conductive fibers, and can be sensed with light weight and space saving.

JP 2006-153471 A

  However, the pressure-sensitive sensor described in Patent Document 1 uses a nonwoven fabric made of conductive fibers. Therefore, when an external force such as tension or compression is applied, the number of contact points between the fibers increases and the resistance value decreases, but the contact point is not constant and the output value becomes unstable. That is, there is a problem that the load change cannot be accurately taken.

  Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide a regularity in the position and number of contact points when an external force is applied to the conductive fiber, and stabilize the signal with respect to the load so that the load change can be accurately taken. Load sensing fibers that use lightweight fibers and can be sensed in a lightweight and space-saving manner.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a power supply electrode portion, an electrically conductive wire having an insulating layer and an exposed portion without the insulating layer, and the external layer is applied through the insulating layer. And a load detecting fiber arranged so that the wires are in contact with each other through an exposed portion without the insulating layer.

  According to the present invention, when the external force is applied by arranging a large number of the exposed portions designed with regularity so as to acquire the contact position and number information on the load detection fiber, each exposed portion Through the presence / absence of contact between the wires, accurate contact location and numerical information can be extracted. This makes it possible to stabilize the signal (resistance change value) with respect to the load (see FIG. 35 and FIG. 3 for comparison), and to detect position information and load change such as load measurement and coordinate measurement with high accuracy as a resistance change. -It is possible to provide load sensing fibers that can be sensed in a small space.

It is a schematic diagram which shows the conductive nonwoven fabric of a prior art example, Comprising: It is the schematic diagram showing the state by which the external force is not applied to this conductive nonwoven fabric. It is the schematic diagram showing the state by which the external force was applied to the electroconductive nonwoven fabric of the prior art example of FIG. 1A. It is an equivalent circuit schematic of the conductive nonwoven fabric of the conventional example of FIG. It is the schematic which shows the load response evaluation result of the load resolution test of the evaluation test 1 of the electroconductive nonwoven fabric of the comparative example 1 which is a prior art example. It is the schematic which showed typically the outline | summary of the load detection apparatus using the load detection fiber of 1st Embodiment, Comprising: It is the schematic diagram showing the state by which the external force is not applied to the load detection fiber. It is sectional drawing along the AA line of FIG. 4A. It is sectional drawing along the BB line of FIG. 4A. FIG. 4B is an equivalent circuit diagram of FIG. 4A. It is the schematic diagram showing the state where the external force was applied to the load detection fiber of FIG. 4A. It is sectional drawing along CC line of FIG. 4E. FIG. 4E is an equivalent circuit diagram of FIG. 4E. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a shape example of a solid wire (fiber) having a single-component cross section made of a uniform material and having a circular shape as the conductive wire according to the present invention. It is a schematic diagram which shows the example of a shape of the core sheath wire (fiber) formed with the sheath component and the core component as an electroconductive wire used for the load detection fiber which concerns on this invention. It is a schematic diagram which shows the example of a shape of a side-by-side type | mold wire (fiber) as an electroconductive wire used for the load detection fiber which concerns on this invention. It is a schematic diagram which shows the example of a shape of a sea-island type wire (fiber) as an electroconductive wire used for the load detection fiber which concerns on this invention. It is a schematic diagram which shows the example of a shape of a triangular cross-section wire (fiber) as an electroconductive wire used for the load detection fiber which concerns on this invention. It is a schematic diagram which shows the example of a shape of a star-shaped cross-section wire (fiber) as an electroconductive wire used for the load detection fiber which concerns on this invention. It is a schematic diagram which shows the example of a shape of a hollow wire (fiber) as an electroconductive wire used for the load detection fiber which concerns on this invention. It is the schematic which showed typically the outline | summary of the load detection apparatus using the load detection fiber shown in 2nd Embodiment, Comprising: It is the schematic diagram showing the state by which the external force is not applied to the load detection fiber. It is sectional drawing which followed the AA line of FIG. 12A. It is sectional drawing which followed the BB line of FIG. 12A. FIG. 12B is an equivalent circuit diagram of FIG. 12A. It is the schematic diagram showing the state where the external force was applied to the load detection fiber of FIG. 12A. It is sectional drawing along CC line of FIG. 12E. It is sectional drawing along the DD line of FIG. 12E. 12B is a schematic diagram illustrating a state in which an external force larger than the external force in FIG. 12E is applied to the load detection fiber in FIG. 12A. 12E is an equivalent circuit diagram of FIGS. 12E to 12H. FIG. It is the schematic which showed typically the outline | summary of the load detection apparatus using the load detection fiber of the modification 1 of 2nd Embodiment, Comprising: It is the schematic diagram showing the state by which the external force is not applied to the load detection fiber. . It is sectional drawing which followed the AA line of FIG. 13A. It is sectional drawing along the BB line of FIG. 13A. It is sectional drawing along the BB line of Drawing 13A in the state where external force was applied to the load detection fiber of Drawing 13A, and is a sectional view showing signs that external force was applied from right above. FIG. 13B is a cross-sectional view taken along line B-B in FIG. 13A, showing a state in which an external force is applied obliquely from the upper right. FIG. 13B is a cross-sectional view taken along line B-B in FIG. 13A, illustrating a state in which an external force is applied obliquely from the upper left. It is the schematic which showed typically the outline | summary of the load detection apparatus using the load detection fiber of the modification 2 of 2nd Embodiment, Comprising: It is the schematic diagram showing the state by which the external force is not applied to the load detection fiber. . It is sectional drawing along the AA line of the insulation part of FIG. 14A. It is sectional drawing along the BB line of the exposed part of FIG. 14A. It is sectional drawing along CC line of the exposed part of FIG. 14A. It is the schematic which showed the outline | summary of the load detection apparatus using the load detection fiber which is another modification of 2nd Embodiment typically, Comprising: The schematic diagram showing the state by which the external force is not applied to the load detection fiber It is. It is sectional drawing along the AA line of FIG. 15A. It is sectional drawing along the BB line of FIG. 15A. It is sectional drawing along the BB line of Drawing 15A in the state where external force was applied to the load detection fiber of Drawing 15A, and is a sectional view showing signs that external force was applied from right above. It is sectional drawing along the BB line of FIG. 15A, Comprising: It is sectional drawing showing a mode that the external force was applied from right diagonally upward. It is sectional drawing along the BB line of FIG. 15A, Comprising: It is sectional drawing showing a mode that the external force was applied from diagonally lower right. It is the schematic which showed the outline | summary of the load detection apparatus using the load detection fiber which is another modification of 2nd Embodiment typically, Comprising: The schematic diagram showing the state by which the external force is not applied to the load detection fiber It is. It is sectional drawing which followed the AA line of FIG. 16A. It is sectional drawing which followed the BB line of FIG. 16A. It is sectional drawing along the BB line of Drawing 16A in the state where external force was applied to the load detection fiber of Drawing 16A, and is a sectional view showing signs that external force was applied from right above. It is sectional drawing along the BB line of FIG. 16A, Comprising: It is sectional drawing showing a mode that the external force was applied from right diagonally upward. It is sectional drawing along the BB line of FIG. 16A, Comprising: It is sectional drawing showing a mode that the external force was applied from diagonally lower right. It is the schematic which showed typically the outline | summary of the load detection apparatus using the load detection fiber which is another modification of 2nd Embodiment, Comprising: The model showing the state by which external force is not applied to the load detection fiber FIG. It is sectional drawing along the AA line of FIG. 17A. It is sectional drawing along the BB line of FIG. 17A. FIG. 17D is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB in FIG. 17A in a state in which an external force is applied to the load detection fiber of FIG. 17A, and is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state in which the external force is applied from directly above. It is sectional drawing along the BB line of FIG. 17A, Comprising: It is sectional drawing showing a mode that the external force was applied from diagonally upward right. It is sectional drawing along the BB line of FIG. 17A, Comprising: It is sectional drawing showing a mode that the external force was applied from the right side (horizontal) side. It is sectional drawing along the BB line of FIG. 17A, Comprising: It is sectional drawing showing a mode that the external force was applied from diagonally lower right. It is the schematic which showed the outline | summary of the load detection apparatus using the load detection fiber which is another modification of 2nd Embodiment typically, Comprising: The schematic diagram showing the state by which the external force is not applied to the load detection fiber It is. It is sectional drawing which followed the AA line of FIG. 18A. It is sectional drawing which followed the BB line of FIG. 18A. It is sectional drawing along the BB line of Drawing 18A in the state where external force was applied to the load detection fiber of Drawing 18A, and is a sectional view showing signs that external force was applied from right above. It is sectional drawing along the BB line of FIG. 18A, Comprising: It is sectional drawing showing a mode that the external force was applied from right diagonally upward. It is sectional drawing along the BB line of FIG. 18A, Comprising: It is sectional drawing showing a mode that the external force was applied from the right side (horizontal) side. It is sectional drawing along the BB line of FIG. 18A, Comprising: It is sectional drawing showing a mode that the external force was applied from diagonally lower right. It is a schematic diagram which shows one typical cross-sectional structural example in the insulation part of the load detection fiber which concerns on this invention. It is a schematic diagram which shows the example of another typical cross-section in the insulation part of the load detection fiber which concerns on this invention. It is a schematic diagram which shows the example of another typical cross-section in the insulation part of the load detection fiber which concerns on this invention. It is a schematic diagram which shows the example of another typical cross-section in the insulation part of the load detection fiber which concerns on this invention. It is a schematic diagram which shows the example of another typical cross-section in the insulation part of the load detection fiber which concerns on this invention. It is a schematic diagram which shows the example of another typical cross-section in the insulation part of the load detection fiber which concerns on this invention. It is a schematic diagram which shows the example of another typical cross-section in the insulation part of the load detection fiber which concerns on this invention. It is a schematic diagram which shows the example of another typical cross-section in the insulation part of the load detection fiber which concerns on this invention. It is a schematic diagram which shows the example of another typical cross-section in the insulation part of the load detection fiber which concerns on this invention. It is a schematic diagram which shows the example of another typical cross-section in the insulation part of the load detection fiber which concerns on this invention. It is a schematic diagram which shows the example of another typical cross-section in the insulation part of the load detection fiber which concerns on this invention. It is a schematic diagram which shows the example of another typical cross-section in the insulation part of the load detection fiber which concerns on this invention. It is a schematic diagram of the wet spinning apparatus concerning this invention. It is a schematic diagram of the electrospinning apparatus concerning this invention. It is a schematic diagram of the apparatus which provided the coating process in the wet spinning apparatus concerning this invention. It is a top view which shows the example of a shape of the plain fabric formed by weaving the load detection fiber which concerns on this invention vertically and horizontally. It is a top view which shows the example of a shape of the twill fabric which weaves the load detection fiber which concerns on this invention vertically and horizontally. It is a top view which shows the example of a shape of the satin fabric formed by weaving the load detection fiber which concerns on this invention vertically and horizontally. It is a perspective view which shows the example of a shape of the plain fabric formed by weaving the load detection fiber which concerns on this invention using both warp and weft. It is a perspective view which shows the example of a shape of the plain fabric formed by weaving the load detection fiber which concerns on this invention using a warp. It is a perspective view which shows the example of a shape of the plain fabric formed by weaving the load detection fiber concerning this invention using a part of warp. It is a schematic diagram which shows the example of a shape of the flat knitted fabric knitted using the load detection fiber which concerns on this invention for some warps. It is a schematic diagram which shows the example of a shape of the rubber knitted fabric knitted using the load detection fiber which concerns on this invention for some warps. It is a schematic diagram which shows the load detection fiber used to knit as a weft in gauze (fabric). FIG. 31B is a schematic diagram showing a load detection fabric (gauze) in which the load detection fiber of FIG. 31A is knitted into a gauze (fabric) as a weft. It is the schematic of the load resolution test apparatus used for the evaluation method of the load detection fiber which concerns on this invention. It is drawing (photograph) showing the outline | summary of FIG. 32A. It is the schematic of the sample for a position detection performance test used for the evaluation method of the load detection fabric which concerns on this invention. It is the schematic of the position detection performance test used for the evaluation method of the load detection fabric which concerns on this invention. It is the schematic which shows the load response evaluation result of the load resolution test of the evaluation test 1 of Example 7. FIG. It is the schematic which showed typically the outline | summary of the load detection apparatus using the load detection fiber of the modification 7 of 2nd Embodiment, Comprising: It is the schematic diagram showing the state by which the external force is not applied to the load detection fiber. . It is a schematic diagram of the cross section along the AA line of the insulation part of FIG. 36A. It is a schematic diagram of the cross section along the BB line of the exposed part of FIG. 36A. It is a schematic diagram of the end surface of the 1st wire used for Drawing 36A, and the 2nd wire which has an insulating layer. 36B is a schematic diagram of a cross section taken along the line BB of FIG. 36A in a state where an external force is applied to the load detection fiber of FIG. is there. It is the schematic which showed the outline | summary of the load detection apparatus using the load detection fiber of the modification 8 of 2nd Embodiment typically, Comprising: It is the schematic diagram showing the state by which the external force is not applied to the load detection fiber. . It is a schematic diagram of the cross section along the AA line of the insulation part of FIG. 37A. It is a schematic diagram of the cross section along the BB line of the exposed part of FIG. 37A. It is a schematic diagram of the end surface of the 1st wire which has the insulating layer used for Drawing 37A, and the 2nd wire. FIG. 37B is a schematic diagram of a cross section taken along the line BB in FIG. 37A in a state where an external force is applied to the load detection fiber of FIG. is there. It is the schematic which showed the outline | summary of the load detection apparatus using the load detection fiber of the modification 9 of 2nd Embodiment typically, Comprising: It is the schematic diagram showing the state by which the external force is not applied to the load detection fiber. . It is a schematic diagram of the cross section along the AA line of the insulation part of FIG. 38A. It is a schematic diagram of the cross section along the BB line of the exposed part of FIG. 38A. It is a schematic diagram of the end surface of the core-sheath-shaped 1st wire used for FIG. 38A, and the 2nd wire which has an insulating layer. 38B is a schematic diagram of a cross section taken along the line BB of FIG. 38A in a state where an external force is applied to the load detection fiber of FIG. 38A, and is a schematic diagram of a cross section showing a state in which the external force is applied obliquely from the upper right side. is there. It is the schematic which showed the outline | summary of the load detection apparatus using the load detection fiber of the modification 10 of 2nd Embodiment typically, Comprising: It is the schematic diagram showing the state by which the external force is not applied to the load detection fiber. . It is a schematic diagram of the cross section along the AA line of the insulation part of FIG. 39A. It is a schematic diagram of the cross section along the BB line of the exposed part of FIG. 39A. It is a schematic diagram of the end surface of the 1st wire used for Drawing 39A, and the 2nd wire spun with the fiber (material) which has an insulating layer and has higher elastic modulus than the 1st wire. FIG. 39B is a schematic diagram of a cross section taken along line BB in FIG. 39A in a state where an external force is applied to the load detection fiber of FIG. 39A, and is a schematic diagram of a cross section showing a state in which the external force is applied obliquely from the upper right side. is there. It is the schematic which showed the outline | summary of the load detection apparatus using the load detection fiber of the modification 11 of 2nd Embodiment typically, Comprising: It is the schematic diagram showing the state by which the external force is not applied to the load detection fiber. . It is a schematic diagram of the cross section along the AA line of the insulation part of FIG. 40A. It is a schematic diagram of the cross section along the BB line of the exposed part of FIG. 40A. It is a schematic diagram of the end surface of the 1st wire rod used for Drawing 40A, and the flat 2nd wire rod which has an insulating layer. 40B is a schematic diagram of a cross section taken along the line BB of FIG. 40A in a state in which an external force is applied to the load detection fiber of FIG. 40A, and is a schematic diagram of a cross section showing a state in which the external force is applied obliquely from the upper right. is there. It is the schematic which showed the outline | summary of the load detection apparatus using the typical load detection fiber of the modification 12 of 2nd Embodiment typically, Comprising: The model showing the state by which the external force is not applied to the load detection fiber FIG. It is a schematic diagram of the cross section along the AA of the insulation part of FIG. 41A. It is a schematic diagram of the cross section along the BB line of the exposed part of FIG. 41A. It is a schematic diagram of the end surface of the 1st wire used for FIG. 41A, and the 2nd wire which has an insulating layer. 41B is a schematic diagram of a cross section taken along the line BB in FIG. 41A in a state in which an external force is applied to the load detection fiber of FIG. 41A, and is a schematic diagram of a cross section illustrating a state in which the external force is applied from the upper right side. is there. It is the schematic which showed typically the outline | summary of the load detection apparatus using the other load detection fiber of the modification 12 of 2nd Embodiment, Comprising: The schematic diagram showing the state by which the external force is not applied to the load detection fiber It is. It is a schematic diagram of the cross section along the AA line of the insulation part of FIG. 42A. It is a schematic diagram of the cross section along the BB line of the exposed part of FIG. 42A. It is a schematic diagram of the end surface of the 1st wire used for FIG. 42A, and the 2nd wire which has an insulating layer. 42B is a schematic diagram of a cross section taken along the line BB of FIG. 42A in a state where an external force is applied to the load detection fiber of FIG. 42A, and is a schematic diagram of a cross section showing a state in which the external force is applied obliquely from the upper right. is there. FIG. 5 is a schematic view showing an example in which an insulating layer is provided on an outer peripheral wire and the outer peripheral wire is wound around a central wire, and a configuration example in which no insulating layer 13 is left in the exposed portion 17 is shown. FIG. 4 is a schematic view schematically showing an example of a configuration in which an insulating layer is provided on a center wire, and an outer peripheral wire is wound around the center wire, and no insulating layer is left in an exposed portion. 6 is a drawing showing evaluation results of evaluation test 1 of Example 6. It is drawing which showed the evaluation result of the evaluation test 1 of Example A11. 6 is a drawing showing the evaluation results of evaluation test 2 of Example 6. It is drawing which showed the evaluation result of the evaluation test 2 of Example A11.

  The load detection fiber of the present invention includes an electrically conductive wire that is provided with an electrode portion for supplying power and is partially exposed by an insulating layer, and the wire is overlapped via the insulating layer. And when external force is added, it arrange | positions so that wires may contact through the exposed part which is not coat | covered with the said insulating layer, It is characterized by the above-mentioned. Furthermore, the wire has an insulating part whose surface is covered with the insulating layer, and the exposed part that is not covered with the insulating layer, and is arranged between a plurality of insulating parts along the longitudinal direction of the wire. The exposed portion is arranged.

In the load detection fiber of the present invention, an electrode part for supplying power is provided, and the wire having an insulating layer (hereinafter also referred to as an insulating part) and an exposed part on a part of the surface of the conductive wire has the insulation. Takes a layered structure through layers. Furthermore, in the load detection fiber of this invention, when external force is added, it arrange | positions so that wires may contact through the exposed part which is not coat | covered with the said insulating layer (form a contact part). With such a configuration, the above-described effects of the present invention can be achieved. In particular, the wire has an insulating portion whose surface is partially covered by the insulating layer, and the exposed portion that is not covered by the insulating layer, and is disposed between a plurality of insulating portions along the longitudinal direction of the wire. By adopting a configuration in which the exposed portion is arranged, the above-described operational effects of the present invention can be exhibited with higher accuracy.

  In the present invention, the wire includes first and second wires, and at least one of the first and second wires includes an insulating portion whose surface is covered with the insulating layer. And the exposed portion not covered with the insulating layer. And when external force is added, it may be arranged so that the first wire and the second wire are in contact with each other through the exposed portion. In this case, the electrode portion for supplying power may be provided with an anode (or cathode) electrode on the first wire side and another cathode (or anode) electrode on the second wire side. With such a configuration, when no external force is applied, either a closed circuit (FIG. 4) or an open circuit (FIGS. 12 to 18) can be employed. In addition, when external force is applied, by arranging a plurality of second wires, even if one of the wires is in contact with the first wire, it can sufficiently function as a load detection fiber Therefore, the detection sensitivity (accuracy) against external force can be improved. In this way, load detection capability such as load is high, and by using a plurality of load detection fibers, by arranging a plurality of load detection fibers in a predetermined arrangement, it is possible to measure the resistance change of each load detection fiber it can. Therefore, it is possible to grasp not only the magnitude of the load but also the position of the load.

  Here, both of the first and second wires may have an insulating portion whose surface is covered with the insulating layer and the exposed portion which is not covered with the insulating layer. . At this time, it is desirable that the exposed portion is disposed between a plurality of insulating portions along the longitudinal direction of both the first and second wire rods. Alternatively, only one of the first and second wires has an insulating portion whose surface is covered with the insulating layer and the exposed portion that is not covered with the insulating layer. May be. In this case, the other one of the first and second wires can be the one having only the exposed portion as described above. In this case, it is desirable that the exposed portion is disposed between a plurality of insulating portions along the longitudinal direction of one of the first and second wire members.

  In other words, the load detection fiber according to the present invention includes (1) an insulating portion in which a part of the surface of a conductive wire is covered with an insulating layer and an exposed portion of the conductive wire that is not covered with the insulating layer. And (2) a wire having an insulating portion in which a part of the surface of the conductive wire is covered with an insulating layer and an exposed portion of the conductive wire not covered with the insulating layer. And at least one wire selected from the group consisting of a wire having only an exposed portion of the conductive wire, and a second wire. And when external force is added, it may be arrange | positioned so that these 1st wire and 2nd wire may contact through the said exposed part.

  Here, it is preferable that the first wire and the second wire are held by the insulating portion. That is, in the load detection fiber of the present invention, when no external force is applied, the exposed portion is disposed between the plurality of insulating portions along the longitudinal direction of the wire, as shown in FIGS. 4A and 12A. The first wire and the second wire in the exposed portion are separated and overlapped with an insulating layer interposed therebetween. The interval between the first wire and the second wire in the exposed portion has a predetermined interval (corresponding to the thickness of the insulating layer). Further, in the structure of the load detection fiber, the first wire and the second wire are stacked and fixed and held via the insulating layer. Since the first wire and the second wire are fixed and held by the insulating portion, the first wire and the second wire in the exposed portion are in three-dimensional contact with each other when no external force is applied. There is no. Therefore, various combinations of the arrangement and shape of the wire can be applied, and the usage of the load detection fiber can be diversified. It is desirable that the first wire and the second wire are arranged parallel to each other along the longitudinal direction. By arranging the first wire and the second wire parallel to each other along the longitudinal direction, the load sensing fiber can obtain a load response in the portion where the load response is obtained (the exposed portion). This is because an output can be obtained. That is, the anisotropy of the response to the load application direction can be reduced. From this point of view, the second wire rod may be arranged in a spiral around the first wire rod (see FIGS. 14 and 36 to 44).

  In the case where a plurality of second wires are used, the first wire and any of the second wires are in contact with each other through the exposed portion according to the direction of the applied external force. It is preferable to arrange one wire so that a plurality of second wires surround it (see FIG. 19). By adopting such a configuration, when an external force is applied, even if one of the second wires and the first wire are in contact with each other, it can function sufficiently as a load detection fiber. The detection sensitivity (accuracy) can be improved. More specifically, for example, when the first wire and the second wire are arranged in a straight line parallel to the longitudinal direction of the wire one by one, the outside of the extension line of the perpendicular passing through (connecting) the two parallel wires The external force from the direction (vertical direction) can be sensitively sensed (the wires are easy to touch). However, it becomes harder to detect as it deviates from the perpendicular direction (outward) to which the external force is applied (the wires are less likely to contact each other). On the other hand, a plurality of second wires are arranged so as to surround the first wire in a cross section perpendicular to the wire longitudinal direction, and the plurality of second wires are all in the wire longitudinal direction with respect to the first wire. By arranging in parallel, it becomes easy to detect an external force from any direction. That is, the anisotropy of the response to the load application direction can be reduced.

  The load detection fiber of the present invention having the above-described configuration can be divided into the following two embodiments depending on the connection method with a power source (external circuit).

(First embodiment)
In the first embodiment of the load detection fiber of the present invention, when the electrode portion of the wire is electrically connected to a power source (external circuit), the load detection fiber becomes a closed circuit even when no external force is applied. Thus, it is constituted by an integral wire or ends of two wires are also connected (see FIG. 4D). The ends of the two wire rods referred to here are the ones of one wire rod having an anode electrode portion and the other wire rod having a cathode electrode portion provided with an end portion of each wire rod. This means that the other end portions are not provided with electrode portions. However, the end portion of the wire does not necessarily have to be the end portion of the wire, and one of the exposed portions described above may be used as the end portion.

  When an external force is applied to the load detection fiber, a connection circuit is formed through the contact portion (see FIG. 4G). By forming the connection circuit in this way, the resistance of the load detection fiber (closed circuit) changes low. As a result, the current flowing in the closed circuit increases. Further, the resistance of the connection circuit formed in the connection portion changes following the change of the external force. As a result, the amount of current flowing in the closed circuit changes. Therefore, if this current is monitored through an ammeter installed in an external circuit, a resistance change due to the external force (the presence or absence of a load and a load change) is accurately detected as a current change amount as a signal for the external force (load) ( Can be read).

  As described above, in this embodiment, the load change due to the external force, the presence / absence of the contact portion of the exposed portion designed with regularity to obtain the contact location and number information, and the resistance / current through the contact surface It can be accurately detected as a change (signal for load) (stable sensing is possible).

  Hereinafter, a first embodiment of a load detection fiber of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 4A is a schematic diagram schematically illustrating an outline of a load detection device using the load detection fiber of the present embodiment, and is a schematic diagram illustrating a state in which an external force is not applied to the load detection fiber. 4B is a sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 4A, FIG. 4C is a sectional view taken along line BB in FIG. 4A, and FIG. 4D is an equivalent circuit diagram of FIG. 4A. . FIG. 4E is a schematic diagram illustrating a state in which an external force is applied to the load detection fiber of FIG. 4A. 4F is a cross-sectional view taken along the line CC in FIG. 4E, and FIG. 4G is an equivalent circuit diagram of FIG. 4E.

  As shown to FIG. 4A, in the load detection fiber 10 used for the load detection apparatus 1, it comprises using the one conductive wire 11 coat | covered with the insulating layer 13 being partially exposed. Further, in this load detection fiber 10, the bent wires are overlapped via the insulating layer 13 by bending one conductive wire 11. The bent wires are arranged vertically parallel to each other in the longitudinal direction of the wire so as to extend linearly through the insulating layer 13. Further, an exposed portion 17 is disposed between a plurality of (two in FIG. 4A) insulating portions 15 along the longitudinal direction of the wire 11 that extends linearly in the longitudinal direction of the wire. Then, when an external force is applied, the upper and lower wire rods 11 of the exposed portion 17 are arranged in parallel at a distance D so that the upper and lower wire rods 11 come into contact with each other through the exposed portion 17 not covered with the insulating layer 13. ing. Specifically, at least one wire 11 of the exposed portion is elastically changed (deformed) by an external force, and can come into contact with the other wire 11.

  Here, the insulating portions 15 to which the upper and lower wire rods are fixed via the insulating layer 13 having the same thickness as the gap D are formed to be spaced apart in the longitudinal direction of the wire rod (on the drawing, both the left and right sides of the exposed portion) via the exposed portion 17. Thus, the upper and lower wire rods of the exposed portion 17 disposed between the insulating portions 15 can also be disposed with the same interval D maintained.

  Moreover, the cross-sectional part of the insulating part 15 along the AA line of FIG. 4A has a structure in which the stacked wire rods 11 are arranged vertically via the insulating layer 13 as shown in FIG. 4B. Yes. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 4C, the cross-sectional portion of the exposed portion 17 along the line BB in FIG. 4A in a state where no external force is applied is such that the stacked wire members 11 have the same thickness as the insulating layer 13. It has a structure in which the gap D (= space 21) is maintained vertically.

  In the load detection device 1 using the load detection fiber 10, the electrode portions 14 a and 14 b provided at both ends of the upper and lower wires 11 are connected via an ammeter 25 for monitoring the current flowing through the load detection fiber. The power source (external circuit) 19 is electrically connected using an electric wire 27. It is desirable that the electrode portions 14 a and 14 b provided at both ends of the wire 11 are not covered with the insulating layer 13. This is for facilitating electrical connection with an external electric wire 27 or the like. In addition, when the electric wire 27 is a metal wire such as a copper wire, a connecting member such as a caulking member or a solder may be used to electrically connect the wire 27 and the conductive wire. .

  In the present embodiment, one wire 11 is folded in two and stacked with the insulating layer 13 interposed therebetween, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, two wire rods 11 are used, and these wire rods 11 are arranged one above the other with an insulating layer 13 therebetween, and electrode portions provided at ends connected to the power source (external circuit) 19 of the two wire rods 11. You may connect the other end parts on the opposite side directly or using an electric wire or a conductive wire. This is because a portion corresponding to the bent portion 16 in FIG. 4A can be formed by such a configuration, and a similar circuit can be constructed.

  Therefore, the configuration of each load detection fiber 10 ′ shown in FIGS. 12 to 19 described in the second embodiment to be described later can also be applied to this embodiment. That is, as shown in FIG. 12, the electrode portion 14a provided at the end portion of the first wire 11a and the electrode portion 14b provided at the other end portion of the second wire 11b are connected to the power source (external circuit) 19, and the external force In the second embodiment, an open circuit is formed with no added. In the second embodiment, the other end portion (non-electrode portion) 18a of the first wire rod and the end portion (non-electrode portion) 18b of the second wire rod are not connected anywhere. Further, from the viewpoint of preventing the end portion (non-electrode portion) 18b of the second wire rod from coming into contact with the electrode portion 14a provided at the end portion of the first wire rod 11a, the end portion (non-electrode portion) of the second wire rod. It is desirable to remove all or a part of the exposed portion 18b by an appropriate method so as not to be greatly exposed from the insulating layer 15. From the same viewpoint, it is desirable that the other end portion (non-electrode portion) 18a of the first wire rod is also removed by an appropriate method so that it is not exposed greatly from the insulating layer 15. On the other hand, the electrode portion 14a of the first wire rod and the electrode portion 14b of the second wire rod of FIG. 12 are connected to the power source 19, and the other end portion (non-electrode portion) 18a of the first wire rod and the other end portion of the second wire rod ( In this embodiment, the non-electrode portion) 18b is connected directly or by an electric wire or the like, and a closed circuit is formed without applying an external force.

Next, FIG. 4D is an equivalent circuit in a state where no external force is applied to the load detection fiber 10 of the present embodiment. (1) is shown in this equivalent circuit, part series circuit is connecting in parallel a plurality of contact resistance R _n and the switch S _n is an equivalent circuit of the exposed portion 17. (2) R shown in this equivalent circuit forms a resistance of the wire 11. In a state where external force is not applied, in all the above state where the switch S _n is open in the equivalent circuit of the exposed portion 17 of (1) (not conducting). Therefore, in the state where no external force is applied, a closed circuit in which only the resistance R of the wire rod (2) is connected (conducted) is formed (see FIG. 4D).

  Next, in the load detection device 1 using the load detection fiber 10, a state in which an external force is applied will be described.

  In the load detection device 1 using the load detection fiber 10, when an external force (load) is applied, the upper and lower wire members 11 pass through the exposed portion 17 not covered with the insulating layer 13 as shown in FIGS. 4E and 4F. Are in contact with each other to form a contact portion 23. Here, following the change (load change) of the applied external force, the width (region) where the upper and lower wire rods contact changes. For example, as shown in FIG. 4E, when the applied external force is small, the upper wire 11 to which the external force is applied is deformed small as shown by the solid line, and the width of contact between the upper and lower wires becomes small. When the applied external force is large, the upper wire 11 to which the external force is applied is greatly deformed as indicated by the broken line, and the width of contact between the upper and lower wires increases.

  In the load detection fiber 10 of the present embodiment, a case where an external force is applied will be described using the equivalent circuit diagram of FIG. 4G.

In the same manner as explained in FIG. 4D, (1) shows in the equivalent circuit of FIG. 4G, part series circuit is connecting in parallel a plurality of contact resistance R _n and the switch S _n is the equivalent circuit of the exposed portion 17 Yes, (2) R shown in this equivalent circuit forms the resistance of the wire 11. In a state where external force is applied, as shown in FIG. 4G, there are shown in this equivalent circuit, the state of the switch S _n is closed (is conducting). Therefore, when an external force is applied, a circuit in which one or more series circuits in which the switch S of the equivalent circuit of the exposed portion 17 in (1) is closed is connected in parallel and the resistance R of the wire in (2) is (parallel). A connected closed circuit is formed (see FIG. 4G).

Here, following the change of the applied external force (load change), the width of the upper and lower wire contact each other (area) is changed, the number of switches S _n to conduct changes. This changes the resistance of the closed circuit. As a result, the current flowing in the closed circuit changes. For example, as the external force applied increases, the number of switches S _n to conduct is increased. This reduces the resistance of the closed circuit. As a result, the current flowing in the closed circuit increases. Thus, the switch S _n of (1), which shows in this equivalent circuit (conductive) number close if a load or a number to open (not conducting) or by the load sensor (referred load detecting both.) As a function. This function appears on the same principle even when it is composed of a plurality of conductive wires. As a result, it is possible to obtain a signal having a higher load resolution than the signal obtained by the invention described in Patent Document 1 described above. That is, the part where the upper and lower wires can come into contact with each other by an external force can be specified as the exposed portion 17 designed with regularity so as to obtain the contact position and number information. Therefore, when an external force is applied, accurate contact location and numerical information can be extracted through the presence or absence of contact between the wires for each exposed portion. Thereby, the equivalent circuit can be made constant (see FIG. 4G and FIG. 2 in comparison). Therefore, the load signal (resistance change value) can be stabilized (see FIG. 35 and FIG. 3 in comparison), position information such as load measurement and coordinate measurement, and load change can be accurately detected as resistance change. It can be used as a load sensing fiber that can sense space-saving. In particular, by using a constant voltage power source or a battery with a stable voltage as the power source 19, it is possible to accurately detect (read) a resistance change due to the external force as a current change amount as a signal for the external force (load). Therefore, in the load detection fabric in which the load detection fiber 10 is woven in the vertical and horizontal directions, position detection and load detection on the fabric can be performed.

In addition, when the external force is applied to the upper and lower wires 11 of the exposed portion 17, as shown in FIG. 4E, if the external force is not applied due to rapid elastic deformation following the change (load change) of the external force. As long as it can be quickly recovered (restored) to the original state as shown in FIG. 4A. This is not limited to this embodiment, and the same applies to a second embodiment described later. That is, the conductive wire that can be used in the present invention quickly contacts the elastic deformation following the external force change (load change), and when the external force disappears, the elastic wire quickly recovers and moves away from the original position. Any elastic change may be reversibly (repetitively) returned to (position separated by the interval D). Thus, with respect to an external force, can be generated resistance / current change upon ON / OFF and ON of the switch S _n of the load sensing fiber 10 quickly follow, it is carried out long-term stable operation with high precision It can be used as a load detection sensor that can. Any wire that can change elasticity as described above can be suitably used as long as it is a conductive fiber (wire) containing a conductive polymer formed by spinning as described later.

(Second Embodiment)
Next, in the second embodiment of the load detection fiber of the present invention, when the electrode part of the wire of the load detection fiber is electrically connected to the power source (external circuit), this load is not applied. The wire is connected so that the detection fiber becomes an open circuit.

  When an external force is applied to the load detection fiber, a conductive path is formed between the wires through the contact portion of the exposed portion, and a connection circuit (closed circuit) is formed. As a result, current flows in the closed circuit. Further, the resistance of the connection circuit formed at the contact portion changes following the change of the external force. As a result, the amount of current flowing in the closed circuit changes. Therefore, in this embodiment, if this current is monitored through an ammeter installed in an external circuit, a resistance change due to the external force (the presence or absence of a load and a load change) is used as a current change amount as a signal for the external force (load). It can be detected (read) with high accuracy.

  As described above, in the present embodiment as well, resistance / current through the presence / absence of the contact portion of the exposed portion and the number of contact surfaces designed with regularity to obtain the contact location and number information for the load change due to external force. It can be accurately detected as a change (signal for load) (stable sensing is possible).

  Hereinafter, a second embodiment of the load detection fiber of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 12A is a schematic diagram schematically showing an outline of a load detection device using the load detection fiber shown in the second embodiment, and is a schematic diagram showing a state where no external force is applied to the load detection fiber. is there. 12B is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 12A, FIG. 12C is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB in FIG. 12A, and FIG. 12D is an equivalent circuit diagram of FIG. . FIG. 12E is a schematic diagram illustrating a state in which an external force is applied to the load detection fiber of FIG. 12A. 12F is a cross-sectional view taken along line CC in FIG. 12E, and FIG. 12G is a cross-sectional view taken along line DD in FIG. 12E. FIG. 12H is a schematic diagram illustrating a state in which an external force larger than the external force in FIG. 12E is applied to the load detection fiber in FIG. 12A. FIG. 12I is an equivalent circuit diagram of FIGS. 12E to 12H.

  As shown in FIG. 12A, the load detection fiber 10 ′ used in the load detection device 1 ′ of the present embodiment uses two wires, a first wire 11 a and a second wire 11 b, as conductive wires. It is configured. These wires 11 a and 11 b have an insulating portion 15 whose surface is partially covered with an insulating layer 13 and the exposed portion 17 that is not covered with the insulating layer 13. Here, the first wire 11a and the second wire 11b are arranged vertically in parallel in the longitudinal direction of the wire so as to extend linearly. Further, an exposed portion 17 is disposed between a plurality (two in FIG. 12A) of insulating portions 15 along the longitudinal direction of the wires 11a and 11b. In the state where no external force is applied, the wires 11a and 11b of the exposed portion 17 are arranged in parallel to the longitudinal direction of the wire while maintaining the distance D in the vertical direction (direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the wire) (see FIG. 12A-12C). Then, when an external force is applied to the load detection fiber 10 ′, the wires 11 a and 11 b come into contact with each other through the exposed portion 17. Specifically, the exposed wire 11a is elastically changed (deformed) by an external force and can come into contact with the wire 11b.

  Here, in the load detection fiber 10 ′, the insulating portion 15 is fixed inside the insulating layer 13 so that the two wire rods 11 a and 11 b are overlapped in parallel with the same interval as the interval D (via). , And spaced apart in the longitudinal direction of the wire (in the drawing, both the left and right sides of the exposed portion) via the exposed portion 17. With this configuration, the wires 11a and 11b of the exposed portion 17 between the insulating portions 15 can be arranged in parallel with the interval D maintained. That is, as shown in FIG. 12B, the cross-sectional portion of the insulating portion 15 along the line AA in FIG. 12A is such that the overlapping (facing) wire rods 11 a and 11 b are the same as the distance D inside the insulating layer 13. The structure is arranged in parallel (with a space). On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 12C, the cross-sectional portion of the exposed portion 17 along the line BB in FIG. 12A in the state where no external force is applied is formed by overlapping (facing) the wires 11 a and 11 b with each other. 13 has a structure in which the same distance D (= space 21) as the internal distance is maintained in parallel.

  In the load detection fiber 10 ′ shown in FIG. 12, the first wire (group) 11a and the second wire (group) 11b have the same material and thickness (fiber diameter d) as shown in the figure. An example using one of each is shown.

Moreover, in the load detection fiber 10 ′ of the present embodiment, the wires 11a and 11b of the insulating portion 15 are arranged in parallel with a gap D inside the integrated insulating layer 13 as shown in FIG. 12B. ing. For example, for the wire 11a having the insulating layer 13a and the wire 11b having no insulating layer arranged as shown in FIG. 19A, an insulating material is further applied to the outer peripheral portion of the wire 11a using an apparatus as shown in FIG. Thus, the integrated insulating layer 13 can be formed. Alternatively, an integrated insulating layer 13 is formed by further applying and fixing an insulating material to the outer peripheral portions of the wires 11a and 11b having the insulating layers 13a and 13b arranged as shown in FIG. 19D. You can also. This also applies to the embodiments of FIGS. 13, 15, and 17 having the same structure. In the embodiment of FIG. 13, an insulating layer having an integrated structure shown in FIG. 13B is obtained by further applying and fixing an insulating material to the outer peripheral portions of the wires 11a and 11b arranged as shown in FIGS. 19G and 19J. 13 can be formed. In the embodiment of FIG. 15, the wires 11 a and 11 b _{1 to} 11 b ₆ arranged as shown in FIG. 19C and FIG. An insulating layer 13 having a structure can be formed. In the embodiment of FIG. 17, the wires 11 a and 11 b _{1 to} 11 b ₆ arranged as shown in FIG. 19I and FIG. An insulating layer 13 having a structure can be formed.

  In the load detection device 1 ′ of the present embodiment, the electrode portion 14 a of the wire 11 a and the electrode portion 14 b of the wire 11 b of the load detection fiber 10 ′ are connected via the current measuring device 25 for monitoring the current flowing through the device circuit. The constant voltage power supply device 19 is electrically connected (wired) using an electric wire 27. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 12A, the electrode part 14a at the end of the wire 11a and the electrode part 14b at the end of the wire 11b connected to the external circuit are formed on the left and right different insulating parts 15 separated by the exposed part 17. An example is shown. However, the end portions of the wires 11a and 11b in the same insulating portion 15 are formed by forming an electrode portion (not shown) on the wire 11b end portion 18b in the same insulating portion 15 as the electrode portion 14a at the end portion of the wire 11a. May be connected to an external circuit (constant voltage power supply device 19) using the electrode portion.

FIG. 12D is an equivalent circuit in a state where no external force is applied to the load detection fiber 10 ′ of the present embodiment. Here, (1) the portion is shown in this equivalent circuit, the series circuit of the contact resistance R _n and the switch S _n is plural parallel connections, an equivalent circuit of the exposed portion 17. (2) In this embodiment, the resistance R (not shown) of the wire 11 exists as in the first embodiment, but is omitted in this embodiment. In a state where external force is not applied, as shown in FIG. 12D, in this shows in the equivalent circuit, (not conducting) all state switch S _n is open. Further, the two wires 11a and 11b are arranged in parallel with each other with a distance D therebetween, and are not in electrical contact with each other, so that the wires 11a and 11b are not electrically connected at all. . Therefore, in this state, the load detection fiber 10 ′ (between the electrode portions 14a-14b of the wire) is an open circuit (see FIG. 12D).

  Next, a state in which an external force is applied in the load detection device 1 ′ using the load detection fiber 10 ′ will be described.

  In the load detection device 1 ′, when an external force is applied to the load detection fiber 10 ′, as shown in FIGS. 12E and 12G, the wire members 11a and 11b come into contact with each other through the exposed portion 17 to form the contact portion 23. It is in a state. Here, following the change of the applied external force (load), the contact surface (contact width or region) of the contact portion 23 of the exposed portion 17 of the wire rods 11a and 11b changes. For example, as shown in FIG. 12E, when the applied external force (load) is small, the upper-side wire 11a to which the external force is applied is deformed small, and the contact portion 23 between the two wires 11a and 11b is deformed. The contact surface (width or area) is small. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 12H, when the applied external force (load) is large, the upper wire 11a to which the external force is applied is greatly deformed, and the contact portion 23 between the two wires 11a and 11b is deformed. The contact surface (width or area) is large.

  Next, a case where an external force (load) is applied in the load detection device 1 ′ using the load detection fiber 10 ′ of the present embodiment will be described with reference to an equivalent circuit diagram of FIG. 12I.

In the same manner as it explained in FIG. 12D, the portion is shown in the equivalent circuit of FIG. 12I, the series circuit of the contact resistance R _n and the switch S _n is plural parallel connections, an equivalent circuit of the exposed portion 17. In a state where external force (load) is applied, as shown in FIG. 12I, there is shown in this equivalent circuit, the state of the switch S _n is closed (is conducting). Therefore, in this state, a connection circuit (closed circuit: conductive path) in which one or a plurality of series circuits in which the switch S of the equivalent circuit is closed is connected in parallel is formed, and a current flows through the device 1 ′.

Furthermore, also in this embodiment, following the change of the applied external force (load), the width of the two wires 11a, is 11b with each other in contact (region) is changed, the number of switches S _n to conduct change To do. This changes the resistance of the closed circuit. As a result, the current flowing in the closed circuit changes. For example, as the applied external force (load) increases, the number of switches S _n to conduct is increased. This reduces the resistance of the closed circuit. As a result, the current flowing in the closed circuit increases. Thus, as a number switch S _n of the exposed portion is shown in this equivalent circuit, if a load or close (conducting to) certain open (not conducting) or by the load sensor (referred load detecting both.) The function of This function appears on the same principle even when it is composed of three or more conductive wires. As a result, it is possible to obtain a signal having a higher load resolution than the signal obtained by the invention described in Patent Document 1 described above. That is, the portion where the two wire rods 11a and 11b can be in contact with each other can be specified (constantly) only in the exposed portion 17 by the load (load). For this reason, the equivalent circuit can also be made constant (see FIG. 12I and FIG. 2 in comparison), so that the signal with respect to the load (current change amount due to resistance change) is stabilized, and position information such as load measurement and coordinate measurement can be obtained. It can be a load sensing fiber that can sense the load in space. In particular, by using a constant voltage power source or a battery with a stable voltage as the power source 19, it is possible to accurately detect (read) a resistance change due to the external force as a current change amount as a signal for the external force (load). For this reason, in a load detection fabric (device 1 ′) in which the load detection fiber 10 ′ is woven vertically and horizontally, position detection and load detection on the fabric can be performed.

It should be noted that the wire rods 11a and 11b of the exposed portion 17 are elastically deformed as shown in FIGS. 12E and 12H only when an external force is applied, and when the external force is no longer applied, the original wire as shown in FIG. What is necessary is just to recover (restore) the state. That is, the conductive wire that can be used in the present embodiment also comes into contact with an elastic deformation caused by an external force (load), and when the external force disappears, the elastic wire quickly recovers and separates to the original position (space D). Any phenomenon may be used as long as the phenomenon of returning to the position) occurs reversibly (repetitively). Thus, with respect to an external force, can be generated resistance / current change upon ON / OFF and ON of the switch S _n of connection circuit of the load sensing fiber 10 quickly follow, stable operation with high precision long-term It can be used as a load detection sensor that can be performed. Any wire that can change elasticity as described above can be suitably used as long as it is a conductive fiber containing a conductive polymer formed by spinning as described later.

(Modification 1 of 2nd Embodiment)
Modification 1 of the second embodiment is an example that employs a configuration that reduces the anisotropy of the response to the load application direction. Modification 1 will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 13A is a schematic diagram schematically illustrating an outline of a load detection device using the load detection fiber of Modification Example 1, and is a schematic diagram illustrating a state in which an external force is not applied to the load detection fiber. . 13B is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 13A, and FIG. 13C is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB in FIG. 13A. 13D to 13F are cross-sectional views taken along the line BB of FIG. 13A in a state where an external force is applied to the load detection fiber of FIG. 13A. Among these, FIG. 13D is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state in which an external force is applied from directly above, FIG. 13E is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state in which the external force is applied obliquely from the upper right, and FIG. It is sectional drawing showing a mode that it added from diagonally upward. In FIG. 13, the drawings corresponding to FIGS. 12D to 12F and 12H to 12I shown in FIG. 12 are omitted.

  In FIG. 13 showing the configuration of the first modification, in the load detection fiber 10 ′ of the load detection device 1 ′ shown in FIG. 12, the first wire 11a and the second wire 11b have different thicknesses (fiber diameter d). ) Is used in each case. The other configuration is the same as that of FIG.

  In the first modification, by using the thick wire 11b having a large fiber diameter, as shown in FIGS. 13E and 13F, even if an external force is not applied from above (directly above) the extended line connecting the wire 11a and the wire 11b, the wire is used. 11a can be brought into contact with the wire 11b. In other words, the wire 11a is elastically deformed by applying an external force from an obliquely upward direction to some extent, so that it can be brought into firm contact with the side surface of the thick wire 11b having a large fiber diameter. Therefore, it is excellent in that an external force applied from a wider direction (angle) can be detected not only directly above. Thus, in the configuration of the present modification, the anisotropy of the response with respect to the load application direction can be reduced. Therefore, as an application example of the first modification, the same effect can be obtained by configuring both the wire 11a and the wire 11b with a thick wire having a large fiber diameter.

(Modification 2 of the second embodiment)
The second modification of the second embodiment is also an example formed by adopting a configuration that reduces the anisotropy of the response to the load application direction. Modification 2 will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 14A is a schematic diagram schematically showing an outline of a load detection device using the load detection fiber of the second modification, and is a schematic diagram showing a state in which no external force is applied to the load detection fiber. . 14B is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA of the insulating portion of FIG. 14A, FIG. 14C is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB of the exposed portion of FIG. 14A, and FIG. It is sectional drawing along CC line of the exposed part. In FIG. 14, the drawings corresponding to FIGS. 12D to 12I shown in FIG. 12 are omitted. FIG. 14A is a partial cross-sectional schematic view showing the cross section of the insulating portion 15 so that the internal structure of the insulating layer 13 can be seen, and the exposed portion 17 showing a side view so that the spiral structure of the wire 11b can be seen. is there.

  In FIG. 14 showing the configuration of the second modification, in the load detection fiber 10 ′ of the load detection device 1 ′ shown in FIG. 12, the second wire 11b is spirally arranged around the first wire 11a. Is adopted. That is, a first wire 11a that extends linearly in the longitudinal direction of the wire, and a second wire 11b that is spirally arranged around the wire 11a so as to maintain a distance D around the wire 11a. And a configuration using one each. The other configuration is the same as that of FIG.

  In the second modification, the second wire 11b is arranged in a spiral around the first wire 11a, so that the wire 11b can be brought into contact with the wire 11a regardless of the external force applied from any direction. That is, no matter which part of the spiral wire 11b is applied, the wire 11b of the part to which the external force is applied is elastically deformed in the internal direction (the center direction where the wire 11a is present), so that the wire 11a is firmly attached. It can be contacted. Therefore, it is excellent in that an external force applied from any direction (angle) as well as directly above can be detected with high sensitivity and high accuracy. For example, in FIG. 14C, an external force from directly above can be detected, and in FIG. 14D, an external force from directly below can be detected, and although not shown, by changing the cross-sectional position of the exposed portion 17, The arrangement is such that an external force from any direction (angle) can be detected. In other words, the spiral wire 11b makes one turn around the wire 11a, so that an external force applied from any direction (angle) can be detected with high sensitivity and high accuracy. Thus, the configuration of the present modification is an excellent configuration in that the anisotropy of the response to the load application direction can be significantly reduced.

(Modification 3 of 2nd Embodiment)
Modification 3 of the second embodiment is also an example in which a configuration that reduces the anisotropy of the response to the load application direction is adopted. Modification 3 will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 15A is a schematic diagram schematically showing an outline of a load detection device using the load detection fiber of the third modification, and is a schematic diagram showing a state where no external force is applied to the load detection fiber. . 15B is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 15A, and FIG. 15C is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB in FIG. 15A. 15D to 15E are cross-sectional views taken along the line BB of FIG. 15A in a state where an external force is applied to the load detection fiber of FIG. 15A. Among these, FIG. 15D is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which an external force is applied from directly above, FIG. 15E is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the external force is applied obliquely from the upper right, and FIG. It is sectional drawing showing a mode that it added from diagonally downward. In FIG. 15, the drawings corresponding to FIGS. 12D to 12F and 12H to 12I shown in FIG. 12 are omitted.

  In FIG. 15 showing the configuration of the third modified example, in the load detection fiber 10 ′ of the load detection device 1 ′ shown in FIG. 12, one first wire 11a and a plurality of second wire 11b (six) ) Is used.

That is, in the third modification, the wire longitudinal direction of the wire 11a extending linearly arranged in the center, the wire longitudinal direction in parallel to each other disposed a wire rod 11b ₁ ~11b ₆ and wire 11a of six extending linearly in is doing. Further, as shown in FIGS. 15B and 15C, the wire rods 11b _{1 to} 11b _{6 in} the cross section along the lines AA and BB in FIG. 15A are concentric on the wire rod 11a and the like on a concentric circle corresponding to the radius D. They are arranged at intervals (6 equal parts). In other words, in which respective wires _11b 1 _{~11b 6} at intervals D around the central wire 11a are arranged at equal intervals. As shown in FIG. 15B, the insulating portion 15 is provided with a concentric insulating layer 13 centered on the wire 11a so as to cover all of the wires 11a, 11b _{1 to} 11b ₆ . Moreover, the same thing is used for the thickness (fiber diameter) of wire 11a, 11b.

In wiring to the power source 19 (external circuit), the electrode portion 14a at the end of the wire 11a is connected to one of the power sources (for example, the + pole side), and the electrode portions 14b _{1 to} 14b at the ends of the wires 11b _{1 to} 11b ₆ are connected. ₆ (only 14b ₁ and 14b ₄ are shown) is connected to the other side (the negative pole side) of the power source. The other configuration is the same as that of FIG.

Also in the configuration of the third modification, as shown in FIGS. 15D to 15F, if an external force is applied from the outside of the extended line connecting the wire 11a and the wires 11b _{1 to} 11b ₆ or from the vicinity thereof, one of the wires 11b _{1 to} 11b ₆ is used. One can be brought into contact with the wire 11a. That is, no matter which direction the external force is applied, at least one of the wires 11b _{1 to} 11b ₆ can be elastically deformed and can come into contact with the wire 11a located at the center thereof. That is, in the configuration of the third modification, external force applied from all directions (all directions) can be detected with high accuracy, and the anisotropy of the response to the load application direction can be greatly reduced. It is. Therefore, as an application example of the third modification, a higher effect can be obtained by configuring the wire 11a with a thick wire having a large fiber diameter as in the first application (see modification 5 in FIG. 17 described later). . Similarly, a higher effect can be obtained by further increasing the number of the wires 11b. At this time, it is preferable to set the number of wires so that the interval between the wires 11b is not too narrow.

(Modification 4 of the second embodiment)
The modification 4 of 2nd Embodiment is also an example which employ | adopts the structure which reduces the anisotropy of the response with respect to a load application direction. Modification 4 will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 16A is a schematic diagram schematically illustrating an outline of a load detection device using the load detection fiber of Modification Example 4, and is a schematic diagram illustrating a state in which an external force is not applied to the load detection fiber. . 16B is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 16A, and FIG. 16C is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB in FIG. 16A. 16D to 16E are cross-sectional views along the line BB in FIG. 16A in a state where an external force is applied to the load detection fiber in FIG. 16A. Among these, FIG. 16D is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state in which an external force is applied from directly above, FIG. 16E is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state in which the external force is applied obliquely from the upper right side, and FIG. It is sectional drawing showing a mode that it added from diagonally downward. In FIG. 16, the drawings corresponding to FIGS. 12D to 12F and 12H to 12I shown in FIG. 12 are omitted.

  In FIG. 16 showing the configuration of the fourth modification, in the load detection fiber 10 ′ of the load detection device 1 ′ shown in FIG. 12, one first wire 11a and the second wire 11b consisting only of the exposed portion are included. A configuration using a plurality (six) is adopted.

That is, in the present modification 4, the wire longitudinal direction of the wire 11a extending linearly arranged in the center, the wire longitudinal direction in parallel to each other disposed a wire rod 11b ₁ ~11b ₆ and wire 11a of six extending linearly in is doing. Further, as shown in FIGS. 16B and 16C, the wire rods 11b _{1 to} 11b _{6 in} the cross section along the lines AA and BB in FIG. 16A are concentric on the wire rod 11a and the like on a concentric circle corresponding to the radius D. They are arranged at intervals (6 equal parts). In other words, in which respective wires _11b 1 _{~11b 6} at intervals D around the central wire 11a are arranged at equal intervals. Further, as shown in FIG. 16B, the insulating portion 15 is provided with a concentric insulating layer 13 centered on the wire 11a so as to cover the entire periphery of the wire 11a located at the center. Then, on the circumference of the insulating layer 13 wire 11b ₁ ~11b ₆ which insulating layer (radius D equivalent concentrically around the wire 11a) has only exposed portion not covered equidistant (6 equal parts) It is the composition arranged in. Moreover, the same thing is used for the thickness (fiber diameter) of wire 11a, 11b.

In wiring to the power source 19 (external circuit), the electrode portion 14a at the end of the wire 11a is connected to one of the power sources (for example, the + pole side), and the electrode portions 14b _{1 to} 14b at the ends of the wires 11b _{1 to} 11b ₆ are connected. ₆ (only 14b ₁ and 14b ₄ are shown) is connected to the other side (the negative pole side) of the power source. The other configuration is the same as that of FIG.

Also in the configuration of the fourth modification, as shown in FIGS. 16D to 16F, if an external force is applied from the outside of the extended line connecting the wire 11a and the wire 11b _{1 to} 11b ₆ or from the vicinity thereof, _{1 of the} wires 11b _{1 to} 11b ₆ One can be brought into contact with the wire 11a. That is, no matter which direction the external force is applied, at least one of the wires 11b _{1 to} 11b ₆ can be elastically deformed and can come into contact with the wire 11a located at the center thereof. That is, in the configuration of the fourth modification, an external force applied from all directions (all directions) can be detected with high accuracy, and the anisotropy of the response to the load application direction can be greatly reduced. It is. Accordingly, as an application example of the fourth modification, a higher effect can be obtained by configuring the wire 11a with a thick wire having a large fiber diameter as in the first application (see modification 6 in FIG. 18 described later). . Similarly, a higher effect can be obtained by further increasing the number of the wires 11b. At this time, it is preferable to set the number of wires so that the interval between the wires 11b is not too narrow.

(Modification 5 of the second embodiment)
Modification 5 of the second embodiment is also an example in which a configuration that reduces the anisotropy of the response to the load application direction is adopted. Modification 5 will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 17A is a schematic diagram schematically illustrating an outline of a load detection device using the load detection fiber of Modification Example 5, and is a schematic diagram illustrating a state in which no external force is applied to the load detection fiber. . 17B is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 17A, and FIG. 17C is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB in FIG. 17A. 17D to 17E are cross-sectional views along the line BB in FIG. 17A in a state where an external force is applied to the load detection fiber in FIG. 17A. Among these, FIG. 17D is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state in which an external force is applied from directly above, and FIG. 17E is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state in which the external force is applied obliquely from the upper right. FIG. 17F is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state in which an external force is applied from the right (lateral) direction, and FIG. 17G is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state in which an external force is applied from the lower right side. In FIG. 17, the drawings corresponding to FIGS. 12D to 12F and 12H to 12I shown in FIG. 12 are omitted.

  In FIG. 17 showing the configuration of the fifth modification, in the load detection fiber 10 ′ of the load detection device 1 ′ shown in FIG. 15, the first wire 11a and the second wire 11b have different thicknesses (fibers). A configuration using a diameter d) is adopted. In detail, it is the structure using the thick wire 11a with a large fiber diameter. The other configuration is the same as that of FIG. Therefore, in FIG. 17, like FIG. 15, the drawings corresponding to FIGS. 12D to 12F and 12H to 12I shown in FIG. 12 are omitted. That is, in the fifth modification, in the load detection fiber 10 ′ of the load detection device 1 ′ shown in FIG. 12, one thick first wire 11a having a large fiber diameter and one thin second wire 11b having a small fiber diameter are used. A configuration using a plurality of (six) is adopted.

In this modified example 5, it was placed a wire 11a extending linearly in the wire longitudinal direction in the center, wire longitudinally arranged in parallel to each other and thick wires 11a and six wire 11b ₁ ~11b ₆ extending linearly in and ing. Further, as shown in FIGS. 17B and 17C, the wire rods 11b _{1 to} 11b _{6 in} the cross-section along the lines AA and BB in FIG. 17A are concentric circles corresponding to the radius D around the thick wire rod 11a. They are arranged at equal intervals (6 equal parts). In other words, in which respective wires _11b 1 _{~11b 6} around the central thick wire 11a at intervals D are arranged at equal intervals. Further, as shown in FIG. 17B, the insulating portion 15, these wires _11a, so as to cover all of 11b 1 ~11b _6, concentric insulating layer 13 around the wire 11a is provided.

In wiring to the power source 19 (external circuit), the electrode portion 14a at the end of the thick wire 11a is connected to one of the power sources (for example, the + pole side), and the electrode portions 14b _{1 to} 14b at the ends of the wires 11b _{1 to} 11b ₆ are connected. ₆ (only 14b ₁ and 14b ₄ are shown) is connected to the other power source (for example, the negative electrode side). The other configuration is the same as that of FIG.

Even in the configuration of the fifth modification example, as shown in FIGS. 17D to 17G, even if the external force is applied from the outside of the extended line connecting the thick wire 11a and the wires 11b _{1 to} 11b ₆ and from other directions, the wires 11b ₁ to 11b ₁ . At least one of 11b ₆ can be brought into contact with the wire 11a. In particular, as shown in FIG. 17F, rather than towards an extension outside the external force is connecting wire 11a and the wire _11b 1 _{~11b 6,} laterally even when the applied from (side), the wire _11b 2, 11b ₃ is elastically deformed so that it can firmly come into contact with the side surface of the thick wire 11b having a large fiber diameter. That is, no matter which direction the external force is applied, at least one of the wires 11b _{1 to} 11b ₆ is elastically deformed so that it can come into contact with the thick wire 11a located at the center thereof. That is, in the configuration of Modification 5, external force applied from all directions (omnidirectional) can be detected with high accuracy without leaking, and the anisotropy of the response to the load application direction is remarkably high. It can be reduced. As an application example of the fifth modification, a higher effect can be obtained by further increasing the number of the wires 11b. At this time, it is preferable to set the number of wires so that the interval between the wires 11b is not too narrow.

(Modification 6 of the second embodiment)
Modification 6 of the second embodiment is also an example in which a configuration that reduces the anisotropy of the response to the load application direction is adopted. Modification 6 will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 18A is a schematic diagram schematically illustrating an outline of a load detection device using the load detection fiber of Modification 6 and is a schematic diagram illustrating a state in which an external force is not applied to the load detection fiber. . 18B is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 18A, and FIG. 18C is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB in FIG. 18A. 18D to 18G are cross-sectional views taken along line BB in FIG. 18A in a state where an external force is applied to the load detection fiber in FIG. 18A. 18D is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state in which an external force is applied from directly above, and FIG. 18E is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state in which the external force is applied obliquely from the upper right. FIG. 18F is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state in which an external force is applied from the right (lateral) direction, and FIG. 18G is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state in which the external force is applied obliquely from the lower right. In FIG. 18, the drawings corresponding to FIGS. 12D to 12F and 12H to 12I shown in FIG. 12 are omitted.

  FIG. 18 showing the configuration of the sixth modified example shows different thicknesses (fibers) between the first wire 11a and the second wire 11b in the load detection fiber 10 ′ of the load detection device 1 ′ shown in FIG. A configuration using a diameter d) is adopted. In detail, it is the structure using the thick wire 11a with a large fiber diameter. The other configuration is the same as that of FIG. Therefore, in FIG. 18, as in FIG. 16, drawings corresponding to FIGS. 12D to 12F and 12H to 12I shown in FIG. 12 are omitted. That is, in the sixth modification, in the load detection fiber 10 ′ of the load detection device 1 ′ shown in FIG. 12, one thick first wire 11a having a large fiber diameter and one thin second wire 11b having a small fiber diameter are used. A configuration using a plurality of (six) is adopted.

In this modified example 6, place the wire 11a extending linearly in the wire longitudinal direction in the center, wire longitudinally arranged in parallel to each other and thick wires 11a and six wire 11b ₁ ~11b ₆ extending linearly in and ing. Further, as shown in FIGS. 18B and 18C, each of the wire rods 11b _{1 to} 11b _{6 in} the cross section along the line AA and BB in FIG. 18A is on a concentric circle corresponding to the radius D around the thick wire rod 11a. They are arranged at equal intervals (6 equal parts). In other words, in which respective wires _11b 1 _{~11b 6} around the central thick wire 11a at intervals D are arranged at equal intervals. As shown in FIG. 18B, the insulating portion 15 is provided with a concentric insulating layer 13 centered on the wire 11a so as to cover the entire periphery of the wire 11a located at the center. Then, on the circumference of the insulating layer 13 wire 11b ₁ ~11b ₆ which insulating layer (radius D equivalent concentrically around the wire 11a) has only exposed portion not covered equidistant (6 equal parts) It is the composition arranged in.

In wiring to the power source 19 (external circuit), the electrode portion 14a at the end of the thick wire 11a is connected to one of the power sources (for example, the + pole side), and the electrode portions 14b ₁ to 14b at the ends of the wires 11b _{1 to} 11b ₆ are connected. 14b ₆ (only 14b ₁ and 14b ₄ are shown) is connected to the other side of the power supply (the negative pole side). The other configuration is the same as that of FIG.

18D to 18G, even if the external force is applied from the outside of the extended line connecting the wire 11a and the wires 11b _{1 to} 11b ₆ and from other directions, the wires 11b _{1 to} 11b are also provided. _At least one of ₆ can be brought into contact with the wire 11a. In particular, as shown in FIG. 18F, rather than towards an extension outside the external force is connecting wire 11a and the wire _11b 1 _{~11b 6,} laterally even when the applied from (side), the wire _11b 2, 11b ₃ is elastically deformed so that it can firmly come into contact with the side surface of the thick wire 11b having a large fiber diameter. That is, no matter which direction the external force is applied, at least one of the wires 11b _{1 to} 11b ₆ is elastically deformed so that it can come into contact with the thick wire 11a located at the center thereof. That is, even in the configuration of the sixth modification, it is possible to detect the external force applied from all directions (all directions) without leaking, and the anisotropy of the response to the load application direction is remarkably increased. It can be reduced. As an application example of the sixth modification, a higher effect can be obtained by further increasing the number of the wires 11b. At this time, it is preferable to set the number of wires so that the interval between the wires 11b is not too narrow.

(Modification 7 of the second embodiment)
Modification 7 of the second embodiment is also an example in which a configuration that reduces the anisotropy of the response to the load application direction is adopted. Modification 7 will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 36A is a schematic diagram schematically showing an outline of a load detection device using the load detection fiber of Modification Example 7, and is a schematic diagram showing a state in which no external force is applied to the load detection fiber. . 36B is a schematic diagram of a cross section taken along the line AA of the insulating portion of FIG. 36A, and FIG. 36C is a schematic diagram of a cross section taken along the line BB of the exposed portion of FIG. 36A. FIG. 36D is a schematic diagram of an end face of the first wire used in FIG. 36A and a second wire having an insulating layer. 36E is a schematic diagram of a cross-section along the line BB in FIG. 36A in a state in which an external force is applied to the load detection fiber in FIG. 36A, and shows a state in which the external force is applied obliquely from the upper right. It is a schematic diagram of the cross section to represent. 36, the drawings corresponding to FIGS. 12D to 12I shown in FIG. 12 are omitted. In addition, in the schematic diagrams of the cross-sections of FIGS. 36B, 36C, and 36E, the state of the change of the second wire arranged spirally around the first wire when an external force is applied to the load detection fiber and the insulating portion In order to make the difference in the structure of the exposed part easier to understand, for the second wire, the cross-section (cut surface) and the transmission part are shown as a single piece (ring shape or a part of the shape), and the cross-section hatching (oblique line) Is attached. Regarding this point, the schematic representations of cross sections of FIGS. 37 to 42 described later are also expressed using the same expression. Also, in the schematic diagram of the end face of FIG. 36D, in order to make it easy to understand the state in which the second wire is spirally arranged around the first wire, the second wire is placed at two locations around the first wire (actually Is one place). With respect to this point as well, schematic diagrams of end faces in FIGS. 37 to 42 described later are also expressed using the same expression.

  In FIG. 36 showing the configuration of the present modified example 7, in the load detection fiber 10 ′ of the load detection device 1 ′ shown in FIG. 12, the second wire 11b is spirally arranged around the first wire 11a. Is adopted. In the seventh modification, the first wire 11a extending linearly in the longitudinal direction of the wire rod, and the insulating layer having a thickness D so as to maintain a distance D around the wire rod 11a around the wire rod 11a. A configuration is adopted in which one second wire 11b arranged in a spiral shape using the covered second wire is used. For this reason, the insulating portion 15 of Modification 7 is configured by the insulating layer 13 covered with the second wire 11b.

  In addition, the greatest feature of this modification 7 is that the exposed portion 17 arranged between a plurality of (two left and right in the drawing) insulating portions 15 along the longitudinal direction of the second wire 11b The insulating layer 13 is partially provided (remained) in a predetermined range of the plane perpendicular to the axis (FIG. 36C). In FIG. 36C, insulation is partially (in three directions) every predetermined range (a range of about 60 ° central angle) at intervals of about 120 ° from the center of the wire 11a in a predetermined range on the plane perpendicular to the axis. The layers 13a to 13c are provided (remaining). In other words, the outer peripheral wire (second wire) 11b covered with the insulating layer 13 is partially covered with the insulating layer 13 within a predetermined range of the axis perpendicular to the wire 11a (at predetermined intervals in the longitudinal direction of the wire 11b). It can also be said that the exposed portion 17 (specifically, the exposed portions 17a to 17c) is formed by stripping the surface. In FIG. 36C, the insulating layer 13 is partially peeled in a predetermined range (a range of a central angle of about 60 °) at intervals of about 120 ° from the center of the wire 11a in a predetermined range on the plane perpendicular to the axis. The exposed portions 17a to 17c are provided in the target (3 directions). Thereby, the insulating layer and the exposed portion are alternately arranged at intervals of 60 ° on the circumference from the center of the wire 11a within a predetermined range of the axis perpendicular to the wire 11a (at predetermined intervals in the longitudinal direction of the wire 11b). The configuration is positioned (see FIG. 36C). Other configurations are substantially the same as the configurations in FIGS. 12 and 14.

  Note that, in the present modified example 7, a predetermined range (a range of about 60 ° central angle) is partially (a range of about 60 ° central angle) with a central angle of about 120 ° from the center of the wire 11a in a predetermined range of the plane perpendicular to the axis. Although the example in which the insulating layer 13 (or the exposed portion 17) is provided in the direction) is shown, it is not limited thereto. For example, it is desirable to set the size of the central angle, the angle within a predetermined range, and the like so that the wire 11b can be brought into contact with the wire 11a even if an external force is applied from any direction (details will be described later). . Therefore, FIG. 36A shows an example in which the insulating layer 13 (13a to 13c) to be left in the exposed portion 17 is linearly formed in the longitudinal direction of the wire 11a. However, the insulating layer 13 is provided at predetermined intervals in the longitudinal direction of the wire 11b. By peeling off, the insulating layer 13 (13a to 13c) may be left spirally (form an exposed portion) instead of linearly. This is excellent in that the wire 11b can be easily brought into contact with the wire 11a even if an external force is applied from any direction.

  Also in the present modification example 7, the second wire 11b is arranged in a spiral around the first wire 11a, so that the wire 11b can be brought into contact with the wire 11a regardless of the external force applied from any direction. That is, no matter which part of the spiral wire 11b is applied, the wire 11b of the part to which the external force is applied is elastically deformed in the internal direction (the center direction where the wire 11a is present), so that the wire 11a is firmly attached. It can be contacted. Therefore, it is excellent in that the external force applied from all directions (angles) as well as directly above can be detected with high sensitivity and high accuracy. For example, in FIG. 36E, the external force from the upper right is detected. Although not shown, even when an external force is applied from directly above, the wire 11a is pushed downward through the wire 11b in which the insulating layer 13a on the upper part remains, and the wire 11a and the insulating layer below it are peeled off. The arrangement is such that an external force from above can be detected by contact with the wire 11b in the exposed portion 17b.

  Thus, the arrangement is such that an external force from any direction (angle) can be detected. In other words, the spiral wire 11b makes one turn around the wire 11a, so that an external force applied from any direction (angle) can be detected with high sensitivity and high accuracy. As described above, the configuration of Modification 7 is an excellent configuration in that the anisotropy of the response to the load application direction can be significantly reduced.

  In addition, in this modified example 7, as described above, the outer peripheral wire 11b covered with the insulating layer 13 is partially stripped in the longitudinal direction (within a predetermined range on the plane perpendicular to the axis of the wire 11a) (see FIG. 36A-C). Here, the central wire 11a and the outer peripheral wire 11b are made of conductive fibers (for example, fibers spun from a conductive polymer material of PEDOT / PSS) (see FIG. 36D). The outer peripheral wire 11b is further coated with a resin that can be eluted (for example, vinyl chloride / vinyl acetate copolymer). In other words, the outer peripheral wire 11b covered with the eluting insulating layer 13 is used (see FIG. 36D). After the outer peripheral wire 11b covered with the insulating layer 13 is spirally wound around the central wire 11a, the coating layer (insulating layer 13) of the outer peripheral wire 11b is partially removed. At this time, the entire coating layer of the wound outer peripheral wire 11b is not removed, but the insulating layers 13 (13a to 13c) are partially left radially from the central wire 11a toward the outer periphery of the wire 11a. Because of the remaining insulating layers 13a to 13c, the central wire 11a and the outer peripheral wire 11b can be kept at a constant interval, so that they easily return to the original positional relationship when the load is released. With this configuration, load response accuracy is improved.

  At this time, it is desirable that the interval of leaving the insulating layer 13 radially is equally divided by an odd number (see FIG. 36C). When evenly divided, since there is an insulating layer that remains facing each other, load response accuracy is deteriorated in that direction. More preferably, the effect of eliminating anisotropy and the effect of improving the load response accuracy are increased by setting the interval at 120 ° to be divided into three equal parts or the 72 ° interval to be divided into five equal parts. As a matter of course, the responsiveness changes only in the direction where the remaining insulating layer exists. If it is equal to or greater than 7, the number of insulating layers increases, and the minimum load sensitivity tends to decrease. However, the load responsiveness does not particularly deteriorate, but rather the shape can be properly used as necessary.

  As a configuration similar to the shape of the seventh modification (another modification), for example, a method of providing the insulating layer 13 around the center wire 11a and winding the outer peripheral wire 11b (hereinafter, a modification 8 will be described). Reference). Moreover, although the insulation layer 13 is provided in any wire 11a, 11b, the method of winding the outer periphery wire 11b, etc. are mentioned, it does not specifically limit. In these modified examples, the insulating layer 13 may not be left in the exposed portion 17 (see FIGS. 38 to 44). 43 (the same applies to FIGS. 38 to 42), the insulating layer 13 is provided on the outer peripheral wire 11b, and the wire 11b is wound around the center wire 11a. It is the schematic which represented the structural example which does not remain typically. On the other hand, FIG. 44 schematically shows an example in which the insulating layer 13 is provided on the center wire 11a and the outer peripheral wire 11b is wound around the wire 11a, and the insulating layer 13 is not left in the exposed portion 17 at all. FIG.

(Modification 8 of the second embodiment)
Modification 8 of the second embodiment is also an example in which a configuration that reduces the anisotropy of the response to the load application direction is adopted. Modification 8 will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 37A is a schematic diagram schematically showing an outline of a load detection device using the load detection fiber of the present modification 8, and is a schematic diagram showing a state where no external force is applied to the load detection fiber. . 37B is a schematic diagram of a cross section taken along the line AA of the insulating portion in FIG. 37A, and FIG. 37C is a schematic diagram of a cross section taken along the line BB of the exposed portion in FIG. 37A. FIG. 37D is a schematic diagram of the first wire having the insulating layer used in FIG. 37A and the end face of the second wire. FIG. 37E is a schematic diagram of a cross-section taken along line BB in FIG. 37A in a state where an external force is applied to the load detection fiber in FIG. 37A, and shows a state in which the external force is applied obliquely from the upper right. It is a schematic diagram of the cross section to represent. In FIG. 37, the drawings corresponding to FIGS. 12D to 12I shown in FIG. 12 are omitted.

  Also in FIG. 37 showing the configuration of the present modification 8, in the load detection fiber 10 ′ of the load detection device 1 ′ shown in FIG. 12, the configuration in which the second wire 11b is spirally arranged around the first wire 11a. Is adopted. In the present modification 8, the first wire 11a coated with the insulating layer 13 having a thickness D so as to maintain the distance D around the wire 11a is used. And the 1st wire 11a which coat | covers the insulating layer 13 extended linearly in a wire longitudinal direction, and the 2nd wire 11b arrange | positioned helically on the outer periphery centering on the wire 11a which coat | covers this insulating layer 13 And a configuration using one each. Therefore, the insulating portion 15 of the present modification 8 is configured by the insulating layer 13 covered with the first wire 11a.

  In addition, the greatest feature of the present modification 8 is the exposed portion 17 disposed between a plurality of (two left and right in the drawing) insulating portions 15 along the longitudinal direction of the fiber 10 ′ (first wire 11 a). In FIG. 37C, the insulating layer 13 is partially provided (remained) in a predetermined range of the plane perpendicular to the axis of the wire 11a (FIG. 37C). In FIG. 37C, the insulation is partially (in three directions) for each predetermined range (a range of about 60 ° central angle) at intervals of about 120 ° from the center of the wire 11a in a predetermined range on the plane perpendicular to the axis. The layers 13a to 13c are provided (remaining). In other words, the central wire (first wire) 11a covered with the insulating layer 13 is partially peeled off in a predetermined range of the surface perpendicular to the axis of the wire 11a to expose the exposed portion 17 (specifically, the exposed portion 17a). It can be said that it is the shape which formed ~ 17c). In FIG. 37C, the insulating layer 13 is partially stripped in a predetermined range (a range having a central angle of about 60 °) at intervals of about 120 ° from the center of the wire 11a in a predetermined range on the plane perpendicular to the axis. The exposed portions 17a to 17c are provided in the target (3 directions). As a result, the insulating layer and the exposed portion are alternately arranged at intervals of 60 ° on the circumference from the center of the wire 11a within a predetermined range of the axis perpendicular to the wire 11a (see FIG. 37C). . Other configurations are substantially the same as the configurations of FIGS.

  Note that, in the present modified example 8, a predetermined range (a range of about 60 ° central angle) is partially (a range of about 60 ° central angle) with a central angle of about 120 ° from the center of the wire 11a in a predetermined range of the plane perpendicular to the axis. Although the example in which the insulating layer 13 (or the exposed portion 17) is provided in the direction) is shown, it is not limited thereto. For example, it is desirable to set the size of the central angle, the angle within a predetermined range, and the like so that the wire 11b can be brought into contact with the wire 11a even if an external force is applied from any direction. As explained in). Therefore, FIG. 37A shows an example in which the insulating layer 13 (13a to 13c) remaining in the exposed portion 17 is linearly formed in the longitudinal direction of the wire 11a, but the insulating layer 13 (13a to 13a) is not linear but spiral. 13c) may be left (exposed portion is formed). This is excellent in that the wire 11b can be easily brought into contact with the wire 11a even if an external force is applied from any direction.

  Even in the present modification 8, as in the modification 7, the second wire 11b is arranged in a spiral around the first wire 11a, so that the wire 11b can be connected to the wire 11a regardless of the external force applied from any direction. Can be contacted. That is, no matter which part of the spiral wire 11b is applied, the wire 11b of the part to which the external force is applied is elastically deformed in the internal direction (the center direction where the wire 11a is present), so that the wire 11a is firmly attached. It can be contacted. Therefore, it is excellent in that the external force applied from all directions (angles) as well as directly above can be detected with high sensitivity and high accuracy. For example, in FIG. 36E, the external force from the upper right is detected. Although not shown, even when an external force is applied from directly above, the wire 11a is pushed downward through the wire 11b in which the insulating layer 13a on the upper part remains, and the wire 11a and the insulating layer below it are peeled off. The arrangement is such that an external force from above can be detected by contact with the wire 11b in the exposed portion 17b.

  Thus, the arrangement is such that an external force from any direction (angle) can be detected. In other words, the spiral wire 11b makes one turn around the wire 11a, so that an external force applied from any direction (angle) can be detected with high sensitivity and high accuracy. Thus, the configuration of the present modification 8 is an excellent configuration in that the anisotropy of the response to the load application direction can be significantly reduced.

  In the present modification 8, the center wire 11a covered with the insulating layer 13 as described above is partially peeled in a predetermined range on the axis perpendicular to the wire 11a (see FIGS. 37A to 37C). ). Here, the center wire 11a and the outer peripheral wire 11b are made of conductive fibers (for example, fibers spun from a conductive polymer material of PEDOT / PSS) (see FIG. 37D). The center wire 11a is further coated with an elution resin (for example, vinyl chloride / vinyl acetate copolymer). In other words, the center wire 11a covered with the eluting insulating layer 13 is used (see FIG. 37D). Before or after the outer peripheral wire 11b is spirally wound around the center wire 11a covered with the insulating layer 13, the coating layer (insulating layer 13) of the center wire 11a is partially removed. At this time, instead of removing all the coating layer (insulating layer 13) of the center wire 11a, the insulating layers 13 (13a to 13c) are partially radially formed from the center wire 11a toward the outer periphery of the wire 11a. leave. Because of the remaining insulating layers 13a to 13c, the central wire 11a and the outer peripheral wire 11b can be kept at a constant interval, so that they easily return to the original positional relationship when the load is released. With this configuration, load response accuracy is improved.

  At this time, it is desirable that the interval of leaving the insulating layer 13 radially is equally divided by an odd number in the same manner as in the modified example 7 (see FIG. 37C). When evenly divided, since there is an insulating layer that remains facing each other, load response accuracy is deteriorated in that direction. More preferably, the effect of eliminating anisotropy and the effect of improving the load response accuracy are increased by setting the interval at 120 ° to be divided into three equal parts or the 72 ° interval to be divided into five equal parts. As a matter of course, the responsiveness changes only in the direction where the remaining insulating layer exists. If it is equal to or greater than 7, the number of insulating layers increases, and the minimum load sensitivity tends to decrease. However, the load responsiveness does not particularly deteriorate, but rather the shape can be properly used as necessary.

(Modification 9 of the second embodiment)
Modification 9 of the second embodiment is also an example in which a configuration that reduces the anisotropy of the response to the load application direction is adopted. Modification 9 will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 38A is a schematic diagram schematically showing an outline of a load detection device using the load detection fiber of the present modification 9, and is a schematic diagram showing a state in which no external force is applied to the load detection fiber. . 38B is a schematic diagram of a cross section taken along the line AA of the insulating portion in FIG. 38A, and FIG. 38C is a schematic diagram of a cross section taken along the line BB of the exposed portion in FIG. 38A. FIG. 38D is a schematic diagram of an end surface of the first wire having a core-sheath shape used in FIG. 38A and a second wire having an insulating layer. FIG. 38E is a schematic diagram of a cross section taken along line BB in FIG. 38A in a state in which an external force is applied to the load detection fiber in FIG. 38A, and shows a state in which the external force is applied obliquely from the upper right. It is a schematic diagram of the cross section to represent. 38, the drawings corresponding to FIGS. 12D to 12I shown in FIG. 12 are omitted.

  Also in FIG. 38 showing the configuration of the present modification 9, in the load detection fiber 10 ′ of the load detection device 1 ′ shown in FIG. 12, the second wire 11b is spirally arranged around the first wire 11a. Is adopted. In the present modification 9, the core-sheath-shaped first wire 11a extending linearly in the longitudinal direction of the wire, and the thickness around the wire 11a so as to maintain a distance D around the wire 11a. A configuration in which one second wire 11b spirally arranged using the second wire covering the D insulating layer is used. Therefore, the insulating part 15 of the present modification 9 is configured by the insulating layer 13 covered with the second wire 11b.

  In addition, the greatest feature of this modification is that the first wire 11a as the central wire and the second wire 11b as the outer wire have a difference in elastic modulus. By giving a difference in elastic modulus to the first wire 11a of the center wire and the second wire 11b of the outer peripheral wire, a difference occurs in the amount of deformation at the time of applying a load, so that the contact between the two wires becomes easy. In particular, as shown in FIG. 38, the spiral shape has the effect of improving the load resolution and the minimum load sensitivity. However, even if it is not a spiral shape as shown in FIG. 38, even if it is a shape in which a plurality of outer peripheral wires are arranged in parallel around one center wire as shown in FIGS. Since the first wire 11a and the second wire 11b of the outer peripheral wire have a difference in elastic modulus, a difference occurs in the amount of deformation at the time of applying a load, so that the contact between the two wires is facilitated, and the load resolution There is an effect of improving the minimum load sensitivity.

  The elastic modulus of the wire mentioned here is a wire composed of a single component), from a core sheath, side-by-side, sea-island shape, etc. composed of two or more components or components having a difference in molecular weight difference of two or more even with a single component. The elastic modulus of a single wire. This refers to the overall apparent elastic modulus of a single wire (fiber) evaluated by the method for evaluating the elastic modulus of fibers in JIS L1095. In the case of multiple components, irregular cross sections, etc., it does not refer to each individual component.

  The difference in elastic modulus between the first wire 11a as the center wire and the second wire 11b as the outer wire is preferably about 0.01 to 2 GPa, more preferably about 0.1 to 1 GPa. When the difference in elastic modulus is too low, that is, when the elastic modulus is substantially the same, deformation of the wire (conductive fiber) due to load application is almost the same, so that the wire is difficult to contact and the response accuracy tends to be low. If it is too hard, there is a response, but the amount of deformation is small, so that it is not flexible when handled as a wire, and there is no point in practically taking a wire (fiber) shape.

  As a method of giving a difference in elastic modulus, there are a case where a wire (fiber) having a high elastic modulus is used for the center wire (see Modification 9) and a case where the wire is used for an outer peripheral wire (see Modification 10). In particular, it is preferable to increase the elastic modulus of the central wire rod when considering the minimum load sensitivity. When considering the load resolution, it is preferable to increase the elastic modulus of the outer peripheral wire.

  As a method of increasing the elastic modulus, when the cross section of the wire (fiber) is made into a core-sheath shape, there is a method of providing a role to support a resin component other than the conductive component and relying on the elastic modulus of the resin component ( (Refer to Modification 9). On the other hand, there is a method of increasing the elastic modulus by changing the resin blending ratio of the conductive component itself (see Modification 10). Further, as a method for softening, there are a resin softer than a conductive component, and a method of taking a core-sheath, side-by-side, and sea-island shape (see Modification 9). In addition, there is a method of reducing the apparent density of the fibers (wires) and softening them by controlling the solvent removal rate when the conductive component is made into fibers (wires).

In the present modification 9, as means for giving a difference in elastic modulus between the first wire and the second wire, at least one of the first wire and the second wire, specifically, the center wire is used. The first wire 11a has a core-sheath shape. More specifically, when the cross section of the center wire (fiber) 11a is formed into a core-sheath shape, the core part 2b is provided with a role to support the core part 2b of the resin component other than the sheath part 2a of the conductive component. This is an application of a method that relies on the elastic modulus of the resin component (see FIG. 38D).
In the present modification 9, there is a difference in elastic modulus between the first wire and the second wire as described above, and the second wire 11b is arranged in a spiral around the first wire 11a. Since there is a difference in the amount of deformation at the time of applying a load, the contact between the two wires is facilitated, and the spiral shape has the effect of improving load resolution and minimum load sensitivity. Moreover, since it is a spiral shape, even if an external force is applied from any direction, the wire 11b can be brought into contact with the wire 11a. In addition, that is, no matter which part of the spiral wire 11b is applied with an external force, the wire 11b of the portion to which the external force is applied is elastically deformed in the internal direction (the center direction where the wire 11a is present). It can be made to contact firmly. Therefore, it is excellent in that the external force applied from all directions (angles) as well as directly above can be detected with high sensitivity and high accuracy. For example, in FIG. 38E, it is the arrangement | positioning which can detect the external force from diagonally upper right. Thus, the arrangement is such that an external force from any direction (angle) can be detected. In other words, the spiral wire 11b makes one turn around the wire 11a, so that an external force applied from any direction (angle) can be detected with high sensitivity and high accuracy. Thus, the configuration of the present modification is an excellent configuration in that the anisotropy of the response to the load application direction can be significantly reduced.

(Modification 10 of the second embodiment)
Modification 10 of the second embodiment is also an example in which a configuration that reduces the anisotropy of the response to the load application direction is adopted. Modification 10 will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 39A is a schematic diagram schematically illustrating an outline of a load detection device using the load detection fiber of Modification Example 10, and is a schematic diagram illustrating a state in which no external force is applied to the load detection fiber. . 39B is a schematic diagram of a cross section taken along the line AA of the insulating portion in FIG. 39A, and FIG. 39C is a schematic diagram of a cross section taken along the line BB of the exposed portion in FIG. 39A. FIG. 39D is a schematic diagram of an end face of the first wire used in FIG. 39A and a second wire spun with a fiber (material) having an insulating layer and a higher elastic modulus than the first wire. 39E is a schematic diagram of a cross section taken along line BB in FIG. 39A in a state in which an external force is applied to the load detection fiber in FIG. 39A, and shows a state in which the external force is applied obliquely from the upper right. It is a schematic diagram of the cross section to represent. 39, the drawings corresponding to FIGS. 12D to 12I shown in FIG. 12 are omitted.

  Also in FIG. 39 showing the configuration of the present modification 10, in the load detection fiber 10 ′ of the load detection device 1 ′ shown in FIG. 12, the configuration in which the second wire 11b is spirally arranged around the first wire 11a. Is adopted. In the present modification 10, a first wire 11a that extends linearly in the longitudinal direction of the wire, and a second wire 11b that is spirally arranged around the wire 11a around the wire 11a, respectively. A configuration using one by one is adopted. The second wire uses a wire 11b spun with a fiber (material) having a higher elastic modulus than that of the first wire, and has a thickness so as to maintain a distance D around the center wire 11a. The second wire 11b covered with the D insulating layer 13 is used. Therefore, the insulating part 15 of the present modification 9 is configured by the insulating layer 13 covered with the second wire 11b.

  The greatest feature of this modification is that, similarly to Modification 9, the first wire 11a as the central wire and the second wire 11b as the outer wire have a difference in elastic modulus.

  In the present modification 10, as a means for giving a difference in elastic modulus between the first wire and the second wire, one wire is replaced with a conductive polymer having a higher elastic modulus than the other wire or the conductive polymer. It is comprised by the used conductive fiber. Specifically, this is a case where a wire rod (conductive fiber) having a higher elastic modulus than that of the center wire rod 11a is used for the outer peripheral wire rod 11b. As a method of increasing the elastic modulus of the outer peripheral wire 11b, a method of increasing the elastic modulus by changing the resin compounding ratio of the conductive component itself (for example, by increasing the concentration of PSS as the resin compounding ratio of PEDOT / PSS). This is applied (see FIG. 39D).

  In the present modification 10, there is a difference in elastic modulus between the first wire and the second wire as described above, and the second wire 11b is arranged in a spiral around the first wire 11a. Since there is a difference in the amount of deformation at the time of applying a load, the contact between the two wires is facilitated, and the spiral shape has the effect of improving load resolution and minimum load sensitivity. Moreover, since it is a spiral shape, even if an external force is applied from any direction, the wire 11b can be brought into contact with the wire 11a. In addition, that is, no matter which part of the spiral wire 11b is applied with an external force, the wire 11b of the portion to which the external force is applied is elastically deformed in the internal direction (the center direction where the wire 11a is present). It can be made to contact firmly. Therefore, it is excellent in that the external force applied from all directions (angles) as well as directly above can be detected with high sensitivity and high accuracy. For example, in FIG. 39E, the external force from the upper right is detected. Thus, the arrangement is such that an external force from any direction (angle) can be detected. In other words, the spiral wire 11b makes one turn around the wire 11a, so that an external force applied from any direction (angle) can be detected with high sensitivity and high accuracy. Thus, the configuration of the present modification is an excellent configuration in that the anisotropy of the response to the load application direction can be significantly reduced.

(Modification 11 of the second embodiment)
The modification 11 of 2nd Embodiment is also an example formed by employ | adopting the structure which reduces the anisotropy of the response with respect to a load application direction. Modification 11 will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 40A is a schematic diagram schematically illustrating an overview of a load detection device using the load detection fiber of the present modification 11, and is a schematic diagram illustrating a state in which an external force is not applied to the load detection fiber. . 40B is a schematic diagram of a cross section taken along the line AA of the insulating portion of FIG. 40A, and FIG. 40C is a schematic diagram of a cross section taken along the line BB of the exposed portion of FIG. 40A. FIG. 40D is a schematic diagram of an end surface of the first wire used in FIG. 40A and a flat second wire having an insulating layer. 40E is a schematic diagram of a cross section taken along line BB in FIG. 40A in a state in which an external force is applied to the load detection fiber in FIG. 40A, and shows a state in which the external force is applied obliquely from the upper right. It is a schematic diagram of the cross section to represent. 40, the drawings corresponding to FIGS. 12D to 12I shown in FIG. 12 are omitted.

  Also in FIG. 40 showing the configuration of the present modification 11, in the load detection fiber 10 ′ of the load detection device 1 ′ shown in FIG. 12, the configuration in which the second wire 11b is spirally arranged around the first wire 11a. Is adopted. In the present modification 11, a first wire 11a that extends linearly in the longitudinal direction of the wire, and an insulating layer having a thickness D so that the space D is maintained around the wire 11a around the wire 11a. A configuration is adopted in which one second wire 11b arranged spirally using the covered flat second wire is used. Therefore, the insulating portion 15 of the present modification 11 is configured by the insulating layer 13 covered with the second wire 11b.

  In addition, the greatest feature of this modification is that a resistance difference is provided between the first wire 11a as the center wire and the second wire 11b as the outer wire. Providing a resistance difference between the first wire 11a of the center wire and the second wire 11b of the outer wire here means that the resistance value of either the center wire or the outer wire is made relatively small. To tell. As the method, there are a method for increasing the cross-sectional area of any wire, a method for increasing the electrical conductivity of any wire, and the like. By these methods, the resistance change width can be increased and the load response accuracy can be improved. As a method of increasing the cross-sectional area of the wire, there is a method of increasing the diameter of the wire (fiber). However, since the entire diameter of the load detection fiber 10 ′ is increased, it is necessary to appropriately perform the necessary thickness. A more preferable method is to form the wire used for the outer peripheral wire 11b into a flat strip shape such as a film shape or a flat shape. When the wire is wound around the center wire, only the thickness of the wire (fiber) diameter is obtained. Since this is an increase, a resistance difference can be provided without substantially changing the thickness (see FIGS. 40A and 40D).

  Here, it is preferable to provide a suitable resistance difference of about several kΩ to several hundred MΩ. More preferably, it is preferably about several hundred kΩ to several MΩ. This range is preferable because if the resistance of the wires 11a and 11b originally used is lower than the above range, the contact area may increase even if a part of the wires 11a and 11b are in contact with each other due to high conductivity when the resistance difference is provided. Then, there is a possibility that the resistance change width cannot be made large. On the other hand, when the resistance is higher than the above range, the resistance change width is small at the point of contact, and there is a possibility that sufficient load resolution cannot be obtained.

  In this modification 11, as a means for providing a resistance difference between the first wire and the second wire, specifically, the second wire 11b, which is an outer peripheral wire, is flattened on one of the first and second wires. A belt-like shape, specifically, a flat wire is used. The outer peripheral wire 11b covered with the insulating layer 13 is spirally arranged on the central wire 11a (see FIGS. 39A and 39D).

  In the present modification 11, a resistance difference is provided between the first wire and the second wire as described above, and the second wire 11b is arranged in a spiral around the first wire 11a, so that the resistance change The width can be increased, the load response accuracy can be increased, and the spiral shape has the effect of improving load resolution and minimum load sensitivity. Moreover, since it is a spiral shape, even if an external force is applied from any direction, the wire 11b can be brought into contact with the wire 11a. In addition, that is, no matter which part of the spiral wire 11b is applied with an external force, the wire 11b of the portion to which the external force is applied is elastically deformed in the internal direction (the center direction where the wire 11a is present). It can be made to contact firmly. Therefore, it is excellent in that the external force applied from all directions (angles) as well as directly above can be detected with high sensitivity and high accuracy. For example, in FIG. 40E, it is the arrangement | positioning which can detect the external force from diagonally upper right. Thus, the arrangement is such that an external force from any direction (angle) can be detected. In other words, the spiral wire 11b makes one turn around the wire 11a, so that an external force applied from any direction (angle) can be detected with high sensitivity and high accuracy. Thus, the configuration of the present modification is an excellent configuration in that the anisotropy of the response to the load application direction can be significantly reduced.

  In this modification 11, as a configuration example in which a resistance difference is provided between the first wire and the second wire, the first wire is disposed as a central wire, and the second wire is disposed around the first wire. Although the example which has arrange | positioned a wire as an outer periphery wire was shown, this form is not restrict | limited to these at all. That is, in addition to arranging the second wire in a spiral around the first wire, the first wire and the second wire are parallel as shown in FIGS. 4 to 13 and 15 to 18. For example, the arrangement relationship between the first wire and the second wire is not limited to this modification.

(Modification 12 of the second embodiment)
The modification 12 of the second embodiment is also an example formed by adopting a configuration that reduces the anisotropy of the response to the load application direction. Modification 12 will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIGS. 41A and 42A are schematic views schematically showing an outline of a load detection device using the load detection fiber of Modification Example 12, and a schematic diagram showing a state where no external force is applied to the load detection fiber. FIG. 41B and 42B are schematic views of cross sections taken along line AA of the insulating portion in FIGS. 41A and 42A, respectively, and FIGS. 41C and 42C are taken along line BB in the exposed portion of FIGS. 41A and 42A, respectively. FIG. 41D and 42D are schematic diagrams of the end surfaces of the first wire used in FIGS. 41A and 42A and the second wire having an insulating layer, respectively. 41E and 42E are schematic views of cross sections taken along the line BB in FIGS. 41A and 42A in a state where an external force is applied to the load detection fibers in FIGS. 41A and 42A, respectively. It is a schematic diagram of the cross section showing a mode added from diagonally upward. 41 and 42, the drawings corresponding to FIGS. 12D to 12I shown in FIG. 12 are omitted. Moreover, in FIG. 41A and FIG. 42A, about the insulating layer formed in the outer periphery of a 2nd wire, the cross section is represented so that the structure of the load detection fiber in an inside can be understood easily.

  41 and 42 showing the configuration of the modified example 12, in the load detection fiber 10 ′ of the load detection device 1 ′ shown in FIG. 12, the second wire 11b is spirally arranged around the first wire 11a. The configuration is adopted. In the present modification 12, the first wire 11a extending linearly in the longitudinal direction of the wire, and an insulating layer having a thickness D so as to maintain a distance D around the wire 11a around the wire 11a. A configuration is adopted in which one second wire 11b arranged in a spiral shape using the covered second wire is used. Therefore, the insulating portion 15 of the present modification 12 is configured by the insulating layer 13 covered with the second wire 11b.

  In addition, the greatest feature of this modification 12 is that the first wire 11a is arranged as a central wire, and the second wire 11b is arranged around the wire 11a, specifically in parallel with each other, preferably in a spiral shape. The outer circumference of the second wire 11b is further covered with an insulating layer 20. Specifically, in the present modification 12, as the second wire 11b, an example using the wire 11b having a circular cross section (see FIG. 41) and an example using the wire 11b having a flat cross section (see FIG. 42). It shows.

  Here, the outer periphery of the second wire 11b arranged around the wire 11a is further covered with the insulating layer 20 to elute the insulating layer 13 covered with the wire 11b at least as a load detection unit. That is, the exposed portion 17 which is a portion that has been coated again. The coating layer formed by coating again becomes the insulating layer 20.

  Therefore, contrary to the present modified example 12, when the insulating layer 13 is coated on the first wire 11a of the center wire, the insulating layer 13 is formed on both the first wire 11a of the center wire and the second wire 11b of the outer wire. Even if is covered, the outer periphery of the second wire 11b may be further covered with the insulating layer 20. Even in this case, as long as the outer periphery of the second wire 11b is coated again at least in the portion (exposed portion 17) from which the insulating layer 13 that is the load detection part is eluted, the outer periphery of the second wire 11b However, it can be said that it is further covered with the insulating layer 20.

  In the present modification 12, as shown in FIGS. 41A to 41C and FIGS. 42A to 42C, the gap D between the outer peripheral wire 11b and the center wire 11a is provided, and the entire outside of the outer peripheral wire 11b is coated again, and the insulating layer 20 It has a covered structure. Thereby, at the time of load removal, the outer peripheral wire 11b is separated from the central wire 11a and easily returns to the original gap D (distance). With this configuration, load response accuracy is improved. As a method of forming this configuration, there is a method in which the insulating layer 13 at the load detection point is peeled (removed) by the above-described method, and at least the outer peripheral wire 11b at the load detection point is coated (covered) again. Can be mentioned. At this time, the viscosity of the coating liquid is preferably higher than the viscosity of the solution for stripping the coating (insulating layer 13). Here, the preferable range of the viscosity is preferably about 100 mPa · s to 10000 mPa · s, more preferably about 200 mPa · s to 1000 mPa · s. By setting it in this range, when coating the outer side of the outer peripheral wire 11b, the coating can be performed without flowing into the gap portion 21 inside the wire 11b, and the load resolution can be improved. Also, recoating is easy when the outer peripheral wire 11b is the one without the insulating layer as described above (FIGS. 41 and 44) or the one wrapped with a film (FIG. 42). Therefore, it is possible to coat a solution having a low viscosity, but there is no particular limitation.

  In addition, also in this modification 12, the 2nd wire 11b can arrange | position the wire 11b to the wire 11a even if external force is applied from what direction by arrange | positioning helically around the 1st wire 11a. . That is, no matter which part of the spiral wire 11b is applied, the wire 11b of the part to which the external force is applied is elastically deformed in the internal direction (the center direction where the wire 11a is present), so that the wire 11a is firmly attached. It can be contacted. Therefore, it is excellent in that the external force applied from all directions (angles) as well as directly above can be detected with high sensitivity and high accuracy. For example, in FIGS. 41E and 42E, the external force from the upper right is detected. Although not shown, even when an external force is applied from directly above, the wire 11a is pushed downward through the wire 11b in which the insulating layer 13a on the upper part remains, and the wire 11a and the insulating layer below it are peeled off. The arrangement is such that an external force from above can be detected by contact with the wire 11b in the exposed portion 17b.

  Thus, the arrangement is such that an external force from any direction (angle) can be detected. In other words, the spiral wire 11b makes one turn around the wire 11a, so that an external force applied from any direction (angle) can be detected with high sensitivity and high accuracy. As described above, the configuration of the present modification 12 is an excellent configuration in that the anisotropy of the response to the load application direction can be significantly reduced.

  The configuration of the present modified example 12 (the configuration covered with the insulating layer 20) can be applied to the other modified examples described above (FIGS. 15 to 18 and FIGS. 36 to 40).

  As described above, even in the load detection fiber of the present embodiment (including the modification), it is preferable that the first wire and the second wire are arranged in parallel to each other (including a spiral shape) (FIG. 12-18, see FIGS. 36-44). This is because by arranging the first wire 11a and the second wire 11b in parallel to each other, a more stable output can be obtained when a load is applied to a portion in the wire where the load response is obtained.

  Next, FIGS. 19A to 19L are schematic cross-sectional views showing examples of cross-sectional configurations in the insulating portion 15 of the load detection fiber according to the present invention, and the examples shown in FIGS. This is an example. The cross-sectional configuration example in the insulating portion 15 can be applied to both cases of the first and second embodiments.

  FIG. 19A shows a direction (thickness direction) perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the wire rod through the insulating layer 13 one by one the first wire rod 11a having the insulating portion 15 and the exposed portion 17 and the second wire rod 11b having only the exposed portion 17. ) Is held at a predetermined interval D. In the insulating part 15, an insulating layer 13 is provided so as to cover the entire periphery of the wire 11 a located at the lower part. And the wire 11b which has only the exposed part which is not coat | covered with the insulating layer on the circumference | surroundings (on the concentric circle equivalent to the radius D centering on the wire 11a) of this insulating layer 13 has the structure arrange | positioned in the upper part. . Here, the wire 11a and the wire 11b are examples using the wire having the same fiber diameter d.

FIG. 19B is an example in which one first wire 11a having the insulating portion 15 and the exposed portion 17 and three second wires 11b having only the exposed portion 17 (11b _{1 to} 11b ₃ ) are used. The wire members _11b 1 _{~11b 3} in cross-sectional structure of the insulating portion 15 is arranged at equal intervals (3 equal parts) on the concentric circle of radius D corresponding to the center of the wire 11a. Moreover, in the insulating part 15, the insulating layer 13 is provided so that the whole periphery of the wire 11a located in the center may be coat | covered. Then, on the circumference of the insulating layer 13 equally spaced wires 11b ₁ ~11b ₃ of insulating layer (radius D equivalent concentrically around the wire 11a) has only exposed portion which is not covered (3 equal parts) It is the composition arranged in. Here, the wire 11a and the wires 11b _{1 to} 11b ₃ are all examples using the wire having the same fiber diameter d.

FIG. 19C is an example in which one first wire 11a having an insulating portion 15 and an exposed portion 17 is used, and six second wires 11b having only the exposed portion 17 (11b _{1 to} 11b ₆ ) are used. The wire members _11b 1 _{~11b 6} in a cross section structure of the insulating portion 15 is arranged at equal intervals (6 equal parts) on a concentric circle having a radius D corresponding to the center of the wire 11a. Moreover, in the insulating part 15, the insulating layer 13 is provided so that the whole periphery of the wire 11a located in the center may be coat | covered. Then, on the circumference of the insulating layer 13 wire 11b ₁ ~11b ₆ which insulating layer (radius D equivalent concentrically around the wire 11a) has only exposed portion not covered equidistant (6 equal parts) It is the composition arranged in. Here, the wire 11a and the wires 11b _{1 to} 11b ₆ are all examples using wires having the same fiber diameter d.

  FIG. 19D shows the first wire 11a having the insulating portion 15 and the exposed portion 17 and the second wire 11b having the insulating portion 15 and the exposed portion 17 one by one perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the wire through the insulating layers 13a and 13b. This is an example in which a predetermined interval D is held in a certain direction (thickness direction). In addition, in the cross-sectional structure of the insulating portion 15, insulating layers 13a and 13b are provided so as to cover the entire peripheries of the upper and lower wires 11a and 11b, respectively. Here, the wire 11a and the wire 11b are examples using the wire having the same fiber diameter d and the insulating layers 13a and 13b having the same coating thickness.

FIG. 19E is an example in which one first wire 11a having an insulating portion 15 and an exposed portion 17 is used, and three second wires 11b having an insulating portion 15 and an exposed portion 17 (11b _{1 to} 11b ₃ ) are used. . The wire members _11b 1 _{~11b 3} in cross-sectional structure of the insulating portion 15 is arranged at equal intervals (3 equal parts) on the concentric circle of radius D corresponding to the center of the wire 11a. Further, in the cross-sectional structure of the insulating portion 15, an insulating layer 13a is provided so as to cover the entire circumference of the wire 11a located at the center. Insulating layers 13b _{1 to} 13b ₃ are provided on the circumference of the insulating layer 13a (on a concentric circle corresponding to the radius D with the wire 11a as the center) so as to cover the entire circumference of each of the wires 11b _{1 to} 11b _3. Wire rods 11b _{1 to} 11b ₃ are arranged at equal intervals (divided into three equal parts). Here, the wire 11a and the wires 11b _{1 to} 11b ₃ are all examples using the wire having the same fiber diameter d and the insulation layers 13a and 13b ₁ to 13b ₃ having the same coating thickness.

FIG. 19F is an example in which one first wire 11a having an insulating portion 15 and an exposed portion 17 is used, and six second wires 11b having an insulating portion 15 and an exposed portion 17 (11b _{1 to} 11b ₆ ) are used. . The wire members _11b 1 _{~11b 6} in a cross section structure of the insulating portion 15 is arranged at equal intervals (6 equal parts) on a concentric circle having a radius D corresponding to the center of the wire 11a. Further, in the cross-sectional structure of the insulating portion 15, an insulating layer 13a is provided so as to cover the entire circumference of the wire 11a located at the center. Insulating layers 13b _{1 to} 13b ₆ are provided on the circumference of the insulating layer 13a (on a concentric circle corresponding to the radius D with the wire 11a as the center) so as to cover the entire circumference of each of the wires 11b _{1 to} 11b _6. Wire rods 11b _{1 to} 11b ₆ are arranged at equal intervals (6 equal parts). Here, the wire 11a and the wires 11b _{1 to} 11b ₆ are all examples in which the same fiber diameter d and the insulating layers 13a and 13b ₁ to 13b ₆ are made of wires having the same coating thickness.

FIG. 19G, the insulating portion 15 and the thick first wire member 11a of larger fiber diameter _{d 1} having an exposed portion 17, the exposed portion 17 only a small fiber diameter _{d 2} of thin second wire member 11b and the one by one insulating layer 13 This is an example in which a predetermined distance D is maintained in a direction (thickness direction) perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the wire rod through the wire. In the insulating part 15, an insulating layer 13 is provided so as to cover the entire periphery of the thick wire 11a located at the lower part. And the wire 11b which has only the exposed part which is not coat | covered with the insulating layer on the circumference | surroundings (on the concentric circle equivalent to the radius D centering on the wire 11a) of this insulating layer 13 has the structure arrange | positioned in the upper part. .

Figure 19H is a three and a first wire material 11a 1 This thick of fiber diameter _{d 1} greater having an exposed portion 17, a thin second wire rod 11b of a small fiber diameter _{d 2} only the exposed portion 17 and the insulating portion 15 (11b _{1 to} 11b ₃ ). The wire members _11b 1 _{~11b 3} in cross-sectional structure of the insulating portion 15 is arranged at equal intervals (3 equal parts) in the radial D equivalent concentrically around the heavy wire 11a. Moreover, in the insulating part 15, the insulating layer 13 is provided so that the perimeter of the thick wire 11a located in the center may be coat | covered. The thin wire rods 11b _{1 to} 11b ₃ having only exposed portions that are not covered with the insulating layer on the circumference of the insulating layer 13 (on the concentric circle corresponding to the radius D with the wire rod 11a as the center) are equally spaced (equally divided into three parts). ).

FIG. 19I, the insulating portion 15 and one and a thick first wire member 11a of larger fiber diameter _{d 1} having an exposed portion 17, six thin second wire member 11b small fiber diameter _{d 2} of only the exposed portion 17 (11b _{1 to} 11b ₆ ). The wire members _11b 1 _{~11b 6} in a cross section structure of the insulating portion 15 is arranged at equal intervals (6 equal parts) in the radial D equivalent concentrically around the heavy wire 11a. Moreover, in the insulating part 15, the insulating layer 13 is provided so that the whole periphery of the wire 11a located in the center may be coat | covered. The thin wire rods 11b _{1 to} 11b ₆ having only exposed portions that are not covered with the insulating layer on the circumference of the insulating layer 13 (on the concentric circle corresponding to the radius D with the wire rod 11a as the center) are equally spaced (six equally divided). ).

Figure 19J is both have an exposure portion 17 and the insulating portion 15, through the large fiber diameter _{d 1} of the thick first wire member 11a and a small narrow end of the fiber diameter _{d 2} second wire member 11b and the one by one insulating layer 13a and 13b This is an example in which a predetermined interval D is maintained in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the wire. In addition, in the cross-sectional structure of the insulating portion 15, insulating layers 13 a and 13 b are provided so as to cover the entire circumferences of the thick wire 11 a and the thin wire 11 b positioned above and below, respectively. Here, an example in which towards the insulating layer 13a coating thickness D ₁ is thicker than the coating thickness D ₂ of the insulating layer 13b. Here, D ₁ + D ₂ is a predetermined interval D.

Figure 19K is both have an exposure portion 17 and the insulating portion 15, a large fiber diameter _{d 1} of the thick first wire member 11a three to one and a small thin second wire member 11b of the fiber diameter _{d 2 (11b} 1 _{~11b 3} This is an example used. The wire members _11b 1 _{~11b 3} in cross-sectional structure of the insulating portion 15 is arranged at equal intervals (3 equal parts) in the radial D equivalent concentrically around the heavy wire 11a. Further, in the cross-sectional structure of the insulating portion 15, the insulating layer 13a is provided so as to cover the entire periphery of the thick wire 11a located at the center. Insulating layers 13b _{1 to} 13b ₃ are provided on the circumference of the insulating layer 13a (on a concentric circle corresponding to the radius D with the wire 11a as the center) so as to cover the entire circumference of each of the wires 11b _{1 to} 11b _3. Wire rods 11b _{1 to} 11b ₃ are arranged at equal intervals (divided into three equal parts). Use here, towards the insulating layer 13a coating thickness _{D 1} are thicker than the coating thickness _{D 2} of the insulating layer _13b 1 13 b _3, the insulating layer _13b 1 13 b ₃ is a wire of the same coating thickness This is an example. Here, D ₁ + D ₂ is a predetermined interval D.

Figure 19L are both having an exposed portion 17 and the insulating portion 15, a large thick first wire member 11a of the fiber diameter _{d 1} 1 present as small narrow end of the fiber diameter _{d 2} second wire member 11b six _(11b 1 ～11B ₆ This is an example used. The wire members _11b 1 _{~11b 6} in a cross section structure of the insulating portion 15 is arranged at equal intervals (6 equal parts) in the radial D equivalent concentrically around the heavy wire 11a. Further, in the cross-sectional structure of the insulating portion 15, the insulating layer 13a is provided so as to cover the entire periphery of the thick wire 11a located at the center. Then, insulating layers 13b _{1 to} 13b ₆ are provided on the circumference of the insulating layer 13a (on a concentric circle corresponding to the radius D with the wire 11a as the center) so as to cover the entire circumference of each of the wires 11b _{1 to} 11b _3. Wire rods 11b _{1 to} 11b ₆ are arranged at equal intervals (6 equal parts). Use here, towards the insulating layer 13a coating thickness _{D 1} are thicker than the coating thickness _{D 2} of the insulating layer _13b 1 13 b _6, the insulating layer _13b 1 13 b ₆ is a wire of the same coating thickness This is an example. Here, D ₁ + D ₂ is a predetermined interval D.

  Next, in the load detection fiber of the present invention, in any case of the first and second embodiments, the insulating layer (insulating part) is covered and formed in any arrangement on the surface of the conductive wire. Also good. Preferably, as specifically shown in the first and second embodiments (including modifications), the exposed portion in which the wire is partially covered with an insulating layer and the exposed portion is not covered with the insulating layer. It is desirable that the exposed portion be disposed between a plurality of insulating portions along the longitudinal direction of the wire. 4, FIG. 12 to FIG. 18 all show a configuration in which one exposed portion is disposed between two insulating portions along the longitudinal direction of the wire, but the configuration is limited to such a configuration. is not. For example, a configuration in which two exposed portions are arranged in order (alternate) between three insulating portions, ..., n-1 exposed portions in order (alternate) between n insulating portions. Arranged configurations can also be used.

  Further, when the insulating portions 15 (exposed portions 17 between the plurality of insulating portions 15 in the longitudinal direction of the wire rod) are provided on both sides of the exposed portion 17, the length of the exposed portion 17 is the case of either of the first and second embodiments. Also, a range of about 5 to 25 mm is preferable (see L in FIGS. 4, 12 to 18, FIG. 31A, etc.). The length L of the exposed portion 17 is more preferably in the range of about 10 to 15 mm. When the length L of the exposed portion 17 is less than 5 mm, a large amount of deformation is required to bring the wire rods 11 into contact with each other when a load is applied. Therefore, there is a concern about the acceleration of the deterioration rate as a sensor. Further, it may be difficult to obtain sufficient sensitivity to a low load. On the other hand, when the length L of the exposed portion 17 exceeds 25 mm, conversely, contact between the wires may occur in advance before an external force (load) is applied, and the resistance change width may start to decrease.

  The covering amount of the insulating layer covering a part of the surface of the conductive wire used in the present invention can be within a range that does not impair the above performance, but is 5 to 50% with respect to the cross-sectional area of the conductive wire. It is preferable that the insulating material occupies about a cross-sectional area, and more preferably about 15 to 35%. The covering amount of the insulating layer can also be applied to both cases of the first and second embodiments.

  In the load detection fiber of the present invention, when no external force is applied, the conductive wire 11 (11a and 11b) of the exposed portion 17 is separated from each other (structure with a space D). Therefore, the distance D between the conductive wires (11a and 11b) in the state where no external force is applied (distance between the nearest neighbors of the conductive wires) is preferably in the range of about 5 to 50 μm, and in the range of 10 to 30 μm. A range of 15 to 25 μm is particularly preferable. When the distance D between the conductive wires is less than 5 μm, as in the case where the length L of the exposed portion is long, contact between the conductive wires occurs in advance in a state where no external force is applied, and the resistance change width is large. It gets smaller. If the distance D is more than 50 μm, the amount of deformation necessary for bringing the conductive wires into contact with each other increases, and there is a concern about the acceleration of the deterioration rate as a sensor. Such an interval D between the conductive wires can also be applied to both cases of the first and second embodiments.

In a wire having an insulating part in which a part of the surface of the conductive wire of the present invention is covered with an insulating layer and an exposed part not covered with the insulating layer, the total diameter (thickness; thickness) of the conductive wire and the insulating layer Symbols t, t ₁ and t _{2 in the} figure (see FIGS. 19A, 19G and 19J) are preferably 20 to 300 μm. More preferably, it is 50-200 micrometers, Most preferably, it is the range of 80-150 micrometers. If the total diameter (thickness) (t, t ₁ , t ₂ ) of the conductive wire and the insulating layer is less than 20 μm, a contact is generated at times other than when a load is detected, and an error is likely to occur. On the other hand, if the total diameter (thickness) of the conductive wire and the insulating layer exceeds 300 μm, the wire, and further, as a load detection fiber, may cause a sense of discomfort when used in a load detection fabric, or become uneven. This is because an error at the time of load detection in the load detection fabric (cloth shape) is likely to occur. The total diameter (thickness) (t, t ₁ , t ₂ ) of the conductive wire and the insulating layer can also be applied to both cases of the first and second embodiments.

  The conductivity of the conductive wire 11 (11a, 11b) according to the present invention is preferably in the range of about 0.1 S / cm to 1000 S / cm in order to obtain the load sensing function as described above. From the viewpoint of improving load sensing performance, a range of 100 S / cm to 500 S / cm is more preferable, and a range of 150 S / cm to 400 S / cm is particularly preferable. In the range where the conductivity of the conductive wire is less than 0.1 S / cm, the resistance value which is the output value of the sensor becomes high, so that the flowing current becomes very small and includes many measurement errors. . On the other hand, in the range where the conductivity is higher than 1000 S / cm, ON / OFF of the contact between the conductive wires can be monitored. However, when monitoring a load change after contact (also referred to as a load change), since the conductivity is originally high, a large current flows even in contact with a small area, so the resistance change width with respect to the load becomes small. . In addition, the conductive polymer wire (fiber) used as the conductive wire serves as a resistor. Therefore, as described above, if the resistance value of the conductive polymer wire (fiber) is too large (the conductivity is less than 0.1 S / cm), it becomes difficult for the current for sensing to flow. On the other hand, if the resistance value of the conductive polymer wire (fiber) becomes too small (the conductivity exceeds 1000 S / cm), the power consumption becomes large, so that heat is generated, which is preferable from the viewpoint of energy saving. Absent. In addition, since the resistance is small, the accuracy of the sensed signal is reduced. The conductivity and resistance value of the conductive wire can also be applied to both cases of the first and second embodiments.

  In this specification, “conductivity” refers to the reciprocal of the resistivity determined in accordance with JIS K 7194 (resistivity test method based on the 4-probe method of conductive plastic).

  Examples of the conductive wire used in the present invention include a metallic wire (fiber), a wire (fiber) spun by containing a filler such as carbon in a general-purpose resin, and a conductive polymer wire (fiber). By using such a wire (fiber) as a conductive wire, the resistance value of this wire (fiber) is based on the principles such as expansion and contraction of the wire (fiber) and increase in the contact area between the wires (fiber) due to compression. By changing, it becomes possible to sense a load such as a load. Such a conductive wire material (material) can also be applied to both the first and second embodiments.

  The shape of the conductive wire used in the present invention is not particularly limited, and a known general shape can be applied. For example, as the shape of the conductive wire 11 (11a, 11b), there may be a core-sheath type, a side-by-side type, a sea-island type cross-sectional shape, etc. in addition to a simple one-component wire (fiber). Specific examples of the shape of the conductive wire include those shown in FIGS. That is, it is made of a uniform material (FIG. 5), like a core-sheath structure (FIG. 6), like a side-by-side structure (FIG. 7), like a sea-island (multi-core) structure (Fig. 8), modified cross-sectional shapes (Figs. 9 and 10) that are not circular, hollow structures (Fig. 11), and the like. As a means of functionalizing conductive wires (fibers), these wires (fibers) themselves have a naturally twisted shape to change the texture, increase the surface area of the wires (fibers), and reduce weight and heat insulation. Used for aiming. In this invention, it is possible to change the cross section of a wire (fiber) in the range which does not impair said sensing function. Among these cross-sectional shapes, particularly preferred as the conductive wire used for the load sensing fiber is a single-component type, core-sheath type, sea-island type, hollow-type wire rod (fiber) cross-sectional outer periphery made of one material. It is what. This is because if the wire rod (fiber) cross-section outer peripheral portion is made of a plurality of materials, it becomes difficult to obtain a stable sensor output. The shape of the conductive wire can also be applied to both cases of the first and second embodiments.

  The shape of the conductive wire used in the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the drawings.

  First, the conductive wire 11 shown in FIG. 5 is a solid wire (fiber) having a single-component cross section made of a uniform material and having a circular cross section. The conductive wire 11 shown in FIG. 6 is a core-sheath wire (fiber). The sheath component 2a and the core component 2b of the core-sheath wire (fiber) may be formed of different materials or the same material. The conductive wire 11 shown in FIG. 7 is a side-by-side wire (fiber). The first component 3a and the second component 3b of the side-by-side type wire (fiber) may be formed of different materials or the same material, but are preferably formed of different materials. Moreover, the conductive wire 11 shown in FIG. 8 is a sea-island wire (fiber). The sea component 4a and the island component 4b of the sea-island wire (fiber) may be formed of different materials or the same material. The conductive wire 11 shown in FIG. 9 is a solid wire (fiber) having a single-component cross section made of a uniform material and having a triangular shape. The conductive wire 11 shown in FIG. 10 is a star-shaped solid wire (fiber) having a single-component cross section made of a uniform material. The conductive wire 11 shown in FIG. 11 is a hollow wire (fiber). This hollow wire (fiber) is formed of a wire component 5a and a hollow portion 5b. Here, the surface of the conductive wire is a concept including an outer surface and an inner surface. Therefore, when a hollow wire (fiber) is used for the conductive wire 11, the insulating part in which a part of the surface of the conductive wire is covered with the insulating layer is the surface of the hollow part 5 b that is inside. Also good. Moreover, the outer surface of the wire component 5a of a hollow type wire (fiber) may be sufficient. Furthermore, you may form in both.

  Among these structures, the core-sheath type conductive wire 11 shown in FIG. 6 is particularly preferable, and the sheath component 2a and the core component 2b of the core-sheath wire (fiber) are formed of different materials. Is the case. Here, the number of cores is not limited to one, and the same effect can be obtained with a multi-core (sea island structure) (see FIG. 8). These core-sheath-type conductive wires 11 have, as a main component, a resin component that is not a conductive polymer as a sheath component in a continuous process, for example, in a core conductive wire obtained by wet spinning or electric field polymerization described later. The insulating layer 13 is manufactured by a process of applying an insulating material as a raw material. The process is as shown in FIG. 22, and it is possible to adjust the amount of resin remaining on the surface by adjusting the time and temperature of the drying process, so that different cross-sectional shapes are obtained depending on various drying conditions. be able to. As another method, the core-sheath type conductive wire 11 can be produced by pulling from the liquid phase once by using a core-sheath type discharge nozzle in the case of wet spinning. is there. The core-sheath type conductive wire 11 using an insulating material for the sheath component thus obtained is used as the conductive wire 11 (core component 2b) covered with the insulating layer 13 (sheath component 2a). . That is, it can be said that the formation step and the covering step of the method for producing the load detection fiber described later are performed together. Therefore, by using a plurality of the core-sheath type conductive wire, or by combining the core-sheath type conductive wire and another conductive wire, performing the fixing step and the removing step of the manufacturing method described later, A desired load sensing fiber can be obtained.

  The conductive wire according to the present invention refers to a slit formed by film cutting or the like, in addition to those directly spun into a yarn shape by a method such as melt spinning, wet spinning, or electrospinning. This aspect of the conductive wire can also be applied to both cases of the first and second embodiments.

The diameter (thickness) of the conductive wire of the present invention (d, d ₁ , d _{2 in the} figure; see FIGS. 4, 12, 19, etc.) is preferably about several μm to 1000 μm. Within such a range, it is excellent in flexibility, softness, ease of handling, etc. as a wire (fiber), and is excellent in that it can impart (express) excellent flexibility and softness even when used for a fabric or the like. . As a diameter (thickness) of an electroconductive wire, 10-1000 micrometers is more preferable, Especially preferably, it is the range of 30-600 micrometers. If it is in this suitable range, it is excellent in the stability of the resistance change value by stabilization of the mutual contact in this exposed part of an electroconductive wire, and the ease of handling as a wire (fiber). Therefore, in the load detection fiber of the present invention, not only a single wire constituting the load detection fiber but also a fabric such as a knitted fabric or a woven fabric using the wire can provide a highly accurate sensing function. . In addition, in the load detection fiber, since the diameter (thickness) d of the wire is in a range that can be used for processing a cloth such as an existing knitted fabric or woven fabric, a complicated shape, a narrow and narrow shape, a very thin shape, Advanced weaving and knitting techniques that can be widely applied to complex three-dimensional shapes can be applied. For this reason, for example, sensing in a narrow and narrow space or sensing in a very thin space is applicable. The diameter (thickness) (d, d ₁ , d ₂ ) of the conductive wire can also be applied to both cases of the first and second embodiments.

  In addition, the conductive wire according to the present invention may be bundled together or more than just one. The number of conductive wires used can also be applied to both cases of the first and second embodiments.

  The conductive wire that can be used in the present invention is preferably a conductive wire (fiber) containing a conductive polymer. The material (material) of the conductive wire can also be applied to both cases of the first and second embodiments.

  The conductive polymer used for the conductive wire of the present invention is not particularly limited as long as it is a polymer exhibiting conductivity. For example, acetylene series having a basic skeleton of Formula 1, a 5-membered heterocyclic ring system, a phenylene series having a basic skeleton of Formula 5 and an aniline series having a basic skeleton of Formula 6 and conductive polymers thereof. Examples include coalescence.

  As the complex 5-membered ring system, a pyrrole polymer having a skeleton of Chemical Formula 2, a thiophene polymer having a basic skeleton of Chemical Formula 3, and an isothianaphthene polymer having a basic skeleton of Chemical Formula 4 are more preferable. Specifically, for example, as a monomer, 3-alkylpyrrole such as 3-methylpyrrole, 3-ethylpyrrole and 3-dodecylpyrrole; 3,4 such as 3,4-dimethylpyrrole and 3-methyl-4-dodecylpyrrole N-alkylpyrrole such as N-methylpyrrole and N-dodecylpyrrole; N-alkyl-3-alkylpyrrole such as N-methyl-3-methylpyrrole and N-ethyl-3-dodecylpyrrole; Examples include pyrrole polymers, thiophene polymers, and isothianaphthene polymers obtained by polymerizing carboxypyrrole. In addition, only one kind of each of the conductive polymers may be used alone for the conductive wire, or a plurality of the conductive polymers may be used in combination.

  Chemical formula 1;

  Chemical formula 2;

  Chemical formula 3;

  Chemical formula 4;

  Chemical formula 5;

  Chemical formula 6;

  Among the conductive polymers, PEDTOT in which a polymer selected from the group consisting of polypyrrole, polyaniline, and poly3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene is polymerized with poly-4-styrene sulfonate. It is preferable to include at least one selected from conductive polymers selected from the group consisting of / PSS and polyparaphenylene vinylene, and / or derivatives thereof.

  Further, PEDOT / PSS (Bayer, Baytron P (registered trademark)) in which PEDOT of thiophene conductive polymer is doped with poly 4-styrene sulfonate PSS, phenylene PPV, pyrrole polypyrrole, etc. Preferably mentioned.

  1000-100000 are preferable, as for the molecular weight (weight average molecular weight) of the conductive polymer used for this invention, 10000-50000 are more preferable, 20000-30000 are especially preferable.

  When the molecular weight of the conductive polymer is less than 1000, an error in load detection is likely to be caused due to a decrease in conductivity, and when it exceeds 100,000, the softness as a wire (fiber) is impaired.

  Moreover, when using the conductive fiber (wire) containing a conductive polymer for the conductive wire which concerns on this invention, content of a conductive polymer with respect to a conductive wire is preferable 50-100 mass%, 90 -100 mass% is preferable.

  When a conductive fiber (wire) containing a conductive polymer is used for the conductive wire according to the present invention, it is preferable to add a dope. Thereby, the dopant has a dramatic effect on the conductivity of the conductive polymer.

  The dopant according to the present invention is not particularly limited, and is appropriately selected depending on the type of conductive polymer used.

  Specific dopants according to the present invention include halide ions such as chloride ions and bromide ions, perchlorate ions, tetrafluoroborate ions, hexafluoroarsenate ions, sulfate ions, nitrate ions, thiocyanate ions, Phosphate ions such as hexafluorosilicate ion, phosphate ion, phenyl phosphate ion, hexafluorophosphate ion, alkylbenzenesulfonate ions such as trifluoroacetate ion, tosylate ion, ethylbenzenesulfonate ion, dodecylbenzenesulfonate ion , Alkyl sulfonate ions such as methyl sulfonate ion and ethyl sulfonate ion, polyacrylate ion, polyvinyl sulfonate ion, polystyrene sulfonate ion, poly (2-acrylamido-2-methylpropane sulfonate) ion Among ions, at least one ion is used.

  The addition amount of the dopant according to the present invention is not particularly limited as long as it has an effect on conductivity, but is usually 3 to 50 parts by mass, preferably 10 to 30 parts by mass with respect to 100 parts by mass of the conductive polymer. Part range.

  The insulating material used for the insulating layer constituting the conductive wire of the present invention is not particularly limited, and an inorganic material or an organic material can be suitably used, and is formed of an organic material other than the conductive polymer. More preferably. The insulating material used for the insulating layer constituting the conductive wire of the present invention can also be applied to both cases of the first and second embodiments.

  When using an organic material for the insulating layer constituting the conductive wire of the present invention, a polymer material is preferred. Specifically, polyamides such as nylon 6 and nylon 66, polyethylene terephthalate, polyethylene terephthalate containing a copolymer component, polybutylene terephthalate, polyacrylonitrile, etc. alone or mixed, and single coating agents such as vinyl chloride and vinyl acetate These copolymers can also be used. In addition to these, it is also preferable to be made of an elastomer. By using an elastomer, deformation and recovery are not inhibited more than the above polymer. As a suitable elastomer, it is more preferable to use polysiloxanes in order to obtain a large deformation. In addition, polymethacrylates, polychloroacrylates or polystyrene derivatives that exist in the glassy state at room temperature, and suitable elastomers that exist in the liquid crystal state at room temperature include those containing polyacrylates, polysiloxanes or polyphosphazenes, and from these. And the copolymer. Preferred mesogenic groups include those containing alkyl, alkoxy and oxaalkyl groups having, for example, up to 15 chain members on the long axis of the mesogenic unit. Elastomers are synthesized by, for example, simple random copolymerization or random polymer-like addition reaction with a multifunctional crosslinker molecule in the same manner as usual polymer synthesis.

  When using the said polymer for the insulating layer which comprises the electroconductive wire of this invention, 1000-1 million are preferable, as for the weight average molecular weight of the said polymer, 10000-500000 are more preferable, 20000-400000 are especially preferable. If the weight average molecular weight of the conductive polymer is less than 1000, the viscosity of the solution becomes too low at the time of coating, the thickness of the insulating layer becomes uneven, and the distance between the wires (distance D) changes at the time of load detection. , It becomes a factor of error. On the other hand, when the weight average molecular weight of the conductive polymer is more than 1000000, the viscosity becomes too high at the time of coating, the molecular chain may be extended, and the thickness may be uneven due to the round shape.

  Moreover, the insulating layer which comprises the conductive wire of this invention may form an insulating layer in a part of surface of the conductive wire previously fiberized by spinning. Alternatively, at the stage of obtaining a conductive wire by spinning or the like, a core-sheath type or sea-island type cross-sectional shape is combined with a conductive material (conductive polymer) for a conductive wire and an insulating polymer for an insulating layer. A wire (fiber) is formed. Subsequently, a part of the covering insulating layer corresponding to the sheath or sea part of the wire (fiber) may be removed, and the insulating layer may be left on a part of the surface of the conductive wire. In any method, it is possible to form an insulating layer capable of providing a stable sensing behavior without impairing the strength and durability of the conductive wire.

  5-50 mass% is preferable with respect to the mass of a conductive wire, as for the mass of the insulation part which comprises the conductive wire of this invention, 10-30 mass% is more preferable, and 15-25 mass% is especially preferable. If the mass (content ratio) of the insulating part is less than 5% by mass, insulation may be insufficient and dielectric breakdown may occur, impairing the load detection function. On the other hand, if it exceeds 50% by mass, the distance from the conductive part is inevitably increased, so that an initial response load is increased and a small load change cannot be obtained. The mass of the insulating layer constituting the conductive wire of the present invention can also be applied to any of the first and second embodiments.

  The conductive wire of the present invention may further include a wire having only an exposed portion (some of which is used as an electrode portion) exposed without being covered with an insulating layer (FIG. 4, FIG. 16, FIG. 18, FIGS. 19A to 19C, and FIGS. 19G to 19I). The wire having only the exposed portion is overlapped with the wire (other wire) covered while being partially exposed by the insulating layer via the insulating layer, and at the exposed portion of the other wire, It can utilize for a load detection fiber by arrange | positioning so that both wire materials may contact (refer FIG. 16, 18). Such a form of the conductive wire of the present invention can also be applied to both cases of the first and second embodiments.

  As shown in FIGS. 4, 16, 18, 19 </ b> A to 19 </ b> C, and 19 </ b> G to 19 </ b> I, various load sensing fiber shapes (forms) can be obtained by combining the wire having only the exposed portion and the other wire. ) Can be formed.

  One or a plurality of wires may be bundled with an insulating portion in which a part of the surface of the conductive wire according to the present invention is covered with an insulating layer and an exposed portion of the conductive wire not covered with the insulating layer. Even when twisted, the ends may be connected to each other and used as the load sensing fiber of the present invention. Furthermore, a plurality of the wires may be bundled, twisted, or connected to the conductive wire at the end.

  In addition, 20-300 micrometers is preferable, as for the total diameter (total thickness; maximum diameter) of the load detection fiber of this invention in the case of bundling a plurality of electroconductive wire or making it match more, 50-200 micrometers is more preferable, 80- 150 μm is particularly preferable. By making the total diameter (total thickness; maximum diameter) of the load detection fibers of the present invention within the above range, load detection capability such as a load is high, and a plurality of load detection fibers are used. By arranging the load detection fibers in a predetermined arrangement, the resistance change of each load detection fiber can be measured. Therefore, it is possible to grasp not only the magnitude of the load, but also the position and direction of the load.

  Next, the manufacturing method of the load detection fiber of this invention is characterized by including the following steps.

(1) a forming step of forming a first wire and a second wire that are conductive wires;
(2) A coating step of applying an insulating material to at least one surface of the first wire and the second wire, and covering the surface with an insulating layer;
(3) a fixing stage in which the first wire and the second wire are overlapped and fixed via the insulating layer;
(4) A removal step of removing a part of the insulating layer with a solvent.

Moreover, as a manufacturing method of the load detection apparatus using the load detection fiber of the present invention, in addition to the above (1) to (4),
(5) A step of connecting (wiring) the electrode portion of the conductive fiber to a power source (external circuit).

  According to the manufacturing method of the present invention, it is possible to arrange a large number of the exposed portions provided with regularity so as to acquire the contact location and number information on the load detection fiber as designed. Thus, when an external force is applied, accurate contact location and numerical information can be extracted through the presence / absence of contact between the wires for each exposed portion. As a result, a load signal (resistance change value) can be stabilized (see FIG. 35 and FIG. 3 in comparison), and position information such as load measurement and coordinate measurement, and load change can be accurately detected as resistance change. -It is possible to provide load sensing fibers that can be sensed in a small space.

  Hereinafter, a first wire which is a conductive wire having an insulating portion covered with an insulating layer on a part of the surface of the conductive wire according to the present invention and an exposed portion of the conductive wire not covered with the insulating layer, and A preferred example of the method for producing the second wire will be described.

  In the forming step (1), for example, a first wire and a second wire that are conductive wires containing a conductive polymer can be formed by spinning. This means that when a conductive polymer is used for the conductive wire, it can be easily fiberized by a method such as wet spinning or electrospinning, and a material satisfying the above-described conductivity is manufactured. It is because it can do.

  For example, when a thiophene, pyrrole, or aniline system is used as the conductive polymer, it can be manufactured by wet spinning. For example, a conductive polymer such as PEDOT / PSS is dissolved in a solvent so as to be 1.2 to 1.4% by mass to prepare a dispersion solution, and is subjected to a filtration treatment 1 to 3 times with a filter paper. Next, after the filtration treatment, the dispersion is injected into a cylinder having a needle portion inner diameter of 300 to 2000 μm × 1 to 10 ports, and extruded from an organic solvent such as acetone at a rate of 0.1 to 5.0 μL / min. . Subsequently, the conductive wire 11 which consists of a conductive polymer fiber can be obtained easily by winding up at a speed | rate of 0.1-500 cm / min.

  Examples of the solvent include water, lower alcohols such as methanol, ethanol, and propanol.

  Examples of the organic solvent include acetone, THF, toluene, and cyclohexanone.

  FIG. 20 is a schematic view of a wet spinning apparatus according to the present invention. In the wet spinning apparatus 30 shown in FIG. 20, for example, a conductive polymer dispersion is extruded from a wet spinning base 31 and the extruded wire precursor 12 is placed in a wet spinning solvent tank 32 containing an organic solvent. Let it pass. Next, after passing through the fiber feeder 33, the fiber winder 34 winds up to obtain the conductive wire 11 made of a desired conductive polymer fiber.

  On the other hand, when a phenylene polymer is used as the conductive polymer, the phenylene polymer has a π bond on the benzene ring and a linear π bond connected to it, such as polyparaphenylene, polyparaphenylene vinylene, and polyfluorene. This is a type that conducts electricity. Therefore, these conductive polymers can be fiberized by the electrospinning method (FIG. 21).

  FIG. 21 is a schematic view of an electrospinning apparatus according to the present invention. In the electrospinning device 40 shown in FIG. 21, an electric wire is connected between the needle tip of the cylinder needle 42 of the cylinder 41 and the electrode 43 placed on the insulating material (base) 44 installed below the cylinder 41. A voltage application device 45 is provided via 46. For example, a spinning stock solution is prepared by adding a phenylene-based conductive polymer such as polyparaphenylene to a lower alcohol such as methanol in an amount of 0.01 to 0.5% by mass. While applying a voltage of 1 to 50 kV, the prepared stock solution was 0.1 to 5.0 μL / min from the needle tip of the cylinder needle 42 of the cylinder 41 having an inner diameter of 50 to 2000 μm × 1 to 50 to the electrode 43. Extrude at speed. By this method, the fiber precursor 12 is deposited on the electrode 43. The obtained fiber precursor 12 is dried at 110 to 300 ° C. for 1 to 5 hours by a known method such as vacuum drying to obtain a conductive wire 11 made of a desired conductive polymer fiber.

  In the case of a solution having a high viscosity, dry spinning can also be used. A conductive wire (fiber) can be obtained by vaporizing the solvent in the solution pulled up from the solution tank with hot air or the like in the gas phase.

  For example, by applying the conductive polymer dispersion according to the present invention to fibers made of other general-purpose resins, the conductive wire 11 having a core resin portion and a shell portion made of a conductive polymer can be obtained. You can also get it. Although the resistance value is higher than that of the conductive wire 11 as a whole made of a conductive polymer, it is effective as a method of manufacturing at low cost.

  By adopting such a process, it is possible to easily manufacture the conductive wire 11 including the conductive polymer that forms the load detection fiber.

  In the coating step (2), an insulating material is applied to at least one surface of the first wire and the second wire obtained in the step (1), and the surface is covered with an insulating layer. Is. In the fixing step (3), the first wire and the second wire obtained in the step (1) or (2) are overlapped and fixed via an insulating layer. . As a result, the exposed portion having regularity to obtain the contact location and number information can be created as designed.

FIG. 22 is a schematic diagram of an apparatus provided with a coating process in the wet spinning apparatus according to the present invention. In the wet spinning apparatus 30 shown in FIG. 22, the spinning stock solution is extruded from the wet spinning die 31 and the fiber precursor 12 is passed through a wet spinning solvent tank 32 containing a solvent such as acetone. After passing through the solvent tank 32, the precursor 12 passes through a fiber feeder 33 and is sent to a coating tank 36 containing a polyester emulsion as an insulating material. After the fiber (wire material) immersed in the emulsion and coated with an insulating material on the surface of the wire is sent to the drying device 37 by the fiber feeder 33 and dried, the surface of the conductive polymer wire is coated with the insulating layer 13. The resulting wire 11 is taken up by a fiber winder 34. As a result, (1) the wire rod forming step, the coating step (2) above, and the fixing step (3) above can be performed simultaneously. That is, the surface of the conductive wire is covered with the insulating layer 13 by drying the fibers (wires) in which the insulating material is applied to the surface of each wire with a suitable distance D between the plurality of wires 11. A plurality of wires 11 can be obtained together. At the same time, a plurality of wires 11 can be stacked and fixed via the insulating layer 13.

  Next, in the removal step (4), a part of the insulating layer 13 is removed with a solvent.

  For example, after the fiber winding operation in which the above steps (1) to (3) are performed, the coating of the insulating layer 13 is eluted by an etching process or the like for a necessary portion of the wire 11 coated with the insulating layer 13, and pressure sensitive Part (exposed part 17) and electrode parts 14a and 14b are provided. For example, when the insulating layer 13 is formed using a vinyl chloride / vinyl acetate copolymer (Nisshin Chemical Industry Solvain), the coating of the pressure sensitive part and the electrode part can be eluted by using acetone. Thereby, the exposed part 17 and electrode part 14a, 14b which are not coat | covered with the insulating layer 13 can be obtained.

  As another method, the insulating layer 13, the insulating layer exposed portion 17, and the electrode portions 14 a and 14 b can be provided by using a device such as screen printing that can be applied only to a necessary portion in advance in the coating device. In this case, the operations (processes) in the steps (2) to (4) can be performed in parallel.

  In the step (2), an insulating material such as the vinyl chloride / vinyl acetate copolymer listed above as the insulating layer 13 on the surface of the conductive wire 11 obtained in the step (1) is used as an organic solvent. Add and adjust 5-50 wt% dissolved coating solution and apply. Subsequently, it is made to dry at 60-80 degreeC for 1 to 6 hours in the state dried with the longitudinal direction sideways. As a result, the insulating portion 15 in which a part of the surface of the conductive wire 11 is covered with the insulating layer 13 and the exposed portion 17 and the electrode portion 14a (14b) of the conductive wire 11 that is not covered with the insulating layer 15 are formed. The wire 11 which has can also be manufactured.

  Moreover, the said application | coating method is not restrict | limited in particular, Well-known application | coating methods, such as spray application and brush application, can be applied, and the load detection fiber of this invention can be manufactured even if it is an impregnation method.

  In the load detection fibers 10 and 10 ′ of the present invention, electrode portions (detection terminals) 14 a and 14 b are formed for each unit for detecting conductivity and resistance value. That is, the electrode part (detection terminal) has a wire 11 having an insulating part 15 and an exposed part 17 in which a part of the surface of the conductive wire is covered with the insulating layer 13 and an exposed part that is not covered with the insulating layer 13. It is desirable to provide at the end of the wire 11 having only the portion 17. However, a part of the plurality of exposed portions 17 may be used for the electrode portions 14a and 14b. Thus, sensing can be efficiently performed by forming the electrode portions (detection terminals) 14a and 14b on the wire 11 (see FIGS. 31 and 33).

  Further, as the power source 19 for connecting the electrode portions 14a and 14b of the load detection fibers 10, 10 ', a battery, a household outlet, a car battery, or the like can be used as the power source. For example, when the load detection fiber 10 of the present invention is used for a vehicle seat, a battery of a car is used, a connector is inserted into a cigarette lighter portion, and the battery power is supplied to the electrode portions 14a and 14b (FIGS. 4A and 12A). Etc.).

  In addition, among the load detection fibers of the present invention, as a method for manufacturing the load detection fiber having the configuration shown in FIGS. 36 to 44, the following fixing step (3) is performed in the steps (1) to (4). And removing step (4).

  That is, in the fixing step (3), using the conductive wire obtained in the forming step (1) and the wire obtained by covering the outer periphery obtained in the covering step (2) with an insulating layer, It is preferable to arrange and fix the other wire in a spiral around the wire. In the coating step (2), in the removal step (4), an insulating layer is formed by coating (covering) the surface (outer periphery) of the wire with an insulating resin that can be eluted with an applicable organic solvent. Is preferred.

  Next, in the removal step (4), the wire obtained by covering the outer periphery obtained in the coating step (2) with an insulating layer is further applied to a part of the insulating layer along the longitudinal direction of the wire, and the surface perpendicular to the axis of the wire. It is preferable to remove partially within a predetermined range. In other words, it can be said that it is preferable to partially peel (remove) the outer peripheral wire covered with the insulating layer in the longitudinal direction of the wire. Furthermore, in this removal step (4), the insulating layer at the end of the wire may also be removed to form an electrode portion for supplying power.

  Furthermore, in the method for manufacturing a load detection fiber according to the present invention, in order to easily configure the load detection device, power is supplied to the electrode portion at the end of the wire and / or the conductive fiber at the stage of manufacturing the load detection fiber. You may perform the step which connects (external power supply).

  Hereinafter, as the removal step (4), the outer periphery obtained in the covering step (2) is coated with an insulating layer, and the wire rod is further perpendicular to the axis of the portion of the insulating layer along the longitudinal direction of the wire. A preferred example using the step of partially removing the surface within a predetermined range will be described. In other words, a preferred example of the step (4) in which the outer peripheral wire covered with the insulating layer is partially peeled in the longitudinal direction of the wire will be described.

  First, in this stage (4), as shown in FIG. 36A, the insulating layer of the load sensing fiber 10 ′ comprising the outer peripheral wire 11b covering the eluting insulating layer 13 and the central wire 11a wound spirally. 13 is partially eluted in the longitudinal direction by a length of 10 mm. By applying and eluting acetone, THF, toluene, cyclohexanone, etc. to the required width for each angle at which the response point is desired to be set as viewed in cross section with respect to the outer periphery of the fiber 10 ′ (particularly the center wire 11a). Can be obtained. As the coater used at this time, a coater generally used for a film, a substrate or the like can be used. Since the object is in the form of a fiber, it is desirable that it can be applied and dissolved on a certain surface. Or what can coat and elute simultaneously from a required direction is also preferable.

  Furthermore, among the load detection fibers of the present invention, as a method for producing the load detection fiber having the configuration shown in FIGS. 41 to 42, in addition to the steps (1) to (4) described above, the following (5 It is desirable to carry out a re-coating step.

  In the re-coating step (5), after the removing step (4), an insulating material is applied to the outer periphery of the wire disposed on the outer peripheral side of the first wire and the second wire, and the wire The outer periphery is covered with an insulating layer.

  Specifically, as a method of forming the configuration shown in FIGS. 41 and 42, after the insulating layer 13 at the load detection point is peeled off (removed) in the removal step (4) by the above-described method, at least the outer peripheral wire at the load detection point. An insulating material (coating liquid) is applied to the outer periphery of the second wire 11b and dried. Thereby, the outer periphery of the said wire 11b can be coat | covered (coating) with the insulating layer 20 again. At this time, the viscosity of the insulating material (coating liquid) of the insulating layer 20 is the viscosity of a solution for stripping the insulating layer (coating layer) 13 (that is, a solution such as an organic solvent used to elute and remove the insulating layer 13). Higher is preferred. Here, the suitable viscosity range of the insulating material (coating liquid) of the insulating layer 20 is preferably about 100 mPa · s to 10000 mPa · s, more preferably about 200 mPa · s to 1000 mPa · s. By setting it in this range, when coating the outer side of the outer peripheral wire 11b, the coating can be performed without flowing into the gap portion 21 inside the wire 11b, and the load resolution can be improved.

  Further, in the fixing stage (3), the outer peripheral wire 11b is arranged and fixed in a spiral form around the center wire 11a without any gap as shown in FIG. In the case of the above, in the re-coating step (5), re-coating becomes easy. Therefore, it is possible to coat a solution having a low viscosity. In the fixing stage (3), the film-like (or flat) wire 11b is spirally arranged around the center wire 11a without any gap as shown in FIG. 42A without the insulating layer 20. Even if it is fixed (wrapped), re-coating becomes easy. Therefore, it is possible to coat a solution having a low viscosity, but there is no particular limitation. For example, in the fixing stage (3), as shown in FIG. 44, the outer peripheral wire 11b without the insulating layer 13 is arranged in a spiral shape around the center wire 11a and fixed (wrapped). In the re-coating step (5), re-coating becomes easy. Therefore, it is possible to coat a solution having a low viscosity. In this case, it is preferable to perform the removal step (4) before the fixing step (3) to peel (remove) the insulating layer 13 at the load detection point of the center wire 11a.

  Hereinafter, a preferable example of the step (5) in which the outer periphery of the wire 11b formed in a spiral shape according to the present invention is covered with the insulating layer 20 will be described.

  First, in steps (1) to (4), the insulating layer 13 of the fiber 10 ′ including the center wire 11a and the outer peripheral wire 11b arranged (wound) in a spiral shape around the center wire 11a is formed. Prepare a portion that has been eluted (removed). Next, in step (5), the outer periphery of the outer peripheral wire 11 is covered by applying (drying) the coating liquid (insulating material) to the outer periphery again on the outer periphery of the fiber 10 '(particularly the outer peripheral wire 11b). An insulating layer 20 is obtained. As a coating method, a commonly used dipping coater, spray coating by a spray method, a showering method, or the like can be used. Since the object is fibrous, it is desirable to apply a certain amount to the entire circumferential surface.

  The load detection fabric using the load detection fiber of the present invention is characterized in that the load detection fiber is woven vertically or horizontally, or the load detection fiber is knitted.

  By making the load detection fibers 10 and 10 'into a cloth, a load that is detected on a straight exposed portion 17 (so to speak: one-dimensional) is planar (two-dimensional) or three-dimensional. The load can be detected (three-dimensionally). This makes it possible to install the electrode portions (detection terminals) 14a and 14b for each unit for detecting conductivity and resistance value, so that not only the magnitude of the load but also the positional relationship of the load is detected. It becomes possible.

  The load detection fabric according to the present invention can be installed by a technique such as weaving or knitting. Further, the method of weaving the load detection fiber of the present invention vertically and horizontally and the shape of the fabric are not particularly limited, and examples thereof include a plain weave shown in FIG. 23, a twill weave shown in FIG. 24, and a satin weave shown in FIG. . Further, in the case of a load detection fabric in which the load detection fibers according to the present invention are woven in the vertical and horizontal directions, the load detection fibers 10 and 10 'of the present invention may be used for either the warp or the weft, or for both the warp and the weft. it can. Furthermore, when using the load detection fibers 10 and 10 ′ of the present invention for either one or both of the warp and the weft, the load detection fibers 10 and 10 ′ may be used by being twisted or bundled. Good.

  Further, in the load detection fabric of the present invention, the load detection fibers 10 and 10 'can be included not only in the warp yarn or the weft yarn but also in both the warp yarn and the weft yarn. That is, the warp and weft need not be composed of only the load detection fibers 10 and 10 ', and the load detection fibers 10 and 10' may be included in a part of the yarn. In this case, existing insulating yarns (fibers) can be used for yarns other than the load detection fibers 10, 10 '. In addition, by adding diagonal knitting and providing a necessary space, it is possible to create a movement to obtain information on a necessary density (FIGS. 26 and 27: plain weave, perspective view, vertical only example).

  Further, it is not always necessary to use the load detection fibers 10 and 10 'of the present invention on the entire surface of the load detection fabric, and the installation density can be designed as necessary (FIG. 28: plain weave, perspective view, density). Example).

  The load detection fabric according to the present invention can take the form of a knitted fabric in addition to the above-described woven fabric. In general, a knitted fabric is a knitted fabric in which one or several yarns form a loop, and the next yarn is hooked on the loop to form a new loop. In general, a knitted fabric knitted with a flat knitting machine is called a knitted product (FIG. 29: flat knitting, FIG. 30: rubber knitting), and a knitted fabric knitted with a circular knitting machine or a warp knitting machine is called a jersey. . In this case, a single yarn to be used itself forms a twisted yarn composed of a plurality of yarns, and the strength of sensing and the amount of actuate are designed according to the density of the load detection fibers 10 and 10 'of the present invention in the twisted yarn. can do. Note that the above-described yarns may be used by individually bundling the load detection fibers 10 and 10 'of the present invention, or may be twisted together.

  One selected from the group consisting of the load detection fiber of the present invention, a load detection fabric made by weaving the load detection fiber vertically and horizontally, and a load detection fabric made by weaving the load detection fiber is used for a vehicle seat in a vehicle. Can be installed in woven or knitted fabrics. Thus, it is preferable to use it as a means for detecting the posture or weight of the occupant.

  In the example used for the seat, it is possible to detect the occupant's posture, weight, etc. by measuring the seat pressure, and to improve the ride comfort by applying feedback to the actuator, and to set the operating position such as the airbag Can be used.

  In addition, as an example of installation outside the passenger compartment, it can be used as a contact sensor by installing it on the outer periphery of a vehicle such as a bumper. This is an effect of the present invention, which minimizes the occurrence of protrusions due to the addition of new functional parts. Can be suppressed.

  In addition to the application to these vehicles, it can be used for detecting a position where stress is applied and for assisting turning over by installing it in a bed sheet in a hospital or a nursing facility. Furthermore, it is also effective to use it in the form of clothing to detect a place where stress is applied and to generate a signal for changing the air flow rate.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described more specifically based on examples. In the following examples, a conductive wire provided with an insulating layer or a conductive wire coated with an insulating layer is hereinafter referred to as wire A, and a conductive wire not provided with an insulating layer is hereinafter referred to as wire B.

Example 1
As the spinning method, a wet spinning method was used. Acetone (manufactured by Wako Chemical: 019-00353) was used as the solvent phase for wet spinning. A conductive polymer PEDOT / PSS 1.3 wt% aqueous dispersion (Startron Baytron P (registered trademark)) once filtered in advance using filter paper (Advantech Qualitative Filter Paper No. 2) as a raw material for the conductive wire. Using. Four syringes each provided with an outlet having a needle portion inner diameter of 300 μm × 15 at the tip of a microsyringe (manufactured by Ito Seisakusho, MS-GLL250) were prepared for the aqueous dispersion, and a total of 150 μL / min. The raw material was extruded into acetone at a rate of Then, it wound up in the liquid phase together and wound up in the winder. As a result, a conductive wire having a diameter of about 100 μm was obtained. The conductivity of the obtained conductive polymer wire was measured in accordance with JIS K 7194 (resistivity test method using a 4-probe method of conductive plastic), and the reciprocal of the obtained resistivity (Ω · cm) ( When calculated as (S / cm), it was about 100 S / cm.

  On the surface of the obtained conductive wire, a coating solution in which 20 wt% of vinyl chloride / vinyl acetate copolymer (Nisshin Chemical Co., Ltd. sorbine) was dissolved in acetone as an insulating material was applied. Subsequently, it dried at 25 degreeC for 24 hours in the state which dried the horizontal direction of the electroconductive wire, and obtained the wire (wire A) with which the insulating layer was coat | covered. The thickness of this wire (wire A) was about 120 μm.

  On the other hand, in order to obtain conductive wires having different thicknesses, the number of syringes is two and the discharge speed is 75 μL / min. Except for the above, wet spinning was performed under the same conditions to obtain a conductive wire (wire B) having a diameter of about 50 μm.

  The coating in which the conductive wire (wire A) (diameter 120 μm) provided with this insulating layer and the conductive wire (wire B) (diameter 50 μm) not provided are bundled (see FIG. 19G), and the insulating material is dissolved again. The liquid was applied and dried to obtain a conductive wire (wire C). This conductive wire (wire C) had a total thickness of 190 μm (see FIG. 13B).

  The coated conductive polymer wire (wire C) was 60 cm long, and acetone was applied to each end of 50 mm and 10 mm at the center to elute the insulating layer 13 and expose the conductive wire C. As a result, the exposed portion 17 was formed at the central portion of 10 mm, and the detection terminals (electrode portions) 14a and 14b were formed at both ends (see FIG. 13A). Note that the non-electrode portions 18a and 18b at both ends were cut short so as not to contact the electrode portions 14a and 14b.

  A copper wire is attached to the electrode portions 14a and 14b of the conductive wires A and B exposed at both ends as a wire 27 (part or extension of the electrode portions 14a and 14b) using a silver pace, and the length A load detection fiber 10 'having a distance of 50 cm (distance between end portions of the insulating layer) was obtained (see FIG. 13A). Here, Niraco CU-111107 and a fiber diameter of 0.05 mm were used for the copper wire, and Fujikura Kasei Co., Ltd. Doutite D-500 was used for the silver paste.

(Example 2)
A wire A (thickness: 120 μm) on which an insulating layer had been formed, prepared in the same manner as in Example 1, was 120 cm long and folded back to a length of 60 cm. Again, a coating solution in which the insulating material was dissolved was applied and dried to obtain a conductive wire covered with an insulating layer having a diameter of 260 μm. Acetone was applied to the end portion and the center portion opposite to the folded side of the coated wire, and the insulating layer was eluted to expose the conductive wire (see FIG. 13B for the cross-sectional structure). Except this, it carried out similarly to Example 1, and obtained the load detection fiber (refer FIG. 12D and 12I for the structures of an equivalent circuit etc.).

(Example 3)
The length of the wire (thickness: 180 μm) obtained by re-coating the coating solution prepared by dissolving the insulating material used in Example 1 on the two wires A produced in the same manner as in Example 1 was set to 60 cm (see FIG. 12B). Next, a load detection fiber was obtained in the same manner as in Example 1 except that acetone was applied to and eluted from 50 mm at both ends and 5 mm at the center (see FIG. 12A).

Example 4
The length of the wire (thickness: 190 μm) obtained by re-coating the coating solution prepared by dissolving the insulating material used in Example 1 on the two wires A produced in the same manner as in Example 1 was set to 60 cm (see FIG. 12B). Next, a load detection fiber was obtained in the same manner as in Example 1 except that acetone was applied to and eluted from 50 mm at both ends and 20 mm at the center (see FIG. 12A).

(Example 5)
Two types of wire rods A and B produced in the same manner as in Example 1 (insulating layer formed; 120 μm, insulating layer not formed; 50 μm), with a thin wire B at the outer periphery centering on the thick wire A Six of them were installed at equal intervals and bundled, and again a coating solution in which an insulating material was dissolved was applied and dried. The obtained wire became a total thickness of 240 μm (see FIG. 17B).

  The coated wires A and B were 60 cm in length, and acetone was applied to each end of 50 mm and the central portion of 10 mm to elute the insulating layer and expose the conductive wires.

Of the electrode portions of each conductive wire exposed at both ends, the electrode portion 1 of the wire A having a thick core at one end.
A load detecting fiber was obtained in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the wire 27 was attached to a bundle of the electrode portions 14b _{1 to} b ₆ of the wire B having a thin outer peripheral portion at 4a at the other end (see FIG. 17A).

(Example 6)
Two types of wire rods A and B produced in the same manner as in Example 1 (insulating layer formed; 120 μm, insulating layer not formed; 50 μm), with a thin wire B at the outer periphery centering on the thick wire A It was installed and bundled so as to wrap around 3 turns per 10 mm. Next, a coating solution in which the insulating material was dissolved again was applied and dried. The obtained wire became a total thickness of 240 μm.

  The coated wires A and B were 60 cm in length, and acetone was applied to 50 mm at both ends and 10 mm at the center to elute the insulating layer and expose the conductive wires (see FIG. 14A). However, in this embodiment, the wire 11a of FIG. 14A is a thick wire A, and the wire 11b is formed of a thin wire B.

  Of the electrode parts 14a and 14b of the conductive wires A and B exposed at both ends, the electrode part 14a of the wire A having a thick core at one end and the electrode part 14b of the wire B having a thin outer periphery at the other end, A load detection fiber was obtained in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the electric wire 27 was attached (see FIG. 14A).

(Example A11)
As the spinning method, a wet spinning method was used. Acetone (manufactured by Wako Chemical: 019-00353) was used as the solvent phase for wet spinning. The same acetone was used for the solvent phase of the insulating material.

  As a raw material for the conductive wire, a 1.3 wt% aqueous dispersion (PEDOT: PSS = 1: 2.5) of the conductive polymer PEDOT / PSS once filtered in advance using a filter paper (Qualitative filter paper No. 2 from Advantech). Startron Baytron P AG (registered trademark)) was concentrated to 3.5 wt% and used for spinning. Prepare a syringe with an outlet of a needle part inner diameter of 820 μm × 1 at the tip of a micro-syringe (manufactured by Ito Seisakusho, MS-GLL250), and feed the aqueous dispersion at −5 ° C. at a total speed of 100 μL / h. Extruded into acetone. Then, it wound up to the winder in the air. As a result, a conductive wire having a diameter of about 100 μm was obtained. The conductivity of the obtained conductive polymer wire was measured in accordance with JIS K 7194 (resistivity test method using a 4-probe method of conductive plastic), and the reciprocal of the obtained resistivity (Ω · cm) ( When calculated as (S / cm), it was about 100 S / cm. It was 0.6 GPa when the elasticity modulus of the obtained electroconductive wire was calculated | required by the tension test (based on the JIS L1095 general spun yarn test method). The conductive wire obtained here was used as wire B.

  Similarly, spinning was performed under the same conditions with a syringe provided with a discharge portion having a needle portion inner diameter of 300 μm × 1 port to obtain a conductive wire having a diameter of about 50 μm. The conductivity and elastic modulus were similarly 100 S / cm and 0.6 GPa. On the surface of the obtained conductive wire, a coating solution in which 20 wt% of vinyl chloride / vinyl acetate copolymer (Nisshin Chemical Co., Ltd. sorbine) was dissolved in acetone as an insulating material was applied. Subsequently, it was dried at 25 ° C. for 24 hours in a state where the longitudinal direction of the conductive wire was dried sideways to obtain a wire coated with an insulating layer. The total thickness of the wire covered with this insulating layer was about 70 μm. The wire rod coated with the insulating layer obtained here was used as the wire rod A.

  A wire rod B with a coating thickness of 100 μm is used as the central wire rod (fiber), and a wire rod A is covered around the outer periphery. Roller speed 8 m / min. Then, the wire A was installed around the wire B without any gaps. The obtained fibers (wires) had a total thickness of 240 μm.

  Next, a part of the insulating layer of the thin wire A on the outer periphery of the 240 μm fiber (wire) was partially eluted in the longitudinal direction by 10 mm. Cyclohexanone was applied and eluted with a coater every 120 ° as viewed in cross section with respect to the outer periphery of the fiber (wire). As a result, as shown in FIG. 36C, the exposed portions 17 in which the insulating layers 13a to 13c and the exposed portions 17a to 17c are alternately arranged every 60 ° when viewed in cross section with respect to the outer periphery of the fiber (wire material). Formed.

  The fiber (wire) from which this coating has been partially peeled has a length of 60 cm, and cyclohexanone is applied to each end of 50 mm of the thin wire A on the outer periphery of the fiber (wire) to elute the insulating layer to expose the conductive wire. It was.

  Of the conductive wires exposed at both ends, the center wire B having a thick core at one end, the outer peripheral wire A having a thin outer periphery at the other end, and the electrode portions 14a and 14b, respectively, as in Example 1. Similarly, a load detection fiber was obtained (see FIG. 36A).

(Example A12)
As in Example A11, conductive wires having diameters of about 100 μm and 50 μm were obtained. On the surface of a thick wire having a diameter of about 100 μm, a coating solution in which 20 wt% of vinyl chloride / vinyl acetate copolymer (Nisshin Chemical Industry Solvain) was dissolved in acetone as an insulating material was applied. Next, this thick conductive wire was dried for 24 hours at 25 ° C. in a state where it was dried with its longitudinal direction set to the side to obtain a wire coated with an insulating layer. The total thickness of the wire covered with this insulating layer was about 140 μm. The thick wire covered with the insulating layer obtained here was used as the wire B. A thin wire having a diameter of about 50 μm was used as the wire A.

  Using a covering machine with a thick wire B coated with an insulating layer with a thickness of about 140 μm as the center wire (fiber) and a thin wire A on the outer periphery, a main spindle rotation speed of 8000 rpm The speed of the core yarn feed roller is 8 m / min. Then, the wire A was installed around the wire B without any gaps. The obtained fibers (wires) had a total thickness of 240 μm.

  Next, a part of the insulating layer of the central wire B of the 240 μm fiber (wire) was eluted in the length direction by 10 mm. Cyclohexanone was applied and eluted with a coater every 120 ° as viewed in cross section with respect to the outer periphery of the fiber (wire). As a result, as shown in FIG. 37C, the exposed portions 17 in which the insulating layers 13a to 13c and the exposed portions 17a to 17c are alternately arranged every 60 ° when viewed in cross section with respect to the outer periphery of the fiber (wire) are formed. Formed.

  The fiber (wire) from which this coating was partially peeled was 60 cm long, and cyclohexanone was applied to each end of 50 mm of the center wire B of the fiber (wire) to elute the insulating layer to expose the conductive wire.

  Other conditions were the same as in Example A11 to obtain a load detection fiber (see FIG. 37).

(Example B12)
In order to obtain a conductive wire used for the center wire, a polyester fiber having a diameter of 72 μm is used as a core fiber (see core portion 2b in FIG. 38D), and a PEDOT / PSS aqueous solution concentrated to 3.5 wt% is repeatedly applied to the surface five times. Drying was performed (see the sheath 2a in FIG. 38D). The thickness of the obtained core-sheath wire was about 90 μm. The elastic modulus of this wire was about 1.1 GPa. This wire was used as wire B.

  The wire A was the same as in Example A11 and was wound in the same manner as in Example A11.

  The obtained fibers (wires) had a total thickness of 230 μm. Subsequently, acetone was applied to each end of 50 mm and 10 mm at the center of the fiber (wire) to elute the insulating layer and expose the conductive wire.

  Other conditions were the same as in Example A11 to obtain a load detection fiber (see FIG. 38).

(Example B13)
As a raw material for the conductive wire of the outer peripheral wire A, a PSS / PSS aqueous solution having a high PSS concentration (1.5 wt%, PEDOT: PSS = 1: 6, Startron Baytron P AI 4083 (registered trademark)) is concentrated. A conductive wire was obtained in the same manner as in Example A11 except that the amount was 3.5 wt% and used for spinning. The obtained conductive wire had a conductivity of 0.5 S / cm and an elastic modulus of about 1.4 GPa. An outer peripheral wire A was obtained by covering the surface of the obtained conductive wire with an insulating layer in the same manner as in Example A11.

  The wire B was the same as in Example A11 and was wound in the same manner as in Example A11.

  The obtained fibers (wires) had a total thickness of 240 μm. Subsequently, acetone was applied to each end of 50 mm and 10 mm at the center of the fiber (wire) to elute the insulating layer and expose the conductive wire.

  Other conditions were the same as in Example A11 to obtain a load detection fiber (see FIG. 39).

(Example C11)
As a raw material for the conductive wire (film wire) of the outer peripheral wire A, 5 wt% ethylene glycol (manufactured by Kanto Chemical Co., Ltd .: product number 14114-01) is added to a 1.3 wt% aqueous dispersion of PEDOT / PSS and stirred for 15 minutes. did. This solution was poured out on a Teflon (registered trademark) plate and kept at 60 ° C. for 1 hour. The obtained gel was vacuum-dried at 160 ° C. to obtain a film having a thickness of 20 μm. The conductivity of this film was 100 S / cm. On the surface of this film, a coating solution in which 20 wt% of vinyl chloride / vinyl acetate copolymer (Nisshin Chemical Industry Co., Ltd. sorbine) was dissolved as an insulating material in acetone was applied to both surfaces. The thickness of the film coated with the obtained insulating layer was 60 μm. The film coated with this insulating layer was slit with a slitter to a width of 300 μm to obtain a film-shaped wire coated with the insulating layer. This film-like wire was used as wire A. The wire B was the same as in Example A11.

  The film-shaped outer peripheral wire A was wound around the center wire B in a spiral shape so as not to overlap. Subsequently, acetone was applied to each end of 50 mm and 10 mm at the center of the fiber (wire) to elute the insulating layer and expose the conductive wire.

  Other conditions were the same as in Example A11 to obtain a load detection fiber (see FIG. 40).

(Example D11)
Including the insulating layer elution portion (exposed portion 17 portion) corresponding to the central portion of the load detection fiber obtained in the same manner as in Example B13, the outer peripheral wire A of the load detection fiber is again covered with vinyl chloride as an insulating material on the outer side. A coating solution in which 20 wt% of vinyl acetate copolymer (Nisshin Chemical Industry Solvain) was dissolved in acetone was applied. Thereby, as shown in FIG. 41, the insulating layer 20 was coat | covered on the outer side of the outer periphery wire A of a load detection fiber. The obtained fibers had a total thickness of 260 μm.

  Other conditions were the same as in Example A11 to obtain a load detection fiber (see FIG. 41).

(Example D12)
Including the insulating layer elution portion (exposed portion 17 portion) corresponding to the central portion of the load detection fiber obtained in the same manner as in Example C11, the outer peripheral wire A of the load detection fiber is again covered with vinyl chloride. A coating solution in which 20 wt% of vinyl acetate copolymer (Nisshin Chemical Industry Solvain) was dissolved in acetone was applied to both sides. Thereby, as shown in FIG. 42, the insulating layer 20 was coat | covered on the outer side of the outer periphery wire A of a load detection fiber. The obtained fibers had a total thickness of 240 μm.

  Other conditions were the same as in Example A11 to obtain a load detection fiber (see FIG. 42).

(Example E1)
After winding the outer peripheral wire A around the center wire B in the same manner as in Example A11, the insulating layer of the wire A of fiber (wire material) having a thickness of 240 μm is eluted for a length of 10 mm at the center of the longitudinal direction. It was.

  The fiber (wire) from which this coating was partially peeled was made 60 cm long, and cyclohexanone was applied to each end of 50 mm to elute the insulating layer to expose the conductive wire.

  Of the conductive wires exposed at both ends, the center wire B having a thick core at one end, the outer peripheral wire A having a thin outer periphery at the other end, and the electrode portions 14a and 14b, respectively, as in Example 1. Similarly, a load detection fiber was obtained (see FIG. 43).

(Example E2)
After winding the outer peripheral wire A around the central wire B in the same manner as in Example A12, the length of 10 mm at the position corresponding to the center of the longitudinal direction of the insulating layer of the central wire B of the 240 μm fiber (wire) was eluted. .

  The fiber (wire) from which this coating was partially peeled was made 60 cm long, and cyclohexanone was applied to each end of 50 mm to elute the insulating layer to expose the conductive wire.

  Of the conductive wires exposed at both ends, the center wire B having a thick core at one end, the outer peripheral wire A having a thin outer periphery at the other end, and the electrode portions 14a and 14b, respectively, as in Example 1. Similarly, a load detection fiber was obtained (see FIG. 44).

(Example 7)
A wire A having a thickness of 120 μm and having an insulating layer formed thereon was prepared in the same manner as in Example 1. An insulating layer was also formed on a conductive wire B having a thickness of 50 μm without forming an insulating layer having a different thickness to obtain a conductive wire (wire B ′) having a thickness of 70 μm. These two types of wires A and B ′ were installed and bundled in the same manner as in Example 5, and again a coating solution in which the insulating material was dissolved was applied and dried. The obtained wire became a total thickness of 270 μm (see FIG. 17B).

  The coated conductive polymer wire had a length of 60 cm, and acetone was applied to each end of 50 mm and the central portion of 10 mm to elute the insulating layer to expose the conductive wire.

Of the electrode portion of the conductive wires exposed at both ends, the electrode portions 14a of the thick line material A coreless at one end, bundling the electrode portions 14b ₁ ~b ₆ thin wire B 'of the outer peripheral portion at the other end A load detecting fiber was obtained in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the electric wire 27 was attached to each (see FIG. 17A).

(Example 8)
As a conductive wire, a composite material was prepared by kneading and adding 5 wt% of carbon nanotubes (CNT) to polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) at 250 ° C. Next, using a melt spinning apparatus, the die temperature: 250 ° C., discharge port diameter: 1 mm, discharge amount: 8 cc / min. Winding speed: 2000 m / min. , And 1000 m / min. Thus, conductive wires B and A having diameters of 50 μm and 100 μm were obtained. The conductivity of the obtained conductive polymer wire was about 0.2 S / cm.

  Using these conductive wires A and B, re-coating was performed in the same manner as in Example 1 to obtain a load detection fiber (see FIG. 13A).

Example 9
Example 1 and not subjected to formation of the insulating layer was prepared in the same manner two thickness of the wire B _1, thicker wire of a B ₂ B _{1 (diameter} 100 [mu] m), a coating solution obtained by dissolving the insulating material Applied. Then, an insulating layer was formed by drying for 24 hours at 25 ° C. in a state of dried by the longitudinal direction of the wire B ₁ vertically. The thickness of the wire B ₁ was about 105 to 150 μm from the thin side at the top to the bottom.

A thin conductive wire B ₂ (diameter 50 μm) on which the insulating layer is not formed is placed along the coating of the wire B ₁ and re-coating is performed in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the load is applied. A detection fiber was obtained (see FIG. 13A).

(Example 10)
Example 1 Two wires of thickness B not subjected to formation of the insulating layer was prepared in the same manner as _1, B 2 _(diameter 100 [mu] m, 50 [mu] m) to the wire B ₁ towards the thick of a silicone (Shin-Etsu Silicone as the insulating material Co. KE-3495-T) was applied. Next, the wire B ₁ was dried with the longitudinal direction thereof being laid sideways at 25 ° C. for 24 hours to form an insulating layer. Thickness of the wire _{B 1} represents was about 110 [mu] m. Except this, it carried out similarly to Example 1, and obtained the load detection fiber (refer FIG. 13A).

(Example 11)
A wire A having a thickness of 120 μm and having an insulating layer formed thereon was prepared in the same manner as in Example 1. Prepare the wire B on which the insulating layer is not formed on the conductive wire A, install and bundle these two kinds of wires A and B in the same manner as in Example 1, apply the coating solution again, and dry. It was. The obtained wire became a total thickness of 200 μm. Except this, it carried out similarly to Example 1, and obtained the load detection fiber (refer FIG. 13A).

Example 12
The wire A having a 120 μm thick insulating layer formed in Example 7 was coated again to make the wire diameter (fiber diameter) 140 μm. Except this, it carried out similarly to Example 7, and obtained the load detection fiber (refer FIG. 17A).

(Example 13)
A conductive wire B having a thickness of 50 μm and having no insulating layer formed was prepared in the same manner as in Example 1. A coating solution in which an insulating material was dissolved was applied to the conductive wire and dried to form an insulating layer, whereby the thickness (fiber diameter) was set to 70 μm.

  A conductive wire B having a thickness of 50 μm without the formation of an insulating layer having the same thickness was separately prepared. These two types of wires were installed and bundled in the same manner as in Example 1, and the coating liquid was applied again and dried. The obtained wire became a total thickness of 140 μm (see FIG. 13B). Except this, it carried out similarly to Example 1, and obtained the load detection fiber (refer FIG. 13A).

(Example 14)
A wire A having a thickness of 120 μm and having an insulating layer formed thereon was prepared in the same manner as in Example 1. A 100 μm wire B having the same thickness and having no insulating layer was prepared, and these two types of wires A and B were installed and bundled in the same manner as in Example 1, and the coating liquid was applied again and dried. The obtained wire became a total thickness of 240 μm (see FIG. 13B). Except this, it carried out similarly to Example 1, and obtained the load detection fiber (refer FIG. 13A).

(Example 15)
In the same manner as in Example 1, eight syringes were prepared by providing an aqueous dispersion serving as a raw material at the tip of a microsyringe (manufactured by Ito Seisakusho, MS-GLL250) with an outlet having a needle inner diameter of 300 μm × 15 ports. Next, a total of 300 μL / min. The raw material was extruded into acetone at a speed of and wound up to obtain a conductive wire having a diameter of about 200 μm. An insulating layer-formed wire A having a thickness of about 220 μm was obtained by applying a coating solution in which an insulating material was dissolved on the surface of the obtained conductive wire. Except this, it carried out similarly to Example 1, and obtained the load detection fiber (refer FIG. 13A).

(Example 16)
In the same manner as in Example 1, 24 syringes were prepared by providing an aqueous dispersion serving as a raw material at the tip of a microsyringe (manufactured by Ito Seisakusho, MS-GLL250) with an outlet having a needle portion inner diameter of 300 μm × 15 ports. Subsequently, a total of 900 μL / min. The raw material was extruded into acetone at a speed of and wound up to obtain a conductive wire having a diameter of about 600 μm. An insulating layer-formed wire A having a thickness of about 620 μm was obtained by applying a coating solution in which an insulating material was dissolved on the surface of the obtained conductive wire. Except this, it carried out similarly to Example 1, and obtained the load detection fiber (refer FIG. 13A).

(Example 17)
In the same manner as in Example 16, a conductive wire having a diameter of about 600 μm and a wire A with an insulating layer formed having a thickness of about 620 μm were obtained. Except this, it carried out similarly to Example 7, and obtained the load detection fiber (refer FIG. 17A).

(Example 18)
Similar to Example 11, a wire A having a thickness of 120 μm and having an insulating layer formed thereon was prepared. This wire A was coated again, and the thickness (fiber diameter) was 140 μm. The conductive wire B having a thickness of 50 μm was also coated to obtain a conductive wire having a 70 μm insulating layer formed thereon. The two types of conductive wires were bundled by placing three thin wires B at equal intervals around the thick wire A around the periphery (see FIG. 19K), and again applying the coating liquid and drying. The obtained wire became a total thickness of 250 μm (see FIG. 17A). However, among the obtained wire rods, the wire rod 11b corresponding to the wire rod B has only _three wires 11b ₁ , 11b ₃ and 11b ₅ among the six wire rods 11b shown in FIG. ).

  The coated conductive polymer wire had a length of 60 cm, and acetone was applied to each end of 50 mm and the central portion of 10 mm to elute the insulating layer to expose the conductive wire.

Of the electrode portions of the conductive wires exposed at both ends, the electrode portion 14a of the wire A having a thick core at one end and the electrode portions 14b ₁ , b ₃ , b _{5 of the} wire B having a thin outer periphery at the other end. A load detection fiber was obtained in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the electric wire 27 was attached to each of the bundles (see FIG. 17).

(Example 19)
A load detection fiber was obtained by the same wet spinning method and coating method as in Example 1 except that a 5% polypyrrole aqueous solution (manufactured by Aldrich) was used as the conductive polymer and the discharge speed was set to 1/4.

(Example 20)
A load detection fiber was obtained by the same wet spinning method and coating method as in Example 1 except that a polyaniline 5% aqueous solution (manufactured by Aldrich) was used as the conductive polymer and the discharge speed was set to 1/4 (see FIG. 13A).

(Example 21)
As the thin conductive wire B, a conductive wire made from a 5% polypyrrole aqueous solution (manufactured by Aldrich) prepared in Example 19 was used. This wire was coated to form a conductive wire B having a 70 μm insulating layer formed in the same manner as in Example 5 to obtain a load detection fiber (see FIG. 17A).

(Example 22)
As the thin conductive wire B, the conductive wire made from the polyaniline 5% aqueous solution (manufactured by Aldrich) prepared in Example 20 was used. This wire was coated to form a conductive wire B having a 70 μm insulating layer formed in the same manner as in Example 5 to obtain a load detection fiber (see FIG. 17A).

(Example 23)
A 1.3 wt% aqueous dispersion of a conductive polymer PEDOT / PSS (Startron Baytron P (registered trademark)) was repeatedly applied to PET long fibers (regular PET, fiber diameter: 90 μm), and dried at room temperature. A conductive wire A having a thickness of 100 μm was obtained. A load detection fiber was obtained in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the conductive wire A was coated to obtain a wire A having an insulating layer of 120 μm (see FIG. 13A).

(Example 24)
The load detection fiber 10 (see FIG. 31A) obtained in Example 12 was knitted into a gauze 26 (Pip Fujimoto 5m gauze, width 30 cm) cut into a 300 mm square, and 16 wefts were knitted to obtain a load detection fabric (gauze). (See FIG. 31B).

(Comparative Example 1)
Nonwoven PET long fibers (Toray regular PET, fiber diameter: 50 μm, 100 μm) were used instead of 10 μm PEDOT / PSS fibers.

That is, in the same manner as in Example 1, prepare one syringe with an aqueous dispersion as a raw material provided with a discharge port having a needle portion inner diameter of 300 μm × 1 at the tip of a microsyringe (manufactured by Ito Seisakusho, MS-GLL250). Total 2.5 μL / min. The raw material was extruded into acetone at a rate of Then, it wound up to the winder in the air. As a result, a conductive wire having a diameter of about 10 μm was obtained. The obtained conductive polymer wire was made into a nonwoven fabric having a thickness of 2 mm and a basis weight of 200 g / m ² (see FIG. 1), cut into 2 cm squares, and both sides were sandwiched between aluminum foils having a thickness of 15 μm and used for evaluation.

(Comparative Example 2)
A coating solution in which 20 wt% of a vinyl chloride / vinyl acetate copolymer (Nishin Chemical Industry Solvain) as an insulating material was dissolved in acetone was applied to the surface of PET long fibers (Regular PET, Toray, Inc., fiber diameter: 90 μm). Subsequently, the obtained wire (long fiber) A was dried at 25 ° C. for 24 hours in a state where the wire A (long fiber) A was dried sideways. The thickness of the wire rod (long fiber) A was about 110 μm.

  As the thin wire B, a conductive wire with a thickness of 50 μm is coated, and the conductive wire B with an insulating layer formed with a thickness of 70 μm is used. Otherwise, the load detection of Comparative Example 2 is performed in the same manner as in Example 1. Fiber was obtained.

(Evaluation test)
Loads obtained in Examples 1 to 23 and Example A11, Example A12, Example B12, Example B13, Example C11, Example D11, Example D12, Example D11, Example E1, and Example E2 The following tests 1 and 2 were performed on the detection fiber (50 cm) and Comparative Examples 1 and 2. For Example 24, Test 3 was performed.

(Evaluation Test 1)
Sensing performance test 1: load resolution test As shown in FIG. 32, the load detection fiber 10 is fixed to a flat table 52 on a base 51 of a load resolution test apparatus (jig) 50. At this time, tension is applied to the load detection fiber 10. Specifically, the load detection fiber 10 is installed between jigs (a flat table 52 and an indenter 54), and weights (not shown) of 4 g are hung from both ends of the load detection fiber 10 to hang the jig table 52. Secure with tape 53.

  A flat table 52 is installed below the exposed portion 17 where the load sensing fiber 10 is sensitive, and the sample 10 is measured with a load cell 55 using a rubber indenter 54 having a circular tip of φ17 mm from the top. Press with a force of 0-0.5N. At this time, the electrode portions (terminals) 14a and 14b of the load detection fiber 10 are connected in advance to a power source 19 (external circuit) by an electric wire 27, and a voltage of 1 to 4 V is applied from the power source 19 to the ammeter 25. To measure the current value and convert it to a resistance value. Taking into account the resistance variation width between 0 and 0.5 N, the number of non-overlapping ranges can be secured as an index of load resolution.

(Evaluation test 2)
Sensing performance test 2: response anisotropy test In addition to the load resolution test apparatus (jig) 50 and conditions similar to those in the evaluation test 1, the load detection fiber 10 is rotated every 30 degrees in the outer circumferential direction (for example, fiber cross section in FIG. 13B). Are rotated clockwise every 30 degrees), and the resistance change is observed in the same manner as in the evaluation test 1. At this time, when the response was observed every 60 degrees or less, the anisotropy was “small”, when the response was 90 degrees or less, the anisotropy was “medium”, and when the response was greater than 90 degrees, the anisotropy was “large”. Furthermore, “minimum” was defined as the response difference that was hardly seen by changing the direction.

(Evaluation Test 3)
Position Detection Performance Test The sample of Example 24 was attached to a 25 cm square outer peripheral frame 60 (see FIGS. 33 and 34). Press the indenter 54 to the center with 0.3N. The resistance change is observed when a voltage of 2 V is applied.

  The central portion referred to here means, for example, the central portion of the portion where the warp at the left end of the row of weft yarns (circle numeral 1) first appears in the table in the order indicated by the arrows of the indenter 54 in FIG. The resistance change is observed when a voltage of 2V is applied. Next, the central portion of the portion where the second warp yarn from the right end of the row of weft yarns (circle numeral 1) appears in the table is pressed with 0.3 N, and the resistance change is observed when a voltage of 2 V is applied. Finally, press the center of the part where the second warp appears in the table from the right end of the row of wefts (circle number 5) with 0.3N, and see the resistance change when voltage of 2V is applied. A position detection performance test was conducted.

  The evaluation results obtained in these evaluation tests are shown in Tables 1A to 1C.

  35 shows the evaluation result of evaluation test 1 of Example 7, and FIG. 3 shows the evaluation result of evaluation test 1 of Comparative Example 1.

  As a result of these implementations, it was possible to obtain a load detection fiber / load detection fabric having a sensing performance with a higher load resolution as compared with the comparative example.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 1A, the existing pressure-sensitive sensor of Comparative Example 1 has a configuration using a nonwoven fabric 10 ″ made of conductive fibers 11 ″. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 1B, when an external force such as tension or compression is applied, the contact point between the fibers 11 ″ increases and the resistance value decreases, but the contact point is not constant and the output value is unstable. That is, the resistance value, particularly the minimum resistance value can be controlled by the thickness, density, and area even in the pressure-sensitive sensor of Comparative Example 1. However, when an external force is applied, the position and number of contacts are random. 2, the equivalent circuit does not become constant as shown in Fig. 2. Therefore, as shown in Fig. 3, the signal (resistance change) with respect to the load (load) is not stable, It can be said that the problem that the load change cannot be accurately obtained occurs.

  45 shows the evaluation results of evaluation test 1 of Example 6 (FIG. 45A) and Example A11 (FIG. 45B), and FIG. 46 shows Example 6 (FIG. 46A) and Example A11 (FIG. 46B). The evaluation result of the evaluation test 2 was shown.

  As a result of these implementations, the embodiment A11 (see FIG. 36) has a sensing performance with a larger load resolution at any angle than the embodiment 6 (see FIG. 14) (see FIG. 45). A load sensing fiber / load sensing fabric with high load response accuracy (see FIG. 46) could be obtained.

  As described above, in Example A11 (see FIG. 36), not all of the insulating layer 13 of the outer peripheral wire 11b wound spirally is removed, but the outer periphery of the wire 11a from the central wire 11a. Insulating layers 13 (13a to 13c) are left partially radially in the direction. With this configuration, the central wire 11a and the outer wire 11b can be kept at a constant interval. For this reason, it can be said that the load resolution is greater with respect to external forces from all angles, and the sensing performance can be detected with high sensitivity and high accuracy (see FIG. 45). Further, since the central wire 11a and the outer peripheral wire 11b can maintain a certain distance, they are likely to return to the original positional relationship when the load is released. Therefore, it can be said that the configuration of Example A11 has improved the load response accuracy (see FIG. 46).

  In addition, about the resistance difference of the wire A and the wire B of each load detection fiber produced in the Example, almost all Examples have a resistance difference. It can be said that there is no resistance difference between the wire A and the wire B of the load detection fiber of Example 14. The same applies to the difference in cross-sectional area between the wire A and the wire B of each load sensing fiber produced in the example, and only the wire diameter of the wire A and the wire B (fiber diameter) is the same in Example 14 and the parallel (parallel) installation. Therefore, it can be said that there is no cross-sectional area difference.

1, 1 ′ load detection device using the load detection fiber of the present invention,
2a sheath component of core-sheath wire (fiber),
2b The core component of the core-sheath wire (fiber),
3a First component of side-by-side wire (fiber),
3b Second component of side-by-side type wire (fiber),
4a Sea component of sea-island wire (fiber),
4b Island component of sea-island wire (fiber),
5a Wire component of hollow wire (fiber),
5b Hollow part of hollow wire (fiber),
10, 10 'load sensing fiber of the present invention,
10 "non-woven fabric made of conductive fibers of a conventional example,
11 Conductive wire,
11a 1st wire,
_{11b, 11b 1, 11b 2,} 11b 3, 11b 4, 11b 5, 11b 6 second wire rod,
11 "Conventional conductive fiber,
12 Precursor of conductive wire,
13 Insulating layer,
13a Insulating layer of the first wire,
_{13b, 13b 1, 13b 2,} 13b 3, 13b 4, 13b 5, 13b 6 insulating layer of the second wire member,
_{14a, 14b, 14b 1, 14b} 4 electrode portions,
15 insulation,
16 Bending part of wire,
17 Exposed area,
_{18a, 18b, 18b 1, 18b} 4 ends (non-electrode portions),
19 Power supply,
20 insulating layer,
21 Space between wires,
23 contact part,
25 Ammeter,
26 Gauze,
27 Electric wire,
30 wet spinning equipment,
31 A base for wet spinning,
32 Wet spinning solvent tank,
33 Fiber feeder,
34 Fiber winder,
35 coating and drying equipment,
36 Coating tank,
37 Drying equipment,
40 electrospinning equipment,
41 cylinders,
42 cylinder needles,
43 terminals (electrode part),
44 Insulation (base),
45 voltage application device,
46 Electric wire,
50 Load resolution test device (jig),
51 base,
52 flat (jig) base,
53 tape,
54 Rubber indenter,
55 Load cell,
60 perimeter frame,
D spacing between wires,
D ₁ , D ₂ insulation layer coating thickness,
d, d ₁ , d ₂ wire diameter (thickness, fiber diameter),
t, t ₁ , t ₂ Total diameter (thickness) of the conductive wire and the insulating layer.

Claims (23)

It has a conductive wire which is provided with an electrode part for supplying power and is covered while being partially exposed by an insulating layer,
The wire is overlapped via the insulating layer;
A load detection fiber arranged so that wires are brought into contact with each other through an exposed portion not covered with the insulating layer when an external force is applied. The wire has an insulating portion whose surface is covered by the insulating layer, and the exposed portion that is not covered by the insulating layer,
The load detection fiber according to claim 1, wherein the exposed portion is arranged between a plurality of insulating portions along a longitudinal direction of the wire. As the wire, includes first and second wires,
At least one of the first and second wire rods has an insulating portion whose surface is covered with the insulating layer, and the exposed portion that is not covered with the insulating layer,
The load detection fiber according to claim 1 or 2 arrange | positioned so that a 1st wire and a 2nd wire may contact through the said exposed part when external force is added. The first wire is disposed as a central wire, the second wire is disposed as an outer peripheral wire around the first wire,
The load sensing fiber according to claim 3, wherein the first wire and the second wire have a difference in elastic modulus.   5. The load detection fiber according to claim 4, wherein at least one of the first wire and the second wire has a core-sheath shape as the means for giving the difference in elastic modulus.   As a means for giving the difference in elastic modulus, one wire is composed of a conductive polymer having a higher elastic modulus than the other wire or a conductive fiber using the conductive polymer. The load detection fiber according to claim 4 or 5.   The load detection fiber according to any one of claims 3 to 6, wherein a resistance difference is provided between the first wire and the second wire.   8. The load detecting fiber according to claim 7, wherein the means for providing the resistance difference includes a difference in conductivity between the first wire and the second wire.   The load detecting fiber according to claim 7 or 8, wherein as the means for providing the resistance difference, a difference is provided in a cross-sectional area between the first wire and the second wire.   The load detection according to any one of claims 7 to 9, wherein as the means for providing the resistance difference, a flat strip-shaped wire is used for one of the first and second wires. fiber.   The load detection fiber according to any one of claims 3 to 10, wherein the first wire and the second wire are fixed via the insulating layer.   The load detection fiber according to any one of claims 3 to 11, wherein the first wire and the second wire are arranged in parallel to each other.   The load detection fiber according to any one of claims 3 to 12, wherein the second wire is spirally disposed around the first wire.   In the exposed portion disposed between the plurality of insulating portions along the longitudinal direction of the first wire rod or the second wire rod, an insulating layer is partially provided in a predetermined range of the axis perpendicular to the wire rod. The load sensing fiber according to claim 13. Placing the first wire as a central wire, placing the second wire around the first wire,
The load detection fiber according to any one of claims 3 to 14, wherein an outer periphery of the second wire is further covered with an insulating layer.   The load sensing fiber according to any one of claims 1 to 15, wherein the wire is a conductive wire containing a conductive polymer.   A load detection fabric obtained by weaving and / or weaving the load detection fiber according to any one of claims 1 to 16 in a vertical and horizontal direction. Forming a first wire and a second wire that are conductive wires; and
A coating step of applying an insulating material to at least one surface of the first wire and the second wire, and covering the surface with an insulating layer;
A fixing step of overlapping and fixing the first wire and the second wire through the insulating layer;
And a removal step of removing a part of the insulating layer with a solvent. The fixing step uses the conductive wire obtained in the forming step and the wire obtained by covering the outer periphery with an insulating layer, and the other wire is spirally wound around one wire. To be fixed and
In the removing step, the wire whose outer periphery obtained in the covering step is coated with an insulating layer is partially removed in a predetermined range on the plane perpendicular to the axis of the wire along a part of the insulating layer along the longitudinal direction of the wire. The method for producing a load sensing fiber according to claim 18, wherein:   The removing step forms an electrode part for supplying power and an exposed part arranged between a plurality of insulating parts along a longitudinal direction of the wire as a wire part not covered with the insulating layer. Item 20. A method for producing a load detection fiber according to Item 18 or 19. In the fixing step, an insulating material is applied and fixed to the first wire and the second wire,
21. The method for producing a load sensing fiber according to claim 18, wherein the removing step removes a part of the insulating layer and a part of the insulating material applied in the fixing step at the same time. .   The method for producing a load detection fiber according to any one of claims 18 to 21, wherein the forming step forms a wire which is a conductive fiber containing a conductive polymer by spinning.   After the removing step, a re-coating step of applying an insulating material to the outer periphery of the wire disposed on the outer peripheral side of the first wire and the second wire, and covering the outer periphery of the wire with an insulating layer, The method for producing a load detection fiber according to any one of claims 18 to 22, characterized by comprising: