Horn actuator incorporating a transducer in a steering wheel

摘要

A steering wheel (12) incorporates an air bag unit (22). The air bag unit has a cover door (30) with a transducer (38) molded in a deformable front wall (35) of the cover door. The transducer can be a force sensitive resistor (38) which is operably connected to an electrical circuit (42) that actuates a horn (44) when the circuit senses a change in the resistance of force sensitive resistor (38). The force sensitive resistor (38) produces a suitable change in resistance when hand pressure is exerted on the front wall (35).