JP2013218820A - Switching equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide switching equipment which easily recognizing switching of an operating state of a target device.SOLUTION: Switching equipment 14 switches an operating state of an engine on the basis of a pressing operation of an operation button 30. The switching equipment includes a magnetic sensor 24 and a second magnet 34 for detecting the position the operation button 30 in a pressing direction, an electric magnet 22 and a first magnet 33 for vibrating the operation button 30, and control means for switching an operating state of the engine on the basis of the position of the operation button 30 in the pressing direction detected through the magnetic sensor 24 and the second magnet 24, and vibrating the operation button 30 through the electric magnet 22 and the first magnet 33.

Description

  The present invention relates to a switch device that switches an operation state of a target device.

  2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, a so-called electronic key that allows a user with a portable device (electronic key) to switch the power state of an accessory device of a vehicle or the driving state of an engine by operating a switch device provided on the dashboard of the vehicle. The system is well known. As this type of electronic key system, for example, a system described in Patent Document 1 is known. In the electronic key system described in Patent Document 1, if the user steps on the brake pedal after getting on the portable device, wireless communication is performed between the on-vehicle device provided on the vehicle and the portable device. . Then, the in-vehicle device authenticates the portable device through this wireless communication, and when the authentication is established, the vehicle-mounted device is used for driving the vehicle on condition that the operation button provided on the switch device is pressed by the user. A driving source, for example, an engine is started, and the driving state of the vehicle is switched from the start impossible state to the start possible state (idling state). On the other hand, when the user presses the operation button of the switch device without depressing the brake pedal, wireless communication is similarly performed between the in-vehicle device and the portable device. In this case, the in-vehicle device performs authentication through wireless communication with the portable device. When the authentication is established, the on-vehicle accessory switch and the ignition switch are turned on according to the number of times the user presses the operation button. / Turn off. According to such a configuration, the power state of the accessory device, the power state of the ignition device, and the driving state of the vehicle can be switched only by operating the switch device.

JP 2009-18810 A

  By the way, due to the improvement in performance of recent vehicles, even when the vehicle is in an idling state, the combustion noise of the fuel in the engine, the vibration of the vehicle, and the like are not easily transmitted to the user. For this reason, it is difficult for the user to determine whether or not the vehicle has actually switched to the startable state even if the driving state of the vehicle is switched from the start impossible state to the startable state through the operation of the switch device. In addition, vehicles such as electric vehicles and hybrid vehicles that employ a motor as a driving source for traveling are widely used. Since the motor does not have an idling state, it is difficult for the user to determine whether or not the vehicle has actually switched to a startable state even in such a vehicle.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a switch device that can easily recognize switching of an operation state of a target device.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, the invention of claim 1 is a switch device that switches an operation state of a target device based on a pressing operation of an operation button, and a position detection unit that detects a position in a pressing direction of the operation button; A vibration applying unit that vibrates the operation button and an operation state of the target device are switched based on a position in a pressing direction of the operation button detected through the position detecting unit, and the operation button is vibrated through the vibration applying unit. And a control means.

  According to this configuration, when the user presses the operation button to switch the operation state of the target device, the operation button vibrates. Since the vibration is transmitted to the user from a portion where the operation button is pressed, for example, a finger, the user can easily recognize that the operation state of the target device has been switched.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the switch device according to the first aspect, the vibration applying means is opposed to the first magnet provided on the end surface in the pressing direction of the operation button, and the first magnet. The gist of the invention is that it is composed of an electromagnet arranged and supplied with alternating current.

  It is well known that if alternating current is supplied to an electromagnet, the direction of the magnetic field around the electromagnet is switched. According to this configuration, the first magnet having a constant magnetic field direction is positioned in a magnetic field in which the direction of the magnetic field is switched by supplying alternating current to the electromagnet. Thereby, the operation button on which the first magnet is arranged vibrates. In this way, the vibration applying means can be configured with a simple configuration of the first magnet and the electromagnet.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the switch device according to the first or second aspect, the position detecting means includes a second magnet provided on the operation button and a relative movement with respect to the second magnet. The gist of the invention is that it is configured by a magnetic sensor that is provided in a restricted state and detects the strength of the magnetic field formed by the second magnet.

  The strength of the magnetic field in the magnetic sensor is proportional to the distance between the magnetic sensor and the second magnet. Therefore, according to the configuration, since the second magnet is provided on the operation button, the distance between the magnetic sensor and the operation button through the strength of the magnetic field detected by the magnetic sensor, that is, the operation button for the magnetic sensor. The relative position of can be detected.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a switch device that can easily recognize switching of the operation state of the target device.

The block diagram which shows schematic structure of an electronic key system. The top view of a vehicle. Sectional drawing of a switch apparatus when an operation button exists in a reference position. Sectional drawing of a switch apparatus when an operation button exists in an end position. The graph which shows the relationship between the position of an operation button and the output value of a magnetic sensor. The block diagram which shows the electrical schematic structure of a switch apparatus. Sectional drawing which shows another example of a switch apparatus.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment in which a switch device according to the present invention is applied to a switch device used for switching an operation state of a vehicle in an electronic key system of the vehicle will be described with reference to FIGS.

  As shown in FIG. 1, in the electronic key system for a vehicle according to the present embodiment, various communication controls are performed by wireless communication between an in-vehicle device 1 mounted on the vehicle and a portable device 2 carried by the user. .

  The portable device 2 includes a receiver that receives a request signal transmitted from the in-vehicle device 1, a transmitter that transmits a response signal, and the like. When the portable device 2 receives the request signal transmitted from the in-vehicle device 1, the portable device 2 generates a response signal including an identification code (ID code) associated with the in-vehicle device 1 in advance and transmits the response signal.

  The in-vehicle device 1 includes a transmitter 10 that transmits a request signal to a vehicle interior communication area A set in the vehicle interior illustrated in FIG. 2 and a receiver 11 that receives a response signal transmitted from the portable device 2. . The transmitter 10 and the receiver 11 are electrically connected to the in-vehicle control device 12. The in-vehicle control device 12 is provided with a memory 12a that stores an identification code (ID code) associated with the portable device 2 in advance.

  The in-vehicle device 1 also switches the power state of the brake switch 13 that detects the depression of the brake pedal of the vehicle and the accessory device of the vehicle, the power state of the engine ignition device, and starts and stops the in-vehicle engine. It is provided with a switch device 14 that is operated at the time. The brake switch 13 and the switch device 14 are electrically connected to the in-vehicle control device 12. As shown in FIG. 2, the switch device 14 is a push-type switch, and is provided on the dashboard of the vehicle.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the in-vehicle device 1 includes an accessory switch 15 that switches on / off of a power feeding path of an accessory device of a vehicle, and an ignition switch 16 that switches on / off of a power feeding path of an engine ignition device. The accessory switch 15 and the ignition switch 16 are electrically connected to the in-vehicle control device 12.

  Moreover, the vehicle-mounted device 1 includes an engine control device 17 that comprehensively controls the driving of the engine. The engine control device 17 is connected to the in-vehicle control device 12 via an in-vehicle network such as a CAN (Controller Area Network).

  The in-vehicle control device 12 generates a request signal based on signals from the brake switch 13 and the switch device 14 and wirelessly transmits the request signal from the transmitter 10. When receiving the response signal via the receiver 11, the in-vehicle control device 12 authenticates whether or not the signal corresponds to itself. The in-vehicle control device 12 switches on / off of the accessory switch 15, on / off of the ignition switch 16, or on / off of the engine through the engine control device 17 based on the fact that the authentication is established. Switch. Further, when the accessory switch 15 and the ignition switch 16 are switched from on to off, the in-vehicle control device 12 sends a vibration signal to the switch device 14. The in-vehicle control device 12 also sends a vibration signal to the switch device 14 when recognizing that the engine has been switched from off to on.

Next, the configuration and operation of the switch device 14 will be described with reference to FIGS.
As shown in FIG. 3, the switch device 14 is in a state in which the operation button 30 is prevented from being detached inside the case 20 by inserting the operation button 30 from the opening 20 a of the case 20 fixed to the dashboard of the vehicle. It has the structure inserted in.

The operation button 30 includes an insulator 31 housed inside the case 20 and a knob 32 disposed around the opening 20 a of the case 20.
The knob 32 is fixedly attached to a flange portion 31 a formed at the left end portion of the insulator 31. The knob 32 is a portion that is actually pressed by the user.

  Further, the insulator 31 is supported by a support structure (not shown) provided on the case 20 so as to be relatively movable with respect to the case 20 from the position in the drawing in the direction indicated by the arrow a (pressing direction). Thereby, when the knob 32 is pressed by the user in the direction indicated by the arrow a, the operation button 30 is moved from the reference position shown in FIG. 3 to the end position shown in FIG. It moves to the position where it abuts on the stepped portion 21 formed on the inner surface of. Thus, the movable range of the operation button 30 is from the reference position shown in FIG. 3 to the end position shown in FIG. When the pressing operation on the knob 32 is released, the operation button 30 is automatically returned to the reference position by a return mechanism (not shown). The first magnet 33 is fixedly provided on the end surface 31 b of the insulator 31 in the direction indicated by the arrow a, and the second magnet 34 is fixed to the bottom surface 31 c of the insulator 31.

  On the other hand, on the inner surface of the case 20, an electromagnet 22 that forms a magnetic field based on energization is fixedly provided at a portion facing the first magnet 33. In the switch device 14, the operation button 30 is vibrated by alternately generating a repulsive force and an attractive force between the electromagnet 22 and the first magnet 33 by a magnetic field formed by the electromagnet 22 in a predetermined cycle. Is granted. Specifically, the microcomputer 25 supplies alternating current to the electromagnet 22 through the drive circuit 26. That is, in the present embodiment, the first magnet 33 and the electromagnet 22 constitute vibration applying means.

  On the inner surface of the case 20, a circuit board 23 on which a microcomputer and various sensors to be described later are mounted is provided at a portion facing the bottom surface 31 c of the insulator 31. For example, the magnetic sensor 24 is mounted on the circuit board 23 at a position shifted by a predetermined distance from the second magnet 34 in the direction indicated by the arrow a. The magnetic sensor 24 is configured around a Hall element, and outputs a voltage signal corresponding to the magnetic flux density applied to the magnetic sensor 24 by the magnetic field formed by the second magnet 34. Here, the closer the operation button 30 is to the end position shown in FIG. 4 from the reference position shown in FIG. 3, the shorter the distance between the second magnet 34 and the magnetic sensor 24 is. The magnetic flux density increases. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 5, the output value V of the magnetic sensor 24 changes from the voltage value Vmin to the voltage value Vmax in proportion to the amount of displacement of the operation button 30 from the reference position Ps. In FIG. 5, two voltage values set at equal intervals in the range of “Vmin ≦ V ≦ Vmax” are indicated by V1 and V2. Further, the end position of the operation button 30 (position corresponding to the voltage value Vmax) is indicated by Pe, and the positions of the operation buttons 30 corresponding to the voltage values V1 and V2 are indicated by P1 and P2, respectively. Here, as shown in FIG. 5, the output value V of the magnetic sensor 24 has a one-to-one correspondence with the position of the operation button 30. Therefore, in this embodiment, the output value V of the magnetic sensor 24 is Used as a position indicator. That is, the second magnet 34 and the magnetic sensor 24 constitute position detecting means.

Next, the electrical configuration of the switch device 14 will be described with reference to FIG.
As shown in FIG. 6, the switch device 14 includes a microcomputer 25 connected to the magnetic sensor 24. The microcomputer 25 generates a position information signal indicating the position of the operation button 30 based on the output value V of the magnetic sensor 24.

  Specifically, the microcomputer 25 outputs the first position information signal to the voltage value V2 while increasing when the output value V of the magnetic sensor 24 reaches the voltage value V1 while increasing (V = V1). When it reaches (V = V2), the second position information signal is generated. When the voltage value Vmax is reached (V = Vmax), a third position information signal is generated. Then, the microcomputer 25 sends the generated position information signal to the in-vehicle control device 12.

  The microcomputer 25 is connected to the electromagnet 22 via the drive circuit 26. When the vibration request signal is input from the in-vehicle control device 12, the microcomputer 25 controls energization to the electromagnet 22 via the drive circuit 26.

Next, an operation example of the electronic key system and the switch device 14 configured as described above will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.
As shown in FIG. 2, for example, it is assumed that after the user gets on the portable device 2 and steps on the brake pedal, the user presses the operation button 30 of the switch device 14. At this time, as shown in FIG. 1, the in-vehicle controller 12 transmits a request signal from the transmitter 10 to the vehicle interior communication area A when detecting that the brake pedal is depressed based on the output of the brake switch 13. . As a result, the request signal transmitted from the transmitter 10 is received by the portable device 2, and a response signal including the identification code is transmitted from the portable device 2. And the vehicle-mounted control apparatus 12, if the response signal transmitted from the portable device 2 is received via the receiver 11, the identification code included in the response signal and the identification code stored in advance in the built-in memory 12a. The portable device 2 is authenticated by collating with. When the identification codes match, it is determined that authentication with the portable device 2 has been established. Thereafter, if the user presses the operation button 30 of the switch device 14 to the end position Pe, the switch device 14 sends a third position information signal to the in-vehicle control device 12. When the third position information signal is input from the switch device 14, the in-vehicle control device 12 is authenticated on the condition that the authentication with the portable device 2 is established and the engine is stopped. An engine start request signal is sent to 17. When the start request signal is input, the engine control device 17 starts (turns on) the engine. When starting the engine, the engine control device 17 sends a start completion signal to the in-vehicle control device 12. When the start completion signal is input, the in-vehicle control device 12 sends a vibration request signal to the switch device 14. When the vibration request signal is input, the switch device 14 vibrates the operation button 30. The vibration is transmitted to the user who presses the operation button 30.

  For example, it is assumed that the user presses the operation button 30 of the switch device 14 to the position P1 without stepping on the brake pedal after getting on with the portable device 2 held. In this case, the switch device 14 sends a first position information signal to the in-vehicle control device 12. When the first position information signal is input, the in-vehicle control device 12 transmits a request signal from the transmitter 10 to the vehicle interior communication area A. Thereby, the above-described request signal and response signal are exchanged between the in-vehicle device 1 and the portable device 2, and the in-vehicle control device 12 authenticates the portable device 2. And the vehicle-mounted control apparatus 12 will turn on the accessory switch 15 on condition that the accessory switch 15 is an OFF state, when authentication of the portable device 2 is materialized. On the other hand, when the engine is stopped and only the accessory switch 15 is on, the accessory switch 15 is turned off.

  Further, for example, it is assumed that the user presses the operation button 30 of the switch device 14 to the position P2 without stepping on the brake pedal after getting on with the portable device 2 held. In this case, the switch device 14 sends a second position information signal to the in-vehicle control device 12. When the second position information signal is input, the in-vehicle control device 12 performs authentication with the portable device 2 in the same manner as when the first position information signal is input. And the vehicle-mounted control apparatus 12 will turn on the ignition switch 16 on condition that the ignition switch 16 is an OFF state, when authentication of the portable device 2 is materialized. On the other hand, when the engine is stopped and both the accessory switch 15 and the ignition switch 16 are on, these switches are turned off.

  Thus, the operation button 30 vibrates only when the engine is switched from the stopped state to the started state. The user can easily recognize that the engine has been started through vibration transmitted from his / her finger.

As described above in detail, according to the present embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.
(1) The power state of the vehicle and the driving state of the engine are each switched based on the position of the operation button 30 in the pressing direction. When the driving state of the engine is switched, the operation button 30 is vibrated. Thereby, the user can easily grasp that the driving state of the engine has been switched depending on the vibration of the operation button 30.

  (2) The first magnet 33 is provided on the operation button 30, and the electromagnet 22 is provided at a position facing the first magnet 33 in the case 20. The microcomputer 25 supplies alternating current to the electromagnet 22 via the drive circuit 26 when the driving state of the engine is switched. Thereby, the direction of the magnetic field around the electromagnet 22 is switched at a predetermined cycle, and the operation button 30 provided with the first magnet 33 vibrates. Thus, the operation button 30 can be vibrated with a simple configuration of the first magnet 33 and the electromagnet 22.

  (3) The operation button 30 is provided with a second magnet 34, and the case 20 is provided with a magnetic sensor 24 that detects a magnetic field formed by the second magnet 34. The position of the operation button 30 is detected based on the voltage signal output from the magnetic sensor 24. Thereby, the position of the operation button 30 can be detected easily and accurately.

In addition, you may change the said embodiment as follows.
In the above embodiment, the operation button 30 is vibrated only when the engine driving state is switched from off to on. However, the operation button 30 may be vibrated even when the engine is switched from on to off. Further, the operation button 30 may be vibrated also when the accessory switch 15 is switched on / off and the ignition switch 16 is switched on / off. Even when configured in this manner, the same effects as those of the above-described embodiment can be obtained. The vibration mode of the operation button 30 when the accessory switch 15 is switched on / off, the vibration mode of the operation button 30 when the ignition switch 16 is switched on / off, and the operation button 30 when the driving state of the engine is switched. You may comprise so that the vibration aspect of may differ. If comprised in this way, the user can recognize easily which operation | movement state of the target apparatus was switched through the vibration aspect of the operation button 30. FIG. Note that the vibration mode is, for example, the period and amplitude of vibration.

  In the above embodiment, the two voltage values V1 and V2 are set at equal intervals in the range of “Vmin ≦ V ≦ Vmax”, but these voltage values V1 and V2 only need to be set in the previous range. . Moreover, although the voltage value which produces | generates a 3rd positional info signal was set to Vmax, this should just be set in the previous range. Even when configured in this manner, the same effects as those of the above-described embodiment can be obtained.

  In the above embodiment, a magnetic sensor composed of a Hall element is used as the magnetic sensor 24. However, a magnetic sensor composed of a magnetoresistive element, for example, a so-called MR sensor may be used.

  As the position detection means for detecting the position of the operation button 30, for example, a configuration as shown in FIG. 7 can be adopted. That is, as shown in FIG. 7, a certain amount of light Ld is emitted to the circuit board 23 toward the flange portion 31 a of the insulator 31, and the amount of reflected light Lr reflected by the insulator 31 is emitted. A photo reflector 27 for detecting the above is provided. Then, the position of the operation button 30 is detected based on the amount of the reflected light Lr detected through the photo reflector 27. According to such a configuration, the amount of the reflected light Lr detected by the photo reflector 27 changes according to the position of the operation button 30 in the direction indicated by the arrow a. It changes according to the position in the direction indicated by the arrow a. Therefore, the position of the operation button 30 can be detected based on the output value of the photo reflector 27. Moreover, not only a non-contact type position sensor like this modification example but the said embodiment, you may use a contact-type position sensor.

As the vibration applying unit that applies vibration to the operation button 30, for example, a configuration in which vibration is applied to the operation button 30 using a driving force of a motor may be employed.
In the above embodiment, the switch device according to the present invention is applied to the switch device for switching the power supply state and the engine drive state of the vehicle, but is applied to an appropriate switch device for switching the operation state of the target device. It is possible. In this case, the present invention is not limited to a switch device that switches between three types of operation states, as in the switch device of the above-described embodiment, and is applied to a switch device that switches between two types of operation states and a switch device that switches between four or more types of operation states. May be. In addition to the number of switching of the operation state, the number of times that a large change in operation feeling occurs when the operation button 30 is pressed is set to 2 times, or set to 4 times or more. May be.

  In the embodiment described above, the vehicle is a so-called internal combustion engine vehicle that employs an engine as a driving source for traveling, but may be a so-called electric vehicle that employs a motor as a driving source for traveling. In the case of an electric vehicle, since there is no idling state in which the vehicle vibrates unlike an internal combustion engine vehicle, it is difficult to determine whether or not the vehicle is capable of traveling as compared with an internal combustion engine vehicle. In this regard, if the present invention is applied to an electric vehicle, the effect of the present invention can be easily recognized as compared with an internal combustion engine vehicle.

Next, the technical idea that can be grasped from the above embodiment and other examples will be described below.
(A) The switch device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the switch device switches an operation state of the first and second target devices based on a pressing operation of the operation button, and the vibration The assigning unit vibrates the operation button when the operation state of the first target device is switched, and does not vibrate the operation button when the operation state of the second target device is switched.

According to this configuration, it is easy to recognize that the operation state of the first target device has changed among the operation states of the first and second target devices.
(B) The switch device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the switch device switches an operating state of the first and second target devices based on a pressing operation of the operation button, and the vibration The giving means vibrates the operation button in the first vibration mode when the operation state of the first target device is switched, and is different from the first vibration mode when the operation state of the second target device is switched. A switch device that vibrates the operation button in a second vibration mode.

According to this configuration, the user can recognize which target device has been switched in operation depending on the vibration mode transmitted from the operation button.
(C) In the switch device according to claim 1 or 2, the position detecting means emits light toward the operation button, and the emitted light is reflected by the operation button. A photo reflector for detecting the amount of light, and when the operation button is displaced in the pressing direction, the operation button is pressed based on an output value of the photo reflector that is output in accordance with a change in the amount of reflected light. A switch device for detecting a position in a direction.

Also with this configuration, the position of the operation button in the pressing direction can be detected easily and accurately, so that the invention described in each of the above-described claims can be easily realized.
(D) In the switch device according to any one of claims 1 to 3 and appendices (a) to (c), the target device is a power source and a drive source of a vehicle, and the operation state is the A switch device characterized by being in a power supply state of a power supply and a drive state of a drive source.

  The present invention is particularly effective when applied to a switch device that switches the power supply state of a vehicle as in the same configuration. As a result, the operability of the vehicle is greatly improved.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Vehicle equipment, 2 ... Portable machine, 10 ... Transmitter, 11 ... Receiver, 12 ... Vehicle-mounted control apparatus (control means), 12a ... Memory, 13 ... Brake switch, 14 ... Switch apparatus, 15 ... Accessory switch, 16 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS ... Ignition switch, 17 ... Engine control device, 20 ... Case, 20a ... Opening, 21 ... Step part, 22 ... Electromagnet, 23 ... Circuit board, 24 ... Magnetic sensor, 25 ... Microcomputer, 26 ... Drive circuit, 27 ... Photo Reflector, 30 ... operation button, 31 ... insulator, 31a ... flange, 31b ... end face, 31c ... bottom face, 32 ... knob, 33 ... first magnet, 34 ... second magnet.

Claims (3)

In the switch device that switches the operation state of the target device based on the pressing operation of the operation button,
Position detecting means for detecting the position of the operation button in the pressing direction;
Vibration applying means for vibrating the operation button;
A switch device comprising: control means for switching the operation state of the target device based on the position in the pressing direction of the operation button detected through the position detection means, and causing the operation button to vibrate through the vibration applying means. The switch device according to claim 1,
The vibration applying unit is a switch device including a first magnet provided on an end surface of the operation button in the pressing direction, and an electromagnet arranged to face the first magnet and supplied with alternating current. The switch device according to claim 1 or 2,
The position detecting means is provided in a state in which relative movement with respect to the second magnet provided on the operation button and the second magnet is restricted, and the strength of the magnetic field formed by the second magnet. Switch device comprising a magnetic sensor for detecting