JP2924607B2 - Switch device for vehicles - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a vehicle switch device mounted on a vehicle and operated by a driver.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a vehicle, there are various switches operated by a driver. For example, in the case of a radio, a band selection (AM / FM, etc.), a broadcasting station selection (NHK / commercial radio station, etc.), a frequency characteristic selection, etc. (Pops / rock / pop songs, etc.), presence selection (concert hall / disco / outdoors, etc.). In addition, various switch operations are required for navigation, air conditioning, warning processing, etc. With the improvement, the number of switches tends to increase, and the driver operates these switches to perform desired operations.

However, the switches are dispersed in a wide area in front of and in the side of the driver's seat, and their operations are different from each other. Therefore, the operability is poor, and the operation while checking these switches is difficult. It was not preferable in terms of safe driving.

In view of the above, there has been proposed a mechanism for displaying a switch selection when a switch is operated (JP-A-62-37231 and JP-A-3-63718). According to such a configuration, when the driver operates the switch, the driver operates the switch while looking at the display disposed near the driving visual field, such as in front, without looking at the switch, so that the driver can easily operate the vehicle, and The desired operation could be safely performed.

[0005]

However, even if it is possible to visually recognize which switch has been operated, if the number of switches is large, the place where the switches are arranged is widened, and the operation may be complicated, which may cause the driver to have trouble. Had a high degree of fatigue and was still inadequate for vehicles.

Further, when a plurality of screens are continuously changed by one display continuously, if a switch operation is performed quickly, continuous display is not performed, and a skipping phenomenon that the screen is skipped sometimes occurs.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides one switch capable of selecting a desired operation by a rotation and pushing operation, and a rotation operation of the switch located in front of a driver. And one display whose screen changes in response to the change.

A screen switching signal is transmitted to the display by rotating the switch, and in response to the signal, the display displays at least the same screen for a unit display time. Even if the signal for changing to the selection screen separated from the current display screen by a plurality of times is transmitted, after the next unit display time, the display sequentially changes from the next screen of the current display screen to the selection screen every time the unit display time elapses. Is what is done.

[0009]

There is provided one switch capable of selecting a desired operation by a rotation and pushing operation, and one display positioned in front of the driver and whose screen changes in accordance with the rotation operation of the switch. By properly using the pressing operation, the function of a plurality of switches can be provided by one switch, so that the number of arrangement locations is small and the operation is easy.

A screen switching signal is transmitted to the display by rotating the switch, and in response to the signal, the display displays the same screen for at least a unit display time. Even if the signal for changing to the selection screen separated from the current display screen by a plurality of times is transmitted, the next screen of the current display screen is displayed during the next unit display time, so that the screen jumps at the earliest when the switch operation is performed. Can be prevented.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below based on embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a front view of an embodiment, and 1 is a switch device for a vehicle arranged in front of a driver's seat of a vehicle.
In front of the driver's left hand (near the steering wheel), one switch 2 that can select a desired operation by turning and pushing operations,
One color display 3 whose screen changes according to the rotation operation of the switch 2 is provided substantially in front of the driver.

The switch 2 has a structure capable of performing two operations of rotation and pushing, and a control circuit (not shown) that outputs a pulse signal in accordance with the movement amount of the rotation operation (including discrimination of the clockwise / counterclockwise rotation direction). The control circuit outputs the output to the microcomputer 3 and changes the screen of the display 3 in accordance with a preset program. When the switch 2 is pressed on a desired screen, at least the screen is changed to a lower screen of the screen, or an item corresponding to the screen is selected and a predetermined process is performed.

FIG. 2 shows a screen of the display 3 when the vehicle is started (ignition switch is turned on), and this screen is a menu screen. Thereafter, each time the driver rotates the switch 2, the screen changes according to the items A to D displayed on the menu screen. Specifically, on the menu screen, the background a excluding the upper end is light blue, the indication b of the selection item A at the start is black in red, the indication b of the non-selection items B to D is black in yellow, The symbol “c” representing the switch 2 at the center is black in red and the switch 2
The arrow d indicating the rotation direction of the switch 2 is black, and the explanation section e of the switch 2
Is dark blue, and the selection item explanation section f at the upper end shows the description corresponding to the selection item (item A at the start) in green and black characters.
Each is displayed. By rotating the switch 2, the selection items are changed to the items B and B according to the amount of rotation.
It changes like C and D or items D, C and B, and changes so that the indication part b and the selection item explanation part f or the entire screen has a color and content according to the selection item at that time. , This is "change the screen", "change the screen"
Alternatively, it is referred to as “screen change”. Note that this change of the screen is performed not by changing only the changed portion, but by newly rewriting the entire screen.

When the switch 2 is pressed on a desired screen, the display 3 changes to a lower screen of the screen, or an item corresponding to the screen is selected and a predetermined process is performed. A state change occurs, and when the lower screen is changed, the switch 2 is rotated again to change the screen, and the state change is repeated.

FIG. 3 shows a pulse signal from the switch 2 and
This shows the relationship with the screen of the display unit 3. The screen displayed on the display unit 3 has a unit display time (for example, 100 msec), and the same screen is displayed during this unit time.
A pulse signal equivalent to moving a plurality of screens by the switch 2 during the unit display time (for example, one screen is moved by one pulse)
Is input, the next screen of the current display screen during the next unit display time (if the current display screen is a screen corresponding to item A, it corresponds to item B or item D according to the rotation direction) Screen) (Fig. 3
(A)).

The relationship between the switch 2 and the display 3 can be arbitrarily set by a program preset in the control circuit, and can be set by a program as shown in FIG. 4, for example.

In such a vehicle switch device 1,
The function of a plurality of switches can be provided by one switch 2, and the number of switches can be reduced.

The driver drives the vehicle while checking the front view, and operates the switch 2 near the steering wheel as needed. At this time, since the screen of the display 3 near the visual field changes according to the rotation operation of the switch 2, the user looks at the display 3 with a small movement instead of looking at the switch 2 with a large movement from the visual field. As a result, the operation state can be easily and quickly confirmed, and the driver's degree of fatigue with respect to the switch 2 can be reduced as compared with a conventional vehicle switch device having only the switch 2, that is, the visual field Since the user can confirm by looking at the screen of the display 3 near the field of view without looking at the switch 2 away from the vehicle, the movement of the line of sight is small, and the degree of fatigue of the driver is reduced accordingly.

When the driver rotates the switch 2 quickly (a pulse signal corresponding to changing a plurality of screens is input from the switch 2 during the unit display time of the display 3), the display 3 is turned on. Since the next screen is displayed next to the current display screen during the next unit display time ignoring the instruction from the switch 2, it is possible to prevent a skip phenomenon in which the screen is skipped, and to make the driver feel uncomfortable. Do not give.

By the way, the case where the driver rotates the switch 2 quickly is a case where he wants to perform the next process quickly, that is, he wants to change the screen of the display 3 quickly. If the vessel 3 changes only one screen at a time, the driver will be mentally confused (frustration).
However, by setting the unit display time of the display unit 3 to a sufficiently short time (about the present embodiment) with respect to the average discrimination ability of a human, such a concern can be avoided. Can be eliminated.

The present invention can be applied in various ways without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, the switch 2 may be a joystick or the display 3 may be a virtual image called a head-up display. It may be a display type. The display 3 may be provided exclusively for displaying the switch 2 or may be configured to also be used for displaying other uses (for example, speed and time).

The relation between the switch 2 and the display 3 is as follows.
As shown in the above-described embodiment, even if a signal for changing to the selection screen separated from the current display screen by a plurality of times during the unit display time is transmitted, the next screen of the current display screen is displayed during the next unit display time. In addition to the configuration (FIG. 3A) that is displayed and then sequentially changes to the selection screen each time the unit display time elapses, the current display screen is displayed again during the next unit display time, and the next next unit display is performed. After the time, the display may be changed sequentially from the screen next to the current display screen to the selected screen every time the unit display time elapses. In this case, a new screen is drawn on the video RAM provided at one end, and the data is output to the display 3. This is performed in the case of the configuration described above, and aims to secure the drawing time. When the screen starts to change, the image is drawn on the video RAM thereafter, so that the screen changes continuously (FIG. 3B).

[0024]

According to the present invention, there is provided one switch capable of selecting a desired operation by rotating and pressing operations, and one display device which is located in front of a driver and whose screen changes according to the rotating operation of the switches. , One switch can be provided with the functions of a plurality of switches, and necessary operations can be performed without increasing the number of switches. Note that the present invention does not exclude a configuration including other switches. By implementing the present invention, it is possible to reduce the number of switches in comparison with a configuration in which switches are independently arranged. is there.

A screen switching signal is transmitted to the display by rotating the switch, and in response to the signal, the display displays at least the same screen for a unit display time,
Even if the signal for changing to a screen separated from the current display screen by a plurality of times during this unit display time is transmitted, after the next unit display time, every time the unit display time elapses, the next screen of the current display screen is displayed. By sequentially changing to the selection screen, it is possible to prevent a skip phenomenon in which the screen jumps at the earliest when the switch operation is performed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view showing an image of the display device of the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a time chart showing a relationship between a switch and an indicator according to the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a relationship between a switch and an indicator according to the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Vehicle switch device 2 Switch 3 Display

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A switch having one switch capable of selecting a desired operation by a rotation and a push operation, and one display device located in front of a driver and having a screen changed in accordance with the rotation operation of the switch, A screen switching signal is transmitted to the display by rotating the switch, and in response to the signal, the display displays the same screen for at least a unit display time ,
Even if the signal for changing to the selection screen separated from the current display screen by a plurality of times during this unit display time is transmitted, from the next screen of the current display screen every time the unit display time elapses after the next unit display time. A switch for a vehicle, wherein the switch is sequentially changed to the selection screen.