JPH11115465A - Controller for vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a controller for a vehicle which can simplify operation procedures realize excellent man-machine interface. SOLUTION: This multi-functional controller operates a plurality of electrical appliances (air conditioner, navigation device, audio device, etc.), mounted on a vehicle. Operation switches 4, 6, 7 for each electrical appliance and a display unit 2 which displays operation screen of the electrical appliance are provided on a control panel 1. Sensors 11, 12, 13 which detect the approach of an operation hand are provided corresponding to the operation switches in the vicinity of the operation switches 4, 6, 7 on the control panel 1. When the sensors 11, 12 or 13 detect the approach of an operation hand, operation screen of the electrical equipment corresponding to the sensor which detects the approach of the operation hand is displayed on the display unit 2.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a multi-function controller for a vehicle for operating an air conditioner, a television set, a navigation device, an audio device, a hands-free telephone device and other on-vehicle electrical components.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A multi-function controller for operating on-vehicle electrical components is generally mounted on a vertical wall in the center of an instrument panel, has a touch panel display in the center, and has various operation switches on the left, right, and below. Is provided.

For example, the right side of the display (driver's seat side)
Are provided with a group of switches related to hazard switches and air conditioners, and a group of switches for a digital display clock and a navigation device are provided on the left side. On the lower side of the display, CD (compact disk player), TAPE (cassette tape deck), FM / AM
(Radio) and TV (television) switches are provided, and a cassette tape insertion slot and a CD
And the like, and a music selection switch group are provided.

[0004] When a driver or a passenger in a passenger seat (hereinafter referred to as a driver or the like) wants to use a compact disc, for example, when a CD switch is pressed, a C is displayed on a display.
Since an operation screen corresponding to D is displayed, a desired function such as reproduction or fast-forwarding can be selected by touching an operation position according to the display on the touch panel display with a finger.

[0005]

However, in the conventional multi-function controller, in order for a driver or the like to perform a desired operation, first, unless an operation switch corresponding to the operation is pressed, a corresponding operation is performed on a display. Since the operation screen to perform the operation is not displayed, it is necessary to always press the operation switch as the first operation, and there is a problem that the operation procedure is complicated.

For example, when the driver wants to operate the air conditioner (A / C), an operation screen corresponding to the air conditioner is not displayed on the display unless the A / C switch is pressed, and the touch panel is not displayed. Cannot perform the following operations.

[0007] The present invention has been made in view of such problems of the prior art, and can simplify the operation procedure.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a vehicle controller capable of realizing an excellent man-machine interface.

[0008]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a vehicle controller for operating an electric component mounted on a vehicle, wherein an operation switch for the electric component is provided. Control panel, and a display for displaying an operation screen of the electrical component,
A sensor provided on the control panel for detecting approach of the operator, and control means for displaying an operation screen of the electrical component on the display when the sensor detects the approach of the operator. It is characterized by.

In the vehicle controller according to the first aspect, when the approach of the operator is detected by the sensor provided on the control panel, the operation screen is displayed on the display. The operation screen is displayed on the display simply by placing the hand near the sensor, and the next operation using the touch panel or the like can be performed. Therefore, the operation procedure of pressing the operation switch for displaying the operation screen on the display can be omitted, and the operation can be simplified and simplified as compared with the related art.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a vehicle controller for operating a plurality of electrical components mounted on a vehicle, wherein the control panel includes a plurality of operation switches corresponding to the respective electrical components. A display for displaying an operation screen of the electrical component, a plurality of sensors provided on the control panel corresponding to each of the electrical components for detecting approach of the operator, and an approach of the operator by the sensor. And control means for displaying, on the display, an operation screen of the electrical component corresponding to the sensor that has detected the approach of the operator.

In the vehicle controller according to the present invention, when the approach of the operator is detected by the sensor provided on the control panel, the operation screen corresponding to the sensor is displayed on the display. The driver or the like simply displays the operation screen corresponding to the operation switch on which the operator wants to operate the operation switch on the display, and can perform the next operation using the touch panel or the like. Therefore, the operation procedure of pressing the operation switch for displaying the operation screen on the display can be omitted, and the operation can be simplified and simplified as compared with the related art.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the vehicle controller according to the second aspect, the control means keeps detecting the approach of the operator by the sensor until a predetermined time elapses. Only if
The operation screen is displayed.

In the vehicle controller according to the third aspect, the detection of the operator's hand by the sensor is performed for a predetermined time (for example,
When the operation is continued for 0.5 second), a corresponding operation screen is displayed. This is because, when the driver moves the operating hand near the sensor corresponding to the operating switch desired to be operated, the moving operating hand is detected by the sensor for the operating switch present in the middle and the desired operating hand is detected. Since an operation screen different from the operation screen may be displayed, this is prevented.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the vehicle controller according to the second aspect, when the operation switch is operated by an operator, the control means corresponds to the operated operation switch. The operation screen of the electrical component is preferentially displayed.

In the vehicle controller according to the present invention, even if the corresponding operation screen is displayed by the detection of the operator's hand by the sensor, when a different operation switch is operated, the operation switch is turned off. Since it is considered that the operation switch reflects the intention of the driver or the like more, the operation screen is displayed with priority given to the operation switch.

A vehicle controller according to a fifth aspect of the present invention is the vehicle controller according to the second or third aspect, further comprising a storage unit in which data indicating a priority order among the sensors is stored in advance. The control means, when the approach of the operator is detected by a plurality of sensors,
The operation screen of the electrical component corresponding to the sensor with the highest priority is displayed.

In the vehicle controller according to the fifth aspect of the present invention, a plurality of sensors may detect the approach of an operator such as a driver at the same time (or within a predetermined time). Is displayed, and an operation screen corresponding to this is displayed with priority given to a higher priority.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the vehicle controller according to the fifth aspect, the priority order of each of the sensors stored in the storage unit is determined from a side closer to a driver seat to a side farther from the driver's seat. It is characterized in that it is set so as to increase sequentially.

When the driver intends to operate the operation switch farther from the driver, the sensor for the operation switch closer to the driver detects the arm or the like of the driver. Therefore, when an operator is detected simultaneously by a plurality of sensors (or within a predetermined time), a corresponding operation screen is displayed with priority given to a side farther from the driver.

[0020]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a mounting position of a vehicle controller according to an embodiment of the present invention in a vehicle, and FIG. 2 is a front view of a control panel of the vehicle controller according to the embodiment of the present invention.

The vehicle controller of the present embodiment is not particularly limited, and operates an air conditioner (air conditioner), an audio visual (AV) device, a hands-free telephone device, and a navigation device as on-vehicle electrical components. Audio-visual devices include CDs (compact disk players), TAPEs (cassette tape decks), FM / AMs (radios), and TVs (televisions).

The vehicle controller is a multi-function controller for operating a plurality of electrical components mounted on the vehicle. Although not particularly limited, as shown in FIG. It is mounted on the vertical wall in the center of the instrument panel IP in front.

As shown in FIG. 2, the control panel 1 of the vehicle controller includes a touch panel type display (liquid crystal monitor screen) 2 in the center, and various operation switches are provided on the left, right, and below. ing.

On the right side (driver's seat side) of the display 2,
An A / C switch group 4 including a hazard switch 3 and a plurality of operation switches related to an air conditioner is provided. On the left side of the display 2, a digital display clock 5 and a navigation switch group 6 including a plurality of operation switches related to a navigation device are provided.

On the lower side of the display 2, a CD,
An AV switch group 7 including a switch for switching between TAPE, FM / AM, and TV and an OFF switch for the display 2 are provided. Further below the AV switch group 7,
A cassette tape insertion slot is provided, and a switch group 8 including a traffic information switch, a screen, a sound quality adjustment switch, tuning of a CD or the like, a music selection switch, and the like is provided.

An A / C sensor 11 is provided near the A / C switch group 4 on the control panel 1, a navigation sensor 12 is provided near the navigation switch group 6, and an AV sensor 13 is provided near the AV switch group 7. It is arranged.

These sensors 11, 12, and 13 are sensors that detect the approach of the operator's hand in a non-contact manner, and are, for example, optical sensors composed of a light emitting element and a light receiving element. A sensor that detects the approach or non-approach of the operator based on whether or not the light is received can be employed. As the optical sensor, a sensor that emits light every 5 seconds or a sensor that constantly emits light can be adopted. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and those detecting by infrared rays, ultrasonic waves, capacitance, heat rays, and others can be adopted.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the main configuration of the vehicle controller according to the embodiment of the present invention. This controller comprises a control unit (control means) 14, a timer 15
And a storage unit 16. The timer 15 measures the elapse of a predetermined time (in this embodiment, 0.5 seconds).

The storage unit 16 stores each of the sensors 11, 12, 1
The data indicating the priority order among the three is determined and stored in advance. In this embodiment, the priority order is such that the priority order is sequentially increased from the side closer to the driver's seat to the side farther from the driver's seat, that is, the A / C sensor 11 is the lowest, the navigation sensor 12 is the highest, and the AV sensor 13 is the highest. Priority data is set so as to be intermediate between these.

A / C switch group 4, navigation switch group 6,
A signal indicating whether the AV switch group 7 has been pressed (activated) and a signal indicating whether the A / C sensor 11, the navigation sensor 12, and the AV sensor 13 have detected the operation hand are input to the control unit 14, and the control unit 14 An operation screen corresponding to the display 2 is displayed based on these signals and the like.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the processing by the control unit of the vehicle controller according to the embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 4, first, it is determined whether or not any of the operation switches (SW) included in the A / C switch group 4, the navigation switch group 6, or the AV switch group 7 has been pressed (S1). In S1, when any operation switch is pressed (in the case of Yes), the display type ("A / C", "Navi" or "AV") of the switch group including the pressed switch is changed. Decide (S
2).

Next, the determined display type is determined (S
3) In the case of "A / C", a screen for operating the air conditioner (A / C) is displayed (S4), and in the case of "navigation", a screen for operating the navigation device is displayed. (S5) If it is "AV", a screen for operating an audio visual (AV) device is displayed (S5).
6), this process ends.

The operation screens displayed here include, for example, those shown in FIGS. 5 (a) to 5 (f).
(A) is a CD (compact disc player) operation screen, (b) is a TAPE (cassette tape deck) operation screen, (c) is a guide information operation screen, (d) is an FM radio operation screen, (e) () Is an operation screen of A / C (air conditioner), and (f) is an operation screen of a hands-free car phone.

In S1 of FIG. 4, if none of the operation switches is pressed (No), A / C
It is determined whether or not the approach of the operator is detected by one or more of the sensor 11, the navigation sensor 12, and the AV sensor 13 (S7). In S7, each sensor 1
When the approach of the operator's hand is detected by one or more of 1, 12, and 13, the timer 15 is started or referred to, and a predetermined time (0.5 seconds) has elapsed since the detection was performed by the sensor. It is determined whether or not the time has elapsed (S8). If the predetermined time has elapsed (Yes), each sensor 1
It is determined whether or not the operator's hand is detected by a plurality (two or more) of the sensors 1, 12, and 13 (S).
9).

In step S9, when the operation hand is detected by a plurality of sensors (in the case of Yes), the storage unit 1
6 is read out (S10), and the display type ("navigation" or "AV") of the sensor having the highest priority is read out. ") Is determined (S11). In S9, when the detection of the operating hand is performed by the single sensor (No), the display type ("A / C", "Navi" or "AV") of the detected sensor is determined. (S11).

Then, the process proceeds to S3, where a corresponding operation screen is displayed according to the display type determined in S11 (S3
-S6), this process ends. In S7, when the approach of the operator is not detected by any of the sensors 11, 12, and 13 (No), the screen of the display 2 is turned off and the process returns to S1, and in S8, a predetermined time elapses. If it is determined that it has not been performed, S1
Return to

According to the above-described embodiment of the present invention, for example, when the driver desires to operate the air conditioner (A / C), the driver places his / her hand near the operation switch group 4 for the air conditioner. By simply moving the air conditioner, an operation screen for the air conditioner is displayed on the display 2. Then, by touching the touch panel with a finger according to the display screen, a desired operation for the air conditioner can be performed. Accordingly, the operation procedure of pressing the operation switch for displaying the operation screen on the display 2 can be omitted, and the operation can be simplified and simplified as compared with the related art.

In this embodiment, the sensors 11, 1
When the approach of the operator is detected by 2 and 13, the timer 15 is operated, and an operation screen corresponding to a case where a predetermined time (for example, 0.5 seconds) has elapsed is displayed. Is not displayed (see S8 in FIG. 4), so that the operation switch (for example,
When the operating hand is moved to the vicinity of the navigation switch group 6) located farthest from the driver, the sensors (11, 13) of the operation switches (AC switch group 4 and AV switch group 7) present in the middle are used. It is possible to prevent the operation hand from being detected and to display an operation screen (A / C screen or AV screen) different from the desired operation screen (navigation screen), thereby improving the operation comfort. be able to.

Furthermore, regardless of whether or not each of the sensors 11, 12, and 13 detects the operation hand, the operation switch group 4,
When the operation switches included in 6 and 7 are pressed,
Since the operation screen for the pressed operation switch is preferentially displayed (see S1 and S2 in FIG. 4), a display reflecting the intention of the driver or the like is performed, thereby also providing comfortable operation. Performance can be improved.

In addition, when a plurality of sensors simultaneously detect the approach of the operator's hand, the operation screen for the highest priority is displayed in accordance with the priority data set in the storage unit 16 in advance. (See S9 to S11 in FIG. 4), since the priority is set so as to increase sequentially from the side closer to the driver to the side farther from the driver, for example, in the vicinity of the navigation switch group 6 located farthest from the driver. When the operator's hand is positioned, the operator's hand is simultaneously detected by the sensors (11, 13) of the operation switches (AC switch group 4 and AV switch group 7) present in the middle, and the desired operation screen is displayed. An operation screen (A / C screen or AV screen) different from the (navigation screen) can be prevented from being displayed, and the operational comfort can be further improved.

The embodiments described above are described for facilitating the understanding of the present invention, and are not described for limiting the present invention. Therefore, each element disclosed in the above embodiment is intended to include all design changes and equivalents belonging to the technical scope of the present invention.

In particular, in the above-described embodiment, the sensors 11, 12, and 13 for detecting the approach of the operator are provided for each of the switch groups 4, 6, and 7. However, the number of sensors may be further increased. it can. For example, in FIG.
A sensor can be provided for each of the operation switches of the PE, FM / AM, and TV, and by doing so, it is possible to respond more finely. Further, the position of the sensor is not limited to being arranged adjacent to the operation switch on the control panel 1, but it is of course possible to arrange the sensor at the center of the operation switch or elsewhere.

[0044]

As described above, according to the present invention, when a driver or the like operates an on-vehicle electrical component, the operator places his or her hand near the sensor corresponding to the operation switch without operating the operation switch. Since the operation screen of the corresponding electrical component is displayed simply by being positioned, there is an effect that a vehicle controller that can simplify the operation procedure and realize an excellent man-machine interface is provided. .

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a mounting position in a vehicle of a vehicle controller according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view of a control panel of the vehicle controller according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a main configuration of a vehicle controller according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating processing of a vehicle controller according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of an operation screen displayed on the display of the vehicle controller according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 control panel 2 display 4 A / C switch group 6 navigation switch group 7 AV switch group 11 A / C sensor 12 navigation sensor 13 AV sensor 14 control unit 15 timer 16 storage unit

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A controller for operating electric components mounted on a vehicle, comprising: a control panel (1) provided with operation switches (4, 6, 7) for the electric components; and an operation screen for the electric components. Display (2) for displaying
A sensor (11, 12, 13) provided on the control panel for detecting the approach of the operator; and displaying the operation screen of the electrical component on the display when the sensor detects the approach of the operator. A controller for a vehicle, comprising: a control unit (14) for causing the controller to perform the control. 2. A control panel (1) for operating a plurality of electric components mounted on a vehicle, the control panel including a plurality of operation switches (4, 6, 7) corresponding to the respective electric components.
And a display (2) for displaying an operation screen of the electrical component
And a plurality of sensors (11, 12, 13) provided on the control panel corresponding to each of the electrical components for detecting approach of the operator, and when the sensors detect approach of the operator, Control means (14) for displaying on the display an operation screen of the electrical component corresponding to the sensor that has detected the approach of the operator
And a controller for a vehicle. 3. The control means (14) is provided with the sensor (1).
Only when the detection of the approach of the operator by (1, 12, 13) is continued until a predetermined time elapses,
The vehicle controller according to claim 2, wherein the operation screen is displayed. 4. The control means (14), when the operation switch (4, 6, 7) is operated by an operator,
3. The vehicle controller according to claim 2, wherein the operation screen of the electrical component corresponding to the operated operation switch is preferentially displayed. 5. A storage unit (16) in which data indicating priorities among the sensors (11, 12, 13) is stored in advance, and the control unit (14) includes a plurality of sensors. 4. The controller for a vehicle according to claim 2, wherein, when the approach of the operator is detected, the operation screen of the electrical component corresponding to the sensor with the highest priority is displayed. 6. The priority order of each of the sensors (11, 12, 13) stored in the storage section (16) is set so as to sequentially increase from the side closer to the driver's seat to the side farther from the driver's seat. The vehicle controller according to claim 5, wherein: