KR20090131530A - Klaxon generator which can control volume and kinds of klaxon - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A horn sound generator for controlling the volume and type of a horn sound is provided to control the strength of an automobile horn sound by using a switch having a plurality of contacts or a switch capable of the measurement of pressure. CONSTITUTION: A pad(111) is equipped with a vehicle steering wheel. The shape of the pad is transformed with an external pressure. A first switch part(110) is installed in the inside of the pad. A plurality of switch contacts is equipped with the first switch part. The upper contacts(112) of a pressed portion are connected to lower contacts(113) in case the pad is pushed. A controller controls so that the horn sound of a corresponding sound volume be created according to an area which is pushed with the external pressure. A horn sound generator generates a corresponding horn sound according to the control of the controller.

Description

Horn generator which can control volume and type of horn sound {Klaxon generator which can control volume and kinds of klaxon}

The present invention relates to a horn sound generating device mounted on an automobile, and more particularly, to a horn sound generating device capable of controlling a volume of a horn sound or a kind of horn sound more easily generated by an automobile driver according to a situation.

The vehicle is provided with a horn sound generator for generating a horn sound for the purpose of sending a signal to another driver, such as a driver or a pedestrian driving another vehicle.

The horn sound generated by such a horn sound generating device can be used for various purposes.It is also used to give a strong warning to the other person in an emergency situation, but it is necessary to call attention to the next vehicle or pedestrian when it is parked. It is also used for the purpose of informing others of the location of their vehicle.

However, the current horn sound generating device is manufactured under the premise of giving a powerful warning to the counterpart in an emergency situation, so that a horn sound of a uniform volume is always generated.

That is, in some cases, depending on the purpose of generating the horn, the driver may want to generate a small volume of the horn, but the current horn generator has no way to satisfy these various needs.

For this reason, a loud sound may be generated even when a horn is generated for the purpose of merely calling attention for communication, which may cause discomfort to the surrounding listeners and also generate a horn in areas where noise levels above a certain level are restricted. There is a disadvantage that cannot be done.

In addition, some drivers may want to generate different horn sounds depending on the situation, but there is a disadvantage that the current horn generating device for generating a uniform horn sound cannot satisfy such a desire.

In order to solve the above problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a horn sound generating device that allows the driver to easily adjust the volume of the horn sound.

In addition, in order to solve the above problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a horn sound generating device capable of generating different kinds of horn sounds according to the driver's choice.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is an automobile horn sound generating device, the vehicle is provided in the steering wheel, the pad is deformed by the external pressure; A first switch unit provided on an inner side of the pad and provided with a plurality of switch contacts and configured to connect a switch contact of a pressed portion when the pad is pressed; A control unit which controls the horn to generate a corresponding volume according to the area of the pad pressed by an external pressure; It provides a vehicle horn sound generating device comprising a; horn sound generating unit for generating a corresponding horn sound under the control of the controller.

In addition, the present invention in order to achieve the above object is an automobile horn sound generating device, a pad provided in the vehicle steering wheel; A first switch unit provided inside the pad and measuring the pressed pressure when the pad is pressed and turned on when the pad is above a predetermined threshold pressure; A controller configured to generate a horn sound of a corresponding volume according to the pressure measured by the pressure sensor unit when the pressure measured by the first switch unit is equal to or greater than the threshold pressure; And a horn sound generator for generating a corresponding horn sound under the control of the controller.

Here, each of the plurality of switch contacts of the first switch unit does not need to be marked with an individual position on the outside of the pad.

In addition, the area in which the pad is pressed is preferably calculated by the number of switch contacts connected among the plurality of switch contacts.

In addition, it is preferable that there are nine or more switch contacts provided in the first switch unit.

In addition, the control unit controls to increase the magnitude of the horn generated as the pressed area of the pad increases and the pressed pressure increases.

The vehicle horn sound generating device may further include a second switch unit provided at a position independent of the first switch unit and turned on by pressing, and the control unit may include the first switch unit when the second switch unit is turned on. It is preferable to control so that a different type of horn sound is generated from the horn sound generated by the one switch unit.

When the second switch unit and the first switch unit are turned on at the same time, the horn sound generation unit outputs the horn sound generated by the second switch unit at a volume corresponding to the area or pressure at which the first switch unit is pressed. It is desirable to control.

According to the present invention, there is an advantage in that the driver can generate a horn sound of a desired type or a desired volume.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the horn generating device of the present invention.

The horn sound generating apparatus of the present invention includes a first switch unit 110, a second switch unit 120, a controller 130, and a horn sound generator 140.

It is a feature of the present invention that a switch having a plurality of contacts or a switch capable of measuring pressure can control whether the car horn is generated and the type and / or intensity of the car horn.

To this end, in the present invention, when the driver presses the first switch unit 110 and the second switch unit 120, different horn sounds are generated. In the case of the first switch unit 110, the pressure or area pressed by the driver It is characterized in that the signal of different volume is generated by.

Specifically, the first switch unit 110 is configured to measure the pressure or the area pressed by the driver to generate a horn sound.

If the first switch unit 110 is configured to measure the area that the driver presses to generate the horn, the first switch unit 110 includes a plurality of switch contacts, according to the number of connected switch contacts. It is desirable to calculate the pressing area.

A specific example is described below with reference to FIG. 2.

Figure 2 shows a steering wheel and a cross section of the vehicle equipped with the horn generating device of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 2, the first switch unit 110 and the second switch unit 120 of the present invention are provided at the center portion of the steering wheel.

The position of the first switch unit 110 and the second switch unit 120 is the same as the position of the horn generating switch and the like provided in the steering wheel of a general vehicle. However, in the present invention, there is a difference in that two switch units are provided.

Referring to the cross-sectional view taken along the line A-A 'in FIG. 2, the first switch unit 110 in the center is provided with a switch contact including a plurality of upper contacts 112 and lower contacts 113.

The lower contacts 113 of the first switch unit 110 are provided below the upper contacts 112 of the first switch unit 110, and the upper contacts 112 and the lower contacts 113 are provided. When connected to each other, the current flows and the point pressed by the current flows, and the area is known by the number of contacts through which the current flows.

The upper contacts 112 of the first switch unit 110 may be provided under the pad 111 provided thereon to be moved in position as the pad 111 moves.

Here, the pad 111 may be provided on the surface of the steering wheel as shown in FIG. 2, or another material may be further provided on the surface of the pad. In addition, the pad 111 and the upper contacts 112 may be connected to each other in contact with each other, as shown in FIG. 2, or may be provided with another material therebetween.

In the present invention, the configuration of the pad 111, the pad is pressed in accordance with the operation of pressing the switch unit of the driver, the upper contacts 112 of the pressed portion by moving the upper contacts 112 in accordance with the movement of the pad 111. As long as it is configured to be in contact with the lower contacts 113, it is not important whether other materials are included in the middle and whether the pad 111 and the upper contacts 112 are connected to each other.

For example, the upper contacts 112 of the first switch unit 110 are fixed to another substrate, and the upper contact points located at the 휜 portion of the lower contact points are bent as the substrate touches the pad whenever the pad is pressed. 113) is also possible.

Here, the pad 111 is elastic, such as rubber, it is preferable that the material is used to return to the original state when the driver presses the shape is deformed and the pressing pressure disappears.

Even if the pad is a non-elastic material, it is made of a material that is deformed at least by external pressure exerted by the driver, so that when the driver presses the pad, only the pressed part and the part adjacent thereto are pressed, and the rest is not pressed. Can be used.

In this case, however, an elastic material such as a spring should be provided internally so that the part deformed by the pressure applied by the driver is returned to its original state.

In the absence of such elasticity, fluidity, etc., the same area may be uniformly pressed regardless of the area pressed by the driver, and thus may not achieve the object of the present invention, so that the pad has elasticity, and only the area pressed by the driver It is desirable to be pressed so that only the contacts 112, 113 in that portion are connected to each other.

The configuration of the pad is only required to be pressed when the driver presses or only the area pressed by the driver and some of the surrounding areas, and when the driver releases it, the pad is simply returned to its original position, and the material or the method of construction is limited. Is not.

When the upper contacts 112 of the first switch unit 110 are connected to the pad 111 as shown in FIG. 2, the upper switch 112 will move in accordance with the movement of the pad. When the contact with the lower contacts 113 of the switch unit 110, and the pressure applied to the pad disappears again as the pad is moved up again will move to the upper contact 113 will be disconnected because the other components It will not be necessary to have a.

However, if the upper contacts 112 of the first switch unit 110 are separated from the pad 111, the upper contacts 112 of the first switch unit 110 are separately supported, and the upper contacts When 112 is down, a component is needed to return to its original state.

As described above, in order to be connected to a substrate (not shown) having the elasticity of the upper contacts 112 of the first switch unit 110, the substrate itself has a function of supporting and restoring, thus requiring other components. It may not be.

In addition, since the configuration of the upper contact 112 and the lower contact 113 is like a general push switch, it may be to restore the position again by a spring provided by itself after being pressed. That is, as shown in FIG. 3, the first switch unit 110 may be configured of a plurality of push switches 114.

Thus, when the first switch unit 110 is composed of a plurality of push switches 114 provided with an upper contact point and a lower contact point therein, a material such as a pad is formed on the outside of the first switch part 110. Even if not, the object of the present invention can be achieved. However, when the push switch protrudes to the outside, it is not good in appearance, foreign matter may enter, and operation of the driver may be inconvenient. In this case, a pad may be provided outside the first switch unit 110. It is desirable to.

Meanwhile, the lower contacts 113 of the first switch unit 110 are fixed, and when the pads 111 are pressed, the upper contacts 112 of the pressed portions of the pads 111 come down so that they are connected to each other. It is.

The second switch unit 120 may be configured independently of the first switch unit 110. In this way, even if the pad 111 of the upper portion of the first switch unit 110 is pressed, the upper contact 121 of the second switch unit 120 is prevented from being pressed.

As shown in FIG. 2, the device used as the second switch unit 120 includes an upper contact 121 and a lower contact 122 such that the driver presses an upper pad or an external pad (not shown) contacting the switch. Configured to be on. The presence or absence of the pad in the second switch unit 120 is a component that does not affect the object of the present invention, and is a component that may be added by an external purpose.

The configuration of the second switch unit 120 is the same as the configuration of the general switch, it is just a configuration that is turned on as the driver presses.

In addition, although the second switch unit 120 is illustrated to have a circular shape surrounding the first switch unit 110 in FIG. 2, there is no particular limitation on the shape and position thereof. For example, the second switch unit 120 may be provided in the form of one push switch in another position not adjacent to the first switch unit 110.

4 illustrates an example in which lower contacts 113 of the first switch unit 110 and a lower contact 122 of the second switch unit 120 are disposed.

As shown in FIG. 4, the lower contacts 113 of the first switch unit 110 exist in a circle surrounded by the lower contact 122 of the second switch unit 120.

The number and distribution of the pairs of the upper contact point and the lower contact point of the first switch unit 110 are not limited, but at least a finger should be able to detect the difference between the area pressed by the driver and the area pressed by the entire palm. It should be distributed wider than the area pressed when pressed, and if it exists in the top, bottom, left, and right sides of the center point of contact, the area can be measured even if the position of the driver's hand is slightly out of the center. Do.

5 and 6 are diagrams for explaining how the first switch unit 110 senses the area pressed by the driver when the driver presses the pad 111.

When the driver presses only the fingertips as shown in FIG. 5, only two pairs of contacts among the upper and lower contacts shown on the cross-section are connected, and when paired with the palm as shown in FIG. 6, four pairs of contacts Are connected.

The number of pairs of top and bottom contacts connected can detect the area pressed by the driver.

As described above, the first switch unit 110 of the present invention may be configured to sense the area in which the driver presses the pad 111, but may also be configured to sense the pressure pressed by the driver as shown in FIG. 7.

Referring to FIG. 7, the pressure sensor 115 in the center functions as the first switch unit 110, and the pressure sensor 123 outside the pressure sensor 115 functions as the second switch unit 120.

When the first switch unit 110 is configured as a pressure sensor, it is not necessary to occupy a large area as shown in FIG. 7, and the area and position of the driver can be pressed without touching the second switch unit 120. You have it.

In this case, it is preferable that the pressure sensor is set so as to recognize that the driver presses only when the threshold pressure is set in advance, and the pressure is applied above the threshold pressure. In other words, when the driver presses more than the predetermined threshold pressure, it is preferable that the pressure pressed by the driver is used to determine the volume of the horn sound generated.

In addition, the second switch unit 120 may use a pressure sensor as shown in FIG. 7, but may use a general switch if the purpose is not to change the volume depending on the pressure pressed by the driver.

Returning to FIG. 1 again, the horn generator 140 generates a horn sound whose volume and type are controlled by the control of the controller 130.

Horn sound generation unit 140 is capable of generating two types of horn sounds, such as the horn sound for the first switch unit 110 and the horn sound for the second switch unit 120, by adjusting the volume by the control of the controller 130 You can print

In the horn sound used in the present invention, there are various horn sounds such as horn sound using melody, horn sound using human speech, in addition to the commonly used 'pain' horn sound, and the type is not limited.

The controller 130 controls the horn generating unit 140 to generate a corresponding horn sound according to whether the first switch unit 110 and the second switch unit 120 are pressed, the pressed area or the pressure when the pressing unit is pressed.

First, the controller 130 controls the horn sound generation unit 140 to generate different horn sounds when the first switch unit 110 is pressed and when the second switch unit 120 is pressed.

Specifically, the first switch unit 110 is generally used to determine the generation of the horn sound that is used a lot, it is preferable that the second switch unit 120 is used to determine the generation of the horn sound used for other special purposes. .

For example, the horn sound generated when the second switch unit 120 is pressed may be a horn sound recorded as a voice for achieving a specific purpose.

For example, if a driver makes a general horn while trying to ask something to pass by while the driver is driving, the passing pedestrian will drive the car rather than think that the horn is for the driver to ask him something. You can think of the road as a sign that you're out of the way, or if you're not on a vehicle's path, the vehicle is signaling another vehicle.

However, if you configure the horn to voice and make a sound such as 'hello' or 'wait', the passing pedestrian will think and call attention to someone calling you.

In addition, when a vehicle passing an alleyway that is not a wide road makes a horn sound, pedestrians around it are likely to feel unpleasant, but if the melody that is not a general horn sounds, this discomfort becomes less.

As described above, in the present invention, the horn sound generated by the second switch unit 120 is different from the horn sound generated by the first switch unit 110, so that the driver can select and generate the horn sound according to the situation. It is characteristic in that it can be.

In addition, the present invention has another feature in that the volume of the horn generated can be adjusted.

As described above, the first switch unit 110 may detect a pressure or an area pressed by the driver.

The controller 130 controls the volume of the horn sound generated by the horn sound generator 140 according to the pressure or the area.

According to the present invention, the volume of the horn sound can be adjusted according to the driver's intention, thereby generating a horn sound corresponding to the situation.

For example, if you want to signal other vehicles or pedestrians in the middle of the night or in quiet times, you don't have to sound the horn loudly, but only a small horn can help you achieve your purpose. In an urgent situation, you should hear the horn loudly so that you can reach your original purpose.

In each of these cases, if the driver uses the horn sound generating apparatus of the present invention, the predetermined purpose can be achieved by generating the horn sound corresponding to the situation.

If there are simply two switches to generate the horn, press one to generate a small volume horn and press both to generate a large volume horn. It is inconvenient to consider whether to press, and in reality, it is unnatural to select two switches and press them simultaneously.

In addition, when the switch is configured in this manner, since the number of switches that a person can easily press at a time is limited, it is possible to adjust the volume in two steps, but adjusting the volume in more steps is possible. Uneasy.

In addition, when it is necessary to generate a horn momentarily in an urgent situation, it may be rather uncomfortable at the most important moment because it is not easy for the driver to determine how many switches to press in that short moment.

However, when configuring the first switch unit 110 in the same manner as in the present invention, it is convenient for the driver to adjust the volume, and there is an advantage that the volume can be adjusted in multiple stages.

Also, in general, the driver presses the horn generating device strongly in an urgent situation, and since the pressing area and the pressure increase, a loud volume horn is generated even in any of the above examples. There is an advantage to be able to achieve the original purpose of the horn sound generation in a hurry.

For this reason, the pads surrounding the first switch unit 110 of the present invention do not need to be separately marked with the positions of the contacts. Only the entire area to be pressed by the driver to generate a horn should be displayed on the pad surrounding the first switch unit 110 of the present invention.

Meanwhile, in the above description, the horn sound volume may be adjusted according to the pressed area or the pressure of only the first switch unit 110, but the second switch unit 120 may be controlled in the same manner.

That is, the second switch unit 120 may also be provided with a plurality of contacts, like the first switch unit 110, or the volume of the horn sound output according to the area or pressure using a pressure sensor.

Another method of adjusting the volume of the horn sound generated by the second switch unit 120 is to induce a driver to simultaneously press the first switch unit 110 and the second switch unit 120.

That is, as shown in FIGS. 2 to 7, when the first switch unit 110 and the second switch unit 120 are configured, and the first switch unit 110 is pressed together while the second switch unit 120 is pressed, The volume of the horn sound generated by the second switch unit 120 may be adjusted by the area or the pressure of the first switch unit 110.

8 is a flow chart illustrating a method of the present invention.

When the driver presses the first switch unit 110 or the second switch unit 120 (801), the control unit 130 determines which switch unit is pressed (802), the first switch unit 110 is pressed In the case, the pressed area or the pressure is calculated (803).

The method of calculating the area is the same as the method described in FIGS. 2 to 6, and the method of calculating the pressure is the same as the method described in FIG. 7.

When the pressed area or pressure is calculated, the controller 130 controls the horn sound generator 140 to generate a horn sound of a volume corresponding to the calculated area or pressure (804).

That is, the wider the pressed area, the higher the applied pressure, the greater the volume of the horn is generated.

On the other hand, when the second switch unit 120 is pressed, the controller 130 controls the horn sound generation unit 140 to generate a different kind of horn sound generated by the first switch unit 110 ( 805).

Of course, the second switch unit 120 may also be configured to measure the pressed area or pressure, like the first switch unit 110, and may be configured to determine the volume of the horn sound in response to the pressed area or the pressure. When the first switch unit 110 and the second switch unit 120 are pressed at the same time, the volume of the horn generated by the second switch unit 120 is adjusted so that the volume is adjusted according to the area or pressure of pressing the first switch unit 110. You may.

The method of the present invention can also be embodied as computer readable code on a computer readable recording medium. Computer-readable recording media include all kinds of recording devices that store data that can be read by a computer system. Examples of computer-readable recording media include ROM, RAM, CD-ROM, magnetic tape, floppy disk, optical data storage, and the like, and may also be implemented in the form of a carrier wave (for example, transmission over the Internet). Include. The computer readable recording medium can also be distributed over network coupled computer systems so that the computer readable code is stored and executed in a distributed fashion.

1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the present invention

2 is a view illustrating a steering wheel and a cross section of a vehicle equipped with the horn generating device of the present invention;

3 is a diagram illustrating an example in which a first switch unit includes a plurality of push switches of the present invention;

4 is a view illustrating an example in which lower contacts of a first switch unit and lower contacts of a second switch unit of the present invention are disposed;

5 and 6 are diagrams for explaining how the first switch unit senses the area pressed by the driver when the driver presses the pad.

7 is a view showing an example in which the first switch unit and the second switch unit of the present invention are configured using a pressure sensor;

8 is a flow chart illustrating a method of the present invention.

Claims (10)

In the car horn generator, A pad provided on the steering wheel of the vehicle and deformed by external pressure; A first switch unit provided on an inner side of the pad and provided with a plurality of switch contacts and configured to connect a switch contact of a pressed portion when the pad is pressed; A control unit which controls the horn to generate a corresponding volume according to the area of the pad pressed by an external pressure; And Car horn sound generating device comprising a; horn sound generating unit for generating a corresponding horn sound under the control of the controller. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of switch contacts of the first switch unit does not display an individual position on the outside of the pad. The vehicle horn generator of claim 1, wherein the area where the pad is pressed is calculated by the number of switch contacts connected among the plurality of switch contacts. The method of claim 1, Vehicle horn sound generating device, characterized in that more than nine switch contacts provided in the first switch. According to claim 1, wherein the control unit is a vehicle horn sound generating device, characterized in that the control to increase the size of the horn generated as the pressed area of the pad increases. According to claim 1, wherein the vehicle horn sound generating device A second switch unit provided at a position independent of the first switch unit and turned on by pressing; The control unit is a car horn sound generating device, characterized in that when the second switch unit is turned on so that a different type of horn sound generated by the horn sound generated by the first switch unit. The method of claim 6, wherein the control unit When the second switch unit and the first switch unit is turned on at the same time, the horn sound generation unit is controlled so that the horn sound generated by the second switch unit is output at a volume corresponding to the area where the first switch unit is pressed. Car horn generator. In the car horn generator, A pad provided in an automobile steering wheel; A first switch unit provided inside the pad and measuring the pressed pressure when the pad is pressed and turned on when the pad is above a predetermined threshold pressure; A control unit for controlling a horn sound of a corresponding volume according to the pressure measured by the pressure sensor unit when the pressure measured by the first switch unit is greater than or equal to the threshold pressure; Car horn sound generating device comprising a; horn sound generating unit for generating a corresponding horn sound under the control of the controller. The method of claim 8, wherein the vehicle horn generator A switch unit provided at a position independent of the first switch unit and turned on by pressing; And the control unit controls the horn to generate a horn sound different from that generated by the first switch unit when the switch unit is turned on. The method of claim 8, wherein the control unit When the second switch unit and the first switch unit is turned on at the same time, the horn sound generation unit is controlled so that the horn sound generated by the second switch unit is output at a volume corresponding to the pressure pressed by the first switch unit. Car horn generator.

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