JP2002087175A - On-vehicle system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an on-vehicle system capable of suppressing a rise of cost and being operated by each occupant. SOLUTION: An arm rest 1 is installed between the operator seat and assistant seat of a vehicle, and an operating part 2 for providing an operating instruction to various types of on-vehicle equipment (i.e., air conditioner, audio equipment) is installed on the upper surface of the arm rest 1 at a specified position. Also, a slide mechanism 3 for moving the arm rest 1 in longitudinal direction in a cabin and a position detection sensor 4 for detecting whether the arm rest 1 is present at the front seat (operator seat and assistant seat) side or the rear seat side are installed on the floor of the cabin at specified positions. Since the position of the arm rest 1 can be moved along the longitudinal direction of the cabin, the operating part 2 can be moved along the longitudinal direction of the cabin.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a vehicle-mounted system including various vehicle-mounted devices.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In general, a vehicle is equipped with various on-vehicle devices such as an audio device and an air conditioner in order to enhance the livability in the passenger compartment, and these various on-vehicle devices constitute an on-vehicle system. For example, in the case of an audio device, it is often installed in a dashboard, and by using an operation unit arranged on the front of the housing or the like, by giving operation instructions such as volume, sound quality adjustment and music selection, A desired listening state can be realized. In the case of an air conditioner, room temperature setting and the like can be performed using an operation unit installed in a dashboard. In addition, the operation units for instructing various in-vehicle devices to be operated are integrated into one operation unit and installed above the armrest between the driver's seat and the passenger's seat. Therefore, there is also an in-vehicle system in which both of these operating units can be used.

[0003]

By the way, in the conventional on-vehicle system, when the operation unit of each on-vehicle device is installed in a dashboard, an upper part of an armrest, or the like, a passenger in a rear seat operates the operation unit. Not easy to do,
Or there was a problem that almost no operation was possible.

In order to solve such a problem, a new operation unit is provided at a position where a passenger in the rear seat can operate, and the passenger in the rear seat can operate various on-board devices provided on a dashboard or the like. Some of them can be instructed, however, they may be difficult to apply depending on the type and grade of the vehicle because of the increase in cost.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object of the present invention is to provide an in-vehicle system which can suppress an increase in cost and can be operated by each passenger.

[0006]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, an on-vehicle system according to the present invention comprises an on-vehicle device, an operation unit for giving an operation instruction to the on-vehicle device, and the operation unit in a front-rear direction in a vehicle compartment. It has a moving mechanism that makes it movable.
Since the operation unit can be moved in the front-rear direction by the moving mechanism, when the driver or the passenger in the passenger seat gives an operation instruction to the in-vehicle device, the operation unit may be moved to the front side, and the rear seat is used. When the occupant gives an operation instruction to the in-vehicle device, the operation unit may be moved backward. Therefore, each passenger, including the driver, can give an operation instruction to the in-vehicle device using the operation unit, and by using the same operation unit, it is possible to suppress an increase in cost due to an increase in the number of parts. be able to.

Further, the above-mentioned moving mechanism includes a slide mechanism which can move an operation unit provided between a driver's seat and a passenger seat in a front-rear direction to a position where a passenger in a rear seat can operate. It is desirable to do. The operating mechanism can be slid to a position where the passenger in the rear seat can operate by the slide mechanism, so that the operating unit can be operated by the driver, the passenger in the front passenger seat, and the passenger in the rear seat. .

Further, position detecting means for detecting the position of the operating section in the front-rear direction, and operation content switching means for switching operation contents operable using the operating section based on the position detected by the position detecting means. It is desirable to further provide. Since the position of the operation unit in the front-rear direction can be known by the position detection means, it is possible to make the operation content different between the case where it is on the driver's seat side and the case where it is on the rear seat side,
Appropriate operation contents can be set for each passenger.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A vehicle-mounted system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. [First Embodiment] FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically showing a state in which the interior of a vehicle in which a vehicle-mounted system according to a first embodiment is mounted is viewed from the ceiling side. As shown in FIG. 1, the on-vehicle system according to the present embodiment includes an armrest 1 installed between a driver's seat and a passenger seat and a predetermined position above the armrest 1. Is described later)
An operation unit 2 used to give an operation instruction to
A sliding mechanism 3 as a moving mechanism for moving the armrest 1 on which the operation unit 2 is installed back and forth in the vehicle interior; Is provided with a position detection sensor 4 for detecting whether or not the position is present.

As shown in FIG. 1, a slide mechanism 3 realized by using a rail or the like is provided on a floor near the center of a vehicle interior, and a wheel or the like is provided at a lower portion of the armrest 1 and in contact with the slide mechanism 3. By providing the armrest 1 (not shown), the position of the armrest 1 can be moved along the front-rear direction in the vehicle interior, whereby the operation unit 2 can be moved along the front-rear direction.

Although the movement of the armrest 1 is basically assumed to be performed manually, a drive mechanism is provided so that the armrest 1 automatically moves in the front-rear direction in response to a predetermined operation instruction. You may make it. FIG. 2 shows the first
It is a figure explaining composition of various in-vehicle equipment contained in an in-vehicle system of an embodiment. As shown in the figure, the vehicle-mounted system according to the present embodiment includes the above-described armrest 1,
In addition to the operation unit 2, the slide mechanism 3, and the position detection sensor 4,
It comprises an operation content switching unit 5, an air conditioner 10, a CD (compact disc) changer 12, an MD (mini disc) player 14, a radio tuner 16, an amplification unit 18, and a speaker 20. The operation unit 2, the air conditioner 10, the CD changer 12, the MD player 14, the radio tuner 16, and the amplifier unit 18 are connected to each other via a bus 22 as a transmission path.

The operation unit 2 includes an air conditioner 10, a CD changer 12, and an MD player 1 connected via a bus 22.
4, for giving an operation instruction to each of the radio tuner 16 and the amplification unit 18, and transmits a signal corresponding to the content of the operation instruction to the device to be operated. Specifically, the contents of the operation instruction performed using the operation unit 2 include the temperature setting of the air conditioner 10, the selection of music in the CD changer 12 and the MD player 14, the setting of the reception frequency in the radio tuner 16, and the volume in the amplification unit 18. And various operations such as sound quality adjustment.

The operation content switching unit 5 switches the operation content that can be operated using the operation unit 2 based on the detection signal output from the position detection sensor 4. Specifically, the operation content switching unit 5 according to the present embodiment includes: (1) when the position of the armrest 1 is on the front seat side, the CD changer 12, M
D player 14, radio tuner 16, amplification unit 1
8 (hereinafter, these four are collectively referred to as “audio devices”). (2) When the position of the armrest 1 is on the rear seat side, In addition, air conditioner 1
The operation contents that can be operated using the operation unit 2 are switched so that an operation instruction can be given to the operation unit 0.

The air conditioner 10 uses the operation unit 2 or a dedicated operation unit (not shown) for the air conditioner 10 installed in the dashboard to correspond to the temperature set by the occupant. To adjust. The above-described dedicated operation unit is mainly operated by a passenger in the front seat.

The CD changer 12 is loaded with one or more CDs, and reads a signal recorded on the recording surface of the CD selected by the occupant in response to an operation instruction given from the operation unit 2. Then, the reproduced audio data is transmitted to the amplification unit 18 via the bus 22.

The MD player 14 reproduces an audio signal recorded on the loaded MD in response to an operation instruction given from the operation unit 2, and amplifies the reproduced audio data via a bus 22. It is transmitted to the unit 18. The radio tuner 16 generates an audio signal by receiving and demodulating an FM broadcast wave or an AM broadcast wave in accordance with an operation instruction given from the operation unit 2, converts the audio signal into digital audio data, and converts the audio signal into digital audio data. The signal is transmitted to the amplifying unit 18 via 22.

The amplification unit 18 includes the CD changer 1
2. The audio data transmitted from each of the MD player 14 and the radio tuner 16 via the bus 22 is received and converted into an analog audio signal, and the volume and sound quality are adjusted and then amplified with a predetermined gain. Output to the speaker 20. Adjustment of the volume and sound quality in the amplification unit 18 is performed using the operation unit 2 as described above.

The above-described air conditioner 10 and CD changer 1
2. The MD player 14, the radio tuner 16, and the amplifying unit 18 correspond to the on-vehicle equipment, the position detection sensor 4 corresponds to the position detecting means, and the operation content switching unit 5 corresponds to the operation content switching means. As described above, the in-vehicle system according to the present embodiment can move the armrest 1 in the front-rear direction by installing the slide mechanism 3, and consequently operate the operation unit 2 installed above the armrest 1. It can be moved freely in the front-back direction. Therefore, each passenger including the driver can issue an operation instruction to each in-vehicle device using the operation unit 2. One operation unit 2
Can be operated in common, so that an increase in cost due to an increase in the number of parts can be suppressed.

[Second Embodiment] FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically showing a state in which the interior of a vehicle in which a vehicle-mounted system according to a second embodiment is mounted is viewed from the ceiling side. In FIG. 3, the same components as those in the above-described first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and a detailed description of those overlapping components will be omitted. As shown in the figure, the vehicle-mounted system according to the second embodiment includes an armrest 1, an operation unit 2a,
The operation unit 2a includes the slide mechanism 3 and the position detection sensor 4 and moves the position of the armrest 1 along the front-rear direction in the vehicle cabin. As a result, the operation unit 2a can be moved along the front-rear direction. It has become.

FIG. 4 is a view for explaining an operation unit 2a according to the second embodiment. The operation unit 2a according to the present embodiment is used to issue an operation instruction to various on-vehicle devices, similarly to the operation unit 2 according to the first embodiment. Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the operation unit 2a includes a fingerprint reading unit 40 for reading a passenger's fingerprint.

As shown in FIG. 3, the in-vehicle system according to the present embodiment includes display devices 30, 32, and 34 for displaying various images (details will be described later). Display device 3
0 is installed at a predetermined position above the dashboard and is mainly used by the driver and the passenger in the passenger seat.
Note that the installation position of the display device 30 is not limited to the upper part of the dashboard, and various other installation methods are possible, such as installation in a manner embedded in the dashboard.

The display device 32 is installed at a predetermined position on the back of the passenger seat, and is mainly used by passengers in the rear left seat. Similarly, the display device 34 is installed at a predetermined position on the back of the driver's seat, and is mainly used by passengers in the rear right seat. The display devices 32 and 34 may be installed so as to be embedded in the back of the driver's seat or the passenger seat, respectively.

FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining the configuration of various on-vehicle devices included in the on-vehicle system of the second embodiment. As shown in FIG.
In addition to the above-described armrest 1, operation unit 2a, slide mechanism 3, position detection sensor 4, display devices 30, 32, and 34, operation content switching unit 5a, air conditioner 10, CD changer 12, MD player 14, radio tuner 16, Amplifying unit 18, speaker 20, fingerprint recognition unit 22, fingerprint database (DB) 23, e-mail processing unit 24, television receiving unit 26, navigation unit 2
8 are included.

The operation unit 2a, air conditioner 10, CD changer 12, MD player 14, radio tuner 1
6, the amplifying unit 18, the fingerprint recognizing unit 22, the e-mail processing unit 24, the television receiving unit 26, the navigation unit 28, and the three display devices 30, 32, 34 are mutually connected via the bus 22 as a transmission path. It is connected to the. In FIG. 5, the same components as those in the above-described first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and a detailed description of these overlapping components will be omitted.

The operation unit 2a is for giving an operation instruction to various on-vehicle devices connected via the bus 22, and sends a signal corresponding to the content of the operation instruction to a device to be operated. Send. Further, as described above, the operation unit 2a
Has a fingerprint reading unit 40. The fingerprint reading unit 40
The fingerprint of the occupant's finger placed on a predetermined reading surface is read and converted into digital data (hereinafter, this data is referred to as “fingerprint data”). Send to

The operation content switching section 5a is provided with the position detecting sensor 4
The operation content that can be operated using the operation unit 2 is switched based on the detection signal output from. Specifically, the operation content switching unit 5a according to the present embodiment includes: (1) when the position of the armrest 1 is on the front seat side, the audio device (C
D changer 12, MD player 14, radio tuner 16, amplifying unit 18), e-mail processing unit 24, television receiving unit 26, navigation device 28
(2).
When the position of the armrest 1 is on the rear seat side, the air conditioner 10, the audio device, the e-mail processing unit 24,
The operable contents are switched using the operation unit 2a so that an operation instruction can be given to each of the television receiving units 26.

The fingerprint recognizing unit 22 compares the fingerprint data transmitted from the fingerprint reading unit 40 provided in the operating unit 2a with the fingerprint data of the candidate registered in the fingerprint database 23 in advance, and gives the given fingerprint. A predetermined fingerprint recognition process for identifying a person having a fingerprint is performed. The recognition result by the fingerprint recognition unit 22 is transmitted to the electronic mail processing unit 24.

The fingerprint database 23 stores fingerprint data collected from a finger (for example, index finger) of a predetermined candidate such as the owner of the vehicle on which the in-vehicle system is mounted or a person concerned with the information on the candidate (name, etc.). ) And stored. In addition, the fingerprint database 23 according to the present embodiment stores fingerprint data collected from fingers of both hands for a predetermined candidate. Thus, when the fingerprint recognizing unit 22 performs the fingerprint recognition process, it is possible to specify the individual and also to determine which of the right and left hands has been used to read the fingerprint.

The e-mail processing unit 24 performs processing for receiving e-mail addressed to the passenger via a network such as the Internet, a mobile phone (not shown), or the like.
The e-mail processing unit 24 creates image data for displaying the contents of the e-mail, and transmits the image data to the display device 30 or the like via the bus 22. Thereby, the contents of the e-mail are displayed on the screen of the display device 30 or the like.

Specifically, the e-mail processing unit 24 extracts an e-mail addressed to the person (passenger) indicated by the recognition result by the fingerprint recognizing unit 22, and extracts the e-mail addressed to the seat where the occupant is sitting. Depending on the position, the display devices 30, 32, 3
4, an image (e-mail image) indicating the content of the extracted e-mail is displayed. The position of the seat where the occupant is sitting can be specified based on the hand used for fingerprint recognition (either left or right) and the position detection result of the armrest 1 by the position detection sensor 4. The details of the operation procedure for displaying an e-mail image on any of the display devices 30, 32, and 34 based on the fingerprint recognition result and the like will be described later.

The television receiving unit 26 receives a television wave and performs a predetermined demodulation process to generate a video signal and an audio signal. The video signal generated by the television receiving unit 26 is converted into digital data and transmitted to the display device 30 or the like via the bus 22. The audio signal generated by the television receiving unit 26 is converted into digital data,
2 to the amplifying unit 18.

The navigation unit 28 performs navigation operations such as displaying a map around the position of the vehicle, searching for a route to a set destination, and guiding a route. Image data such as a map image generated by the navigation unit 28 is transmitted to the display device 3 via the bus 22.
0 and so on. Also, the navigation unit 28
The voice data such as the guidance voice generated by the
2 to the amplifying unit 18.

The display devices 30, 32, 34
An image representing a set temperature of 0, a listening state of the audio device (for example, a selected track or elapsed time of a CD or MD, a reception frequency of a radio broadcast, a volume value, etc.), a television broadcast video, a navigation image, an e-mail image, and the like Are displayed.

The air conditioner 10 and the CD changer 1 described above.
2. MD player 14, radio tuner 16, amplifying unit 18, e-mail processing unit 24, television receiving unit 26, navigation unit 28, display device 3.
Reference numerals 0, 32, and 34 correspond to on-vehicle devices, and the operation content switching unit 5a corresponds to operation content switching means.

The in-vehicle system according to the second embodiment has such a configuration. Next, based on the detection result of the position of the armrest 1 (ie, the position of the operation unit 2a) and the fingerprint recognition result, an e-mail The images are displayed on the display devices 30, 32,
An operation procedure for selectively displaying the information on any one of the LCDs will be described.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure for selectively displaying an e-mail image on any of the plurality of display devices 30, 32, and 34.
4 shows details of the operation performed.
In addition, assuming that the e-mail has already been received and stored in the internal memory of the e-mail processing unit 24,
The following will be described.

When an operation instruction is given to display the received e-mail, an affirmative judgment is made in step 100, and the e-mail processing unit 24 requests input of a fingerprint (step 101). Specifically, the e-mail processing unit 2
4 is to input a fingerprint by displaying a message such as "If you want to view e-mail, please input your fingerprint" in a predetermined area at the bottom of the screen of each display device 30, 32, 34. Request.

When a fingerprint is input by one of the passengers and a predetermined fingerprint recognition process is performed by the fingerprint recognition unit 22, the e-mail processing unit 24 acquires a fingerprint recognition result from the fingerprint recognition unit 22 (step 102). ). As described above, the fingerprint recognition result includes the individual identification result indicating who is the passenger who input the fingerprint and the information indicating whether the fingerprint was read using the left or right hand. ing.

Next, the electronic mail processing unit 24 extracts an electronic mail addressed to the person specified by the fingerprint recognition processing (step 103). E-mail processing unit 2
4 acquires the detection result by the position detection sensor 4 and determines whether or not the position of the armrest 1 is on the front seat side (step 104). If the position of the armrest 1 is on the front seat side, an affirmative determination is made in step 104, and the e-mail processing unit 24 displays the e-mail only on the display device 30 corresponding to the front seat (step 10).
5).

If the position of the armrest 1 is on the side of the rear seat, a negative determination is made in step 104 described above, and the electronic mail processing unit 24 reads the fingerprint with the right finger. It is determined whether or not there is (Step 106). If it is the right finger, step 10
An affirmative determination is made in step 6, and the electronic mail processing unit 24 displays the electronic mail only on the display device 32 corresponding to the rear left seat (step 107).

When the fingerprint is read by the left finger, a negative determination is made in step 106 described above, and the e-mail processing unit 24 determines that only the display device 34 corresponding to the rear right seat is to be read. An e-mail is displayed (step 108). In general, it is more natural for a passenger sitting on the right side of the operation unit 2a to input a fingerprint using the finger of the left hand, and conversely, sitting on the left side of the operation unit 2a. It is considered that it is a more natural operation for the passenger to input the fingerprint using the finger of the right hand. Therefore, utilizing the tendency of the operation, the above-described steps 106 to 10 are used.
In the processing shown in FIG. 8, an e-mail is displayed such as a left display device 32 when the fingerprint is read by the right finger, and a right display device 34 when the fingerprint is read by the left finger. Display device to be used.

As described above, in the vehicle-mounted system according to the present embodiment, similarly to the vehicle-mounted system according to the first embodiment, the armrest 1 can be moved in the front-rear direction. Operation unit 2
Since a can be freely moved in the front-rear direction, each occupant including the driver can issue an operation instruction to each in-vehicle device using the operation unit 2a. Further, since one operation unit 2a can be operated in common, it is possible to suppress an increase in cost due to an increase in the number of parts.

[Modifications] The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the present invention. For example,
In each of the above-described embodiments, the case where the armrest 1 on which the operation unit 2 or the operation unit 2a is installed is moved in the front-rear direction between the front seat side and the rear seat side is described. The in-vehicle system according to the present invention can be applied to a vehicle having more rows of seats.

FIG. 7 is a view for explaining a modified example in which the present invention is applied to a vehicle having three or more rows of seats. As in FIG. The appearance is schematically shown. FIG. 7 shows, as an example, a case where the vehicle-mounted system of the present invention is mounted on a vehicle having three rows of seats. FIG. 7 shows an example in which the first embodiment is modified, but the second embodiment can be modified in the same manner.

As shown in FIG. 7, even in a vehicle having three rows of seats, armrest 1 can be moved from the frontmost seat (first row of seats) to the rearmost seat (third row of seats). If the slide mechanism 3 is installed in such a manner, passengers in all seats can operate the operation unit 2. Also, as shown in FIG. 7, by installing position detection sensors 4 near the second row of seats and near the third row, respectively, the position of the armrest 1 can be changed to any one of the first to third rows. Is detected, and operable operation contents can be switched according to the detected position.

In a vehicle having three or more rows of seats, a plurality of operation units may be provided. Specifically, for example, one operation unit is installed on the front seat, and another operation unit is installed so as to be movable between the second row seat and the third row seat. The passengers in the third row may share one operation unit. Even in this case, since one operation unit is shared by the second and third rows, the cost can be reduced as compared with the case where the operation units are installed in all the rows of seats.

In each of the above-described embodiments, the slide mechanism 3 is provided so that the armrest 1 can be moved in the front-rear direction, so that the position of the operation section 2 or the operation section 2a installed above the armrest 1 can be moved. However, the installation position of the operation unit is not limited to the upper part of the armrest, and may be installed in another place. Specifically, for example, a slide mechanism may be provided on a ceiling portion of the vehicle interior, and the operation mechanism may be movable in the front-rear direction by the slide mechanism. In this case, it is possible to effectively use a space that is not used in the vehicle interior.

In each of the above-described embodiments, the operation content switching unit 5 or the operation content switching unit 5a
, That is, the operation content is switched so that the type of the in-vehicle device to be operated is different depending on the position of the operation unit 2 or the operation unit 2a. However, the operation content to be switched is not limited to this. Instead, various other modified examples are conceivable. Specifically, for example, when the position of the operation unit is in the front seat, all the operation instructions to the audio device are valid, and when the position of the operation unit is in the rear seat, the operation instruction to the audio device is valid. As volume
The operation content may be switched so that the type of the operation instruction is different depending on the position of the operation unit, such as making only the adjustment of the sound quality effective.

[0049]

As described above, according to the present invention, since the operation unit can be moved in the front-rear direction, each passenger including the driver can operate the on-vehicle equipment using the operation unit. It can be carried out. Further, since the operation is performed using the same operation unit, an increase in cost due to an increase in the number of components can be suppressed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically illustrating a state in which the cabin of a vehicle in which a vehicle-mounted system according to a first embodiment is mounted is viewed from a ceiling side.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of various on-vehicle devices included in the on-vehicle system according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically illustrating a state in which the interior of a vehicle in which a vehicle-mounted system according to a second embodiment is mounted is viewed from a ceiling side;

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an operation unit according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of various on-vehicle devices included in an on-vehicle system according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure when an electronic mail image is selectively displayed on any of a plurality of display devices.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a modification in which the present invention is applied to a vehicle having three or more rows of seats.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Armrest 2, 2a Operation part 3 Slide mechanism 4 Position detection sensor 5, 5a Operation content switching part 10 Air conditioner 12 CD changer 14 MD changer 16 Radio tuner 18 Amplification unit 20 Speaker 22 Fingerprint recognition part 23 Fingerprint database (DB) 24 E-mail Processing unit 30, 32, 34 Display device 40 Fingerprint reading unit

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An in-vehicle system comprising: an in-vehicle device; an operation unit that issues an operation instruction to the in-vehicle device; and a moving mechanism that enables the operation unit to move in a front-rear direction in a vehicle compartment. 2. The slide according to claim 1, wherein the moving mechanism is configured to move the operation unit provided between a driver's seat and a passenger's seat along a front-rear direction to a position operable by a passenger in a rear seat. An in-vehicle system comprising a mechanism. 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein: a position detection unit configured to detect a position of the operation unit in the front-rear direction; and a position detected by the position detection unit.
An in-vehicle system, comprising: operation content switching means for switching operation contents that can be operated using the operation unit.