JP2003276475A - Input device for vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an input device for a vehicle capable of performing a switch operation without collapsing an operating attitude while the vehicle is running and easily performing a walk-through when the vehicle is parked or stopped. <P>SOLUTION: The input device body 14 of the input device 10 for the vehicle is supported on a center cluster part 18 so as to be reversed in the generally longitudinal direction of the vehicle. A switch button 26 for traveling necessary for the traveling of the vehicle is installed on a first operation panel 24 appearing when the device is reversed in the generally rear side of the vehicle. Also, a switch button for parking and stopping necessary for parking and stopping is installed on a second operation panel appearing when the device is reversed in the generally front side of the vehicle. Thus, the switch operation can be performed without collapsing the operation attitude while the vehicle is running and the walk-through can be easily performed when the vehicle is parked or stopped. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an input device for a vehicle, which is provided in a peripheral portion of a steering wheel in an instrument panel of a vehicle and into which operation information is input by operating a predetermined switch.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years,
Many vehicles equipped with various functions are produced. Accompanying this, the development of vehicle input devices operated by drivers has been actively conducted.

The technique disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-149721 can be said to be one of them. In brief,
An operation device for operating the in-vehicle device is provided on the rear side of the screen display device provided in the center cluster portion of the instrument panel. This operating device is provided with an operating member (mouse), and five function selection switches (push buttons) corresponding to the five fingers are arranged in the vicinity of the operating member. Therefore, the driver can operate various switches with one hand by putting his or her hand on the operation member.

The technique disclosed in the above publication can also facilitate the switch operation of the driver when the vehicle is traveling, but there are also points to be improved. That is, in the case of the technique disclosed in this publication, since the layout is such that the operating device is arranged near the steering wheel, it crosses the passenger compartment when parking or stopping (so-called walk-through).
It is inconvenient because it has to be moved away from the operating device when necessary.

In consideration of the above facts, the present invention enables the switch operation when the vehicle is traveling without losing the driving posture.
An object of the present invention is to obtain a vehicle input device that can easily walk through when parking or stopping.

[0006]

An input device for a vehicle according to the present invention according to claim 1 is provided in a peripheral portion of a steering wheel in an instrument panel of a vehicle, and operation information is obtained by operating a predetermined switch. In the vehicle input device for input, the input device main body is supported by the instrument panel so as to be able to be inverted substantially in the vehicle front-rear direction, and when the input device main body is inverted substantially to the vehicle rear side, When the first operation surface provided with a travel switch required when the vehicle is traveling appears and the input device body is inverted to the front side of the vehicle, the parking switch required when the vehicle is parked is stopped. The provided second operation surface appears,
It is characterized by that.

The vehicle input device according to a second aspect of the present invention is the vehicle input device according to the first aspect, wherein the parking / stopping switch is separately provided with a common switch having the same function as the traveling switch. It is characterized in that it is configured by an additional switch for parking and stopping.

The operation of the present invention according to claim 1 is as follows.

When the vehicle is traveling, the main body of the input device is in a state in which it is inverted substantially toward the rear side of the vehicle. This brings the input device body closer to the driver. Then, in this state, the first operation surface provided with the traveling switch necessary for traveling the vehicle appears, so that the driver can easily perform the hand input. Therefore, the driver does not lose his / her driving posture due to the switch operation.

On the other hand, when the vehicle is parked or stopped, contrary to the above, the main body of the input device may be inverted substantially to the front side of the vehicle. When the main body of the input device is inverted to the front side of the vehicle, the main body of the input device is brought closer to the instrument panel side by that much. Conversely, the input device body is moved away from the driver. Therefore, the input device main body does not get in the way when it is necessary to cross the passenger compartment when the vehicle is parked or stopped. Further, in this state, since the second operation surface provided with the parking / stopping switch necessary for parking / stopping appears, the driver's input operation is not hindered.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the above-mentioned parking / stopping switch is configured by a common switch having the same function as the traveling switch and a separately added parking / stopping dedicated switch. Therefore, the traveling switch is set on both the first operation surface and the second operation surface, and the total number of parking / stopping switches is greater than the total number of traveling switches. become.

Here, as the number of systems installed in a vehicle increases, the number of switches will increase accordingly. However, if all the switches are set on the same operation surface (design surface), The size must be reduced. In this case, many small switches are set on the same operation surface, which makes it difficult for the driver to operate, and also wonders which switch should be pressed (or touched) when the driver operates the switch. It is expected that.

However, according to the present invention, it is noted that by providing the input device body in a reversible manner, two types of operation surfaces can be obtained, and a common switch having the same function as the traveling switch and a separate switch are separately provided. Since the parking / stopping switch is configured with the additional parking / stopping switch, for example, the minimum necessary traveling switch is set on the first operation surface, and It is also possible to make the size larger than the traveling switch on the second operation surface side. In this way, a switch structure that is very easy to operate can be obtained without the driver having to hesitate to operate the switch when the vehicle is traveling.

[0014]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION An embodiment of a vehicle input device according to the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the vehicle input device 10 according to the present embodiment comprises a display 12 and an input device body 14, and a center cluster portion 18 of an instrument panel 16 of the vehicle. It is installed in. The display 12 has a rectangular panel shape and is arranged above the center cluster unit 18. On the other hand, the input device main body 14 that makes a pair with the display 12 is formed in the shape of a rectangular base plate having a predetermined thickness, and can be reached by the driver under the center cluster portion 18 (around the steering wheel 19). Range).

Here, a recess 20 for accommodating the input device body 14 is formed in the lower portion of the center cluster portion 18 of the instrument panel 16 described above. The input device main body 14 is supported in the recess 20 so as to be able to be inverted substantially in the vehicle longitudinal direction. More specifically, the base end portion 14A of the input device body 14 is joined to both sides of the recess 20 by the hinge pins 22, so that the input device body 14 is rotatable around the hinge pin 22. The state shown in FIG.
4 is a state in which the input device main body 14 is inverted to a substantially vehicle rear side, and a state shown in FIG. 2 is a state in which the input device body 14 is inverted to a substantially vehicle front side.

Further, as shown in FIG. 1, the first device appears when the input device body 14 is inverted substantially rearward of the vehicle.
The operation surface 24 is provided with a travel switch button 26 and a travel switch dial 28, which are required when the vehicle travels. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 2, on the second operation surface 30 that appears when the input device body 14 is inverted substantially toward the front side of the vehicle, the parking / stop switch button 32 and the parking / parking switch button 32 required for parking / parking are provided. Switch dial 3 for parking
4, 36 are provided. That is, the input device body 1
Reference numeral 4 constitutes a 2-way switch.

The traveling switch button 26 and the traveling switch dial 28 are used for parking and stopping the switch button 3.
2 and the switch dials 34, 36 for parking / stopping, the total number of installations is narrowed down to a necessary minimum, and the size of each switch is set to be large.

Of the many parking / stopping switch buttons 32, the common switch button 32A has the same function as the traveling switch button 26, and the other parking / stopping switch buttons 32B are the same. It is a switch button that is added separately for parking and stopping. Similarly, among the two parking and stopping switch dials 34 arranged side by side, the common switching dial 34A is a common switching dial having the same function as the traveling switching dial 28, and other parking and stopping The hour-only switch dial 34B is a switch dial dedicated for parking and stopping, which is separately added.

Next, the operation and effect of this embodiment will be described.

When the vehicle is traveling, as shown in FIG. 1, the input device main body 14 is in a state of being inverted substantially rearward of the vehicle. This brings the input device body 14 closer to the driver. In this state, the first operation surface 24 provided with the traveling switch button 26 and the traveling switch dial 28 necessary for traveling the vehicle appears, so that the driver can easily perform the hand input. . Therefore, the driver does not lose his / her driving posture due to the switch operation.

On the other hand, when the vehicle is parked or stopped, contrary to the above, the input device main body 14 may be inverted substantially to the front side of the vehicle. When the input device main body 14 is inverted substantially to the front side of the vehicle, the input device main body 14 is brought closer to the instrument panel 16 side by that much. Conversely, the input device body 14 is moved away from the driver. Therefore, when it becomes necessary to traverse the inside of the passenger compartment 38 when parking or stopping, the input device body 1
The 4 will no longer get in the way. In this state, the parking / stop switch button 32 required for parking / stopping
Since the second operation surface 30 provided with the switch dials 34 and 36 for parking / stopping appears, the driver's input operation is not hindered.

As a result of the above, according to the vehicle input device 10 of the present embodiment, the switch operation can be performed without disturbing the driving posture when the vehicle is running, and the walk-through can be easily performed when the vehicle is parked or stopped.

Further, the vehicle input device 1 according to the present embodiment.
In 0, by providing the input device body 14 in a reversible manner,
Focusing on the fact that two types of operation surfaces, the first operation surface 24 and the second operation surface 30, are obtained, a common switch button 32A having the same functions as the traveling switch button 26 and the traveling switch dial 28. Since the common switch dial 34A, the parking / stopping switch button 32B and the parking / stopping switch dials 34B and 36, which are separately added and dedicated to parking / stopping, constitute the above-mentioned parking / stopping switch, As in the embodiment, the minimum necessary traveling switch button 26 and traveling switch dial 28 are set on the first operation surface 24, and the individual traveling switch button 26 and traveling switch dial are set. The size of 28 is made larger than the common switch button 32A and the common switch dial 34A on the second operation surface 30 side. It also becomes possible. If you do this,
It is possible to obtain a switch structure that is very easy to operate without causing the driver to hesitate to operate the switch when the vehicle is traveling. As a result, a large number of switches can be set as the number of in-vehicle devices increases, and the operability of the switches by the driver can be improved.

[Supplementary Explanation of Embodiment] In the vehicle input device 10 according to the present embodiment described above, the switching operation (reverse operation) of the input device body 14 between the vehicle traveling mode and the parking / stopping mode is manually performed. However, the configuration is not limited to this, and may be automated. In this case, the mode changeover switch is set near the input device body 14, and the driver manually operates the mode changeover switch so that the motor is driven and the input device body 14 is automatically inverted. Good.

Further proceeding, the input device body 1 is associated with the operating states of the shift lever device and the parking brake device.
4 may be automatically inverted. For example, A
In the case where the / T vehicle is operated to shift to the P shift range, it is determined that the vehicle is parked and stopped, and the input device body 14 is set to the state shown in FIG. 2, and the shift operation is performed to a shift range other than the P shift range. If the vehicle is traveling, it may be determined that the vehicle is traveling, and the input device body 14 may be brought into the state shown in FIG.

As another example, when the parking brake device is activated, it is determined that the vehicle is parked and stopped, the input device body 14 is brought into the state shown in FIG. 2, and the parking brake device is deactivated. In such a case, it may be determined that the vehicle is traveling or the like, and the input device body 14 may be brought into the state shown in FIG.

Further, the reversing operation between the running mode and the parking / stopping mode may be controlled by combining the shift condition and the parking brake operating condition. For example, P
When the shift operation is performed in the shift range and the parking brake device is operated, it is determined that the vehicle is parked and stopped, and the input device body 14 is brought into the state shown in FIG. 2, otherwise, when the vehicle is traveling. Alternatively, the input device body 14 may be brought into the state shown in FIG.

In the above-described embodiment, the vehicle input device 10 is provided in the center cluster portion 18 of the instrument panel 16, but the present invention is not limited to this, and in the peripheral portion of the steering wheel 19 in the instrument panel 16, It may be at any position where the driver can perform a hand input operation.

[0030]

As described above, in the vehicle input device according to the present invention as set forth in claim 1, the input device main body is supported by the instrument panel so as to be reversible in the vehicle front-rear direction, and the input device main body is supported. In the case where the input device main body is inverted to the substantially vehicle rear side, the first operation surface provided with the traveling switch necessary for traveling the vehicle appears, and when the input device main body is inverted to the substantially vehicle front side, Since the second operation surface provided with the parking / stopping switch required for parking / stopping has appeared, the switch can be operated without disturbing the driving posture while the vehicle is running, and it is easy to walk through when parking / stopping. It has an excellent effect of being able to.

A vehicle input device according to a second aspect of the present invention is the vehicle input device according to the first aspect of the present invention, wherein the traveling switch and the parking / stopping switch separately added are used for the above-mentioned parking / stopping switch. With the above configuration, it is possible to set a large number of switches, and it is possible to improve the switch operability by the driver, which is an excellent effect.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall perspective view showing a mode of use of a vehicle input device according to an embodiment when a vehicle is traveling.

FIG. 2 is an overall perspective view showing a mode of use of the vehicle input device according to the present embodiment when parked / stopped.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 Vehicle input device 14 Input device body 16 Instrument panel 19 steering wheel 24 First operation surface 26 Switch button for driving 28 Switch dial for running 30 Second operation surface 32 Switch button for parking and stopping 32A common switch button 32B Switch button for parking and stopping 34 Switch dial for parking and stopping 34A common switch dial 34B Switch dial for parking and stopping 36 Switch dial for parking and stopping 38 cabins

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. An input device for a vehicle, which is provided in a peripheral portion of a steering wheel in an instrument panel of a vehicle and receives operation information by operating a predetermined switch, wherein the input device is provided in the instrument panel. The main body is supported so as to be reversible in the front-rear direction of the vehicle, and when the input device body is reversed to the rear side of the vehicle, a first operation surface provided with a traveling switch necessary for traveling the vehicle. Appears, and when the input device body is turned over substantially to the front side of the vehicle, a second operation surface provided with a parking / stopping switch necessary for parking / stopping appears, and the vehicle input is characterized in that apparatus. 2. The parking / stopping switch is composed of a common switch having the same function as the traveling switch and a separately added parking / stopping dedicated switch. The vehicle input device according to claim 1.