JP2003276477A - Steering communication system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a steering communication system capable of increasing a stable communicable area. <P>SOLUTION: A transmission part 30 is disposed in a wheel pad 14 at the upper side part 14B so that infrared beam can be emitted toward the glass surface 40 of a meter cluster part 18. The glass surface 40 is formed in a specified curved shape to reflect the emitted infrared beam, and the reflected light is received by a receiving part 34. Thus, a defective receiving does not occur even if a steering wheel 12 is rotated 90° or more. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention is arranged at a predetermined position of an instrument panel from a transmitting means provided at a rotating portion of the steering wheel by operating a switch provided at a wheel pad of the steering wheel. The invention relates to a steering communication system for transmitting an optical signal to a receiving means.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in order to facilitate a switch operation during driving, a plurality of switches are set on a wheel pad of a steering wheel so that the switch operation can be performed by a finger without releasing a hand from the steering wheel. There is a system. In this case, a slip ring or a roll connector is required in order to stably transmit the switch signal from the rotating steering wheel to the controller on the vehicle body side, which is a non-rotating portion, with a mechanical structure. However, as the number of switches increases, the structure becomes complicated and large in size, so that wireless communication is being considered.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 10-29540 discloses this kind of technique. Briefly described, in the technique disclosed in this publication, a plurality of switches are set on the wheel pad of the steering wheel. Further, a transmission circuit and a light emitting element are arranged in the wheel pad. On the other hand, a light receiving element and a receiving circuit are provided on the meter star side. As a result, when the driver operates the switch, infrared light is emitted from the light emitting element of the wheel pad and is received by the light receiving element on the meter star side. The received signal light is processed by the receiving circuit to execute a predetermined operation.

[0004]

However, when an infrared communication is attempted between the steering wheel and the meter cluster using the above system, the light is approximately ± 4.
The steering wheel is ± 4 because there is a direction of 5 degrees.
If it is rotated 5 degrees (= 90 degrees) or more, a state in which communication is impossible occurs. If you try to build a steering communication system that actually meets the needs of consumers, at least ± 8
It seems that stable communication is required in the range of about 0 degree.

In view of the above facts, the present invention has an object to obtain a steering communication system capable of expanding a stable communicable area.

[0006]

A steering communication system according to the present invention as set forth in claim 1 is provided in a rotating portion of a steering wheel by operating a switch provided in a wheel pad of the steering wheel. A steering communication system for transmitting an optical signal from a transmitting means to a receiving means provided at a predetermined position of an instrument panel, wherein the transmitting means transmits a signal to a transparent reflector provided on the instrument panel. It is characterized in that light is emitted and the receiving means is arranged at a position capable of receiving the reflected light reflected by the transparent reflector.

In the steering communication system according to the present invention as defined in claim 2, the switch provided on the wheel pad of the steering wheel is operated to change the transmission means provided at the rotating portion of the steering wheel to the instrument panel. Is a steering communication system for transmitting an optical signal toward a receiving means provided at a predetermined position, wherein between the transmitting means and the receiving means,
It is characterized in that a light guide body which is arranged in a fixed state and which receives the signal light emitted from the transmitting means which moves with the rotation of the steering wheel and propagates to the receiving means is interposed.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided the steering communication system according to the second aspect, wherein the light guide body is a first light guide body arranged on a column cover side of a steering wheel. And a second light guide disposed on the meter side of the instrument panel,
Further, the first light guide body and the second light guide body are arranged to face each other with a predetermined gap, and even if the steering column moves up and down by the tilt operation, the first light guide body and the second light guide body are arranged. It is characterized in that the surfaces facing the light guide body are arranged so as to overlap each other at least in part.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, when a switch provided on the wheel pad of the steering wheel is operated, an optical signal is transmitted from the transmission means provided on the rotating portion of the steering wheel, and the instrument panel is displayed. Is received by the receiving means provided at the predetermined position.
This enables communication between the steering wheel and the instrument panel.

In the present invention, attention is paid to the fact that the instrument panel is generally provided with a transparent reflector such as a meter glass, and the signal light is emitted from the transmission means toward the transparent reflector. , So that the reflected light is received by the receiving means. Therefore, if the transparent reflector has, for example, a curved shape, the signal light emitted from the transmitting unit can be reflected by the transparent reflector in a certain direction. Therefore, even if the switch operation is performed while the steering wheel is rotated by 90 degrees or more, the signal light emitted from the transmitting means can be reliably received by the receiving means.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, when the switch provided on the wheel pad of the steering wheel is operated, an optical signal is transmitted from the transmitting means provided on the rotating portion of the steering wheel, and the instrument panel is displayed. Is received by the receiving means provided at the predetermined position.
This enables communication between the steering wheel and the instrument panel.

Here, in the present invention, the light guide is fixedly arranged between the transmitting means and the receiving means, and the signal light emitted from the transmitting means which moves with the turning of the steering wheel is guided once. The light guide is made incident, and the light guide is used as a propagation path of the signal light so that the receiving means finally receives it. Therefore, the signal light emitted from the transmitting means is propagated to the receiving means as long as it is incident on the light guide. Therefore, even if the switch operation is performed while the steering wheel is rotated by 90 degrees or more, the signal light emitted from the transmitting means propagates through the light guide body and is reliably received by the receiving means.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the signal light emitted from the transmitting means is first incident on the first light guide body disposed on the column cover side of the steering wheel. Since the first light guide member is arranged to face the second light guide member arranged on the meter side of the instrument panel with a predetermined gap, the signal propagated through the first light guide member. Light is emitted from the first light guide body and is incident on the second light guide body. Then, the signal light propagates through the second light guide and is received by the receiving means.

Here, in the present invention, even if the steering column is moved up and down by the tilt operation, the facing surfaces of the first light guide body and the second light guide body at least partially overlap each other. Since they are arranged, the propagation path of the signal light by the first light guide body and the second light guide body is not disrupted even if the tilt operation is performed.

[0015]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS [First Embodiment] A first embodiment of a steering communication system according to the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the overall configuration of a steering communication system 10 according to this embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view showing the overall configuration of the steering communication system 10. . As shown in these drawings, the steering communication system 10 includes a configuration on the wheel pad 14 side of the steering wheel 12 and a configuration on the meter cluster section (meter hood section) 18 side of the instrument panel 16.

A plurality of switches 20 and 22 are provided on both sides of the top portion 14A of the wheel pad 14.
The applications of the left switch 20 and the right switch 22 can be arbitrarily selected. For example, the left switch 20 is used for a car audio system, a car air conditioning system, a car navigation system, and the right switch 22 is used. It can be used for applications such as speed control systems.

At the center of the upper side portion 14B of the wheel pad 14 described above, a transmitting portion 30 for emitting signal light by infrared rays is arranged. As the transmitter 30, an infrared light emitting diode or the like, which is a light emitting element, can be applied.
Further, a transmission circuit (not shown) is arranged between the left switch 20, the right switch 22 and the transmission unit 30. The transmitter 30 and the transmitter circuit correspond to the "transmitter" in the present invention.

On the other hand, a predetermined position of the instrument panel 16 (in the present embodiment, the bottom portion 1 of the meter cluster portion 18).
The receiving unit 34 is disposed near the center of 8A).
An opening 35 (see FIG. 2) is formed in the bottom portion 18A of the meter cluster unit 18 to allow the signal light to be received by the receiving unit 34, and the receiving unit 34 faces the opening 35. It is located in. As the receiving unit 34, a phototransistor or the like which is a light receiving element can be applied. The receiving unit 34 is also connected to various systems 36 (see FIG. 2) such as the car audio system, the car air conditioning system, the car navigation system, and the speed control system described above via a receiving circuit (not shown). The receiving unit 34 and the receiving circuit correspond to the "receiving means" in the present invention.

Here, in this embodiment, the glass surface 4 as a "transparent reflector" provided in the meter cluster section 18 is provided.
The arrangement position and the light emission direction of the transmitter 30 are set so that the signal light is emitted toward the substantially central portion of 0. The glass surface 40 is configured as a non-reflective glass surface rounded into a substantially arc surface, as shown in FIG. Further, the receiving unit 34 described above is set at a position where the reflected light is condensed by the glass surface 40 on the bottom portion 18A of the meter cluster unit 18.

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

As shown in FIG. 1, with the steering wheel 12 held in the neutral position (non-rotating state),
When either the switch 20 on the left side or the switch 22 on the right side provided on the wheel pad 14 is operated, the infrared beam B is transmitted from the transmitter 30 via a transmitter circuit (not shown).
1 is emitted (optical signal is transmitted). The emitted infrared beam B1 is reflected by the glass surface 40 of the meter cluster section 18 of the instrument panel 16 to change the optical path to become reflected light B1 ′, and the opening provided in the bottom section 18A of the meter cluster section 18 It is received (received) by the receiving unit 34 through 35. This allows communication between the steering wheel 12 and the instrument panel 16.

Here, the steering wheel 12 having the above structure is moved by, for example, about 90 in the direction of arrow P (left side in FIG. 1).
Suppose that it is rotated once. In this case, the transmitter 30 is also rotated by the same angle as the steering wheel 12 is rotated (the transmitter 30 when rotated by about 90 degrees is indicated by a chain double-dashed line). Under this circumstance, when either the left switch 20 or the right switch 22 is operated in the same manner as described above, the phase shifts from the transmission unit 30 to the glass surface 40 of the meter cluster unit 18 by about 90 degrees. As a result, the infrared beam B2 is emitted. Infrared beam B2 emitted
On the glass surface 40 of the meter cluster unit 18 hits a position different from the infrared beam B1 described above. However, since the glass surface 40 has a predetermined curved surface shape having a function of condensing the reflected light in one place, the reflected light B2 ′ of the infrared beam B2 reflected by the glass surface 40 is transmitted to the receiving unit 34. Received (received).

As described above, in the steering communication system 10 according to the present embodiment, the infrared beam B emitted from the transmitting section 30 provided on the wheel pad 14 is reflected by the glass surface 40 of the meter cluster section 18 to collect light. Since the receiving unit 34 provided in the receiving unit 34 is configured to receive the infrared beam B emitted from the transmitting unit 30 to the receiving unit 34 even if the switch operation is performed while the steering wheel 12 is rotated by 90 degrees or more. Can be received. As a result, according to this embodiment, the stable communicable area can be expanded.

Further, in the steering communication system 10 according to the present embodiment, since both the transmitting unit 30 and the receiving unit 34 may be arranged at one place, the directivity of the infrared beam B (about ± 45 degrees). The cost can be reduced as compared with the configuration in which the receiving units are set at a plurality of points in consideration of the above) or the configuration using the radio waves having no directivity. Particularly, in the case of the present embodiment, since the system is established by using the glass surface 40 of the meter cluster unit 18 which is an existing component, it is not necessary to newly set a dedicated component for constructing the system. Therefore, it is very advantageous in terms of cost.

In the above-described embodiment, the transmitting unit 3
Although 0 is provided on the upper side portion 14B of the wheel pad 14, the present invention is not limited to this, and the transmission portion may be set to another portion. For example, as shown in FIG. 3, a configuration may be adopted in which the transmitting unit 30 is set on the back surface side of the rim 12A of the steering wheel 12. Further, as shown in FIG. 4, a configuration in which the transmitting unit 30 is set on the back surface side of the wheel pad 14 may be adopted.

Second Embodiment Next, a second embodiment of the steering communication system according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. The same components as those in the first embodiment described above are designated by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the overall configuration of the steering communication system 50 according to the present embodiment, and FIG. 6 is a vertical sectional view showing the overall configuration of the steering communication system 50. . As shown in these drawings, the steering communication system 50 according to the present embodiment.
Is that a light guide 54 is interposed between the transmitter 30 and the receiver 34, and the infrared beam B emitted from the transmitter 30 via the light guide 54 is received (received) by the receiver 34. Is characterized by.

More specifically, a resin-made column cover 56 formed in a substantially cylindrical shape is arranged around a steering column (not shown) rotated by the steering wheel 12. The light guide 54 is divided into a first light guide 58 arranged on the column cover 56 side and a second light guide 60 arranged on the meter cluster portion 18 side.

The first light guide member 58 has an incident portion 58A formed in a downward C shape when viewed from the steering wheel 12 side, and a longitudinal direction of the column cover 56 from the center of the incident portion 58A. Long extended part 5 extended by
8B and. Of these, the incident part 5
8A is arranged on the wheel pad 14 side of the column cover 56, and is provided corresponding to the movement locus of the transmitting unit 30 arranged on the upper side of the rear surface of the wheel pad 14.

On the other hand, the second light guide 60 is formed in an elongated shape and is arranged at a substantially middle portion of the meter cluster portion 18 in the width direction. As shown in FIG. 6, the second light guide 6
One end of 0 is connected to the receiving section 34 arranged at a predetermined position below the bottom section 18A of the meter cluster section 18,
The other end portion of the second light guide body 60 is routed below the bottom portion 18A of the meter cluster portion 18 toward the column cover 56 side.

Further, as shown in FIG. 6, a predetermined gap is formed between the front end face 58B 'of the extending portion 58B of the first light guide body 58 and the rear end face 60A of the second light guide body 60 described above. The front end surface 58B ′ of the first light guide body 58 and the rear end surface 60A of the second light guide body 60 are arranged so as to face each other with a gap 62 therebetween even if the steering column is moved up and down by a tilt operation. It is arranged so that at least a part thereof overlaps.

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

As shown in FIG. 6, with the steering wheel 12 held in the neutral position (non-rotating state),
When either the left side switch 20 or the right side switch 22 provided on the wheel pad 14 is operated, the transmitting unit 30 located at the solid line illustrated position via the transmitting circuit (not illustrated).
The infrared beam B1 is emitted from (the optical signal is transmitted). The emitted infrared beam B1 receives the first light guide 5
8 is incident from the center of the incident portion 58A and propagates in the extending portion 58B along the longitudinal direction thereof. Then, the infrared beam B1 that has propagated through the extension portion 58B has the extension portion 58B.
The light is emitted from the front end face 58B ′ of B and enters the rear end face 60A of the second light guide 60. The infrared beam B2 incident on the second light guide body 60 propagates in the second light guide body 60 along the longitudinal direction thereof and is received (received) by the receiving unit 34. This allows communication between the steering wheel 12 and the instrument panel 16.

Here, it is assumed that the steering wheel 12 having the above structure is rotated to the left (counterclockwise) by about 90 degrees. In this case, the transmitter 30 is also rotated by the same angle as the steering wheel 12 is rotated (the transmitter 30 when rotated by about 90 degrees is indicated by a chain double-dashed line). However, since the incident portion 58A of the first light guide body 58 of the present embodiment is formed in a substantially U-shape that is opened downward when viewed from the steering wheel 12 side, the transmitting portion 30 rotates about 90 degrees. Even so, the incident portion 58A still exists at a position facing the transmitting unit 30.

Under this circumstance, when either the left switch 20 or the right switch 22 is operated in the same manner as described above, the transmitter 3 located at a position where the phase is shifted by about 90 degrees.
The infrared beam B1 ′ is emitted from 0 toward the incident portion 58A of the first light guide body 58. Infrared beam B emitted
1 ′ reaches the extended portion 58B while repeating reflection inside the incident portion 58A. The subsequent operation is similar to that described above. That is, the infrared beam B1 ′ reaching the extension 58B propagates in the extension 58B similarly to the infrared beam B1 and is emitted from the front end face 58B ′ of the extension 58B.
The emitted infrared beam B1 again has the second light guide 6
The light is incident from the rear end surface 60A of 0, becomes an infrared beam B2, propagates in the second light guide 60, and is received (received) by the receiving unit 34.

As described above, in the steering communication system 50 according to the present embodiment, the light guide 54 is interposed between the transmitting section 30 and the receiving section 34, and the transmitting section 30 rotating as the steering wheel 12 rotates. Since the emitted infrared beam B is caught by the incident portion 58A of the first light guide body 58 and is received by the receiving portion 34 via the second light guide body 60, the steering wheel 12 is set to 90 degrees or more. Even if the switch is operated in the rotated state, the transmitter 30
The infrared beam B emitted from the receiver can be reliably received by the receiver 34. As a result, according to the present embodiment as well, the stable communicable area can be expanded.

Further, in the steering communication system 50 according to this embodiment, the light guide 54 is provided with the first light guide 58 disposed on the column cover 56 side, and the meter cluster section 18.
And a second light guide 60 disposed on the side,
The front end surface 58B ′ of the extending portion 58B of the first light guide body 58 and the rear end surface 60A of the second light guide body 60 are arranged to face each other with a predetermined gap 62 therebetween, and the steering column is tilted. Even if the tilting operation is performed, even if the tilt operation is performed, the opposing surfaces of the first light guide body 58 and the second light guide body 60 are arranged so as to overlap each other at least in part even when the tilt operation is performed. First light guide 58 and second light guide 6
The propagation path of the infrared beam B due to 0 is not cut off. As a result, communication between the steering wheel 12 and the instrument panel 16 can be stably performed regardless of whether or not the tilt operation is performed.

Further, also in the steering communication system 50 according to the present embodiment, the transmitting unit 30 and the receiving unit 34 may be arranged at one place as in the first embodiment, so that the infrared beam The cost can be reduced as compared with the configuration in which the receiving units are set at a plurality of points in consideration of the directionality of the light of B (about ± 45 degrees) or the configuration using the radio waves having no directionality.

Further, in the steering communication system 50 according to this embodiment, the infrared beam B is used by using the light guide 54.
Is transmitted from the transmitting unit 30 to the receiving unit 34, the shape of the light guide 54 can be arbitrarily changed.
Therefore, the degree of freedom in design can be increased.

In the above-described embodiment, the transmitting unit 3
The first light guide 58, which forms the core of the light guide 54 in the sense that it is set in a range that can cover the movement trajectory of 0
Although the incident portion 58A of the above is set on the side of the column cover 56, the present invention is not limited to this, and a portion corresponding to the incident portion 58A may be set at another portion. For example, as shown in FIG. 7 to FIG. 9, a U-shaped light guide body 72 (FIG. 8, FIG. 8) opened downward around an opening 70 for inserting a steering column formed in the instrument panel 16. 9 may be set. Further, as shown in FIGS. 10 to 12, the meter cluster unit 1 of the instrument panel 16 is
U-shaped light guide 74 opened downward at the peripheral portion of 8
(Hatched portions in FIGS. 11 and 12) may be set.

In the above-described embodiment, the light guide 5
4 is provided separately from the existing elements of the meter cluster section 18, but the configuration is not limited to this, and the glass plate of the meter cluster section 18 described as the glass surface 40 in the first embodiment is used to guide light. The body may be configured. in this case,
Since the same parts can be shared, there is an advantage that the number of parts is not increased and the cost can be reduced.

[0043]

As described above, in the steering communication system according to the present invention as set forth in claim 1, the signal light is emitted from the transmitting means toward the transparent reflector disposed on the instrument panel, and the transparent light is emitted. Since the receiving means is arranged at a position where the reflected light reflected by the reflector can be received, the signal light emitted from the transmitting means can be reflected by the transparent reflector in a certain direction, and as a result, stable It has an excellent effect that it is possible to expand the communicable area.

In the steering communication system according to the present invention as defined in claim 2, the signal emitted from the transmitting means which is arranged in a fixed state between the transmitting means and the receiving means and which moves with the rotation of the steering wheel. Since the light guide body which receives the light and propagates to the receiving means is interposed, as long as the signal light emitted from the transmitting means can be made incident on the light guide body, the signal light is received by the receiving means. This makes it possible to expand the stable communicable area, resulting in an excellent effect.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a steering communication system according to the second aspect, wherein the first light guide disposed on the column cover side of the steering wheel and the meter side of the instrument panel. A second light guide body disposed on the first light guide body and the second light guide body, and the first light guide body and the second light guide body are arranged to face each other with a predetermined gap. Since the facing surfaces of the first light guide and the second light guide overlap each other at least in part even if the steering column moves up and down by the tilt operation, even if the tilt operation is performed. , The propagation paths of the signal light by the first light guide body and the second light guide body are not cut off, and as a result, between the steering wheel and the instrument panel regardless of whether or not the tilt operation is performed. so It has an excellent effect that it is possible to perform communication stably.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an overall configuration of a steering communication system according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing the overall configuration of a steering communication system according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view corresponding to FIG. 2, showing a variation of the first embodiment (an example in which a transmitting unit is provided on the back surface side of the rim of a steering wheel).

FIG. 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view corresponding to FIG. 2, showing a variation of the first embodiment (an example in which a transmission unit is provided on the back surface side of a wheel pad).

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view showing an overall configuration of a steering communication system according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a vertical sectional view showing the overall configuration of a steering communication system according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a vertical cross-sectional view corresponding to FIG. 6, showing a variation of the second embodiment (an example in which a light guide body is provided in a peripheral portion of an opening of an instrument panel).

FIG. 8 is a schematic perspective view showing the embodiment shown in FIG. 7 in an assembled state.

9 is a schematic perspective view showing a single instrument panel, which is a main part of the embodiment shown in FIG. 7. FIG.

FIG. 10 is a vertical sectional view corresponding to FIG. 6, showing a variation of the second embodiment (an example in which a light guide body is provided on the meter cluster side).

FIG. 11 is a schematic perspective view showing the embodiment shown in FIG. 10 in an assembled state.

12 is a schematic perspective view mainly showing a meter cluster, which is a main part of the embodiment shown in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 Steering communication system 12 steering wheel 14 wheel pad 16 Instrument panel 20 Left switch 22 Right switch 30 transmitter (transmitting means) 34 Receiver (Reception Means) 40 glass surface (transparent reflector) 50 steering communication system 54 Light guide 56 column cover 58 First Light Guide 58B 'Front end face (opposing face) 60 Second light guide 60A Rear end face (opposing face) 62 gap 72 Light guide 74 Light guide

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. By operating a switch provided on a wheel pad of a steering wheel, from a transmitting means provided at a rotating portion of the steering wheel toward a receiving means provided at a predetermined position of an instrument panel. A steering communication system for transmitting an optical signal, wherein the transmitting means emits signal light toward a transparent reflector provided on an instrument panel, and the receiving means reflects the light reflected by the transparent reflector. A steering communication system, wherein the steering communication system is arranged at a position capable of receiving light. 2. By operating a switch provided on a wheel pad of the steering wheel, from a transmitting means provided at a rotating portion of the steering wheel toward a receiving means provided at a predetermined position of the instrument panel. A steering communication system for transmitting an optical signal, wherein a signal light emitted from a transmitting unit that is arranged in a fixed state between the transmitting unit and the receiving unit and that moves with rotation of a steering wheel is transmitted. A steering communication system, characterized in that a light guide body which receives and propagates to a receiving means is interposed. 3. The light guide comprises a first light guide arranged on the column cover side of the steering wheel and a second light guide arranged on the meter side of the instrument panel. Further, the first light guide body and the second light guide body are arranged so as to face each other with a predetermined gap therebetween, and the first light guide body is moved even if the steering column is vertically moved by the tilt operation. The steering communication system according to claim 2, wherein the facing surfaces of the body and the second light guide body are arranged so as to overlap each other at least in part.