JP2004262437A - Input device for vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an input device for a vehicle which is operated by a driver without averting his eyes from the forward sight outside the vehicle when the driver operates the input device. <P>SOLUTION: The input device comprises an operation unit 1 to be operated by an operator, a head-up display control unit 2 to display the operating state of the operation unit 1 by the operator, and a head-up display 3, and displays information of the operation unit 1 related to a device to be controlled selected based on selection instruction information of the device to be controlled by the operator on the head-up display. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicle input device for operating various devices of a vehicle.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in-vehicle devices such as an audio system and an air conditioner arranged on a center console of an automobile require an input device such as a switch to operate each device. However, in recent years, devices such as car navigation systems have been installed, and the number of input devices such as switches has increased due to the higher functionality of each device, making it necessary to search for the position of the input device. You have to look away from the front, making it difficult to operate.

In such a situation, a single operation unit such as a switch performs multi-functional operation depending on the situation, eliminating the need to search for the position of the operation unit, and at the same time, providing a force feedback function to clarify the difference in operation Has been proposed.
JP-A-2002-196883

  However, even with an input device that can perform multi-functional operations with a single operation unit and clarify the difference in functions with the force feedback function, it is necessary to confirm with the operated device whether the operated state is correct, The obstacles to safe driving are reduced, but safety issues still remain.

  An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle input device that can be operated by a driver without turning his / her eyes from the front outside the vehicle when operating the input device.

  In order to solve the conventional problem, a vehicle input device according to the present invention is a vehicle input device for controlling a plurality of controlled devices provided in a vehicle with a common input unit, and is operated by an operator. An operation unit to be operated, and a head-up display for displaying an operation state of the operation unit by the operator, the head-up display being related to the controlled device selected based on the selection instruction information of the controlled device by the operator. The information of the operation unit to be operated is displayed on the head-up display. According to this configuration, the driver can operate the input device without turning his / her eyes from the outside of the vehicle while driving to operate the controlled device.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to the input device for vehicles of this invention, a driver can control several controlled apparatuses provided in the vehicle with common input means, without looking away from the front outside a vehicle.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a diagram around a driver's seat of an automobile according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, and FIGS. FIG. 2 is an example of a diagram of a screen displayed on a head-up display of FIG.

  In FIGS. 1 and 2, reference numeral 1 a denotes an operation unit having a force feedback function, which is arranged, for example, near the tip of the armrest, and operates in the front, rear, left, and right directions as shown by arrow A, and the rotation direction and push direction as shown by arrow B. It operates as a unit and is connected to the head-up display control device 2 to communicate data on the state of the input device. In addition, it performs an operation input to a controlled device such as the car navigation system 4, the air conditioner 5, and the audio 6, and receives status information from the controlled device.

  Reference numeral 3 denotes a head-up display, which is controlled by the head-up display control device 2 and displays on the windshield an operation section 1 relating to the controlled device and information 7 of the controlled device such as a car navigation system 4, an air conditioner 5, and an audio 6. Reference numeral 8 denotes a monitor for displaying information such as the car navigation 4.

  In the above configuration, for example, when the driver operates a fan of an air conditioner, the driver operates the operation unit 1a back and forth and right and left as shown by an arrow A, thereby selecting an operation of the air conditioner, and further operating the fan. Then, the strength of the fan is selected, and the display as shown in FIG. 3 is obtained. Further, when performing the temperature setting operation, the driver selects the operation of the air conditioner, further selects the temperature operation, and sets the temperature, and the display as shown in FIG. 4 is obtained. At this time, every time a selection item changes when the operation unit 1 is rotated forward, backward, left, right or rotated, the operation unit 1 applies a force corresponding to a situation to the driver by an actuator (not shown) arranged inside the operation unit. Will be added.

  3 and 4 are transmitted from the operation unit 1 to the head-up display control device 2, and the head-up display control device 2 drives the head-up display 3 to display information 7 on the windshield. At this time, the driver can operate the vehicle while facing forward without confirming the operation of the operation unit 1 and without confirming the air conditioner 5 or the monitor 8 which is the controlled device. Further, since the operation unit 1a applies a force corresponding to the operation state to the driver, the operation state can be known from the tactile sensation of the hand.

  In the above description, the case of the air conditioner 5 has been described as an example. However, the same applies to the case of another on-vehicle controlled device such as the audio 6 and the car navigation system 4.

  The location of the operation unit 1a is not limited to the tip of the armrest, but may be anywhere within the reach of the driver.

(Embodiment 2)
FIG. 5 is a view around a driver's seat of an automobile according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a view input to a touch pad, and FIG. This is an example. 5 and 6, the same components as those in FIGS. 1 and 2 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted. In FIG. 5, reference numeral 21 denotes a steering wheel, and reference numeral 1b denotes a touch pad which is an operation unit capable of performing handwriting input.

  In the above configuration, when the driver operates, for example, a fan of the air conditioner, the driver operates the touchpad 1b incorporated in the steering 21 in a predetermined pattern such as characters or symbols, for example, as shown in FIG. When "A" is written in the box, the operation of the air conditioner is selected, and as shown in FIG. 6B, the fan is selected by writing "F". As shown in FIG. Selected.

  At this time, the display of FIG. 7 is sent from the operation unit 1 to the head-up display control device 2, and the head-up display control device 2 drives the head-up display 3, and displays information on the controlled device as information 7 on the windshield. Information written on the touch pad 1b is displayed in real time. For this reason, the driver can operate the vehicle while facing the front without confirming the operation of the operation unit 1 and without confirming the air conditioner 5 or the monitor 8 as the controlled device. Alternatively, it is difficult to write without confirming the sign, but since it is displayed in front, the driver can write while confirming whether he / she can write well on the touch pad 1b.

  In the above description, characters or symbols are written on the touch pad 1b. However, functions may be selected by sliding or tapping the touch pad 1b such as up, down, left, and right.

(Embodiment 3)
FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the inside of a car according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention. 8, the same reference numerals are used for the same components as those in FIGS. 1 and 2, and the description is omitted. In FIG. 8, reference numeral 1c denotes a microphone which is a part of the operation unit capable of voice input.

  In the above configuration, when the driver operates, for example, the fan of the air conditioner, the driver selects the operation of the air conditioner by speaking to the microphone 1c, for example, "air conditioner", and selects the fan by speaking to the "fan". And "Medium" is selected for "Medium".

  At this time, the display in FIG. 8 is sent from the operation unit 1 to the head-up display control device 2, and the head-up display control device 2 drives the head-up display 3 to display information on the controlled device as information 7 on the windshield. Display. For this reason, the driver does not need to directly operate the operation unit 1 with his / her hand, and can operate the vehicle while facing forward without checking the air conditioner 5 and the monitor 8 which are the controlled devices.

(Embodiment 4)
FIG. 9 is a diagram around a driver's seat of an automobile according to Embodiment 4 of the present invention. 9, the same components as those in FIGS. 1 and 2 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted. In FIG. 9, reference numeral 21 denotes a steering wheel on which a wheel-rotating operation unit 1d is arranged.

  In the above configuration, for example, when the driver operates the fan of the air conditioner, the driver selects the operation of the air conditioner by rotating the operation unit 1d, further selects the operation of the fan, and reduces the intensity of the fan. Will be selected and the display will be as shown in FIG.

  At this time, the driver turned forward without releasing his / her hand from the steering wheel, without confirming the operation of the operation unit 1d, and without confirming the air conditioner 5 or the monitor 8 as the controlled device. It can be operated as it is.

  The operation unit 1d is a wheel rotation type operation unit, but may be any type of switch, such as a push switch or a cross switch, as long as it can be arranged on the steering wheel.

(Embodiment 5)
FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an operation method of a controlled device and transmission timings of operation commands from the operation unit to the head-up display control device and the controlled device according to Embodiment 5 of the present invention.

  In the above configuration, when the driver selects, for example, a broadcast of a preset FM broadcasting station by operating the audio, the driver operates the operation unit 1 as shown in the timing chart of FIG. The user selects and determines the audio 6, selects and determines the FM, selects the preset broadcast station, and performs the determining operation. At this time, a command is transmitted from the operation unit 1 to the head-up display control device 2 each time the determination operation is performed, but the command is transmitted to the audio-controlled device 6 only when the final operation item is determined. Do. At this time, the driver can operate while confirming his / her own operation status on the head-up display 3. After determining that the driver finally wants, the driver transmits an operation command to the audio device 6 as the controlled device. Therefore, erroneous operation of the audio unit 6 and other controlled devices due to erroneous operation of the operation unit 1 can be reduced, and communication can be complicated by reducing the number of times of communication from the operation unit 1 to the controlled device such as the audio device 6. Can be reduced.

  When the driver changes the volume by operating the audio 6, for example, the driver selects and determines the audio 6 as shown in the timing chart of FIG. 10B, selects and determines the volume, and then adjusts the volume. I do. At this time, it is common for the driver to adjust the volume while listening to and confirming the volume by himself / herself. Even if the final volume desired by the driver has not been determined, an operation command is issued to the audio device 6 as a controlled device. Is transmitted, it is possible to adjust while sequentially checking the change in volume.

  Thus, the number of transmissions can be reduced in accordance with the operation by changing the transmission method to the controlled device depending on the operation content, and erroneous operation can be reduced by determining the operation content and then transmitting.

  When the above operation is performed, the operation unit 1 starts the operation if the operation unit 1 is a multi-function input operation having a function of selecting a function of the controlled device and a determination function of determining an operation. Since it is not necessary to release the hand from the operation unit until the operation is completed after that, the operation can be performed more easily and the number of times to search for the operation unit is reduced, so that the operation can be performed safely.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to the input device for vehicles of this invention, a driver can control several controlled apparatuses provided in the vehicle with common input means, without looking away from the front outside a vehicle.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a view around a driver's seat of an automobile according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. Illustration of the screen displayed on the head-up display when operating the air conditioner Illustration of the screen displayed on the head-up display when operating the air conditioner FIG. 4 is a view around a driver's seat of an automobile according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. Figure entered on the touchpad Illustration of the screen displayed on the head-up display when operating the air conditioner FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the interior of an automobile according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention. FIG. 9 is a view around a driver's seat of an automobile according to Embodiment 4 of the present invention. FIG. 14 is a diagram showing transmission timing according to Embodiment 5 of the present invention.

Explanation of reference numerals

Reference Signs List 1 operation unit 1a operation unit 1b touch pad 1c microphone 1d operation unit 2 head-up display control device 3 head-up display 4 car navigation 5 air conditioner 6 audio 7 information 8 monitor 21 steering

Claims (7)

An input device for a vehicle for controlling a plurality of controlled devices provided in a vehicle with a common input unit, wherein an operation unit operated by an operator and an operation state of the operation unit by the operator are provided. A head-up display for displaying, the head-up display displays information of an operation unit related to the controlled device selected based on the selection instruction information of the controlled device by the operator. Vehicle input device. An operation unit having an actuator having a force feedback function is used as common input means, and the plurality of controlled devices are controlled by operating the operation unit. The vehicle input device according to claim 1, wherein information of an operation unit is displayed on the head-up display. An operation unit capable of handwriting input is used as a common input unit, and the plurality of controlled devices are controlled by operating the operation unit, and the information of the operation unit related to the controlled device to be controlled at that time is described. The input device for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the input is displayed on a head-up display. Using an operation unit capable of voice input as a common input means, controlling the plurality of controlled devices by operating the operation unit, and at the same time, transmitting information of the operation unit related to the controlled device to be controlled at the time The input device for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the input is displayed on a head-up display. Using an operation unit provided on a steering as common input means, controlling the plurality of controlled devices by operating the operation unit, and at the same time, information of the operation unit related to the controlled device to be controlled is The input device for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the input is displayed on the head-up display. The input device for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the operation unit changes a transmission method to the controlled device according to an operation content. The input device for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the operation unit is capable of performing a multi-function input operation having a function of selecting and determining a function of the controlled device.

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