JP2004299419A - Vehicle-mounted hazard switch device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce the operating load for a driver when right and left direction indicators are blinked for a short time. <P>SOLUTION: A momentary type hazard switch 4 for greeting is provided at a location where the driver is easy to operate the hazard switch such as a steering wheel 3. The right and left direction indicators are blink-controlled by a specified number of times in response to the switch on of the hazard switch 4 for greeting by the driver. Thus, the driver can make the right and left direction indicators 5 blink several times without removing hands from the steering wheel 3. Therefore, the operating load of the driver can be reduced when the right and left direction indicators are blinked for a short time. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an in-vehicle hazard switch device for blinking and lighting left and right direction indicators, and more particularly to a technique for reducing the driving load on a driver when the left and right direction indicators blink for a short time.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Generally, near the steering of a vehicle such as a passenger car or a bus, there is provided a hazard switch device for blinking left and right direction indicators when the vehicle is temporarily stopped, and such a hazard switch device includes a driver. Controls the blinking operation time of the left and right direction indicators by turning on / off the hazard switch device by releasing the steering wheel.
[0003]
By the way, the hazard switch device, when decelerating the vehicle due to traffic congestion, when alerting the following vehicle when stopping, or when thanking the following vehicle when interrupting due to lane change, the left and right direction indicators May be operated to blink for a short time.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, when blinking the turn signal for a short time, the driver releases the hand from the steering, switches the hazard switch device to the ON state, blinks the left and right turn signals several times, and then releases the hand again from the steering. An operation for switching the hazard switch device to the off state must be performed.
[0005]
That is, according to the conventional hazard switch device, when the left and right direction indicators are blinked for a short time for the purpose of alerting or thanking the following vehicle, the driver must perform an operation of releasing the steering wheel twice. This may increase the driver's driving load and cause steering error.
[0006]
The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an in-vehicle hazard switch device capable of reducing a driver's driving load when blinking left and right turn indicators for a short time. Is to provide.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
A first feature of the in-vehicle hazard switch device according to the present invention is a lock-type first hazard switch which is provided at a position operable by a driver and outputs an electric signal in response to the operation of the driver, and a momentary. A second hazard switch of a type, and a controller for controlling a blinking operation of a direction indicator in response to the electric signal, wherein the controller is configured to control the direction of the first hazard switch when the first hazard switch is turned on. When the first hazard switch is turned off, control is performed to stop the blinking. When the second hazard switch is turned on, the direction indicator is turned on. Is controlled to blink a predetermined number of times.
[0008]
A second feature of the in-vehicle hazard switch device according to the present invention is that a hazard switch that is provided at a position operable by a driver and outputs an electric signal in response to an operation by the driver; A controller for controlling the blinking operation of the direction indicator, wherein the controller blinks the direction indicator a predetermined number of times in response to being turned off within a predetermined time after the hazard switch is turned on. is there.
[0009]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, the configuration and operation of the in-vehicle hazard switch device according to the first and second embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0010]
[First Embodiment]
First, a configuration of an in-vehicle hazard switch device according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
[0011]
As shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, a vehicle-mounted hazard switch device according to a first embodiment of the present invention is a lock-type normal hazard switch (first hazard switch) provided on a center console 1. 2) and a momentary-type greeting hazard switch (second hazard switch) 4 provided at a position such as the steering wheel 3 where the driver can easily operate. As shown in FIG. 2, the normal hazard switch 2 and the greeting hazard switch 4 are connected to a controller 6 that controls the blinking operation of the left and right direction indicators 5 in accordance with the switches that are turned on and off as described later. It is configured to output an electric signal to the controller 6 in response to being connected and being turned on and off.
[0012]
Next, with reference to a flowchart shown in FIG. 3, the operation of the above-described hazard switch device for vehicle will be described.
[0013]
The flowchart shown in FIG. 3 starts in response to the driver turning on one of the normal hazard switch 2 and the greeting hazard switch 4, and the blinking control process proceeds to the process of step S1.
[0014]
In the process of step S1, the controller 6 determines which of the normal hazard switch 2 and the greeting hazard switch 4 has been turned on, thereby determining the type of switch that the driver has turned on. When it is determined that the normal hazard switch 2 has been turned on, the controller 6 determines that the driver intends to cause the left and right direction indicators 5 to blink for a desired time, and performs the blink control process from the process of step S1. Proceed to step S2. On the other hand, when it is determined that the greeting hazard switch 4 is turned on, the controller 6 determines that the driver intends to blink the left and right direction indicators 5 for a short time, and performs the blink control processing in step S1. From step S5 to step S5.
[0015]
In the process of step S2, the controller 6 turns on the left and right direction indicators 5. Thereby, the process of step S2 is completed, and the blink control process proceeds from the process of step S2 to the process of step S3.
[0016]
In the process of step S3, the controller 6 turns off the left and right direction indicators 5. Thus, the process of step S3 is completed, and the blink control process proceeds from the process of step S3 to the process of step S4.
[0017]
In the process of step S4, the controller 6 determines whether or not the normal hazard switch 2 has been turned off. When it is determined that the normal hazard switch 2 has not been turned off, the controller 6 returns the blink control process from the process in step S4 to the process in step S2. On the other hand, when it is determined that the normal hazard switch 2 has been turned off, the controller 6 ends a series of blinking control processing.
[0018]
In the process of step S5, the controller 6 turns on the left and right direction indicators 5. Thereby, the process of step S5 is completed, and the blink control process proceeds from the process of step S5 to the process of step S6.
[0019]
In the process of step S6, the controller 6 turns off the left and right direction indicators 5. Thereby, the process of step S6 is completed, and the blink control process proceeds from the process of step S6 to the process of step S7.
[0020]
In the process of step S7, the controller 6 determines whether the left and right direction indicators 5 have blinked a predetermined number of times (for example, three times). If the controller 6 determines that the left and right direction indicators 5 have not blinked a predetermined number of times, the controller 6 returns the blink control processing from the processing in step S7 to the processing in step S5. On the other hand, if it is determined that the left and right direction indicators 5 have been blinked a predetermined number of times, the controller 6 ends a series of blink control processes.
[0021]
[Second embodiment]
Next, with reference to FIG. 4, a configuration of an in-vehicle hazard switch device according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described.
[0022]
The vehicle-mounted hazard switch device according to the second embodiment of the present invention has a lock-type hazard switch 7 provided on the center console 1 as shown in FIG. Also, as shown in FIG. 5, the hazard switch 7 is connected to a controller 8 that controls the blinking operation of the left and right direction indicators 5 according to the ON / OFF operation interval of the switch, and is turned on. It is configured to output an electric signal to the controller 8 accordingly.
[0023]
Next, the operation of the above-described hazard switch device for vehicle will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.
[0024]
The flowchart shown in FIG. 6 is started in response to the driver turning on the hazard switch 7, and the blink control process proceeds to the process of step S11.
[0025]
In the process of step S11, the controller 8 turns on the left and right direction indicators 5. Thereby, the process of step S11 is completed, and the blink control process proceeds from the process of step S11 to the process of step S12.
[0026]
In the process of step S12, the controller 8 turns off the left and right direction indicators 5. Thereby, the process of step S12 is completed, and the blink control process proceeds from the process of step S12 to the process of step S13.
[0027]
In the process of step S13, the controller 8 determines whether or not the hazard switch 7 has been turned off during the processes of steps S11 to S12. It is determined whether or not 7 has been turned off. When the controller 8 determines that the hazard switch 7 is not turned off during the turning on / off operation of the left and right direction indicators 5, the controller 8 causes the driver to blink the left and right direction indicators 5 for a desired time. It is determined that the switch 7 has not been turned on, and the blink control processing proceeds from the processing in step S13 to the processing in step S14.
[0028]
On the other hand, if the controller 8 determines that the hazard switch 7 has been turned off during the turning on / off operation of the left and right direction indicators 5, the controller 8 causes the driver to blink the left and right direction indicators 5 for a short time. Is turned on, and the blink control process proceeds from the process of step S13 to the process of step S17.
[0029]
In the process of step S14, the controller 8 turns on the left and right direction indicators 5. Thereby, the process of step S14 is completed, and the blink control process proceeds from the process of step S14 to the process of step S15.
[0030]
In the process of step S15, the controller 8 turns off the left and right direction indicators 5. Thereby, the process of step S15 is completed, and the blink control process proceeds from the process of step S15 to the process of step S16.
[0031]
In the process of step S16, the controller 8 determines whether the hazard switch 7 has been turned off. If it is determined that the hazard switch 7 has not been turned off, the controller 8 returns the blink control process from the process in step S16 to the process in step S14. On the other hand, when it is determined that the hazard switch 7 has been turned off, the controller 8 ends a series of blink control processes.
[0032]
In the process of step S17, the controller 8 turns on the left and right direction indicators 5. Thereby, the process of step S17 is completed, and the blink control process proceeds from the process of step S17 to the process of step S18.
[0033]
In the process of step S18, the controller 8 turns off the left and right direction indicators 5. Thereby, the process of step S18 is completed, and the blink control process proceeds from the process of step S18 to the process of step S19.
[0034]
In the process of step S19, the controller 8 determines whether the left and right direction indicators 5 have been blinked a predetermined number of times. If the controller 8 determines that the left and right direction indicators 5 have not blinked a predetermined number of times, the controller 8 returns the blink control processing from the processing in step S19 to the processing in step S17. On the other hand, when it is determined that the left and right direction indicators 5 have been blinked a predetermined number of times, the controller 8 ends a series of blink control processes.
[0035]
In the second embodiment, when the hazard switch 7 is turned off during the lighting / extinguishing operation of the left and right direction indicators 5, the driver turns the left and right direction indicators 5 short. Although it is determined that the hazard switch 7 has been turned off in order to blink for a time, a timer 9 for measuring the time interval between the ON operation and the OFF operation of the hazard switch 7 as shown in FIG. The in-vehicle hazard switch device may be configured to make the above determination when the determined time interval is equal to or less than the predetermined time interval.
[0036]
As is clear from the above description, according to the in-vehicle hazard switch device according to the first embodiment of the present invention, a momentary-type greeting hazard switch provided at a position such as the steering wheel 3 where the driver can easily operate. Since the controller 6 controls the left and right direction indicators 5 to blink a predetermined number of times in response to turning on the 4, the driver blinks the left and right direction indicators 5 several times without releasing the hand from the steering wheel 3. (Effects of Claims 1 and 2).
[0037]
Further, according to the in-vehicle hazard switch device according to the second embodiment of the present invention, the driver turns off the hazard switch 7 during the first blinking operation of the turn signal indicator 5 or within a predetermined time. Since the controller 8 controls the left and right direction indicators 5 to blink a predetermined number of times, the driver blinks the left and right direction indicators 5 several times with one operation without releasing the steering wheel 3 many times. (Effects of Claims 3, 4, and 5).
[0038]
As described above, the embodiment to which the invention made by the present inventor is applied has been described. However, the present invention is not limited by the description and the drawings constituting a part of the disclosure of the present invention by this embodiment. That is, it should be added that all other embodiments, examples, operation techniques, and the like performed by those skilled in the art based on this embodiment are included in the scope of the present invention.
[0039]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the in-vehicle hazard switch device of the present invention, the controller controls the left and right direction indicators to blink a predetermined number of times in response to a single operation by the driver. It is possible to reduce the driving load on the driver when the left and right direction indicators are blinked several times for the purpose of arousing or thanking, thereby improving safety.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing an overview of an in-vehicle hazard switch according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a vehicle-mounted hazard switch device illustrated in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an operation of the in-vehicle hazard switch device shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing an overview of an on-vehicle hazard switch according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an in-vehicle hazard switch device shown in FIG. 4;
FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the operation of the in-vehicle hazard switch device shown in FIG. 4;
FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing an application example of the hazard switch device for vehicle shown in FIG. 5;
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Center console 2, 7 ... Hazard switch 3 ... Steering 4 ... Greeting hazard switch 5 ... Direction indicator 6, 8 ... Controller 9 ... Timer

Claims (5)

A lock-type first hazard switch that is provided at a position where the driver can operate and outputs an electric signal in response to the driver's operation, and a momentary-type second hazard switch;
A controller that controls a blinking operation of the turn signal indicator according to the electric signal,
With
The above controller is
When the first hazard switch is turned on, the direction indicator blinks, and when the first hazard switch is turned off, control is performed to stop the blinking,
The on-vehicle hazard switch device according to claim 1, wherein when the second hazard switch is turned on, the turn signal is controlled to blink a predetermined number of times. The in-vehicle hazard switch device according to claim 1,
The above-mentioned second hazard switch is provided on a steering wheel, and is mounted on a vehicle. A hazard switch that is provided at a position operable by a driver and outputs an electric signal according to an operation by the driver;
A controller that controls a blinking operation of the direction indicator according to the electric signal,
The controller according to claim 1, wherein the controller controls the blinking of the direction indicator a predetermined number of times in response to being turned off within a predetermined time after the hazard switch is turned on. The hazard switch device according to claim 3,
The above-mentioned predetermined time is a time until the turn signal flashes once. The hazard switch device according to claim 3,
Equipped with a timer to measure time,
The controller according to claim 1, wherein the controller measures the predetermined time using the timer.

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