JP2006321336A - Switch gear for vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve the design property of vehicle interior trimming related to a switch gear to operate an on-vehicle apparatus. <P>SOLUTION: A specified pattern is displayed on a surface of a decorated panel 14 by illuminating by a light source 26 from the back side of the decorated panel 14 on which grains for the vehicle interior, etc. are applied. An electrode 16 is arranged on the back side of a position on which the pattern of the decorated panel 14 is displayed. When the position of the decorated panel 14 where the electrode is arranged is touched, motion of the on-vehicle apparatus corresponding to it is performed. The pattern is displayed when the light source 26 is switched on. The pattern disappears and only the grain pattern is displayed when the light source 26 is switched off, and a switch is normally invisible and it is possible to restrain visual complication. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicle switch device for controlling a device mounted on a vehicle.

  Various devices such as an air conditioner, a route guidance device, an electric seat, and an electric door mirror are mounted on the current vehicle, and there are a large number of switches for operating these devices.

JP 2000-242432 A

  In the vehicle interior, there are limited portions for providing switches for operating each device, and if many switches are arranged, a complicated impression is given and the design is deteriorated.

  An object of this invention is to provide the switch apparatus which improves the design property of a vehicle interior.

  The switch device of the present invention detects a change in capacitance of an electrode disposed at a predetermined position on the back side of a decorative panel having a translucency with a pattern or a color for a vehicle interior. And a control unit that controls a predetermined operation of the in-vehicle device. Furthermore, it has a light source that illuminates the position where the electrode of the decorative panel is arranged or the vicinity thereof from the back side of the decorative panel, and the position illuminated by this light source has a predetermined pattern when viewed from the front side of the decorative panel It is displayed as if it appears. For example, when a finger is brought close to the position of the symbol, a predetermined operation of the device corresponding to the electrode of that portion is performed. If the light source is not turned on, only the pattern and color applied to the decorative panel appear. According to this configuration, when the light source is turned off, the design of the switch is not displayed, and a complicated impression can be prevented.

  In order to turn on the light source, for example, a lighting electrode for that purpose can be provided, and the control unit can turn on the light source by detecting a change in capacitance of the electrode. In addition, when the electrode for operating the in-vehicle device is used and the design of the electrode is not raised, and the capacitance of the electrode changes, the light source is turned on to display the design.

  Furthermore, the control unit can perform a predetermined operation of a predetermined vehicle-mounted device only when the light source is turned on.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 are views showing a state in which a front seat door 12 of a passenger car provided with the vehicle switch device 10 of the present embodiment is viewed from the vehicle interior side. The switch device 10 is provided inside the door interior decoration panel 14 with a pattern such as wood grain. Normally, only the pattern is visible as shown in FIG. 2, and when the switch device 10 is operated, As shown in FIG. 1, symbols such as characters and pictograms indicating functions of individual switches are displayed.

  FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the switch device 10. An electrode sheet 18 provided with electrodes 16 constituting a capacitance type sensor is disposed immediately behind the decorating panel 14. The electrode sheet 18 is a flexible sheet so as to follow the shape of the back surface of the decorative panel 14. However, when the back surface of the decorative panel 14 is flat, it is not necessary to bend the substrate. You can also The electrode sheet 18 is provided with a mask layer for partially transmitting light from a light source provided deeper than the electrode sheet 18 so that the decorative panel 14 has a design. In FIG. 3, symbols such as “SET” and numerals 1, 2, and 3 surrounded by a square frame are portions that transmit light from the light source, and are provided corresponding to the electrodes 16. The configuration of the electrode 16 and the mask will be further described later.

  Further behind the electrode sheet 18, a circuit board 20 on which a circuit for detecting a capacitance of the electrode 16 and performing a predetermined control of a predetermined vehicle-mounted device based on the detection is assembled, and the circuit board 20 is provided. A case 22 to be accommodated, and a holder 24 which is located between the circuit board 20 and the electrode sheet 18 and holds the electrode sheet are disposed. The circuit board 20 is provided with a light source 26 for irradiating light on a pattern applied to the electrode sheet. As this light source, for example, an LED or the like can be used. Further, as shown in the figure, one light source can be provided for each symbol, but it is also possible to provide light sources smaller than the symbol and guide light to each symbol part using a light guide plate. The holder 24 is provided with a light guide hole 28 for maintaining a proper distance between the light source 26 and the electrode sheet 18 and for guiding light from the light source 26 to a corresponding symbol portion. The light guide hole 28 prevents light from leaking to portions other than the corresponding symbol portion.

  FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the decorative panel 14. The upper side in the figure is the passenger compartment side. A wood grain film 32 printed with a wood grain pattern is affixed on a base material 30 that retains the overall shape of the decorative panel 14, and a protective layer 34 that protects the surface is further formed thereon. The base material 30 is a synthetic resin material, and its color is determined by the appearance combined with the wood grain film 32. Moreover, the base material 30 has translucency which receives the light from the light source 26 arrange | positioned at the back side of the decorating panel 14, and a predetermined pattern is displayed seeing from the front side. When the light source 26 is not turned on and the back side of the decorative panel 14 is dark, the internal structure cannot be seen from the front side, and only the wood grain pattern is visible. Similarly to the base material 30, the wood grain film 32 has translucency. The protective layer 34 is generally formed of a colorless and transparent paint, but may be colored to change its appearance. Note that the decorative panel 14 may have a pattern or color other than the wood grain according to the character of the vehicle. For example, an aluminum-like slightly glossy metallic color or a carbon fiber reinforced resin-like pattern may be applied. Furthermore, as long as it is translucent, it may be a main frame or leather instead of a wood grain film.

  FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the electrode sheet 18. The upper side in the figure is the passenger compartment side. The base sheet 36 is for maintaining the shape of the entire electrode sheet, and is made of a resin material such as PET that is transparent or relatively highly translucent. A light shielding layer 38 is provided on the front side of the base sheet 36, and the same color printing layer 40 is provided thereon. The light shielding layer 38 is provided with a cutout 42 corresponding to the pattern projected on the decorative panel 14. The light from the light source 26 passes through the cutout 42 provided in the light shielding layer 38 to illuminate the back surface of the decorative panel 14, and displays a design corresponding to the shape of the cutout 42 here. The shape of the cutout 42, that is, the detailed shape of the design is shown in FIG. On the back side of the base sheet 36, nine transparent electrodes 16 (16a to 16i) are arranged at the positions shown in FIG. In the following description, items common to the nine electrodes will be described with only reference numeral 16. The electrode 16 is covered with an insulating layer 46 that protects the electrode 16. This insulating layer 46 can be omitted when there is no need for electrical protection of the electrode 16 after the processing stage or after the product is completed.

  FIG. 6 shows details of the design 48 (48a to 48f) of the switch device 10 that rises. For the symbols that are common to the six symbols, only symbol 48 is given, and the suffixes a to f are omitted. The symbol 48a displayed as “SET” is one or more of in-vehicle devices such as the position and angle of the seat cushion of the vehicle seat, the angle of the seat back, the position of the anchor of the seat belt, the position of the brake and the accelerator pedal. It is a symbol showing the switch for registering the present state. Numbers 1, 2, 3, 48 b, c, and d, surrounded by a square, are symbols for specifying the state of a registered seat or the like, for example, and the state of a different seat or the like for each symbol Can be registered. In this embodiment, the states of three types of seats can be registered. The symbol 48e is a symbol for a switch that adjusts the height of the anchor on the shoulder side of the seat belt. Touching the upper part of the symbol raises the anchor, and touching the lower part lowers the anchor. The symbol 48f is a symbol representing a switch for moving the position of the brake or accelerator pedal back and forth. The pedal moves away when you touch the front of the design, and approaches when you touch the back. When registering the state of a seat or the like, first adjust the seat or the like to a desired state, touch the symbol 48a, and then touch the symbol 48b, c, d of the number to be registered. When it is desired to read out the registered seat state, the user directly touches the symbols 48b, c and d of the number to be read out. The seat cushion, the seat back, etc. are driven to the seat state corresponding to the selected number.

  FIG. 7 shows the arrangement of the electrodes 16. The electrode 16 is provided corresponding to each of the symbols 48, and the corresponding symbol is indicated by a broken line in the diagram. The electrode 16 is connected to a capacitance type switch that detects this capacitance and turns the circuit on and off, and this switch is mounted on the circuit board 20. Each of the symbols 48a to 48d is provided with one electrode 16a to 16d. The pattern 48e is provided with two electrodes 16e and f corresponding to the upper and lower sides, respectively. By providing two electrodes, the position of the seat belt anchor can be moved up and down as described above. The pattern 48f is provided with two electrodes 16g and 16h respectively corresponding to the front and rear sides. Also in this case, the position of the pedal can be moved back and forth by providing two. The electrode 16i does not correspond to the symbol. The electrode 16i is a constituent element of a switch that turns on the light source 26 and raises the pattern 48. That is, when the pattern 48 is not displayed, when the vicinity of the electrode 16i is touched, the light source 26 is turned on and the pattern is displayed so as to float on the woodgrain panel. The light source 26 is turned off when the switch is not operated for a predetermined time.

  FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a control circuit in the switch device 10. The electrode 16 is connected to the detection unit 52 via the inductor 50. When a vehicle occupant touches the portion of the decorative panel 14 where the electrode 16 is provided, the capacitance of the electrode changes, and the detection unit 52 sends an ON signal to the control circuit 54. The control circuit 54 controls the actuator that drives the lighting of the light source 26 and the seat back, the seat cushion, the seat belt anchor, the pedal, and the like based on the input signal. In this manner, the detection unit 52 and the control circuit 54 operate by detecting a change in the capacitance of the electrode, and function as a control unit that controls a predetermined operation of the in-vehicle device. The detection unit 52 can be configured on one integrated circuit. Further, by providing the inductor 50, noise having a predetermined frequency or higher can be cut.

  The switch device 10 has an electrode 16i for controlling lighting of the light source 26, but eliminates this, and detects a change in capacitance of any of the other electrodes 16a to 16h when the light source is not turned on. The light source may be turned on.

  FIG. 9 shows a configuration example of a decoration / electrode panel 56 in which a decoration panel and an electrode sheet are integrated. On the base material 58, the wood grain film 60 is arrange | positioned and the protective layer 62 is further provided. The wood grain film 60 and the protective layer 62 are the same as the wood grain film 32 and the protective layer 34 described above. In the base material 58, a recess 64 is formed in a shape corresponding to the design. The base material 58 is a member that transmits light from the light source if it is about the thickness of the bottom portion of the recess 64, and has a light-transmitting property that blocks light in other thick portions. Thereby, when the light from the light source illuminates the concave portion 64 and the vicinity thereof, a pattern corresponding to the shape of the concave portion 64 emerges on the front side of the decoration / electrode panel 56. An electrode 66 is disposed on the back surface of the portion where the recess 64 is provided, and an insulating layer 68 is further provided. The electrodes 66 and the insulating layer 68 are the same as the electrodes 16 and the insulating layer 46 described above.

  The switch device 10 is provided in the interior part of the front seat door, but can also be provided in another interior part of the vehicle, for example, an instrument panel, and the vehicle device to be controlled is also another device. For example, it can also be set as an air conditioning apparatus.

  As described above, since the switch device 10 constitutes a capacitance type switch, the configuration of the switch does not appear on the design surface, that is, the surface of the vehicle interior, and a vehicle interior that does not give a complicated impression is provided. be able to. Moreover, since it can respond also to a curved decoration panel, a decoration panel can be designed giving priority to a design and also the freedom degree is high also about the installation place of a switch apparatus.

It is a figure which shows the interior of the front seat door provided with the switch apparatus 10 for vehicles of this embodiment, and is a figure which shows the state by which the symbol of the switch apparatus was displayed. It is a figure which shows the interior of the front seat door provided with the switch apparatus 10 of this embodiment, and is a figure which shows the state in which the symbol of a switch apparatus is not displayed. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the switch device 10. FIG. It is sectional drawing of the decorating panel. 3 is a cross-sectional view of an electrode sheet 18. FIG. It is a figure which shows the detail of the pattern 48. FIG. It is a figure which shows arrangement | positioning of the electrode. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of a control circuit. It is sectional drawing of the decoration and the electrical decoration panel 56 which integrated the decorating panel and the electrode sheet.

Explanation of symbols

10 switch device, 12 front door, 14 decorative panel, 16 electrodes, 18 electrode sheet, 20 circuit board, 26 light source, 30 base material, 32 wood grain film, 34 protective layer, 36 base sheet, 38 light shielding layer, 40 same color Print layer, 42 cutout, 46 insulating layer, 48 design, 54 control circuit.

Claims (4)

A vehicle switch device for controlling an in-vehicle device mounted on a vehicle,
A decorative panel having translucency with a pattern or color provided in an interior material of a vehicle;
An electrode disposed at a predetermined position on the back side of the decorative panel;
A controller that detects a change in capacitance of the electrode and controls a predetermined operation of the in-vehicle device;
From the back side of the decorative panel, illuminate the position where the electrodes are arranged or the vicinity thereof, and on the front side of the decorative panel, a light source that displays a design to indicate the operation position;
Have
When the light source is not displaying a pattern, only the pattern or color applied to the decorative panel appears on the decorative panel front side,
Vehicle switch device.   The vehicle switch device according to claim 1, further comprising a lighting electrode for lighting the light source, wherein the control unit detects a change in capacitance of the lighting electrode and turns on the light source. Switch device. The vehicle switch device according to claim 1,
When a change in the capacitance of the electrode is detected when no symbol is displayed, the control unit turns on the light source and displays the symbol.
Switch device for vehicle. 4. The vehicle switch device according to claim 2, wherein the capacitance-type switch controls a predetermined operation of a predetermined vehicle-mounted device only when the light source is lit. 5.

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