JP2008033408A - Switch device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a switch device that reduces costs, and the space to install it, and enhances the operability of the switch. <P>SOLUTION: The switch device includes: a switch part for holding at least a first or a second capacitance value according to a gripped area and which is displaced by an external operation; a displacement sensor 4B for detecting the displacement of the switch part (rotary switch 2) and outputting a displacement signal; and a controller 5 which selects either a temperature regulator 100A or an air volume regulator 100B according to the first or second capacitance value and controls the output of the temperature regulator 100A or the air volume regulator 100B according to the displacement signal from the displacement sensor 4B. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a switch device, and more particularly to a switch device that is suitable for carrying out temperature adjustment and air volume adjustment of a vehicle air conditioner.

  As a conventional switch device, for example, there is a rotary switch device used for temperature adjustment and air volume adjustment of an air conditioner mounted on a vehicle (Patent Document 1).

  The rotary switch device includes a circuit board disposed on the back side of the instrument panel and a rotary switch disposed on the passenger side of the circuit board and exposed on the surface side of the instrument panel.

  The circuit board has, for example, an arc-shaped fixed contact portion connected to a switch circuit of an air conditioner. The rotary switch has a sliding contact portion corresponding to the fixed contact portion. The sliding contact portion is configured to slide on the fixed contact portion by rotating the rotary switch, and to vary the electric resistance according to the sliding position.

In the above configuration, when the sliding contact portion slides on the fixed contact portion by rotating the rotary switch, the electrical resistance changes according to the sliding position of the sliding contact portion, and the rotary switch is determined from the resistance value at that time. Is detected. As a result, the temperature and air volume of the air conditioner according to the rotational position of the rotary switch are adjusted.
JP 2000-195374 A

  However, according to the switch device of Patent Document 1, when the functions of the air conditioner temperature adjustment and air volume adjustment are executed, the number of switches corresponding to the function is required. As a result, there is a problem that not only the number of parts is increased and the cost is increased, but also a switch arrangement space is widened.

  In addition, the necessity of the number of switches corresponding to each function means that different switches are changed every time the function is changed, resulting in a problem that the operability of the switch is lowered.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a switch device capable of reducing the cost and reducing the switch arrangement space and improving the operability of the switch.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention holds at least the first or second capacitance value according to the gripping area and detects a displacement of the switch unit that is displaced by an external operation, and the displacement of the switch unit. And a first or second load based on the first or second capacitance value, and a first or second load based on the displacement signal. Provided is a switch device comprising a control unit for controlling an output.

  According to the present invention, the cost can be reduced and the switch arrangement space can be reduced, and the operability of the switch can be improved.

[Embodiment]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram for explaining the entire switch device according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a front view showing an arrangement state of the switch device according to the embodiment of the present invention in the vehicle. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a finger contact state with respect to the rotary switch of the switch device according to the embodiment of the present invention. 3A shows the contact state of three fingers, and FIG. 3B shows the contact state of five fingers.

[Overall configuration of switch device]
In FIG. 1, a switch device denoted by reference numeral 1 includes a rotary switch 2 as a switch knob that forms a switch unit together with a capacitance sensor 3 that holds at least a first or second capacitance value, and a rotary switch 2. Drive mechanism 4A as a resistance generator that generates an operation resistance that resists operation, a displacement sensor 4B that detects displacement of the drive mechanism 4A, and a drive signal based on detection signals from the displacement sensor 4B and the capacitance sensor 3 (Control signal) is provided with the temperature adjusting device 100A or the air volume adjusting device 100B, and the controller 5 that outputs to the drive mechanism 4A. And it is arrange | positioned at the instrument panel B of the vehicle A as shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 2, an inner mirror M1 (inner mirror) is provided at the ceiling in the vehicle A, and outer mirrors M2, M3 are provided at the driver seat side and the passenger seat side outside the vehicle A (door panels D1, D2). (Outer mirrors) are attached as rear-view mirrors so as to be adjustable in angle.

(Configuration of rotary switch 2)
As shown in FIG. 1, the rotary switch 2 has a gripping surface 2 </ b> A that can be operated by fingers, and is rotatably inserted into a switch insertion hole (not shown) of the instrument panel B (shown in FIG. 2). It is held and formed entirely by a cylindrical member. Then, the temperature adjustment device (first rotation) is displaced (rotated) by a rotation operation from the outside, and is based on a finger operation (for example, an operation by the occupant's three and five fingers) in the vehicle A. Load) 100A temperature adjustment and air volume adjustment device 100B (second load) are configured to selectively execute air volume adjustment.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the electrostatic capacitance sensor 3 is embedded in the rotary switch 2 and connected to the electrostatic capacitance IC 10, and the whole is formed by a cylindrical electrode member facing the gripping surface 2A. . Then, the capacitance C1 based on the contact operation (gripping area) of the three fingers F with respect to the gripping surface 2A as shown in FIG. 3 (a) and 5 with respect to the gripping surface 2A as shown in FIG. 3 (b). Capacitance C <b> 2 (C <b> 1 <C <b> 2) based on the contact operation (grip area) of the book fingers F is detected.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the capacitance IC 10 includes an oscillation unit 10A, a load resistor 10B, a diode 10C, a low-pass filter (LPF) 10D, and an operational amplifier 10E, and is formed on a printed wiring board (not shown). And the capacitor C (shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B) and the controller 5. The oscillation unit 10A outputs a high frequency signal (Vo). The capacitance sensor 3 is connected to the output terminal of the oscillation unit 10A via the load resistor 10B. The diode 10C detects and smoothes the high frequency signal, and the LPF 10D passes a signal having a frequency equal to or lower than the cutoff frequency. Further, the operational amplifier 10C outputs a high frequency signal from the oscillation unit 10A to the controller 5 as an amplified and offset signal (Vout). The capacitor C is formed by the finger F and the capacitance sensor 3.

(Configuration of drive mechanism 4A)
As shown in FIG. 1, the drive mechanism 4A is composed of a rotary motor as an electromagnetic motor that varies the driving force (operation resistance) corresponding to the temperature adjustment of the temperature adjustment device 100A and the air volume adjustment of the air volume adjustment device 100B. The controller 5 is connected via a drive circuit 6. The central part of the rotary switch 2 is connected to the motor shaft 4a of the drive mechanism 4A.

(Configuration of displacement sensor 4B)
The displacement sensor 4B is composed of, for example, an optical rotary encoder, and is connected to the controller 5. Then, the rotational displacement of the motor shaft 4a is detected and a displacement signal is output, and the temperature adjustment of the temperature adjustment device 100A or the air volume adjustment of the air volume adjustment device 100B is selectively executed in accordance with the rotation displacement amount (rotation position). Configured to get.

(Configuration of controller 5)
As shown in FIG. 1, the controller 5 includes a memory 5A in which preset data is stored, and includes a vehicle ECU (Electric Control Unit) that functions as a determination unit and a control unit. Has been. The controller 5 as a determination unit determines an output signal from the capacitance IC 10 (a detection signal from the capacitance sensor 3) based on the data stored in the memory 5A. The controller 5 as the control means is connected to the drive mechanism 4A (drive circuit 6) / switching device 300 based on the determination result (capacitance C1 or C2) of the output signal from the capacitance IC 10, and from the displacement sensor 4B. Based on the detection result (displacement signal), a control signal (drive signal) is output to the temperature adjusting device 100A or the air volume adjusting device 100B.

  For example, the rotation of the rotary switch 2 when the capacitance sensor 3 detects the capacitance C1 (contact of the three fingers F with the rotary switch 2) (the switch portion holds the first capacitance value). A control signal that generates the first operation resistance a that resists the operation is output to the drive mechanism 4A, and a control signal that enables the temperature adjustment by the temperature adjustment device 100A is output to the switching device 300. When the displacement sensor 4B detects the rotation amount of the rotary switch 2, it outputs a control signal for adjusting the temperature of the temperature adjustment device 100A according to the rotation amount to the temperature adjustment device 100A. Further, when the electrostatic capacity sensor 3 detects the electrostatic capacity C2 (contact of the five fingers F with the rotary switch 2) (the switch section holds the second electrostatic capacity value), the rotation of the rotary switch 2 A control signal for generating a second operation resistance b (a <b) that resists the operation is output to the drive mechanism 4A, and a control signal for enabling the air volume adjustment by the air volume adjusting device 100B is output to the switching device 300. Output. When the displacement sensor 4B detects the amount of rotation of the rotary switch 2, it outputs a control signal for adjusting the air volume of the air volume adjusting device 100B according to the amount of rotation to the air volume adjusting device 100B.

  The switching device 300 is connected to the temperature adjusting device 100A and the air volume adjusting device 100B of the air conditioner 100. And according to the drive signal (control signal) from the controller 5, it is comprised so that it may switch to either one of the temperature adjusting device 100A and the air volume adjusting device 100B.

[Operation of switch device 1]
FIG. 4 is a signal waveform diagram used to describe the operation of the switch device according to the embodiment of the present invention. 4A shows the detection signal of the capacitance IC, and FIG. 4B shows the output signal.

  In order to adjust the temperature of the air conditioner 100 in the vehicle A, the operator (occupant) three fingers F are brought into contact with the gripping surface 2A of the rotary switch 2. In this case, when the gripping surface 2A of the rotary switch 2 is contact-operated by three fingers F, a high-frequency signal (Vo) output from the oscillation unit 10A of the capacitance IC 10 is the impedance of the capacitor C and the load resistance 10B. And is input to the operational amplifier 10E via the diode 10C and the LPF 10D. At this time, as shown in FIG. 4A, the voltage Vc detected by the capacitance IC10 becomes small. For this reason, the level of the high-frequency signal input to the operational amplifier 10E is smaller than the level when the finger F is not touching the gripping surface 2A of the rotary switch 2.

  The controller 5 detects the contact operation state (first finger operation) of the finger F with respect to the rotary switch 2 as a voltage difference as shown in FIG. 4B by changing the level of the input signal (Vout). When the switch 2 and the air volume adjusting device 100B are connected, a control signal is output to the switching device 300 to switch the connection, and the rotary switch 2 and the temperature adjusting device 100A are connected. At the same time, the drive force of the drive mechanism 4A (motor shaft 4a) is set to a preset drive force (first operation resistance) a, and a voltage corresponding to the drive force a is applied to the drive mechanism 4A. When the rotary switch 2 is rotated in the connected state between the temperature adjusting device 100A and the rotary switch 2, the motor shaft 4a of the drive mechanism 4A rotates against the driving force along with this, and the motor shaft 4a rotates. The position is detected by the displacement sensor 4B. Thereby, the temperature adjustment of the air conditioner 100 is performed with the adjustment amount according to the rotational position of the motor shaft 4a.

  On the other hand, in order to adjust the air volume of the air conditioner 100 in the vehicle A, the operator's (occupant) 's five fingers F are brought into contact with the gripping surface 2A of the rotary switch 2. In this case, when the gripping surface 2A of the rotary switch 2 is touched by the five fingers F, it is output from the oscillating unit 10A of the capacitance IC 10 as in the case of the touching operation by the three fingers F. The high frequency signal (Vo) is divided by the impedance of the capacitor C and the load resistor 10B, and input to the operational amplifier 10E via the diode 10C and the LPF 10D. At this time, the voltage Vc detected by the capacitance IC 10 becomes smaller than the level when the three fingers F are touching. For this reason, the level of the high-frequency signal input to the operational amplifier 10D is smaller than the level when the three fingers F are touching the gripping surface 2A of the rotary switch 2.

  The controller 5 detects the contact operation state (second finger operation) of the finger F with respect to the rotary switch 2 as a voltage difference based on a change in the level of the input signal (Vout). For example, the rotary switch 2 and the temperature adjustment device 100B If connected, a control signal is output to the switching device 300 to switch the connection, and the air volume adjusting device 100B and the rotary switch 2 are connected. At the same time, the drive force of the drive mechanism 4A (motor shaft 4a) is set to a preset drive force (second operation resistance) b (a <b), and a voltage corresponding to this drive force b is applied to the drive mechanism 4. . Then, when the rotary switch 2 is rotated in the connected state of the air volume adjusting device 100B and the rotary switch 2, the motor shaft 4a of the drive mechanism 4A rotates against the driving force along with this, and the motor shaft 4a rotates. The position is detected by the displacement sensor 4B. Thereby, the air volume adjustment of the air conditioner 100 is performed with the adjustment amount according to the rotational position of the motor shaft 4a.

[Effect of the embodiment]
According to the embodiment described above, the following effects can be obtained.

(1) When the temperature adjustment or air volume adjustment of the air conditioner 100 is executed, the function can be handled by the single rotary switch 2. For this reason, the number of parts can be reduced, the cost can be reduced, and the switch arrangement space can be reduced.

(2) The temperature adjustment and the air volume adjustment performed by the single rotary switch 2 do not require the rotary switch 2 to be changed every time the function is changed as in the prior art. Can increase the sex.

  As mentioned above, although the switch apparatus of this invention was demonstrated based on said embodiment, this invention is not limited to said embodiment, It implements in a various aspect in the range which does not deviate from the summary. For example, the following modifications are possible.

(1) In the present embodiment, the case where the temperature adjustment of the air conditioner 100 is performed by three fingers F and the air volume adjustment is performed by five fingers F has been described, but the present invention is limited to this. It is also possible to adjust the air volume with three (two or four) fingers F and adjust the temperature with five (four or two) fingers F.

(2) Although the case where the switch is the rotary switch 2 has been described in the present embodiment, the present invention is not limited to this, and a slide switch may be used. In this case, as the drive mechanism, for example, a linear motor that varies the driving force (operation resistance) corresponding to the temperature adjustment of the temperature adjustment device and the air flow adjustment of the air flow adjustment device, and the displacement sensor is a mover in the linear motor. Linear encoders for detecting the forward / backward position of each are used.

(3) In this embodiment, the case where the temperature adjustment and the air volume adjustment of the vehicle air conditioner 100 are selectively executed has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, a vehicle CD (compact) The present invention can also be applied to the case where the volume adjustments of the disc player and the radio are selectively executed. Further, the present invention can be applied similarly to the present embodiment when two functions in a device other than the vehicle device are selectively executed.

The block diagram shown in order to demonstrate the whole switch apparatus concerning embodiment of this invention. The front view which shows the arrangement | positioning state in the vehicle of the switch apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. (A) And (b) is sectional drawing which shows typically the finger | toe contact state with respect to the rotary switch of the switch apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. (A) And (b) is a signal waveform diagram used in order to demonstrate operation | movement of the switch apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Switch apparatus, 2 ... Rotary switch, 2A ... Gripping surface, 3 ... Capacitance sensor, 3A ... Peripheral surface, 4A ... Drive mechanism, 4B ... Displacement sensor, 5 ... Controller, 5A ... Memory, 6 ... Drive circuit, DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Capacitance IC, 10A ... Oscillating part, 10B ... Load resistance, 10C ... Diode, 10D ... LPF, 10E ... Operational amplifier, 100 ... Air conditioner, 100A ... Temperature adjusting device, 100B ... Air volume adjusting device, 300 ... Switching Device, A ... Vehicle, B ... Instrument panel, D1, D2 ... Door panel, F ... Finger, M1 ... Inner mirror, M2, M3 ... Outer mirror

Claims (6)

A switch unit that retains at least the first or second capacitance value according to the gripping area and is displaced by an external operation;
A detection unit that detects the displacement of the switch unit and outputs a displacement signal;
A control unit that selects the first or second load based on the first or second capacitance value and controls the output of the first or second load based on the displacement signal. A switch device characterized by that.   The switch device according to claim 1, wherein the switch unit is a switch unit having a rotatable rotary switch.   The switch device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is connected to a switching device that switches to any one of the first load and the second load.   The control unit selects the first load when the switch unit holds the first capacitance value, and the control unit selects the first load when the switch unit holds the second capacitance value. The switch device according to claim 1, wherein two loads are selected. The first load is a temperature adjusting device that adjusts the temperature of the air conditioner;
The switch device according to claim 1, wherein the second load is an air volume adjusting device that adjusts an air volume of the air conditioner.   The switch device according to claim 5, wherein the air conditioner is a vehicle air conditioner.

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