JP2008120211A - Input system operator determination device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an input system operator determination device capable of performing operator determination by a simple determination process when detecting on which seat an operator who has operated an operating means of equipment is seated through biological communications. <P>SOLUTION: A D seat electrode 5 and a P seat electrode 6 are connected to a signal generator 11 capable of transmitting high-frequency signals F via a changeover switch 12, and high-frequency signals F are output alternately from the electrodes 5, 6 via the changeover switch 12. When a driver or a passenger touches a switch electrode 10, the voltage level of detection signals Sout output to a controller 13 is raised due to increase in capacitive coupling of the human body generated by the biological communications. By using the switch condition of the changeover switch 12 and the voltage level change of the detection signals Sout, the controller 13 determines whether the operator who operated an input switch 9 at that time is the driver or the passenger. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an input system operator discriminating device for discriminating which one of a plurality of operators has operated a device by using bio-communication that connects electrodes with a human body when the operator operates the device. About.

  Conventionally, various types of devices are mounted on vehicles for the purpose of improving the driving environment in the vehicle. One of them is an air conditioner device (hereinafter referred to as an air conditioner device) that adjusts the air conditioning environment in the vehicle. is there. This type of air conditioner is equipped with various switches that serve as input systems for setting the vehicle interior temperature and wind direction. These switches are generally installed inside the vehicle so that they can be operated from either the driver's seat or the passenger seat. Often placed in a center cluster. In some cases, for example, dedicated switches are provided in both the driver's seat and the passenger seat so that the driver or passenger can operate the air conditioner while sitting as it is.

  By the way, in recent vehicles, there are an increasing number of vehicles equipped with a car navigation device for guiding a driving route to a current position or a destination on a screen for a driver during vehicle operation. In this type of car navigation device, it is necessary to prohibit switch operations such as destination setting during traveling in consideration of safety, but if all operations are prohibited during traveling, various settings by the passenger 4b are made. Operation is also prohibited. Therefore, for example, as in the case of the above-described air conditioner device, it is considered that a car navigation device switch is provided in each of the driver seat and the passenger seat to allow the car navigation operation by the passenger 4b while traveling. Is difficult to adopt because the number of parts of the input system increases.

Therefore, in order to perform operator discrimination with a small number of input system parts, for example, Patent Document 1 discloses a technique using biometric communication that can perform operator discrimination by sharing an input system. In this technique, one common electrode is provided in the operation unit of the operation device, and each electrode is provided in each seat. When the operator seated in the seat operates the operation unit of the car navigation device, the electrodes are connected by a human body, and at that time, the car navigation device sends a request to the seat electrode via biological communication. In response to the request, the car navigation device is informed of its own seat position by bio-communication, and the seat at which the operator is seated is determined.
JP 2006-160115 A

  However, although the technique of Patent Document 1 performs operator discrimination using biometric communication, when the operator is discriminated, the car navigation device sends a request to the seat and makes the seat respond to the request from the seat. A complicated determination process of returning the seat position is required. As described above, when the discrimination processing for alternately exchanging signals between the car navigation device and the seat is used, each of the car navigation device and the seat reads an input signal by biometric communication and performs processing corresponding thereto. There is a problem that the function for making it necessary is required and the discrimination processing becomes complicated.

  An object of the present invention is to provide an input system operator discriminating device capable of performing the operator discrimination by a simple discrimination process when detecting by radio communication which seat the operator of the device is operated by which operator is seated. Is to provide.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, in the present invention, when a seated person sitting on a seat operates the operation means of the device, the seated person sitting on any of the plurality of seats operates the operation means. An input system operator discriminating device for determining whether or not a signal is generated by a signal generating means for generating a notification signal that can pass through a human body, and each of the seats is supplied with the notification signal from the signal generating means. A plurality of seat electrodes, operation electrodes provided on the operation means, and when the seated person touches the operation means and the seat electrodes and the operation electrodes are energized through a human body, The gist of the present invention is to include a determination unit that captures the notification signal flowing in the operation electrode and performs operator determination using the notification signal.

  According to this configuration, when the operator seated on the seat operates the operation means of the device, the seat electrode and the operation electrode are connected by the human body, and the notification signal generated from the signal generation means is output to the determination means by biological communication. The The discriminating means uses the acquired notification signal, and performs operator discriminating for discriminating which seat the occupant operated the operating means at that time. Therefore, since signals exchanged during biometric communication flow only in one direction from the seat side to the device side, for example, compared to the case where a discrimination process in which signals are exchanged alternately between the seat and the device is used, Communication discrimination processing is simplified.

  In the present invention, the signal generating means selectively switches between one signal generator that transmits the notification signal and an output destination of the notification signal transmitted by the signal generator among the plurality of seat electrodes. And the determination means sequentially recognizes the output destination of the notification signal by looking at the connection state of the switching circuit, and changes the signal level of the notification signal depending on whether or not the operation means is operated by an operator. The gist is to detect a change and perform the operator discrimination using the output destination and the signal level change.

  According to this configuration, when the operator operates the operation means of the device, the signal level changes with the occurrence of capacitive coupling by the human body. Therefore, the determination means looks at the change in the signal level and determines whether the operation means is operated. recognize. Then, by looking at the connection state of the switching circuit, it can be seen from which seat electrode the notification signal at that time is output, so the discriminating means performs operator discrimination by looking at the signal level change while observing the connection state of the switching circuit. Is going. If this structure is used, since one signal generator is shared between a plurality of seat electrodes, the apparatus size (circuit board size) can be reduced.

The gist of the present invention is that the seat electrode is provided with a ground electrode connected to a reference potential point of the device in addition to the signal input electrode to which the notification signal is applied.
According to this configuration, since the coupling between the operator and the body ground is constant, the coupling capacity of the electric circuit generated when the operator touches the electrode is connected to the body ground when the operator operates the operation means. Even if touched, the value does not change. For this reason, since the signal level value of the notification signal does not change depending on whether or not the operator is in contact with the body ground, it is possible to improve the accuracy of operator discrimination.

  In the present invention, the signal generation means includes a plurality of signal generators that transmit the notification signals having different frequencies, and the determination means is the notification obtained through the electrode and the operator when the biometric communication is established. The gist is to perform the operator discrimination by identifying the frequency of the signal.

  According to this configuration, when the operator of the device operates the operation unit, the frequency of the notification signal output to the determination unit changes every time the operator changes. The operator is discriminated by looking at the frequency. Therefore, if this configuration is used, a notification signal corresponding to the seat position is output to the discrimination means at the timing when the operator operates the operation means, and immediately after the operation means is operated, the operator discrimination is performed. Therefore, even if the number of operator detection targets increases, the processing time required for performing operator discrimination can be shortened.

  According to the present invention, when it is detected by biocommunication that the operator operating the device is operated by which operator, the operator can be identified by a simple determination process.

(First embodiment)
A first embodiment of an input system operator discrimination device embodying the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a vehicle 1 such as a passenger car is provided with a switch operator discriminating device 3 that discriminates in which seat a vehicle-mounted device such as a car navigation device 2 is operated. Yes. The switch operator discriminating device 3 is a bio-communication type that discriminates the switch operator using the human body of the seated occupant 4 as a signal communication path. In this example, the switch operator discriminating device 3 is seated in the driver seat and the passenger seat. It is determined which of the passenger 4b and the passenger 4b who is operating the car navigation device 2. The car navigation device 2 corresponds to a device.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the switch operator discriminating device 3 is provided with a plurality of electrodes 5 and 6 (two in this example, a driver seat and a passenger seat) embedded in each seat in the vehicle. In this example, the electrode embedded in the driver's seat 7 is referred to as the D seat electrode 5, and the electrode embedded in the passenger seat 8 is referred to as the P seat electrode 6. The D seat electrode 5 and the P seat electrode have a thin film shape made of, for example, copper foil, and are disposed at positions where a seated person seated there can come into contact with each seat. The electrodes 5 and 6 constitute a seat electrode, and the seats 7 and 8 constitute a seat.

  The input switch 9 of the car navigation device 2 is provided with a switch electrode 10 made of various electrode materials. The switch electrode 10 is embedded in the switch using a copper material or the like when the input switch 9 has a structure composed of a normal push button, a slide switch, or the like. When the car navigation device 2 is a touch panel type, a transparent electrode is used as the material. Embedded in the touch screen of the car navigation device 2. The input switch 9 corresponds to the operation means, and the switch electrode 10 corresponds to the operation electrode.

  The switch operator discriminating device 3 is provided with a signal generator 11 capable of outputting a high-frequency signal F to the D seat electrode 5 and the P seat electrode 6. The signal generator 11 is a switch for switching the signal output destination by taking the operation of continuing to output the high-frequency signal F after the ignition switch of the vehicle is operated to, for example, the ACC position or the IG on position and the switch operator discriminating device 3 is operated. The switch is electrically connected to the D seat electrode 5 and the P seat electrode 6 through the switch 12. The switch operator discriminating device 3 of this example is a timing discriminator for performing switch operator discrimination by repeatedly switching the output destination of the high-frequency signal F of the signal generator 11 between the D seat electrode 5 and the P seat electrode 6. The formula is used.

  The change-over switch 12 has a D seat-side fixed contact 12a connected to the D-seat seat electrode 5, a P-seat-side fixed contact 12b connected to the P-seat seat electrode 6, and a movable state whose position is switched between the fixed contacts 12a and 12b. And the contact 12c. When the movable contact 12c is connected to the D seat-side fixed contact 12a and the changeover switch 12 is in the first switch state (the state indicated by the solid line in FIG. 2), the signal generator 11 is electrically connected to the D seat seat electrode 5. When the movable contact 12c is connected to the P seat fixed contact 12b and the changeover switch 12 is in the second switch state (shown by the broken line in FIG. 2), the signal generator 11 is electrically connected to the P seat seat electrode 6. It will be in a connected state. The signal generator 11 constitutes signal generating means, the changeover switch 12 constitutes signal generating means (switching circuit), and the high frequency signal F corresponds to a notification signal.

  The switch operator discriminating device 3 is provided with a controller 13 as a control unit for the switch operator discriminating system. The controller 13 includes various devices such as a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and a drive circuit, and an output system terminal 13 a is connected to the changeover switch 12, and an input system terminal 13 b is connected to the switch electrode 10 through the detection circuit 14. Has been. The detection circuit 14 includes an amplifier 15 that amplifies and outputs the high-frequency signal F conveyed from the switch electrode 10, and a detector 16 that detects and outputs an input signal obtained from the amplifier 15. The controller 13 and the detection circuit 14 constitute a determination unit.

  The controller 13 outputs a rectangular wave switching signal Ssw to the changeover switch 12 to switch the switch state of the changeover switch 12. In this example, the controller 13 applies the H level changeover signal Ssw to the changeover switch 12 to switch the changeover switch 12. The switch is switched to the first switch state and the switch 12 is switched to the second switch state by applying an L level switching signal Ssw to the switch 12. When switching the switch state of the changeover switch 12, the controller 13 recognizes whether the changeover switch 12 is in the first switch state or the second switch state by looking at the HL level of the changeover signal Ssw.

  When the seated person 4 seated on the seat in the vehicle operates the input switch 9, the seat-side electrode (that is, the D seat electrode 5 or the P seat electrode 6) and the switch electrode 10 are connected by biological communication with the human body as a signal communication path. It will be in an electrically connected state. For example, when the driver 4a operates the input switch 9, the D seat electrode 5 and the switch electrode 10 are electrically connected via the driver 4a, and the high frequency signal F emitted from the D seat electrode 5 is The detection signal Sout having a predetermined voltage level is output from the switch electrode 10 to the controller 13 by biometric communication via the driver 4a. The same applies when the passenger 4b operates the input switch 9.

  The controller 13 sequentially monitors the voltage value (voltage level) of the detection signal Sout output from the detection circuit 14 and determines whether or not the input switch 9 is operated. By the way, in the discrimination circuit 17 of the switch operator discriminating apparatus 3 of this example, which includes the electrodes 5, 6, 10, the signal generator 11, the detection circuit 14, etc., the D seat electrode 5 and the P seat electrode 6 are the switch electrodes 10. When a human body is coupled to the body, the first capacitance C1 is generated by the human body, and the capacitive coupling of the determination circuit 17 increases, and the voltage value (voltage level) of the detection signal Sout as shown in FIGS. Va becomes high. The controller 13 sequentially calculates the voltage difference (voltage level difference) Vk with reference to the point where the voltage value Va of the detection signal Sout is the lowest, and by checking whether the voltage difference Vk is equal to or greater than the specified value Vx. The presence or absence of the switch operator is determined.

  When the controller 13 determines that the switch operator is present when the voltage difference Vk of the detection signal Sout is equal to or greater than the specified value Vx, the switch operator at that time checks the driver 4a by looking at the HL level of the switching signal Ssw. And the passenger 4b. In this example, if the switching signal Ssw is H level when the voltage difference Vk of the detection signal Sout is greater than or equal to the specified value Vx, the controller 13 determines that the switch operator at that time is the driver 4a, and the voltage difference Vk of the detection signal Sout. If the switching signal Ssw is at L level when is equal to or greater than the specified value Vx, the switch operator at that time is determined to be the passenger 4b.

  Now, when the passenger 4b operates the input switch 9 of the car navigation device 2, the P seat electrode 6 and the switch electrode 10 are coupled to the human body by the passenger 4b, and the discrimination circuit 17 of the switch operator discrimination device 3 has a capacity by the passenger 4b. Bonding increases. At this time, as shown in FIG. 3, the voltage difference Vk of the detection signal Sout takes a value equal to or greater than the specified value Vx at the timing when the switching signal Ssw becomes H level. As a result, the controller 13 inputs the detection signal Sout in which the voltage difference Vk is equal to or greater than the specified value Vx when the switching signal Ssw is at the H level, so that it is determined that the operator of the input switch 9 at this time is the passenger 4b. Then, the operation of the car navigation device 2 is permitted.

  Further, when the driver 4a operates the input switch 9 of the car navigation device 2, the D seat electrode 5 and the switch electrode 10 are coupled to the human body by the driver 4a, and the discrimination circuit 17 of the switch operator discrimination device 3 has a capacity by the driver 4a. Bonding increases. At this time, as shown in FIG. 4, the voltage difference Vk of the detection signal Sout takes a value equal to or greater than the specified value Vx at the timing when the switching signal Ssw becomes L level. As a result, the controller 13 inputs the detection signal Sout in which the voltage difference Vk is equal to or greater than the specified value Vx when the switching signal Ssw is at the L level. Therefore, it is determined that the operator of the input switch 9 at this time is the driver 4a. Then, the operation of the car navigation device 2 is prohibited.

  Therefore, in this example, when determining whether the operator who operated the car navigation device 2 is the driver 4a or the passenger 4b, each of the seats 7 and 8 and the input switch 9 is provided with detection electrodes, and a signal generator The signal output destination of 11 is switched by the change-over switch 12, and the voltage level change of the detection signal Sout obtained through the electrodes when the switch operator touches these electrodes and the signal output destination of the signal generator 11 are seen. Determine the switch operator. Therefore, when the operator touches the sheet electrode 5 (6) and the switch electrode 10 to perform the switch operation, the signal exchanged at this time is only in one direction of the high-frequency signal F sent from the signal generator 11 to the controller 13. Therefore, the discrimination process can be simplified as compared with the case where a discrimination process for exchanging requests and responses between the sheet 7 (8) and the controller 13 is used, for example.

  By the way, as in this example, each of the seats 7 and 8 is provided with a D seat electrode 5 and a P seat electrode 6 as output electrodes for the high-frequency signal F, and when the switch operator touches the input switch 9, they are incorporated therein. When the switch operator is discriminated by looking at the voltage difference Vk of the switch electrode 10 using the characteristic that the output voltage of the switch electrode 10 is changed, if the switch operator approaches the body ground, as shown in FIG. A second capacitance C2 due to the human body is generated in the determination circuit 17, and the capacitive coupling of the determination circuit 17 increases. The second capacitor C2 is in a state generated in parallel with the first capacitor C1 when viewed in an electric circuit. In this case, as shown in FIG. 6, the peak value of the detection signal Sout becomes large, and even if the switch operator operates the input switch 9, the voltage difference Vk of the detection signal Sout at that time is not less than the specified value Vx. As a result, there arises a problem of erroneous determination of the switch operator.

  Therefore, the sheet electrodes 5 and 6 may have a structure in which a GND pattern 5b grounded to GND is provided in addition to the normal signal input electrode 5a as shown in FIG. In the sheet electrodes 5 and 6 shown in FIG. 7, a ring-shaped GND pattern 5b made of, for example, copper foil or the like is arranged around the circular thin-film signal input electrode 5a at a predetermined interval in the radial direction. The electrode 5a and the GND pattern 5b are sandwiched between a pair of transparent thin film laminates 18a and 18b. Note that the sheet electrodes 5 and 6 may have a shape in which comb-like signal input electrodes 5a and a GND pattern 5b are engaged with each other as shown in FIG.

  As described above, when the GND pattern 5b is provided on the sheet electrodes 5 and 6, the coupling between the switch operator and the body ground is constant. For this reason, when the switch operator operates the input switch 9, the voltage difference Vk of the detection signal Sout obtained from the switch electrode 10 by the controller 13 is not close to or close to the body ground. However, the value takes Vk1 after the level decrease, and the value does not change greatly. For this reason, the voltage level of the detection signal Sout is not affected by the capacitive coupling change between the switch operator and the body ground, and the value is stabilized. This is highly effective in preventing the switch operator from making an erroneous determination. . Even if the voltage difference Vk takes a small value such as Vk1, since this is amplified by the detection circuit 14, no problem occurs in the voltage level determination.

According to the configuration of the present embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.
(1) The signal output destination is switched by the changeover switch 12 so that the high frequency signal F generated by the signal generator 11 is alternately output from the D seat electrode 5 and the P seat electrode 6, and the driver seat 7 When the seated person 4 seated on the passenger seat 8 operates the input switch 9, the high-frequency signal F output from the signal generator 11 flows to the controller 13 by biological communication. At this time, the voltage value Va of the detection signal Sout detected by the controller 13 increases with an increase in capacitive coupling by the human body. Therefore, when the voltage difference Vk exceeds the specified value Vx, the switching signal at that time By checking the level state of Ssw, it is confirmed which of the sheet electrodes 5 and 6 has transmitted the signal, and it is determined whether the operator of the input switch 9 is the driver 4a or the passenger 4b. Accordingly, the switch operator discrimination process is a discrimination process using biometric communication in which only the high-frequency signal F flows from the signal generator 11 toward the controller 13, so that the signal flowing during biometric communication is communication that flows in only one direction. Therefore, the switch operator discrimination process is simplified.

  (2) When the timing discriminant is used as the switch operator discriminating method, the signal generator 11 is shared between the D seat sheet electrode 5 and the P seat seat electrode 6, which is necessary for generating the high-frequency signal F. Only one signal generator 11 can be used, and only one detection circuit 14 is required. Therefore, the device size (circuit board size) of the switch operator discriminating device 3 can be reduced, and accordingly, the cost required for the parts of the switch operator discriminating device 3 can be kept low.

  (3) When the GND pattern 5b is formed on the sheet electrodes 5 and 6, since the coupling between the switch operator and the body ground is constant, when the switch operator operates the input switch 9, the switch operator The voltage value Va of the detection signal Sout that the controller 13 obtains from the switch electrode 10 does not change greatly even if is close to the body ground or not. Therefore, the same discrimination result can be obtained both when the switch operator is approaching the body ground and when it is not, which is highly effective in improving the accuracy of the switch operator discrimination.

  (4) When the presence or absence of the switch operator is determined, a voltage difference Vk based on the voltage value Va when the changeover switch 12 is turned off and not connected to the signal generator 11 is obtained, and this voltage difference Vk is a specified value. If Vx or higher, it is determined that there is a switch operation. By the way, it is possible to use the voltage value Va when the changeover switch 12 is turned on and there is no switch operation as the reference voltage. In this case, for example, there is a concern that the peak value may increase with a change in use environment. If this is used as a voltage reference, it may also cause misjudgment of the switch operator. However, since the voltage value Va when the changeover switch 12 is turned off and not connected to the signal generator 11 is unchanged regardless of changes in the use environment, the voltage difference Vk is obtained using the voltage value Va as a voltage reference. By doing so, it becomes difficult for a switch operator to make an erroneous determination.

  (5) For example, the switch operator can be identified without using a method of identifying the switch operator by providing switches in each of the driver seat and the passenger seat. Therefore, when the input switch 9 is operated, it is possible to determine whether the switch operator is the driver 4a or the passenger 4b with a small number of parts.

(Second Embodiment)
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. The second embodiment is different in that the switch operator discrimination method described in the first embodiment is changed to a frequency discrimination formula instead of a timing discrimination formula, and the other basic parts are as follows. Since it is the same structure, the same part attaches | subjects the same code | symbol and abbreviate | omits description and demonstrates only a different part.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the switch operator discriminating apparatus 3 is provided with individual signal generators 11 a and 11 b for the respective sheet electrodes 5 and 6. In this example, the first signal generator 11a is connected to the D seat electrode 5 and the second signal generator 11b is connected to the P seat electrode 6. These signal generators 11a and 11b transmit high-frequency signals F1 and F2 having different frequencies, respectively. In this example, the first signal generator 11a supplies the first high-frequency signal F1 to the D seat electrode 5 and the second The signal generator 11b supplies the second high-frequency signal F2 to the P seat seat electrode 6.

  In addition, the detection circuit 14 is provided with band-pass filters 14a and 14b that pass signals only in a predetermined frequency band according to the number of sheet electrodes 5 and 6 (two in this example). In this example, the first high-frequency signal F1 output from the first signal generator 11a can be passed through the first band-pass filter 14a, and the second high-frequency signal F2 output from the second signal generator 11b can pass through. Is a second bandpass filter 14b. When the D seat electrode 5 and the switch electrode 10 are coupled to the human body, the detection circuit 14 receives the first high-frequency signal F1, which passes through the first bandpass filter 14a and passes through the amplifier 15 and the detector 16, which The D seat touch detection signal Sout1 is output to the controller 13. When the P seat electrode 6 and the switch electrode 10 are coupled to each other, the detection circuit 14 receives the second high-frequency signal F2, which passes through the second bandpass filter 14b and passes through the amplifier 15 and the detector 16. This is output to the controller 13 as the P seat touch detection signal Sout2.

  The controller 13 performs this type of operation using a so-called frequency identification formula that performs switch operator discrimination by looking at the frequencies of the detection signals (D seat touch detection signal Sout1, P seat touch detection signal Sout2) input from the detection circuit 14. Person identification. If the input signal obtained from the detection circuit 14 is the D seat touch detection signal Sout1, the controller 13 of this example discriminates the switch operator at that time as the driver 4a, prohibits the operation of the car navigation device 2, and detects the detection circuit. If the input signal obtained from 14 is the P seat touch detection signal Sout2, the switch operator at that time is identified as the passenger 4b and the operation of the car navigation device 2 is permitted.

According to the configuration of the present embodiment, in addition to the effects described in (1) and (5) of the first embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.
(6) When the frequency identification formula is used as the switch operator discrimination method, the high frequency signals F, 1 and F2 having the frequency corresponding to the seat position are sent to the controller 13 at the timing when the switch operator operates the input switch 9. As soon as the input switch 9 is operated, the switch operator discrimination is started. Therefore, for example, even if the number of seat electrodes is increased to increase the number of seats to be detected, the processing time required for the switch operator determination is unchanged, so that it takes a long processing time for the switch operator determination. Don't worry.

In addition, this embodiment is not limited to the structure so far, You may change into the following aspects.
In the first embodiment, the switching circuit is not necessarily limited to the a-contact type change-over switch 12. For example, this may be a circuit that switches a signal output destination using a switching element such as a transistor. In this case, the size of the switching circuit is small, which is highly effective for further miniaturization of the input system operator discrimination device.

  -In 1st Embodiment, how to take the voltage difference Vk at the time of switch operator presence determination is not limited to the method of taking as a difference on the basis of the point with the lowest voltage value Va. For example, in the voltage waveforms shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, when the changeover switch 12 is connected to the P seat side fixed contact 12 b without any operation to the input switch 9, the voltage value Va tends to increase slightly. However, the voltage difference Vk may be obtained on the basis of the voltage value of the point slightly increased at this time.

  In the first and second embodiments, the switch operator determination target is not limited to the driver 4a and the passenger 4b. For example, an electrode may be provided on the rear seat, and it may be determined who operated the input switch 9 among three or more of the driver, the passenger, and the rear seat seater.

  In the first and second embodiments, the device operated by the seat occupant is not necessarily limited to the car navigation device 2. For example, this may be another device such as an air conditioner device or an audio device present in the center cluster.

  In the first and second embodiments, the shape combination of the signal input electrode 5a and the GND pattern 5b is not limited to the combination of the circular shape and the ring shape shown in FIG. 7 and the comb shape and the U shape shown in FIG. If it is a shape which can contact the seated person seated on the seats 7 and 8, this is not particularly limited.

In the first and second embodiments, the material of the electrodes 5, 6 and 10 is not necessarily limited to copper foil, and this may be indium tin oxide, tin oxide, zinc, or the like.
-In 1st and 2nd embodiment, the mounting object of the input type operator discrimination device of this example is not necessarily limited to the vehicle 1. In other words, when there are a plurality of seat occupants, the adoption target is not particularly limited as long as it is a device or apparatus that needs to determine who among them has operated the input system.

Next, technical ideas that can be grasped from the above-described embodiment and other examples will be described below together with their effects.
(1) In Claim 2 or 3, the determination means obtains the signal level difference based on a signal level value when the switching circuit is turned off and is not connected to the signal generator, and the signal level difference Is equal to or greater than a specified value, it is recognized that the operating means has been operated by the operator. In this case, the signal level value when the switching circuit is turned off and not connected to the signal generating means is unchanged regardless of the change in the use environment, so the operation is performed with the signal level difference obtained based on this signal level value. If person discrimination is performed, it becomes possible to perform person discrimination with high accuracy.

The top view which shows schematic structure in the vehicle in 1st Embodiment. The block diagram which shows the structure of an input type operator discrimination device. The wave form diagram of a switching signal and a detection signal when a passenger operates an input system. The wave form diagram of the switching signal and detection signal when a driver operates an input system. The block diagram which shows the structure of another input type operator discrimination device. The wave form diagram of a switching signal and a detection signal when a passenger operates an input system. The disassembled perspective view which shows the specific example of a sheet electrode. The disassembled perspective view which shows the specific example of another sheet electrode. The block diagram which shows the structure of the input type operator discrimination device in 2nd Embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 2 ... Car navigation apparatus as apparatus, 4 ... Seated person, 5 ... D seat electrode which comprises seat electrode, 5a ... Signal input electrode, 5b ... GNP pattern as ground electrode, 6 ... P seat which comprises seat electrode Seat electrode, 7, 8 ... Seat as seat, 9 ... Input switch as operation means, 10 ... Switch electrode as operation electrode, 11 (11a, 11b) ... Signal generator constituting signal generation means, 12 ... Signal A changeover switch constituting the generating means (switching circuit), 13... A controller constituting the discrimination means, 14... A detection circuit constituting the discrimination means, F (F1, F2).

Claims (4)

An input system operator discriminating device for discriminating which of the plurality of seats the seated person operates the operating means when a seated person sitting on the seat operates the operating means of the device. ,
Signal generating means for generating a notification signal capable of passing through the human body;
A plurality of seat electrodes provided for each of the seats, each receiving supply of the notification signal from the signal generating means;
An operation electrode provided in the operation means;
When the seated person touches the operation means and the seat electrode and the operation electrode are energized through the human body, the notification signal flowing to the operation electrode is captured by the biological communication at that time, and the notification signal is used. An input system operator discriminating apparatus comprising a discriminating means for discriminating an operator. The signal generating means includes one signal generator that transmits the notification signal, and a switching circuit that selectively switches an output destination of the notification signal transmitted by the signal generator among the plurality of seat electrodes. With
The determination unit sequentially recognizes the output destination of the notification signal by looking at a connection state of the switching circuit, detects a signal level change of the notification signal that changes depending on whether the operation unit is operated by an operator, The input system operator determination device according to claim 1, wherein the operator determination is performed using an output destination and the signal level change.   The input system operator according to claim 2, wherein a ground electrode connected to a reference potential point of the device is provided on the seat electrode in addition to the signal input electrode to which the notification signal is applied. Discriminator. The signal generating means includes a plurality of signal generators for transmitting the notification signals having different frequencies,
The input system operation according to claim 1, wherein the determination unit performs the operator determination by identifying a frequency of the notification signal obtained through the electrode and the operator when the biometric communication is established. Identification device.

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