JP2008204812A - Operation device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an operation device with durability and reliability improved while restraining deterioration of operability. <P>SOLUTION: The operation part 3 fitted to a design panel 2 is structured of a concave and convex part 4 equipped with a convex face coming in contact with a finger of an operator at the time of operation at a non-pressing state of the finger, and a concave face fitted on a peripheral edge of the convex face and coming in contact with the finger together with the convex face at the time of operation at a pressing state of the finger. And on a non-operating face of the concave and convex part 4, a detecting electrode 7 is closely arranged, and a detecting circuit 11 distinguishes an operating mode at the non-pressed state and that at the pressed state against the operating part 3, based on contact states of the finger on the concave and convex part 4. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an operating device applied as, for example, a contactless touch switch disposed in a vehicle compartment.

  In general, for example, various electrical components such as an air conditioner device and an audio device mounted on a vehicle are controlled by operation of an operation device disposed in a room. Conventionally, this type of operating device is constituted by a contact switch such as a push button switch or a dial switch. However, such a contact switch may cause contact failure due to deterioration over time.

In recent years, for example, as disclosed in Patent Documents 1 and 2, various contactless operation devices using a capacitance method or the like have been proposed.
In this type of operation device, it is possible to electrically detect the operation of the operation unit based on the presence or absence of a capacitor component generated between the detection electrode provided in the operation unit and the human body. The presence or absence of an operation can be detected without using a movable mechanism as a moving part and using a contact point. Therefore, the contact failure of the operation part resulting from deterioration over time does not occur, and high durability can be obtained. In addition, although the operation unit needs to be a movable mechanism in the contact switch, the operation unit does not need to be a movable mechanism in the capacitance type operation device, so that a high-quality appearance can be realized. .
JP 2007-27034 A JP 2005-63773 A

  However, in such a conventional capacitance type operation device, the corresponding control target is controlled by the presence or absence of contact with the operation unit. For example, when operating by a blind touch, the operation unit different from the purpose is touched. Otherwise, unintended control may be performed. Further, in order to suppress such unintended control, it is considered that the corresponding control target is controlled only when contact with the operation unit is detected for a preset contact time (for example, 1 second). However, the operation time becomes longer and the operability becomes worse.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide an operating device capable of improving durability and reliability while suppressing deterioration in operability.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, in the invention according to claim 1, provided on the convex surface that comes into contact with the finger during the operation in the non-pressed state by the operator's finger, and the peripheral edge of the convex surface, An operation unit having a concave surface that comes into contact with the finger together with the convex surface when operated in a pressed state of the finger, and provided on the operation unit, based on a contact state of the human body with respect to the convex surface and the concave surface The gist of the present invention is to include a detection unit that distinguishes and detects the operation mode in the non-pressed state and the operation mode in the pressed state with respect to the operation unit.

  According to the above configuration, since the operation portion is composed of a convex surface and a concave surface, the human body mainly contacts only the convex surface in the non-pressed state of operation, and the human body is mainly convex in the operation state of the pressed state. Contact both the surface and the concave surface. For this reason, the detection means can distinguish and detect the operation mode in the non-pressed state and the operation mode in the pressed state based on the contact state. Therefore, it is possible to control the control target according to the operation mode. For example, when the operation unit is operated by blind touch, an unintended control is performed even when an operation unit different from the purpose is touched. It is possible to prevent this from happening. And since it is not necessary to set contact time, the deterioration of operativity can also be suppressed. Further, since no contact failure occurs, high durability can be secured.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the operating device according to the first aspect, the operating portion is configured by a concavo-convex portion formed in a part of a design panel configured by a dielectric, The gist of the present invention is that it includes a detection portion that is closely arranged on the uneven portion on the non-operation surface side of the operation portion.

  According to the above configuration, since the detection site is closely arranged on the non-operation surface side of the uneven portion, for example, when the detection site is configured by a capacitive detection sensor, a piezoelectric element that detects a pressure change with respect to the operation unit, or the like In addition, the detection accuracy can be increased.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the operation device according to the first or second aspect, the operation portion is configured by a concavo-convex portion formed in a part of a design panel formed of a dielectric, The detection means detects a change in capacitance that occurs between a detection electrode disposed on the uneven portion on the non-operation surface side of the operation portion and a human body that touches the detection electrode and the uneven portion. The gist of the invention is that it is a capacitance type detection sensor including a circuit.

  According to the above configuration, the detection unit can recognize the operation mode with respect to the operation unit by detecting a change in the capacitance generated between the detection electrode and the human body touching the uneven portion. This capacitance changes according to the distance of the human body to the detection electrode and the contact area with the concavo-convex portion. For this reason, in the operation mode in the non-pressed state, the contact area of the human body with the concavo-convex portion is small, and the distance between the detection electrode and the human body is long. On the other hand, in the operation mode in the pressed state, the contact area of the human body with the concavo-convex portion is large, and the distance between the detection electrode and the human body is short. Therefore, the electrostatic capacitance detected by the detection means varies greatly between the non-pressed state and the pressed state. Therefore, different operation modes can be reliably distinguished and detected by the detection means.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the operation device according to any one of the first to third aspects, a control unit that performs different control according to each operation mode detected by the detection unit is provided. Is the gist.

  According to the configuration described above, different control is performed for the operation mode in the non-pressed state and the operation mode in the pressed state, and thus it is possible to perform an operation for performing a plurality of controls with one operation unit.

  As described above in detail, according to the present invention, it is possible to improve durability and reliability while suppressing deterioration in operability.

Hereinafter, an embodiment in which the present invention is embodied as an operation device for operating various accessory devices mounted on a vehicle will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.
As shown in FIG. 1, the operating device 1 is disposed, for example, on a door armrest in a vehicle compartment, and a design panel 2 that is a cover material of the door armrest, and a plurality of (in this embodiment) provided on the design panel 2. 6) operation units 3 are provided.

  The design panel 2 is made of a plate-like material made of a dielectric, and the operation unit 3 is made up of an uneven portion 4 formed on the surface of the design panel 2. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 2, the operation panel 3 in the design panel 2 is formed with a horizontally-circular annular recess 5 at the position where the operation part 3 is formed, and a portion surrounded by the recess 5 is a pair of protrusions. 6, and the concave-convex portion 4 is constituted by the concave portions 5 and the convex portions 6. For this reason, a concave surface and a convex surface are formed on the operation surface (design surface) of the design panel 2, and the top of the convex portion 6 is substantially level with the design panel 2. Yes. In addition, as shown in FIG. 2, in the design panel 2, the concave portion 5 and the convex portion 6 are configured with a substantially uniform thickness, and an uneven surface is formed even on the non-operation surface (back surface). Yes. In addition, the printing which shows the operation target is given to the vicinity of each operation part 3 in the operation surface side of the design panel 2. FIG. For this reason, the operator can easily recognize what each operation unit 3 operates. Incidentally, in the present embodiment, each operation unit 3 is embodied as an operation unit for operating an air conditioner device and an audio device as a control target.

  The width W1 of the concave portion 5 and the width W2 and the depth of the convex portion 6 shown in FIG. 1B are as shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B when the operator's finger (human body) is not pressed. It is set so that the finger abuts only on the top portion of the convex portion 6 at the time of contact, and the finger abuts on the back of the concave portion 5 when the finger is in a pressed state. Incidentally, in this embodiment, the recessed part 5 is set to a depth slightly thinner than the thickness of the design panel 2.

  On the back surface of the design panel 2, detection electrodes 7 constituting detection means are provided. As shown in FIG. 1 (b), the detection electrodes 7 are provided at locations where the pair of convex portions 6 are formed in each operation portion 3, and can be detected at two locations with respect to one operation portion 3. It has become. That is, it is possible to detect separately when the left convex portion 6 of the operation unit 3 is operated and when the right convex portion 6 is operated. The detection electrode 7 is configured to be curved along the concavo-convex portion 4, and is closely arranged on the back surface of the design panel 2.

  Such a detection electrode 7 is electrically connected to the detection circuit 11, and the detection electrode 7 and the detection circuit 11 constitute a detection means. The detection circuit 11 is electrically connected to a control unit 12 serving as a control unit that controls various control targets corresponding to the detection signal from the detection circuit 11.

  The detection circuit 11 is configured by a capacitance type detection sensor that detects a change in capacitance generated in the detection electrode 7, and detects a contact state of a finger with respect to the uneven portion 4 based on the change in capacitance. The detection signal indicating the detection result is output to the control unit 12. Specifically, since no electrostatic capacitance is generated between the detection electrode 7 and the human body in the non-operation state, the detection circuit 11 can recognize that it is in the non-operation state. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 2 (a), in the operation mode in the non-pressed state of the finger, the finger abuts on the top portion of the convex portion 6, and therefore, the capacitance between the detection electrode 7 and the finger. Therefore, the detection circuit 11 can recognize that it is in the operation state based on the capacitance. However, in this state, since the finger is in contact with only the top portion of the convex portion 6, the capacitance generated between the detection electrode 7 and the finger is small. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 2B, in a state where the force is applied to the concavo-convex portion 4 from the direction of the arrow F, that is, in the operation mode in the pressed state of the finger, In addition, it comes into contact with the back of the recess 5. For this reason, the contact area of the finger with respect to the concavo-convex portion 4 is larger than in the non-pressed state, and the distance between the finger and the detection electrode 7 is also shortened. Therefore, the capacitance generated between the detection electrode 7 and the finger is extremely large compared to the non-pressed state. Therefore, the detection circuit 11 can reliably recognize the contact state of the finger based on the change in the capacitance. That is, the detection circuit 11 recognizes the operation mode in the non-pressed state when the change in capacitance is small, and recognizes the operation mode in the pressed state when the change in capacitance is large. can do. Such a detection circuit 11 is individually provided corresponding to each detection electrode 7 provided corresponding to each operation unit 3.

  Then, the control unit 12 controls the operation of the corresponding control object based on the operation state with respect to each operation unit 3 based on the detection signal from each detection circuit 11. Specifically, when the control unit 12 determines that an operation in a non-pressed state has been performed from any one of the detection circuits 11, the control unit 12 outputs no control signal to the control target and detects each detection. When it is determined that an operation in the pressed state has been performed from any of the circuits 11, a control signal is output to the corresponding control target. More specifically, for example, when it is determined that the left portion of the uppermost operation unit 3 shown in FIG. 1 has been pressed, the control unit 12 outputs a control signal to the air conditioner device to set the set temperature. Let it down. As described above, the control unit 12 can control the corresponding control object only when the operation unit 3 is pressed.

Therefore, according to the present embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.
(1) Since the operation part 3 consists of the convex part 6 and the recessed part 5, the human body (finger) mainly contacts only the top part of the convex part 6 in the operation mode in the non-pressed state, and the finger in the operation mode in the pressed state. Mainly contacts both the convex portion 6 and the concave portion 5. For this reason, the electrostatic capacitance generated between the detection electrode 7 and the finger changes greatly according to the operation mode, and the detection circuit 11 operates based on the contact state in the non-pressing state and the pressing state. The operation mode in the state can be distinguished and detected. Therefore, it is possible to control the control target according to the operation mode, and for example, when the operation unit 3 is operated by blind touch, even if the operation unit 3 different from the purpose is touched, it is not intended. It is possible to prevent the control from being performed. Moreover, since it is not necessary to set a contact time for determining whether control is possible, it is possible to suppress deterioration in operability. Further, since the operation can be detected without contact, no contact failure occurs, so that high durability can be ensured.

  (2) The detection circuit 11 can recognize the operation mode with respect to the operation unit by detecting a change in capacitance generated between the detection electrode 7 and the human body (finger) touching the concavo-convex portion 4. This capacitance changes according to the distance of the human body to the detection electrode 7 and the contact area of the finger with the concavo-convex portion 4. For this reason, in the operation mode in the non-pressed state, the contact area of the human body with the concavo-convex portion 4 is small, and the distance between the detection electrode 7 and the human body is long. On the other hand, in the operation mode in the pressed state, the contact area of the human body with the concavo-convex portion 4 is large, and the distance between the detection electrode 7 and the human body is short. Therefore, the capacitance detected by the detection circuit 11 varies greatly between the non-pressed state and the pressed state. Therefore, different operation modes can be reliably distinguished and detected by the detection circuit 11.

  (3) The detection electrode 7 is closely arranged on the non-operation surface side in the concavo-convex portion 4. For this reason, the detection circuit 11 can detect the change in the capacitance accompanying the change in the operation mode as a large change compared to the case where the air layer exists between the detection electrode 7 and the concavo-convex portion 4. .

  (4) Since it is possible to recognize a plurality of types of operation modes without providing a movable mechanism in the operation unit 3, it is possible to configure the operation device 1 with excellent aesthetics while facilitating the structure of the operation unit 3. it can.

In addition, you may change embodiment of this invention as follows.
-The formation part of the uneven | corrugated-shaped part 4 in the design panel 2 does not necessarily need to become uniform thickness, for example, as shown to Fig.3 (a), the non-operation surface of this uneven | corrugated-shaped part 4 is planar shape. It may be. If it does in this way, the detection electrode 7 can be arrange | positioned closely with respect to the design panel 2 easily.

  -For example, as shown in Drawing 3 (b), you may change the shape of concavo-convex part 4 by providing crevice 21 further in the top of convex part 6, etc. In short, the concavo-convex portion 4 only needs to have a shape in which the contact area and the distance between the finger and the detection electrode 7 are clearly changed between the non-pressed state and the pressed state of the finger.

  In the embodiment, the control unit 12 may perform different controls depending on whether the operation unit 3 is operated in a non-pressed state or when the operation unit 3 is operated in a pressed state. Good. For example, when a display unit such as an LED is provided in the operation printing unit of the design panel 2 and the operation unit 3 is operated in a non-pressed state, the control unit 12 lights only the display unit corresponding to the operation unit 3. It may be like this. In this way, the operator can easily visually recognize which operation unit 3 is selected, and usability is improved. The display unit is not necessarily provided in the operation printing unit, and may be provided, for example, on an instrument panel. Moreover, it is not limited to such a display unit, and may be realized by various notification means that generate sound, vibration, and the like.

  Furthermore, in the operation mode in the non-pressed state, the control unit 12 does not necessarily need to perform the notification control, and may perform another control. In this way, since different control can be performed in the operation mode in the non-pressed state and the operation mode in the pressed state, an operation for performing a plurality of controls by the single operation unit 3 is possible. It becomes possible.

  The detection means is not limited to the capacitance type detection sensor including the detection electrode 7 and the detection circuit 11, but may be other contactless detection sensors such as a resistance film type detection sensor and a surface acoustic wave (SAW) type detection sensor. It may be configured. Further, the detecting means may be configured by a pressure sensor configured by a piezoelectric element that detects a pressure change with respect to the concavo-convex portion 4, for example. When a resistive film type detection sensor or a surface acoustic wave (SAW) type detection sensor is used, it is necessary to provide a sensor portion corresponding to the detection electrode 7 on the operation surface side of the concavo-convex portion 4.

-The detection electrode 7 does not necessarily need to be closely arranged on the non-operation surface side of the concavo-convex portion 4, and may be arranged with a slight gap.
The operation device 1 does not necessarily have to be a vehicle operation device disposed in a vehicle, and any touch switch type operation device such as a remote controller of a television can be applied.

Next, in addition to the technical ideas described in the claims, the technical ideas grasped by the embodiment described above are listed below.
(1) The operation device according to claim 3, further comprising a notification unit that notifies whether the human body is in contact with the operation unit, wherein the control unit detects an operation mode in a non-pressed state with respect to the operation unit. And performing notification control to notify the fact by the notification means. According to the technical idea described in (1), usability can be further improved.

  (2) In the technical idea described in the above (1), the notification unit is a display unit provided in the vicinity of the operation unit so as to be visible from the operation surface side.

(A) is a top view which shows roughly the external appearance of the operating device of one Embodiment of this invention, (b) is a top view which expands and shows a part of (a). FIG. 1A is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 1B showing an operation mode in a non-pressed state, and FIG. 1B is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. . (A), (b) is sectional drawing which shows schematic structure of the operating device of other embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Operation apparatus, 2 ... Design panel, 3 ... Operation part, 4 ... Concave-shaped part, 5 ... Concave part, 6 ... Convex part, 7 ... Detection electrode, 11 ... Detection circuit, 12 ... Control part.

Claims (4)

A convex surface that comes into contact with the finger when operated by the operator's finger in a non-pressed state, and a peripheral edge of the convex surface, and touches the finger together with the convex surface when operated with the finger pressed. An operating portion having a concave surface in contact therewith;
A detecting unit provided in the operation unit and detecting the operation mode in the non-pressed state and the operation mode in the pressed state with respect to the operation unit based on a contact state of the human body with the convex surface and the concave surface; An operating device comprising: The operation part is constituted by a concavo-convex part formed on a part of a design panel made of a dielectric,
The operation device according to claim 1, wherein the detection unit includes a detection portion that is closely disposed on the uneven portion on the non-operation surface side of the operation unit. The operation part is constituted by a concavo-convex part formed on a part of a design panel made of a dielectric,
The detection means detects a change in capacitance that occurs between a detection electrode arranged on the uneven portion on the non-operation surface side of the operation portion and a human body that touches the detection electrode and the uneven portion. The operating device according to claim 1, wherein the operating device is a capacitance type detection sensor including a detection circuit.   The operating device according to claim 1, further comprising a control unit that performs different control according to each operation mode detected by the detection unit.

Images