JP2009298380A - Input device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an input device applied with an erroneous input preventive technology. <P>SOLUTION: The input device 1 is composed of a touch sensor 10 (10A-10D) equipped with a touch detecting function touch-operated when selecting a control target, a determining portion determining the selected control target on the basis of a detection result from the touch sensor 10, a head-up display displaying the selected control target, and a single push switch 20 operated when the control target determined by the determining portion is executed. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an input device provided with a technique capable of preventing erroneous input.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as shown in, for example, Patent Document 1, there is known an input device that is provided on a steering wheel of a vehicle and includes a steering switch that performs various operations of a corresponding on-vehicle device while maintaining a state in which the vehicle is gripped. It has been. The steering wheel is mainly provided with a switch corresponding to an electronic device that is frequently operated during driving of the vehicle, such as an air conditioner and a car audio. Various in-vehicle devices are fixedly assigned to each steering switch on a one-to-one basis. Based on the electrical signal output through the operation of these switches, control of the in-vehicle device corresponding to the operated switch is executed. According to such a steering switch, the driver can operate various electronic devices while ensuring driving safety.

  In recent years, with the digitization of vehicles, the number of electronic devices mounted has been increasing. From such a situation, it has been required to provide more switches on the steering wheel. However, in the steering wheel, there is a limit to the space in which the steering switch is provided, so that the number of switches that can be installed on the steering wheel is limited. Therefore, it is conceivable that not only a single electronic device is assigned to a single switch, but also other electronic devices are assigned to a combination operation of these switches. This combination operation makes it possible to increase the number of electronic devices assigned as steering switches.

  However, in an input device adopting such a combination input method, the driver needs to store the relationship between the combination operation of each switch and the in-vehicle device corresponding to the combination operation. Therefore, there is a possibility that a switch having a different combination from the switch that should be operated is erroneously operated.

  In order to solve these problems, an input device as disclosed in Patent Document 2 has been proposed. That is, as shown in FIG. 7, in this input device, touch sensors 110A and 110B are provided corresponding to the switches (push switches) 120A and 120B fixed inside the steering wheel 175. The touch sensors 110A and 110B are provided to be displaceable in the vertical direction in FIG. 7 with respect to the steering wheel 175. Usually, each of the touch sensors 110 </ b> A and 110 </ b> B is held in a state where these surfaces are exposed on the surface of the steering wheel 175.

  When each touch sensor 110A, 110B is touched, each touch sensor 110A, 110B outputs a detection signal indicating that the touch sensor 110A, 110B has been touched to the determination unit 130, as shown in FIG. The determination unit 130 determines an in-vehicle device corresponding to each touch sensor 110A, 110B or a combination thereof based on the detection signal input from each touch sensor 110A, 110B, and outputs the determination result to the display control unit 135. The display control unit 135 causes the display unit 140 provided in the vicinity of the driver's seat to display information indicating the in-vehicle device corresponding to the touch sensors 110A and 110B touched based on the determination result input from the determination unit 130, for example.

Based on the display on the display unit 140, the driver confirms whether or not the control target is intended, and actually executes the control. That is, the touch sensors 110A and 110B are pressed in a state in which the touch state with respect to the touch sensors 110A and 110B is maintained. Then, the switches 120A and 120B arranged on the back side of the touch sensors 110A and 110B are turned on, and a predetermined control target operation is executed. According to such a configuration, even if the combination of the switches is not stored in advance or is stored in error, the control target selected by touching the touch sensors 110A and 110B is confirmed on the display unit 140 and executed. It becomes possible.
JP 2004-149086 A JP 2007-290562 A

  According to the input device of Patent Document 2 shown in FIG. 7, the driver touches each touch sensor with his / her finger and confirms the control target selected by the display unit, while pressing the switch in the selected state. Since it can be pressed, it is certainly not necessary to remember the combination of switches and the control object corresponding to them.

  However, even in this case, the following problems were concerned. In other words, in order to execute control of an in-vehicle device corresponding to a combination operation of a plurality of switches, it is necessary to operate these switches at the same time. In practice, however, there is often a slight time difference between the operation timings of these switches. is assumed. In this case, control of the in-vehicle device corresponding to the switch operated first among the switches, that is, the in-vehicle device not intended by the driver is executed. As described above, in the input device that operates by combining a plurality of switches, there is still a concern about the problem of erroneous input. Such a problem occurs not only in the switches provided in the steering wheel described above but also in switches provided in, for example, an instrument panel in the vehicle interior.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an input device capable of preventing erroneous input.

  In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the invention according to claim 1 is an input which is attached to a specific attachment object and is subjected to a predetermined input operation so as to selectively execute a plurality of types of control object operations. A touch detection unit that is provided on a surface of the attachment target, is touch-operated when selecting a control target to perform an operation, and detects a single or plural touch positions and outputs a detection signal; , A determination unit for determining a selected control object based on a detection signal input from the touch detection unit, and display control for displaying on the external display unit the control object determined to be selected by the determination unit And an operation signal indicating that the operation is performed when the operation of the control target displayed on the display unit is executed by determining that the selection unit has selected. When the operation signal from the switch is input, the determination unit requests the control target determined to be selected to execute the operation at this time to execute the operation. The gist is to output the command signal.

  According to this configuration, a control target selected to execute an operation is determined based on one or a plurality of touch positions with respect to the touch detection unit, and this is displayed on an external display unit. For this reason, the user can execute the operation while confirming the control target selected at that time on the display unit. Therefore, even when the touch position with respect to the touch detection unit or the combination thereof is not stored or stored in error, a desired control target can be accurately selected and the operation can be reliably performed.

  Further, when the operation of the control target selected through the touch operation on the touch detection unit is executed, it is only necessary to operate a single switch. Since there is one switch that determines execution of the operation to be controlled, there is no deviation in the timing of pressing the switch. For this reason, the operation timing of each switch, and thus this shift, is caused by the selection of the control target and the operation of the selected control target being executed through the combination operation of a plurality of switches. There is no problem that an unintended control target operation is executed. Therefore, it is possible to reliably execute the operation of the control target displayed on the display unit as being the control target selected. That is, erroneous input can be prevented.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the input device according to the first aspect, the touch detection unit includes a plurality of touch sensors that output detection signals when a touch operation is performed. While configured as a sensor unit that is integrally displaced in the pressing direction when pressed, the switch is disposed on the side that is displaced when the sensor unit is pressed, and the switch is connected to the sensor unit. The gist is that it is operated using displacement.

  According to this configuration, when the user performs an operation of a desired control target selected through a touch operation on one or more touch sensors, the user may press the touch sensor while maintaining the touch state. With this pressing, the sensor unit is integrally displaced in the pressing direction, whereby the switch is operated. As described above, an operation for selecting a desired control target and an operation for executing the operation of the selected control target can be performed in a series of flows. Therefore, the input operability of the input device is ensured.

  The gist of the invention described in claim 3 is that, in the input device according to claim 2, a guide for guiding the displacement of the sensor unit in the pressing direction is provided.

  According to this configuration, since the displacement of the sensor in the pressing direction is guided by the guide, when the sensor unit is pressed, the sensor unit is not shaken and a smooth operation is possible.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the input device according to the second or third aspect of the present invention, the side of the sensor unit that is displaced when the sensor unit is pressed is pressed along with the displacement, so that the pressing direction. An elastic member for accumulating the restoring elastic force in the opposite direction is provided, and when the pressure on the sensor unit is released, the sensor unit is returned to the original position by the elastic restoring force of the elastic member. This is the gist.

  According to this configuration, when the sensor unit is pressed, the elastic member stores an elastic force in the reverse direction of pressing. When the pressing force on the sensor unit is released, the sensor unit returns to the original position by the elastic force of the elastic member. This is convenient because the user does not have to return the sensor unit himself after pressing the sensor unit.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the input device according to any one of the second to fourth aspects, the switch is displaced in the pressing direction by being pressed through the displacement of the sensor unit. The movable portion is provided and is kept in an ON state only while the pressing force by the sensor unit is applied to the movable portion. When the pressing force is released, the movable portion is automatically returned to the original position. An automatic return type push button switch that returns to an off state, and when the pressure on the sensor unit is released, the sensor unit is moved using the return force to the original position of the movable part. The gist is to return to the original position.

  According to this configuration, when the pressing force on the sensor unit is released, the sensor unit automatically returns to its original position together with the movable part of the switch, so that the user needs to return the sensor unit to the original position after pressing the sensor unit. It contributes to the improvement of convenience. Here, when the present invention is applied to the invention of claim 4, the pushed sensor unit is returned to its original position through both the elastic force of the elastic member and the return force of the movable part constituting the switch. .

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the input device according to any one of the second to fifth aspects, the sensors are arranged linearly or arcuately on the surface of the attachment target. Is the gist.

  According to this configuration, since the sensors are arranged in a linear or arcuate manner on the attachment target, it is easy to slide the finger while the finger is in contact with the sensor, and the selection control target can be switched smoothly.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to prevent erroneous input of the input device by using a single switch for determining the operation of the selected control target.

Hereinafter, an embodiment embodying the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
As shown in FIG. 2, the steering wheel 71 provided in the driver's seat of the vehicle is operated to steer the wheels of the vehicle via a steering mechanism including a steering shaft (not shown) connected to the steering wheel 71. In this example, the steering wheel 71 surrounds the horn pad 72 via a horn pad 72 connected to the steering shaft and two sets of spoke portions 73 protruding from the left and right sides of the horn pad 72. And an annular wheel portion 74 connected to each other. The wheel portion 74 is gripped and rotated by the driver.

  In the horn pad 72 of the steering wheel 71, the steering switch 1 is provided in the vicinity of the right spoke portion 73. The steering switch 1 includes four touch sensors 10 arranged in a straight line extending in the left-right direction in FIG. These touch sensors 10 are arranged so that the driver can touch (exactly close to) everything by extending the finger of the right hand while holding the steering wheel 71.

  The driver of the vehicle touches each of the touch sensors 10A to 10D of the steering switch 1 individually or simultaneously, thereby simultaneously controlling the touch sensors 10A to 10D or a combination thereof. Select. Control targets associated with the touch sensors 10A to 10D include, for example, in-vehicle devices such as a car navigation system, an air conditioner, a television (TV), an audio, an in-car telephone, and a peripheral monitoring camera. Note that the number of combinations of touch operations for the touch sensors 10 </ b> A to 10 </ b> D is determined by the number of touch sensors 10. For example, when four touch sensors 10A to 10D are provided, there are 26 combinations.

  The control target associated with each touch sensor 10 is presented to the driver as an icon 42 (pictograph) in the screen 41a displayed as a virtual image on the front windshield 63 of the vehicle through a head-up display 41 (HUD) described later. The In this example, icons 42 indicating car audio, air conditioner, in-car telephone, and car navigation are displayed at the four corners of the rectangular screen 41a. Then, the icon 42 indicating the control object selected through the touch operation of each touch sensor 10 described above is highlighted to the driver, for example, is lit or blinked, and is shown to the driver. The driver causes the operation of the control target selected by pressing the steering switch 1 in a state where the touch state with respect to each touch sensor 10 is maintained, that is, in a state where a desired control target is selected. The configuration of the steering switch 1 will be described in detail later.

  First, the HUD 41 will be described. The HUD 41 projects various vehicle information on the glass front windshield 63. As shown in FIG. 3, the HUD 41 is arranged inside the instrument panel 60 of the vehicle, and emits display light toward a portion where information on the front windshield 63 is displayed through the opening 65. This display light is reflected by the transparent reflecting film 64 provided on the inner surface of the front windshield 63 in the direction indicated by the arrow Y, that is, toward the driver. As a result, a virtual image corresponding to the information to be displayed, here the screen 41a, is displayed in front of the driver. The driver operates the steering switch 1 while visually recognizing the screen 41a.

Next, the configuration of the steering switch 1 will be described in detail.
As shown in FIG. 4, the steering switch 1 includes a push switch 20 provided on a substrate 23 disposed in an internal space of the steering wheel 71, and a sensor unit 24 supported on the push switch 20 via a spacer 22. It has.

  The push switch 20 is formed by integrally forming a hollow and truncated cone-shaped leg portion 29 fixed to the substrate 23 and a columnar movable portion 28 provided on an upper portion of the leg portion 29 by an elastic member such as a dust. A movable contact 26 is disposed on the inner surface of the movable portion 28 so as to face the fixed contact 25 provided on the substrate 23. Usually, the movable-side contact 26 and the fixed-side contact 25 are kept in a non-contact state separated from each other as shown in FIG. When a predetermined external force is applied to the push switch 20 from above, the boundary between the leg portion 29 and the movable portion 28 is elastically deformed as shown in FIG. Accordingly, the contact 26 on the movable part 28 side contacts the contact 25 on the substrate 23. An operation signal indicating that a pressing operation has been performed is output from the push switch 20. When the application of the external force to the push switch 20 is released, the movable portion 28 is elastically returned to the original position. That is, the push switch 20 is kept on only while a predetermined external force is applied to the movable portion 28, and when the external force is released, the movable portion 28 automatically returns to the original position. It is configured as an automatic return type switch that is turned off.

  On the other hand, the sensor unit 24 as a touch detection unit includes an operation member 19 formed in a rectangular parallelepiped shape with a resin or the like as a member directly operated by a user. The operation member 19 is provided so as to be vertically displaceable with respect to an opening 76 formed in the steering wheel 71. Normally, the operation member 19 is set to have a thickness or a thickness of the spacer 22 so that the upper surface exposed from the opening 76 is not stepped with respect to the surface of the steering wheel 71, that is, is flush with the surface. Yes.

  Guided members 27 extending downward are formed at both ends of the operation member 19. These guided members 27 are inserted into the guide holes 51 of the support member 50 projecting from the upper surface of the substrate 23 from above. When the guided member 27 is slidably guided in the guide hole 51, the operation member 19 is stably displaced in the vertical direction. Moreover, even if any part of the upper surface of the operation member 19 is pressed, it is smoothly displaced downward without being inclined.

  The operation member 19 has the plurality of touch sensors 10 (10A to 10D) embedded therein. As the touch sensor 10, various types such as a resistance film type, a vibration detection type, and an infrared type can be adopted. In this example, a capacitive type is used. This capacitive type touch is based on a change in capacitance between a driver's finger that is in contact with or close to the surface of the operation member 19 and the touch sensor 10 (more precisely, a touch electrode (not shown)). The presence or absence of is detected.

  As shown in FIG. 2, for example, a square frame-like boundary line indicating a region where touch detection is possible is printed on a portion corresponding to each touch sensor 10 on the upper surface of the operation member 19 and the boundary thereof. Display of A, B, C, D, etc. indicating each touch sensor 10 is also made inside the line. Through such display, the driver can know the detection range of each touch sensor 10.

  In the normal state shown in FIG. 4 where the surface of the operation member 19 and the surface of the steering wheel 71 are flush with each other, a predetermined external force is applied to the sensor unit 24, more precisely, the operation member 19 from above. When is given, the operation member 19 is displaced downward. Then, as shown in FIG. 5, the push switch 20 is pressed downward through the spacer 22 through the displacement of the operation member 19 to be turned on. When the external force applied to the operation member 19 is released, the movable portion 28 of the push switch 20 is elastically returned to its original position, and the operation member 19 is also returned to its original position. That is, when the pressure on the sensor unit 24 is released, the sensor unit 24 is returned to its original position, that is, the normal position shown in FIG. Return to the position.

  Even when the sensor unit 24 is in the normal position shown in FIG. 4, the sensor unit 24 is slightly urged upward by the elastic force of the push switch 20. The displacement is regulated as follows. That is, the stepped portion 21 formed on the side surface of the operating member 19 opposite to the two guided members 27 engages with the peripheral edge portion of the opening 76 on the inner wall surface of the steering wheel 71 from the inside, whereby the sensor unit 24. The upward displacement of is restricted. As described above, since the sensor unit 24 in the normal position is held in a state where a part thereof is pressed against the inner wall surface of the steering wheel 71, no rattling or the like occurs, and the sensor unit 24 is stably attached. Is maintained.

Next, the electrical configuration of the steering switch 1 will be described.
As shown in FIG. 1, the input device 31 including the steering switch 1 includes a control device 32 that comprehensively controls each unit. The control device 32 is composed of, for example, a microcomputer in which a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and the like are integrated as a single IC chip. In addition to various control programs, the ROM stores information indicating associations between the touch sensors 10 and combinations thereof and a plurality of types of in-vehicle devices to be controlled.

  The control device 32 is operated when operating the control target selected through the touch detection result from the touch sensors 10A to 10D for selecting the control target and the touch operation on the touch sensors 10A to 10D. The operation detection result from the push switch 20 is input.

  Here, each touch sensor 10 is set to ON when the touch or approach (hereinafter referred to as touch) is detected with respect to the sensor unit 24, and is OFF when the touch is not detected. A detection signal such as an on signal or an off signal is output to the control device 32. Similarly, the push switch 20 also sets the pressed state to ON and sets the non-pressed state to OFF, and outputs a detection result, that is, an operation signal such as an on signal or an off signal to the control device 32.

  The determination unit 30 of the control device 32 determines the control target selected based on the detection result input from each touch sensor 10. For example, the determination unit 30 determines that the car navigation is selected when the states of the touch sensors 10A to 10D are ON, OFF, OFF, and OFF, respectively, and the air conditioner is selected when the states are also ON, ON, OFF, and OFF. To do. Then, the determination unit 30 of the control device 32 outputs a determination result indicating which control target is selected to the display control unit 35. Based on the determination result from the determination unit 30, the display control unit 35 outputs to the HUD 41 a display control signal that instructs execution of icon highlighting on the screen 41a indicating the control target determined to be selected. . The HUD 41 performs highlighting of the control target icon determined to be selected based on the display control signal from the display control unit 35.

  Further, when the determination unit 30 determines that the push switch 20 is ON based on the operation signal from the push switch 20, the determination unit 30 requests the control target determined to be selected at this time to execute the operation. Command signal to be output to the control target. The control target determined to be selected based on the command signal from the determination unit 30 starts its operation.

Next, an operation mode of the input device configured as described above will be described.
For example, when operating a desired vehicle-mounted device during driving of the vehicle, the driver extends the finger while holding the steering wheel 71 and corresponds to the steering switch 1, more precisely, each touch sensor 10 of the sensor unit 24. A desired vehicle-mounted device is selected by touching the part. At this time, on the screen 41a displayed on the front windshield 63 by the HUD 41, the icon 42 corresponding to the selected in-vehicle device is highlighted by lighting or blinking. The driver checks whether or not a desired in-vehicle device has been selected by viewing the screen 41a.

  When an in-vehicle device that is not desired is displayed, the touch position on the sensor unit 24 is changed by sliding a finger or the like. As a result, the selected in-vehicle device is changed, and the icon 42 corresponding to the in-vehicle device is highlighted. Based on the display on the screen 41a, the driver checks again whether or not the desired in-vehicle device has been selected. If the desired in-vehicle device has been selected, the driver touches this time to actually operate the in-vehicle device. The sensor unit 24 is pressed while maintaining the state. Then, the sensor unit 24 is displaced in the pressing direction (downward), whereby the push switch 20 is pressed down and turned on. Then, the operation of the desired in-vehicle device selected when the push switch 20 is turned on is executed.

  When the driver releases the finger from the sensor unit 24 and the pressing force is released, the sensor unit 24 returns to the original position by using the return force of the movable part 28 of the push switch 20 to the original position.

As described above, according to the embodiment, the following operational effects can be achieved.
(1) As described above, each touch sensor 10 of the sensor unit 24 and a combination thereof are associated with a large number of in-vehicle devices, and the driver displays the in-vehicle device selected at that time on the screen 41a. The operation can be executed while checking. For this reason, even if the combination of the switches is not stored in advance or is stored in error, an unintended vehicle-mounted device is not erroneously operated.

  (2) Further, a plurality of touch sensors 10 for selecting a control target are embedded in an operation member 19 that is directly operated by a driver, and configured as a single sensor unit 24. Then, when the single push switch 20 is pressed through the pressing operation of the sensor unit 24, the operation of the in-vehicle device selected through the touch operation of each touch sensor 10 is executed. That is, even when an in-vehicle device corresponding to a combination of a plurality of touch sensors 10 is operated, the operation is executed only when the single push switch 20 is pressed. Therefore, for example, a push switch 20 is provided corresponding to each touch sensor 10 and the push switch 20 of the driver is depressed when the push switch 20 is operated in combination via each sensor 10. Problems such as unintentional on-vehicle device operation due to timing shifts are avoided. Further, in the same configuration, since the number of push switches 20 is one, the configuration of the steering switch 1 can be simplified. This is preferable from the viewpoint of disposing the steering switch 1 in a limited space such as the steering wheel 71.

  (3) Since the support member 50 is provided as a means for guiding the sensor unit 24 in the pressing direction, a smooth pressing operation of the sensor unit 24 is realized. Moreover, since the sensor unit 24 can be displaced only in the pressing direction, a stable pressing operation is possible.

  (4) When the pressure on the sensor unit 24 is released, the elastic force of the automatic return type push switch 20 disposed between the sensor unit 24 and the substrate 23, more precisely, the original of the movable part 28 The sensor unit 24 is returned to its original position by using the return force to the position. For this reason, the driver does not have the trouble of returning the sensor unit 24 to the original position after pressing the sensor unit 24, which is convenient. Further, the on-operation is not performed unless a pressing force exceeding a certain level that causes the movable portion 28 to be displaced downward is applied by elastic deformation of the boundary portion between the leg portion 29 and the movable portion 28 of the push switch 20. For this reason, even if the steering switch 1 is touched unexpectedly, for example, the push switch 20 will not be turned on unless the above-described external force is applied. Accordingly, erroneous input can be prevented. Further, since the push switch 20 also serves as a return means for returning the pressed sensor unit 24 to the original position, it is not necessary to separately provide an original position return mechanism such as a spring member, and the number of parts can be reduced. Thus, the configuration of the steering switch 1 can be made compact.

  (5) Since each touch sensor 10 is arranged linearly on the steering wheel 71, it is easy to slide with the fingers in contact with each touch sensor 10, and the fingers can be smoothly moved without being separated from the sensor unit 24. It is possible to switch control object selection. As a result, the driver can reliably select a control target with a small number of fingers even during driving where the available fingers are limited.

In addition, the said embodiment can be implemented with the following forms which changed this suitably.
In the above embodiment, the pressing force of the sensor unit 24 is transmitted to the push switch 20 through the spacer 22 and the return force of the push switch 20 is transmitted to the sensor unit 24. However, the spacer 22 can be omitted. is there. In this case, a spring member for holding the sensor unit 24 in the normal position shown in FIG. 4 or returning the sensor unit 24 to the normal position is provided, for example, between the sensor unit 24 and the substrate 23.

  For example, one or a plurality of spring members may be added between the sensor unit 24 and the substrate 23 or inside the guide hole 51 of the support member 50. Depending on the size or weight of the sensor unit 24, it may be difficult to hold the sensor unit 24 in the normal position shown in FIG. 4 or to return to the normal position only by the return force of the push switch 20. is assumed. Such a problem can be solved by appropriately adjusting the number of spring members to be added.

  In the above embodiment, the HUD 41 is used as a display unit for displaying various types of information. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and other types such as a liquid crystal display may be used. Further, the installation location of the display means is also changed as appropriate. For example, display means may be provided in the instrument panel. In particular, when providing a display means at a site where it is difficult to secure a display space, for example, only information indicating the on-vehicle device selected at that time is displayed.

The electric contact type push switch 20 may be replaced with a proximity switch using a magnetic sensor or the like. In other words, any device that can detect the displacement of the sensor unit 24 may be used.
In the steering wheel 71, a plurality of steering switches 1 may be provided. The arrangement of each steering switch 1 is adjusted as appropriate.

In the above embodiment, the steering switch 1 is provided on the driver-side surface of the steering wheel 71, but may be provided on the back side.
-The number of the touch sensors 10 which comprise the single sensor unit 24 can be changed suitably.

The plurality of touch sensors 10 are arranged in a straight line, but may be arranged in a curved shape such as an arc.
In the above embodiment, a plurality of capacitive touch sensors 10 are provided in the sensor unit 24. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the following may be used. In other words, with a single touch sensor, the touch detection range of the single sensor is divided into a plurality of areas so as to have a virtually constant area. The touch sensor outputs a detection signal indicating which area is touched in what combination among the divided areas, and the determination unit 30 determines a control target based on the signal. Note that the touch sensor 10 employs a capacitance method here, but other methods such as a resistive film method, a vibration detection method, etc. can be used as long as the touched region and combination can be detected by one touch sensor. An infrared system or the like may be used.

  In the above embodiment, one finger is detected by one touch sensor 10, but the present invention is not limited to this, and a plurality of touch sensors 10 may detect one finger. In this case, the size, arrangement, detectable range, etc. of each touch sensor 10 are changed according to the product specifications.

  In the above embodiment, the push switch 20 is pressed in accordance with the displacement of the sensor unit 24. However, the present invention is not limited to this configuration, and a configuration in which the sensor unit 24 and the push switch 20 are provided at different positions may be employed. . For example, the sensor unit 24 is provided on the right side of the steering wheel 71 and the push switch 20 is also provided on the left side. The driver touches the touch sensor 10 with the right hand to select a control target, and presses the push switch 20 with the left hand. In the case of adopting this configuration, it is not necessary to press down the sensor unit 24, and therefore the guided member 27 of the sensor unit 24 and the support member 50 for guiding the guided member 27 can be omitted.

  In the above embodiment, the sensor unit 24, the push switch 20 and the like are provided on the steering wheel 71 to configure them as the steering switch 1. However, the present invention is not limited to this, as long as it can be operated by the driver in the vehicle. , It can be installed anywhere. For example, you may provide in a dashboard, an armrest, etc. Furthermore, it is not limited to the inside of the vehicle, and may be installed in anything that requires an input device, such as an electrical appliance.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the steering switch according to the embodiment. The top view of steering. The block diagram of a head up display. The AA sectional view taken on the line of FIG. 2 which shows the steering switch of a non-pressing state. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. 2 showing the steering switch in a pressed state. The block diagram which shows the electrical structure of the conventional steering switch. Sectional drawing which shows the principal part of the schematic structure of the conventional steering switch.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Steering switch, 10 ... Touch sensor, 20 ... Push switch, 30 ... Determination part, 40 ... Display part, 41 ... HUD (head up display), Control object ... 45a-45d.

Claims (6)

In an input device that is attached to a specific attachment target and performs a predetermined input operation to selectively execute a plurality of types of control target operations,
A touch detection unit that is provided on the surface of the attachment target, is touch-operated when selecting a control target to perform an operation, and detects a single or a plurality of touch positions and outputs a detection signal;
A determination unit for determining a selected control object based on a detection signal input from the touch detection unit;
A display control unit that displays on the external display unit the control object determined to be selected by the determination unit;
A single switch that is operated when executing the operation of the control target displayed on the display unit by determining that it is selected by the determination unit, and outputs an operation signal indicating that,
When the operation signal from the switch is input, the determination unit outputs a command signal for requesting execution of an operation to a control object determined to be selected to execute the operation at this time. Input device. The input device according to claim 1,
The touch detection unit includes a plurality of touch sensors that output detection signals when a touch operation is performed, and is configured as a sensor unit that integrally displaces in the pressing direction when these touch sensors are pressed. On the other hand, the switch is disposed on the side that is displaced when the sensor unit is pressed, and the switch is operated by utilizing the displacement of the sensor unit. The input device according to claim 2,
An input device provided with a guide for guiding displacement of the sensor unit in the pressing direction. The input device according to claim 2 or claim 3,
On the side that is displaced when the sensor unit is pressed, an elastic member that accumulates a restoring elastic force in a direction opposite to the pressing direction by being pressed along with the displacement is provided. When the sensor is released, the sensor unit is returned to the original position by the elastic restoring force of the elastic member. In the input device according to any one of claims 2 to 4,
The switch includes a movable portion that is displaced in the pressing direction by being pressed through the displacement of the sensor unit, and the ON state is maintained only while the pressing force by the sensor unit is applied to the movable portion. In addition, when the application of the pressing force is released, the movable part is automatically returned to the original position and is turned off, and is an automatic return type push button switch,
An input device for returning the sensor unit to the original position by using a return force of the movable part to the original position when the pressure on the sensor unit is released. The input device according to any one of claims 2 to 5,
Each of the sensors is an input device arranged in a linear shape or an arc shape on the surface to be attached.

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