JP2011168192A - Switching device for handlebar - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a switching device for a handlebar which can light a predetermined part of a switch case continuously in cases when a surrounding area is dark such as nighttime, without adding any load to a battery mounted on a vehicle. <P>SOLUTION: The switching device for the handlebar is attached to a handlebar H on a vehicle, and has a switch case 1 where a predetermined operation switch which can be operated by a driver is formed. The device includes an LED 6 (lighting means) which lights a predetermined part A of the switch case 1, a secondary battery 8 which can provide electricity to the LED 6 and store electricity, and a solar battery 9 which has a light receiving section 9a for receiving light from outside and is able to generate electricity as to the amount of light received by the light receiving section 9a, and also can provide the generated electricity to the secondary battery 8. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a handlebar switch device in which a predetermined operation switch which is attached to a handlebar in a vehicle and can be operated by a driver is formed in a switch case.

  In general, a two-wheeled vehicle is provided with a handlebar for steering, and a grip grip and a throttle grip that can be gripped by a driver while traveling are respectively attached to both ends of the handlebar. A handle bar switch device in which a plurality of operation switches for operating various electrical components mounted on the two-wheeled vehicle is fixed to a position adjacent to the grip grip or the throttle grip.

  For example, a handlebar switch device in which various switches such as a turn signal switch, a dimmer switch, and a horn button are formed is fixed near the left end of the left side of the handlebar (the base end side of the left grip). The driver can arbitrarily perform blinking operation of the winker to be mounted, front irradiation or lower irradiation switching operation of the headlamp, operation of sounding the horn, and the like (see Patent Document 1).

JP 2003-115229 A

  However, the conventional handlebar switch device does not have illumination means for illuminating a predetermined part of the switch case. When the surroundings are dark, such as at night, the predetermined part of the switch case (for example, the operation knob) There is a problem that it is difficult to visually recognize the position, symbol, and the like. However, it is conceivable to illuminate a predetermined part of the switch case at all times, but in this case, the battery mounted in the vehicle has to be used for a long time to supply power to the illumination means, and this has an effect when starting the engine. There is a fear.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and it is possible to continuously illuminate a predetermined part of the switch case when the surroundings are dark, such as at night, without applying a load to the battery mounted on the vehicle. An object of the present invention is to provide a switch device for a handlebar that can be used.

  According to a first aspect of the present invention, in a switch device for a handle bar that is attached to a handle bar in a vehicle and has a predetermined operation switch that can be operated by a driver formed on the switch case, illumination for illuminating a predetermined part of the switch case Means, a secondary battery that can supply power to the illumination means and that can store electricity, a light receiving unit that receives light from the outside, and can generate power according to the amount of light received by the light receiving unit, and And a solar cell capable of supplying power obtained by power generation to the secondary battery.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the handlebar switch device according to the first aspect, when the amount of light received by the light receiving portion of the solar cell is higher than a predetermined level, the secondary battery is powered by the electric power supplied from the solar cell. A control unit is provided that is charged and supplies power to the illuminating unit from the secondary battery when the amount of light received by the light-receiving unit of the solar cell is lower than a predetermined level, and performs illumination by the illuminating unit. .

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the handlebar switch device according to the second aspect, the illumination means, the secondary battery, the solar battery, and the control unit are accommodated in the switch case.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the handle bar switch device according to any one of the first to third aspects, the solar cell has a light receiving portion facing an upper portion of the switch case, and the inside of the switch case. It is characterized by being arranged in.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the switch device for a handlebar according to the fourth aspect, the switch case has a first switch case having a surface facing the driver in a state of being fixed to the handlebar, The solar cell is arranged in the second switch case with the light receiving portion facing the upper part of the second switch case. It is characterized by.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, the illumination unit that illuminates a predetermined portion of the switch case, the secondary battery that can supply power to the illumination unit and can store power, and the light receiving unit that receives light from the outside. And a solar cell capable of generating electric power according to the amount of light received by the light receiving unit and capable of supplying the electric power obtained by the electric power generation to the secondary battery. The illumination of the predetermined part of the switch case can be performed continuously when the surroundings are dark.

  According to the invention of claim 2, when the amount of light received at the light receiving portion of the solar cell is higher than a predetermined value, the secondary battery is charged with power supplied from the solar cell, and the amount of light received at the light receiving portion of the solar cell is If it is lower than the predetermined value, a control unit is provided that supplies power from the secondary battery to the illumination means and performs illumination by the illumination means, so that illumination by the illumination means can be automatically performed according to the surrounding brightness. it can.

  According to the invention of claim 3, since the illumination means, the secondary battery, the solar battery, and the control unit are accommodated in the switch case, the electrical wiring between them can be completed in the switch case. Therefore, it is not necessary to newly extend electrical wiring from the switch case, and the configuration can be simplified.

  According to the invention of claim 4, since the solar cell is disposed in the switch case with the light receiving part facing the upper part of the switch case, the external light is reliably and satisfactorily applied to the light receiving part of the solar cell. Light can be received and power generation by the solar cell can be performed efficiently.

  According to the invention of claim 5, the switch case includes a first switch case having a surface facing the driver while being fixed to the handlebar, and a second switch case covering the back side of the first switch case. Since the solar cell is disposed in the second switch case with the light receiving portion facing the upper part of the second switch case, the solar cell has a predetermined operation switch formed on the first switch case. Solar cells can be arranged while maintaining the degree of freedom of layout.

The perspective view (front side perspective view) which shows the switch apparatus for handlebars concerning embodiment of this invention A perspective view (back side perspective view) showing the handlebar switch device Front view, plan view and right side view showing the handlebar switch device IV-IV line sectional view in FIG. The front view which shows the state which removed the 1st switch case in order to show the internal structure of the switch apparatus for the handlebars The perspective view which shows the state which removed the 1st switch case in order to show the internal structure of the switch apparatus for the handlebars The block diagram which shows the whole structure of the switch apparatus for the handlebars

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the drawings.
The switch device for a handle bar according to the present embodiment is a switch case in which a predetermined operation switch that is attached to a handle bar in a motorcycle and can be operated by a driver is formed in a switch case. A case 1, an LED 6 as an illumination means, a secondary battery 8 that can be charged and discharged, a substantially plate-like solar battery 9 (so-called solar panel), and a control unit 12 formed on a control board 11. It is configured.

  The switch case 1 is fixed in the vicinity of the grip G on the distal end side of the handle bar H (the left handle bar in the present embodiment). As shown in FIGS. 1a and the 2nd switch case 1b are combined. An arc-shaped hole is formed in the mating surface of the first switch case 1a with the second switch case 1b, and an arc-shaped hole is also formed in a portion corresponding to the hole in the second switch case 1b. Has been.

  Thus, when the first switch case 1a and the second switch case 1b are fitted together while the outer peripheral side surface of the handle bar H is fitted in the two holes, and the both are tightened with bolts or the like, the switch case 1 becomes the handle bar. It will be fixed to H. A dimmer switch 2, a turn signal switch 3, and a horn switch 4 as predetermined operation switches are formed on the surface of the first switch case 1a (that is, the surface facing the driver in the switch case 1). ing.

  The dimmer switch 2 is composed of a seesaw type switch formed on the surface of the first switch case 1a, and a turn signal that can selectively blink a blinker mounted on the two-wheeled vehicle at the lower portion of the dimmer switch 2. A horn switch 4 for ringing a horn provided in the switch 3 and the two-wheeled vehicle is formed. On the other hand, a passing switch 5 is formed in the second switch case 1b (a case covering the back side of the first switch case 1a). The passing switch 5 is composed of a swinging switch formed on the front surface of the vehicle when the switch case 1 is fixed to the handlebar H. By operating the passing switch 5, the headlamp is turned on. Passing operation is enabled.

  The LED 6 as an illuminating means is disposed in the switch case 1 and illuminates a predetermined portion A of the switch case 1, and as shown in FIG. The battery 8 is electrically connected. The secondary battery 8 is capable of supplying power to the LED 6 (illuminating means) and lighting the LED 6 (illuminating means) (so-called storage battery). The secondary battery 8 is protected by the protective cover 10 (see FIGS. 5 and 6) and is protected in the switch case 1. Is housed in. In the present embodiment, the predetermined portion A is a portion in which a design or a symbol is formed by printing or engraving, and a diffusion lens for diffusing the light of the LED 6 between the LED 6 and the predetermined portion A. 7 is interposed. By configuring in this way, it is possible to obtain not only simple illumination but also a predetermined effect.

  The solar cell 9 has a light receiving portion 9a that receives external light such as sunlight, and can generate electric power according to the amount of light received by the light receiving portion 9a, and the electric power obtained by the electric power generation is supplied to the secondary battery 8. It can be supplied. The solar cell 9 is disposed in the switch case 1 with the light receiving portion 9a facing the upper part of the switch case 1. More specifically, a window portion 1ba having an opening partly cut out is formed on the upper portion of the second switch case 1b, and the sun is opened with the light receiving portion 9a facing the window portion 1ba. The battery 9 is fixed. The solar cell 9 is electrically connected to the secondary battery 8 via the control unit 12 as shown in FIG.

  The control unit 12 is formed on the control board 11 accommodated in the switch case 1 (for example, a comparison circuit in a microcomputer formed on the control board 11), and the amount of light received by the light receiving unit 9a of the solar cell 9 is When higher than the predetermined value, the secondary battery 8 is charged with the electric power supplied from the solar cell 9, and when the amount of light received by the light receiving unit 9a of the solar cell 9 is lower than the predetermined value, the secondary battery 8 to the LED 6 (illuminating means). ) Is supplied with electric power, and the LED 6 (illuminating means) is controlled to perform illumination.

  That is, the control unit 12 is set so that the amount of light received by the light receiving unit 9a of the solar cell 9 is higher than a predetermined value when the surroundings are bright as in the daytime. The battery 8 is controlled to be charged, and when the surroundings are dark like at night, the amount of light received by the light receiving unit 9a of the solar battery 9 is set to be lower than a predetermined value. In this case, the LED 6 is turned on. Thus, the predetermined part A of the switch case 1 can be illuminated through the diffusion lens 7.

  According to the handlebar switch device described above, the LED 6 (illuminating means) that illuminates the predetermined part A of the switch case 1, the secondary battery 8 that can supply power to the LED 6 and that can store electricity, and light from the outside. Since the vehicle has a light receiving portion 9a that receives the solar cell 9 that can generate electric power according to the amount of light received by the light receiving portion 9a and can supply the electric power obtained by the electric power generation to the secondary battery 8, the vehicle It is possible to continuously illuminate the predetermined part A of the switch case 1 without applying a load to the on-board battery and when the surroundings are dark, such as at night.

  That is, according to this embodiment, the secondary battery 8 is separate from the battery mounted on the vehicle, and when the surroundings are dark, the secondary battery 8 illuminates the predetermined portion A with the LED 6 (illuminating means). When the surroundings are bright, the secondary battery 8 can be charged by the solar cell 9 so that the battery mounted on the vehicle is not loaded, and continues when the surroundings are dark, such as at night Thus, illumination of the predetermined part A of the switch case 1 can be performed. In addition, by continuously illuminating the predetermined part A of the switch case 1 when the surroundings are dark, such as at night, it is possible to make a third party think that some kind of crime prevention is being attempted. Can have an effect.

  When the amount of light received by the light receiving unit 9a of the solar cell 9 is higher than a predetermined value (that is, when the surroundings are bright), the secondary battery 8 is charged with the power supplied from the solar cell 9 and the solar cell 9 When the amount of light received by the light receiving unit 9a is lower than a predetermined value (that is, when the surroundings are dark), the control unit 12 is provided to supply power from the secondary battery 8 to the LED 6 (illuminating means) and perform illumination by the LED 6. Illumination by the LED 6 (illuminating means) can be automatically performed according to the ambient brightness.

  Furthermore, since the LED 6 (illuminating means), the secondary battery 8, the solar battery 9, and the control unit 12 are accommodated in the switch case 1, the electrical wiring between them can be completed in the switch case 1. . Therefore, it is not necessary to newly extend an electrical wiring from the switch case 1, and the configuration can be simplified. In addition, you may make it form the solar cell 9 or an illumination means (LED6 in this embodiment) in the other site | part in the switch case 1. FIG.

  Furthermore, since the solar cell 9 is disposed in the switch case 1 with the light receiving portion 9a facing the upper portion of the switch case 1, external light is reliably and satisfactorily transmitted to the light receiving portion 9a of the solar cell 9. Light can be received, and power generation by the solar cell 9 can be performed efficiently. In particular, in this embodiment, the solar cell 9 is disposed in the second switch case 1b with the light receiving portion 9a facing the upper part of the second switch case 1b. Further, the solar cell 9 can be disposed while maintaining the degree of freedom of layout of predetermined operation switches (such as the dimmer switch 2, the turn signal switch 3, and the horn switch 4).

  Although the present embodiment has been described above, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the solar cell 9 may be attached at a position separate from the switch case 1 or the secondary battery 8 or the control. The substrate 11 may be attached at a position different from the switch case 1. However, the illumination means for illuminating the predetermined part A of the switch case 1 is not limited to the LED as in the present embodiment, but may be other general-purpose illumination means (lamp or the like).

  The part illuminated by the illumination means (LED 6) is not limited to a part where a design or a symbol or the like is formed by printing or engraving as in the present embodiment. For example, a dimmer switch, a turn signal switch, a horn switch, etc. The operation switch may be directly illuminated (illuminating means is disposed in the operation switch for illumination, etc.). Moreover, the illumination means (LED6) may be illumination that blinks by being lit intermittently in addition to illumination by lighting. In addition, although applied to a two-wheeled vehicle in this embodiment, it can be applied to other vehicles having a handlebar.

  An illumination unit that illuminates a predetermined portion of the switch case, a secondary battery that can supply power to the illumination unit and that can store power, a light receiving unit that receives light from the outside, and a light receiving amount by the light receiving unit If it is a switch device for a handlebar that has a solar cell that can generate electric power in response and can supply electric power obtained by electric power generation to the secondary battery, it has a different appearance or has other functions added. It can be applied to those that have been made.

1 switch case 2 dimmer switch 3 turn signal switch 4 horn switch 5 passing switch 6 LED (lighting means)
7 Diffuser lens 8 Secondary battery 9 Solar cell 10 Protective cover 11 Control board 12 Control part A Predetermined part H Handlebar G Grip grip

Claims (5)

In a handlebar switch device in which a predetermined operation switch that is attached to a handlebar in a vehicle and can be operated by a driver is formed in a switch case.
Illuminating means for illuminating a predetermined portion of the switch case;
A secondary battery capable of supplying electric power to the illumination means and capable of storing electricity;
A solar cell that has a light receiving unit that receives light from the outside, can generate power according to the amount of light received by the light receiving unit, and can supply power obtained by power generation to the secondary battery;
A switch device for a handlebar, comprising:   When the amount of light received at the light receiving portion of the solar cell is higher than a predetermined value, the secondary battery is charged with power supplied from the solar cell, and when the amount of light received at the light receiving portion of the solar cell is lower than a predetermined value, 2. The switch device for a handle bar according to claim 1, further comprising a control unit that supplies electric power from a secondary battery to the illuminating unit to perform illumination by the illuminating unit.   3. The handlebar switch device according to claim 2, wherein the illumination unit, the secondary battery, the solar battery, and the control unit are accommodated in the switch case.   The switch device for a handlebar according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the solar cell is disposed in the switch case with a light receiving portion facing an upper part of the switch case. .   The switch case comprises a first switch case having a surface facing the driver in a state of being fixed to the handlebar, and a second switch case covering the back side of the first switch case, 5. The handlebar switch device according to claim 4, wherein the solar cell is disposed in the second switch case with its light receiving portion facing the upper part of the second switch case.

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