JP2012144080A - Hazard lamp switch device for vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a hazard lamp switch device for a vehicle which allows the enhancement of durability and the control of the number of harnesses.SOLUTION: In a hazard lamp switch device 10 of a vehicle, a switch body includes a hazard switch 11 consisting of a sensor 12, a control part 13 and a semiconductor relay 14. A control part 13 is constituted to output information of the hazard switch 11 to external devices such as an image display device 3, a body ECU 30 and a warning device 40 in response to a sensor signal from the sensor 12 and a drive information signal from the body ECU 30 for controlling operation of on-vehicle equipments 34-36.

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicle hazard lamp switch device mounted on a vehicle such as an automobile.

  Automobiles are equipped with turn signal lamps on the front, rear, left and right sides of the car. In an emergency stop, it is common to use as a hazard lamp by flashing all the turn signal lamps at once. There has been proposed a turn hazard lamp driving circuit configured to control blinking of the hazard lamp by turning on and off a relay (for example, see Patent Document 1).

JP-A-11-301344

  By the way, with recent electronic control, there is a tendency to increase the number of harnesses that are wired inside the vehicle, and there is a demand for harness reduction. However, in the conventional turn-hazard lamp driving circuit described in Patent Document 1, the hazard switch, the relay, and the control unit are provided separately, and a plurality of harnesses serving as transmission paths for various signals are provided. No means for harness reduction is taken. Further, since the hazard switches and relays used in this conventional turn-hazard lamp driving circuit have a contact structure, the durability is low and contact failure is likely to occur.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a hazard lamp switch device for a vehicle that can improve durability and suppress the number of harnesses.

[1] In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, a sensor that detects an on / off operation of a hazard switch by a driver and a sensor signal output by the sensor are input, and the hazard switch of the hazard switch is input based on the sensor signal. A control unit that outputs an on / off state, a semiconductor relay that inputs an on / off state of the hazard switch from the control unit, and blinks a hazard lamp, and the sensor, the control unit, and the semiconductor relay are provided. The control unit further receives a drive information signal from a body control unit that controls the operation of the on-vehicle equipment, and the hazard switch according to the sensor signal and the drive information signal It has the structure which outputs the information regarding to the exterior, It exists in the hazard lamp switch apparatus for vehicles characterized by the above-mentioned.

[2] In the invention described in [1], the control unit outputs an on / off state of the hazard switch to the body control unit and a notification device.

[3] In the invention described in [2] above, the notification device notifies information related to the hazard lamp by acting on a driver's vision and / or hearing.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, while being able to improve the durability of a hazard lamp switch apparatus, the simplification of connection work and cost reduction can be achieved.

It is the schematic which shows the driver's seat front vehicle interior of the vehicle provided with the hazard lamp switch device which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a schematic sectional drawing which shows an example of the typical hazard lamp switch which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a functional block diagram which shows typically the structure of a hazard lamp switch apparatus. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the hazard lamp turn-off forgetting notification process procedure. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the other procedure of a hazard lamp turn-off forgetting notification process. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the further another procedure of the hazard lamp extinction notification process.

  Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be specifically described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In addition, the same member name and code | symbol are attached | subjected to the substantially same member.

(Overall configuration in front of the front seat of the vehicle)
In FIG. 1, an instrument panel 1 made of a synthetic resin and equipped with instruments, a passenger seat airbag, and the like is disposed in the vehicle width direction in front of the front seat of the vehicle. A steering wheel 2 is assembled to the vehicle body via a steering column at a vehicle right side portion of the instrument panel 1. Near the center of the instrument panel 1, an image display device 3 capable of displaying various selection screens is provided. In the vicinity of the steering wheel 2, a hazard lamp switch device 10 which is a characteristic part of this embodiment is provided.

(Overall configuration of hazard lamp switch device)
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a typical hazard lamp switch device 10 according to this embodiment is mainly composed of a hazard switch 11 and a body control unit (body ECU) 30 that controls the operation of a vehicle-mounted device. It is configured. The hazard lamp switch device 10 has a vehicle body left and right front, a vehicle left and right rear, or a vehicle left and right side according to a switch signal from a hazard switch 11 that is pressed by an operator and various drive information signals acquired through the body ECU 30. The turn signal lamps (hereinafter referred to as “hazard lamps”) 32, 32 equipped in the are flashing simultaneously.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the hazard switch 11 is electrically connected to the connector terminal 31 connected to the battery + B, the body ECU 30, and the hazard lamp 32 via the joint portion 33. One end of a lever combination switch (lever control switch) 34 that detects operation of a turn signal switch, wiper switch, etc., an ignition switch 35 that detects insertion or removal of a key, and a vehicle speed sensor 36 that detects vehicle travel speed is electrically connected to the battery + B. The other end is electrically connected to the body ECU 30.

  Although not shown, the body ECU 30 includes, for example, a shift position switch that detects the shift position of the automatic transmission, a parking brake switch that detects the operating state of the parking brake, a door switch that detects opening and closing of the door, Various vehicle-mounted devices such as a keyless unlock signal and a keyless signal receiving unit that receives a keyless lock signal (wireless signal) transmitted from a remote key or a mobile communication terminal to lock and unlock the door are connected.

(Hazard switch configuration)
The basic configuration according to this embodiment is mainly configured by a sensor IC (Integrated Circuit) 12, a control unit (control IC) 13, and semiconductor relays 14 and 14, as shown in FIGS. The contactless hazard switch 11 is provided. Each of the sensor IC 12, the control IC 13, and the semiconductor relay 14 is formed of an IC chip, and is mounted on the IC substrate 15 by wire bonding, for example. The sensor IC 12 and the control IC 13 may be sealed by a main body 16 made of a resin mold. The main body 16 is formed as an IC package from a nonmagnetic material made of a synthetic resin such as an epoxy resin.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the sensor IC 12 includes a magnetic sensor (Hall element) that detects a switch operation in a non-contact manner. This magnetic sensor is a detection circuit that detects whether or not the switch operation unit 17 is operated based on a change in the magnetic field applied from the magnet 18 attached to the switch operation unit 17 that can be pressed, and a value corresponding to the magnetic field. Is output to the control IC 13. For example, a ferrite magnet is used as the magnet 18.

  As shown in FIG. 2, a switch operating portion 17 that can be pressed is supported via a switch support portion 20 inside a switch case (switch body) 19 of the hazard switch 11, and the switch pressing operating direction is On the opposite side, a coil spring 21 that is an elastic member that biases the switch support 20 is accommodated. The switch operation part 17 has an extension part 17a extending in the switch pressing operation direction. A magnet 18 is attached to the extending portion 17a. The switch case 19 on the side facing the magnet 18 is provided with an IC substrate 15 on which the sensor IC 12, the control IC 13 and the semiconductor relay 14 are mounted along the switch pressing operation direction.

  The hazard switch 11 magnetically detects a pressing operation performed by the operator using the switch operation unit 17 by the sensor IC 12 and the magnet 18, and outputs an ON signal as a sensor signal by the pressing operation of the switch operation unit 17. An OFF signal is output as a sensor signal when the switch operating unit 17 is released. This sensor signal is output to the control IC 13.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the control IC 13 constitutes a control circuit and an operation circuit composed of various elements such as a CPU, a RAM, and a ROM. The control IC 13 controls on / off of the semiconductor relay 14 based on a sensor signal input from the sensor IC 12 and various drive information signals input from the body ECU 30.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the semiconductor relay 14 is composed of, for example, a MOS field effect transistor as a power semiconductor. Since it is smaller than a mechanical relay, it can be incorporated in the switch body 19. The semiconductor relay 14 outputs a control signal input from the control IC 13 to the hazard lamp 32 as a lamp blinking / extinguishing signal. As a result, the hazard lamp 32 is inputted with the lamp blinking / extinguishing signal from the semiconductor relay 14 and is simultaneously blinking / extinguishing.

  On the other hand, the body ECU 30, as shown in FIG. The body ECU 30 recognizes ON / OFF of the lever control switch 34, the ignition switch 35, and the vehicle speed sensor 36. The recognition result is output to the control IC 13.

(Example of hazard lamp blinking operation)
The lamp blinking operation of the hazard lamp 32 is performed when the operator presses the hazard switch 11 while the hazard lamp 32 is turned off, as shown in FIGS. When the operator presses the hazard switch 11 against the elasticity of the coil spring 21, the magnet 18 of the switch operation unit 17 moves in a direction approaching the sensor IC 12. As the magnet 18 moves, the magnetic field of the sensor IC 12 changes. This change in the magnetic field is detected by the sensor IC 12 and output as a sensor signal from the sensor IC 12 to the semiconductor relay 14 via the control IC 13. The semiconductor relay 14 is turned on / off based on the sensor signal from the sensor IC 12 and is output to the hazard lamp 32 as a lamp blinking signal. This causes the hazard lamps 32 to blink simultaneously.

(Example of lamp extinguishing operation)
The lamp extinguishing operation of the hazard lamp 32 is performed when the operator releases the pressing operation of the hazard switch 11 while the hazard lamp 32 is blinking, as shown in FIGS. When the operator releases the pressing operation of the hazard switch 11, the magnet 18 of the switch operation unit 17 is returned in a direction away from the sensor IC 12 by the elasticity of the coil spring 21. With this return, the magnetic field of the sensor IC 12 changes. This change in the magnetic field is detected by the sensor IC 12 and output as a sensor signal from the sensor IC 12 to the semiconductor relay 14 via the control IC 13. The semiconductor relay 14 is turned off based on the sensor signal from the sensor IC 12 and is output to the hazard lamp 32 as a lamp extinguishing signal. Thereby, the hazard lamp 32 is turned off simultaneously.

(Example of control IC operation mode)
As shown in FIG. 3, another basic configuration of this embodiment is a control IC 13 that outputs the operation state of the hazard switch 11 that operates the hazard lamp 32. According to the illustrated example, the control IC 13 outputs information relating to the hazard switch 11 to an external device including the body ECU 30 and the notification (warning) device 40 in accordance with the sensor signal from the sensor IC 12 and the drive information signal from the body ECU 30. To do.

  The control IC 13 has a self-determination function that determines whether the hazard switch 11 is on or off. For example, the control IC 13 outputs a control signal for performing a predetermined operation to operate the vehicle-mounted device to the body ECU 30. The warning device 40 can notify that the hazard lamp 32 is forgotten to be turned off. Examples of the warning device 40 include the image display device 3 shown in FIG. 1, sound generating means such as a buzzer and a speaker, or a driver's portable terminal device.

  Hereinafter, an example of the operation mode performed by the control IC 13 will be described with reference to the functional block diagram shown in FIG. 3 and the flowcharts shown in FIGS. In the following description of the operation mode, the control IC 13 performs unless otherwise specified.

  Referring to FIG. 4, an example of the hazard lamp forgetting to turn off notification process procedure at the time of parking and stopping executed by the control IC 13 is shown. First, based on the vehicle speed detection signal of the vehicle speed sensor 36 acquired via the body ECU 30, it is determined whether or not the vehicle is stopped (step S101). When the vehicle is stopped, the process proceeds to the next step S102, and when the vehicle is not stopped, this notification process is not executed.

  In the process of step S102, it is determined whether the hazard switch 11 is turned on with reference to the sensor signal from the sensor IC 12. When the hazard switch 11 is in the off state, the notification process is not executed. When the hazard switch 11 is in the on state, the control is started and the process proceeds to the next step S103.

  In the process of step S103, it is determined whether one of the left and right hazard lamps 32 is blinking by referring to the lever control switch signal from the lever control switch 34 acquired via the body ECU 30. If it is determined that none of the left and right direction indicator lamps is blinking, the process returns to step S101 and the same processing is repeated. If it is determined that one of the left and right direction indicator lamps is blinking, the process proceeds to the next step S104.

  In the process of step S104, the hazard lamp 32 is blinking with the image display device 3 shown in FIG. 1 or the notification device 40 shown in FIG. Is notified. Thereby, the process of step S104 is completed, and the process returns from the process of step S104 to the process of step S101.

  The driver who parked the vehicle on the road shoulder by blinking one of the left and right hazard lamps 32 turns on the hazard switch 11 without returning the rebacon switch 34 to the neutral position, and the left and right hazard lamps. Even if the hazard operation which blinks 32 simultaneously is performed and then the hazard switch 11 is returned to the off state and the vehicle is started, the vehicle is started in the state where the direction indicator lamp before the hazard operation is still flashing by the above processing. This can be prevented.

  Next, referring to FIG. 5, there is shown another example of the hazard lamp forgetting to turn off notification processing procedure executed by the control IC 13. First, it is determined whether or not the hazard switch 11 is turned on with reference to a sensor signal from the sensor IC 12 (step S201). When the hazard switch 11 is in the off state, the notification process is not executed. When the hazard switch 11 is in the on state, the control is started, and the process proceeds to the next step S202.

  In the process of step S202, it is determined whether or not the ignition key acquired via the body ECU 30 is in the off position. When the ignition key is not in the off position, the notification process is not executed. If the ignition key is in the off position, the process proceeds to the next step S203.

  In the process of step S203, it is determined whether or not an ignition key has been inserted into the ignition key cylinder. If the ignition key has been inserted into the ignition key cylinder, the process returns to step S201 and the same processing is repeated. If the ignition key is removed from the ignition key cylinder, the process proceeds to the next step S204.

  In the process of step S204, it is determined whether or not the hazard switch 11 is in an on state with reference to the sensor signal from the sensor IC 12. When the hazard switch 11 is in the off state, the notification process is not executed. If the hazard switch 11 is on, the process proceeds to the next step S205.

  In the process of step S205, the image display device 3 and the notification device 40 are used to notify the driver that the hazard lamp 32 has been forgotten to be turned off. Thereby, the process of step S205 ends.

  By the above processing, the operation mode of the hazard lamp 32 is notified to the image display device 3 and the notification device 40 in accordance with the ignition key being pulled out of the ignition key cylinder, so that the hazard lamp 32 is not forgotten to be turned off. can do.

  Next, referring to FIG. 6, still another example of the hazard lamp forgetting to turn off notification processing procedure executed by the control IC 13 is shown. First, based on the vehicle speed detection signal of the vehicle speed sensor 36 acquired via the body ECU 30, it is determined whether or not the vehicle is stopped (step S301). If the vehicle is stopped, the process proceeds to step S302. If the vehicle is not stopped, the notification process is not executed.

  In the process of step S302, it is determined whether or not the hazard switch 11 has been turned on with reference to a sensor signal from the sensor IC 12. When the hazard switch 11 is off, the notification process is not executed. When the hazard switch 11 is turned on, the control is started, and the process proceeds to the next step S303.

  In the process of step S303, based on the vehicle speed detection signal of the vehicle speed sensor 36 acquired via the body ECU 30, it is determined whether or not the vehicle has started. If the vehicle has started, the process proceeds to step S304. If the vehicle has not started, the processes in steps S301 and S302 are repeated.

  At this time, based on the vehicle speed detection signal input from the vehicle speed sensor 36, it is determined whether or not the vehicle speed has reached a predetermined speed. If the vehicle speed has reached the predetermined speed, the process proceeds to step S304, where the vehicle speed is set to the predetermined speed. If not reached, step S303 may be repeated.

  In the process of step S304, based on the sensor signal from the sensor IC 12, it is determined whether or not the hazard switch 11 is on. If the hazard switch 11 is in the off state, the hazard lamp forgetting to turn off notification process is terminated. If it is detected that the hazard switch 11 is turned on, the process proceeds to the next step S305. In the process of step S305, the image display device 3 and the notification device 40 are used to notify the driver that the hazard lamp 32 has been forgotten to be turned off.

  By the above process, it is possible to prevent the driver from starting the vehicle while the hazard switch 11 is kept on.

  In the process of step S104 of FIG. 4, the process of step S204 of FIG. 5, and the process of step S305 of FIG. 6, for example, by monitoring the blinking speed of the hazard lamp 32, the state of charge of the battery + B is displayed on the image display. It is also possible to notify using the device 3 or the notification device 40. Further, by outputting a control signal input from the control IC 13 to the body ECU 30, the body ECU 30 supplies power to various on-vehicle devices based on the control signal from the control IC 13 in order to reduce the load on the battery + B. It is also possible to control.

(Effect of embodiment)
According to the hazard lamp switch device 10 according to this embodiment, in addition to the above effects, the following effects can be obtained.
(1) Since the contactless hazard switch 11 has no contact portion at the contact portion, it is possible to improve component durability without causing contact failure.
(2) Since the sensor IC 12, the control IC 13, and the semiconductor relay 14 are integrated in the hazard switch 11, the hazard lamp 32 can be blinked directly by the on / off operation of the hazard switch 11. Thereby, it is not necessary to provide a special circuit for increasing the power supply capability for the hazard lamp 32 separately from the hazard switch 11. As a result, the number of parts of the hazard lamp switch device 10 can be reduced, the connection work of the hazard switch 11 can be simplified, and the cost can be reduced.
(3) An extra installation space for the hazard switch 11 can be omitted. With this omission, the entire hazard lamp switch device can be reduced in size.

  As is clear from the above description, the hazard lamp switch device 10 of the present invention has been described based on the above-described embodiment, modified examples, and illustrated examples, but the present invention is not limited to this, It is possible to implement in various modes without departing from the gist. In the present invention, other modifications as shown below are possible.

[Modification]
(1) In the above embodiment, the blinking / extinguishing operation of the hazard lamp 32 is controlled with reference to the recognition results of the lever control switch signal, the ignition switch signal, and the vehicle speed detection signal. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, even if the blinking / extinguishing operation of the hazard lamp 32 is controlled based on the recognition results of various sensor / switch signals such as a shift position switch signal, a parking brake switch signal, and a door opening / closing switch signal of the automatic transmission, Aim can be achieved.
(2) In the above-described embodiment, the principle of action is used in which the magnetic field of the sensor IC 12 changes as the magnet 18 of the switch operating unit 17 moves in the direction approaching the sensor IC 12. However, the present invention is not limited to this. It is not something. As long as the magnetic field of the sensor IC 12 changes, any combination of the sensor IC 12 and the magnet 18 may be used regardless of the principle of operation.
(3) As sensor IC12, it replaces with a magnetic sensor and can adopt other sensor parts, such as a photosensor and a capacitance sensor, for example.
(4) The hazard switch 11 may be, for example, a mechanical switch mechanism that switches in conjunction with a pressing operation of the switch operation unit 17 or a momentary switch mechanism that automatically returns.
(5) In the above embodiment, the case where the sensor IC 12 and the control IC 13 are sealed with a sealing resin to form a single package component has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the sensor IC 12, the control IC 13 and the semiconductor relay 14 may be sealed with a sealing resin to form a single package component. Each of the sensor IC 12, the control IC 13 and the semiconductor relay 14 may be formed with the first to third sealing resins. It may be formed as three package parts by sealing.
(6) In the above embodiment, the case where the present invention is applied to an automobile has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and is effectively applied to various vehicles such as a motorcycle, a construction machine, and an agricultural machine. Of course you can.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Instrument panel, 2 ... Steering wheel, 3 ... Image display apparatus, 10 ... Hazard lamp switch apparatus, 11 ... Hazard switch, 12 ... Sensor IC, 13 ... Control IC, 14 ... Semiconductor relay, 15 ... IC board, 16 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS ... Main body, 17 ... Switch operation part, 17a ... Extension part, 18 ... Magnet, 19 ... Switch case, 20 ... Switch support part, 21 ... Coil spring, 30 ... Body ECU, 31 ... Connector terminal, 32 ... Turn signal lamp ( Hazard lamp), 33 ... junction, 34 ... lever combination switch, 35 ... ignition switch, 36 ... vehicle speed sensor, 40 ... notification (warning) device

Claims (3)

A sensor that detects the on / off operation of the hazard switch by the driver;
A controller that inputs a sensor signal output by the sensor and outputs an on / off state of the hazard switch based on the sensor signal;
A semiconductor relay that inputs the on / off state of the hazard switch from the control unit and blinks the hazard lamp,
The sensor, the control unit, and a switch body provided with the semiconductor relay,
The control unit is further configured to input a drive information signal from a body control unit that controls the operation of the on-vehicle equipment, and to output information related to the hazard switch to the outside in accordance with the sensor signal and the drive information signal. What is claimed is: 1. A vehicle hazard lamp switch device comprising:   The vehicle hazard lamp switch device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit outputs an on / off state of the hazard switch to the body control unit and a notification device.   The vehicle hazard lamp switch device according to claim 2, wherein the notification device notifies information related to the hazard lamp by acting on a driver's vision and / or hearing.

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