JP2016206005A - Load detection device and operation system for vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To accurately measure a load.SOLUTION: A load detection device comprises a contact body 11 on which a pressing load acts by being pressed, a load detection body 12 disposed so as to face the contact body 11 on the side in the contact body 11 pressing direction and detecting a pressing load acting on the contact body 11 as a divided pressing load obtained by dividing the pressing load for each area, a processing unit 15 for calculating a direction of the pressing load acting on the contact body 11 by compositing the divided pressing loads detected by the load detection body 12, and a frame body 14 for covering a peripheral part 11bB of the contact body 11 in the state of exposing the central part of the contact body 11 to the opposite side to the load detection body 12 and restricting pressure on the peripheral part 11bB of the contact body 11.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

  The present invention relates to a load detection device and a vehicle operation system.

  A load detection device is known as a device that detects the direction of a pressing load that acts when pressed. As a load detection device, a load measurement system having a contact portion (contact body) with a measurement object and having a load sensor (load detection body) that measures a pressing load acting on the contact portion is known (for example, the following) Patent Document 1). In this technology, the load detection layer of the load sensor is divided into four zones, and the pressure load acting on the contact part is separated into a vertical load (compression load) and a shear load by measuring the amount of voltage change in each zone. To measure. The vertical load is measured as the sum of the voltage changes in each zone, and the shear load is measured as the voltage change. The load measuring system measures the direction of the pressing load acting based on the measured vertical load and shear load.

JP2013-079831A

  By the way, if a contact body presses a peripheral part, the press position of a contact body will be pushed down and there exists a possibility that the position furthest away from the press position may float. For this reason, there is a possibility that a compressive load acts on the load detection body arranged opposite to the pressing position, and a tensile load acts on the load detection body arranged opposite to the lifted position. Thus, in the load detection device and the vehicle operation system, there is room for improvement in that the pressing load is accurately measured.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a load detection device and a vehicle operation system that can accurately measure a pressing load.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a contact body that is pressed and is subjected to a pressing load, and is disposed opposite to the contact body on a pressing direction side where the contact body is pressed and acts on the contact body. A load detecting body that detects the pressing load as a divided pressing load divided into regions, a processing unit that calculates the direction of the pressing load acting on the contact body by combining the divided pressing loads, and the contact body A frame body that covers a peripheral edge portion of the contact body in a state where the central portion of the contact body is exposed to the side opposite to the load detection body and restricts the pressing of the contact body against the peripheral edge portion.

  Moreover, it is desirable that the load detection body can detect a compressive load, and the frame body regulates that the divided pressing load detected by the load detection body becomes a tensile load.

  Moreover, it is desirable to provide the elastic body interposed between the said contact body and the said load detection body.

  In addition, the contact body that is pressed to apply a pressing load, and is disposed to face the contact body on the pressing direction side where the contact body is pressed, and the pressing load that acts on the contact body is divided for each region. A load detection body that detects the divided pressing load, a processing section that synthesizes the divided pressing loads and calculates a direction of the pressing load that acts on the contact body, and a center portion of the contact body opposite to the load detection body A load detecting device having a frame that covers the peripheral edge of the contact body in a state exposed to the side and restricts the pressing of the contact body against the peripheral edge, and an operation configuration assigned to the operation configuration of the in-vehicle device. And a control device that controls the in-vehicle device based on the direction of the pressing load when the operation mode according to the operator's intention to operate the on-vehicle device presses the contact body. It is to input, the control device controls the vehicle device based on the direction of the pressure load calculated in the processing unit, is characterized in that.

  The load detection device and the vehicle operation system according to the present invention have an effect that the pressing load can be accurately measured.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an operation switch and a vehicle operation system according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the operation switch. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the operation switch. FIG. 4 is a partial cross-sectional view showing the operation switch. FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration showing the contact body and the load sensor in the operation switch. FIG. 6 is a partial cross-sectional view showing the operation switch of the first modification. FIG. 7 is a front view showing the operation switch of the second modification. FIG. 8 is a front view showing a conventional operation switch. FIG. 9 is a front view showing a conventional operation switch.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of a load detection device and a vehicle operation system according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In addition, this invention is not limited by this embodiment.

[Embodiment]
One embodiment of a load detection device and a vehicle operation system according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

  As an example, the operation switch (load detection device) 10 of the present embodiment is applied to the vehicle operation system 1 and disposed on the steering wheel 100 in the vehicle interior, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The vehicle operation system 1 includes an operation switch 10 for operating the in-vehicle device 110 and a control device 20.

  Here, the in-vehicle device 110 is a device having at least one function (operation form) that operates in accordance with the operation of the vehicle operation system 1 by the operator. For example, the in-vehicle device 110 corresponds to a vehicle lighting device (headlight or taillight), a direction indicator, a wiper, or the like. Moreover, in the case of what is mounted in a vehicle interior, audio equipment, audio equipment, such as radio, an air conditioner (so-called air conditioner), etc. correspond to the vehicle-mounted device 110. The in-vehicle device 110 is not mounted on the vehicle itself, but is also applicable to devices (for example, mobile phones and portable music players) that are mounted on the vehicle when brought into the vehicle interior. To do.

  In the present embodiment, the pressing direction in the following description is the direction of the pressing load that acts when the operation switch 10 is pressed.

  The operation switch 10 is disposed on the side opposite to the steering column side of the steering wheel 100 in the vehicle interior. The operation switch 10 is a so-called pointing device for operating the in-vehicle device 110 to which an operation direction is assigned. The operation switch 10 is input as an operation direction corresponding to the operator's intention to operate the in-vehicle device 110 as a pressing direction. At least one function in at least one on-vehicle device 110 is assigned to each operation direction of the operation switch 10.

  In the present embodiment, the operation mode of the operation switch 10 is, for example, a function selection operation for selecting a desired one from a plurality of functions of the in-vehicle device 110, and a desired one from a plurality of selection conditions possessed by a certain function. It can be used for a condition selection operation for selecting a thing, a decision operation for determining and driving or stopping the selected one. The function selection operation is, for example, an operation for selecting a desired function from a media selection function, a volume selection function, a track selection function, and the like when the in-vehicle device 110 is an acoustic device. The condition selection operation is, for example, an operation for selecting a desired volume when a volume selection function is selected. As this operation mode, operations in a plurality of directions are set.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the operation switch 10 includes a contact body 11, a load vector sensor (load detection body) 12, an elastic body 13, a frame body 14, a processing unit 15, and one of these. A casing 10 </ b> A for housing the part therein. The operation switch 10 is electrically connected to a control device 20 described later.

  The casing 10A is formed in a rectangular parallelepiped box shape. The casing 10A houses a contact body 11, a load vector sensor 12, an elastic body 13, and a processing unit 15 to be described later. The casing 10A is fixed to the steering wheel 100 side with one side surface 10Aa (see FIG. 2) in contact with the steering wheel 100 side. The casing 10A has a fitting leg 10B formed so as to protrude from the side surface 10Aa. A fitting hole 10Ba is formed in the fitting leg 10B. The casing 10A is attached to the steering wheel 100 side by fitting a convex fitting convex portion 100a disposed on the steering wheel 100 side into the fitting hole 10Ba. Further, the casing 10A has a circular through hole 10Ac (see FIG. 4) disposed in the central portion of the side surface 10Ab facing the side surface 10Aa. The through hole 10Ac exposes at least a part of the contact body 11 accommodated therein to the outside of the casing 10A.

  The contact body 11 is detected by a load vector sensor 12 (described later) and is calculated by the processing unit 15. The contact body 11 is made of a material having higher rigidity than the elastic body 13 described later. The contact body 11 is formed as a solid member with the cylindrical portion 11a and the flange portion 11c integrated.

  The cylindrical portion 11a is formed in a cylindrical shape having a central axis X. Here, the direction along the central axis X of the cylindrical portion 11a is defined as the axial direction. A load vector sensor 12 to be described later is disposed so as to face an end surface on one side in the axial direction of the cylindrical portion 11a. The end surface on the load vector sensor 12 side in the cylindrical portion 11a is referred to as a sensor-side end surface 11aA. The sensor-side end surface 11aA is an end surface that causes a pressing load acting on the contact body 11 to act on the load vector sensor 12 side.

  The pressing surface 11b is an end surface opposite to the sensor-side end surface 11aA in the axial direction of the cylindrical portion 11a. The pressing surface 11b is a portion that is at least partially exposed from the through hole 10Ac of the casing 10A and pressed by the operator's finger. The pressing surface 11b has a size that can be pressed by an operator's finger. A portion including the center point on the pressing surface 11b is referred to as a central portion 11bA. Further, the outer side in the radial direction of the pressing surface 11b is referred to as a peripheral portion 11bB. The peripheral edge portion 11bB is a portion where a tensile load acts on the load vector sensor 12 when the portion of the contact body 11 is pressed.

  The flange portion 11c is disposed on the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 11a. The flange portion 11c is formed in a ring shape and protrudes outward in the radial direction. The flange portion 11c is for positioning and fixing the contact body 11 inside a casing 10A described later.

  In the contact body 11 configured in this way, the central axis X of the cylindrical portion 11a coincides with the central axis of the through hole 10Ac of the casing 10A, and the central axis X of the cylindrical portion 11a is against the load vector sensor 12 described later. Are arranged in the casing 10A so as to be vertical. At this time, the contact body 11 is positioned while the flange portion 11c is held between the through hole 10Ac and the pressing member in a state where the pressing surface 11b is exposed from the through hole 10Ac of the casing 10A.

  Moreover, in the contact body 11 comprised in this way, the center part 11bA of the press surface 11b is pressed, and the operation form according to the operation intention with respect to the vehicle-mounted apparatus 110 is input. In the present embodiment, as an operation mode, for example, an operation of tilting in any direction while pressing the central portion 11bA of the contact body 11, or any position including the central portion 11bA of the contact body 11 toward the center point P. There is an operation to press. For the contact body 11, for example, a determination operation is input by pressing the central portion 11bA in the axial direction of the cylindrical portion 11a, and the contact body 11 is tilted in any direction while pressing the central portion 11bA, or other than the central portion 11bA. The selection operation is input by pressing toward P. Here, the center point P is an intersection of the center axis X of the cylindrical part 11a and the sensor side end face 11aA of the cylindrical part 11a.

  The load vector sensor 12 is disposed in the casing 10A so as to face the sensor-side end surface 11aA of the cylindrical portion 11a with an elastic body 13 described later interposed therebetween. Further, the sensor surface of the load vector sensor 12 is arranged orthogonal to the central axis X of the cylindrical portion 11a. The load vector sensor 12 detects a pressing load. More specifically, the load vector sensor 12 detects a compressive load (vertical load) and a horizontal load. The load vector sensor 12 cannot correctly calculate the pressing load when the vertical load is a tensile load. The load vector sensor 12 outputs the detected value to the processing unit 15.

  The load vector sensor 12 in the present embodiment is configured as follows as an example.

  The load vector sensor 12 is formed in a rectangular sheet shape. The load vector sensor 12 includes a pair of first substrate 12a and second substrate 12b that are disposed to face each other and electrodes are disposed on each of the load vector sensors 12, and a resistor 12c that is sandwiched between the pair of electrodes.

  The first substrate 12a is formed in a single rectangular sheet. The second substrate 12b is disposed to face the first substrate 12a.

  The second substrate 12b is formed in a rectangular sheet shape, and a plurality of the second substrates 12b are arranged. Each second substrate 12b has an area obtained by dividing the first substrate 12a into four equal parts. Each second substrate 12b is disposed to face the sensor-side end surface 11aA of the cylindrical portion 11a. Each second substrate 12b is arranged so that there is no overlapping portion. Moreover, each 2nd board | substrate 12b is arrange | positioned so that the same pressing load may be detected, when center part 11bA of the press surface 11b of the contact body 11 is pressed by the axial direction.

In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, for example, the second substrate 12b is divided into divided regions A1, A2, A3, and A4 that are divided into four equally at the center angle 90 ° from the sensor side end surface 11aA of the cylindrical portion 11a. They are arranged opposite to each other. Specifically, the load vector sensor 12 includes four second substrates 12b ₁ , 12b ₂ , 12b ₃ , 12b ₄ as a plurality of second substrates 12b. Further, the second substrates 12b ₁ , 12b ₂ , 12b ₃ , 12b ₄ are arranged to face the four regions obtained by dividing the first substrate 12a by the line connecting the midpoints of the opposite sides. ing. The second substrate 12b ₁ detects the divided pressing load acting on the divided area A1 of the lower right side of the sensor side end face 11aA of the cylindrical portion 11a shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. The second substrate 12b ₂ detects the divided pressing load acting on the lower left divided area A2 of the sensor side end face 11aA of the cylindrical part 11a shown in the same manner. The second substrate 12b ₃ detects the divided pressing load acting on the divided area A3 on the upper left side of the sensor-side end surface 11aA of the cylindrical portion 11a shown in the same manner. The second substrate 12b ₄ detects the divided pressing load acting on the divided area A4 on the upper right side of the sensor-side end face 11aA of the cylindrical portion 11a shown in the same manner.

  The resistor 12c is formed in a single rectangular sheet having the same shape as the first substrate 12a. The resistor 12c is made of a material having electrical conductivity, and has a characteristic that an electrical resistance value changes when a load is applied with a voltage applied.

Such load vector sensor 12 configuration, electrode and a second substrate _12b 1 of the first substrate _12a, 12b _2, 12b 3, the voltage between the 12b ₄ of the electrode, i.e., divided area A1, A2, A3, A voltage corresponding to the load acting on A4 is detected. In the following description, the voltage between the electrodes of the first substrate 12a and the electrodes of the second substrates 12b ₁ , 12b ₂ , 12b ₃ , 12b ₄ is referred to as “divided region voltage”. The divided pressing load can be expressed as a vector by the voltage change amount of the voltage in the divided area. The pressing load acting on the load vector sensor 12 can be expressed as a vector by combining the divided pressing loads. For this reason, the load vector sensor 12 detects the amount of voltage change in each divided region and outputs it to the processing unit 15 described later.

  The elastic body 13 is interposed between the contact body 11 and the load vector sensor 12. The elastic body 13 is formed in a cylindrical shape having the same diameter as the cylindrical portion 11a. The central axis of the elastic body 13 coincides with the central axis X of the cylindrical portion 11a. The elastic body 13 has an end face 13b opposite to the end face 13a on the load vector sensor 12 side and is bonded to the sensor-side end face 11aA of the cylindrical portion 11a. The elastic body 13 is bonded to the surface 12aB of the load vector sensor 12. The surface 12aB is a surface opposite to the surface 12aA facing the second substrate 12b of the first substrate 12a. The elastic body 13 is made of an elastic material. The elastic body 13 is elastically deformed by a pressing load acting on the contact body 11, and the pressing load is applied to the load vector sensor 12. The elastic body 13 is compressed between the contact body 11 and the load vector sensor 12 when the contact body 11 is pressed by the operator's finger, and when the operator's finger is separated from the contact body 11, the elastic body 13 is restored by its elastic force. Return to shape.

  The frame body 14 is disposed on the side surface 10Ab of the casing 10A. The frame 14 is formed in a ring shape. The frame body 14 is assembled to the casing 10 </ b> A so that the center axis X coincides with the center axis X of the cylindrical portion 11 a of the contact body 11. The frame body 14 covers the peripheral edge portion 11bB of the pressing surface 11b with the central portion 11bA of the pressing surface 11b exposed from the opening 14d. In the present embodiment, the apex of the pressing surface 11b exposed from the opening 14d is located on the same plane as the side surface 14a opposite to the side surface 10Ab of the frame body 14. The frame 14 has an outer peripheral surface 14b and an inner peripheral surface 14c.

  The outer peripheral surface 14b has a larger diameter than the pressing surface 11b.

  The diameter of the inner peripheral surface 14c is set to a size that covers the peripheral edge portion 11bB of the pressing surface 11b. The pressing surface 11b is exposed to the outside of the casing 10A through the opening 14d of the frame body 14.

  The processing unit 15 performs information processing for calculating the direction of the pressing load acting on the contact body 11 by combining the divided pressing loads, that is, the pressing direction. The processing unit 15 is electrically connected to a control device 20 described later. In the present embodiment, the processing unit 15 corresponds to the load vector sensor 12 and is configured as follows as an example.

  The processing unit 15 calculates the direction of the pressing load acting on the load vector sensor 12 based on the voltage change amount of the divided area output from the load vector sensor 12 and determines the operation direction of the operator with respect to the contact body 11. It has a function. More specifically, the processing unit 15 calculates the divided pressing load as a vector based on the voltage change amount of the voltage in the divided area. Then, the processing unit 15 calculates a pressing load acting on the load vector sensor 12 as a vector by combining the divided pressing loads. In the calculated pressing load, the vertical component is the vertical load, and the horizontal component is the shear load. In this way, the direction of the pressing load acting on the load vector sensor 12 calculated based on the calculated vertical load and shear load is determined as the operation mode of the operator with respect to the contact body 11. The processing unit 15 transmits an output signal corresponding to the determined operation mode of the operator to the contact body 11 to the control device 20.

  Specifically, for example, when the calculated shear load is zero, the processing unit 15 determines that the central portion 11bA of the contact body 11 is pressed in the axial direction and the determination operation is input, and an output signal indicating that Is output. When the calculated shear load is other than zero, the processing unit 15 performs the selection operation by tilting while pressing the central portion 11bA of the contact body 11 or by pressing the portion other than the central portion 11bA toward the central point P. It is determined that it has been input, and an output signal to that effect is output.

  The control device 20 sends a command (drive command or stop command) to the in-vehicle device 110 based on the control signal output from the processing unit 15 of the operation switch 10, and the in-vehicle device according to the operation of the operator on the contact body 11. The function of 110 is driven or stopped. For this reason, the control device 20 is electrically connected to the operation switch 10 and the in-vehicle device 110. Here, the command for the in-vehicle device 110 may be a command for directly driving or stopping the in-vehicle device 110, or a command for the control device of the in-vehicle device 110. When the control device of the in-vehicle device 110 receives a command from the control device 20, the control device drives or stops the function of the in-vehicle device 110 based on the content of the command.

  Next, effects of the operation switch 10 and the vehicle operation system 1 of the present embodiment will be described.

  In the operation switch 10 and the vehicle operation system 1 according to the present embodiment, the contact body 11 has the peripheral edge portion 11bB of the pressing surface 11b by the operator's finger because the peripheral edge portion 11bB of the pressing surface 11b is covered by the frame body 14. Can be suppressed. Further, in the contact body 11, the operator's finger can easily press down the central portion of the pressing surface 11 b of the contact body 11.

  Here, the operation switch 300 in the conventional vehicle operation system will be described with reference to FIGS. The operation switch 300 includes the contact body 310 having the same shape as the contact body 11 in the operation switch 10 of the embodiment, and does not include the frame body 14 described above. The operation switch 300 includes a load vector sensor 12, an elastic body 13, a processing unit (not shown), and a casing (not shown) similar to those of the operation switch 10.

The contact body 310 has a cylindrical portion 310a and a flange portion 310b. A pressing surface 310B, which is an end surface facing the end surface 310A on the load vector sensor 12 side of the cylindrical portion 310a, is an end surface that the operator presses with fingers. In the contact body 310, when the peripheral edge of the cylindrical portion 310a is pressed at the pressing position P1, the cylindrical portion 310a is pressed down toward the load vector sensor 12 on the pressing position P1 side, and a position P2 on the opposite side to the pressing position P1 is set. Float up. Therefore, the second substrate 12b ₁ of the load vector sensor 12 located below the pressing position P1, the compression load is applied, the second substrate of the load vector sensor 12 positioned below the position P2 floated peripheral edge portion the 12b _2, the tensile load is applied. Since the load vector sensor 12 cannot correctly calculate the pressing load when the vertical load is a tensile load, the load vector sensor 12 cannot accurately detect the direction of the pressing load acting on the contact body 310.

  On the other hand, in this embodiment, since the peripheral part 11bB of the pressing surface 11b of the contact body 11 is covered with the frame 14, the operator presses the peripheral part 11bB of the pressing surface 11b with a finger. Can be regulated. For this reason, in the operation switch 10, it can regulate that a tensile load acts on the load vector sensor 12. As a result, the operation switch 10 can always correctly calculate the pressing load by avoiding that the pressing load cannot be correctly calculated due to the tensile load acting on the load vector sensor 12.

  Further, in the operation switch 10 and the vehicle operation system 1 according to the present embodiment, since the peripheral portion 11bB of the pressing surface 11b of the contact body 11 is covered by the frame body 14, the operator presses the operation switch 10. In addition, it is not necessary to pay attention not to press the peripheral edge portion 11bB of the pressing surface 11b. That is, the operation switch 10 can reduce the burden on the operator.

  As described above, the operation switch 10 and the vehicle operation system 1 of the present embodiment can accurately measure the load.

[Modification 1]
In the vehicle operation system 1 of the above-described embodiment, the operation switch 10 has been described on the assumption that the pressing surface 11b exposed from the opening 14d of the side surface 14a of the frame body 14 is positioned on the load vector sensor 12 side from the side surface 14a. . On the other hand, in the operation switch 30 of the vehicle operation system 2 of this modification, the pressing surface 31b exposed from the opening 34d of the side surface 34a of the frame 34 is located on the same plane as the side surface 34a.

  The vehicle operation system 2 of this modification is obtained by replacing the operation switch 10 with the operation switch 30 shown in FIG. 6 in the vehicle operation system 1 of the above-described embodiment.

  The operation switch 30 includes a contact body 31, a load vector sensor 32, an elastic body 33, a frame body 34, a processing unit (see FIG. 5), and a casing (not shown) that houses a part thereof. And comprising.

  As for the contact body 31, the 1st cylindrical part 31a, the 2nd cylindrical part 31b, and the collar part 31c are united, and the whole is formed as a solid member.

  The first cylindrical portion 31a applies the load when pressed by the operator to the load vector sensor 12 side, which will be described later, via an end surface (sensor side end surface) 31aA on the load vector sensor 12 side. A second cylindrical portion 31b extends on the side opposite to the sensor-side end surface 31aA side of the first cylindrical portion 31a.

  The second cylindrical portion 31b has a cylindrical shape with a smaller diameter than the first cylindrical portion 31a. The second cylindrical portion 31b is arranged such that the central axis X coincides with the central axis X of the first cylindrical portion 31a. The second cylindrical portion 31b is a portion where the pressing surface which is the end surface on the side opposite to the end surface on the first cylindrical portion 31a side is exposed, and the operator presses with a finger. The pressing surface has a size that can be pressed with the finger of the operator. A ring-shaped flange 31c protrudes radially outward from the boundary between the first cylindrical portion 31a and the second cylindrical portion 31b.

The load vector sensor 32 is configured in the same manner as the load vector sensor 12 of the embodiment, and includes a pair of substrates 32a and 32b and a resistor 32c sandwiched between the pair of electrodes. In this modification, the substrate 32b includes four second substrates 32b ₁ , 32b ₂ , 32b ₃ , 32b ₄ (see FIG. 5).

  The frame body 34 exposes the pressing surface of the second cylindrical portion 31b of the contact body 31 and is positioned on the same plane as the side surface 34a. The end surface of the first cylindrical portion 31a on the side opposite to the load vector sensor 12 Is disposed so as to cover the peripheral edge 31aB. In the side surface 34a, the pressing surface of the second cylindrical portion 31b is exposed from the opening 34d formed in the center portion. The frame 34 having such a configuration enables the pressing surface of the second cylindrical portion 31b of the contact body 31 to be pressed by the operator's fingers. Moreover, the frame 34 suppresses that an operator's finger | toe presses the peripheral part 31aB by covering the peripheral part 31aB of the 1st cylindrical part 31a.

  The elastic body 33, the processing unit, and the casing 36 are formed in the same manner as the elastic body 13, the processing unit 15, and the casing 10A of the embodiment.

  Also in the operation switch 30 and the vehicle operation system 2 configured as described above, the peripheral portion 31aB of the first columnar portion 31a of the contact body 31 is covered with the frame body 34 as in the embodiment. However, it can control that peripheral edge 31aB of the 1st cylindrical part 31a is pressed with a finger. For this reason, in the operation switch 30, it is possible to restrict a tensile load from acting on the load vector sensor 32. Accordingly, the operation switch 30 can always correctly calculate the load by avoiding that the load cannot be correctly calculated due to the tensile load acting on the load vector sensor 32.

  Further, since the pressing surface of the second cylindrical portion 31b is exposed from the opening 34d of the side surface 34a and is located on the same plane as the side surface 34a, the operator can easily press the pressing surface of the second cylindrical portion 31b. That is, the operation switch 30 can improve operability.

  As described above, also in this modification, the operation switch 30 and the vehicle operation system 2 can accurately measure the load.

[Modification 2]
In the vehicle operation system 1 of the above-described embodiment, the operation switch 10 has been described on the assumption that the planar pressing surface 11b of the contact body 11 is exposed from the opening 14d of the side surface 14a of the frame body 14. On the other hand, in the operation switch 40 of the vehicle operation system 3 of this modification, the curved surface portion 41b is exposed from the opening 44d of the side surface 44a of the frame body 44.

  The vehicle operation system 3 of this modification is obtained by replacing the operation switch 10 with the operation switch 40 shown in FIG. 7 in the vehicle operation system 1 of the above-described embodiment.

  The operation switch 40 includes a contact body 41, a load vector sensor 42, an elastic body 43, a frame body 44, a processing unit (see FIG. 5), and a casing (not shown) that houses a part of them. And comprising.

  The contact body 41 is formed as a solid member with the cylindrical portion 41a, the curved surface portion 41b, and the flange portion 41c being integrated.

  The cylindrical portion 41 applies the load when pressed by the operator to the load vector sensor 42 side to be described later via an end surface (sensor side end surface) 41aA on the load vector sensor 42 side.

  The curved surface portion 41b is disposed on the side opposite to the sensor side end surface 41aA in the axial direction of the cylindrical portion 41a. The curved surface portion 41b is formed in a dome shape that is convexly curved on the opposite side of the load vector sensor 42 in the axial direction of the cylindrical portion 41a. The curved surface portion 41b is formed with a pressing surface 41bA that is concave with respect to the curved surface portion 41b. The curved surface portion 41b is a portion that is at least partially exposed from the through hole of the casing and pressed by the operator's finger. The curved surface portion 41b has a size that can be pressed with the fingers of the operator. A portion including a boundary portion with the cylindrical portion 41a in the curved surface portion 41b is referred to as a peripheral edge portion 41bB. The peripheral edge portion 41bB is a portion where a tensile load acts on the load vector sensor 12 when the portion of the contact body 41 is pressed.

  The collar portion 41c is disposed at a boundary portion between the cylindrical portion 41a and the curved surface portion 41b. The collar portion 41c is formed in a ring shape and protrudes outward in the radial direction.

The load vector sensor 42 is configured in the same manner as the load vector sensor 12 of the embodiment, and includes a pair of substrates 42a and 42b and a resistor 42c sandwiched between the pair of electrodes. In this modification, the substrate 42b is composed of four second substrates 42b ₁ , 42b ₂ , 42b ₃ , 42b ₄ (see FIG. 5).

  The frame body 44 is disposed so as to cover the peripheral edge portion 41bB of the curved surface portion 41b with the pressing surface 41bA of the curved surface portion 41b of the contact body 41 exposed.

  Moreover, the elastic body 43, the process part 35, and a casing are formed similarly to the elastic body 13, the process part 15, and casing 10A of embodiment.

  In the operation switch 40 and the vehicle operation system 3 configured as described above, since the curved surface portion 41b is formed in a dome shape, the operation switch 40 can regulate the pressing on the peripheral edge portion 41bB. Thus, in addition to the peripheral portion 41bB of the curved surface portion 41b of the contact body 41 being covered by the frame body 44, the operation switch 40 has a peripheral shape 41bB. It can control more reliably pressing part 41bB with a finger.

  In the operation switch 40 and the vehicle operation system 3, the curved surface portion 41 b is formed in a dome shape, so that the operation switch 40 can easily apply the pressing force toward the center point P. For this reason, even if the operator does not consciously press toward the center point P, a load is likely to act on the curved surface portion 41b toward the center point P, and the operation switch 40 causes a tensile load to be applied to the load vector sensor 42. It can be made difficult to act. Accordingly, the operation switch 40 can always calculate the load correctly without impairing the operability, avoiding that the load cannot be correctly calculated due to the tensile load acting on the load vector sensor 12.

  As described above, also in this modification, the operation switch 40 and the vehicle operation system 3 can accurately measure the load.

  In the above-described embodiments and modifications, the operation switches 10, 30, and 40 have been described as being provided on the operator side of the steering wheel 100 as an example. However, the operation switches 10, 30, and 40 are, for example, a steering column (illustrated). (May be omitted).

  In the above-described embodiments and modifications, the processing units 15, 35, and 45 have been described as examples of the constituent elements of the operation switches 10, 30, and 40, but the functions of the processing units are implemented. For example, it may be implemented as a component included in the control device 20. In this case, the load vector sensors 12, 32, and 42 may output the detected voltage change amount and voltage change of the divided area to the processing unit of the control device 20. For example, the processing unit may be configured as an independent processing device. In this case, the processing device is electrically connected to the operation switches 10, 30 and 40 and the control device 20. The load vector sensors 12, 32, and 42 output the detected voltage change amount and voltage change of the divided regions to the processing device, and the processing device operates the calculated load direction, that is, the operator for the contact bodies 11, 31, and 41. An output signal corresponding to the operation mode is output to the control device 20.

  Further, the load vector sensor only needs to detect a compressive load and a horizontal load, which are vertical loads, and is limited to the configuration of the load vector sensors 12, 32, and 42 exemplified in the above-described embodiments and modifications. is not. For example, the second substrate of the load vector sensor may be composed of two, three, five or more second substrates. The number of such second substrates is, for example, the number of operation modes of the operator with respect to the assigned contact bodies 11, 31, 41, that is, the number of load directions to be detected when the contact bodies 11, 31, 41 are pressed. It may be set according to

  Further, the operation switches 10, 30, and 40 are not limited to the vehicle operation system as long as they can be applied as a so-called pointing device that determines a load direction by a load vector sensor that detects a compressive load and a horizontal load that are vertical loads. Can do.

1 Vehicle Operation System 10 Operation Switch (Load Detection Device)
10A Casing 11 Contact body 11b Press surface 11bA Center part 11bB Peripheral part 12 Load vector sensor (load detection body)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 13 Elastic body 14 Frame 15 Processing part 20 Control apparatus 100 Steering wheel 110 Vehicle-mounted apparatus

Claims (4)

A contact body that is pressed to apply a pressing load;
A load detection body that is disposed opposite to the contact body on the pressing direction side where the contact body is pressed and detects the pressing load acting on the contact body as a divided pressing load divided for each region;
A processing unit that synthesizes the divided pressing load and calculates a direction of the pressing load acting on the contact body;
A frame that covers the peripheral edge of the contact body in a state where the central part of the contact body is exposed on the opposite side of the load detection body, and restricts the pressing of the contact body against the peripheral edge;
A load detection device comprising: The load detector is capable of detecting a compressive load,
The frame body regulates that the divided pressing load detected by the load detection body is a tensile load.
The load detection device according to claim 1. An elastic body interposed between the contact body and the load detector;
A load detection device according to claim 1 or 2. A contact body that is pressed and is subjected to a pressing load, and is divided and divided by dividing the pressing load that is disposed facing the contact body on the pressing direction side where the contact body is pressed and that acts on the contact body. A load detection body to detect as a load, a processing section for calculating the direction of the pressing load acting on the contact body by synthesizing the divided pressing load, and a central portion of the contact body on the opposite side to the load detection body A load detecting device having a frame that covers the peripheral edge of the contact body in an exposed state and restricts the pressing of the contact body against the peripheral edge;
A control device for controlling the in-vehicle device based on the operation mode assigned to the operation mode of the in-vehicle device
With
The load detection device is input as a direction of the pressing load when the operation mode according to an operator's intention to operate the on-vehicle device presses the contact body,
The control device controls the in-vehicle device based on the direction of the pressing load calculated in the processing unit.
A vehicle operating system characterized by the above.

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