JP2018127012A - Input device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an input device arranged in a vehicle which suppresses attention decrease of an operator during driving operations, and decreases possibility of mis-operation by a contact that the operator does not intend.SOLUTION: An input device 1 arranged at a spoke 21 of a steering wheel 20 of a vehicle comprises: a housing part 2 which is rotatable around an axial center X when a lengthwise direction of the spoke 21 is regarded as the axial center; and first and second input parts 3, 4 arranged at the housing part 2. Input operation of each of the first and second input parts 3, 4 is prohibited when it is positioned in the back face 21b side of the spoke 21 by rotation of the housing part 2.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 8

Description

  The present invention relates to an input device, and more particularly to an input device provided in an automobile.

  Conventionally, as this type of input device, for example, the one disclosed in Patent Document 1 is known. Patent Document 1 discloses an input device that is provided in a ring portion of a steering wheel and includes an operation member (operation ring) that can rotate forward and backward around the ring portion.

JP 2004-74820 A

  In the input device of Patent Document 1, the operation can be performed from the front surface and the back surface of the operation ring. However, when operating from the back, since the back of the operation ring cannot be visually recognized by the driver, the driver's attention may be reduced when the driver operates the operation ring from the back during the driving operation. Further, in the input device disclosed in Patent Document 1, when the driver grasps the steering wheel and performs a driving operation, when the driver's finger unintentionally touches the back of the operation ring, such a driver is used. However, there is a possibility that an erroneous operation associated with an unintended contact may be made.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object of the present invention is to suppress a reduction in the driver's attention at the time of driving operation and to reduce the possibility of an erroneous operation associated with contact unintended by the driver. It is in.

  In order to achieve the above object, an input device according to an embodiment of the present invention is an input device provided in an automobile, is provided in a spoke of a steering wheel of the automobile, and the length direction of the spoke is an axis. A housing portion rotatable around an axis, and first and second input portions provided on the housing portion, each of the first and second input portions being rotated by the housing portion. The input operation is prohibited when positioned on the back side of the spoke.

  According to the present invention, only one input operation of the first and second input units located on the front side of the spoke can be accepted. That is, an input operation can be performed only with respect to the input unit at a position that can be visually recognized by the driver. As a result, it is possible to suppress a reduction in the driver's attention during driving operation. In addition, even if the driver's finger does not intend to touch the input part located on the back side of the spoke while driving while holding the steering wheel, the driver does not intend It is possible to reduce the possibility of erroneous operation of the input unit due to contact that is not performed.

FIG. 1 is a front view of an input device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a right side view of the input device. FIG. 3 is a left side view of the input device. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating a locked state and an unlocked state of the input device. FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of the input device. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the processing operation of the first holding control performed in the input device. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the processing operation of the second holding control performed in the input device. FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the processing operation of the input prohibition control performed in the input device.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. The following description of the embodiments is merely exemplary in nature, and is not intended to limit the present invention, its application, or its use.

  FIG. 1 shows an entire input device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The input device 1 is provided on one of the spokes 21 of the steering wheel 20 in the automobile, and performs input operations on various on-vehicle devices of the automobile.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the input device 1 includes a housing unit 2. The housing | casing part 2 consists of a resin material or a metal material, for example, and comprises the casing of the input device 1. FIG. The housing portion 2 is formed in, for example, a substantially cylindrical shape, and is disposed on the spoke 21 of the steering wheel 20.

  The housing | casing part 2 is comprised so that rotation around the shaft center X which makes the longitudinal direction of the spoke 21 an axial center is possible. Specifically, a rotation operation unit 6 that can be gripped to rotate the case unit 2 with the fingers of the driver is provided on the outer side 2 b of the case unit 2. The rotation operation unit 6 is formed integrally with the outer side portion 2b of the housing unit 2, for example. Further, on the outer periphery of the rotation operation unit 6, an uneven shape is continuously formed along the circumferential direction. With this rotation operation unit 6, the housing unit 2 can be rotated around the axis X by manual operation of the driver.

  The input device 1 includes a first input unit 3 and a second input unit 4. The first input unit 3 includes a switch unit having a plurality of (in the illustrated example, three) buttons 3a, 3a,. The first input unit 3 faces the front 21a side of the spoke 21, that is, the driver side seated on the seat when an urging unit 10 described below is in an uncompressed state (hereinafter referred to as “standard state”). Arranged in the housing 2. On the other hand, the 2nd input part 4 consists of a touchpad part which has a flat operation surface, and is comprised so that continuous contact operation with a driver | operator's finger | toe can be performed. The 2nd input part 4 is arrange | positioned by the housing | casing part 2 so that it may be located in the back surface 21b side of the spoke 21 in a standard state.

  As shown in FIG. 2, an urging portion 10 made of a compression type torsion coil spring is provided on the inner portion 2 a of the housing portion 2. The urging unit 10 urges the casing unit 2 so that the first input unit 3 is positioned on the front surface 21 a side of the spoke 21. In addition, a substantially circular ring-shaped attachment portion 10 a is formed at each end of the urging portion 10.

  A cylindrical shaft portion 15 extending in the direction of the axis X is protruded from the inner portion 2 a of the housing portion 2 at a position serving as a rotation center of the housing portion 2. The biasing portion 10 is attached to the shaft portion 15 in an externally fitted state. A cylindrical housing-side spring support portion 16 projects from the inner portion 2a of the housing portion 2 near the periphery of the inner surface. One attachment portion 10 a of the urging portion 10 is attached to the housing-side spring support portion 16 in an externally fitted state. Further, a spoke-side spring support portion 21 c having the same shape as the case-side spring support portion 16 is provided inside the spoke at a position facing the inner portion 2 a of the case portion 2. The other attachment portion 10a of the urging portion 10 is attached to the spoke-side spring support portion 21c in an externally fitted state. In FIG. 2, the end face is represented by dot hatching in order to emphasize only the spoke-side spring support portion 21 c.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the outer portion 2 b of the housing portion 2 is formed with an opening portion 17 that opens in a substantially circular shape in the direction along the axis X, and the radius of the housing portion 2 from the opening portion 17. A claw-shaped holding portion 11 extending inward in the direction is formed. The holding unit 11 is configured to hold the housing unit 2 in a state where the first input unit 3 is located on the back surface 21 b side of the spoke 21 against the urging force of the urging unit 10.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the input device 1 includes a stop unit 12 that stops the housing unit 2 in a state where the first input unit is located on the back surface 21 b side of the spoke 21. This stop part 12 consists of an actuator, for example, and is arrange | positioned in the position facing the outer side part 2b of the housing | casing part 2. As shown in FIG. Specifically, the stop portion 12 includes a main body portion 12a, a rod portion 12b extending in a direction along the axis X of the housing portion 2, and a direction along the axis X of the rod portion 12b with respect to the main body portion 12a. And a drive unit (not shown) for extending and contracting. The stop portion 12 can maintain or release the holding state of the holding portion 11 by the rod portion 12b extending and contracting with respect to the main body portion 12a by the control portion 13 described later.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the input device 1 includes a control unit 13 that controls the stop unit 12. Specifically, the control unit 13 is electrically connected to the stop unit 12 and controls the stop unit 12 so that the rod portion 12b of the stop unit 12 extends and contracts with respect to the main body unit 12a.

  The input device 1 includes an in-vehicle controller 5 electrically connected to an in-vehicle device 22 such as a navigation system, an audio device, and an air conditioner provided in the automobile. The in-vehicle control unit 5 performs a predetermined process on the input signal from any one of the first and second input units 3 and 4 operated by the driver, and outputs a signal of the processing result to the in-vehicle device 22. Is configured to do.

  The control unit 13 is electrically connected to the in-vehicle control unit 5. Then, the control unit 13 is configured to determine whether the input device 1 is in a locked state or an unlocked state, which will be described later, and output a signal of the determination result to the in-vehicle control unit 5. . The control unit 13 detects the position of each of the first and second input units 3 and 4 with respect to the spoke 21, performs a predetermined process on the input signal related to the position information, and sends a signal of the processing result to the vehicle. It is configured to output to the control unit 5.

  The control unit 13 is electrically connected to a steering angle detection unit 23 provided on the vehicle side. The steering angle detector 23 can detect the steering angle when the steering wheel 20 is steered by the driver. Specifically, the steering angle detection unit 23 detects the steering angle from the centering position where the steering wheel 20 is not steered to the rotational position where the steering wheel 20 is steered, and the steering angle and the time of the steering angle are detected. It is configured to output a signal related to the displacement to the control unit 13.

  Here, as shown in the upper diagram of FIG. 2, the urging unit 10 is configured so that the first input unit 3 is in an uncompressed state when the first input unit 3 is positioned on the front surface 21 a side of the spoke 21. Arranged in the inner part 2a. At this time, as shown in the upper diagram of FIG. 3, the holding portion 11 is located on the lower side of the housing portion 2. On the other hand, as shown in the upper diagram of FIG. 4, the stopping portion 12 is in a contracted state in which the rod portion 12b is housed in the main body portion 12a. Thus, in the input device 1, when the first input unit 3 is located on the front surface 21 a side of the spoke 21, the rotation of the housing unit 2 by the holding unit 11 and the stop unit 12 is not restricted ( Hereinafter referred to as “unlocked state”). In this unlocked state, the driver can rotate the casing 2 about the axis X by manual operation.

  When the driver rotates the casing 2 so that the first input unit 3 is positioned on the rear surface 21b side of the spoke 21 in the unlocked state, as shown in the lower diagram of FIG. The housing-side spring support portion 16 moves to the lower side of the housing portion 2 and the urging portion 10 is in a compressed state. At this time, as shown in the lower diagram of FIG. 3, the holding portion 11 moves to the upper side of the housing portion 2. And the control part 13 detects that the 1st input part 3 was located in the back surface 21b side of the spoke 21, and controls the stop part 12 so that it may be in the expansion | extension state which the rod part 12b protruded from the main-body part 12a. . As a result, the rod portion 12b of the stop portion 12 is locked to the holding portion 11. In this locked state, the housing part 2 is not returned to the standard state (that is, the state where the first input part 3 is located on the front surface 21a side of the spoke 21). As described above, the input device 1 is in a state in which the rotation of the housing unit 2 by the holding unit 11 and the stop unit 12 is restricted when the first input unit 3 is positioned on the back surface 21b side of the spoke 21 (hereinafter referred to as the following). It is called “locked state”. In this locked state, the driver cannot turn the casing 2 around the axis X by manual operation.

  Here, as shown in FIG. 1, the input device 1 includes an operation knob 18 that is manually operated by a driver. The operation knob 18 is provided on the front surface 21 a side of the spoke 21, and is disposed at a position adjacent to the outer side portion 2 b (the rotation operation unit 6) of the housing unit 2. Further, the operation knob 18 is spoken by a release mechanism (not shown) that acts on the stop portion 12 so that the rod portion 12b of the stop portion 12 is accommodated in the main body portion 12a when manually operated by the driver. 21 is provided inside.

  When the operation knob 18 is manually operated by the driver, if the steering wheel 20 is not steered, the stop unit 12 releases the locked state of the housing unit 2 by the holding unit 11. Thereby, the input apparatus 1 will be in a lock release state. For this reason, in the state where the 2nd input part 4 is located in the front 21a side of spoke 21, the locked state of case part 2 by holding part 11 can be canceled at any time by the driver's intention at the time of non-steering.

  Next, operation | movement of the control part 13 is demonstrated using FIG. 6 and 7 are repeatedly executed by a main routine (not shown) executed by the control unit 13.

  First, the control unit 13 operates the stop unit 12 to control the stop unit 12 so as to be in the locked state and the unlocked state (hereinafter referred to as “first holding control”). Hereinafter, the processing operation relating to the first holding control will be described with reference to FIG.

  In first step S <b> 101, the control unit 13 detects whether or not the first input unit 3 is located on the front surface 21 a side of the spoke 21. That is, when the control unit 13 detects that the first input unit 3 is located on the front surface 21a side of the spoke 21 and the detection signal is output to the in-vehicle control unit 5, the process proceeds to step S102. Then, the control unit 13 maintains the unlocked state by the stop unit 12 and ends the processing operation. On the other hand, when the first input unit 3 is not located at the front 21a side of the spoke 21 in step S101, the process proceeds to step S103.

  After step S101, in step S103, the control unit 13 detects whether or not the first input unit 3 is located on the back surface 21b side of the spoke 21. That is, when the control unit 13 detects that the first input unit 3 is located on the rear surface 21b side of the spoke 21 and the detection signal is output to the in-vehicle control unit 5, the process proceeds to step S104. On the other hand, when the first input unit 3 is not located on the back surface 21b side of the spoke 21, that is, when the first input unit 3 is not located on either the front surface 21a side or the back surface 21b side of the spoke 21 The process proceeds to step S102 described above.

  After step S103, when the control unit 13 determines that the locked state by the stop unit 12 is maintained in step S104, the process proceeds to step S105, where the control unit 13 sets the locked state by the stop unit 12. maintain. On the other hand, when the control unit 13 determines that the locked state by the stop unit 12 is not maintained, the process proceeds to step S106, and the control unit 13 activates the stop unit 12 to enter the locked state. As described above, the first holding control is executed.

  The control unit 13 controls the stop unit 12 so that the holding state of the housing unit 2 by the holding unit 11 is not released when the steering wheel 20 is being steered (hereinafter referred to as “second holding control”). ). Hereinafter, the processing operation relating to the second holding control will be described with reference to FIG.

  In step S111, the steering angle detector 23 detects whether or not the steering wheel 20 is being steered. That is, when the steering wheel 20 is being steered and a signal indicating that the steering angle detector 23 has a temporal displacement of the steering angle is output to the controller 13, the process proceeds to step S112. On the other hand, when the steering wheel 20 is not steered and a signal indicating that there is no temporal displacement of the steering angle by the steering angle detector 23 is output to the control unit 13, the processing operation ends.

  After step S111, in step S112, when the control unit 13 determines that the locked state by the stop unit 12 is maintained (that is, as shown in the lower diagram of FIG. 3, the second input unit 4 is spoken). 21), the control unit 13 maintains the locked state by the stop unit 12 (step S113). On the other hand, when the control unit 13 determines that the locked state by the stop unit 12 is not maintained (that is, as shown in the upper diagram of FIG. 3, the first input unit 3 is placed on the front surface 21 a side of the spoke 21. If so, the processing operation ends. As described above, the second holding control is executed.

  Next, as a feature of the present invention, the input operation of the input device 1 is prohibited when each of the first and second input units 3 and 4 is in a position corresponding to the back surface 21b side of the spoke 21 ( Hereinafter referred to as “input prohibition control”). Hereinafter, the processing operation related to the input prohibition control will be described with reference to FIG.

  In the first step S121, when the control unit 13 detects that the first input unit 3 is located on the back surface 21b side of the spoke 21, the process proceeds to step S122, where the in-vehicle control unit 5 is connected to the first input unit 3. Prohibit input operations. On the other hand, when the first input unit 3 is not located on the back surface 21b side of the spoke 21, the process proceeds to step S123.

  After step S121, in step S123, when the control unit 13 detects that the second input unit 4 is located on the back surface 21b side of the spoke 21, the process proceeds to step S124, and the in-vehicle control unit 5 receives the second input. The input operation of part 4 is prohibited. On the other hand, when the 2nd input part 4 is not located in the back surface 21b side of the spoke 21, it progresses to step S125.

  In step S125, the state in the middle of the rotation operation part 6 of the housing | casing part 2 being rotated by the driver is included. At this time, in order to reduce an erroneous operation due to the driver touching the first and second input units 3 and 4, the in-vehicle control unit 5 performs the first and second input units 3 and 3 in step S <b> 125. 4 is prohibited.

  Thus, in the input prohibition control, the in-vehicle control unit 5 prohibits the input operation of the input unit located on the back surface 21b side of the spoke 21 and accepts only the input operation of the input unit located on the front surface 21a side of the spoke 21. Is controlling. Specifically, when the first input unit 3 is located on the back surface 21b side of the spoke 21, the in-vehicle control unit 5 does not output an input operation signal for the first input unit 3 to the in-vehicle device 22, And it controls so that only the signal of the input operation with respect to the 2nd input part 4 located in the front 21a side of the spoke 21 may be output to the vehicle-mounted apparatus 22. FIG. Similarly, when the 2nd input part 4 is located in the back surface 21b side of the spoke 21, the vehicle-mounted control part 5 prohibits the input operation of the 2nd input part 4, and performs the input operation of the 1st input part 3. Control to accept.

(Effect of embodiment)
As described above, in the input device 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention, the input operation is performed when each of the first and second input units 3 and 4 is at a position corresponding to the back surface 21b side of the spoke 21. Is configured to be prohibited. That is, only the input operation of the input part located in the front 31a side of the spoke 21 visible from the driver | operator seated in the driver's seat of a motor vehicle is received. For this reason, the position of the input part which can perform input operation becomes clear, and it can suppress a driver | operator's attention fall at the time of driving operation. Moreover, since the input operation of the input part located in the back surface 21b side of the spoke 21 is prohibited, the driver's fingers are not intended when the driver grips the steering wheel 20 and performs the driving operation. Even if the input unit located on the rear surface 21b side of 21 is touched, the possibility of erroneous operation of the input unit due to such unintended contact by the driver can be reduced.

  The first input unit 3 includes a switch unit having at least one button 3a. For this reason, the driver can blindly operate the first input unit 3 while operating the vehicle while holding the steering wheel 20.

  Moreover, the 2nd input part 4 consists of a touchpad part in which a continuous contact operation with a driver | operator's finger | toe is possible. For this reason, the driver can perform an intuitive operation with a high degree of freedom through the second input unit 4.

  Moreover, the stop part 12 consists of an actuator which stops the housing | casing part 2 in the state in which the 1st input part 3 was located in the back surface 21b side of the spoke 21, and the control part 13 is when the steering wheel 20 is steered. The stop unit 12 is controlled so that the housing unit 2 is maintained in a stopped state. For this reason, the state in which the 2nd input part 4 was located in the front 21a side of the spoke 21 with a simple structure can be maintained. In addition, when the steering wheel 20 is being steered, the selection operation by switching the first and second input units 3 and 4 is limited, so that it is possible to suppress the driver's attentional decline.

[Other Embodiments]
In the input device 1 according to the above embodiment, in the standard state, the first input unit 3 is positioned on the front surface 21a side of the spoke 21 and the second input unit 4 is positioned on the rear surface 21b side of the spoke 21. Although the form which was made was shown, it is not restricted to this form. That is, even if the housing part 2 is in a form in which the second input part 4 is located on the front surface 21a side of the spoke 21 and the first input part 3 is located on the rear surface 21b side of the spoke 21 in the standard state. Good.

  Moreover, although the input device 1 which concerns on the said embodiment showed the form which has the control part 13 and the vehicle-mounted control part 5, it is not restricted to this form. In short, any control operation (the first and second holding controls and the input prohibition control) shown in the above embodiment may be realized, and corresponds to, for example, the control unit 13 and the in-vehicle control unit 5. The configuration may be such that the configuration is provided on the equipment side of the automobile. Alternatively, instead of the control unit 13, for example, a contact-type mechanical relay in which the contact is mechanically opened and closed may be separately provided.

  In the input device 1 according to the above-described embodiment, the urging unit 10 is formed of a compression-type torsion coil spring. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the urging unit 10 may be a tension type spring mechanism.

  In the input device 1 according to the above embodiment, the case in which the casing unit 2 is rotated by the rotation operation unit 6, the urging unit 10, the holding unit 11, and the stop unit 12 is shown. I can't. For example, a motor unit (not shown) is connected to the housing unit 2, and the housing unit 2 is rotated about the axis X by driving the motor shaft of the motor unit in the forward rotation direction or the reverse rotation direction. Such a form may be sufficient.

  Moreover, although the form which has the control part 13 was shown in the input device 1 which concerns on the said embodiment, it is not restricted to this form. For example, the form which does not have the control part 13 may be sufficient. In this case, the stop unit 12 is configured to include a compression spring instead of the actuator. The rod 12b always protrudes from the main body 12a by the compression spring at the tip of the rod 12b. When the operation knob 18 is operated, the rod 12b is accommodated in the main body 12a. Further, the tip of the rod portion 12b is provided with an inclined surface. Accordingly, when the driver operates the rotation operation unit 6 from the state shown in the upper diagram of FIG. 3, the holding unit 11 comes into contact with the inclined surface of the rod portion 12b and is accommodated in the main body 12a. If it will be in the state shown in the following figure, the rod part 12b will protrude by a compression spring, and the holding | maintenance part 11 will be hold | maintained. In this state, when the driver operates the operation knob 18 and the rod portion 12b is accommodated in the main body portion 12a, the casing portion 2 is rotated by the urging portion 10. By adopting such a configuration, the control of the control unit 13 in FIGS. 6 and 7 becomes unnecessary, and the configuration of the input device 1 is simplified. However, such an input device 1 is configured such that the control unit 13 cannot control the locked state in accordance with the steering state of the steering wheel.

  Moreover, in the input device 1 which concerns on the said embodiment, although the form which has the urging | biasing part 10, the holding | maintenance part 11, the stop part 12, the control part 13, and the operation knob 18 was shown, it is not restricted to this form. For example, the form which does not have the urging | biasing part 10, the holding | maintenance part 11, the stop part 12, the control part 13, and the operation knob 18 may be sufficient. In this case, the driver rotates the rotation operation unit 6 in the directions of the arrows shown in the upper and lower diagrams of FIG. With this configuration, the configuration of the input device 1 is further simplified. However, such an input device 1 is configured such that the control unit 13 cannot control the locked state in accordance with the steering state of the steering wheel. In addition, since the input device 1 does not include the urging unit 10, the holding unit 11, the stop unit 12, and the operation knob 18, the housing unit 2 cannot be rotated with a single touch using the operation knob 18. It becomes composition.

  Moreover, although the 2nd input part 4 showed the form which consists of a touchpad part in the input device 1 which concerns on the said embodiment, it is not restricted to this form. For example, the 2nd input part 4 may consist of a switch part which has a button of the shape, arrangement | positioning, and function different from button 3a, 3a, ... of the 1st input part 3. FIG.

  Furthermore, in the said embodiment, although the form which has arrange | positioned the input device 1 only to one spoke 21 in the steering wheel 20 was shown, it is not restricted to this form. In other words, the input device 1 may be disposed on each of the left and right spokes 21.

  As mentioned above, although embodiment about this invention was described, this invention is not limited only to the above-mentioned embodiment, A various change is possible within the scope of the invention.

  INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention can be industrially used as an input device for performing input operations on various in-vehicle devices of an automobile.

1: input device 2: casing unit 3: first input unit 4: second input unit 5: vehicle-mounted control unit 10: biasing unit 11: holding unit 12: stop unit 13: control unit 20: steering wheel 21: spoke

Claims (4)

An input device provided in an automobile,
A casing that is provided on a spoke of a steering wheel of the automobile, and that can rotate about the axis about the longitudinal direction of the spoke;
First and second input portions provided in the housing portion,
Each of the first and second input units is configured to be prohibited from performing an input operation when positioned on the back side of the spoke by the rotation of the casing unit. The input device according to claim 1,
Each of the first and second input units is an input device including a switch unit having at least one button. The input device according to claim 1,
One of the first and second input units is an input device including a touch pad unit that can be touched by a driver's finger. The input device according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
A stop portion comprising an actuator for stopping the housing portion in a state where the first input portion is located on either the front side or the back side of the spoke;
A control unit electrically connected to the stop unit,
The said control part is an input device which controls the said stop part so that the said housing | casing part may be maintained in a stop state, when the said steering wheel is steered.

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