JP3112387B2 - Steering multi-switch device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a steering multi-switch device for centrally arranging operation parts of various on-vehicle electric components on a steering wheel of an automobile.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a steering multi-switch device for an automobile, for example, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2-95949, in addition to a horn switch at the center of a steering wheel, an acoustic device, an air conditioner, a mobile phone, and the like are used. 2. Description of the Related Art There is known a switch in which switches for operating various in-vehicle electric components are centrally arranged. This will be described with reference to FIGS. As shown in FIG. 7, a car radio operation unit 63 and a telephone operation unit 64 are provided on the surface of a pad 62 arranged at the center of the steering wheel 61.
Are formed so as to be able to be pressed. As shown in FIG. 8, a membrane switch sheet 65 constituting an upper electrode sheet is attached to the back surface of the pad 62, and a concave portion 66 for exposing the electrode surface of the electrode sheet is provided on the back surface of the membrane switch sheet 65. Formed at positions corresponding to the car radio operation unit 63 and the telephone operation unit 64 provided on the pad 62, and a circuit board 67 is attached. A lower electrode 68 is exposed on the back surface of the circuit board 67 from the recess 66. The lower electrode 68 and the electrode surface of the upper electrode sheet are formed in pairs at upper and lower sides to form a large number of switch mechanisms.

[0003]

However, even in such a conventional steering multi-switch device, the circuit board 67 and a number of switch mechanisms are provided on the back surface of the pad 62, so that the horn switch is additionally provided. When switches of various onboard electrical components such as an audio device, an air conditioner, and a communication device are centrally arranged, a circuit board 67 and a large number of switch mechanisms must be provided avoiding a horn switch, or a setting position of the horn switch must be changed. .

In order to improve the safety of the occupant in the event of a frontal collision of the vehicle, the pad 62 of the steering wheel 61 is required.
When the airbag is mounted on the back surface of the pad 62, even if the circuit board 67 and a large number of switch mechanisms are disposed so as to avoid the portion where the pad 62 opens due to the inflation operation of the airbag, the circuit provided on the back surface of the pad 62 There is a problem inherent in that pieces of the substrate 67 and a large number of switch mechanisms may scatter in the vehicle interior.

In view of the above, according to the present invention, the pressing operation portions of the horn, the acoustic device, the air conditioner, the communication device, and other various on-vehicle electric components can be centrally arranged with good operability. An object of the present invention is to provide a steering multi-switch device capable of improving safety without causing scatter of components when an airbag is opened, in addition to improving operability of the unit.

[0006]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, a plurality of pressing operation portions provided on a surface of a pad mounted on a base portion of a steering wheel and displaying a switch function of an on-vehicle electric component; Three or more measurement points preset on the periphery of the pad, and detection means for detecting the amount of physical change at each measurement point when one of the pressing operation parts is pressed, these detection means Multi-switch device comprising: a position analyzing means for analyzing the position of the pressing operation based on the amount of change; and a support member having a switch control means for outputting a signal corresponding to a switch function corresponding to the analyzed position. Forming an airbag accommodating space between the base and the pad, and rotating the support member integrally with the base along the back surface of the base. And an operating portion which is integrally protruded from each of the measurement points of the pad toward the base portion side and operates according to a change amount, and an operating amount of each operating portion which is coaxially arranged with these operating portions. And a sensitive part that detects the change as a change amount of the measurement point, and these sensitive parts are installed on the support member.

[0007]

[0008]

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the supporting member according to the first aspect is constituted by a circuit board having a circuit constituting a position analyzing means and a circuit connecting a sensitive part to the circuit. It is characteristic.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, the circuit board according to the second aspect is provided with a circuit constituting switch control means connected to a circuit constituting position analysis means.

A fourth aspect of the present invention is characterized in that the position analysis means and the switch control means according to the first to third aspects are constituted by a microcomputer.

[0012]

A fifth aspect of the present invention is characterized in that the detecting means according to the first to fourth aspects uses a electromechanical transducer such as a load cell or a piezoelectric sensor.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, a displacement electric conversion element such as an eddy current type, an ultrasonic type, or an optical type is used as the detecting means of the first to fourth aspects.

[0015]

According to the first aspect, when the occupant presses one of the plurality of pressing operation portions, the pad is elastically deformed as a whole around the pressing operation portion where the pressing operation is performed, and each measurement point is changed. Physically displaced according to the distance from the pressing operation position to each measurement point, the detecting means detects the amount of change and outputs it to the position analyzing means, and the pad is based on the amount of change received from the detecting means by the position analyzing means. Analyzing the position of the pressed operation portion on which the pressing operation is performed, outputs the position to the switch control means, and the switch control means outputs a signal corresponding to the switch function corresponding to the analysis position received from the position analysis means, and the on-vehicle electric component Drive control.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, by arranging three or more measurement points on the periphery of the pad, the area of the airbag accommodating space can be made large, and the mounting of the airbag becomes easy. Also, even when an airbag is mounted between the pad and the base portion, the operability of the plurality of pressing operation portions is improved.

Further, according to the first aspect of the present invention, since the sensitive portion of the detecting means is provided on the back surface of the base portion, it is possible to prevent the components from scattering due to the inflation operation of the air bag mounted between the pad and the base portion. I can do it.

According to the second aspect, since the sensitive part and the position analysis circuit configuration are mounted on a single circuit board arranged along the back surface of the base part, the assemblability of electrical components is improved.

According to the third aspect, the signal processing is improved by mounting the sensitive section and the position analysis and switch control circuit configuration on a single circuit board arranged along the back surface of the base section.

According to the fourth aspect, the position analysis and the switch control are configured in the microcomputer,
Standardization can be achieved only by changing software.

[0021]

According to the fifth aspect, since the electromechanical transducer such as a load cell or a piezoelectric sensor is used as the detecting means, the assembling can be performed easily.

According to the sixth aspect, the detection means is a non-contact type, and the position can be detected by a light touch on the pressing operation portion, and the operability is extremely improved.

[0024]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a steering wheel, which has a base portion 3 integrally formed with a plurality of spokes 2 inside the steering wheel.

Reference numeral 4 denotes a pad mounted on the base portion 3 so as to cover the surface, and reference numeral 5 denotes a plurality of pressing operation portions written on the surface of the pad 4.

The plurality of pressing operation units 5 are switches for various on-vehicle electric components such as a horn, a radio device, a stereo device and other audio devices, an air conditioner, a communication device such as a car phone, a steering tilt device, a steering telescopic device, and a navigation device. Display functions, such as horn sound switch function, sound device volume, channel selection, source switching, song selection and traffic information, etc. switch function, air conditioner temperature control, air outlet switch and fresh switch switch function, automobile It indicates the number switch function of the telephone, the up / down switch function of the steering tilt device, the telescopic switch function of the steering telescopic device, and the like, and each of these surfaces has an unillustrated design meaning the corresponding switch function.

Numeral 6 designates a pad 4 using triangulation.
Shows three or more measurement points set in advance, these are not actually marked on the pad 4, but in order to clarify their positions, diagonal lines are drawn inside a circle drawn by a solid line. It is shown.

Reference numeral 7 denotes detection means provided corresponding to each of the measurement points 6. These detection means indicate physical changes at each of the measurement points 6 when the occupant presses one of the pressing operation sections 5. Detect the amount.

Numeral 8 denotes a position analyzing means in which each detecting means 7 is connected by a transmission line, which compares the amount of change detected by each detecting means 7 with a proportional distribution of the amount of change or a statistical map. The position of the pressing operation unit 5 that has been pressed is analyzed.

Reference numeral 9 denotes a switch control unit connected to the position analysis unit 8 via a transmission line, and transmits a signal corresponding to a switch function corresponding to the position of the pressing operation unit 5 analyzed by the position analysis unit 8 to various on-vehicle electric devices. Among the parts, the electric power is output through an electric wire such as a wire harness (not shown) to a vehicle-mounted electric part using the switch function.

Switch control means 9 and position analysis means 8
Is constituted by a microcomputer that operates according to a preset program.

In the memory of this microcomputer,
A statistical map edited in advance from data obtained by testing the proportional distribution of the amount of change at each measurement point 6 for each pressing operation position obtained by calculation or the relationship between each pressing operation position and the amount of change at each measurement point 6 Keep it.

The memory, the microcomputer, the input / output interface, and the like are incorporated as a support member into a single circuit board 10 which is arranged along the back surface of the base portion 3 so as to be integrally rotatable therewith. When an ON operation signal of a light switch (not shown) is received, a lighting display signal S is output to an illumination source of the pad 4 (not shown).

In FIG. 2, the base portion 3 has a through hole 11 for a handle shaft located at the center of the steering wheel 1, a plurality of through holes 12 for screw insertion located on both left and right sides, and an airbag located on the upper portion. A rectangular opening 13 for the unit and blind holes 14 located at each of the four corners are formed.

The rear surface of the pad 4 facing the base portion 3 is thinned by a concave portion 15, and with this thin structure, the occupant presses each pressing operation portion 5 on the surface of the pad 4 with a finger from the front. When the operation is performed, the pad 4 is elastically deformed as a whole around the pressing operation portion 5 where the pressing operation is performed.

The elastic deformation is greatest at the pressed operation portion 5 that has been pressed, and becomes smaller as the distance from the pressed operation portion 5 increases.

The detecting means 7 roughly includes the pad 4
Actuator 16 protruding from each measurement point 6 on the back surface of base 3 toward base portion 3 and operating according to the amount of change at each measurement point 6
And a sensitive unit 17 for converting the operation amount of the operating unit 16 into an electric signal.
Set to 0.

More specifically, the operating portion 16 has a spherical portion 16a connected to the tip of a rod-shaped projection integrally formed at the four corners of the back surface of the pad 4, and the sensitive portion 17 is provided at the four corners of the front surface of the circuit board 10. Electromechanical transducer 18 for converting strain into an electric signal such as a load cell or a piezoelectric sensor installed in
Is provided with a holder portion 19 connected with a rubber-like elastic body 19a therebetween.

Each of the holder portions 19 has a receiving recess 20 opened at the front surface, and has a sphere receiving portion 20a at the bottom of each receiving recess 20. The sphere portion 16a of the operating portion 16 is moved from the receiving recess 20 to the sphere receiving portion 20a. 20a to be rotatably held.

At this time, the elastic body 19a receives compression and functions as a buffer.

In FIG. 2, reference numeral 21 denotes an air bag unit, which has a power supply connector 22 of an inflation gas injection operation section.

Reference numeral 23 denotes a cable winding unit.
A circuit board 10 is installed in the inside thereof, and a holder 19 on the electromechanical transducer 18 of the circuit board 10 penetrates a rotating cover 33, which will be described later, located on the front of the cable winding unit 23 from the back to the front. I am wearing it.

In FIG. 3, the cable winding unit 23 has a ring-shaped fixing portion 26 fixed to a steering column (not shown) outside a rotating portion 25 having a through hole 24 for a handle shaft at the center. A plurality of columnar rollers 27 are provided between the rotating portion 25 and the fixed portion 26 so as to slidably engage with the outer peripheral surface of the rotating portion 25 and the inner peripheral surface of the fixed portion 26. And airbag unit 2
1 and one end of a flexible flat cable 28 for connecting the control unit of the on-vehicle electric component (not shown) to the flexible flat cable 28.
The other end is passed between a pair of rollers 27 adjacent to each other and is anchored and wound on the inner peripheral surface of the fixed portion 26.

The rotating part 25 has through-holes 29 for screw insertion located on both left and right sides, and the circuit board connector 3 located on the upper part.
0 and airbag connector 3 located above
1, a flexible flat cable 28 is connected to the connectors 30 and 31, and the fixing portion 26 has a plurality of stays 32 protruding outward.

In FIG. 3, reference numeral 33 denotes a rotary cover, which is provided with an overhang formed integrally on both sides from the central cylindrical portion, and extends from one over the cylindrical portion to the other. The circuit board 10 is inserted and disposed inside the back surface up to the overhang portion so as to get over the claw 34 protruding from the inner periphery of the overhang portion and fixedly held therein.
Each of the cylindrical portions has a through hole 35 for a handle shaft located at a central portion and through holes 36 for screw insertion located at both left and right ends, and a plurality of intermediate positions located on the circuit board 10. It has a screw hole 37 and a connector 38 located on the upper part, and the rotating cover 3 located on the upper part of the connector 38.
3, a rectangular opening 39 is formed.

The air bag connector 31 of the rotating part 25 is inserted into the opening 39, and the connector 3 of the circuit board 10 is inserted.
8 is inserted and connected to the circuit board connection connector 30, the circuit board 10 and the rotating cover 33 are arranged on the front surface of the rotating unit 25, and the screw holes 3 of the circuit board 10 are
7, a screw (not shown) is fastened, and a rotating cover 25 is attached to the rotating portion 25.
3 is attached.

In FIG. 4, the cable winding unit 23 has a handle shaft 40 through a through hole 24 at the center thereof.
The fixing portion 26 is fixed to a steering column (not shown), and the base portion 3 of the steering wheel 1 is provided at the end of the handle shaft 40 projecting forward from the front surface of the rotating cover 33 through a through hole at the center thereof. The base 3 is fixed to the rotating cover 33 using the through hole 12 of the base 3, the circuit board 10, and the through hole 36 of the rotating cover 33. And tighten with screws and nuts not shown
The base part 3 is the rotating part 2 of the cable winding unit 23
5, the circuit board 10 is rotatably attached to the base unit 3 via a rotation cover 33, and the circuit board 10 is arranged along the back surface of the base unit 3 so as to be integrally rotatable with the base unit 3.

In this state, when the steering wheel 1 is operated to rotate in one direction, the rotating portion 25 rotates by the same amount in the same direction, and the rotating portion 25 is unwound from the rotating portion 25 as the rotating portion 25 rotates in one direction. When the steering wheel 1 is rotated in the other direction, the flexible flat cable 28 shown in FIG.
Rotates in the other direction by the same amount, and the flexible flat cable 28 that is unwound from the fixed portion 26 by the rotation of the rotating portion 25 in the other direction is wound around the outer peripheral surface of the rotating portion 25.

As a result, the cable winding unit 2
Numeral 3 winds the flexible flat cable 28 so as not to be entangled with the rotation operation of the steering wheel 1 in both directions.

The pad 4 is attached to the base 3 of the steering wheel 1 fixed to the cable winding unit 23.
By mounting, the spherical portions 16a of the respective operating portions 16 protruding from the back surface of the pad 4 are inserted into the spherical receiving portions 20a through the receiving concave portions 20 of the holder portions 19 protruding from the front surface of the rotating cover 33 and rotated. It is kept possible.

When the pad 4 is mounted on the base 3, a space 41 for accommodating the airbag unit 21 is formed between the pad 4 and the base 3. In order to accommodate the airbag unit 21 in the space 41, the power supply connector 22 of the airbag unit 21 projects forward from the opening 13 of the base 3 through the opening 39 of the rotating cover 33 before the pad 4 is attached. Part 2
5 is inserted and connected to the airbag connector 31, and the bottom of the airbag unit 21 is installed on the front surface of the base 3.

After installing the airbag unit 21,
When the pad 4 is mounted on the base 3, the space 41 is sealed between the pad 4 and the base 3, and the airbag unit 21 is stored in the space 41.

On the back surface of the pad 4, an unillustrated groove for separating the pad 4 is formed in an H shape so that the pad 4 is opened with the inflation operation of the airbag unit 21. Are provided so as not to interfere with the operation unit 16.

When the pad 4 is pressed, the pad reinforcing plate 42 does not dent and assists in maintaining the shape of the pad 4. This pad reinforcing plate 42 is formed by the upper and lower edge portions shown by oblique lines in FIG. 43, 44 are fixed to the back surface of the upper and lower edges of the pad 4, and are divided vertically in the middle part.
A plurality of holding pieces 46 are arranged side by side at cuts on the divided edges of
Each of these adjacent holding pieces 46 is disposed so as to be staggered in the front-rear direction, and the shifted edge portion of the other split element 47 is inserted as shown in FIG. It is connected by a plurality of holding pieces 46.

The connected portions are connected by a pressing operation during normal use of the pad 4, and are separated with the inflation operation of the airbag unit 21.

According to the structure of the above-described embodiment, when the main switch (not shown) of the automobile is turned on, power is supplied from the vehicle-mounted battery via the wire harness and the flexible flat cable 28 to the position analyzing means 8 in the circuit board 10. And the microcomputer which constitutes the switch control means 9, and in a state where the microcomputer is activated, the occupant tries to operate the on-vehicle electric component and corresponds to the operation of the on-vehicle electric component of the plurality of pressing operation units 5. When one of the pressing operation units 5 is pressed by a finger toward the back side from the front of the pad 4, the pad 4 is elastically deformed as a whole around the pressed operation unit 5 on which the pressing operation is performed, and each operating unit 16 is pressed. It is displaced toward the base part 3 according to the distance from the position to each measurement point 6, and the physical change amount as the displacement amount is The electromechanical transducer 18 is transmitted from the part 16 to the electromechanical transducer 18 via the holder 19 of the sensitive part 17 and the elastic body 19a. Such an electrical output is output to the microcomputer.

Then, the microcomputer analyzes the position of the depressed operation part 5 on the pad 4 on the basis of the output from each sensitive part 17, that is, the amount of change output from the electromechanical transducer 18. The signal corresponding to the switch function corresponding to the position is sent to the cord winding unit 2
3 to the control unit (not shown) of the in-vehicle electric component requested by the occupant via the wire harness from the flexible flat cable 28, and as a result, the in-vehicle electric component operates according to the occupant's operation request. I do.

For example, when the occupant presses the pressing operation unit 5 assigned to the sound switch function to sound the horn, the microcomputer obtains the position of the pressing operation unit 5 assigned to the pressed sound switch function. A horn-on signal is output to the control unit, which drives the horn and a horn sounds.

In short, according to this embodiment, the pad 4
Switches 5 on the surface of which are displayed switch functions
Is provided, and the pressing operation position of the pressing operation unit 5 is analyzed. Therefore, the pressing operation unit 5 of the horn, the acoustic device, the air conditioner, the communication device, and various other in-vehicle electric components is connected to the pad 4 by a horn switch or an airbag. It is possible to centrally dispose them with good operability without being affected by the position.

In this embodiment, since three or more measurement points 6 are arranged in the periphery of the pad 4, the area of the space 41 between the pad 4 and the base 3 can be made large. In addition, the installation position of the airbag unit 21 can be easily secured in the space 41, and the operability of the plurality of pressing operation sections 5 can be improved even when the airbag is mounted on the steering wheel 1. .

Further, in this embodiment, the support member by the circuit board 10 is arranged along the back surface of the base portion 3 of the steering wheel 1 so as to be integrally rotatable with the base portion 3, and each detecting means 7 is connected to the operating portion 16 and the sensitive portion. 17 and the operating part 16
Are integrally protruded from each measurement point 6 of the pad 4 toward the base portion 3 side, and the sensitive portion 17 is a circuit board 10 as a support member.
When the airbag unit 21 is mounted in the space 41, even if the airbag unit 21 inflates due to a frontal collision of the vehicle, the airbag unit 21 expands the airbag unit. Means 7
The inconvenience that constituent parts such as the operating part 16, the sensitive part 17, and the circuit board 10 scatter in the vehicle interior is eliminated.

Moreover, the pad 4 and the airbag unit 2
1 and the pad reinforcement plate 42 is divided at an intermediate portion thereof, and upper and lower edges 43 and 44 on opposite sides of the divisional edges of the dividing elements 45 and 47 are fixed to upper and lower edges of the pad 4. Since the dividing elements 45 and 47 of the pad reinforcing plate 42 are fixed to the pad 4 at the upper and lower edges 43 and 44, the connecting portion by the holding piece 46 separates as the airbag unit 21 expands. Further, the pad reinforcing plate 42 does not scatter into the vehicle interior without hindering the inflation operation of the airbag unit 21.

Therefore, the airbag unit 21 is appropriately inflated to the front part of the front seat in the vehicle interior due to the preset rupture opening of the pad 4 and receives the upper body of the driver, so that the safety is improved.

In this embodiment, the position analysis means 8 and the switch control means 9 are constituted by a microcomputer, and the microcomputer is mounted on the circuit board 10 as a support member, so that the software to be stored in the memory of the microcomputer is provided. By simply changing the standard, it is possible to easily perform standardization common to various automobiles having different pad shapes.

Further, in this embodiment, the support member is constituted by a circuit constituting each of the position analysis means 8 and the switch control means 9, a circuit for connecting the respective circuits, and the sensitive section 1.
Circuit board 1 provided with a circuit for connecting 7 to position analyzing means 8
0, the circuit configuration from the analysis of the position to the output of the switch signal is collectively mounted on a single circuit board 10, and this circuit board 10 is arranged along the back surface of the base unit 3, thereby providing an electrical connection. The assemblability of the components can be improved.

Further, in this embodiment, since the space 41 for accommodating the airbag is formed between the base 3 and the pad 4 of the steering wheel 1, the airbag unit 21 is easily mounted on the steering wheel 1. Can improve occupant safety.

In this embodiment, since the electromechanical transducer 18 such as a load cell or a piezoelectric sensor is used as the detecting means 7, the pad 4 is attached to the base 3 with the pad 4.
Can be inserted into the holder 19 on the circuit board 11, and the assembly becomes extremely simple.

In this embodiment, an example in which the electromechanical transducer 18 is used as the detecting means 7 has been described. However, in the present invention, as shown in FIG. 6, an eddy current type, an ultrasonic type, an optical type, etc. The same operation and effect can be obtained even if the displacement electric conversion element 48 is used.

That is, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 6, the spring seat member 49 is held and mounted on the spherical portion 16a of the operating portion 16 projecting from the back surface of the pad 4, while the circuit board 1 is mounted.
The displacement electric conversion element 48 is set to 0
The coil-type spring 50 is interposed between the displacement electric conversion element 48 and the spring seat member 49, and one end of the spring 50 is brought into contact with the spring seat member 49. The other end of the spring 50 is brought into contact with the circuit board 10 around the displacement electric conversion element 48, and the restoring elasticity of the spring 50 is increased by the spring seat member 49 and the circuit board 1.
0 is assigned to both. Therefore, according to the configuration of the different embodiment shown in FIG. 6, when the pressing operation portion 5 of the pad 4 is pressed, the distance between the spring seat member 49 and the displacement electric conversion element 48 changes, that is, the operation portion 16 The distance to the displacement electric conversion element 48 changes, and the displacement electric conversion element 48 outputs an electric signal corresponding to the displacement amount.

As described above, the amount of change in the measuring point 6 can be detected in a non-contact manner by using the eddy current type, ultrasonic type or optical type displacement electric conversion element 48 as the detecting means 7. By appropriately setting the spring constant, the pressing operation unit 5 can be pressed with a lighter force than a contact type such as the electromechanical transducer 18.

In FIG. 6, reference numeral 51 denotes a reflector fixed to the spring seat member 49, which is provided when the displacement electric conversion element 48 is of an optical type to improve the reflectance.

[0073]

As described above, according to the present invention, the following effects can be obtained.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, a plurality of pressing operation sections each displaying a switch function are intensively arranged on the surface of the pad, and the pressing operation positions of these pressing operation sections are analyzed. The layout of the position setting of the pressing operation unit is simpler than that in which a large number of switch mechanisms composed of counter electrodes are provided on the back surface of the pad, and the plurality of pressing operation units are concentrated and arranged with good operability and design. be able to.

According to the first aspect, since three or more measurement points are arranged on the periphery of the pad, the airbag can be accommodated even when an airbag is mounted between the pad and the base. The space portion can be effectively formed, the airbag can be easily mounted on the steering wheel, and the operability of the plurality of pressing operation portions can be improved.

Further, according to the first aspect, since the sensing portion of the detecting means is provided on the back surface of the base portion, when the airbag is mounted between the pad and the base portion, the airbag unit expands. It is possible to prevent the inconvenience of scatter of the components into the vehicle compartment due to the operation.

According to the second aspect, since the sensitive part and the position analysis circuit configuration are collectively mounted on a single circuit board and arranged along the back surface of the base part, the assemblability of electrical components is improved. can do.

According to the third aspect, since the sensitive part and the position analysis and switch control circuit configuration are collectively mounted on a single circuit board and arranged along the back surface of the base part, assembling of electrical components is performed. In addition to the improvement in performance, signal processing can be improved.

According to the fourth aspect, since the position analysis and switch control circuit are configured in the microcomputer, standardization common to automobiles can be easily performed only by changing the software.

[0080]

According to the fifth aspect, since the detecting means uses a electromechanical transducer such as a load cell or a piezoelectric sensor, the assembling can be performed easily.

According to the present invention, since the eddy current type, ultrasonic type and optical type displacement electric conversion elements are used as the detecting means, the position can be detected with a light pressing operation force, and the operability is significantly improved. Can be.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing the same embodiment.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing the cord winding device of the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the pad reinforcing plate of the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view showing a different example of the detection means of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a front view showing a conventional steering multi-switch device.

FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view showing the same.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Steering wheel 3 Base part 4 Pad 5 Pressing operation part 6 Measurement point 7 Detecting means 8 Position analysis means 9 Switch control means 10 Circuit board (supporting member) 16 Operating part 17 Sensitive part 21 Airbag unit 41 Space part

Claims (6)

(57) [Claims] 1. A plurality of pressing operation parts provided on a surface of a pad mounted on a base part of a steering wheel and displaying a switch function of an in-vehicle electric component, and at least three predetermined positions around the pad. Detecting means for detecting the physical change amount at each measurement point when one of the above-mentioned pressing operation sections is pressed, and analyzing the position of the above-mentioned pressing operation based on these detected change amounts And a support member having a switch control means for outputting a signal corresponding to a switch function according to the analyzed position. An airbag accommodating space is formed, and the support member is arranged along the back surface of the base portion so as to be integrally rotatable with the base portion, while the detection means is provided. An operating part that is integrally protruded from each measurement point of the pad toward the base part side and operates according to the amount of change, and a sensor that is coaxially arranged with these operating parts and detects the amount of operation of each operating part as the amount of change of the measurement point A steering multi-switch device, comprising: 2. A steering device according to claim 1, wherein said support member is constituted by a circuit board having a circuit constituting said position analysis means and a circuit connecting said sensitive section to said circuit. Multi-switch device. 3. The steering multi-switch device according to claim 2, wherein a circuit constituting switch control means connected to a circuit constituting said position analysis means is provided on said circuit board. 4. The steering multi-switch device according to claim 1, wherein said position analysis means and said switch control means are constituted by a microcomputer. 5. The steering multi-switch device according to claim 1, wherein a mechanical / electrical conversion element such as a load cell or a piezoelectric sensor is used as the detection means. 6. The steering multi-switch device according to claim 1, wherein a displacement electric conversion element such as an eddy current type, an ultrasonic type, or an optical type is used as the detection means.