JP3831849B2 - Vehicle controller - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a multi-function controller for a vehicle for operating an air conditioner, a television device, a navigation device, an audio device, a hands-free telephone device and other in-vehicle electrical components.
[0002]
[Prior art]
A multifunction controller for operating an in-vehicle electrical component is generally installed on a vertical wall surface at the center of an instrument panel, is provided with a touch panel display at the center, and various operation switches are provided on the left and right and below.
[0003]
For example, a hazard switch and a switch group related to an air conditioner are provided on the right side (driver's seat side) of the display, and a switch group for a digital display clock and a navigation device is provided on the left side. In addition, a switch group of CD (compact disc player), TAPE (cassette tape deck), FM / AM (radio), and TV (television) is provided below the display. There are provided a tuning station group and a tuning station such as a tape insertion slot and a CD.
[0004]
When a driver or a passenger in a passenger seat (hereinafter referred to as a driver) wants to use a compact disc, for example, when the CD switch is pressed, an operation screen corresponding to the CD is displayed on the display. A desired function such as playback or fast-forward can be selected by touching the operation position according to the display on the display with a finger.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the conventional multi-function controller, in order to perform an operation desired by the driver or the like, an operation screen corresponding to the operation must first be pressed, and the corresponding operation screen is not displayed on the display. There is a problem that the operation of pressing the operation switch is necessarily required as the operation, and the operation procedure is complicated.
[0006]
For example, when the driver wants to operate the air conditioner (A / C), the operation screen corresponding to the air conditioner is not displayed on the display unless the A / C switch is pressed. The operation cannot be performed.
[0007]
The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems of the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle controller that can simplify an operation procedure and realize an excellent man-machine interface. .
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
To achieve the above objective,
[0010]
The vehicle controller according to claim 1 is a controller for operating a plurality of electrical components mounted on the vehicle, wherein the control panel is provided with a plurality of operation switches corresponding to each of the electrical components, and the electrical components A display for displaying the operation screen, a plurality of sensors for detecting the approach of the operator provided in the control panel corresponding to each of the electrical components, and when the approach of the operator is detected by the sensor, Control means for displaying an operation screen of an electrical component corresponding to the sensor that has detected the approach of the operator on the display.
[0011]
In the vehicle controller in this claim 1, wherein, upon detecting the approach of the operating hand by a sensor provided at the control panel, it is so arranged to display the operation screen corresponding to the sensor on the display, the driver or the like The operation screen corresponding to the operation switch to be operated is simply positioned in the vicinity of the sensor to be operated, and the corresponding operation screen is displayed on the display, and the next operation using the touch panel or the like can be performed. Therefore, the operation procedure of pressing the operation switch for displaying the operation screen on the display can be omitted, and the operation can be simplified and simplified as compared with the conventional case.
[0012]
The vehicle controller according to claim 2 is the vehicle controller according to claim 1 , wherein the control means detects that the approach of the operating hand by the sensor continues until a predetermined time elapses. Only, the operation screen is displayed.
[0013]
The vehicle controller according to claim 2 displays a corresponding operation screen when detection of the operating hand by the sensor continues for a predetermined time (for example, 0.5 seconds). This is because, when the driver moves the operating hand in the vicinity of the sensor corresponding to the operating switch that the driver wants to operate, the moving operating hand is detected by the sensor for the operating switch existing in the middle of the operation switch and is desired. Since an operation screen different from the operation screen may be displayed, this is prevented.
[0014]
The vehicle controller according to a third aspect is the vehicle controller according to the first aspect , wherein when the operation switch is operated by an operator, the control means is configured to control the electrical component corresponding to the operated operation switch. The operation screen is preferentially displayed.
[0015]
In the vehicle controller according to the third aspect, even when the corresponding operation screen is displayed by the detection of the operator's hand by the sensor, the operation switch is operated when a different operation switch is activated. Therefore, the operation switch is displayed with priority given to the operation switch.
[0016]
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the vehicle controller according to the first or second aspect , further comprising a storage unit in which data indicating priorities among the sensors is stored in advance. When the approach of the operator's hand is detected by a plurality of sensors, the operation screen of the electrical component corresponding to the sensor with the highest priority is displayed.
[0017]
In the vehicle controller according to the fourth aspect , since a plurality of sensors may detect the approach of the operator's hand such as a driver simultaneously (or within a predetermined time), any operation screen is displayed in this case. In this case, the operation screen corresponding to this is displayed with priority given to those having a higher priority.
[0018]
The vehicle controller according to a fifth aspect is the vehicle controller according to the fourth aspect , wherein the priority order of the sensors stored in the storage unit increases sequentially from the side closer to the driver's seat to the side farther from the driver's seat. It is set as follows.
[0019]
When the driver tries to operate the operation switch farther from the driver, the sensor on the operation switch closer to the driver often detects the driver's arm and the like. When an operating hand is detected at the same time (or within a predetermined time) by a plurality of sensors, the corresponding operation screen is displayed with priority on the side farther from the driver.
[0020]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a mounting position in a vehicle of a vehicle controller according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a front view of a control panel of the vehicle controller according to the embodiment of the present invention.
[0021]
The vehicle controller of the present embodiment is not particularly limited, but operates an air conditioner (air conditioner), an audio / visual (AV) device, a hands-free telephone device, and a navigation device as in-vehicle electrical components. The apparatus includes CD (compact disc player), TAPE (cassette tape deck), FM / AM (radio), and TV (television).
[0022]
This vehicle controller is a multi-function controller for operating a plurality of electrical components mounted on the vehicle, and is not particularly limited. However, as shown in FIG. Is mounted on the vertical wall in the center of the instrument panel IP.
[0023]
As shown in FIG. 2, the control panel 1 of this vehicle controller includes a touch panel display (liquid crystal monitor screen) 2 in the center, and various operation switches are provided on the left and right and below.
[0024]
On the right side (driver's seat side) of the display 2, an A / C switch group 4 including a hazard switch 3 and a plurality of air conditioner-related operation switches is provided. On the left side of the display 2 is provided a navigation switch group 6 including a digital display timepiece 5 and a plurality of operation switches related to the navigation device.
[0025]
On the lower side of the display 2, an AV switch group 7 including CD, TAPE, FM / AM, and TV changeover switches and an OFF switch of the display 2 are provided. A cassette tape insertion slot is provided further below the AV switch group 7, and a switch group 8 including a traffic information switch, a screen, a sound quality adjustment switch, a channel selection such as a CD, and a music selection switch is provided. Yes.
[0026]
An A / C sensor 11 is arranged in the vicinity of the A / C switch group 4 of the control panel 1, a navigation sensor 12 is arranged in the vicinity of the navigation switch group 6, and an AV sensor 13 is arranged in the vicinity of the AV switch group 7. Has been.
[0027]
These sensors 11, 12, and 13 are sensors that detect the approach of the operator in a non-contact manner. For example, an optical sensor including a light emitting element and a light receiving element, and whether light emitted from the light emitting element is received by the light receiving element. It is possible to employ a sensor that detects the approach or non-approach of the operating hand depending on whether or not. As an optical sensor, what irradiates light every 5 seconds, or what always irradiates can be employ | adopted. However, it is not limited to this, What detects by infrared rays, an ultrasonic wave, an electrostatic capacitance, a heat ray, and others can be employ | adopted.
[0028]
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a main configuration of the vehicle controller according to the embodiment of the present invention. This controller has a control unit (control means) 14, a timer 15, and a storage unit 16. The timer 15 measures the elapse of a predetermined time (in this embodiment, 0.5 seconds).
[0029]
In the storage unit 16, data indicating the priority order between the sensors 11, 12, and 13 is determined and stored in advance. In this embodiment, the priority order is such that the priority order sequentially increases from the side closer to the driver's seat to the side farther away, that is, the A / C sensor 11 is the lowest, the navigation sensor 12 is the highest, and the AV sensor 13 The priority order data is set so as to be between these.
[0030]
A signal indicating whether the A / C switch group 4, the navigation switch group 6, and the AV switch group 7 are pressed (actuated) and a signal indicating whether the A / C sensor 11, the navigation sensor 12, and the AV sensor 13 are detected by the operator are The control unit 14 displays an operation screen corresponding to the display 2 based on these signals and the like.
[0031]
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing processing by the control unit of the vehicle controller according to the embodiment of the present invention.
[0032]
In FIG. 4, first, it is determined whether any of the operation switches (SW) included in the A / C switch group 4, the navigation switch group 6 or the AV switch group 7 is pressed (S1). In S1, when any operation switch is pressed (Yes), the display type (“A / C”, “Navi”, or “AV”) for the switch group including the pressed switch is set. Determine (S2).
[0033]
Next, the determined display type is determined (S3), and in the case of “A / C”, a screen for operating the air conditioner (A / C) is displayed (S4). A screen for operating the navigation device is displayed (S5), and if it is “AV”, a screen for operating the audio-visual (AV) device is displayed (S6), and this processing is terminated.
[0034]
Examples of the operation screen displayed here include those shown in FIGS. 5A to 5F. (A) CD (compact disc player) operation screen, (b) TAPE (cassette tape deck) operation screen, (c) guidance information operation screen, (d) FM radio operation screen, (e ) Is an A / C (air conditioner) operation screen, and (f) is a hands-free car phone operation screen.
[0035]
In S1 of FIG. 4, when no operation switch is pressed (in the case of No), the approach of the operating hand is detected by one or more of the A / C sensor 11, the navigation sensor 12, and the AV sensor 13. It is determined whether or not (S7). In S7, when the approach of the operating hand is detected by one or more of the sensors 11, 12, 13, the timer 15 is started or referred to, and a predetermined time (0) from when the detection is performed by the sensor. .5 seconds) is determined (S8), and when a predetermined time has elapsed (in the case of Yes), operation is performed by a plurality (two or more) of the sensors 11, 12, and 13 It is determined whether or not a hand has been detected (S9).
[0036]
In S9, when the operation hand is detected by a plurality of sensors (in the case of Yes), the priority order data corresponding to the sensor that has detected the operation hand among the priority order data stored in the storage unit 16 is respectively displayed. Reading (S10), the display type ("Navi" or "AV") for the sensor with the highest priority among these is determined (S11). In S9, when the operator's hand is detected by a single sensor (in the case of No), the display type (“A / C”, “Navi” or “AV”) for the detected sensor is determined. (S11).
[0037]
Next, the process proceeds to S3, the corresponding operation screen is displayed according to the display type determined in S11 (S3 to S6), and this process is terminated. In S7, when the approach of the operating hand is not detected by any of the sensors 11, 12, and 13 (in the case of No), the screen of the display 2 is turned off and the process returns to S1. In S8, a predetermined time has elapsed. If it is determined that it is not, the process returns to S1.
[0038]
According to the above-described embodiment of the present invention, for example, when the driver desires to operate the air conditioner (A / C), the driver only moves the operator to the vicinity of the operation switch group 4 for the air conditioner. Then, an operation screen for the air conditioner is displayed on the display 2, and then a desired operation related to the air conditioner can be performed by touching the touch panel with a finger according to the display screen. Therefore, the operation procedure of pressing the operation switch for displaying the operation screen on the display 2 can be omitted, and the operation can be simplified and simplified as compared with the conventional case.
[0039]
In the present embodiment, the timer 15 is activated when the approach of the operator's hand is detected by the sensors 11, 12, 13, and the operation screen corresponding to when a predetermined time (for example, 0.5 seconds) has elapsed is displayed. Since it is displayed and not displayed before the predetermined time has elapsed (see S8 in FIG. 4), the operation switch that the driver desires to operate (for example, the navigation switch group 6 located farthest from the driver) When an operating hand is moved in the vicinity, the operating hand is detected by the sensors (11, 13) of the operating switches (AC switch group 4 and AV switch group 7) existing in the middle of the operation hand, and a desired operation screen is displayed. It is possible to prevent an operation screen (A / C screen or AV screen) that is different from the (navigation screen) from being displayed, and to improve operational comfort.
[0040]
Further, when an operation switch included in the operation switch group 4, 6 or 7 is pressed regardless of whether or not the operation hand is detected by the sensors 11, 12, and 13, the operation for the pressed operation switch is performed. Since the screen is preferentially displayed (see S1 and S2 in FIG. 4), the display more reflecting the will of the driver and the like is performed, and this can also improve the comfort of operation.
[0041]
In addition, when a plurality of sensors detect the approach of the operator at the same time, the operation screen for the highest priority order is displayed according to the priority order data preset in the storage unit 16 (FIG. 4). S9 to S11), the priority is set so as to increase sequentially from the side closer to the driver toward the side farther from the driver. For example, the operator is placed in the vicinity of the navigation switch group 6 farthest from the driver. When it is positioned, the operation hand is detected at the same time by the sensors (11, 13) for the operation switches (AC switch group 4 and AV switch group 7) existing in the middle, and the desired operation screen (navigation screen) ) Can be prevented from being displayed, and the operational comfort can be further improved.
[0042]
The embodiment described above is described for facilitating the understanding of the present invention, and is not described for limiting the present invention. Therefore, each element disclosed in the above embodiment is intended to include all design changes and equivalents belonging to the technical scope of the present invention.
[0043]
In particular, in the above-described embodiment, the sensors 11, 12, and 13 that detect the approach of the operating hand are provided for each of the switch groups 4, 6, and 7, but the number of sensors can be further increased. For example, in FIG. 2, a sensor can be provided for each of the CD, TAPE, FM / AM, and TV operation switches, and this makes it possible to cope more precisely. Further, the position of the sensor is not only arranged adjacent to the operation switch on the control panel 1, but can of course be arranged at the center of the operation switch or at another place.
[0044]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, when a driver or the like operates a vehicle-mounted electrical component, without operating the operation switch, only by positioning the operating hand in the vicinity of the sensor corresponding to the operation switch, Since the operation screen of the corresponding electrical component is displayed, the operation procedure can be simplified, and there is an effect that a vehicle controller capable of realizing an excellent man-machine interface is provided.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a mounting position in a vehicle of a vehicle controller according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a front view of a control panel of the vehicle controller according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a main configuration of the vehicle controller according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing processing of the vehicle controller according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of an operation screen displayed on the display of the vehicle controller according to the embodiment of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Control panel 2 ... Display 4 ... A / C switch group 6 ... Navi switch group 7 ... AV switch group 11 ... A / C sensor 12 ... Navi sensor 13 ... AV sensor 14 ... Control part 15 ... Timer 16 ... Memory | storage part

Claims (5)

A controller for operating a plurality of electrical components mounted on a vehicle,
A control panel (1) provided with a plurality of operation switches (4, 6, 7) corresponding to each of the electrical components;
A display (2) for displaying an operation screen of the electrical component;
A plurality of sensors (11, 12, 13) for detecting the approach of an operator provided on the control panel corresponding to each of the electrical components;
Control means (14) for displaying an operation screen of an electrical component corresponding to the sensor detecting the approach of the operator when the approach of the operator is detected by the sensor. Vehicle controller. The control means (14) displays the operation screen only when the detection of the approach of the operating hand by the sensor (11, 12, 13) continues until a predetermined time elapses. The vehicle controller according to claim 1 . When the operation switch (4, 6, 7) is operated by an operator, the control means (14) preferentially displays an operation screen of electrical components corresponding to the operated operation switch. The vehicle controller according to claim 1 . A storage unit (16) in which data indicating priorities among the sensors (11, 12, 13) is stored in advance;
Said control means (14), when the approach of the operating hand by a plurality of sensors is detected, according to claim 1, wherein the displaying the operation screen of the electrical equipment corresponding to the highest sensor priority or The vehicle controller according to 2 . The priorities of the sensors (11, 12, 13) stored in the storage unit (16) are set so as to increase sequentially from the side closer to the driver's seat to the side farther from the driver's seat. The vehicle controller according to claim 4 .

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