JP4289297B2 - Switch device using a vehicle rearview mirror - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a switch device using a vehicle rearview mirror.

  Cars often have various accessories. When installing these accessories in a car, these accessories are installed in or on the dashboard, in the overhead console, in the rearview mirror (back mirror), or in the rearview mirror housing itself.

  As such an accessory, an automatic anti-glare mirror including a control mechanism for adjusting the amount of light reflected by a driver is well known. The automatic anti-glare mirror is covered with an EC (Electrochromic) element film that is reversibly colored and decolored by applying voltage to the mirror reflecting surface, and the amount of coloring of the film is changed to reflect By controlling the rate, an anti-glare effect can be obtained for the headlights of the following vehicles when traveling at night or the like. In order to obtain such an anti-glare effect, the automatic anti-glare mirror detects the amount of incident light from the rear direction, and when the back light is bright, increases the amount of coloring (decreases the reflectance), and the back light is When dark, the amount of coloring is controlled to be reduced (decolored, that is, the reflectance is increased) (see Patent Document 1).

  In addition, the automatic anti-glare mirror generally switches on / off of the automatic mode or AUTO (auto: automatic mode), DAY (day: mode to fix the color), and HIGH (night: mode to fix the color). Many have a switch to do.

  In addition, there has been devised one in which a control device for an interior component of an automobile provided with a remote controller for a mobile phone is integrated with a room mirror (see Patent Document 2).

  In addition to the above, there are vehicles in which a switch for operating an ETC (Electronic Toll Collection System), GDO (Garage Door Opener), etc. is incorporated in the rearview mirror.

  When the above operation is performed on the rearview mirror, the rearview mirror will move when the switch is operated, and each time the switch is operated, the mirror will be adjusted to the mirror position that suits you. Thus, there is a problem that attention to the surroundings of the vehicle is not spread, or that the rear view of the vehicle cannot be sufficiently secured due to an inappropriate position of the rearview mirror.

  In order to solve the above problems, a room mirror with built-in timepiece using a non-contact switch such as a proximity switch or a photoelectric switch has been devised as a switch built in the room mirror (see Patent Document 3).

JP-A-8-318784 Utility Model Registration No. 3098892 Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 64-44246

  In the example of Patent Document 3, since the switch is located at the center lower part of the front of the rearview mirror, it not only disturbs the field of view in front of the vehicle, but also covers the center of the rearview mirror by hand when operating the switch. Therefore, there is a problem of hindering the field of view behind the vehicle. In addition, since the shape of the room mirror is also restricted by the type or number of switches, there is also a problem in that it cannot be shared by a plurality of vehicle types and a mass production effect does not occur. In addition, when a hand is held over a non-contact switch, there is a problem that the mirror is accidentally touched and a fingerprint is attached to the mirror surface, or the room mirror moves.

  Against the background of the above circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide a switch device using a vehicle rearview mirror that does not obstruct the field of view of the vehicle even when a non-contact switch is operated, and that the fingerprint is attached to the mirror surface or the rearview mirror does not move Is to provide.

Means for Solving the Problems and Effects of the Invention

  The present invention provides a switch device using a vehicle rearview mirror for solving the above-described problems. That is, according to claim 1, the switch device using the vehicle rearview mirror for securing the rear view of the vehicle, provided on the back surface portion opposite to the mirror surface of the vehicle rearview mirror, A signal sending unit that sends a detection signal in a predetermined direction in a region opposite to the mirror surface side of the rearview mirror to generate a switch signal, and reflects and changes the direction so that the detection signal is guided in a predetermined direction. The detection signal reflected and returned by the shielding reflection part temporarily placed so as to shield the detection signal reflected on the path of the reflected detection signal is reflected again and redirected to the back of the vehicle rearview mirror. A path conversion reflection section for guiding and a signal detection section that is provided on the rear surface of the vehicle rearview mirror and detects the detection signal returned from the path conversion reflection section and recognizes it as a switch signal. The transmission of and detection constituted as a switch device using a room mirror for vehicles, characterized in that perform a switching function.

  In the present invention, a detection signal is transmitted from a signal transmission unit provided on the rear surface of a vehicle rearview mirror, and a detection signal whose direction is changed by a path conversion reflection unit is reflected by a shielding reflection unit such as a hand, thereby A switch device using a vehicle rearview mirror, in which a hand-holding switch is formed by sending and detecting a detection signal by being detected as a switch signal by a signal detection portion at the back of the vehicle rearview mirror through a conversion reflection portion It is. In the above configuration, if the position of the shielding reflection portion is set substantially above the dash panel of the vehicle, the view of the vehicle is not obstructed when the switch is operated, the fingerprint is not attached to the mirror surface, and the rearview mirror does not move.

  In addition, radio waves, ultrasonic waves, light (described later), and the like can be used as detection signals in the above configuration. Since a detection device using these detection signals can be manufactured at low cost, this configuration can realize a switch device using the vehicle rearview mirror of the present invention at low cost.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, the switch device using the vehicle rearview mirror of the present invention can be configured to use the windshield of the vehicle as the path conversion reflecting portion. With this configuration, it is not necessary to use a dedicated reflecting member, so that the configuration of the present invention can be realized at low cost.

  According to the third aspect of the present invention, the switch device using the vehicle rearview mirror of the present invention can be configured to use a reflection member attached to the windshield of the vehicle as the path conversion reflection portion. With this configuration, even when the reflection efficiency of the detection signal on the windshield is not appropriate, the configuration of the present invention can be realized by using a reflection member having an appropriate reflection efficiency. In addition, when the position where the shielding reflection portion such as the hand is held over cannot be set appropriately due to the inclination angle of the windshield, the configuration of the present invention can be realized by using a reflection member having an appropriate reflection angle.

  According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the switch device using the vehicle rearview mirror of the present invention can employ a configuration in which a reflection member attached to the rear portion of the vehicle rearview mirror is used as the path conversion reflection portion. With this configuration, the field of view ahead of the vehicle is not hindered. Since the reflecting member can be manufactured integrally with the vehicle rearview mirror, the manufacturing cost can be reduced. Further, unlike the configuration in which the reflecting member is attached to the windshield, the front view is not hindered.

  According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the switch device using the vehicle rearview mirror of the present invention can also be configured to include an instruction unit that indicates a position for placing the shielding reflection unit. With this configuration, it is possible to visually indicate where the hand (shielding reflection portion) is placed to function as a switch, and the operation efficiency of the user's switch is improved. In addition, it is possible to quickly operate a device using the switch.

  According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, the switch device using the vehicle rearview mirror of the present invention can include a display unit that displays the detection status of the detection signal returned from the path conversion reflection unit in the signal detection unit. With this configuration, it is possible to visually indicate how close the shielding / reflecting part such as a hand is to function as a switch, and the operation efficiency of the user's switch is improved. In addition, it is possible to quickly operate a device using the switch.

  According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, the switch device using the vehicle rearview mirror of the present invention may employ a configuration in which light that is an electromagnetic wave is used as a detection signal and an optical sensor that detects light is used as a signal detection unit. it can. As the optical device, a well-known LED used for a remote control terminal of a television apparatus can be used. A known photodiode that converts an optical signal into an electrical signal can be used as the optical sensor. Since these are mass-produced at low cost, this configuration makes it possible to realize a switch device using the vehicle rearview mirror of the present invention at low cost.

  According to the eighth aspect of the present invention, the switch device using the vehicle rear mirror of the present invention detects the intensity of light incident from the front and rear of the vehicle as a signal detection unit, and reflects the light according to the detected value. An automatic anti-glare mirror that variably controls the reflectivity of the variable rate mirror may be configured to use a front light sensor that detects the intensity of light incident from the front of the vehicle. Since the anti-glare mirror has a higher mounting rate year by year, the signal detection unit can be shared by this configuration, so that the component cost and the manufacturing cost can be reduced.

  For the purpose of providing a switch device using a vehicle rearview mirror that does not disturb the view of the mirror when the switch is operated and does not obstruct the field of view when the switch is operated, a non-contact switch including an LED and a photodiode is installed in the rearview mirror. This is realized by a configuration in which the light emitted from the light emitter is reflected by a windshield or the like, and a hand is detected by the reflected light.

  Hereinafter, a switch device (hereinafter abbreviated as a switch device) using a vehicle rearview mirror that is an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an overall configuration of a vehicle rearview mirror (hereinafter abbreviated as a rearview mirror). FIG. 2 is a view of the configuration of the switch device as seen from the side of the vehicle. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing devices related to the operation of the switch device. The room mirror 1 is attached to a windshield 7 or a ceiling portion of the vehicle by an attachment portion 4. An infrared LED 2 and a photodiode 3 are attached to the back surface of the room mirror 1 opposite to the mirror surface. The interior of the room mirror 1 includes a control circuit 5 and an antiglare mirror circuit 10.

  The infrared LED 2 which is a signal transmission unit of the present invention is the same as that used in a light emitting unit of a television remote control terminal or the like, and the wavelength of light emitted from the infrared LED 2 is, for example, about 700 nm to 1500 nm.

  The photodiode 3 which is a signal detection unit of the present invention generates a current corresponding to the amount of light, and also serves as a light amount sensor for the anti-glare mirror (for the front of the vehicle, the front light sensor of the present invention). Alternatively, a photodiode may be provided separately.

  The anti-glare mirror circuit 10 measures the brightness in front of the vehicle and the rear of the vehicle with a light quantity sensor such as a photodiode provided on the mirror surface and rear surface of the rear mirror, and according to the difference in brightness between the front of the vehicle and the rear of the vehicle. By applying an electrochromic (oxidation-reduction) reaction and changing the reflectance of the mirror, the glare of the headlight of the following vehicle is suppressed. It should be noted that the circuit configuration of the antiglare mirror circuit 10 is not limited. Further, the anti-glare mirror circuit 10 may not be included.

  Via a communication circuit 11 provided inside or outside the room mirror 1 (that is, at any position in the vehicle), the switch device is a garage opener control circuit 12 that opens and closes the garage door by remote control, and an ETC (Electronic Toll Collection). system: non-stop toll collection system) connected to the control circuit 13 via a network.

  The control circuit 5 is configured as a normal computer and includes a well-known CPU, ROM, RAM, input / output circuit (not shown), and a bus line connecting these configurations. The CPU performs control by a control program and data stored in the ROM or RAM.

  The detection process of the switch device including the infrared LED 2 and the photodiode 3 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. This process is included in the control program stored in the ROM or RAM of the control circuit 5 and is repeatedly executed together with other processes. First, when power is supplied to the control circuit 5 and the like included in FIG. 3, the timer T of the control circuit 5 starts counting (S1). The timer T may use a timer function included in the CPU, or may use a timer circuit different from the CPU.

  If the power supplied to the control circuit 5 or the like is in an off state (S2: No), the process is terminated. When the power supplied to the control circuit 5 or the like is in an on state (S2: Yes), it is checked whether the value of the timer T corresponds to the time when the previous detection process was performed, that is, for example, 10 msec after Ta. If it has not elapsed (S3: No), it waits until 10 msec elapses.

  When 10 msec has elapsed (S3: Yes), whether or not the previous detection process was to detect whether or not the hand that is the shielding reflection unit of the present invention was held over the switch device (hereinafter referred to as “hand-holding detection”). If the previous detection process was hand-holding detection (S4: Yes), the process proceeds to the anti-glare mirror process, and the photodiode 3 and the photodiode (not shown) attached to the mirror side of the room mirror are used. The amount of light in front of and behind the vehicle is detected (S9), and the reflectance of the mirror is set (S10). In addition, when there is no anti-glare mirror circuit 10, this anti-glare mirror process is not performed.

  On the other hand, when the previous detection process is not hand-holding detection (S4: No), hand-holding detection is performed (S5). As shown in FIG. 2, the pulsed radiation light A is emitted from the infrared LED 2 toward the windshield 7 which is the path conversion reflection portion of the present invention. The emission angle from the infrared LED 2 is set so that the reflected light reflected by the windshield 7 is directed to the dash panel.

  Then, a detection region C is formed as shown in FIG. When the hand is held over the detection area C, the emitted light A is reflected by the hand and the reflected light B is generated. The reflected light B is reflected by the windshield 7, and the reflected light (number of pulses) is detected by the photodiode 3.

  The detection state at the photodiode 3 is indicated by the display 8 which is the display unit of the present invention (S6). As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the display 8 is constituted by a bar composed of three LEDs, which are small, medium and large from the left. The intensity (luminous intensity) of the radiated light A emitted from the infrared LED 2 changes periodically such as “low intensity”, “medium intensity”, and “high intensity”. That is, the distance between the room mirror 1 and the hand is L1, the intensity of light emitted from the infrared LED 2 is “high intensity”, and the reflected light B is detected (for example, a predetermined number of pulses are detected per unit time). In this case, only the small LED bar of the display unit 8 is lit because the hand is held at the limit of the detection limit of the detection region C (see FIG. 2) as shown in FIG. At this time, no hand-holding is detected to prevent erroneous detection (S7: No).

  When the reflected light B is detected when the intensity of the radiated light A emitted from the infrared LED 2 is “medium”, as shown in FIG. 9, slightly above the detection limit position of the detection region C (see FIG. 2). Since the hand is held over, the small and middle LED bars of the indicator 8 are lit. Even at this time, the hand-holding is not detected (S7: No).

  From the state of FIG. 9, the hand is brought close to the room mirror, the distance between the room mirror 1 and the hand becomes L2 (<L1), the intensity of the radiated light A emitted from the infrared LED 2 is “low intensity”, and the reflected light B is When detected, all the LED bars of the display 8 are turned on because the hand is held at a position where the detection area C (see FIG. 2) is not erroneously detected as shown in FIG. And since it exceeds the threshold (threshold) of hand-holding detection, a hand-holding is detected (S7: Yes).

  In addition to the method of periodically changing the intensity of the emitted light A emitted from the infrared LED 2, the detection sensitivity for detection by the photodiode 3 is changed (for example, the threshold value for detecting the pulse of the reflected light B, that is, the photodiode). The detection current threshold may be changed in three steps of low, medium, and high). In this case, if the reflected light B is detected when the pulse detection threshold of the reflected light B is low (detection sensitivity: high), only the small bar of the display 8 is lit, and the threshold is medium (detection sensitivity: medium). When the reflected light B is detected, the small and middle LED bars of the display 8 are turned on, and when the reflected light B is detected when the threshold is high (detection sensitivity: low), all of the indicators 8 are displayed. The bar lights up.

  When the hand-holding is detected (S7: Yes), it is determined that the switch device including the infrared LED 2 and the photodiode 3 is turned on, and a device to which the switch device is connected in response to a change in the state of the switch device It is operated (S8). For example, when the switch device is included in the garage opener control circuit 12, the garage opener control circuit 12 performs the following control. When the garage opener door is closed, the switch device is turned on. When the garage opener door is opened, the garage opener door is opened. When is turned on, control is performed so that the door of the garage opener is closed.

(Another embodiment 1 of the path conversion reflecting portion)
In addition to the method of reflecting the radiated light A emitted from the infrared LED 2 by the windshield 7 as shown in FIG. 2, the reflecting member 14 which is a path conversion reflecting portion of the present invention is provided at a predetermined position of the windshield 7 as shown in FIG. May be used so that the light A emitted from the infrared LED 2 is reflected by the reflecting member 14. If a member having a reflectivity higher than that of the windshield is used for the reflecting member 14, the output of the infrared LED 2 (the intensity of the radiated light A) can be reduced, and consequently the power consumption of the control circuit 5 can be reduced. Moreover, if the reflection member 14 is affixed to a position that cannot be seen by the windshield driver behind the rearview mirror 1, the reflection member 14 does not obstruct the driver's front view.

(Another embodiment 2 of the path conversion reflecting portion)
Some vehicles are equipped with a raindrop detection type intermittent wiper that controls the operation of the wiper by a rain sensor that detects a rain condition. In many cases, the rain sensor is attached at a position in the vicinity of the rearview mirror attaching portion 4 so as not to obstruct the driver's front view. Therefore, a method of sticking the reflecting member 14 to the rain sensor may be used.

(Another embodiment 3 of the path conversion reflecting portion)
In addition to the method of sticking the reflecting member 14 to the windshield 7 as shown in FIG. 5, a method of attaching the reflecting member 15 as the path conversion reflecting portion of the present invention to the rear mirror 1 as shown in FIG. The reflector 15 may be formed integrally with the rearview mirror 1 or may be attached by screwing or bonding after the rearview mirror is manufactured.

  You may use combining at least 2 or more of another Example 1-3 of embodiment of this invention and a path | route conversion reflection part.

(Detection area display)
The light A emitted from the infrared LED 2 is invisible light that cannot be seen by human eyes. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 7, an LED 9 that is an indicator of the present invention that emits visible light is attached to the rear surface of the rearview mirror 1, and a detection region C that can be detected by hand-holding is irradiated so as to be visible. Also good. For example, when the LED 9 is attached to the rear surface of the room mirror 1 in the example of FIG. 2, the radiated light D emitted from the LED 9 illuminates around the path of the radiated light A emitted from the infrared LED 2 (detection region C) as shown in FIG. , You will be able to visually understand where to put your hand.

  In the above embodiment, light that is a kind of electromagnetic wave is used as the detection signal, but electromagnetic waves (radio waves) other than light and ultrasonic waves can also be used as the detection signal. The method of using radio waves is an application of a so-called radar device, which transmits radio waves, and receives the radio waves reflected back by hands etc. at the receiver, and the signal level of the received radio waves is predetermined. Is detected (when radio waves can be detected even if the reception sensitivity is sufficiently low), the hand is detected. Alternatively, the position where the hand is held (distance between the hand and the room mirror) is calculated from the time until the transmitted radio wave returns, and the hand is held when the distance between the hand and the room mirror is within a predetermined threshold. Is detected. The same applies to the case of using ultrasonic waves, which is an application of the well-known active sonar technology.

  Further, the reflecting members 14 and 15 may be made of a material suitable for reflection of radio waves or ultrasonic waves, and the material and shape are not particularly limited.

  Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, these are merely examples, and the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, and the knowledge of those skilled in the art can be used without departing from the spirit of the claims. Various modifications based on this are possible.

The figure which shows the structure of the room mirror of this invention. The figure which shows the state of hand-holding. The figure which shows the structure of a room mirror and a peripheral device. The flowchart for demonstrating a hand-holding detection process. The figure which shows another structure of the room mirror of this invention. (Modification 1) The figure which shows another structure of the room mirror of this invention. (Modification 3) The figure which shows another structure of the room mirror of this invention. (Detection area display) The figure which shows the state of the hand-holding following FIG. The figure which shows the example of a display of a display. The figure which shows the example of a display of a display following FIG.

Explanation of symbols

1 Room mirror 2 Infrared LED (Transmission unit)
3 Photodiode (signal detector)
4 Mounting part 5 Control circuit 7 Windshield (path conversion reflection part)
8 Display (display unit)
9 LED (instruction part)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Anti-glare mirror circuit 11 Communication circuit 12 Garage opener control circuit 13 ETC control circuit 14 Reflective member (path conversion reflection part)
15 Reflective member (path conversion reflective part)

Claims (8)

A switch device that uses a vehicle rearview mirror to secure a rear view of the vehicle,
A signal transmission unit that is provided on a back surface opposite to the mirror surface of the vehicle rearview mirror and transmits a detection signal in a predetermined direction in a region opposite to the mirror surface of the rearview mirror to generate a switch signal. When,
The detection signal is reflected so as to be guided in a predetermined direction to change the direction, and is reflected by a shield reflector that is temporarily placed so as to shield the reflected detection signal on the path of the reflected detection signal. Then, the detection signal that is returned is reflected again to change the direction, and the path conversion reflection unit that leads to the back of the vehicle rearview mirror,
A signal detection unit that is provided on the rear surface of the vehicle rearview mirror and detects a detection signal returned from the path conversion reflection unit and recognizes it as a switch signal;
A switching device using a vehicle rearview mirror that performs a switching function by sending and detecting the detection signal.   The switch device using a vehicle rear mirror according to claim 1, wherein a windshield of the vehicle is used as the path conversion reflection portion.   The switch device using a vehicle rearview mirror according to claim 1, wherein a reflection member attached to a windshield of the vehicle is used as the path conversion reflection portion.   The switch device using the vehicle rear-view mirror according to claim 1, wherein a reflection member attached to a rear portion of the vehicle rear-view mirror is used as the path conversion reflection portion.   The switch device using the vehicle rearview mirror according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising an instruction unit that instructs a position for placing the shielding reflection unit.   6. The switch device using a vehicle rearview mirror according to claim 1, further comprising a display unit that displays a detection state of a detection signal returned from the path conversion reflection unit in the signal detection unit.   The switch using the vehicle rearview mirror according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein light as an electromagnetic wave is used as the detection signal, and an optical sensor for detecting light is used as the signal detection unit. apparatus. As the signal detection unit, an automatic anti-glare mirror that detects the intensity of light incident from the front and rear of the vehicle and variably controls the reflectivity of the reflectivity variable mirror according to the detected value. The switch device using a vehicle rear mirror according to claim 7, wherein a front light sensor for detecting the intensity of light incident from the front is used.

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