JP4432342B2 - Steering wheel temperature control system in a vehicle - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a temperature control system for a steering wheel in a vehicle.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In general, the steering wheel of a vehicle has a function of heating the ring part in a cold state and cooling the ring part in a hot weather in addition to a basic function of steering the vehicle. In this steering wheel temperature control device, after the driver releases the door lock mechanism of the front door on the driver's seat, the driver enters the driver's seat and starts the engine with the start key, and then the start switch of the temperature control device is turned on. The temperature of the steering wheel was adjusted by turning it on. As a temperature control device for a steering wheel, a device disclosed in Patent Document 1 or Patent Document 2 using a Peltier element has been proposed.
[0003]
[Patent Document 1]
JP 60-236873 A [Patent Document 2]
Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 62-123482 [0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
The steering wheel is further coated with a leather outer skin layer to improve the feel and appearance when gripping the outer periphery of the synthetic resin mold part molded integrally with the outer periphery of the ring part of the metal core. ing. The Peltier element is embedded in the mold part inside the outer skin layer. For this reason, it takes several minutes for the outer skin layer to reach an appropriate temperature after the Peltier element of the temperature control device is energized. Therefore, the discomfort is not resolved when the driver holds the steering wheel. In order to avoid this, sometimes the start of the vehicle was delayed.
[0005]
An object of the present invention is to provide a steering wheel temperature control system in a vehicle that can control the temperature of the steering wheel to an appropriate temperature until the driver starts driving the vehicle.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above problems, a first aspect of the present invention, in a vehicle equipped with a temperature adjusting device for adjusting the temperature of the steering wheel, the lock of the door locking mechanism of the front door on the driver's seat side canceled also Comprises pre-operating means for operating the temperature adjusting device in response to an operation signal for unlocking the door lock mechanism from a keyless switch for locking, and the temperature adjusting device is provided with a Peltier device provided in the steering wheel. The gist of the invention is that the temperature of the steering wheel is adjusted by an element, and temperature adjustment by the Peltier element is started by an operation signal for unlocking the door lock mechanism from the keyless switch.
[0009]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect , the temperature adjustment device is configured such that the temperature of the steering wheel becomes a preset temperature after the temperature adjustment device is operated by the preliminary operation unit. The gist of the invention is that the temperature adjustment is stopped.
[0010]
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect , the elapsed time after the temperature adjusting device is actuated by the preliminary actuating means is counted by a timer, and a preset first set time has elapsed. The gist of the invention is that the temperature adjustment is stopped.
[0011]
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect, the temperature adjusting device counts an elapsed time after the temperature adjusting device is operated by the preliminary operating means by a timer, and is set in advance. The gist of the invention is that the temperature adjustment is stopped when the set time of 2 elapses and the engine is stopped.
The gist of the invention according to claim 5 is that, in any one of claims 1 to 4, the temperature of the steering wheel is controlled before the front door is opened.
The invention according to claim 6 is configured such that when the door lock mechanism is locked by the keyless switch according to any one of claims 1 to 5, the temperature adjusting device is stopped. Is the gist.
[0013]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, an embodiment of a temperature control system for a steering wheel in a vehicle embodying the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0014]
As shown in FIG. 3, the front door 12 on the driver's seat side of the automobile 11 is provided with a door lock mechanism 13 for locking or unlocking the front door 12 to a door frame provided on the body. It has been. The door lock mechanism 13 is switched from the unlocked state to the locked state by operating the lock button 15 of the remote control switch 14 shown in FIG. 4, and is switched from the locked state to the unlocked state by operating the unlock button 16. It is like that. The remote control switch 14 is inserted into a key cylinder 13a provided in the door lock mechanism 13 to mechanically switch the door lock mechanism 13 from a locked state to an unlocked state and vice versa. 17 is provided. The key 17 also has a function as an engine start key.
[0015]
As shown in FIG. 3, the steering wheel 18 provided in the vehicle interior includes a cored bar 19, a resin mold part 21 molded integrally with a ring part 20 on the outer periphery thereof, and the resin mold as shown in FIG. It is comprised by the skin-made outer skin layer 22 which coat | covers the outer peripheral surface of the part 21. FIG. A Peltier element 23 is embedded in the resin mold portion 21 as a component constituting the temperature adjusting device 24. Although not shown, the Peltier element 23 is configured so that a direct current flows through a plurality of N-type elements and P-type elements between the top surface and the bottom surface of the ceramic substrate so that heat is transferred from one surface to the other surface. It is modularized. Further, by reversing the direct current, the heat transfer can be reversed and the heating / cooling can be reversed.
[0016]
Next, the temperature adjusting device 24 will be described with reference to FIG.
A power supply circuit 32 is connected to the battery 31 mounted on the automobile 11, and a relay circuit 33 is connected in parallel with the power supply circuit 32. The Peltier element 23 is connected to the relay circuit 33. The relay circuit 33 is actuated so that a current for heating or cooling is supplied to the Peltier element 23.
[0017]
A computer central processing unit 34 (CPU) is connected to the power supply circuit 32. The power supply circuit 32 is connected to a thermistor 35 for detecting the temperature in the passenger compartment (steering wheel 18) as a resistance value. In series with the thermistor 35, a comparison resistor 36 for determining an upper limit temperature, and a lower limit A comparison resistor 37 for determining the temperature is connected in series. The variation of the voltage value generated between the thermistor 35 and both comparison resistors 36 and 37 due to the variation of the resistance value of the thermistor 35 is input to the central processing unit 34. When the temperature detected by the thermistor 35 is higher than the upper limit temperature by the central processing unit 34, an operation signal for cooling the Peltier element 23 is output from the central processing unit 34 to the relay circuit 33. It is summer. On the contrary, when the detected temperature of the thermistor 35 is lower than the lower limit temperature, an operation signal for heating the Peltier element 23 is output to the relay circuit 33.
[0018]
A keyless signal detection sensor 38 is connected to the central processing unit 34, and when the unlock button 16 of the remote control switch 14 is turned on, the keyless signal detection sensor 38 is operated and the door lock mechanism 13 is operated. On the other hand, a door lock release signal is output. At the same time, a signal for operating the relay circuit 33 is output to the central processing unit 34. On the contrary, when the lock button 15 of the remote control switch 14 is turned on, the keyless signal detection sensor 38 is activated and a lock signal for the front door 12 is output to the door lock mechanism 13. At the same time, a stop signal for stopping the relay circuit 33 is output to the central processing unit 34.
[0019]
A timer 40 is connected to the central processing unit 34. The timer 40 counts the elapsed time since the Peltier element 23 is actuated by the relay circuit 33, and when the first preset time elapses, the central processing unit 34 sends the relay circuit 33 to the relay circuit 33. A signal for stopping energization of the Peltier element 23 is output.
[0020]
In this embodiment, the temperature control device of the steering wheel 18 is unlocked from the front door 12 by the remote control switch 14, the relay circuit 33, the central processing unit 34, the thermistor 35, the comparison resistors 36 and 37, the keyless signal detection sensor 38, and the like. It constitutes preliminary actuating means for actuating before.
[0021]
Next, the operation of the steering wheel temperature control system configured as described above will be described.
In FIG. 3, when the door lock mechanism 13 of the automobile 11 is held in a locked state, the temperature in the passenger compartment rises, and the temperature detected by the thermistor 35 is higher than a set upper limit temperature. Works as follows.
[0022]
When the unlock button 16 of the remote control switch 14 carried by the driver is turned on, the keyless signal detection sensor 38 in FIG. 1 is activated and an operation signal is output to the central processing unit 34. An activation signal is output to the relay circuit 33. For this reason, the Peltier element 23 is energized by the relay circuit 33, and the Peltier element 23 heats the steering wheel 18.
[0023]
After turning on the unlock button 16 of the remote control switch 14, the driver opens the front door 12 of the automobile 11 and sits in a driver seat provided in the vehicle. Thereafter, the key 17 of the remote control switch 14 is inserted into the engine starter to start the engine. After the driver turns on the unlock button 16 of the remote control switch 14 on the outside of the automobile 11, it takes several minutes to actually drive the automobile 11, so the outer skin layer of the steering wheel 18 22 is warmed to an appropriate temperature. For this reason, when the driver grips the steering wheel 18 and actually drives the vehicle, the temperature of the steering wheel 18 is appropriate, so that there is no discomfort.
[0024]
The elapsed time from the activation of the Peltier element 23 is counted by the timer 40. When the elapsed time exceeds the set first set time, a stop signal is sent from the central processing unit 34 to the relay circuit 33. As a result, the power supply to the Peltier element 23 is stopped, and the temperature adjustment operation of the steering wheel 18 is stopped.
[0025]
After the driver unlocks the front door 12, if the time counted by the timer 40 exceeds a preset second set time and the engine is not started, the central processing unit 34 relays A stop signal is output to the circuit 33. This prevents the Peltier element 23 from operating for a long time with the engine stopped.
[0026]
When the driver stops driving after turning on the unlock button 16 of the remote control switch 14 and turns on the lock button 15 of the remote control switch 14, the central processing is performed from the keyless signal detection sensor 38. A stop signal is output to the device 34. Then, a signal for stopping energization of the Peltier element 23 is output from the central processing unit 34 to the relay circuit 33, and the heating operation of the steering wheel 18 is stopped.
[0027]
Further, when the interior of the automobile 11 is higher than the upper limit temperature in summer or the like, the energization direction is reversed so that the central processing unit 34 cools the Peltier element 23 to the relay circuit 33. The operation signal is output.
[0028]
Further, when the temperature detected by the thermistor 35 is between the upper limit temperature and the lower limit temperature after the unlock button 16 is turned on, the operation signal from the central processing unit 34 to the relay circuit 33 is not output. No heating or cooling.
[0029]
According to the steering wheel temperature control system for a vehicle of the above embodiment, the following characteristics can be obtained.
(1) In the above embodiment, the Peltier element 23 of the steering wheel 18 is activated by turning on the unlock button 16 of the remote control switch 14 carried outside the automobile 11. Therefore, the temperature of the steering wheel 18 can be adjusted to an appropriate temperature for several minutes after the driver opens the front door 12 and sits in the driver's seat until the engine is actually operated. The user can comfortably start driving without feeling uncomfortable.
[0030]
(2) In the above embodiment, the elapsed time since the Peltier element 23 is activated is counted by the timer 40, and after a predetermined time has passed the first set time, the central processing unit 34 sends the Peltier element 23 to the Peltier element 23. A stop signal is output. For this reason, it is not necessary to energize the Peltier element 23 after the steering wheel 18 is adjusted to an appropriate temperature, and the waste of the battery 31 can be eliminated.
[0031]
(3) In the above embodiment, the elapsed time since the front door 12 is unlocked by the timer 40 is counted, the elapsed time exceeds the second set time, and the engine is stopped. In this case, the energization to the Peltier element 23 is stopped. For this reason, it is possible to prevent the Peltier element 23 from being operated for a long time while the engine is stopped, and to prevent the battery 31 from being wasted.
[0032]
In addition, you may change the said embodiment as follows.
The stop timing of the Peltier element 23 may be set to a timing when the engine is stopped.
[0033]
○ When the key 17 of the remote control switch 14 is inserted into the key cylinder 13a of the door lock mechanism 13 and the locked state of the front door 12 is released, an activation signal may be output to the relay circuit 33. . Further, when the front door 12 is locked by the key 17, a stop signal may be output to the relay circuit 33.
[0034]
O When the temperature detected from the sensor for detecting the temperature of the steering wheel 18 reaches the set temperature, the power supply to the Peltier element 23 may be stopped to stop the temperature adjustment of the steering wheel 18.
[0035]
In the embodiment, the steering wheel 18 can be cooled or heated. However, the steering wheel 18 may be only cooled or only heated.
A dedicated switch for operating the Peltier element 23 may be provided for the remote control switch 14. Further, a dedicated switch for stopping the Peltier element 23 may be provided for the remote control switch 14.
[0036]
【The invention's effect】
As described above in detail, the invention according to claims 1 to 6 can control the temperature of the steering wheel to an appropriate temperature before the driver starts driving the vehicle before opening the front door. . For this reason, it is possible to eliminate the uncomfortable feeling when the driver grips the steering wheel and to drive the vehicle comfortably.
[0037]
Further , the temperature adjustment device can be operated more reliably by operating the temperature adjustment device before the front door is opened by the operation signal from the remote control switch. Furthermore, the temperature control device can be easily operated using a keyless switch for unlocking or locking the door lock mechanism.
[0038]
According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the temperature adjustment is stopped when the temperature of the steering wheel reaches a preset temperature after the temperature adjustment device is operated, useless temperature adjustment can be eliminated. .
[0039]
Since the invention according to claim 3 counts the elapsed time after the temperature control device is operated by the timer, and stops the temperature control when the first set time set in advance has elapsed, Unnecessary temperature control can be eliminated.
[0040]
According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, since the temperature adjustment is stopped when the engine stopped state is continued beyond the second set time after the temperature adjustment device is operated, battery consumption is eliminated. Can do.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram of a temperature adjustment system for a steering wheel of a vehicle embodying the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a front view of a steering wheel.
FIG. 3 is a schematic side view of an automobile.
FIG. 4 is a front view of a remote control switch.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 12 ... Front door, 13 ... Door lock mechanism, 14 ... Remote control switch, 17 ... Key, 18 ... Steering wheel, 24 ... Temperature control device, 40 ... Timer.

Claims (6)

In a vehicle equipped with a temperature adjustment device for adjusting the temperature of the steering wheel,
The operating signal for unlocking the door locking mechanism of the lock of the door locking mechanism of the front door on the driver's seat side from the keyless switch for the canceled or locking the preliminary operation means for operating the temperature controller Prepared,
The temperature adjusting device is configured to adjust the temperature of the steering wheel by a Peltier element provided in the steering wheel,
A temperature control system for a steering wheel in a vehicle, which starts temperature adjustment by the Peltier element in response to an operation signal for unlocking the door lock mechanism from the keyless switch.   The temperature adjustment device is configured to stop temperature adjustment when a temperature of a steering wheel reaches a preset temperature after the temperature adjustment device is operated by the preliminary operation unit. The temperature control system of the steering wheel in the vehicle according to 1.   The temperature adjusting device counts an elapsed time after the temperature adjusting device is operated by the preliminary operating means by a timer, and stops temperature adjustment when a preset first set time elapses. The temperature control system of the steering wheel in the vehicle of Claim 1 comprised.   The temperature adjusting device counts an elapsed time after the temperature adjusting device is operated by the preliminary operating means by a timer, a second preset time has elapsed, and the engine is stopped The temperature control system for a steering wheel in a vehicle according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the temperature control is stopped at a short time.   The temperature control system for a steering wheel according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the temperature of the steering wheel is controlled before the front door is opened.   The temperature of the steering wheel according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the temperature adjustment device is configured to stop when the door lock mechanism is locked by the keyless switch. Control system.

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