JP4466953B2 - Turn signal device for automobile - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a turn signal device for a vehicle that blinks a turn signal lamp when the vehicle turns right or left.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the switch OFF point (neutral point) Pn is in the center of the switch, the switch lever 10 is swung around the swing center 1p, and the contact portion 10c provided on the switch lever 10 is moved left and right by the swing. There is a turn signal device in which a turn signal lamp (not shown) blinks by contacting the contact points 12 and 11. The turn signal device is provided with a return spring 13 for neutral return in the vicinity of the swing center 1p of the switch lever 10.

  In such a turn signal device, when the switch lever 10 is returned to the neutral position after the switch lever 10 is operated, a return spring 13 for neutral return provided in the vicinity of the swing center of the switch lever 10 is too large. The reaction force may be too large, and after the switch lever 10 is operated, it may pass through the neutral position and come into contact with the opposite contact, causing the turn signal lamp to blink by mistake.

  6 to 9 are state diagrams showing in order of figure numbers the processes in which the above-described problems occur when the switch lever 10 of the turn signal device is operated. A process in which such a problem occurs will be described with reference to FIGS.

First, an automobile not shown is going to turn right, and as shown in FIG. 6, the driver tilts the switch lever 10 to the right and brings the contact portion 10 c of the lever into contact with the contact 11 for the right side of the switch body 1. The right turn signal lamp blinks.
When the right turn is completed, the driver returns the switch lever 10 to the neutral position as shown in FIG.
However, since the operating force to return the driver's lever is large or the reaction force of the return spring 13 is too large, the switch lever 10 passes the neutral point, and as shown in FIG. 8, the contact on the opposite side (contact for left turn) 12, the contact portion 10c of the switch lever 10 comes into contact, and the turn signal lamp is erroneously operated (a left-turn lamp (not shown) blinks).
Therefore, as shown in FIG. 9, the driver rushes to return the side switch lever 10 to the neutral position.
Meanwhile, the following vehicle or the oncoming vehicle may be confused by the wrong information transmission of the vehicle, or may believe the wrong information and induce an accident.

  On the other hand, in a turn signal device for automobiles and the like that needs to pass a large current, the installation place is a limited space on the steering column. Since such electronic components dislike heat generation, it is necessary to take measures against heat generation as shown in FIG.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a cross section of the control unit of the automobile turn signal device as described above, that is, the unit case 5A.
A circuit board 5B is disposed below the unit case 5A, and a control element 5C is attached to the upper left surface of the circuit board 5B. Since the control element 5C dislikes high temperature, a heat sink 5D is disposed on the upper surface of the control element 5C. On the other hand, a circuit resistor 5R must be arranged on the right side of the unit case 5A. For example, an element for attaching a useful function such as a delay circuit (delay timer) including a capacitor provided in the present invention. 5G cannot be mounted (option element cannot be mounted).

Further, in the electronic circuit or the like that handles a relatively large current as described above, as shown in FIG. 11, in the unit 50A having the internal circuit board 50B including the internal element 50C that is vulnerable to high temperatures, the unit 50A and the power source B are connected. An overcurrent prevention fuse F is required in the middle of the circuit Li.
That is, in FIG. 11, if a short circuit occurs at a certain point N in the circuit Lo between the unit 50A and the lamp 20 as the output device, an overcurrent flows through the internal circuit board 50B and the fuse F, and the internal circuit board 50B is damaged. Before the operation, the fuse F is blown to prevent the internal circuit board 50B from being damaged.
Therefore, when the fuse F is blown, it is necessary to replace the fuse F with a new one.

  Here, the direction indicator operation switch, which automatically returns with the steering operation, returns to the neutral position, but delays the time until the turn of the direction indicator light and cornering lamp, and confirms the traveling direction of the vehicle and the front direction. There has been proposed a technique that can be surely performed (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  However, the technology mainly aims to adjust the time until the cornering lamp that illuminates the right or left shoulder when turning right or left, and the above problem, that is, the switch lever is made neutral. When returning, it does not solve the problem of accidentally touching the contact on the opposite side and blinking the turn signal lamp.

  Further, as a heat generating component cooling device, a technology has been proposed in which a device space for cooling the front side of the mounting base is reduced to achieve a reduction in size and weight and a degree of freedom in the layout of the entire device (for example, a patent) Reference 2).

Such technology is a technology that exclusively promotes the flow of cooling air or the like by devising the layout of electronic components, and still uses a large number of heat sinks for cooling. It is not possible to cope with the problem that “additional (optional) element cannot be mounted”.
JP-A-6-32170 JP 11-238986 A

  Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to reliably give a direction indication without erroneously contacting the contact on the opposite side and blinking the turn signal lamp when the switch lever of the turn signal is returned to neutral, and in the control circuit. It is an object to provide a turn signal device for automobiles that can sufficiently mount electronic components required for satisfying the functions in the circuit with sufficient margin.

  According to the present invention, a circuit having a turn signal switch (1) and left and right turn signal lamps (21, 22) and connecting the turn signal switch (1) and the turn signal lamps (21, 22) ( L1, L3: L2, L4) In a vehicle turn signal device in which a signal control circuit (3) is interposed, the signal control circuit (3) determines a magnitude of a signal voltage. (4) And a delay circuit (5) for delaying the switch signal and a switch circuit (6). The delay circuit (5) has two system unit cases (51) respectively corresponding to the left and right turn signal lamps (21, 22). 52), and in each of the unit cases (51, 52), a delay timer (integrated circuit including a capacitor on a circuit board (511, 521)) ( 12, 522), an overcurrent protection control element (513, 523) and a resistor (514, 524), and the delay timer (512, 522) has a capacitor after the turn signal switch (1) is closed. Until the overload, current does not flow to the turn signal lamp (21 or 22). If the capacitor is overloaded, current flows to the turn signal lamp (21 or 22), and the turn signal before the capacitor is overloaded. If the switch (1) is opened, the charge accumulated in the capacitor is discharged. The overcurrent protection control elements (513, 523) and the resistors (514, 524) are arranged on the circuit board (511, 521). Are provided in the same projection portion.

  According to the vehicle turn signal device of the present invention described above, the turn signal switch (1), the turn signal lamps (21, 22), and the turn signal switch (1) and the turn signal lamps (21, 22) are connected. And a signal control circuit (3) interposed in a circuit (L1 to L4) that performs turn signal lamps (21, 21) when the turn signal switch (1) is closed. 22) The current flowing time is delayed by a predetermined time, and when the time when the turn signal switch (1) is closed is shorter than the predetermined time, the current is not supplied to the turn signal lamps (21, 22). Therefore, when the turn signal switch (1) is returned to neutral, even if it makes contact with the contact on the opposite side, the turn signal lamp (21, 22) When the flow time is delayed by a predetermined time and the turn signal switch (1) is closed for a shorter time than the predetermined time, no current flows through the turn signal lamps (21, 22). Direction indication can be reliably performed without blinking the signal lamp.

  Specifically, the signal control circuit (3) includes delay means including a capacitor (a delay circuit as a signal output control unit, a delay timer 5), and the delay circuit (1) is closed after the turn signal switch (1) is closed. 5) Until the capacitor is overloaded, current does not flow to the turn signal lamps (21, 22). If the capacitor is overloaded, current flows to the turn signal lamps (21, 22) and the capacitor is overloaded. If the turn signal switch (1) is opened before the operation, the charge accumulated in the capacitor is discharged, so that the direction can be surely given.

  Further, the turn signal device for an automobile of the present invention is a circuit for connecting the turn signal switch (1), the turn signal lamps (21, 22), and the turn signal switch (1) and the turn signal lamps (21, 22). A signal control circuit (3) interposed in the middle (L1 to L4), and an overcurrent protection control element (513) is provided on the circuit board (511) of the signal control circuit (3). Since the resistor (514) of the circuit board (511), which conventionally occupied the installation position alone, is provided in the same projection portion as the overcurrent protection control element (513), the conventional single installation location for resistance is not available. An effective space can be secured in the empty space in the circuit, and the elements constituting the delay means (5) can be mounted.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  In FIG. 1, an automotive turn signal device according to an embodiment of the present invention includes, for example, a turn signal switch 1 attached to a steering column (not shown), turn signal lamps 21 (for right turn), 22 (for left turn), and a signal. Control circuit 3, circuits L1 and L2 for connecting turn signal switch 1 and signal control circuit 3, and circuits L3 and L4 for connecting signal control circuit 3 and turn signal lamp 2 are provided.

  The turn signal switch 1 includes a switch lever 10 that swings around a rotation center 1p, and a contact 11 that contacts a contact portion 10c formed on the switch lever 10 when the switch lever 10 swings a predetermined angle from side to side. 12 and a return spring 13 provided in the vicinity of the rotation center 1p to always return the switch lever 10 to the neutral position.

The contact portion 10c of the switch lever 10 is electrically connected to the power source B by a line L0 via the rotation center 1p.
The contact 11 is connected to the lines L11 and L12 of the signal control circuit 3 to be described later by the line L1 and the contact 12 by the line L2.
Here, the contact 11 and the line L11 correspond to, for example, a right turn signal lamp 21 described later, and the contact 12 and the line L12 correspond to a left turn signal lamp 22 described later.

  The signal control circuit 3 determines the magnitude of the signal voltage and determines whether the signal should function as a switch and a delay circuit (delay circuit) that is a signal output control unit that delays the switch signal. A timer) 5 and a switch circuit (switching unit) 6.

The delay circuit 5 has two unit cases 51 and 52 so as to correspond to the left and right turn signal lamps 21 and 22.
FIG. 2 shows an internal cross section of, for example, the right unit case 51 in the left and right unit cases. The left unit case 52 has the same configuration.
In the unit case 51, a circuit including a capacitor is integrated on the circuit board 511, and a delay timer 512 (the left delay timer is 522) and a current when the heat generated by overcurrent exceeds a certain level An overcurrent protection control element 513 to be cut off is disposed, and a resistor 514 is disposed above the overcurrent protection control element 513 so as to cover the overcurrent protection control element 513.
That is, when FIG. 2 is viewed from above, the resistor 514 of the circuit board 511 is provided in the same projection portion as the overcurrent protection control element 513.

  The delay timer 512 (522 if left) of the signal output control unit 5 includes a capacitor (not shown) in a circuit constituting the delay timer, and the capacitor is overloaded after the turn signal switch 1 is closed. In the meantime, no current flows through the turn signal lamp 2 (21 on the right and 22 on the left), and if the capacitor is overloaded, the current flows to the turn signal lamp 2.

Here, the problem taken up as the prior art (To protect the substrate from heat generation due to a large current such as a lamp current, it is necessary to attach a heat sink to the element through which the current flows. (See FIG. 10) can be dealt with as follows.
That is, by installing the overcurrent protection control element 513 in the signal output control unit 5, the heat sink that has been necessary in the past is unnecessary, and the area where the heat sink is to be placed (overcurrent protection control element) is covered. By arranging the resistor 514 of the circuit, a delay timer 512 in which a circuit including a capacitor is integrated and formed into an element can be arranged at a place where the resistor is conventionally arranged (see FIG. 10).

Returning to FIG. 1, the switch circuit 6 includes a right-turn switch 7 and a left-turn switch 8.
The right-turn switch 7 includes a switch unit 71, an excitation unit 72, contacts 73 and 74, and a ground unit 75. The left-turn switch 8 includes a switch part 81, an excitation part 82, contacts 83 and 84, and a ground part 85.

The line L11 in the signal control circuit connected to the right turn line L1 passes through the voltage determination unit 4 and the right turn unit case 51 of the signal output control unit 5 to the excitation unit 72 of the right turn switch 7. It is connected.
The line L12 in the signal control circuit connected to the left turn line L2 passes through the voltage determination unit 4 and the left turn unit case 52 of the signal output control unit 5, and the excitation unit 82 of the switch 8 for left turn. It is connected to the.

  One contact 73 of the right turn switch 7 is connected to the power source B by a line L10 and a branch line L31, and one contact 83 of the left turn switch 8 is connected to the power source B by a line L10 and a branch line L41.

  The other contact 74 of the right turn switch 7 is connected to the turn signal lamp 21 for right turn by a line L3, and the other contact 84 of the switch 8 for left turn is connected to the turn signal lamp 22 for left turn by a line L4. .

FIG. 3 is a simplified block diagram of FIG. 1, for the sake of convenience, for example, only one of the front and rear turn signal lamps that are present at the front and rear of the vehicle is illustrated, but in FIG. 3, the front and rear are illustrated separately. That is, the suffix f at the end of the code in FIG. 3 indicates the front side, and the suffix r indicates the rear side. Further, reference numeral Le in FIG. 3 collectively indicates the grounding of the excitation portions 72 and 82 of the switches 7 and 8 in FIG.
Note that the overcurrent-capable fuse F interposed in the conventional power supply line can be eliminated by providing the overcurrent protection control element 513 in the delay circuit 5.

FIG. 4 is a control characteristic diagram showing the operation of the turn signal switch 1, the operation of the delay timer 512, and the operation of the turn signal lamp 2 over the same time.
According to this characteristic diagram, the operation when the turn signal device is operated will be described with reference to FIG. 1 and FIGS. 6 to 9 showing a series of operations of the turn signal switch.

First, the switch lever 10 is tilted to the right, and the contact portion 10c of the lever is brought into contact with the contact 11 for right turn (see FIGS. 1 and 6).
At this time, the S line, which is a characteristic line indicating the output signal of the turn signal switch 1, is the step of S1, and the characteristic (T line) of the delay timer 512 does not operate the timer function and maintains the state of T1. .
The turn signal lamp repeats blinking as indicated by the characteristic line P (lighting is part of P1, P3, extinction is part of P2, P4).

  Thereafter, the switch lever 10 is returned to the neutral position (in the state diagram of FIG. 7, the output signal characteristic S line is the step S2), but the reaction force of the return spring 13 (see FIG. 1) at the base of the switch lever 10 is too strong. The contact portion 10c of the lever 10 comes into contact with the contact point 12 on the left side (the state shown in FIG. 8, the output signal characteristic S line is step S3; an overrun state). The signal is sent as follows.

However, in the present embodiment, the signal for causing the left turn signal lamp to blink is the turn signal lamp by the delay function (step T2 of the T line) of the delay timer 522 for left turn (see FIG. 2) described above. Not sent to the side.
In detail, as described above, the time from when the contact portion 10c of the switch lever 10 contacts the contact 12 for left turn until the capacitor (not shown) of the delay circuit (delay timer) is overloaded (step T2) is turned. No current flows through the signal lamp 22.

  Thereafter, the switch lever 10 returns to the neutral position (the output signal characteristic S line is in step S4, the delay timer characteristic is in step T3, and therefore the turn signal lamp does not blink, and the state is in step P4).

After that, the car is going to turn left, and the switch lever 10 is tilted to the left as in FIG. Then, the output signal characteristic S line is switched to step S5.
The delay timer starts delaying at the same time as the step S5 (step T4). Therefore, the turn signal lamp 22 for left turn starts blinking (P5, P7) after the step T4 ends.

  According to the embodiment of the present invention having the above-described configuration, when the turn signal switch 1 is returned to the neutral position, even if it makes contact with the contact on the opposite side by mistake, the time for the current to flow through the turn signal lamps 21 and 22 is predetermined. If the turn signal switch 1 is delayed for a time and the time when the turn signal switch 1 is closed is shorter than the predetermined time, no current is supplied to the turn signal lamps 21 and 22, so that the direction of the turn signal lamp does not blink in the opposite direction. You can give instructions.

  That is, the signal control circuit 3 has a delay circuit (delay timer) 5 including a capacitor, and the turn signal lamp 21 is in a period from when the turn signal switch 1 is closed until a capacitor (not shown) of the delay circuit 5 is overloaded. , 22, if the capacitor is overloaded, current flows to the turn signal lamps 21, 22, and if the turn signal switch 1 is opened before the capacitor is overloaded, the charge accumulated in the capacitor is discharged. Since it is configured as described above, it is possible to instruct the direction with certainty.

  In addition, according to the turn signal device for an automobile of the embodiment of the present invention, the overcurrent protection control element 513 is provided on the circuit board 511 of the delay circuit 5 of the signal control circuit 3 and occupies the installation position by itself conventionally. (Refer to FIG. 10) Since the resistor 514 of the circuit board 511 is provided in the same projected portion as the overcurrent protection control element 513, the conventional single location for resistance is empty, and effective in the empty space in the circuit. Space can be secured, and the elements 512 constituting the delay circuit 5 can be mounted.

The embodiment of the present invention can be applied as shown in FIG.
That is, as shown in FIG. 11, as shown in FIG. 11, even when the fuse F is interposed in the power supply line Li to the electronic unit 50A to prevent overcurrent, as shown in FIG. If the overcurrent protection control element 55C is used as the control element provided in the above, the fuse F interposed in the power supply line Li to the electronic unit 50A can be eliminated.
Whatever the case, regardless of the presence or absence of the fuse F, even if an overcurrent flows into the internal circuit board 50B from the power supply line Li, if the heat generated by the overcurrent exceeds a certain level, the overcurrent protection element 55C cuts off the current. This is because the circuit board 50B is protected.

  It should be noted that the illustrated embodiment is merely an example, and is not a description of the purpose of limiting the technical scope of the present invention.

The block diagram which showed the whole structure of embodiment of this invention. Sectional drawing of the unit case which incorporated the delay means. The block diagram which simplified and showed FIG. The flowchart which showed the control method of 1st Embodiment of this invention. The simplified block diagram of the principal part at the time of applying embodiment of this invention other than a turn signal apparatus. A state diagram showing a series of operation states of the turn signal switch, and a state diagram when the switch lever is first tilted to the right. A state diagram showing a series of operating states of the turn signal switch, and a state diagram when the lever is returned to the neutral position by the reaction force of the return spring after the switch lever is tilted. In the state diagram showing a series of operation states of the turn signal switch, when the switch lever is tilted, the lever returns to the neutral position by the reaction force of the return spring, and when the lever is tilted to the position beyond the neutral position by inertia force State diagram. In the state diagram showing a series of operation states of the turn signal switch, tilt the switch lever, the lever returns to the neutral position by the reaction force of the return spring, and the lever tilts to the position beyond the neutral position by the inertial force, then A state diagram when the reverse spring acts on the return spring and the lever returns to the neutral position and stops. Sectional drawing explaining the example which has arrange | positioned the heat sink for cooling above the control element in the unit case of an electronic device in a prior art. Explanatory drawing explaining the reason which must interpose the fuse in the electric power supply line to an electronic device in a prior art.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Turn signal switch 3 ... Signal control circuit 4 ... Voltage determination part 5 ... Delay circuit 6 ... Switch circuit 7 ... Right switch 8 ... Left switch 10 ... Switch lever 11, 12 ... Contact 21 ... Right turn signal lamp 22 ... Left turn signal lamp 51,52 ... Unit case 71, 81 ... Switch part 72,82 ... Excitation 73, 74; 83, 84 ... contact 511 ... circuit board 512 ... delay timer 513 ... overcurrent protection control element 514 ... resistor B ... power supply L1-L4 ... ( Power) line

Claims (1)

  It has a turn signal switch (1) and left and right turn signal lamps (21, 22), and signals to circuits (L1 to L4) connecting the turn signal switch (1) and the turn signal lamps (21, 22). In the automotive turn signal device provided with the control circuit (3), the signal control circuit (3) includes a voltage determination unit (4) for determining the magnitude of the signal voltage and a delay circuit (5) for delaying the switch signal. ) And a switch circuit (6), and the delay circuit (5) has two system unit cases (51, 52) respectively corresponding to the left and right turn signal lamps (21, 22). Each of the unit cases (51, 52) has a delay timer (512, 522) in which a circuit including a capacitor is integrated on the circuit board (511, 521) and overcurrent protection. Control elements (513, 523) and resistors (514, 524) are arranged, and the delay timer (512, 522) is turned from the time when the turn signal switch (1) is closed until the capacitor is overloaded. If current does not flow to the signal lamp (21 or 22) and the capacitor is overloaded, current flows to the turn signal lamp (21 or 22) and the turn signal switch (1) is opened before the capacitor is overloaded. For example, the overcurrent protection control element (513, 523) and the resistor (514, 524) are provided on the same projection portion on the circuit board (511, 521). A turn signal device for automobiles.

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