JP4496137B2 - Vehicle steering system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicle steering apparatus.

  Conventionally, as a vehicle steering apparatus, a mechanical steering apparatus that mechanically changes the wheel angle based on rotation of the steering wheel and a by-wire steering apparatus that electrically changes the wheel angle are known. Yes. For example, as shown in Patent Document 1, a mechanical steering device includes a steering wheel operated by a driver, a steering shaft that rotates integrally with the steering wheel, and a gear mechanism that changes the angle of the wheel. . The rotational force of the steering wheel is transmitted to the gear mechanism via the steering shaft. The gear mechanism is configured to convert the rotational motion of the steering shaft into a linear motion, and is configured by, for example, a rack and a pinion. That is, the steering device changes the wheel angle by mechanically transmitting the turning operation force of the steering wheel to the wheel via the steering shaft and the gear mechanism.

  On the other hand, as shown in Patent Document 2, in the by-wire type steering device, the wheel and the steering wheel are separated so that mechanical power transmission is impossible, and the rotation angle of the steering shaft that rotates integrally with the steering wheel operated by the driver The (steering angle) is detected by a sensor, and the control device of the steering device electrically controls the wheel angle based on the detection result of the sensor.

In both of the above steering devices, it is necessary to equip the steering column with an anti-theft device such as a steering lock device in order to prevent theft. As such a steering lock device, a device that disables steering of the steering wheel by mechanically regulating the rotation of the steering shaft is known. Theft prevention is ensured by restricting (locking) the steering shaft by the steering lock device when the vehicle is parked.
JP 2004-291791 A JP 2000-344053 A

  However, in the anti-theft device (steering lock device) as described above, since an independent anti-theft device is provided in the steering device (to be precise, the steering shaft), the number of parts in the steering column tends to increase.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a vehicle steering apparatus that can simplify the configuration without impairing theft prevention.

  In order to solve the above problems, the invention according to claim 1 is a vehicle steering apparatus that mechanically or electrically changes a wheel angle based on rotation of a steering wheel, wherein the steering wheel includes: The steering wheel is movable between a normal driving position where the center point of the steering wheel and the rotation center of the steering wheel coincide with each other, and an eccentric position where the center point of the steering wheel and the rotation center of the steering wheel are different from each other, The gist of the invention is that a restricting means for restricting movement of the steering wheel from the eccentric position to the driving position is provided.

  The invention according to claim 2 is the vehicle steering apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the steering wheel is provided with a slide mechanism that allows sliding movement between the driving position and the eccentric position. .

The invention according to claim 3, in the vehicle steering device according to claim 2, wherein the slide mechanism transmits a motor having an output shaft for rotating movement, the driving force of the motor to the steering wheel Transmission means, and the slide mechanism includes control means capable of slidingly moving the steering wheel based on the driving force of the motor and controlling the driving of the motor based on a predetermined condition. The gist.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the vehicle steering apparatus according to the third aspect , the vehicle includes a predetermined indoor region provided in the vehicle interior and a predetermined vehicle outer region provided around the vehicle. The control means outputs request signals individually set for the indoor region and the vehicle exterior region, and based on a transmission signal responding to the request signal output by a portable device possessed by the driver. It is possible to identify whether the driver is in the indoor region or the vehicle outside region, and that the driver carrying the portable device has moved from the indoor region to the vehicle outside region as the predetermined condition, The gist is to slide the steering wheel from the driving position to the eccentric position by driving the motor.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the vehicle steering apparatus according to the fourth aspect , the control means determines that the driver carrying the portable device has entered the vehicle exterior region from the outside of the vehicle. The gist of the present invention is to slide the steering wheel from the eccentric position to the driving position by driving the motor.
According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the vehicle steering apparatus according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, a lock means for restricting the rotation of the steering wheel is provided at the eccentric position. The gist.

(Function)
According to the first aspect of the present invention, the steering wheel at the eccentric position rotates eccentrically. For this reason, normal steering cannot be performed at the eccentric position of the steering wheel. Further, the movement of the steering wheel from the eccentric position to the driving position is restricted by the restriction means. For this reason, for example, when the driver leaves the vehicle, the steering wheel is moved to the eccentric position and regulated to the eccentric position by the regulating means, thereby suppressing the driving operation of the vehicle by a third party and consequently theft. Can do. Therefore, the anti-theft can be provided without providing a complicated anti-theft device that mechanically restricts the rotation of the steering shaft within the steering column. For this reason, a structure can be simplified, without impairing antitheft property.

  According to the invention described in claim 2, in addition to the operation of the invention described in claim 1, the steering wheel can be slid between the driving position and the eccentric position based on the slide mechanism. For this reason, a steering wheel can be easily moved with a slide mechanism, and the convenience can be improved.

According to the invention described in claim 3 , in addition to the operation of the invention described in claim 2 , the steering wheel slides based on the driving force of the motor under a predetermined condition. For this reason, for example, the convenience can be improved as compared with the case where the driver himself manually slides the steering wheel.

According to the invention described in claim 4 , in addition to the operation of the invention described in claim 3 , on the condition that the driver carrying the portable device has moved from the indoor area to the vehicle outside area, the steering wheel is provided with the motor. Based on the drive, it slides from the operating position to the eccentric position. For this reason, when the driver goes out of the vehicle compartment, the steering wheel automatically moves from the driving position to the eccentric position. Therefore, convenience can be further improved.

According to the invention described in claim 5 , in addition to the operation of the invention described in claim 4 , the steering wheel is operated on the condition that the driver carrying the portable device enters the vehicle outside region from the outside of the vehicle. Based on the driving, the sliding movement from the eccentric position to the operating position. For this reason, when the driver approaches the vehicle and enters the outside region, the steering wheel automatically returns from the eccentric position to the driving position. Therefore, when the driver gets into the vehicle, it is easy to get on because the steering wheel has returned to the driving position. Therefore, convenience can be further improved.
According to the invention described in claim 6, in addition to the operation of the invention described in any one of claims 1 to 5, the steering wheel at the eccentric position is regulated by the locking means. . For this reason, normal steering cannot be performed at the eccentric position of the steering wheel. Accordingly, the anti-theft performance can be further improved.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the structure of the steering device for vehicles can be simplified, without impairing antitheft property.

  DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, an embodiment in which the present invention is embodied in a vehicle system including a by-wire vehicle steering device in which wheels and a steering wheel are separated so that mechanical power transmission is impossible will be described with reference to FIGS.

<Outline of vehicle system 1>
As shown in FIG. 1, the vehicle system 1 includes a vehicle 2 and a portable device 3 possessed by the owner (driver) of the vehicle 2. The portable device 3 can communicate with the vehicle 2 in a vehicle outer area A1 around the vehicle and an indoor area A2 in the vehicle interior. When the owner who has the portable device 3 enters the vehicle outside area A1, the portable device 3 receives the vehicle outside request signal output from the vehicle 2, and automatically transmits an ID code signal including a predetermined ID code. When the vehicle 2 receives the ID code signal, the vehicle 2 compares the ID code set in the vehicle 2 with the ID code signal included in the ID code signal (ID code verification). The vehicle 2 unlocks the door lock when the ID code collation with the portable device 3 in the vehicle outside area A1 is established. Further, the vehicle 2 locks the door lock when the driver carrying the portable device 3 moves out of the vehicle outside area A1 and the portable device 3 does not respond to the vehicle outside request signal.

  On the other hand, when the owner who has the portable device 3 enters the indoor area A2, the portable device 3 receives the indoor request signal output from the vehicle 2 and automatically transmits a transmission signal including a predetermined ID code. . When the vehicle 2 receives the transmission signal, the vehicle 2 compares the ID code set in the vehicle 2 with the ID code signal included in the transmission signal (ID code verification). The vehicle 2 is allowed to start the engine when the ID code collation with the portable device 3 in the indoor area A2 is established.

<Vehicle steering device 10>
As shown in FIG. 2, the vehicle 2 includes wheels 4, a door lock drive motor 5, an engine control unit 6, and a vehicle steering device 10. The vehicle steering apparatus 10 includes a steering wheel 11, a slide mechanism 21, a steering angle detection unit 41 as a steering angle detection means, a control device 51 as a control means, and a steering actuator 61.

  The steering wheel 11 includes an annular grip portion 12 held by a driver, an airbag accommodating portion 13 provided inside the grip portion 12, and a cylindrical rotation shaft 14 that rotates integrally with the grip portion 12. . The grip portion 12 is formed integrally with the airbag accommodating portion 13 via a plurality of spoke portions 15. The rotating shaft 14 is fixed to the center of the airbag accommodating portion 13 opposite to the operation seat 7 (see FIG. 1) side.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the slide mechanism 21 includes a box-shaped storage case 22. A cylindrical steering shaft 23 is integrally formed on the outer bottom surface of the housing case 22. That is, when the housing case 22 rotates, the steering shaft 23 rotates together with the housing case 22. Further, a slide hole 24 through which the rotary shaft 14 passes is formed on the outer upper surface of the housing case 22, and the slide hole 24 allows the rotary shaft 14 to slide. The slide hole 24 is formed in a long hole shape from the center of the outer upper surface of the housing case 22 toward the door of the vehicle 2 (the direction indicated by the arrow X in FIG. 2). In the housing case 22, a motor 25 and a gear mechanism 31 as a transmission means are provided. The motor 25 is electrically connected to a control device 51 to be described later, and is driven to rotate based on a first drive signal and a second drive signal input from the control device 51.

  The gear mechanism 31 includes an output shaft 32 of the motor 25, a pinion 33, and a rack 34. The output shaft 32 meshes with the pinion 33, and the pinion 33 meshes with the rack 34. The rack 34 is supported so as to be movable integrally with the rotary shaft 14. In the gear mechanism 31, the pinion 33 rotates based on the rotational drive of the motor 25, the rack 34 linearly moves based on the rotation of the pinion 33, and the rotating shaft 14 slides in the slide hole 24. That is, the gear mechanism 31 converts the rotational motion based on the rotational drive of the motor 25 into the slide movement (linear motion) of the rotary shaft 14 via the pinion 33 and the rack 34 (rack and pinion mechanism). The steering wheel 11 has a driving position indicated by a solid line in FIG. 3 where the center point of the steering wheel 11 coincides with the rotation center of the steering wheel 11, the center point of the steering wheel 11, and the rotation center of the steering wheel 11. Are movable between the eccentric positions indicated by the two-dot chain line in FIG. The eccentric position in the present embodiment is a position where the rotating shaft 14 of the steering wheel 11 has reached the door side end (sliding movement limit position) in the slide hole 24 of the housing case 22.

  When the first drive signal is input from the control device 51, the motor 25 rotates the output shaft 32 in the direction indicated by the arrow R in FIG. 3, and the rotation shaft 14 of the steering wheel 11 via the gear mechanism 31 in FIG. The sliding movement is performed from the operating position indicated by the solid line to the eccentric position indicated by the two-dot chain line in FIG. On the other hand, when the motor 25 receives the second drive signal from the control device 51, the output shaft 32 rotates in the direction indicated by the arrow L in FIG. 3, and the rotating shaft 14 of the steering wheel 11 is illustrated via the gear mechanism 31. 3 is slid from an eccentric position indicated by a two-dot chain line to an operating position indicated by a solid line in FIG. The gear mechanism 31 is provided with a detection sensor (not shown) that detects the operation position and the eccentric position of the steering wheel 11, and the detection sensor detects the rotation shaft 14 at the operation position and the eccentric position of the steering wheel 11. Detect each. When the detection sensor detects the rotation shaft 14 at the driving position of the steering wheel 11 or the rotation shaft 14 at the eccentric position, the detection sensor outputs a detection signal to the control device 51.

  The rotating shaft 14 is provided with a cylindrical engaging recess 14a, and an iron core of a solenoid 26 as a restricting unit is engaged with the engaging recess 14a. The solenoid 26 includes a first solenoid 26a and a second solenoid 26b, and can be turned on based on power supply from a control device 51 described later. The first solenoid 26a and the second solenoid 26b are supplied with electric power from the control device 51 and are turned on when the iron core is retracted. When the electric power supply from the control device 51 is interrupted and turned off, the iron core returns to the original position ( Project). The first solenoid 26 a is disposed at a position that engages with the engagement recess 14 a at the operating position of the steering wheel 11, and the second solenoid 26 b is engaged with the engagement recess 14 a at the eccentric position of the steering wheel 11. Arranged in position.

  The rudder angle detector 41 includes a box-shaped storage box 42, a rudder angle controller 43, and a magnetic sensor 44. The steering shaft 23 is fixedly supported on the storage box 42 so as to be rotatable relative to the storage box 42. A magnetic sensor 44 for detecting the rotation of the steering shaft 23 is disposed in the storage box 42 so as to face the outer peripheral surface of the steering shaft 23. A plurality of magnets (not shown) are arranged on the outer peripheral surface of the steering shaft 23 at equal intervals in the circumferential direction of the steering shaft 23, and the magnetic sensor 44 detects a change in the magnetic field of the magnet. The steering angle control unit 43 is electrically connected to the magnetic sensor 44 and a control device 51 to be described later, and outputs a detection signal to the control device 51 based on a signal input from the magnetic sensor 44. More specifically, the rudder angle control unit 43 detects a change in the magnetic field based on the rotation of the steering shaft 23 by the magnetic sensor 44 and calculates the rotation direction and the rotation amount of the steering shaft 23. The steering angle control unit 43 outputs a detection signal including information on the calculated rotation direction and rotation amount to the control device 51.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the control device 51 is electrically connected to the slide mechanism 21, the steering angle detection unit 41, the steering actuator 61, the door lock drive motor 5, the engine control unit 6, and the push switch SW. The control device 51 outputs a drive signal to the steering actuator 61 based on the detection signal input from the steering angle control unit 43. The steering actuator 61 changes the angle of the wheel 4 based on the drive signal input from the control device 51.

  The control device 51 includes a nonvolatile memory 51a, and a preset ID code is recorded in the memory 51a. The control device 51 is electrically connected to the vehicle exterior antenna 52 and the indoor antenna 53. The vehicle exterior antenna 52 outputs a vehicle exterior request signal to the vehicle exterior area A1 (see FIG. 1) around the vehicle, and receives an ID code signal from the portable device 3 in the vehicle exterior area A1. When the ID code signal transmitted from the portable device 3 in response to the outside request signal is received via the outside antenna 52, the control device 51 performs ID code verification. The control device 51 outputs an unlocking drive signal to the door lock driving motor 5 when the ID code collation with the portable device 3 in the vehicle outside area A1 is established. Further, the control device 51 outputs a locking drive signal to the door lock driving motor 5 when the driver carrying the portable device 3 moves outside the vehicle outside area A1 and the portable device 3 does not respond to the vehicle outside request signal. Then lock the door lock.

  On the other hand, the indoor antenna 53 outputs an indoor request signal to the indoor area A2 (see FIG. 1) in the vehicle room and receives a transmission signal from the portable device 3 in the indoor area A2. When the transmission signal transmitted from the portable device 3 in response to the indoor request signal is received via the indoor antenna 53, the control device 51 performs ID code verification. The control device 51 outputs an engine start permission signal to the engine control unit 6 when the ID code verification with the portable device 3 in the indoor area A2 (see FIG. 1) is established.

  When the engine is stopped, the control device 51 changes from a state in which a transmission signal is received from the portable device 3 in the indoor area A2 to a state in which the ID code signal is received from the portable device 3 in the outside area A1. Then, power is supplied to the first solenoid 26 a and a first drive signal is output to the slide mechanism 21. That is, the control device 51 turns on the first solenoid 26a, releases the iron core of the first solenoid 26a from the engagement recess 14a, and drives the motor 25. Then, the steering mechanism 11 slides from the driving position to the eccentric position by the slide mechanism 21.

  When the control device 51 changes from a state in which no signal is received from the corresponding portable device 3 to a state in which the ID code signal is received from the portable device 3 in the outside area A1, the control device 51 supplies power to the second solenoid 26b. In addition, a second drive signal is output to the slide mechanism 21. That is, the control device 51 turns on the second solenoid 26b, releases the iron core of the second solenoid 26b from the engaging recess 14a, and drives the motor 25. Then, the steering mechanism 11 slides from the eccentric position to the driving position by the slide mechanism 21.

  When the steering wheel 11 moves to the driving position and the detection signal from the detection sensor that detects the driving position is input, the control device 51 cuts off the electric power to the first solenoid 26a. The control device 51 turns off the first solenoid 26a to cause the iron core of the first solenoid 26a to protrude. In this state, the rotating shaft 14 is completely fixed to the slide mechanism 21 at the operating position of the steering wheel 11, and rotates integrally with the housing case 22 and the steering shaft 23 based on the rotating operation of the steering wheel 11. Note that the control device 51 can start the engine by pressing the push switch SW in a state where the engine start permission signal is input and the first solenoid 26a is engaged with the engagement recess 14a.

  When the steering wheel 11 moves to the eccentric position and a detection signal from the detection sensor that detects the eccentric position is input, the control device 51 cuts off the power to the second solenoid 26b. The control device 51 turns off the second solenoid 26b to cause the iron core of the second solenoid 26b to protrude. In this state, the rotating shaft 14 is completely fixed to the slide mechanism 21 at the eccentric position of the steering wheel 11.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the instrument panel 71 is provided with a stopper 72 as a locking means that comes into contact with the steering wheel 11 at an eccentric position of the steering wheel 11 and projects toward the operation seat 7. The stopper 72 is formed to be orthogonal to the outer surface of the instrument panel 71. An arc-shaped recess 73 is formed on the inner surface of the stopper 72, and the arc surface of the recess 73 is formed so as to coincide with the arc surface of the grip portion 12 of the steering wheel 11.

  As shown in FIG. 5 (a), at the driving position of the steering wheel 11, the center point of the steering wheel 11 (center of the rotation shaft 14) coincides with the rotation center of the steering wheel 11 (rotation center of the steering shaft 23). To do. As shown in FIG. 5B, the steering wheel 11 is in contact with the stopper 72 at the eccentric position of the steering wheel 11, and the center point of the steering wheel 11 does not coincide with the rotation center of the steering wheel 11. . For this reason, the rotation locus of the steering wheel 11 at the eccentric position becomes a rotation locus larger than the rotation locus at the driving position of the steering wheel 11, that is, a virtual rotation locus T indicated by a broken line in FIG. The stopper 72 is provided so as to block the virtual rotation trajectory T at the operating position of the steering wheel 11, and steering operation at the eccentric position becomes impossible.

(Operation of the embodiment)
Next, the operation of the vehicle system 1 will be described.
<Eccentric position → Driving position>
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, when the driver who has the corresponding portable device 3 enters the vehicle outside area A <b> 1 around the vehicle, the portable device 3 receives the vehicle exterior request signal transmitted from the vehicle exterior antenna 52. . Then, an ID code signal including a preset ID code is transmitted from the portable device 3 to the vehicle exterior antenna 52 of the control device 51. And the control apparatus 51 performs ID code collation with the ID code set to self and the ID code of the ID code signal from the portable device 3 in the vehicle exterior area A1. As a result, when the ID code verification is established, an unlocking drive signal is output from the control device 51 to the door lock driving motor 5. Then, the door lock is unlocked.

  The control device 51 outputs an unlock drive signal to the door lock drive motor 5 and supplies power to the second solenoid 26b. As a result, the second solenoid 26b is turned on and the iron core of the second solenoid 26b is retracted. The engagement of the engagement recess 14a of the rotating shaft 14 by the iron core of the second solenoid 26b is released. The control device 51 supplies power to the second solenoid 26 b and outputs a second drive signal to the motor 25. Then, the output shaft 32 of the motor 25 rotates in the direction indicated by the arrow L in FIG. 3, and the rotation shaft 14 of the steering wheel 11 slides in the direction indicated by the arrow Y in FIG. As a result, the steering wheel 11 slides gradually toward the driving position based on the drive of the motor 25. Then, the steering wheel 11 reaches a movement position where the center point of the steering wheel 11 and the rotation center of the steering wheel 11 coincide. As a result, the control device 51 receives a detection signal from a detection sensor that detects the driving position, cuts off the power to the first solenoid 26a, and turns off the first solenoid 26a. The core of the first solenoid 26a protrudes by this off operation. As a result, the iron core of the first solenoid 26 a is engaged with the engaging recess 14 a of the rotating shaft 14, and the rotating shaft 14 is fixed to the housing case 22. Then, at the driving position of the steering wheel 11, the driver can start the engine by pressing the push switch SW.

<Operating position → Eccentric position>
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, when the driver presses the push switch SW in the engine driving state, an engine stop signal is output from the control device 51 to the engine control unit 6 and the engine is stopped. In this state, when the driver carrying the portable device 3 moves from the indoor area A2 to the vehicle outside area A1, the control device 51 supplies power to the first solenoid 26a. As a result, the first solenoid 26a is turned on and the iron core of the first solenoid 26a is retracted. The engagement of the rotating shaft 14 with the engaging recess 14a by the iron core of the first solenoid 26a is released. The control device 51 supplies power to the first solenoid 26 a and outputs a first drive signal to the motor 25. Then, the output shaft 32 of the motor 25 rotates in the direction indicated by the arrow R in FIG. 3, and the rotation shaft 14 of the steering wheel 11 slides in the direction indicated by the arrow X in FIG. As a result, the steering wheel 11 gradually slides toward the stopper 72 based on the drive of the motor 25. When the steering wheel 11 reaches an eccentric position where it abuts against the stopper 72, the driving of the motor 25 is stopped. As a result, the control device 51 receives a detection signal from the detection sensor that detects the eccentric position, cuts off the power to the second solenoid 26b, and turns off the second solenoid 26b. The iron core protrudes from the second solenoid 26b by this off operation. As a result, the iron core of the second solenoid 26b is engaged with the engaging recess 14a of the rotating shaft 14, the rotating shaft 14 is fixed to the housing case 22, and the movement from the eccentric position to the operating position is restricted. Further, at the eccentric position of the steering wheel 11, the rotation operation of the steering wheel 11 is restricted by the stopper 72.

(Effect of embodiment)
Therefore, according to the vehicle steering apparatus 10 of the above embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.

  (1) The steering wheel 11 at the driving position can be operated normally. On the other hand, the steering wheel 11 at the eccentric position rotates around the steering shaft 23. For this reason, normal steering cannot be performed at the eccentric position of the steering wheel 11. Further, the movement of the steering wheel 11 from the eccentric position to the driving position is restricted by the second solenoid 26b. For this reason, when the driver leaves the vehicle 2, for example, the steering wheel 11 is moved to the eccentric position and is regulated to the eccentric position by the second solenoid 26b. Theft can be suppressed. Therefore, the anti-theft can be provided without providing a complicated anti-theft device that mechanically restricts the rotation of the steering shaft within the steering column. For this reason, a structure can be simplified, without impairing antitheft property.

  (2) The steering wheel 11 can be moved by the sliding movement based on the slide mechanism 21 between the operation position of the steering wheel 11 and the eccentric position. That is, the steering wheel 11 slides along the slide hole 24 provided in the housing case 22 of the slide mechanism 21. Therefore, it is possible to easily move only between the driving position and the eccentric position of the steering wheel 11, and the convenience can be improved.

  (3) Steering steering at the eccentric position of the steering wheel 11 is blocked by the stopper 72 provided integrally with the instrument panel 71. That is, since the rotation locus of the steering wheel 11 at the driving position is different from the virtual rotation locus T of the steering wheel 11 at the eccentric position, the steering wheel 11 cannot be rotated by the stopper 72 at the eccentric position. Further, the state of the steering wheel 11 viewed from the outside of the vehicle 2 can be recognized by, for example, a third party that steering steering is visually impossible. For this reason, the anti-theft property can be further improved.

  (4) The steering wheel 11 moves from the driving position to the eccentric position based on the drive of the motor 25 on condition that the driver carrying the portable device 3 has moved from the indoor area A2 to the vehicle outside area A1. For this reason, when the driver goes out of the vehicle compartment, the steering wheel 11 automatically moves to the eccentric position. Therefore, convenience can be improved.

  (5) The steering wheel 11 rotates from the eccentric position to the driving position based on the driving of the motor 25 on condition that the driver carrying the portable device 3 enters the vehicle outside area A1 from the outside of the vehicle 2. For this reason, when the driver approaches the vehicle 2 and enters the vehicle outside area A1, the steering wheel 11 automatically returns to the driving position. Therefore, when the driver gets into the vehicle 2, it is easy to get on because the steering wheel 11 has returned to the driving position. Therefore, convenience can be further improved.

(Another embodiment)
In addition, you may change the said embodiment as follows.
In the above embodiment, as the predetermined condition for sliding the steering wheel 11 from the driving position to the eccentric position, the predetermined condition is that the driver carrying the portable device 3 has moved from the indoor area A2 to the vehicle outside area A1. However, it may be as follows. That is, a seat switch 8 that is turned on when the driver is seated on the driver's seat 7 is provided in the driver's seat 7, and that the driver leaves the driver's seat 7 and the seat switch 8 is turned off as the predetermined condition. Also good. Further, the predetermined condition may be that the driver releases the seat belt.

  In the above embodiment, as the predetermined condition for sliding the steering wheel 11 from the eccentric position to the driving position, the predetermined condition is that the driver carrying the portable device 3 has entered the vehicle outside area A1 from the outside of the vehicle 2 However, it may be as follows. That is, the predetermined condition may be that the driver is seated on the driving seat 7 and the seat switch 8 is turned on. The predetermined condition may be that the driver wears a seat belt. The predetermined condition may be that a human detection sensor that detects a driver seated on a driving seat detects the driver. In addition, the predetermined condition may be that the driver enters the vehicle outside area A1 from the outside of the vehicle 2 and operates the door knob. In each of the above-described modification modes, the control device 51 supplies power to the solenoid 26 to turn it on to release the solenoid 26 from the engagement recess 14a before driving the motor 25.

  -You may provide the stopper 72 in the said embodiment other than the limit position (Eccentric position of the steering wheel 11 in the said embodiment) of a slide movement. That is, the stopper 72 may be disposed at a position where the virtual rotation trajectory T of the steering wheel 11 is blocked. Even in such a configuration, the effects (1) and (3) can be obtained.

The stopper 72 may be arranged so that the housing case 22 of the slide mechanism 21 cannot be rotated at the eccentric position of the steering wheel 11.
-You may use for the mechanical steering apparatus which transmits rotation of the steering wheel 11 to the wheel 4 mechanically. That is, the mechanical steering device includes a steering wheel 11 operated by a driver, a steering shaft that rotates integrally with the steering wheel 11, and a coupling mechanism that changes the angle of the wheel 4. The rotational force of the steering wheel 11 is transmitted to the coupling mechanism via the steering shaft. The coupling mechanism converts the rotational motion of the steering shaft into linear motion. That is, this mechanical steering device changes the angle of the wheel 4 by mechanically transmitting the turning operation of the steering wheel 11 to the wheel via the steering shaft and the coupling mechanism. That is, by moving the steering wheel 11 relative to the steering shaft, the steering wheel 11 can be moved to the eccentric position. When used in such a mechanical steering device, the slide mechanism 21 is disposed between the steering wheel 11 and the steering shaft.

  The steering wheel 11 in the above embodiment is slid in the right direction indicated by the arrow X in FIG. 5 in the vehicle 2 based on the slide mechanism 21, but may be slid in the vertical direction and the left direction. . For example, when the steering wheel 11 is slid upward, lock means for restricting the eccentric position is provided on the ceiling of the vehicle 2.

  In the above embodiment, the second solenoid 26b is used as the restricting means, but it may be as follows. For example, you may provide the control means which protrudes with respect to the inner side of the grip part 12 of the steering wheel 11 in an eccentric position. By doing so, the return of the steering wheel 11 to the operating position can be prevented, and a third party can only rotate the steering wheel 11 eccentrically, and the anti-theft performance can be ensured.

The arrangement position of the stopper 72 is not limited to the instrument panel 71. For example, you may arrange | position inside a door.
The sliding movement of the steering wheel 11 may be performed manually. For example, as shown in FIG. 6, a guide portion 11 a having a T-shaped cross section is provided on the back side of the steering wheel 11. A rail member 21a as a slide mechanism capable of slidingly moving the guide portion 11a is provided so as to be integrally rotatable with the steering shaft 23. A notch 21b is formed in the rail member 21a, and the guide portion 11a is slidable along the notch 21b. By doing so, the steering wheel 11 can be easily slid relative to the steering shaft 23 manually via the guide portion 11a. Further, a third solenoid 26c as a restricting means is disposed on the side surface of the rail member 21a on the side of the steering shaft 23. The third solenoid 26c engages with a cylindrical engagement recess (not shown) formed on the outer bottom surface of the guide portion 11a at the eccentric position of the steering wheel 11 of the present invention. In such a configuration, the motor 25 and the gear mechanism 31 of the slide mechanism 21 can be omitted, and the mechanism of the vehicle steering device 10 can be simplified. Alternatively, the rail member 21 a may be provided on the steering wheel 11 and the guide portion 11 a may be provided on the steering shaft 23. Moreover, you may provide the rotating shaft 14 between the steering wheel 11 and the guide part 11a. Even in such a configuration, the mechanism of the vehicle steering device 10 can be simplified.

  The slide mechanism 21 is not limited to a rack and pinion mechanism. For example, you may make it convert the rotational motion of the motor 25 into a linear motion using a worm gear.

The top view which shows the vehicle in the vehicle system of this embodiment schematically. The block diagram which shows the electric constitution of the vehicle system in this embodiment. Schematic which shows the slide mechanism of this embodiment. The perspective view which shows the driver's seat periphery of this embodiment. (A) is a top view which shows the driving | running position of a steering wheel, (b) is a top view which shows the eccentric position of a steering wheel. The perspective view which shows the slide mechanism of another example.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 2 ... Vehicle, 3 ... Portable machine, 4 ... Wheel, 10 ... Vehicle steering apparatus, 11 ... Steering wheel, 14 ... Rotating shaft, 14a ... Engaging recess, 21 ... Slide mechanism, 23 ... Steering shaft, 25 ... Motor, 26b ... second solenoid (regulating means), 26c ... third solenoid (regulating means), 31 ... gear mechanism (transmitting means), 32 ... output shaft, 51 ... control device (control means), 72 ... stopper (locking means) , A1 ... vehicle outside area, A2 ... indoor area, T ... virtual rotation locus.

Claims (6)

A vehicle steering device that mechanically or electrically changes a wheel angle based on rotation of a steering wheel,
The steering wheel is
A normal driving position where the center point of the steering wheel coincides with the center of rotation of the steering wheel;
The center point of the steering wheel and the rotation center of the steering wheel are movable between different eccentric positions,
A steering apparatus for a vehicle, comprising a restricting means for restricting movement of the steering wheel from the eccentric position to the driving position. The vehicle steering apparatus according to claim 1,
A vehicle steering apparatus comprising a slide mechanism that allows the steering wheel to slide between the driving position and the eccentric position. The vehicle steering apparatus according to claim 2 ,
The slide mechanism includes a motor having an output shaft that performs a rotational motion;
Transmission means for transmitting the driving force of the motor to the steering wheel,
The slide mechanism is capable of sliding the steering wheel based on the driving force of the motor,
A vehicle steering apparatus comprising control means for controlling driving of the motor based on a predetermined condition. The vehicle steering apparatus according to claim 3 ,
In the vehicle, a predetermined indoor area provided in the vehicle interior and a predetermined outside area provided around the vehicle are set,
The control means outputs request signals individually set to the indoor area and the vehicle outside area, and the driver is based on a transmission signal in response to the request signal output by a portable device possessed by the driver. Whether the vehicle is in the indoor region or the vehicle outside region can be identified, and the motor is driven on the predetermined condition that the driver carrying the portable device has moved from the indoor region to the vehicle outside region. Accordingly, the vehicle steering apparatus is configured to slide the steering wheel from the driving position to the eccentric position. The vehicle steering device according to claim 4 ,
The control means drives the motor from the eccentric position to the driving position by driving the motor, based on the predetermined condition that the driver carrying the portable device has entered the vehicle outside area from the outside of the vehicle. A vehicle steering apparatus characterized by sliding. In the vehicle steering device according to any one of claims 1 to 5 ,
A vehicular steering apparatus comprising a lock means for restricting rotation of the steering wheel at the eccentric position.

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