JP5012307B2 - Grip type handle grip detection mechanism - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a grip detection mechanism for a grip handle, and more particularly to a mechanism for detecting whether or not a grip handle of a vehicle is normally gripped.

  Some industrial vehicles and the like are equipped with a function that enables a desired driving operation only when the driver detects that the driver is in a normal driving operation position with a sensor or the like in consideration of safety. As described above, as one method for confirming that the driver is in the normal driving operation position, a sensor or the like is attached to the grip type handle provided in the vehicle so that the driver normally holds the grip type handle. It is known to detect this.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 5, the photoelectric sensor 2 is attached to the vehicle body 1, and light is emitted substantially parallel to the grip portion 4 of the grip type handle 3. When the driver normally grips the grip portion 4 of the grip-type handle 3, light emitted from the photoelectric sensor 2 is reflected by the driver's hand, and the reflected light is detected by the photoelectric sensor 2, whereby the grip-type handle. It can be detected that 3 is normally gripped.

However, since the photoelectric sensor 2 detects the presence of the object by detecting the reflected light reflected by the object, the detection sensitivity may vary depending on the reflectance of the object. Therefore, even if the detection distance of the photoelectric sensor 2 is set to the distance from the photoelectric sensor 2 to the end of the grip handle 3 opposite to the vehicle body 1, the light emitted by the photoelectric sensor 2 is shown in FIG. As indicated by a chain line arrow, the reflected light is reflected by a highly reflective wall W or the like farther away from the grip handle 3, and the reflected light is detected by the photoelectric sensor 2, so that the grip handle 3 is normally gripped. May be falsely detected.
On the other hand, when the detection distance of the photoelectric sensor 2 is set short, the grip type is used when the grip portion 4 is gripped by a hand wearing a gloves or when the gripped position is slightly shifted. If the handle 3 is normally held, it may not be detected.

  Further, for example, in Patent Document 1, light is emitted from the photoelectric sensor embedded in the grip portion of the grip type handle toward the outside of the grip type handle, and is emitted by the photoelectric sensor when the driver normally grips the grip portion. A mechanism is disclosed in which light is reflected by a driver's hand and the reflected light is detected by a photoelectric sensor, thereby detecting that the grip handle is normally gripped.

Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 62-144182

However, even in the grip detection mechanism disclosed in Patent Document 1, when the grip handle is not gripped, the light from the photoelectric sensor is a foreign object having a high reflectance that is farther than the set detection distance. There is a possibility that erroneous detection may occur due to reflection and detection of the reflected light by the photoelectric sensor.
The present invention has been made to solve such problems, and provides a grip detection mechanism for a grip handle that can accurately and reliably detect that the grip handle is normally gripped. For the purpose.

  The grip detection mechanism for a grip type handle according to the present invention is disposed on one end side in the length direction of the grip type handle provided in the vehicle, and is substantially parallel to the grip type handle and in the vicinity of the outer periphery of the grip type handle. A photoelectric sensor that detects that the grip handle is normally gripped by emitting light passing through and detecting the reflected light, and is opposed to the photoelectric sensor on the other end side in the length direction of the grip handle. And a blocking unit that blocks the light emitted by the photoelectric sensor and reflects the light in a direction different from that of the photoelectric sensor, thereby preventing the reflected light from returning to the photoelectric sensor. The detection distance is set to a length longer than the distance from the photoelectric sensor to the blocking part, and when the grip handle is normally gripped, the light emitted by the photoelectric sensor Reflected by the hand holding the grip handle and detected by the photoelectric sensor, and when the grip handle is not properly held, the light emitted by the photoelectric sensor reaches the blocking part and It is not detected by the photoelectric sensor by being reflected in different directions.

One end of the grip handle can be connected to the vehicle body, and the blocking portion can be formed from a grip end disposed at the other end of the grip handle.
Moreover, it is preferable that the detection distance of a photoelectric sensor is set to the maximum value which has a length larger than the distance from a photoelectric sensor to a interruption | blocking part.

The photoelectric sensor can be arranged to emit light that passes slightly above the grip handle.
In addition, the grip detection mechanism according to the present invention may be disposed for a pair of grip type handles provided on both sides of the vehicle body.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to accurately and reliably detect that the grip type handle is normally gripped.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.
1 and 2 show a grip detection mechanism for a grip handle according to an embodiment of the present invention. One end in the length direction of a grip type handle 12 having a substantially cylindrical grip 11 is connected to a vehicle body 1 such as an industrial vehicle, and the grip type handle 12 is disposed so as to extend in the horizontal direction. Yes. The photoelectric sensor 2 is attached to the vehicle body 1 so as to be positioned in the vicinity of one end of the grip type handle 12. The photoelectric sensor 2 includes a projector and a light receiver, and includes a diffuse reflection type photoelectric sensor that detects the presence of an object by emitting light L in the infrared region from the projector and detecting the reflected light with the light receiver. The projector of the photoelectric sensor 2 is arranged to emit light L that passes slightly above the grip 11 of the grip handle 12 in a direction substantially parallel to the grip handle 12 from the light emitting portion 2a. A grip end 13 is disposed at the other end in the length direction of the grip handle 12 so as to be adjacent to the grip portion 11.

  The grip end 13 has a portion protruding upward from the grip portion 11 of the grip handle 12, and the protruding portion is a flat surface disposed so as to face the light emitting portion 2 a of the photoelectric sensor 2. An inclined surface 14 is formed. The inclined surface 14 blocks the light L emitted from the light emitting portion 2 a of the photoelectric sensor 2 and reflects the light L almost upward, that is, in a direction different from the photoelectric sensor 2. It is inclined.

  Here, the detection sensitivity of the photoelectric sensor 2 is set to the maximum by a sensitivity volume (not shown), so that the detection distance of the photoelectric sensor 2 is longer than the distance from the photoelectric sensor 2 to the inclined surface 14 of the grip end 13. Is set to a maximum value having Further, the light L emitted from the light emitting portion 2a of the photoelectric sensor 2 has a predetermined spreading angle R, but the inclined surface 14 of the grip end 13 spreads from the light emitting portion 2a of the photoelectric sensor 2. It is formed in a size and shape that can block all of the light L at an angle R.

In addition, it is preferable to form the grip end 13 from a resin or the like having a low reflectance so as to suppress the progress of the reflected light reflected by the inclined surface 14 of the grip end 13. A sheet member made of resin or the like may be disposed only on the surface of the inclined surface 14.
The photoelectric sensor 2 and the grip end 13 constitute a grip detection mechanism for the grip type handle according to the present invention. This grip detection mechanism can be disposed on one grip-type handle 12 of an industrial vehicle such as a towing vehicle C as shown in FIG.

  Next, the operation of the grip detection mechanism for the grip handle according to this embodiment will be described. As shown in FIG. 4, when the driver normally holds the grip portion 11 of the grip handle 12, the light emitted from the light emitting portion 2 a of the photoelectric sensor 2 is directed toward the photoelectric sensor 2 by the driver's hand H. By being reflected, this reflected light is detected by a light receiver (not shown) of the photoelectric sensor 2, thereby detecting that the grip type handle 12 is normally held.

In addition, the detection sensitivity of the photoelectric sensor 2 is maximum, and the detection distance of the photoelectric sensor 2 is set to the maximum value having a length larger than the distance from the photoelectric sensor 2 to the inclined surface 14 of the grip end 13. For example, when the gripping part 11 is gripped by a hand wearing a work gloves made of a material having a low reflectance, or when the gripping part 11 is gripped by a hand wearing a dirty work gloves or collar work gloves, the gripping part 11 Even when the gripping position is slightly shifted from the normal position due to, for example, operating a flasher switch (not shown) provided on the vehicle body 1 while holding the grip, When the light reflected by the work gloves is detected by the photoelectric sensor 2, it is detected that the grip handle 12 is normally held.
Therefore, it is possible to reliably detect that the grip-type handle 12 is normally gripped without causing a difference in reaction of the photoelectric sensor 2 due to the presence or absence of a military hand and a slight shift in the gripping position of the hand.

  On the other hand, when the grip portion 11 of the grip handle 12 is not gripped, all of the light L emitted from the light emitting portion 2a of the photoelectric sensor 2 is as shown in FIG. Slightly passes above and reaches the inclined surface 14 of the grip end 13 and is blocked by the inclined surface 14 and reflected almost upward, that is, in a direction different from the photoelectric sensor 2. Therefore, the reflected light is prevented from being detected by a light receiver (not shown) of the photoelectric sensor 2, thereby detecting that the grip type handle 12 is not gripped.

  In addition, since the light L emitted from the light emitting portion 2a of the photoelectric sensor 2 is blocked by the inclined surface 14 of the grip end 13 and travels further forward, it is higher in the reflector than the grip end 13 Even if there is an object such as a wall having, the light L from the light emitting portion 2a of the photoelectric sensor 2 is prevented from reaching this object. Therefore, the light L emitted from the light emitting portion 2a of the photoelectric sensor 2 is reflected by an object located farther than the grip end 13, and the reflected light returns to the photoelectric sensor 2, whereby the grip handle 12 is normally gripped. It is prevented that a false detection occurs.

Therefore, for example, even when the driver puts his / her hand on the outside of the grip end 13 of the grip type handle 12, it is possible to prevent erroneous detection that the grip type handle 12 is normally held.
Further, the photoelectric sensor 2 is arranged so that light L passing slightly above the grip 11 of the grip handle 12 is emitted in a direction substantially parallel to the grip handle 12 from the light emitting portion 2a. The grip-type handle 12 is normally gripped even when a finger is attached without firmly gripping the grip portion 11 of the mold handle 12 or when the grip portion 11 of the grip-type handle 12 is gripped with a reverse hand. Is prevented from being erroneously detected.

As described above, it is possible to accurately and reliably detect that the grip type handle 12 is normally gripped.
In addition, in the existing grip type handle, the grip type handle is normally gripped by attaching the photoelectric sensor to the vehicle body and providing the grip type handle with a grip end having an inclined surface facing the light emitting portion of the photoelectric sensor. It can be detected accurately and reliably.

  In the above-described embodiment, the detection sensitivity of the photoelectric sensor 2 is not necessarily set to the maximum, and the detection distance of the photoelectric sensor 2 is longer than the distance from the photoelectric sensor 2 to the inclined surface 14 of the grip end 13. However, if the detection sensitivity of the photoelectric sensor 2 is set to the maximum as described above, there is no need to adjust the detection sensitivity, and the presence or absence of a military hand and a slight shift in the gripping position of the hand, etc. This is preferable because normal gripping of the grip-type handle 12 can be reliably detected without causing a difference in reaction of the photoelectric sensor 2 due to the above.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the inclined surface 14 of the grip end 13 can be formed to have a curved surface shape instead of being flat, and irregularities or the like can be formed on the inclined surface 14 or a photoelectric sensor. You may arrange | position the diffusion member which can diffuse the light from 2. FIG.
In addition, the grip end 13 may be manufactured as a separate component from the grip handle 12 and fixed to the end of the grip handle 12 opposite to the vehicle body 1 adjacent to the grip portion 11. The mold handle 12 may be integrally formed with the grip portion 11.

In the above-described embodiment, the grip detection mechanism is provided only for one grip type handle 12 provided in the vehicle. However, the grip detection mechanism is provided for both the pair of left and right grip type handles provided in the vehicle. The grip detection mechanism of the invention can also be provided. In this way, it is possible to accurately and reliably detect that both grip handles are gripped normally.
In addition, only when the photoelectric sensor 2 detects that the grip-type handle 12 is normally gripped, a control device for controlling the driving of the vehicle enables a desired driving operation according to the driver's operation. By configuring as described above, the safety of the vehicle can be improved.

Instead of the photoelectric sensor 2 using the light L in the infrared region, a photoelectric sensor that emits light in a wavelength region different from that of the infrared light and detects an object by the reflected light can be used.
Moreover, the grip type | mold arrange | positioned not only to the grip type | mold handle 12 arrange | positioned so that it may extend in a horizontal direction like the above-mentioned embodiment but to extend diagonally or vertically with respect to a horizontal direction. The grip detection mechanism of the present invention can also be applied to the handle.
Furthermore, the grip detection mechanism of the present invention is not limited to the grip type handle of an industrial vehicle, but may be applied to a grip type handle of a general vehicle such as a motorcycle.

It is a side view which shows the structure of the grip-type handle | vicinity vicinity by which the holding | grip detection mechanism based on embodiment of this invention was arrange | positioned. It is a top view which shows the structure of the grip type | mold handle vicinity by which the holding | grip detection mechanism which concerns on embodiment was arrange | positioned. It is a figure which shows the tow vehicle which has a grip type handle | steering_wheel with which the holding | grip detection mechanism which concerns on embodiment was arrange | positioned. It is a figure which shows a mode that the grip type handle | steering-wheel of FIG. 1 was hold | gripped normally. It is a side view which shows the structure of the grip type handle | steering_wheel vicinity in which the conventional holding | grip detection mechanism was arrange | positioned.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Car body, 2 photoelectric sensor, 2a Light emission part, 11 Grip part, 12 Grip-type handle, 13 Grip end, 14 Inclined surface, C Towing vehicle, H hand, L light, R Spreading angle.

Claims (5)

Located on one end of the grip-type handle provided in the vehicle in the longitudinal direction, it emits light that passes through the vicinity of the outer periphery of the grip-type handle substantially parallel to the grip-type handle and detects its reflected light A photoelectric sensor for detecting that the grip-type handle is normally gripped by
It is arranged on the other end side in the length direction of the grip type handle so as to face the photoelectric sensor, and blocks light emitted from the photoelectric sensor and reflects the light in a direction different from that of the photoelectric sensor. A blocking portion for preventing the reflected light from returning to the photoelectric sensor, and the detection distance of the photoelectric sensor is set to a length equal to or longer than the distance from the photoelectric sensor to the blocking portion, and the grip handle Is normally gripped, the light emitted from the photoelectric sensor is reflected by the hand gripping the grip handle and detected by the photoelectric sensor, and the grip handle is not gripped normally. When the light emitted from the photoelectric sensor reaches the blocking portion and is reflected in a direction different from the photoelectric sensor, it is not detected by the photoelectric sensor. A grip detection mechanism for a grip-type handle.   The grip detection mechanism for a grip type handle according to claim 1, wherein one end portion of the grip type handle is connected to a vehicle body, and the blocking portion is formed of a grip end disposed at the other end portion of the grip type handle.   The grip detection mechanism for a grip-type handle according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a detection distance of the photoelectric sensor is set to a maximum value having a length larger than a distance from the photoelectric sensor to the blocking portion.   The grip detection mechanism of the grip type handle according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the photoelectric sensor is arranged to emit light that passes slightly above the grip type handle.   The grip detection mechanism of the grip type handle according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the grip type handle is provided for each of the pair of grip type handles provided on both sides of the vehicle body.

Images