JP5347136B2 - Information transmission steering device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a steering device transmitting information to an operator through the tactile sense. <P>SOLUTION: The information transmission steering device includes a plurality of electrodes provided on a steering wheel, an output unit for applying the voltage between any electrodes of the plurality of electrodes, and an electrode changing unit for changing the electrodes to which the voltage is applied, and transmits information to an operator through the current stimulation. The electrode changing unit preferably changes the position of the voltage-applied electrodes successively in the predetermined direction according to the information to be transmitted to the operator such as the direction for operating the steering. Further, the voltage-applied electrodes may be preferably changed between the electrodes touched by the operator by detecting the electrodes touched by the operator from the change in the impedance between the electrodes. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&amp;INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an information transmission steering apparatus capable of transmitting information to a user by touch.

  Conventionally, when information is transmitted to a driver in a vehicle, visual information such as images and warnings, and auditory information such as sound and buzzer are used. However, when visual information or auditory information is used, when the driver is conscious of driving operation or the like, such information may be overlooked or missed.

  In consideration of such points, a technique for transmitting information by tactile sensation has been proposed. In Patent Documents 1 and 2, a vibrator is provided on the handle, and in Patent Document 3, a vibrator is provided on the seating surface of the seat. In either method, information is transmitted to the driver by vibrating the vibrator.

  This kind of tactile information transmission can be surely transmitted even when vision and hearing are used for other purposes, or it can be discomforted to passengers because it can be transmitted only to the driver. There is an advantage in that it is not given.

JP 2006-199094 A JP 2004-182007 A JP 2006-11840 A

  Considering the current situation where most of the information recognized by the driver is visual information or auditory information, information transmission technology using tactile sensation is very useful.

  The present invention has been made from such a viewpoint, and an object thereof is to provide a steering apparatus having a novel configuration capable of transmitting information to an operator through a tactile sense.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention transmits information by applying a current stimulus to an operator via an electrode provided on a steering wheel.

More specifically, the present invention is an information transmission steering device that transmits information to an operator by current stimulation,
A plurality of electrodes provided on the steering wheel;
An output unit for applying a voltage between any of the plurality of electrodes;
An electrode switching unit that switches an electrode to which a voltage is applied;
Is an information steering apparatus.

Since the steering wheel is touched by the operator's hand, the electrode provided there and the operator's hand are in reliable contact. By applying a voltage between the electrodes, a current is passed to the operator's hand to give a stimulus, and information can be transmitted to the operator in a tactile manner. Here, the position where the current flows, that is, the position of the electrode to which the voltage is applied is switched by the electrode switching unit, so that the position where the operator feels the current stimulus can be moved, and different information is transmitted by changing the pattern Is possible.

  It is preferable that the electrode switching unit in the present invention sequentially switches the position of the electrode to which the voltage is applied in a predetermined direction according to information transmitted to the operator. For example, when the direction in which the steering is to be operated is transmitted to the operator, it is preferable to switch the electrode for applying a voltage in the same direction as that direction.

  By switching the electrodes to which the voltage is applied in this way, information such as which direction the steering should be operated can be transmitted to the operator.

  The information transmission steering apparatus according to the present invention further includes a gripping position detection unit that detects impedance between a plurality of electrodes and detects a position where the operator is gripping the steering wheel, and the electrode switching unit is the operator. It is preferable to switch the electrode to which the voltage is applied between the electrodes held by the.

  By detecting the electrode gripped by the operator in this way, it is possible to avoid applying a voltage to the electrode that cannot give a current stimulus to the operator. Further, when information is transmitted to the operator, a current stimulus can be given quickly.

  In addition, the electrode switching unit according to the present invention is configured so that one electrode of the electrode pair to which a voltage is applied is fixed between the electrodes held by the operator, and the other electrode is brought closer to the one electrode. It is preferable to switch. In this case, it is particularly preferable to switch the electrodes so that the change in the interelectrode distance gradually decreases.

  By giving such a stimulation current, the operator can more intuitively understand the information that the steering should be operated in either direction.

  The present invention can be understood as an information transmission steering device having at least a part of the above means. The present invention can also be understood as an information transmission method including at least a part of the above processing or a program for realizing the method. Each of the above means and processes can be combined with each other as much as possible to constitute the present invention.

  According to the present invention, information can be transmitted to an operator through a tactile sense.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an external appearance of an information transmission steering apparatus according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating functional blocks of the information transmission steering apparatus according to the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a stimulation current using a pulse current. FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining an example of a method for applying a stimulation current in the first embodiment. FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining another example of the stimulation current application method according to the first embodiment. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing functional blocks of the information transmission steering apparatus according to the second to fourth embodiments. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a method for applying a stimulation current according to the second embodiment. FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of a method for applying a stimulation current according to the second embodiment. FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining an example of a method of applying a stimulation current in the third embodiment. FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining the arrangement of electrodes in the fourth embodiment. FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining an example of the structure of an electrode in the fourth embodiment. FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating an example of a method for applying a stimulation current according to the fourth embodiment.

  Exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an external appearance of an information transmission steering apparatus according to the present embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a diagram showing functional blocks thereof. On the surface of the steering wheel of the information transmission steering device 1, a plurality of electrodes 2 are arranged side by side in the circumferential direction (rotation direction of the steering). The information transmission steering device 1 receives information to be transmitted to the driver from an information output device 10 such as a car navigation device, and transmits information by applying a tactile stimulus to the driver through the electrode 2 using a stimulation current. In FIG. 1, 20 electrodes 2 are provided. However, it is preferable to increase the number of installed electrodes and arrange them more densely.

  The control unit 5 receives information to be transmitted from the information output device 10 to the driver. Here, a case will be described as an example where an instruction to turn left, right, or change lanes, that is, information that the steering should be operated in either the left or right direction is transmitted to the driver by the route guidance function of the car navigation device. When receiving information to be transmitted to the driver from the information output device 10, the control unit 5 controls the waveform generation output unit 3 and the electrode switching unit 4 to control the stimulation current to flow between the electrodes 2.

  The waveform generation output unit 3 generates a low-frequency stimulation current. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a stimulation current using a pulse current. Here, a pulse having a pulse width of about 100 microseconds and a pulse amplitude of about 100 volts is used. The stimulus given to the driver can be changed by controlling the width, amplitude, and pulse interval of each pulse. However, the pulse width or the like may be fixed.

  The electrode switching unit 4 applies the output voltage obtained from the waveform generation output unit 3 between any two electrodes of the plurality of electrodes 2. If a driver touches both electrodes when a voltage is applied between the electrodes, a stimulation current flows in the palm of the driver, and the driver feels stimulation. The electrode switching unit 4 changes the portion of the driver's palm to which the stimulus is applied by switching the electrodes (electrodes to which the voltage is applied) that supplies the stimulation current in a short time. This can give the driver a moving stimulus.

  Next, with reference to FIG. 4, the stimulation current application pattern in the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a right side portion of the steering wheel. In this example, the control unit 5 instructs the driver to turn left, that is, to operate the steering wheel to the left (counterclockwise).

The electrode switching unit 4 first applies a voltage between two adjacent electrodes 2a-2b, and then applies a voltage between 2c-2d. Hereinafter, the voltage application electrode is moved counterclockwise between 2e-2f, 2g-2h, and 2i-2j. The voltage application electrode is moved over the entire circumference (360 degrees) of the steering wheel. Since the driver holds a position on the steering wheel, the driver always receives a stimulation current and feels that the stimulation position moves counterclockwise in the palm. With this stimulation current, the driver can intuitively recognize that the steering should be operated to the left (counterclockwise). Further, if the position where the stimulation current is applied is moved in the direction opposite to the above (clockwise), it can be transmitted to the driver that the steering should be operated to the right (clockwise).

-Modification In the above example, the stimulation current is passed between the adjacent electrodes, but the electrodes through which the current flows are not necessarily between the adjacent electrodes. For example, in FIG. 4, the stimulation current may flow between the electrodes 2a-2c, 2b-2d, and 2d-2e. Of course, a stimulation current may be allowed to flow between two or more electrodes.

  Further, in the above example, the stimulation current is passed only between one electrode pair between the plurality of electrodes 2, but as shown in FIGS. A voltage may be applied simultaneously. In FIG. 5A and FIG. 5B, the positions shown in black are the positions where the voltage is applied, and each black shows an electrode pair (two electrodes). FIG. 5A shows an example in which a voltage is applied to two electrode pairs at the same time, and the voltage is applied to two positions shifted by 180 degrees. FIG. 5B shows an example in which a voltage is applied simultaneously to four electrode pairs, and the voltage is applied to four locations shifted by 90 degrees. By moving the position of the voltage application electrode counterclockwise, a left turn instruction can be transmitted to the driver. Note that the positions of the voltage application electrodes need not be equal.

  In the above example, the electrode 2 is provided on the entire steering wheel. However, it is not always necessary to provide the electrode 2 on the whole. When the driver grips the steering wheel, the driver often grips at the left and right positions, and rarely grips the upper and lower positions. Therefore, the electrodes 2 may be provided only on the left and right portions of the steering wheel.

(Second Embodiment)
In this embodiment, the electrode 2 provided on the steering wheel is also used as a sensor for detecting the position of the driver's hand, and a voltage is applied only to the electrode touched by the driver. FIG. 6 shows functional blocks of the information transmission steering apparatus according to this embodiment. The difference from the first embodiment is that a gripping position detector 6 is provided. Hereinafter, differences from the first embodiment will be mainly described.

  The grip position detection unit 6 detects which electrode the driver is gripping by detecting a change in impedance between the electrodes 2. The gripping position detector 6 can measure the impedance between adjacent electrodes, and can detect the gripping position of the driver for the entire steering wheel by arbitrarily switching the measurement location.

  Next, the electrode switching method for supplying the stimulation current in this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. Here, it is assumed that the gripping position detection unit 6 detects that the driver grips the electrodes 2c to 2h among the electrodes 2a to 2j shown in FIG. In this case, the electrode switching unit 4 switches the electrode to which the voltage is applied so as to move the stimulation current in the left (counterclockwise) direction between the electrodes 2c to 2h. Specifically, a voltage is first applied between the electrodes 2c-2d, and then a voltage is applied between 2e-2f and 2g-2h. After this, voltage is applied again between 2c-2d.

  According to this embodiment, since the electrode gripped by the driver can be detected, it is possible to apply a voltage only to the electrode that can give a stimulus to the driver. In addition, even when the position at which the steering wheel is gripped is changed, the stimulation current can be appropriately supplied. Further, when the moving stimulation current is repeatedly flowed, the frequency of applying the stimulation can be increased, which is efficient.

-Modification In this embodiment, when giving the driver | operator the irritation | stimulation which moves counterclockwise, for example, it can grasp | ascertain the start position and end position of the position which feels a irritation | stimulation. That is, in the example of FIG. 7, it can be seen that the stimulation start position where the electrode 2c-2d moves counterclockwise is the stimulation end position between the electrodes 2g-2h. Therefore, when the stimulus moves, it is possible to control to increase the stimulus as the stimulus position moves.

  The waveform generation / output unit 3 changes the pulse peak value and width as shown in FIG. 8 in accordance with the switching of the voltage application electrode by the electrode switching unit 4 so that the stimulation gradually increases. FIG. 8A shows an example in which the pulse peak value is gradually increased. FIG. 8B is an example in which the pulse width is gradually increased. Of course, both the peak value and width of the pulse may be changed simultaneously. In any case, the stimulus felt by the driver becomes stronger as the stimulus position moves counterclockwise. Thus, the driver can more intuitively understand the instruction that the steering should be operated counterclockwise from the tactile sense.

(Third embodiment)
Similarly to the second embodiment, this embodiment also uses the gripping position detection unit 6 to recognize an electrode touched by the driver, and then causes a stimulation current to flow through the palm of the driver. This embodiment is different from the second embodiment in the method of switching electrodes to which a voltage is applied.

  Hereinafter, the electrode switching method for supplying the stimulation current in the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. Here, it is assumed that the gripping position detection unit 6 detects that the driver is gripping the electrodes 2a to 2j shown in FIG. In this embodiment, when the electrode pair to which the voltage is applied is switched, one of the electrode serving as the anode and the electrode serving as the cathode is fixed, and only the other electrode is moved. At this time, the distance between the electrodes is controlled to be short.

  Specifically, while the electrode 2i is fixed as the cathode, the electrode to be the anode is switched in order from the electrode 2a to the electrode 2i. At this time, it is preferable that the change in the interelectrode distance is initially increased, and the change is gradually reduced, such as electrodes 2a → 2e → 2g → 2h. By applying such a stimulation current, the driver can more intuitively recognize that the steering should be operated counterclockwise.

  The outermost electrode 2j out of the electrodes touched by the driver is not fixed as the cathode, but the inner electrode 2i is fixed as the cathode even if the palm of the driver moves slightly. This is to ensure that the stimulation current flows.

  In the present embodiment, the electrodes may be switched at regular intervals, for example, electrodes 2a → 2b → 2c →. In this case, as in the modification of the second embodiment, it is also preferable to control to increase the stimulation by changing the pulse width and the peak value as the distance between the electrodes is reduced. Alternatively, it may be controlled such that the time for applying the pulse group is gradually increased and the electrodes are gradually switched. Even in this case, the driver can intuitively understand the instruction content that the steering should be operated in the electrode switching direction.

(Fourth embodiment)
FIG. 10 shows an electrode arrangement in the information transmission steering apparatus according to the present embodiment. In FIG. 10, reference numerals 21 and 22 each represent an electrode pair composed of two electrodes. Electrode pairs a21 and electrode pairs b22 are alternately arranged. The cathodes of the plurality of electrode pairs a21 provided on the steering wheel are electrically connected to each other, and the anodes are also electrically connected to each other, and a voltage is simultaneously applied to all the electrode pairs a21. Similarly, in the plurality of electrode pairs b22, the cathodes and the anodes are electrically connected.

  Here, each of the electrode pair a21 is installed at equal intervals on the steering wheel. Moreover, each of the electrode pair b22 is also installed at equal intervals on the steering wheel. However, not all electrodes are installed at equal intervals on the steering wheel, and the distance (or angle θab) between the electrode pair b22 in the clockwise direction and the counterclockwise of the two electrodes b22 adjacent to the electrode a21 In the distance (or angle θba) with the electrode pair b22 in the rotation direction, the electrode pair b on the clockwise direction side is set closer (θab <θba).

  Next, the structure of each electrode pair will be described. As in the first to third embodiments, a structure adjacent to the circumferential direction of the steering wheel (the rotation direction of the steering wheel, the large circumferential direction) may be adopted, but in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. Adopt an electrode with a simple structure. FIG. 11A shows a concentric electrode element composed of a center electrode 23 and a peripheral electrode 24. By adopting such a configuration, it is expected that when the driver touches the vicinity of this electrode position, both the two electrodes 23 and 24 are more reliably touched. Further, as shown in FIG. 11B, the two electrodes 25 and 26 may be arranged in the circumferential direction (small circumferential direction) of the steering cross-sectional circle. Such an arrangement is also expected to ensure that the driver touches the two electrodes.

  A method for switching the electrodes through which the stimulation current flows in the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 12A shows an application pattern of the stimulation current when transmitting to the driver to operate the steering to the left (counterclockwise), and FIG. 12B shows the driver to operate the steering to the right (clockwise). It is the application pattern of the stimulation current at the time of transmitting to.

  In either case, a pulse group having the same waveform is supplied to the electrode pair a21 and the electrode pair b22. Here, as shown in FIG. 12A, the time (Tab in the figure) from when the pulse group is passed through the electrode pair a21 to when the pulse group is passed through the electrode pair b22, and the pulse group is passed through the electrode pair b22. The time (Tba in the figure) from when the pulse group flows to the electrode pair a21 is increased (Tab> Tba). In this way, the driver feels that the stimulation position has moved from the electrode pair a to the electrode pair b, and feels the stimulus moving counterclockwise.

  Conversely, as shown in FIG. 12B, the time (Tba) from when the pulse group is passed through the electrode pair b22 to when the pulse group is passed through the electrode pair a21, and after the pulse group is passed through the electrode pair a21. By increasing the time (Tab) until the pulse group flows through the electrode pair b22 (Tba> Tab), the driver feels the stimulus moving in the clockwise direction.

  The information that the steering should be operated intuitively can be transmitted to the driver by the application pattern of the stimulation current in the present embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Information transmission steering device 2 Electrode 3 Waveform generation output part 4 Electrode switching part 5 Control part 6 Gripping position detection part

Claims (6)

An information transmission steering device that transmits information to an operator by current stimulation,
A plurality of electrodes provided on the steering wheel;
An output unit for applying a voltage between any of the plurality of electrodes;
An electrode switching unit that switches an electrode to which a voltage is applied;
A gripping position detection unit that detects impedance between the plurality of electrodes and detects an electrode gripped by an operator;
Have
The electrode switching unit determines any of the electrodes detected as being held by the operator as an electrode to which a voltage is applied.
An information transmission steering apparatus characterized by that . The information transmission steering apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the electrode switching unit sequentially switches the position of the electrode to which the voltage is applied in a predetermined direction in accordance with information transmitted to the operator. The electrode switching unit repeatedly performs, as one cycle, a process of sequentially switching the electrodes to which the voltage is applied in the predetermined direction in the electrodes detected as being held by the operator,
In the cycle, the output unit applies a higher voltage to an electrode to which a voltage is applied last, or applies a voltage for a longer time than an electrode to which a voltage is first applied.
The information transmission steering apparatus according to claim 2, wherein: The information transmitted to the operator is a direction to operate the steering wheel,
The information transmission steering apparatus according to claim 2 or 3 , wherein the predetermined direction is a direction in which the steering is to be operated. The electrode switching unit keeps one electrode of the electrode pair to which a voltage is applied between the electrodes detected as being held by the operator, and brings the other electrode closer to the one electrode The information transmission steering device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the information transmission steering device is switched to. 6. The information according to claim 5, wherein the electrode switching unit switches the electrodes so that the change in the interelectrode distance gradually decreases when the other electrode is switched so as to approach the one electrode. 7. Transmission steering device.

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