JP6521698B2 - Steering wheel position adjustment device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a device for adjusting the position of a steering wheel in a vehicle, and in particular, the longitudinal position (telescopic adjustment direction position) and the vertical position (height direction position or tilt adjustment direction) of a steering wheel serving as an operation part in a steering device. The present invention relates to the improvement of the operation input unit when adjusting the position) by the motorized position adjustment drive mechanism.

  Conventionally, as a device for adjusting the position of a steering wheel of this type, for example, those described in Patent Documents 1 and 2 have been proposed.

  In the technology described in Patent Document 1, an operation switch is provided on the back surface of the spoke portion of the steering wheel (the surface opposite to the surface facing the driver), and the operation switch is held in a state of holding the steering wheel. By operation, the adjustment of the position in the front-rear direction and the position in the height direction of the steering wheel is possible.

  Further, in the technology described in Patent Document 2, in the steering column apparatus having an electric tilt adjustment mechanism, a pressure switch is provided on the outer periphery of the rim of the steering wheel, and the steering wheel is operated during operation of the tilt adjustment mechanism. When the pressure switch detects that a pressure equal to or greater than a predetermined value is applied to the rim, the operation of the tilt adjustment mechanism is stopped.

JP 2007-317537 A Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. 61-128169

  However, in the technique described in Patent Document 1, the operation switch on the back of the steering wheel is pressed in the direction in which the steering wheel is moved without releasing the hand from the steering wheel, but the operation on the invisible back can not be performed. In addition, the movement direction of the steering wheel and the operation direction of the operation switch do not always coincide with each other, which makes it difficult to operate. That is, in the technology described in Patent Document 1, although the movement direction of the steering wheel coincides with the operation direction of the operation switch in the operation in the tilt direction, the operation direction of the operation switch is the operation in the telescopic direction. It does not match the direction of movement of the steering wheel in the lateral direction, leaving room for improvement in terms of operability.

  Further, in the technology described in Patent Document 2, when adjusting the position of the steering wheel in the longitudinal and vertical directions while holding the steering wheel, for example, the load in the direction (longitudinal or vertical direction) to be moved to the steering wheel itself When loaded, it is difficult to detect the load direction and the magnitude of the load in the load direction with a simple pressure sensor.

  The present invention has been made focusing on such problems, and while holding the steering wheel, by applying a load in a direction in which the steering wheel is to be moved to the steering wheel itself, the longitudinal position of the steering wheel It is an object of the present invention to provide a steering wheel position adjusting device capable of adjusting (telescopic adjustment direction position) and vertical position (height direction position or tilt adjustment direction position).

  The present invention has a longitudinal direction position adjustment drive mechanism and a vertical direction position adjustment drive mechanism both of which use an electric motor as a drive source, and positions the steering wheel in the longitudinal direction and the vertical direction based on instructions from the operation input means. An adjustable device, wherein the operation input means is formed on an inner side surface of a rim portion of a steering wheel, and is a recess in which each thumb is placed when the left and right positions of the rim portion in the steering wheel in a straight ahead state are grasped And a first sensor for detecting a load applied to the upper portion of the recess by the thumb placed in the recess, and loaded on the rear portion of the rim by at least the index finger or the middle finger with the thumb placed in the recess A second sensor that detects the load, and with the thumb on the recess, the negative side of the rim of the rim And a fourth sensor for detecting a load applied to the rear side portion of the rim by at least the ring finger or the little finger in a state where the thumb is placed in the recess. I assume.

  Preferably, in addition to the operation input means as described in claim 2, a load in the front-rear direction or the vertical direction to adjust the position of the steering wheel while holding the left and right position of the rim portion of the steering wheel The load direction is identified based on the detection output of each sensor based on the detection output of each sensor, and at least one of the longitudinal position adjustment drive mechanism and the vertical position adjustment drive mechanism according to the identified load direction. Are provided with control means for giving a drive command.

In this case, as described in claim 3, in the identification of the load direction by the control means, the sum of the detection outputs of the first sensor and the third sensor is from the sum of the detection outputs of the second sensor and the fourth sensor. When the sum of the detection outputs of the first sensor and the third sensor is smaller than the sum of the detection outputs of the second sensor and the fourth sensor, the detection output of the first sensor and the second sensor and the upper direction when the sum is greater than the sum of the detection output of the third sensor and the fourth sensor, the sum of the detection output of the first sensor and the second sensor than the sum of the detection output of the third sensor and the fourth sensor When it is small, it is distinguished from the downward direction.

  Preferably, as described in claim 4, the difference between the sum of one detection output to which the magnitude relation is compared and the sum of the other detection output is equal to or greater than a preset threshold value. For the first time to identify a specific load direction.

  Furthermore, as described in claim 5, in the control means, a sum of detection outputs of the first sensor and the third sensor, a sum of detection outputs of the second sensor and the fourth sensor, and the first sensor When the sum of the detection output of the second sensor and the sum of the detection output of the third sensor and the fourth sensor are respectively equal to or greater than preset values, the steering wheel is gripped correctly at the left and right positions of the rim. It shall be determined that

  More specifically, as described in claim 6, each of the sensors is a load sensor of a piezoelectric element type, and at least a rim portion including a recess in the steering wheel includes a base and a surface material covering the surface thereof , And each of the above sensors is interposed between the base of the rim portion and the skin material.

  Therefore, at least in the invention according to claim 1, when adjusting the longitudinal position (telescopic adjustment direction position) or the vertical position (tilt adjustment direction position) of the steering wheel, while holding the steering wheel in the longitudinal direction or the vertical direction When a load is applied in any direction, each sensor forming the operation input means detects the load at that sensor position, so the driver can be detected by comparing the detection output of each sensor. It is possible to identify the direction in which you want to move the steering wheel, which is also your intention. Therefore, the load is applied by driving at least one of the longitudinal position adjustment drive mechanism and the vertical position adjustment drive mechanism in order to assist the load in the load direction which is the direction in which the steering wheel is to be moved. Insofar, the steering wheel will move in the intended direction according to the driver's will and its position will be adjusted.

  According to the present invention, when adjusting the position of the steering wheel in the front-rear direction or the vertical direction, the intended purpose is achieved only by applying a load in either the front-rear direction or the vertical direction while holding the steering wheel. As a matter of course, since the direction of load application and the direction of movement of the steering wheel actually coincide with each other, it is easy to understand sensibly and the operability is excellent.

  Further, according to the invention described in claim 5, it is against the driver's will by judging that the steering wheel is correctly grasped at the left and right positions of the rim portion by the combination of the detection output values of the respective sensors. It is possible to prevent in advance the position adjustment.

  Furthermore, according to the invention as set forth in claim 6, each sensor is interposed between the base of the rim portion of the steering wheel and the skin material, and the sensor is substantially concealed so as not to be visible. As a result, the steering wheel does not give a sense of design discomfort, and the appearance does not deteriorate.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. 1 is a front view of a steering wheel according to a specific embodiment of a position adjustment device for a steering wheel according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a rear view of the steering wheel shown in FIG. 1; FIG. 2 is a right side view of the steering wheel shown in FIG. 1; FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the steering wheel shown in FIG. 1; The perspective view from the front side which shows the state which the driver grasped the steering wheel shown in FIG. FIG. 5 is a perspective view from the rear side showing a state in which the driver holds the steering wheel shown in FIG. 4; The principal part enlarged view of the steering wheel shown in FIG. FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view along the line AA of FIG. 7; The system block circuit diagram of the drive control system for position adjustment of a steering wheel. Circuit explanatory drawing which shows the detail of a motor drive circuit. Explanatory drawing of the signal level of a load sensor. The flowchart which shows the outline of the processing procedure in the system of a drive control system.

  1 and the following figures are diagrams showing a first specific embodiment for implementing the position adjustment device for a steering wheel according to the present invention, and in particular, FIGS. 1 to 4 are front views and a rear view of the steering wheel alone. The figure, the right view and the perspective view are shown, respectively.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the steering wheel 1 is constituted by a boss portion 2, a spoke portion 3 and a rim portion 4, and in a front view of FIG. It is formed as Further, a central portion in the height direction which is a part of the rim portion 4 is a grip portion 5 of a deformed polygon at a symmetrical position. At the same time, in the side view of FIG. 3, the front side of the grip 5 (the side facing the driver when the driver grips the grip 5 correctly, the same applies hereinafter) and the back (driver's right grip) Sometimes the side opposite to the driver's side and the other side, the same applies hereinafter. The part of the rim 4 is a modified polygonal grip 5 because, as will be described later, when adjusting the position of the steering wheel 1 in the longitudinal and vertical directions, an operation input for adjusting the position of the grip 5 It is to make it function as a part. The grip portion 5 is formed separately from the other portion of the rim portion 4 and then fitted and fixed to the core of the rim portion 4 later.

  5 and 6 show a state in which the driver grips the grip portion 5 of the steering wheel 1 when adjusting the position of the steering wheel 1, FIG. 5 is a front perspective view thereof, and FIG. . In the steering operation at the time of normal driving, the grip as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 is not necessary.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 on the premise that the steering wheel 1 in the straight-ahead state is naturally guided to the grip of the grip portion 5 as shown in FIGS. An inner recess 6 is formed on the inner surface of the grip portion 5 in such a manner that a portion thereof is notched at an acute angle, and the inner recess 6 is in a position to put a thumb in the grip state of FIGS. There is. The inclined upper wall surface of the grip portion 5 which is the upper portion of the inner recess 6 is the front upper pressing surface 6a on which the finger tip of the thumb is seated. In addition, an inclined surface located on the front side and lower than the front upper pressing surface 6a of the grip portion 5 while being close to the front upper pressing surface 6a is a lower pressing on the palm side corresponding to the base of the thumb on the palm side. It is considered as surface 7.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, a flat surface is formed on the back side of the grip portion 5 along the rotation surface of the steering wheel 1. And at least one of the middle fingers is a back upper pressing surface 8 on which the seat is formed, and is formed in an inclined surface below the plane with respect to the rotational surface of the steering wheel 1 with the lower side inclined forward. This inclined surface is the back lower pressing surface 9 on which at least one of the ring finger and the second finger is seated when the grip portion 5 is gripped.

Then, on each of the front upper pressing surface 6a, the front lower pressing surface 7, the rear upper pressing surface 8 and the rear lower pressing surface 9, for example, a flat load sensor (feeling of a piezoelectric element type represented by a piezo element) Pressure sensors) 10a, 10b, 10c, 10d are individually mounted, and when the grip portion 5 is gripped as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the front side upper pressing surface 6a, the front side lower pressing surface 7, the rear side The loads applied to the upper pressing surface 8 and the lower rear pressing surface 9 are individually detected by the load sensors 10a to 10d. In the following description, for convenience, the first sensor 10a to the load sensor of the front upper pressing surface 6a, the load sensor on the rear side upper portion pressing with surface 8 second sensor 10b, and the load sensor of the front lower pressing surface 7 3 The load sensor of the sensor 10c and the lower rear side pressing surface 9 is referred to as a fourth sensor 10d.

In the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, after the driver is seated on the driver's seat of the vehicle, the driver grips the grip portion 5 of the rim portion 4 of the steering wheel 1 in the straight ahead state. The inner upper surface is the front upper pressing surface 6a, the palm side of the thumb corresponds to the base of the thumb on the front lower pressing surface 7, both the index finger and the middle finger (any one is acceptable) is the back upper pressing surface 8, ring finger and child It is assumed that both of the fingers (or any one of them) may be pressed against the lower back pressing surface 9 and seated. In this state, the direction you want to adjust the position of the steering wheel 1 with respect to the grip portion 5 of the steering wheel 1, i.e. the forward direction shown in FIG. 5 arrow a1, direction or downward direction on indicated by a2 or also by arrows b1, b2, Alternatively, a predetermined force (load) is applied in the backward direction as a driver's intention indication.

  The first to fourth sensors 10a to 10d individually detect the magnitudes of the forces applied to the pressing surfaces 6a, 7, 8, and 9 of the grip 5, and then perform predetermined calculations as described later. To identify the direction and magnitude of the applied force, and accordingly activate one or both of the vertical position adjustment drive mechanism and the longitudinal direction position adjustment drive mechanism using the electric motor as a drive source, and steering the steering wheel. The position of the wheel 1 in the vertical direction or the front-rear direction is adjusted.

  As apparent from the above description, in addition to the grip portion 5 and the inner recess 6 of the rim portion 4 of the steering wheel 1, the front upper pressing surface 6a, the front lower pressing surface 7, the rear upper pressing surface 8 and the rear lower pressing surface 9 The first to fourth sensors 10a to 10d provided on each of the sensors function as operation input means for adjusting the position of the steering wheel 1 in the vertical and longitudinal directions.

  In most cases, the front-rear direction position adjustment drive mechanism of the steering wheel 1 is a telescopic position adjustment drive mechanism, and the vertical direction position adjustment drive mechanism is a tilt-type position adjustment drive mechanism, regardless of whether it is electric or not. Although it is called, in recent years, a device that does not involve the telescopic operation or the tilt operation is also proposed in part, so in this embodiment, it is referred to as described above. Therefore, the longitudinal position adjustment drive mechanism may be a telescopic position adjustment drive mechanism using a known electric motor as a drive source, and the vertical position adjustment drive mechanism may similarly be tilted using a known electric motor as a drive source It may be a formula position adjustment drive mechanism.

Here, in the above first to fourth sensor 10a~10d has even ones flat is some thickness, each press with surfaces 6a, in case that was attached to the 7,8,9 each press with surface 6a, a shape that protrudes by the thickness of on 7,8,9. Therefore, if in the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, each press with surface 6a of the base 11 of the grip portion 5, was attached first to fourth sensor 10a~10d in 7,8,9 For example, it is covered with a skin material 12 such as synthetic leather. As a result, not only the first to fourth sensors 10a to 10d are not directly exposed to the outside, but also the design is improved.

FIG. 9 shows a system block circuit diagram of a drive control system for adjusting the position of the steering wheel 1 .

  The adjustment control device 13 in the drive control system of FIG. 9 includes an electric motor (front and rear side) which is a drive source of the longitudinal position adjustment drive mechanism in addition to the main arithmetic function unit 14 configured with a microcomputer and the drive determination circuit unit 15. It includes two motor drive circuits 18 and 19 for a direction adjustment motor 16 and an electric motor (vertical adjustment motor) 17 which is a drive source of the vertical position adjustment drive mechanism. As a matter of course, the main arithmetic function unit 14 includes, in addition to the CPU, a ROM and a RAM, and further an input / output interface and the like necessary for exchanging signals with the outside.

  As described later, the drive determination circuit unit 15 has a function of determining whether or not a condition necessary for the position adjustment is established prior to the position adjustment in the vertical or longitudinal direction of the steering wheel 1. The drive determination circuit unit 15 receives signals from the vehicle speed sensor 20, the parking brake actuation switch 21, and the shift lever position sensor 22, respectively.

That is, in the drive determination circuit unit 15, the parking brake is activated (the braking is performed at a vehicle speed of zero based on the respective signals from the vehicle speed sensor 20, the parking brake actuation switch 21 and the shift lever position sensor 22). The position adjustment of the steering wheel 1 is made possible for the first time under the condition that the vehicle is in the stopped state in which the shift lever is in the P (parking) position. This means that each pressing with surface 6a of the grip portion 5, as mentioned earlier, I coupled with the fact that gripped the grip portion 5 correctly so as to press the fingers corresponding to 7,8,9, driver This is to make it impossible to adjust the position of the steering wheel 1 inadvertently.

The main arithmetic function unit 14 receives detection outputs of the left and right first to fourth sensors 10a to 10d attached to the grip 5 of the steering wheel 1 described above. Then, the main calculation function unit 14 performs a predetermined calculation based on the signals input from the left and right first to fourth sensors 10a to 10d, and the driver applies the load to the grip 5 of the steering wheel 1 The direction of action and the size of the load are identified, and based on that, a predetermined drive command is given to the motor drive circuits 18 and 19, and the electric motor 16 of the longitudinal position adjustment drive mechanism and the electric motor of the vertical position adjustment drive mechanism 17 will be driven.

  In addition, as described above, stroke end detection is performed to detect that the steering wheel 1 has reached the stroke end of the adjustable stroke in the front-rear direction or the up-down direction for each of the front-rear direction position adjustment drive mechanism and the vertical direction position adjustment mechanism. Since the sensors 23 or 24 as means are individually provided, the detection outputs of these sensors 23 and 24 are also input to the main calculation function unit 14.

  Both motor drive circuits 18 and 19 shown in FIG. 9 are of the type that drives the respective electric motors 16 or 17 in the forward or reverse direction according to the command from the main calculation function unit 14. The structure is common to both, and the detailed structure is shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 10, the motor drive circuits 18 and 19 are bridge circuits composed of four FETs (field effect transistors) 26 to 29 in the driver circuit 25 which forms a part of the motor drive circuits 18 and 19. A circuit is connected, and the currents supplied to the respective electric motors 16 and 17 by driving (switching operation) each of the FETs 26 to 29 with a pulse signal with a duty ratio based on PWM modulation (pulse width modulation) Is controlled to drive the respective electric motors 16 and 17 in forward and reverse rotational directions at substantially variable speeds.

  Each of the electric motors 16 and 17 is additionally provided with a rotational speed sensor 30 for detecting the rotational speed of the corresponding motor, and the detection output of the rotational speed sensor 30 is taken into the main arithmetic function unit 14 to perform steering In addition to being used as current position information within the adjustable stroke in the front and back direction and the up and down direction of the wheel 1, target velocity set based on the magnitude of the detected load by appropriately performing differential operation (rotation In comparison with the above, it is provided for control to correct the amount of current supplied to the respective electric motors 16 and 17.

  As apparent from the above description, the adjustment control device 13 shown in FIG. 9 functions as a control means for adjusting the position of the steering wheel 1 in the vertical and longitudinal directions.

  Next, the procedure for adjusting the position of the steering wheel 1 in the front-rear direction and the vertical direction based on the function of the adjustment control device 13 will be described based on FIGS.

The detection output (voltage) of the first sensor 10a provided on the front upper pressing surface 6a of the grip 5 is Ea, and the detection output (voltage) of the second sensor 10b provided on the rear upper pressing surface 8 is Eb, front lower The detection output (voltage) of the third sensor 10c provided on the pressing surface 7 is Ec, and the detection output (voltage) of the fourth sensor 10d provided on the lower rear pressing surface 9 is Ed. Then, the grip portion 5 of the left and right both, Ea + Ec, Eb + Ed , Ea + Eb, is higher than the reference level each Ec + Ed are set in advance, and both the grip portion 5 by the driver is held correctly determined It shall be.

On top of that, (Ea + Ec)> If it is (Eb + Ed) are determined that the load to push the steering wheel 1 to move the scan Teari ring wheel 1 to the front side on the front side is loaded. Similarly, (Ea + Ec) in the case of <(Eb + Ed) are determined that the load to draw a steering wheel 1 to bring the scan Teari ring wheel 1 to the driver's side to the front side (rear side) is loaded.

Further, (Ea + Eb)> If it is (Ec + Ed) are scan Teari ring wheel 1 a steering wheel 1 to move upward direction or gel on pressing upward side, or load pull on the gel direction load It is determined that it has been done. Similarly, (Ea + Eb) <in the case of (Ec + Ed) are scan Teari ring wheel 1 to the steering wheel 1 or pulled under the gel to the lower order to move it down the, or load push Gel-direction It is determined that it has been loaded.

These things, as described above, the front side of the side facing the driver of the grip portion 5, when the side opposite to the back side, if you want extruding the steering wheel 1 to the front side Based on the finding that a relatively large force is applied to the front side of the grip portion 5 and, conversely, a relatively large force is applied to the back side of the grip portion 5 when it is desired to pull out the steering wheel 1 in the direction approaching the driver. There is. Similarly, if it is desired to push the steering wheel 1 downward, a relatively large force is applied to the lower portion of the grip 5, and conversely, if it is desired to push the steering wheel 1 upward, it is relative to the upper portion of the grip 5. It is based on the finding that great power is added to

  More specifically, as shown in FIG. 11, −e which is the minus side threshold and + e which is the plus side threshold are set in advance for each detection output of the first to first sensors 10 a to 10 d. (Ea + Ec)> (Eb + Ed), (Ea + Ec) <(Eb + Ed), (Ea + Eb)> (Ec + Ed), and (Ea + Eb) <(Ec + Ed) are expressed by the following equations (1) to (4). Only when the difference between -E1 and -E2 exceeds the minus threshold -e, or when + E1 and + E2 exceed the plus threshold + e. It is determined that a force is applied to the grip portion 5 of the steering wheel 1 in any of the backward direction, the forward direction, the downward direction, and the upward direction.

· (Ea + Ec)-(Eb + Ed) =-E1: backward direction ... (1)
· (Ea + Ec)-(Eb + Ed) = + E1: forward direction ... (2)
(Ea + Eb)-(Ec + Ed) =-E2: downward direction (3)
· (Ea + Eb)-(Ec + Ed) = + E2: upward direction ... (4)
This means that for the grip portion 5 of the left and right both is higher than the reference level each detection signal level of the first to fourth sensor 10a~10d is set in advance, both of the grip portion 5 by the driver not in addition to determining that have been held correctly.

  FIG. 12 is a flow chart showing the processing procedure of the adjustment control device 13 shown in FIG.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, after the driver is seated in the driver's seat of the vehicle, the driver grips the left and right grips 5 of the steering wheel 1 in the straight ahead state, Direction to adjust the position of the steering wheel 1 with respect to the wheel 1, that is, vertical direction (arrow a1 or a2 direction in FIG. 5), longitudinal direction (arrow b1 or b2 direction in FIG. 5), or composite direction thereof (diagonal direction) Force (load) shall be applied to Then, the direction of action of the applied force and the magnitude of the force are detected, and the position adjustment drive mechanism and the position adjustment drive mechanism are operated accordingly to adjust the position of the steering wheel 1. It is.

  In step S1 of FIG. 12, when adjusting the position of the steering wheel 1, it is determined whether the wheel position adjusting condition is satisfied. Here, based on the respective signals from the vehicle speed sensor 20, the parking brake operating switch 21 and the shift lever position sensor 22, the vehicle speed is zero and the parking brake is operating (braking), and It is assumed that the primary condition is satisfied because the shift lever is in the P (parking) position.

  In step S2, as described above with reference to FIG. 5, the driver grips the left and right grips 5 of the steering wheel 1 and adjusts the position of the steering wheel 1 with respect to the steering wheel 1, that is, the vertical direction A force (load) is applied in the (arrow a1 or a2 direction in FIG. 5), in the front-rear direction (arrow b1 or b2 direction in FIG. 5), or in the composite direction (diagonal direction).

  Thus, when the driver applies a predetermined load to the grip portion 5 of the steering wheel 1, in steps S3 and S4, the first to fourth sensors 10a to 10 provided with those loads on the left and right grip portions 5 10d individually and immediately input to the main operation function unit 14 of FIG. The main calculation function unit 14 determines in which direction the force is loaded based on the above equations (1) to (4), and identifies the load direction.

  As described above, if it is determined that both the left and right grips 5 are gripped correctly, the first to fourth of the left and right grips 5 may be used to specify the direction in which the force is applied. It is assumed that the following calculation is performed on the basis of the sum of the detection signals of the sensors 10a to 10d.

  Then, in the main calculation function unit 14 in the adjustment control device 13 of FIG. 9, the electric motor 17 of the vertical position adjustment drive mechanism and the electric motor 16 of the longitudinal position adjustment drive mechanism should be driven as the processing of steps S5 and S6. Direction, that is, the direction and speed at which the motor 17 of the vertical position adjustment drive mechanism should be driven to adjust the position of the steering wheel 1 in the vertical direction, or the longitudinal direction for adjusting the position of the steering wheel 1 in the longitudinal direction After specifying the direction in which the motor 16 of the position adjustment drive mechanism should be driven and the speed thereof, a drive command is output to the motor drive circuits 19 and 18 to drive the electric motors 17 and 16 in forward or reverse direction. Thus, as long as the driver applies a load to the grip portion 5 of the steering wheel 1, the load is substantially applied according to the load application mode in a form that assists the load application by the driver. The steering wheel 1 moves at a predetermined speed in the direction shown in FIG.

  On the other hand, the main calculation function unit 14 in the adjustment control device 13 detects the detection signal levels from the first to fourth sensors 10a to 10d even while the respective electric motors 17 and 16 are being driven as the processing of steps S7 and S8. It is monitoring in real time. When the values of -E1 and -E2 in the above formulas (1) to (4) fall below the negative threshold -e, or + E1 and + E2 fall below the positive threshold + e If this is the case, in the subsequent steps S11 and S12, the electric motors 17 and 16 are immediately stopped on the assumption that the load applied to the grip 5 of the steering wheel 1 has been unloaded. This is because the position of the steering wheel 1 becomes an adjustment position desired by the driver when the load applied to the grip portion 5 of the steering wheel 1 is unloaded until that time, and the driver can This is because it is determined that the previous load has been unloaded.

  Further, the current position within the adjustable stroke of each direction of the steering wheel 1 is grasped by the adjustment control device 13 based on the output of the rotational speed sensor 30 of the electric motors 17 and 16, and adjustment in the vertical or longitudinal direction If it is determined that the steering wheel 1 has reached the stroke end of the possible stroke, the drive of the electric motors 17 and 16 is stopped at that time even if the steering wheel 1 is still loaded.

As described above, in steps S13 and S14, based on the direction of action of the load applied to the grip portion 5 of the steering wheel 1 by the driver 's intention and the magnitude thereof, Position adjustment in the vertical direction and the front and back direction is completed.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the steering wheel 1 is moved in accordance with the load acting direction applied to the grip portion 5 of the steering wheel 1, and the position thereof is adjusted. As the position of the steering wheel 1 can be adjusted as it is, and the direction of load loading and the direction in which the steering wheel 1 actually moves match, it is easy to understand sensibly and has excellent operability. .

  In addition, regarding the identification of the load direction in the adjustment control device 13, four movement directions may be allocated to the first to fourth sensors 10a to 10d as another embodiment. In this case, the first sensor 10a identifies the upward direction, the second sensor 10b identifies the backward direction, the third sensor 10c identifies the forward direction, and the fourth sensor 10d identifies the downward direction, and detects the first to fourth sensors 10a to 10d. The movement speed in each direction is determined by the size of the output.

  According to this embodiment, when a force is applied to move the steering wheel 1 in the vertical and longitudinal directions while holding the grip portion 5, the moving direction corresponds to the finger on which the load acts. It is easy to understand sensuously, is excellent in operability, and is easy to control.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Steering wheel 4 ... Rim part 5 ... Grip part 6 ... Inner recessed part 6a ... Front side upper pressing surface 7 ... Front side lower pressing surface 8 ... Back side upper pressing surface 9 ... Back side lower pressing surface 10a ... 1st sensor (load sensor)
10b ... 2nd sensor (load sensor)
10c ... 3rd sensor (load sensor)
10d ... 4th sensor (load sensor)
16: Electric motor 17: Electric motor

Claims (6)

A device capable of adjusting the longitudinal and vertical positions of the steering wheel based on an instruction from the operation input means, having a longitudinal position adjustment drive mechanism and a vertical position adjustment drive mechanism both using the electric motor as a drive source. And
The operation input means is
A recess formed on an inner surface of a rim portion of the steering wheel, in which each thumb is placed when the left and right positions of the rim portion in the steering wheel in a straight-ahead state are held;
A first sensor for detecting a load applied to an upper portion of the recess by the thumb placed in the recess;
A second sensor for detecting a load applied to a rear side portion of the rim by at least a forefinger or a middle finger with the thumb placed in the recess;
A third sensor that detects a load applied to the front side portion of the rim by the base equivalent of the thumb on the palm side with the thumb placed in the recess;
A fourth sensor for detecting a load applied to the rear side portion of the rim by at least the ring finger or the little finger with the thumb placed in the recess;
A position adjusting device for a steering wheel, comprising: In addition to the above operation input means,
When a load in the longitudinal or vertical direction is applied to adjust the position of the steering wheel while holding the lateral position of the rim portion in the steering wheel, the longitudinal or vertical load based on the detection output of each sensor Control means for identifying a direction and providing a drive command to at least one of the longitudinal position adjustment drive mechanism and the vertical position adjustment drive mechanism according to the identified load direction. The position adjustment device of the steering wheel as described in. Identification of the load direction in the above control means is
When the sum of the detection outputs of the first sensor and the third sensor is larger than the sum of the detection outputs of the second sensor and the fourth sensor, the forward direction,
When the sum of the detection outputs of the first sensor and the third sensor is smaller than the sum of the detection outputs of the second sensor and the fourth sensor,
And the upper direction when the sum of the detection output of the first sensor and the second sensor is greater than the sum of the detection output of the third sensor and the fourth sensor,
And downward when the sum of the detection output of the first sensor and the second sensor is smaller than the sum of the detection output of the third sensor and the fourth sensor,
The position adjustment device for the steering wheel according to claim 2, wherein the respective devices are identified.   If the difference between the sum of one detected output whose magnitude relation is compared and the sum of the other detected output is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold value, it is determined that the load direction is the specific one. The position adjustment device of a steering wheel according to claim 3, characterized in that:   In the control means, a sum of detection outputs of the first sensor and the third sensor, a sum of detection outputs of the second sensor and the fourth sensor, a sum of detection outputs of the first sensor and the second sensor, and If the sum of the detection outputs of the third sensor and the fourth sensor is equal to or greater than a preset value, it is determined that the steering wheel is correctly grasped at the left and right positions of the rim portion The position adjustment device of the steering wheel according to claim 4 characterized by the above-mentioned. Each of the above sensors is a load sensor of piezoelectric element type, and
At least a rim portion of the steering wheel including the recess is composed of a base and a skin material covering the surface,
The steering wheel position adjusting apparatus according to claim 5, wherein each of the sensors is interposed between the base of the rim portion and the skin material.

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