JP7302546B2 - steering gear - Google Patents

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a steering apparatus equipped with a steering wheel that rotates about a steering center axis in order to steer the steered wheels of a vehicle. The present invention relates to a steering device provided with a display for guidance display.

A conventional steering device includes a steering wheel that rotates about a steering center axis in order to steer the steered wheels of a vehicle. a steering unit provided with a grip portion that is gripped during steering on an edge side radially away from the central axis; Some have been configured to have a display unit that is capable of displaying the image (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 to 3). In these steering devices, when the vehicle is automatically driven, a display section provided in the steering section of the steering wheel lights up so as to guide the steering direction of the steered wheels of the vehicle (see, for example, Patent Document 1). Alternatively, according to the guidance of the navigation system, the display section provided on the steering section of the steering wheel lights up so as to guide the turning direction of the steered wheels of the vehicle (see Patent Documents 2 and 3, for example).

International Application Publication No. 2015-145674 JP-A-2004-148911 Japanese Patent Publication No. 2006-521954

However, in the conventional steering apparatus, although the display unit of the steering unit causes a single light source portion to emit light or causes the light source portions arranged side by side to emit light sequentially, only near the front side around the steering central axis, or , and only near one side of an area extending in the steering direction from the front side of the steering center axis. Therefore, when the light is on, if the driver is not consciously directing his/her line of sight to only one area of the lighting area, the driver may miss it and may find it difficult to determine the guidance direction. There is room for improvement in terms of intuitively recognizing and smoothly transmitting to the driver.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to solve the above-described problems and to provide a steering system capable of smoothly transmitting guidance of a steering direction to a driver.

A steering device according to the present invention includes a steering wheel that rotates about a steering center axis in order to steer steered wheels of a vehicle,
the handle is
a central portion on the side of the steering central axis;
a steering portion connected to the central portion and provided with a gripping portion to be gripped during steering on an edge side radially away from the steering center axis;
and
A steering device comprising a display unit that lights up so as to guide the steering direction of the steerable wheels in the steering unit,
The display units that can be turned on in accordance with the steering direction are provided in regions on both the left and right sides of the steering unit with the steering center axis interposed therebetween,
The display units on both the left and right sides are lit together in a mutual lighting manner as a lighting manner for guiding and displaying the rotation direction of the steering unit corresponding to the steering direction.

In the steering apparatus according to the present invention, when the steering direction is guided, the display units arranged on both left and right sides of the steering unit with the steering center axis therebetween guide the rotation direction of the steering unit corresponding to the steering direction. , and are lit up. That is, since the display units are lit at two locations on both sides of the steering unit with the steering center axis in between, and as a mode corresponding to the steering direction, respectively, it is possible to vaguely and simply look ahead. Even a person can intuitively perceive the steering direction by visualizing at least one side or vaguely visualizing both sides by being alerted by the lighting of the display parts on both sides. .

Therefore, in the steering apparatus according to the present invention, guidance of the steering direction can be smoothly transmitted to the driver by lighting the display units on both the left and right sides.

Further, in the steering apparatus according to the present invention, the display units on the left and right sides of the steering unit are configured by arranging a plurality of lighting units that can be switched between a lighting state and a lighting state, respectively. preferably, the plurality of lighting sections are switched between a lighting state and a non-lighting state so as to guide and display the rotation direction of the steering section corresponding to the steering direction.

With such a configuration, when the steering direction is guided, the left and right display units light up so that the lighted portions and the unlit portions of the respective lighting portions are turned on in opposite directions on the left and right sides of the steering center axis. The driver can easily visually recognize and intuitively recognize the rotation direction of the steering portion corresponding to the steering direction by the lighting modes of the lighting portions on both the left and right sides. Guidance can be smoothly transmitted to the driver.

In this case, the display units on the left and right sides of the steering unit each include a lateral lighting portion extending in the horizontal direction, and an upper lighting portion and a lower lighting portion extending vertically from the lateral lighting portion. being
The lighting mode for guiding and displaying the rotation direction of the steering portion corresponding to the steering direction is such that the side lighting portion is lit, and the corresponding upper lighting portion and the lower lighting portion are lit and extinguished. It is desirable that the state is set to the state.

With such a configuration, when the upper lighting portion or the lower lighting portion extending from the side lighting portion is lit, the upper lighting portion and the lower lighting portion to be lit are in a lighting manner like an arrow extending from the side lighting portion. As a result, the direction of rotation of the steering portion corresponding to the direction of steering can be more easily recognized, and the guidance of the direction of steering can be more smoothly transmitted to the driver.

In this case, each of the lateral lighting portions of the display portions on both the left and right sides is formed in a straight line along the left-right direction, and the extension lines to the steering center axis side are aligned above the steering center axis. It is desirable that the

In such a configuration, the lateral lighting portions of the display portions on both the left and right sides are arranged along the diametrical direction about the steering central axis. At both ends, along with the predetermined upper lighting section and lower lighting section of the display section, the side lighting sections are lit along the direction of rotation about the steering central axis, so that the rotation of the steering section corresponding to the steering direction is controlled. The direction can be more easily recognized, and the steering direction guidance can be more smoothly transmitted to the driver.

In the steering apparatus having the display section including the side lighting section, the side lighting sections of the display section on both the left and right sides correspond to lighting of the upper lighting section and the lower lighting section. In some cases, it is desirable that the lamp is divided into upper and lower horizontal lighting portions and lower horizontal lighting portions that are correspondingly lit.

In such a configuration, when the upper lighting section and the lower lighting section respectively light up, the horizontal upper lighting section and the lower horizontal lighting section, which are divided into upper and lower sides, also light up in the horizontal lighting section. The lighting state and the lighting-out state can be distinguished by the side lighting portion itself, and the steering direction guidance function of the lighting portion can be improved.

In this case, the upper lateral lighting portion and the lower lateral lighting portion of the lateral lighting portions on both the left and right sides are positioned so that the intersection of the upper lighting portion and the lower lighting portion is the steering portion of the steering portion. It is desirable to arrange them on the edge side away from the central axis.

In such a configuration, when the upper lighting portion or the lower lighting portion is lit, the upper lighting portion or the lower lighting portion is turned on along the direction of rotation to be guided from the edge side of the lateral upper lighting portion or the lateral lower lighting portion farthest from the steering center axis. Since the part or the lower lighting part lights up, guidance in the direction of rotation can be displayed in the circumferential direction with a large radius on the outer edge side of the steering part. Suitable for transmission.

In the steering device according to the present invention, the steering wheel is connected to a drive mechanism that rotates around the steering center axis according to the steering direction of the steered wheels during automatic operation of the vehicle,
The display unit may be configured to light up in response to rotation of the handle by the drive mechanism.

With such a configuration, when the vehicle is automatically driven, the steering unit itself is steered in a predetermined rotational direction together with the lighting of the display unit, so that the steering direction of the steered wheels can be more appropriately transmitted to the driver. can do.

In this case, when the drive mechanism sets the steering angle of the steering wheel in the left-right direction to within a range of 20° or less, and the steering angle of the steered wheels is close to the maximum steering angle, the automatic operation is performed. When the vehicle is automatically driven at a small steering angle of the steerable wheels, it is desirable to rotate the steering wheel at a steering angle with a correspondingly large ratio.

In such a configuration, the steering angle of the steering wheel is set within a range of ±20°, and although the steering angle is smaller than the steering angle corresponding to the actual steering angle in most cases, the angle is close to the maximum steering angle. When the vehicle is automatically driven at a small steering angle of the steerable wheels, the steering wheel is rotationally driven at a steering angle with a correspondingly increased ratio. That is, in the case of a large steering angle, the steering angle is not set to a large steering angle corresponding to the large steering angle, but is set to a relatively small steering angle within 20° so as to suppress the steering direction within a range in which guidance can be provided. When the steering angle is small, the steering angle is relatively small so that the steering direction can be reliably guided. When the steering angle is large (for example, the steering angle is set to about 4 to 6 degrees or more), the steering direction can be indicated along with the lighting of the display unit. , the steering unit can be rotated to more preferably transmit to the driver.

In this case, the steering portion of the steering wheel may not have a substantially annular shape, but may have a substantially rectangular shape with a lateral width larger than a longitudinal width when viewed from above.

With such a configuration, when the steering wheel is steered during automatic driving, if the steering wheel is deformed and has a large width in the left-right direction, the rotation corresponding to the steering direction can be easily visually recognized. Transmission becomes smoother. In addition, since the steering angle of the steering wheel is within the range of ±20°, when the steering unit rotates corresponding to the maximum steering angle, even if the steering wheel is long in the left-right direction, the steering wheel will not reach the driver's knees. There is no risk of interference with

Further, in this case, it is desirable that at least one of the front and rear edges of the steering portion is a substantially straight linear edge along the left-right direction.

With such a configuration, the rotation of the steering section can be easily visually recognized by the rotation of the linear edge portion, and the transmission of the steering direction becomes smoother.

1 is a plan view showing a handle of a steering device according to one embodiment of the present invention; FIG. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS It is the schematic explaining the steering system which uses the steering apparatus of embodiment. FIG. 4 is a plan view showing a lighting state of the display portion of the steering wheel of the embodiment; FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a steering angle of a steering unit corresponding to a turning angle during automatic driving in the embodiment; FIG. 4 is a plan view showing a lighting state of the display portion of the steering wheel of the embodiment, and is a plan view showing the steering wheel when the turning angle is larger than the state shown in FIG. 3 ; It is a top view which shows the modification of the display part of the steering wheel of embodiment. FIG. 11 is a plan view showing still another modified example of the display portion of the steering wheel; FIG. 11 is a plan view showing still another modified example of the display portion of the steering wheel;

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIGS. 10 and a steering control unit 53 . The steering system 75 includes the steering device 55 and the steering device 70 . The steering system 75 is not of a mechanical type when steering a steering wheel 14 (described later) of the steering device 55. A steering control unit 53 of the steering device 55 converts the steering angle of the steering wheel 14 into an electric signal, and the electric signal is converted into an electrical signal. The steering control unit 68 of the input steering device 70 is a steer-by-wire system configured to steer the steered wheels 63 of the vehicle to the corresponding steering angle.

The steering device 70 includes a steering mechanism 60 and a steering control section 68 . The steering mechanism 60 includes a steering actuator 61 including an electric motor and a speed reducer whose operation is controlled by a steering control unit 68, a steering gear 62, steered wheels 63, a steering rod 64, and tie rods. 65 , a knuckle arm 66 and a steering angle sensor 67 . In this steering mechanism 60, the output shaft of the steering actuator 61 rotates, the steering gear 62 converts the rotation of the steering actuator 61 into linear motion of the steering rod 64, and the steering rod 64 linearly moves. However, through the tie rod 65 and the knuckle arm 66, the steerable wheels 63 are steered in a predetermined steering direction. In the steering device 70, the steering control unit 68 receives a signal from the steering control unit 53 corresponding to the steering angle of the steering wheel 14 in the steering device 55, controls the operation of the steering actuator 61, While receiving the detection signal from the steering angle sensor 67, the steered wheels 63 are steered to a predetermined steering angle.

In the embodiment, the steering angle of the steerable wheels 63 is set to 30° left and right at maximum, and the steering angle of the steering wheel 14 steered by the driver is set to 90° left and right.

The steering device 55 includes the steering mechanism 10 and the steering control section 53 as described above. The steering mechanism 10 is rotatably supported by a shaft support (not shown) in front of the driver's seat of the vehicle. 14, a steering angle sensor 43 connected to the steering shaft 12 and capable of detecting the steering direction and the steering angle, reaction force detection means 45 detecting torque applied to the steering shaft 12 during steering, and steering wheel 14 during steering. and a reaction force actuator 47 that applies a reaction force to the steering shaft 12 .

In the case of the embodiment, the reaction force actuator 47 includes an electric motor and a speed reducer, and is operated by the driver by gripping the steering wheel 14 at different gripping positions (positions at different distances from the steering shaft 12). A reaction force can be applied to the steering shaft 12 so that the steering shaft 12 can be operated with the same force. In order to detect the gripping position, the steering portion 18 of the steering wheel 14 is provided with a gripping detection sensor 28 such as a touch sensor. The operation of the reaction force actuator 47 is controlled by determining the distance of the gripping position from the steering shaft 12 . By the way, if a gripping portion 26 (L, R), which will be described later, is gripped, a reaction force during normal mechanical steering is applied. When the connecting portion 21 is gripped and steered, the gripping position is closer to the steering shaft 12 than the gripping portion 26, making it difficult to turn. The adjustment is made so as to reduce the reaction force acting on the reaction force actuator 47 .

In the case of the embodiment, during automatic operation of the vehicle, the reaction force actuator 47 also serves as the drive actuator 49 of the drive mechanism 51 that rotates the steering wheel 14 in correspondence with the steering direction of the steered wheels 63. there is That is, during automatic operation of the vehicle, the drive actuator 49 as the reaction force actuator 47 is operated under the control of the steering control unit 53, and the steering wheel 14 is rotationally driven at a predetermined steering angle, as will be described later. becomes.

The steering wheel 14 of the steering device 55 rotates around a steering shaft (steering central axis C) 12 so as to steer the steered wheels 63. and a steering portion 18 provided with grip portions 26 (L, R) to be gripped at the time of steering on an edge side that is connected and radially away from the steering shaft 12 . The steering portion 18 includes left and right grip portions 26 (L, R) and a connecting portion 21 that connects the central portion 16 and the grip portions 26 .

The connecting portion 21 includes front side portions 22 ( 22 L, 22 R) and rear side portions 23 ( 23 L, 23 R) extending left and right from the front edge side and the rear edge side of the central portion 16 . The front edge of the front side portion 22 is a linear edge portion 24 extending substantially linearly in the left-right direction.

The left and right gripping portions 26L and 26R are substantially bar-shaped extending in the front-rear direction and are substantially parallel to each other. It has a rear opening. When viewed from above, the steering portion 18 of the embodiment has a substantially rectangular ring shape with a width dimension HL in the left-right direction larger than the width dimension LL in the front-rear direction. It is circular.

The steering unit 18 of the embodiment is provided with display units 30 (L, R) that are lit to guide the steering direction of the steerable wheels 63 . The display units 30L and 30R are arranged in areas on both the left and right sides of the steering unit 18 with the steering center axis C interposed therebetween, in the case of the embodiment, near the centers of the grip units 26L and 26R in the front-rear direction. Specifically, the grip portion 26L. A raised portion 26a projecting toward the steering center axis C side (inner peripheral side) is disposed near the center of 26R in the front-rear direction. Display portions 30 (L, R) are arranged so as to extend.

The left and right display portions 30L and 30R each include a lateral lighting portion 31 extending in the lateral direction, and an upper lighting portion 35 and a lower lighting portion 36 extending vertically from the lateral lighting portion 31. there is Furthermore, the lateral lighting portions 31 on both the left and right sides are linear in the left-right direction, and are arranged so that the extension line X to the steering center axis C side coincides above the steering center axis C. there is

Further, in the case of the embodiment, the horizontal lighting section 31 is arranged so that the horizontal upper lighting section 32 and the horizontal lower lighting section 32 are lit correspondingly when the upper lighting section 35 and the lower lighting section 36 are lit respectively. 33 are divided into upper and lower halves and arranged. The upper lateral lighting portion 32 and the lower lateral lighting portion 33 are arranged so that the intersection of the upper lighting portion 35 and the lower lighting portion 36 is located on the side of an edge (outer edge) 31 a away from the steering center axis C of the steering portion 18 . are placed in the The extension line X is configured to pass through the boundary portion between the horizontal upper lighting portion 32 and the horizontal lower lighting portion 33 .

Further, these lighting units 32, 33, 35, and 36 can be switched between a lighting state and a non-lighting state. It is configured to be lit by one light source (LED). Of course, each of the lighting units 32, 33, 34, and 35 may be configured to be lit by arranging one LED or a plurality of LEDs.

In the case of the embodiment, the left display unit 30L has an upper left lighting unit 38 that lights in an L shape and is composed of an upper lighting unit 35 and a lateral upper lighting unit 32. and a lower left lighting portion 39 which is composed of the lower lighting portion 36 and the horizontal lower lighting portion 33 and lights up in an upside down L-shape. The right display portion 30R is composed of an L-shaped upper right lighting portion 40 that is left-right reversed and is composed of an upper lighting portion 35 and a lateral upper lighting portion 32, and a lower lighting portion 36 and a lateral lower lighting portion 33. and a lower right lighting portion 41 which is inverted horizontally and vertically so that the L-shape is point symmetrical. The upper left lighting portion 38 and the upper right lighting portion 40 are symmetrical with respect to a straight line passing through the steering shaft 12 in the front-rear direction. It is symmetrical with respect to the straight line along the . Further, the upper left lighting portion 38 and the lower left lighting portion 39 are arranged such that the outer edges 38a and 39a are connected in a substantially straight line and inclined along the grip portion 26L. The lighting portion 41 is also disposed such that the outer edges 40a and 41a are connected substantially linearly and inclined along the grip portion 26R. In addition, the tip ends 38b, 39b, 40b, and 41b of the upper left lighting portion 38, the lower left lighting portion 39, the upper right lighting portion 40, and the lower right lighting portion 41 extend in the vertical direction, and the inner ends 38c, 38c extend toward the steering shaft 12. 39c, 40c and 41c are tapered.

In the case of the embodiment, the light emission color of the light source is set so that the surrounding color of the display section 30 in the steering section 18 is black, and the color is blue so as to be easily visible. The cover 37 covering the light sources of the lighting units 38, 39, 40, and 41 is made black so as to be equivalent to the surrounding black when the lights are turned off, so that the light sources can pass through when the light is emitted. , and a border 37a of a bright color such as white. Of course, the color of the emitted light and the color of the cover 37 are not limited to blue, and various colors can be adopted as long as they are easy for the driver to visually recognize when the light is on.

The lighting units 32, 33, 35, 36 (38, 39, 40, 41) are lit under the control of the steering control unit 53, and their lighting modes are determined according to the steering direction. The lighting mode is such that the direction of rotation of the portion 18 can be indicated. Specifically, the display units 30L and 30R are configured to switch the lighting units 31 (32, 33), 35, and 36 between the lighting state and the lighting state along the direction around the steering center axis C. Lighting units 31 (32, 33) and 35 are arranged so that they are lit up and down oppositely on both sides of the steering center axis C (in the embodiment, point-symmetrical about the steering center axis C). , 36 are switched between a lighting state and a non-lighting state.

For example, when the steered wheels 63 are steered to face left, as shown in A and B of FIG. That is, the upper right lighting section 40 and the lower left lighting section 39 are turned on, and the other lower right lighting section 41 and the upper left lighting section 38 are turned off. Conversely, when the steered wheels 63 are steered to face rightward, as shown in FIGS. That is, the upper left lighting section 38 and the lower right lighting section 41 are turned on, and the lower left lighting section 39 and the upper right lighting section 40 are turned off.

Furthermore, in the case of the embodiment, the display units 30 (L, R) are lit and the steering unit 18 of the steering wheel 14 is driven to rotate corresponding to the steering direction of the steerable wheels 63 during automatic operation of the vehicle. , the steering direction of the steerable wheels 63 is guided to the driver or the like who takes his or her hands off the steering wheel 14 .

In the case of the embodiment, when the vehicle is driven automatically, both the steering device 50 and the steering device 70 of the steering system 75 are controlled by the operation of the automatic driving control means 80 . In the steering device 70, the steering control unit 68 that receives the control signal from the automatic driving control means 80 operates the steering mechanism 60 to steer the steered wheels 63 in a predetermined direction. Further, in the steering device 55, the steering control unit 53 that receives the control signal of the automatic driving control means 80 operates the drive actuator 49 of the drive mechanism 51 in accordance with the steering direction of the steered wheels 63, and displays the display unit. 30 (L, R) are lit.

That is, in the case of the embodiment, the steering control unit 53 of the steering device 55 operates the drive mechanism 51 to rotate the steering wheel 14 according to the steering direction and steering angle of the steered wheels 63 . However, in the case of the embodiment, the maximum steering angle of the steered wheels 63 is 30°. As for the steering angle to be driven corresponding to the steering angle during driving, in the case of the embodiment, the drive mechanism 51 sets the steering angle of the steering wheel 14 within a range of ±20° in the left-right direction. Further, the drive mechanism 51 may steer the steering angle in direct proportion within the range of 0 to 20 degrees, corresponding to the steering angle range of 0 to 30 degrees in the left-right direction. However, in the case of the embodiment, when automatic operation is performed with the steered angle of the steered wheels 63 being smaller than when the automatic operation is performed with the steered angle of the steered wheels 63 close to the maximum steered angle, The steering wheel is rotationally driven with a steering angle corresponding to a larger ratio.

Specifically, as shown in FIG. 4, even if the turning angle θs during automatic driving increases substantially proportionally from 0 to 30°, the steering angle θh is 2°. , the steering angle rapidly increases to about 4 to 6° (preferably about 5°). θh.

In the embodiment, during automatic operation of the vehicle, when the steering device 70 is operated by the automatic operation control means 80 and the steered wheels 63 are steered leftward by about 10° at the steering angle θs, By the operation of the drive mechanism 51 of the steering device 50 by the automatic driving control means 80 so as to guide the steering direction, the steering wheel 14 is adjusted to the leftward steering angle θh as shown in FIGS. It rotates to the left by about 12°, and the lighting sections 32 and 35 of the display section 30R and the lighting sections 33 and 36 of the display section 30L, that is, the upper right lighting section 40 and the lower left lighting section 39 light up, Then, with the lower right lighting portion 41 and the upper left lighting portion 38 turned off, the steered direction of the steered wheels 63 to the left is guided.

Conversely, when the steering device 70 is actuated by the automatic driving control means 80 and the steered wheels 63 are steered rightward by the steering angle θs of 10°, the steering direction is guided. Due to the operation of the drive mechanism 51 of the steering device 50 by the automatic driving control means 80, the steering wheel 14 rotates rightward at a rightward steering angle θh of about 12°, as shown in FIGS. 5A and 5C. Further, the lighting portions 32 and 35 of the display portion 30L and the lighting portions 33 and 36 of the display portion 30R, that is, the upper left lighting portion 38 and the lower right lighting portion 41 are lit, and the lower left lighting portion 39 and the upper right lighting are lit. 40 are turned off, the steered direction of the steered wheels 63 to the right is guided.

As described above, in the steering device 55 of the embodiment, when the steering direction is guided, the lighting portions 41 of the display portions 30 (L, R) arranged on both left and right sides of the steering portion 18 with the steering center axis C interposed therebetween are displayed. , 38 or the lighting portions 40 and 39 are lit together so as to guide the rotation direction of the steering portion 18 corresponding to the steering direction. That is, since the display units 30 (L, R) are lit at two locations on both sides of the steering unit 18 with the steering center axis C interposed therebetween and corresponding to the steering direction, vaguely, Even the driver who is simply looking forward is alerted by the lighting of the display parts 30 (L, R) on both sides, and at least one side is visible, or both sides are vaguely visible. Thus, the steering direction can be intuitively recognized.

Therefore, in the steering device 55 of the embodiment, guidance of the steering direction can be smoothly transmitted to the driver by turning on the left and right display units 30 (L.R).

In the embodiment, the display units 30 (L, R) on the left and right sides of the steering unit 18 are respectively a plurality of lighting units 31 (32, 33), 35, 36 ( 38, 39, 40, 41) are arranged, and a plurality of lighting portions 31 (32, 33 ), 35, 36 (38, 39, 40, 41) are switched between the lit state and the extinguished state.

Therefore, in the embodiment, when guiding the steering direction, the left and right display units 30 (L, R) are displayed on the left and right sides of the steering center axis C, respectively, with the respective lighting units 31 (32, 33), 35, 36 (38, 39, 40, 41) are turned on in opposite directions (see FIGS. 3 and 5), so that the driver can The rotation direction of the steering portion 18 corresponding to the steering direction can be easily visually recognized and intuitively recognized, so that guidance of the steering direction can be more smoothly transmitted to the driver.

In this case, in the embodiment, the display portions 30 (L, R) on the left and right sides of the steering portion 18 are respectively composed of a lateral lighting portion 31 extending in the lateral direction and an upper lighting portion 35 extending vertically from the lateral lighting portion 31. and a lower lighting portion 36, and the lighting mode for guiding and displaying the rotation direction of the steering portion 18 corresponding to the steering direction is the state in which the side lighting portion 31 is lit, and the corresponding upper side lighting portion 36 is lit. The lighting part 35 and the lower lighting part 36 are set to be in a lighting state and a non-lighting state (see FIGS. 3 and 5).

Therefore, in the embodiment, when the upper lighting portion 35 or the lower lighting portion 36 extending from the side lighting portion 31 is lit, the upper lighting portion 35 and the lower lighting portion 36 that are lit extend from the side lighting portion 31. The arrow-like lighting mode makes it easier to recognize the rotation direction of the steering unit 18 corresponding to the steering direction, so that the guidance of the steering direction can be more smoothly transmitted to the driver. can.

In this case, in the embodiment, the lateral lighting portions 31 (32, 33) of the display portions 30 (L, R) on both the left and right sides are linear along the left-right direction, and extend toward the steering center axis C side. It is arranged so that the extension line X coincides with the steering center axis C above.

Therefore, in the embodiment, the lateral lighting portions 31 (32, 33) of the left and right display portions 30 (L, R) are arranged along the diameter direction about the steering center axis C. At both ends in the diametrical direction centering on the steering central axis C, predetermined upper lighting portions 35 and lower lighting portions of the display portion 30 (L, R) are arranged along the direction of rotation about the steering central axis C. 36, the side lighting portion lights up, so that the direction of rotation of the steering portion 18 corresponding to the steering direction can be more easily recognized, and guidance of the steering direction can be more smoothly transmitted to the driver. can be made

Further, in the embodiment, each of the lateral lighting portions 31 in the display portions 30 (L, R) on both the left and right sides is lit correspondingly when the upper lighting portion 35 and the lower lighting portion 36 are lit. An upper lighting portion 32 and a laterally lower lighting portion 33 are vertically divided into two and arranged.

Therefore, in the embodiment, when the upper lighting section 35 and the lower lighting section 36 are respectively lit, the horizontal lighting section 31 is also divided into two upper and lower horizontal lighting sections 32 and 33. Since the light is on, the lighted state and the lighted state can be distinguished by the side lighting portion 31 itself, and the steering direction guidance function of the lighting portions 32, 33, 35, and 36 can be improved.

In this case, in the embodiment, the horizontal upper lighting portion 32 and the horizontal lower lighting portion 33 of the horizontal lighting portions 31 on both the left and right sides are positioned at the intersection of the upper lighting portion 35 and the lower lighting portion 36 at the steering portion. 18 on the edge 31a side away from the steering center axis C. As shown in FIG.

Therefore, in the embodiment, when the upper lighting portion 35 or the lower lighting portion 36 is lit, the guiding rotation is performed from the edge 31a side of the lateral upper lighting portion 32 or the lateral lower lighting portion 33, which is the farthest from the steering center axis C. Since the upper lighting portion 35 or the lower lighting portion 36 is lit along the direction (see FIGS. 3 and 5), guidance in the direction of rotation is displayed in the circumferential direction with a large radius on the outer edge 18a side of the steering portion 18. As a result, it becomes easier to visually grasp, and it is suitable for transmitting the guiding direction.

In the steering device 55 of the embodiment, the steering wheel 14 is connected to the drive mechanism 51 that rotates about the steering center axis C according to the steering direction of the steered wheels 63 during automatic operation of the vehicle. , display portions 30 (L, R) are configured to light up according to the rotation of the handle 14 by the drive mechanism 51 (see FIGS. 3 and 5).

Therefore, in the embodiment, when the vehicle is automatically driven, the steering unit 18 itself is also steered in a predetermined rotation direction in conjunction with lighting of the display units 30 (L, R), so that the steering direction of the steerable wheels 63 is changed to More preferably, it can be transmitted to the driver.

In particular, in the embodiment, the drive mechanism 51 sets the steering angle θh of the steering wheel 14 in the left-right direction within a range of 20° or less, and the steering angle θs of the steered wheels 63 is close to the maximum steering angle. When the vehicle is automatically driven at a smaller steering angle θs of the steerable wheels 63 than when the vehicle is automatically driven, the steering wheel 14 is driven to rotate with the corresponding steering angle θh increased.

Therefore, in the embodiment, the steering angle θh of the steering wheel 14 is set within a range of ±20°, and in most cases, the steering angle θh is smaller than the steering angle θh corresponding to the actual turning angle θs, but the maximum turning angle θh is obtained. Compared to automatic driving at an angle close to the steering angle θs, when automatic driving is performed at a small steering angle θs of the steerable wheels 63, the steering wheel 14 is rotated at a steering angle θh with a correspondingly increased ratio. driven. That is, when the steering angle θs is large, the steering angle θh is not large corresponding to the large steering angle θs. As the steering angle θh, the steering direction is indicated along with lighting of the display section 30 (L, R). In order to reliably guide the steering direction, the display unit 30 (L, R ) is lit, the steering direction of the steering angle θs during automatic driving can be more preferably transmitted to the driver by rotating the steering section 18 .

In the case of the embodiment, the steering angle θs is about 2°, the steering angle θh of the steering wheel 14 driven by the drive mechanism 51 is about 5°, the steering angle θs is about 10°, and the drive mechanism 51 The steering angle θh of the steering wheel 14 driven by is assumed to be about 12°. , the steering angle θh gradually increases up to the maximum steering angle of 20°.

Of course, the steering angle θh of the steering wheel 14 by the driving mechanism 51 may be increased in direct proportion to the increase in the turning angle θs.

Furthermore, the steering angle θh of the steering wheel 14 by the drive mechanism 51 may be set to a constant value, for example, 5°, corresponding to the turning direction regardless of the increase or decrease of the turning angle θs.

Further, in the embodiment, the steering portion 18 of the steering wheel 14 does not have a substantially annular shape, but has a substantially rectangular shape in which the lateral width HL is larger than the longitudinal width LL when viewed from above.

Therefore, when the steering wheel 14 is steered in automatic driving, the steering wheel 14 is deformed with a large lateral width HL, so that the rotation corresponding to the steering direction can be easily visually recognized, and the steering direction can be transmitted. is smoother. Further, since the steering angle θh of the steering wheel 14 is within the range of ±20°, when the steering portion 18 rotates corresponding to the maximum steering angle θs (see the two-dot chain line in A of FIG. 5), Even if the steering wheel 14 is very long, there is no danger that the steering wheel 14 will interfere with the driver's knees or the like.

Furthermore, in the case of the embodiment, at least one of the front and rear front edge sides of the steering portion 18 is formed as a substantially linear linear edge portion 24 extending in the left-right direction.

Therefore, in the embodiment, the rotation of the steering portion 18 can be easily visually recognized by the rotation of the linear edge portion 24, and the steering direction can be transmitted more smoothly.

Note that the linear edge portion may be provided on the trailing edge side of the steering portion.

Further, in the steering device 55 of the embodiment, a case has been described in which the display units 30 (L, R) are turned on during automatic driving. may be turned on to guide the steered direction of the steered wheels 63 .

In this case, the display unit 30 (L, R) is turned on.

6 and 7, display portions 30A (L, R) and 30B (L, R) may be configured.

The display portion 30A (L, R) shown in FIG. 6 includes a lateral lighting portion 31A, and an upper lighting portion 35A and a lower lighting portion 36A which are arranged vertically apart from the lateral lighting portion 31A. ing. When guiding the steering direction to the left, as shown in A and B of FIG. The upper lighting portion 35A is lit, and the upper lighting portion 35A of the display portion 30AL and the lower lighting portion 36A of the display portion 30AR are turned off. When guiding the steering direction to the right, as shown in FIGS. 6A and 6C, the side lighting portion 31A and the upper side lighting portion 35A of the display portion 30AL and the side lighting portion 30AR of the display portion 30AL are turned on in reverse to the above. 31A and the lower lighting portion 36A are turned on, and the lower lighting portion 36A of the display portion 30AL and the upper lighting portion 35A of the display portion 30AR are turned off.

The display portion 30B (L, R) shown in FIG. 7 includes a lateral lighting portion 31B, an upper lighting portion 35B arranged so as to be continuous with the lateral lighting portion 31B, and a lower lighting portion 36B. In addition, the horizontal upper lighting portion 32B and the horizontal lower lighting portion 33b of the horizontal lighting portion 31B are not separated by the border 37a. When the leftward steering direction is guided, as shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, the lower left lighting portion composed of the lower side lighting portion 33B and the lower side lighting portion 36B of the side lighting portion 31B of the display portion 30BL. 39B, and an upper right lighting section 40B consisting of the horizontal upper lighting section 32B and the upper lighting section 35B of the horizontal lighting section 31B of the display section 30BR are lit, and the horizontal upper lighting of the horizontal lighting section 31B of the display section 30BL is lit. An upper left lighting portion 38B consisting of a portion 32B and an upper lighting portion 35B, and a lower right lighting portion 41B consisting of a horizontal lower lighting portion 33B and a lower lighting portion 36B of the horizontal lighting portion 31B of the display portion 30BR are turned off. It will be done. When guiding the steering direction to the right, as shown in FIGS. 7A and 7C, the upper left lighting portion 32B and the upper side lighting portion 35B of the side lighting portion 31B of the display portion 30BL are turned on opposite to the above. A portion 38B and a lower right lighting portion 41B composed of a horizontal lower lighting portion 33B and a lower lighting portion 36B of the horizontal lighting portion 31B of the display portion 30BR are lit, and the horizontal lighting portion 31B of the display portion 30BL is lit. A lower left lighting portion 39 consisting of a lower lateral lighting portion 33B and a lower lighting portion 36B, and an upper right lighting portion 40B consisting of an upper lateral lighting portion 32B and an upper lighting portion 35B of the lateral lighting portion 31B of the display portion 30BR, will turn off.

Furthermore, the display section provided on the steering wheel may be arranged at a position separated from the grip section of the steering section. For example, a display section 30C (L, R) provided on a steering section 18C of a steering wheel 14C of a steering device 55C shown in FIG. 8 may be used. In this case, the display portion 30C (L, R) extends from the left and right sides of the front edge side of the steering portion 18, that is, from the upper end of the grip portion 26 (L, R) to the front side portion 22 (L, R) of the connecting portion 21. are arranged. The left display portion 30CL is composed of an upper left lighting portion 38C on the front side portion 22L side and a left lower lighting portion 39C on the grip portion 26L side, which are adjacent to each other and tapered toward the tip side. The right display portion 30CR is composed of an upper right lighting portion 40C on the front side portion 22R side and a lower right lighting portion 41C on the grip portion 26R side, which are adjacent to each other and tapered toward the distal end side.

In the steering wheel 14C, when the leftward steering direction is guided, as shown in FIGS. The upper left lighting portion 38C of 30CL and the lower right lighting portion 41C of the display portion 30CR are turned off. 8A and 8C, the upper left lighting section 38C of the display section 30CL and the lower right lighting section 41C of the display section 30CR light up, and the display section 30CR lights up. The lower left lighting portion 39C of 30CL and the upper right lighting portion 40C of the display portion 30CR are turned off.

In this steering wheel 14C, the display portion 30C (L, R) is arranged at a position separated from the grip portion 26 (L, R) of the steering portion 18C, so that the driver can ), the steering direction can be guided. Of course, considering the case of automatic driving, the display parts 30, 30A, 30B may be arranged in the region of the grip part 26 (L, R) like the steering wheels 14, 14A, 14B.

Reference Signs List 12 Steering shaft 14, 14A, 14B, 14C Steering wheel 16 Center part 18, 18A, 18B, 18C Steering part 24 Linear edge part 26 (L, R) Grasping part 30, 30A, 30B, 30C (L, R) ... display section,
31, 31A, 31B... lateral lighting part 31a... edge 32, 32B... lateral upper lighting part 33, 33B... lateral lower lighting part 35, 35A, 35B... upper lighting part 36, 36A, 36B …lower lighting part,
38, 38B, 38C... upper left lighting section, 39, 39B, 39C... lower left lighting section, 40, 40B, 40C... upper right lighting section, 41, 41B, 41C... lower right lighting section,
49... drive actuator, 51... drive mechanism, 53... steering control section, 55, 55A, 55B, 55C... steering device, 63... steered wheels,
C... steering center axis, HL... width dimension (in the lateral direction of the steering section), LL... width dimension (in the longitudinal direction of the steering section), X... extension line.

Claims (7)

In order to steer the steered wheels of the vehicle, it has a steering wheel that rotates around the steering center axis,
the handle is
a central portion on the steering center axis side;
a steering portion connected to the central portion and provided with a gripping portion to be gripped during steering on an edge side radially away from the steering center axis;
and
A steering device comprising a display unit that lights up so as to guide the steering direction of the steerable wheels in the steering unit,
The display units that can be turned on in accordance with the steering direction are provided in regions on both the left and right sides of the steering unit with the steering center axis interposed therebetween,
The display units on both the left and right sides are lit together in a mutual lighting manner as a lighting manner for guiding and displaying the rotation direction of the steering unit corresponding to the steering direction ,
The display units on the left and right sides of the steering unit are each configured by arranging a plurality of lighting units that can be switched between a lighting state and a non-lighting state, and the lighting mode is set to correspond to the steering direction. The plurality of lighting units are switched between a lighting state and a non-lighting state so as to guide and display the rotation direction of the unit,
The display units on both the left and right sides of the steering unit each include a lateral lighting portion extending in the horizontal direction, and an upper lighting portion and a lower lighting portion extending vertically from the lateral lighting portion, The lighting mode for guiding and displaying the rotation direction of the steering portion corresponding to the steering direction is such that the side lighting portion is lit, and the corresponding upper lighting portion and the lower lighting portion are lit and extinguished. A steering device characterized in that it is in a mode of making a state. The lateral lighting portions of the display portions on both left and right sides are linear in the left-right direction, and are arranged such that the extension lines toward the steering center axis are aligned above the steering center axis. 2. A steering system according to claim 1 , wherein a steering system is provided. Each of the lateral lighting portions in the display portions on both left and right sides is formed into a lateral upper lighting portion and a lateral lower lighting portion that are lit correspondingly when the upper lighting portion and the lower lighting portion are lit respectively. 3. The steering apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the steering apparatus is divided into upper and lower halves. The horizontal upper lighting portion and the horizontal lower lighting portion of the horizontal lighting portions on the left and right sides are arranged so that the intersection of the upper lighting portion and the lower lighting portion is positioned from the steering center axis of the steering portion. 4. A steering system according to claim 3 , characterized in that it is arranged on the remote edge side. In order to steer the steered wheels of the vehicle, it has a steering wheel that rotates around the steering center axis,
the handle is
a central portion on the side of the steering central axis;
a steering portion connected to the central portion and provided with a gripping portion to be gripped during steering on an edge side radially away from the steering center axis;
and
A steering device comprising a display unit that lights up so as to guide the steering direction of the steerable wheels in the steering unit,
The display units that can be turned on in accordance with the steering direction are provided in regions on both the left and right sides of the steering unit with the steering center axis interposed therebetween,
The display units on both the left and right sides are lit together in a mutual lighting manner as a lighting manner for guiding and displaying the rotation direction of the steering unit corresponding to the steering direction,
The steering wheel is configured to be connected to a drive mechanism that is rotationally driven around the steering center axis according to the steering direction of the steered wheels during automatic operation of the vehicle,
the display unit lights up in response to rotation of the handle by the drive mechanism;
Compared to the case where the driving mechanism sets the steering angle of the steering wheel in the left and right direction to within a range of 20° or less, and the steering angle of the steered wheels is close to the maximum steering angle, compared to the case where automatic operation is performed. 2. A steering system, wherein when automatic driving is performed at a small steering angle of said steerable wheels, said steering wheel is rotationally driven at a steering angle with a corresponding increased ratio. 6. The steering apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein the steering portion of the steering wheel has a substantially rectangular shape with a lateral width larger than a longitudinal width when viewed from above. 7. The steering device according to claim 5, wherein at least one of the front and rear edge sides of the steering portion is formed as a substantially straight linear edge along the left-right direction.

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