JPH0223463Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] This invention relates to a turn signal auto-canceller, and more specifically to an electronic turn-signal auto-canceller used in automobiles.

[Conventional technology]

In vehicles, there have been various types of turn signal auto cancellers that automatically cancel the activated turn signal before changing direction, and there are two main types: mechanical and electronic. Can be divided. The electronic type electrically detects the amount of rotation and return of the handle and uses it as a reference for canceller operation, and is relatively reliable in operation. Because there is no foreign body sensation and no operating noise is generated, it is increasingly being adopted in luxury passenger cars.
-107933, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 59-97136, Utility Model Application No. 59-9938, etc. have already been proposed.

[Problem that the invention attempts to solve]

Electronic types require a sensor to determine the amount of rotation and return of the handle, but conventional types use dedicated sensors and process signals from specially designed sensors. This was used as the standard for cancellation. However, since it is a specialized product, the sensor is naturally expensive, and the cost of the entire system is also high, so it is only used in some high-end passenger cars, and its spread to general vehicles has been slow.

Furthermore, the conventional system requires two independent control circuits for the right direction system and the left direction system, making the circuit configuration complicated, high cost, and troublesome adjustment, which results in poor durability and reliability. There were also problems with sexuality.

Further, the sensor is fixed at a predetermined position such as a steering wheel, and the cancel position cannot be freely changed according to the user's preference, so there is no degree of freedom at all.

[Means for solving problems]

This idea is based on the amount of rotation of the steering wheel,
a steering angle sensor that outputs a pulse signal according to the direction of rotation; a pair of gate circuits that receive the signal from the steering angle sensor and pass only a pulse signal in the opposite direction that is generated when the steering wheel is turned back; Consists of a comparison circuit that issues a reset signal and de-energizes the turn signal relay when the number of pulse signals input from the gate circuit and sent when the steering wheel is turned back exceeds a preset value. In the turn signal auto canceller, the above-mentioned conventional problems are solved by providing the comparison circuit with variable operation means for arbitrarily changing the set value.

[Effect]

Among the pulse signals generated from the steering angle sensor in response to the rotation of the steering wheel, only the pulse signal in the opposite direction generated when the steering wheel is turned back passes through the gate circuit, is waveform-shaped in the pulse shaping circuit, and then sent to the comparison circuit. sent to.
Then, this comparison circuit compares the number of pulse signals sent with a preset value set by the variable operation means, and determines that the steering wheel has been turned back when the set value is exceeded. Then, it issues a reset signal, de-energizes the turn signal relay, and cancels the blinking of the turn signal lamp.

〔Example〕

Fig. 1 is a block diagram of an embodiment of an electronic turn signal auto canceler according to this invention, and Fig. 2 is a specific electrical circuit diagram thereof. Detection circuits 2a and 2b are connected, and a pulse signal generated as the steering wheel rotates is sent to the steering wheel rotation direction detection circuits 2a and 2b, so that the direction of rotation is detected. These steering wheel rotation direction detection circuits 2a and 2b use flip-flops, and as shown in FIG. The leftward rotation pulse signal is inputted to the reset input terminal, and the leftward rotation direction detection circuit 2b receives the leftward rotation pulse signal of the steering angle sensor 1 at the set input terminal. but,
A clockwise rotation pulse signal is input to each reset input terminal. In other words, this pair of steering wheel rotation direction detection circuits 2a
and 2b, the pulse signal generated as the steering wheel rotates is divided into clockwise rotation and counterclockwise rotation, and is sent to the next stage circuit. Further, the output terminals of the steering wheel rotation direction detection circuits 2a and 2b are connected to a pair of gate circuits 3a and 3b, respectively, so that the pulse signals separated in the left and right direction by the steering wheel rotation direction detection circuits 2a and 2b are connected to a pair of gate circuits 3a and 3b, respectively. The signals are sent to gate circuits 3a and 3b, respectively. These gate circuits 3a and 3b are composed of AND circuits as shown in FIG.
The rightward gate circuit 3a receives an output signal from a leftward turn signal switch memory circuit 4b, which will be described later, and the leftward gate circuit 3b receives an output signal from a rightward turn signal switch memory circuit 4b. The rightward gate circuit 3a transmits a pulse signal generated when the steering wheel is rotated to the left, that is, a pulse signal when the steering wheel is turned back during a right turn operation, to the leftward gate circuit 3a. circuit 3b
is adapted to pass a pulse signal generated when the steering wheel is rotated to the right, that is, a pulse signal generated when the steering wheel is turned back during a left turn operation.
Further, the output terminals of the pair of gate circuits 3a and 3b are connected to a common pulse shaping circuit 5, so that the waveform of the pulse signal passing through the gate circuit 3a or 3b is shaped. As shown in FIG. 2, this pulse shaping circuit 5 consists of a differentiating circuit and an integrating circuit, and is used to generate a pulse signal having a constant width. A comparator circuit 6 is connected to this pulse shaping circuit 5, which judges whether the sent pulse signal exceeds a preset number of pulses and sends a reset signal when it exceeds the set value. It seems like it's coming out.

This comparator circuit 6 has a capacitor 7b and a variable resistor 7a as shown in FIG. When this occurs, a reset signal is output to cancel the blinking of turn signal lamps 10a and 10b, which will be described later. That is, the cancel position is varied by the variable resistor 7a. On the other hand, 8 in the figure
A is a right turn signal switch, and 8b is a left turn signal switch, which are connected to set input terminals of turn signal switch storage circuits 4a and 4b, respectively. The turn signal switch memory circuits 4a and 4b are comprised of flip-flops, and their reset input terminals are connected to the above-mentioned comparator circuit 6, so that a reset signal is sent from the comparator circuit 6.

Reference numerals 9a and 9b in the figure are a pair of turn signal relays, which receive signals from the turn signal switch memory circuits 4a and 4b to start and cancel the blinking operation of the turn signal lamps 10a and 10b. Note that 11 in the figure is a flasher unit for blinking the turn signal lamps 10a and 10b. Furthermore, 1 in the figure
A reset switch 2 is connected to the reset input terminals of the turn signal switch memory circuits 4a and 4b, so that the blinking of the turn signal lamps 10a and 10b can be manually canceled.

Next, the operation of this electronic turn signal auto canceler will be explained.

To make a right or left turn in a car, first move the car in the direction you want to turn, following the curvature of the road, turn the steering wheel, and after completing the turn, turn the steering wheel back to return to its original position to complete the series of operations. However, to explain the operation using a right turn as an example, when the right turn signal switch 8a is turned on for a right turn, the right turn signal relay 9a is energized and the right turn signal lamp 10a starts blinking. Start. On the other hand, when the driver starts rotating the steering wheel to the right in order to make a right turn, the steering angle sensor 1 starts sending a pulse signal generated by the rightward rotation to the steering wheel rotation direction detection circuits 2a and 2b. In this case, the pulse signal for clockwise rotation is sent to the set input terminal of the right steering wheel rotation direction detection circuit 2a and the reset input terminal of the left steering wheel rotation direction detection circuit 2b, and the pulse signal for left rotation is sent to the left steering wheel rotation direction detection circuit 2a. It is sent to the set input terminal of the steering wheel rotation direction detection circuit 2b and the reset input terminal of the right steering wheel rotation direction detection circuit 2a, respectively, and when a clockwise rotation pulse signal is issued, the right steering wheel rotation direction is detected. A pulse signal is output from the circuit 2a to the gate circuit 3a, but since no signal is sent to the other input terminal of the gate circuit 3a on the right, which is constituted by an AND circuit, the gate remains open. It doesn't happen. Therefore, the pulse signal for clockwise rotation during a right turn is prevented from passing through the gate circuits 3a and 3b. Then, when the steering wheel starts turning back after turning the corner, a pulse signal for counterclockwise rotation is generated, and this pulse signal is sent to the steering wheel rotation direction detection circuit 2b.
This steering wheel rotation direction detection circuit 2b
is inputted to the left gate circuit 3b. In addition,
The leftward pulse signal is also sent to the right steering wheel rotation direction detection circuit 2a, but since it acts as a reset input in this detection circuit 2a, there is no output from this detection circuit 2a. On the other hand, since a signal is also sent to this gate circuit 3b from the rightward turn signal switch memory circuit 4a, when the turn-back rotation starts, the
When the inputs are complete, the gate opens and a pulse signal is sent to the pulse shaping circuit 5. In other words,
In the case of a right turn, the pulse signal for counterclockwise rotation is used when turning back, and in the case of a left turn, the pulse signal for clockwise rotation is used.
They will pass through gate 3a or 3b, respectively. The reversal pulse signal that has passed through the gate 3a is waveform-shaped by a pulse shaping circuit 5, adjusted to a pulse of a constant width, and sent to a comparison circuit 6. This comparison circuit 6 is a circuit that compares and determines whether the number of pulse signals sent exceeds a number preset by the variable resistor 7a, and when the number of input pulse signals exceeds the set value. A reset signal is issued. Note that the setting value that is preset in this comparison circuit 6 is determined by the variable resistor 7a installed in the lever 81 of the turn signal switch 8 shown in FIG. The provided variable resistor 7a can be freely varied by the user's operation. When the input pulse exceeds this set value, the comparator circuit 6 determines that the switchback has been completed and issues a reset signal. This reset signal is sent to the turn signal switch memory circuit 4.
The turn signal switch memory circuit 4a deenergizes the turn signal relay 9a and cancels the blinking of the right turn signal lamp 10a.
Similarly, in the case of a left turn, comparison of pulse signals and output of a reset signal, de-energization of the turn signal relay 9a, and cancellation of blinking of the turn signal lamp 10b are performed.

In addition, even if the number of pulses at the time of switching back does not reach the set value, by operating the reset switch 12, the excitation of the turn signal relay 9a or 9b is canceled and the flashing of the turn signal lamp 10a or 10b is canceled. be able to.

[Effect of idea]

The electronic turn signal auto canceler according to this invention has the above-mentioned configuration, and uses a steering angle sensor to electrically detect the direction and amount of rotation of the steering wheel, thereby canceling the turn signal. Unlike mechanical ones, there is no operating noise, there is no risk of malfunction, and stable functions can be maintained at all times.Furthermore, since it is equipped with a variable operation means, it is possible to cancel the blinking of the turn signal lamp. can be freely changed according to the user's preferences, providing an autocanceller with great flexibility.

In addition, it uses a steering angle sensor that is widely used for suspension control, seat belt control, etc., and there is no need to use a dedicated sensor, so it can be installed in a vehicle at low cost and has extremely high reliability. . Furthermore, unlike conventional devices, there is no need for two independent control circuits for the right direction system and left direction system, but only one comparison circuit for right and left systems is required.
Only one variable operation means is required, which simplifies the circuit, makes adjustment easy, and is highly durable and reliable, thus saving a large practical effect.
In addition, since the lighting of the turn signal lamp is electrically canceled, the installation location, shape, type, etc. of each switch and variable operation means can be freely selected, allowing more freedom in the design of the automobile. It also has the effect of being able to.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an embodiment of an electronic turn signal auto canceler according to this invention, and FIG. 2 is a specific electrical circuit diagram thereof. FIG. 3 is a plan view showing the variable operation means shown in FIG. 2 arranged on a lever of a turn signal switch. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the variable operation means shown in FIG. 2 arranged on an instrument panel. 1... Steering angle sensor, 2a... Steering handle rotation direction detection circuit (right), 2b... Steering handle rotation direction detection circuit (left), 3a...
...Gate circuit (right), 3b...Gate circuit (left),
4a...Turn signal switch memory circuit (right),
4b...Turn signal switch memory circuit (left),
5... Pulse shaping circuit, 6... Comparison circuit, 7a...
...Variable resistor, 7b...Capacitor, 8a...Turn signal switch (right), 8b...Turn signal switch (left), 9a...Turn signal relay (right), 9b...Turn signal relay (left), 10a ...Turn signal lamp (right),
10b...Turn signal lamp (left), 11...
...Flatsier unit, 12...Reset switch.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] A pair of snake angle sensors that output pulse signals according to the amount and direction of rotation of the steering wheel, and a pair that receives signals from the snake angle sensor and allows only pulse signals in the opposite direction generated when the steering wheel is turned back to pass through. When the number of pulse signals input from the gate circuit and sent when the steering wheel is turned back exceeds a preset value, a reset signal is issued and the turn signal relay is deenergized. 1. An electronic turn signal auto canceler comprising a comparison circuit for changing the set value, wherein the comparison circuit includes variable operation means for arbitrarily changing the set value.