JPH04218444A - Steering switch - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To perform the operation of a switch with the same sense as in the case of a steering wheel being in the neutral position while holding the steering wheel positively with both hands, with the eyes turned to the front. CONSTITUTION:A first sensor part 6 fitted onto the circumference of a steering wheel detects the grip of the steering wheel and its grip part. A second sensor part 7 such as a rotary encoder detects the angle-of-rotation of the steering wheel. A control circuit 8, upon regarding the steering wheel to be in the neutral position on the basis of the detection value outputted from the respective sensors 6, 7, judges the steering wheel grip state such as the frequency of grip, and also operates a direction indicator and the like on the basis of the judged result.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

[Industrial Application Field] This invention relates to a steering switch installed on a steering wheel (hereinafter referred to as the steering wheel), and in particular, the invention relates to a steering wheel switch installed on a steering wheel (hereinafter referred to as the steering wheel), and in particular, the steering wheel can be turned to a neutral position while firmly grasping the steering wheel with both hands and keeping the driver's eyes directed forward. This invention relates to a steering wheel switch that can be operated with the same feeling as when it is in the same position.

0002

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, this type of steering switch is known as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. The steering switch shown in FIG. 6 is currently the most widely used one. Switch parts 1 and 2 are attached to the steering column shaft, and when the switch part 1 is operated, lights, direction indicators, etc. are operated, and the switch part 2 is operated.
It is configured so that the wiper, washer, etc. can be operated by operating the button.

The steering wheel switch shown in FIG. 7 has a switch panel 4 disposed in the center of the steering wheel 3, and a plurality of switch sections 5 that perform the above operations are arranged in a concentrated manner on the surface of the switch panel 4. , switch panel 4
is fixed regardless of the rotation of the handle 3. As a result, in such a steering wheel switch, the switch part 5 is always visually in the same position, so once the driver memorizes the arrangement, it feels the same as when the steering wheel is in the neutral position. It is easy to operate and designed to prevent erroneous operation.

0004

However, in the steering switch shown in FIG. 6, the switch parts 1 and 2 are attached to the steering column shaft. ,2
is located. Therefore, problems arise, such as having to operate the switch while gripping the handle 3 with only the thumb and index finger, or being unable to reach the switch parts 1 and 2 depending on the position of the hands while operating the handle.

Furthermore, although the steering wheel switch shown in FIG. 7 can be operated with the same feeling as when the steering wheel is in the neutral position, the switch section 5 is arranged on the surface of the switch panel 4 in the center of the steering wheel 3. This causes problems such as having to move the forward line of sight to the center of the handle 3 when operating the switch.

[0006] This invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and its purpose is to prevent the steering wheel from moving while firmly grasping the handle with both hands and keeping one's eyes directed forward. To provide a steering switch that can be operated with the same feeling as when it is in the neutral position.

[0007]

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention includes a first sensor section that detects the gripping pressure and gripping portion of the steering handle, and a second sensor section that detects the rotation angle of the steering handle. Based on the sensor unit and the detection signals output from each of the above-mentioned sensor units, the steering wheel is assumed to be in the neutral position and the gripping state of the steering wheel is determined, and multiple vehicle accessories are activated based on the result of this determination. and a control circuit that individually operates the.

[0008]

[Operation] According to the present invention, the first sensor section detects the grip and grip portion of the steering wheel, the second sensor section detects the rotation angle of the steering wheel, and the control circuit detects the rotation angle of the steering wheel. Based on the output detection signal, the steering wheel is assumed to be in a neutral position and the gripping state of the steering wheel is determined, and a plurality of vehicle accessories are individually operated based on the result of this determination.

[0009]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the steering switch according to the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 6.

In this steering switch, first and second sensor sections 6 and 7 are connected to a control circuit 8 as shown in FIG. It has a layered structure, with a conductive rubber layer 9 in the upper layer, a pressure sensitive rubber layer 10 in the middle layer, and a resistor layer 11 such as a nichrome wire in the lower layer.

A voltage E from a DC power source 12 is applied to both ends of the resistor layer 11 via a bias resistor r, while a resistor R is connected between the cathode of the DC power source 12 and the conductive rubber layer 9. is connected.

Furthermore, the first sensor section 6 as described above is mounted on the circumference of the handle 3 as shown in FIG.
Both ends 6a and 6b of the first sensor portion are provided so as to be at the 6 o'clock or 12 o'clock position of the clock when the handle 3 is in the neutral position.

That is, in the first sensor section 6, when the driver grips the steering wheel with sufficient gripping force, that is, when the pressure-sensitive rubber layer 10 is conductive, the bias voltage due to the bias resistor r is increased. Vr is the output voltage V 0
and this is output to the control circuit 8 as a detection signal. Conversely, when the gripping force is not sufficient, that is, when the pressure-sensitive rubber layer 10 is not conductive, the conductive rubber layer 10 is in an open state in the first sensor section 6, so zero volt becomes the output voltage V 0, and This is output to the control circuit 8 as a detection signal. In this way, the first sensor section 6 detects gripping.

Furthermore, in the first sensor section 6 as described above, as the part that grips the handle 3 moves clockwise from one end 6a of the first sensor section, the output voltage V0 increases. A voltage E from the power source 12 is applied, thereby forming an output voltage V 0 corresponding to the gripping portion. In this way, the first sensor section 6 also detects the gripped portion.

The second sensor section 7 is a rotary encoder.
The rotation angle Θ of the handle is detected by providing a rotor or a potentiometer or the like so as to be interlocked with the column shaft, and the rotation angle Θ is output to the control circuit 8 as a detection signal. However, the rotation angle Θ is 0 degrees when the handle is in the neutral position, and positive when the handle is rotated to the right.

The control circuit 8 is formed from a microcomputer or the like, and is configured to execute a flowchart as shown in FIG.

Next, the operation of the steering switch configured as described above will be explained based on the flowchart shown in FIG.

According to this steering switch, the control circuit 8 controls the output voltage V output from the first sensor section 6.
0 and the bias voltage Vr (step 100), and as a result of the comparison, if the output voltage V 0 is smaller than the bias voltage Vr as shown in FIG. 5 (NO),
Let's continue the comparison. On the other hand, if the output voltage V 0 is larger than the bias voltage Vr (YES), it is assumed that the driver has expressed his/her intention, and the time width Tw of the output voltage V 0 is
, the time period TP, and the number of grips N are measured,
The actual rotation angle Θ output from the second sensor section 7 is read, and the apparent rotation angle θ is determined from this rotation angle Θ. Note that the apparent rotation angle θ is determined by equation (1). In equation (1), the rotation speed n of the steering wheel is an integer with clockwise rotation being positive, and the range of the rotation angle θ is When the steering wheel rotates 2.5 times in each direction, it is expressed by equation (2) (step 102).

θ=abs(Θ−360n)
…(1) −2.5×
360<(Θdeg)<2.5×360…(2) Next,
When the above output voltage V 0 is normalized from 0 to 360 (deg) (see equation (3)), the normalized value V is the angle indicating the gripping part of the handle (the first sensor part one end 6a is 0 to 360 (deg)).
(step 104).

[0020]V=(V0-Vr)*360/E
...(3) Then, based on the relationship between the normalized value V and the apparent rotation angle θ as described above, the handle is assumed to be in the neutral position, and the grip part is moved toward the handle from the neutral position. You can determine whether it is the right half or the left half. At this time, conditions for determining the right half are shown in (1) to (4) below, but other than these conditions, the left half is determined (step 106).
).

(1) When 0≦θ≦180 (see FIG. 3(b)),
When 180-θ≦V≦360-θ.

(2) When 180<θ<360 (see Figure 3(c)),

540-θ≦V≦360 or 0≦V≦3
If 60-θ. (3) −180≦θ
<0 (see Figure 3(d)),
18
When 0-θ<V<360 or 0≦V≦-θ.
(4) −360<θ<−180
When (see Figure 3(e)),
−(θ+180)<V
If <-θ.

[0022] Furthermore, the current gripping state of the handle is determined by comparing the above-described determination result, time width Tw, time period TP, and gripping number N with the table shown in FIG. 9 (step 108), and the determination result is Direction indicators etc. based on
A plurality of vehicle accessories are individually operated (step 110).

Therefore, according to the embodiment described above, the control circuit determines that the steering wheel is in the neutral position based on the detection signals output from the first and second sensor sections, and then controls the gripping of the steering wheel. In order to judge the state and operate multiple vehicle accessories individually based on the judgment result, the switch operation of the vehicle accessories is performed depending on the change in the gripping state of the steering wheel, so the steering wheel must be securely gripped with both hands. You can operate the steering wheel with the same feeling as the neutral position while keeping your eyes fixed on the front.

Note that the table shown in FIG. 9 is an example, and is not limited to the operation contents (attached equipment) in the table, and the judgment results, time width Tw, time period TP, and number of grips N. You may operate accessory devices other than those listed in the table in combination.

[0025]

Effects of the Invention In the steering switch according to the present invention, as described above, the control circuit determines that the steering wheel is in the neutral position based on the detection signals output from the first and second sensor sections, and then switches the steering wheel to the neutral position. In order to judge the grip state and operate multiple vehicle accessories individually based on the judgment result, the switch of the vehicle accessory equipment is operated depending on the change in the grip state of the steering wheel, so it is possible to securely hold the steering wheel with both hands. You can operate it with the same feeling as the neutral position of the steering wheel while holding it and keeping your eyes fixed on the front.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a steering switch according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a first sensor section.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the mounting state of the first sensor section.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the control circuit.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the output voltage in the first sensor section.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram illustrating determination of the right half.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a conventional steering switch.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a conventional steering switch.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing handle gripping states corresponding to various accessory devices.

[Explanation of symbols]

6 First sensor part 7 Second sensor section 8 Control circuit

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A first sensor section that detects gripping and a gripping portion of a steering wheel; a second sensor section that detects a rotation angle of the steering wheel; The steering wheel is characterized by comprising a control circuit that determines the gripping state of the steering wheel by assuming that the steering wheel is in a neutral position, and that individually operates a plurality of vehicle accessories based on the determination result. switch.