JPH05201339A - Combination switch structure - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To reduce the size of a combination switch mounted on a steering column by providing a control unit which outputs switch operation information to an electric equipment control unit positioned corresponding to various switches, through a communication line. CONSTITUTION:A switch base board 40 receives outputs from various switches, for example, first and second switches 16 and 20 and produces switch operation information responding to the respective outputs. The switch base board outputs the switch operation information to an electric equipment control unit for electric equipment, such as a head lamp, a winker, and a wiper, corresponding to the first and second switches 16 and 20 through a time division multiplex transmission method. A multiplex LSI has a transmission buffer and after data, a transmission demand for which is outputted, is written in a transmission buffer information showing a receiver and a transmitter is provided and transmitted to a multiplex transmission line.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a structure of a combination switch which is provided on a steering column and in which various switches are integrated.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a structure of the above combination switch, there is known a structure in which the combination switch is housed in a column cover composed of an upper cover and a lower cover, as shown in JP-A-62-146768. There is.

[0003]

By the way, the number of electrical components mounted on a vehicle is increasing with the electronics of the vehicle.

On the other hand, on the other hand, it is preferable that a switch for operating various electric components is provided on the steering column in order to facilitate the operation of the electric components, but it is necessary to handle a large current for driving the electric components. In addition, the combination switch provided in the steering column tends to be large in size, which causes a problem that the space below the steering wheel becomes narrow.

In view of the above, an object of the present invention is to miniaturize the combination switch provided in the steering column.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the invention of claim 1 drives various electrical components by transmitting information of various switches to electrical components corresponding to the various switches through a communication line. , To prevent the control current from passing through the combination switch.

Specifically, a solution means taken by the invention of claim 1 is a combination switch which is provided in a steering column and in which various switches are integrated, receives output from the various switches, and switch operation information corresponding to the output. And a control unit for outputting the switch operation information to the electric component control unit of the electric component corresponding to the various switches through a communication line.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the outputs from the various switches are transmitted to the electrical equipment corresponding to the various switches through the multiplex communication line, and the communication line is the multiplex communication line. It adds a certain configuration.

[0009]

According to the configuration of the invention of claim 1, a control unit for outputting to the combination switch, switch operation information created according to outputs from various switches to an electrical component control unit of an electrical component corresponding to each switch through a communication line. Since the switch operation information corresponding to the output from each switch is output to the electrical component control unit of the electrical component through the communication line, it is necessary to supply a current for operating the electrical component to each switch. Absent.

According to the configuration of the second aspect of the present invention, since the switch operation information is output to the electrical equipment control unit through the multiplex communication line, the diameter of the communication line can be small.

[0011]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a main part of a steering column to which a combination switch structure according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied, and FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the main part of the steering column. 10 is a clock spring, 12 is a steering angle sensor, 14 is a column cover, 1
6 is the first for operating the headlamp and the blinker
Switch, 18 is a first lever for operating the first switch, 20 is a second switch for operating the wiper, 22 is a second lever for operating the second switch 20, 24 is a key illumination lamp, 26 is a key illumination lamp harness, 28 is a key illumination connector, 3
Reference numeral 0 is an ignition switch, 32 is an ignition switch harness, 34 is an ignition switch connector, 32 is a steering angle sensor wiring, 34 is a clock spring wiring, 36 is a headlight and turn signal wiring, 3
Reference numeral 8 is a wiring of a wiper, 40 is a switch board as a control unit, and the switch board 40 receives outputs from various switches, for example, the first and second switches 16 and 20, and outputs switch operation information according to the outputs. The generated switch operation information is output to the control unit of the electric component corresponding to the first and second switches 16 and 20 such as headlamps, winkers and wipers by the time division multiplexing transmission method. In addition, in FIG.
Is a connector as an output terminal of the switch operation information, 44 is a multiplex communication line that is connected to the connector 42 and forms a multiplex transmission path for transmitting the switch operation information to various electric components, and 46 is a switch cover that covers the switch substrate 40. is there.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram for explaining the above multiplex communication method. As shown in FIG. 3, a multiplex transmission line 50 includes a column node 52, a meter node 54, an instrument panel node 56, a front node 58 and the like. Connected,
Each node includes a CPU as a controller to which various switches, sensors, electrical components, etc. are connected, and a multiplex LSI as a multiplex transmission communication unit. The CPU controls the operation of each electric component and issues a transmission request to the multiplex LSI so as to transmit the data from the connected sensor or switch to another node. Multiple L
The SI includes a transmission buffer, and the data for which a transmission request has been issued is written in the transmission buffer, and then is transmitted to the multiplex transmission path 50 with information indicating the transmission destination and the transmission source added thereto. In this case, when a plurality of nodes are transmitted at the same time, a signal collision occurs on the multiplex transmission path 50. Therefore, in order to prevent the collision, a priority order called a priority is set for each node, and the transmission of the low priority node is executed. Is done after the high priority node has completed transmission. The multiplex LSI also includes a receive buffer, and only the required data is extracted from the data on the multiplex transmission path 50 transmitted from another node, and the extracted data is written in the receive buffer. The CPU operates and controls each electric component based on the data written in the reception buffer.

The above-mentioned column node 52 is provided on the switch substrate 40, and for example, headlamp switch information 52a, blinker switch information 52b, wiper switch information 52c, etc. are input to the column node 52 and the headlamp The switch information 52a and the blinker switch information 52b are transmitted to the front node 58 through the multiplex transmission line 50, and the wiper switch information 52c is transmitted to the instrument panel node 56 through the multiplex transmission line 50. Based on the received information, the front node 58 uses the headlamp switch 58a and the turn signal switch 5a.
8b is operated and controlled, and the instrument panel node 56 operates the wiper switch 56c based on the received information.
Control.

[0015]

As described above, according to the combination switch structure of the first aspect of the invention, the switch operation information created according to the outputs from the various switches is associated with the various switches through the communication line. Since the control unit that outputs to the electrical component control unit of the electrical component is provided, the switch operation information from each switch is output to the electrical component control unit of each electrical component through the communication line, so the electrical component is activated to each switch. There is no need to supply a current for the purpose. Therefore, various switches can be downsized, and thus the combination switch can inevitably be downsized.

According to the combination switch structure of the second aspect of the present invention, since the switch operation information from the various switches is output to the electrical component control unit of various electrical components through multiple communication lines, the number of communication lines is small. Inevitably, the harness and thus the combination switch can be made even smaller.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a main part of a steering column to which a combination switch structure according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a main part of a steering column to which the combination switch structure is applied.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a multiplex transmission site incorporated in the combination switch structure.

[Explanation of symbols]

 16 First Switch 18 Second Switch 40 Switch Board (Control Unit) 44 Multiplex Communication Line

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A combination switch provided on a steering column, in which various switches are integrated, receives outputs from the various switches, creates switch operation information according to the outputs, and outputs the switch operation information through a communication line. A combination switch structure characterized in that a control unit for outputting to an electric component control unit of an electric component corresponding to the switch is provided. 2. The combination switch structure according to claim 1, wherein the communication line is a multiplex communication line.