JPH0620569A - Vehicle switch unit - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a switch unit by which a vehicle driver can easily select and control switches of various on-vehicle equipment that the driver controls, while safely driving the vehicle. CONSTITUTION:A switch unit comprises a switch portion 1 having a finger position defection mechanism and a push switch mechanism, and a display portion 2 for displaying items to be selected by the switches and the finger position, and all of switching operations are made possible by control of a single switch and the driver can execute the switching operations without missing the forward field of view considerably.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a vehicle switch device operated by a vehicle driver.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art There are various types of switches operated by a driver in a vehicle. For example, the most common radio has an on-off switch, a station selection switch, a volume, etc., and their respective operations are different. Further, various switches such as an air conditioner, a CD player, a wiper, and a rear heat are present in the vehicle, and the driver operates these switches during driving to perform desired operations.

However, the operation of each of the above-mentioned switches is different, and the positions thereof are also different, and even if the driver operates the switch during driving, it may not always be the desired switch. It is not preferable for safe driving to move the line of sight to the instrument panel part or the console part where the switches are located every time the switch is operated, and to perform the switch operation while checking. .

For this reason, there has been proposed a means for attaching a display mechanism for displaying the contents of the switch when the switch is operated (see Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 62-37231), but it is supposed that the switch operated is displayed. However, when the number of switches increases, the switch selection itself becomes difficult.

Further, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 3-63718 discloses a switch device including two changeover switch groups having different switch operations and a display mechanism for displaying switch contents. However, different switch operations are required. At the same time, it is necessary to confirm the switch position.

Further, generally, a mechanism is widely practiced in which a predetermined switch operation is performed by touching a predetermined portion on the image surface of the image display device with a finger. However, if the handle is provided at a position where it is not easy to operate and the handle is not in the way, the visibility of the display portion is adversely deteriorated, and in the end, it cannot be used as it is in a vehicle. Therefore, the present invention is the same switch operation,
The present invention proposes a switch device that enables various switch controls of a vehicle.

[0007]

A vehicle switch device according to the present invention comprises a switch portion and a display portion, and the switch portion is a push-type panel switch installed within the reach of a vehicle driver. And a finger position detection mechanism on the panel, wherein the display unit includes an image display unit provided in a position within the forward field of view of the vehicle driver, and displays the switch selection item and the finger position as an image. It is a feature.

[0008]

The item requiring the switch operation is displayed on the image of the display unit, and when the finger touches the panel of the switch unit, the contact position is displayed on the image of the display unit. The position of the finger is displaced while visually recognizing this image, and when the position of the desired item is reached, the switch panel is pressed to perform the switch operation. Therefore, if the switch operation has a multi-stage configuration of a large item (basic menu) and a detailed menu in each item, desired switch control can be performed by the same switch operation.

[0009]

EXAMPLES Examples of the present invention will be described below.
The vehicle switch device of the present invention includes a switch unit 1 and a display unit 2, and the switch unit 1 is arranged on a pressing panel 11 installed within a reach of a vehicle driver and a peripheral portion of the pressing panel 11. Finger position detection mechanism on panel 1 consisting of light emitting diode (light emitting part) and photo diode (light receiving part)
2 and a switch body 13 that functions as a switch when the pressing panel 11 is pressed. The display unit 2 is composed of a liquid crystal image display device provided in a position within the front sight of both drivers or a head-up display device for projecting and displaying on a half mirror portion of the windshield. Normal vehicle information such as mileage display is displayed and provided so as to operate as the display unit 2 of the switch device when desired.

The relationship between the switch unit 1 and the display unit 2 is
The display section 2 displays an item a that can be switched on by the operation of the switch section 1, a finger position b on the pressing panel 11 is displayed, and the finger position is displayed by pressing the pressing panel 11. The item is switched on. Further, the item display structure of the display unit includes a large item including basic menus of air conditioner, radio, CD, telephone, NAVI (running information), and bad weather running, and a small item including detailed menus of the basic menus. An example of each menu structure is shown in Fig. 4.
As shown in.

When the driver wants to listen to a radio, for example, while the vehicle is running, when the driver touches the push panel 11, the display unit 1 changes from the normal vehicle information display to the switch device display, that is, a basic menu of major items. Is displayed. Next, the finger position on the pressing panel 11 is shifted, and when the radio item display portion and the finger position display b match, the pressing panel 11 is pressed to perform a switch operation. Then, the display on the display unit 1 is changed to the detailed menu including the radio station name, and then the finger position on the pressing panel 11 is shifted again to match the desired radio station and the finger position display, and the pressing panel 11 is operated. Then, the sound of the desired radio station is played in the car.

Of course, since the switch of the present invention controls a large number of switches at the same time, the detailed menu includes a switch-off item, and if the switch-off series is not performed, the selection is continued. Then, the switch-on state is maintained, and when the display of the detailed menu and the switch operation are completed, the display of the display unit 1 is automatically returned to the vehicle information display, and in an emergency, it is forcibly restored. Separate the return switch.

Therefore, in the switch device according to the present invention, the number of switches is single and the contents of the switches (the basic menu and the detailed menu) are displayed in the driver's forward field of view, so that the switches are not seen. In both cases, the desired switch operation can be reliably performed. The present invention is not limited to the above-described implementation. For example, the display unit 1 does not necessarily have to serve as a normal display device for displaying vehicle information, but may be an independent display unit, or may be operated. The menu of can be set completely freely.

[0014]

As described above, the present invention comprises a switch section having a finger position detecting mechanism and a pressing switch mechanism, and a display section for displaying switch selection items and finger position. In addition, it is possible to perform the switch operation during driving, which makes various controls without the driver's eyes being farther than the front field of view, and to eliminate the problem of unsafe driving associated with the switch operation. Furthermore, by changing the display items on the display, it is possible to easily add and change switch control.
It also has an advantage that it can easily cope with diversification of switch control.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory view showing a form of an in-vehicle state of the device of the present invention viewed from a driver's seat.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a display example of a display unit.

FIG. 3 is a view showing a switch section, (a) is a front view,
(B) is a sectional view.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of a menu structure.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 switch section 11 pressing panel 12 finger position detection mechanism 13 switch body 2 display section

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Osamu Okubo 1-190-1, Fujihashi, Nagaoka-shi, Niigata Nihon Seiki Co., Ltd. R & D Center

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A push-type panel-shaped switch installed within a reach of a vehicle driver, and a switch portion provided with a finger position detection mechanism on the panel, and provided at a position within a front sight of the vehicle driver. A switch device for a vehicle, further comprising: an image display means, and a display section for displaying an image of a switch selection item and a finger position.