JPH09115377A - Operation device for vehicular air conditioner - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a vehicular air conditioner operation device capable of performing a versatility of functional operations with a small number of switches. SOLUTION: A switch head 106 changes the display contents of a liquid crystal display panel 112A, and operation functions via switch heads 108, so as to suit the display contents. The liquid crystal display panel 112A in an initial status shows characters 'A/C' meaning the operation status of a vehicular air conditioner, and other characters and patterns meaning, for example, an air blow to a windshield, an air blow to a rear glass panel, cabin air circulation and fresh air introduction, respectively in order from the left side. When one of the switch heads 108 is operated, a function agreeing to the characters and patterns indicated at a corresponding position above is performed. Also, when the switch head 106 is further pressed, an indication on the panel 112a change to modes for selecting a diffuser and an air volume as shown by an arrow. Thus, the diffuser or the air volume can be selected by pressing any desired switch of the switch head 108, depending on the contents of the indication.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an operating device for an air conditioner for a vehicle, and more particularly to an operating device for an air conditioner suitable for effectively operating a multifunctional air conditioner with a small number of switches.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, the performance of air conditioners for vehicles has been dramatically improved, and has become highly functional and multifunctional. For example, control the air temperature, select the ventilation system for the air inside the vehicle, select the air outlets provided at various points in the vehicle, and select whether to perform these various operations manually or automatically. There is a wide variety of items to be done.

Therefore, in the conventional operating device for a vehicle air conditioner, a function switch for providing an optimum operating environment for each of these many operation items, for example, a rotary switch having a plurality of setting positions, a plurality of push button type switches. For convenience of use by the vehicle occupants, the following items are provided.

[0004]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional operating device for an air conditioner for a vehicle, the number of function switches increases with the improvement of the performance, and a large number of function switches are arranged in a limited area. The freedom of design is lost because of necessity. Further, in order to mount a large number of function switches, downsizing of each function switch is indispensable, which hinders the operation of each function switch and makes it difficult for a vehicle occupant to operate a desired function switch. There is a new problem that the operability, which is the basic performance, becomes insufficient.

The operating device for a vehicle air conditioner according to the present invention is capable of solving these problems and executing a large number of functional operations according to the improvement in performance of the air conditioner, and the degree of freedom in designing the operating device is high. With the aim of providing an excellent operating device for an air conditioner for a vehicle, which secures the above-mentioned requirements and also satisfies high operability, the following configuration is adopted.

[0006]

Means for Solving the Problem and Its Action / Effect The vehicle air conditioner operating device of the present invention made to solve the above problems is a vehicle air conditioner operating device having a plurality of functions. A function that may be used at the same time among the plurality of functions is divided into function groups of the same type, and a group changeover switch that performs switching according to the number of the divided function groups of the same type and a function group of the same type. An individual switch provided by the number of functions constituting the, and a switching means for executing a corresponding function from the switching state of the group changeover switch and the state of the individual switch,
The gist of the present invention is to provide a display unit that is provided in the vicinity of the individual switch and displays the functions of different functional groups of different types executed by the individual switch.

According to the operating device for an air conditioner for a vehicle having such a configuration, among the plurality of functions of the air conditioner, the functions that may be used at the same time are divided into the same kind of function group, and the functions are divided. One of the same function groups is selected by the group changeover switch. At this time, the switching means executes the corresponding function according to the operation of the individual switch depending on which functional group is selected by the group switching switch. Therefore, one individual switch executes a plurality of functions divided into different function groups of the same kind, but the display means provided in the vicinity of each individual switch executes each of the functions executed by the individual switch. Function is displayed, and the function executed by the individual switch is visually displayed.

The functions that may be used at the same time include an alternative function such as setting a preset temperature, selecting a blow-out port, and selecting an air volume, and a function that requires simultaneous selection.

According to the operating device for a vehicle air conditioner of the present invention thus constructed, it is possible to execute a large number of functional operations according to the high performance of the air conditioner, and of course, a large number of these functional operations can be performed. Since the selection is made by the combination of the group changeover switch and the individual switch, the flexibility of the operating device design is secured by greatly reducing the number of switches.
High operability can be satisfied.

Further, it is preferable that the display means includes a visualization unit for visualizing only a display corresponding to a function executed by the individual switch according to a switching state of the group changeover switch.

According to the display means having such a visualization unit, even if a large number of functions are assigned to one individual switch, only the function executed by the individual switch can be visualized according to the switching state of the group changeover switch. It is displayed, and the visibility of the display is improved.

Therefore, it becomes possible to easily recognize the switching state of the group changeover switch and the function executed by the individual switch, and the operability is further improved.

[0013]

Other Embodiments of the Invention The present invention can also take the following other embodiments. Not only vehicular air conditioners, but also other various vehicular devices have become highly functional, and with advances in sensor technology, vehicular indicators have been improved to more accurately display various information.

Under such circumstances, when the display means is provided with a display changeover section according to the changeover state of the group changeover switch, the display means of the display means corresponds to at least one changeover position of the group changeover switch. You may display the operating state of the electrical equipment for vehicles on a display switching part.

According to such a mode, the display means arranged at a position which is easy for a passenger to see, is easy to operate in a narrow vehicle interior space, and is easy to visually recognize can be used as a general indicator, and is limited. It is possible to use the vehicle space effectively and multi-purposely and further enhance its convenience and habitability.

[0016]

Next, embodiments of the present invention described above will be described based on examples. FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing the structure of an operating device for a vehicle air conditioner as an embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a front view of the completed product. As shown in the figure, the operating device 10 for an air conditioner for a vehicle includes a printed circuit board 12 on which a large number of electronic components are mounted, and a light from an illumination lamp 12A mounted on the printed circuit board 12 to the front surface of a main body 20. The light guides 40 and 50 leading to the cover panel 30 mounted on the main body 20 for pressing the push switch PSW mounted on the printed circuit board 12.
A switch rod group 60 penetrating a switch hole formed in the
The key top group 70 mounted on the head of the switch rod group 60, the slide knob 80 mounted on the head of the slide switch SSW on the printed circuit board 12, and the head of the rotary volume RR also mounted on the printed circuit board 12. The rotary knob 90 is used.

In the vicinity of the various switches PSW and SSW mounted on the printed circuit board 12, LEDs that are turned on according to the operating conditions of the switches are arranged, and the cover panel 30 that matches the arrangement position of these LEDs. Etc. are provided.

As shown in FIG. 2, the rotary knob 90 is for adjusting the temperature of the vehicle air conditioner, and is included in the upper keytops 70A to 70F of the upper and lower keytop groups 70. Is provided with a display corresponding to the function of the push-type switch PSW operated by pressing the switch, and lamp windows 70Ba to 70Fb that are turned on when this function is switched to the ON state. The leftmost key top 70A is an "OFF" key for stopping the operation of the vehicle air conditioner, and the key top 70A is not provided with a light window. The key top 70 next to it on the right
B is a switch for starting the operation of the vehicle air conditioner, and is provided with a character display of "A / C" and a light window 70Ba. Two key tops 70C and 70D next to it on the right
Is a switch for opening or closing an air outlet provided in the vicinity of a predetermined window, and a light window 70Ca or 70Da for visually recognizing an LED that is turned on when the air outlet is opened. It is provided.

Each of the key tops 70E and 70F is a single switch, but two LEDs and two corresponding light windows 70Ea, 70Eb and 70F are provided near the switch.
a and 70Fb are provided respectively. This is because the function operated by the key tops 70E and 70F is an alternative function, and which of the selected states is displayed by the LED. That is, the key top 70E
Selectively selects whether the rotation speed of the fan of the vehicle air conditioner is manual or automatic, and the key top 70F selects whether the air intake port of the vehicle air conditioner is inside or outside the vehicle. Used for.

On the other hand, the lower key tops 70G to 70J of the key top group 70 are the above-mentioned key tops 70A to 70J.
Unlike F, there is no light window or switch function display,
Instead, different displays and light windows are provided above and below it, respectively. The upper display shows the selection of air outlets during air conditioning, and from left to right, select the chest only, the chest and feet, only the feet, and the outlets that open toward the feet and windshield. The display is made. The lower display shows selection of the number of rotations of the fan of the air conditioner, and the display shows weak air volume, weak air volume, medium air volume, and strong air volume in order from the left.

Such lower key tops 70G to 70J
In addition to the display close to, these key tops 70G-7
A slide knob 80 is arranged to the left of 0J, and the selection display of the air outlet and the selection display of the fan rotation speed are displayed substantially in conformity with the moving position of the slide knob 80 that moves up and down by operating the slide switch SSW. .

In the operating device 10 for a vehicle air conditioner of this embodiment having the above-described structure, the lower key tops 70G to
The slide switch SSW operated by 70J and the slide knob 80 operates as follows.

The slide switch SSW is a switch for opening / closing the gate of a signal circuit (not shown), and when the slide knob 80 is set upward as shown in FIG. 2, the key tops 70G to 70J are provided. The gate circuit for connecting the push-type switch PSW operated by is connected to the outlet selection circuit is opened, and the gate circuit connected to the air volume selection circuit is closed. On the other hand, when the slide knob 80 is set downward, the gate circuit for connecting the operation of the push switch PSW operated by the key tops 70G to 70J to the outlet selection circuit is closed to select the air volume. The gate circuit for connecting to the circuit is opened.

That is, the operating device 10 for a vehicle air conditioner of the present embodiment uses the same key tops 70G to 70J according to the operation of the slide knob 80 for selecting different functions such as air outlet selection and air volume selection. This makes it possible to reduce four switches. Therefore, despite the high-performance air conditioner that can be set in various ways, a large number of switches are greatly selected because a large number of its functional operations are selected by the combination of the slide switch SSW and the key tops 70G to 70J. By reducing the number, the degree of freedom in designing the operating device 10 can be secured, and high operability can be satisfied. Moreover, since the slide knob 80 moves up and down so as to match the upper / lower display which displays the two types of functions of the key tops 70G to 70J, the key tops can be simply seen by visually recognizing the operation position of the slide knob 80. 70
It becomes possible to confirm the operation states of G to 70J and execute a reliable operation.

FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 are an exploded perspective view of the operating device 100 for a vehicle air conditioner according to the second embodiment, a front view of its assembly, and an explanatory view of display contents. On a printed circuit board 112 of the operating device 100, a liquid crystal panel 112A capable of displaying an image, a lamp, a pressing / rotating volume PR capable of performing two kinds of operations by pressing and rotating, and a plurality of tact switches TSW are mounted. The light emitted from the LED is pressed / rotated by the light guide 140 interposed between the main body 120 and the printed circuit board 112.
Are diffused to the periphery. On the front surface of the main body 120, a transparent cover 102 for protecting the liquid crystal panel 112A,
Display plate 104 for displaying the temperature adjusted by pressing / rotating volume PR, and two independent switch heads 1
06, 107, four switch heads 108, and a coil spring CS that provides a feeling of operation and a restoring force of these switch heads. A knob 190 is attached to the head of the pressing / rotating volume PR.

The switch heads 106 and 107 have the structure shown in FIG.
"SELECT", "OFF" on the surface as shown in
Is displayed in each case. In addition, “PUSH AUT
The letter "O" is displayed and the temperature is displayed according to the rotation angle.

The operating device 100 for a vehicle air conditioner of the second embodiment having such a configuration is turned on / off by the tact switch TSW operated by pressing the switch head 107. In addition, pressing the air conditioning temperature
When the rotary volume PR is pressed, it is in the automatic adjustment state, and in other cases, it is in the manual adjustment state of adjusting the temperature according to the rotation amount of the volume.

The switch head 106 on which the characters "SELECT" are displayed is displayed on the liquid crystal panel 112A and the four switch heads 108 conforming to the display contents.
Tact switch TSW for changing the operation function by
Is to operate. The front view shown in FIG. 4 is an explanatory view of a state in which the switch head 106 is not operated at all, that is, a state in which electric components of a vehicle equipped with the operating device 100 of the vehicle air conditioner are powered on. In this state, the operating device 100 of the present embodiment displays “A / C” indicating the operating state of the vehicle air conditioner from the left side on the windshield, as shown in the display state of the liquid crystal panel 112A. Blowing air, blowing air on the rear glass,
Characters or patterns indicating the circulation of air inside the vehicle and the introduction of outside air are displayed. At this time, four switch heads 10
If any of 8 is operated, the function matching the character or the pattern displayed on the upper part of each switch head 108A to 108D is executed, and the character or the pattern is displayed on the upper part according to the execution state. Inversion display is performed on the displayed rectangular display portion. That is, when the switch head 108A is operated, the vehicle air conditioner is brought into an operating state, and the rectangular display portion above the character "A / C" is brought into a reverse display state. In addition, the switch head 108
D functions in response to an alternative display of air circulation in the vehicle and introduction of external air. For example, in the default state, the display portion of the symbol showing the execution of the air circulation in the vehicle and the circulation in the vehicle is highlighted. To be done. Then, the switch head 108
Every time D is pressed, the contents executed by the vehicle air conditioner are changed from the in-vehicle circulation and its display to the introduction of external air and the corresponding display.

When the switch head 106 on which the characters "SELECT" are displayed is pressed, the display on the liquid crystal panel 112A is sequentially changed as shown by the arrow in FIG. That is, if the switch head 106 is pressed only once, the display on the liquid crystal panel 112A is changed to the content indicating the air outlet selection display and if pressed twice, the air volume selection display is displayed. If any one of the switch heads 108 is operated, the selection of the air outlet or the air volume becomes the desired selection state.

According to the operating device 100 for an air conditioner for a vehicle of the second embodiment, not only all the effects of the operating device 10 described above are exhibited, but also by utilizing the liquid crystal panel 112A, the quad switch head is used. Various displays can be performed in the vicinity of 108, and the unique effect that the functions assigned to the quad switch head 108 can be made more various and various is achieved.

The liquid crystal panel 112A of the operating device 100 has a printed circuit board 112 as shown in FIG.
However, the present invention is not limited to such a configuration, and a liquid crystal display panel provided separately can be used. Also,
It is also possible to employ a configuration in which a panel on which a mark is printed is used, and various displays are performed by changing the illumination position of this panel. When mounting a panel that has front and back sides and upper and lower sides because the mark is printed, incline one side of the panel as shown in FIG.
It is also possible to provide an inclination corresponding to this inclination on the fitting portion 120A side of the main body 120, and insert and fit the panel there to assemble. With such a configuration, it is possible to prevent erroneous insertion in the vertical and horizontal directions.

FIG. 6 and FIG. 7 are exploded perspective views of a third embodiment showing a further modification of the switch head 106 and the liquid crystal panel 112A displaying the "SELECT" character described in the second embodiment. It is explanatory drawing of an assembly front and a display content. A liquid crystal panel 212A and five tact switches TSW are mounted on the printed circuit board 212 of the present embodiment, and the main body 220 and the coil spring CS.
Through transparent cover 202, independent switch head 20
Six and four switch heads 208 are assembled.

The characters or patterns displayed on the liquid crystal panel 212A of this embodiment are indispensable for a general vehicle indicator, and as shown in FIG. 7, depending on the number of times the independent switch head 206 is operated. The operating status of the power seat, the open / close status of doors, the amount of fuel remaining, and the operating location of the electric curtain are sequentially displayed. And the liquid crystal panel 21
Depending on the display content of 2A, one of the four switch heads 208 located immediately below the display content 208A-2
By operating 08D, it becomes possible to perform an operation according to the display content at that time.

In the operating device of the third embodiment having such a structure, it is possible to enhance versatility by operating the operating device which is arranged in a position where it is easy to operate in a narrow vehicle interior space and easy to see, for operating various devices. This makes it possible to effectively utilize the limited vehicle space and further enhance its habitability.

Although some embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments and can be implemented in various modes without departing from the scope of the present invention. Of course.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of an operating device for a vehicle air conditioner that is an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the operating device for the vehicle air conditioner.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of an operating device for a vehicle air conditioner according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory view of an assembled front surface and display contents of the vehicle air conditioner operation device.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory view of another embodiment of the liquid crystal panel of the operating device for the vehicle air conditioner.

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of an operating device according to a third embodiment.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of an assembled front surface and display contents of the operating device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 ... Operating device 12 ... Printed circuit board 12A ... Lamp 20 ... Main body 30 ... Cover panel 40, 50 ... Light guide 60 ... Switch rod group 70 ... Key top group 70A to 70F ... Key top 70Ba to 70Fb ... Light window 70C, 70D ... Key tops 70Ca, 70Da ... Lamp windows 70E, 70F ... Key tops 70Ea, 70Eb ... Lamp windows 70F ... Key tops 70G to 70J ... Key tops 80 ... Slide knob 90 ... Rotating knob 100 ... Operating device 102 ... Transparent cover 104 ... Display Plates 106 to 108 ... Switch head 108 ... Quad switch heads 108A to 108D ... Switch head 112 ... Printed circuit board 112A ... Liquid crystal panel 112B ... Panel 120 ... Main body 120A ... Fitting part 140 ... Light guide 190 ... Knob 202 ... Transparent cover 206 ... Switch head 208 ... Switch head 212 ... Printed circuit board 212A ... Liquid crystal panel 220 ... Main body CS ... Coil spring PR ... Rotating volume PSW ... Pressing type switch RR ... Rotating volume SSW ... Slide switch TSW ... Tact switch

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. An operating device for a vehicle air conditioner having a plurality of functions, wherein the functions that may be used at the same time among the plurality of functions are divided into functional groups of the same type, and the functions are divided. Correspondence is made from a group changeover switch that performs switching according to the number of function groups of the same type, individual switches provided by the number of functions that configure the same kind of function group, and a switching state of the group changeover switch and a state of the individual switch. An operating device for an air conditioner for a vehicle, comprising: a switching unit that executes a function to be performed; and a display unit that is provided in the vicinity of the individual switch and that displays a function of a different functional group executed by the individual switch. 2. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the display means includes a display switching unit that makes only a display corresponding to a function executed by the individual switch visible according to a switching state of the group changeover switch. Air conditioner operating device.