JPS63305074A - Operating handle heating apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To make a handle member efficiently heatable by judging whether one's hand come into touch with the handle member or not, energizing a heating device only at the time of contacting, and making the handle member so as to be warmable. CONSTITUTION:A heater H1 of a steering wheel is attached to one area A1 among quadrisections of the circumference, a heater 2 to an area A2, a heater 3 to an area A3 and a heater 4 to an area A4, respectively. Both switches SW1 and SW2 are of a interlocking switch with three contacts, and each switch position is read by an input port of a central processing unit 1 via an input buffer 4. This CPU1 energizes relays RL1, RL2, RL3 and RL4 when the switch SW1 is turned on. With this constitution, the switch SW1 is connected to the power line side, whereby each relay operates, and each heater is energized with current, thus the steering wheel is heated.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Object of the Invention] (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention relates to a heating device, and for example, to a device for heating an operating handle such as a steering wheel of a vehicle in winter.

(Prior Art) For example, in winter, when a vehicle is parked, the steering wheel (5TW in FIG. 3) may get cold and feel very cold when used next time. Steering wheel warmers are an answer to this problem.

In the steering wheel warmer currently installed in cars, the steering column (5TC in Figure 3) is equipped with a ceramic heater and a blower.

When the near conditioner heater is on, the ceramic heater and blower are energized to send warm air to the steering wheel until the cooling water temperature reaches a predetermined value (until the near conditioner heater starts to work). According to this, if the steering wheel is gripped at the part where the warm air is blown, the hands can be warmed.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) In the conventional steering wheel warmer as described above, the outside of the hand holding the steering wheel is warmed by hot air, but the steering wheel and the hand holding it are warm. The disadvantage is that the inside of your hand is still cold.

Furthermore, the device itself is large due to the use of large components such as a blower and a heater.

To provide an operating handle heating device that efficiently warms an operating handle member with a simple configuration.

[Structure of the invention]

(Means for Solving the Problems) In order to achieve the above object, the operating handle heating device of the present invention includes: heating means for heating at least a portion of the operating handle member; a contact detection stage for detecting the presence or absence of contact; and an energization control means for energizing the heating means when the contact detection means detects the presence or absence of contact.

(Function) According to this method, when one person is touching the operating handle member, the operating handle member is heated and warmed, which is efficient. Also, if a heater such as a nichrome wire is used as the heating means, it is very simple. With this configuration, a heating device that starts up quickly can be realized.

In particular, a plurality of heating means selectively heat a plurality of parts of the operating handle member, a contact detection stage detects the presence or absence of contact by a person at each part of the operating handle member heated by the heating means, and energizes the operating handle member. If the control means energizes the heating means corresponding to the part where the contact detection means detects contact, the operating handle member can be efficiently operated even when the use of electric power is limited, such as when mounted on a vehicle. can be heated.

Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of embodiments with reference to the drawings.

(Embodiment) FIG. 1a shows a steering wheel warmer for a vehicle in which the present invention is implemented as an example.

Referring to FIG. 1a, this device includes a microcomputer (hereinafter referred to as CPU) 19 grip detection unit 2, 0.
1 second timer 3. Input buffer 4. Power supply unit 5. Temperature setting volume 6, bimetal switch 7a, heat wire 7b, relay driver Drv, relay RLI, RL
2. RL3. RL4. Switches Swl, Sw2 and 4
It consists of four heaters H1, H2, H3, H4, etc.

The power source of this device is the on-board battery BT, and the power source unit 5 generates a predetermined voltage Vc. IGSW is an ignition switch.

Fig. 2a is a plan view showing the external appearance of the steering wheel STW.
Heater H2 is placed in area A1, heater H3 is placed in area A2, and heater H3 is placed in area A2.
is attached to area A3, and heater H4 is attached to area A4.

The configuration of the steering wheel STW will be explained using region A1 as an example with reference to FIG. 2b.

In this part of the steering wheel STW,
Cover pad 10. Heater H1, insulation sheet 11. 1st
It consists of a detection electrode ELI, a steering pad 12 and an insert 13.

The cover pad 10 is made of a combination of a vinyl acetate sheet and a urethane sheet, and covers the surface of the steering wheel STW. The heater H1 is a nichrome ribbon, which is toroidally wound over an insulating sheet 11 made of a nonwoven glass fiber fabric.

The first detection electrode ELI is made of aluminum foil, and the steering pad 12 is made of polyurethane foam. First detection electrode EL
I will be described later.

Other parts of the steering wheel, i.e. area A2
, a heater I2 is installed in place of the heater H1, a second electrode EL2 is installed in place of the first electrode ELI, and
In area A3, heater H3 replaces heater H1,
A third electrode EL3 is installed in place of the first electrode ELI, and a heater H is installed in place of the heater H1 in area A4.
4 has the same configuration as above except that a fourth electrode EL4 is attached in place of the first electrode ELI. Switches Swl and 8w2 are both interlocking switches having three contacts, and the switch position is set to the input buffer 4. The input ports R5 to R7 of the CPUI are read via the input ports R5 to R7 of the CPUI.

CPUI switches relays RLI, RL2, RL3, and
Activate L4. That is, the switch Swl is connected to the power line side, and the relay contacts rfil of the relay RLI, the relay contacts rQ2 . Since relay contact rfi3 of relay RL3 and relay contact rQ4 of relay RL4 are made, heaters H1, H2, H3, and H4 are energized and the entire steering wheel is heated.

At this time, the heat wire 7b is also energized.

The heat wire generates heat and heats the bimetal switch 7a. The bimetal switch 7a breaks the switch contact when heated to a predetermined temperature. Therefore, the bimetal switch 7a and the heat wire 7b cause the heater H1 to
, H2, H3, and H4 are set. This period is variable by the temperature setting volume 6.

When the switch Swl is in the "auto" position, the CPUI grips the area A1 of the steering wheel STW (
(by driver), relay RLI is detected, when gripping in area A2 is detected, relay RL2 is activated, when gripping in area A3 is detected, relay RL3 is activated, and gripping in area A4 is detected. When the relay RL4 is activated, the relay RL4 is energized. In other words, when the driver grasps the region A1 of the steering wheel STW, the heater H1 is energized and heated there, and when the driver grasps the region A2, the heater H2 is energized and heated, and when the driver grasps the region A3. When the user touches the area A4, the heater H3 is energized and the area is heated, and when the area A4 is touched, the heater H4 is energized and the area is heated.

The temperature setting volume 6, bimetal switch 7a and heat wire 7b function in the same manner as described above.

Next, detection of grip of the steering wheel will be explained.

The grip detection unit 2 has four subunits 2a with the same configuration.
, '2b, 2c and 2d. The subunit 2a will be explained with reference to FIG. 1b.

Referring to Figure 1b, this subunit includes an oscillator ○
SC, counter CTR, and parallel-in serial-out shift register (hereinafter referred to as PS register) PS
It is composed of R.

The 1st terminal of the oscillator O8C is connected to the input terminal of the counter CTR, the 2nd terminal is connected to the constant voltage Vc, and the 3rd terminal is connected to the equipment ground.
Terminals 4 and 5 are respectively connected to external capacitors Cx. In this example, the resistors are shown as rectangles, but by appropriately selecting the resistance value of each resistor, you can connect the external capacitor Cx and resistor R from terminal 1.
An output signal with a frequency proportional to the reciprocal of the product of , that is, a low frequency is obtained when the capacitance of the external capacitor Cx is large, and a high frequency is obtained when the capacitance of the external capacitor Cx is small.

The counter CTR counts up at the rising edge of the output signal of the OSC. A 16-bit parallel output terminal of counter CTR is connected to a 16-bit parallel input terminal of PS register PSR. Further, the reset input terminal Rst of the counter CTR is connected to the output port P1 of the CPU1.

The clock input terminal of the PS register PSR is connected to the output port P2 of CPU1, the clock inhibit input terminal CI is connected to the output port P3 of cput, and the shift load input terminal S
L are respectively connected to the output port P4 of the CPUI.

The PS register PSR presets each bit of 16-bit data applied to the parallel input terminal at the rising edge of the shift load pulse from CPU1 applied to the shift load input terminal SL, and presets the 16-bit data applied to the clock input terminal CI to CPU1. When the clock input signal from CL becomes L (low) level, the clock input terminal CL
In synchronization with the clock pulse applied to K, the preset data is serially output from the output terminal OUT to the serial input port R1 of C:PUl.

In FIG. 1b, the capacitor Cx is the first detection electrode ELL attached to the region A1 of the steering wheel STW and the roof of the vehicle (shown in FIG. 3).
The first grip detection capacitor is constituted by a body ground portion such as the ROOF and the floor (Fl, or shown in FIG. 3). That is, the first detection electrode ELL is connected to the fourth terminal of the oscillator O8C, and the body ground is connected to the fifth terminal.

As described above with reference to FIG. 2b, the first detection electrode EL
1 is sandwiched between an insulating sheet 11 and a steering pad 12, so that it is insulated from the body ground portion. Therefore, as shown schematically in FIG. 3 by the dashed-dotted arrow, the driver MAN is
When gripping area A1 of
Since it passes through AN's hand, the capacitance between the first detection electrode ELL and the vehicle body entrance, that is, the capacitance of the first grip detection capacitor changes greatly.

Although not shown here, similar to the above-mentioned subunit 2a, in the subunit 2b, the oscillator oSC has four
The second detection electrode EL2 is connected to the terminal No. 5, the body ground is connected to the No. 5 terminal, and in the subunit 3b, the third detection electrode EL3 is connected to the No. 4 terminal of the oscillator oSC, and the body earth is connected to the No. 5 terminal. In the subunit 4b, the fourth detection electrode EL4 is connected to the 4th terminal of the oscillator O8C, and the body ground is connected to the 5th terminal, and the output data of the subunit 2b is connected to the CPUI.
The output data of the subunit 3b is given to the serial input port R3 of the CPU, and the output data of the subunit 4b is given to the serial input port R4 of the CPU.

An outline of grip detection in the apparatus of this embodiment will be explained with reference to FIG. In FIG. 4, the solid line shows an example of the time change of the oscillation frequency f of the oscillator O8C, and the broken line shows the reference data Ref.

CPUI starts counter C every time 0.1 second timer 3 interrupts.
The number of pulses output by the oscillator O8C is sampled via the TR and PS register PSR, and the frequency data corresponding to the number of pulses is set. Set the amount of change in frequency data (new frequency data) as change amount data. If this change amount data is less than a predetermined threshold value, "no grip" is detected, and if this change amount data exceeds a predetermined threshold value (that is, detection electrodes ELI, EL2.E
If the capacitance between L3 or EL4 and body ground increases rapidly, "gripping" is detected. At this time,
Update and set the new frequency data as reference data Ref5
From the next timer interrupt, the reference data Ref and the new frequency data at that time are compared, and when the value indicated by the new frequency data exceeds the reference data Ref (that is, when the capacitance decreases), "no gripping" is determined. To detect.

More specific operations of the CPUI will be explained with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS. 5 and 6.

When the ignition switch IGSW is turned on and a predetermined voltage is supplied to each part, the CPU 1 resets and initializes the internal registers, flags, input/output ports, and each component, and interrupts the 0.1 second timer 3. Allow.

The sixth timer interrupt processing is started by the 0.1 second timer.
Shown in the figure.

Referring to FIG. 6, in the timer interrupt processing, first the value of register R1a is transferred to register R1b, and register R2
The value of a is stored in register R2b, the value of register R3a is stored in register R3b, and the value of register R4a is stored in register R4b.

As will become clear from the following explanation, the values of these registers R1a, R2a, R3a, and R4a are the values of subunits 2a, 2b, and 2c, respectively, at the time of the previous timer interrupt.
and 2d output frequency data (that is, frequency data 0.1 seconds ago: daily frequency data).

Subsequently, a shift load pulse (H level) is output from the output port P4 to the subunits 2a and 2b.

PS register PSR provided in each of 2c and 2d
Each bit is preset with 16-bit data given by the corresponding counter CTR.

Thereafter, a reset pulse (L level) is output from the output port P1 to reset each counter CTR. In other words, each counter CTR uses the corresponding oscillator O8 from the timer 3 interrupt occurrence until the next interrupt occurrence.
Count the number of pulses generated by C.

Next, the clock in-hipit signal is changed to L level and outputted from the output port P3. Due to this.

The PS registers PSR provided in each of the subunits 2a, 2b, 2c, and 2d serially output preset data in synchronization with clock pulses, so this output, that is, the data input to serial input ports R1, R2, R3, and R4. and registers R1a, R2a, R3a and R4a as frequency data respectively.
Store in. When data storage is completed, the clock in hipit signal (port P3 output) is changed to H level.

The following routine is a grip detection routine for area A1.

The grip detection routine includes a grip detection routine for area A2, a grip detection routine for area A3, and a grip detection routine for area A4, but since the processing contents are all the same, the grip detection routine for area A1 will be explained.

In the grasp detection routine for area A1, as will become clear from the following explanation, when there is a grasp, the flag M1 is set (1) L, and when there is no grasp, the flag M1 is reset (0). The explanation will continue assuming that the value is reset (0).

Register R1a stores the current frequency data (new frequency data), and register R1b stores the frequency data at the time of the previous timer interrupt (day frequency data), so the register is stored from the value of register R1b. The value obtained by subtracting the value of R1a is stored in register R1c as change amount data, and the value of register R1a is used as reference data and stored in register Re.
Store in fl. Here, the value (change amount data) of the register R1c is compared with the threshold value C1. The threshold value C1 is set by actually measuring the oscillation frequency of the oscillator O8C.

At this time, if the value of the register R1c (change amount data) is less than or equal to the value of the threshold C1, the grip detection routine for the area A2 that continues is executed, but when the driver grips a part in the area At of the steering wheel STW, The capacitance of the first grip detection capacitor constituted by the first detection electrode ELI and the body ground increases rapidly, and the value (change amount data) of the register R1c exceeds the threshold value C1. In that case, flag M1 is set (1).

When flag M1 is set (1), the value of register Refl (reference data: fixed when flag M1 is set) and the value of register R1a (new frequency data at that time) will be used from the next time.
Compare with.

In this comparison, while the driver is grasping the area A1 of the steering wheel STW, the register R1 is
Since the value of a is less than the value of register Refl, flag M
1 is not changed.

When the driver releases his hand from the region A1 of the steering wheel STW, the capacitance of the first grip detection capacitor decreases again to near its original value, and the oscillation frequency of the oscillator O8C increases. The value (the new frequency data at that time) exceeds the value of the register Refl (the reference data fixed when the flag M1 was set). As a result, it is determined that there is no gripping, and the flag M1 is reset (0).

Similarly to the above, in the grip detection routine for area A2, flag M2 is set (1) when the area A2 of the steering wheel STW is gripped, and when there is no grip, the flag M2 is reset (0), and the flag M2 is reset (0) for area A3. In the grip detection routine, the steering wheel STW area A3
When the part is gripped, flag M3 is set (1),
If not, the flag M3 is reset (0), and in the grip detection routine of the area A4, the steering wheel ST
When the part of area A4 of W is gripped, flag M4 is set (1), and when not, the flag M4 is reset (0).

Referring again to FIG.

When the switch Swl is set to the "auto" position and the input port R5 is at the L level, when the CPUI sets the flag M1 (1) in the timer interrupt process, that is, when the driver sets the steering wheel STW area When it is detected that the part A1 is grasped, the relay driver Drv is instructed to energize the relay RL1, and when the flag Ml is reset (0) in the timer interrupt processing, that is, when the driver grasps the part A1 of the steering wheel STW, When it detects that you have released your hand, relay driver D
Instruct rv to de-energize relay RLI.

As mentioned above, relay contact r is energized by relay RLI.
Ω1 is made, the heater H1 is energized, and the region A1 of the steering wheel STW is heated.

Similarly, when switch Swl is in this position, when flag M2 is set (1) in timer interrupt processing, relay RL2 is energized by relay driver Drv, and when flag M2 is reset (0), relay RL2 is energized by relay driver Drv. Drv
When the flag M3 is set (1), the relay RL2 is deenergized, and when the flag M3 is reset (0), the relay RL3 is deactivated by the relay driver DrV. When flag M4 is set (1), relay RL4 is sent to relay driver Drv.
When the flag M4 is reset (o), the relay driver Drv is instructed to deenergize the relay RL4.

As mentioned above, relay contact r is energized by relay RL2.
ffi2 is activated, heater H2 is energized, and relay R is activated.
The energization of relay L3 makes relay contact rQ3 and energizes heater H3, and the energization of relay RL4 makes relay contact rQ4 and energizes heater H4.

Flags FAI, FA2. FA3 and flag FA4 are flags that record executed processing. Setting flag FAI (1) activates relay RLIO, resetting flag FAI (0) deactivates relay RLI, and setting flag FA2 (1) activates relay RL2, resets flag FA2 (0) deactivates relay RL2, and flag FA3
Set (1) activates relay RL3, and activates flag FA3.
Resetting (0) deactivates relay RL3 and flag FA
Set 4 (1) energizes relay RL4.

Reset (0) of flag FA4 indicates de-energization of relay RL4, respectively.

If the switch Swl is not in the "auto" position and the input port R5 is at H level, the flag FAI is set (1
), reset this and instruct relay driver Drv to de-energize relay RLI, and when flag FA2 is set (1), reset it and instruct relay driver Drv to de-energize relay RL2. When flag FA3 is set (1), it is reset to instruct relay driver Drv to de-energize relay RL3, and when flag FA4 is set (1), it is reset to instruct relay driver Drv to de-energize relay RL3. to relay RL4
order the extinction of

When the switch Swl is set to the "on" position and the input port R6 goes to L level, the flag FB is set (1
) and then sends relays RLI, RL2 .
Instructs to energize RL3 and RL4.

The switch Swl is not in the "on" position and the input port R
5 is H level, if flag FB is set (1), this flag is reset (0) and relay RL1.5 is sent to relay driver Drv. RL2, RL3 and RL
Instructs to disable 4.

In the embodiments described above, the temperature settings in the heaters H1, H2°H3 and/or H4 were mechanically performed using the bimetal switch 7a and the heat wire 7b. The temperature may be adjusted by installing a temperature sensor, reading the temperature setting volume and each value of the temperature sensor by the CPU, and controlling the duty of energizing the heaters H1, H2, H3, and/or H4.

Further, in the above embodiment, the steering wheel S
Although the circumference of the TW is divided into four, it may be divided into more divisions or may not be divided.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, the operating handle heating device of the present invention detects whether or not at least a portion of the operating handle member is touched by a person, and when there is contact, the heating means is activated to warm the operating handle member. Therefore, the operating handle member can be heated efficiently. In this case, if a heater such as a nichrome wire is used as the heating means, a heating device with a very simple configuration and quick start-up can be realized.

In particular, a plurality of heating means selectively heats a plurality of parts of the operating handle member, and a contact detection stage detects the presence or absence of contact at each part heated by the heating means of the operating handle member. By energizing the heating means provided in that part, the operating handle member can be efficiently warmed even when the use of electric power is limited, such as when mounted on a vehicle.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1a is a block diagram showing the configuration of a steering wheel warmer for a vehicle according to an embodiment. FIG. 1b is a block diagram showing details of the subunit 2a of the grip detection unit 2 shown in FIG. 1a. FIG. 2a is a plan view showing the appearance of the steering wheel STW to which the embodiment device is applied, and includes heaters H1, H2, H3, H4 and detection electrodes ELL and E shown in FIG. 1a.
L2. EL3. The arrangement of EL4 is shown. FIG. 2b is a partially exploded view showing the configuration of the steering wheel STW. FIG. 3 is a partial side view of a vehicle in which the embodiment device is mounted. Figure 4 shows the oscillation frequency f of the oscillator osc shown in Figure 1b.
1A is a graph showing, by way of example, a temporal change in reference data Raf set by the microcomputer 1 shown in FIG. 1A. 5 and 6 are flowcharts showing the general operation of the microcomputer l shown in FIG. 1a. l: Microcomputer 2: Grip detection unit (capacitance detection means) 3: O, 1
Second timer 1.3: (Signal processing means) 1, 2, 3: (Contact detection means) 4: Input buffer 5: Power supply unit 6: Temperature setting volume 7a: Bimetal switch 7b: Heat wire 10: Cover pad 11: Insulation Seat 12 Steering pad 13: Insert BT 2 On-board battery IGSV: Ignition switch Swl, Sw2: Switch Drv: Relay driver RLI, RL2. RL3. RL4: Relay 1, D
rv, RLI, RL2. RL3. RL4: (energizing control means) Ill, 82. H3, H4: Heater CTR: Counter OSC: Oscillator (oscillation means)
PSR: Parallel-in, serial-out, shift register STW steering wheel (operation handle member)
3-piece S steering shaft src Ni steering column ROOF: Roof Floor: Floor RO
OF, Flor: (Body Earth) MAN: Personnel

Claims (10)

[Claims] (1) An operating handle member that is manually operated; heating means that heats at least a portion of the operating handle member; a contact detection stage that detects whether or not at least a portion of the operating handle member is touched by a person; An operation handle heating device comprising: energization control means for energizing the heating means when the contact detection means detects contact. (2) The operating handle heating device according to claim (1), wherein the operating handle member is a steering wheel of a vehicle. (3) The person detection means includes a first electrode and a second electrode that, when a person is in contact with the operation handle member, forms an electric field that passes through at least a contact portion of the person with the operation handle member; Capacitance detection means for detecting capacitance between the first electrode and the second electrode; monitoring the capacitance between the first electrode and the second electrode detected by the capacitance detection means; The operating handle heating device according to claim 1, further comprising: a signal processing means for detecting whether or not there is a contact based on a change in the capacitance. (4) The signal processing means detects contact when the capacitance between the first electrode and the second electrode detected by the capacitance detection means increases, and when the capacitance decreases, the signal processing means detects contact. The operation handle heating device according to claim 3, which detects no contact. (5) The signal processing means determines that there is a contact when the amount of increase in capacitance between the first electrode and the second electrode per predetermined time detected by the capacitance detection means exceeds a predetermined value. The operating handle heating device according to claim 4, further comprising detecting the presence of contact when the capacitance decreases. (6) The capacitance detection means includes oscillation means that generates a signal with a frequency corresponding to the capacitance between the first electrode and the second electrode. Operating handle heating device as described in section. (7) The operating handle according to claim (6), wherein the oscillation means generates a signal whose frequency decreases as the capacitance between the first electrode and the second electrode increases. heating equipment. (8) The operating handle heating device according to claim (3), wherein the first electrode is attached to the operating handle member. (9) The operating handle heating device according to claim (2) or (8), wherein the operating handle member is a steering wheel of a vehicle, and the second electrode is a body ground of the vehicle. (10) The heating means selectively heats a plurality of parts of the operating handle member, and the contact detection stage detects whether each part of the operating handle member that is heated by the heating means is touched by a person. , the operating handle heating device according to claim (1) or (2), wherein the energization control means energizes the heating means corresponding to the region where the contact detection means detects contact. .