JPWO2018207486A1 - Shift device - Google Patents

Abstract

The shift device is displaceable between the substrate (3) and a first position and a second position in a first direction, and the second position is closer to the substrate (3) than the first position. 4) (4), contact switches (10, 11) provided on the substrate (3) and turned on when the operation knob (4) is in the second position, and electrodes (20) provided on the substrate (3). ) And an elastic sheet member (300) having a conductor layer (310) facing the electrode (20) in a first direction, wherein the displacement of the operation knob (4) between the first position and the second position. An elastic sheet member (300) in which the distance between the electrode (20) and the conductor layer (310) changes in the first direction according to the direction, and at least one of the electrode (20) and the conductor layer (310) And a dielectric layer (220) located between the electrode (20) and the conductor layer (310). .

Description

  The present disclosure relates to a shift device.

  There is known a technology in which a gear ratio is switched according to a shift operation input via an operation knob (push button) instead of a shift lever.

WO 2013/183513 pamphlet JP 2015-128050 A

  However, in the prior art described above, only contact switches are used to detect a shift operation input. Therefore, failures such as contact failure (open failure) and ON sticking (short failure) of the contact switches are accurately determined. It is difficult to detect well. In a contact switch, the poor contact state and the state in which the operation knob is not operated are completely equivalent in circuit. Therefore, even if three or more contact switches are used and the principle of majority is used, the contact switch is not used. It is difficult to completely eliminate the possibility of erroneous detection of a switch failure. Further, in the contact type switch, since the ON fixed state and the state in which the operation knob is operated are completely equivalent in circuit, even if the principle of majority is used by using three or more contact type switches, It is difficult to completely eliminate the possibility of erroneous detection of a contact switch failure.

  Therefore, in one aspect, an object of the present invention is to enable a failure of a contact switch to be accurately detected.

In one aspect, a substrate and
An operation knob displaceable between a first position and a second position in a first direction, wherein the second position is closer to the substrate than the first position;
A contact switch provided on the substrate and turned on when the operation knob is at the second position;
An electrode provided on the substrate,
A conductor layer facing the electrode in the first direction, wherein the electrode and the conductor are arranged in the first direction in conjunction with a displacement of the operation knob between the first position and the second position; An elastic sheet member whose distance to the layer changes,
A shift device is provided that includes a dielectric layer provided on at least one of the electrode and the conductor layer, in a mode located between the electrode and the conductor layer.

  According to one aspect, according to the present invention, it is possible to accurately detect a failure of a contact switch.

1 is a front view schematically showing a shift device according to one embodiment. It is a side view which shows a shift device schematically. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of an electric circuit of the shift device. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of a structure for forming a variable capacitor. FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. 3. FIG. 4 is a diagram schematically illustrating a relationship between a sheet member and a slider in a non-operation state. FIG. 4 is a diagram schematically illustrating a relationship between a sheet member and a slider in an operation state. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a relationship between an inter-electrode distance and a capacitance of a variable capacitor. FIG. 9 is a table illustrating an example of a relationship between a failure mode that can be detected according to the embodiment and a failure determination condition. It is a figure showing an example of a connection method of a control device and an electrode.

  Hereinafter, each embodiment will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  1A and 1B are two views schematically showing a shift device 1 according to one embodiment. 1A and 1B, three orthogonal axes X, Y, and Z are defined. Further, the respective sides of the Z axis and the Y axis are indicated by Z1, Z2, and the like. The Z axis (an example of the first direction) corresponds to the thickness direction (normal direction) of the substrate 3. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of an electric circuit of the shift device 1.

  The shift device 1 is an operation device for a gear ratio switching operation, and is operated by a user. This is the transmission ratio of the transmission (transmission), and the type of transmission is arbitrary. The shift device 1 is mounted on a moving body having a transmission, for example, a vehicle or an aircraft. For example, in a vehicle, the shift device 1 may be used for a shift-by-wire type shift operation.

  The shift device 1 includes a substrate 3, an operation knob 4, contact switches 10, 11, a variable capacitor 40, and a control device 50 (an example of a processing device). Note that the shift device 1 may include a plurality of sets of the operation knob 4, the contact switches 10, 11, and the variable capacitor 40. In this case, the substrate 3 may be common or may be provided for each set. A part of the operation knob 4 may be operated for switching operation of the transmission shift mode. Hereinafter, one set of the operation knob 4, the contact type switches 10, 11 and the variable capacitor 40 will be described.

  The substrate 3 is, for example, a printed substrate, and has a surface whose normal direction is the Z direction. The substrate 3 is protected by the rubber sheet 320. The rubber sheet 320 is formed of, for example, a rubber material (for example, silicon rubber), and is provided so as to cover the electronic components on the substrate 3. The rubber sheet 320 protects electronic components on the substrate 3 by having a waterproof function. On the substrate 3, the contact type switches 10 and 11 are mounted, and the variable capacitor 40 is mounted.

  The operation knob 4 is a member operated by a user. A slider 4a (an example of a movable member) is provided on the Z direction side of the operation knob 4 in the Z direction. The slider 4a is integral with the operation knob 4 and is displaceable in the Z direction together with the operation knob 4. The slider 4a is supported to be displaceable only in the Z direction with respect to a case body (not shown). The slider 4a extends in the X direction when viewed in the Z direction so as to overlap the contact switches 10, 11 and a sheet member 300 (an example of an elastic sheet member) described later. When the operation knob 4 is pressed in the Z direction Z2 (see arrow R1 in FIGS. 1A and 1B), the slider 4a presses the contact switches 10 and 11 in the Z direction Z2 (see FIGS. 1A and 1B). Arrow R2), and presses an end of the sheet member 300 described later on the Y direction Y1 side toward the Z direction Z2 side (see an arrow R3 in FIGS. 1A and 1B).

  The contact switches 10 and 11 are switches each including a rubber dome on the movable contact side, and are arranged side by side in the X direction (an example of the second direction) as shown in FIG. 1A. In this embodiment, the rubber domes of the contact switches 10 and 11 and a sheet member 300 described later are both formed of a rubber sheet 320 made of a rubber material such as silicon rubber. That is, the rubber domes of the contact type switches 10 and 11 and a sheet member 300 described later are integrally formed of rubber. Since it can be integrally molded, the number of parts is not increased, and the assembly is easy and inexpensive. In this embodiment, two contact switches 10 and 11 are used, but the number of contact switches may be one or three or more. The contact switches 10 and 11 are electrically connected to the control device 50 as shown in FIG. The contact type switches 10 and 11 are turned on by the movable contact provided in the dome and the fixed contact provided on the substrate 3 contacting each other when the skirt portion of the dome-shaped rubber dome is displaced in the Z2 direction. Note that the skirt portion of the dome-shaped rubber dome generates a click feeling (operation feeling) when deforming in the Z direction Z2 side.

  As shown in FIG. 1A, the contact switches 10 and 11 abut on both ends in the X direction of the slider 4a in the Z direction. In this case, since the contact switches 10 and 11 are of the same quality, the balance in the X direction of the operational feeling for the slider 4a is improved.

  The variable capacitor 40 forms an electrostatic sensor that analogously detects the amount of displacement of the operation knob 4 in the Z direction. Note that "analog-like" means that the signal is not a binary value such as an on / off signal of the contact switches 10 and 11. The variable capacitor 40 is formed of, for example, a sheet member 300 described below. The variable capacitor 40 is electrically connected to the control device 50 as shown in FIG. Further details of the variable capacitor 40 will be described later together with the sheet member 300.

  The control device 50 is formed by, for example, a microcontroller. The control device 50 determines the state of the shift device 1 (for example, whether there is a failure or not, based on the state of the contact switches 10 and 11 (on / off state) and the state of the capacitance (capacity) of the variable capacitor 40. User operation) is detected. For example, the control device 50 detects a shift operation input based on the principle of majority decision based on the state of the contact switches 10 and 11 (on / off state) and the state of the capacitance of the variable capacitor 40. For example, the control device 50 controls the case where the number of the contact type switches 10 and 11 that are turned on is two or more, or the case where one of the contact type switches 10 and 11 is turned on. When the capacitance C of the variable capacitor 40 is equal to or larger than the threshold value Cth (see FIG. 7), the shift operation input is detected (effectively detected). When detecting a shift operation input, control device 50 changes the transmission gear ratio (or gear mode). Further details of the control device 50 will be described later.

  FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of a structure for forming the variable capacitor 40, and is a diagram schematically illustrating a top view of the substrate 3 (a Z direction view). In FIG. 3, the outline of the electrode 20 (and the dielectric film 220) hidden by the sheet member 300 is indicated by a dotted line. FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line AA of FIG.

  The variable capacitor 40 is formed by the electrode 20, the dielectric film 220 (an example of a dielectric layer), and the conductor layer 310 of the sheet member 300. The variable capacitor 40 is located between the contact switches 10 and 11 in the X direction when viewed in the Z direction, as shown in FIG. Since the empty space between the contact switches 10 and 11 is effectively used, even if the variable capacitor 40 is provided, it is easy to prevent the entire apparatus from being enlarged.

  The electrode 20 is formed on the substrate 3 adjacent to the contact switches 10 and 11. Since they are adjacent to each other, the contact type switches 10, 11 and the sheet member 300 can be simultaneously pressed by the slider 4a, which is a single part, so that the operation can be reliably performed without being affected by the assembly accuracy of the parts. The electrode 20 may be realized by, for example, a conductor pattern formed on the substrate 3. The electrode 20 is on the positive electrode side, for example, and is electrically connected to the control device 50 as shown in FIG.

  The dielectric film 220 covers the surface of the electrode 20 (the surface on the Z1 side in the Z direction). The dielectric film 220 may be formed of a resist or the like.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the sheet member 300 has a substantially rectangular shape in which one side in the Y direction Y2 side is connected by a substantially U-shaped slit 322 and the remaining three sides are cut off when viewed from above (in the Z direction). As shown in FIG. 4, one end in the Y direction (an end on the Y2 side) is fixed to the substrate 3 and the other end is separated from the substrate 3 in the Z direction. The end of the sheet member 300 on the Y2 side may be fixed to the substrate 3 with an adhesive or the like. In the example shown in FIG. 4, the end on the Y2 side of the sheet member 300 is pressed to the substrate 3 by the pressing member 302. Further, the end of the sheet member 300 on the Y direction Y1 side may be fixed to the slider 4a with an adhesive 301 or the like, as shown in FIG. 1B. Alternatively, the end of the sheet member 300 on the Y1 side in the Y direction may be merely engaged with the slider 4a (see FIGS. 5 and 6).

  Sheet member 300 includes conductor layer 310 and base material layer 320A. The conductor layer 310 may be formed of, for example, a low-resistance carbon film. Note that the carbon film may be formed by a sputtering method or the like. The base material layer 320A is formed integrally with the rubber domes of the contact switches 10 and 11 by using a rubber material (for example, silicon rubber) as a material of the rubber sheet 320 as described above. That is, the base material layer 320A is formed from a region surrounded by the slit 322 in the rubber sheet 320. The sheet member 300 has elasticity due to the elasticity of the base material layer 320A.

  In the sheet member 300, the conductive layer 310 may be formed over the entire base layer 320A, or the conductive layer 310 may be formed only in an area of the base layer 320A facing the electrode 20. However, the conductor layer 310 extends to the end on the Y2 side and is electrically connected to a ground contact (not shown) on the substrate 3 (see FIG. 2). The conductor layer 310 is, for example, pressure-bonded to a ground contact (not shown) on the substrate 3 by the holding member 302.

  FIGS. 5 and 6 are explanatory diagrams schematically showing the relationship between the sheet member 300 and the slider 4a. 5 and 6 also show the contact type switches 10 and 11. FIG. 5 shows a non-operation state (a state in which the operation knob 4 is not operated) in which the operation knob 4 is in a non-operation position (an example of a first position), and FIG. 6 shows a state in which the operation knob 4 is in the operation position (the first position). An operation state (a state in which the operation knob 4 is operated) in a second position (an example of a second position closer to the substrate than the position) is shown. 5 and 6, the illustration of the dielectric film 220 is omitted. 5 and 6, a portion of the rubber sheet 320 that is not related to the sheet member 300 or the contact switch 10 is omitted.

  Both the sheet member 300 and the skirt portion of the dome-shaped rubber dome of the contact switches 10 and 11 are elastically deformable. That is, when the operation knob 4 is operated in the Z-direction Z2 side, the slider 4a is displaced in the Z-direction Z2 side in the seat member 300 and the skirt portion of the dome-shaped rubber dome of the contact switches 10 and 11. As a result, it is elastically deformed in the Z direction Z2 side (see FIG. 6).

  Specifically, when the operation knob 4 shifts from the Z direction Z1 side to the Z direction Z2 side and the end portion on the Y direction Y1 side is pressed toward the Z direction Z2 side via the slider 4a, the Z In which the distance between the conductor layer 310 at the end on the Y1 side in the Y direction and the electrode 20 of the substrate 3 (hereinafter, referred to as “inter-electrode distance d”) decreases in conjunction with the displacement of the operation knob 4. Then, it is elastically deformed (see FIG. 6). When the slider 4a is displaced in the Z direction Z1 side, the elastically deformed sheet member 300 returns to the original state, and the inter-electrode distance d increases (returns to the original distance) (see FIG. 5). In the examples shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the distance d between the electrodes is d = Z0 in the non-operation state, but the distance d between the electrodes decreases to d = Z1 (<Z0) in the operation state.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of the relationship between the inter-electrode distance d and the capacitance (capacitance) of the variable capacitor 40. In FIG. 7, the horizontal axis represents the distance d [mm] between the electrodes, and the vertical axis represents the capacitance [F], and the relationship between the distance d between the electrodes and the capacitance of the variable capacitor 40 is shown by a characteristic curve P1. Generally, the capacitance C of the variable capacitor 40 can be represented by the following equation.
C = ε × S / d
Here, ε is a dielectric constant, and S is an electrode area. The electrode area S is the area of the electrode 20 or the area of the conductor layer 310. Therefore, the capacitance C of the variable capacitor 40 has a relationship inversely proportional to the inter-electrode distance d, as shown in FIG.

  In this way, the capacitance C of the variable capacitor 40 can represent the distance d between the electrodes in an analog manner. Here, the distance d between the electrodes changes according to the amount of displacement of the operation knob 4 in the Z direction. That is, when the displacement amount when the operation knob 4 is in the non-operation position is “0”, the displacement amount when the operation knob 4 is in the operation position is the decrease amount of the interelectrode distance d (= Z0−Z1). It is. Accordingly, the capacitance C of the variable capacitor 40 can represent the amount of displacement of the operation knob 4 in the Z direction in an analog manner.

  According to the present embodiment, since the sheet member 300 (variable capacitor 40) is provided in addition to the contact switches 10 and 11, the displacement of the operation knob 4 in the Z direction can be sensed in an analog manner. Therefore, based on the states (ON / OFF states) of the contact switches 10 and 11 and the capacitance C of the variable capacitor 40, the failure of one of the contact switches 10 and 11 can be detected accurately and. It becomes possible to detect it quickly.

  FIG. 8 is a table illustrating an example of a relationship between a failure mode detectable according to the present embodiment and a failure determination condition. The failure determination condition is defined by the sensor state, and the sensor state means the state (on / off state) of the contact switches 10 and 11 and the capacitance C of the variable capacitor 40.

  FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of FIG. 8 and illustrates an example of a relationship between the control device 50 and the electrode 20. In FIG. 9, the sensor terminal 501 of the control device 50 is electrically connected to the electrode 20 by the wiring 401, and the charge terminal 502 of the control device 50 is electrically connected to the electrode 20 by the wiring 402 via the charge resistor R1. Is done. In FIG. 9, as an example, the control device 50 periodically switches the voltage of the charge terminal 502 between “High” and “Low” during operation, and changes the state of the sensor terminal 501 (“High” or “Low”). , The capacitance of the electrostatic sensor is detected. Specifically, control device 50 switches the voltage of charge terminal 502 between “High” and “Low”, and waits until the state of sensor terminal 501 becomes the same voltage. Then, for example, the control device 50 controls the variable capacitor 40 based on the time ΔT from when the potential of the charge terminal 502 switches from “Low” to “High” until the state of the sensor terminal 501 changes to “High”. The capacitance C is detected. At this time, the control device 50 can detect the capacitance C of the variable capacitor 40 by utilizing that the time ΔT becomes longer as the capacitance C of the variable capacitor 40 is smaller. For example, when the time ΔT is equal to or less than the predetermined value, the control device 50 may determine that the capacitance C of the variable capacitor 40 is equal to or more than the threshold value Cth (see FIG. 7). The threshold value Cth is set, for example, so as to be able to detect when the operation knob 4 is at the operation position, as shown in FIG. In the modification, an IC (integrated circuit) that directly detects the capacitance C of the variable capacitor 40 may be used.

  In FIG. 8, that the electrostatic sensor is “High” (electrostatic sensor = High) indicates that the state of the sensor terminal 501 is “High”. Similarly, the state in which the electrostatic sensor is low (the electrostatic sensor = Low) indicates a state in which the state of the sensor terminal 501 is “Low”.

  Case 1 is a case where the electrostatic sensor does not become “High” during operation. In this case, a failure of the variable capacitor 40 can be detected. For example, the failure of the variable capacitor 40 includes a disconnection between the charge terminal 502 and the sensor terminal 501 (for example, a disconnection of the wirings 401 and 402), a ground short of the charge terminal 502 or the sensor terminal 501, and an open failure of the charge resistor R1. Are examples of failure modes.

  Case 2 is a case where the electrostatic sensor does not become “Low” during operation. In this case, a failure of the variable capacitor 40 can be detected. For example, the failure of the variable capacitor 40 includes a disconnection between the charge terminal 502 and the sensor terminal 501 (for example, a disconnection of the wirings 401 and 402), a power short circuit of the charge terminal 502 or the sensor terminal 501, and an open failure of the charge resistor R1. Are examples of failure modes.

  Case 3 is a case where the state (“High” or “Low”) of the electrostatic sensor follows the voltage (“High” or “Low”) of the charge terminal 502 within a predetermined time during operation. The certain time is a time significantly shorter than the time required for following the normal time. In this case, a failure of the variable capacitor 40 can be detected. For example, as a failure of the variable capacitor 40, a short circuit between the charge terminal 502 and the sensor terminal 501 is a failure mode.

  Case 4 is a case in which the states of the contact switches 10 and 11 do not match (only one of them is turned on and the other is turned off), and the electrostatic sensor is “High”. In this case, it is possible to detect an open failure of an off contact switch among the contact switches 10 and 11. This is because there is a high possibility that the operation knob 4 is in the operation position because the electrostatic sensor is “High”, and therefore, the open failure of the contact type switches 10 and 11 that are turned off. This is because the possibility is high. In this case, theoretically, an open failure of one contact-type switch that is turned off can be detected based on one event in which the electrostatic sensor becomes “High”, so that one of the contact-type switches 10 and 11 can be detected. It is possible to accurately and quickly detect a failure of the contact switch.

  Case 5 is the case where the states of the contact switches 10 and 11 do not match (only one of them is turned on and the other is turned off), and the electrostatic sensor is Low. In this case, it is possible to detect a short-circuit failure of the ON contact switch among the contact switches 10 and 11. This is because there is a high possibility that the operation knob 4 is in the non-operation position since the electrostatic sensor is “Low”, and therefore, the short-circuit of the ON-contact switch among the contact switches 10 and 11 is performed. This is because the possibility of failure is high. Also in this case, the open failure of one contact switch that is turned on can be detected based on one event that the electrostatic sensor becomes “Low” in theory, so that one of the contact switches 10 and 11 can be detected. This makes it possible to accurately and quickly detect a failure of the contact type switch.

  In the present embodiment, the above-described detecting means is applied to the input operation by the shift knob 4 of the shift device 1, and the presence / absence of the input of the variable capacitor 40 and the contact type switches 10 and 11 for detecting the vertical position of the shift knob 4 and the failure. , Accurately and quickly, it is possible to correctly detect a failure to ensure safer traveling even if a failure has occurred particularly when an input operation on a traveling vehicle or the like is detected.

  As described above, the embodiments have been described in detail. However, the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments, and various modifications and changes can be made within the scope described in the claims. It is also possible to combine all or a plurality of the components of the above-described embodiment.

  For example, in the above-described embodiment, the dielectric film 220 (an example of a dielectric layer) forming the electrostatic sensor is formed on the electrode 20 side, but is not limited thereto. For example, instead of or in addition to the dielectric film 220, a dielectric layer may be provided on the Z2 side of the conductor layer 310 of the sheet member 300 in the Z direction. In this case, the dielectric layer on the conductor layer 310 of the sheet member 300 forms an electrostatic sensor instead of or in addition to the dielectric film 220.

  As described above, the present invention has been described based on the embodiments. However, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the claims.

  Priority is claimed on Japanese Patent Application No. 2017-092604, filed on May 8, 2017, which is incorporated herein by reference.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Shift device 3 Substrate 4 Operation knob 4a Slider 10 Contact switch 11 Contact switch 20 Electrode 40 Variable capacitor 50 Control device 220 Dielectric film 300 Sheet member 301 Adhesive 302 Member 310 Conductor layer 320 Rubber sheet 320A Base layer 401 wiring 402 wiring 501 sensor terminal 502 charging terminal

Claims (7)

Board and
An operation knob displaceable between a first position and a second position in a first direction, wherein the second position is closer to the substrate than the first position;
A contact switch provided on the substrate and turned on when the operation knob is at the second position;
An electrode provided on the substrate,
A conductor layer facing the electrode in the first direction, wherein the electrode and the conductor are arranged in the first direction in conjunction with a displacement of the operation knob between the first position and the second position; An elastic sheet member whose distance to the layer changes,
A shift device comprising: a dielectric layer provided on at least one of the electrode and the conductor layer, in a mode located between the electrode and the conductor layer.   The shift device according to claim 1, wherein the contact switch includes a rubber dome, and the elastic sheet member and the rubber dome are integrally formed. Two or more contact switches are provided,
The shift device according to claim 1, wherein the electrode is located between two or more of the contact switches. The two or more contact switches and the electrodes are arranged on the substrate along the second direction,
The first direction is provided between the operation knob and the substrate, and extends in the second direction so as to overlap the two or more contact switches and the elastic sheet member when viewed in the first direction. 4. The shift device according to claim 3, further comprising: a movable member that is displaced in the first direction in conjunction with displacement of the operation knob between the first position and the second position. The elastic sheet member has one end fixed to the substrate and the other end separated from the substrate in the first direction.
The shift device according to claim 1, wherein the conductive layer is provided at least on the other end of the elastic sheet member.   Based on the state of the capacitance of the capacitor formed by the electrode, the dielectric layer, and the conductor layer, and the state of the two or more contact switches, a shift operation input is performed by a majority rule. The shift device according to claim 3, further comprising a processing device for detecting.   The electrode, the dielectric layer, and the state of the capacitance of the capacitor formed by the conductive layer, based on the state of the two or more of the contact type switch, the two or more of the contact type The shift device according to claim 3, further comprising a processing device that detects a failure of any one of the switches.

Images