TW201524820A - Steering wheel with touch sensing - Google Patents

Abstract

A steering wheel with touch sensing is pivotally connected to a vehicle comprising an electronic control system. The steering wheel comprises a wheel body and at least one touch sensing zone. The wheel body comprises an outer rim section, a central section, and at least one connection spoke. The touch sensing zone is arranged on the connection spoke and comprises a flexible substrate bonded to the connection spoke, at least one metal sensing member distributed on the flexible substrate and electrically connected to the electronic control system, and a protection film covering the metal sensing member. The protection film has a plurality of reliefs on the surface capable of being touched by a driver to identify the touch sensing zone. Accordingly, the driver may identify the location of the touch sensing zone by directly touching the reliefs on the wheel body to operate the electronic control system through touches without shifting eyesight thereof, so as to enhance the driving safety.

Description

Steering wheel with touch sensing

The invention relates to a steering wheel, in particular to a steering wheel with a touch sensing device capable of correspondingly controlling a vehicle device.

With the development of the automotive industry, many families have at least one car, and the design of the car's functions is becoming more and more diverse. For example, an audio-visual playback system, a navigation device, an air-conditioning device, and the like are installed in an automobile, and the devices are mostly operated by buttons provided in the center console.

However, since each device needs to have an independently operated button, and thus the volume of the center console is increased, the space available for the seat is limited. Therefore, in the Republic of China Patent Publication No. 200519615, a touch is proposed. The panel integration device is mainly applied to the display information of the automobile and the multi-input, and can combine the information of the vehicle speed, the thermal control instrument, the audio control panel, the video media device, the communication, the satellite navigation, and the like through the graphical symbol. Or the symbol is displayed on a touch panel, and the display screen is touched by inputting the screen to display the functional control window, and then touches the symbol represented by each function on the control window or The mark achieves the purpose of operation, thereby reducing the setting volume of the center console, increasing the available seating space, and improving the comfort of the ride.

However, the touch panel integrated device is disposed on the center console. When the driver needs to adjust the in-vehicle device while driving, the line of sight must be turned from the driving road surface to the touch panel, and the hand is also It is necessary to leave the steering wheel to touch the touch panel to operate, and such behavior is easy to affect the safety of the traveling vehicle, and there is a need for improvement.

The main purpose of the present invention is to solve the problem that the touch panel integration device of the conventional vehicle is disposed in the center console. When the driver needs to adjust the equipment in the vehicle while driving, the line of sight needs to leave the road and the hand also leaves the steering wheel. It is a dangerous problem when driving.

To achieve the above objective, the present invention provides a steering wheel with a touch sensing mechanism pivotally connected to a vehicle body. The vehicle body is provided with an electronic control system, and the steering wheel includes a steering wheel body and at least one touch sensing area. The steering wheel body includes an outer edge portion, a central portion pivotally connected to the vehicle body, and at least one connecting spoke connected between the outer edge portion and the central portion; the touch sensing region is disposed on the connecting spoke And a flexible substrate attached to the connecting spoke, at least one metal sensing member distributed on the flexible substrate and electrically connected to the electronic control system, and a protective film covering the metal sensing member .

The protective film has a plurality of ridges on the surface away from the metal sensing member for recognizing the position of the touch sensing region by a driver.

In this way, the present invention is provided with the touch sensing area on the steering wheel body, and is provided with a ridge which can recognize the position of the touch sensing area by touch, so that the driver wants to operate the electronic control system. The position of the touch sensing area can be directly recognized by the hand on the steering wheel body, and the touch operation can be performed. The line of sight does not need to leave the running road surface, and the hand does not need to leave the steering wheel to improve the safety of the driving.

1‧‧‧ Steering wheel body

2‧‧‧ forward side

3‧‧‧Back side

4‧‧‧ car body

10‧‧‧The outer edge

20‧‧‧Central Department

21‧‧‧ Horn

30‧‧‧Connected spokes

31‧‧‧ first curved surface

40‧‧‧Touch sensing area

41‧‧‧Flexible substrate

411‧‧‧second curved surface

42‧‧‧Metal sensing parts

421‧‧‧ first turning point

422‧‧‧ second turning point

43‧‧‧Protective film

431‧‧‧ surface

432‧‧‧ embossing

433‧‧‧ function label

50‧‧‧Connector

51‧‧‧ cable

60‧‧‧ accommodating space

FIG. 1A is a perspective view showing the appearance of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 1B is a side elevational view of an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 1C is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line A-A' of Fig. 1A.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a touch sensing area according to an embodiment of the invention.

The detailed description and technical content of the present invention will now be described as follows:

Please refer to FIG. 1A, FIG. 1B, FIG. 1C and FIG. 2 for the appearance of the stereoscopic, side view, AA' section of FIG. 1A and touch. The invention discloses a steering wheel with a touch sensing, which is pivotally connected to a vehicle body 4 for controlling the traveling direction of the vehicle body 4. The vehicle body 4 is provided with an electronic control system, and the electronic control system can be It is electrically connected to the related vehicle equipment such as the audio-visual playing system, the air-conditioning device, the guiding device, the communication device, and the like provided in the vehicle body 4, and is used to control the vehicle-using devices.

The steering wheel includes a steering wheel body 1 and at least one touch sensing area 40. The steering wheel body 1 includes an outer edge portion 10, a central portion 20, and at least one connecting spoke 30. The outer edge portion 10 is an annular body therein, but is not limited thereto, and is provided for the driver to hold the two hands. The central portion 20 is pivotally connected to the vehicle body 4, so that the steering wheel body 1 can be rotated relative to the vehicle body 4 to control a traveling direction of the vehicle body 4. The connecting spokes 30 are arranged in three spokes. The steering wheel body 1 further includes a back side 3 and a forward side 2 opposite to the back side 3, the back side being connected between the outer edge portion 10 and the central portion 20. 3 is the side of the steering wheel that is pivotally connected to the vehicle body 4. The positive side 2 is the side of the steering wheel facing the driver. In this embodiment, the central portion 20 has a The horn 21 of the side 2 has a first curved surface 31 on the positive side 2 .

The touch sensing area 40 is disposed on the connecting spoke 30. In this embodiment, the touch sensing area 40 is disposed on the front side 2, and the touch sensing area 40 includes a flexible substrate 41 and at least one metal sensing. And a protective film 43. The flexible substrate 41 is attached to the connecting spoke 30 in conformity with the first curved surface 31, and has a second curved surface 411 away from the connecting spoke 30. The material of the substrate 41 can be selected from the materials of paperboard, plastic, glass fiber, phenolic resin, epoxy resin, copper foil and the like. In this embodiment, the glass fiber accounts for about 90% of the flexible substrate 41. Weight, excellent flexibility.

The metal sensing member 42 is disposed on the second curved surface 411 of the flexible substrate 41 and electrically connected to the electronic control system. The metal sensing member 42 is made of gold, silver, copper or nickel. Made of a metal or an alloy of titanium or tin. In this embodiment, the metal sensing member 42 is linear, having a plurality of side-by-side first inversion points 421 and a plurality of side by side away from the first inversion point 421. The second inversion point 422 is extended and distributed on the second curved surface 411, but is not limited thereto. The metal sensing member 42 may also be in a dot shape to form a dot matrix distribution for performing. induction.

The protective film 43 is formed on the metal sensing member 42 and can be formed by a general paint coating. The protective film 43 has a plurality of ridges 432 on a surface 431 away from the metal sensing member 42. The rib 432 The position of the touch sensing area 40 is recognized relative to the connecting spoke 30 in such a manner that the driver can touch. In this embodiment, the rib 432 has a height of 0.1 to 0.2 mm and a range of 0.2 to 0.4 mm. The width of the touch sensing area 40 and the other areas of the forward side 2 are different for the identification, and the protective film 43 is on the surface 431. At least one function indicator 433 is provided. The function indicator 433 can be, for example, a sound volume graphic, and the sound volume of the video playback system can be controlled by sliding on the touch sensing area 40, but is not limited thereto. The indicator 433 can be set according to the needs of use.

In addition, in the present embodiment, the steering wheel further includes a connector 50. The steering wheel body 1 further includes a receiving space 60 between the connecting spoke 30 and the central portion 20. The connector 50 is connected here. The flexible substrate 41 is away from the side of the metal sensing member 42 and includes a cable 51 extending into the accommodating space 60. The connector 50 collects the metal sensing member 42 and then the cable The electrical sensing system is electrically connected to the electronic control system of the vehicle body 4 via the accommodating space 60, so that the metal sensing component 42 is electrically connected to the electronic control system to transmit an inductive signal to the electronic control system. The operation of these vehicle devices, in addition, the connector 50 is used in the present invention, and the conventional connector is used, which has a snap design, and the connector of the conventional touch module (no buckle design) ), has the advantages of strong connectivity, durability and shock resistance.

In summary, the present invention provides the touch sensing area on the steering wheel body, and is provided with a ridge that can recognize the position of the touch sensing area by touch, so that the driver wants to operate the electronic control system. Directly touching the ridge on the steering wheel body to identify the position of the touch sensing area, performing a touch operation to drive the vehicle equipment, the line of sight does not need to leave the running road surface, and the hand does not need to leave the The steering wheel improves the safety of the driving. Moreover, the touch sensing area does not need to be glued by the conventional optical glue. In the case of high temperature, there is no problem of degumming or plastic aging, which causes the touch function to fail. Finally, this The invention can use the traditional connector, has the advantages of strong connection, sturdiness and shock resistance. Therefore, the invention is highly progressive and conforms to the requirements of the invention patent application, and the application is made according to the law, and the prayer bureau can grant the patent as soon as possible. Will.

The present invention has been described in detail above, but the foregoing is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and is not intended to limit the scope of the invention. That is, the equivalent changes and modifications made by the scope of the present application should remain within the scope of the patent of the present invention.

Domestic registration information [please note according to the registration authority, date, number order]

Foreign deposit information [please note according to the country, organization, date, number order]

10‧‧‧The outer edge

30‧‧‧Connected spokes

31‧‧‧ first curved surface

41‧‧‧Flexible substrate

411‧‧‧second curved surface

42‧‧‧Metal sensing parts

421‧‧‧ first turning point

422‧‧‧ second turning point

43‧‧‧Protective film

431‧‧‧ surface

432‧‧‧ embossing

433‧‧‧ function label

50‧‧‧Connector

51‧‧‧ cable

60‧‧‧ accommodating space

Claims (9)

[Item 1] A steering wheel with touch sensing is pivotally connected to a vehicle body, and the vehicle body is provided with an electronic control system, and the steering wheel comprises:
a steering wheel body, the steering wheel body includes an outer edge portion, a central portion pivotally connected to the vehicle body, and at least one connecting spoke connected between the outer edge portion and the central portion; and at least one of the connecting spokes a touch sensing area, the touch sensing area is provided with a flexible substrate attached to the connecting spoke, at least one metal sensing part distributed on the flexible substrate and electrically connected to the electronic control system And a protective film covering the metal sensing member;
The protective film has a plurality of ridges on the surface away from the metal sensing member for recognizing the position of the touch sensing region by a driver. [Item 2] The steering wheel with touch sensing according to claim 1, wherein the steering wheel body includes a back side that is pivotally connected to the vehicle body and a front side opposite to the back side, the connecting spoke has a first curved surface on the positive side, the flexible substrate having a pair of first curved surfaces corresponding to the first curved surface conforming to the first curved surface. [Item 3] The steering wheel with touch sensing according to claim 1, further comprising a connector, wherein the metal sensing component is electrically connected to the electronic control system through the connector after the connector is assembled. [Item 4] The steering wheel with touch sensing according to claim 3, wherein the connector is connected to a side of the flexible substrate away from the metal sensing member, the steering wheel body further comprising a connecting spoke and the center The accommodating space in the portion, the connector includes a cable extending into the accommodating space. [Item 5] The steering wheel with touch sensing according to claim 1, wherein the metal sensing member is made of a group selected from the group consisting of gold, silver, copper, nickel, titanium, tin, and combinations thereof. [Item 6] The steering wheel with touch sensing according to claim 1, wherein the ridge has a height of 0.1 mm to 0.2 mm. [Item 7] The steering wheel with touch sensing according to claim 1, wherein the ridge has a width of 0.2 mm to 0.4 mm. [Item 8] The steering wheel with touch sensing according to claim 1, wherein the protective film is provided with at least one function mark on the surface. [Item 9] The steering wheel with touch sensing according to claim 1, wherein the flexible substrate is made of a material selected from the group consisting of plastic, glass fiber, and combinations thereof.