WO2015155955A1

WO2015155955A1 - Input device for vehicle

Info

Publication number: WO2015155955A1
Application number: PCT/JP2015/001819
Authority: WO
Inventors: 幸秀太田; 中村　文夫
Original assignee: 株式会社デンソー
Priority date: 2014-04-10
Filing date: 2015-03-30
Publication date: 2015-10-15

Abstract

An input device for a vehicle is equipped with a touch input unit (40) and a supporting part (30). The touch input unit is provided on an instrument panel (11) of the vehicle and allows an operator to perform touch input thereon using his/her fingertips. The supporting part is disposed rearward of the touch input unit and designed so that an operator sitting in the driver's seat or passenger seat of the vehicle can place his/her wrist or palm thereon. The supporting part is set in positional relation to the touch input unit so as to be able to support the wrist or palm of the operator while his/her fingertip is touching the touch input unit.

Description

Vehicle input device

Cross-reference of related applications

The present disclosure includes Japanese application No. 2014-81396 filed on April 10, 2014, Japanese application No. 2014-8197 filed on April 10, 2014, and Japan filed on September 1, 2014. This is based on application number 2014-177420 and Japanese application number 2014-230022 filed on November 12, 2014, and the description is incorporated herein.

The present disclosure relates to a vehicle input device.

An input device for inputting settings such as a navigation device and an air conditioner is attached to a general vehicle instrument panel. In recent years, the number of vehicles that employ a touch panel (touch input unit) for this type of input device has been increasing (see Patent Document 1).

The touch panel enables input by lightly touching the touch input surface, and the operability is significantly different from the push-type switch. In addition, in the case of a touch panel, various touch inputs such as a flick operation, a slide operation, and a tap operation are possible. The flick operation is an operation in which a fingertip is placed on the contact input surface and the contact input surface is flipped with the belly of the finger with the wrist as a fulcrum. The slide operation is an operation in which a fingertip is placed on the operation surface and the fingertip is slid while being in contact with the operation surface. Tap operation is operation which taps a contact input surface lightly with a fingertip.

Now, unlike a touch panel used as a mobile terminal, in the case of a touch panel provided in a vehicle, the arm is extended and the touch panel is operated while sitting in the driver's seat or the passenger seat. The inventors have found that problems arise. That is, the operation is performed in a state where a part of the extended arm cannot be supported anywhere, and the operability in the vertical direction of the flick operation or the slide operation is poor. And since it is operation while receiving the vibration of a vehicle, stable touch input and the operation of an up-down direction are difficult, and there exists a possibility that a fingertip will shift | deviate from the desired contact position of a touch panel, and it may operate erroneously.

JP 2013-96736 A

An object of the present disclosure is to provide a vehicle input device capable of stable touch input.

The vehicle input device according to an aspect of the present disclosure includes a touch input unit and a support unit. The touch input unit is provided on the instrument panel of the vehicle and can be input by contact with the fingertip of the operator. The support unit is set in a positional relationship with the touch input unit so that the wrist or palm of the operator can be supported when the fingertip contacts the touch input unit.

According to the above vehicle input device, the operator can input by touching the touch part with the finger or the finger while the wrist or palm is supported by the support part, and thus stable touch input is possible.

The above and other objects, configurations, and advantages of the present disclosure will become more apparent from the following detailed description with reference to the following drawings. In the drawing
FIG. 1 is a front view illustrating a state in which the vehicle input device according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure is mounted on an instrument panel of the vehicle. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the vehicle input device according to the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a side view of the vehicle input device according to the first embodiment. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the vehicle input device according to the first embodiment. FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a state in which the touch panel is operated while the wrist is supported by the support unit. FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a state in which the rotating body is rotated while supporting the wrist. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a display example when the rotating body is touched in the vehicle input device according to the first embodiment. FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a display example when the rotating body is rotated upward from the state of FIG. 7. FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a display example when a slide operation is performed to the right from the state of FIG. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a display example when a flick operation is performed to the right from the state of FIG. FIG. 11 is a perspective view illustrating the shape of the rotating body in the vehicle input device according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating the shape of the rotating body in the vehicle input device according to the third embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the vehicle input device according to the fourth embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view of the vehicle input device according to the fourth embodiment. FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating the lighting state of the rotating body and the touch panel in the vehicle input device according to the fifth embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 16 is an exploded perspective view of the lighting apparatus according to the fifth embodiment. FIG. 17 is an exploded perspective view showing a mounting structure of a lighting device in the fifth embodiment. FIG. 18 is a perspective view showing a rotating body in a state where a lighting device is attached in the fifth embodiment. FIG. 19 is a perspective view of the vehicle input device according to the sixth embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 20 is a cross-sectional view of the vehicle input device according to the sixth embodiment. FIG. 21 is a perspective view showing a state in which the touch panel is operated while the wrist is supported by the support unit. FIG. 22 is a perspective view showing a state in which the rotating body is rotated while the wrist is supported by the support portion. FIG. 23 is a diagram illustrating a display example when a rotating body is touched in the vehicle input device according to the sixth embodiment. FIG. 24 is a diagram showing a display example when the rotating body is rotated upward from the state of FIG. FIG. 25 is a diagram showing a display example when a slide operation is performed to the right from the state of FIG. FIG. 26 is a diagram showing a display example when a flick operation is performed to the right from the state of FIG. FIG. 27 is an exploded perspective view of a rotating body unit according to the sixth embodiment. FIG. 28 is a front view of the electrode film shown in FIG. FIG. 29 is a perspective view showing an assembled state of the electrode film shown in FIG. FIG. 30 is a perspective view showing the assembled state of the rotating body shown in FIG. FIG. 31 is a perspective view showing an assembled state of the bearing shown in FIG. 32 is a perspective view of the bearing shown in FIG. FIG. 33 is a perspective view showing an assembled state of the support member shown in FIG. FIG. 34 is a perspective view showing an assembled state of the driven gear shown in FIG. FIG. 35 is a perspective view of the driven gear shown in FIG. FIG. 36 is a perspective view showing an assembled state of the rotation sensor shown in FIG. FIG. 37 is a perspective view showing an assembled state of the pedestal shown in FIG. FIG. 38 is a perspective view showing the assembled state of the ball plunger shown in FIG. FIG. 39 is a cross-sectional view of the ball plunger shown in FIG. FIG. 40 is a cross-sectional view showing a sliding surface between the rotating body and the bearing shown in FIG. FIG. 41 is a flowchart showing a control procedure when the rotating body is operated by the ECU shown in FIG. FIG. 42 is a flowchart showing a display screen control procedure by the ECU shown in FIG. FIG. 43 is a diagram illustrating a display example when a rotating body is touched in a vehicle input device according to another embodiment. FIG. 44 is a diagram illustrating a display example when a rotating body is touched in a vehicle input device according to another embodiment.

Hereinafter, a plurality of modes for carrying out the invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In each embodiment, portions corresponding to the matters described in the preceding embodiment may be denoted by the same reference numerals and redundant description may be omitted. In each embodiment, when only a part of the configuration is described, the other configurations described above can be applied to other portions of the configuration.

(First embodiment)
A vehicle input device (hereinafter referred to as an input device) according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIG. 1, an instrument panel 11 is installed in front of the driver seat and the passenger seat in the vehicle interior. The instrument panel 11 is located in front of the vehicle with respect to the steering wheel 12 and below the front windshield 13. An input device 14 that will be described in detail below is attached to a center portion 11a in the vehicle left-right direction of the instrument panel 11.

As shown in FIG. 2, the input device 14 includes a base member 20, a support unit 30, a touch panel 40 (touch input unit),

first push buttons

51, 52, 53, a rotating body 60,

second push buttons

71, 72, 73 and 74 are provided. The support 30, the touch panel 40 and the first push buttons 51 to 53, the rotating body 60 and the second push buttons 71 to 74 are held by the base member 20.

The base member 20 is made of resin, and is configured by integrally molding a base portion 21, a holding portion 22, a panel holding portion 23, and a concave portion 24 described below. The base member 20 is assembled in an opening 11b formed in the instrument panel 11. The base portion 21 is adjacent to the lower portion of the holding portion 22 and has a plate shape extending in the vertical direction while being curved along the surface of the instrument panel 11.

The holding unit 22 holds the support unit 30 and the first push buttons 51 to 53. The support part 30 is disposed at a position that can be reached by a passenger seated in the driver's seat when reaching out while sitting. In the example of FIG. 1, since it is a right-hand drive vehicle, the support part 30 is arrange | positioned in the position which extends and reaches a left hand. The surface of the support part 30 functions as a support surface 30a for supporting the wrist of the extended left hand. The support surface 30a has a flat shape, and an elevation angle of the support surface 30a with respect to the horizontal plane L is referred to as a support surface elevation angle θ1 (see FIG. 3). In the example of FIG. 3, the support surface elevation angle θ1 is set to less than 45 degrees. The support portion 30 has a shape raised from the surface of the plate-like base portion 21 by the height indicated by reference numeral 30b in FIG. In addition, the arrow which shows the up-down front and back in FIG. 4 and FIG. 3 shows the direction of the up-down direction and the vehicle front-back direction in the state which mounted the input device 14 in the vehicle.

The first push buttons 51 to 53 are arranged in the holding portion 22 above the support surface 30a. The surfaces of the first push buttons 51 to 53 are located on the same plane as the support surface 30a. The first push buttons 51 to 53 are mechanical buttons that are pushed down by the driver's fingertips against the elastic force of a spring (not shown). A plurality (three in the example of FIG. 3) of the first push buttons 51 to 53 are arranged side by side in the vehicle left-right direction. By pushing the first push buttons 51 to 53, execution and stop of the commands assigned to the first push buttons 51 to 53 are instructed.

Specifically, a command for switching the display content of the touch panel 40 is set in each of the first push buttons 51 to 53.

That is, a command related to the air conditioner is assigned to one first push button 51. When the first push button 51 is turned on, information related to the air conditioner is displayed on the touch panel 40, and icon images G1, G2, G3, G4 (for inputting the settings of the air conditioner are displayed on the touch panel 40. 2 and 7) are displayed. In accordance with the touch operation on the icon images G1 to G4, settings such as a passenger seat side set temperature, an air conditioned air outlet, an air conditioned air flow rate, and a driver seat side set temperature are input.

A command related to the audio device is assigned to another first push button 52. When the first push button 52 is turned on, information related to the audio device is displayed on the touch panel 40, and icon images G5, G6, G7, G8 (for inputting settings of the audio device) are displayed on the touch panel 40. 10) is displayed. Settings such as volume and sound source are input in response to a touch operation on the icon images G5 to G8.

A command related to the driving state of the vehicle is assigned to the other first push button 53. When the first push button 53 is turned on, for example, information related to the driving state of the driving source such as the internal combustion engine or the driving motor is displayed on the touch panel 40, and the setting of the driving source is displayed on the touch panel 40. An icon image for input is displayed.

The holding unit 22 holds a vibration actuator 31 (see FIGS. 4 and 7) that vibrates the support unit 30. Specific examples of the vibration actuator 31 include a piezoelectric element and a vibration motor that vibrate when energized. By vibrating the support portion 30 by the vibration actuator 31, vibration can be applied to the operator's hand placed on the support portion 30.

The panel holding unit 23 is disposed above the holding unit 22 and holds the touch panel 40 and the second push buttons 71 to 74. The touch panel 40 is disposed at a position that can be reached by an occupant seated in the driver's seat when reaching out while sitting. Further, the touch panel 40 and the support unit 30 are arranged at a position where a touch operation can be performed with the fingertip of the hand placed on the support unit 30 with the wrist placed on the support unit 30. The touch panel 40 is configured to have a transparent electrode on the front side of the liquid crystal display, and the transparent electrode detects a contact position of an operator's fingertip. Therefore, the touch panel 40 has a display function by a liquid crystal display and a touch input function by a transparent electrode.

The surface of the touch panel 40 functions as a contact input surface 40a. The contact input surface 40a has a flat shape, and an elevation angle of the contact input surface 40a with respect to the horizontal plane L is referred to as an input surface elevation angle θ2 (see FIG. 3). In the example of FIG. 3, the input surface elevation angle θ2 is set to 45 degrees or more. The support portion 30 is disposed so that the support surface elevation angle θ1 is smaller than the input surface elevation angle θ2.

The touch operation with the fingertip on the contact input surface 40a includes various touch operations such as a pinch operation in addition to the above-described flick operation, slide operation, and tap operation. The pinch operation is an operation for enlarging or reducing the screen by pinching the contact input surface 40a with a finger. In the display state of FIG. 2, four icon images G1, G2, G3, and G4 and a map information image Gm by the navigation device are displayed. For example, when a pinch operation is performed on the map information image Gm, the map information image Gm is enlarged and reduced. When a tap operation is performed on the icon images G1 to G4, a command assigned to each of the icon images G1 to G4 is executed.

The second push buttons 71 to 74 are arranged on the left and right sides of the touch panel 40 in the panel holding unit 23. The surfaces of the second push buttons 71 to 74 are located on the same plane as the contact input surface 40a. The second push buttons 71 to 74 are mechanical buttons similar to the first push buttons 51 to 53. When the second push buttons 71 to 74 are pushed, the second push buttons 71 to 74 are moved to the second push buttons 71 to 74, respectively. Command to stop and execute the assigned command. Unlike the touch panel 40, the second push buttons 71 to 74 are not set so that they can be operated with the wrist placed on the support portion 30.

As shown in FIG. 4, the recess 24 is disposed between the holding unit 22 and the panel holding unit 23, and is connected adjacent to the holding unit 22 and the panel holding unit 23. The concave portion 24 forms a space (operation space 24a) having a predetermined volume located in a direction intersecting a direction (virtual axis direction) in which the virtual axis K of the rotating body 60 extends in front of the rotating body 60. The recess 24 has a shape that is recessed below the support surface 30a, and forms an operation space 24a for a fingertip for rotating the rotating body 60 therein. The recess 24 has a bag shape having an opening 24b. The lower part of the opening 24b is located on the support surface 30a, and the upper part of the opening 24b is located on the contact input surface 40a.

The rotating body 60 is held in the recess 24 in a rotatable state, and is rotated by the occupant's fingertips. The direction in which the rotation center line (virtual axis K) of the rotating body 60 extends is the vehicle left-right direction (horizontal direction). The rotating body 60 has a cylindrical shape extending in the virtual axis K direction. The length of the rotator 60 in the virtual axis K direction is longer than the diameter of the rotator 60. The rotating body 60 is disposed to face the wall surface 24c (see FIG. 4) located on the vehicle rear side of the recess 24. The rotating body 60 is positioned below the opening 24b, and the entire rotating body 60 is positioned in the operation space 24a.

FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 show a state where an occupant seated in the driver's seat is operating the input device 14 with the left hand extended while holding the steering wheel 12 with the right hand. FIG. 5 shows a state where the wrist of the left hand is placed on the support surface 30a of the support unit 30 and the touch panel 40 is touch-operated with the fingertip of the index finger of the placed hand. FIG. 6 shows a state in which the wrist of the left hand is placed on the support surface 30a of the support portion 30 and the rotating body 60 is rotated with the fingertip of the middle finger of the placed hand. In the example illustrated in FIG. 6, the rotation operation is performed with the middle finger that rotates the rotating body 60 and the other fingers (index finger and ring finger) placed in the operation space 24 a. As described above, the touch panel 40, the rotating body 60, and the support unit 30 are arranged at positions where the touch operation, the rotation operation, or the slide operation can be performed with the wrist placed on the support unit 30 and supported.

As shown in FIG. 7, a rotation sensor 62 that detects the amount of rotation of the rotating body 60 is attached to the recess 24. As the rotation sensor 62, for example, a rotary encoder using an optical sensor may be adopted. Further, a click mechanism 63 that gives a click feeling to a fingertip that rotates the rotating body 60 is attached to the recess 24. The click mechanism 63 intermittently applies a force that resists the rotation of the rotating body 60 every time it rotates by a predetermined rotation amount.

The outer peripheral surface of the rotating body 60 provides a slide operation surface 60a that can be slid in the direction in which the virtual axis K extends while contacting the fingertip. The slide position of the fingertip to be slid is detected by the position sensor 61. The position sensor 61 has an electrode attached to the inside of the rotating body 60, and outputs a detection signal corresponding to a change in capacitance between the fingertip that is being slid and the electrode. For example, when the fingertip is brought into contact with an arbitrary position on the slide operation surface 60a, the detection signal output from the electrode corresponding to the arbitrary position changes. Thereby, the position which has made the fingertip contact is detected.

Specifically, a microcomputer (microcomputer) included in the electronic control unit (ECU 70) calculates a slide operation position based on a detection signal output from the position sensor 61. Further, the microcomputer determines whether the content of the touch operation is a long press operation in which the fingertip is brought into contact with the same position over a predetermined time, the flick operation or the slide operation described above based on the calculated change in the slide operation position. judge. When it is determined that the operation is a flick operation or a slide operation, it is determined whether the operation direction is left or right.

Further, the ECU 70 also receives information on the amount of rotation detected by the rotation sensor 62 and information on the operation contents input to the first push buttons 51 to 53, the second push buttons 71 to 74, and the touch panel 40.

The ECU 70 outputs a command signal to another ECU through the communication line 75 based on these pieces of information. For example, when the set temperature of the air conditioner is changed by an input operation on the touch panel 40, a command signal to that effect is output to the air conditioning ECU that controls the air conditioner. As a result, the air conditioning ECU controls the operation of the air conditioner based on the changed set temperature. Further, the ECU 70 controls the display content of the touch panel 40 and the operation of the vibration actuator 31 based on the various information described above. Note that the ECU 70 when the vibration actuator 31 is driven in accordance with the operation content on the touch panel 40 corresponds to a “vibration control unit”.

7 to 10 show examples in which the ECU 70 controls the display content of the touch panel 40 and inputs various settings based on the rotation operation and the slide operation with respect to the rotating body 60.

In the example shown in FIG. 7, the icon images G1 to G4 related to the setting of the air conditioner are displayed on the touch panel 40 as the first push button 51 is turned on. At this time, the ECU 70 sets so that the contact position range in the left-right direction of the slide operation surface 60a is divided into a plurality of ranges 60a1, 60a2, 60a3, 60a4 (see FIG. 8) corresponding to the plurality of icon images G1 to G4. . When the fingertip is brought into contact with the slide operation surface 60a, an icon image corresponding to the contact position area is selected.

In the example of FIG. 7, since the fingertip is in contact with the range 60a1 of the left end portion of the slide operation surface 60a, the icon image corresponding to the range 60a1, that is, the plurality of icon images G1 to G4 arranged in the left-right direction, The positioned icon image G1 is selected. In other words, the ECU 70 controls the display content of the touch panel 40 so that the icon image G1 corresponding to the contact position detected by the position sensor 61 is highlighted.

Specifically, it is determined that the icon image G1 has been selected when the range 60a1 of the left end portion of the slide operation surface 60a is continuously touched for a predetermined time or more. Then, the icon image G1 is highlighted and the vibration actuator 31 is operated for a predetermined time (for example, 0.5 seconds). And the setting image G1a relevant to the icon image G1 is displayed on the lower part of the selected icon image G1 among the touch panels 40. FIG. In the example of FIG. 7, since the icon image G1 is an icon for inputting the set temperature of the passenger seat, the current set temperature (27 ° C.) is displayed as the set image G1a.

In order to realize that the contact position range of the slide operation surface 60a is divided and set into a plurality of ranges 60a1, 60a2, 60a3, 60a4 corresponding to the plurality of icon images G1 to G4 as described above. Is formed long enough. Specifically, the rotating body 60 has a shape extending in the left-right direction to positions corresponding to the icon images G1, G4 located at both left and right ends of the plurality of icon images G1-G4 arranged in the left-right direction. Accordingly, the operation space 24a formed by the recess 24 is also formed in a sufficiently long shape in the left-right direction. Specifically, the length in the left-right direction of the operation space 24a is set so as to be equal to or greater than the length in the left-right direction of the rotating body 60.

In the example shown in FIG. 8, after the touch selection operation shown in FIG. 7, the rotating body 60 is rotated from the near side to the far side. As a result, the set temperature displayed as the set image G1a is changed so as to increase. When the rotating body 60 is rotated from the back side toward the near side, the setting temperature is changed so as to decrease. It is desirable to change the set temperature by a predetermined temperature every time the click mechanism 63 gives a click feeling.

In the example shown in FIG. 9, the fingertip is slid from the left end portion range 60a1, which is the contact position in FIGS. 7 and 8, to the right adjacent range 60a2. As a result, the icon image G2 corresponding to the contact position range 60a2 is selected. Specifically, it is determined that the icon image G2 has been selected when the range indicated by reference numeral 60a2 in the slide operation surface 60a has been in contact for a predetermined time or longer. Then, the icon image G2 is highlighted, and the vibration actuator 31 is operated for a predetermined time (for example, 0.5 seconds). And the setting image G2a relevant to the icon image G2 is displayed on the lower part of the selected icon image G2 among the touch panels 40. FIG. In the example of FIG. 9, since the icon image G2 is an icon for selecting the air-conditioned wind outlet, the current outlet (face outlet) is displayed as the setting image G2a. In this manner, the selected icon is changed by sliding the slide operation surface 60a. It is also possible to select each icon image by directly touching the operation surface at a position corresponding to each icon image without performing a slide operation.

In the example shown in FIG. 10, the flick operation is performed in the right direction from the range 60a1 of the left end portion that is the contact position in FIGS. As a result, icon images G5 to G8 related to the audio device are displayed on the touch panel 40. These icon images G5 to G8 are selected according to the slide operation and the settings of the selected items are changed according to the rotation operation, similarly to the icon images G1 to G4 related to the air conditioner. .

In short, a desired setting item is selected from a plurality of setting items based on the contact position detected by the position sensor 61. That is, at the contact position shown in FIG. 7, the icon image G1 for setting the temperature is selected from the plurality of icon images G1 to G4, and at the contact position shown in FIG. 9, the icon image G2 for setting the outlet mode is selected. Then, based on the rotation amount detected by the rotation sensor 62, the content related to the selected setting item is set. That is, the set temperature is changed based on the rotation amount by the rotation operation shown in FIG. In changing the set temperature (physical quantity) based on the rotation amount, the increase and decrease of the physical quantity are determined based on the rotation direction of the rotating body 60.

In addition, the setting contents that require a plurality of operations in the case of the touch operation of the touch panel 40 are assigned to the setting contents by the rotation operation of the rotating body 60. For example, the content set based on the rotation amount is a predetermined physical quantity such as volume, temperature, radio frequency, and the like.

7 to 10 illustrate examples of display contents by the slide operation and the rotation operation by the rotating body 60, but the slide operation and the rotation operation can be substituted by a touch operation on the touch panel 40. For example, when the touch panel 40 is tapped on a desired icon image, the icon image is selected.

ECU70 operates the vibration actuator 31 according to the operation content by the touch panel 40 in addition to operating the vibration actuator 31 according to the operation content by the rotary body 60. For example, when the touch panel 40 is long pressed on a desired icon image, the vibration actuator 31 is activated to notify the operator that the long press operation has been accepted.

As described above, the input device 14 according to the present embodiment is provided on the rear side of the vehicle with respect to the touch panel 40 and the rotating body 60, and the support unit 30 that supports the wrist of the passenger sitting on the driver seat or the passenger seat of the vehicle. Prepare. And the support part is arrange | positioned in the position which can input into the touch panel 40 with the fingertip of the hand supported by the support part 30, with the wrist placed on the support part 30. Therefore, touch input to the touch panel 40 can be performed in a state where the wrist is supported by the support unit 30, and thus stable touch input can be performed.

Furthermore, the support part 30 is disposed at a position where the rotating body 60 can be operated with a fingertip while the wrist is supported by the support part 30. According to this, the rotation operation or the slide operation with respect to the rotating body 60 can be performed in a state where the wrist is placed on the support portion 30 and supported. Therefore, the operation with respect to these rotating bodies 60 can be performed stably.

Here, contrary to the present embodiment, in the case of a structure in which the touch panel 40 is vibrated in response to a touch operation on the touch panel 40, the fingertip is in a state of lightly touching the touch panel 40. There is a limit. In contrast, in the present embodiment, the touch panel 40 can be touch-operated in a state where the wrist is supported by the support unit 30. And the vibration actuator 31 which vibrates the support part 30, and ECU70 which drives the vibration actuator 31 according to the operation content by rotation operation or a slide operation are provided. Therefore, since vibration is transmitted to the wrist supported by the support portion 30, it is possible to sufficiently transmit vibration to the wrist as compared with the above structure that transmits vibration to the fingertip that is lightly touched. Therefore, it is possible to improve the function of notifying the operator according to the operation.

Further, in the present embodiment, the rotating body 60 can be operated with the wrist supported by the support portion 30. And the vibration actuator 31 which vibrates the support part 30, and ECU70 (vibration control part) which drives the vibration actuator 31 according to the operation content by rotational operation or slide operation with respect to the rotary body 60 are provided. Therefore, since vibration is transmitted to the wrist supported by the support portion 30, vibration can be sufficiently transmitted to the wrist. Therefore, the certainty of the notification according to the operation on the rotating body 60 can be improved.

Further, the support unit 30 is arranged so that the elevation angle (support surface elevation angle θ1) of the support surface 30a on which the wrist is placed in the support unit 30 is smaller than the elevation angle (input surface elevation angle θ2) of the touch input surface 40a of the touch panel 40. Has been. According to this, since the support surface elevation angle θ1 is small, when the touch panel 40 is touch-operated with the wrist supported by the support portion 30, the amount of bending by bending the wrist can be reduced. Therefore, the touch operation can be performed with the wrist supported by the support portion 30 in an easy posture, and the operability can be improved.

Here, examples of input by touching the touch panel 40 include a case where an air conditioner is turned on and off, and a case where a physical quantity such as a set temperature is set. In the above-described on / off operation, the number of touch operations may be one, whereas when the physical quantity is set, the touch operation must be performed a plurality of times. In particular, when the physical quantity setting is greatly changed, the number of touch operations increases, and the operability of the setting change is poor. In the present embodiment in view of this point, a predetermined physical quantity can be set based on the rotation amount detected by the rotation sensor 62. Therefore, performing the touch operation a plurality of times can be substituted for the rotation operation of the rotator 60, so that the operability when changing the setting of the physical quantity can be improved.

Furthermore, in the present embodiment, a rotating body 60 that is rotated and a slide operation surface 60a that is constituted by an outer peripheral surface of the rotating body 60 and that is operated to slide are provided. Furthermore, a rotation sensor 62 that detects the amount of rotation by the rotation operation and a position sensor 61 that detects the slide operation position are provided. According to this, in the horizontal direction, good operability can be provided by a slide operation in which a fingertip is lightly placed on the slide operation surface 60a and the fingertip is slid. On the other hand, with respect to the vertical direction, an input operation can be performed by rotating the rotating body 60, thereby eliminating the need for a sliding operation in the vertical direction. Accordingly, it is possible to perform a light touch input by a slide operation while compensating for the drawbacks of the touch panel such as poor operability in the vertical direction by a rotation operation.

Moreover, according to the present embodiment, since the slide operation surface 60a is configured by the outer peripheral surface of the rotating body 60, switching between the rotation operation and the slide operation can be performed smoothly. That is, it is possible to input by a slide operation by simply sliding the finger that has been rotated. Alternatively, it is possible to input by rotating operation by simply bending and extending the finger that has been operated to slide.

Further, a desired setting item is selected from a plurality of setting items based on the contact position detected by the position sensor 61, and contents relating to the selected setting item are set based on the rotation amount detected by the rotation sensor 62. The Therefore, after performing the first operation for selecting the setting item, when performing the second operation for setting the contents related to the setting item, one of the first operation and the second operation is performed by the slide operation and the other is performed by the rotation operation. Can do. Since the slide operation and the rotation operation can be smoothly switched as described above, the selection and setting are performed when performing the second operation for setting the content after the first operation for selecting the setting item. Can be input smoothly.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, the base member 20 that holds the rotating body 60 has a recess 24 that forms therein an operation space 24a for a fingertip during a rotation operation. According to this, it is possible to rotate the finger of the hand operating the rotating body 60 in a state where the finger is positioned in the operation space 24a. Therefore, it can be avoided that the finger of the rotating hand interferes with the base member 20 and is difficult to rotate.

(Second Embodiment)
A rotating body 600 according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to FIG. In the slide operation surface 60a (outer peripheral surface) of the rotator 600, a groove portion 601 is formed that divides the slide operation surface 60a into a plurality of regions in the direction of the virtual axis K (left-right direction in FIG. 11). The groove portion 601 has a shape that is recessed in the radial direction from the surface of the slide operation surface 60 a, and has a shape that extends continuously around the virtual axis K in an annular shape. The width of the groove portion 601 in the virtual axis K direction is set to be smaller than the width of the assumed operator's finger. The groove portion 601 is formed at a plurality of locations in the virtual axis K direction.

As in the first embodiment, a plurality of icon images G1 to G4 are displayed on the touch panel 40. The plurality of icon images G1 to G4 are arranged side by side in the left-right direction. The contact position range in the left-right direction of the slide operation surface 60a is set by being divided into a plurality of ranges 60a1, 60a2, 60a3, 60a4 (hereinafter referred to as detection ranges) corresponding to the plurality of icon images G1 to G4. When the fingertip is brought into contact with the slide operation surface 60a, the ECU 70 determines which detection range corresponds to the contact position. Then, an icon image corresponding to the determined detection range is selected. In the example shown in FIG. 11, since the fingertip is in contact with the leftmost detection range (see reference numeral 60a1) of the slide operation surface 60a, the icon image (see reference numeral G1) located at the leftmost is selected.

The groove 601 formed on the slide operation surface 60a is located at the boundary between a plurality of detection ranges 60a1 to 60a4 corresponding to the icon images G1 to G4. A one-dot chain line in FIG. 11 indicates the boundary. Accordingly, the positions in the left-right direction of the plurality of regions divided by the groove 601 in the slide operation surface 60a coincide with the plurality of detection ranges 60a1 to 60a4. The ECU 70 determines which of the plurality of detection ranges 60a1 to 60a4 the position detected by the position sensor 61 is, and selects an icon image corresponding to the corresponding range.

If the groove portion 601 is not formed contrary to the present embodiment, the setting of the number and position of the detection ranges 60a1 to 60a4 may be changed by the ECU 70 according to the number and arrangement of the icon images G1 to G4. Good. On the other hand, in the present embodiment in which the groove portion 601 is formed, the setting of the number and position of the detection ranges 60a1 to 60a4 matched with the area divided by the groove portion 601 is fixed, and the icon image G1 is adjusted according to the setting. It is desirable to set the number and arrangement of .about.G4.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the slide operation surface 60a (outer peripheral surface) of the rotating body 600 is formed with the groove portion 601 that divides the outer peripheral surface into a plurality of regions in the direction of the virtual axis K. Therefore, an operator who slides the rotating body 600 can easily grasp which detection range 60a1 to 60a4 is touched by touching the groove 601 with a fingertip. Therefore, the blind operability for selecting a desired icon image without looking at the rotating body 600 can be improved.

In particular, when a desired icon image is selected from the plurality of icon images G1 to G4 by sliding the fingertip in the direction of the virtual axis K while keeping the fingertip in contact with the slide operation surface 60a, the fingertip has the groove 601. A pseudo-click feeling can be given every time crossing. Therefore, when the icon image is selected and operated by stopping the slide of the fingertip at a desired position, the operability can be improved.

(Third embodiment)
A rotating body 610 according to a third embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to FIG. In the rotating body 610 according to the present embodiment, a protruding portion 602 is formed on the slide operation surface 60 a instead of the groove portion 601. The protrusion 602 divides the slide operation surface 60a into a plurality of regions in the direction of the virtual axis K (the left-right direction in FIG. 12). The protruding portion 602 has a shape that extends continuously around the virtual axis K in an annular shape. The width of the protrusion 602 in the virtual axis K direction is set to be smaller than the width of the assumed operator's finger. The protrusions 602 are formed at a plurality of locations in the virtual axis K direction.
The protruding portion 602 formed on the slide operation surface 60a is located at the boundary between a plurality of detection ranges 60a1 to 60a4 corresponding to the icon images G1 to G4. A one-dot chain line in FIG. 12 indicates the boundary. Therefore, the positions in the left-right direction of the plurality of areas divided by the protrusions 602 in the slide operation surface 60a coincide with the plurality of detection ranges 60a1 to 60a4.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the protruding portion 602 that divides the outer peripheral surface into a plurality of regions in the direction of the virtual axis K is formed on the slide operation surface 60a. Therefore, an operator who slides the rotating body 610 can easily grasp which detection range 60a1 to 60a4 is touched by touching the protrusion 602 with a fingertip. Accordingly, the blind operability of the rotating body 610 can be improved in the same manner as in the second embodiment. Further, when a desired icon image is selected by sliding the fingertip in the virtual axis K direction while keeping the fingertip in contact with the slide operation surface 60a, a pseudo click feeling is generated each time the fingertip crosses the protruding portion 602. Can be granted.

(Fourth embodiment)
The input device 14 according to the fourth embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to FIGS. 13 and 14. In the first embodiment, the support portion 30 on which the wrist or palm of the operator is supported is fixed to the base member 20. Specifically, the support portion 30 is integrally molded with the base member 20. Or the support part 30 shape | molded separately is assembled | attached so that the base member 20 may be fixed. On the other hand, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 13, the support portion 300 is resin-molded so as to be separate from the base member 200. And the support part 300 is assembled | attached to the base member 200 so that the support part 300 can vibrate with the frequency different from the base member 200. FIG.

Hereinafter, the assembly structure will be described in more detail with reference to FIG.

The base member 200 is configured by integrally resin-molding the base portion 21, the holding portion 22, the panel holding portion 23, and the concave portion 24 in the same manner as in the first embodiment. The holding portion 22 is formed with an accommodation recess 201 for accommodating the support portion 300. In a state where the support portion 300 is disposed at a predetermined position of the housing recess 201, the support surface 301 of the support portion 300 is located on the same plane as the surface of the holding portion 22.

The vibration actuator 31 is attached to the bottom surface of the housing recess 201. A vibration transmitting portion 304 having a shape protruding toward the vibration actuator 31 is formed in a portion of the support portion 300 that faces the vibration actuator 31. The vibration transmission unit 304 is fixed to the vibration actuator 31. When the vibration actuator 31 is operated, the support portion 300 vibrates in the housing recess 201.

A predetermined gap CL is formed between the outer peripheral surface 303 of the support portion 300 and the wall surface of the housing recess 201. In addition, the support portion 300 is formed with an accommodation hole 302 that accommodates the first push button 51, the second push button 52, and the first push button 53. A predetermined gap is formed between the outer peripheral surface 52 a of the push buttons 51 to 53 and the wall surface of the accommodation hole 302.

Thus, since the support part 300 is accommodated in the accommodation recess 201 with the gap CL formed, when the support part 300 is vibrated by the vibration actuator 31, the vibration of the support part 300 is applied to the base member 200. It becomes difficult to propagate. In other words, since the vibration actuator 31 can vibrate the support part 300 without causing the base member 200 to vibrate substantially, the small vibration actuator 31 can sufficiently vibrate the support part 300. In short, when the vibration actuator 31 is stopped, the support portion 300 is housed in the housing recess 201 in a floating state that does not contact the base member 200.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the support portion 300 on which the wrist or palm of the operator is supported is formed separately from the base member 200 that holds the rotating body 60. Therefore, the vibration of the support part 300 is not easily propagated to the base member 200, so that the support part 300 can be sufficiently vibrated by the small vibration actuator 31.

(Fifth embodiment)
An input device 14 according to a fifth embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to FIGS. 15 to 18. The input device 14 according to the present embodiment includes a light source 84 that illuminates the rotating body 620. The ECU 70 controls the operation of the light source 84 so as to change the illumination on the rotating body 620 according to the contact position detected by the position sensor 61. The ECU 70 during such control corresponds to the light source control unit 70a.

Next, the contents of control by the light source control unit 70a will be described.

In the example shown in FIG. 15, the detection range 60a2 corresponding to the detected contact position among the plurality of detection ranges 60a1 to 60a4 is illuminated. The diagonal lines in FIG. 15 indicate the illuminated area. When the detected contact position moves as the fingertip is moved, the illuminated range of the detection ranges 60a1 to 60a4 is also moved.

An icon image corresponding to the contact position is selected from among the plurality of icon images G1 to G4, and the selected icon image G2 is displayed in a manner different from the other icon images G1, G3, and G4.

Also, the detection range 60a2 is illuminated with the same color (or the same brightness) as the selected icon image G2. That is, the color (or luminance) that illuminates the rotator 620 is changed in conjunction with the color (or luminance) of the icon image selected on the touch panel 40.

In the example of FIG. 15, the other detection ranges 60a1, 60a3, and 60a4 are not illuminated, but other detection ranges may be illuminated. However, in this case, it is necessary to illuminate the detection range 60a2 in a manner different from the other detection ranges, such as illuminating or blinking the detection range 60a2 corresponding to the contact position with higher brightness than the other detection ranges. .

As described above, in the air conditioning setting mode shown in FIG. 9, the icon images G1 to G4 related to the air conditioning apparatus are displayed, whereas in the audio setting mode shown in FIG. 10, icon images related to the audio apparatus are displayed. G5 to G8 are displayed. In the present embodiment, the rotating body 620 is illuminated with a different color for each of these display modes.

For example, when the air conditioning setting mode is selected, the entire rotating body 620 is illuminated with a color corresponding to the mode, and the detection range corresponding to the contact position is illuminated with high luminance. When the air conditioning setting mode is switched to the audio setting mode, the color that illuminates the entire rotating body 620 is changed to a color corresponding to the audio setting mode. Note that when the entire rotating body 620 is illuminated with a color corresponding to the mode, the entire touch panel 40 may be displayed in the same color as the illumination color.

Next, the structure of the illumination device 80 having the light source 84 will be described.

As shown in FIG. 16, the illumination device 80 includes a frame 81, a diffusion sheet 82, a substrate 83, and a light source 84. A diffusion sheet 82 and a substrate 83 are attached to the frame 81. A plurality of light sources 84 are mounted on the substrate 83. A light emitting diode is used for the light source 84. For example, it is possible to illuminate with a desired color using light emitting diodes of three colors of red, green, and blue, or to mount a plurality of single color light emitting diodes of different colors and switch on / off of the single color light emitting diodes to switch the illumination color. You may do it.

A plurality of light sources 84 are arranged in the direction of the virtual axis K. The frame 81 has a reflector portion that reflects the light emitted from the light source 84. The light emitted from the light source 84 and the light reflected by the reflector unit are diffused by the diffusion sheet 82. Therefore, it seems that the area | region of the part which opposes the light source 84 during light emission among the diffusion sheets 82 is surface-emitting. In other words, the sheet surface of the diffusion sheet 82 functions as the light emitting surface of the lighting device 80.

As shown in FIG. 17, the rotating body 620 is attached to the main body frame 90 in a rotatable state. A rotation sensor 62 and a lighting device 80 are also attached to the main body frame 90. The light emitting surface of the illuminating device 80 has a shape extending in the direction of the virtual axis K, and the illuminating device 80 is attached to the main body frame 90 with screws 91 so that the light emitting surface is parallel to the rotating body 620 as shown in FIG. It is attached with. In other embodiments described later, a light source such as a light emitting diode is disposed inside the rotator 60 to illuminate the rotator 60, whereas in this embodiment, the rotator 620 It can be said that the light source 84 is arranged outside.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the light source controller 70 a that controls the operation of the light source 84 so as to change the illumination according to the light source 84 that illuminates the rotating body 620 and the contact position detected by the position sensor 61. And comprising. Therefore, when the slide operation surface 60a is touched with a fingertip, the operator can easily grasp which of the plurality of detection ranges 60a1 to 60a4 set on the rotating body 620 is detected. . Therefore, the operability of the rotating body 620 can be improved.

Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the color (or luminance) of the icon image selected on the touch panel 40 is the same as the color (or luminance) that illuminates the rotating body 620, and the selected icon image changes. In conjunction with this, the illumination of the rotating body 620 is also changed. Therefore, it becomes easier to grasp the contact operation position.

(Sixth embodiment)
Next, the input device 14 according to the sixth embodiment of the present disclosure will be described. As shown in FIG. 19, the input device 14 according to this embodiment includes a base member 20, a support unit 30, a touch panel 40 (touch input unit),

first push buttons

51, 52, 53, and a rotating body unit 160. . The support unit 30, the touch panel 40, the first push buttons 51 to 53, and the rotating body unit 160 are held by the base member 20.

The rotating body unit 160 has a rotating body 163. The rotating body 163 is disposed in the recess 24 in a rotatable state, and is rotated by the occupant's fingertips. The direction in which the rotation center line (virtual axis K) of the rotator 163 extends is the vehicle left-right direction (horizontal direction). The rotating body 163 has a cylindrical shape extending in the virtual axis direction. The length of the rotator 163 in the virtual axis direction is longer than the diameter of the rotator 163. The rotator 163 is disposed to face a wall surface 24c (see FIG. 20) located on the vehicle rear side of the recess 24. The rotating body 163 is positioned below the opening 24b, and the entire rotating body 163 is positioned in the operation space 24a.

FIGS. 21 and 22 show a state where an occupant seated in the driver's seat is operating the input device 14 with the left hand extended while holding the steering wheel 12 with the right hand. FIG. 21 shows a state where the wrist of the left hand is placed on the support surface 30a of the support unit 30 and the touch panel 40 is touch-operated with the fingertip of the index finger of the placed hand. FIG. 22 shows a state in which the wrist of the left hand is placed on the support surface 30a of the support unit 30 and the rotating body 163 is rotated with the fingertip of the middle finger of the placed hand. In the example illustrated in FIG. 22, the middle finger that rotates the rotating body 163 and the other fingers (index finger and ring finger) are rotated in a state where they are placed in the operation space 24 a. As described above, the touch panel 40, the rotating body 163, and the support unit 30 are arranged at a position where the touch operation, the rotation operation, or the slide operation can be performed with the wrist placed on the support unit 30.

The outer peripheral surface of the rotator 163 provides a slide operation surface 163a that can be slid in the virtual axis direction while contacting the fingertip. The slide position of the fingertip to be slid is detected by a position sensor. The position sensor is provided by an electrode film 161 shown in FIG. The electrode film 161 has a plurality of electrodes 161b (see FIG. 28) attached to the inside of the rotating body 163, and a detection signal corresponding to a change in capacitance between the fingertip that is slid and the electrode 161b. Is output. For example, when a fingertip is brought into contact with an arbitrary position on the slide operation surface 163a, a detection signal output from the electrode 161b corresponding to the arbitrary position changes. Thereby, the position which has made the fingertip contact is detected.

Specifically, a microcomputer (microcomputer) included in the electronic control unit (ECU 180) calculates a slide operation position based on a detection signal output from the electrode film 161 (position sensor). Furthermore, the microcomputer determines whether the content of the touch operation is a long press operation in which the fingertip is brought into contact with the same position for a predetermined time or more, the above-described flick operation, or slide operation based on the calculated change in the slide operation position. To do. When it is determined that the operation is a flick operation or a slide operation, it is determined whether the operation direction is left or right.

Further, information on the amount of rotation detected by the rotation sensor 168 and information on the operation content input to the first push buttons 51 to 53 and the touch panel 40 are also input to the ECU 180.

ECU 180 outputs a command signal to another ECU through communication line 85 based on these pieces of information. For example, when the set temperature of the air conditioner is changed by an input operation on the touch panel 40, a command signal to that effect is output to the air conditioning ECU that controls the air conditioner. As a result, the air conditioning ECU controls the operation of the air conditioner based on the changed set temperature. Further, the ECU 180 controls the display content of the touch panel 40 and the operation of the vibration actuator 31 based on the various information described above.

23 to 26 show an example in which the ECU 180 controls display contents of the touch panel 40 and inputs various settings based on the rotation operation and the slide operation on the rotating body 163.

In the example shown in FIG. 23, the icon images G1 to G4 related to the setting of the air conditioner are displayed on the touch panel 40 as the first push button 51 is turned on. At this time, the ECU 180 sets the contact position range in the left-right direction of the slide operation surface 163a to be divided into a plurality of ranges 163a1, 163a2, 163a3, 163a4 (see FIG. 24) corresponding to the plurality of icon images G1 to G4. . Then, when the fingertip is brought into contact with the slide operation surface 163a, an icon image corresponding to the contact position area is selected.

In the example of FIG. 23, since the fingertip is in contact with the range 163a1 of the left end portion of the slide operation surface 163a, the icon image corresponding to the range 163a1, that is, among the plurality of icon images G1 to G4 arranged in the left-right direction, The positioned icon image G1 is selected. In other words, the ECU 180 controls the display content of the touch panel 40 so as to highlight the icon image G1 corresponding to the contact position detected by the position sensor.

Specifically, it is determined that the icon image G1 has been selected when the range 163a1 of the left end portion of the slide operation surface 163a is continuously touched for a predetermined time or more. Then, the icon image G1 is highlighted and the vibration actuator 31 is operated for a predetermined time (for example, 0.5 seconds). And the setting image G1a relevant to the icon image G1 is displayed on the lower part of the selected icon image G1 among the touch panels 40. FIG. In the example of FIG. 23, since the icon image G1 is an icon for inputting the set temperature of the passenger seat, the current set temperature (27 ° C.) is displayed as the set image G1a.

In order to realize that the contact position range of the slide operation surface 163a is divided and set into a plurality of ranges 163a1, 163a2, 163a3, 163a4 corresponding to the plurality of icon images G1 to G4 as described above. Is formed long enough. Specifically, the rotator 163 has a shape extending in the left-right direction to positions corresponding to the icon images G1, G4 located at both left and right ends of the plurality of icon images G1-G4 arranged in the left-right direction. Accordingly, the operation space 24a formed by the recess 24 is also formed in a sufficiently long shape in the left-right direction. Specifically, the length in the left-right direction of the operation space 24a is set so as to be equal to or greater than the length in the left-right direction of the rotating body 163.

In the example shown in FIG. 24, after the touch selection operation shown in FIG. 23, the rotating body 163 is rotated from the near side to the far side. As a result, the set temperature displayed as the set image G1a is changed so as to increase. When the rotating body 163 is rotated from the back side toward the front side, the setting temperature is changed so as to decrease. It is desirable to change the set temperature by a predetermined temperature each time a click feeling is given by a ball plunger 171 (see FIG. 39) described in detail later.

In the example shown in FIG. 25, the fingertip is slid and moved from the left end portion range 163a1, which is the contact position in FIGS. 23 and 24, to the right adjacent range 163a2. As a result, the icon image G2 corresponding to the contact position range 163a2 is selected. Specifically, it is determined that the icon image G2 has been selected when the range indicated by reference numeral 163a2 in the slide operation surface 163a is continuously touched for a predetermined time or more. Then, the icon image G2 is highlighted, and the vibration actuator 31 is operated for a predetermined time (for example, 0.5 seconds). And the setting image G2a relevant to the icon image G2 is displayed on the lower part of the selected icon image G2 among the touch panels 40. FIG. In the example of FIG. 25, since the icon image G2 is an icon for selecting the air-conditioned wind outlet, the current outlet (face outlet) is displayed as the setting image G2a. As described above, the selected icon is changed by sliding the slide operation surface 163a. It is also possible to select each icon image by directly touching the operation surface at a position corresponding to each icon image without performing a slide operation.

In the example shown in FIG. 26, the flick operation is performed in the right direction from the range 163a1 of the left end portion which is the contact position in FIGS. As a result, icon images G5 to G8 related to the audio device are displayed on the touch panel 40. These icon images G5 to G8 are selected according to the slide operation and the settings of the selected items are changed according to the rotation operation, similarly to the icon images G1 to G4 related to the air conditioner. .

In short, a desired setting item is selected from a plurality of setting items based on the contact position detected by the position sensor. That is, at the contact position shown in FIG. 23, the icon image G1 for setting the temperature is selected from the plurality of icon images G1 to G4, and at the contact position shown in FIG. 25, the icon image G2 for setting the outlet mode is selected. Then, based on the rotation amount detected by the rotation sensor 168, the content related to the selected setting item is set. That is, the set temperature is changed based on the rotation amount by the rotation operation shown in FIG. In changing the set temperature (physical quantity) based on the rotation amount, the increase and decrease of the physical quantity are determined based on the rotation direction of the rotating body 163.

Also, the setting contents that require a plurality of operations in the case of the touch operation of the touch panel 40 are assigned to the setting contents by the rotation operation of the rotating body 163. For example, the content set based on the rotation amount is a predetermined physical quantity such as volume, temperature, radio frequency, and the like.

23 to 26, examples of display contents by the slide operation and the rotation operation by the rotating body 163 have been described, but the slide operation and the rotation operation can be substituted by a touch operation on the touch panel 40. For example, when the touch panel 40 is tapped on a desired icon image, the icon image is selected.

The ECU 180 operates the vibration actuator 31 in accordance with the operation content on the touch panel 40 in addition to operating the vibration actuator 31 in accordance with the operation content on the rotating body 163. For example, when the touch panel 40 is long pressed on a desired icon image, the vibration actuator 31 is activated to notify the operator that the long press operation has been accepted.

Next, the structure of the rotator unit 160 will be described with reference to FIGS.

27, the rotating body unit 160 includes an electrode film 161, a fixed shaft 162, a rotating body 163, a main driving gear 164, a bearing member 165, a supporting member 166, a driven gear 167, and a rotation sensor 168. Furthermore, the rotating body unit 160 includes a sensor support member 169, a base 170, a ball plunger 171, a circuit board 172, and a board support member 173.

As shown in FIG. 28, the electrode film 161 includes an insulating film 161a, an electrode 161b, a transmission electrode 161c, a wiring 161d, and a terminal 161e. The insulating film 161 a has a shape that extends in a direction (virtual axis direction) in which the virtual axis K of the rotating body 163 extends. The electrode 161b, the transmission electrode 161c, and the wiring 161d have electrical conductivity provided on the insulating film 161a, and are provided on the insulating film 161a by printing, adhesion, or vapor deposition. A plurality of electrodes 161b are arranged side by side in the virtual axis direction (left-right direction in FIG. 28). The transmission electrode 161c has a shape that surrounds the plurality of electrodes 161b, and is spaced apart from the electrode 161b by a predetermined amount.

The wiring 161d has a shape extending in the imaginary axis direction, one end of the wiring 161d is electrically connected to each of the transmission electrode 161c and the electrode 161b, and the other end of the wiring 161d is electrically connected to the terminal 161e. In the following description, a region of the electrode film 161 where the electrode 161b is arranged in the imaginary axis direction is referred to as a main body portion, and a portion of a region further extending from the main body portion in the imaginary axis direction is referred to as an extension portion 161p.

As shown in FIG. 29, the fixed shaft 162 has a cylindrical or columnar shape extending in the virtual axis direction and is made of resin. The electrode film 161 is attached on the outer peripheral surface of the fixed shaft 162. Specifically, the main body of the electrode film 161 is attached on the outer peripheral surface of the fixed shaft 162 by means such as adhesion. At both ends of the fixed shaft 162, fitting portions 162a that are fitted with resin bearing members 165 (see FIG. 32) are provided. A locking portion 162b that protrudes in the radial direction of the fixed shaft 162 is formed in the fitting portion 162a.

As shown in FIG. 30, the rotating body 163 has a cylindrical shape extending in the virtual axis direction and is made of resin. The outer peripheral surface of the rotating body 163 provides the above-described slide operation surface 163a. The slide operation surface 163a has a shape that undulates in the circumferential direction. That is, the slide operation surface 163a has a shape in which convex portions and concave portions extending in the virtual axis direction are alternately arranged in the circumferential direction. A main driving gear 164 is fixed to one end of the rotating body 163. From the other end of the rotating body 163, a fixed shaft 162 with the electrode film 161 attached is inserted.

The rotation center of the main driving gear 164 coincides with the rotation center of the rotating body 163, and the main driving gear 164 rotates integrally with the rotating body 163. A gear portion that engages with the driven gear 167 (see FIG. 34) is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the main driving gear 164. The fitting portion 162a is inserted into a through hole provided in the center of the main driving gear 164.

As shown in FIG. 31, the bearing member 165 is fitted to the fitting portions 162a provided at both ends of the fixed shaft 162. As shown in FIG. 32, a disc-shaped resin bearing member 165 is inserted and arranged inside the rotating body 163, and the outer peripheral surface 165 c of the bearing member 165 contacts the inner peripheral surface 163 b of the rotating body 163. ing. The bearing member 165 is formed with a through hole 165a into which the fitting portion 162a is fitted, a locking groove 165d into which the locking portion 162b is fitted, and a through hole 165b into which the extending portion 161p is inserted. The locking groove 165d and the through hole 165b communicate with the through hole 165a and have a shape that extends from the through hole 165a in the radial direction of the bearing member 165. In this way, when the locking portion 162b is fitted into the locking groove 165d, the fixed shaft 162 and the bearing member 165 are fixed so that they cannot rotate relative to each other.

33, both ends (fitting portions 162a) of the fixed shaft 162 inserted into the rotating body 163 are fixed to the support member 166. Specifically, a through hole 166a into which the fitting portion 162a is fitted and an extraction hole 166b into which the extending portion 161p is inserted and formed are formed in the support member 166. In a state where the fitting portion 162a is inserted into the through hole 166a and the extending portion 161p is inserted into the extraction hole 166b, the fitting portion 162a is fixed to the support member 166 in a non-rotatable manner by the fastening portion. The fastening portion is provided by a bolt BT or a tapping screw.

As described above, the fixed shaft 162 and the bearing member 165 are fixed so as not to rotate relative to each other. Therefore, when the fitting portion 162a is fixed to the support member 166 so as not to rotate as described above, the bearing member 165 is also fixed to the support member 166 in a non-rotatable state. On the other hand, the rotating body 163 is not fixed to the support member 166 but is supported by the bearing member 165 in a rotatable state. That is, the rotating body 163 rotates while the inner peripheral surface 163b of the rotating body 163 slides on the outer peripheral surface 165c of the bearing member 165 (see FIG. 40).

As shown in FIG. 34, one end of the rotation shaft 167a of the driven gear 167 is inserted into the bearing hole 166c of the support member 166, and the other end of the rotation shaft 167a of the driven gear 167 is inserted into the bearing hole 169a of the sensor support member 169. Inserted (see FIG. 36). Therefore, the driven gear 167 is supported in a rotatable state by the support member 166 and the sensor support member 169.

As shown in FIG. 35, the driven gear 167 includes a gear portion 167b that engages with the main driving gear 164, a detected portion 167c that is detected by the rotation sensor 168, and the previously described rotating shaft 167a. These are integrally formed of resin. The detected portions 167c have a shape protruding in the extending direction of the rotating shaft 167a, and a plurality of the detected portions 167c are arranged at a predetermined pitch in the rotating direction of the rotating shaft 167a.

As shown in FIG. 36, a rotation sensor 168 is attached to the sensor support member 169. The rotation sensor 168 detects whether or not the detected portion 167c exists at a position facing the rotation sensor 168. Specifically, the rotation sensor 168 includes a light emitting unit and a light receiving unit, and light emitted from the light emitting unit is detected by the light receiving unit. However, if the detected portion 167c is positioned between the light emitting portion and the light receiving portion, the detected portion is not detected by the light receiving portion, so that it is detected that the detected portion 167c exists at the facing position. That is, the presence / absence of the detected portion 167c is detected based on the presence / absence of light detection by the light receiving portion. When the driven gear 167 rotates, the detected portion 167c is detected a plurality of times by the rotation sensor 168. Based on the number of times of detection, the rotation amount of the driven gear 167 and the rotation amount per unit time (that is, the rotation speed) can be calculated.

The rotation sensor 168 can also detect the rotation direction of the driven gear 167. Specifically, the rotation sensor 168 includes two light receiving units for one light emitting unit, and can detect the rotation direction according to which light receiving unit detects light first.

As shown in FIG. 37, the support member 166 and the sensor support member 169 are fixed to the base 70 with bolts BT. The pedestal 70 is fixed to the base member 20 shown in FIGS. As shown in FIG. 38, a ball plunger 171 is attached to the attachment hole 166d of the support member 166 with a nut NT. As shown in FIG. 39, the ball plunger 171 is configured such that a ball 171c and an elastic member 171d are accommodated in an accommodation hole 171b formed in the main body 171a. On the side surface of the driven gear 167, a plurality of concave portions 167d (see FIG. 36) into which the balls 171c are fitted are formed at predetermined intervals in the rotational direction. The ball 171c is pressed against the side surface of the driven gear 167 by the elastic force of the elastic member 171d. As the driven gear 167 rotates, the ball 171c repeatedly enters and exits the recess 167d. Thereby, the ball plunger 171 intermittently applies a force against the rotation of the rotating body 163 every time it rotates by a predetermined rotation amount. That is, a click feeling is given to the fingertip that rotates the rotating body 163.

Next, the operation of the rotating body unit 160 will be described.

40, the bearing member 165 is fixed so as not to rotate relative to the fixed shaft 162, and the fixed shaft 162 is fixed to the support member 166. Therefore, the bearing member 165 is supported so as not to rotate. On the other hand, the rotating body 163 is supported so as to be rotatable relative to the bearing member 165. Specifically, the rotating body 163 rotates while the inner peripheral surface 163b of the rotating body 163 slides on the outer peripheral surface 165c of the bearing member 165.

The electrode film 161 is attached to a fixed shaft 162 that is supported so as not to rotate. The extending portion 161p of the electrode film 161 is drawn out from the inner side of the support member 166 (rotary body 163 side) through the through hole 165b of the bearing member 165 and the extraction hole 166b of the support member 166. Therefore, the electrode 161 b of the electrode film 161 is disposed inside the rotating body 163 without rotating together with the rotating body 163. And the wiring 161d of the electrode film 161 is pulled out from the inside of the rotating body 163 without rotating and twisting together with the rotating body 163.

When the rotating body 163 is rotated by the occupant's fingertips, the rotating body 163 rotates while sliding relative to the bearing member 165. Then, the main driving gear 164 rotates together with the rotating body 163, and the driven gear 167 rotates. As a result, the detection signal output from the rotation sensor 168 changes in accordance with the amount of rotation of the driven gear 167 and consequently the amount of rotation of the rotating body 163. That is, the number of times of light detection at the light receiving unit of the rotation sensor 168 is output as a detection signal. In addition, the phase difference between the detection signals of the two light receiving units is reversed according to the rotation direction of the rotator 163.

When a contact operation in which a fingertip is brought into contact with the slide operation surface 163a of the rotating body 163 is performed, the capacitance generated between the electrode 161b and the transmission electrode 161c corresponding to the contact position among the plurality of electrodes 161b is changed. That is, the pulse voltage is repeatedly applied to the transmission electrode 161c at a predetermined cycle. Then, the signal output from each of the plurality of electrodes 161b in accordance with the pulse voltage changes in accordance with the magnitude of the capacitance formed between the fingertip and the electrode 161b. Based on this change, the contact position on the slide operation surface 163a is detected. The resolution of contact position detection is determined by the number of electrodes 161b. In addition, when the output signal has changed more than a predetermined value in any of the adjacent electrodes 161b, it is detected that the intermediate position between both the electrodes 161b is the contact position.

Next, an example of a processing procedure executed by the microcomputer of the ECU 180 according to the operation of the rotating body 163 will be described.

First, in step S10 of FIG. 41, it is determined whether or not the rotating body 163 is in contact with the slide operation surface 163a. Specifically, it is determined that the contact is made when a signal output from the electrode 161b, that is, the potential of the electrode 161b exceeds a predetermined threshold. When it is determined that there is a touch, in the subsequent step S11, touch coordinates on the slide operation surface 163a are calculated. The touch coordinates represent the contact position in the virtual axis direction on the slide operation surface 163a, and are set corresponding to the display content of the touch panel 40, that is, the arrangement of the icon images G1 to G4.

For example, as shown in FIG. 23, when four icon images G1 to G4 are arranged side by side in the left-right direction (virtual axis direction), the touch coordinates are set by dividing the slide operation surface 163a into four in the left-right direction. The Then, in step S11, which icon image G1 to G4 corresponds to the contact position is calculated. In short, the resolution of touch coordinates is set to match the number of icon images G1 to G4 in the left-right direction.

In the subsequent step S12, the display content of the touch panel 40 is controlled so as to enlarge or emphasize the display of the icon specified by the contact operation on the slide operation surface 163a. For example, as shown in FIG. 23, when the fingertip is brought into contact with a position corresponding to the icon image G1, the icon image G1 is highlighted. Also, a setting image G1a representing the setting contents of the designated icon is displayed.

In the subsequent step S13, it is determined whether or not the rotating body 163 is rotating. Specifically, when there is a change in the signal output from the rotation sensor 168, it is determined that there is a rotation operation. If it is determined that there is a rotation operation, the rotation direction and the rotation amount of the rotating body 163 are calculated based on the output signal of the rotation sensor 168 in the subsequent step S14.

In the subsequent step S15, the setting image G1a, which is a setting value display of the icon designated by the contact operation, is changed according to the direction and amount of rotation. For example, when it is rotated upward as shown in FIG. 24, the display of the set temperature is increased according to the rotation amount. As a result, the set temperature is changed. In short, the item whose setting is to be changed is selected by the slide operation, and the setting content of the selected item is changed by the rotation operation.

In the subsequent step S16, it is determined whether or not there has been an operation of releasing the fingertip from the rotating body 163. If it is determined that there has been a release operation, the processing in FIG. 41 is temporarily terminated, and if it is determined that there is no release operation, the processing returns to step S11.

42. Next, in step S20 of FIG. 42, it is determined which of the

first push buttons

51, 52, 53, which are menu switches, has been pressed. As described above, the first push button 51 has a command related to the air conditioner, the first push button 52 has a command related to the audio device, and the first push button 53 has a command related to the driving state of the vehicle. Assigned. When the first push button 51 is operated, or when none of the first push buttons 51 to 53 is operated, the touch panel is displayed to display the air conditioner setting screen (see FIGS. 23 to 25) in step S21. 40 is controlled. When the first push button 52 is operated, the touch panel 40 is controlled to display the audio setting screen (see FIG. 26) in step S22. When the first push button 53 is operated, the touch panel 40 is controlled to display the vehicle setting screen in step S23.

If it is determined in step S24 that there is no operation of the rotating body 163 with the setting screen displayed in steps S21, S22, and S23, the process returns to step S20. On the other hand, if it is determined that there is an operation on the rotating body 163, the processing of FIG. 42 is once ended, and the display content of the touch panel 40 is controlled according to the processing of FIG.

As described above, in the input device 14 according to the present embodiment, since the outer peripheral surface of the rotating body 163 provides the slide operation surface 163a, the fingertip is displaced from the desired contact position as compared with the case where the flat surface is touched with the fingertip. It becomes difficult. Therefore, it is possible to perform both the operation in the predetermined direction (virtual axis direction) and the operation in the direction perpendicular to the predetermined direction, and it is possible to suppress erroneous operation due to the fingertip being displaced from the desired contact position due to vehicle vibration.

In the horizontal direction (virtual axis direction) of the rotating body 163, good operability is provided by a slide operation in which a fingertip is lightly placed on the slide operation surface 163a and the fingertip is slid horizontally along the slide operation surface 163a. it can. On the other hand, in the direction perpendicular to the horizontal direction (up and down direction), the sliding operation is unnecessary by enabling input by rotating the rotating body 163. Accordingly, it is possible to perform a light touch input by a slide operation while compensating for the disadvantage of the touch panel 40 such as poor operability in the vertical direction by a rotation operation.

Moreover, according to the present embodiment, since the slide operation surface 163a is configured by the outer peripheral surface of the rotating body 163, switching between the rotation operation and the slide operation can be performed smoothly. Specifically, the input by the slide operation becomes possible only by sliding the finger that has been rotated as it is. Alternatively, it is possible to input by rotating operation by simply bending and extending the finger that has been operated to slide.

Further, in the present embodiment, the electrode 161b and the transmission electrode 161c are arranged inside the rotating body 163 without being rotated together with the rotating body 163. Therefore, the concern that the wiring 161d connected to the electrode 161b and the transmission electrode 161c may be twisted and disconnected can be eliminated without requiring a complicated wiring structure. In addition, since the electrode 161b is disposed inside the rotating body 163 without rotating, it is sufficient to dispose the electrode 161b in a portion of the circumferential direction of the rotating body 163 that is supposed to be contacted. It is possible to eliminate the need to dispose the electrode 161b over the entire circumferential direction.

Furthermore, in the present embodiment, a bearing member 165 that rotatably supports both ends of the rotating body 163 and a fixed shaft 162 (holding member) that holds the electrode 161b are provided, and the fixed shaft 162 is fixed to the bearing member 165. It is characterized by.

Here, the bearing member 165 does not rotate with the rotating body 163. Therefore, according to this embodiment in which the fixed shaft 162 is fixed to such a bearing member 165, it is easy to arrange the fixed shaft 162 inside the rotating body 163 without rotating together with the rotating body 163 with a simple structure. Can be realized. In this embodiment, since the electrode 161b is held on such a fixed shaft 162, it is possible to easily realize the arrangement of the electrode 161b inside the rotating body 163 without rotating with a simple structure.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, the electrode film 161 (position sensor) has a wiring 161d connected to the electrode 161b, and the bearing member 165 has a through hole 165b into which the wiring 161d is inserted and arranged. It is characterized by that.

According to this, it is easily realized with a simple structure that the wiring 161d is taken out from the inside of the rotating body 163 while adopting a structure in which the fixed shaft 162 holding the electrode 161b is fixed to the bearing member 165. it can.

Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the bearing member 165 supports the rotating body 163 in a rotatable manner by sliding the inner peripheral surface 163b of the rotating body 163 on the outer peripheral surface 165c of the bearing member 165.

According to this, the bearing member 165 has a structure that fits inside the rotating body 163. On the other hand, the electrode 161 b is also disposed inside the rotating body 163. Therefore, all of the bearing member 165, the fixed shaft 162, and the electrode 161b are disposed inside the rotating body 163. Therefore, a configuration in which the fixed shaft 162 is fixed to the bearing member 165 and the electrode 161b is held by the fixed shaft 162 can be realized inside the rotating body 163, so that the configuration can be simplified.

Furthermore, the present embodiment is characterized by including a main driving gear 164, a driven gear 167, and a detected portion 167c. The main driving gear 164 rotates together with the rotating body 163 and has the same rotation center as that of the rotating body 163. The driven gear 167 engages with the main driving gear 164 and rotates by the rotational force of the main driving gear 164 transmitted by the engagement. The detected portion 167 c rotates with the driven gear 167 and is detected by the rotation sensor 168.

According to this, the degree of freedom of the layout layout of the rotation sensor 168 can be improved as compared with the case where the detected portion 167c is provided in the main driving gear 164 contrary to the present embodiment. In particular, in the present embodiment, since the rotation sensor 168 is disposed inside the main driving gear 164, that is, on the side of the rotating body 163 in the virtual axis direction with respect to the main driving gear 164, the size of the rotating unit 160 in the virtual axis direction is reduced. it can.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, since the ball plunger 171 that gives a click feeling to the operator is provided, the operability of operating the adjustment amount can be improved when various settings are changed and adjusted according to the rotation amount of the rotating body 163. . Further, since the ball plunger 171 imparts a reaction force acting in a direction against the rotation operation to the rotating body 163, for example, when the rotating body 163 is vigorously rotated, the rotating body 163 is excessively unintentional. Rotation can be suppressed.

Further, in the present embodiment, a desired setting item is selected from a plurality of setting items based on the contact position detected by the electrode film 161 (position sensor), and is selected based on the rotation amount detected by the rotation sensor 168. The content related to the setting item is set. Therefore, after performing the first operation for selecting the setting item, when performing the second operation for setting the contents related to the setting item, one of the first operation and the second operation is performed by the slide operation and the other is performed by the rotation operation. Can do. Since the slide operation and the rotation operation can be smoothly switched as described above, the selection and setting are performed when performing the second operation for setting the content after the first operation for selecting the setting item. Can be input smoothly.

Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the base member 20 that holds the rotating body 163 has a recess 24 that forms an operation space 24a for the fingertip during the rotation operation. According to this, it is possible to perform the rotation operation in a state where the finger of the hand operating the rotating body 163 is positioned in the operation space 24a. Therefore, it can be avoided that the finger of the rotating hand interferes with the base member 20 and is difficult to rotate.

Furthermore, in the present embodiment, a support portion 30 is provided that is disposed on the vehicle rear side with respect to the rotating body 163 and that supports the wrists of passengers sitting on the driver's seat or passenger seat of the vehicle. And the support part 30 is arrange | positioned in the position which can operate the rotary body 163 with the fingertip of the hand set | placed on the support part 30 in the state which made the support part 30 support a wrist. According to this, a rotating operation or a sliding operation can be performed on the rotating body 163 in a state where the wrist is placed on and supported by the support unit 30. Therefore, the operation with respect to these rotating bodies 163 can be performed stably.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, the support part 30 is arrange | positioned in the position where the input to the touch panel 40 is possible with the fingertip of the hand placed on the support part 30 while the wrist is supported by the support part 30. . Therefore, touch input to the touch panel 40 can be performed in a state where the wrist is supported by the support unit 30, and thus stable touch input can be performed.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, the vibration actuator 31 that vibrates the support unit 30 and the ECU 180 that drives the vibration actuator 31 according to the operation content by touch input to the touch panel 40 or slide operation to the slide operation surface 163a are provided. Therefore, since vibration is transmitted to the wrist supported by the support portion 30, vibration can be sufficiently transmitted to the wrist, and the function of notifying the operator according to the operation can be improved.

Further, in the present embodiment, the support portion 30 is supported such that the elevation angle of the support surface 30a on which the wrist is placed (support surface elevation angle θ1) is smaller than the elevation angle of the touch input surface 40a of the touch panel 40 (input surface elevation angle θ2). The part 30 is arranged. According to this, since the support surface elevation angle θ1 is small, when the touch panel 40 is touch-operated with the wrist supported by the support portion 30, the amount of bending by bending the wrist can be reduced. Therefore, the touch operation can be performed with the wrist supported by the support portion 30 in an easy posture, and the operability can be improved.

Here, examples of input by touching the touch panel 40 include a case where an air conditioner is turned on and off, and a case where a physical quantity such as a set temperature is set. In the above-described on / off operation, the number of touch operations may be one, whereas when the physical quantity is set, the touch operation must be performed a plurality of times. In particular, when the physical quantity setting is greatly changed, the number of touch operations increases, and the operability of the setting change is poor. In the present embodiment in view of this point, a predetermined physical quantity can be set based on the rotation amount detected by the rotation sensor 168. Therefore, performing the touch operation a plurality of times can be replaced with the rotation operation of the rotating body 163, so that the operability when changing the setting of the physical quantity can be improved.

(Other embodiments)
Although a plurality of embodiments of the present disclosure have been described above, the present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be implemented as illustrated below. Not only combinations of parts that clearly show that combinations are possible in each embodiment, but also combinations of the embodiments even if they are not explicitly stated unless there is a problem with the combination. Is also possible.

43, a custom zone 41 may be set in the display area of the touch panel 40 as shown in FIG. The custom zone 41 is a display area that can be set so that an operator can place a favorite icon image. The position of the custom zone 41 may be set in the lower part of the display area of the touch panel 40 as shown in FIG. 43, or may be set in the upper part as shown in FIG. Since the lower part of the display area is located in the vicinity of the rotator 60, when a touch operation is performed on the lower part, it is only necessary to slightly move the fingertip that operates the rotator 60. Therefore, when the operability of the icon images G1 to G4 is given priority over the operability of the icon image arranged in the custom zone 41, the layout shown in FIG. 44 is desirable. On the other hand, when giving priority to the operability of icon images arranged in the custom zone 41, the layout shown in FIG. 43 is desirable.

In the first embodiment, the support surface 30a of the support portion 30 is flat, but may be curved. Further, a protuberance that protrudes to the operator side (near side) is provided around the support surface 30a, and the wrist placed on the support surface 30a is caught by the protuberance, thereby preventing the wrist from being displaced from the support surface 30a. You may plan.

The base member 20 and the support part 30 may be integrally formed with resin, or may be formed separately. The rotating body 60 may have a columnar shape extending in the imaginary axis K direction as shown in FIG. 4 or a cylindrical shape. The slide operation surface 60a may be circular in cross section as shown in FIG. 4, or may be polygonal in cross section.

The click mechanism 63 may be abolished so as not to give a click feeling. The vibration actuator 31 may be abolished and the application of vibration from the support portion 30 to the wrist may be abolished. The input device 14 may be configured such that the support unit 30 is eliminated and the rotary body 60 or the touch panel 40 is touch-operated without supporting the wrist. At least one of the first push buttons 51 to 53, the second push buttons 71 to 74, and the rotating body 60 may be eliminated.

Also, the positional relationship between the support surface 30a of the support portion 30 and the touch panel 40 is set so as to support the wrist. On the other hand, of course, the positional relationship may be set so as to support the vicinity of the wrist in the palm or to support both the vicinity and the wrist.

In the first embodiment, the setting item is selected based on the contact position by the slide operation, and the content of the selected setting item is set based on the rotation amount by the rotation operation. On the other hand, the setting item may be selected by a rotation operation, and the content of the setting item may be set by a slide operation.

It is desirable to assign frequently used icon images G1 to G4 (see FIG. 9) to the initial image (initial image) displayed on the touch panel 40. Note that the icon images G5 to G8 (see FIG. 10) that are less frequently used may be displayed when the above-described flick operation or the like is performed. Specific examples of the frequently used icon images G1 to G4 include an icon image G1 for setting the temperature of the air conditioner, an icon image for setting the volume of the audio device, and the like.

Furthermore, a light source such as a light emitting diode may be arranged inside the rotator 60 so that the entire rotator 60 shines. Alternatively, when the fingertip is touched or slid at the selected position of each icon image, only the position area of the rotating body 60 corresponding to the icon image may be illuminated with the same hue as the icon image. It is also possible to make this position area shine with a different hue compared to other position areas. By making the rotator 60 shine in this way, a blind operation is possible and fashionability is improved. For example, when the icon image G1 for temperature adjustment related to air conditioning is selected as the icon image and the rotating body 60 is rotated for temperature adjustment, the emission color of the internal light source is changed as follows. It is also possible. That is, when the rotating body 60 is rotated in the direction of increasing the temperature, the bright hue of the rotating body 60 changes to a warm color hue. Conversely, when the rotating body 60 is rotated in the direction of decreasing the temperature, the bright hue of the rotating body 60 changes to a cold hue.

In the electrode film 161 shown in FIG. 28, the capacitance formed between the electrode 161b and the transmission electrode 161c changes depending on the capacitance formed between the electrode 161b and the fingertip, The presence or absence of fingertip contact is detected. That is, a mutual capacitance type capacitive sensor is employed. On the other hand, you may employ | adopt the self-capacitance type capacitive sensor which abolished the transmission electrode 161c.

In the sixth embodiment, the fixed shaft 162 is supported by the bearing member 165, but may be supported by a member different from the bearing member 165. In particular, when the bearing member 165 supports the outer peripheral surface of the rotating body 163 so as to be slidable, the bearing member 165 is positioned outside the rotating body 163, so that the bearing member 165 is different from the bearing member 165. It is desirable that the fixed shaft 162 be supported by the member.

In the sixth embodiment, the input device 14 is mounted on the instrument panel 11, but may be mounted on, for example, a center console or a door in the vehicle interior. In the sixth embodiment, the rotating body 163 is mounted in a direction in which the virtual axis direction is the horizontal direction, but the rotating body 163 may be mounted so that the virtual axis direction is inclined with respect to the horizontal direction.

In the sixth embodiment, the fixed shaft 162 and the bearing member 165 are separately molded from resin and assembled. On the other hand, the fixed shaft 162 and the bearing member 165 may be integrally molded with resin.

The present disclosure is not limited to the above embodiment. For example, the ball plunger 171 may be abolished so as not to give a click feeling. The vibration actuator 31 may be abolished and the application of vibration from the support portion 30 to the wrist may be abolished. The input device 14 may be configured such that the support 30 is abolished and the rotating body 163 or the touch panel 40 is touch-operated without supporting the wrist. The first push buttons 51 to 53 may be abolished.

In the sixth embodiment, the setting item is selected based on the contact position by the slide operation, and the content of the selected setting item is set based on the rotation amount by the rotation operation. On the other hand, the setting item may be selected by a rotation operation, and the content of the setting item may be set by a slide operation.

Finally, various aspects of the present disclosure will be described.

The vehicle input device according to the first aspect of the present disclosure includes a touch input unit and a support unit. The touch input unit is provided on the instrument panel of the vehicle and can be input by contact with the fingertip of the operator. The support unit is set in a positional relationship with the touch input unit so that the wrist or palm of the operator can be supported when the fingertip contacts the touch input unit. In the vehicular input device according to the first aspect, the operator can input by fingertip contact with the touch part while the wrist or palm is supported by the support part, and thus stable touch input is possible.

The vehicle input device according to the first aspect may further include a vibration actuator that vibrates the support unit and a vibration control unit that drives the vibration actuator according to the input content to the touch input unit. Further, in the vehicle input device according to the first aspect, a support surface is formed on a portion of the support portion where the wrist or palm is supported, and the elevation angle of the support surface with respect to the horizontal plane is defined as the support surface elevation angle. When the elevation angle of the contact input surface of the touch input unit with respect to the horizontal plane is defined as the input surface elevation angle, the support unit may be arranged so that the support surface elevation angle is smaller than the input surface elevation angle.

The vehicle input device according to the second aspect of the present disclosure is a vehicle input device that is input by an operator riding in the vehicle, and includes a rotating body, a rotation sensor, and a position sensor. The rotating body has an outer peripheral surface, and can be rotated around a virtual axis extending in the horizontal direction by an operator's finger, and the outer peripheral surface can be moved to a plurality of positions in the virtual axis direction in which the virtual axis extends. Finger contact is possible. The rotation sensor detects the amount of rotation of the rotating body. The position sensor detects a finger contact position in the virtual axis direction on the outer peripheral surface of the rotating body.

In the vehicle input device according to the second aspect, in the horizontal direction, good operability can be provided by a slide operation in which the fingertip is lightly placed on the outer peripheral surface of the rotating body and the fingertip is slid. On the other hand, in the vertical direction, an input operation is made possible by rotating the rotating body, thereby eliminating the need for a sliding operation in the vertical direction. Accordingly, it is possible to perform a light touch input by a slide operation while compensating for the drawbacks of the touch panel such as poor operability in the vertical direction by a rotation operation.

Moreover, according to the vehicle input device according to the second aspect, since the outer peripheral surface of the rotating body is configured to slide, the switching between the rotating operation and the sliding operation can be performed smoothly. That is, it is possible to input by a slide operation by simply sliding the finger that has been rotated. Alternatively, it is possible to input by rotating operation by simply bending and extending the finger that has been operated to slide.

The vehicle input device according to the second aspect further includes a base member that holds the rotating body, and the base member has a recess having a predetermined volume located in a direction intersecting the virtual axis of the rotating body in front of the rotating body. You may do it.

The vehicle input device according to the second aspect further includes a support portion that supports the wrist or palm of the operator, and the finger rotates the rotating body with the support portion supporting the wrist or palm, or with respect to the virtual axis direction. The support part may be arrange | positioned in the position which can contact. The vehicular input device according to the second aspect further includes a vibration actuator that vibrates the support portion, and a vibration control portion that drives the vibration actuator in accordance with an operation content by contact with the outer peripheral surface or a rotation operation. Also good.

The vehicle input device according to the second aspect may further include a base member that holds the rotating body, and the support portion may be formed separately from the base member. The outer peripheral surface may be formed with a groove or a protrusion that divides the outer peripheral surface into a plurality of regions in the direction of the virtual axis. The vehicle input device according to the second aspect further includes a light source that illuminates the rotating body and a light source control unit that controls the operation of the light source so as to change the illumination according to the contact position detected by the position sensor. May be.

In the vehicular input device according to the second aspect, a predetermined physical quantity may be set based on the rotation amount detected by the rotation sensor. Moreover, in the vehicle input device according to the second aspect, a desired setting item is selected from a plurality of setting items based on either the contact position detected by the position sensor or the rotation amount detected by the rotation sensor, Based on the other, the setting content related to the selected setting item may be selected.

The vehicle input device according to the third aspect of the present disclosure is input by an operator riding in the vehicle, and includes a rotating body and a rotation sensor. The rotating body can be rotated around a virtual axis extending in a predetermined direction by an operator's finger, and the finger can touch a plurality of positions in the predetermined direction. The position sensor detects a contact position of the finger with the rotating body in a predetermined direction. The position sensor has an electrode that detects a change in capacitance according to the contact position. The electrode is arranged inside the rotator without rotating with the rotator.

Since the vehicular input device according to the third aspect is configured to operate the rotating body with the fingertip, the fingertip is less likely to deviate from the desired contact position as compared with the case where the flat surface is touched with the fingertip. Therefore, it is possible to suppress an erroneous operation by shifting the fingertip from a desired contact position due to vehicle vibration while enabling both an operation in a predetermined direction and an operation in a direction perpendicular to the predetermined direction.

And according to the vehicle input device which concerns on a 3rd aspect, favorable operativity is carried out about the predetermined direction by the touch operation which places a fingertip lightly on a rotary body, or the slide operation which slides the fingertip on the surface of a rotary body Can provide. On the other hand, the direction perpendicular to the predetermined direction can be input by rotating the rotating body. Therefore, it is possible to smoothly switch between the touch operation or the slide operation and the rotation operation. That is, the input by the slide operation or the touch operation can be performed only by sliding the finger that has been rotated as it is or by releasing the finger. Alternatively, the input by the rotation operation can be performed only by bending and extending the finger that has been operated by the slide operation or the touch operation.

The vehicle input device according to the third aspect includes a bearing member that rotatably supports both ends of the rotating body and a holding member that holds the electrode, and the holding member may be fixed to the bearing member. The position sensor may have wiring connected to the electrode, and the bearing member may be formed with a through hole into which the wiring is inserted and arranged. In the vehicle input device according to the third aspect, the bearing member may rotatably support the rotating body by sliding the inner peripheral surface of the rotating body on the outer peripheral surface of the bearing member.

The vehicle input device according to the third aspect may further include a main driving gear, a driven gear, and a detected portion. The main driving gear rotates together with the rotating body, and has the same rotational center as the rotating body. The driven gear engages with the main driving gear and rotates by the rotational force of the main driving gear transmitted by the engagement. The detected portion rotates with the driven gear and is detected by the rotation sensor.

Claims

A touch input unit (40) provided on an instrument panel (11) of the vehicle and capable of input by fingertip contact of an operator;
A vehicle input comprising: a support portion (30) whose positional relationship with the touch input portion is set so that the wrist or palm of the operator can be supported when the fingertip contacts the touch input portion. apparatus.
A vibration actuator (31) for vibrating the support;
A vibration control unit (70) for driving the vibration actuator according to the input content to the touch input unit;
The vehicle input device according to claim 1, comprising:
The support portion has a support surface (30a) at a portion that supports the wrist or palm of the operator, and an elevation angle of the support surface with respect to a horizontal plane is a support surface elevation angle (θ1), and contact input of the touch input unit When the elevation angle of the surface (40a) with respect to the horizontal plane is the input surface elevation angle (θ2),
The vehicle input device according to claim 1, wherein the support portion is arranged so that the support surface elevation angle is smaller than the input surface elevation angle.