JP2002283924A - On-vehicle operating device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an on-vehicle operating device enabling a driver to easily and surely operate an on-vehicle apparatus regardless of his body height and body type. SOLUTION: An operating panel 1 is provided on one surface thereof with a plurality of button switches 3. A supporting member 2 is a plate like member, and an end portion of the operating panel 1 is rotationally connected with the end portion of the supporting member 2. A connecting portion is formed by combining a columnar protrusion with a groove. A handle column 6 is provided with a housing portion 6a on a left side. The housing portion 6a forms an opening portion 6b on a front side. The supporting member 2 is placed in the housing portion 6a from the opening portion 6b to be capable of moving in a direction parallel with a shaft of a handle H. One portion of the operating panel 1 is placed in the housing portion 6a from the opening portion 6b to be capable of moving along the movement of the supporting member 2. The supporting member 2 is provided such that the driver can regulate a drawing amount of the member 2.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an operating device for operating a vehicle-mounted device by a driver, and more particularly to an operating device for a vehicle which can be used at a position where the driver can easily operate the device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, with the progress of digital technology and communication technology, a wide variety of in-vehicle electronic and electric devices have been developed. For example, in addition to air-conditioning systems such as air conditioners, which are generally used since the past, audio systems such as radios and CD players, recently, navigation systems, television receivers, communication terminals capable of Internet connection, e-mail, etc. A device, a mechanism adjustment system for adjusting a seat, and the like are also widely used.

[0003] Conventionally, the above-described on-vehicle equipment has been operated mainly by pressing a switch on an operation panel arranged in the center of the dashboard of the car. However, it is difficult to prepare dedicated switches for individual functions in many devices.Therefore, in recent years, a display having a function as a touch panel has been incorporated into a part of the operation panel, and a conventional switch has been used. In addition to the switch operation, the device can be operated by touching a button displayed on the screen of the display. The operation panel provided with such a display device can perform various operations by switching the button display according to the operation target.

[0004]

However, the above-mentioned operation panel is arranged at the center of the dashboard of the vehicle so that the operation panel has a convenient positional relationship on both the driver's seat side and the passenger's seat side. For this reason, depending on the height and the physique of the driver, the operation panel may be difficult to reach and the operation may be difficult, for example, the posture may be forced to be changed. In addition, since the operation panel is provided along the surface of the dashboard, it is difficult to confirm the position and type of the switch, and there is a possibility that the switch may be operated by mistake. In particular, if the touch panel-type operation panel is fixed at the center of the dashboard, the driver may not be able to secure the viewing angle of the display and may have difficulty in operating.

[0005] The present invention has been proposed to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an in-vehicle operation device that allows a driver to easily and reliably operate an in-vehicle device regardless of the height and physique.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, an invention according to claim 1 is provided with an operation panel capable of operating on-vehicle equipment, and provided so as to be able to be taken in and out near a steering wheel in the vehicle. A support member for supporting the operation panel, wherein the operation panel is displaceable between a use direction toward the user side and a storage direction that can be taken in and out of the interior member. It is characterized by being attached to a member. In the invention according to claim 1 described above, the operation panel is provided so as to be able to be taken in and out near the steering wheel. Therefore, the driver pulls out the operation panel and displaces the operation surface so as to face the driver. Regardless of your height or physique, you can easily and reliably operate the in-vehicle equipment within reach.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the vehicle operating device according to the first aspect, a holding member for holding the support member at a pulled-out position is provided.
According to the second aspect of the present invention, the driver can pull out the operation panel to an appropriate position according to his or her physique and height, and can use the operation panel even if the operation pressure is applied. , It is easier to operate.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided the on-vehicle operating device according to the first or second aspect, further comprising a lock member for restricting the operation panel and the support member from being pulled out. . According to the third aspect of the present invention, by locking the drawer of the operation panel, it is possible to prevent another person from operating the electronic device.

[0009]

Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be specifically described with reference to FIGS. [1. Configuration of the Embodiment] In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, an operation panel 1 and a support member 2 are provided. The operation panel 1 has one surface (hereinafter referred to as an operation surface)
It is provided with a plurality of button switches 3 capable of operating on-vehicle devices. The support member 2 is a flat plate-shaped member,
An end of the operation panel 1 is rotatably connected. This connecting portion is, for example, as shown in FIG.
And the projection 5. In addition, when the operation panel 1 is rotated, as shown in FIG. 1, the end of the support member 2 is controlled so that further rotation is restricted at a position where the angle with the support member 2 is substantially a right angle. The part is in contact with the back surface of the operation panel 1. The transmission and reception of signals between the button switch 3 and the in-vehicle device are performed as follows.
As with a normal remote controller, this can be performed by radio such as infrared rays, but can also be performed via a lead wire inserted inside the support member 2.

On the other hand, an accommodating portion 6a is provided on the left side of the handle column 6 supporting the handle H. An opening 6b is formed on the front side of the housing 6a.
The support member 2 is provided so as to be able to be inserted and removed from the opening 6b into the housing 6a in a direction parallel to the axis of the handle H. In addition, as the support member 2 moves, a part of the operation panel 1 can be moved in and out of the housing 6a through the opening 6b.

Further, the support member 2 is provided so that a user can adjust the amount of pull-out. For example, the accommodation section 6
a holding member 8 urged by the elastic member 7
And the tip of the holding member 8 is engaged with a groove 2 a formed at a predetermined interval on the side surface of the support member 2.

[2. Operation of Embodiment] The present embodiment configured as described above is used as follows. First,
As shown in FIG. 4, when not in use, the support member 2 and a part of the operation panel 1 are housed in the housing portion 6a. In this state, the driver sitting on the driver's seat pulls out the operation panel 1 as shown in FIG. 5 by pulling the front end of the operation panel 1 toward the user. The user can use the support member 2
With reference to the position where the holding member 8 is engaged with the groove 2a,
Adjust the withdrawal amount. Then, as shown in FIG. 1, the operation panel 1 is turned to the left, and its operation surface is directed toward the user (driver). In this state, the button switch 3 on the operation surface is operated. At this time, although the operation pressure is applied to the operation panel 1, the holding member 8 is engaged with the groove 2a of the support member 2, and the amount of rotation of the operation panel 1 is regulated as described above. It does not move.

[3. Effect of Embodiment] According to the present embodiment as described above, since the operation panel 1 is provided so as to be able to be taken in and out near the steering wheel which is easy for the driver to operate, the driver pulls out the operation panel 1 By turning the operation surface toward the user, the user can easily and reliably operate without changing the posture regardless of the height or the physique.

Further, the driver can adjust the amount of pulling out of the operation panel 1 according to his / her physique and height, so that the operation is further facilitated. In particular, even when an operation pressure is applied to the operation panel 1, the operation panel 1 does not rotate or retreat, so that a stable operation can be performed.

[4. Other Embodiments] The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and the shape, size, number, material, etc. of each member can be freely changed. For example, the size, number, shape, etc. of the operation buttons are free.
The operation button is not limited to the push button switch, and may be a lever type or a pointing device such as a joystick.

Further, it is possible to provide a display on the operation panel, and to have a function as a touch panel that can operate the on-vehicle equipment simply by directly touching a button displayed on the display with a finger. This display is LCD, OEL (O
rgnic Electroluminescenc
e) and other electroluminescent displays, plasma displays, CRTs, LED arrays, etc.
Any device that can switch the electronic display may be used.

Further, the position of the operating device may be near the handle, and is not necessarily limited to the left side of the handle column. For example, it may be on the right side of the handle column or near the handle on the dashboard.

The holding member for holding the projecting amount of the supporting member at an arbitrary position is not limited to the above. For example, as shown in FIG. 6, a combination of a rack 2b formed on the side surface of the support member 2 and a torque gear 9 that starts rotating when a certain pressure or more is applied in the rotation direction. In addition, as shown in FIG.
And a roller 10 that starts rotating when a predetermined pressure or more is applied in the rotation direction.

When a key of a car or a specially constructed key is operated, a stopper configured to interlock with the key operation is engaged with a groove or the like of the support member, thereby forming a support member and an operation panel. It is also possible to adopt a configuration in which it is locked so that it cannot be pulled out. With this configuration, it is possible to prevent another person from operating the electronic device.

Further, the connection structure between the operation panel and the support member is not limited to the structure exemplified in the above embodiment. For example, a non-slip member such as rubber, sponge, felt or the like may be provided between the operation panel and the support member so that the angle of the operation panel is held at a desired angle. Further, a configuration in which the members are held at a desired angle by connecting them with a flexible pipe or the like may be adopted.

Further, if the operation panel, the supporting member and the holding member are provided in the housing to form a single unit, and this unit is mounted or attached to the side surface of the handle column, no housing portion is provided in advance. Even a car can be easily installed.

The equipment to be operated by the operating device is also:
As the in-vehicle devices to be operated by the operation device, various well-known or practically used devices can be applied in addition to those exemplified in the above-described conventional technology. For example, a system that realizes the functions of a plurality of different devices by one computer may be used. Via the built-in antenna, it is also possible to operate an ETC vehicle-mounted device that performs a fee collection process. A mechanism such as a mirror, a window, an installation camera, and a sunroof can be set as an operation target.

[0023]

As described above, according to the present invention,
It is possible to provide an in-vehicle operation device that enables a driver to easily and reliably operate an in-vehicle device regardless of the height and the physique.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of a vehicle-mounted operating device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view showing a connecting portion between an operation panel and a support member in the embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side view showing the holding member in the embodiment of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a stored state of the embodiment of FIG. 1; .

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the embodiment of FIG.

FIG. 6 is a side view showing a holding member according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a side view showing a holding member according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Operation panel 2 ... Support member 2a, 4 ... Groove 2b ... Rack 3 ... Button switch 5 ... Projection 6 ... Handle column 6a ... Housing part 6b ... Opening 7 ... Elastic member 8 ... Holding member 9 ... Torque gear 10 ... Roller H …handle

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Daisuke Endo 5-35-2 Hakusan, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo Clarion Co., Ltd. (72) Yoshiko Kunishoda 5-35-2 Hakusan, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo Clarion On-term F term (reference) 3D020 BA01 BB01 BC03 BD08 BD09

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An operation panel that can operate an on-vehicle device, and a support member that is provided so as to be able to be taken in and out near a steering wheel in a vehicle and supports the operation panel. The vehicle-mounted operating device is mounted on the support member so as to be displaceable between a use direction toward the interior member and a storage direction that can be taken in and out of the interior member. 2. The on-vehicle operating device according to claim 1, further comprising a holding member for holding the supporting member at a drawn-out position. 3. The in-vehicle operating device according to claim 1, further comprising a lock member for restricting the operation panel and the support member from being pulled out.