JP2004224202A - Operation device for vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an operation device for a vehicle of such a structure that an information transmitting function visual to the driver/passenger is installed in an operational entry part (switch) itself for performing the operations of various on-board apparatus. <P>SOLUTION: The operation device for the vehicle has a knob 11 to be operated by the driver/passenger who moves and operates in the x-y direction interlocking with the operation screens of various on-board apparatus given in a display. When the driver is not in touch with the knob 11, the operation is put in the knob moving mode, and the knob 11 is moved in the x-y direction according to the specified drive pattern by DC motors 15 and 19 driven by a control device. The drive pattern can be preset corresponding to a plurality of images given in the display. The driver can grasp the knob motion within the view field even without watching the knob particularly, and can acknowledge easily the information about the condition of the apparatus from the obtained knob motion. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an operation device for a vehicle, and is particularly suitable for use as a device for operating an in-vehicle device such as an air conditioner, an audio device, or a navigation device.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In recent years, the number of operation switches for in-vehicle devices has been increasing due to the use of IT in vehicles and driving support needs. However, it has become difficult to lay out these operation switches on an instrument panel of a limited size. I have. For this reason, a centralized operation switch interlocked with the display screen on the display device is used, so that the operation switches of each in-vehicle device are easy to understand and familiar to the user.
[0003]
However, the interface between the in-vehicle device and the occupant operating the in-vehicle device, in particular, the ease of information recognition from the in-vehicle device of the occupant is still insufficient, and there is room for improvement.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In view of the above, it is an object of the present invention to provide an operation input unit (switch) itself for operating an in-vehicle device to have a visual information transmission function to an occupant.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 is an operation device (10) that operates an on-vehicle device (36, 37, 38, 39) based on an operation of an occupant of a vehicle on an operation input unit (11). A driving unit (15, 19, 100, 201, 202, 203, 204, 206, 207, 208, 209) for driving the operation input unit in a motion direction having at least one degree of freedom; And a control device (30, 31, 32, 34) for controlling the drive unit in a state where the operation by the occupant is not input.
[0006]
According to the present invention, the operation input unit for operating the in-vehicle device is driven so as to move in the motion direction having at least one degree of freedom in the non-input state where the occupant is not operating. The state of the in-vehicle device can be easily grasped as a movement, and the recognition of information can be improved. That is, since the present invention gives information to the occupant by the movement of the operation input unit, even if the occupant does not gaze at the operation input unit during the driving operation, for example, the occupant can move the operation input unit within the field of view. It makes effective use of human physiological ability, which is easy to catch.
[0007]
In addition, as described in claim 2, the operation input unit and the drive unit are connected by a connection member (13), and the operation input unit moves by the drive unit driving the connection member. By doing so, the movement of the operation input unit can be further increased.
[0008]
According to a third aspect of the present invention, the in-vehicle device includes a plurality of devices, and the control device includes a display device (35) that switches and displays an operation state of the plurality of in-vehicle devices for each of the in-vehicle devices. And the control device switches the control of the driving unit in synchronization with the switching of the display.
[0009]
According to the present invention, when there are a plurality of in-vehicle devices, the state of each in-vehicle device is switched and displayed by the display device, and the drive control of the operation input unit is switched and performed in synchronization with the switching of the display. In addition, the state of each in-vehicle device can be transmitted to the occupant for each in-vehicle device.
[0010]
The driving unit drives the operation input unit in a two-degree-of-freedom motion direction, that is, a two-dimensional direction, so that the operation input unit can perform a complicated movement. Abundant information can be given to the occupants.
[0011]
The invention according to claim 5 is characterized in that the operation input unit includes a light emitting element (12, 120) that emits light when the operation input unit is driven by the driving unit.
[0012]
According to the present invention, since the operation input unit includes the light emitting element that can emit light during driving, it is possible to easily recognize the movement of the operation input unit by the occupant. In particular, the effect is great when the vehicle interior is dark, such as at night.
[0013]
The control device may be configured to control the on-vehicle device according to the operating state of the vehicle-mounted device as described in claim 6 or to stop the vehicle or to drive the vehicle in a low-speed running state at a predetermined speed (for example, 5 km / h) or less as described in claim 7. , The operation input unit can perform a predetermined pattern of motion.
[0014]
In addition, the code | symbol in the parenthesis of each said means shows the correspondence with the concrete means described in embodiment mentioned later.
[0015]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
An embodiment of the operation device of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of the operation device 10, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a mechanism of a driving unit of the operation device 10.
[0016]
The operation device 10 is arranged at an appropriate position of an instrument panel in a vehicle compartment (not shown), and an occupant moves a knob 11 as an operation input unit, so that an operation input is given to an in-vehicle device described later. Note that the movable mechanism of the operation device 10 has a structure that is well known as a joystick for a game machine and the like, and will be briefly described below.
[0017]
The knob 11 is coupled to a tip of a lever 13 as a connecting member that stands upright from a movable plate 14 provided in the operation device 10. A light emitting element (LED) 12 is provided at the top of the knob 11.
[0018]
At the lower end of the lever 13, DC motors 15, 19 and gears 16a, 16b, 20a, 20b as drive units for driving the lever 13 and the knob 11 in the x and y directions, respectively, are arranged. The DC motor 15 rotates the x-direction drive shaft 18 via the gears 16a and 16b, whereby the lever 13 and the knob 11 are driven in the x direction about the x-direction drive shaft 18 as the center of rotation. At this time, the rotary encoder 17 detects the rotation angle of the x-direction drive shaft 18, that is, the x coordinate of the knob 11.
[0019]
Similarly, the DC motor 19 rotates the y-direction drive shaft 22 via the gears 20a and 20b, whereby the lever 13 and the knob 11 are driven in the y-direction about the y-direction drive shaft 22 as the center of rotation. At this time, the rotary encoder 21 detects the rotation angle of the y-direction drive shaft 22, that is, the y coordinate of the knob 11.
[0020]
Such driving of the knob 11 is performed in a state where the occupant does not operate the knob 11, that is, in a state where the operation of the on-vehicle device is not input (knob movement mode).
[0021]
On the other hand, when an occupant applies a force (operating force) in the x direction and / or the y direction to the knob 11 to operate the on-vehicle equipment, the DC motor 15 according to the xy coordinates detected by the rotary encoders 17 and 21. And 19 can be controlled to generate a reaction force to the operation force applied by the occupant (reaction force generation mode). That is, the DC motors 15 and 19 can also function as a reaction force generator for the knob 11.
[0022]
Switching between the knob movement mode and the reaction force generation mode is performed as follows. The knob movement mode is maintained until the occupant touches the knob 11, that is, during the non-input state by the occupant. Then, once the occupant touches the knob 11, the mode shifts to the reaction force generation mode, and when the occupant releases his / her hand from the knob 11 and a predetermined time passes, the mode shifts again to the knob movement mode.
[0023]
FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram of the present embodiment. The operation device 10 of the present embodiment includes a control microcomputer 32. The control microcomputer 32 is connected to rotary encoders 17 and 21 that output the x and y coordinates of the knob 11.
Further, the control microcomputer 32 gives command values to the x-axis drive circuit 30 and the y-axis drive circuit 31, and the drive circuits 30 and 31 drive the DC motors 15 and 19 based on the command values, respectively.
[0024]
A communication I / F unit 33 is connected to the control microcomputer 32, and transmits and receives the coordinate values of the knob 11 and the driving pattern of the knob 11 to and from the drawing ECU 34 via the communication I / F unit 33.
[0025]
The LED 12 is connected to the control microcomputer 32, and the LED 12 is turned on by the control microcomputer 32 at least during the knob movement mode, and the movement state of the knob 11 is more visually transmitted to the occupant. Note that a vehicle speed signal (not shown) is input to the control microcomputer 32 so that the stop state of the vehicle can be determined.
[0026]
The drawing ECU 34 is connected to a navigation ECU 36 for controlling a navigation device as an in-vehicle device, an audio ECU 37 for controlling an audio device, an air conditioner ECU 38 for controlling an air conditioner, an ETC 39 for controlling an automatic toll collection device, and the like.
[0027]
The drawing ECU 34 is connected to a display 35 arranged on an instrument panel (not shown), gives image information to be displayed on the display 35, and draws on the display 35. This image information is an operation panel image that displays the operation state, operation switches, and the like of each in-vehicle device, and is switched and displayed at predetermined time intervals or by interruption based on information from each in-vehicle device.
[0028]
Therefore, the operation of each vehicle-mounted device is performed in conjunction with the movement and operation of the knob 11 by the occupant on the operation panel image drawn on the display 35. For example, in the air conditioner operation panel image, a target temperature, an outlet, an outlet air volume, and the like can be set for the air conditioner ECU 38, and the current operating state of the air conditioner is displayed. The display on the display 35 is appropriately switched from, for example, an air conditioner operation panel image to a map image or the like by the navigation ECU 36.
[0029]
Further, the drawing ECU 34 determines which switch in the screen of the display 35 has been operated based on the coordinate information of the knob 11 transmitted from the control microcomputer 32, and performs various controls for each in-vehicle device based on the operation content. Request execution.
[0030]
In the drawing ECU 34, a driving pattern of the knob 11 in the knob movement mode is set in advance for each screen drawn on the display 35, and the drawing ECU 34 transmits this driving pattern to the control microcomputer 32.
[0031]
Upon receiving the command, the control microcomputer 32 outputs a command value for moving the knob 11 to the drive circuits 30 and 31 based on the drive pattern in the knob movement mode programmed in advance.
[0032]
Next, an operation procedure in the knob movement mode of the present embodiment will be described based on the flowcharts of FIGS. FIG. 4 shows an operation procedure of the control microcomputer 32 of the operation device 10 of the present embodiment.
[0033]
After initialization (step S100), the x coordinate of the knob 11 is read from the rotary encoder 17 in step S110, and the y coordinate of the knob 11 is read from the rotary encoder 21 in step S120. In step S130, the read xy coordinates are transmitted to the drawing ECU. This coordinate transmission is always performed.
[0034]
In step S140, the driving pattern of the knob 11 is received from the drawing ECU 34, and in steps S150 and S160, the moving amount and moving speed in the x direction and the moving amount and moving speed in the y direction for realizing the driving pattern are calculated. I do. Then, in step S170, a command value is output to the drive circuits 30, 31 based on the calculated movement amount and movement speed.
[0035]
On the other hand, the drawing ECU 34 operates according to the procedure shown in the flowchart of FIG.
After the initialization (step S200), in step S210, the x and y coordinates of the knob 11 transmitted from the control microcomputer 32 are received. In step S220, drawing control of the display 35 is performed based on information from each vehicle-mounted device. In step S230, it is determined whether the screen to be drawn on the display 35 has been updated to another screen. If there is no update, the process returns to step S210 to repeat the operation. If there is an update, the process proceeds to S240.
[0036]
In step S240, after the drive pattern of the knob 11 set in advance corresponding to the updated screen is transmitted to the control microcomputer 32, the process returns to step S210 to repeat the operation.
[0037]
Next, a driving pattern of the knob 11 in the knob movement mode will be described. FIG. 6 shows an example of a driving pattern. FIG. 6A shows a pattern that makes a large circular turn on the xy plane, FIG. 6B shows a pattern that reciprocates only in the x direction (or y direction), (C) is a pattern that moves on a locus of an eight-shape (∞ shape). These drive patterns are realized by setting drive signals of the DC motors 15 and 19 for rotating the drive shafts 18 and 22 in the x and y directions, respectively, as the patterns shown in FIGS. 7A to 7C. it can. In the pattern illustrated in FIG. 7, by changing the changing speed of the x and y coordinates with respect to time t, the moving speed of the knob 11 can be changed from gentle movement to quick movement.
[0038]
These drive patterns can be set as follows according to the information on the state of the vehicle-mounted device to be presented to the occupant.
[0039]
When the navigation ECU 36 or the like has a voice recognition function, the occupant instructs the occupant that the voice recognition system has responded by calling a preset device name by turning the knob 11 greatly. Alternatively, the knob 11 may be driven by a one-stroke pattern such as an eight-shape or a star (☆ shape).
[0040]
Also, when presenting the input waiting state of the in-vehicle device or presenting the response of the in-vehicle device to the operation input, it is desirable to present a turning motion or a figure-eight trajectory with a slow motion. When a warning or an error is presented, it is desirable to quickly perform a star-shaped trajectory or a left-right swing motion.
[0041]
Further, when the destination of the navigation device is set to the navigation ECU 36, the knob is moved, for example, by tilting the knob 11 in a direction in which the vehicle should turn at the next intersection, thereby improving cognition and entertainment. Can be improved. It is effective that such information presentation is performed during a vehicle stop state such as a signal waiting state or a low-speed running state at a predetermined speed (for example, 5 km / h) or less so as not to hinder the driving operation.
[0042]
As described above, according to the present embodiment, the state of the on-vehicle device displayed on the display 35 when the knob 11 which is the operation input unit to the on-vehicle device is in a non-input state, that is, while the occupant does not touch the knob 11 Since the knob 11 is moved in a driving pattern corresponding to the image indicating the state of the vehicle, the occupant can easily grasp the state of the vehicle-mounted device, and can improve the recognition of information. As described above, in the present embodiment, the information is given to the occupant by the movement of the knob 11, so that even if the occupant does not gaze at the knob 11 or the display 35 during the driving operation, for example, the occupant can see the knob within the field of view. 11 movements can be grasped accurately.
[0043]
Furthermore, since the LED 12 that is lit at least in the knob movement mode is provided at the top of the knob 11, the movement of the knob 11 can be further easily recognized by the light of the LED 12. In particular, the effect of recognizing the movement of the knob 11 when the vehicle interior is dark, such as at night, is very effective.
[0044]
In addition, since the drive pattern of the knob 11 in the knob movement mode can be set by changing the trajectory shape and the movement speed for each image drawn on the display 35, abundant information can be presented to the occupant.
[0045]
In addition, the information transmission through the tactile sensation to the occupant in the reaction force generation mode of the operation device 10 enables the occupant to transmit abundant information.
[0046]
(Other embodiments)
The following embodiment can be used as the operation device.
[0047]
FIG. 8 shows an example of an operation device having one degree of freedom. The knob 11 is provided at the tip of the lever 13. The lever 13 is provided integrally with the rotary shaft of the rotary encoder 102. A gear 101b is provided on the shaft of the rotary encoder 102. A gear 101a that rotates the gear 101b of the rotary encoder 102 is provided on a shaft of the DC motor 100. The DC motor 100 is rotationally driven by the control microcomputer 32 of the operation device so that the lever 13 has a predetermined rotation angle. Note that the LED 120 is provided at a position eccentric from the center of rotation of the top of the knob 11 to make it easier to visually recognize that the knob 11 is rotating.
[0048]
In the one-degree-of-freedom operation device in FIG. 8, in the reaction force generation mode, the DC motor 100 applies a torque that resists the operation force to the DC motor 100 in accordance with the amount of rotation of the knob 11 by the occupant (detected by the rotary encoder 102). Can be generated. For example, as shown in FIG. 9, in pattern 1, it can be set so that when the knob 11 is rotated, the operation force increases or decreases according to the rotation angle. In pattern 2, the operation amount can be set to be heavy at a position of a specific rotation angle.
[0049]
As described above, by returning a free reaction force in the rotation direction of the knob 11, the occupant can improve the recognizability of information using tactile sensation. For example, the blind operation can be performed without looking at the operation screen displayed on the display 35. Can help you do that.
[0050]
FIG. 10 shows another example of a two-degree-of-freedom operation device as in the above embodiment. As shown in FIG. 10, four square plate-like magnets 206, 207, 208, and 209 are alternately arranged on the fixed plate 205 in a cross-shaped manner in the x-direction and the y-direction by alternately changing the magnetization direction.
[0051]
On the other hand, a lever 13 is provided upright on the surface of the movable plate 14 that can move in opposition to the fixed plate 205, and a knob 11 is provided at the tip of the lever 13. Further, coils 201, 202, 203, and 204 are fixed on the back surface of the movable plate 14, and the movable plate 14 and the fixed plate 205 are arranged so that a slight constant gap is generated between each coil and the magnet.
[0052]
Each coil is configured to generate a magnetic flux perpendicular to the movable plate 14 and the fixed plate 205. Further, in the neutral position of the movable plate 14 (in a non-input state or a non-operating state), the coil 201 is between the magnets 206 and 209, the coil 202 is between the magnets 206 and 207, and the coil 203 is 208 and the coil 204 is positioned between the magnets 208 and 209.
[0053]
In the operation device configured as described above, the control microcomputer 32 determines the direction and magnitude of the current flowing through each of the coils 201 to 204, thereby moving the movable plate 14, that is, the knob 11, on the xy plane shown in FIG. In the movement mode, it is possible to freely move, and in the reaction force generation mode, it is possible to freely generate a reaction force in the xy directions.
[0054]
Also in the operation device shown in FIGS. 8 and 10 described above, in the knob movement mode, by moving the knob 11 with each degree of freedom, it is possible to easily transmit information such as the state of the onboard equipment to the occupant. Can be.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of an operation device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a mechanism of a driving unit of the operation device.
FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram of the embodiment.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure of a control microcomputer in a knob movement mode.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure of a drawing ECU in a knob movement mode.
FIGS. 6A, 6B, and 6C are diagrams each showing a knob drive pattern. FIG.
7A, 7B, and 7C are time diagrams of xy coordinates with respect to the drive pattern shown in FIG. 6;
FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing another embodiment of the operation device.
FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a generation pattern of a reaction force.
FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing another embodiment of the operation device.
[Explanation of symbols]
10 operation device, 11 knob, 12 LED, 13 lever
15, 19: DC motor, 17, 21: rotary encoder,
32: control microcomputer, 34: drawing ECU, 35: display,
36 ... Navi ECU, 37 ... Audio ECU, 38 ... Air Conditioner ECU,
39 ... ETC.

Claims (7)

An operation device (10) for operating an on-vehicle device (36, 37, 38, 39) based on an operation of an occupant of a vehicle on an operation input unit (11),
A drive unit (15, 19, 100, 201, 202, 203, 204, 206, 207, 208, 209) for driving the operation input unit in a motion direction having at least one degree of freedom;
A control device (30, 31, 32, 34) for controlling the drive unit in a state where the occupant does not input an operation to the operation input unit. 2. The operation input unit according to claim 1, wherein the operation input unit and the driving unit are connected by a connecting member, and the operation input unit moves by driving the connecting member by the driving unit. 3. Operation device for vehicles. The in-vehicle device is configured by a plurality of devices,
A display device (35) for switching and displaying the operation states of the plurality of in-vehicle devices for each of the in-vehicle devices is connected to the control device,
The vehicle operation device according to claim 1, wherein the control device switches control of the driving unit in synchronization with the switching of the display. The vehicle operation device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the drive unit drives the operation input unit in a motion direction having two degrees of freedom. The device according to claim 1, wherein the operation input unit includes a light emitting element that emits light when the operation input unit is driven by the driving unit. An operating device for a vehicle according to the above. The vehicle operating device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the control device causes the operation input unit to perform a predetermined pattern of motion according to an operation state of the on-vehicle device. 6. The control device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit causes the operation input unit to perform a predetermined pattern of motion when the vehicle is in a stopped state or in a low-speed running state at a predetermined speed or less. 7. Vehicle operation device.

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