JP2008110717A - Vehicular horn device and steering device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a technology effective for reliably conveying the will of a driver by horn output, in a vehicular horn device. <P>SOLUTION: A steering device 100 has a horn device capable of operating a first horn unit with the predetermined horn output mode by the pressing operation to a module cover 116 of an airbag module 110, detecting the vibration generated by the impact providing operation in an intermediate area 104 of a steering wheel 101 by a vibration sensor 220, and operating a second horn with the horn output mode different from that of the first horn unit based on the detected vibration. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a construction technique of a vehicle horn device including a horn output unit that outputs a horn in a vehicle.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a horn device for a vehicle employs a configuration in which a warning horn is output from a horn unit at a constant volume by pressing a horn button or an airbag module incorporated in a steering wheel. In addition to the usual warning horn, this type of horn device includes a light horn that alerts pedestrians, a greeting horn that provides greetings when meeting an acquaintance, and a road. There is a request to use a simple horn, such as a gratitude horn, with a sense of gratitude when the car is given. Thus, for example, Patent Document 1 below discloses a horn device configured to vary the sound output from the horn unit in accordance with the pressing force applied to the horn switch. However, in the vehicle horn device described in Patent Document 1, it is difficult to adjust the force related to the pressing operation of the horn switch. For example, a warning horn sounds as a result of trying to sound a simple horn by reducing the pressing force. Therefore, it is difficult to reliably convey the driver's intention through the horn output.
JP-A-10-329604

  Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of such a point, and an object of the present invention is to provide a technique effective in reliably transmitting a driver's intention by a horn output in a vehicle horn device.

  The present invention is configured to solve the above problems. The present invention can be applied to a construction technique for a horn device that performs horn output in various vehicles including automobiles.

A vehicle horn device according to the present invention is mounted on a vehicle, and includes a pressed portion, first and second horn output units, a first control unit, an impact applying unit, a vibration sensor, and a second control. At least.
The pressed portion according to the present invention is disposed within the outer shape of a steering wheel for steering a vehicle, and is configured as a portion that is pressed by a driver. Typical examples of the pressed portion include a module cover surface of an air bag module installed in the central region of the steering wheel, a switch disposed on a spoke portion of the steering wheel, and the like. The first and second horn output units of the present invention have a function of outputting a horn. The 1st control part of this invention has a function which operates a 1st horn output part in a predetermined | prescribed horn output aspect with the press operation with respect to a to-be-pressed part. The impact imparting portion of the present invention is disposed within the outer shape of a steering wheel for vehicle steering, and is configured as a portion where an impact imparting operation is performed by a driver. The impact imparting operation here is an operation in which an impact force is instantaneously input to the impact imparting portion. Typically, an operation in which the driver strikes the impact imparting portion or the impact imparting portion is instantaneously applied. This can be done by pressing hard. Typical locations where the impact imparting portion is disposed include the outer periphery or inner periphery of the steering wheel, the module cover surface of an airbag module installed in the central region of the steering wheel, and the like. The vibration sensor of the present invention is configured as a sensor that detects vibration caused by an impact applying operation on the impacted portion. The vibration sensor only needs to be able to detect vibration generated in the impact imparting portion, and the mounting position thereof may be a position corresponding to the impact imparting portion, or a steering like a column shaft of a steering wheel. The position spaced apart from the impact receiving part of the wheel may be sufficient. The second control unit of the present invention has a function of operating the second horn output unit in a horn output mode different from that of the first horn output unit based on the vibration detected by the vibration sensor. The “different horn output modes” referred to here broadly include modes with different sound volumes, modes with different timbres, modes with different sound rhythms and output patterns, and the like. The horn output mode in the second horn output unit may be different from the horn output mode in the first horn output unit, and may be a single pattern horn output mode, or an operation mode of an impact applying operation. The horn output mode may be variable according to the above.

According to such a configuration of the vehicle horn device according to the present invention, when the driver presses the pressed portion, the first control unit that detects the pressing operation controls the first horn output unit, The first horn output section operates in a predetermined horn output mode. This horn output at the first horn output section is typically output as a normal warning horn.
On the other hand, when the driver performs an impact applying operation on the impact applying portion, the vibration sensor detects the vibration generated by the impact applying operation. When vibration detection by the vibration sensor is transmitted to the second control unit, the second control unit controls the second horn output unit, and the second horn output unit is different from the first horn output unit. Operates with. This horn output at the second horn output section is typically a light horn that alerts pedestrians, a greeting horn that gives greetings when meeting an acquaintance, etc. It is output as a gratitude horn, etc. that is performed with the meaning of gratitude.
As described above, in the present invention, it is possible to perform different horn outputs by different types of operations such as a pressing operation and an impact applying operation. Therefore, the driver's intention is selected by selecting a necessary operation. Can be conveyed by the horn output. At that time, since the pressing operation and the impact applying operation are different types of operations, it is possible to prevent the driver from trying to perform the desired horn operation, thereby preventing the confusion of the operation, and thereby the driver's intention. It is possible to reliably convey by the horn output.

  In the present invention, the first control unit and the second control unit are configured using a relay that receives an electric signal and controls other electricity, and other control circuits. Further, each of the first control unit and the second control unit may be configured as separate control parts, or two controls in which a single control part corresponds to the first control part and the second control part. A configuration that also has a function may be used. In the present invention, each of the first and second horn output units may be configured as separate horn output portions, or a single horn output portion may be configured to have two horn output functions. Also good. In the present invention, the pressed part and the impacted imparting part may be configured as separate parts, or may be configured as the same part.

  In a further embodiment of the vehicle horn device according to the present invention, the impact imparting portion is disposed on the steering wheel. And a 1st control part operates a 1st horn output part because a to-be-pressed part is press-operated regarding the direction which cross | intersects the wheel extension surface of a steer wheel. On the other hand, when the impact imparting portion is subjected to an impact imparting operation in the direction along the wheel extending surface, the second control portion activates the second horn output portion. Therefore, according to such a configuration, the pressing operation and the impact applying operation are different types of operations, and further, the operation directions are also different in a crossing relationship with each other, so that the driver who wants to perform a desired horn operation It is possible to more surely prevent the occurrence of confusion between operations.

  Further, in the vehicle horn device according to a further aspect of the present invention, the impact imparting portion is above the left and right gripping portions by both hands of the driver among the respective portions on the outer periphery of the wheel of the steering wheel, and It is arranged in an intermediate area between these left and right grips. Specifically, the intermediate region is a portion corresponding to the top portion of the steering wheel (a portion on the so-called “12 o'clock” side) when the driver holds the steering wheel with both hands in a straight-ahead steering state. The part is a part that naturally enters the field of view when the driver faces the front of the vehicle. Therefore, according to such a configuration, the impact applying operation to the impact applied portion is more reliably performed according to the driver's intention.

  Further, in the vehicle horn device according to a further embodiment of the present invention, the steering wheel includes an annular cored bar made of a metal material and a covering part that covers the periphery of the cored bar with a resin material, and is partitioned by the cored bar. A vibration sensor is accommodated in the space portion. The “space portion” here is a configuration in which the core metal is a closed shape whose cross section is a circle or an ellipse, or a configuration in which the core metal is a non-closed shape whose cross section is substantially U-shaped or substantially C-shaped. The region is defined by the inner wall surface of the cored bar. According to such a configuration, it is possible to dispose the vibration sensor and the wiring accompanying the vibration sensor in the space portion of the metal core, which is effective in preventing the appearance from being deteriorated. .

A steering device according to the present invention includes at least a steering wheel for steering a vehicle, a vehicle airbag, a retainer, an inflator, an airbag cover, and a horn unit.
The vehicle airbag according to the present invention is disposed within the outer shape of the steering wheel, and is configured as an airbag body that is deployed and inflated in an occupant restraint region in the event of a vehicle collision. The retainer of this invention is comprised as a container which has a function which accommodates the vehicle airbag of the state folded beforehand by the predetermined shape. The inflator of the present invention constitutes a gas supply means for supplying a gas for deployment and inflation to a vehicle airbag. The airbag cover of this invention is comprised as a cover body which has a function which covers the driver | operator side of the airbag for vehicles. In the event of a vehicle collision, the airbag cover is cleaved and pushed open by the deployment and inflation force of the vehicle airbag to allow the vehicle airbag to deploy and inflate in the passenger restraint area. The horn unit of the present invention has a function of outputting a horn, and is particularly configured using the above-described vehicle horn device.
According to such a configuration, a steering device including a vehicle horn device that can reliably convey the driver's intention through the horn output is provided.

  As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a vehicle horn device capable of reliably transmitting a driver's intention by a horn output and a steering device including the horn device.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of a “steering device” according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

A plan view of the steering apparatus 100 of the present embodiment is shown in FIG. 1, and a cross-sectional structure of the steering apparatus 100 in FIG.
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the steering device 100 according to the present embodiment includes an annular steering wheel 101 that is used by the driver for vehicle steering. The steering wheel 101 has a configuration in which an annular cored bar 102 made of a metal material is covered with a urethane resin 103. Further, the core bar 102 has a substantially U-shaped cross section over the entire circumference, and includes a space portion 102a defined by the inner wall surface of the core bar 102 (see FIG. 2). Of each portion of the outer periphery of the steering wheel 101, an intermediate region 104 located above the left and right gripping portions by both hands of the driver and located in the middle of the left and right gripping portions is a horn unit (the first unit described later). The 2 horn unit 224) is actuated when an impact is applied. The intermediate region 104 is a portion corresponding to the top of the steering wheel 101 (a portion on the so-called “12:00” side) when the driver grips the steering wheel 101 with both hands in a straight-ahead steering state. The intermediate region 104 corresponds to “an impact applying portion where an impact applying operation is performed by the driver” and “intermediate region” in the present invention. A vibration sensor 220 and wiring associated therewith are accommodated in a space portion 102 a corresponding to the intermediate region 104 of the core metal 102. The vibration sensor 220 is configured as a sensor that detects vibration generated by an impact applying operation on the intermediate region 104. Therefore, the vibration sensor 220 corresponds to the “vibration sensor” in the present invention. Further, the steering wheel 101 here corresponds to the “steering wheel for steering the vehicle” in the present invention, and the core metal 102, the space portion 102a and the urethane resin 103 constituting the steering wheel 101 are respectively in the present invention. Corresponds to “core metal”, “space portion”, and “cover”. The region corresponding to the space portion 102a of the cored bar 102 has a configuration in which the cored bar has a closed shape whose cross section is a circle or an ellipse, and the cored bar has a closed shape whose cross section is substantially U-shaped or substantially C-shaped. In the structure which does not have a shape, it is preferably configured as a region partitioned by the inner wall surface of the cored bar.

  In the present embodiment, the airbag module 110 is mounted in the outer shape of the steering wheel 101 having the above-described configuration. As shown in FIG. 2, the airbag module 110 includes at least an airbag 112, a retainer 114, a module cover (also referred to as “module pad” or “airbag cover”) 116, and an inflator 118. The airbag 112 is configured as an airbag body that is accommodated in a metal retainer in a state of being folded into a predetermined shape in advance. The air bag 112 is covered by the module cover 116 before the vehicle collision, and the module cover 116 is tear-lined by supplying a gas for deployment and inflation from the inflator 118 at the time of the vehicle collision. While being cleaved according to (not shown), it expands and expands toward an occupant restraint region where the occupant is restrained. A contact type switch 210 having a known configuration is disposed on the back side of the module cover 116. The cover surface of the module cover 116 is a portion where a pressing operation is performed when a horn unit (first horn unit 214 described later) is operated. Accordingly, the cover surface of the module cover 116 corresponds to the “pressed portion to be pressed by the driver” in the present invention. The airbag 112, the retainer 114, the module cover 116, and the inflator 118 constituting the airbag module 110 correspond to the “vehicle airbag”, “retainer”, “airbag cover”, and “inflator” in the present invention, respectively. To do. In addition to the cover surface of the module cover 116 as described above, the portion where the pressing operation is performed when operating the horn unit (first horn unit 214 described later) is disposed on the spoke portion of the steering wheel and the like. It may be a switch or the like.

  In the present embodiment, the horn device 200 is mounted on the steering device 100 configured as described above. With respect to the horn device 200, reference is made to FIG. FIG. 3 shows a control circuit configuration of horn device 200 of the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 3, in the horn device 200, the contact switch 210 described above is connected to the first horn unit 214, while the vibration sensor 220 is connected to the second horn unit 224. The horn device 200 constitutes the “vehicle horn device” in the present invention.

  Specifically, the contact switch 210 is connected to the horn relay 212, and the horn relay 212 is connected to the first horn unit 214. The horn relay 212 has a function of receiving an electrical signal from the contact type switch 210 and performing control related to the first horn unit 214, and includes an electromagnet that receives the electrical signal and changes to a mechanical movement and a switch that opens and closes electricity. And a known relay structure. The horn relay 212 constitutes a “first control unit” in the present invention. Note that another control circuit in place of the horn relay 212 may be used. Note that the first horn unit 214 of the present embodiment has a function of outputting a predetermined horn. The first horn unit 214 corresponds to the “first horn output unit” in the present invention.

  On the other hand, the vibration sensor 220 is connected to the control unit 222, and the control unit 222 is connected to the second horn unit 224. The control unit 222 has a function of receiving an electrical signal from the vibration sensor 220 and performing control related to the second horn unit 224. Specifically, the control unit 222 uses a control circuit that analyzes and determines output information from the vibration sensor 220. Composed. The control unit 222 constitutes a “second control unit” in the present invention. As for the control unit 222, a CPU dedicated to the steering device 100 or an ECU on the vehicle side can be used as appropriate. The second horn unit 224 of the present embodiment is configured to operate in a horn output mode different from the first horn unit 214. The “different horn output modes” referred to here broadly include modes with different sound volumes, modes with different timbres, modes with different sound rhythms and output patterns, and the like. The second horn unit 224 corresponds to the “second horn output unit” in the present invention.

  Next, the operation of the horn device 200 having the above configuration will be described with reference to FIGS.

  When the driver sounds a normal warning horn, the driver presses the module cover 116 from the cover surface side as indicated by an arrow in FIG. The operation direction related to this pressing operation coincides with the direction (generally orthogonal direction) intersecting the wheel extending surface from which the steering wheel 101 extends. As a result of this pressing operation, as shown in FIG. 3, an electric signal from the contact switch 210 is transmitted to the horn relay 212, and the first horn unit 214 is activated thereby, thereby causing a normal warning horn (“horn”). Is also output as vibration sound.

  On the other hand, the driver gives a light horn to call attention to pedestrians, a greeting horn to give greetings when meeting an acquaintance, etc., and expresses gratitude when giving a way. When a gratitude horn or the like (hereinafter also referred to as a “simple horn”) is sounded, an impact applying operation (“vibration applying operation”) is performed by moving the intermediate region 104 of the steering wheel 101 downward from above as indicated by an arrow in FIG. ”). Here, the impact applying operation is an operation of inputting an impact force instantaneously to the intermediate region 104, and typically, an operation in which the driver strikes the intermediate region 104 or an operation that strongly presses the intermediate region 104 instantaneously. It is possible by. The operation direction related to the impact applying operation coincides with the direction along the wheel extending surface in which the steering wheel 101 extends. As shown in FIG. 3, an electric signal from the vibration sensor 220 is transmitted to the control unit 222 by this impact applying operation, and the second horn unit 224 is activated thereby, thereby causing a normal warning in the first horn unit 214. A simple horn having a horn output mode different from the horn for use is output. Note that the horn output mode in the second horn unit 224 may be different from the horn output mode in the first horn unit 214, may be a single pattern horn output mode, or an operation mode of an impact applying operation. The horn output mode may be variable according to the above. Further, in order to prevent the second horn unit 224 from malfunctioning, the second horn unit 224 is activated only when the vibration detected by the vibration sensor 220 reaches a preset specified value or specified range. It is preferable to set.

  As described above, according to the horn device 200 of the present embodiment and the steering device 100 including the horn device 200, the operation of different types of operations such as the pressing operation of the module cover 116 and the impact applying operation of the steering wheel 101 are performed. Since different horn outputs can be performed, the driver's intention can be transmitted by the horn output by the driver selecting a necessary operation. At that time, since the pressing operation and the impact applying operation are different types of operations, it is possible to prevent the driver from trying to perform the desired horn operation, thereby preventing the confusion of the operation, and thereby the driver's intention. It is possible to reliably convey by the horn output. Since the pressing operation and the impact applying operation are further different in the relationship of crossing each other with respect to the operation direction, it is possible to more reliably prevent the operation from being confused by the driver.

  In addition, according to the present embodiment, the impact imparting operation of the steering wheel 101 is performed on the intermediate area 104. This intermediate area 104 is naturally in view when the driver faces the front of the vehicle. It is assumed that it is easy to enter. Therefore, according to such a configuration, the impact applying operation to the intermediate region 104 is more reliably performed according to the driver's intention.

  In addition, according to the present embodiment, by arranging the vibration sensor 220 and the wiring accompanying the vibration sensor 220 in the space portion 102a of the core metal 102, it is possible to prevent the appearance from being deteriorated. It is effective.

(Other embodiments)
In addition, this invention is not limited only to said embodiment, A various application and deformation | transformation can be considered. For example, each of the following embodiments to which the above embodiment is applied can be implemented.

  In the above embodiment, the case where the intermediate region 104 that is the outer periphery of the steering wheel 101 is used as the impact imparting portion that is subjected to the impact imparting operation by the driver has been described, but in the present invention, the position of the impact imparting portion is It can be appropriately changed as necessary. For example, the wheel inner periphery of the steering wheel 101, the cover surface of the module cover 116, and the like can be used as the impacted portion. At that time, regarding the arrangement of the impact imparting portion and the vibration sensor, the vibration sensor may be disposed at a position corresponding to the impact imparting portion, or the impact imparting to the steering wheel such as a steering column shaft may be provided. A vibration sensor may be arranged at a position separated from the part.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, although the control part which performs control regarding the 1st horn unit 214 and the control part which performs control regarding the 2nd horn unit 224 were described as a separate control part, in this invention, A single control part may adopt a configuration in which two control functions related to the first horn unit 214 and the second horn unit 224 are combined.

  Moreover, although the case where the 1st horn unit 214 and the 2nd horn unit 224 were comprised as a separate horn output part was described in the said embodiment, in this invention, a single horn output part is the 1st horn. You may employ | adopt the structure which shared the two horn output functions regarding the unit 214 and the 2nd horn unit 224. FIG.

  In the above embodiment, the case where the first horn unit 214 is activated by the pressing operation by the driver while the second horn unit 224 is activated by the impact applying operation by the driver has been described. The operation for operating the two horn unit 224 may be a pressing operation similar to that for the first horn unit 214. Moreover, in the said embodiment, the to-be-pressed part by which a driver performs pressing operation to operate the 1st horn unit 214, and the to-be-shocked operation by which a driver | operator performs impact application to operate the 2nd horn unit 224. Although the provision part described about the case where it comprised as a separate site | part, in this invention, these to-be-pressed parts and an impact provision part can also be comprised as the same site | part.

  Moreover, although the configuration of the automobile steering device has been described in the above embodiment, the present invention is a technique applicable to the configuration of the steering device in a vehicle other than an automobile, for example, a moving body such as a ship or a train.

It is a top view of the steering device 100 of this Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the cross-section regarding the AA line of the steering apparatus 100 in FIG. It is a figure which shows the control circuit structure of the horn apparatus 200 of this Embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Steering device 101 Steering wheel 102 Core metal 102a Space part 103 Urethane resin 104 Intermediate area 110 Air bag module 112 Air bag 114 Retainer 116 Module cover 118 Inflator 200 Horn device 210 Contact type switch 212 Horn relay 214 First horn unit 220 Vibration sensor 222 Control unit 224 Second horn unit

Claims (5)

A pressed portion that is disposed within the outer shape of a steering wheel for steering a vehicle and is pressed by a driver;
First and second horn output units for outputting a horn;
A first control unit that operates the first horn output unit in a predetermined horn output mode in accordance with a pressing operation on the pressed unit;
An impact receiving portion that is disposed within an outer shape of a steering wheel for steering a vehicle and is subjected to an impact applying operation by a driver;
A vibration sensor for detecting vibration caused by an impact applying operation to the impact applying portion;
A second control unit that operates the second horn output unit in a horn output mode different from the first horn output unit based on the vibration detected by the vibration sensor;
A horn device for a vehicle characterized by comprising: The vehicle horn device according to claim 1,
The impact imparting portion is disposed on the steering wheel,
The first control unit operates the first horn output unit by pressing the pressed unit with respect to a direction intersecting the wheel extending surface of the steerin wheel, while the impact applying unit is The vehicle horn device, wherein the second control unit operates the second horn output unit when an impact is applied in a direction along the wheel extending surface. The vehicle horn device according to claim 2,
The impact imparting portion is arranged above the left and right gripping portions by both hands of the driver, and disposed in an intermediate region between the left and right gripping portions, of each portion of the outer periphery of the steering wheel. A horn device for a vehicle characterized by the above. The vehicle horn device according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The steering wheel includes an annular cored bar made of a metal material and a coating part that covers the periphery of the cored bar with a resin material, and the vibration sensor is accommodated in a space portion defined by the cored bar. A vehicle horn device characterized by being provided. A steering wheel for steering the vehicle;
A vehicle airbag disposed within the outer shape of the steering wheel and deployed and inflated in an occupant restraint region in the event of a vehicle collision;
A retainer for accommodating the vehicle airbag in a state folded in advance in a predetermined shape;
An inflator for supplying a gas for deployment and inflation to the vehicle airbag;
An airbag cover covering a driver side of the vehicle airbag;
A horn unit that outputs a horn;
With
The said horn unit is comprised using the vehicle horn apparatus of any one of Claims 1-4, The steering apparatus characterized by the above-mentioned.

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