JP2009214571A - Operation device and vehicular air-conditioning apparatus mounted with the same - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an operation device and a vehicular air-conditioning apparatus mounted with the same, capable of quickly setting the temperature. <P>SOLUTION: This operation device 20 of the air-conditioning apparatus 80 for setting the temperature of a predetermined space, has an operation panel 22, an operation knob body 32 supported by the operation panel so as to be freely pushed in, a detecting means having respectively a first switch 51 for outputting a first electric signal by operating in response to pressing down of the operation knob body and a second switch 52 for outputting a second electric signal by operating after operation of the first switch, and a control means 70 for setting the temperature stepwise with every predetermined unit based on the first electric signal and enabling the temperature to reach a limit value based on the second electric signal. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an operating device for setting the temperature of a predetermined space and a vehicle air conditioner equipped with the operating device.

This type of air conditioner adjusts the temperature of air in the passenger compartment, for example, and maintains the passenger compartment in a comfortable state.
Specifically, this air is set to a desired temperature by the operator and is sent out into the passenger compartment, and this temperature is set by the operating device.
Here, for example, when it is desired to raise the temperature in the passenger compartment at once, setting the temperature in steps of 1 ° C. increases the burden on the operator. Therefore, an operation device is known that brings the temperature to a limit value by a long press operation (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2007-313914 A

However, the above-described conventional technique has a problem that the temperature cannot be set quickly.
That is, when the above-mentioned conventional apparatus reaches the limit value of the temperature in the passenger compartment, the long press operation is determined by the elapse of a predetermined time from the start of the depression, and the temperature is limited until the predetermined time elapses. This is because the value cannot be set.

As described above, the above-described conventional technique still has a problem in that the temperature in the passenger compartment is quickly set to the limit value.
In solving this problem, it should also be noted that the contents of the operation are easy to understand. This is because if the foreign matter has entered the back surface of the depressed portion and a state where it is difficult to depress has occurred, even if the operator performs a long depressing operation, the temperature cannot still be set to the limit value.

That is, it is necessary for the operator to recognize that the current operation is valid, but the above technique does not give special consideration to this point.
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an operating device that can solve the above-described problems and can quickly set the temperature, and a vehicle air conditioner equipped with the operating device.

  A first invention for achieving the above object is an operating device for an air conditioner for setting a temperature of a predetermined space, an operating panel, an operating knob body supported to be freely pushed into the operating panel, and an operating knob body Detecting means each having a first switch that outputs a first electrical signal by actuating in response to depression of the first switch and a second switch that operates after the first switch and outputs a second electrical signal And a control means for setting the temperature step by step based on the first electric signal and for reaching the limit value based on the second electric signal.

According to the first invention, the operating device of the air conditioner has the operation knob body supported to be freely pushed into the operation panel. When the operation knob body is pushed in, the first switch is activated, A first electrical signal is generated. Further, after the operation of the first switch, the second switch is operated and a second electric signal is generated.
Then, the control means sets the temperature step by step based on the first electric signal, and then brings the temperature to a limit value based on the second electric signal. Therefore, when the temperature is reached to the limit value, it is not necessary to wait for the elapse of a predetermined time compared to the conventional case, so that the operator can quickly set the temperature to the limit value.

  According to a second aspect of the invention, in the configuration of the first aspect of the invention, the detecting means gives the operator a first click feeling and a second click feeling by the pushing force of the operation knob body, respectively. It is a two-stage click feeling generating means for outputting a first electric signal due to a feeling and a second electric signal due to a second click feeling, respectively.

According to the second invention, in addition to the action of the first invention, when the operation knob main body is pushed in, the operator is given a first click feeling and the first electric signal is generated. Thereafter, the operator is given a second click feeling and a second electrical signal is generated.
And since a control means brings temperature to a limit value based on a 2nd electric signal, compared with the former, an operator becomes easy to understand operation to the limit value of temperature.

The third invention is a vehicle air conditioner equipped with the first and second operating devices.
According to the third invention, in addition to the effects of the first and second inventions, if the operating device described above is mounted on a vehicle air conditioner, the operator's viewpoint can grasp the operating device for a long time. There is no need to continue. Therefore, when the driver of the vehicle sets the temperature, it is easy to concentrate on driving and safe driving can be performed.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, temperature can be set rapidly and the operating device which is easy to understand the operation content, and the vehicle air conditioner carrying this can be provided.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 shows a driver seat and a passenger seat of the vehicle 1, and an instrument panel 2 is arranged along the vehicle width direction in front of each seat as viewed from the seat 4. A windshield 6 is provided in front of the panel 2 so that the traveling direction of the vehicle 1 can be seen from each seat.

  On the other hand, an instrument 8 for displaying the speed, travel distance, shift position, etc. of the vehicle 1 is arranged in the front of the panel 2 in the driver's seat, and the handle 10 is directed from the lower side of the panel 2 toward the seat 4. It is rotatably attached to the tip of the extending shaft 11. Further, a shift lever 12 is attached to the peripheral wall of the shaft 11 so as to be movable up and down, and the lever 12 extends toward the passenger seat.

In addition, an air blowing port 14 is formed on the front surface of the panel 2 by an air conditioning device (air conditioner) 80, which will be described later, and is sent out from the blowing port 14 toward the vehicle interior.
A monitor 16 is installed on the upper surface of the panel 2 between the driver seat and the passenger seat. The monitor 16 is a component of the navigation device, and the display screen is configured to display a map, an operation menu, and the like when the device is activated. The monitor 16 may be embedded at an appropriate position on the panel 2.

  Further, as seen in the figure, a center console 18 is installed between the driver's seat and the passenger seat. The console 18 protrudes from the lower side of the instrument panel 2 toward the seat 4. In the console 18, a slot of the audio device is disposed at an appropriate position on the seat 4 side. It is configured to be insertable.

In the console 18, an operation device (operation device) 20 is provided at an appropriate position on the outlet 14 side. The device 20 is a component of the air conditioning device 80, and the temperature of the passenger compartment can be controlled as the device 80 is activated.
More specifically, the device 20 has a rectangular operation panel 22, and as shown in FIG. 2, a base 24 is fitted inside the panel 22 and is omitted in FIG. However, the base 24 covers a printed circuit board 40 having routing electrodes and lands (not shown).

Further, the base 24 has a rectangular receiving hole 26 in a front view of FIG. 1A, and its long side is formed in the vertical direction of the base 24 and its short side in the left-right direction. An operation knob 30 is installed in the receiving hole 26.
The operation knob 30 of this embodiment has a knob body 32 having a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape. As shown in FIG. 2B, a hole 34 is formed in the central portion of the knob main body 32, and the hole 34 penetrates the main body 32 along the left-right direction of the base 24. Has been.

The hole 34 is fitted to a peripheral wall of a support shaft that extends in the left-right direction of the base 24 from the peripheral wall of the receiving hole 26, and the knob body 32 is swingably supported by the base 24. Has been.
Further, the knob body 32 is abutted from the central portion toward the upper and lower end portions of the base 24, and an UP pushing portion 36 is provided above the central portion, and a DOWN pushing portion 66 is provided below the central portion. Each is formed.

  On the surface of each of the pushing portions 36 and 66, an arrow indicating a temperature rising side and an arrow indicating the lowering are respectively displayed. On the other hand, projections (two-stage click feeling generating means) 38 and 68 projecting toward the printed circuit board 40 are formed at appropriate positions on the back surfaces of the push-in portions 36 and 66, respectively, as will be described later. Has been.

Here, as shown in FIG. 4B, four fixed contacts 41 to 44 are arranged on the surface of the printed circuit board 40.
Among them, the UP pressing portion 36 described above corresponds to the two UP fixed contacts 41 and 42.
First, the UP fixed contact 41 is disposed in the vicinity of the upper end portion of the push-in portion 36, and the UP fixed contact 42 is disposed in the lower end portion of the push-in portion 36 and in the vicinity of the central portion of the knob body 32. .

A first rubber switch (two-stage click feeling generating means) 51 and a second rubber switch (two-stage click feeling generating means) 52 are provided in the vicinity of each of the UP fixed contacts 41, 42.
Specifically, each of the rubber switches 51 and 52 has a substantially cylindrical contact portion 56, and a metal film is formed on the end surface of the contact portion 56 on the printed circuit board 40 side. The end faces face the UP fixed contacts 41 and 42, respectively.

Each of the rubber switches 51 and 52 has a cylindrical leg portion 58.
More specifically, the leg portion 58 extends from the peripheral wall of the contact portion 56 toward the printed circuit board 40, and the leg portion 58 of the first rubber switch 51 includes the UP fixed contact 41 and the second rubber. The legs 58 of the switch 52 surround the UP fixed contacts 42 and are connected to the surface of the printed circuit board 40.

That is, in the rubber switch 51, between the end face of the contact portion 56 on which the metal film is deposited and the UP fixed contact 41, and between the end face of the contact portion 56 of the rubber switch 52 and the UP fixed contact 42, respectively. A space is formed.
On the other hand, an UP operation plate (two-stage click feeling generating means) 60 is disposed between each of the rubber switches 51 and 52 and the UP pushing portion 36. The operation plate 60 is formed to have a size substantially equal to the size of the push-in portion 36, and the surface of the operation plate 60 is in contact with the protrusion 38 of the UP push-in portion 36.

On the other hand, the back surface of the operation plate 60 is connected to the end surface opposite to the end surface on which the metal film is deposited, of the contact portions 56 of the rubber switches 51 and 52 at the upper and lower ends.
When the UP push-in portion 36 is pushed toward the printed circuit board 40 from the passenger compartment side, the UP fixed contact 41 is more than the contact between the second rubber switch 52 and the UP fixed contact 42. At the previous time point, the first rubber switch 51 is contacted. The protrusion 38 is in contact with the UP operating plate 60 at a position that is higher than the central portion of the UP operating plate 60 as viewed in FIG. This is because the distance between the protrusion 38 and the first rubber switch 51 is shorter than the distance between the protrusion 38 and the second rubber switch 52.

  In other words, when the UP push-in portion 36 is pushed in, the state changes from the state shown in FIG. 3A to the state shown in FIG. 3B, and the first rubber switch 51 buckles before the second rubber switch 52. Then, it contacts the UP fixed contact 41 and outputs a first electric signal (first switch). Next, when the push-in portion 36 is further pushed in, the state shifts to the state shown in FIG. 5C, the second rubber switch 52 also buckles and contacts the UP fixed contact 42, and outputs the second electric signal (the first electric signal). 2 switch).

The former first electric signal is a signal that raises the temperature in the passenger compartment in steps of 1 ° C., and the latter second electric signal is a signal that raises this temperature to the maximum limit value. .
Each of these rubber switches 51 and 52 is electrically connected to a control unit (control means) 70 via a circuit pattern of the printed circuit board 40, and as shown in FIG. The first electric signal and the second electric signal from the second rubber switch 52 are output to the control unit 70, and the control unit 70 sets the temperature of the air conditioning device 80.

By the way, the click feeling is caused by the buckling of the first rubber switch and the buckling of the second rubber switch.
More specifically, as shown in FIG. 5, when the stroke of the UP push-in portion 36 is increased, this push-down force is transmitted to the UP operation plate 60 through the protrusion 38, but acts on the first rubber switch 51. Since the moment of the force to be applied is greater than the moment of force acting on the second rubber switch 52, first, a compressive force acts on the leg portion 58 of the first rubber switch 51.

Subsequently, when the compressive force is increased, the leg portion 58 is sharply bent, and the resistance value of the pushing operation is rapidly decreased. During this sudden decrease, the first rubber switch 51 and the UP fixed contact 41 come into contact with each other, and a click feeling is generated at the fingertip of the operator.
Next, in a state where the first rubber switch 51 and the UP fixed contact 41 are in contact with each other, if the stroke of the push-in portion 36 is further increased, a large compressive force is also applied to the leg portion 58 of the second rubber switch 52. Thereafter, the leg portion 58 is also bent sharply, and the resistance value of the pushing operation rapidly decreases again. At the time of this sudden decrease, the second rubber switch 52 and the UP fixed contact 42 come into contact with each other, and a click feeling is generated again at the fingertip of the operator.

In this way, if it is desired to set the temperature in the passenger compartment to a temperature that is higher by 1 ° C. than the present, the UP push-in portion 36 until the first click feeling by the first rubber switch 51 is obtained at the fingertip. Just push in.
On the other hand, if it is desired to immediately set the temperature in the passenger compartment to the maximum temperature limit, the first rubber switch 51 provides the first click feeling to the fingertip, and then the second rubber switch 52 performs the second click. The UP push-in portion 36 may be pushed in until the click feeling is obtained at the fingertip.

The DOWN push-in portion 66 is also configured in the same manner as the UP push-in portion 36 described above (FIG. 2), and the two DOWN fixed contacts 43 and 44 correspond, and the DOWN fixed contact 43 is the push-in portion. In the vicinity of the lower end portion of 66, the DOWN fixed contact 44 is disposed in the vicinity of the center portion of the knob body 32.
A third rubber switch 53 and a fourth rubber switch 54 are also provided in the vicinity of the fixed contacts 43 and 44, respectively, and a DOWN operation plate 62 is also provided between the rubber switches 53 and 54 and the push-in portion 66. Has been placed.

  Further, the surface of the operating plate 62 abuts on the protrusion 68, and the back surface of the operating plate 62 is connected to the rubber switches 53 and 54. When the pressing portion 66 is pressed, the protruding portion 68 is pressed. Since the distance between the first rubber switch 53 and the third rubber switch 53 is shorter than the distance between the protrusion 68 and the fourth rubber switch 54, the DOWN fixed contact 43 is more than the contact between the fourth rubber switch 54 and the fixed contact 44. At the previous time point, the third rubber switch 53 is contacted.

  Therefore, the third rubber switch 53 buckles before the fourth rubber switch 54 and comes into contact with the fixed contact 43 to cause a click feeling and to lower the temperature in the vehicle compartment in steps of 1 ° C. 1 electrical signal is output. Thereafter, the fourth rubber switch 54 also buckles and comes into contact with the fixed contact 44 to generate a click feeling again and output a second electric signal for lowering this temperature to the minimum limit value.

The first electric signal from the third rubber switch 53 and the second electric signal from the fourth rubber switch 54 are also output to the control unit 70, and the control unit 70 sets the temperature of the device 80. (FIG. 4).
By the way, in the said Example, although temperature is set with the one knob main body 32, you may be comprised with two knob main bodies.

Specifically, the knob 30A shown in FIG. 6 includes an UP knob main body 32U and a DOWN knob main body 32D, and the knob main bodies 32U and 32D have pushing portions 36 and 66, respectively.
Moreover, while the arrow which shows the temperature rising side and the arrow which shows the fall are each displayed on the surface of each pushing part 36,66 (the figure (a)), these pushing parts 36, Openings of the recesses 37 are respectively formed on the back surface of 66 ((b) in the figure). Each of these recesses 37 is configured to be fitted to the peripheral walls of the plungers (two-stage click feeling generating means) 38A, 68A.

  Each plunger 38A, 68A has a small-diameter end face and a large-diameter end face, and the small-diameter end face is in contact with the first rubber switch 51 and the third rubber switch 53 described above. On the other hand, the large-diameter end surfaces are in contact with the springs 39, and the springs 39 urge the plungers 38A and 68A toward the rubber switches 51 and 53, respectively.

Further, the back surfaces of these push-in portions 36 and 66 function as operating surfaces (two-stage click feeling generating means) 60A and 62A except for the opening of the concave portion 37, and the second rubber switch 52 and the fourth rubber switch 54 described above. It is comprised so that each can contact | abut.
If the push-in portion 36 is pushed in, the plunger 38A is strongly biased by the spring 39, so that the UP fixed contact 41 contacts the second rubber switch 52 and the UP fixed contact 42. At a time before contact, the first rubber switch 51 is contacted.

Therefore, in this case as well, the first rubber switch 51 buckles before the second rubber switch 52 and comes into contact with the fixed contact 41 to cause a click feeling, and the temperature in the passenger compartment is increased by 1 ° C. Increase.
Thereafter, the operating surface 60A comes into contact with the second rubber switch 52, and when the rubber switch 52 is buckled, it comes into contact with the fixed contact 42. This causes a click feeling again and raises this temperature to the maximum limit value.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the operation device 20 of the air conditioning device 80 has the operation knob body 32 (32U, 32D) supported so as to be pushed into the operation panel 22, and this knob body. When 32 (32U, 32D) is pushed in, the first rubber switch 51 (third rubber switch 53) is activated and a first electrical signal is generated. Further, after the rubber switch 51 (53) is operated, the second rubber switch 52 (fourth rubber switch 54) is operated to generate a second electric signal.

  Then, the control unit 70 sets the temperature step by step based on the first electric signal, and then brings the temperature to a limit value based on the second electric signal. Therefore, when the temperature is reached to the limit value, it is not necessary to wait for the elapse of a predetermined time compared to the conventional case, so that the operator can quickly set the temperature in the passenger compartment to the limit value.

Further, when the knob main body 32 (32U, 32D) is pushed in, the operator is given a first click feeling and a first electric signal is generated. Thereafter, the operator is given a second click feeling and a second electrical signal is generated.
And since the control part 70 brings the temperature of a vehicle interior to a limit value based on this 2nd electric signal, compared with the former, an operator becomes easy to understand operation to the limit value of temperature.

Furthermore, if the operation device 20 described above is mounted on the air conditioning device 80 for a vehicle, the operator's viewpoint does not have to keep grasping the device 20 for a long time. Therefore, when the driver of the vehicle sets the temperature, it is easy to concentrate on driving and safe driving can be performed.
The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the claims. For example, a part of each configuration of each of the above embodiments can be omitted or arbitrarily combined so as to be different from the above.

Moreover, in the said Example, the example embodied in the vehicle air conditioner is shown. However, the air conditioner of the present invention can be applied to an air conditioner for a living space such as a house in addition to the passenger compartment.
In this case, the temperature can be quickly set as described above.

It is the figure which provided the operating device of the present Example in the vehicle. It is explanatory drawing of the operating device of FIG. 1, (a) is a front view, (b) is arrow sectional drawing of the bb line. It is explanatory drawing of operation | movement by the operation knob of FIG. 2, (a) is the state before operation, (b) is operation which raises temperature in steps of 1 degreeC, (c) is raising temperature to the maximum limit value Operation. FIG. 3 is a control block diagram related to the operation device of FIG. 2. It is explanatory drawing of click feeling generation | occurrence | production by the operating device of FIG. It is explanatory drawing of the operating device in another Example, (a) is a front view, (b) is arrow sectional drawing of the bb line.

Explanation of symbols

20 Operation device (operation device)
22 Operation Panel 32, 32U, 32D Operation Knob Body 38 Projection (Two-step click feeling generating means)
38A, 68A Plunger (Two-step click feeling generating means)
51 1st rubber switch (1st switch, 2 step click feeling generating means)
52 2nd rubber switch (2nd switch, 2 step click feeling generating means)
53 3rd rubber switch (1st switch, 2 step click feeling generating means)
54 4th rubber switch (2nd switch, 2-step click feeling generating means)
60 UP action plate (actuation plate, two-stage click feeling generating means)
60A Actuation surface (Two-step click feeling generating means)
62 Action plate for DOWN (actuation plate, two-stage click feeling generating means)
62A Actuation surface (Two-step click feeling generating means)
70 Control unit (control means)
80 Air conditioning equipment (air conditioning equipment)

Claims (3)

An air conditioner operating device for setting the temperature of a predetermined space,
An operation panel;
An operation knob body supported so as to be freely pushed into the operation panel;
A first switch that operates in response to pressing of the operation knob body and outputs a first electrical signal; and a second switch that operates after the operation of the first switch and outputs a second electrical signal. Each of the detection means,
And a controller configured to set the temperature step by step based on the first electric signal and to bring the temperature to a limit value based on the second electric signal. Operating device. The operating device according to claim 1,
The detection means includes
A first click feeling and a second click feeling are given to the operator by the pushing force of the operation knob body, respectively, and the first electric signal and the second click feeling due to the first click feeling are provided. An operation device, characterized in that the operation device is a two-step click generating means for outputting the second electric signal according to the above. A vehicle air conditioner equipped with the operation device according to claim 1.

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