JP2000335330A - On-board switch operating device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an onboard switch operating device free from troubles in driving an automobile, safe and excellent in operability. SOLUTION: The onboard switch operating device comprises a switch array 3 which can be installed in an easily operable position for a driver and provided with a plurality of switches arranged thereon, a camera which can be installed in the vicinity of a driver's seat and picks up the image of the switch array 3 and the switch operating condition by the driver one by one, a marker image data storage part ROM to store the marker image data to mark the function of each switch of the image picked up by the camera 6 in the vicinity of each switch, an image synthesis part CO to synthesize each image comprising the image data of the picked-up image and the marker image data of the marker image data storage part ROM, and a display part 8 which can be installed in the vicinity of a front panel and display the synthesized image, and a main control part MP outputs the signal to control the marked function when the switch operation signal is received.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an on-vehicle switch operating device for controlling audio equipment and the like of an automobile.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In general, this type of on-vehicle switch operating device is provided with various switches for selecting each function and adjusting each function on the front panel of an automobile or in the vicinity thereof.

[0003]

However, it is difficult to operate each of the above-mentioned switches in the driving posture of the automobile, and the driving posture is lost. Since the switch is operated while checking each function, the concentration of the driving operation while the vehicle is running is reduced, which is not preferable in terms of safety.

An object of the present invention is to provide an on-vehicle switch operating device which is safe and has good operability without hindering driving of an automobile in order to solve the above problems.

[0005]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a switch in which a plurality of switches are arranged in a vicinity of a driver's seat and which can be easily operated by a driver. An array, a camera that can be installed in the vicinity of the driver's seat, and sequentially captures the operation state of the switch array and the switch operation by the driver, and a function of each switch in an image captured by the camera in the vicinity of each switch. A sign image data storage unit that stores sign image data for signing, an image synthesizing unit that synthesizes each image based on the image data of the captured image and the sign image data in the sign image data storage unit, and a front panel. Or a display unit that can be installed in the vicinity thereof and displays the synthesized image, and a control unit that controls these units receives an operation signal of a switch. And outputs a control signal for the control of functions that are labeled in the image of the switch.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, a plurality of sets of sign image data are stored in the sign image data storage section according to the image of the switch array, and each switch is provided with a switch. The controller has a function of specifying and specifying a set of marker image data for each model of the control target device corresponding to the marker of the array image, and the controller reads the marker image data from the marker image data storage and specifies the marker image data. A design unit is provided, and when a switch operation signal is received, the set of sign image data is updated to the specific set by the sign image data designating unit.

[0007]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an example of a state in which a vehicle-mounted switch operating device of the present invention is installed. In the figure, 1 is a switch panel,
A power switch 2 for turning on and off each power supply of the on-vehicle switch operating device, which will be described later, and a switch array 3 in which a plurality of switches 4 for selecting each function are arranged, are installed on the side of the seat 5 of the driver A. It is made operable by the driver A. Each of the switches 4 is
A function specified by each switch 4 is designated to select or control an audio device (not shown) or the like.

Reference numeral 6 denotes a CCD camera, which is installed at a position diagonally forward of the driver's seat 5 on the ceiling 7 of the vehicle body, and is provided with the switch array 3 and the driver A The operation state including the movement of the hand a for the switch operation is sequentially photographed. Reference numeral 8 denotes a display unit having a liquid crystal panel, which is installed above the front panel 9 so that the driver A can view the driver A in a normal driving posture within the visual field range of the driver A indicated by a chain line. Are sequentially displayed. When the object range is dark at midnight or the like, the surroundings may be illuminated, or infrared light may be projected onto the object range from the CCD camera 6 side so that infrared imaging can be performed.

A control section for controlling the on-vehicle switch operating device is provided inside the switch panel 1. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of the on-vehicle switch operating device of the present invention. This device starts operation when the power switch 2 shown in FIG. 1 is operated. In the figure,
MP is a main control unit of the on-vehicle switch operating device mainly composed of a microprocessor, and receives an operation signal of each switch of the switch array 3 to program-control each unit shown in FIG.

The ROM is a sign image data storage unit that stores sign image data for marking the function of each switch for an image taken by the camera 6 near each switch. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the contents stored in the sign image data storage section ROM. As shown in the figure, the sign image data storage unit ROM stores sign information corresponding to the switch number S1 as sign image data that is addressed (this is designated as address 1) when the power switch 2 is turned on (first step). Character data of "cassette player", character data of "radio" for switch number S2, character data of "television" for switch number S3, and character data of "end" for switch number S7 are stored.

When the power switch 2 is turned on and the switch number S1 is subsequently operated (second step), the "start" for the switch number S1 is performed as sign image data to be addressed (this is designated as address 2). Character data and the image data of the sign mark, character data of "stop" for switch number S2, similar character data for switch numbers S3 to S6, character data of "display return" for switch number S7, etc. I remember. Similarly, the character data shown in FIG. 3 are stored in correspondence with addresses 3 and 4 in the second step.

AD is a sign image data designating means for addressing the sign image data storage section ROM.
When the operation signal of the switch 4 is received, the address shown in FIG. 3 is controlled based on the operation conditions of the power switch 2 and the switch numbers S1 to S7 described above for the sign image data storage ROM. By proceeding, the set of sign image data is updated to the specific set.

An image synthesizing unit CO synthesizes each image based on the image data of the image of the switch array 3 captured by the CCD camera 6 and the sign image data in the sign image data storage unit ROM. In this embodiment, the image data of the CCD camera 6 continuously receives a video signal while the power switch 2 is on, and the sign image data is accepted every time the sign image data storage ROM is newly read out. At this point, the combined data is updated, the combined data is provided to the display unit 8, and the updated information of each combined data is provided to the main control unit MP. In addition, CCD
When the camera 6 is installed, the orientation of the camera 6 is adjusted so that the image photographed with respect to the sign image is at an appropriate position.

B1, B2, and B3 are electronic devices installed in the passenger compartment, which are a cassette player, a radio, and a television, respectively. C1, C2 and C3 are electronic devices B
This is an electronic switch unit that controls on / off connection of each of the function switches 1, B 2, and B 3 to one end thereof. 0UT is an output control unit that controls the electronic switch units C1, C2, C3, and is program-controlled by the main control unit MP. The main control unit MP receives the signal from the switch array 3 or the image synthesizing unit CO, and receives the sign image data specifying unit A as described above.
At the same time as controlling D, the output control unit 0UT is program-controlled so as to make a switch connection corresponding to the update information of each composite data described above. The main control section MP, the sign image data designating means AD, and the output control section 0UT constitute a control section of the present invention.

In the above configuration, for example, when the power switch 2 is turned on as a first step, the display unit 8
The character image of "cassette player" is displayed for the switch number S1, the character image of "radio" is displayed for the switch number S2, the character image of "TV" is displayed for the switch number S3, and the switch number S7 is displayed. "End" for
Are displayed. When any one of the switch numbers S1, S2, S3, and S7 of the switch array 3 is operated, the function of each sign is executed.
When the switch number S7 in this case is operated, "end", that is, the power is turned off.

Next, as a second step, for example, when the switch number S1 of the switch 4 is operated, the function of the "cassette player" is activated and the switch number S
When 1 is operated, the reproduction is started. When the switch number S is operated, the operation stops. When the switch number S5 is operated during the reproduction, the volume gradually increases during the operation. In this case, when the switch number S7 in this case is operated, "display return", that is, address 1
Returning to the sign corresponding to, each device can be selected.

In this embodiment, the sign image data storage section ROM and the main control section MP are the specified devices to be controlled and correspond to the specified functions. In order to provide the general versatility, a marker image signal and a program corresponding to many models and functions may be prepared, and these may be appropriately selected and used.

As described above, when operating this device, the switch array 3 can be operated while looking at the display unit 8 in the driving posture. Similarly, it is possible to operate the switch while recognizing the hand to be operated, and to obtain a vehicle-mounted switch operation device that is safe and has good operability without hindering driving of the automobile.

[0019]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, a switch array that can be installed at a position that is easy to operate by a driver near a driver's seat and an operation state of the switch operation by the driver are photographed. A camera, a sign image data storage unit that stores sign image data for signing the function of each switch near each switch photographed by the camera, and each image based on the photographed image data and sign image data. When the control unit for controlling the control unit receives an operation signal of a switch, the control unit includes: an image synthesis unit that synthesizes the image data; and a display unit that can be installed at a position that can be visually observed in a front panel or a driving posture in the vicinity thereof. Since the control signal for controlling the function marked on the image of the switch is output, the switch is recognized while recognizing the same as looking at the actual switch array. It is possible to switch operation, operability A safety no trouble in operation of the motor vehicle can be obtained a good vehicle switch operation device.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, when the operation signal of the switch according to the first aspect is received, the set of sign image data is updated to the specific set, so that the updated function is provided. Can be performed, so that the function can be obtained and the same effect as in claim 1 can be obtained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an example of a state where a vehicle-mounted switch operating device of the present invention is installed.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a vehicle-mounted switch operating device according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing storage contents of a sign image data storage unit.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 switch panel 2 power switch 3 switch array 4 switch 5 seat 6 CCD camera 7 ceiling 8 display unit 9 front panel A driver ROM sign image data storage unit CO image synthesizing unit AD sign image data specifying means MP main control unit 0UT output control Section B1, B2, B3 Electronic equipment C1, C2, C3 Electronic switch section

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. An on-vehicle switch operating device which is operated by a driver to control an electronic device of a vehicle, wherein the switch is arranged at a position near the driver's seat where the driver can easily operate the device, and a plurality of switches are arranged. A switch array that can be installed in the vicinity of the driver's seat, and sequentially captures the operation state of the switch array and the switch operation by the driver; and a function of each switch in an image captured by the camera. A sign image data storage unit that stores sign image data for signing in the vicinity of the switch; and an image combining unit that combines each image based on the image data of the photographed image and the sign image data of the sign image data storage unit. A display unit that can be installed on the front panel or in the vicinity thereof and displays the synthesized image; and an operation signal of the switch. A control unit that receives the switch and outputs a control signal for performing control corresponding to the function marked on the image of the switch. 2. The sign image data storage unit stores a plurality of sets of sign image data corresponding to the image of the switch array, and the switch corresponds to the sign of the image of the switch array. The control unit has a function of specifying and specifying a set of data for each model of the device to be controlled, and the control unit receives a switch operation signal and updates the set of marker image data to the specific set. The on-vehicle switch operating device according to claim 1, further comprising a sign image data designating unit that reads and designates the data from the data storage unit.