JPH10177832A - Switch device for vehicles - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Problem] To provide an inexpensive vehicle switch device in which the number of switches is reduced and operability is improved. A switch device for a vehicle includes a multi-directional switch (7) capable of selecting a desired operation of a ventilation switching device, an air conditioner, and audio equipment by a multi-directional turning operation and a pressing operation.
Is provided. The matrix display panel 11 is disposed in the front view of the driver, and the matrix display panel 1
1, a large number of operation display sections for displaying various operations of the ventilation switching device, the air conditioner, and the audio equipment are arranged in a vertical and horizontal matrix. The cursor on the matrix display panel 11 is moved in accordance with the rotation direction of the multi-directional switch 7, and the operation corresponding to the operation display section at the cursor position is performed by pressing the multi-directional switch 7, and the corresponding ventilation switching device, air conditioner , And a control circuit to be performed by the audio equipment. The light source of the matrix display panel 11 is a light emitting diode.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a vehicle switch device for operating a plurality of types of electric devices mounted on a vehicle such as an automobile.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, as automobiles have become more sophisticated and electronic, the number of switches for operation has been increasing. In the dashboard, especially near the center panel where the air-conditioning switches are located, high-performance audio, navigation, automatic transmission control levers, suspension control switches, etc. are densely packed, so that sufficient space for normal switches cannot be secured, Due to the compactness and compactness of various switches,
There is a problem that the switch configuration does not always have good operability. In addition, since there are many switches of various types, there is also a problem that design restrictions are imposed on the design.

Under such circumstances, there has been proposed a vehicle switch device for reducing the number of switches arranged on a center panel or the like by combining a specific switch and a screen. For example, as disclosed in JP-A-7-114859.

[0004]

However, according to the vehicular switch device disclosed in the above-mentioned conventional publication, the number of switches is reduced by using the switches together, and the operability is improved by reducing the number of switches. However, this is a system in which a large number of display screens are sequentially switched and displayed on a single display, and the display is expensive, resulting in an increase in the price of the vehicle.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an inexpensive switch device for a vehicle in which the number of switches is reduced and operability is improved.

[0006]

The technical means for solving the above-mentioned problems comprises a plurality of types of electric devices mounted on a vehicle and switches for individually operating the respective electric devices. Vehicle switch device,
The vehicle switch device is provided with a multi-directional switch capable of selecting a desired operation of each of the electric devices by a multi-directional turning operation and a pushing operation, and is disposed in a front view of a driver, and is provided with each of the electric motors. A matrix display panel in which a number of operation display sections each displaying various operations of the device are arranged in a vertical and horizontal matrix, and a cursor on the matrix display panel is moved in accordance with the turning direction of the multidirectional switch, and the And a control unit for causing the corresponding electric device to perform an operation corresponding to the operation display unit at the cursor position by pressing the switch.

Further, the matrix display panel may have a structure in which a light source is a light emitting diode.

[0008]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In FIGS. 1 to 5, reference numeral 1 denotes an automobile as a vehicle, and a dashboard 2 is disposed at a front portion in a passenger compartment. In addition, a console box 5 extending from the center panel of the dashboard 2 to the space between the driver's seat 3 and the passenger's seat 4 is arranged in the center of the vehicle interior.

A multi-directional switch 7 for operating a plurality of types of mounted electric devices is disposed on a console box 5 on one side of the driver's seat 3, and is provided within a forward view of the driver. A matrix display panel 11 is arranged in the arranged instrument panel 9 alongside various instrument meters 10 such as a speedometer and a tachometer.

The multidirectional switch 7 is shown in FIGS.
As shown in FIG. 2, a printed wiring board 13 on which a wiring pattern is appropriately formed and an elastically deformable contact switch section 14
The main structure includes a rubber contact switch sheet 14 provided with a, a guide plate 15 formed of a synthetic resin or the like, a cover panel portion 5a integrated with the console box 5, and a joystick 16.

The rubber contact switch sheet 14 is provided with a contact switch portion 1 at one position at the center and at four positions at a certain interval in the circumferential direction of a circle having a desired diameter centered on the center.
Each of the contact switches 4a is provided in a bulging shape, and as shown in FIG. 2, the contact switch portions 14a are arranged on the printed wiring board 13 in an overlapping manner so as to project upward.

The contact 1 on the printed circuit board 13 side
The contact switch 3a and the contact 14b provided in the contact switch section 14a are arranged so as to be opposed to each other at an appropriate distance in the vertical direction. At this time, the distance between the contact 13a and the contact 14b at the center is determined by each contact 13a and each contact 1 at the outer periphery.
4b is narrower than the mutual interval. Further, the contact switch portion 14a at the center portion is formed so as to be thicker than the surrounding contact switch portions 14a and is formed so as to be effectively prevented from being inadvertently elastically deformed when the joystick 16 is rotated. ing.

As shown in FIG. 2, the guide plate 15 is arranged on the rubber contact switch sheet 14 in an overlapping manner, and the guide plate 1 corresponding to each contact switch portion 14a is provided.
On the lower surface side of 5, a vertical circular recess 15a in which each contact switch portion 14a is housed is formed. In addition, the contact switch portion 14a located at the center portion
Are formed in a vertically penetrating shape. In the center of the bottom of each of the circular recesses 15a located therearound, a vertical guide hole 15b is formed to penetrate therethrough.

The disk 1 is slidably guided in the vertical direction along the inner peripheral surface of the circular recess 15a located therearound.
8a and a guide rod 18b slidably guided in a vertical direction along the inner peripheral surface of the guide hole 15b.
Is located on the upper surface of the contact switch 14a.
8a are arranged, and the guide rod 18 is inserted through the guide hole 15b.
b is provided as an upwardly projecting shape. The upper end of the guide rod 18b of each link rod 18 is formed in a hemispherical shape.

Further, in the circular recess 15a, which is vertically penetrated and located on the upper surface side of the contact switch portion 14a in the center portion, is guided slidably in the vertical direction along the inner peripheral surface thereof. A fulcrum block body 19 is provided. A fulcrum recess 19a is formed on the upper surface side located at the center of the fulcrum block body 19.

As shown in FIG. 2, the joystick 16 comprises a column 16a, a sliding ball 16b, and an operating portion 16c which are sequentially arranged on the same axis.
The lower end of 6a is the fulcrum recess 19 of the fulcrum block body 19.
a into which the support 16a is inserted.
A joystick 16 is rotatably supported about the lower end of the joystick.

The sliding ball portion 16b is provided in an overhanging manner at the upper end of the column 16a.
Is formed on a flat surface 16d perpendicular to the axis of the support 16a, and is formed in a circular shape centered on the axis of the support 16a. In addition, the sliding ball section 16
The upper surface side of b is formed as a spherical surface 16e centered on the rotation center of the lower end portion of the support portion 16a, and the sliding sphere 16b is formed in a so-called hemispherical shape.

The guide rods 18b of the interlocking rods 18 are located at positions where the outer peripheral portion of the flat surface 16d is equally spaced in the circumferential direction.
The upper end portion is supported in an upwardly biased state by the elastic restoring force of the contact switch portion 14a, and the spherical surface 16e extends in the circumferential direction provided on the inner side of the peripheral portion of the circular insertion hole 5b formed in the cover panel portion 5a. The continuous ridge 5c is slidably contacted over the entire circumference in the circumferential direction. On this occasion,
It is also biased upward by the elastic restoring force of the central contact switch portion 14a.

The operating portion 16c is projected from the center of the spherical surface 16e and is located above the insertion hole 5b of the cover panel portion 5a provided so as to cover the guide plate 15, the interlocking rod 18 and the joystick 16. It has a protruding shape.

The operation unit 1 of the joystick 16
If 6c is rotated in a desired direction, for example, to the left,
Joystick 1 with lower end of support 16a as a fulcrum
6 is tilted to the left, and the tilting of the joystick 16 causes the interlocking rod 18 to be pushed downward under the guide of the guide hole 15b at the outer periphery of the flat surface 16d of the sliding sphere 16b. The portion 14a is pushed downward by the disk portion 18a of the interlocking rod 18 against the elastic force,
The contacts 13a and 14b come into contact with each other and are turned on.

Next, when the operating force on the joystick 16 is released, the contact switch unit 1 that has been turned on is turned on.
The interlocking rod 18 is pushed upward by the elastic restoring force of 4a,
Due to the upward movement of the interlocking rod 18, the sliding sphere 16b is pushed back by the guide rod 18b of the interlocking rod 18, the joystick 16 is returned to the initial neutral position, and the contacts 13a, 14b are separated from each other. The contact switch section 14a is turned off.

The same operation is performed even if the joystick 16 is rotated in another direction. At this time, if the joystick 16 is turned obliquely, the corresponding two contact switch portions 14a are elastically deformed, and the respective contacts 13a and 14b come into contact with each other to be turned on,
It is configured such that a turning operation in an oblique direction is recognized.

Next, the joystick 1 shown in FIG.
When the joystick 16 is pushed in at the neutral position of 6, the fulcrum block 19 is pushed downward by the support 16a, and the surrounding interlocking rods 18 are pushed by the sliding sphere 16b. Then, each contact switch portion 14a is pushed downward against the elastic force, and the contact portions 13a and 14a at the central portion, which are configured to have a small interval, come into contact with each other to be turned on.

Thereafter, when the operating force on the joystick 16 is released, the fulcrum block body 19 and the respective interlocking rods 18 are pushed upward by the elastic restoring force of the respective contact switches 14a.
6 is returned to the initial neutral position, and the contacts 13a and 14b at the center are separated from each other and the contact switch 14
a is turned off.

Here, the multi-directional switch 7 is configured to be capable of rotating and pushing in eight directions.

As shown in FIG. 4, the matrix display panel 11 has a ventilation switching device as an electric device,
Various operations of the air conditioner and audio equipment are displayed. That is, a plurality of ventilation switching device operation display units 21 for displaying the ventilation / non-ventilation operation of the ventilation switching device,
A plurality of air conditioner operation display sections 22 for displaying the operation of each of the air-conditioner blowing position states, and a plurality of audio apparatus operation display sections for respectively displaying various operations such as radio station selection and operation of a tape or CD in an audio apparatus. 23 are arranged in a vertical and horizontal matrix.

A light emitting diode (LED) is used as a light source for each of the operation display sections 21, 22, and 23.

As shown in FIG. 5, a control circuit 25 as a control section for controlling the operation of the ventilation switching device, the air conditioner, and the audio equipment includes a switch change detecting section 26 for detecting a change due to the operation of the multidirectional switch 7. And an LED that receives switch change information from the switch change detection unit 26
A lighting control unit 27 and an LED that receives a signal from the LED lighting control unit 27 and turns on a corresponding light emitting diode 28
A driver 29, a switch memory unit 30 for storing a switch state, a data communication control unit 31 for controlling data communication according to the switch state information from the switch memory unit 30, and information from the data communication control unit 31 Communication interface 32 for transmitting ECU 34, 35 of ventilation switching device, air conditioner, audio equipment, etc. in serial data
And

Then, ECUs such as a ventilation switching device, an air conditioner, and an audio device are transmitted in accordance with the transmitted serial data.
The corresponding devices are controlled from 34 and 35 to perform desired operations.

The on / off switch, which is the main switch of the air conditioner or audio equipment, is set not on the matrix display panel 11 but in the ECUs 34, 35 of the air conditioner, audio equipment, etc. as in the prior art. The on / off signal of the main switch is configured to be transmitted to the control circuit 25 using bidirectional communication.

Then, when the ignition switch IG is turned on, the switch state stored in the switch memory unit 30 when the ignition switch IG is turned off is displayed on the matrix display panel 11. However, in the case of replacing the battery B, the switch is displayed based on the initial settings.

At this time, as shown in FIG. 4, the display of the operation state is displayed by turning on the light emitting diode 28 as the cursor 38. In this state, the power supply 36 of the air conditioner and the audio equipment is in the off state,
The cursor 38 of the air conditioner or audio equipment is not displayed.

In this state, for example, for audio equipment E
When the main switch of the audio device in the CU 35 is turned on, the operation state stored in the switch memory unit 30 is displayed at the time of the off operation, and the audio device is operated in that state.

As in this case, when a plurality of electric devices of the ventilation switching device and the audio equipment are operating, the cursor 3 on the side which can be operated by the multidirectional switch 7 is operated.
8 is controlled so as to light more brightly.

For example, when the cursor 38 of the audio equipment is operated, if the multidirectional switch 7 is rotated in a desired direction, the multidirectional switch 7 is operated by receiving a change signal due to the contact of the contacts 13a and 14b. Is detected by the switch change detection unit 26. The detected switch change information is sent to the LED lighting control unit 27, and the light emitting diode 28 corresponding to the operation of the multi-directional switch 7 is turned on by the LED.
This is performed via the driver 29.

Then, the switch change detecting section 26
The switch memory unit 30 stores the lighting state of the light-emitting diode 28 when the push-in operation of the multi-directional switch 7 is detected, and stores this information via the communication interface 32.
The information of the multi-directional switch 7 is transmitted as serial data to the ECU 35 of the audio equipment requiring the information. The ECU 35 receiving this data performs control corresponding to the display of the light-emitting diode 28 that is lit when the push operation is performed, that is, the operation display unit 23 at the position of the cursor 38.

After the cursor 38 is moved by the turning operation of the multi-directional switch 7, if the confirmation by the pushing operation is not performed within a predetermined time, the cursor 38 is returned to the position before the movement. Is controlled.

The light emitting portion on the matrix display panel 11 is generated for each electric device. For example, when operating the operation display portion 21 of the ventilation switching device, the upper position of the operation display portion 23 of the audio equipment is required. When the multi-directional switch 7 is further rotated upward when the cursor 38 is located at the cursor 38, the operable cursor 3 is displayed on the operation display unit 21 side of the ventilation switching device.
8 moves. Then, if the same operation is performed as described above, control is performed so that a desired operation is performed.

It is to be noted that the same operation is performed in the case of operating the air conditioner.

The present embodiment is configured as described above. The driver looks at the matrix display panel 11 in the instrument panel 9 while watching the console box 5.
By rotating the multi-directional switch 7 disposed on the portion, the cursor 38 is moved to the position of the operation display section 21, 22, or 23 desired to be operated, and the multi-directional switch 7 is pushed in at that position to confirm the operation. Then, a desired operation of each electric device can be obtained, and the driver can perform operations while looking at the matrix display panel 11 at a position with good visibility, while maintaining the driving posture, and is excellent in operability during driving. .

Further, an inexpensive light emitting diode 28 is used as a light source for the matrix display panel 11, and the operation display sections 21, 22, 2, and 2 of the matrix display panel 11 are used.
3 is a method of recognizing a selected position by turning on / off each light emitting diode 28. Compared with a conventional technique of switching a large number of display screens and displaying the same, a less expensive display device is used. The number of switches can be reduced at low cost.

Although the light emitting diode 28 is used as a light source, a structure using another light source may be used. In addition, although the on / off main switch of the air conditioner or the audio equipment is shown separately provided in each of the ECUs 34 and 35, all switches such as the on / off main switch are provided in the matrix display panel 11. It may be.

Furthermore, although the air conditioner and the audio equipment are illustrated as the electric device, other electric devices mounted on a vehicle may be combined as needed.

Although the multi-directional switch 7 has a structure capable of rotating in eight directions, the structure may be capable of rotating in four directions, and is not limited to the structure of the embodiment.

Further, although the structure in which the multi-directional switch 7 is provided on the console box 5 is shown, the structure may be provided on the steering portion. Also, the matrix display panel 11 is not limited to the inside of the instrument panel 9 and may be any position such as another portion of the dashboard 2 that has good visibility from the driver.

[0046]

As described above, according to the switch device for a vehicle of the present invention, a multidirectional switch capable of selecting a desired operation of each of the electric devices by a multidirectional turning operation and a pushing operation, and A matrix display panel arranged in a field of view and having a number of operation display sections respectively displaying various operations of the respective electric devices in a vertical and horizontal matrix, and corresponding to the turning direction of the multidirectional switch. And a control unit for moving a cursor on the matrix display panel and performing an operation corresponding to the operation display unit at the cursor position by pressing a multi-directional switch on a corresponding electric device, There is an advantage that an expensive display device as in the related art is unnecessary, the number of switches can be reduced at low cost, and the operability is excellent.

The use of a light emitting diode as a light source for the matrix display panel has the advantage that it can be provided at lower cost.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional side view of the multi-directional switch.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the same.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of a matrix display panel.

FIG. 5 is a control circuit diagram according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Car 2 Dashboard 3 Driver's seat 5 Console box 7 Multi-directional switch 9 Instrument panel 11 Matrix display panel 21, 22, 23 Operation display part 25 Control circuit 28 Light emitting diode 38 Cursor

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Kenji Okamoto 1-7-10 Kikuzumi, Minami-ku, Nagoya-shi, Aichi Harness Research Institute, Inc.

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A plurality of electric devices mounted on a vehicle,
A switch device for a vehicle comprising a switch for individually operating each of these electric devices, wherein the switch device for a vehicle can select a desired operation of each of the electric devices by a multi-directional turning operation and a pushing operation. A multi-directional switch, a matrix display panel arranged in a driver's front view, and a plurality of operation display units for displaying various operations of the electric devices are arranged in a vertical and horizontal matrix, A control unit that moves a cursor on the matrix display panel in accordance with the rotation direction of the multidirectional switch, and causes the corresponding electric device to perform an operation corresponding to the operation display unit at the cursor position by pressing the multidirectional switch. And a switch device for a vehicle. 2. The vehicle switch device according to claim 1, wherein a light source of the matrix display panel is a light emitting diode.