JP2012053801A - Operation device for vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an operation device for a vehicle equipped with a touch operation switch for giving a sense of use just like a dial type operation switch to an operator although it is a touch type.SOLUTION: This operation device for a vehicle includes a touch operation switch 10 having an electrostatic sensor 13 (touch sensor) for detecting the touch of the finger of an operator for performing an input operation to an air conditioner (on-vehicle equipment) according as the touch of the finger is detected by the electrostatic sensor 13. The touch operation switch 10 is formed like a convex having a cylindrical external peripheral wall 11c (peripheral wall) provided with the electrostatic sensor 13. Also, this operation device for a vehicle includes an eccentric motor 14 (vibration actuator) for vibrating the touch operation switch 10 and an air conditioner ECU20 (control means) for controlling the driving of the eccentric motor 14 according as the touch of the finger following the external peripheral wall 11c of a case body 11 is detected by the electrostatic sensor 13.

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicular operating device, and more particularly to a vehicular operating device including a touch operation switch for operating an electronic device (on-vehicle device) mounted on the vehicle.

  As a touch operation switch constituting a vehicular operation device, a touch operation switch having a touch panel with a convex curved surface is known in order to improve the operability of in-vehicle devices (for example, Patent Document 1 below). reference). There is also known a dial-type operation switch in which various functions of an in-vehicle device are set by a rotation operation around the central axis of the dial knob (for example, see Patent Document 2 below). In the operation switch described in Patent Document 2, the dial knob moderation feeling (click feeling) can be switched in multiple stages by a mechanical mechanism in accordance with the type of function to be set.

JP 2007-279819 A JP 2008-191843 A

  However, unlike the dial type operation switch, the touch operation switch is not configured to give a click feeling during operation, and thus there is a problem that the touch feeling is poor and usability is poor.

  The present invention has been made in order to address the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a touch operation switch that can provide the operator with a feeling of use like a dial-type operation switch while being a touch type. Another object is to provide a vehicular operating device.

Means for Solving the Problems and Effects of the Invention

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a touch operation switch that includes a touch sensor that detects an operator's finger touch, and that can perform an input operation to an in-vehicle device in response to the detection of the finger touch by the touch sensor. In the vehicular operating device, the touch operation switch is formed in a convex shape having a cylindrical peripheral wall on which the touch sensor is provided, a vibration actuator that vibrates the touch operation switch, and a finger along the peripheral wall by the touch sensor. And a control means for driving and controlling the vibration actuator in response to the detection of the touch. In this case, the vibration actuator can be configured using, for example, an eccentric motor or an electromagnetic solenoid.

  In the vehicle operating device of the present invention, the touch operation switch is formed in a convex shape having a cylindrical peripheral wall, a touch sensor is provided on the peripheral wall, and a touch of a finger along the peripheral wall is detected by the touch sensor. The vibration actuator is driven and controlled.

  According to this, although it is a touch type, it can give a click feeling at the time of operation similarly to the case of the dial type using a mechanical mechanism. In addition, since a click feeling is given to the operator by vibration feedback by drive control of the vibration actuator, the structure can be made simpler than that by the mechanical mechanism.

  In this case, the control means may be configured to drive and control the vibration actuator when a touch sensor detects a finger touch of a predetermined center angle or more around the central axis of the peripheral wall.

  According to this, as if the dial knob of the dial-type operation switch is rotated, the user keeps touching the finger so that the finger slides over a predetermined central angle along the cylindrical peripheral wall of the touch operation switch. Thus, vibration feedback can be obtained from the vibration actuator. For this reason, it is possible to give the operator a feeling of use similar to that of the dial type operation switch.

  In addition, the touch operation switch can perform an input operation for setting a plurality of predetermined functions in the in-vehicle device, and the center angle may be set to a different value depending on the type of the function.

  According to this, the interval of vibration feedback can be changed according to the type of function. That is, the currently set function can be sensed by tactile sense based on the difference in vibration feedback interval. For this reason, the usability of the touch operation switch can be further improved.

The external view when the vehicle air conditioning panel which comprises the vehicle operating device which concerns on this invention is seen from the back of a vehicle interior. The block diagram which shows the electric constitution of the operating device for vehicles which concerns on this invention. The side view of the touch operation switch shown in FIG. AA sectional drawing of FIG. The flowchart which shows the vibration feedback process program performed at the time of operation of a touch operation switch. Explanatory drawing which shows the vibration feedback space | interval determination table used in FIG.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 shows an external view of a vehicular air conditioning panel 1 constituting a vehicular operating device according to the present invention as viewed from the rear of a vehicle interior. The vehicle air conditioning panel 1 is for operating a vehicle air conditioner (not shown) as an in-vehicle device, and a touch panel 3 as an operation unit is provided along the surface of the instrument panel unit IP. In the first embodiment, by the touch operation on the touch panel 3, the blowing control of the driver seat D side outlet 9R and the passenger seat P side outlet 9L provided in the instrument panel part IP can be executed independently of each other. It is possible.

  On the front surface 3a of the touch panel 3, as shown in FIG. 2, a touch operation switch 10 is provided in the center, soft buttons 2a to 2h are provided on both left and right sides, and a setting display unit 4 is provided on the top. . Button 2a is a function that performs full auto control, button 2b is a function that turns off the air conditioner, button 2c is a function that sets the outlet to the front defroster, button 2d is a function that sets the rear window defogger, and button 2e operates the compressor The button 2f has a function of fixing the suction port to the outside air, the button 2g has a function of fixing the suction port to the inside air, and the button 2h has a function of independently controlling the air conditioning of the driver seat D and the passenger seat P.

  Soft buttons 2 i to 2 m are further provided around the touch operation switch 10. The button 2i has a function to switch the outlet, the button 2j has a function to switch the output level of the blower, the button 2k has a function to switch the set temperature on the driver's seat D side, and the button 2m has a function to switch the set temperature on the passenger seat P side. The above-described soft buttons 2a to 2m are configured such that, by touch operation, corresponding characters or symbols are displayed in reverse so that it is possible to visually recognize which function has been selected.

  The setting display unit 4 visually recognizes the setting state of the predetermined function of the air conditioner. In the first embodiment, for example, the set temperature of the driver seat D and the passenger seat P, the blower output level, and the position of the outlet are displayed. It has come to be.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the touch operation switch 10 includes a bottomed cylindrical case body 11 formed in a dial shape (convex shape), a lid body 12 that seals the case body 11, and a case body. 11 is provided with a shaft portion 11b having a central portion of the bottom portion 11a as a base end side and protruding toward the inside of the touch panel 3, and is held by the touch panel panel 3 through the shaft portion 11b. That is, the touch operation switch 10 does not incorporate a mechanical mechanism that allows rotation around the center axis L or movement in the direction of the center axis L, and the dial-shaped case body 11 and the lid body 12 are located on the front surface of the touch panel 3. It is fixed in a protruding state with respect to 3a.

  An electrostatic sensor 13 as a touch sensor is attached to the outer peripheral wall 11c of the case body 11 over almost the entire circumference. The electrostatic sensor 13 is a well-known sensor in which an electrode part on which a predetermined electrode pattern is formed and an insulating cover are laminated in this order on the surface of a board part such as a flexible board, and between the fingertip and the electrode part. The position of the fingertip is detected by detecting the change in the capacitance, that is, the position of the fingertip is detected by measuring the ratio of the amount of current in the electrode pattern arranged in the vicinity of the position touched by the fingertip.

  The touch sensor is not limited to the electrostatic capacitance type electrostatic sensor 13, and has, for example, two resistance films arranged opposite to each other, and applies a predetermined voltage to the first resistance film. In addition, a resistive film type sensor that detects the position of the fingertip by detecting the voltage generated in the second resistive film by the touch of the fingertip, the fingertip blocks the infrared light of the infrared LED Various sensors that can detect the touch of a finger, such as an infrared sensor that detects the position, and a surface acoustic wave sensor that detects the position of the fingertip by measuring the reflection time until the vibration wave from the piezoelectric element is reflected by the fingertip Can be used.

  An eccentric motor 14 as a vibration actuator is attached to the bottom 11a of the case body 11 via a motor attachment portion 11d. The eccentric motor 14 is a known motor in which a vibrator 14b such as a weight is biased and attached to the rotating shaft 14a, and the case body 11 and the lid body 12 are moved using a centrifugal force acting on the vibrator 14b during rotation. Vibrate.

  The vibration actuator is not limited to the eccentric motor 14, and includes, for example, a permanent magnet (vibrator) that can move against the urging force of the compression coil spring, and an electromagnetic solenoid disposed to face the permanent magnet, Drive control that repeats excitation and de-energization of the electromagnetic solenoid, and detects by tactile sense such as an electromagnetic drive type that vibrates the case body 11 and the lid body 12 by the reciprocating movement of the permanent magnet accompanying the excitation and de-energization of the electromagnetic solenoid. What can give the vibration feedback which can be used can be employ | adopted suitably.

  Returning to FIG. 2, the soft buttons 2a to 2m, the electrostatic sensor 13, the setting display unit 4, and the eccentric motor 14 are connected to an air conditioner ECU 20 as control means. The air conditioner ECU (Electronic Control Unit) 20 is composed of a microcomputer whose main components are a CPU, ROM, RAM, I / O, and the like, and is stored in the ROM every predetermined short time when the air conditioner is turned on. 5 is executed, a drive signal corresponding to the execution is output to the motor driver 21 to drive the eccentric motor 14 for a predetermined time, and the drive signal is output to the LCD driver 22 for setting display. The screen display of part 4 is changed.

  Next, the operation of the first embodiment configured as described above will be described. When the air conditioner is turned on, the air conditioner ECU 20 starts executing the vibration feedback processing program of FIG.

  In the execution of the vibration feedback processing program, the air conditioner ECU 20 determines whether or not the operator has touched the outer peripheral wall 11c of the case body 11 (S1). Specifically, when a detection signal is input from the electrostatic sensor 13 (S1: YES), the mode currently set on the touch panel 3 is checked (S2).

  When the currently set mode is any one of the blower output level change mode, the set temperature change mode, and the suction port change mode based on the operation of the soft switches 2i to 2m shown in FIG. It is determined with reference to the vibration feedback interval determination table whether or not there is an angle change corresponding to each mode according to the detection signal from 13 (S3).

  The vibration feedback interval determination table, for example, as shown in FIG. 6, shows each mode of blower output level change, set temperature change and suction port change, and a plurality of different vibration feedback intervals, that is, center angles around the center axis L. It is stored in association. Specifically, if the currently set mode is the blower output level change mode, the vibration feedback interval is set to 90 °, for example. If the set temperature change mode is set, the vibration feedback interval is set to 30 °, for example. In the suction port change mode, the vibration feedback interval is set to 15 °, for example.

  That is, in the blower output level change mode, if the operator keeps touching the fingertip along the outer peripheral wall 11c of the case body 11, the eccentric motor 14 is moved every 90 ° around the central axis L for a predetermined time. Tremor (for one vibration feedback), if in the set temperature change mode, the eccentric motor 14 shakes for every 30 ° around the central axis L for a predetermined time, and if in the suction port change mode, 15 ° around the central axis L Every time the eccentric motor 14 trembles for a predetermined time.

  In this case, in the blower output level change mode, if the operator continues to touch the fingertip in the clockwise direction around the central axis L along the outer peripheral wall 11c of the case body 11, the blower output level increases ( For example, every time the central angle is 90 °, the bar graph is increased by one bar. On the other hand, if the fingertip is kept sliding in the counterclockwise direction around the central axis L, the blower output level decreases (for example, , Reduced by one bar of bar graph every 90 ° of central angle). In the preset temperature change mode, if the operator keeps touching the fingertip in a clockwise direction around the central axis L along the outer peripheral wall 11c of the case body 11, the preset temperature increases (for example, the central angle 30). If you keep touching your fingertip in a counterclockwise direction around the central axis L, the set temperature will decrease (for example, 0.5 ° C for every 30 ° central angle). Down). In the suction port change mode, the order of switching the suction ports in the clockwise direction and the counterclockwise direction around the central axis L is reversed.

  Returning to FIG. 5, if there is an angle change corresponding to each mode (S3: YES), the drive signal corresponding to that mode is output to the LCD driver 22 to change the screen display of the setting display unit 4 At the same time (S4), a drive signal corresponding to the mode is output to the motor driver 21 to drive the eccentric motor 14 for a predetermined time (S5). When there is no angle change corresponding to each mode, for example, when the blower output level change mode is set, the operator keeps touching the fingertip along the outer peripheral wall 11c of the case body 11, If the angle has not reached 90 °, the present process is immediately terminated (S3: NO).

  As is apparent from the above description, in the first embodiment, the touch operation switch 10 is formed in a dial shape (convex shape) having a cylindrical outer peripheral wall 11c, and the electrostatic sensor 13 (touch) is formed on the outer peripheral wall 11c. Sensor) is provided, and the eccentric motor 14 (vibration actuator) is driven when the electrostatic sensor 13 detects a finger touch along the outer peripheral wall 11c.

  Thereby, although the touch operation switch 10 is a touch type, it can give a click feeling at the time of operation similarly to the case of the dial type using a mechanical mechanism. In addition, since a click feeling is given to the operator by vibration feedback by driving the eccentric motor 14, a simple structure can be achieved as compared with the mechanism mechanism.

  Further, in the first embodiment, when the air conditioner ECU 20 (control means) detects the touch of a finger at a predetermined central angle or more around the central axis L of the outer peripheral wall 11c by the electrostatic sensor 13, the eccentric motor 14 It is comprised so that drive may be controlled.

  As a result, as if the dial knob of the dial-type operation switch is operated, the user keeps touching the finger so that the finger slides over a predetermined central angle along the cylindrical outer peripheral wall 11c of the touch operation switch 10. Thus, vibration feedback can be obtained from the eccentric motor 14. For this reason, it is possible to give the operator a feeling of use similar to that of the dial type operation switch.

  In the first embodiment, the touch operation switch 10 is an input for setting a plurality of predetermined functions (for example, changing the blower output level, changing the set temperature, and changing the suction port) in the air conditioner (on-vehicle equipment). Operation is possible, and the central angle is set to a different value depending on the type of function.

  Thereby, the vibration feedback interval can be changed according to the type of function. That is, the currently set function can be sensed by tactile sense based on the difference in vibration feedback interval. For this reason, the usability of the touch operation switch 10 is improved.

  Note that the mode to be subjected to vibration feedback is not limited to blower output level change, set temperature change, and suction port change, but can be changed as appropriate. Further, the central angle around the central axis L corresponding to the vibration feedback interval can be changed as appropriate.

  In addition, the lid 12 constituting the touch operation switch 10 can have a function as the setting display unit 4. According to this, the touch panel 3 can be made compact by integrating functions into the touch operation switch 10.

  In the first embodiment, the present invention is applied to the case where the in-vehicle device is an air conditioner. However, in addition to or in place of the air conditioner, the present invention is applied to, for example, an audio device or a car navigation device as the in-vehicle device. can do.

  In the first embodiment, the present invention is applied to the touch panel 3 including the soft buttons. Instead, the present invention may be applied to, for example, an operation panel including a mechanical press operation button.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Vehicle air-conditioning panel 2a-2m Soft button 3 Touch panel 4 Setting display part 10 Touch operation switch 11 Case body 11c Perimeter wall (peripheral wall)
13 Electrostatic sensor (touch sensor)
14 Eccentric motor (vibration actuator)
20 Air-conditioner ECU (control means)
L Center axis

Claims (4)

In a vehicular operating device having a touch sensor that detects a finger touch of an operator, and a touch operation switch capable of performing an input operation to an in-vehicle device in accordance with detection of the finger touch by the touch sensor,
The touch operation switch is formed in a convex shape having a cylindrical peripheral wall on which the touch sensor is provided,
A vibration actuator for vibrating the touch operation switch;
Control means for driving and controlling the vibration actuator in response to detection of a finger touch along the peripheral wall by the touch sensor;
A vehicle operating device comprising:   2. The vehicular operating device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit drives and controls the vibration actuator when a touch of a finger having a predetermined central angle or more around the central axis of the peripheral wall is detected by the touch sensor. .   3. The touch operation switch is capable of an input operation for setting a plurality of predetermined functions in the in-vehicle device, and the central angle is set to a different value depending on the type of the function. The vehicle operating device described in 1.   4. The vehicle operating device according to claim 1, wherein the vibration actuator is configured using an eccentric motor or an electromagnetic solenoid. 5.

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