JP4806650B2 - Operation switch and steering wheel - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an operation switch, and more particularly to an operation switch capable of performing a composite operation on a plurality of operation objects and a steering wheel provided with the operation switch.

In recent years, on the surface of a steering wheel of a vehicle, a plurality of operation switches for operating in-vehicle devices such as an air conditioner and an audio have been provided for the purpose of ensuring operability by being close to the steering wheel and ensuring safety during driving. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1). In the steering wheel of Patent Document 1, a plurality of operation switches are provided on the spoke, and the positions and states of the plurality of operation switches are grasped by displaying the operation state on the display, so that the blind operation can be performed.
JP 2003-157883 A

  By the way, for example, even if one air conditioner is taken, it has a plurality of functions such as temperature adjustment, air volume adjustment, and wind direction adjustment, and it is necessary to provide a plurality of operation switches corresponding to each function. Similarly, since the audio and navigation have a plurality of functions, the number of operation switches for operating the operation target such as an air conditioner, audio and navigation has become large. For this reason, if it is going to operate all the operation objects or functions on a steering wheel, an operation switch will overflow on a steering wheel. In addition, the installation space on the steering wheel is limited. For this reason, only operation switches corresponding to the minimum necessary operation objects or functions are provided on the steering wheel, and other operation objects or functions are operated by operation switches provided in the vicinity of each operation object. Is the current situation.

  On the navigation display screen, when the display is switched such as scrolling to change the display direction of the map, angle to change the bird's eye angle of the map, zoom in / out to zoom in / out the display range, etc. Each time a pressing operation or the like is performed, switching is performed in stages. However, in recent years, in such display switching operations, there are many cases where more continuous and smooth adjustment or fine adjustment is desired, and the operation switch is compatible with such continuous or fine adjustment operations. Is being sought. Moreover, in order to perform each switching, it was necessary to operate another operation switch corresponding to each. For this reason, simultaneous operation of the plurality of display switching functions described above has been difficult.

  Therefore, there has been a demand for an operation switch with good operability that can simultaneously perform a composite operation of a plurality of operation objects and functions. It should be noted that an operation switch with good operability that can be combined and operated at the same time is desired for other operation switches such as a controller of a game machine or a remote controller of an electrical appliance, regardless of the operation switch provided on the steering wheel of the vehicle. Yes.

The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide an operation switch with good operability that can be combined and operated at the same time, and a steering wheel provided with the operation switch.

Hereinafter, means for achieving the above-described object and its operation and effects will be described.
The invention according to claim 1 is an operation switch for operating an operation target, a cylindrical housing having both ends opened, a moving body provided in the housing and operated to be displaced in the axial direction thereof, Provided at least one of the both ends of the movable body together with an operation unit, an input switch for outputting the operation signal, and detecting means for detecting a displacement amount of the movable body with respect to the housing and outputting the detection signal. The input switch is a slide switch in which an operation input is performed when the operation unit is displaced in a direction different from the displacement direction of the moving body .

According to this configuration, it is possible to perform a displacement operation of the moving body while displacing the operation portion of the input switch, that is, simultaneous composite operation. Then, based on the detection signal from the input switch and the detection signal from the detection means that is output according to the amount of displacement of the moving body, the determined operation target operates. In addition, as described above, the operation of the moving body is configured to continuously displace the casing in the axial direction thereof, so that the minute displacement amount of the moving body with respect to the casing can be easily adjusted. It is easy to operate. Furthermore, the operation unit moves in a direction different from the displacement direction of the moving body.
By making the slide switch to be input by being made, it is possible to suppress displacement of the moving body when operating the slide switch as the input switch.

The invention according to claim 2 is an operation switch for operating an operation target, a cylindrical casing having both ends opened, a moving body provided in the casing and operated to be displaced in the axial direction thereof, Provided at least one of the both ends of the movable body together with an operation unit, an input switch for outputting the operation signal, and detecting means for detecting a displacement amount of the movable body with respect to the housing and outputting the detection signal. The input switches are provided at both ends of the moving body, and the input switches are provided on the same axis .

According to this configuration, it is possible to perform a displacement operation of the moving body while displacing the operation portion of the input switch, that is, simultaneous composite operation. Then, based on the detection signal from the input switch and the detection signal from the detection means that is output according to the amount of displacement of the moving body, the determined operation target operates. In addition, as described above, the operation of the moving body is configured to continuously displace the casing in the axial direction thereof, so that the minute displacement amount of the moving body with respect to the casing can be easily adjusted. It is easy to operate. In addition, since the input switches are provided at both ends of the moving body, and the input switches are provided on the same axis, when operating the input switches at both ends, the operation positions of each other are grasped by touching both input switches. Can be operated easily .

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the operation switch according to the second aspect, the input switch is a slide switch in which an operation input is performed when the operation portion is displaced in a direction different from a displacement direction of the moving body. It is characterized by being.

According to the same configuration, the moving body is operated when operating the slide switch, which is an input switch, by performing the input operation when the operation unit is displaced in a direction different from the displacement direction of the moving body. Can be prevented from being displaced .

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a cylindrical casing having both ends opened, a moving body provided in the casing and operated to be displaced in the axial direction thereof, and an operation unit at least one of both ends of the moving body. Provided with an input switch for outputting the operation signal, and a detecting means for detecting the amount of displacement of the movable body relative to the housing and outputting the detection signal, and the operation switch for operating the operation object is a ring or It is provided in a spoke.
According to this configuration, it is possible to perform a displacement operation of the moving body while displacing the operation portion of the input switch, that is, simultaneous composite operation. Then, based on the detection signal from the input switch and the detection signal from the detection means that is output according to the amount of displacement of the moving body, the determined operation target operates. In addition, as described above, the operation of the moving body is configured to continuously displace the casing in the axial direction thereof, so that the minute displacement amount of the moving body with respect to the casing can be easily adjusted. It is easy to operate. Furthermore, the operation target can be operated while grasping the steering wheel, and a complex operation can be performed on the operation target.

ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the steering wheel which provided the operation switch with sufficient operativity which can carry out a compound operation simultaneously, and provided with this operation switch can be provided.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment in which an operation switch according to the present invention is provided on a steering wheel of a vehicle and embodied as an operation device for an in-vehicle device such as a vehicle navigation, an air conditioner, and an audio will be described with reference to FIGS. explain.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the steering wheel 90 has a central portion 93 to which a steering shaft (not shown) is connected, a ring 92, three middle spokes 91a connecting the central portion 93 and the ring 92, and a right side. A spoke 91b and a left spoke 91c are provided. The middle spoke 91 a extends downward from the central portion 93, the right spoke 91 b extends rightward from the central portion 93, and the left spoke 91 c extends leftward from the central portion 93 and is connected to the ring 92. A right operation switch 1 is disposed in the center of the right spoke 91b through the front surface and the back surface, and a left operation switch 2 is disposed in the center of the left spoke 91c through the surface and the back surface.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the right operation switch 1 is disposed on the right spoke 91b so that the center axis thereof extends in a substantially front-rear direction of the vehicle. Similarly, the left operation switch 2 is disposed on the left spoke 91c so that its central axis extends in the substantially front-rear direction of the vehicle. The right operation switch 1 includes a housing 10, a moving body 30 that is fitted in the housing 10 so as to be displaceable in the axial direction thereof, a front slide switch 50 as an input switch provided at both ends of the moving body 30, and And a rear slide switch 70. The front-side slide switch 50 and the back-side slide switch 70 can be slid in four directions, up, down, left, and right, perpendicular to the axial direction of the housing 10. Similarly, the left operation switch 2 includes a housing 20, a moving body 40 that is fitted inside the housing 20 so as to be displaceable in the axial direction thereof, and a front slide as an input switch provided at both ends of the moving body 40. The switch 60 and the back side slide switch 80 are provided. The front-side slide switch 60 and the back-side slide switch 80 can be slid in four directions, up, down, left, and right, perpendicular to the axial direction of the housing 20.

  That is, since the operation direction (displacement direction) of the moving bodies 30 and 40 is different from the operation direction of the front side and back side slide switches 50, 60, 70, and 80 (precisely, an operation unit described later), the front side and back side slide switches. Displacement of the moving bodies 30 and 40 when operating 50, 60, 70, and 80 can be suppressed. Further, sliding of the front side and back side slide switches 50, 60, 70, 80 when operating the moving bodies 30, 40 is suppressed.

  Next, the structure of the right operation switch 1 and the left operation switch 2 will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 (a) to 3 (c), FIG. 4, and FIG. Since the right operation switch 1 and the left operation switch 2 have the same structure, only the right operation switch 1 will be described. In FIG. 3B, the member number corresponding to the left operation switch 2 is shown in parentheses.

  As shown in FIG. 3B, the right operation switch 1 includes a cylindrical casing 10 having both ends opened, and a moving body 30 that is fitted inside the casing 10 so as to be displaceable in the axial direction. And are provided. Between the housing 10 and the moving body 30, a guide mechanism for guiding the moving body 30 in the axial direction of the housing 10 is provided.

  The guide mechanism includes a protrusion 10a provided on the inner peripheral surface of the housing 10 and a guide shaft 32 inserted in a guide hole 16 formed in the protrusion 10a in the axial direction of the housing 10. More specifically, the outer periphery of the moving body 30 is formed with a recess 30a that can accommodate the protrusion 10a. A guide shaft 32 extending in the axial direction of the housing 10 is fixed inside the recess 30a. The guide shaft 32 is inserted through the guide hole 16 of the protrusion 10a accommodated in the recess 30a. Therefore, when an axial operation force is applied to the moving body 30, the guide shaft 32 is guided to the guide hole 16, so that the moving body 30 is stably displaced in the axial direction with respect to the housing 10. To do.

  Inside the moving body 30, an accommodating portion 30 b is formed on the axis of the moving body 30. The center shaft 31 is fixed so as to be coaxial with the moving body 30 inside the accommodating portion 30b. Two annular engaging members 31a and 31b are provided on the outer peripheral surface of the central shaft 31 at intervals in the axial direction inside the housing portion 30b. A spring 15 is wound around the central shaft 31 between the two engaging members 31a and 31b. Both ends of the spring 15 are engaged with the two engaging members 31a and 31b.

  A cylindrical spring accommodating member 11 that accommodates the spring 15 is provided through the central shaft 31 in the accommodating portion 30b. The inner diameters of the through holes formed in the top wall and the bottom wall of the spring housing member 11 so as to pass through the central shaft 31 are larger than the outer diameters of the engaging members 31a and 31b described above and smaller than the outer diameter of the spring 15. Is set. That is, the engaging members 31a and 31b can pass through the through hole of the spring housing member 11, and the spring 15 cannot pass through the through hole. The spring housing member 11 is fixed to the housing 10 and is slidable relative to the central shaft 31 in the axial direction.

  Gaps are formed between both end surfaces of the spring accommodating member 11 and the inner top surface and inner bottom surface of the accommodating portion 30b. The moving body 30 can be displaced in the axial direction by the gap. That is, the movable body 30 has a position where the upper end surface of the spring accommodating member 11 is engaged with the inner top surface of the accommodating portion 30b of the movable body 30 and a lower end surface of the spring accommodating member 11 as shown in FIG. The movable body 30 is displaced between the position shown in FIG. 3A that engages with the inner bottom surface of the accommodating portion 30b.

  Therefore, as shown in FIG. 3A, when an operation force directed toward the front of the vehicle (upward in the figure) is applied to the moving body 30, the spring accommodating member 11 is accommodated in the accommodating portion 30 b of the moving body 30. Move relatively downward. At the same time, the engaging member 31a on the front side of the vehicle passes through the through hole of the spring accommodating member 11 and enters the gap between the spring accommodating member 11 and the accommodating portion 30b of the moving body 30, and the engaging member 30b on the rear side of the vehicle. Moves upward relative to the spring housing member 11. As described above, since the outer diameter of the spring 15 is larger than the inner diameter of the through hole of the spring housing member 11, the spring 15 does not pass through the through hole. For this reason, the spring 15 is contracted by the engaging member 31 b that moves relative to the spring housing member 11 toward the vehicle front side. When the operating force is released, the moving body 30 returns to the original position (normal position) shown in FIG. 3B by the urging force of the spring 15.

  As shown in FIG. 3 (c), when the operating force is applied to the moving body 30 toward the front of the vehicle (downward in the figure), the spring 15 is also relative to the spring housing member 11. When the operating force is released by the engagement member 31b moving to the rear side of the vehicle and the operating force is released, the moving body 30 returns to the original position shown in FIG.

  In addition, a moving body displacement detector 12 serving as a detecting unit that detects the amount of displacement of the moving body 30 is provided between the housing 10 and the moving body 30 on the opposite side of the position where the above-described guide mechanism is provided. It has been. The moving body displacement detection unit 12 includes a fixing unit 13 fixed to the inner surface of the housing 10 and a moving unit 14 provided to be slidable in the axial direction of the moving body 30 with respect to the fixing unit 13. .

  The fixed portion 13 is provided to be slidable relative to the moving body 30. The moving unit 14 is fixed to the moving body 30 in such a manner that sliding movement with respect to the fixed unit 13 is allowed. And the fixing | fixed part 13 is comprised so that the detection signal according to the displacement amount of the moving part 14 may be output to the control apparatus which is not shown in figure. By moving the moving body 30 and the moving section 14 of the moving body displacement detecting section 12 integrally, their displacement amounts are always the same. For this reason, the detection signal output from the fixed unit 13 according to the displacement amount of the moving unit 14 accompanying the displacement of the moving body 30 can be handled as the detection signal output according to the displacement amount of the moving body 30.

  Accordingly, when the moving body 30 is displaced forward of the vehicle with respect to the housing 10, the guide shaft 32 of the moving body 30 is guided to the guide hole 16 of the housing 10 as shown in FIG. Accordingly, the movable body 30 is stably displaced in the axial direction of the housing 10. The moving unit 14 of the moving body displacement detecting unit 12 is located closer to the front of the vehicle than the fixed unit 13. The fixed unit 13 outputs a detection signal corresponding to the amount of displacement of the moving unit 14, that is, the moving body 30 forward of the vehicle. Further, when the engagement member 31b on the vehicle rear side of the center shaft 31 is displaced toward the vehicle front side, the spring 15 is compressed between the engagement member 31b and the inner wall of the spring housing member 11 in front of the vehicle. The spring 15 stores a biasing force toward the rear of the vehicle. When the displacement operation toward the front of the vehicle is released, the moving body 30 returns to the normal position shown in FIG.

  On the other hand, when the movable body 30 is displaced backward with respect to the housing 10, the guide shaft 32 of the movable body 30 is guided to the guide hole 16 of the housing 10 as shown in FIG. Accordingly, the moving body 30 is displaced in the axial direction of the housing 10. The moving unit 14 of the moving body displacement detecting unit 12 is located closer to the rear of the vehicle than the fixed unit 13. The fixed unit 13 outputs a detection signal corresponding to the amount of displacement of the moving unit 14, that is, the moving body 30 toward the rear of the vehicle. Further, when the engagement member 31a on the vehicle front side of the center shaft 31 is displaced toward the vehicle rear side, the spring 15 is compressed between the engagement member 31a and the inner wall of the spring housing member 11 at the rear of the vehicle. The forward biasing force is stored. When the rearward displacement operation is released, the moving body 30 returns to the normal position shown in FIG. 3B by the biasing force of the spring 15.

  As shown in FIG. 3B, a front side slide switch 50 is provided at the front side (rear side of the vehicle) end of the moving body 30, and a rear side slide is provided at the back side (front side of the vehicle) of the moving body 30. A switch 70 is provided. Since the front slide switch 50 and the back slide switch 70 have the same structure, only the front slide switch 50 will be described. In FIG. 3B, the member number corresponding to the back side slide switch 70 is shown in parentheses.

  As shown in FIG. 5B, the front side slide switch 50 includes a front side slide switch displacement detection unit 51, a guide member 54, and an operation unit 55 that is slid in this order from the inside of the moving body 30. Is provided.

  The front-side slide switch displacement detection unit 51 includes a fixed unit 52 that is fixed to the end of the moving body 30 and a moving unit 53 that is slidable with respect to the fixed unit 52. The moving unit 53 can be operated in four directions (vertical and horizontal directions shown in FIG. 4) orthogonal to the axis of the moving body 30. The fixing unit 52 detects the displacement of the moving unit 53 and outputs a detection signal to the control device.

  The guide member 54 is slidably disposed in the guide groove 33 formed in the movable body 30. The moving part 53 is fixed to the lower part of the guide member 54, and the operating part 55 is fixed to the upper part. The operation unit 55 is exposed outside the moving body 30. As shown in FIG. 4, the operation unit 55 can be displaced in four directions, up, down, left, and right.

  Therefore, the operation unit 55, the guide member 54, and the moving unit 53 are integrally displaced. At this time, the guide member 54 is guided in the guide groove 33 formed in the movable body 30, so that a stable displacement is obtained. The slide switch displacement detection unit 51 detects the displacement of the operation unit 55, more precisely, the amount of displacement of the moving unit 53 associated with the displacement, and outputs the detection signal to the control device.

  That is, when the operation unit 55 is slid to the right side, for example, with respect to the moving body 30, the guide member 54 is guided in the guide groove 33 as shown in FIG. 5A, and the operation unit 55 and the guide member 54 are guided. And the moving part 53 move together. The moving unit 53 is located on the right side with respect to the fixed unit 52. The fixing unit 52 outputs a position signal indicating that the moving unit 53 is positioned on the right side as the detection signal to the control device.

  On the other hand, when the operation unit 55 is slid to the left side of the moving body 30, for example, as shown in FIG. 5C, the guide member 54 is guided into the guide groove 33, and the operation unit 55 and the guide member 54 are guided. And the moving part 53 move together. The moving unit 53 is located on the left side with respect to the fixed unit 52. The fixing unit 52 outputs a position signal indicating that the moving unit 53 is located on the left side as the detection signal to the control device. Note that when the operation unit 55 is operated in the vertical direction shown in FIG. 4, the operation is performed in the same manner as the operation in the horizontal direction described above.

  The right operation switch 1 and the left operation switch 2 are operated by the thumb and any other finger (for example, index finger) in a state where the driver holds the steering wheel 90. Specifically, the front-side slide switches 50 and 60 are operated in the vertical and horizontal directions by the thumb, and the back-side slide switches 70 and 80 are operated in the vertical and horizontal directions by fingers other than the thumb. The moving bodies 30 and 40 are sandwiched between the front side slide switches 50 and 60 and the rear side slide switches 70 and 80 by the thumb from the rear side of the vehicle and the fingers other than the thumb from the front side of the vehicle. It is slid in the axial direction. Since the moving bodies 30 and 40 are operated with their both ends sandwiched therebetween, a minute displacement operation of the moving bodies 30 and 40, that is, a minute displacement amount can be adjusted.

Next, the electrical configuration of the operating device will be described with reference to FIG.
As shown in FIG. 6, when the moving body displacement detection unit 12 of the right operation switch 1 detects the displacement of the moving body 30, a detection signal S12 based on the displacement amount is sent to the front side slide switch displacement detection unit 51 of the right operation switch 1. When detecting the displacement of the operation unit 55, the detection signal S51 is output to the control device 95. When the displacement switch 71 of the right side operation switch 1 detects the displacement of the operation unit 75, the detection signal S71 is output to the control device 95. When the moving body displacement detection unit 22 of the right operation switch 1 detects the displacement of the moving body 40, the detection signal S22 based on the displacement amount is detected, and the front slide switch displacement detection unit 61 of the left operation switch 2 detects the displacement of the operation unit 65. Is detected, and the back side slide switch displacement detector 81 of the left operation switch 2 outputs the detection signal S81 to the controller 95 when the displacement of the operation unit 85 is detected. The control device 95 selects devices assigned to the right operation switch 1 and the left operation switch 2 among the in-vehicle devices such as the navigation 96, the air conditioner 97, and the audio 98 that are the operation targets based on the input detection signal. Control each one.

  Next, referring to FIG. 7 for a combination of the operation of the operation switches 1 and 2 and the operation target of the operation device configured as described above, for example, the right operation switch 1 is operated by the navigation 96 and the left operation switch is operated. A case where the operation of the audio 98 is assigned to 2 will be described.

  A displacement operation in the up / down / left / right direction of the operation unit 55 of the front side slide switch 50 provided in the right operation switch 1 corresponds to a scroll operation for changing the display direction of the map of the navigation 96. A displacement operation in the vertical direction of the operation unit 75 of the back side slide switch 70 provided in the right operation switch 1 corresponds to an angle operation for changing the bird's eye angle of the map of the navigation 96. The displacement operation of the moving body 30 of the right operation switch 1 corresponds to a zoom-in operation for expanding the map display range of the navigation 96 and a zoom-out operation for reducing the same.

  An operation in the vertical direction of the operation unit 65 of the front slide switch 60 provided in the left operation switch 2 corresponds to an operation for adjusting the treble of the audio 98. An operation in the left-right direction of the operation unit 65 of the front slide switch 60 provided in the left operation switch 2 corresponds to an operation for adjusting the left / right volume balance on the front seat side of the audio 98. An operation in the vertical direction of the operation unit 85 of the rear slide switch 80 provided in the left operation switch 2 corresponds to an operation for adjusting the bass of the audio 98. The left / right operation of the operation unit 85 of the rear slide switch 80 provided in the left operation switch 2 corresponds to the adjustment operation of the left / right volume balance on the rear seat side of the audio 98. The displacement operation of the moving body 40 of the left operation switch 2 corresponds to an operation for adjusting the volume of the audio 98.

  That is, navigation is performed by moving the moving body 30 in the axial direction with respect to the housing 10 while displacing the operation portion 55 of the front side slide switch 50 provided in the right operation switch 1 in any of up, down, left and right directions. The display range of 96 maps can be reduced or enlarged while changing the display orientation. Similarly, by displacing the movable body 40 in the axial direction with respect to the housing 20 while displacing the operation portion 65 of the front slide switch 60 provided in the left operation switch 2 in either the left or right direction, The volume can be adjusted while changing the left / right volume balance on the front seat side of the audio 98. As described above, since the operation switches 1 and 2 have a plurality of operation forms as described above, the navigation 96 and the audio 98 can be simultaneously operated in combination. In addition, since it has a plurality of operation forms, it is possible to assign an operation direction as close as possible to the direction sense of the operator according to the in-vehicle device to be operated. In this case, the operability of the in-vehicle device is Increased even more.

  The air conditioner 97 may be operated instead of the navigation 96 or the audio 98. Here, for example, a case where the operation of the air conditioner 97 is assigned to the left operation switch 2 instead of the audio 98 will be described. That is, as shown in FIG. 7, the operation in the vertical direction of the operation unit 65 of the front slide switch 60 provided in the left operation switch 2 corresponds to the operation of adjusting the temperature of the air conditioner 97. The operation in the vertical direction of the operation unit 85 of the back side slide switch 80 provided in the left operation switch 2 corresponds to the operation of selecting the air outlet of the air conditioner 97. The operation of the operation portion 85 of the back side slide switch 80 provided in the left operation switch 2 in the left-right direction corresponds to the adjustment operation of the air outlet of the air conditioner 97. The displacement operation of the moving body 40 of the left operation switch 2 corresponds to the operation of adjusting the air volume of the air conditioner 97.

As described above, according to the embodiment described above, the following effects can be obtained.
(1) The right operation switch 1 and the left operation switch 2 are provided in the casings 10 and 20 so as to be displaceable in the axial direction thereof, and at both ends of the moving bodies 30 and 40. And slide switches 50, 60, 70, 80 as input switches. For this reason, it is possible to perform the displacement operation of the moving bodies 30 and 40 while performing the displacement operation of the operation units 55, 65, 75, and 85 of the slide switches 50, 60, 70, and 80, that is, simultaneous composite operation. Based on detection signals from the slide switches 50, 60, 70, 80 and detection signals from the moving body displacement detector 12 output according to the displacement amounts of the moving bodies 30, 40, Certain in-vehicle devices such as navigation 96 and audio 98 operate.

  For this reason, unlike the case where a large number of operation switches corresponding to each operation target and each function are individually operated, operability is ensured. Moreover, the installation space of the operation switch can be saved as compared with the case where a large number of operation switches corresponding to the operation target and its function are provided side by side on the steering wheel. Further, since the operation switch is prevented from overflowing on the steering wheel, the design of the steering wheel is also ensured. Furthermore, as described above, since the operations of the moving bodies 30 and 40 are configured to be continuously displaced in the axial direction with respect to the casings 10 and 20, the moving bodies 30 and 40 can be moved relative to the casings 10 and 20. A small amount of displacement can be easily adjusted, and operability is good. In recent years, for example, in the operation of changing the angle of the navigation 96, more continuous and smooth adjustment or fine adjustment is often desired. The operability that can suitably meet such a demand is obtained.

  (2) By operating the operation parts 55, 65, 75, 85 of the slide switches 50, 60, 70, 80 in the vertical direction which is different from the axial direction which is the displacement direction of the moving bodies 30, 40. An input operation is performed. Therefore, the moving bodies 30 and 40 are displaced when the slide switches 50, 60, 70, and 80 are operated, and conversely, the slide switches 50, 60, 70, and 80 are operated when the moving bodies 30 and 40 are operated. It is possible to suppress the displacement of the.

  (3) Slide switches 50, 60, 70, 80 as input switches are provided at both ends of the moving bodies 30, 40, and the front slide switch 50, the back slide switch 70, the front slide switch 60, the back slide switch 80, Since both the slide switches 50, 60, 70, 80 at both ends are operated, both the front side slide switch 50 and the back side slide switch 70, and the front side slide switch 60 and the back side slide switch 80 are touched. Thus, the operation positions can be grasped, and the operation becomes easy.

  (4) The right operation switch 1 and the left operation switch 2 are provided in the center of the right spoke 91b and the left spoke 91c. Therefore, the navigation 96, the air conditioner 97, and the audio 98, which are the operation targets, can be operated while holding the steering wheel 90, and the navigation 96, the air conditioner 97, and the audio 98 can be combined and operated. Can do.

  (5) The spring 15 for holding the moving bodies 30 and 40 in the normal position shown in FIG. 3B is provided coaxially with the moving bodies 30 and 40. For this reason, when the moving bodies 30 and 40 are slid, the moving bodies 30 and 40 slide smoothly and stably. Further, even when the operating force with respect to the moving bodies 30 and 40 is released and the spring 15 returns to the normal position by the biasing force, a smooth and stable return operation can be obtained.

In addition, the said embodiment can be implemented with the following forms which changed this suitably.
As a means for detecting the displacement amount of the moving bodies 30 and 40, for example, a magnetic sensor can be employed. Even in this case, it is possible to detect the amount of displacement of the moving bodies 30 and 40 that change continuously.

  -As the front side slide switches 50, 60 and the back side slide switches 70, 80, multi-directional operation switches that can be operated in four directions are adopted, but the number of operation directions is not limited to four. For example, an eight-way operation switch that can be operated in eight directions can be employed.

  -The installation site | part with respect to the steering wheel 90 of the right side operation switch 1 and the left side operation switch 2 can also be changed suitably. For example, as shown in FIG. 9, the right operation switch 1 and the left operation switch 2 may be disposed so as to be offset from the upper portions of the right spoke 91b and the left spoke 91c. Although not shown, the operation switches 1 and 2 may be arranged so as to be offset from the lower portions of the right spoke 91b and the left spoke 91c. Moreover, both the operation switches 1 and 2 can also be arrange | positioned in the center of the middle spoke 91a, the left side part, or the right side part. Further, both the operation switches 1 and 2 may be disposed in the central portion 93. Further, as shown in FIG. 10, both the operation switches 1 and 2 can be provided on the ring 92. For example, in the ring 92, the operation switches 1 and 2 are provided so as to protrude to the inside at a position above the right spoke 91b and the left spoke 91c. It is also possible to provide both operation switches 1 and 2 in the lower part of the ring 92.

It is also possible to adopt a configuration in which one of the right operation switch 1 and the left operation switch 2 is omitted.
In the present embodiment, in the right operation switch 1 and the left operation switch 2, the front slide switches 50 and 60 and the back slide switches 70 and 80 are provided at both ends of the moving bodies 30 and 40. A configuration in which any one of 60 and the back side slide switches 70 and 80 is omitted can also be adopted.

  Further, instead of the front side slide switches 50 and 60 and the back side slide switches 70 and 80, for example, a push switch and a rotary switch may be employed. Even in this case, the simultaneous combined operation of the push operation and the slide operation of the moving bodies 30 and 40 becomes possible.

  In the present embodiment, the operation objects are associated with the operation switches 1 and 2, respectively. However, as illustrated in FIG. 8, a plurality of operation objects may be associated with one operation switch. For example, when an operation target is assigned to the right operation switch 1, the vertical displacement operation of the operation unit 55 of the front slide switch 50 provided in the right operation switch 1 corresponds to the temperature adjustment of the air conditioner 97. . The left / right displacement operation of the operation portion 55 of the front slide switch 50 provided in the right operation switch 1 corresponds to the selection of the air outlet of the air conditioner 97. A displacement operation in the vertical direction of the operation unit 75 of the back side slide switch 70 provided in the right operation switch 1 corresponds to the volume adjustment of the audio 98. The left / right displacement operation of the operation unit 75 of the back side slide switch 70 provided in the right operation switch 1 corresponds to the left / right volume balance of the audio 98. The displacement operation of the moving body 30 of the right operation switch 1 corresponds to a zoom-in operation for expanding the map display range of the navigation 96 and a zoom-out operation for reducing the same.

  In the present embodiment, the navigation 96, the audio 98, and the air conditioner 97 are described as the in-vehicle devices to be operated by the operation switches 1 and 2, but it is also possible to operate other in-vehicle devices. is there.

The operation target assigned to both operation switches 1 and 2 may be changed through a changeover operation of a separately provided changeover switch.
In the present embodiment, the in-vehicle device is operated by operating both the operation switches 1 and 2, but the present invention is also applicable as an operation device for other devices such as a controller of a game machine and a remote controller of an electrical appliance.

The perspective view of the steering wheel provided with the operation switch. AA sectional view of a steering wheel. (A) (b) (c) Sectional drawing of an operation switch. The front view of an operation switch. (A) (b) (c) BB partial sectional view of an operation switch. The block diagram which shows the electric constitution of an operating device. The figure which shows the combination of operation with respect to an operation switch, and a control object. The figure which shows the combination of operation with respect to an operation switch, and a control object. The front view of a steering wheel. The front view of a steering wheel.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Right operation switch, 2 ... Left operation switch 10, 20 ... Housing | casing, 11, 21 ... Spring accommodating member, 12, 22 ... Moving body displacement detection part, 13, 23 ... Fixed part, 14, 24 ... Moving part , 15, 25 ... springs, 16, 26 ... guide holes, 30, 40 ... moving bodies, 30a, 40a ... concave portions, 30b, 40b ... accommodating portions, 31, 41 ... central shafts, 31a, 31b, 41a, 41b ... engagements Joint member, 32, 42 ... guide shaft, 33, 34, 43, 44 ... guide groove, 50, 60 ... front side slide switch, 51, 61 ... front side slide switch detector, 52, 62, 72, 82 ... fixed part, 53, 63, 73, 83 ... moving part, 54, 64, 74, 84 ... guide member, 55, 65, 75, 85 ... operation part, 70, 80 ... back side slide switch, 71, 81 ... back side slide switch displacement detection Part, 0 ... steering wheel, 91a ... middle spoke, 91b ... right spokes, 91c ... left spoke, 92 ... ring, 93 ... central, S12, S22, S51, S61, S71, S81 ... detection signal.

Claims (4)

An operation switch for operating the operation target,
A cylindrical casing with both ends open, a moving body provided in the casing and operated to be displaced in the axial direction thereof, and an operation unit provided at at least one of both ends of the moving body, and outputting an operation signal thereof An input switch for detecting the displacement of the movable body with respect to the same housing, and a detection means for outputting the detection signal .
The operation switch is a slide switch in which an operation input is performed when an operation unit is displaced in a direction different from a displacement direction of the moving body . An operation switch for operating the operation target,
A cylindrical casing with both ends open, a moving body provided in the casing and operated to be displaced in the axial direction thereof, and an operation unit provided at at least one of both ends of the moving body, and outputting an operation signal thereof An input switch for detecting the displacement of the movable body with respect to the same housing, and a detection means for outputting the detection signal.
An operation switch, wherein the input switches are provided at both ends of the movable body, and the input switches are provided on the same axis . The operation switch according to claim 2 ,
The operation switch is a slide switch in which an operation input is performed when an operation unit is displaced in a direction different from a displacement direction of the moving body . A cylindrical casing with both ends open, a moving body provided in the casing and operated to be displaced in the axial direction thereof, and an operation unit provided at at least one of both ends of the moving body, and outputting an operation signal thereof Detecting the displacement of the same moving body relative to the same housing and outputting the detection signal
A steering wheel, wherein an operation switch for operating an operation target is provided on the ring or the spoke.

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