JP7256672B2 - steering gear - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a steering system.

In recent years, various steering devices have been developed for steering a moving object such as a vehicle. Moreover, some of the steering devices described above have a structure for controlling other functions in addition to controlling the moving direction of the moving body. For example, Patent Literature 1 discloses a steering switch that includes a rotary switch, a push switch, an operation knob, and the like, and is arranged on a steering wheel.

JP-A-2004-82936

When a structure for controlling a function other than steering control is mounted on the steering device, such as the steering switch described in Patent Document 1, the position, shape, and mechanism of the structure are designed so that the operation of the structure does not interfere with the steering operation. It is important to consider

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems. It is an object of the present invention to provide a steering device that is

In order to solve the above-described problems, according to one aspect of the present invention, a steering unit that controls the moving direction of a moving object based on a user's one-handed operation, and a control unit that executes a predetermined auxiliary function along with the movement of the moving object. and an auxiliary function unit for controlling, the auxiliary function unit, while fixing the operating hand of the user who operates the steering unit to the steering unit, at least a part of the arm on the same side as the operating hand. A steering device is provided, which is arranged in an operable position.

Further, the auxiliary function section may be arranged at a position where the operating hand can be operated by pressing down with the main root portion while the operating hand is fixed to the steering section.

Further, the steering section may be formed in a dial shape, and may control the movement direction of the moving body based on a rotating operation by the operating hand of the user.

Further, the auxiliary function may be a notification function for persons present around the moving object.

Further, the auxiliary function may be an alarm output function.

Further, the moving object may be a vehicle, and the user may be a passenger of the vehicle.

Moreover, there may be a moving object having an autonomous moving function.

As described above, according to the present invention, steering control and other function control can be performed simultaneously and more safely.

1 is an example of an appearance of a steering device 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention; According to the same embodiment

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the present specification and drawings, constituent elements having substantially the same functional configuration are denoted by the same reference numerals, thereby omitting redundant description.

<1. embodiment>
First, the background of one embodiment of the present invention will be described. In recent years, various mobile bodies and steering devices for controlling the movement of the mobile bodies have been developed. Further, among steering devices, for example, there is a device that is formed on the assumption that it can be operated with one hand.

Examples of such a steering device include a steering wheel having a knob that is provided in a forklift, and a movement control lever that is provided in an electric wheelchair, a senior car, and the like. Also, in general automobiles, external knobs and the like for assisting steering wheel operation by a user who has a handicapped hand are on the market.

Furthermore, these days, it is expected that self-driving cars will be put into practical use in the near future. It is also assumed that an operation is required.

On the other hand, if a steering wheel equivalent to that of a general vehicle is provided due to the situation described above, the vehicle interior may be compressed due to the configuration that is not normally used, and the functional beauty may be impaired. For this reason, it is desirable that the device provided in an automatic driving car or the like be a small and simple device that can be operated with one hand. Further, by installing a configuration for controlling a horn, a direction indicator, etc., in the steering apparatus as described above, it becomes possible to steer the vehicle and notify the surroundings with one hand.

However, as described above, when a structure that controls functions other than steering control is installed in the steering system, it is important to consider the position, shape, and mechanism of the structure so that the operation of the structure does not interfere with the steering operation. becomes.

FIG. 2 shows an example of a steering device 90 operated with one hand. The steering apparatus 90 shown in FIG. 2 includes an operating portion 910 including a steering portion 912, a horn switch 914, and turn signal switches 916L and 916R.

(Steering section 912)
The steering portion 912 may be realized, for example, as a dial as shown. Also, the steering portion 912 is formed in a shape and size suitable for the user to operate with one hand. The user may be able to control the moving direction of the moving object by rotating the steering unit 912 .

Also, the steering unit 912 may be designed to automatically return to the reference direction when the user does not perform a rotation operation. In other words, when the user's hand is released from the steering unit 912, the moving direction of the moving object automatically returns to the reference direction. Note that the reference direction may be the front direction of the moving object.

(Horn switch 914)
The horn switch 914 is configured to control the output of an alarm sound such as a horn. By pressing the horn switch 914 with a finger, the user can cause the moving object to output a warning sound.

(Direction indicator switch 916)
The direction indicator switches 916L and 916R are configured to control lighting and extinguishing of the direction indicator provided on the moving body. By pressing the direction indicator switch 916L or 916R with a finger, the user can switch between lighting and extinguishing of the direction indicator provided on the left side of the mobile object or the direction indicator provided on the right side of the mobile object. can be done.

According to the configuration of the steering device 90 as described above, the user can operate the steering section 912, the horn switch 914, and the direction indicator switches 916L and 916R with one hand without substantially moving the position of the hand. You can drive intuitively without hesitation.

However, if the horn switch 914 and the direction indicator switches 916L and 916R are arranged separately from the steering unit 912 and are operated by pressing with a finger, the user presses each switch during the steering operation. In order to do so, it is necessary to remove the hand from the steering unit 912, and there is a possibility that the steering operation of the moving object cannot be performed temporarily.

Further, as shown in FIG. 2, even if each switch is arranged near the information of the steering unit 912, at least one finger must be placed on the steering unit 912 in order to press each switch during the steering operation. Therefore, there is a possibility that the steering operation may be neglected, or the gripping force of the steering section 912 may weaken, and the steering section 912 may return to the reference position.

Furthermore, in the arrangement as shown in FIG. 2, when the direction indicator switch 916L or 916R is pressed during the steering operation of the steering unit 912, the horn is actuated by the finger to the horn switch 914 by mistake. erroneous operation.

In order to prevent such erroneous operation, it is conceivable to increase the load required to activate the horn. may become.

A steering system 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention was conceived by paying attention to the above points, and enables steering control and other function control to be performed simultaneously and more safely. The steering device 10 that provides the above effects will be described in detail below.

FIG. 1 is an example of the appearance of a steering device 10 according to this embodiment. The steering device 10 according to this embodiment includes at least an operation section 110 including a steering section 112 and an auxiliary function section 114 .

(Steering unit 112)
The steering unit 112 according to the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, is configured to control the direction of movement of the moving object based on the user's one-handed operation. FIG. 1 shows an example in which the steering unit 112 according to the present embodiment is formed in a dial shape like the steering unit 912 described above, and controls the moving direction of a moving object based on the user's rotation operation. It is shown.

On the other hand, the shape of the steering portion 112 according to this embodiment is not limited to the example. The steering portion 112 according to this embodiment may be formed in various shapes suitable for one-handed steering operation. The steering unit 112 according to this embodiment may be realized by, for example, a lever, stick, slider, or the like.

(Auxiliary function unit 114)
The auxiliary function unit 114 according to this embodiment controls execution of a predetermined auxiliary function as the mobile body moves. The auxiliary function according to the present embodiment may be any function of the mobile body that can be executed while the mobile body is moving.

The auxiliary function according to the present embodiment may be, for example, a function of notifying persons or the like existing around the moving body. The notification function includes, for example, turning on a direction indicator or a hazard, or outputting a warning sound using a horn or the like. Note that FIG. 1 shows an example in which the auxiliary function unit 114 according to this embodiment is realized as a horn switch.

Further, the auxiliary function unit 114 according to the present embodiment is positioned so that it can be operated with at least part of the arm on the same side as the operating hand of the user who operates the steering unit 112 while the operating hand is fixed to the steering unit 12 . One of the characteristics is that it is arranged in

Here, the operating hand mentioned above refers to one hand of the user who operates the steering unit 112, that is, the left hand or the right hand. For example, as shown in FIG. 1, when the user operates the steering unit 112 while gripping the steering unit 112 with five fingers of the right hand, the auxiliary function unit 114 according to the present embodiment fixes all five fingers to the steering unit 112 and operates the steering unit 112. are placed where possible.

Moreover, the above-mentioned arm portion refers to a portion from the shoulder to the fingertips. Therefore, for example, when the user operates the steering unit 112 with the right hand, the auxiliary function unit 114 according to the present embodiment may be arranged at a position where it can be operated with at least part of the right arm. Auxiliary function unit 114 may be operable, for example, with an elbow, forearm, hand, or the like.

For example, in the case of the example shown in FIG. 1, the auxiliary function unit 114 is arranged at a position where it can be operated by pressing down with the main root portion (base portion of the hand) of the operating hand while the operating hand is fixed to the steering unit 112. there is Further, in this case, the auxiliary function part 114 may have a size and a shape that allow it to be pressed down even when the position of the main root of the operating hand changes due to the rotation operation of the steering part 112 .

According to the arrangement as described above, the auxiliary function can be controlled without removing the finger from the steering unit 112, and the moving body can be steered more safely.

In addition, for example, even if the load required to press down the auxiliary function unit 114 is increased in order to prevent erroneous operation related to the output of a horn or the like, the main root portion should be a portion that is physically easy to apply force. Therefore, the auxiliary function unit 114 can be pressed without removing the finger or palm from the steering unit 112, and both operability and prevention of erroneous operation related to auxiliary function control can be achieved.

The case where the operating hand presses down the auxiliary function unit 114 according to the present embodiment has been described above. On the other hand, the arrangement and shape of the auxiliary function unit 114 according to this embodiment are not limited to the examples. For example, the auxiliary function section 114 according to this embodiment may be formed integrally with the steering section 112 .

For example, when the auxiliary function unit 114 controls the direction indicator, the steering unit 112 and auxiliary function unit 114 may be provided so as to be slidable to the left and right. In this case, the user may turn on the direction indicator arranged on the right side of the moving body by sliding the steering section 112 and auxiliary function section 114 to the right. Similarly, the user may be able to turn on the direction indicator arranged on the left side of the moving body by sliding the steering section 112/auxiliary function section 114 to the left.

The features relating to the functions and arrangement of the steering section 112 and the auxiliary function section 114 according to the present embodiment have been described above. Note that the steering device 10 according to the present embodiment may be mounted, for example, on a vehicle that requires the above-described steering operation. In this case, the user, who is a passenger of the vehicle, can safely operate the horn, the direction indicator, etc. while performing the steering operation with one hand.

Examples of the vehicle include the above-described forklift, electric wheelchair, senior car, and the like. Further, the vehicle may include a vehicle having an autonomous movement function (self-driving car), a ship, an aircraft, and the like.

When the steering device 10 according to the present embodiment is mounted on a vehicle as described above, the steering device 10 may be arranged, for example, in the armrest of the seat where the passenger sits, or in the vicinity of the instrument panel in front of the seat. good.

<2. Summary>
As described above, the steering device 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention includes the steering unit 112 that controls the direction of movement of the moving body based on the user's one-handed operation, and the predetermined auxiliary function that accompanies the movement of the moving body. , and the auxiliary function unit 114 fixes the operating hand of the user who operates the steering unit 112 to the steering unit 112, and at least one of the arms on the same side as the operating hand. One of the characteristics is that it is arranged at a position where it can be operated in the part. Steering control and other function control can be performed simultaneously and more safely.

Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above with reference to the accompanying drawings, the present invention is not limited to such examples. It is obvious that a person having ordinary knowledge in the technical field to which the present invention belongs can conceive of various modifications or modifications within the scope of the technical idea described in the claims. It is understood that these also naturally belong to the technical scope of the present invention.

10 Steering Device 110 Operation Part 112 Steering Part 114 Auxiliary Function Part

Claims (5)

a steering unit that controls the direction of movement of the mobile object based on a user's one-handed operation;
an auxiliary function unit that controls execution of a predetermined auxiliary function as the moving body moves;
with
The auxiliary function unit is arranged at a position that can be operated by pressing the main root of the operating hand while the operating hand of the user who operates the steering unit is fixed to the steering unit,
The auxiliary function is a notification function for a person existing around the moving object,
steering gear. The steering section is formed in a dial shape, and controls the moving direction of the moving body based on a rotation operation by the operating hand of the user.
A steering system according to claim 1 . The auxiliary function is an alarm output function,
3. A steering system according to claim 1 or 2 . the moving body is a vehicle,
The user is a passenger of the vehicle,
A steering system according to any one of claims 1 to 3 . The mobile body is a mobile body having an autonomous movement function,
A steering system according to any one of claims 1 to 4 .

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