JP7234848B2 - Vehicle input device and overhead console - Google Patents

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a vehicle input device and an overhead console.

2. Description of the Related Art As a conventional vehicle input device, an input device for operating a lighting device or the like that detects an operation by a gesture of a passenger without contact is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-200003 discloses a hand holding switch, which is an infrared non-contact switch that emits infrared rays from a light-emitting portion and receives reflected light reflected by a driver's hand with a light-receiving portion. This hand-held switch is built into an overhead module installed on the ceiling of the passenger compartment, and the driver can control the operation of devices such as map lamps by holding his or her hand over the head.

Japanese Patent No. 4622289

However, according to the hand holding switch described in Patent Document 1, since it does not have a configuration that suppresses the detection of movement of the occupant other than the hand holding operation for input, for example, when stretching such as stretching, , there is a risk of detecting an unintended operation of an occupant and causing an unintended operation of the device.

An object of the present invention is to solve the above problems by providing an input device for a vehicle equipped with a non-contact sensor attached to the ceiling of the vehicle interior, which suppresses the detection of occupant actions not intended for input operations. To provide a vehicle input device and an overhead console provided with the vehicle input device.

One aspect of the present invention provides the following vehicle input devices [1] to [5] and overhead consoles [6] and [7] in order to achieve the above object.

[1] A vehicular input device for operating equipment mounted on the vehicle, which is attached to the ceiling of the interior of the vehicle, comprises a non-contact sensor having a planar detection area, and a horizontal surface of the vehicle. The vehicular input device, wherein the angle of the detection area with respect to is within the range of -10° or more and 10° or less.
[2] The vehicular input device according to [1] above, wherein a surface located directly above the detection area in the interior of the vehicle is inclined with respect to a horizontal plane of the vehicle.
[3] The vehicular input device according to [2] above, wherein an angle formed by a surface positioned directly above the detection region in the interior of the vehicle and the detection region is within a range of 5° or more and 20° or less. .
[4] Any one of [1] to [3] above, wherein the length of the detection area in the direction perpendicular to the vehicle width direction is shorter than the length of the detection area in the vehicle width direction of the vehicle. A vehicle input device as described.
[5] Any one of [1] to [4] above, wherein the non-contact sensor has a plurality of infrared emitters and a plurality of infrared receivers alternately arranged in a row along the width direction of the detection area. vehicle input device.
[6] An overhead console comprising the vehicle input device according to any one of [1] to [5] above.
[7] The overhead console according to [6] above, which includes operation display information of the device in an area on the surface of the housing located directly above the detection area.

According to the present invention, there is provided a vehicular input device equipped with a non-contact sensor attached to the ceiling of a vehicle interior, which suppresses detection of an occupant's motion that is not intended for input operation, and the vehicular input device. An overhead console can be provided with vehicle input devices.

FIG. 1(a) is a plan view of part of an overhead console including a vehicle input device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1(b) is a vertical cross-sectional view of the overhead console taken along section line AA of FIG. 1(a). FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the overhead console viewed from below. FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically showing the installation position of the vehicle input device in the interior of the vehicle. FIG. 4 is a perspective view schematically showing a structural example of a non-contact sensor. FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing the position and size of the detection area in the interior of the vehicle.

[Embodiment]
(Configuration of vehicle input device)
FIG. 1(a) is a plan view of part of an overhead console 1 including a vehicle input device 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1(b) is a vertical cross-sectional view of the overhead console 1 taken along section line AA in FIG. 1(a). FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the overhead console 1 viewed from below. FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically showing the installation position of the vehicle input device 10 in the interior of the vehicle 50. As shown in FIG.

The vehicle input device 10 is a vehicle input device for operating devices such as lighting and air conditioning installed on a ceiling 51 inside a vehicle 50 . For example, by inputting to the vehicle input device 10, it is possible to turn on/off the lighting equipment, adjust the brightness, adjust the color, turn on/off the air conditioner, adjust the temperature, and adjust the air volume.

In this embodiment, as a typical example of the present invention, a mode in which the vehicle input device 10 is provided as a part of the overhead console 1 will be described. However, the installation form of the vehicle input device 10 is not limited to this.

As shown in FIGS. 1(a) and 1(b), the overhead console 1 includes a vehicle input device 10 and a map lamp 20 as lighting equipment. The vehicular input device 10 and the map lamp 20 are preferably provided inside the housing 30 of the overhead console 1 in order to prevent deterioration of the design of the overhead console 1 .

The vehicular input device 10 includes a non-contact sensor 11 having a planar detection region R and a housing portion 12 housing the non-contact sensor 11 . The detection area R is formed outside the overhead console 1, and an input operation can be performed by inserting an object such as an operator's finger into the detection area R.

The non-contact sensor 11 is installed such that the planar detection region R is nearly parallel to the horizontal plane of the vehicle 50 . Further, the non-contact sensor 11 typically has a detection region R formed from the non-contact sensor 11 toward the rear of the vehicle 50, and the width direction _D1 of the detection region R substantially coincides with the vehicle width direction of the vehicle 50. is installed to Specific examples of the position and size of the detection area R within the vehicle 50 will be described later.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view schematically showing a structural example of the non-contact sensor 11. As shown in FIG. The non-contact sensor 11 includes a housing 111, a plurality of infrared emitters 112 and a plurality of infrared receivers 113, which are housed in the housing 111 and are alternately arranged in a row along the width direction _D1 of the detection region R, and the housing. and a lens 114 that is provided in the opening of 111 and that transmits infrared rays.

The infrared emitter 112 irradiates the infrared rays I to the outside through the lens 114 to form a detection region R which is an aggregate of the infrared rays I. FIG. Since a plurality of infrared emitters 112 are arranged in a line, a substantially rectangular planar detection area R is formed as shown in FIG. Here, the infrared rays I emitted by the infrared emitter 112 are, for example, electromagnetic waves having wavelengths longer than visible light and shorter than radio waves.

When an object such as an operator's finger enters the detection area R, the infrared rays I are reflected by the object, and the reflected infrared rays I are received by the infrared receiver 113, thereby indicating that the object has entered the detection area R. is detected.

Further, the non-contact sensor 11 can detect the position of an object within the detection area R. Therefore, for example, it is possible to operate equipment mounted on the vehicle 50 according to the detected position of the object within the detection area R. For example, the map lamp 20 can be turned on/off when the operator puts his/her finger into a predetermined range within the detection area R.

The position of the object in the width direction _D1 within the detection area R is obtained based on the position of the infrared receiver 113 that receives the infrared ray I reflected by the object, among the plurality of infrared receivers 113 arranged in a line. The position of the object in the depth direction _D2 of the detection area R is obtained based on the time it takes for the infrared rays I reflected by the object to be emitted from the infrared emitter 112 and reach the infrared receiver 113 .

Moreover, when a plurality of objects enter the detection area R, the non-contact sensor 11 can also detect the positions of the plurality of objects. Therefore, for example, the equipment mounted on the vehicle 50 can be operated according to the number of fingers that the operator makes to enter the detection area R (multi-touch).

The non-contact sensor 11 can also detect the movement of the object within the detection area R from the change in the detected position of the object within the detection area R over time. Therefore, the non-contact sensor 11 can detect gestures made by the fingers of the operator, and can operate equipment mounted on the vehicle 50 according to the type of gesture detected by the non-contact sensor 11 .

Detection of movement of an object by the non-contact sensor 11 is performed, for example, by template matching. In this case, the trajectory of the coordinates of the detected object within the detection area R is converted into a two-dimensional image, and the most similar template image is selected from among a plurality of template images each associated with the operation content of the device mounted on the vehicle 50. is detected, and the device associated with the detected template image is operated.

Types of gestures include, for example, linear motion along the width direction _D1 or depth direction _D2 within the detection region R, rotational motion within the detection region R, and the like. For example, when the vehicle input device 10 is used as an input device for operating the map lamp 20, the brightness is adjusted by moving a finger along the width direction _D1 within the detection region R, and the depth direction _{D2 is} adjusted. You can change the color of the light by moving your finger along the . Further, for example, a device to be controlled (lighting device, air conditioner, etc.) is selected by moving a finger along the width direction _D1 within the detection region R, and selected by moving the finger along the depth direction _D2 . You can also operate the equipment that you used.

As described above, since the detection area R is planar, it is possible to detect the position (two-dimensional coordinates) of an object such as an operator's finger in the plane direction. It can detect directional position and in-plane motion of an object. In addition, since the detection area R is planar, it is easier to get a sense of the gesture operation than when the detection area spreads three-dimensionally, and an unintended operation by the operator of the device to be operated is less likely to occur.

The operation of the vehicle input device 10 is controlled by a control unit such as an ECU (Electronic Control Unit) mounted on the vehicle 50, for example. When the non-contact sensor 11 of the vehicle input device 10 detects the entry of an object into the detection area R, the controller receives it as an input signal and controls the operation of the vehicle-mounted equipment such as the map lamp 20 .

The non-contact sensor 11 has a resolution capable of detecting the entry of at least one finger. Further, when detecting the positions of a plurality of objects or detecting the movement of objects, the resolution is high enough to detect them.

The map lamp 20 includes a light emitting element 21 such as an LED as a light source of the map lamp 20 and a cover 22 covering the light emitting element 21 and having a hole 23 for extracting light emitted from the light emitting element 21 .

In the present embodiment, the map lamp 20 is located in the area right above the detection area R as shown in FIGS. 1(a) and 1(b). Therefore, when the vehicular input device 10 is used as an input device for operating the map lamp 20, the occupant can easily recognize the position of the detection region R. That is, it is preferable that at least a part of the vehicle-mounted device to be operated by the vehicle input device 10 is located in the area immediately above the detection area R.

In addition, in order to make the position of the detection region R easy to visually recognize, a vehicular sensor as shown in FIG. The operation display information 31 of the in-vehicle device to be operated by the input device 10 may be included. The operation display information 31 is composed of symbols and characters, and can have information according to the operation content of the vehicle-mounted device.

(Position and size of detection area)
The vehicular input device 10 is characterized by the position and size of the detection region R within the vehicle 50 for suppressing the detection of the motion of the passenger who does not intend the input operation. The position and size of the detection area R will be described below.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing the position and size of the detection area R in the interior of the vehicle 50. As shown in FIG. FIG. 5 shows a cross section in the vehicle length direction of a portion including the ceiling 51 and the front window 52 of the vehicle 50, the arrow V in FIG. A direction parallel to the longitudinal direction is shown.

As described above, the non-contact sensor 11 is installed such that the planar detection region R is nearly parallel to the horizontal plane of the vehicle 50 . Specifically, the angle of the detection area R with respect to the horizontal plane of the vehicle is in the range of -10° or more and 10° or less, preferably in the range of -5° or more and 5° or less, and -2°. More preferably, it is within the range of 2° or less.

Since the detection area R is nearly parallel to the horizontal plane of the vehicle 50 , the non-contact sensor 11 does not detect the object unless the object is moved close to the ceiling 51 . Therefore, it is possible to suppress the detection of the motion of the occupant whose input operation is not intended, and suppress the unintended motion of the in-vehicle device to be operated by the vehicle input device 10 .

If the detection area R faces a large amount upward with respect to the horizontal plane of the vehicle 50, the detection area R may be too close to the ceiling, making it difficult to input to the vehicle input device 10. FIG. In addition, when the detection area R is directed largely downward with respect to the horizontal plane of the vehicle 50, the detection area R is too close to the occupant, and the occupant's movement not intended for the input operation, such as stretching, is detected. easier.

In addition, in order to facilitate installation of the non-contact sensor 11 so that the detection area R is nearly parallel to the horizontal plane of the vehicle 50, the plane directly above the detection area R in the interior of the vehicle 50 is , is preferably inclined with respect to the horizontal plane of the vehicle 50 .

In this embodiment, the vehicle input device 10 is provided as a part of the overhead console 1, and the non-contact sensor 11 is located in front of the ceiling 51 (front window 52 side) as shown in FIG. Installed on a sloping area. Therefore, the surface of the housing 30 of the overhead console 1 , which is the surface positioned directly above the detection area R in the interior of the vehicle 50 , is inclined with respect to the horizontal plane of the vehicle 50 . As a result, it is easy to install the non-contact sensor 11 so that the detection area R is nearly parallel to the horizontal plane of the vehicle 50 .

Further, it is preferable that the angle formed by the detection region R and the surface located directly above the detection region R in the interior of the vehicle 50 is within the range of 5° or more and 20° or less. If this angle is less than 5°, the detection area R may be too close to the ceiling, making input to the vehicle input device 10 difficult. Further, if this angle exceeds 20°, the detection area R is too close to the occupant, and it becomes easy to detect the occupant's motion, such as stretching, which is not intended for input operation.

In the present embodiment, the angle θ (see FIG. 5) formed between the detection region R and the surface of the housing 30 of the overhead console 1, which is the surface positioned directly above the detection region R in the interior of the vehicle 50, is 5° or more. It is preferably in the range of 20° or less.

Moreover, it is preferable that the length of the detection region R in the direction perpendicular to the vehicle width direction is shorter than the length of the detection region R in the vehicle width direction of the vehicle 50 . As a result, the length of the detection region R in the vehicle length direction of the vehicle 50 can be reduced, and detection of an occupant's motion that is not intended for an input operation can be suppressed. For example, the length of the detection region R in the direction orthogonal to the vehicle width direction is set within a range of 45% or more and 65% or less of the length of the detection region R in the vehicle width direction of the vehicle 50 .

In this embodiment, the non-contact sensor 11 is installed such that the width direction _D1 of the detection region R substantially coincides with the vehicle width direction of the vehicle 50, and the length _L1 of the width direction D1 of the detection region R is The length of the detection region R in the vehicle width direction of the vehicle 50 substantially matches the length of the detection region R in the depth direction _D2 , and the length _L2 of the detection region R substantially matches the length of the detection region R in the direction orthogonal to the vehicle width direction. .

The length _L1 of the detection region R in the width direction D1 depends on the form of the vehicle input device 10, but is in the range of 40 mm or more and 350 mm or less, for example. When the vehicle input device 10 is installed in the housing 30 of the overhead console 1, the length _L1 of the detection region R in the width direction D1 is 45% or more and 65% or less of the width of the housing 30. preferably within the range.

In addition, the length _L1 of the detection area R in the width direction D1 can be adjusted by the installation range of the infrared emitter 112 and the infrared receiver 113 included in the non-contact sensor 11 . In the configuration shown in FIG. 4, the greater the number of infrared emitters 112 and infrared receivers 113 arranged in a line, the longer the length _L1 of the detection region R in the width direction D1.

In addition, the length _L2 of the detection area R in the depth direction D2 is the response time of the non-contact sensor 11 (the time it takes for the infrared receiver 113 to receive the infrared ray I emitted from the infrared emitter 112 and reflected by an object) _. It can be adjusted by setting a threshold value or a threshold value of the intensity of the infrared rays I received by the infrared receiver 113 .

(Effect of Embodiment)
According to the above-described embodiment of the present invention, by limiting the position of the detection region R of the non-contact sensor 11 to a predetermined range, the detection of the motion of the passenger not intended for input operation is suppressed, and the detection of the motion of the passenger is suppressed. Unintended operation of the in-vehicle device to be operated by the input device 10 can be suppressed.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. Also, the constituent elements of the above-described embodiments can be arbitrarily combined without departing from the gist of the invention.

Moreover, the above embodiments do not limit the invention according to the scope of claims. Also, it should be noted that not all combinations of features described in the embodiments are essential to the means for solving the problems of the invention.

Reference Signs List 1 overhead console 10 vehicle input device 11 non-contact sensor 20 map lamp 30 housing 50 vehicle 51 ceiling

Claims (6)

A vehicle input device for operating equipment mounted on the vehicle, which is attached to the ceiling of the vehicle interior,
It is composed of a plurality of infrared emitters and a plurality of infrared receivers alternately arranged in a row so as to match the vehicle width direction of the vehicle, forms a planar detection area, and detects the planar position of an object . Equipped with a non-contact sensor,
The angle of the detection area with respect to the horizontal plane of the vehicle is in the range of -10° or more and 10° or less.
Vehicle input device. A surface located directly above the detection area in the interior of the vehicle is inclined with respect to a horizontal plane of the vehicle.
The vehicle input device according to claim 1. The angle formed by the detection area and a plane located directly above the detection area in the interior of the vehicle is in the range of 5° or more and 20° or less.
The vehicle input device according to claim 2. The length of the detection area in a direction perpendicular to the vehicle width direction is shorter than the length of the detection area in the vehicle width direction of the vehicle.
The vehicle input device according to any one of claims 1 to 3. Equipped with the vehicle input device according to any one of claims 1 to 4 ,
overhead console. Operation display information of the device is included in an area of the surface of the housing located directly above the detection area.
6. An overhead console as claimed in claim 5 .

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