JP5559293B2 - Vehicle control system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an in-vehicle device control system, and more particularly, to an in-vehicle device control system using an inside handle.

  When a user uses a vehicle, the vehicle-mounted device may be controlled using a capacitance switch. For example, Patent Document 1 includes a light source for illumination, a translucent protective cover that protects the light source for illumination, and a transparent electrode provided on the front surface or the back surface of the translucent protective cover in a vehicle lighting device. A capacitance type switch that detects a change in the capacitance to ground and outputs a detection signal, and a control unit that controls the lighting state of the illumination light source based on the detection signal from the capacitance type switch It is disclosed. Here, it is described that the present invention is applied to a vehicle lighting device of a room lamp attached to a ceiling inside a vehicle.

JP 2007-80808 A

  As described above, by using the configuration of Patent Document 1, the vehicle-mounted device can be controlled using the capacitance switch. However, the above configuration is inconvenient because it is necessary for the user to touch the capacitance switch provided in the vicinity of the in-vehicle device in order to operate the in-vehicle device.

  An object of the present invention is to provide an in-vehicle device control system that enables operation control of an in-vehicle device with a simpler operation.

An in-vehicle device control system according to the present invention is an inside handle portion that is provided in a vehicle interior and has a handle for operation, an inside handle portion that has a conductive material portion made of a conductive material in part, and an inside handle portion The conductive plate portion connected to the conductive material portion, and the detection means connected to the conductive plate portion, the capacitance detecting the change in capacitance caused by the user touching the conductive material portion of the inside handle portion When a change in capacitance is detected, a control unit that controls operation of any predetermined on-vehicle device, a user switch, and a user to the user switch via a user I / F and a user instruction obtaining means for obtaining a stop instruction of the in-vehicle device control by operating, the conductive material portion is provided on the back side that is not visible from the front side Control unit, when obtaining the stop instruction, characterized by stopping the operation control of any vehicle devices determined in advance.

  The vehicle-mounted device control system according to the present invention further includes an operation detection unit that detects whether or not the inside handle unit is operated, and the control unit detects a change in the capacitance and determines any predetermined vehicle-mounted device. When the operation detection means does not detect the operation of the inside handle portion within a predetermined time after performing the operation control, it is preferable to perform control to stop the operation of the in-vehicle device that has performed the operation control.

  The vehicle-mounted device control system according to the present invention includes a lock mechanism that holds the vehicle door in a closed state, the lock mechanism that is unlocked by operating the inside handle portion, and is provided with any predetermined vehicle-mounted system. The device is preferably an in-vehicle device that needs to be controlled before the operation of the inside handle part is started and before the lock is released.

  The in-vehicle device control system according to the present invention further includes vehicle speed monitoring means for monitoring whether or not the vehicle speed is equal to or less than a predetermined value, and the control unit detects a change in capacitance so that the vehicle speed is It is preferable to control a predetermined on-vehicle device when it is equal to or less than a predetermined value.

  Moreover, in the vehicle equipment control system which concerns on this invention, it is preferable that an inside handle part has a conductive material part by which the metal sputter material containing an insulating additive is sputtered.

  In the in-vehicle device control system according to the present invention, it is preferable that the predetermined in-vehicle device is at least one of a room lamp, a door mirror, or a vehicle door.

  With the above configuration, the in-vehicle device control system includes a control unit that controls the operation of the in-vehicle device when the user detects a change in capacitance due to touching the conductive material portion of the inside handle portion. Therefore, the user can control the operation of the in-vehicle device by touching the conductive material portion of the inside handle portion.

  Embodiments according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the in-vehicle device to be controlled is described as a room lamp, but this is an example for explanation, and other in-vehicle devices may be controlled. For example, door mirror storage control or vehicle door automatic opening / closing control may be performed. In the following description, the inside handle portion is described as an operation handle for opening and closing a vehicle door. However, an operation handle for operating other in-vehicle devices, for example, an opening and closing operation of a vehicle window, is described. An operation handle or the like may be used.

  Examples of in-vehicle device control required before the operation of the inside handle portion is started and before the lock is released include storage of a door mirror, lighting of a room lamp, and vehicle door required until the user gets off the vehicle. For example, open control. When the user touches the conductive material portion of the inside handle portion, at least one of the above-described vehicle devices is controlled. Of course, the control of all the vehicle devices may be performed by the user touching the conductive material portion of the inside handle portion.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an in-vehicle device control system 8. FIG. 2 is a plan view of the vicinity of the inside handle portion 101. The in-vehicle device control system 8 includes a room lamp 103, an inside handle unit 101, a capacity change detection circuit 104, an operation detection circuit 106, a user switch 108, a vehicle speed sensor 110, and an ECU (Electronic) that controls the entire vehicle. (Control Unit) 112 and the control unit 10. A detailed description of the capacitance change detection circuit 104 will be described later.

  The room lamp 103 is an illumination lamp arranged at the center of the vehicle interior ceiling. The room lamp 103 has a function of illuminating the interior of the vehicle in order to make it easier to work in the interior of the vehicle at night, for example, by operating a dedicated switch provided in the vicinity thereof. Note that a dome lamp is used as one aspect of the room lamp 103.

  The inside handle portion 101 is an operation handle for performing a rotation operation by placing a hand on the handle in order for the user to open and close the vehicle door. Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the inside handle portion 101 has at least a part of a conductive material portion 102 provided on the back side that is not visible from the front side. The inside handle portion 101 is disposed near the center of the vehicle door in the vehicle interior. Further, when the inside handle portion 101 is rotated by the user, the lock mechanism that holds the vehicle door in the closed state is unlocked, and the vehicle door is opened.

  The conductive material portion 102 has a function of an electrode as a whole by sputtering a metal sputtering material containing an insulating additive. The conductive material portion 102 may be surface processed by plating or the like.

  The operation detection circuit 106 is a circuit that detects whether or not the inside handle unit 101 has been operated by the user. The operation detection circuit 106 is disposed in the vicinity where the inside handle portion 101 is disposed.

  The user switch 108 is a switch provided in the vicinity of the steering handle of the driver's seat, and allows the user to stop the operation control of the in-vehicle device by the control unit 10 which will be described later by operating the switch as necessary. Switch.

  The vehicle speed sensor 110 is a sensor provided in the vehicle, and acquires the vehicle speed by detecting the presence or absence of a pulse generated by a vehicle speed pulse generator (not shown) according to the vehicle speed when the vehicle travels. is there.

  The ECU 112 has a function of controlling the overall operation of the vehicle as described above. In particular, the ECU 112 has a function of controlling the lighting or extinguishing of the room lamp 103 without using a dedicated switch provided in the room lamp 103. Have.

  The control unit 10 has a function of controlling an in-vehicle device provided in the vehicle interior via the ECU 112 by detecting a change in capacitance caused by the user touching the conductive material unit 102 of the inside handle unit 101. Have. Here, the room lamp 103 is described as an example of the in-vehicle device.

  The control unit 10 includes a vehicle speed sensor I / F 32, a user switch I / F 34, an operation detection circuit I / F 36, a capacity change detection circuit I / F 38, a storage unit 40, and a CPU 20. Each element is connected to each other through an internal bus. Further, the control unit 10 and the ECU 112 are connected so as to be able to communicate with each other.

  The control unit 10 can use a computer suitable for mounting on a vehicle. A dedicated control device may be used. Moreover, the function of the control part 10 is good also as a part of function of the other control apparatus mounted in a vehicle. For example, it can be a part of the function of the ECU 112.

  The vehicle speed sensor I / F 32 is an interface circuit connected to the vehicle speed sensor 110 that acquires the vehicle speed of the vehicle. The user switch I / F 34 is an interface circuit connected to a user switch 108 that is operated by the user to instruct the control unit 10 to stop the operation control of the room lamp 103.

  The operation detection circuit I / F 36 is an interface circuit connected to the operation detection circuit 106 that detects that the inside handle unit 101 has been operated. The capacitance change detection circuit I / F 38 is an interface circuit connected to a capacitance change detection circuit 104 that detects a change in capacitance caused by a user touching the conductive material portion 102 of the inside handle portion 101.

  The storage unit 40 is a storage device that stores an in-vehicle device control program executed in each functional module of the CPU 20.

  The CPU 20 includes an in-vehicle device control module 22, a capacity change information acquisition module 24, an operation information acquisition module 26, a vehicle speed information acquisition module 28, and a user instruction acquisition module 29. Each of these functions can be realized by executing software, specifically, by executing an in-vehicle device control program stored in the storage unit 40. Further, part or all of the functions may be realized by hardware. The user instruction acquisition module 29 and the vehicle speed information acquisition module 28 will be described in detail when the other embodiments are described.

  The capacitance change information acquisition module 24 acquires the detection state of the capacitance change detection circuit 104 from the capacitance change detection circuit 104 via the capacitance change detection circuit I / F 38, and the user touches the conductive material portion 102 of the inside handle portion 101. Thus, it has a function of determining whether or not the capacitance has changed. And it has the function to deliver the information to the vehicle equipment control module 22.

  The operation information acquisition module 26 has a function of acquiring the detection state of the operation detection circuit 106 via the operation detection circuit I / F 36 and determining whether or not the inside handle unit 101 has been operated. And it has the function to deliver the information to the vehicle equipment control module 22.

  The in-vehicle device control module 22 has a function of instructing the ECU 112 to control the operation of the room lamp 103 in response to capacitance change information, operation information of the inside handle unit 101, and the like.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the capacitance change detection circuit 104. Elements similar to those in FIGS. 1 and 2 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted. Hereinafter, the capacitance change detection circuit 104 will be described in detail with reference to FIG. The capacitance change detection circuit 104 is a circuit using a known capacitive touch sensor circuit 68, and includes a touch sensor circuit 68, a conductive plate 64 connected to the touch sensor circuit 68, and a power supply circuit 66. Consists of.

  The conductive plate 64 is an electrode provided on the vehicle, and is connected to the conductive material portion 102 of the inside handle portion 101 as shown in FIG. Therefore, when the user contacts the conductive material portion 102 of the inside handle portion 101, the capacitance value of the capacitance 62 formed between the electrode portion 63 including the conductive material portion 102 and the conductive plate 64 and the ground 2 changes. To do. The change in capacitance is detected by the touch sensor circuit 68 and transferred to the capacitance change detection circuit I / F 38. Note that the touch sensor circuit 68 and the capacitance change detection circuit I / F 38 are connected.

  The operation of the above configuration will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing each procedure when in-vehicle device control is performed in the in-vehicle device control system 8. Each procedure corresponds to a procedure of each process of the in-vehicle device control program. In addition, it demonstrates using the code | symbol of FIGS. 1-3.

  When the in-vehicle device control program is executed, first, the detection state of the capacitance change detection circuit 104 is acquired from the capacitance change detection circuit 104 via the capacitance change detection circuit I / F 38, and the capacitance of the inside handle unit 101 changes. It is determined whether or not (S12). This function is executed by the function of the capacity change information acquisition module 24 of the CPU 20.

  If the capacitance has not changed, the END process is performed without controlling the operation of the room lamp 103 (S14). This function is also executed by the function of the in-vehicle device control module 22 of the CPU 20.

  If the capacitance has changed, the ECU 112 is instructed to turn on the room lamp 103 (S16). This function is executed by the function of the in-vehicle device control module 22 of the CPU 20. After S16, the process proceeds to S18.

  Next, the detection state of the operation detection circuit 106 is acquired via the operation detection circuit I / F 36 within a predetermined time after the capacitance changes, and it is determined whether or not the inside handle unit 101 has been operated. Judgment is made (S18). This function is executed by the function of the operation information acquisition module 26 of the CPU 20.

  If it is determined that the inside handle 101 has been operated, an END process is performed (S20). This function is executed by the function of the in-vehicle device control module 22 of the CPU 20.

  If it is determined that the inside handle unit 101 is not operated, the ECU 112 is instructed to turn off the room lamp 103 (S22), and then the END process is performed (S24). This function is also executed by the function of the in-vehicle device control module 22 of the CPU 20.

  Therefore, the room lamp 103 which is one of the in-vehicle devices can be turned on only by a user using the vehicle touching the inside handle unit 101 with his / her hand. Furthermore, it is convenient because the room lamp 103 is automatically turned off if the inside handle portion 101 is not operated within a predetermined time.

  In addition, since the conductive material portion 102 of the inside handle portion 101 is provided on the back side that is not visible from the front side, the room lamp 103 is not controlled even if the user accidentally touches the front side of the inside handle portion 101. Convenient.

  In addition to the lighting of the room lamp 103, the control unit 10 performs control to start storing the door mirror when the user touches the conductive material unit 102 of the inside handle unit 101, for example. You can also. In this way, the control unit 10 can control the on-vehicle equipment necessary from before the operation of the inside handle unit 101 to after the release of the lock function.

  Although the first embodiment has been described assuming that the user switch 108 is not considered, the second embodiment controls the in-vehicle device including the user switch 108. As described above, the user instruction acquisition module 29 will be described.

  The user instruction acquisition module 29 acquires the operation state of the user switch 108 from the user switch 108 via the user switch I / F 34, and determines whether or not an instruction to stop the operation control of the in-vehicle device of the control unit 10 has been issued. It has a function. And it has the function to deliver the information to the vehicle equipment control module 22.

  The operation of the above configuration will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing each procedure when in-vehicle device control including the user switch 108 is performed in the in-vehicle device control system 8. Each procedure corresponds to a procedure of each process of the in-vehicle device control program. In addition, it demonstrates using the code | symbol of FIGS. 1-4.

  When the in-vehicle device control program is executed, first, the operation state of the user switch 108 is acquired from the user switch 108 via the user switch I / F 34, and it is determined whether or not an operation control stop command of the control unit 10 has been issued. (S30). This function is executed by the user instruction acquisition module 29 of the CPU 20.

  If it is determined that there is no operation control stop command, END processing is performed (S32). This function is executed by the function of the in-vehicle device control module 22 of the CPU 20. If it is determined that there is a command to stop the operation control, each procedure after S12 is performed in the same manner as the procedure shown in FIG.

  Therefore, it is convenient because it is possible to instruct the control unit 10 to stop the operation control of the in-vehicle device by the user's intention.

  In the first and second embodiments, the vehicle speed sensor 110 is not considered. However, in the third embodiment, on-vehicle equipment is controlled in consideration of the vehicle speed. The vehicle speed information acquisition module 28 will be described as described above.

  The vehicle speed information acquisition module 28 has a function of acquiring a vehicle speed from the vehicle speed sensor 110 via the vehicle speed sensor I / F 32 and determining whether or not the vehicle is in a traveling state. And it has the function to deliver the information to the vehicle equipment control module 22.

  The operation of the above configuration will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing each procedure when in-vehicle device control is performed in consideration of vehicle speed information in the in-vehicle device control system. Each procedure corresponds to a procedure of each process of the in-vehicle device control program. In addition, it demonstrates using the code | symbol of FIGS.

  When the in-vehicle device control program is executed, first, the vehicle speed is acquired from the vehicle speed sensor 110 via the vehicle speed sensor I / F 32, and it is determined whether or not the vehicle is in a traveling state (S40). This function is executed by the vehicle speed information acquisition module 28 of the CPU 20.

  If it is determined that the vehicle is in a running state, an END process is performed (S42). This function is executed by the function of the in-vehicle device control module 22. When it is determined that the vehicle is not in a running state, each procedure after S12 is performed in the same manner as the procedure shown in FIG.

  Therefore, when the vehicle is in a traveling state, even if the user accidentally touches the inside handle unit 101, the control unit 10 can be prevented from lighting the room lamp 103.

  Although the third embodiment has been described as controlling the in-vehicle device using the function of the operation information acquisition module 26 of the CPU 20, the fourth embodiment controls the in-vehicle device using the function of the operation information acquisition module 26 of the CPU 20. I do.

  When the in-vehicle device control program is executed, first, the vehicle speed is acquired from the vehicle speed sensor 110 through the vehicle speed sensor I / F 32 in the same manner as the procedure shown in FIG. 6, and it is determined whether or not the vehicle is in a traveling state (S40). ). This function is executed by the vehicle speed information acquisition module 28 of the CPU 20.

  If it is determined that the vehicle is in a running state, an END process is performed (S42). This function is executed by the function of the in-vehicle device control module 22. When it is determined that the vehicle is not in a traveling state, it is determined whether or not the capacitance has changed by touching the conductive material portion 102 of the inside handle portion 101 (S12). This function is executed by the function of the capacity change information acquisition module 24 of the CPU 20.

  If the capacitance has not changed, the END process is performed without controlling the operation of the room lamp 103 (S14). If the capacitance has changed, the ECU 112 is instructed to turn on the room lamp 103 (S16). This function is executed by the function of the in-vehicle device control module 22 of the CPU 20. And after S16, it progresses to S12 and performs an END process (S20).

  Therefore, the room lamp 103 which is one of the in-vehicle devices can be turned on only by a user using the vehicle touching the inside handle unit 101 with his / her hand. In addition, in a vehicle control system having a lock mechanism that can be released simply by touching the conductive material portion 102 without depending on the rotation operation of the inside handle portion 101, the vehicle door control mechanism is used to open the vehicle door. The lock mechanism is released. This is convenient because the vehicle door can be automatically opened simply by touching the conductive material portion 102 of the inside handle portion 101 when the vehicle is not in a traveling state.

It is a figure which shows the vehicle equipment control system which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a top view near an inside handle part. It is a block diagram of a capacitance change detection circuit. It is a flowchart which shows each procedure when performing vehicle equipment control in the vehicle equipment control system which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows each procedure when performing vehicle equipment control in the vehicle equipment control system which concerns on other embodiment. Furthermore, it is a flowchart which shows each procedure at the time of performing vehicle equipment control in the vehicle equipment control system which concerns on other embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows each procedure when performing vehicle equipment control in the vehicle equipment control system which concerns on another embodiment.

  2 grounding, 8 in-vehicle device control system, 10 control unit, 20 CPU, 22 in-vehicle device control module, 24 capacity change information acquisition module, 26 operation information acquisition module, 28 vehicle speed information acquisition module, 29 user instruction acquisition module, 32 vehicle speed sensor I / F, 34 User switch I / F, 36 Operation detection circuit I / F, 38 Capacitance change detection circuit I / F, 40 Storage section, 62 Capacitance, 63 Electrode section, 64 Conductive plate, 66 Power supply circuit, 68 Touch sensor circuit, 101 Inside handle part, 102 Conductive material part, 103 Room lamp, 104 Capacity change detection circuit, 106 Operation detection circuit, 108 User switch, 110 Vehicle speed sensor, 112 ECU.

Claims (1)

An inside handle portion provided in the passenger compartment and having a handle for operation, the inside handle portion having in part a conductive material portion made of a conductive material,
A conductive plate portion connected to the conductive material portion of the inside handle portion;
Capacitance detection means connected to the conductive plate portion, the capacitance detection means for detecting a change in capacitance due to a user touching the conductive material portion of the inside handle portion,
When detecting a change in capacitance, a control unit that performs operation control of a predetermined on-vehicle device, and
A user switch,
Via the user I / F, and the user instruction obtaining means for obtaining a stop instruction of the in-vehicle device control by operating the user against the user switch,
With
The conductive material portion is
Provided on the back side not visible from the front side,
The control unit
A vehicle-mounted device control system that stops operation control of a predetermined vehicle-mounted device when a stop instruction is acquired.

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