JP7077892B2 - Vehicle operation device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a vehicle operating device.

A center information display (hereinafter referred to as CID) is provided in the vehicle interior, and information to be notified to the vehicle occupants (for example, guidance information and warning information) is displayed on this CID. In recent years, this CID is equipped with a transmissive touch sensor on the front surface, and while the vehicle occupant visually recognizes the CID information, for example, navigation, air conditioner setting, audio operation, and various settings in the vehicle can be performed. Can be done.

Such a CID has a tactile feedback function (hereinafter referred to as a haptic feedback function) in which a vehicle occupant pushes the front surface of the CID through a touch sensor to detect the amount of sinking according to the pushed state and vibrates the front surface of the display device by an actuator such as an electromagnet. , Tactile FB).

As a prior art related to the present application, when a vehicle occupant presses a button displayed on a display screen, a click tactile sensation is presented after satisfying the load of the pressing standard, which is below the standard of 50% to 80% of the pressing standard. A technique for presenting a release tactile sensation has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1). Further, a technique for presenting a similar release tactile sensation after presenting a tactile sensation has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 2).

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2010-146510 JP-A-2009-177079

On the other hand, it is conceivable that the vehicle occupant operates the operating device provided with the tactile FB while the vehicle is moving. If the vehicle accelerates or decelerates or travels on a slope that is different from normal driving, there is a risk that the tactile FB will not function normally due to external factors such as acceleration and deceleration or vibration received from the road surface. be.

For example, during deceleration of the vehicle, the vehicle occupant is subjected to the gravitational acceleration G in the forward direction. Therefore, it is considered that the tactile FB is affected by the gravitational acceleration in addition to the pushing load by the vehicle occupant, and the tactile FB is presented faster than the tactile presentation predicted by the vehicle occupant, which makes the vehicle occupant feel uncomfortable. Become.

The above-mentioned conventional technique is a technique for presenting a tactile sensation by a button pressing load and an open load obtained by multiplying the load by a coefficient, and does not set a threshold value in consideration of vehicle acceleration, vehicle vibration from the road surface, or the like. Therefore, even if the conventional technique is used, it is not possible to present the tactile sensation in consideration of the acceleration applied to the vehicle during driving. For example, during deceleration of the vehicle, the vehicle occupant is affected by the gravitational acceleration and falls forward, so that the vehicle acceleration is added to the indentation load, and the presentation is faster than the vehicle occupant's expected tactile presentation. It is possible that it will end up. This cannot be said to be a tactile presentation at the timing intended by the vehicle occupant.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to generate an external factor due to acceleration of the vehicle or vibration received from the road surface when the operation input unit is operated by a vehicle occupant. It is an object of the present invention to provide a vehicle operating device capable of presenting a tactile sensation without causing a vehicle occupant to feel a sense of discomfort.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, does the tactile presentation control unit present tactile sensation by comparing the pressing load associated with the operation with the pressing load reference when the operation input unit is operated by the vehicle occupant in the vehicle? Control whether or not. Further, the factor acquisition unit acquires an external factor due to acceleration or vibration applied to the vehicle. The pressing load reference control unit changes and controls the pressing load reference according to an external factor. A plurality of sensors are provided to detect the amount of sinking corresponding to the pressing load. The operation position detection unit also detects the operation position information. The acceleration estimation unit is based on the condition that the amount of subduction by all the sensors exceeds a predetermined value and the operation position information detected by the operation position detection unit is not in the central range surrounded by a plurality of sensors. Estimate the acceleration applied to the vehicle based on the amount of subduction. As a result, even if there is an external factor due to the acceleration of the vehicle or the vibration received from the road surface when the operation input unit is operated by the vehicle occupant, it is possible to present the tactile sensation without making the vehicle occupant feel uncomfortable.

Schematic diagram showing the installation state of various vehicle devices in the first embodiment Front view of display device (operation device for vehicles) Schematic diagram of the cross section of the line AA in FIG. An exploded perspective view of the actuator Block block diagram Flowchart that outlines the process (Part 1) Flowchart that outlines the process (Part 2) Example of change in pressing load (sinking amount) due to change in acceleration Block configuration diagram in the second embodiment Side view showing the installation state of the display device in the third embodiment Explanatory drawing explaining the relationship between the traveling state of a vehicle and the installation state of a display device in 4th Embodiment

Hereinafter, some embodiments of the vehicle operating device will be described with reference to the drawings. In the second and subsequent embodiments, the same or similar reference numerals are given to the portions having the same or similar functions as those of the first embodiment, the description thereof will be omitted as necessary, and the description will be centered on the different portions.

(First Embodiment)
1 to 8 show explanatory views in the first embodiment. In this embodiment, the XYZ coordinate system shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 will be used for description. This XYZ coordinate system shows a coordinate system orthogonal to each other. In this embodiment, the X direction is defined as the left-right direction, the Y direction is defined as the vertical direction, and the Z direction is defined as the front-rear surface direction.

FIG. 1 shows an installation example of each vehicle device in the vehicle compartment 1 of the vehicle C. Inside the passenger compartment 1, a driver's seat 2 and a passenger's seat 3 are arranged side by side. Sit down. A shift lever 4 is installed between the driver's seat 2 and the passenger's seat 3. Further, in front of the driver's seat 2, a steering wheel 5 operated by the driver sitting in the driver's seat 2 is installed.

Further, a dashboard 6 is provided in front of the driver's seat 2 and the passenger's seat 3, and a center information display (CID: Center Information Display) is installed as a display device 7 in the center of the left and right sides of the dashboard 6. Has been done. The display device 7 is installed so as to be visible to the driver sitting in the driver's seat 2 or the occupant sitting in the passenger seat 3, and is installed in a place that can be operated by the occupant of the vehicle. The display device 7 is provided as a vehicle operation device that can be operated by a vehicle occupant.

FIG. 2 schematically shows the structure of the display device 7 on the front surface 7a side. The front surface 7a corresponds to the operation input surface of the operation input unit. As shown in FIG. 2, the display device 7 is provided with a display device 8 inside, for example, equipped with a navigation function for guiding the driver from the current location to the destination, and for notifying the vehicle occupants of various information. It has a function. Although not shown, the display device 7 can acquire various information such as the current position information of the vehicle C based on, for example, a position detector such as a GPS sensor and a map memory (none of which is shown) in which map information is stored. It has become.

As shown in FIG. 2, the display 8 is formed in a rectangular shape in a plane, and the front surface 7a (corresponding to an operation input surface) capable of receiving an operation input by the touch panel 11 as an operation input unit is also provided in a rectangular shape. .. In the following, a mode in which the front surface 7a capable of receiving operation input of the touch panel 11 is installed along the vertical plane direction (XY direction) inside the vehicle C is shown. Actuators 9a ... 9d are installed at each of the four corners of the rectangular front surface 7a.

Vibration IDs are assigned to these actuators 9a ... 9d, and each actuator 9a ... Command 9d. The actuators 9a ... 9d have the same configuration. Therefore, in the following, the structure of the actuator 9a will be described, and the structure of the other actuators 9b ... 9d will be omitted.

FIG. 3 schematically shows a cross section along the line AA of FIG. 2, and FIG. 4 schematically shows an exploded perspective view of the actuator 9a. As shown in FIG. 3, a touch panel 11 is provided on the front surface 7a side of the display device 7, and an overlay 12 is installed so as to cover the touch panel 11.

A display 8 is provided inside the overlay 12 and the touch panel 11. The overlay 12 and the touch panel 11 are composed of, for example, colorless and transparent members, and the display content displayed on the display surface of the display 8 can be visually recognized from the outside. The overlay 12 is located at a corner of the display device 7 and is supported by the stay 13, and the leaf spring 14 and the movable yoke 15 inside the actuator 9a are installed so as to engage with the stay 13.

The actuator 9a is configured as a vibration device with a press detection function that detects a press on the touch panel 11 from the outside. As shown in FIG. 4, the actuator 9a includes a leaf spring 14, a movable yoke 15, a circuit board 17 with a gap distance sensor 16, a winding coil 18, and a fixed yoke 19 in this order inside the case 20 in the Z direction. It is configured by assembling to the screw 21 and is integrally modularized by using the screw 21 and the nut 21a. The fixed yoke 19 constitutes an electromagnet.

A resin case 20 is insert-molded around the fixed yoke 19 in the XY directions, whereby the fixed yoke 19 and the case 20 are integrated. The fixed yoke 19 is installed so as to project in a rod shape in the Z direction from the bottom surface of the case 20. The tip of the fixed yoke 19 is formed in a so-called chevron shape with a tapered shape. A modularized winding coil 18 is installed around the fixed yoke 19. The winding coil 18 includes a core 18b having a cylindrical shape in the Z direction and an annular plate integrally formed at both ends of the cylindrical portion in the Z direction. The winding coil 18 is configured by winding the winding 18a around the core 18b. As shown in FIG. 3, the winding coil 18 is installed so that the winding 18a winds around the fixed yoke 19.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 4, a rectangular hole 17a is provided in the center of the circuit board 17. As shown in FIG. 3, the tip of the fixed yoke 19 and the winding coil 18 are installed inside the hole 17a. A gap distance sensor 16 is installed on the upper surface of the circuit board 17. A drive circuit 22 and an electrostatic IC 23 are also installed on the upper surface of the circuit board 17. The drive circuit 22 and the electrostatic IC 23 are shown in FIG. 5, but are not shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 4, one end of the leaf spring 14 in the X direction is fastened and fixed to the case 20 by using a screw 21 and a nut 21a, and the other end in the X direction is elastic in the Z direction in FIG. Assembled so that it can be operated.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the circuit board 17 also has holes 17b for inserting the screw 21, and the circuit board 17 is integrally fixed between these cases 20 and the leaf spring 14. ing.

Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the movable yoke 15 is integrally assembled with the leaf spring 14. A gap distance sensor 16 is installed on the upper surface of the circuit board 17. The gap distance sensor 16 is installed at a distance Z0 between the movable yoke 15 and the leaf spring 14 and the movable yoke 15 so that the movable state can be sensed. As a result, the gap distance sensor 16 can measure the distance Z0 between the movable yoke 15 and the movable yoke 15.

The movable yoke 15 is formed into a chevron shape (a chevron portion 15a) so as to follow the shape of the tip of the fixed yoke 19, and in the standard assembly state, the chevron portion 15a of the movable yoke 15 is the tip of the fixed yoke 19. It is installed so as to have a predetermined clearance with the chevron portion 19a.

FIG. 5 shows a functional configuration representing the tactile presentation function of the display device 7 and a functional configuration for detecting an operation position. In the following, the basic operation will be described together with the explanation of this functional configuration.

A display device 8, a touch panel 11, and an overlay 12 are installed on the side of the front surface 7a of the display device 7. The display 8 is electrically connected to the host controller 10. The host controller 10 is configured by, for example, a microcomputer, and operates by using an application program stored in the memory 10a as a non-transitional substantive recording medium. At this time, the host controller 10 generates the display screen information required by the application program and displays it on the display screen of the display 8 via the video information display controller (not shown). The host controller 10 functions as a tactile presentation control unit and a pressing load reference control unit by executing an application program stored in the memory 10a.

An electrostatic IC 23 is connected to the host controller 10. The electrostatic IC 23 functions as an operation position detection unit that detects an operation position where a finger touches the front surface 7a based on the capacitance generated in the touch panel 11.

Further, the display device 7 includes a host controller 10, a tactile control microcomputer 24, actuators 9a ... 9d, stays 13, and leaf springs 14 as tactile presentation blocks, and vibrates the front surface 7a of the display device 7. It has a function of presenting a tactile sensation to the fingers of a vehicle occupant who touches the front surface 7a.

The actuators 9a ... 9d include a drive circuit 22, a winding coil 18, and a clearance distance sensor 16 as an electrical configuration. An electrostatic IC 23 is connected to the touch panel 11. The electrostatic IC 23 detects the operation position information of the hand and finger of the vehicle occupant touched on the front surface 7a of the display device 7, for example, by detecting the change in the capacitance of the touch panel 11, and transmits the operation position information to the host controller 10.

When the host controller 10 outputs a touch state request signal to the tactile control microcomputer 24 together with the vibration ID assigned to each actuator 9a ... 9d, the tactile control microcomputer 24 causes the clearance distance sensor of the actuators 9a ... 9d corresponding to the vibration ID. The signal of the distance Z0 is acquired from 16. When the vehicle occupant presses the front surface 7a of the display device 7, the leaf spring 14 bends, and the distance Z0 between the gap distance sensor 16 and the leaf spring 14 becomes close.

Therefore, the tactile control microcomputer 24 can detect whether or not the vehicle occupant is pressing the front surface 7a by the signal of the distance Z0. Further, the tactile control microcomputer 24 corresponds to the pressing load on the front surface 7a by the vehicle occupant with respect to the sinking amount of the front surface 7a, the leaf spring 14, or the stay 13 of the display device 7 based on the signal of the distance Z0 by the gap distance sensor 16. Can be detected.

The tactile control microcomputer 24 outputs the information of the detected subduction amount to the host controller 10. The tactile control microcomputer 24 may calculate the pressing load instead of the above-mentioned sinking amount and output it to the host controller 10. At this time, the host controller 10 can acquire information on the pressing load. In the following, the tactile control microcomputer 24 outputs information on the sinking amount to the host controller 10, and the host controller 10 calculates the pressing load based on the information on the sinking amount.

Further, as will be described later, the tactile control microcomputer 24 functions as a factor acquisition unit for acquiring an external factor due to the acceleration applied to the vehicle C, and the host controller 10 is also configured as an acceleration estimation unit for estimating the acceleration applied to the vehicle C. To. Whether or not the host controller 10 presents tactilely to the front surface 7a by comparing the pressing load associated with the operation with the pressing load reference Sp when the front surface 7a of the display device 7 is operated by the vehicle occupant in the vehicle C. Is configured to control.

For example, when the host controller 10 gives a tactile presentation to the front surface 7a of the display device 7, the vibration ID of the actuators 9a ... 9d to be tactilely presented is commanded to the tactile control microcomputer 24, and the tactile control microcomputer 24 winds the coil via the drive circuit 22. By performing pulse control (for example, PWM control) while feeding back the drive current to the wire coil 18, energization on / off of the winding coil 18 is repeated. At this time, the host controller 10 and the tactile control microcomputer 24 repeatedly turn on / off the energization of the winding coil 18 so that the larger the acceleration (tactile acceleration) applied to the front surface 7a of the display device 7, the stronger the tactile sensation.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the actuators 9a ... 9d have a structure that operates electromagnetically, and when the tactile control microcomputer 24 energizes the winding coil 18, the movable yoke 15 generates a magnetic force to generate a movable yoke. 15 sucks into the fixed yoke 19, and the stay 13 engaged with the movable yoke 15 and the leaf spring 14 moves in the negative direction in the Z direction (rear of the vehicle C) in FIG. The fixing yoke 19 is fixed to the vehicle body (not shown) via the case 20 of the display device 7. Therefore, the force generated in the actuator 9a can be efficiently transmitted to the front surface 7a of the display device 7.

On the contrary, when the tactile control microcomputer 24 turns off the energization applied to the winding coil 18, the generated magnetic force of the movable yoke 15 disappears. Therefore, the movable yoke 15 is separated from the fixed yoke 19 by the elastic force of the leaf spring 14, and the stay 13 engaged with the movable yoke 15 and the leaf spring 14 is in the positive direction in the Z direction (front of the vehicle C) in FIG. It works. Since these leaf springs 14 and stays 13 have mass, they pass through the original state. By repeating these actions, the stay 13 vibrates in the Z direction. For example, when the finger of the vehicle occupant is in contact with the overlay 12 of the front surface 7a of the display device 7, the vibration of the stay 13 is transmitted to the finger as a tactile sensation via the overlay 12.

Hereinafter, the operation when it is assumed that the vehicle occupant touches the front surface 7a of the display device 7 while the vehicle C is decelerating will be described. Further, in the following, the acceleration in the vehicle traveling direction (positive direction in the Z direction) when the vehicle C is decelerating will be defined as positive and will be described.

FIG. 6 shows the processing contents executed inside the display device 7 by a flowchart. FIG. 7 shows an example of an acceleration acquisition method. Further, FIG. 8 shows a change in the pressing load corresponding to the amount of sinking (upper stage), a change in the acceleration of the vehicle C (middle stage), and a tactile presentation timing (lower stage).

For example, it is assumed that the vehicle occupant touches the front surface 7a of the display device 7 at the timing t0 in FIG. Normally, when the vehicle occupant touches the front surface 7a of the display device 7, the electrostatic IC 23 detects the operation position information by the change in the capacitance of the touch panel 11 and outputs the operation position information to the host controller 10. Further, the tactile control microcomputer 24 detects the sinking amount by the gap distance sensor 16 (S1 in FIG. 6), and outputs the information of the sinking amount to the host controller 10.

As a result, the host controller 10 can acquire information on the sinking amount corresponding to the gap distance sensors 16 installed inside all the actuators 9a ... 9d, and can calculate the pressing load based on the information on the sinking amount.

Subsequently, the tactile control microcomputer 24 acquires acceleration information (S2 in FIG. 6). As shown in the timings t1 to t2 of FIG. 8, when the vehicle C decelerates during the touch operation, the acceleration is uniformly applied to the front surface 7a of the display device 7. Then, the distance Z0 (corresponding to the amount of subduction) detected by all the gap distance sensors 16 installed at the four locations changes at the same time.

At this time, if the distance Z0 of all the gap distance sensors 16 changes at the same time, provided that the center range Ca (see FIG. 2) of the operation input surface of the touch panel 11 is not pressed by the vehicle occupant, this effect. However, it can be estimated that this is an external factor due to the influence of the acceleration of the vehicle C, and the acceleration information of the vehicle C can be acquired based on the distance Z0 (corresponding to the pressing load and the sinking amount) of the gap distance sensor 16.

On the contrary, when it is detected that the center range Ca of the operation input surface of the touch panel 11 is pressed (pressed), it can be determined that the vehicle occupant is operating, and it is determined that it is not affected by the acceleration applied to the vehicle C. can. Note that FIG. 2 shows a form in which the central range Ca of the operation input surface of the touch panel 11 is circular. The central range Ca is not limited to a circular shape, and may be rectangular, and the shape of the central range Ca is not particularly limited.

FIG. 7 shows the processing contents by the host controller 10 and the tactile control microcomputer 24 for acquiring acceleration information based on this principle. The tactile control microcomputer 24 determines whether or not the subduction amount of all the clearance distance sensors 16 exceeds the predetermined value Sa (T1), and the host controller 10 is operated by the vehicle occupant acquired from the electrostatic IC 23. It is determined whether or not the position information is within the predetermined center range Ca (T2). At this time, the host controller 10 satisfies the condition that the pressing load exceeds the predetermined value Sa (YES in T1) and the operation position information is not in the predetermined center range Ca by the vehicle occupant (NO in T2). , The acceleration of the vehicle C is estimated based on the sinking amount corresponding to the detection distance Z0 of the gap distance sensor 16 (T3).

That is, when it is determined to be YES in T1, it is determined that there is a high possibility that acceleration is applied, and when it is determined to be NO in T2, the center range Ca of the operation input surface is not pressed by the vehicle occupant. It is judged. As a result, it can be estimated that acceleration is applied, and it can be estimated that the amount of subduction of the gap distance sensor 16 is due to the influence of acceleration.

As a result, the host controller 10 can estimate the acceleration of the vehicle C as accurately as possible based on the distance Z0 of the gap distance sensor 16 corresponding to the pressing load in T3, and can acquire the acceleration information. The acceleration information acquisition process shown in FIG. 7 may be executed by the host controller 10 or by the tactile control microcomputer 24.

Next, the host controller 10 shifts to S3 in FIG. 6 and determines whether or not the pressing load is larger than the initial pressing load reference Sp0 (S3). The initial pressing load reference Sp0 is an initial value of a predetermined pressing load reference Sp for determining whether or not to present a tactile sensation, and indicates a criterion for starting the tactile sensation. The higher the pressing load reference Sp, the more the vehicle occupant does not perform tactile sensation unless the vehicle occupant presses with a stronger force.

Therefore, the host controller 10 determines at the timing t3 of FIG. 8 that the condition for exhibiting the tactile sensation is satisfied when the sinking amount is larger than the initial pressing load reference Sp0, and shifts to S4. .. When the condition of S3 is not satisfied, the host controller 10 returns to S1 and repeats the process.

Further, after determining YES in S3, the host controller 10 further determines whether or not the acceleration information acquired in S2 is larger than the pressure correction acceleration reference Vg (S4). As shown in FIG. 8, this pressure correction acceleration reference Vg indicates an acceleration threshold value for correcting the initial pressure load reference Sp0. Therefore, when the host controller 10 satisfies that the acceleration is larger than the acceleration reference Vg for press correction at the timing t3 of FIG. 8, the host controller 10 changes the press load reference Sp from the initial press load reference Sp0 to the corrected press load reference Sp1. Change (S5). The corrected pressing load reference Sp1 indicates the pressing load reference Sp after being corrected after receiving the acceleration, and is set to a value larger than the initial pressing load reference Sp0.

The difference Sp1-Sp0 of these pressing load reference Sps may be set to a constant value or a fluctuation value depending on the acceleration (for example, a fluctuation value proportional to the acceleration). By setting the difference Sp1-Sp0 of the pressing load reference Sp to a constant value, the calculation load of the host controller 10 can be reduced, the process can be executed quickly, and the tactile sensation can be presented. When the host controller 10 uses the fluctuation value depending on the acceleration, the calculation load becomes high, but the tactile sensation can be presented without causing the vehicle occupants to feel uncomfortable as much as possible.

After that, when the tactile control microcomputer 24 detects the sinking amount again in S6 (S6) and outputs the sinking amount to the host controller 10, the host controller 10 determines whether or not the pressing load is larger than the corrected pressing load reference Sp1. Is determined (S7). If the condition of S7 is not satisfied, the host controller 10 returns to S6 and repeats the process, but when the condition of S7 is satisfied, the host controller 10 issues a tactile presentation command to the tactile control microcomputer 24. The tactile control microcomputer 24 generates a tactile presentation pulse by a PWM drive signal and applies it to the winding coil 18 through the drive circuit 22. As a result, the front surface 7a of the display device 7 can be vibrated through the leaf spring 14 and the stay 13, and tactile presentation can be performed (timings t2 to t4 in FIG. 8). Although the vehicle occupant feels a tactile sensation when he / she touches the front surface 7a with his / her fingers, the start timing t2 of the tactile sensation presentation can be delayed more than usual at this time. As a result, it becomes possible to avoid pressing and detecting the pressure and presenting the tactile sensation faster than expected by the vehicle occupant, and the display device 7 can be controlled closer to the sensation of the vehicle occupant.

After that, when the tactile control microcomputer 24 detects the sinking amount again in S9 (S9) and outputs it to the host controller 10, the host controller 10 has a pressing load corresponding to the sinking amount below the open load reference Sr. It is determined whether or not it is (S10). This open load reference Sr indicates the pressing load reference Sp at the time of release from the front surface 7a of the display device 7 by the vehicle occupant. This open load reference Sr indicates a threshold value for initiating a pseudo tactile presentation.

If the condition of S10 is not satisfied, the host controller 10 returns to S9 and repeats the process. When the condition of S9 is satisfied, the host controller 10 issues a tactile presentation command to the tactile control microcomputer 24, and the tactile control microcomputer 24 is PWM-driven. A tactile presentation pulse by a signal is generated (S11) and applied to the winding coil 18 through the drive circuit 22. As a result, the front surface 7a of the display device 7 can be vibrated through the leaf spring 14 and the stay 13, and tactile presentation can be performed (timings t5 to t6 in FIG. 8). This causes the vehicle occupant to feel the tactile sensation when the fingers are released. Then, the tactile control microcomputer 24 waits until the sinking amount becomes 0 while detecting the sinking amount (S12, S13: timing t7 in FIG. 8), and ends the process.

After that, it is assumed that the vehicle occupant touches the front surface 7a of the display device 7 without decelerating the vehicle C. In this case, the host controller 10 and the tactile control microcomputer 24 execute the processes of S1 ... S3, and continue to execute the processes of S1 to S3 until a determination of YES in S3 (t10 to t11 in FIG. 8).

After determining YES in S3, the host controller 10 further determines in S4 whether or not the acceleration information acquired in S2 is larger than the pressure correction acceleration reference Vg. If this condition is not satisfied, the host controller 10 determines in S4. Then, it is determined as NO and the process proceeds to S8. That is, since the host controller 10 shifts the process to S8 while holding the pressing load reference at the initial pressing load reference Sp0, the host controller 10 immediately presents a tactile sensation (timings t11 to t12 in FIG. 8).

After that, when the pressing load falls below the open load reference Sr, the tactile sensation is presented again (YES in S10 in FIG. 6, S11: timings t13 to t14 in FIG. 8). Therefore, when the vehicle C is not decelerating, the determination is made with the pressing load reference Sp as the initial pressing reference Sp0. Then, the tactile control microcomputer 24 waits until the sinking amount becomes 0 while detecting the sinking amount (S12, S13: timing t15 in FIG. 8), and ends the process.

When the vehicle C decelerates, the gravitational acceleration G is applied in the front direction of the vehicle. Therefore, acceleration is also applied to the fingers of the vehicle occupant operating the touch panel 11 toward the front of the vehicle. Therefore, if the pressing load reference Sp is left as the normal initial pressing load reference Sp0, the effect of the gravitational acceleration G applied in the front direction of the vehicle causes the vehicle occupant to intentionally operate the touch panel 11 rather than the timing. There is a risk of overreacting quickly. In the worst case, there is a risk that the vehicle occupant will present a tactile sensation at a point outside the point where the occupant is trying to touch it.

According to this embodiment, the host controller 10 changes and controls the pressing load reference Sp to be compared with the pressing load according to an external factor due to the acceleration applied to the vehicle C. As a result, even if an external factor due to the acceleration of the vehicle C occurs when the vehicle occupant pushes the front surface 7a of the display device 7, the vehicle occupant can be presented with a tactile sensation without giving a sense of discomfort as much as possible.

Further, when the host controller 10 determines that the vehicle C is subjected to an acceleration larger than the predetermined pressure correction acceleration reference Vg while the vehicle C is decelerating, the pressing load reference Sp is corrected from the initial pressing load reference Sp0 and then the pressing load reference. It has been changed to Sp1 (> Sp0). Therefore, the tactile presentation timings t2 to t4 can be delayed from the normal tactile presentation timings t11 to t12 (see FIG. 8).

Further, the host controller 10 is provided on the condition that the pressing load detected by the clearance distance sensor 16 exceeds the predetermined value Sa and the operation position information by the vehicle occupant detected by the electrostatic IC 23 is not within the predetermined center range Ca. , The acceleration applied to the vehicle C is estimated based on the pressing load. Therefore, the acceleration can be estimated as accurately as possible.

As the external factor, the above description has been made mainly assuming the deceleration of the vehicle C, but the same can be applied to the acceleration of the vehicle C. When the vehicle C accelerates, the fingers of the vehicle occupants are accelerated toward the rear of the vehicle. At this time, the host controller 10 may set the pressing load reference Sp to be smaller than the initial pressing reference Sp0.

(Second Embodiment)
FIG. 9 shows an explanatory diagram in the second embodiment. As shown in FIG. 9, an acceleration detection device 25 is provided inside the vehicle C outside the display device 7. The display device 7 and the acceleration detection device 25 are connected by an in-vehicle network. The acceleration detection device 25 is a device configured to be able to detect or calculate the acceleration of the vehicle C (corresponding to an external factor) by the acceleration signal acquired from the acceleration sensor 26, and outputs the acceleration information to the host controller 10. .. As a result, the host controller 10 functions as a factor acquisition unit that acquires acceleration information from the outside.

That is, in the above-described embodiment, the acceleration is calculated based on the sensor information of the gap distance sensor 16, but as shown in this embodiment, the host controller 10 may acquire the acceleration information from the outside.
At the time of acceleration, the fingers of the vehicle occupant are accelerated behind the vehicle C. Therefore, in consideration of the acceleration, it is preferable to set it lower than the normal pressing load reference Sp. At the time of deceleration, the fingers of the vehicle occupant are accelerated in front of the vehicle C. Therefore, in consideration of the acceleration, it is preferable to set it higher than the normal pressing load reference Sp. As a result, the control can be performed by using the pressing load reference Sp according to the acceleration applied to the fingers of the vehicle occupant, and the vehicle occupant does not feel a sense of discomfort.
Also in this embodiment, the same action and effect as those in the above-described embodiment are obtained.

(Third Embodiment)
FIG. 10 shows an explanatory diagram in the third embodiment. FIG. 10 shows an inclination angle θ1 of the front surface 7a of the display device 7 with respect to the horizontal plane A (Z direction). In the vehicle interior 1 of the vehicle C, the inclination angle θ1 of the front surface 7a of the display device 7 may be changed by an angle adjuster (for example, a motor) (not shown). This is provided for the vehicle occupant to adjust the tilt angle θ1 (for example, 0 ° to 90 °) so that the operation input surface of the touch panel 11 can be easily input or the display content of the display 8 can be easily visually recognized. It is a function.

In such a case, the host controller 10 of the display device 7 inputs the information of the tilt angle θ1 by acquiring the information of the rotation angle by the angle adjuster, and adds the information of the tilt angle θ1 to the front surface 7a. The acceleration applied in the vertical direction may be calculated, and the above-mentioned pressing load reference Sp may be changed and controlled based on this acceleration. For example, when the inclination angle θ1 is close to 90 ° and the surface direction of the front surface 7a is close to the vertical direction (XY direction), the influence of the acceleration applied to the vehicle C becomes large.

On the contrary, when the inclination angle θ1 is close to the horizontal direction (0 °) and the surface direction of the front surface 7a is close to the horizontal direction (XZ direction), even if the vehicle C is accelerated, the influence is slight. It becomes a thing. Therefore, it is preferable that the host controller 10 calculates the acceleration applied in the vertical direction of the front surface 7a based on the inclination angle θ1, and changes and controls the above-mentioned pressing load reference Sp based on this acceleration. Then, the tactile sensation can be presented according to the substance of the inclination angle θ1 of the front surface 7a of the display device 7, and the tactile sensation can be presented without discomfort to the vehicle occupants.

(Fourth Embodiment)
FIG. 11 shows an explanatory diagram in the fourth embodiment. FIG. 11 schematically shows the traveling state when the vehicle C is descending the inclined surface from the side of the vehicle C. At this time, the inclination angle θ2 of the road surface 29 on which the vehicle C travels satisfies 0 ° <θ2 <90 °.

The display device 7 is mounted on the vehicle C, and the front surface 7a of the display device 7 is installed in the vertical direction with respect to the traveling direction of the vehicle C. At this time, the inclination angle when the vehicle C travels on the road surface 29 is θ2, and when the vehicle C descends the road surface forming this inclination angle θ2, the inclination angle of the front surface 7a of the display device 7 with respect to the horizontal plane A is (90 ° −θ2). ).

In this case, the host controller 10 of the display device 7 may change and control the pressing load reference Sp according to the inclination angle θ2 when the vehicle C travels. For example, a gyro sensor (not shown) is mounted on the vehicle C, and the host controller 10 can acquire information on the traveling angle of the vehicle C by using the information of the gyro sensor. Therefore, the host controller 10 can calculate the inclination angle θ2 in which the vehicle C travels by using the information on the traveling angle of the vehicle C.

Further, the display device 7 has a navigation function as described in the above-described embodiment, but for example, the display device 7 acquires the current position information of the vehicle C based on the position detector using GPS or the like and the map information, and this vehicle. Based on the current position information of C and the traveling direction information of the vehicle C, it is possible to specify what place and in what direction the vehicle C is traveling.

Further, when the map information includes the information of the inclination angle θ2, the host controller 10 can specify the inclination angle θ2 by referring to the information of the inclination angle θ2 at the current position of the vehicle C from the map information. Therefore, the host controller 10 can calculate the acceleration applied in the vertical direction of the front surface 7a according to the information of the inclination angle θ2, and can change and control the pressing load reference Sp based on this acceleration.

At this time, when the inclination angle θ2 is close to 90 ° and the surface direction of the front surface 7a is close to the horizontal direction (XZ direction), the influence of gravity applied in the Y direction becomes large, so that the vehicle C is decelerated. It is preferable to add the influence of this gravity to the acceleration and change and control the pressing load reference Sp based on this acceleration.

Although not shown, on the contrary, when the vehicle C is climbing a slope, the acceleration is applied to the rear of the vehicle C more even when the vehicle C accelerates than when traveling on the flat road surface 29. become. Therefore, it is preferable that the host controller 10 adds the influence of gravity in addition to the acceleration of the vehicle C traveling in front, and changes and controls the pressing load reference Sp based on this acceleration. By controlling the host controller 10 in this way, the tactile sensation can be presented according to the substance of the angle (90 ° −θ2) of the front surface 7a of the display device 7, and the tactile sensation can be presented without discomfort to the vehicle occupants.

(Other variants)
Further, the host controller 10 may change and control the pressing load reference Sp according to the vibration from the road surface. For example, when the vehicle C is traveling on a rough road surface such as an unpaved road with many irregularities, the vehicle occupant is affected by the vibration from the road surface 29, and the front surface 7a of the display device 7 in the vehicle interior 1 is affected. It becomes difficult to accurately input instructions to the operation input unit.

For example, when the vehicle C travels on a depressed hole, the tire 30 enters the hole and suddenly causes acceleration in the vertical direction (Y direction in the drawing) in the vehicle interior 1. At this time, when the vehicle occupant happens to try to touch the front surface 7a of the display device 7, the vehicle occupant pushes in an unintended place on the front surface 7a of the display device 7, and the host controller 10 and the tactile control microcomputer 24 erroneously operate the operation. Will be accepted.
Therefore, it is desirable that the host controller 10 instantly set the pressing load reference Sp to a large value when the information on the acceleration in the vertical direction is input. Then, even if the vehicle C travels on a rough road and the vehicle C vibrates in the vertical direction (Y direction), the tactile presentation due to an erroneous operation by the vehicle occupant is not performed.

Further, the host controller 10 may change and control the pressing load reference Sp depending on whether the vehicle C is running or stopped (for example, while waiting at a red light). For example, while the vehicle C is traveling, it is desirable to set a large pressing load reference Sp in order to prevent erroneous operation in consideration of the influence of tremor and wobbling of the vehicle occupant's fingers.

On the contrary, it is desirable to set the pressing load reference Sp small so that the vehicle occupant can operate the vehicle C as quickly as possible while the vehicle C is stopped. By controlling the host controller 10 in this way, it becomes possible to present the tactile sensation according to the substance of the external factor due to the vibration generated in the vehicle C and the acceleration during the traveling (during or stopped) of the vehicle C. The occupant can present the tactile sensation without any discomfort.

(Other embodiments)
The technique is not limited to the technique according to the above-described embodiment, and for example, the following modifications or extensions are possible.
The form in which the center information display integrated with the touch panel 11 is applied as the display device 7 is shown, but it is also applied to other displays installed in the center of the vehicle interior 1, various meter devices for vehicles, navigation devices for vehicles, and the like. can.

As the tactile presentation method, a configuration using actuators 9a ... 9d that operate electromagnetically is applied, but the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, a piezoelectric method using a piezoelectric element, an eccentric rotation mass (ERM:). Other techniques such as the Eccentric Rotating Mass) method and the Linear Resonant Actuator (LRA) method may be used.

As shown in FIG. 2, four actuators 9a to 9d are installed at the corners of the touch panel 11, but one or more actuators 9a to 9d may be installed. The four corners of the operation input surface of the touch panel 11 are suspended by using leaf springs 14, but this is not the case.

As a method for detecting the pressing load, a method for detecting the amount of sinking using the distance Z0 of the gap distance sensor 16 has been shown, but the technique is not limited to this technique. Instead of the gap distance sensor 16, various sensors such as a strain gauge, a capacitance sensor, a pressure sensitive sensor, and an electrostatic touch sensor may be used. That is, the pressing load may be detected using the strain amount detected by the strain gauge, or the pressing load may be detected using the change amount of the capacitance detected by the capacitance sensor. Further, the pressing load may be detected by using the pressure change amount detected by the pressure-sensitive sensor, and further, the pressing load may be detected by using the change amount of the contact area of the vehicle occupant's finger detected by the electrostatic touch sensor. May be detected. That is, any sensor may be used as long as the pressing load can be detected.

Although the processing contents of FIGS. 6 and 7 show a mode in which the host controller 10 and the tactile control microcomputer 24 cooperate with each other to perform processing, the tactile control microcomputer 24 or the host controller 10 may perform the processing alone.

The reference numerals in parentheses described in the claims indicate the correspondence with the specific means described in the above-described embodiment as one aspect of the present invention, and limit the technical scope of the present invention. It's not a thing. An embodiment in which a part of the above-described embodiment is omitted as long as the problem can be solved can also be regarded as an embodiment. In addition, any conceivable embodiment can be regarded as an embodiment as long as it does not deviate from the essence of the invention specified by the wording described in the claims.

Further, although the present invention has been described in accordance with the above-described embodiment, it is understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiment or structure. The present invention also includes various modifications and variations within a uniform range. In addition, various combinations and forms, as well as other combinations and forms, including one element, more, or less, are within the scope and scope of the present disclosure.

In the drawing, 7 is a display device (operation device for a vehicle), 7a is a front surface (operation input surface of an operation input unit), 8 is a display, 9a to 9d are actuators, and 10 is a host controller (tactile presentation control unit, pressing load). Reference control unit, factor acquisition unit, acceleration estimation unit), 11 is a touch panel, 16 is a gap distance sensor (sensor), 23 is an electrostatic IC (operation position detection unit), and 24 is a tactile control microcomputer (pressing load detection unit, tactile sensation). Presentation control unit, factor acquisition unit, pressing load reference control unit), C indicates a vehicle.

Claims (9)

When the operation input unit (7a) is operated by the vehicle occupant in the vehicle (C), the tactile presentation control unit (tactile presentation control unit) that controls whether or not the tactile presentation is performed by comparing the pressing load associated with the operation with the pressing load reference. 10, 24, S3, S8),
A factor acquisition unit (24, S2; 10) that acquires an external factor due to acceleration or vibration applied to the vehicle, and
The pressing load reference control unit (10, S4, S5) that changes and controls the pressing load reference according to the external factor,
A plurality of sensors (16 of 9a to 9d) provided for detecting the amount of sinking corresponding to the pressing load, and
The operation position detection unit (23) that detects the operation position information,
The amount of subduction by all the sensors exceeds a predetermined value (Sa), and the operation position information detected by the operation position detection unit (23) is not in the central range (Ca) surrounded by the plurality of sensors. A vehicle operation device including an acceleration estimation unit (10, T3) that estimates the acceleration applied to the vehicle based on the amount of sinking by the sensor . The vehicle operation device according to claim 1, wherein the factor acquisition unit (10) acquires information on the acceleration applied to the vehicle from an externally installed device (25) capable of detecting or calculating the acceleration. The vehicle operation device according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein the pressing load reference control unit changes and controls the pressing load reference according to an inclination angle (θ1) of an operation input surface of the operation input unit. The vehicle operation device according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein the pressing load reference control unit changes and controls the pressing load reference according to an inclination angle (θ2) when the vehicle (C) travels. The vehicle operation device according to claim 4 , wherein the pressing load reference control unit significantly changes and controls the pressing load reference when the vehicle (C) is decelerating and is going down a road surface. When the vehicle (C) determines that an acceleration larger than a predetermined pressure correction acceleration reference (Vg) is applied to the vehicle while the vehicle (C) is decelerating, the pressing load reference control unit significantly changes and controls the pressing load reference. The vehicle operating device according to any one of claims 1 to 5 . The vehicle operation device according to any one of claims 1 to 6 , wherein the pressing load reference control unit changes and controls the pressing load reference according to the vibration from the road surface. The vehicle operation device according to any one of claims 1 to 7 , wherein the pressing load reference control unit changes and controls the pressing load reference depending on whether the vehicle (C) is running or stopped. The vehicle operation device according to claim 8 , wherein the pressing load reference control unit largely changes and controls the pressing load reference during traveling.

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