JPS637979B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (1) Technical Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a switch control device for a vehicle steering wheel, which provides a malfunction prevention device for various operation switches mounted on the steering wheel portion of a vehicle, particularly a vehicle. Regarding.

(2) Prior art and its problems Recently, a wide variety of switches have been installed in automobiles for the purpose of safe driving, and a large number of switches have been installed in automobiles.

These operation switches have been developed to be mounted on the upper surface of the steering wheel as much as possible in consideration of operability during safe driving of the automobile. The structure is such that various switches can be easily operated as desired at the hand that operates the so-called handle.

However, as mentioned above, by equipping the top surface of the steering wheel with various operation switches to improve the operability of the various switches, on the other hand, when rotating the steering wheel to change the direction of the car, it is difficult to accidentally turn the steering wheel. It is easy for the hands to touch the operating switch, which leads to disadvantages such as erroneous operation, which impedes the operability of the steering wheel and poses a risk of a lack of safety.

(3) Purpose of the present invention In view of the above-mentioned drawbacks, the present invention has been developed to solve the problem that when the steering wheel is rotated, that is, when the steering wheel is rotated beyond a predetermined rotation angle, it is possible to accidentally touch the operation part of the switch. To provide a switch control device for a steering wheel for a vehicle in which an electric circuit to a load connected to the switch is not closed, causing no malfunction, and which does not impede the operability of the steering wheel. With the goal.

(4) Configuration of the present invention FIG. 1 is a system diagram showing a switch control device for a vehicle steering wheel according to the present invention. Below, the configuration is shown in Fig. 1, Fig. 2, Fig. 3,
This will be explained in detail based on FIGS. 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8.

1 is a steering wheel of a car. 2
are a plurality of various operation switches, which are attached to the center of the steering handle 1 and its periphery. Reference numeral 3 denotes an encoding circuit section which converts the respective operations of the various operation switches 2 into respective encoded signals and derives a serial output signal, and is constructed inside the central portion of the steering handle 1. 4 is an optical coupler section. The optical coupler section 4 further converts the serial output signal converted into an encoded signal by the encoding circuit section 3 into an optical signal, and the optical coupler section 4 is configured as shown in FIGS. It is composed of a ring-shaped light guide 4b made of a light guide material, a light emitting element 4a embedded in a predetermined position on the upper surface of the light guide 4b, and a light receiving element 4c arranged on the outer periphery of the light guide 4b. . The ring-shaped light guide 4b is fixed around the central axis of the steering handle 1 so as to be rotated integrally with the steering handle 1,
A light emitting element 4a buried in a predetermined position on the upper surface receives a serial output signal from the encoding circuit section 3 and further converts it into an optical signal. Further, the light receiving element 4c detects the optical signal from the light emitting element 4a via the light guide 4b, and the rotation determination circuit section 6 of the next stage
A serial signal is input to the gate circuit 6b of the gate circuit 6b. 5 is a rotation sensor section. The rotation sensor section 5 maintains sliding contact between a rotating base 5a and a spiral sliding resistor formed on the rotating base 5a, as in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, for example. The contact needle 5e has a contact needle 5e.

The rotating base 5a is fixed to the lower surface of the light guide 4b and is rotated integrally with the steering handle 1. The rotating base 5a is provided with a spiral guide groove 5b with a predetermined number of turns, for example, a sixth spiral guide groove 5b on the lower surface. It is formed as shown in the figure. Moreover, on the bottom surface of the guide groove 5b,
A low resistance element (hereinafter simply referred to as a "conductor") 5c and a high resistance element 5d are attached. The conductor 5c is a portion corresponding to a predetermined rotation angle of the steering wheel 1,
For example, it is attached only to the rotation angle range X in FIG. 6, and is connected to the positive pole of the power source. The other portion is a high resistance element 5d. Of course, the rotating base 5a
If is a high-resistance insulator, the provision of a high-resistance element can be omitted. The contact needle 5e is pressed into the guide groove 5b of the rotary base 5a with a predetermined force and is held so as to be movable only in a predetermined direction. As shown in FIG. 6, when the handle is in a substantially straight forward state without being rotated to the right, it is positioned at the conductor 5c portion of the guide groove 5b, and is electrically connected to the conductor 5c of the rotating base 5a. has been done. Thus, the contact needle 5e
is connected to the rotation determination circuit 6 at the next stage.

6 is a rotation determination circuit section. The rotation determination circuit section 6 includes a resistor which receives a resistance change due to contact between the rotating base 5a and the contact needle 5e and converts it into a voltage change.
Voltage conversion circuit 6a and the resistance-voltage conversion circuit 6a
A gate circuit 6b that controls the serial output signal from the optical coupler section 4 depending on the presence or absence of input from the optical coupler section 4 is configured, for example, as in the embodiment shown in FIG. A code decoding circuit section 7 receives the signal derived from the rotation determination circuit section 6, decodes the input signal, and operates the load 8 in order to drive a predetermined load. 8 is various loads corresponding to the switch 2.

(5) Effect of the present invention In FIG. 1, when a switch 2 installed on a steering wheel 1, for example a wiper switch, is operated, the signal is converted into an encoded signal by the encoder circuit section 3, and the light emitting element of the optical coupler section 4 is activated. 4a.

The light emitting element 4a converts it into a predetermined optical signal and sends it to the light guide 4.
The light is transmitted to the light receiving element 4c via the light receiving element 4c. Light receiving element 4
c is an input to the gate circuit 6b of the judgment/discrimination circuit section 6, and is determined based on the rotation detection state of the rotation sensor section 5 that detects the rotation state of the steering wheel 1, that is, when the steering wheel 1 changes the direction of the vehicle. The conductor 5c of the rotating base 5a and the contact needle 5 are within the rotation angle range
e is in a conductive state, so the transistor of the resistance-voltage conversion circuit 6a of the rotation determination circuit section 6
The gate circuit 6b is turned on, and a signal from the light receiving element 4c, for example, a wiper drive signal, is input to the code decoding circuit section 7. In this way, the load 8, such as a wiper, is driven in accordance with the desired operation of the switch 2 based on the command from the code decoding circuit.

On the other hand, when the steering wheel 1 is rotated to the left or right to change the direction of the vehicle, the contact needle 5e of the rotation sensor section 5 receives high resistance from the conductor 5c due to the rotation of the rotation base 5a. body 5d
Since the rotating base 5a and the contact needle 5e are moved to and in contact with each other, there is no conduction between the rotating base 5a and the contact needle 5e. Therefore, the transistor of the resistance-voltage conversion circuit 6a of the rotation determination circuit section 6 is
Since it is in the OFF state and the gate circuit 6b is inactive, the signal from the light receiving element 4c is not conducted and not transmitted to the code decoding circuit section 7 at the next stage.

Thus, when the steering wheel 1 is being rotated to the left or right to change the direction of the vehicle beyond the predetermined rotation angle range X, the switch 2 on the steering wheel 1 may be accidentally touched and operated. Also, malfunction of the load 8 is prevented by the operation of the rotation sensor section 5 and the rotation determination circuit section 6.

Next, a seventh embodiment of the rotation sensor section 5 is shown.
The figure and FIG. 8 will be explained.

In FIG. 7, 10 is a cylindrical rotating base. A helical guide groove 10a is formed at a predetermined number of times on the outer periphery of the rotating base 10. A sliding resistor is attached to the wound guide groove 10a. That is, a conductor 10b is attached to the center portion of the guide groove 10a at a substantially equal distance from both ends thereof in a range corresponding to the rotation angle range X shown in FIG. 6, and is connected to the positive pole of the power source. The other portion is a high resistance element 10c. Of course, in this case as well, if the rotary base 10 is a high-resistance insulator like the rotary disk 5a, the provision of a high-resistance body can be omitted. Further, the rotating base 10 is integrally fixed to the lower surface of the optical coupler section 4, and is rotated concentrically and integrally with the rotating operation of the steering handle 1. Thus, when the steering wheel is in a state where the vehicle is running substantially straight without being rotated to the left or right, the contact needle 5e contacts the conductor 10b of the guide groove 10a of the rotating base 10, and the steering wheel is not rotated to the left or right. When the handle 1 is rotated, the contact needle 5e moves to the high resistance body 10c due to the rotation of the rotating base 10.
It has the same effect as a and constitutes the rotation sensor 5.

FIG. 8 shows yet another embodiment. 11 is a cylindrical rotating body. The outer periphery of the rotating body 11 is provided with a helical guide groove 11a similar to the rotating base 10.
is formed a predetermined number of times. Further, the rotary body 11 is integrally fixed to the lower surface of the optical coupler section 4, and is rotated concentrically and integrally with the rotation operation of the steering handle 1. Contact needle 5 loaded with one end
By rotating the steering handle 1, e' is moved in the axial direction of the steering handle 1 according to the rotational direction.

12 is the base. The base 12 is the rotating body 1
A belt-shaped sliding resistor 13 is arranged and fixed at a predetermined position on the outer periphery of the steering handle 1, and a band-shaped sliding resistor 13 is arranged on the surface facing the rotating body 11 and has a predetermined width in alignment with the axial direction of the steering handle 1. It is attached to a predetermined length. Furthermore, the sliding resistor 13 has a conductor 13a at a central portion approximately equal distance from both ends within a predetermined length range, that is, when the steering wheel 1 is rotated within the rotation angle range X shown in FIG. Contact needle 5
It is configured to be attached within a length range corresponding to the distance that e' moves, and is connected to the positive pole of the power supply. The other part is a high resistance element 13b. Contact needle 5
e' is held in elastic contact between the guide groove 11a of the rotating body 11 and the sliding resistor 13a of the base plate 12 so as to be slidable only in the axial direction of the steering handle 1.

Thus, the rotation sensor 5 is configured to detect the rotational operation of the steering handle 1 in the same way as the rotation base 5a or 10.

(6) Effects of the present invention (a) When changing the direction of the automobile, that is, when rotating the steering wheel, no malfunction occurs even if the various operation switches attached to the steering wheel are accidentally touched by the hands. To provide a switch control device for a steering wheel for a vehicle, which allows the steering wheel to be easily rotated and has higher safety.

(b) It can be used in a wide variety of vehicles because it has a simple component structure, can be manufactured at low cost, and can be easily installed on the vehicle side.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a system diagram showing an outline of a switch control device for a vehicle steering wheel according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram and a circuit diagram showing an embodiment of the optical coupler section, rotation sensor section, and rotation discrimination circuit section of FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a plan view of the optical coupler section of FIG. 1. Figure 4 shows arrow A-A in Figure 3.
FIG. FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing one embodiment of the optical coupler section and rotation sensor section of FIG. 1. FIG. 6 is a bottom view of FIG. 5. FIG. 7 is an explanatory view showing another embodiment of the rotation sensor section of the switch control device for a steering wheel for a vehicle according to the present invention. FIG. 8 is an explanatory view showing still another embodiment of the rotation sensor section of the switch control device for a steering wheel for a vehicle according to the present invention. 2... Switch, 3... Encoding circuit section, 4...
Optical coupler section, 5...Rotation sensor section, 5a, 10
...Rotating base, 5b, 10a, 11a...Guide groove, 5c, 10b, 13a...Conductor, 5e, 5
e'...Contact needle, 6...Rotation determination circuit section, 11...
Rotating body, 12... base.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A plurality of operation switches mounted on a steering wheel, an encoding circuit that converts the operation of the operation switches into encoded signals and derives a serial output signal, and a serial output signal derived from the encoding circuit section. A switch control device for a steering wheel for a vehicle, comprising an optical coupler section that converts a serial output signal into an optical signal, and a code decoding circuit section that decodes the optical signal derived from the optical coupler section and drives each load. a rotation sensor unit equipped with a sliding resistor disposed near the lower part of the steering handle and in a predetermined rotation angle range of the steering handle, and outputting a resistance change signal detected by the rotation sensor unit; For a vehicle, comprising: a resistance voltage conversion circuit that converts the resistance change signal into a voltage change signal; and a rotation determination circuit section that includes a gate circuit that turns on and off based on an output signal from the resistance voltage conversion circuit. Steering handle switch control device. 2. The rotation sensor part is a planar plate with a sliding resistor arranged in a guide groove spirally formed around the steering wheel axis on the bottom of the steering handle and in a predetermined rotation angle range of the steering handle. A switch control device for a steering wheel for a vehicle according to claim 1, characterized in that the device comprises a rotating base. 3. The rotation sensor part is a cylindrical rotation sensor equipped with a sliding resistance body disposed in a guide groove formed in a helical shape around the steering wheel axis in the lower part of the steering handle and in a predetermined rotation angle range of the steering handle. A switch control device for a steering wheel for a vehicle according to claim 1, characterized in that the switch control device comprises a base. 4. The rotation sensor unit includes a rotating body having a guide groove formed in a helical shape around the steering wheel axis in the lower part of the steering handle, a contact needle that moves in the guide groove of the rotating body, and disposed on the outer periphery of the rotating body. Claim 1, further comprising: a substrate with which the contact needle comes into contact and which has a band-shaped sliding resistor disposed in a predetermined rotational angle range of the steering handle. A switch control device for a steering wheel for the vehicle described above.