False touch prevention switch and control method thereof

Abstract

The invention discloses a mistaken touch prevention switch and a control method thereof, and relates to the technical field of automobile spare parts, the mistaken touch prevention switch is used for being arranged on an automobile steering wheel, the mistaken touch prevention switch comprises a base, a plurality of function switches, an unlocking switch and a controller, and a circuit board is installed on the base; the plurality of function switches are all arranged on the base and located on the outer side of an automobile steering wheel, a control circuit is arranged between the plurality of function switches and the circuit board, and each function switch is connected with different actuators on an automobile through a power supply circuit; the unlocking switch is arranged on the base, is located on the inner side of an automobile steering wheel, is arranged on the control circuit and is used for controlling the control circuit to be in an activated state or a to-be-activated state; when the control circuit is in an activated state, signals sent by all the function switches can control on-off of the corresponding power supply circuits. According to the technical scheme, the problem that when a driver turns and swings the steering wheel, function keys on the steering wheel are likely to be triggered by mistake is solved.

Description

Anti-accidental touch switch and its control method Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of automotive parts technology, and in particular to an anti-accidental touch switch and its control method. Background Technology

[0002] As passenger vehicles pursue a more technological and minimalist design, automotive switches have evolved from multi-button designs to levers, rollers, and now touch controls. Current touch switches primarily employ a touch-plus-microswitch micro-travel anti-accidental touch solution. This means that a confirmation press is required to prevent accidental touches, and the operation is not significantly different from existing button switches, offering no substantial improvement in user experience. However, when turning, drivers often move the steering wheel sharply, easily leading to accidental touches and presses, causing unintended button functions and severely impacting the user experience. Summary of the Invention

[0003] The main objective of this invention is to propose an anti-accidental touch switch and its control method, which aims to avoid the problem of accidental triggering of function buttons on the steering wheel when the driver turns and swings the steering wheel.

[0004] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention proposes an anti-accidental touch switch for installation on a car steering wheel. The anti-accidental touch switch includes: a base for mounting on the car steering wheel, on which a circuit board is mounted; multiple function switches located on the base and on the outer side of the car steering wheel, with a control circuit between the multiple function switches and the circuit board, each function switch connected to a different actuator in the car via a power supply circuit; an unlock switch located on the base and on the inner side of the car steering wheel, the unlock switch being located on the control circuit for controlling the control circuit to be in an active or inactive state; and a controller located on the circuit board and electrically connected to the circuit board. When the control circuit is in an active state, each function switch can control the on / off state of its corresponding power supply circuit.

[0005] In one embodiment, the unlock switch includes a fingerprint switch for switching the control circuit from a pending state to an active state after being touched by a user.

[0006] In one embodiment, a photosensitive component is disposed below the fingerprint switch, the photosensitive component being used to collect fingerprint signals; the photosensitive component is electrically connected to the circuit board.

[0007] In one embodiment, the function switch includes a capacitive touchscreen.

[0008] In one embodiment, the unlock switch and the plurality of function switches have different shapes or materials.

[0009] In one embodiment, the base includes: a mounting base for mounting on the vehicle steering wheel, wherein a circuit board is mounted on the mounting base; a support plate disposed on the mounting base for fixing the circuit board together with the mounting base; and a decorative cover disposed on the support plate, wherein, at least when the control circuit is in an activated state, the upper end of the decorative cover is flush with the surface of the vehicle steering wheel, the end faces of the function switch and the unlock switch.

[0010] In one embodiment, the anti-accidental touch switch further includes waterproof rubber, which is disposed between the circuit board and the support plate.

[0011] This invention also proposes a control method for an anti-accidental touch switch, used to control the anti-accidental touch switch as described in any of the above embodiments. The control method for the anti-accidental touch switch includes the following steps: when the unlocking switch is triggered, entering an execution control mode; wherein, in the execution control mode, the control circuit switches from a pending activation state to an activated state; in the execution control mode, and when at least one of the functional switches is triggered, controlling the corresponding actuator to work; if all the functional switches are not triggered for a preset time, controlling the control circuit to switch from an activated state to a pending activation state, exiting the execution control mode; wherein, the preset time is 10~20 seconds.

[0012] In one embodiment, the anti-accidental touch switch further includes a voice module. After the step of switching the control circuit from the pending activation state to the activated state, the control circuit further includes: acquiring the working state of the unlock switch and the function switch, the working state including not triggered and triggered; when the unlock switch is not triggered and at least one of the function switches is triggered, controlling the voice module to issue a voice reminder.

[0013] In one embodiment, after the step of obtaining the working state of the unlock switch and the function switch, the method further includes: if one of the function switches is triggered, controlling the corresponding actuator to work and controlling the voice module to broadcast the corresponding function; if the same function switch is detected to be triggered twice consecutively, controlling the corresponding actuator to work continuously; if multiple function switches are detected to be triggered simultaneously, controlling the control circuit to switch from an active state to a standby state to suppress the corresponding actuator from working and controlling the voice module to issue a voice reminder.

[0014] In the technical solution of this invention, to use the relevant function switches, the unlock switch must first be triggered to activate the control circuit. Only then can the corresponding power supply circuit be switched on and off via each function switch to further control different actuators on the vehicle. In other words, even if a function switch is accidentally touched while the driver is rotating the steering wheel, the relevant function will not be triggered if the unlock switch is not activated. Furthermore, the unlock switch of this application is located on the inside of the steering wheel, making it less likely to be accidentally activated while the driver is rotating the steering wheel. This avoids the problem of accidentally triggering function buttons on the steering wheel when the driver is turning or swaying the steering wheel. Attached Figure Description

[0015] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on the structures shown in these drawings without creative effort.

[0016] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the structure of the anti-accidental touch switch provided by the present invention installed on the car steering wheel; Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of the structure of the anti-accidental touch switch provided by the present invention; Figure 3 is a flowchart of an embodiment of the control method of the anti-accidental touch switch provided by the present invention.

[0017] The following are the reference numerals: 100, Anti-accidental touch switch; 1, Base; 11, Mounting bracket; 12, Support plate; 13, Decorative cover; 2, Circuit board; 3, Function switch; 4, Unlock switch; 41, Photosensitive component; 5, Controller.

[0018] The realization of the objective, functional features and advantages of the present invention will be further explained in conjunction with the embodiments and with reference to the accompanying drawings. Detailed Implementation

[0019] The technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of the present invention, and not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0020] It should be noted that if the embodiments of the present invention involve directional indicators (such as up, down, left, right, front, back, etc.), the directional indicators are only used to explain the relative positional relationship and movement of the components in a specific posture. If the specific posture changes, the directional indicators will also change accordingly.

[0021] Furthermore, if the embodiments of this invention involve descriptions such as "first" or "second," these descriptions are for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying their relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated. Thus, a feature defined with "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include at least one of those features. Additionally, the use of "and / or" or "and / or" throughout the text includes three parallel solutions. For example, "A and / or B" includes solution A, solution B, or a solution where both A and B are satisfied simultaneously. Furthermore, the technical solutions of the various embodiments can be combined with each other, but this must be based on the ability of those skilled in the art to implement them. When the combination of technical solutions is contradictory or impossible to implement, it should be considered that such a combination of technical solutions does not exist and is not within the scope of protection claimed by this invention.

[0022] As passenger vehicles pursue a more technological and minimalist design, automotive switches have evolved from multi-button designs to levers, rollers, and now touch controls. Current touch switches primarily employ a touch-plus-microswitch micro-travel anti-accidental touch solution. This means that a confirmation press is required to prevent accidental touches, and the operation is not significantly different from existing button switches, offering no substantial improvement in user experience. However, when turning, drivers often move the steering wheel sharply, easily leading to accidental touches and presses, causing unintended button functions and severely impacting the user experience.

[0023] This invention proposes an anti-accidental touch switch 100, which aims to avoid the problem of accidental triggering of function buttons on the steering wheel when the driver turns and swings the steering wheel.

[0024] Please refer to Figures 1 and 2. In one embodiment of the present invention, the anti-accidental touch switch 100 is used to be installed on a car steering wheel. The anti-accidental touch switch 100 includes a base 1, multiple function switches 3, an unlocking switch 4, and a controller 5. The base 1 is used to be installed on the car steering wheel, and a circuit board 2 is installed on the base 1. The multiple function switches 3 are all located on the base 1 and on the outside of the car steering wheel. A control circuit is provided between the multiple function switches 3 and the circuit board 2. Each function switch 3 is connected to a different actuator on the car through a power supply circuit. The unlocking switch 4 is located on the base 1 and on the inside of the car steering wheel. The unlocking switch 4 is located on the control circuit and is used to control the control circuit to be in an active state or a standby state. The controller 5 is located on the circuit board 2 and is electrically connected to the circuit board 2. When the control circuit is in an active state, each function switch 3 can control the on / off state of the corresponding power supply circuit.

[0025] In the technical solution of this invention, to use the relevant function switch 3, the unlock switch 4 must first be triggered to activate the control circuit. Only then can the corresponding power supply circuit be switched on and off through each function switch 3 to further control different actuators on the vehicle. In other words, even if the driver accidentally touches a function switch 3 while rotating the steering wheel, the relevant function will not be triggered if the unlock switch 4 is not activated. Furthermore, the unlock switch 4 of this application is located on the inside of the steering wheel, making it less likely to be accidentally activated while the driver is rotating the steering wheel. This avoids the problem of accidentally triggering function buttons on the steering wheel when the driver turns or sways the steering wheel.

[0026] It should be noted that the present invention does not limit the triggering order of the function switch 3 and the unlock switch 4. For example, in other embodiments of the present invention, the circuits of different actuators on the vehicle can be connected when both the function switch 3 and the unlock switch 4 are triggered, so that the actuators work. That is to say, in this process, the function switch 3 can be triggered first and then the unlock switch 4 can be triggered, or the unlock switch 4 can be triggered first and then the function switch 3 can be triggered, or the function switch 3 and the unlock switch 4 can be triggered simultaneously.

[0027] It is foreseeable that in the above embodiments, if function switch 3 is damaged and becomes normally closed, the actuator corresponding to the damaged function switch 3 will start whenever the unlock switch 4 is triggered. To avoid this situation, in the embodiments of the present invention, a signal is sent only at the moment the function switch 3 is triggered. For example, when the unlock switch 4 is not triggered, even if function switch 3 is normally closed, a signal will only be sent at the moment it closes. Even if the unlock switch 4 is triggered subsequently, the relevant power supply circuit will not be connected, meaning the corresponding actuator will not start, thus solving the above problem. In this embodiment, the corresponding actuator can only be started by triggering the unlock switch 4 first, followed by the function switch 3. Furthermore, because the first unlock switch 4 to be triggered needs to be located on the inside of the steering wheel, it is difficult to be accidentally touched during steering wheel movements, increasing the difficulty of accidental triggering and thus better avoiding the problem of accidental triggering of function buttons on the steering wheel when the driver turns and moves the steering wheel.

[0028] Referring to Figure 2, to further enhance the anti-accidental touch function, in this embodiment of the invention, the unlock switch 4 includes a fingerprint switch, used to switch the control circuit from a pending state to an active state after being touched by the user. In other words, by setting the unlock switch 4 as a fingerprint switch, it is ensured that the fingerprint switch can only be triggered by the user's finger, avoiding the possibility of accidental triggering of the unlock switch 4 by other parts of the body or other objects while the steering wheel is being turned. Furthermore, the fingerprint corresponding to the fingerprint switch can be set to a fingerprint that is less likely to be accidentally triggered when the steering wheel is being turned, to further improve its anti-accidental touch performance and ensure that each triggering of the unlock switch 4 is actively initiated by the user.

[0029] Furthermore, in an embodiment of the present invention, a photosensitive component 41 is disposed below the fingerprint switch, and the photosensitive component 41 is used to collect fingerprint signals; the photosensitive component 41 is electrically connected to the circuit board 2. That is to say, by disposing of a photosensitive component 41 below the fingerprint switch, the present invention can collect corresponding fingerprint signals through the photosensitive component 41, and transmit the signals to the controller 5 on the circuit board 2 to identify whether the signal is the fingerprint signal of the corresponding unlocking finger, thereby determining whether to trigger the fingerprint switch.

[0030] It should be noted that, in the embodiments of the present invention, the specific form of the function switch 3 is not limited. For example, if it is ensured that the unlock switch 4 is difficult to be accidentally triggered, it can be determined that even if the function switch 3 is accidentally triggered, the corresponding actuator will not be activated, that is, it will not affect the user experience. Based on this, in order to improve the actual user experience, in the embodiments of the present invention, the function switch 3 includes a capacitive touch screen. That is to say, by setting the function switch 3 in the form of a capacitive touch screen, the user only needs to touch the function switch 3 slightly to trigger it, thereby differentiating it from the traditional solution that requires pressing the switch down, improving the user experience, and the touch screen can also better fit the surface of the steering wheel, making the overall design more harmonious and aesthetically pleasing. It should be noted that the present invention does not limit the number of function buttons set on the capacitive touch screen. In order to adapt to different actuators in the car, it is preferable to set multiple different function buttons on the capacitive touch screen. In addition, in the embodiments of the present invention, a capacitive touch screen is used because, compared with a resistive touch screen, a capacitive touch screen requires a shorter trigger stroke, which can bring a better experience.

[0031] Since the anti-accidental activation switch 100 of the present invention is located on the car steering wheel, the operator is usually the driver. While driving, the driver needs to constantly pay attention to the external environment, so the operation of the function switches 3 on the steering wheel is mostly blind operation. Therefore, in other embodiments of the present invention, to enable the user to accurately trigger the desired function switch 3, the unlocking switch 4 and the plurality of function switches 3 have different shapes or materials. That is, by using different shapes or materials for the multiple switches, blind operation by the user is facilitated, preventing accidental activation due to pressing the wrong button.

[0032] Referring to Figure 2, in an embodiment of the present invention, the base 1 includes a mounting base 11, a support plate 12, and a decorative cover 13. The mounting base 11 is used to mount the car steering wheel, and a circuit board 2 is mounted on the mounting base 11. The support plate 12 is disposed on the mounting base 11 and, together with the mounting base 11, fixes the circuit board 2. The decorative cover 13 is disposed on the support plate 12, and at least when the control circuit is in a pending state, the upper end of the decorative cover 13 is flush with the surface of the car steering wheel, the end faces of the function switch 3, and the unlock switch 4. That is, when the control circuit is in a pending state, i.e., when the unlock switch 4 is not triggered, the end faces of the switches on the surface of the car steering wheel are flush, resulting in an aesthetically pleasing overall appearance and improved user experience.

[0033] Furthermore, in an embodiment of the present invention, the anti-accidental touch switch 100 also includes waterproof rubber (not shown), which is disposed between the circuit board 2 and the support plate 12. That is, by placing the waterproof rubber between the circuit board 2 and the support plate 12, external water is prevented from seeping into the circuit board 2 through the steering wheel, thus preventing potential damage to the circuit board 2.

[0034] The present invention also proposes a control method for an anti-accidental touch switch 100, which is used to realize semi-automatic control of different actuators on a vehicle through the anti-accidental touch switch 100.

[0035] Please refer to Figure 3. The control method of the anti-accidental touch switch 100 includes the following steps: S1: When the unlocking switch 4 is triggered, the control mode is entered; wherein, in the control mode, the control circuit is switched from the pending activation state to the activated state.

[0036] In this step, under the execution control mode, the control circuit switches from a pending state to an active state. In the active state, a complete circuit can be formed simply by triggering the function switch 3, so that the corresponding actuator can be started directly through the function switch 3.

[0037] S2: In the execution control mode, when at least one of the function switches 3 is triggered, control the corresponding actuator to work.

[0038] It should be noted that when not in execution control mode, even if the function switch 3 is triggered, the corresponding actuator will not work.

[0039] S3: If all of the function switches 3 are not triggered for a preset duration, the control circuit is switched from the active state to the standby state and exits the execution control mode; wherein, the preset duration is 10~20 seconds.

[0040] In other words, in the execution control mode, if the user does not operate the function switch 3 for a certain period of time, it also means that the user does not intend to use the actuator. It may also be due to the user's misoperation that the unlock switch 4 is accidentally triggered. In this case, the execution control mode will be automatically exited.

[0041] This embodiment describes a control method for controlling the anti-accidental touch switch 100. When a user needs to use the actuator, they must first trigger the unlock switch 4 to enter the execution control mode, and then operate the corresponding function switch 3 to control the corresponding actuator. If no relevant function switch 3 is triggered after entering the execution control mode for a period of time, it indicates that the unlock switch 4 was not opened by the user's intention. In other words, the unlock switch 4 was opened without accidental triggering. In this case, the controller 5 will automatically exit the execution control mode. That is, the next time the user needs to use the actuator, they need to restart step S1 to trigger the unlock switch 4 before operating it.

[0042] Furthermore, in an embodiment of the present invention, the anti-accidental touch switch 100 further includes a voice module. After the step of switching the control circuit from the pending activation state to the activated state, the method further includes: S11: obtaining the working state of the unlock switch 4 and the function switch 3, the working state including not triggered and triggered.

[0043] In other words, after the control circuit switches from the pending activation state to the activated state, the controller 5 will constantly acquire the working status of the unlock switch 4 and the function switch 3 to ensure that when the function switch 3 is triggered, the unlock switch 4 is also in the triggered state.

[0044] S12: When the unlock switch 4 is not triggered and at least one of the function switches 3 is triggered, control the voice module to issue a voice reminder.

[0045] In other words, when the unlock switch 4 is not triggered, the function switch 3 is triggered. This operation may be because the user forgot to turn on the unlock switch 4, but the user may not be aware of it while driving. Therefore, the control voice module issues a voice reminder to the user.

[0046] In this embodiment, the main issue addressed is the scenario where the user triggers the function switch 3 even when the unlock switch 4 is not activated. This could be due to a period of inactivity since the last operation, causing the unlock switch 4 to automatically exit the execution control mode. Alternatively, it could be that the user forgot to activate the unlock switch 4 before using function switch 3. However, the user needs to focus on driving and therefore is unaware of whether they have actually triggered function switch 3 and activated the corresponding actuator. Therefore, a voice module is included to remind the user whether the corresponding actuator has been correctly activated. It should be noted that this voice reminder can be customized by the user according to their needs; this invention does not impose any restrictions on this. For example, the voice reminder could be something like, "Please unlock the anti-accidental touch function with your fingerprint."

[0047] Furthermore, in an embodiment of the present invention, after the step of obtaining the working state of the unlock switch 4 and the function switch 3, the method further includes: S111: if one of the function switches 3 is triggered, control the corresponding actuator to work, and control the voice module to broadcast the corresponding function.

[0048] In other words, when the user successfully operates function switch 3 and makes the corresponding actuator work, a voice broadcast will be triggered to prompt the user that the relevant actuator has been started.

[0049] S112: If the same function switch 3 is triggered twice in a row, control the corresponding actuator to work continuously.

[0050] In this step, if the function switch 3 is triggered twice in a row, it may be due to a misoperation caused by vehicle bumps or other circumstances. In this case, the user's subjective intention is still to activate the corresponding actuator. Therefore, in this case of misoperation, it will not affect the operation of the corresponding actuator.

[0051] S113: If multiple function switches 3 are triggered simultaneously, control the control circuit to switch from the active state to the standby state to suppress the operation of the corresponding actuator, and control the voice module to issue a voice reminder.

[0052] In this step, when multiple function switches 3 are triggered simultaneously, since there is usually a gap between the multiple function switches 3, this situation is mostly due to the user's subjective intention to trigger multiple function switches 3. In this case, the control circuit will be switched to the standby state, thereby inhibiting the operation of the corresponding actuator, and at the same time issuing a voice broadcast to remind the user.

[0053] This embodiment includes several scenarios when a user operates the function keys. Some operations may be accidental triggers due to the user's subjective intent, such as pressing the same key twice consecutively. In this case, the corresponding actuator will not be suppressed, thus conforming to the user's intention. Other operations may be accidental triggers due to the user's unintentional intent, such as simultaneously triggering multiple function switches 3. In this case, the control circuit will be cut off to suppress the actuator's operation, conforming to the user's intention and improving user comfort.

[0054] It should be noted that in other embodiments of the present invention, when multiple function switches 3 are triggered simultaneously, the actuator corresponding to the first triggered switch is controlled to operate, thereby suppressing the operation of the actuators corresponding to subsequent triggers, and a voice reminder is issued simultaneously. The above two embodiments are suitable for users with different habits, and the specific settings can be adjusted according to actual circumstances; the present invention does not impose any limitations on this.

[0055] The above description is merely an exemplary embodiment of the present invention and does not limit the patent scope of the present invention. Any equivalent structural transformations made using the contents of the present invention specification and drawings under the technical concept of the present invention, or direct / indirect applications in other related technical fields, are included within the patent protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A switch to prevent accidental activation, for installation on a car steering wheel, characterized in that, include: A base for mounting on the car steering wheel, wherein a circuit board is mounted on the base; Multiple function switches are disposed on the base and located on the outside of the car steering wheel. A control circuit is provided between the multiple function switches and the circuit board. Each function switch is connected to a different actuator on the car through a power supply circuit. An unlock switch is disposed on the base and located on the inside of the car steering wheel. The unlock switch is disposed on the control circuit and is used to control the control circuit to be in an active state or a standby state. A controller is disposed on the circuit board and electrically connected to the circuit board. When the control circuit is in an active state, each function switch can control the on / off state of the corresponding power supply circuit.

2. The anti-accidental touch switch as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The unlock switch includes a fingerprint switch, which is used to switch the control circuit from a pending state to an active state after being touched by a user.

3. The anti-accidental touch switch as described in claim 2, characterized in that, A photosensitive component is disposed below the fingerprint switch, and the photosensitive component is used to collect fingerprint signals; the photosensitive component is electrically connected to the circuit board.

4. The anti-accidental touch switch as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The function switch includes a capacitive touchscreen.

5. The anti-accidental touch switch as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The unlock switch and the plurality of function switches have different shapes or materials.

6. The anti-accidental touch switch as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The base includes: a mounting base for mounting on the car steering wheel, wherein a circuit board is mounted on the mounting base; a support plate disposed on the mounting base for fixing the circuit board together with the mounting base; and a decorative cover disposed on the support plate, wherein at least when the control circuit is in an activated state, the upper end of the decorative cover is flush with the surface of the car steering wheel, the end faces of the function switch and the unlock switch.

7. The anti-accidental touch switch as described in claim 6, characterized in that, The anti-accidental touch switch also includes waterproof rubber, which is disposed between the circuit board and the support plate.

8. A control method for an anti-accidental touch switch, used to control the anti-accidental touch switch as described in any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that, Includes the following steps: When the unlock switch is triggered, the system enters the execution control mode; in the execution control mode, the control circuit switches from a pending state to an active state; in the execution control mode, when at least one of the function switches is triggered, the corresponding actuator is controlled to work; if all the function switches are not triggered for a preset time, the control circuit switches from an active state to a pending state, and the system exits the execution control mode; wherein the preset time is 10 to 20 seconds.

9. The control method for the anti-accidental touch switch as described in claim 8, characterized in that, The anti-accidental touch switch also includes a voice module. After the step of switching the control circuit from the pending activation state to the activated state, the control circuit further includes: obtaining the working state of the unlock switch and the function switch, the working state including not triggered and triggered; when the unlock switch is not triggered and at least one of the function switches is triggered, controlling the voice module to issue a voice reminder.

10. The control method for the anti-accidental touch switch as described in claim 9, characterized in that, After obtaining the working states of the unlock switch and the function switch, the method further includes: if one of the function switches is triggered, controlling the corresponding actuator to work and controlling the voice module to broadcast the corresponding function; if the same function switch is detected to be triggered twice consecutively, controlling the corresponding actuator to work continuously; if multiple function switches are detected to be triggered simultaneously, controlling the control circuit to switch from an active state to a standby state to suppress the corresponding actuator from working and controlling the voice module to issue a voice reminder.

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