Lever input device

Abstract

To hold a space around a steering column.SOLUTION: A lever input device 100 can switch at least one of a direction indicator lamp and a wiper of a vehicle by being operated in a vertical direction. The lever input device 100 comprises: a lever part 110; and an operation part 120 which is provided on the lever part 110, and can rotate to a shift position corresponding to a shift range of the vehicle.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a lever input device for switching a shift range of a vehicle. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, there are vehicles equipped with a shift lever attached to the steering column. By placing the shift lever in this position, it is possible to secure a large space between the driver's seat and the passenger seat. Patent Document 1 describes a technology for attaching a shift lever similar to a turn signal / light switch to a steering column on which a lever-shaped turn signal / light switch and a lever-shaped wiper switch are attached. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 5-301533 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In recent years, with the advancement of automation and electrification in automobiles, in addition to securing space between the driver's seat and passenger seat (for example, space around the center console), there are cases where it is desirable to secure space around the steering column. However, with conventional technology, there was room for improvement in securing space because the turn signal / light switch, wiper switch, and shift lever were located around the steering column.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and has an object to provide a lever input device that contributes to ensuring space for mounting on-vehicle equipment. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to achieve the above object, one aspect of the present invention is a lever input device that can switch at least one of a vehicle's turn signal and wipers by being operated in a first direction, the lever input device comprising: a lever portion; and an operating portion that is provided on the lever portion and can be rotated to a shift position corresponding to the shift range of the vehicle. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the present invention, it is possible to ensure a space in which in-vehicle equipment can be installed. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a front view showing a combination switch unit equipped with a lever input device. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a tip portion of the lever input device. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a top view schematically showing a manner in which the lever input device is attached to a steering column. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the operating unit. [Figure 5] 10 is a perspective view showing an operating unit whose rotation is restricted, with a portion of the outer periphery and the like cut away; FIG. [Figure 6] 10 is a perspective view showing the operation unit with the restriction on rotation released, with a portion of the outer periphery and the like cut away; FIG. [Figure 7] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the operation unit. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] Hereinafter, embodiments of a lever input device according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the following embodiments are presented as examples for the purpose of explaining the present invention and are not intended to limit the present invention. For example, the shapes, structures, materials, components, relative positional relationships, connection states, numerical values, mathematical formulas, the content of each step in a method, and the order of each step shown in the following embodiments are merely examples and may include content not described below. Furthermore, while geometric expressions such as parallel and orthogonal may be used, these expressions do not indicate mathematical precision and include substantially acceptable errors, deviations, etc. Furthermore, expressions such as simultaneous and identical also include substantially acceptable ranges.

[0010] The drawings are schematic diagrams in which emphasis, omission, or adjustment of proportions is appropriately made for the purpose of explaining the present invention, and differ from the actual shapes, positional relationships, and proportions. The X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis shown in the drawings represent Cartesian coordinates arbitrarily set for the purpose of explaining the drawings. In other words, the Z-axis is not necessarily an axis along the vertical direction, and the X-axis and Y-axis are not necessarily located within a horizontal plane.

[0011] In addition, in the following, multiple inventions may be collectively described as one embodiment, and some of the contents described below may be described as optional components related to the present invention.

[0012] Fig. 1 is a front view showing a combination switch unit 200 equipped with a lever input device 100. Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing the tip of the lever input device 100. Fig. 2 is a view corresponding to the portion enclosed by box A shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a top view schematically showing how the lever input device 100 is attached to a steering column.

[0013] The combination switch unit 200 includes the lever input device 100, a lever switch 220, and a fixed plate 210. The fixed plate 210 is a member for attaching the lever input device 100 and the lever switch 200 to a steering column. The fixed plate 210 includes a through-hole 211 through which a steering shaft is inserted. The fixed plate 210 is fixed to the steering column with the steering shaft inserted through the through-hole 211. The combination switch unit 200 includes the lever input device 100 as well as the lever switch 220. In this embodiment, the lever switch 220 functions as a wiper switch.

[0014] The lever input device 100 is a rod-shaped switch that can switch the direction indicators of a vehicle by being operated in an up or down direction, which is an example of a first direction. The lever input device 100 may also function as a switch that can switch the vehicle's wipers by being operated in an up or down direction, or as a switch for selecting the direction indicators and the wipers. The lever input device 100 includes a lever unit 110 and an operating unit 120. In this embodiment, the lever input device 100 includes a push switch 130, a reset unit 140, and a restricting unit 150.

[0015] Lever portion 110 is a rod-shaped structural member that is swingably attached to fixed plate 210 of combination switch unit 200. In this embodiment, lever portion 110 is disposed in a protruding state from fixed plate 210 until it reaches the vicinity of steering wheel 230, as shown in FIG. 3 . This allows driver 300 to immediately operate lever portion 110 while holding steering wheel 230. Driver 300 can switch the turn signal to a left turn by swinging lever portion 110 so that the tip moves upward, and can switch the turn signal to a right turn by swinging lever portion 110 so that the tip moves downward. Driver 300 can also switch the headlights upward by swinging lever portion 110 so that the tip moves away from steering wheel 230, and can turn on flashing lights by swinging lever portion 110 so that the tip moves toward steering wheel 230. The movement of the vehicle caused by the swinging of the lever portion 110 is not limited, and can be selected arbitrarily.

[0016] The operating unit 120 is disposed at the tip of the lever unit 110 and is attached to the lever unit 110 so as to be rotatable to a shift position corresponding to the shift range of the vehicle.

[0017] The operating unit 120 is, for example, rotatable about a rotation axis along the axial direction of the lever unit 110, and the lever input device 100 can be configured to output a signal corresponding to the drive range (D) when the face of the operating unit 120 (outer peripheral part 121 described later) facing the driver 300 is rotated so as to move downward, and to output a signal corresponding to the reverse range (R) when the face of the operating unit 120 (outer peripheral part 121 described later) facing the driver 300 is rotated so as to move upward. The specific structure of the operating unit 120 will be described later.

[0018] The push switch 130 is a switch that outputs a signal corresponding to the parking range of the vehicle. The push switch 130 is arranged on the tip surface of the lever unit 110 so as to intersect with (orthogonal to in this embodiment) the rotation axis of the operation unit 120. The push switch 130 is arranged inside an outer circumferential portion 121 (described later) of the operation unit 120. The push switch 130 can be pressed in a direction along the rotation axis of the operation unit 120. By making the push switch 130 arranged on the tip surface of the lever input device 100 correspond to the parking range and clearly distinguishing between the rotation operation of the operation unit 120 and the pressing action of the push switch 130, the driver 300 can operate the push switch 130 at will, which can contribute to preventing unintentional operation of the parking function.

[0019] Fig. 4 is an exploded perspective view of operating unit 120. Fig. 5 is a perspective view showing operating unit 120 with its rotation restricted, with parts such as outer periphery 121 cut away. Fig. 6 is a perspective view showing operating unit 120 with its rotation unrestricted, with parts such as outer periphery 121 cut away. Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view of operating unit 120. As shown in these figures, operating unit 120 includes outer periphery 121 and rotor 123.

[0020] The operating unit 120 is disposed at the tip of the lever unit 110 and is attached to the lever unit 110 so as to be rotatable to a shift position corresponding to the shift range of the vehicle. An outer circumferential portion 121 of the operating unit 120 is cylindrical, and is shaped so that the outer circumferential surface of the operating unit 120 is flush with the outer circumferential surface of the lever unit 110. The outer circumferential portion 121 extends to the tip of the lever input device 100. The outer circumferential portion 121 rotates together with the rotor 123 around a rotating shaft 122 embedded inside the lever unit 110. The outer circumferential portion 121 also moves together with the rotor 123 in the direction of the rotation axis of the rotating shaft 122. The movement of the outer circumferential portion 121 and the rotor 123 in the direction of the rotation axis is restricted by a detent body 141 (described later) fixed to the tip of the rotating shaft 122.

[0021] The lever input device 100 can output a signal corresponding to the drive range (D) when the outer peripheral portion 121 is rotated so that the surface of the outer peripheral portion 121 facing the driver 300 moves downward, and can output a signal corresponding to the reverse range (R) when the outer peripheral portion 121 is rotated so that the surface of the outer peripheral portion 121 facing the driver 300 moves upward. The operating unit 120 employs an all-position momentary structure (the specific structure will be described later), and has a self-returning structure that returns to the home position (H) when the driver 300 releases the operation. This makes it possible to always start the vehicle from the home position (H). The home position (H) corresponds to the neutral range. Furthermore, the notation H indicating the home position (H) may be replaced with N indicating the neutral range (N).

[0022] The return unit 140 is a mechanism that returns the operating unit 120 to the home position (H) when the operating unit 120 is rotated to a shift position other than the home position. The specific structure of the return unit 140 is not particularly limited, but in this embodiment, the return unit 140 includes a detent body 141, a ball 142, and a spring 143. The detent body 141 includes detent ridges 144 that are aligned in the rotation direction of the operating unit 120, and is fixedly attached to the rotation shaft body 122 in the rotation direction. The spring 143 and the ball 142 that is pressed against the detent ridges 144 by the biasing force of the spring 143 are attached to the rotor 123 and rotate together with the rotation of the rotor 123. When the operating unit 120 is in the home position (H), the ball 142 is pressed against the valleys of adjacent detent ridges 144. When the operating unit 120 is rotated, the spring 143 and the ball 142 rotate together with the rotor 123, and the ball 142 comes into contact with the slope of one of the detent ridges 144. When the driver 300 releases the operation of the operating unit 120, the urging force of the spring 143 causes the ball 142 to move in a direction returning to the valley of the detent ridge 144, and accordingly, the rotor 123 and the outer circumferential portion 121 rotate in a direction returning to the home position (H). As a result, the operating unit 120 is always positioned in the home position (H) unless it is operated by the driver 300.

[0023] The restricting unit 150 is a mechanism that restricts the rotation of the operating unit 120. The restricting unit 150 restricts the rotation of the operating unit 120. In other words, the operating unit 120 is normally in a state where it is not possible to perform a shift change. The restricting unit 150 is released based on a predetermined action other than the rotation of the operating unit 120. In other words, when the driver 300 performs a predetermined action on the operating unit 120, it becomes possible to perform a shift change using the operating unit 120. The predetermined action other than the rotation of the operating unit 120 is not particularly limited, but in the case of this embodiment, the restricting unit 150 is released when the operating unit 120 is slid toward the tip of the lever unit 110 along the rotation axis direction of the operating unit 120.

[0024] To give a specific example of the structure of the restricting portion 150, the restricting portion 150 includes a first stopper 151, a second stopper 152, and a fixed portion 153. The first stopper 151 and the second stopper 152 are configured by opposing surfaces of a groove cut out in a sectorial ring shape centered on the rotation axis in part of the outer periphery of the cylindrical rotor 123 when viewed from above. The fixed portion 153 is a portion fixed to the lever portion 110, and is a sectorial ring-shaped protrusion that fills the gap between the first stopper 151 and the second stopper 152.

[0025] When a predetermined operation is not being performed on the operating unit 120, the fixed portion 153 fits between the first stopper 151 and the second stopper 152, as shown in Fig. 5, and the rotation of the operating unit 120 is restricted. A biasing force is applied between the first stopper 151 and the second stopper 152 and the fixed portion 153 in a direction in which the fixed portion 153 fits between the first stopper 151 and the second stopper 152. Next, as shown in Fig. 6, when the driver 300 slides the operating unit 120 toward the tip of the lever input device 100 against the biasing force, the engagement between the first stopper 151 and the second stopper 152 and the fixed portion 153 is released, and the operating unit 120 becomes rotatable. When the force from the driver 300 is released, the rotor 123 rotates in the rotation direction of the operating unit 120 to a position where the fixed portion 153 fits between the first stopper 151 and the second stopper 152 by the return portion 140, and the fixed portion 153 fits between the first stopper 151 and the second stopper 152 due to the urging force.

[0026] As described above, by providing a structural restriction unit 150 that restricts the operation unit 120 so that it cannot be rotated unless it is pulled, it is possible to prevent the driver 300 from rotating the operation unit 120 unintentionally.

[0027] With the lever input device 100 according to the above embodiment, the shifter function can be integrated into a combination switch (for example, a light switch that turns the vehicle's headlights on and off) that is used less frequently due to automatic control such as an automatic on / off function for the vehicle's headlights. This reduces the three levers (the blinker light switch, the wiper switch, and the shift lever) to at least two, thereby ensuring a larger area between the steering wheel 230 and the instrument panel. Furthermore, the shift lever that was previously installed separately on the floor or instrument panel can be eliminated, thereby increasing the space around the driver's seat. This makes it possible to ensure space for installing in-vehicle devices.

[0028] In addition, the lever input device 100 can be disposed near the steering wheel that is constantly operated by the driver 300, which contributes to improving the operability of gearshift operations. Furthermore, blind operation becomes possible during gearshift operations, and line-of-sight movement is reduced, which reduces fatigue of the driver 300 and contributes to improving safety.

[0029] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments. For example, the present invention may be embodied in another embodiment by arbitrarily combining the components described in this specification or by excluding some of the components. Furthermore, the present invention also includes various modifications that would occur to a person skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the present invention, i.e., the meaning of the wording of the claims.

[0030] For example, as a mechanism for releasing the restriction on restricting unit 150, a mechanism for releasing the restriction on the rotation of operating unit 120 by sliding outer periphery 121 and rotor 123 of operating unit 120 toward the tip of lever unit 110 in the axial direction of lever unit 110 has been exemplified, but the mechanism for releasing the restriction is not limited to this. For example, a mechanism for releasing the restriction on rotation by sliding outer periphery 121 or the like toward the base end of lever unit 110 may also be used. Furthermore, restricting unit 150 may be provided with a push button for releasing the restriction on the rotation of operating unit 120, and may be provided with a mechanism that allows operating unit 120 to rotate only when driver 300 is pressing the push button.

[0031] Furthermore, although the return portion 140 has been described as a cam mechanism of the detent ridge 144 and the ball 142, the return portion 140 is not limited to this. For example, the return portion 140 may be a mechanism that returns the operating unit 120 to the home position (H) based on a spring mechanism equipped with a torsion spring or the like.

[0032] Also, for example, when the steering wheel mounted on the vehicle is mounted on the left side relative to the vehicle's direction of travel, the lever input device 100 may be arranged on the left side of the fixed plate 210 and the lever switch 220 (wiper switch) may be arranged on the right side of the fixed plate 210 when viewed from the front of the combination switch unit 200.

[0033] Furthermore, when viewed from the front of the combination switch unit 200, the lever switch 220 (wiper switch) arranged on the left side of the fixed plate 210 may be the lever input device 100 including the operation unit 120. In this case, the lever input device 100 is configured to be able to switch the wipers of the vehicle by being operated in the up and down directions.

[0034] Furthermore, although the switch that outputs a signal corresponding to the parking range has been described as being a push switch provided at the tip of lever unit 110, the switch that outputs a signal corresponding to the parking range is not limited to this. For example, it may be a push switch provided at a part of lever unit 110 other than the tip of lever unit 110 or operation unit 120. Furthermore, it is not limited to a push switch, and may be configured as a tilt switch that can be switched on / off by tilting a knob, or the like.

[0035] Also, although the push switch has been described as being provided in the lever input device 100 of the combination switch unit 200, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the push switch may be provided in the lever switch 220 of the combination switch unit 200. [Industrial Applicability]

[0036] The input device according to the present invention can be used as a man-machine interface in vehicles such as automobiles, trucks, buses, construction machines, and agricultural machines. [Explanation of symbols]

[0037] 100 Lever input device 110 Lever part 120 Operation section 121 Outer periphery 122 Rotating shaft 123 rotor 130 Push Switch 140 Return Section 141 Moderation 142 balls 143 Spring 144 Mount Setsudo 150 Regulatory Department 151 First stopper 152 Second stopper 153 Fixed part 200 Combination switch unit 210 Fixed plate 211 Through hole 220 Lever switch 230 steering wheel 300 Driver

Claims

1. A lever input device capable of switching at least one of a turn signal and a wiper of a vehicle by being operated in a first direction, comprising: A lever portion, an operation portion provided on the lever portion and rotatable to a shift position corresponding to a shift range of the vehicle; A restricting portion restricts rotation of the operating portion, a return portion that returns the operation portion to a position where the rotation of the operation portion is restricted by the restriction portion; Equipped with When the operating portion is moved toward the tip end of the lever portion along the rotation axis direction of the operating portion, the restriction by the restricting portion is released, and the operating portion can be rotated. The operating portion is configured to return, when the operating portion is rotated, to a position where the rotation of the operating portion is restricted by the returning portion. Lever input device.

2. A push switch is provided at the tip of the lever portion, The push switch corresponds to a parking range of the vehicle. The lever input device according to claim 1 .

3. The shift position includes a plurality of shift positions including a home position, The operation unit is configured to return to the home position when rotated to a shift position other than the home position. The lever input device according to claim 1 or 2.

4. The operation unit includes: A rotor having an outer periphery and The outer periphery is The lever portion is rotatable together with the rotor about a rotation shaft of the lever portion, The outer periphery is The rotor is movable in the direction of the rotation axis of the rotating shaft body, The return portion is The device has a detent body, a detent part, and an elastic body, The detent body is A detent ridge is formed in the rotation direction of the operation unit, and is fixedly attached to a rotation shaft of the lever unit, The elastic body is Attached to the rotor and rotated with the rotor; The elastic body is The detent part is biased against the detent ridge, The regulating portion is the rotor and the lever portion are fitted together in a rotation direction of the operation unit to restrict the rotation of the operation unit, When the detent part is urged against the valley portion of the detent ridge by the urging force of the elastic body, the rotor and the lever portion are positioned in the rotation direction so as to be able to fit together, The rotor and the lever portion are biased in the direction of engagement with each other in the rotation axis direction by the biasing force of the elastic body. The lever input device according to claim 1 or 2.

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