Holder system and holder control device

Abstract

To provide a holder system and a holder control device which can restrain malfunctioning.SOLUTION: A holder system 1 comprises a holder part 2 which includes a supporting member 22 which supports an object, a lifting drive part 3 which raises and lowers the supporting member 22, an elevation control part 6 which controls actuation of the lifting drive part 3 and a hand sensor 5 for recognizing a hand of a user. The elevation control part 6 recognizes the hand of the user on the basis of output information from the hand sensor 5 and at the same time controls the actuation of the lifting drive part 3 so as to raise the supporting member 22 when instruction action predetermined by the hand of the user is performed.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a holder system and a holder control device. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a beverage container holder for a vehicle provided in a center console between the driver's seat and the passenger seat of a vehicle. The beverage container holder for a vehicle is configured to be able to raise and lower a beverage container so as to prevent the beverage container from getting in the way when a vehicle occupant operates operating parts around the center console (such as a shift lever and various switches on an instrument panel).

[0003] The beverage container holder for a vehicle includes a container holding member capable of holding a beverage container, and a plurality of sensors that are provided on a path along which a passenger's hand moves when inserting or removing a beverage container into or from the container holding member, and detects the passage of the hand. The beverage container holder for a vehicle described in Patent Document 1 moves the container holding member upward when each of the plurality of sensors detects the passage of a hand within a predetermined time. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] JP 2012-201183 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, the vehicle beverage container holder described in Patent Document 1 does not recognize hands, and therefore may malfunction and cause the container holding member to rise even if multiple sensors detect the passage of an object other than a hand.

[0006] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and has an object to provide a holder system and a holder control device that can suppress malfunctions. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention provides a holder system comprising a holder unit having a support member for supporting an object, a lifting / lowering drive unit for raising and lowering the support member, a lifting / lowering control unit for controlling the operation of the lifting / lowering drive unit, and a hand sensor for recognizing a user's hand, wherein the lifting / lowering control unit recognizes the user's hand based on output information from the hand sensor and controls the operation of the lifting / lowering drive unit to raise the support member when a predetermined instruction action is performed by the user's hand.

[0008] In addition, in order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention provides a holder control device that controls the operation of a lifting drive unit that raises and lowers a support member of a holder part that supports an object, and acquires information for recognizing a user's hand and controls the operation of the lifting drive unit to raise the support member when a predetermined instruction action is performed by the user's hand. Effect of the Invention

[0009] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a holder system and a holder control device that can suppress malfunctions. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view of a vehicle interior equipped with a holder system according to an embodiment. [Diagram 2] 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the periphery of a center console in the embodiment. FIG. [Diagram 3] 10 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which a beverage container is placed on a support member in a loading / unloading position in the embodiment. FIG. [Figure 4] 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the upper end of the beverage container has passed the sensing position of the first position sensor in the embodiment. FIG. [Diagram 5] 10 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which a beverage container is placed on a support member in a storage position in the embodiment. FIG. [Figure 6] 1 is a plan view of the periphery of a center console for illustrating a first example of an instruction operation in the embodiment. FIG. [Figure 7] 4 is a cross-sectional view of the periphery of a center console for illustrating a first example of an instruction operation in the embodiment. FIG. [Figure 8] 11 is a cross-sectional view of the periphery of the center console, illustrating a state in which a lift drive unit has lifted a support member to a retracted or extended position in response to a first example of an instruction operation in the embodiment. FIG. [Figure 9] 13 is a plan view of the periphery of a center console for illustrating a second example of an instruction operation in the embodiment. FIG. [Figure 10] 11 is a cross-sectional view of the periphery of a center console for illustrating a second example of an instruction operation in the embodiment. FIG. [Figure 11] 11 is a cross-sectional view of the periphery of the center console, illustrating a state in which the lift drive unit has lifted the support member to the in-out position in response to a second example of an instruction operation in the embodiment. FIG. [Figure 12] 4 is a cross-sectional view of the periphery of the center console, showing a state in which an occupant is operating a switch located near the center console in the embodiment. FIG. [Figure 13] 10 is a flowchart showing a process of a lift control unit when a support member from a loading / unloading position is lowered to a storage position in the embodiment. [Figure 14] 13 is a flowchart showing a process of a lift control unit when a support member at a storage position is lowered to a loading / unloading position in the embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0011] [Embodiment Mode] The embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 14. Note that the embodiments described below are shown as preferred specific examples for carrying out the present invention, and while some of the embodiments specifically exemplify various technically preferable matters, the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to these specific embodiments.

[0012] 1 is a perspective view showing an interior of a vehicle 10 equipped with a holder system 1 in this embodiment. The holder system 1 in this embodiment is mounted on a vehicle 10 such as an automobile. The holder system 1 includes a holder unit 2 having a support member 22 for supporting a beverage container (e.g., a cup, a plastic bottle, a can, a water bottle, etc., see reference numeral 100 in FIG. 3 etc. described later), a lifting / lowering drive unit 3 for lifting / lowering the support member 22, position sensors 41, 42 for detecting the positioning of the beverage container on the holder unit 2, a hand sensor 5 for detecting the hand of a user, and a lifting / lowering control unit 6 for controlling the operation of the lifting / lowering drive unit 3.

[0013] The holder unit 2 is a drink holder provided in the center console 103 between the driver's seat 101 and the passenger seat 102. In this embodiment, an example is shown in which two holder units 2 are provided in a row, one behind the other, but the number and arrangement of the holder units 2 provided in the center console 103 are not limited to this. The holder unit 2 may be provided in a place other than the center console 103, but it is preferable that the holder unit 2 is provided at least in the center console 103. This is because, since various operating units (for example, switches 11, touch panel 12, shift lever 13, etc. provided in the instrument panel) are present around the center console 103, making it possible to lower a beverage container placed in the holder unit 2 provided in the center console 103 prevents the beverage container from getting in the way when an occupant operates the operating units.

[0014] 2 is a cross-sectional view of the periphery of center console 103 parallel to the vertical direction in this embodiment. Holder portion 2 is formed in a cylindrical shape with a bottom that is circular in plan view and opens upward. Holder portion 2 includes a cylindrical side wall portion 21 fixed to the vehicle body, and a support member 22 as a disk-shaped bottom wall portion that can be raised and lowered relative to side wall portion 21. When a beverage container is inserted into holder portion 2, the beverage container is supported on the upper surface of support member 22. Support member 22 is driven to move up and down by lift drive portion 3, whereby holder portion 2 is configured to change its depth.

[0015] As an example, the lifting drive unit 3 includes a motor 31 fixed to the vehicle body and capable of rotating in both forward and reverse directions, a pinion gear 32 that rotates following the rotation of the shaft of the motor 31, and a rack 33 that meshes with the pinion gear 32 and is fixed to the support member 22 of the holder unit 2 and moves up and down with the rotation of the pinion gear 32. When the motor 31 rotates in one direction, the support member 22 rises together with the pinion gear 32, and when the motor 31 rotates in the other direction, the support member 22 descends together with the pinion gear 32.

[0016] The lifting drive unit 3 moves the support member 22 between an insertion / removal position and a storage position. The insertion / removal position, as shown in Fig. 2, is a position where a beverage container can be easily inserted and removed from the holder unit 2, and is a relatively upper position in the space within the side wall portion 21 of the holder unit 2. The storage position, as shown in Fig. 5 described later, is a position where a beverage container placed in the holder unit 2 is stored further down in the holder unit 2, and is a lower position than the insertion / removal position.

[0017] The configuration of the lift drive unit 3 is not limited to a rack and pinion mechanism, and may include any mechanism capable of linear reciprocating motion. For example, the lift drive unit 3 may be a pantograph type lift mechanism, a screw feed mechanism, or the like. The operation of the lift drive unit 3 is controlled by the lift control unit 6 based on information from the position sensors 41 and 42 and the hand sensor 5.

[0018] The placement sensors 41 and 42 are sensors for detecting whether or not a beverage container is placed in the holder portion 2. In this embodiment, the placement sensors 41 and 42 are proximity sensors that use infrared rays or the like, and output a detection signal indicating the proximity of an object when a beverage container is placed in the holder portion 2.

[0019] In this embodiment, the position sensors 41 and 42 are provided at a plurality of positions in the up-down direction for each holder unit 2. Specifically, the position sensors 41 and 42 include a first position sensor 41 that detects whether an object is present at a first height in the arrangement space of the holder unit 2 in which the beverage container is arranged, and a second position sensor 42 that detects whether an object is present at a second height lower than the first height in the arrangement space. The first height and the second height are positions below the opening of the holder unit 2, but are positions near the opening. In FIG. 2 and other figures, the sensing positions of the first position sensor 41 and the second position sensor 42 are indicated by dashed lines extending rightward from each of the first position sensor 41 and the second position sensor 42.

[0020] The placement sensors 41, 42 may be any sensors capable of detecting whether or not a beverage container is placed on the holder unit 2. For example, when proximity sensors are used as the placement sensors 41, 42 as in this embodiment, at least one sensor may be provided for each holder unit 2. The placement sensors 41, 42 are not limited to proximity sensors, and may be load sensors that detect a load acting on the support member 22, or a hand sensor 5 described later may be used as the placement sensors 41, 42.

[0021] The hand sensor 5 is a sensor for detecting a hand extended by an occupant toward the holder unit 2. The hand sensor 5 is arranged so that the upper periphery of the holder unit 2 is the detection range. In this embodiment, as an example, as shown in FIG. 1, the hand sensor 5 is mounted in an overhead module 105 provided on the ceiling 104 of the vehicle 10. The overhead module 105 is, for example, a module provided above a center console 103 on the ceiling 104 of the vehicle 10, and may have a map lamp or the like built in to illuminate the driver's seat 101 and the passenger seat 102. The position of the hand sensor 5 is not limited thereto, and the hand sensor 5 may be provided on, for example, an instrument panel 106 or the like.

[0022] The hand sensor 5 is a sensor for determining whether or not a hand is present within the detection range. For example, the hand sensor 5 can be a ToF (Time of flight) sensor, a camera, a LiDAR (Laser Imaging Detection And Ranging), or the like, capable of capturing an image of the detection range. The output results of the arrangement sensors 41 and 42 and the hand sensor 5 are sent to the lift control unit 6.

[0023] The lift control unit 6 includes a control area including a processor and a RAM (Random Access Memory) that serves as a calculation area during operation of the processor, and a storage area including a ROM (Read Only Memory), a hard disk, etc., for storing programs executed by the processor. The lift control unit 6 may be configured, for example, as a microcomputer. The lift control unit 6 may also be configured as an ECU (Electronic Control Unit) that performs various controls of the vehicle 10. The lift control unit 6 may be configured to realize its functions in any manner other than by using software, as long as it is configured to realize its functions. For example, at least a part of the functions of the lift control unit 6 may be realized by using hardware such as a logic circuit.

[0024] As shown in FIG. 2, when neither the first nor the second position sensor 42 detects that a beverage container is placed in the holder portion 2, the lift control portion 6 maintains the support member 22 in the insertion / removal position.

[0025] 3 to 5 are diagrams illustrating the operation of the lifting drive unit 3 when the beverage container 100 is placed in the holder unit 2. Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the beverage container 100 is placed on the support member 22 at the insertion / removal position. Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the support member 22 has descended and the upper end of the beverage container 100 has passed the sensing position of the first position sensor 41. Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the beverage container 100 is placed on the support member 22 at the storage position.

[0026] As shown in Figure 3, when a beverage container 100 is placed in the holder portion 2 and the presence of the beverage container 100 in the holder portion 2 is detected by both the first and second placement sensors 42, the lifting / lowering control unit 6 rotates the motor 31 to lower the support member 22.

[0027] Here, while the support member 22 is being lowered, if the first sensor 41 stops reacting and the second sensor 42 keeps reacting as shown in Fig. 4, it can be determined that the upper end of the beverage container 100 is between the sensing position of the first sensor 41 and the sensing position of the second sensor 42. Then, when only the first sensor 41 of the first sensor 41 and the second sensor 42 stops reacting during the lowering of the support member 22 (i.e., when the beverage container 100 passes the sensing position of the first sensor 41), the lifting control unit 6 reverses the rotation direction of the motor 31 to lift the support member 22. Then, as shown in Fig. 5, the lifting of the support member 22 is stopped at a position where the upper end of the beverage container 100 protrudes upward from the holder unit 2, and this position becomes the storage position of the support member 22.

[0028] In this way, the lift control unit 6 can determine the storage position according to the height of the beverage container 100 so that the upper end of the beverage container 100 supported by the support member 22 is a position where it protrudes from the holder unit 2. By setting the storage position to a position where the upper end of the beverage container 100 protrudes from the holder unit 2, it becomes possible for an occupant to grasp the upper end of the beverage container 100 and remove the beverage container 100 even when the support member 22 is in the storage position.

[0029] When the beverage container 100 placed in the holder unit 2 is tall, the upper end of the beverage container 100 may not pass the sensing position of the first position sensor 41 even when the support member 22 reaches the lowest position of the movable range. In such a case, the lift control unit 6 stops the support member 22 when the support member 22 reaches the lowest position of the movable range, and the position of the support member 22 at this time is regarded as the storage position. Even in this case, the upper end of the beverage container 100 supported by the support member 22 at the storage position protrudes from the holder unit 2.

[0030] When the beverage container 100 is placed in the holder unit 2, the lift control unit 6 recognizes the hand of the occupant based on the output information from the hand sensor 5, and determines whether or not a predetermined instruction action has been performed by the hand of the occupant. For example, the lift control unit 6 periodically receives captured image data from the hand sensor 5, and recognizes the presence of the hand and the hand movement based on the received captured image data group. The recognition of the hand and the hand movement can use a known gesture recognition technology using, for example, pattern matching, machine learning, or the like.

[0031] The instruction operation is an operation for instructing to raise the support member 22 from the storage position to the insertion / removal position. In this embodiment, the instruction operation is to perform both a stopping operation described later and a modeling operation described later.

[0032] 6 to 8 are diagrams for explaining a first example of an instruction action and a state in which the support member 22 rises in response to the instruction action. Fig. 6 is a plan view of the periphery of the center console 103 for illustrating the first example of the instruction action. Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the periphery of the center console 103 for illustrating the first example of the instruction action. Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the periphery of the center console 103 for illustrating a state in which the lifting drive unit 3 has raised the support member 22 to the in-out position in response to the first example of the instruction action.

[0033] Similarly, Fig. 9 to Fig. 11 are diagrams for explaining a second example of an instruction action and a state in which the support member 22 rises in response to the instruction action. Fig. 9 is a plan view of the periphery of the center console 103 for illustrating the second example of the instruction action. Fig. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the periphery of the center console 103 for illustrating the second example of the instruction action. Fig. 11 is a cross-sectional view of the periphery of the center console 103 showing a state in which the lifting drive unit 3 has raised the support member 22 to the in-out position in response to the second example of the instruction action.

[0034] As shown in Figs. 6, 7, 9 and 10, the stopping action is an action of stopping the hand H above or in front of the holder part 2. In front means the side opposite to the side where the occupant extends the hand H toward the holder part 2 (i.e., the rear of the vehicle 10). The stopping action can be, for example, an action in which the moving speed of the hand H continues for a predetermined time at a speed slow enough to be considered as stopped. From the viewpoint of quick response, it is preferable that the predetermined time is short, but from the viewpoint of suppressing the occurrence of malfunction, it is preferable that the predetermined time is long, and the predetermined time can be appropriately set in consideration of the balance between these two.

[0035] The shaping operation is an operation of making the hand H into a predetermined hand shape. The predetermined hand shape is a hand shape that follows the beverage container 100 when the support member 22 supporting the beverage container 100 rises from the storage position to the insertion / removal position. As shown in Figs. 6 and 7, the predetermined hand shape includes, for example, a shape in which the hand H is lightly opened to grasp the rising beverage container 100 from above and follows the upper surface of the beverage container 100 (or the opening in the case of a cup without a lid). Also, as shown in Figs. 9 and 10, the predetermined hand shape includes, for example, a shape (e.g., C-shape) in which the hand H follows the side surface of the beverage container 100 when the support member 22 supporting the beverage container 100 rises to the insertion / removal position. The shaping operation may be performed under the condition that the hand H is made into the predetermined hand shape in the vicinity of the holder part 2 (e.g., above or in front of the holder part 2).

[0036] The instruction action, i.e., the stopping action and the shaping action, are natural actions of the hand H when waiting to quickly grab the beverage container 100 when the support member 22 rises to the insertion / removal position. For example, as shown in Figs. 6 to 8, when the occupant tries to grab the beverage container 100 from above when the support member 22 rises to the insertion / removal position, it is natural for the occupant to perform a stopping action of stopping the hand H just above the holder part 2 and to perform a shaping action of slightly spreading the hand H and waiting. Also, as shown in Figs. 9 to 11, when the occupant tries to grab the beverage container 100 from the side when the support member 22 rises to the insertion / removal position, it is natural for the occupant to perform a stopping action of stopping the hand H in front of the holder part 2 and to perform a shaping action of the hand H to be shaped (for example, C-shaped) so as to follow the side of the beverage container 100 when the support member 22 rises to the insertion / removal position.

[0037] As described above, by making the commanding motion a natural movement of the hand H when waiting to quickly grab the beverage container 100 when the support member 22 is raised to the insertion / removal position, the intention to lift the beverage container 100 is easily conveyed to the system. As shown in Figs. 8 and 11, when the commanding motion is detected, the lifting control unit 6 lifts the support member 22 to the insertion / removal position.

[0038] Also, in the case where a plurality of holder parts 2 are arranged as in this embodiment, the lift control unit 6 may determine which holder part 2 the instruction operation is directed to, depending on the hand shape (i.e., the modeling operation) during the stopping operation and the position of the hand H. For example, if the stopping operation is performed together with the modeling operation of lightly spreading the hand H, it may be determined that the instruction is directed to the holder part 2 located directly below the hand H, and if the stopping operation is performed together with the modeling operation of making the hand H into a C-shape, it may be determined that the instruction is directed to the holder part 2 located immediately in front of the hand H. Note that the lifting operation of the support members 22 of the plurality of holder parts 2 does not have to be performed separately. In other words, the support members 22 of the plurality of holder parts 2 may be lifted simultaneously by one instruction operation.

[0039] The instruction action is designed to be an action that is unlikely to occur when the occupant is stretching out his / her hand H to operate the operation parts (switch 11 of the heater controller panel, touch panel 12, shift lever 13, etc.) around the holder part 2. This suppresses erroneous operation of the support member 22 rising in response to the movement of the hand H when the occupant operates the operation parts around the holder part 2.

[0040] As an example, Fig. 12 shows a state in which an occupant operates a switch 11 on an instrument panel as an operating unit located around a center console 103. When an occupant operates the switch 11 located around the holder unit 2 with hand H, the hand H may pass above the holder unit 2, but it is difficult to imagine that the hand H will stop just above or in front of the holder unit 2. Also, when an occupant operates the switch 11 located around the holder unit 2, the hand H may, for example, make a shape with the index finger raised, but it is unnatural and difficult to imagine that the hand will make a shape that follows the beverage container 100 when it rises to the insertion / removal position. Furthermore, it is even more difficult to imagine that the stopping action and the forming action will be performed simultaneously.

[0041] The start timing of the holder system 1 of this embodiment may be, for example, the timing when the system power supply or the ignition is turned on, the timing when a predetermined start instruction is given by the occupant, etc. The end timing of the holder system 1 of this embodiment may be, for example, the timing when the system power supply or the ignition is turned off, the timing when a predetermined end instruction is given by the occupant, etc. If there is a holder unit 2 with the support member 22 in the storage position at the end timing, the holder system 1 of this embodiment may automatically raise the support member 22 of the holder unit 2 to the insertion / removal position.

[0042] Next, the operation of the lift control unit 6 in this embodiment to lower the support member 22 to the storage position when the beverage container 100 is placed in the holder unit 2 will be described with reference to Fig. 13. Fig. 13 is a flow chart showing the processing of the lift control unit 6 when lowering the support member 22 from the insertion / removal position to the storage position. The processing routine shown in Fig. 13 is repeatedly executed at predetermined intervals, for example.

[0043] In step S11, the lift control unit 6 determines whether or not it has received a signal indicating the placement of the beverage container 100 in the holder unit 2 from both the first position sensor 41 and the second position sensor 42. If there is no reaction from at least one of the first position sensor 41 and the second position sensor 42 (for example, the state shown in FIG. 2), the lift control unit 6 ends the current processing routine. On the other hand, if there is a reaction from both the first position sensor 41 and the second position sensor 42 (for example, the state shown in FIG. 3), the lift control unit 6 proceeds to step S12.

[0044] In step S12, the lift control unit 6 controls the lift drive unit 3 to lower the support member 22. Here, there is a time lag from when both the first position sensor 41 and the second position sensor 42 react in step S11 to when the beverage container 100 is actually placed on the support member 22. Therefore, step S12 may be executed after the reactions of both the first position sensor 41 and the second position sensor 42 continue for a predetermined time. After step S12, the lift control unit 6 executes step S13.

[0045] In step S13, the lift control unit 6 determines whether the reaction of the first sensor 41 has disappeared while the support member 22 is descending. If the reaction of the first sensor 41 has disappeared in step S13 (for example, the state shown in FIG. 4), the lift control unit 6 controls the lift drive unit 3 to lift the support member 22 a predetermined distance in step S14, causing the upper end of the beverage container 100 to protrude from the holder unit 2 (for example, the state shown in FIG. 5). After step S14, the lift control unit 6 stops the support member 22 in step S15, and ends this processing routine.

[0046] Also, if it is determined in step S13 that the reaction of the first sensor 41 has not disappeared, the lift control unit 6 determines in step S16 whether the position of the support member 22 is at the lowest position of its movable range. If it is determined in step S16 that the support member 22 is at the lowest position, the lift control unit 6 controls the lift drive unit 3 to stop the support member 22 in step S15, and ends this processing routine. For example, if the beverage container 100 placed on the holder unit 2 is relatively tall, the support member 22 may reach the lowest position without the reaction of the first sensor 41 disappearing, but in this case, the upper end of the beverage container 100 may protrude upward from the holder unit 2. If it is determined in step S16 that the support member 22 is not at the lowest position, the processing of the lift control unit 6 returns to step S13.

[0047] Next, the operation of the lift control unit 6 to lift the beverage container 100 placed in the holder unit 2 will be described with reference to Fig. 14. Fig. 14 is a flow chart showing the processing of the lift control unit 6 when lowering the support member 22 from the storage position to the insertion / removal position. The processing routine shown in Fig. 14 is executed repeatedly at predetermined intervals, for example.

[0048] In step S21, the lift control unit 6 determines whether the support member 22 is in the storage position (e.g., the state shown in FIG. 5). This determination can be made based on, for example, the rotation angle of the motor 31. If it is determined in step S21 that the position of the support member 22 is not in the storage position, the lift control unit 6 ends this processing routine. If it is determined in step S21 that the position of the beverage container 100 is in the storage position, the processing of the lift control unit 6 proceeds to step S22.

[0049] In step S22, the lift control unit 6 analyzes the output information from the hand sensor 5 to determine whether an instruction operation has been performed, i.e., whether both the stopping operation and the modeling operation have been performed simultaneously. If an instruction operation has been performed, in step S23, the lift control unit 3 is controlled to raise the support member 22 of the holder unit 2 to the insertion / removal position, and then in step S24, the support member 22 is stopped and the current processing routine is terminated. Also, in step S22, if it is determined that an instruction operation has not been performed, the lift control unit 6 terminates the current processing routine.

[0050] (Functions and Effects of the Embodiments) In the holder system 1 of this embodiment, the lift control unit 6 recognizes the hand H of the user (the passenger in this embodiment) based on the output information from the hand sensor 5, and controls the operation of the lift drive unit 3 to lift the support member 22 when a predetermined instruction action is performed by the user's hand H. In this way, since the lift control unit 6 recognizes the hand H, erroneous operation of lifting the support member 22 in response to the movement of an object other than the hand H is suppressed.

[0051] The commanding action also includes stopping the hand H above or in front of the holder part 2. This action is a natural action when waiting for the object (the beverage container 100 in this embodiment) in the holder part 2 to rise, and therefore the commanding action is easy.

[0052] The instruction action also includes an action of forming the hand H into a predetermined hand shape. Therefore, the intention to lift the object in the holder unit 2 can be easily conveyed to the holder system 1.

[0053] The predetermined hand shape is a hand shape that follows the object when the beverage container 100 is raised. This is a natural action when waiting for the object in the holder part 2 to rise, and therefore the command action is easy.

[0054] Furthermore, the lift control unit 6 controls the operation of the lift drive unit 3 so that the support member 22 is at the insertion / removal position when the placement of an object on the holder unit 2 is not detected, the support member 22 is lowered to a storage position lower than the insertion / removal position when the placement of an object on the holder unit 2 is detected, and the support member 22 is raised to the insertion / removal position when the user performs an instruction action. This improves user convenience.

[0055] The lifting control unit 6 determines the storage position according to the height of the beverage container 100 so that the upper end of the object supported by the support member 22 is at a position where it protrudes from the holder unit 2. Therefore, when the support member 22 is at the storage position, or while the support member 22 is rising from the storage position to the insertion / removal position, the user can grab the upper end of the object and remove it from the holder unit 2. In particular, when the object to be placed on the holder unit 2 is a beverage container 100, if the lifting speed of the support member 22 is made too fast, the beverage may spill from the beverage container 100, so the lifting speed is adjusted to an appropriate speed, and a user who cannot wait for the support member 22 to rise to the insertion / removal position can grab the beverage container 100 before or during the rise of the beverage container 100.

[0056] The holder unit 2 is provided in a center console 103 of the automobile, and is configured to be able to place a beverage container 100 thereon. Around the center console 103, there are various operation units (e.g., switches 11) of an instrument panel 106, a touch panel 12, a shift lever 13, and other operation units. By making the beverage container 100 placed in the holder unit 2 provided in the center console 103 movable up and down, the operation of the operation units is prevented from being hindered by the beverage container 100 placed in the holder unit 2.

[0057] As described above, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to provide a holder system and a holder control device (i.e., a lift control unit) that can suppress malfunctions.

[0058] [Modification of the embodiment] Next, a modification of the embodiment will be described.

[0059] In the embodiment, the holder unit 2 of the holder system 1 is provided in the center console 103 of the vehicle 10, but the present invention is not limited to this and may be provided in other locations. For example, the holder unit 2 may be provided near the rear seat for passengers in the rear seat. The holder unit 2 may also be used for purposes other than the vehicle 10. Although the holder unit 2 is a drink holder that holds the beverage container 100, it may be, for example, another storage container.

[0060] In the embodiment, when lowering the support member 22 to the storage position, the lift control unit 6 lifts the support member 22 a predetermined distance after the first sensor 41 no longer reacts, causing the upper end of the beverage container 100 to protrude from the holder unit 2, but this is not limited to the above. For example, the sensing position of the first sensor 41 may be set to a position higher than the opening of the holder unit 2, and the position where the first sensor 41 no longer reacts while the support member 22 is lowering may be set to the storage position. The storage position may also be a position where the entire beverage container 100 fits within the holder unit 2.

[0061] In the embodiment, the position sensors 41, 42 are provided to detect the positioning of the beverage container 100 in the holder unit 2, and the support member 22 is lowered based on the detection results of the position sensors 41, 42, but this is not limiting, and the support member 22 may have a function to manually lower the support member 22. The lift control unit 6 may have a function to manually lift the beverage container 100 in addition to a function to lift the support member 22 in response to an instruction operation.

[0062] In the embodiment, the instruction action is both the stopping action and the modeling action, but it may be either one of them. For example, when the instruction action is only the modeling action, it is preferable that the condition of the modeling action includes making the hand into a predetermined hand shape near the holder part 2 (for example, at an upper or front position). In other words, it is preferable not to determine that making the hand into a predetermined hand shape at a position far from the holder part 2 is an instruction action. Also, for example, when the instruction action is only the stopping action, if the hand stops near the holder part 2 but the hand shape at that time is, for example, a shape with the index finger raised as shown in FIG. 12 (i.e., a hand shape that is not taken when grasping the beverage container 100), the lifting of the support member 22 may be refused.

[0063] In the embodiment, the command action is a natural hand movement when waiting to quickly grab the beverage container 100 when the support member 22 rises to the insertion / removal position, but is not limited to this. For example, a gesture of moving the hand up may be used as the command action.

[0064] Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the invention according to the claims is not limited to the above embodiment. It should be noted that not all of the combinations of features described in the embodiment are essential to the means for solving the problems of the invention. The present invention can be modified appropriately without departing from the spirit of the invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0065] 1...Holder system 10. Vehicle 100…Beverage container 103…Center console 2…Holder part 22...Support member 3...Lifting drive unit 41…First sensor 42…Second arrangement sensor 5. Hand sensor 6...Lift control section H...hand

Claims

1. a holder portion having a support member for supporting an object; A lifting drive unit that lifts and lowers the support member; A lift control unit that controls the operation of the lift drive unit; a hand sensor for recognizing a user's hand; The lift control unit recognizes the user's hand based on the output information from the hand sensor, and controls the operation of the lift drive unit to lift the support member when a predetermined instruction action is performed by the user's hand. Holder system.

2. The instruction action includes an action of stopping a hand above or in front of the holder part. The holder system according to claim 1 .

3. The instruction action includes an action of making a hand into a predetermined hand shape. A holder system according to claim 1 or 2.

4. The predetermined hand shape is a hand shape that follows the object when the object supported by the support member is lifted. A holder system according to claim 1 or 2.

5. a placement sensor that detects placement of the object on the holder portion, the lifting control unit sets the support member to an insertion / removal position when the placement of the object on the holder unit is not detected, lowers the support member to a storage position lower than the insertion / removal position when the placement of the object on the holder unit is detected, and raises the support member to the insertion / removal position when a user performs the instruction action. A holder system according to claim 1 or 2.

6. the lift control unit determines the storage position in accordance with a height of the object so that an upper end of the object supported by the support member protrudes from the holder unit. The holder system according to claim 5 .

7. The holder portion is provided in a center console of the automobile and is configured to be able to accommodate a beverage container. A holder system according to claim 1 or 2.

8. A holder control device that controls the operation of a lifting drive unit that lifts and lowers a support member of a holder unit that supports an object, acquiring information for recognizing a user's hand, and controlling an operation of the lifting drive unit so as to lift the support member when a predetermined instruction motion is performed by the user's hand; Holder control device.

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