Vehicle seats

Abstract

We provide vehicle interior components equipped with touch switches to suppress unintended malfunctions by the occupants. [Solution] The vehicle interior component 30 of the present invention comprises a touch switch 35 for operating electrical components provided in the vehicle, and a recess 33 formed on the side surface of the vehicle on the interior side. The touch switch has a sensing unit 36 ​​for detecting the occupant's fingers, and the recess has an opening 33a, a bottom 33b, a vertical wall 33c formed around the bottom, and a curved surface 33d formed at the bottom so as to protrude toward the opening. The sensing unit is positioned on the curved surface.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to vehicle interior parts, and particularly to vehicle interior parts provided with touch switches.

Background Art

[0002] Touch switches for operating electrical components mounted on a vehicle are provided in vehicle interior parts such as vehicle doors. For example, a touch switch for operating a power window is provided on an armrest of a vehicle door, and a passenger can open and close the window by touching the touch switch, which is an operation switch, with a finger (for example, Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] However, since the touch switch is formed flatly and the operable range is not physically restricted, there is a case where the finger of the passenger who operates goes out of the operable range. In addition, there is a case where the finger of the passenger inadvertently touches the sensing part of the touch switch and performs an input operation erroneously, thereby operating the electrical component erroneously.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide a vehicle interior part provided with a touch switch that suppresses unintended malfunction by a passenger.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The aforementioned problem is solved by providing a vehicle with a touch switch for operating electrical components and a recess formed on the interior side of the vehicle, wherein the touch switch has a sensing unit for detecting the occupant's fingers, the recess has an opening, a bottom, a vertical wall formed around the bottom, and a curved surface formed at the bottom so as to protrude toward the opening, and the sensing unit is arranged on the curved surface.

[0007] The vertical wall of the recess restricts the range of input movement by the occupant's fingers, thus preventing the occupant's fingers from moving outside the operable range. Furthermore, the presence of the vertical wall prevents the occupant's fingers from unintentionally touching the sensing area, thus reducing the likelihood of accidental input. Additionally, because the sensing area is positioned on a curved surface that protrudes toward the opening, it becomes easier for the occupant to recognize when they are touching the sensing area when using the touch switch.

[0008] Furthermore, in the above-mentioned interior component for a vehicle, the interior component for the vehicle is a door lining provided on a vehicle door, and the recess is preferably formed on the interior-facing side of the door lining. By forming a recess on the interior side of the door lining, it is possible to prevent, for example, an occupant seated near the door from accidentally touching the sensing part of the touch switch.

[0009] Furthermore, in the above-mentioned interior components for vehicles, the sensing unit is composed of a plurality of sensor regions arranged in the vertical direction of the vehicle, and the lower sensor region is preferably positioned so as to be offset from the vertical axis of the upper sensor region. When a user grasps a part of a vehicle's interior component and touches a touch switch with their finger (especially their thumb), staggering the vertically aligned sensor areas allows their positions to align with the finger's trajectory, making it easier to touch the switch.

[0010] Furthermore, in the above-mentioned vehicle interior component, the sensing unit is composed of a plurality of sensor areas arranged in the vertical and longitudinal directions of the vehicle, and the lower sensor area located on the lower side may have its front end positioned behind the front end of the upper sensor area located on the upper side, or its rear end positioned behind the rear end of the upper sensor area. When gripping a part of a vehicle's interior component and touching a touch switch with your fingers (especially your thumb), arranging it as described above allows the sensor area to align with the trajectory of your finger (especially your thumb), making it easier to touch.

[0011] Furthermore, in the above-described interior component for a vehicle, the sensing unit comprises a first sensing unit composed of a plurality of sensor areas arranged in the vertical direction of the vehicle, and a second sensing unit positioned behind the first sensing unit in the front-rear direction of the vehicle and composed of a plurality of sensor areas arranged in the vertical direction of the vehicle, wherein the sensor area positioned at the lowest part of the first sensing unit and the sensor area positioned at the highest part of the second sensing unit overlap in the vertical direction. When gripping a part of a vehicle's interior component and touching a touch switch with your fingers (especially your thumb), arranging it as described above allows the sensor area to align with the trajectory of your finger (especially your thumb), making it easier to touch.

[0012] Furthermore, the above-mentioned interior component for a vehicle includes a gripping portion provided near the touch switch for the occupant to grasp when operating the touch switch, the gripping portion having a gripping detection unit that detects when it is grasped by the occupant and a gripping position identification unit that detects the position at which the gripping portion is grasped by the occupant, and the touch switch may change the position of the sensing unit that detects the occupant's fingers within the touch switch based on the occupant's gripping position detected by the gripping position identification unit. By changing the position of the sensing unit based on the gripping position, differences due to the occupant's physique or posture can be compensated for, and the sensing unit can be positioned in a location that is easy to touch.

[0013] Furthermore, in the above-mentioned interior components for vehicles, the touch switch is preferably configured to enable operation of the electrical components by the touch switch when the grip detection unit detects that the gripping unit has been gripped. By configuring it as described above, it is possible to suppress unintended malfunctions of electrical components caused by occupants inadvertently touching the touch switches.

[0014] Furthermore, in the above-mentioned interior components for a vehicle, the touch switch is capable of acquiring information about the state of the vehicle seat in which the occupant is seated, and it is preferable that the touch switch be able to operate the electrical components when it acquires information that the vehicle seat is in a relaxed state that allows the occupant to relax. By enabling the operation of electrical components via touch switches when the user is relaxed, unintended malfunctions caused, for example, by accidentally touching the touch switches while driving can be suppressed.

[0015] Furthermore, in the above-mentioned interior components for vehicles, the touch switch should be configured to allow operation of the electrical components when the vehicle is in an automatic driving state. By enabling the operation of electrical components via touch switches while the vehicle is in autonomous driving mode, unintended malfunctions caused by accidental contact with the touch switches during driving can be effectively prevented.

[0016] Furthermore, in the above-mentioned interior components for vehicles, there are multiple sensing units, and at least one of the multiple sensing units is a target selection sensing unit that selects the electrical component operated by the touch switch, and the target selection sensing unit is capable of changing the electrical component being operated when it is pressed and held for a predetermined time by the occupant. By making it possible to change the electrical component operated when the target selection sensing unit is pressed and held, unintended malfunctions during switching of the target being operated are suppressed.

[0017] Furthermore, in the above-mentioned vehicle interior component, the vehicle interior component comprises a main body and an operating member having a touch switch and detachably attached to the main body, wherein the touch switch operates the electrical components via wireless communication, and the operating member can be removed by pulling it out vertically from the main body of the vehicle interior component. By providing the touch switch on a detachable operating component from the main unit, the convenience of the touch switch can be enhanced, for example, by removing the operating component when the occupant is seated facing the opposite direction of the vehicle's movement. Furthermore, by designating the removal direction as vertical, it is possible to prevent the operating component from accidentally detaching from the main unit.

[0018] Furthermore, in the above-mentioned vehicle interior component, the vehicle interior component may comprise a main body and an operating member having the touch switch and rotatably mounted on the main body. By equipping a rotatable operating member with a touch switch, the operating surface of the touch switch can be oriented in a direction that is easy for the occupant to touch when in use. Furthermore, when not in use, the operating surface of the touch switch can be oriented in a direction that is difficult to touch, thereby preventing unintended malfunctions. [Effects of the Invention]

[0019] According to the present invention, the vertical wall portion of the recess restricts the range of input movement by the occupant's fingers, thereby preventing the occupant's fingers from moving outside the operable range. Furthermore, the presence of the vertical wall portion prevents the occupant's fingers from unintentionally touching the sensing portion, thus preventing accidental input operations. In addition, since the sensing portion is positioned on a curved surface that protrudes toward the opening, it becomes easier for the occupant to recognize when they are touching the sensing portion when using the touch switch. By forming a recess on the interior side of the door lining, it is possible to prevent, for example, an occupant seated near the door from accidentally touching the sensing part of the touch switch. When touching a touch switch with a finger (especially the thumb) while gripping a part of the vehicle interior, by arranging sensor regions shifted in the vertical direction, their positions will match the finger's trajectory, enabling easy touching. When touching a touch switch with a finger (especially the thumb) while gripping a part of the vehicle interior, by arranging as described above, the position of the sensor region will match the finger's (especially the thumb's) trajectory, making it easier to touch. When touching a touch switch with a finger (especially the thumb) while gripping a part of the vehicle interior, by arranging as described above, the position of the sensor region will match the finger's (especially the thumb's) trajectory, making it easier to touch. By changing the position of the sensing part based on the gripping position, differences due to the occupant's physique or posture can be absorbed, and the sensing part can be arranged at an easily touchable position. By configuring as described above, it is possible to suppress unintended malfunction of electrical components caused by an occupant accidentally touching the touch switch. By enabling operation of electrical components by the touch switch when in a relaxed state, for example, it is possible to suppress unintended malfunction caused by accidentally touching the touch switch during driving. When the vehicle is in an autonomous driving state, by enabling operation of electrical components by the touch switch, it is possible to reduce unintended malfunction caused by accidentally touching the touch switch during driving. By making it possible to change the electrical component to be operated when the target selection sensing part is long-pressed, unintended malfunction during switching of the operation target is suppressed. By providing the touch switch on an operation member detachable from the main body, for example, when the occupant is seated in the direction opposite to the vehicle's traveling direction, the convenience of the touch switch can be enhanced by removing the operation member. Also, by making the removal direction vertical, it is possible to prevent the operation member from accidentally detaching from the main body. By equipping a rotatable operating member with a touch switch, the operating surface of the touch switch can be oriented in a direction that is easy for the occupant to touch when in use. Furthermore, when not in use, the operating surface of the touch switch can be oriented in a direction that is difficult to touch, thereby preventing unintended malfunctions. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0020] [Figure 1] This is a perspective view of a vehicle interior with an interior material according to one embodiment of the present invention installed, viewed from a diagonal front. [Figure 2] This is a perspective view showing an enlarged portion II of Figure 1, and is a side view showing the door lining installed in a vehicle door. [Figure 3] This is a cross-sectional view of the door armrest along the line III-III in Figure 2. [Figure 4] This is a diagram illustrating the configuration of in-vehicle devices operated by a touch panel on the interior materials of a vehicle. [Figure 5A] This diagram shows the sensing unit indicated by the touch switch on the door armrest. [Figure 5B] This figure shows another example of the sensing unit shown on the door armrest touch switch. [Figure 6A] This is an explanatory diagram showing a touch switch where the position of the sensing unit changes, and it shows the state where the sensing unit is in the forward position. [Figure 6B] This is an explanatory diagram showing a touch switch where the position of the sensing unit changes, specifically showing the state where the sensing unit has moved to the rear. [Figure 7] This is an explanatory diagram showing a door armrest equipped with a detachable operating member having a touch switch. [Figure 8] This is an explanatory diagram showing a door armrest equipped with a rotatable operating member having a touch switch. [Figure 9] This is a perspective view showing the seat frame of a vehicle seat. [Figure 10]This is a magnified view of part X in Figure 1, showing a perspective view of a touch switch installed on a vehicle seat. [Figure 11] This is a cross-sectional view along the line XI-XI in Figure 10. [Figure 12] This is a perspective view showing another example of a touch switch installed in a vehicle seat. [Figure 13] This is an explanatory diagram showing a touch switch with a movable sensing unit. [Figure 14] This is an explanatory diagram showing a vehicle seat in which the angle of the operating member on which the touch switch is located relative to the seat cushion can be changed. [Figure 15] This is an explanatory diagram showing a vehicle seat equipped with a detachable operating member having a touch switch. [Figure 16A] This is a perspective view of a vehicle seat equipped with an operating component having a touch switch. [Figure 16B] Figure 16A is a cross-sectional view along line BB, showing an operating member that has a touch panel and is mounted to the seat cushion so as to be movable in the vertical direction. [Figure 16C] Figure 16A is a cross-sectional view along the CC line, showing an operating member having a touch panel and rotatably mounted to the seat cushion. [Figure 17] This is a perspective view showing a vehicle seat equipped with a seat armrest that has a touch switch. [Figure 18A] This is a perspective view showing a vehicle seat equipped with a center armrest with touch switches. [Figure 18B] This is a perspective view showing a vehicle seat equipped with a center armrest with touch switches. [Figure 19] This is a perspective view showing a grip with a touch switch. [Figure 20] This is a perspective view showing a vehicle seat with touch switches on the rear of the headrest and the rear of the seat back. [Figure 21A] This diagram shows a door lining equipped with a speaker and surrounding touch switches. [Figure 21B] This figure shows another example of a door lining equipped with a speaker and surrounding touch switches. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0021] <<First Embodiment: Door Lining>> The configuration of the interior components for vehicles according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. However, the embodiments described below are for the purpose of facilitating understanding of the present invention and do not limit it. That is, the present invention can be modified and improved without departing from its spirit, and of course, equivalents thereof are included in the present invention. Furthermore, the descriptions below regarding the materials, shapes, and sizes of the components constituting the interior parts of vehicles are merely examples and do not limit the present invention.

[0022] In the following, we will describe a vehicle door lining, particularly a door armrest, as an example of interior components for vehicles, and explain its configuration. However, the present invention is not limited to vehicle door linings installed in ground vehicles with wheels, such as automobiles and trains, but can also be applied to vehicle door linings installed in aircraft, ships, and other vehicles that move on surfaces other than the ground.

[0023] Furthermore, in the following explanation, "front-to-back direction" refers to the front-to-back direction of the vehicle door, which coincides with the direction of travel when the vehicle is moving. "Door width direction" refers to the width direction of the vehicle door, which coincides with the left-to-right direction as viewed from an occupant seated in the vehicle seat. "Up-down direction" refers to the up-and-down direction of the vehicle door, which coincides with the vertical direction when the vehicle is traveling on a horizontal plane. Additionally, "outside" simply refers to the side closer to the outside when moving outward from the center of the vehicle door, while "inside" refers to the side closer to the center when moving from the outside of the vehicle door towards the center. Finally, "inside" refers to the direction towards the interior of the vehicle when the vehicle door is closed.

[0024] Unless otherwise specified, the following descriptions of the shape, position, and orientation of each part of the vehicle door will be based on the assumption that the vehicle door is in a closed position.

[0025] <Vehicle Door D> The basic configuration of the vehicle door D equipped with the door lining according to this embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 1 and 2. Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the interior of a vehicle where the vehicle door D and vehicle seat S are installed. Figure 2 is a side view showing the door lining 1 provided on the vehicle door D. The vehicle door D comprises a door panel P, a window 2 formed in the upper part of the door panel P, and a door lining 1 provided below the window 2 on the door panel P. The door lining 1 consists of an upper member 5, a center member 6, a lower member 7, and a door armrest 30 projecting toward the interior of the vehicle between the center member 6 and the lower member 7. A door handle 11 is provided in front of the center member 6, and a door pocket (not shown) and a speaker 12 are provided in front of the lower member 7.

[0026] <Door armrest 30> Next, a door armrest 30 equipped with a touch switch 35 for operating an in-vehicle device 13 (electrical component) installed in the vehicle will be described. The door armrest 30 is an example of a vehicle interior component of the present invention.

[0027] As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the door armrest 30 is a component that protrudes from the door panel P toward the interior, and is the part on which an occupant seated in the vehicle seat S can rest their hand or arm. The door armrest 30 has a shape that extends in the front-to-back direction of the door, and a door window open / close switch 31 for operating the power window is installed on the upper front surface. In addition, a pull pocket 32 ​​(an example of a gripping part) is formed in the center of the upper surface for the occupant to grasp the door armrest 30. The occupant can grasp the door armrest 30 by inserting their fingers into the pull pocket 32.

[0028] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 3, a recess 33 is formed on the interior side of the door armrest 30, recessed toward the exterior. The recess 33 consists of an opening 33a, a bottom portion 33b, and a vertical wall portion 33c formed around the bottom portion 33b. The bottom portion 33b is also provided with a curved surface 33d that curves toward the opening. The touch switch 35 has a plurality of sensing units 36 that detect the occupant's fingers. The touch switch 35 and the sensing units 36 are arranged along the curved surface 33d of the bottom portion 33b.

[0029] Furthermore, the height H1 of the curved surface 33d is formed so as not to exceed the height H2 of the vertical wall portion 33c. Therefore, although the touch switch 35 is exposed on the interior side, it is surrounded by the vertical wall portion 33c, so even if the occupant's arm inadvertently touches the side, it will not come into contact with the touch switch 35. More specifically, even if the occupant's arm inadvertently touches the side of the door armrest 30, the arm is supported by the vertical wall portion 33c, creating a gap between the touch switch 35 and the arm, so the arm does not directly come into contact with the sensing portion 36 of the touch switch 35. Therefore, unintended malfunctions can be suppressed. Furthermore, when using the touch switch 35, the vertical wall portion 33c restricts the range of movement of the occupant's finger. This prevents accidental pressing of areas other than the touch switch 35, ensuring reliable input of the touch switch 35.

[0030] The touch switch 35 used in this embodiment is a capacitive touch sensor. However, the touch switch 35 is not limited to a capacitive touch sensor, and may be a resistive, pressure-sensitive, or other type of touch sensor.

[0031] <In-vehicle device 13> Furthermore, examples of in-vehicle devices 13 operated by the touch switch 35 include a power window system 14, an electric seat system 15, a car navigation system 16, an audio system 17, and an air conditioning system 18. The in-vehicle devices 13 may also include sliding doors, a sunroof, sunshades, lamps, etc. The operating status of the in-vehicle devices 13 is displayed on the display 19 via the ECU (control unit 20).

[0032] <Electric seat device 15> The electric seat device 15 includes a front-to-back adjustment mechanism 15a, a height adjustment mechanism 15b, a reclining mechanism 15c, and a seat heater 15d. The front-to-back adjustment mechanism 15a is a mechanism that moves the seat in the front-to-back direction relative to the vehicle body. The height adjustment mechanism 15b is a mechanism that changes the height of the seat relative to the vehicle body. The reclining mechanism 15c is a mechanism that changes the angle of the seat back relative to the seat cushion. The seat heater 15d is a mechanism that changes the temperature of the seat. The front-to-back adjustment mechanism 15a, the height adjustment mechanism 15b, and the reclining mechanism 15c include an electric motor and are driven by the electric motor. The seat heater 15d has a heating element and changes its temperature according to the supplied current.

[0033] <Gripping detection sensor 40, maintenance detection sensor 41> Furthermore, a grip detection sensor 40 capable of detecting the occupant's hand is positioned to extend in the front-to-back direction from the opening of the pull pocket 32. In addition, a hand-in detection sensor 41 capable of detecting the occupant's finger inserted into the pull pocket 32 ​​is provided on the inner wall of the pull pocket 32. The grip detection sensor 40 and the hand-in detection sensor 41 are capacitive touch sensors and can detect when the occupant's hand makes contact with them.

[0034] <Control device 20> As shown in Figure 4, the door window open / close switch 31, touch switch 35, grip detection sensor 40, and maintenance detection sensor 41 are each connected to the ECU (control unit 20). In addition, the in-vehicle devices 13 such as the power window device 14, the display 19, and the speaker 12 are also connected to the ECU and are controlled by the ECU. The ECU has a CPU, ROM, and RAM (not shown), and the CPU executes various processing operations according to the control program stored in the ROM. For example, by receiving open / close signals from the door window open / close switch 31 and the touch switch 35, the CPU drives the electric motor of the power window device 14 to open and close the window.

[0035] <Sensing Unit 36> Figure 5A shows an example of a sensing unit 36 ​​provided by the touch switch 35. The sensing unit 36 ​​has a first sensing unit 37 and a second sensing unit 38 located behind the first sensing unit 37. The first sensing unit 37 and the second sensing unit 38 are each capable of operating different in-vehicle devices 13. In the example shown in Figure 5A, the first sensing unit 37 can operate the airflow of the air conditioning system, and the second sensing unit 38 can operate the volume of the audio system 17. The operable in-vehicle devices 13 can be changed by setting, and which devices are currently operable can be distinguished by icons displayed on the display units 373 and 383.

[0036] When an occupant's finger touches the sensing unit 36, the contact state or operating state is displayed on the display 19 via the ECU. Furthermore, when the sensing unit 36 ​​is touched, a contact sound or operating sound may be output from the speaker 12. The contact sound or operating sound may be modified depending on the operation performed by the sensing unit 36. Additionally, when the sensing unit 36 ​​is touched, the touch switch 35 may vibrate. The vibration may be modified depending on the operation performed by the sensing unit 36.

[0037] The first sensing unit 37 is composed of multiple sensor areas 370 arranged vertically (upper sensor area 371, lower sensor area 372, and hereinafter sometimes collectively referred to as sensor area 370). When an occupant's thumb touches the upper sensor area 371, a signal to increase the airflow is transmitted to the control device 20. When an occupant's thumb touches the lower sensor area 372, a signal to decrease the airflow is transmitted to the control device 20.

[0038] The second sensing unit 38 is also composed of multiple sensor areas 380 (upper sensor area 381 and lower sensor area 382) arranged vertically. When the occupant's thumb touches the upper sensor area 381, a signal to increase the volume is sent to the control device 20. When the occupant's thumb touches the lower sensor area 382, ​​a signal to decrease the volume is sent to the control device 20.

[0039] As shown in Figure 5A, the sensor regions 370 and 380 are each formed in the shape of a parallelogram. The lower sensor regions 372 and 382 are positioned offset from the vertical axes C1 and C2 of the upper sensor regions 371 and 381. In other words, the front end 372a of the lower sensor region 372 is located behind the front end 371a of the upper sensor region 371. The rear end 371b of the lower sensor region 372 is located behind the rear end 372b of the upper sensor region 371. Furthermore, the lower sensor region 372 of the first sensing unit and the upper sensor region 381 of the second sensing unit are positioned to overlap in the vertical direction. By arranging the sensor areas in this way, when an occupant's hand grips the handle and touches sensor areas 370 and 380 with their thumb, they can align their thumb with the up-and-down trajectory, making it easier to touch sensor areas 370 and 380.

[0040] The first sensing unit 37 and the second sensing unit 38 provided on the touch switch 35 may enable operation of the in-vehicle device 13 when the occupant's fingers are detected by the grip detection sensor 40 or the hand-in detection sensor 41. Such control is performed by the control device 20. By controlling the touch switch 35 in this way, operation becomes possible only when the occupant puts their hand into the pull pocket 32 ​​and grips it, thereby suppressing unintended malfunctions by the occupant.

[0041] Furthermore, the touch switch 35 can acquire the state of the electric seat device 15 in which the occupant is seated, and the touch switch 35 may be set to function or not depending on the state of the electric seat device 15. For example, the operation of the in-vehicle device 13 by the touch switch 35 may be enabled only when the seat back of the electric seat device 15 is tilted to a predetermined angle or more by the reclining mechanism 15c, that is, when the control device 20 receives information that the electric seat device 15 is in a relaxed state that relaxes the occupant. Also, if the vehicle equipped with the touch switch 35 is capable of autonomous driving, the touch switch 35 may be set to function when the vehicle is driving in autonomous driving mode. Such control is performed by the control device 20. By making the touch switch 35 operable when the electric seat device 15 is in a relaxed state or when the vehicle is driving in automatic driving mode, it is possible to prevent the occupant's fingers from accidentally touching the touch switch 35 while driving, thereby preventing the in-vehicle device 13 from malfunctioning.

[0042] <Sensing unit 36A> Figure 5B shows another example, a sensing unit 36A. Similar to sensing unit 36, sensing unit 36A has a first sensing unit 37A and a second sensing unit 38A located behind the first sensing unit 37A. The first sensing unit 37A is capable of operating the in-vehicle device 13. On the other hand, the second sensing unit 38A is a target selection sensing unit that can switch the in-vehicle device 13 operated by the first sensing unit 37A.

[0043] The second sensing unit 38A can change the in-vehicle device 13 that can be operated by the first sensing unit 37A when it is pressed and held by the occupant for a predetermined time, for example, 1 second or more. By switching when pressed and held, it is possible to prevent the in-vehicle device 13 from being switched unintentionally by the occupant.

[0044] As shown in Figure 5B, the sensor areas 370 and 380 of the sensing unit 36 ​​are each formed in a rhombus shape. Furthermore, the lower sensor regions 372 and 382 are positioned so as to be offset from the vertical axis of the upper sensor regions 371 and 381. In other words, the front end 372a of the lower sensor region 372 is located behind the front end 371a of the upper sensor region 371. Alternatively, the rear end 372b of the lower sensor region 372 may be positioned behind the rear end 371b of the upper sensor region 371.

[0045] <Door Armrest 30B> Figures 6A and 6B show another example, a door armrest 30B. Similar to the door armrest 30 shown in Figure 2, the door armrest 30B has a door window opening / closing switch 31 on its front portion, a pull pocket 32 ​​on the upper surface of the central portion, and a recess 33 formed on the interior side, which contains a touch switch 35B.

[0046] Compared to the door armrest 30 in Figure 2, the pull pocket 32 ​​and touch switch 35B are formed to be longer in the front-to-back direction. Multiple grip detection sensors 40 (gripping position identification units) are arranged in the opening of the pull pocket 32 ​​so as to extend in the front-to-back direction, enabling detection of the position in which the occupant grips the pocket. In addition, a hand-in detection sensor 41 capable of detecting the occupant's finger inserted into the pull pocket 32 ​​is provided on the inner wall of the pull pocket 32.

[0047] Multiple sensor areas 370 of the touch switch 35B are arranged side by side in the front-to-back direction. The sensor area 370 can become either a first sensing unit 37B or a second sensing unit 38B based on the information of the position where the occupant is gripping, as detected by the grip detection sensor 40. In other words, the positions of the first sensing unit 37B and the second sensing unit 38B can be changed in the front-rear direction based on the position where the occupant is gripping. By making the positions of the first sensing unit 37B and the second sensing unit 38B changeable based on the gripping position, differences due to the occupant's physique or posture can be compensated for, and the first sensing unit 37B and the second sensing unit 38B can be positioned in a location that is easy to touch. Furthermore, the system may monitor the status of the electric seat device and change the positions of the first sensing unit 37B and the second sensing unit 38B according to the angle at which the seat back is tilted relative to the seat cushion. In addition, the functions may be changed in accordance with the change in the positions of the first sensing unit 37B and the second sensing unit 38B, for example, the in-vehicle device 13 operated by the first sensing unit 37B and the second sensing unit 38B may be changed.

[0048] <Detachable touch switch 35C> As shown in Figure 7, the touch switch 35C may be provided on an operating member 50A that is detachable from the door armrest body 30a. For example, if the occupant is seated facing the opposite direction of the vehicle's movement, the operating member 50A can be removed and the touch switch 35C can be operated, thus improving its convenience. The operating component 50A is equipped with a wireless communication device, such as a Bluetooth® unit, to enable wireless communication between the touch switch 35C and the control device 20. Furthermore, it is preferable that the operating component 50A can be removed from the main body 30a of the door armrest 30C by pulling it upwards or downwards. Limiting the removal direction to the upward or downwards prevents accidental detachment from the main body 30a of the door armrest. The door armrest body 30a has a charging function and can charge the operating member 50A. It may be equipped with a charging terminal, or it may be charged by wireless power supply or the like. The first sensing unit 37 and the second sensing unit 38 are positioned to avoid the mounting portion or charging terminal of the operating member 50A. This suppresses an increase in thickness, allowing the operating member 50A to be made thinner. Furthermore, the removed operating member 50A may be reattached to the seat armrest.

[0049] <Rotating touch switch 35D> As shown in Figure 8, the touch switch 35D may be provided on an operating member 50B that is rotatable relative to the door armrest body 30a. When the occupant rotates the operating member 50B, a sensing unit 36D may be displayed on the operating surface, as shown in Figure 8. In this case, a directional pad is displayed as the first sensing unit 37D, and a confirmation key is set as the second sensing unit 38D. When using the touch switch 35D, the crew can orient the touch switch 35D's operating surface in a direction that is easy to see or touch. Furthermore, when not in use, the operating surface of the touch switch can be oriented in a direction that makes it difficult to touch, thereby preventing unintended malfunctions.

[0050] In the first embodiment, the door lining 1 is provided on the front passenger door D, but it is not limited to this, and the door lining 1 may be a door armrest provided on the rear passenger door. By providing a touch switch on the side of the door armrest provided on the rear passenger door, a passenger seated in the rear seat can operate the touch switch with their thumb while holding the door armrest.

[0051] <<Second Embodiment: Seat for Vehicles>> The configuration of a vehicle seat, which is a second embodiment of the present invention, will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the materials, shapes, and sizes of the components constituting the vehicle seat are merely examples and do not limit the present invention.

[0052] In the following, we will describe a vehicle seat installed in a vehicle as an example of a vehicle seat, and explain its configuration. However, the present invention is not limited to vehicle seats installed in ground-running vehicles with wheels, such as automobiles and trains, but can also be applied to vehicle seats installed in aircraft, ships, and other vehicles that move on surfaces other than the ground.

[0053] Furthermore, in the following explanation, "front-to-back direction" refers to the front-to-back direction of the vehicle seat, which coincides with the direction of travel when the vehicle is moving. Also, "seat width direction" refers to the width direction of the vehicle seat, which coincides with the left-to-right direction as viewed from the perspective of an occupant seated in the vehicle seat. Also, "up-down direction" refers to the up-and-down direction of the vehicle seat, which coincides with the vertical direction when the vehicle is traveling on a horizontal plane. Furthermore, when simply referred to as "outside," it refers to the side closer to the outside when moving outward from the center of the vehicle seat, and when referred to as "inside," it refers to the side closer to the center when moving from the outside of the vehicle seat towards the center.

[0054] Unless otherwise specified, the following descriptions of the shape, position, and orientation of each part of the vehicle seat assume that the vehicle seat is in a usable position for seating.

[0055] <Vehicle Seat S> As shown in Figure 1, the vehicle seat S is a seat that is placed on the vehicle floor and on which the vehicle's occupants sit. The vehicle seat S corresponds to the electric seat device 15 of the first embodiment. In this embodiment, the vehicle seat S is used as a front seat, corresponding to the front seat of the vehicle. However, it is not limited to this, and the vehicle seat S can also be used as a rear seat, and in a vehicle equipped with three rows of seats in the front-to-back direction, it can also be used as a middle seat in the second row or a rear seat in the third row.

[0056] As shown in Figure 1, the vehicle seat S mainly consists of a seat back 101 which is a backrest supporting the occupant's back, a seat cushion 102 which is a seating portion supporting the occupant's buttocks, and a headrest 103 which is positioned above the seat back 101 and supports the occupant's head. The seat back 101 and the seat cushion 102 are connected so as to sandwich a reclining mechanism 107 (see Figure 9). The seat back 101 is connected to the seat cushion 102 so as to be rotatable and angle-adjustable. The reclining mechanism 107 adjusts the tilt angle of the seat back 101. The seat cushion 102 also has a height adjustment mechanism (not shown).

[0057] <Seat frame F> As shown in Figure 9, a seat frame F is provided inside the vehicle seat S, and the seat frame F consists of a seat back frame 110 which forms the skeleton of the seat back 101 and a seat cushion frame 115 which forms the skeleton of the seat cushion 102.

[0058] <Seat back frame 110> As shown in Figure 9, the seat back frame 110 is formed in a rectangular frame shape as a whole, and comprises a pair of back side frames 111 arranged on both sides, an upper frame 112, and a lower frame 113. The upper frame 112 is positioned between the pair of back side frames 111 and connects the upper ends of the back side frames 111. The lower frame 113 is positioned between the pair of back side frames 111 and connects the lower ends of the pair of back side frames 111.

[0059] <Seat cushion frame 115> The seat cushion frame 115 is formed in a rectangular frame shape, and cushion side frames 116 are provided on its sides. It also has a front connecting frame 117 that connects the cushion side frames 116 at the front and a rear connecting frame 118 that connects them at the rear. The front connecting frame 117 and rear connecting frame 118 located at the front and rear of the vehicle seat S are made of round pipes. A cushion pan frame 119 is provided in front of the front connecting frame 117. Although not shown, a pressure receiving member is attached that spans the cushion pan frame 119 and the rear connecting frame 118, and the buttocks of the seated occupant are supported from below by the pressure receiving member.

[0060] <Pad Pa and cushion trim cover T> The seat back frame 110 and seat cushion frame 115 are fitted with a pad Pa (pad portion) and a cushion trim cover T (cushion cover) on their outer surfaces, thereby forming the seat back 101 and seat cushion 102. The pad Pa is a urethane base material molded by foam molding using, for example, urethane foam, and the cushion trim cover T is made of a surface material such as cloth, synthetic leather, or genuine leather.

[0061] <Slide rail 104> Furthermore, a slide rail 104 is installed beneath the vehicle seat S, as shown in Figure 2. This slide rail 104 allows the vehicle seat S to be mounted on the vehicle floor in a state where it can slide in the front-to-back direction. An electric motor (not shown) is provided on the slide rail 104, and by driving the electric motor, the vehicle seat S can be moved back and forth.

[0062] The slide rail 104 is a device for sliding the vehicle seat S along the front-rear direction and has a known structure (a general slide rail mechanism structure). The slide rail 104 has a lower rail fixed to the vehicle floor and an upper rail that is slidable relative to the lower rail. The upper rail is slidable relative to the lower rail which is fixed to the vehicle body. The slide rail 104 corresponds to the front-rear adjustment mechanism 15a of the first embodiment.

[0063] <Reclining mechanism 107> A reclining mechanism 107 is provided between the lower end of the seat back 101 and the rear end of the seat cushion 102. More specifically, the reclining mechanism 107 connects the seat back frame 110 of the seat back 101 and the seat cushion frame 115 of the seat cushion 102. The reclining mechanism 107 allows adjustment of the angle of the seat back 101 (seat back frame 110) relative to the seat cushion 102 (seat cushion frame 115). The reclining mechanism 107 allows the seat back 101 to be locked at a predetermined angle and maintained in a tilted state. By releasing the lock, the seat back 101 can be tilted forward or backward. The reclining mechanism 107 is equipped with an electric motor, and by driving the electric motor, the tilt angle of the seat back 101 can be changed. The tilt angle is transmitted to the control device 20 and reflected in the settings of the touch switches 35 provided on the door armrest 30, etc. This reclining mechanism 107 corresponds to the reclining mechanism 15c of the first embodiment.

[0064] The touch switch 126 provided in the vehicle seat S of this embodiment will be described below with reference to the figures. The touch switch 126 of the vehicle seat S is a switch that operates an in-vehicle device 13 (electrical component) installed in the vehicle, similar to the touch switch 35 of the first embodiment. The touch switch 126 is provided on the seat cushion 102 as shown in Figures 1 and 10.

[0065] The seat cushion 102 has a seating portion 121 that is formed as a seating surface when an occupant sits on it, and a raised portion 122 that is positioned on the outer side of the seating portion 121 in the seat width direction. The upper surface of the raised portion 122 protrudes upward from the seating surface of the seating portion. Furthermore, a side cover 123 is provided on the outer side of the raised portion in the seat width direction, covering the seat cushion frame 115 (more specifically, the cushion side frame 116). The touch switch 126 is located on the outer side of the embankment 122, closer to the door in the seat width direction. The touch switch 126 may also be located on the outer side further away from the door (closer to the center).

[0066] Furthermore, the front end of the touch switch 126 is positioned 90mm to 110mm, preferably 100mm, behind the front end of the seat cushion. By positioning it away from the front end of the seat cushion, the switch can be placed in a position that is easy for the seated person to operate.

[0067] As shown in Figure 11, the touch switch 126 is positioned below the upper end of the embankment portion 122. Furthermore, a recessed area 125 is formed on the outer side in the seat width direction, and the touch switch 126 is positioned within this recessed area. A vertical wall is formed around the bottom of the recessed area 125. This prevents the occupant's fingers from accidentally touching the touch switch 126. The recessed area 125 is formed on the upper surface of the side cover 123, as shown in Figure 11. The bottom of the recessed area 125 has a curved surface that protrudes toward the opening of the recessed area 125, and the touch switch 126 (more specifically, the first sensing unit 127 and the second sensing unit 128) may be positioned along this curved surface. Additionally, a decorative frame member 124 is provided around the recessed area 125. By positioning the touch switch 126 inside the recessed area 125 and providing a decorative frame member 124 around it, the occupant's fingers from inadvertently touching the touch switch 126 is prevented, thereby suppressing incorrect input operations.

[0068] As shown in Figure 10, the touch switch 126 consists of a first sensing unit 127 in which sensor areas 129 are arranged in a front-to-back and left-to-right pattern and act as a cross-shaped key switch, and a second sensing unit 128 in which the central sensor area 129 acts as a select key switch.

[0069] A concave portion 130 is formed on the side of the side cover 123, which is recessed inward in the width direction of the seat. A grip detection sensor 141 is provided on the vertical wall of the concave portion 130. Furthermore, a gripping position detection sensor 140 is provided between the decorative frame member 124 and the concave portion 130. The occupant can operate the touch switch 126 with their thumb while gripping the vertical wall portion of the concave portion 130. The gripping detection sensor 141 and the gripping position detection sensor 140 can detect the gripping position or state.

[0070] The touch switch 126 may be directly attached to the embankment portion 122, as shown in Figure 12 for the vehicle seat SA. The outer periphery of the touch switch 126 is joined to the surface material (cushion trim cover T) of the embankment portion 122 by stitching or the like.

[0071] <Touch switch 126B with adjustable position> As shown in Figure 13, the vehicle seat SB may be equipped with a touch switch 126B that is long in the front-to-back direction, and the positions of the first sensing unit 127 and the second sensing unit 128 on the touch switch 126B may be changeable. Multiple sensor areas 129 are arranged in a row, and the control device 20 selects the sensor areas 129 that will become the first sensing unit 127 and the second sensing unit 128. The positions of the first sensing unit 127 and the second sensing unit 128 may be changed based on the gripping position detected by the gripping position detection sensor 140. In addition, when the angle is changed by the reclining mechanism 107, the positions of the first sensing unit 127 and the second sensing unit 128 may be changed according to the angle θ of the seat back 101 with respect to the seat cushion 102. For example, if the seat back 101 is in a relaxed position, that is, if the angle θ2 becomes larger than the angle θ1 suitable for normal driving, the positions of the first sensing unit 127 and the second sensing unit 128 are moved rearward to a position that is easy for the occupant to operate even in a relaxed position.

[0072] <Rotating touch switch 126C> Furthermore, as shown in Figure 14, when the angle is changed by the reclining mechanism 107, the angle of the touch switch 126C relative to the seat cushion 102 may be changed according to the angle θ of the seat back 101 relative to the seat cushion 102. In this case, an operating member 150C is rotatably mounted on the side cover 123, and a touch switch 126C is provided on the upper surface of the operating member 150C. The angle of the operating member 150C relative to the seat cushion 102 is changed by an electric motor. The inclination angle of the operating member 150C relative to the seat cushion 102 may also be changed manually.

[0073] <Detachable touch switch 126D> Furthermore, as shown in Figure 15, an operating member 150D having a touch switch 126D may be provided detachably from the seat cushion 102. The operating member 150D is equipped with a wireless communication device, such as a Bluetooth® unit, to enable wireless communication between the touch switch 126D and the control device 20. Furthermore, the operating member 150D should be removable by pulling it out from the seat cushion 102 in an up-and-down direction. Limiting the removal direction to the up-and-down direction prevents it from unintentionally detaching from the seat cushion 102.

[0074] The seat cushion 102 (side cover 123) has a charging function and can charge the operating element 150D. It may be equipped with a charging terminal, or it may be charged by wireless power supply or the like. Furthermore, the first sensing unit 127 and the second sensing unit 128 are positioned to avoid the mounting portion or charging terminal of the operating member 150D. This suppresses an increase in thickness, allowing the operating member 150D to be made thinner. Furthermore, the removed operating member 150D may be attached to the armrest of the door or the armrest of the seat.

[0075] Furthermore, as shown in Figures 16A and 16B, an operating member 15E having a touch switch 126E on its upper surface may be provided so as to be movable in the vertical direction. Furthermore, as shown in Figures 16A and 16C, the operating member 15F, which has a touch switch 126F on its upper surface, may be rotatably provided and foldable. By changing the position of the operating member 15E or folding the operating member 15F, it is possible to improve ease of boarding and alighting by not obstructing the passenger's entry and exit.

[0076] <<Other Embodiments>> As shown in Figure 17, the touch switch 126G may be provided on the armrest 108 attached to the seat back 101 of the vehicle seat SG. The touch switch 126G is provided on the side of the armrest 108 that is on the inside of the seat. By placing the touch switch 126G on the side, the user can touch the touch switch 126G with their thumb while gripping the tip of the armrest 108.

[0077] As shown in Figure 18A, a touch switch 126H may be provided on the side of the center armrest 108A, which is located between the seat back 102A on the left side of the rear seat and the seat back 102B on the right side. By placing the touch switch 126H on the side of the center armrest 108A, the user can touch the touch switch 126H with their thumb while holding the tip of the center armrest 108A.

[0078] Alternatively, as shown in Figure 18B, a touch switch 126I may be provided on the upper surface of the center armrest 108B. When a touch switch 126I is provided on the upper surface, it is desirable to provide a grip detection sensor 141I at the tip of the center armrest 108B. When the grip detection sensor 141I detects the occupant's fingers, that is, when the occupant grips the tip of the center armrest 108B, the touch switch 126I can be operated. By controlling the grip detection sensor 141I in this way, unintended malfunctions can be suppressed.

[0079] As shown in Figure 19, the touch switch 162 may be installed on a grip 161 located on the roof or B-pillar of the vehicle. When installed on the grip 161, it is preferable to position the touch switch 162 at a location where the thumb makes contact when the grip 161 is grasped. Furthermore, it is desirable to lock the control of the touch switch 162 when the door is open, that is, to enable the operation of the in-vehicle device 13 only when the door is closed.

[0080] As shown in Figure 20, a touch switch 126J1 may be provided in the texture 142 of a recess on the back of the headrest 103, as in the vehicle seat SJ. The touch switch 126J1 is provided with a first sensing unit 127J1 and a second sensing unit 128J1. Additionally, a touch switch 126J2 may be provided on a decorative panel 143 located on the back of the seat back 101. The touch switch 126J2 is equipped with a first sensing unit 127J2 and a second sensing unit 128J2. By providing touch switches 126J1 and 126J2 on the back of the headrest 103 and the back of the seat back 101, occupants seated in the rear seats can operate the in-vehicle device 13.

[0081] As shown in Figure 21A, the door lining 3A of the door DA may be equipped with a circular speaker 12A in the front portion, and touch switches 35 may be provided around the circular speaker 12A. In this embodiment, the first sensing unit 37 of the touch switch is distributed above, below, left, and right of the speaker 12A. The sensor areas 370 arranged above and below allow the volume to be changed. For example, touching the upper sensor area 370 increases the volume, and touching the lower sensor area 370 decreases the volume. Touching the rear sensor area 370 may advance to the next song, and touching the front sensor area 370 may move to the previous song. Furthermore, rewind and fast-forward operations may be enabled using a second sensing unit 38 positioned between the sensor areas 370 of the first sensing unit 37.

[0082] As shown in Figure 21B, the door lining 3B of the door DB may be equipped with a rectangular speaker 12B in the front portion, and touch switches 35 may be provided around the rectangular speaker 12B. In this embodiment, the first sensing unit 37 of the touch switch is located on the upper edge of the speaker 12B, and the second sensing unit 38 is located on the rear side of the speaker as a cross key. The operation of the touched sensor area may be displayed on the display 19. By providing touch switches 35 for operating the audio device 17 around the speaker, the occupant can intuitively operate the audio device 17.

[0083] The second embodiment and other embodiments described above are noted below. (Note 1) The seat cushion on which the occupants sit, It includes a touch switch for operating electrical components installed in the vehicle, The aforementioned seat cushion is A seating portion formed as a seating surface when the occupant sits, It has a raised portion that is positioned on the outer side of the seat portion in the width direction of the seat portion and protrudes upward from the seat surface of the seat portion, The vehicle seat is characterized in that the touch switch is positioned on the outer side in the width direction of the seat on the embankment portion. (Note 2) The vehicle seat according to Appendix 1, characterized in that the touch switch is positioned 100 mm behind the front end of the seat cushion. (Note 3) The vehicle seat according to Appendix 1, characterized in that the touch switch is positioned below the upper end of the embankment portion. (Note 4) A recessed area is formed on the outer side in the width direction of the sheet in the aforementioned embankment portion. The vehicle seat according to Appendix 1, characterized in that the touch switch is arranged within the recess. (Note 5) The aforementioned seat cushion comprises a seat cushion frame that forms the skeleton of the seat cushion, a pad portion that covers the seat cushion frame, and a surface material that covers the pad portion. The vehicle seat according to Appendix 1, characterized in that the touch switch is connected to the surface material and arranged on the surface side of the surface material. (Note 6) The aforementioned seat cushion is A seat cushion frame that forms the skeleton of the aforementioned seat cushion, The seat cushion frame is covered by a side cover portion on the outer side in the width direction of the seat, The vehicle seat according to Appendix 1, characterized in that the touch switch is located on the upper surface of the side cover portion. (Note 7) A recess that is recessed inward in the seat width direction is formed on the outer side of the side cover portion in the seat width direction. The vehicle seat according to Appendix 6, characterized in that the touch switch is positioned above the recess. (Note 8) The seat cushion is equipped with a seating detection sensor that detects when the occupant is seated, The vehicle seat according to Appendix 1, characterized in that the touch switch enables operation of the electrical components by the touch switch when the seating detection sensor detects that the occupant is seated. (Note 9) The aforementioned touch switch is capable of acquiring information about the state of the vehicle seat. The vehicle seat according to Appendix 1, characterized in that the touch switch enables operation of the electrical components by the touch switch when it acquires information that the vehicle seat is in a relaxed state that relaxes the occupant. (Note 10) The vehicle seat according to Appendix 1, characterized in that the touch switch enables operation of the electrical components by the touch switch when the vehicle is in an automatic driving state. (Note 11) It comprises a seat back and a reclining mechanism that allows the angle of the seat back to be adjusted relative to the seat cushion, The area where the touch switch is located is provided so that its angle with respect to the seat cushion can be changed. The vehicle seat according to Appendix 1, characterized in that the angle of the portion where the touch switch is located is changed relative to the seat cushion according to the angle of the seat back. (Note 12) The touch switch has a sensor surface that the occupant's fingers make contact with, and a sensing unit that detects the occupant's fingers on the sensor surface. The vehicle seat according to Appendix 1, characterized in that the position or range of the sensing unit for detecting the occupant's fingers is configured to be changeable on the sensor surface. (Note 13) The vehicle seat according to Appendix 1, characterized in that it is provided with an operating member attached to the seat cushion so as to be vertically movable or rotatable with respect to the seat cushion on the outer side in the seat width direction of the seat cushion, and the operating member is provided with the touch switch. (Note 14) The vehicle seat comprises an operating member having the touch switch and being detachably attached to the seat cushion, The aforementioned touch switch operates the aforementioned electrical components via wireless communication. The vehicle seat according to Appendix 1, characterized in that the operating member is removed by pulling it out in an up-and-down direction relative to the seat cushion. (Note 15) The seatback and, An armrest provided on the outer side of the seat back in the seat width direction, A vehicle seat characterized by comprising: a touch switch provided on the side of the armrest that is on the outside in the seat width direction and located on the inside of the seat. (Note 16) The right-side seatback is positioned on the right side, The left seatback is located on the left side, A center armrest located between the right seat back and the left seat back, A vehicle seat characterized by comprising: a touch switch positioned on the outer side of the center armrest in the seat width direction or on the upper surface of the center armrest when the center armrest is tilted forward. (Note 17) A grip located on the roof or B-pillar, The grip is provided with a touch switch for operating electrical components installed in the vehicle, The interior component for a vehicle is characterized in that the touch switch enables the operation of the electrical components by the touch switch when the door of the vehicle is closed. (Note 18) Speakers installed in the vehicle doors, A vehicle interior component characterized by comprising a touch switch provided around the speaker for operating electrical components installed in the vehicle. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0084] D Vehicle Door P Door Panel 1. Door lining 2 windows 5 Upper Member 6 Center Member 7 Lower Member 11 Door handles 12 speakers 13. On-board equipment (electrical components) 14 Power window system 15 Electric seat device 15a Fore / aft adjustment mechanism 15b Height adjustment mechanism 15c Reclining Mechanism 15d Seat heater 16. Car navigation system 17 Audio equipment 18 Air conditioner 19 displays 20 Control device Door armrests for models 30, 30B, 30C, and 30D. 30a Door armrest body 31 Door window open / close switch 32 pull pockets 33 Recess 33a opening 33b bottom 33c Standing wall section 33d curved surface 35 Touch Switches 36, 36A Sensing section 37, 37A First Sensing Unit 370 Sensor area 371 Upper sensor area 372 Lower sensor area 373 Display section 38, 38A Second Sensing Unit 380 Sensor area 381 Upper sensor area 382 Lower sensor area 383 Display section 40. Grasp detection sensor 41 Maintenance detection sensor 50A, 50B Operating Members S Vehicle seats (seats for vehicles) F Seat Frame T Cushion Trim Cover Pa Pad 101 Seatback 102 Seat Cushion 103 Headrest 104 Slide Rail 107 Reclining mechanism 108 Armrest 110 Seat Back Frame 111 Backside Frame 112 Upper Frame 113 Lower Frame 115 Seat Cushion Frame 116 Cushion Side Frame 117 Front connecting frame 118 Rear connecting frame 119 Cushion Pan Frame 121 Seating area 122 Embankment 123 Side cover 124 Decorative frame member 125 recess 126 Touch Switches 127 First Sensing Department 128 Sensing Department 2 129 Sensor area 130 Concave part 140 Gripping position detection sensor 141 Grasp detection sensor 142 textures 143 Decorative Panel 150A~150F, Operating component 161 Grip 162 Touch Switches

Claims

1. A touch switch for operating electrical components installed in a vehicle, The vehicle comprises a recess formed on the interior side surface of the vehicle, The aforementioned touch switch has a sensing unit that detects the occupant's fingers, The recess has an opening, a bottom, a vertical wall formed around the bottom, and a curved surface formed at the bottom so as to protrude toward the opening. The sensing unit is characterized by being arranged on the curved surface, making it an interior component for a vehicle.

2. The vehicle interior part is a door lining provided on a vehicle door, and the recess is formed on the interior side surface of the door lining, as described in claim 1.

3. The sensing unit is composed of a plurality of sensor regions arranged in the vertical direction of the vehicle, and the lower sensor region is arranged to be offset from the vertical axis of the upper sensor region, as described in claim 1.

4. The sensing unit is composed of a plurality of sensor regions arranged in the vertical and front-to-back directions of the vehicle. The lower sensor region located on the lower side is characterized in that the front end of the lower sensor region is located behind the front end of the upper sensor region located on the upper side, or the rear end of the lower sensor region is located behind the rear end of the upper sensor region, as described in claim 1.

5. The sensing unit comprises a first sensing unit consisting of a plurality of sensor areas arranged in the vertical direction of the vehicle, and a second sensing unit located behind the first sensing unit in the front-rear direction of the vehicle, and consisting of a plurality of sensor areas arranged in the vertical direction of the vehicle. The vehicle interior component according to claim 1, characterized in that the sensor area located at the lowest part of the first sensing unit and the sensor area located at the highest part of the second sensing unit are arranged to overlap in the vertical direction.

6. It is provided near the touch switch and includes a gripping portion for the occupant to grasp when operating the touch switch, The gripping unit includes a gripping detection unit that detects when it is gripped by the occupant, and a gripping position identification unit that detects the position in the gripping unit where it is gripped by the occupant. The vehicle interior component according to claim 1, characterized in that the touch switch changes the position of the sensing unit that detects the occupant's fingers within the touch switch based on the occupant's gripping position detected by the gripping position identification unit.

7. The touch switch is provided near the touch switch and includes a gripping portion for the occupant to grasp when operating the touch switch. The gripping part has a gripping detection unit that detects when it is gripped by the occupant, The vehicle interior part according to claim 1, characterized in that when the gripping detection unit detects that the gripping unit has been gripped, the touch switch enables operation of the electrical component.

8. The aforementioned touch switch is capable of acquiring information about the state of the vehicle seat in which the occupant is seated. The vehicle interior component according to claim 1, characterized in that the touch switch enables operation of the electrical component by the touch switch when it acquires information that the vehicle seat is in a relaxed state that relaxes the occupant.

9. The vehicle interior component according to claim 1, characterized in that the touch switch enables operation of the electrical components by the touch switch when the vehicle is in an automatic driving state.

10. There are multiple sensing units, and at least one of the multiple sensing units is a target selection sensing unit that selects the electrical component operated by the touch switch. The vehicle interior component according to claim 1, characterized in that the target selection sensing unit can change the electrical component being operated when it is pressed and held for a predetermined period of time by the occupant.

11. The aforementioned vehicle interior component comprises a main body and an operating member having the touch switch and detachably attached to the main body, The touch switch operates the electrical components via wireless communication. The vehicle interior part according to claim 1, characterized in that the operating member is removed by pulling it out in an up-and-down direction relative to the main body of the vehicle interior part.

12. The vehicle interior component according to claim 1, comprising a main body and an operating member having the touch switch and rotatably mounted on the main body.

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