Shift device

Abstract

The gripping part will be made smaller. [Solution] In the shift device 10, the shift position is changed by gripping and operating the knob 16. Here, a shift indicator 32 is placed on the back side of the transparent layer 36 of the knob 16, and the shift indicator 32 is visible from the front side of the transparent layer 36. Therefore, it is not necessary to provide a separate shift indicator 32 from the transparent layer 36, and the knob 16 can be made smaller.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a shift device in which a shift position is changed by gripping and operating a grip portion.

Background Art

[0002] In the shift device described in Patent Document 1 below, the shift position is changed by gripping and operating a knob. Further, a crystal block forms an outer peripheral surface of the knob and is a three-dimensional object, and the crystal block transmits light. Furthermore, a P button is provided on the knob, and a P display is provided on the P button.

[0003] Here, in this shift device, a P button is provided separately from the crystal block, and a P display is provided separately from the crystal block.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] In consideration of the above facts, an object of the present invention is to obtain a shift device capable of miniaturizing a grip portion.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The shift device according to the first aspect of the present invention includes a grip portion whose shift position is changed by being gripped and operated, a transmission portion that forms an outer peripheral surface of the grip portion, is a three-dimensional object, and transmits light, and a display portion that is disposed on the back side of the transmission portion and is made visible from the front side of the transmission portion.

[0007] A shift device according to a second aspect of the present invention is a shift device according to a first aspect of the present invention, further comprising a radiating unit that emits light to illuminate the display unit.

[0008] A third aspect of the present invention is a shift device in the first or second aspect of the present invention, further comprising a guide unit that guides light to illuminate the display unit.

[0009] A shift device according to a fourth aspect of the present invention is a shift device according to any one of the first to third aspects of the present invention, further comprising a shielding portion for blocking the leakage of light illuminating the display unit.

[0010] A fifth aspect of the present invention is a shift device that, in any one of the first to fourth aspects of the present invention, includes a limiting unit that restricts the visibility of the display unit and illuminates the display unit to allow visibility of the display unit. [Effects of the Invention]

[0011] In the shift device according to the first aspect of the present invention, the shift position is changed by gripping and operating the gripping portion. Furthermore, the transparent portion constitutes the outer circumferential surface of the gripping portion and is a three-dimensional object, and the transparent portion transmits light.

[0012] Here, the display unit is positioned on the back of the transparent section, making it visible from the front of the transparent section. Therefore, the display unit can be shown through the transparent section, eliminating the need for a separate display unit and allowing for a smaller gripping unit.

[0013] In the shift device according to the second aspect of the present invention, the radiating part emits light, illuminating the display part. Therefore, the display part can be illuminated.

[0014] In the shift device according to the third aspect of the present invention, the guide unit guides light to illuminate the display unit. Therefore, the display unit can be illuminated well.

[0015] In the shift device according to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the shielding portion blocks the leakage of light illuminating the display unit. Therefore, the leakage of light illuminating the display unit can be suppressed.

[0016] In the shift device of the fifth aspect of the present invention, the limiting unit restricts the visibility of the display unit, the display unit is illuminated, and the limiting unit allows the display unit to be visible. Therefore, it is possible to switch between displaying and not displaying the display unit. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0017] [Figure 1] This is a perspective view taken from the rear-right, showing the knob of the shift device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] (A) is a cross-sectional view from the right showing the knob of the shift device according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and (B) is a broken perspective view from the rear diagonal right showing the said knob. [Figure 3] (A) is a perspective view taken from the rear diagonal right showing the opaque layer of the knob of the shift device according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and (B) is a perspective view taken from the lower diagonal left showing the transparent layer of the knob. [Figure 4] (A) is a perspective view taken from the rear diagonal right, showing the transparent layer and the like of the knob of the shift device according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and (B) is a perspective view taken from the rear diagonal right, showing the circuit board and the like of the knob. [Figure 5] (A) is a perspective view taken from the rear and slightly to the right, showing the knob of the shift device according to the second embodiment of the present invention, and (B) is a perspective view taken from the rear and slightly to the right, showing the colored transparent layer of the knob, etc. [Figure 6] (A) is a cross-sectional view from the right showing the knob of the shift device according to the second embodiment of the present invention, and (B) is a broken perspective view from the rear diagonal right showing the said knob. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0018] [First Embodiment] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the main part of a shift device 10 according to a first embodiment of the present invention, as viewed obliquely from the rear right. In the drawing, the front of the shift device 10 is indicated by an arrow FR, the left side of the shift device 10 is indicated by an arrow LH, and the upper side of the shift device 10 is indicated by an arrow UP.

[0019] The shift device 10 in the present embodiment is installed in a console (not shown) of a vehicle (automobile), and the front, left, and upper sides of the shift device 10 are respectively directed toward the front, left, and upper sides of the vehicle.

[0020] As shown in FIG. 1, the shift device 10 is provided with a substantially columnar lever 12 as an operating body. The lever 12 is rotatable (movable) in the front-rear direction about the lower end side (base end side), and the upper end side (tip end side) of the lever 12 is disposed above the console.

[0021] A lever body 14 is provided on a portion of the lever 12 other than the upper end portion, and a substantially triangular prism-shaped knob 16 as a gripping portion is provided on the upper end portion of the lever 12. The knob 16 can be gripped by an occupant (especially a driver) of the vehicle, and when the knob 16 is gripped and rotated, the lever 12 is rotated. The shift device 10 is electrically connected to a control device 18 of the vehicle, and a transmission 20 of the vehicle is electrically connected to the control device 18. When the lever 12 is rotated forward, the shift position of the transmission 20 is changed to the N position (neutral position) under the control of the control device 18, and then changed to the R position (reverse position). When the lever 12 is rotated rearward, the shift position of the transmission 20 is changed to the N position under the control of the control device 18, and then changed to the D position (drive position).

[0022] A substantially rectangular plate-shaped base 22 (see FIG. 4(B)) is provided at the lower end portion of the knob 16, and the base 22 is fixed to the upper end portion of the lever body 14. A recess 22A having a rectangular shape in a top view is formed on the upper surface of the base 22, and the recess 22A is open upward.

[0023] A rectangular plate-shaped circuit board 24 is fixed to the recess 22A, and the upper surface of the circuit board 24 is flush with the upper surface of the base 22. Multiple pairs (three pairs in this embodiment) of LEDs 26 are provided on the upper surface of the circuit board 24 as radiating elements, and each pair of LEDs 26 is arranged in the left-right direction. Multiple pairs of LEDs 26 are arranged in the front-back direction, with the front pair of LEDs 26 (hereinafter referred to as "RLED26"), the middle pair of LEDs 26 in the front-back direction (hereinafter referred to as "NLED26"), and the rear pair of LEDs 26 (hereinafter referred to as "DLED26") being arranged at equal intervals in the front-back direction. The LEDs 26 are electrically connected to the control device 18, and the LEDs 26 radiate (emit) light upwards under the control of the control device 18.

[0024] A molded body 28 (see Figures 2(A) and (B)) is fixed to the upper side of the base 22.

[0025] The molded body 28 is provided with multiple (three in this embodiment) resin transparent layers 30 (see Figure 4(A)) that are roughly rectangular in shape and serve as guides. The transparent layers 30 extend vertically and are arranged in the front-to-back direction. The front transparent layer 30 (hereinafter referred to as "R transparent layer 30"), the intermediate transparent layer 30 in the front-to-back direction (hereinafter referred to as "N transparent layer 30"), and the rear transparent layer 30 (hereinafter referred to as "D transparent layer 30") extend above the pair of R LEDs 26, the pair of N LEDs 26, and the pair of D LEDs 26, respectively. The upward extension dimensions of the R transparent layer 30, N transparent layer 30, and D transparent layer 30 are decreasing in this order. The upper part (tip) of the transparent layer 30 protrudes in a direction toward the rear as it goes upward, and the upper rear surfaces of the multiple transparent layers 30 are arranged in a direction toward the rear as they go downward.

[0026] A shift display 32, which serves as a display unit, is integrally provided protruding from the upper rear surface of each transparent layer 30, and the protruding end faces of multiple shift displays 32 are arranged flush with each other. The shift display 32 of the R transparent layer 30 (hereinafter referred to as "R display 32") displays the letter R, the shift display 32 of the N transparent layer 30 (hereinafter referred to as "N display 32") displays the letter N, and the shift display 32 of the D transparent layer 30 (hereinafter referred to as "D display 32") displays the letter D. The transparent layer 30 (including the shift display 32) is made of white transparent material, allowing light to pass through, and the transparent layer 30 guides the light emitted by the LED 26 from the bottom surface to the upper rear surface, illuminating the shift display 32.

[0027] Around the multiple transparent layers 30, a resin-based, roughly triangular prism-shaped, opaque layer 34 (see Figure 3(A)) is provided as a shielding portion. An exposure hole 34A is formed in the opaque layer 34 on the underside of each transparent layer 30, allowing the opaque layer 34 to expose the underside of the transparent layers 30 through the exposure hole 34A. The underside of the opaque layer 34 is in contact with the upper surface of the circuit board 24, and the exposure hole 34A is closed by the circuit board 24, with the LED 26 of the circuit board 24 being inserted into it. The rear surface of the opaque layer 34 is inclined towards the rear as it extends downwards, and the rear surface of the opaque layer 34 is flush with the protruding end face of the shift display 32, exposing the protruding end face of the shift display 32. The opaque layer 34 is made of black opaque material to block light.

[0028] The periphery of the opaque layer 34 is covered by a transparent layer 36 (crystal layer, see Figure 3(B)) made of resin, which has an outer shape that is roughly triangular prism-shaped and serves as a transparent portion. The transparent layer 36 is made into a three-dimensional object and is not plate-like. The transparent layer 36 constitutes the outer surface of the knob 16, and the transparent layer 36 exposes the lower surface of the transparent layer 30 and the lower surface of the opaque layer 34. The rear surface of the transparent layer 36 is inclined in a direction toward the rear as it goes downwards, and the rear surface of the transparent layer 36 is parallel to the protruding end surface of the shift indicator 32 and the rear surface of the opaque layer 34. The transparent layer 36 is colorless and transparent and transmits light.

[0029] The molded body 28 is manufactured by integrally molding (multilayer molding) a transparent layer 30 (including the shift indicator 32), an opaque layer 34, and a transparent layer 36. The transparent layer 30 (including the shift indicator 32) and the opaque layer 34 are tightly bonded together, and the shift indicator 32, the opaque layer 34, and the transparent layer 36 are tightly bonded together.

[0030] Next, the operation of this embodiment will be explained.

[0031] In the shift device 10 configured as described above, when the knob 16 of the lever 12 is gripped and rotated, the lever 12 is rotated, and the shift position of the transmission 20 is changed to the R position, N position, and D position. In addition, the knob 16 is provided with a shift indicator 32, which can be seen by the occupant through the transparent layer 36.

[0032] When the knob 16 is illuminated at night, one of the LEDs 26 in each pair emits, for example, white light upwards, and the transparent layer 30 guides this light, so that each shift indicator 32 is illuminated in white and visible through the transparent layer 36.

[0033] When the shift position of the transmission 20 is set to the R position, the other RLED 26 emits, for example, red light upward, and the R-transmitting layer 30 guides this light, so that the R indicator 32 is illuminated in red and visible through the transparent layer 36.

[0034] When the shift position of the transmission 20 is set to the N position, the other NLED 26 emits, for example, green light upward, and the N transparent layer 30 guides this light, so that the N indicator 32 is illuminated in green and can be seen through the transparent layer 36.

[0035] When the shift position of the transmission 20 is set to the D position, the other DLED 26 emits, for example, blue light upward, and the D transparent layer 30 guides this light, so that the D indicator 32 is illuminated in blue and can be seen through the transparent layer 36.

[0036] Here, the shift indicator 32 is positioned on the inner circumference (back side) of the transparent layer 36 of the knob 16, making the shift indicator 32 visible from the outer circumference (front side) of the transparent layer 36. Therefore, the shift indicator 32 can be displayed via the transparent layer 36, eliminating the need to provide a separate shift indicator 32, and allowing the knob 16 to be miniaturized. Furthermore, the LED 26 emits light, illuminating the shift indicator 32. Therefore, the shift indicator 32 can be illuminated.

[0037] Furthermore, the light from the LED 26 is guided by the transmissive layer 30, illuminating the shift indicator 32. As a result, the shift indicator 32 can be illuminated effectively.

[0038] Furthermore, the opaque layer 34 shields against the leakage of light guided by the transparent layer 30 to illuminate the shift display 32. As a result, the leakage of light guided by the transparent layer 30 to illuminate the shift display 32 can be suppressed, and the intrusion of light from other transparent layers 30 into the transparent layer 30 and the resulting illumination of the shift display 32 by light from other transparent layers 30 can be prevented.

[0039] Furthermore, the transparent layer 30, the opaque layer 34, and the clear layer 36 are integrally provided on the molded body 28. Therefore, unlike when the transparent layer 30, the opaque layer 34, and the clear layer 36 are separate parts, the cost of parts and assembly man-hours can be reduced, thereby lowering costs. Moreover, unlike when the transparent layer 30, the opaque layer 34, and the clear layer 36 are assembled as separate parts, incorrect assembly and omissions can be eliminated, improving quality. In addition, unlike when gaps are provided between the transparent layer 30, the opaque layer 34, and the clear layer 36 to account for dimensional and assembly variations of the separate parts, these gaps can be eliminated, improving design aesthetics, enabling miniaturization, and eliminating light leakage from between the transparent layer 30, the opaque layer 34, and the clear layer 36, thereby improving lighting quality.

[0040] [Second Embodiment] Figure 5(A) shows a perspective view of the knob 16 of the shift device 50 according to the second embodiment of the present invention, viewed from the rear diagonal right.

[0041] The shift device 50 according to this embodiment has substantially the same configuration as that of the first embodiment described above, but differs in the following respects.

[0042] As shown in Figure 5(A), in the shift device 50 according to this embodiment, the periphery of the opaque layer 34 of the molded body 28 of the knob 16 (see Figures 6(A) and (B)) is covered by a resin-made colored transparent layer 52 (see Figure 5(B)) which has an outer shape that is roughly triangular prism-shaped, and the colored transparent layer 52 exposes the lower surface of the transparent layer 30 and the lower surface of the opaque layer 34. The rear surface of the colored transparent layer 52 is inclined in a direction toward the rear as it goes downwards, and the rear surface of the colored transparent layer 52 is parallel to the protruding end face of the shift indicator 32 and the rear surface of the opaque layer 34. The colored transparent layer 52 is made of colored transparent material (for example, black transparent material), and the colored transparent layer 52 restricts the transmission of light and transmits illumination light.

[0043] The colored transparent layer 52 is covered by a transparent layer 36, which exposes the lower surface of the transparent layer 30, the lower surface of the opaque layer 34, and the lower surface of the colored transparent layer 52, and whose rear surface is parallel to the rear surface of the colored transparent layer 52.

[0044] The molded body 28 is manufactured by integrally molding (multilayer molding) a colored transparent layer 52 in addition to a transparent layer 30 (including the shift indicator 32), an opaque layer 34, and a transparent layer 36. The shift indicator 32 and the opaque layer 34 are tightly bonded to the colored transparent layer 52, and the colored transparent layer 52 is tightly bonded to the transparent layer 36.

[0045] Incidentally, in knob 16, the colored transparent layer 52 is visible to the occupant through the transparent layer 36, and the visibility of the shift indicator 32 is limited by the colored transparent layer 52.

[0046] When the knob 16 is illuminated at night, one of the LEDs 26 in each pair emits, for example, white light upwards, and each transparent layer 30 guides this light, so that each shift indicator 32 is illuminated in white and visible through the colored transparent layer 52 and the transparent layer 36.

[0047] When the shift position of the transmission 20 is set to the R position, the other RLED 26 emits, for example, red light upward, and the R transparent layer 30 guides this light, so that the R indicator 32 is illuminated in red and can be seen through the colored transparent layer 52 and the transparent layer 36.

[0048] When the shift position of the transmission 20 is set to the N position, the other NLED 26 emits, for example, green light upward, and the N transparent layer 30 guides this light, so that the N indicator 32 is illuminated in green and can be seen through the colored transparent layer 52 and the transparent layer 36.

[0049] When the shift position of the transmission 20 is set to the D position, the other DLED 26 emits, for example, blue light upward, and the D transparent layer 30 guides this light, so that the D indicator 32 is illuminated in blue and can be seen through the colored transparent layer 52 and the transparent layer 36.

[0050] In this embodiment, the same effects and advantages as those of the first embodiment can be achieved.

[0051] Furthermore, the colored transparent layer 52 restricts the visibility of the shift display 32, and when the shift display 32 is illuminated, the colored transparent layer 52 allows the shift display 32 to be visible. Therefore, it is possible to switch the display of the shift display 32 on and off.

[0052] Furthermore, the colored transparent layer 52 is integrally provided on the molded body 28. Therefore, unlike the case where the colored transparent layer 52 is provided separately, costs can be reduced.

[0053] In the first and second embodiments described above, the outer surface of the transparent layer 36 on which the shift indicator 32 is visible is flat. However, the outer surface of the transparent layer 36 on which the shift indicator 32 is visible may be curved.

[0054] Furthermore, in the first and second embodiments described above, the shift display 32 (display unit) displays characters. However, the display unit may also display marks or pictures.

[0055] Furthermore, in the first and second embodiments described above, the knob 16 is rotated. However, the knob 16 may also be slid, or rotated around its central axis.

[0056] Furthermore, in the first and second embodiments described above, the shift devices 10 and 50 are installed on the vehicle's console. The shift devices 10 and 50 may also be installed in a part of the vehicle other than the console (for example, the instrument panel or steering column). [Explanation of Symbols]

[0057] 10...Shift device, 16...Knob (gripping part), 26...LED (radiating part), 30...Transparent layer (guide part), 32...Shift indicator (display part), 34...Opaque layer (shielding part), 50...Shift device, 52...Colored transparent layer (restricting part)

Claims

1. A gripping part that changes the shift position when gripped and operated, The outer surface of the gripping portion is formed into a three-dimensional object and includes a light-transmitting portion, A display unit is positioned on the back side of the transparent portion and is visible from the front side of the transparent portion, A shift device equipped with a shift mechanism.

2. The shift device according to claim 1, comprising a radiating unit that emits light to illuminate the display unit.

3. The shift device according to claim 1, further comprising a guide unit that guides light to illuminate the display unit.

4. The shift device according to claim 1, further comprising a shielding portion for blocking the leakage of light illuminating the display portion.

5. The shift device according to claim 1, further comprising a limiting unit that restricts the visibility of the display unit and illuminates the display unit to allow visibility of the display unit.

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