Steering

Abstract

To provide a steering with a configuration that can be simplified.SOLUTION: In a steering 10, a switch device 22 is operated by an occupant and the contact of the occupant with a garnish 26 is detected. Here, the garnish 26 and the switch device 22 are electrically connected to a control board 24. Therefore, the number of control boards 24 can be reduced, and the configuration can be simplified.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a steering wheel that detects contact of an occupant with a grip portion by a detection unit.

Background Art

[0002] In the steering wheel described in Patent Document 1 below, a sensor group is provided on the rim, and the sensor group detects contact of an occupant with the rim and is electrically connected to a control circuit unit. Further, a horn switch is provided at the center of the spoke, and the occupant operates the horn switch.

[0003] Here, Patent Document 1 below does not describe that the horn switch is electrically connected to the control unit.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] In view of the above facts, an object of the present invention is to obtain a steering wheel that can simplify the configuration.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The steering wheel according to the first aspect of the present invention includes a grip portion that an occupant grips, a detection unit that is provided on the grip portion and detects contact of the occupant with the grip portion, an operation unit that an occupant operates, and a control unit to which the detection unit and the operation unit are electrically connected.

[0007] The steering wheel according to the second aspect of the present invention is the steering wheel according to the first aspect of the present invention, wherein the operation unit is provided outside the grip portion.

[0008] In the steering of the third aspect of the present invention, in the steering of the first or second aspect of the present invention, the control unit is provided on the back side of the operation unit.

[0009] In the steering of the fourth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the steerings of the first to third aspects of the present invention, the detection unit and the operation unit are integrated.

[0010] In the steering of the fifth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the steerings of the first to fourth aspects of the present invention, a plurality of the detection units are electrically connected to the control unit.

Advantages of the Invention

[0011] In the steering of the first aspect of the present invention, the occupant grips the gripping portion and the occupant operates the operation portion. Further, the detection unit of the gripping portion detects the contact of the occupant with the gripping portion.

[0012] Here, the detection unit and the operation unit are electrically connected to the control unit. Therefore, the configuration can be simplified.

[0013] In the steering of the second aspect of the present invention, the operation unit is provided other than the gripping portion. Therefore, an erroneous operation of the operation unit can be suppressed.

[0014] In the steering of the third aspect of the present invention, the control unit is provided on the back side of the operation unit. Therefore, the operation unit can be easily electrically connected to the control unit.

[0015] In the steering of the fourth aspect of the present invention, the detection unit and the operation unit are integrated. Therefore, the detection unit and the operation unit can be easily assembled.

[0016] In the steering of the fifth aspect of the present invention, a plurality of detection units are electrically connected to the control unit. Therefore, the number of control units can be reduced.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0017]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0018] [First Embodiment] In FIG. 1, a steering 10 (steering wheel) according to the first embodiment of the present invention is shown in a front view seen from the rear side of the vehicle. In the drawing, the right side of the vehicle is indicated by an arrow RH, and the upper side is indicated by an arrow UP.

[0019] The steering 10 according to the present embodiment faces the driver's seat of the vehicle at the rear side of the vehicle, and the steering 10 is disposed in front of the vehicle of an occupant (driver, contact person) sitting in the driver's seat.

[0020] As shown in FIG. 1, a boss portion 10A as a supported portion is provided at the central portion of the steering 10, and an annular rim portion 10B as a gripping portion is provided at the outer peripheral portion of the steering 10 when viewed from the front. Three spoke portions 10C as connecting portions are provided between the boss portion 10A and the rim portion 10B, and the spoke portions 10C extend from the boss portion 10A to the left side, right side, and lower side of the vehicle and are connected to the rim portion 10B.

[0021] The boss portion 10A is fixed to the rear end (upper end) of a cylindrical steering shaft 12 as a support portion in the vehicle, and the steering shaft 12 is disposed coaxially with the rim portion 10B. The steering 10 is integrally rotatably supported by the steering shaft 12, and when an occupant grips the rim portion 10B and rotates the steering 10 in the circumferential direction, the steering shaft 12 is rotated around the central axis, and the vehicle is steered.

[0022] From the boss portion 10A to the lower spoke portion 10C, a resin-made substantially box-shaped pad 14 is provided as a housing member. The pad 14 constitutes the vehicle rear side surface of the boss portion 10A and the lower spoke portion 10C. The inside of the pad 14 is open to the vehicle front side, and the inside of the pad 14 is closed by the vehicle front side portions of the boss portion 10A and the lower spoke portion 10C.

[0023] Inside the pad 14, an airbag device 16 is housed at the position of the boss portion 10A. The airbag device 16 is provided with a bag-shaped airbag (not shown) in a folded state, and the airbag device 16 is electrically connected to a control device 18 of the vehicle. When the vehicle collides, high-pressure gas is instantaneously supplied into the airbag of the airbag device 16 under the control of the control device 18, and the airbag is inflated. As a result, the airbag breaks through the pad 14 and is deployed to the entire vehicle rear side of the steering 10. Thereby, even when the occupant's head collides with the airbag, the kinetic energy of the occupant's head is absorbed by the airbag, and the impact on the occupant's head is mitigated.

[0024] In the lower part of the lower spoke portion 10C (including the portion of the pad 14), a substantially trapezoidal design hole 20 is formed to penetrate, and the design hole 20 is open to the vehicle front side and the vehicle rear side, and the peripheral surface is closed.

[0025] Switch devices 22 are provided as operation parts on the spoke portion 10C on the left side of the vehicle and the spoke portion 10C on the right side of the vehicle. On the vehicle rear side surface (front surface) of the switch device 22, a switch 22A is provided as an operation part, and the switch 22A is operated (for example, pressed) by the occupant. Note that the switch 22A may be a switch for operating and stopping the vehicle direction indicator, a switch for operating and stopping the vehicle wiper, a switch for operating and stopping the vehicle light, a switch for operating and stopping the vehicle automatic driving, a switch for changing the shift position of the vehicle transmission, etc. Also, the switch 22A may be a switch that is operated by detecting the capacitance between the occupant's hand.

[0026] On the vehicle front side (back side) of the switch device 22, a control board 24 as a control unit is fixed. The control board 24 is disposed within the spoke portion 10C. The switch device 22 is electrically connected to the control board 24, and a signal (operation signal of the switch 22A) from the switch device 22 is transmitted to the control board 24. The control board 24 is electrically connected to the control device 18, and the control board 24 processes the signal from the switch device 22 and transmits it to the control device 18.

[0027] On the left and right vehicle side portions of the rim portion 10B, a long plate-shaped garnish 26 as a detection unit is provided. The garnish 26 constitutes the outer peripheral surface of the rim portion 10B. The longitudinal direction of the garnish 26 is curved along the longitudinal direction of the rim portion 10B (circumferential direction of the steering 10), and the width direction of the garnish 26 is curved along the circumferential direction of the rim portion 10B (direction around the longitudinal direction). A plate-shaped protruding portion 26A is integrally formed at the longitudinal intermediate portion of the steering 10, and the protruding portion 26A protrudes radially inward of the steering 10. The protruding portion 26A is disposed at the connection portion between the rim portion 10B and the spoke portion 10C, and the protruding tip surface of the protruding portion 26A is fitted to the radially outer surface of the switch device 22 on the steering 10.

[0028] The front surface of the garnish 26 (including the protruding portion 26A) constitutes a decorative layer 26B as a decoration unit. The decorative layer 26B has, for example, a wood grain pattern formed thereon and decorates the steering 10.

[0029] On the back side of the decorative layer 26B of the garnish 26 (including the protruding portion 26A), an electrode layer (not shown) as a detection site is formed. The electrode layer is made of metal or conductive resin and has conductivity. The capacitance between the hand of the occupant in contact with the garnish 26 (including the protruding portion 26A) is detected, enabling detection of the contact of the hand of the occupant with the garnish 26 (including the protruding portion 26A).

[0030] The garnishes 26 (electrode layers) on the left and right sides of the vehicle are electrically connected to the control boards 24 on the left and right sides of the vehicle respectively. A signal from the garnish 26 (a signal related to the capacitance between the occupant's hand and the electrode layer) is transmitted to the control board 24, and the control board 24 processes the signal from the garnish 26 and transmits it to the control device 18.

[0031] Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described.

[0032] In the steering 10 configured as described above, when the switch 22A of the switch device 22 is operated by the occupant and a signal from the switch device 22 is transmitted to the control board 24, the control board 24 processes the signal from the switch device 22 and transmits it to the control device 18.

[0033] Also, when the occupant's hand touches the garnish 26 of the rim portion 10B and a signal from the garnish 26 is transmitted to the control board 24, the control board 24 processes the signal from the garnish 26 and transmits it to the control device 18. Then, in the control device 18, based on the capacitance between the occupant's hand and the electrode layer of the garnish 26 being equal to or greater than a predetermined capacitance, it is detected that the occupant is gripping the portion of the garnish 26 disposed on the rim portion 10B.

[0034] Here, the garnish 26 and the switch device 22 are electrically connected to the control board 24. Therefore, unlike the case where the garnish 26 and the switch device 22 are electrically connected to separate control boards, the number of control boards 24 can be reduced.

[0035] As a result, the configuration of the steering 10 can be simplified. Furthermore, the arrangement space of the control board 24 can be reduced, the number of wirings connecting the control board 24 and the control device 18 can be decreased, the space inside the steering 10 can be increased, and the assembly workability of the steering 10 can be improved.

[0036] Moreover, there is no need to provide the control board 24 inside the boss portion 10A. Therefore, like the steering 30 according to the modification shown in FIG. 2, the boss portion 10A can be made, for example, cylindrical and miniaturized. Further, the circumferential dimension of the steering 30 of the lower spoke portion 10C (the spoke portion 10C where the switch device 22 is not provided) can be reduced, and the circumferential dimension and the radial dimension of the steering 30 of the design hole 20 in the lower spoke portion 10C can be increased. Thereby, the design of the steering 30 can be made smart and sharp.

[0037] Also, the switch device 22 is provided in the spoke portion 10C and not in the rim portion 10B. Therefore, an erroneous operation of the switch 22A of the switch device 22 can be suppressed.

[0038] Furthermore, the control board 24 is provided on the back side of the switch device 22. Therefore, the switch device 22 can be easily electrically connected to the control board 24.

[0039] Also, when the switch 22A is operated by detecting the capacitance between the hand of the occupant, on the control board 24, an element for detecting the capacitance between the switch 22A and the hand of the occupant and an element for detecting the capacitance between the garnish 26 (electrode layer) and the hand of the occupant can be made shareable. Therefore, the configuration of the control board 24 can be simplified.

[0040] Furthermore, when connectors (not shown) are provided on the garnish 26 (for example, the protruding portion 26A) and the control board 24 respectively, when assembling the garnish 26 and the control board 24 to the steering 10, the connector of the garnish 26 and the connector of the control board 24 can be connected to electrically connect the garnish 26 and the control board 24. Therefore, the garnish 26 and the control board 24 can be easily electrically connected, and the garnish 26 and the control board 24 can be easily assembled to the steering 10.

[0041] Moreover, when a connector is fixed to at least one of the garnish 26 and the control board 24, the garnish 26 and the control board 24 can be more easily electrically connected, and the garnish 26 and the control board 24 can be easily assembled to the steering 10. Further, the wiring between at least one of the garnish 26 and the control board 24 and the connector can be eliminated.

[0042] [Second Embodiment] FIG. 3 shows a front view of a steering 50 according to a second embodiment of the present invention as viewed from the rear side of the vehicle.

[0043] The steering 50 according to the present embodiment has substantially the same configuration as the first embodiment, but is different in the following points.

[0044] As shown in FIG. 3, in the steering 50 according to the present embodiment, the rim portion 10B has a U-shaped cross-section when viewed from the front, and the rim portion 10B is not provided above the spoke portions 10C on the left and right sides of the vehicle. Further, the design holes 20 in the first embodiment are not provided in the lower spoke portions 10C.

[0045] The garnish 26 is provided on the left side of the vehicle of the spoke portion 10C on the left side of the vehicle and the right side of the vehicle of the spoke portion 10C on the right side of the vehicle. The garnish 26 on the left side of the vehicle and the switch device 22 on the left side of the vehicle are integrated, and the garnish 26 on the right side of the vehicle and the switch device 22 on the right side of the vehicle are integrated.

[0046] Here, also in the present embodiment, the same operations and effects as those in the first embodiment can be achieved.

[0047] Furthermore, the garnish 26 on the left side of the vehicle and the switch device 22 on the left side of the vehicle are integrated, and the garnish 26 on the right side of the vehicle and the switch device 22 on the right side of the vehicle are integrated. Therefore, when assembling the garnish 26 and the switch device 22 to the steering 10, it is possible to eliminate the need for aligning the positions of the garnish 26 and the switch device 22, and the garnish 26 and the switch device 22 can be easily assembled to the steering 10.

[0048] In addition, in the above first embodiment (including the modification) and the second embodiment, the airbag device 16 is provided in the boss portion 10A. However, the airbag device 16 may not be provided in the boss portion 10A. In particular, in this case, a display may be provided on the rear side surface of the vehicle of the boss portion 10A.

[0049] Also, in the above first embodiment (including the modification) and the second embodiment, the control device 18 may enable the operation of the switch 22A of the switch device 22 by the occupant on the condition that the control device 18 detects the gripping of the rim portion 10B (the garnish 26 arrangement portion) by the occupant. Thereby, an erroneous operation of the switch 22A can be suppressed.

[0050] Furthermore, in the above first embodiment (including the modification) and the second embodiment, control boards 24 are provided for the switch device 22 on the left side of the vehicle and the switch device 22 on the right side of the vehicle, respectively. However, the control board 24 may be provided for one of the switch devices 22 on the left side and the right side of the vehicle. In this case, the other switch device 22 on the left side and the right side of the vehicle is electrically connected to the control board 24 of one of the switch devices 22 on the left side and the right side of the vehicle.

[0051] Also, in the above-described first embodiment (including modifications) and the second embodiment, the garnish 26 (electrode layer) on the left side of the vehicle and the garnish 26 (electrode layer) on the right side of the vehicle are electrically connected to the control board 24 on the left side of the vehicle and the control board 24 on the right side of the vehicle, respectively. However, a plurality of garnishes 26 (electrode layers) may be electrically connected to one of the control boards 24 on the left side and the right side of the vehicle. Thereby, the number of control boards 24 can be reduced, and the cost can be reduced.

[0052] Furthermore, in the above-described first embodiment (including modifications) and the second embodiment, the control board 24 is provided in the spoke portion 10C. However, the control board 24 may be provided in the boss portion 10A.

[0053] Also, in the above-described first embodiment (including modifications) and the second embodiment, the garnish 26 is provided on the rim portion 10B, and an electrode layer is provided on the garnish 26 to constitute a detection unit. However, an electrode layer may be provided inside a portion other than the garnish 26 of the rim portion 10B to constitute a detection unit, or an electrode layer may be provided inside the rim portion 10B without providing the garnish 26 on the rim portion 10B to constitute a detection unit.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0054] 10 ··· Steering wheel, 10B ··· Rim portion (grip portion), 22 ··· Switch device (operation unit), 24 ··· Control board (control unit), 26 ··· Garnish (detection unit), 30 ··· Steering wheel, 50 ··· Steering wheel

Claims

1. A gripping portion gripped by an occupant, a detection portion provided on the gripping portion for detecting contact of the occupant with the gripping portion, an operation portion operated by the occupant, and a control portion to which the detection portion and the operation portion are electrically connected, wherein the detection portion and the operation portion are integrated, and a steering wheel is provided.

2. A gripping portion gripped by an occupant, a detection portion provided on the gripping portion for detecting contact of the occupant with the gripping portion, an operation portion operated by the occupant, and a control portion to which the detection portion and the operation portion are electrically connected, wherein a plurality of the detection portions are electrically connected to the control portion, and a steering wheel is provided.

3. The steering wheel according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the operation portion is provided outside the gripping portion.

4. The steering wheel according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the control portion is provided on the back side of the operation portion.

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