Vehicle operating device

Abstract

To provide an operation device for a vehicle, capable of achieving both space saving and operability.SOLUTION: An operation device for a vehicle comprises: a display device 4 capable of displaying a plurality of operation items; an operation unit 2 installed in a center console 13; and a display control part 32 for controlling the operation items by the operation of the operation unit 2. The operation unit 2 has a projection 25 connected to an upper face part of the center console 13 via a connection part 25x, and projecting forward and upward from the connection part 25x. The projection 25 has a first input part 21 capable of being input into an electric parking brake control part 31, and a second input part 22 capable of being input into the display control part 32. The first input part 21 is arranged in a lower face part 25b of the projection 25, and the second input part 22 (23, 24b-24d) is arranged in an upper face part 25a of the projection 25.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle operating device that includes a display means capable of displaying a plurality of operation items related to in-vehicle equipment, an operation means that can be operated by an occupant to input data, and a display control means that controls the operation items in conjunction with the input operation of the operation means. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, a manually rotatable gear change operation mechanism (shift lever) is provided on the top surface of a center console, and this gear change operation mechanism is mechanically connected to the transmission via a link member. In recent years, shifting mechanisms and parking brake mechanisms have been replaced by electronic systems (by-wire) instead of mechanically connected structures using link members. Shifting (shift-by-wire) and braking (brake-by-wire) using electrical signals are now the mainstream in various vehicle operating systems.

[0003] The transmission control system of Patent Document 1 includes a touch panel that can detect touch operations and fingerprints by the occupant, a fingerprint authentication unit that authenticates the detected fingerprint, a touch panel operation determination unit that accepts a shift-switching touch operation when the fingerprint is authenticated, and a shift-switching mechanism that switches the range position of the transmission based on the determined shift-switching touch operation. This allows the gear change operation mechanism, such as a shift lever, to be configured as a touch panel, making it possible to reduce the size of the gear change operation mechanism.

[0004] Meanwhile, various in-vehicle devices (air conditioner, audio, navigation device, etc.) installed in a vehicle have operation items corresponding to the respective in-vehicle devices displayed on a display inside the vehicle. When operating an in-vehicle device, the occupant switches the display to display the desired operation item using the command knob (hereinafter simply referred to as the commander), and the in-vehicle device executes the operation specified by the operation item in synchronization with the switching of the operation item. Here, the operation item shown on the display indicates the type of in-vehicle device or the title of a predetermined function (operation) screen. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2016-137785 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] The transmission control system of Patent Document 1 can eliminate the need for a shift lever in the vehicle interior, particularly in the area around the occupants, thereby promoting space saving within the vehicle interior. However, with the technology of Patent Document 1, when shifting to change the range position of the transmission, the occupant must perform the shifting touch operation while focusing on the display rather than the direction of travel, which may cause interference with driving while the vehicle is in motion.

[0007] Furthermore, to save space inside the vehicle, it is possible to integrate the shifting operation and the activation of the in-vehicle devices into a commander that can be operated blindly. The commander is configured to be rotatable around a vertical axis and also has a push switch function using a pressure sensor. On the other hand, since the control of the drive system and braking system is directly linked to the behavior of the vehicle, it is essential to ensure safety by avoiding erroneous operation when inputting data to the driving control means that controls the drive system and braking system. However, it is not easy to completely prevent erroneous operation when the crew operates the commander blindly. In other words, it must be said that it is difficult to achieve both space saving and operability at the same time.

[0008] An object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle operating device or the like that is space-saving and easy to operate. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] The vehicle operation device of claim 1 comprises a display means installed on an instrument panel and capable of displaying a plurality of operation items related to vehicle-mounted equipment, an operation means installed in a center console extending in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle body and operable by an occupant, and a display control means for controlling the operation items displayed on the display means by operating the operation means, wherein the operation means is connected to an upper surface of the center console via a connection part and has a protrusion that protrudes forward and upward from the connection part, the protrusion has a first input part that can input to a driving control means that controls driving and / or braking of the vehicle, and a second input part that can input to the display control means, the first input part being arranged on a lower surface of the protrusion and the second input part being arranged on an upper surface of the protrusion.

[0010] In this vehicle operating device, the operating means is connected to the upper surface of the center console via a connection part and has a protrusion that protrudes forward and upward from the connection part, so that the protrusion can be formed in a position that is easy for occupants to approach and in a shape that is easy for them to grasp. The protrusion has a first input unit that can input to a driving control means that controls the driving and / or braking of the vehicle, and a second input unit that can input to the display control means, so that the input units of the driving control means and the display control means can be integrated into a single piece of hardware. Since the first input unit is disposed on the underside of the protrusion and the second input unit is disposed on the upper side of the protrusion, the first input unit and the second input unit can be disposed separately above and below, thereby avoiding erroneous operation.

[0011] The invention of claim 2 is characterized in that, in the invention of claim 1, the first input unit is configured to be operable by a first operation form in which the occupant's fifth finger is placed in contact with a portion of the protrusion near the front end of the connection portion and pressed using the fingertips other than the fifth finger, and the second input unit is configured to be operable by a second operation form in which the occupant's palm is placed in contact with the upper surface of the protrusion and pressed using the fingertips. With this configuration, even when operating blindly, the stopper function can be used to place the fingertips in a specified position, and by differentiating the input operation forms for the operation control means and the display control means, erroneous operation between the two control means can be avoided.

[0012] The invention of claim 3 is 2 In the invention, the first operation mode is characterized in that the occupant grips the protruding portion from above and below with the first finger and other fingers. According to this configuration, the first input section can be easily pressed with a fingertip.

[0013] The invention of claim 4 is characterized in that, in the invention of any one of claims 1 to 3, the first input unit has a pressure sensor and detects an input operation by the occupant when the pressure applied by the occupant's fingertip exceeds a predetermined first threshold. According to this configuration, input due to accidental contact can be eliminated, and erroneous operations can be avoided.

[0014] The invention of claim 5 is characterized in that, in the invention of claim 4, the second input portion has a line-shaped input portion arranged in the center portion in the vehicle width direction on the upper surface of the protrusion, and a plurality of area-shaped input portions provided in a front region of the line-shaped input portion and in left and right side regions of the line-shaped input portion. According to this configuration, the line-shaped input section and the area-shaped input section can be easily operated with the palm of the hand in contact with the upper surface of the protrusion.

[0015] The invention of claim 6 is characterized in that, in the invention of claim 5, the line-shaped input unit has a capacitance sensor that detects the proximity or contact of an occupant by a change in capacitance, and the area-shaped input unit has a pressure sensor that detects an input operation by the occupant when the pressure applied by the occupant's fingertip exceeds a predetermined second threshold. According to this configuration, the line-shaped input portion can easily and reliably detect input operations made by the occupant's sliding motion, and the area-shaped input portion can eliminate inputs made by accidental contact.

[0016] The invention of claim 7 is characterized in that in the invention of claim 6, the second threshold value is smaller than the first threshold value. According to this configuration, the operation load of the first input unit can be made larger than the operation load of the area-shaped input unit, and erroneous operation of the operation control means can be suppressed.

[0017] The invention of claim 8 is characterized in that in the invention of any one of claims 5 to 7, the area-shaped input portion is provided on the side wall portion of the protrusion, rearward of the front end of the connection portion. According to this configuration, the first and fifth fingers can be guided to the side wall of the protruding portion, and the first and fifth fingers can be prevented from touching the first input portion.

[0018] The invention of claim 9 is characterized in that in the invention of any one of claims 1 to 8, the second input section is arranged behind the first input section. According to this configuration, the first input section and the second input section can be arranged separately in the front and rear, which further prevents erroneous operations. [Effects of the Invention]

[0019] According to the vehicle operating device of the present invention, by arranging the input sections of two different control means integrated into a single piece of hardware separately above and below, it is possible to achieve both space saving and operability. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0020] [Figure 1] 1 is a control system block diagram of a vehicle operating device according to a first embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. [Figure 5] FIG. [Figure 6] 5A is a vertical cross-sectional view of FIG. 4, where (a) is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA, (b) is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB, and (c) is a cross-sectional view taken along line CC. [Figure 7] 10 is an example of a home screen. [Figure 8] 10 is an example of an entertainment function screen. [Figure 9] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a first operation mode. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a third operation mode. [Figure 11] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an optical flow and a pseudo display direction. [Figure 12] 10 is a modified example of the home screen. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0021] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. The following description exemplifies the application of the present invention to a vehicle operating device, and does not limit the present invention, its applications, or its uses. [Example]

[0022] A first embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. The vehicle V integrates the input units of the driving control system and the display control system into a single piece of hardware, while the layout positions and operation modes of the input units of both control systems are configured to be separated into upper and lower sections. Furthermore, the vehicle V uses the visual and tactile functions of the occupants' five senses to enhance their spatial awareness, which is the ability to align the spatial coordinate system outside the vehicle cabin with the spatial coordinate system inside the vehicle cabin.

[0023] A vehicle V is provided with a vehicle operation device 1 that enables a passenger to operate in-vehicle devices while driving. The in-vehicle devices include, for example, an audio system, a navigation system, and the like. As shown in FIG. 1, the vehicle operating device 1 mainly comprises an operating section 2 (operating means) that can be manually operated by a vehicle occupant, an ECU (Electronic Control Unit) 3, a display device 4 (display means) that displays various information, and an electric parking brake device 5 that applies braking force to the left and right wheels of the front and rear wheels.

[0024] First, the cabin structure and main interior components of the vehicle V will be described. As shown in FIG. 2, a driver's seat 12a on the right side and a passenger's seat 12b on the left side are arranged as front seats on a floor panel 11 that constitutes the floor surface of the vehicle compartment. Between these seats 12a, 12b, there is a tunnel portion (not shown) that protrudes upward and extends in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle body, and a center console 13 that extends in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle body is provided on top of this tunnel portion. This center console 13 is formed by injection molding a synthetic resin material. In the following description, in the drawings, arrow F indicates the front of the vehicle body, arrow L indicates the left side of the vehicle body, and arrow U indicates the top of the vehicle body.

[0025] A windshield 14, an instrument panel 16, a steering wheel 17, etc. are arranged in front of the seats 12a and 12b. The front windshield 14 is hung between a pair of left and right front pillars 15. The steering wheel 17 is disposed between the right area of ​​the instrument panel 16 and the seat back of the driver's seat 12a.

[0026] 2, the instrument panel 16 is formed to extend in the vehicle width direction at the front of the passenger compartment, and its lower central portion is connected to the front end of the center console 13. This synthetic resin instrument panel 16 includes, for example, an upper surface portion extending in the front-rear direction, a rear surface portion extending rearward and downward from the rear end of the upper surface portion, and a lower surface portion extending forward from the lower end of the rear surface portion.

[0027] Inside the instrument panel 16, an instrument panel member (not shown) is provided as a strength member that connects a pair of left and right hinge pillars (not shown) in the vehicle width direction, and a support stay (not shown) that supports the instrument panel member is stretched between the instrument panel member and the tunnel portion. The instrument panel 16 also includes a plurality of defroster outlets (not shown), a pair of left and right center vent outlets 16a, a pair of left and right side vent outlets 16b, a meter panel 16c, a display device 4, and the like.

[0028] The defroster outlet is provided on the upper surface of the instrument panel 16 at a front end portion facing the lower portion of the windshield 14 . 2, a pair of center vent outlets 16a are formed adjacent to each other in the middle of the rear surface in the vehicle width direction, and a pair of side vent outlets 16b are formed at both ends of the rear surface in the vehicle width direction. Both outlets 16a, 16b are connected to an air conditioning duct. A display device 4 having a substantially rectangular display screen (display panel) is mounted in the center of the vehicle width direction on the upper surface of the instrument panel 16. The display screen of the display device 4 is, for example, a liquid crystal display panel or a plasma display panel.

[0029] The meter panel 16c is provided on the rear surface of the instrument panel 16, facing the steering wheel 17 and corresponding to the portion immediately in front of the steering wheel 17. On this meter panel 16c, for example, a circular engine tachometer with an analog display and a circular speedometer with an analog display adjacent to the engine tachometer are arranged. These meters may be digital displays or may be a combination of analog and digital displays. Reference numeral 18 denotes an accelerator pedal and a brake pedal.

[0030] Returning to the description of the vehicle operation device 1, As shown in FIG. 2, the operating unit 2 protrudes forward and upward from the upper surface of the center console 13 and near the side of the driver's seat 12a (seat cushion). The operation unit 2 is an input interface that combines a pseudo lever for driving the vehicle V, braking, etc., and a pseudo commander for in-vehicle devices. The operation unit 2 is configured so that the occupant can hold it with their left hand alone and operate the in-vehicle devices, etc., while operating the steering wheel 17 with their right hand.

[0031] As shown in Figures 3 to 5, the operating unit 2 has a rod-shaped (long) protrusion 25 that is elongated in the front and rear directions, and a covering portion 26 that partially covers the surface of the protrusion 25 and the portion of the upper surface of the center console 13 that is rearward of the protrusion 25. The rear half of the protrusion 25 is joined to the upper surface of the center console 13 via a joint 25x, and the front half is formed in a forward upward inclination that protrudes upward and moves away from the upper surface of the center console 13. In a plan view, the extension of the axis of the operating unit 2 is directed toward the display device 4.

[0032] The covering portion 26 is configured to cover the protruding portion 25 and the upper surface portion of the center console 13 with a covering member, for example, black synthetic leather. The covering portion 26 covers the outer peripheral surface of the protruding portion 25 and also partially covers the upper surface portion of the center console 13 from the middle portion of the protruding portion 25 in the longitudinal direction (the front end portion of the joint portion 25x) rearward. The portion of the covering portion 26 that covers the upper surface of the center console 13 is configured so that its dimension in the vehicle width direction increases toward the rear, and its ends are sewn to the upper surface of the center console 13 to form a seam 26a. In this embodiment, the seam 26a is set so as to approximately coincide with the parting line of the center console 13.

[0033] The protrusion 25 has an upper surface 25a formed in a generally teardrop shape and facing the upper space, a lower surface 25b formed in a tip end portion of the upper surface 25a so as to be generally parallel to the upper surface 25a and facing the lower space, and a side surface 25c. As shown in Figures 6(a) to 6(c), the side surface 25c gradually rises forward from the surface of the center console 13 to form a curved side surface of the protrusion 25 and is formed so as to converge to the lower surface 25b further forward.

[0034] 1, the operation unit 2 includes a first input unit 21 that can be operated by the occupant with the left hand while driving in order to control the drive device and the braking device, and a second input unit 22 that can be operated by the occupant with the left hand while driving in order to control each of a plurality of operation items displayed on the display device 4. The operation items are a general term for the types of in-vehicle devices displayed on the display device 4 and the titles of predetermined function (operation) screens. 3 to 5, first input unit 21 is formed in a semicircular shape in a plan view and a trapezoidal shape in a side view, and is disposed at the front end side portion of lower surface portion 25b. This first input unit 21 is, for example, a pressure sensor capable of detecting pressure exceeding a first threshold value.

[0035] Next, the second input unit 22 will be described. 3 to 5, the second input unit 22 includes a line-shaped input unit 23 and area-shaped input units 24a to 24e. The line-shaped input unit 23 is attached to the center of the protrusion 25 in the vehicle width direction and extends in the front-rear direction from a longitudinally intermediate portion to the rear end of the protrusion 25. A linear decorative unit 27 is provided on the upper portion of the line-shaped input unit 23 so as to cover the line-shaped input unit 23.

[0036] The decorative portion 27 is provided so as to extend in the front-rear direction from the front end portion of the protrusion 25 (the front end portion of the linear input portion 23) to the upper surface portion of the center console 13. The decorative portion 27 is formed using a synthetic resin material that is brighter than the covering portion 26, for example, a silver color. Therefore, the display device 4 is disposed on an extension of the decorative portion 27 extending forward in a plan view.

[0037] The linear input unit 23 is configured, for example, with a linear capacitance sensor that can detect the proximity or contact of an occupant by a change in capacitance. This capacitance sensor has a detection electrode that the human body approaches or touches, and measures the change in stray capacitance caused by the human body or the capacitance between the human body and the ground. Specifically, when the occupant approaches, a pseudo-capacitor is generated between the electric field and the hand, and the proximity of the person is detected when the capacitance accumulated in this capacitor increases or decreases. Since capacitance sensors are a well-known technology, detailed description thereof will be omitted.

[0038] Next, the area-shaped input sections 24a to 24e will be described. 3 to 5, the area-shaped input section 24c is set to have a predetermined area near the front end of the decorative section 27, the area-shaped input section 24b is set to have a predetermined area near the front right side of the decorative section 27, and the area-shaped input section 24d is set to have a predetermined area near the front left side of the decorative section 27. The area-shaped input section 24c is disposed near the front end of the decorative section 27 (the line-shaped input section 23) and at a position spaced a predetermined distance rearward from the rear end of the first input section 21.

[0039] In addition, the area-shaped input section 24a is set on the right side surface 25c with a predetermined area at the lower rear portion of the area-shaped input section 24b, and the area-shaped input section 24e is set on the left side surface 25c with a predetermined area at the lower rear portion of the area-shaped input section 24d. The area-shaped input sections 24a to 24e are arranged at predetermined intervals from one another. For the first and fifth fingers, variations are expected due to movement errors and differences in physique, so the area-shaped input portions 24a and 24e are formed to have a larger area behind the front end of the joint 25x of the protrusion 25 than the area-shaped input portions 24b to 24d.

[0040] The area-shaped input sections 24a to 24e are configured, for example, with area-shaped pressure sensors capable of detecting pressure exceeding a second threshold. For example, semiconductor pressure sensors are used as these pressure sensors. The second threshold of the area-shaped input sections 24a to 24e is set to a value smaller than the first threshold of the first input section 21. This ensures operability of the area-shaped input sections 24a to 24e while avoiding erroneous operation of the first input section 21. The pressure sensor is not limited to a semiconductor pressure sensor, but may be a strain gauge pressure sensor or a metal thin film pressure sensor.

[0041] The area-shaped input sections 24a to 24e are short-circuiting push buttons that, when pressed, can display a screen that has been preset for each input section on the display device 4. These area-shaped input sections 24a to 24e are set to correspond to the five fingers of the occupant's left hand, respectively. The area-shaped input unit 24a displays the previous screen that was displayed previously when operated with the first finger (thumb), the area-shaped input unit 24b displays the navigation function screen when operated with the second finger (index finger), and the area-shaped input unit 24c displays the home screen when operated with the third finger (middle finger). Furthermore, the area-shaped input section 24d displays an entertainment function screen when operated with the fourth finger (ring finger), and the area-shaped input section 24e displays a pre-registered favorite screen when operated with the fifth finger (pinky finger).

[0042] Next, the ECU 3 will be described. The ECU 3 is composed of a CPU (Central Processing Unit), ROM, RAM, an internal interface, an external interface, etc. The ROM stores various programs and data for parking brake control, display control, etc., and the RAM has a processing area used when the CPU performs a series of processes. The ECU 3 includes an electric parking brake control unit 31 (driving control means) and a display control unit 32 (display control means).

[0043] When the first input unit 21 is pressed, the electric parking brake control unit 31 sets a wheel braking force appropriate for the parking environment (road surface condition, gradient, etc.), and transmits an operation command signal to the electric parking brake device 5. Upon receiving the operation command signal, the electric parking brake device 5 activates an electric brake mechanism driven by an electric actuator to apply braking force to the wheels (both not shown).

[0044] When the second input unit 22 is pressed or slid, the display control unit 32 transmits an operation command signal to the display device 4. The display device 4, which has received the operation command signal, controls a plurality of operation items displayed on the screen. The second input unit 22 is composed of the above-mentioned line-shaped input unit 23 and five area-shaped input units 24a to 24e. The ECU 3 controls the in-vehicle devices corresponding to each operation item to execute their respective functions in synchronization with the display timing of the operation items on the display device 4.

[0045] Next, the display device 4 will be described. As shown in FIG. 7, the display device 4 displays a home screen, which is an initial screen, at startup. The home screen displays multiple operation items, the air conditioning airflow level, the temperature of the air blown from each outlet, the current time, etc. These operation items are displayed as icons such as "Information," "Entertainment," "Communication," "Navigation," and "Setting," arranged adjacently in the vertical direction.

[0046] Here, "Information" corresponds to the function screen for fuel economy, various maintenance information, etc., "Entertainment" corresponds to the function screen for internet radio, audio, TV, CD / DVD, etc., "Communication" corresponds to the function screen for hands-free calling, short message reading, etc. Furthermore, "Navigation" corresponds to the function screen for road map display, route guidance, route guidance, etc., and "Setting" corresponds to the function screen for sound settings and adjusting the brightness and angle of the Active Driving Display, etc.

[0047] The lower the operation items are located, the more visually emphasized they are so that the occupant perceives them as being lined up in the front-to-rear direction in a pseudo- or optical illusion. Specifically, the lower the operation items are located, the larger the text size is displayed. As a result, when a passenger looks at the display device 4, due to an optical illusion, the passenger will recognize that the upper operation item is in the back (forward) and the lower operation item is in front (rear).

[0048] 11, in this embodiment, the initials of the operation items are arranged so that the extension of the line connecting the initials of the operation items points toward the vanishing point P located ahead in the direction of travel, in other words, along the optical flow F. This aligns the spatial coordinate system outside the vehicle cabin and the spatial coordinate system inside the vehicle cabin recognized by the occupant, thereby improving spatial recognition ability. The vanishing point P is a vanishing point position (convergence point) in the field of vision of an occupant of a predetermined body type seated in the driver's seat 12a placed at a predetermined reference position and looking forward. Furthermore, the line connecting the initials of the multiple operation items (and its extension) corresponds to the virtual axis, and the direction of the connecting line (and its extension) corresponds to the pseudo display direction D1 of the multiple operation items.

[0049] Next, the operation of each input unit will be described. First, the first operation mode for operating the first input unit 21 will be described. 9, the fifth finger of the left hand is placed against a lower front end portion of protrusion 25 corresponding to the vicinity of the front end of connection portion 25x (the front end of seam 26a), and protrusion 25 is held vertically between the first finger and the second to fifth fingers. In this first operation mode, first input unit 21 is provided at a position opposite to second finger. This allows the occupant to operate first input unit 21 blindly using the stopper function of protrusion 25 (the portion corresponding to the vicinity of the front end of connection portion 25x) while minimizing the movement distance of the left hand that was grasping steering wheel 17 when driving the vehicle.

[0050] Next, a second operation mode for operating the line-shaped input section 23 will be described. The occupant performs a sliding action (input operation) by sliding any finger on the decorative portion 27 (linear input portion 23) in the input operation direction D2 (including the forward and reverse directions), thereby rotating (scrolling) the operation item in conjunction with this sliding action to select and display it. On the display screen of the display device 4, the operation item displayed at the lowest position among the operation items corresponds to the operation item selected by the occupant. Here, an extension line of the sliding linear input unit 23 corresponds to the virtual axis line, and the direction of the extension line corresponds to the input operation direction D2 of the linear input unit 23 (see FIGS. 9 and 10). In this embodiment, the extension line of the decorative unit 27 is formed so as to substantially coincide with the extension line of the line connecting the initial letters of the operation items (extension line indicating the pseudo display direction D1).

[0051] After selecting an operation item, the occupant taps the decorative portion 27 with their hand (fingertip) to determine the desired function screen. For example, when the occupant wants to operate an in-vehicle device with an entertainment function (CD / DVD, etc.), the occupant slides the decorative portion 27 forward or backward to select "Entertainment" from among multiple operation items on the home screen. Next, when "Entertainment" is displayed at the bottom, the occupant taps the decorative portion 27 with their fingertip to display the entertainment function screen shown in FIG. 8. This allows the occupant to blindly scroll through the operation items without directing their gaze toward the operation unit 2.

[0052] Next, a third operation mode for operating the area-shaped input sections 24a to 24e will be described. As shown in FIG. 10 , the third finger of the left hand is lightly placed on the front end portion of the decorative portion 27. In this third operation mode, the protrusion 25 is configured so that the first finger faces the area-shaped input portion 24a, the second finger faces the area-shaped input portion 24b, the extended third finger faces the area-shaped input portion 24c, the fourth finger faces the area-shaped input portion 24d, and the fifth finger faces the area-shaped input portion 24e. In this state, the desired area-shaped input portion is pressed. This allows the occupant to blindly press the area-shaped input portions 24a to 24e without directing their gaze toward the operation unit 2. Note that the second operation mode for operating the line-shaped input portion 23 and the third operation mode for operating the area-shaped input portions 24a to 24e in this embodiment are both performed by placing the palm of the occupant's hand against the upper surface 25a of the protrusion 25, and correspond to the second operation mode of the present invention.

[0053] Next, the operation and effects of the vehicle operating device 1 of this embodiment will be described. According to this vehicle operation device 10, the operation unit 2 is connected to the upper surface of the center console 13 via a connection portion 25x and has a protrusion 25 that protrudes forward and upward from the connection portion 25x, so that the protrusion 25 can be formed in a position that is easy for an occupant to approach and in a shape that is easy to grip. The protrusion 25 has a first input unit 21 that can input to the electric parking brake control unit 31 and a second input unit 22 that can input to the display control unit 32, so that the input units 21, 22 of the electric parking brake control unit 31 and the display control unit 32 can be integrated into a single piece of hardware. The first input unit 21 is disposed on the lower surface portion 25b of the protrusion 25 and the second input unit 22 (23, 24b to 24d) is disposed on the upper surface portion 25a of the protrusion 25, so that the first input unit 21 and the second input unit 22 can be disposed separately above and below, which makes it possible to prevent erroneous operation.

[0054] The first input unit 21 is configured to be operable in a first operation mode in which the occupant presses the first input unit 21 with the tip of a finger other than the fifth finger while the occupant places the fifth finger in contact with the portion near the front end of the connection portion 25x of the protrusion 25, so that the stopper function can be used to position the fingertip in a specified position even in blind operation. The second input unit 25 is configured to be operable in a second operation mode in which the occupant presses the second input unit 25 with the tip of a finger while the occupant places the palm of their hand in contact with the upper surface 25a of the protrusion 25, so that the input operation modes for the electric parking brake control unit 31 and the display control unit 32 can be made operationally different, and erroneous operation between the two control units 31, 32 can be avoided.

[0055] In the first operation mode, the occupant holds the protruding portion 25 from above and below with the first finger and other fingers, so that the first input portion 21 can be easily pressed with the fingertips.

[0056] The first input unit 21 has a pressure sensor that detects an input operation by the occupant when the pressure applied by the occupant's fingertip exceeds a preset first threshold, thereby eliminating input due to accidental contact and avoiding erroneous operation.

[0057] The second input section 22 has a line-shaped input section 23 arranged in the center of the vehicle width direction on the upper surface 25a of the protrusion 25, and a plurality of area-shaped input sections 24a to 24e provided in the front region of the line-shaped input section 23 and in the left and right side regions of the line-shaped input section 23, so that the line-shaped input section 23 and the area-shaped input sections 24a to 24e can be easily operated with the palm of the hand in contact with the upper surface 25a of the protrusion 25.

[0058] The line-shaped input unit 23 has a capacitance sensor that detects the proximity or contact of an occupant by a change in capacitance, and the area-shaped input units 24a to 24e have pressure sensors that detect an input operation by the occupant when the pressure applied by the occupant's fingertip exceeds a preset second threshold value. As a result, the line-shaped input portion 23 can easily and reliably detect an input operation made by a sliding motion of the occupant, and the area-shaped input portions 24a to 24e can eliminate inputs made by accidental contact.

[0059] Since the second threshold value of the area-shaped input sections 24a to 24e is smaller than the first threshold value of the first input section 21, the operational load of the first input section 21 can be made larger than the operational load of the area-shaped input sections 24a to 24e, thereby suppressing erroneous operation of the electric parking brake control section 31.

[0060] Since the area-shaped input sections 24a and 24e are provided on the side wall section 25c of the protrusion 25 behind the front end of the connection section 25x, the first and fifth fingers can be guided to the side wall section 25c of the protrusion 25, and contact of the first and fifth fingers with the first input section 21 can be prevented.

[0061] Since the second input unit 22 is disposed behind the first input unit 21, the first input unit 21 and the second input unit 22 can be disposed separately in the front and rear, which further prevents erroneous operations.

[0062] Next, a modified example in which the above embodiment is partially modified will be described. 1) In the above embodiment, an example was described in which the steering handle 17 is located on the right side and the operating unit 2 is operated with the left hand, but the same effect can be achieved in a vehicle in which the steering handle 17 is located on the left.

[0063] 2) In the above embodiment, parking brake control has been described as an example of driving control for controlling the driving and / or braking of a vehicle, but it may also be applied to various driving controls such as sports mode switching control, gear shifting, and cruise driving switching control. Also, although an example has been described in which a single first input unit 21 is provided on the lower surface 25b of the protrusion 25, multiple first input units 21 may be provided to operate multiple driving controls.

[0064] 3) In the above embodiment, the first input unit 21 and the area-shaped input units 24a to 24e are configured with touch sensors, such as pressure sensors, and input is performed by tapping. However, they may be configured with physical on / off type alternate switches.

[0065] 4) In the above embodiment, an example was described in which the closer an operation item is to be perceived as being located, the larger the character size is used to highlight it, but other highlighting methods may also be used. As shown in Fig. 12, the closer an operation item is to be perceived as being located (located lower), the greater the contrast (brightness difference) with the background. Also, the lower an operation item is located, the closer it may be displayed in three dimensions so that it appears closer.

[0066] 5) In addition, a person skilled in the art may implement the present invention in various forms by adding various modifications to the above-mentioned embodiments or by combining the various embodiments without departing from the spirit of the present invention, and the present invention also includes such modifications. [Explanation of symbols]

[0067] 1 Vehicle operating device 2 Control section 4 Display device 13 Center console 16 Instrument panel 21 First input section 22 Second input section 23 Linear input section 24a to 24e Area-shaped input section 25 Protrusion 25a Top part 25b Bottom part 25c Side part 25x connections 26 Covering part 27 Decoration Department 31 Electric parking brake control unit 32 Display control unit V vehicle

Claims

1. A vehicle operating device includes a display means that is installed on an instrument panel and is capable of displaying a plurality of operation items related to in-vehicle devices, an operation means that is installed on a center console that extends in the longitudinal direction of a vehicle body and is operable by a passenger, and a display control means that controls the operation items displayed on the display means by operating the operation means, the operating means is connected to an upper surface of the center console via a connecting portion and has a protruding portion that protrudes forward and upward from the connecting portion, the protrusion has a first input unit capable of inputting to a driving control means that controls driving and / or braking of the vehicle, and a second input unit capable of inputting to the display control means, An operating device for a vehicle, wherein the first input portion is disposed on a lower surface of the protrusion, and the second input portion is disposed on an upper surface of the protrusion.

2. the first input unit is operable in a first operation mode in which the occupant presses the first input unit with a fingertip other than the fifth finger while the fifth finger is in contact with a portion of the protrusion near a front end of the connection portion, 2. The vehicle operation device according to claim 1, wherein the second input unit is configured to be operable by a second operation mode in which an occupant presses the second input unit with their fingertips while placing their palm in contact with the upper surface of the protrusion.

3. 3. The vehicle operating device according to claim 2, wherein the first operating mode is to grip the protruding portion from above and below with a first finger and other fingers of the occupant.

4. The vehicle operation device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the first input unit has a pressure sensor and detects an input operation by the occupant when the pressing force of the occupant's fingertip exceeds a predetermined first threshold.

5. 5. The vehicle operation device according to claim 4, wherein the second input portion has a line-shaped input portion disposed in a central portion in the vehicle width direction on the upper surface of the protrusion, and a plurality of area-shaped input portions provided in a front region of the line-shaped input portion and in left and right side regions of the line-shaped input portion.

6. 6. The vehicle operation device according to claim 5, wherein the line-shaped input unit has a capacitance sensor that detects the proximity or contact of an occupant by a change in capacitance, and the area-shaped input unit has a pressure sensor that detects an input operation by the occupant when the pressing force of the occupant's fingertip exceeds a predetermined second threshold.

7. The vehicle operation device according to claim 6, wherein the second threshold value is smaller than the first threshold value.

8. 8. The vehicle operating device according to claim 5, wherein the area-shaped input portion is provided on a side wall of the protrusion rearward of a front end of the connection portion.

9. 9. The vehicle operating device according to claim 1, wherein the second input unit is disposed rearward of the first input unit.

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