Operating device

Abstract

To provide a handling device which can suppress differences in sound hearing due to positions of a driving seat.SOLUTION: A handling device 1 generally comprises: a housing 10 located in a center cluster 82; a left side operation part 20 which is located on a left side of a front face 11 of the housing 10, and receives operation; a right side operation part 21 which is located on a right side of the front face 11, and receives operation; a left side operation detection part 30 which detects operation performed by the left side operation part 20; a right side operation detection part 31 which detects operation performed by the right side operation part 21; a base plate 17 on which the left side operation detection part 30 and the right side operation detection part 31 are located; and an output part 4 which outputs a sound according to the received operation, and is located on the base plate 17 between the left side operation detection part 30 and the right side operation detection part 31 so that distances from a driving seat and a front passenger seat becomes equal.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an operating device. [Background technology]

[0002] BACKGROUND ART As a conventional technique, an in-vehicle display device that includes a touch panel display and a speaker for generating a response sound is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

[0003] This in-vehicle display device is configured to generate a reaction sound from a speaker when an input position input by operation on the touch panel display falls within the reaction sound area based on the reaction sound area data. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2012-18587 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] In a conventional in-vehicle display device, for example, if the touch panel display is thin and long and the housing has a shape corresponding to it, and in order to avoid interference between the electrostatic detection function and the output function that outputs a response sound, the electrostatic detection function is placed on either the left or right side of the housing, and the output function is placed on the other, there is a problem that the sound is heard differently depending on whether the driver's seat is on the left or the right.

[0006] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an operating device that can suppress differences in how sounds are heard depending on the position of the driver's seat. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] One aspect of the present invention provides an operating device including: a housing arranged in a center cluster located diagonally forward of the driver's seat and passenger seat of a vehicle; a left-side operating unit arranged on the left side of the front of the housing and accepting operations; a right-side operating unit arranged on the right side of the front and accepting operations; a left-side operation detection unit that detects operations performed on the left-side operating unit; a right-side operation detection unit that detects operations performed on the right-side operating unit; a board on which the left-side operation detection unit and the right-side operation detection unit are arranged; and an output unit that outputs sound in response to the accepted operation, and is arranged on the board between the left-side operation detection unit and the right-side operation detection unit so as to be equidistant from the driver's seat and the passenger seat. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to the present invention, it is possible to suppress differences in how sounds are heard depending on the position of the driver's seat. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 1(a) is a diagram showing an example of an operating device, and FIG. 1(b) is a diagram showing an example of the interior of a vehicle in which the operating device is arranged. [Figure 2] FIG. 2(a) is an example of a block diagram of an operating device, FIG. 2(b) is a diagram showing an example of the layout of an output section, and FIG. 2(c) is an example of the layout of a board. [Figure 3] FIG. 3(a) is a diagram showing an example of the distance to the driver of a right-hand drive vehicle using an operating device, and FIG. 3(b) is a diagram showing an example of the distance to the driver of a left-hand drive vehicle using an operating device. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] (Summary of the embodiment) The operating device according to the embodiment is generally configured to include a housing arranged in a center cluster diagonally forward of the driver's seat and passenger seat of the vehicle, a left-side operating unit arranged on the left side of the front of the housing and accepting operations, a right-side operating unit arranged on the right side of the front and accepting operations, a left-side operation detection unit that detects operations performed on the left-side operating unit, a right-side operation detection unit that detects operations performed on the right-side operating unit, a circuit board on which the left-side operation detection unit and the right-side operation detection unit are arranged, and an output unit that outputs sound in response to the accepted operation and is arranged on the circuit board between the left-side operation detection unit and the right-side operation detection unit so as to be equidistant from the driver's seat and the passenger seat.

[0011] Since this operating device is positioned so that the output unit is equidistant from the driver's seat and passenger seat, the difference in how the sound is heard by the driver can be reduced compared to when this configuration is not adopted, even when the device is installed in a left-hand drive vehicle where the driver's seat and steering wheel are on the left side, or a right-hand drive vehicle where the driver's seat and steering wheel are on the right side.

[0012] [Embodiment Mode] (Overview of operation device 1) Fig. 1(a) is a diagram showing an example of an operating device according to an embodiment, and Fig. 1(b) is a diagram showing an example of a vehicle interior in which the operating device is arranged. Fig. 2(a) is an example of a block diagram of the operating device according to an embodiment, Fig. 2(b) is a diagram showing an example of the layout of an output unit, and Fig. 2(c) is an example of the layout of a board according to a modified example. Fig. 3(a) is a diagram showing an example of the distance to the driver of a right-hand drive vehicle using the operating device according to an embodiment, and Fig. 3(b) is a diagram showing an example of the distance to the driver of a left-hand drive vehicle using the operating device.

[0013] A right-hand drive vehicle is a vehicle in which the steering wheel 83 is on the right side, i.e., the driver's seat is the right-side seat 80, as shown in Fig. 3(a). A left-hand drive vehicle is a vehicle in which the steering wheel 83 is on the left side, i.e., the driver's seat is the left-side seat 81, as shown in Fig. 3(b).

[0014] 1(b), 2(b), 3(a), and 3(b), the positions of the head center 90 of the driver 9 seated in the right-side seat 80 and the head center 91 of the driver 9 seated in the left-side seat 81 are schematically indicated by white circles. The center line 100, distance 101, distance 102, and straight line 103 shown in FIGS. 1(b) and 2(b) indicate the center line 100, distance 101, distance 102, and straight line 103 when the vehicle 8 is viewed from above.

[0015] In the drawings relating to the embodiments described below, the ratios and shapes of the figures may differ from the actual ratios and shapes. Also, in Figure 2(a), arrows indicate the flow of main signals and information.

[0016] As shown in Figures 1(a) and 1(b), the operating device 1 is generally configured to include a housing 10 arranged in a center cluster 82 located diagonally forward of the driver's seat and passenger seat of the vehicle 8, a left-side operating unit 20 arranged on the left side of the front surface 11 of the housing 10 and accepting operations, a right-side operating unit 21 arranged on the right side of the front surface 11 and accepting operations, a left-side operating detection unit 30 that detects operations performed on the left-side operating unit 20, a right-side operating detection unit 31 that detects operations performed on the right-side operating unit 21, a board 17 on which the left-side operating detection unit 30 and the right-side operating detection unit 31 are arranged, and an output unit 4 that outputs sound in response to the accepted operation and is arranged on the board 17 between the left-side operating detection unit 30 and the right-side operating detection unit 31 so that the distances 101 and 102 from the driver's seat and passenger seat are equal.

[0017] In the case of a right-hand drive vehicle, the driver's seat is the right-side seat 80 and the passenger seat is the left-side seat 81. In the case of a left-hand drive vehicle, the driver's seat is the left-side seat 81 and the passenger seat is the right-side seat 80.

[0018] In this embodiment, the left-side operation unit 20 and the right-side operation unit 21 are configured to receive touch operations, and the left-side operation detection unit 30 and the right-side operation detection unit 31 are configured to detect touch operations performed on the left-side operation unit 20 and the right-side operation unit 21 by a capacitance method.

[0019] As shown in Fig. 2(b), the left-side operation detection unit 30 and the right-side operation detection unit 31 are provided in the left-side semiconductor element 32 and the right-side semiconductor element 33. As shown in Fig. 2(b), the output unit 4 is disposed with its center 40 coinciding with the midpoint of a line 103 connecting the element centers 320 and 330 of the left-side semiconductor element 32 and the right-side semiconductor element 33.

[0020] As shown in Figures 2(a) and 2(b), the operating device 1 is arranged on a substrate 17 and is electrically connected to the left-side operation detection unit 30 and the right-side operation detection unit 31, and is equipped with a control unit 5 that controls the output unit 4 to output sound in accordance with touch operations detected by the left-side operation detection unit 30 and the right-side operation detection unit 31.

[0021] As shown in Fig. 2(a), the operation device 1 controls an in-vehicle device 85 of a vehicle 8. The control unit 5 of the operation device 1 of this embodiment is electrically connected to, as an example, an air conditioning device of the vehicle 8 as the in-vehicle device 85, and is configured to control the air conditioning device based on the received touch operation. For example, the air conditioning device adjusts the set temperature, adjusts the air volume, switches the air outlet, etc. based on the touch operation performed on the operation device 1.

[0022] The in-vehicle device 85 is not limited to an air conditioning device, but may also be a vehicle control device that controls the overall vehicle settings and automatic driving functions, an air conditioning device that adjusts the temperature inside the vehicle, a navigation device that provides a map of the current location and guidance to the destination, a display device that displays images, a music and video playback device that plays music and videos, etc.

[0023] (Configuration of the housing 10) 1(a), the housing 10 has a low profile and an elongated shape extending from the left to the right of the vehicle 8 so that it can be placed in the center cluster 82, which has limited placement space. A front surface 11 of the housing 10 is exposed from the center cluster 82.

[0024] A plurality of touch switches 22 of a left operation unit 20 and a right operation unit 21 are arranged vertically on the front surface 11. The operating device 1 may have a display unit provided in the center of the front surface 11, with the left operation unit 20 located to the left of the display unit and the right operation unit 21 located to the right of the display unit.

[0025] (Configuration of the left-side operation unit 20 and the right-side operation unit 21) 1(a), the left-side operation unit 20 and the right-side operation unit 21 each include a plurality of rectangular touch switches 22. The touch switches 22 are switched on and off by touch operation. The touch switches 22 each include a detection electrode in the shape of a rectangular plate made of, for example, a conductive metal material such as copper.

[0026] As a modified example, the left operation unit 20 and the right operation unit 21 may be provided with a rotary operation unit that accepts a rotary operation of a dial, a slide operation unit that accepts a slide operation, and the like, in addition to the touch switch 22.

[0027] 1(a), the left-side operation unit 20 has a plurality of touch switches 22 surrounded by a dotted line on the left side of a boundary line 110 that indicates the left and right boundary of the front surface 11. As an example, the left-side operation unit 20 has five touch switches 22 on the upper row and five touch switches 22 on the lower row.

[0028] As shown in FIG. 2(b), the left side operation unit 20 has a touch sheet 200 in which upper and lower touch switches 22 are integrated, and a flexible cable 201 electrically connected to the left side operation detection unit 30 via a connector 171.

[0029] The right-side operation unit 21 has a plurality of touch switches 22 surrounded by a dotted line on the right side of the boundary line 110 of the front surface 11. As an example, the right-side operation unit 21 has five touch switches 22 on the lower row and five touch switches 22 on the upper row.

[0030] As shown in Figure 2(b), the right-side operation unit 21 has a touch sheet 210 in which upper and lower touch switches 22 are integrated, and a flexible cable 211 that is electrically connected to the right-side operation detection unit 31 via a connector 173.

[0031] The flexible cables 201 and 211 are formed on a film that serves as a substrate, with wiring electrically connected to the detection electrodes of the touch switches 22 .

[0032] 2(a), the left-side operation unit 20 outputs an electrostatic signal S1 to the left-side operation detection unit 30 via a flexible cable 201. The right-side operation unit 21 outputs an electrostatic signal S3 to the right-side operation detection unit 31 via a flexible cable 211.

[0033] (Configuration of substrate 17) The substrate 17 is, for example, a rectangular, plate-like rigid substrate. As shown in Figures 1(a) and 2(b), the substrate 17 is arranged parallel to the bottom surface 14 of the housing 10. The left semiconductor element 32, the right semiconductor element 33, the output unit 4, and the control unit 5 are arranged on the installation surface 170 of the substrate 17.

[0034] 2(c), the substrate 17 as a modified example is arranged parallel to the front surface 11 of the housing 10. This substrate 17 is arranged on the straight line 103 connecting the element center 320 of the left semiconductor element 32 and the element center 330 of the right semiconductor element 33, and the center 40 of the output section 4 is arranged to coincide with the midpoint between the element centers 320 and 330, so that it can have an elongated shape. Therefore, compared to a case where this configuration is not adopted, the length of the controller device 1 from the front surface 11 to the rear surface 12 can be shortened as well as the height, making it possible to make the controller device 1 more compact.

[0035] (Configuration of the left-side operation detector 30 and the right-side operation detector 31) The left-side operation detection unit 30 is configured to charge the detection electrodes of the left-side operation unit 20, read out the charge from the charged detection electrodes, and compare the capacitance calculated from the read-out charge with a predetermined threshold value to determine whether or not a touch operation has occurred.

[0036] Similarly, the right-side operation detection unit 31 is configured to charge the detection electrode of the right-side operation unit 21, read out the charge from the charged detection electrode, and compare the capacitance calculated from the read out charge with a predetermined threshold value to determine whether or not a touch operation has occurred.

[0037] The left-side operation detector 30 and the right-side operation detector 31 are configured to read out electric charges while periodically switching connections with the plurality of touch switches 22, for example.

[0038] The left-side operation detection unit 30 determines the touch operation based on the electrostatic signal S1 read from the left-side operation unit 20, generates determination information S2 including information on the touch switch 22 on which the touch operation was detected, and outputs the determination information S2 to the control unit 5.

[0039] The right operation detection unit 31 determines the touch operation based on the electrostatic signal S3 read from the right operation unit 21, generates determination information S4 including information on the touch switch 22 on which the touch operation was detected, and outputs the determination information S4 to the control unit 5.

[0040] The left-side operation detection unit 30 and the right-side operation detection unit 31 in this embodiment detect touch operations using a self-capacitance method, but are not limited to this, and may be configured to detect touch operations using a mutual capacitance method in which a two-dimensional touch position is detected using detection electrodes arranged to intersect vertically and horizontally.

[0041] Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the left-side operation unit 20, left-side operation detection unit 30, right-side operation unit 21, and right-side operation detection unit 31 are configured to detect touch operations made on the touch switch 22 by a capacitance method, but are not limited to this. As a modified example, the left-side operation unit 20, left-side operation detection unit 30, right-side operation unit 21, and right-side operation detection unit 31 may be configured to detect, for example, pressure applied to the touch switch 22 in association with a touch operation, or may be configured to include a microswitch that turns on and off in association with a touch operation.

[0042] When detecting pressure, the left operation unit 20 and the right operation unit 21 are configured as pressure sensor sheets that detect the pressure applied to each touch switch 22, and the left operation detection unit 30 and the right operation detection unit 31 are configured to determine the touch operation based on pressure above a threshold value.

[0043] When determining whether a touch operation is performed based on whether a microswitch is on or off, the left operation unit 20 and the right operation unit 21 are configured with microswitches, and the left operation detection unit 30 and the right operation detection unit 31 determine the touch switch 22 on which the touch operation is detected based on the output signal output from the microswitch.

[0044] The first transmission path 202, which electrically connects the left operation unit 20 and the left operation detection unit 30 to transmit signals, and the second transmission path 212, which electrically connects the right operation unit 21 and the right operation detection unit 31 to transmit signals, are configured so that their paths are equal to each other.

[0045] 2(b), the first transmission path 202 is a transmission path from the left operation unit 20 to the left semiconductor element 32 on which the left operation detection unit 30 is provided, that is, a transmission path including the flexible cable 201, the connector 171, and the wiring group 172. The wiring group 172 is provided on the substrate 17 and is a plurality of wires that electrically connect the connector 171 and the left semiconductor element 32.

[0046] 2(b), the second transmission path 212 is a transmission path from the right-side operation unit 21 to the right-side semiconductor element 33 on which the right-side operation detection unit 31 is provided, that is, a transmission path including the flexible cable 211, the connector 173, and the wiring group 174. The wiring group 174 is provided on the substrate 17 and is a plurality of wirings that electrically connect the connector 173 and the right-side semiconductor element 33.

[0047] Furthermore, if the left-side operation unit 20 and the right-side operation unit 21 have the same configuration, the left-side operation detection unit 30 and the right-side operation detection unit 31 can have the same circuit configuration, so the left-side semiconductor element 32 and the right-side semiconductor element 33 can use the same semiconductor element.

[0048] (Configuration of output section 4) The output unit 4 is, for example, a circuit including a speaker formed by a piezoelectric element, but may also be a circuit including a speaker formed by a voice coil. The output unit 4 outputs a feedback sound indicating that a touch operation has been accepted based on a control signal S5 output from the control unit 5. The center 40 of the output unit 4 is the center of the speaker. The output sound is, for example, a feedback sound indicating that a touch operation has been accepted, but is not limited to this.

[0049] As an example, the housing 10 may have multiple small through holes on the rear surface 12, top surface 13, and bottom surface 14, or multiple small through holes on the side surfaces 15 and 16, to make it easier to output the sound from the output unit 4 to the outside.

[0050] (Configuration of control unit 5) The control unit 5 is a microcomputer including, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) that performs calculations and processing on acquired data according to stored programs, and semiconductor memories such as RAM (Random Access Memory) and ROM (Read Only Memory). The ROM stores, for example, programs for the operation of the control unit 5. The RAM is used, for example, as a storage area for temporarily storing calculation results. The control unit 5 also has a means for generating a clock signal therein and operates based on this clock signal.

[0051] 2(b), the control unit 5 is disposed on the installation surface 170 of the substrate 17. As an example, the control unit 5 is disposed so that the distance from the left semiconductor element 32 is equal to the distance from the right semiconductor element 33.

[0052] The control unit 5 generates operation information S6 including information on the touch switch 22 on which the touch operation was detected based on the judgment information S2 acquired from the left-side operation detection unit 30 and the judgment information S4 acquired from the right-side operation detection unit 31, and outputs the operation information S6 to the in-vehicle device 85.

[0053] Regarding distance 101 and distance 102 The operating device 1 has multiple touch switches 22 divided into a left operating section 20 and a right operating section 21, and the operation detection section is divided into a left semiconductor element 32 and a right semiconductor element 33 and arranged on the substrate 17, so that by arranging the output section 4 along the center line 100, differences in how sound is heard can be suppressed.

[0054] Specifically, as shown in Figure 2(b), the output unit 4 is positioned so that the center 40 is located at least on the center line 100, so that the distance 101 from the center 90 of the driver's 9's head to the center 40 when the driver's seat is the right seat 80 is equal to the distance 102 from the center 90 of the driver's 9 to the center 40 when the driver's seat is the left seat 81.

[0055] As shown in Figures 1(b), 2(b), 3(a) and 3(b), this center line 100 is a straight line that passes through the center in the left-right direction of the vehicle 8 and passes through the front and rear. The distance 101 to the head center 90 of a driver 9 sitting in the driver's seat of a right-hand drive vehicle and the distance 102 to the head center 91 of a driver 9 sitting in the driver's seat of a left-hand drive vehicle are equal between points on the center line 100.

[0056] Therefore, by positioning the output unit 4 so that its center 40 is located on the center line 100, the distance 101 to the driver 9 of a right-hand drive vehicle and the distance 102 to the driver 9 of a left-hand drive vehicle become equal, thereby reducing the difference in how the sound is heard.

[0057] When the substrate 17 is arranged parallel to the front surface 11, as shown in Figure 2(c), the output section 4 is arranged so that its center 40 coincides with the midpoint of the line 103 connecting the element center 320 and the element center 330, which is the point where the center line 100 and the substrate 17 intersect.

[0058] (Effects of the embodiment) The operation device 1 according to this embodiment can reduce the difference in how sounds are heard depending on the position of the driver's seat. Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 3(a) and 3(b), vehicles 8 are manufactured as right-hand drive vehicles and left-hand drive vehicles even for the same model of vehicle depending on the country in which they are sold. If the output unit 4 of the operation device 1 is positioned biased to either the left or right, the distance from the output unit 4 to the driver will be different between right-hand drive vehicles and left-hand drive vehicles, resulting in a difference in how sounds are heard. However, because the operation device 1 is positioned such that the distances 101 and 102 from the right-hand seat 80 and the left-hand seat 81 are equal, the difference in how sounds are heard can be reduced whether the vehicle is a right-hand drive vehicle or a left-hand drive vehicle.

[0059] In the operation device 1, the output unit 4 is positioned so that the center 40 is on the center line 100, and therefore the left semiconductor element 32 and the right semiconductor element 33 are positioned on either side of the output unit 4, and the first transmission path 202 from the left operation unit 20 to the left semiconductor element 32 and the second transmission path 212 from the right operation unit 21 to the right semiconductor element 33 can be made the same length. In the operation device 1, the left operation detection unit 30 and the right operation detection unit 31, which are circuits that detect touch operations, can be positioned at a distance from the output unit 4, which is likely to interfere with these circuits, to suppress interference, and the first transmission path 202 and the second transmission path 212 can be made shorter compared to when the touch sheet is not divided into left and right halves. This makes the operation device less susceptible to the effects of external noise and suppresses erroneous determination of touch detection.

[0060] The operating device 1 can be placed in a small space so as not to interfere with the output unit 4 by dividing the circuit that detects touch operations into a small left operation detection unit 30 and a small right operation detection unit 31, and therefore can be made smaller and thinner in the height direction, i.e., lower in height, compared to a case in which this configuration is not adopted.

[0061] The operation device 1 can suppress the difference in how sounds are heard depending on the position of the driver's seat, even by using the device alone, without using the speaker that the vehicle 8 is equipped with.

[0062] Although several embodiments and modifications of the present invention have been described above, these embodiments and modifications are merely examples and do not limit the scope of the invention as claimed. These novel embodiments and modifications may be embodied in various other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, modifications, etc. may be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Furthermore, not all combinations of features described in these embodiments and modifications are necessarily essential to solving the problems of the invention. Furthermore, these embodiments and modifications are included within the scope and spirit of the invention, and are also included in the scope of the invention and its equivalents as defined in the claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0063] 1...operation device, 4...output section, 5...control section, 8...vehicle, 10...casing, 11...front, 17...board, 20...left side operation section, 21...right side operation section, 22...touch switch, 30...left side operation detection section, 31...right side operation detection section, 32...left side semiconductor element, 33...right side semiconductor element, 40...center, 80...right side seat, 81...left side seat, 82...center cluster, 85...in-vehicle device, 100...center line, 101...distance, 102...distance, 103...straight line, 202...first transmission path, 212...second transmission path, 320...element center, 330...element center

Claims

1. a housing disposed in a center cluster located diagonally forward of the driver's seat and passenger seat of the vehicle; a left operation unit that is disposed on the left side of the front surface of the housing and that accepts operations; a right operation unit disposed on the right side of the front surface and configured to accept operations; a left operation detection unit that detects an operation performed on the left operation unit; a right operation detection unit that detects an operation performed on the right operation unit; a substrate on which the left operation detection unit and the right operation detection unit are arranged; an output unit that outputs a sound in response to a received operation and is disposed on the board between the left operation detection unit and the right operation detection unit so as to be equidistant from the driver's seat and the passenger seat; Equipped with the left operation unit and the right operation unit receive touch operations; the left-side operation detection unit and the right-side operation detection unit detect touch operations performed on the left-side operation unit and the right-side operation unit by a capacitance method, the left-side operation detector and the right-side operation detector are provided on a left-side semiconductor element and a right-side semiconductor element, the output unit is disposed at the midpoint of a line connecting the centers of the left and right semiconductor elements. Operating device.

2. a first transmission path electrically connecting the left operation unit and the left operation detection unit to transmit a signal, and a second transmission path electrically connecting the right operation unit and the right operation detection unit to transmit a signal, the paths having the same length; The operating device according to claim 1 .

3. The output unit is arranged so that its center coincides with the midpoint of a line connecting the element centers of the left semiconductor element and the right semiconductor element. The operating device according to claim 2 .

4. a control unit that is disposed on the board, is electrically connected to the left operation detection unit and the right operation detection unit, and controls the output unit to output a sound in response to a touch operation detected by the left operation detection unit and the right operation detection unit; The operating device according to claim 2 or 3.

5. the control unit is electrically connected to an air conditioning device of the vehicle and controls the air conditioning device based on the received touch operation. The operating device according to claim 4 .

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