Vehicle-mounted table device

Abstract

To provide an on-vehicle table device that can eliminate a complicated operation in association with installation of an on-vehicle table onto a steering wheel.SOLUTION: An on-vehicle table device adjusts positional relationship between an on-vehicle table installed on a steering wheel and a crewman who uses the on-vehicle table. The on-vehicle table device comprises: a detection device which detects that the on-vehicle table is removed from a support member which supports the on-vehicle table at a storage position; and a control device which controls at least one position and at least one angle of the steering wheel and seats, on which a crewman sits when detecting by the detection device that the on-vehicle table is removed from the support member.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0005]

[0001] The present invention relates to an in-vehicle table device, and more particularly to an in-vehicle table device that can eliminate complicated operations associated with the installation of an in-vehicle table on a steering wheel.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, Patent Document 1 discloses a vehicle sun visor that can be more effectively used when the sun visor is not used as a sunshade. This vehicle sun visor has a main body and a support shaft, and the main body is detachably attached to the upper part of the vehicle interior via the support shaft, and can rotate around the support shaft between a storage position along the vehicle interior ceiling surface and a lower use position. The main body includes holding means, and the holding means can hold the main body by engaging with a predetermined position inside the vehicle interior.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] However, when using a vehicle sun visor as described in Patent Document 1 as a table, the posture of the occupant often differs between when the vehicle is running and when the table is in use. There is a problem that the occupant not only has to attach the vehicle sun visor to a predetermined position, but also needs to adjust the position and angle of the steering wheel and the seat.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of such problems of the prior art, and an object thereof is to provide an in-vehicle table device that can eliminate complicated operations associated with the installation of an in-vehicle table on a steering wheel.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The inventors of this invention conducted extensive research to achieve the above objectives and, as a result, discovered that the above objectives can be achieved by equipping the device with a predetermined detection device and control device, thus completing the present invention.

[0007] In other words, the in-vehicle table device of the present invention is a device that adjusts the positional relationship between an in-vehicle table, which is installed on the steering wheel, and the occupant who uses the in-vehicle table. The in-vehicle table device is characterized by comprising: a detection device that detects when the in-vehicle table has been removed from a support member that supports the in-vehicle table in a stowed position; and a control device that controls at least one of the positions and angles of the steering wheel and the seat in which the occupant sits when the detection device detects that the in-vehicle table has been removed from the support member. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to the present invention, by providing the above-mentioned detection device and control device, it is possible to provide an in-vehicle table device that eliminates the complicated operations required to install an in-vehicle table on the steering wheel. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0009] [Figure 1] This is an explanatory diagram showing one embodiment of the in-vehicle table device of the present invention. [Figure 2] This is an explanatory diagram showing a sun visor type in-vehicle table that is applied to the in-vehicle table device shown in Figure 1. [Figure 3] Figure 1 is a flowchart showing an example of the control flow in the in-vehicle table device. [Figure 4] This table shows the relationship between the type of in-vehicle table and body size information, and the amount of control applied to the position and angle of the steering wheel and seat. [Figure 5] Figure 1 is an explanatory diagram showing the control sequence for the seat position and angle in the in-vehicle table device. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0010] The vehicle-mounted table device of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

[0011] The left side of Figure 1 shows the position and angle of the steering wheel and seat when the vehicle is in motion, and the right side of Figure 1 shows the position and angle of the steering wheel and seat when the table is in use. As shown in Figure 1, the in-vehicle table device 1 of this embodiment is a device that adjusts the positional relationship between the in-vehicle table 33, which is installed on the steering wheel 31 and used, and the occupant (not shown) who uses the in-vehicle table 33. This in-vehicle table device 1 includes a detection device 10 and a control device 20.

[0012] The detection device 10 consists of a contact-type sensor 11 attached to the support member 35, and detects when the vehicle-mounted table 33 is removed by an occupant from the support member 35 that supports the vehicle-mounted table 33 in the storage position 33a. In this invention, the detection device 10 is not limited to being composed of a contact-type sensor 11 attached to the support member 35. For example, the detection device 10 can also be composed of a camera with image recognition capabilities installed inside the vehicle.

[0013] Furthermore, when the detection device 10 detects that the on-board table 33 has been removed from the support member 35, the control device 20 automatically controls the angle of the steering wheel 31 (which can also be defined by the position in the directions indicated by arrows X and Y in the figure) based on the signal from the detection device 10. In addition, the control device 20 automatically controls the position of the seat cushion 37A (the position in the direction indicated by arrow X in the figure) and the angle θ of the seat back 37B in the seat 37 where the occupant sits, from θ1 in the left figure to θ2 in the right figure. It should be noted that in the present invention, the control device 20 is not limited to performing the above-described control. For example, the control device 20 can be one that controls at least one position and at least one angle of the steering wheel 31 and the seat 37 (seat cushion 37A, seat back 37B) when the detection device 10 detects that the on-board table 33 has been removed from the support member 35.

[0014] In this invention, the angle of the seat back 37B can be set, for example, by the angle θ(θ1,θ2) formed by a dashed line along the vertical direction and a dashed line along a seat frame (not shown). This angle may be set as an actual angle (°) or as an inclination angle (%).

[0015] Then, when an occupant places the vehicle-mounted table 33 at the usage position 33b on the steering wheel 31, the vehicle-mounted table 33 becomes usable.

[0016] The upper view of Figure 2 is a schematic perspective view showing the sun visor type in-vehicle table, which is applied to the in-vehicle table device shown in Figure 1, supported in its stowed position (see Figure 1). In reality, the support member 35 supports the in-vehicle table 33. Furthermore, the center view of Figure 2 is a schematic perspective view showing the sun visor type in-vehicle table in its deployed state. Furthermore, the lower view of Figure 2 is a schematic perspective view showing the deployed sun visor type in-vehicle table mounted on the steering wheel in its usage position. As shown in Figure 2, the in-vehicle table 33 has a foldable main body 33A, a mounting portion 33B that engages with the support member 35, and a notch portion 33C that engages with the steering wheel 31 by being fitted from the underside of the steering wheel 31. In addition, the in-vehicle table 33 can function as a sun visor in its stowed position (see Figure 1).

[0017] Here, the control flow of the in-vehicle table device will be explained in more detail. As shown in Figure 3, in step 1 (S1), it is determined whether or not to use the in-vehicle table 33. This determination is made, for example, by the detection device 10 detecting that the in-vehicle table 33 has been removed from the support member 35, as described above. If the determination is YES, the process proceeds to S2; if the determination is NO, the flow ends.

[0018] Next, in S2, occupant information, such as occupant physical measurements, is acquired. This occupant physical measurements can include at least one of the following: physical information including at least one selected from the group consisting of height, sitting height, and weight, which are pre-registered as user information in the control device 20; and physical information measured or estimated by sensors 39 (see Figure 1), such as cameras, installed in the vehicle interior. When pre-registering user information in the control device 20, for example, a car navigation system or a smartphone can be used.

[0019] Next, in S3, control parameters are determined. These control parameters can be determined based on, for example, a table showing the relationship between the types of tables (Tables A, B) stored in the control device 20 as shown in FIG. 4, physical build information (user builds S, M, L), the angle of the seat 37 (tilt of the seat back 37B), the position of the seat 37 (seating surface coordinates of the seat (cushion) 37A), and the control amounts of the position of the steering wheel 31 (steering coordinates). Note that the different types of Tables A and B in FIG. 4 are intended to indicate that the present invention can be applied even when the shapes of the visor-type in-vehicle tables on the driver's seat side and the passenger seat side of the vehicle are different.

[0020] Next, in S4, the steering wheel 31 and the seat 37 are controlled. This control is performed, for example, based on the determined control parameters as described above. At this time, when controlling the position and angle of the seat 37, for example, the control device 20 can determine the control order based on the position and angle of the seat 37 immediately before the control.

[0021] Here, the control order of the in-vehicle table will be described in more detail. As shown in FIG. 5, the left diagram in FIG. 5 shows the position and angle (state A) of the seat 37 when the vehicle is running, and the right diagram in FIG. 5 shows the position and angle (state C) of the seat 37 when the table is in use. When the position of the seat cushion is controlled only in the directions indicated by the arrows X and Y in the figure without controlling the angle of the seat back, as from state A to state D (the upper central diagram in FIG. 5) and from state D to state C, the passenger (not shown) sitting on the seat 37 and the ceiling will get quite close. On the other hand, when the angle of the seat back is controlled first and then the position of the seat cushion is controlled in the directions indicated by the arrows X and Y in the figure, as from state A to state B (the lower central diagram in FIG. 5) and from state B to state C, the passenger (not shown) sitting on the seat 37 and the ceiling will hardly get close.

[0022] Next, the advantages of this embodiment will be described. According to this embodiment, when the detection device 10 detects that the vehicle-mounted table 33 has been removed from the support member 35, the control device 20 automatically controls the position and angle of the steering wheel 31 and seat 37 to an appropriate position, thus eliminating the complicated operations required to install the vehicle-mounted table on the steering wheel. Furthermore, the installation of the vehicle-mounted table on the steering wheel itself can be easily performed using the notch.

[0023] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, since the detection device 10 is a sensor 11 attached to the support member 35, there is an advantage in that it can recognize which in-vehicle table the occupant is trying to use.

[0024] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the control device 20 controls at least one of the positions and angles of the steering wheel 31 and the seat 37 based on the occupant's physique information, which has the advantage that an in-vehicle table installed according to the occupant's physique can be used.

[0025] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, since the occupant's physical information is at least one of the following: physical information including at least one selected from the group consisting of height, sitting height, and weight, which are pre-registered as user information in the control device 20, and physical information measured or estimated by the sensor 39 installed in the vehicle interior, the occupant user has the advantage of being able to use an in-vehicle table that is set up to suit their physical size.

[0026] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, when the control device 20 controls at least one of the positions and angles of the steering wheel 31 and the seat 37, it determines the control order based on the position and angle of the steering wheel 31 and the seat 37 immediately before the control. This has the advantage of enabling appropriate control, such as ensuring that the occupant does not feel cramped when changing the seat position, etc.

[0027] Although the present invention has been described above with reference to some embodiments, the present invention is not limited thereto, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the gist of the present invention.

[0028] In this invention, in order to eliminate the complicated operations required when installing an in-vehicle table on the steering wheel, the control device controls the steering wheel and seat when it detects that the in-vehicle table has been removed from the support member using a detection device.

[0029] Therefore, the components of the present invention are not limited to those shown in the embodiments described above, and the details of the specifications of the detection device, control device, steering wheel, in-vehicle table, support member, and seat can be modified as appropriate. [Explanation of symbols]

[0030] 1. Vehicle-mounted table device 10 Detection device 11 sensors 20 Control device 31 Steering Wheel 33 Car Table 33A Main body 33B Mounting section 33C Notch 33a Storage position 33b Usage position 35 Support member 37 seats 37A Seat Cushion 37B Seatback 39 Sensors

Claims

1. An in-vehicle table device that adjusts the positional relationship between an in-vehicle table installed on the steering wheel and the occupant using the in-vehicle table, A detection device for detecting when the vehicle-mounted table has been removed from the support member that supports the vehicle-mounted table in the storage position, The system includes a control device that controls at least one of the positions and angles of the steering wheel and the seat in which the occupant sits when the detection device detects that the in-vehicle table has been removed from the support member. An in-vehicle table device characterized by the following features.

2. The in-vehicle table device according to claim 1, characterized in that the detection device is at least one of a sensor attached to the support member and a camera installed inside the vehicle.

3. The in-vehicle table device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the control device controls at least one of the positions and angles of the steering wheel and the seat based on the occupant's physique information.

4. The in-vehicle table device according to claim 3, characterized in that the occupant's physical information is at least one of the following: physical information including at least one selected from the group consisting of height, sitting height, and weight, which are pre-registered as user information in the control device, and physical information measured or estimated by a sensor installed in the vehicle interior.

5. The in-vehicle table device according to claim 1, characterized in that when the control device controls at least one of the positions and angles of the steering wheel and the seat, it determines the control order based on the position and angle of the steering wheel and the seat immediately before the control.

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