Steering input device and steer-by-wire-type steering device

Abstract

In a steering input device (1) and a steer-by-wire-type steering device (SD) according to the present invention, a rotational shaft (52) is provided at a position deviated from the center (Q) of a virtual circle (C) having a diameter defined by a first end (E1) and a locking part (513, 531-533) of a steering input member (31, 32). Therefore, by offsetting the rotational shaft (52) toward the first end (E1) side, a large steering input can be achieved using a small operation amount, and, particularly, a steering operation using a large steering angle can be performed easily. Thus, regardless of the manner of operation, the operability of the steering input device (1) and the steer-by-wire-type steering device (SD) can be improved.

Description

Steering input device and steer-by-wire steering device

[0001] The present invention relates to a steering input device and a steer-by-wire steering device.

[0002] 2. Description of the Related Art A known conventional steering input device is, for example, that described in Patent Document 1 below.

[0003] That is, the conventional steering input device is applied to a so-called steer-by-wire type steering device, and is equipped with a dial that can be rotated by the vehicle driver with one hand, and by rotating the dial, steering can be performed according to the direction of rotation.

[0004] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2020-172135

[0005] However, the conventional steering input device does not give any consideration to improving operability.

[0006] Therefore, the present invention has been devised in consideration of the technical problems of the conventional steering input devices, and aims to provide a steering input device and a steer-by-wire steering device that can improve operability.

[0007] In one aspect of the present invention, when the end of the operating unit on the fulcrum side that supports the operating hand is defined as a first end, and the end 180 degrees opposite the first end as viewed from the fulcrum is defined as a second end, the axis that rotates the operating unit is provided in the operating unit at a position offset from the center of an imaginary circle whose diameter is the first end and the second end.

[0008] According to the present invention, operability can be improved.

[0009] 1 is a schematic diagram of a steer-by-wire steering device according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a steering input member according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a plan view of the steering input member shown in FIG. 2. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a steering input device showing an operation mode of the steering input member shown in FIG. 2. FIG. 5 is a plan view of the steering input member showing an operation mode of the steering input member shown in FIG. 2, where (a) shows a straight-ahead state, (b) shows a right-steered state with a small steering angle, and (c) shows a right-steered state with a large steering angle. FIG. 6 is a plan view of the steering input member showing an operation mode of the steering input member shown in FIG. 2, where (a) shows a straight-ahead state, (b) shows a left-steered state with a small steering angle, and (c) shows a left-steered state with a large steering angle. FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a steering input member according to a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 8 is a plan view of the steering input member shown in FIG. 7. FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the steering input member showing an operation mode of the steering input member shown in FIG. 7. 8A is a plan view of the steering input member showing an operation mode of the steering input member shown in Figure 7, (a) showing a straight ahead state, (b) showing a right steering state with a small steering angle, and (c) showing a right steering state with a large steering angle. 8B is a plan view of the steering input member showing an operation mode of the steering input member shown in Figure 7, (a) showing a straight ahead state, (b) showing a left steering state with a small steering angle, and (c) showing a left steering state with a large steering angle.

[0010] Hereinafter, embodiments of a steering input device and a steer-by-wire steering device according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Note that in each of the following embodiments, the steering input device and the steer-by-wire steering device will be described as being applied to a steer-by-wire steering device for an automobile, as in the conventional case.

[0011] (Configuration of steer-by-wire steering device) Fig. 1 shows a schematic diagram showing the system configuration of a steer-by-wire steering device SD according to the present invention. Note that Fig. 1 is an image diagram showing the system configuration of the steer-by-wire steering device SD, and does not show the specific shape of the steer-by-wire steering device SD according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[0012] 1, a steer-by-wire steering device SD according to the present invention includes a steering input device 1 and a steering device 2, and is configured such that the steering input device 1 and the steering device 2 are mechanically separated. The steering input device 1 has a steering input member 3 that is used to input a steering operation, and a reaction force unit 4 that applies a reaction force to the steering input member 3.

[0013] The steering input member 3 has an operating unit 5 and a fixed unit 6 (not shown in FIG. 1 , see FIG. 2 ). The operating unit 5 is a dial 51 that corresponds to a steering wheel. A rotating shaft 52 that corresponds to a steering shaft is connected to the dial 51. The steering angle input via the dial 51, i.e., the rotation angle of the dial 51, is detected by a steering angle sensor AS linked to the rotating shaft 52 that rotates synchronously with the dial 51. The steering angle sensor AS corresponds to a sensor according to the present invention that outputs a signal corresponding to the amount of rotation of the shaft member or steering input member. Specifically, the steering angle sensor AS is connected to an on-board control device 7, and a steering angle signal detected by the steering angle sensor AS is output to the control device 7.

[0014] The reaction force unit 4 is configured, for example, by a reaction force actuator CA. The reaction force actuator CA is connected to the control device 7 and is driven and controlled by the control device 7. Specifically, the reaction force actuator CA generates a reaction force according to driving conditions, such as the vehicle speed (vehicle speed), and road conditions. Note that in the present embodiment, a well-known reaction force actuator CA is exemplified as one aspect of the reaction force unit 4, but the reaction force unit 4 is not limited to a configuration that generates a reaction force electrically, such as the reaction force actuator CA, and may be a configuration that generates a reaction force mechanically, such as a biasing member (coil spring). In other words, the reaction force unit 4 only needs to be able to generate a reaction force on the operation unit 5 of the steering input member 3, and can be arbitrarily modified depending on the specifications of the steering device SD, etc.

[0015] The control device 7 is electrically connected to the steering angle sensor AS, an external sensor OS mounted on the vehicle, and a steering axis position sensor PS (described later), and drives and controls the reaction force actuator CA and the steering actuator DA (described later). The external sensor OS includes, for example, a vehicle speed sensor and various other sensors.

[0016] The steering device 2 includes a rack bar 21 as a steering shaft connecting the left and right wheels WL, WR, which are the steerable wheels of the vehicle, tie rods 22 connecting the rack bar 21 to the wheels WL, WR, and a steering actuator DA that moves the rack bar 21 in the vehicle width direction. The rack bar 21 and the steering actuator DA are connected by, for example, a transmission mechanism and a speed reduction mechanism (not shown). The transmission mechanism transmits the rotational force of the steering actuator DA to the rack bar 21 and is composed, for example, of an input pulley connected to the rotation shaft of the steering actuator DA, an output pulley connected to the rack bar 21, and a belt wound between the two pulleys. The speed reduction mechanism reduces the speed of the rotational force transmitted via the transmission mechanism and converts it into a moving force in the axial direction of the rack bar 21 and is composed, for example, of a ball screw interposed between the output pulley and the rack bar 21.

[0017] Furthermore, rack bar 21 is linked to a steering shaft position sensor PS that can detect the axial position of rack bar 21. The steering shaft position sensor PS is connected to control device 7 and outputs a detected position signal of rack bar 21 to control device 7. That is, based on the position signal of rack bar 21 detected by steering shaft position sensor PS, control device 7 calculates the amount of movement of rack bar 21 in the axial direction from the steering angle signal detected by steering angle sensor AS, and drives and controls steering actuator DA. As a result, an appropriate thrust according to the axial position of rack bar 21 is applied to rack bar 21.

[0018] [First embodiment] (Configuration of steering input device) Figure 2 shows a perspective view of the steering input member 31 according to the first embodiment of the present invention, as seen from the front (rear) side. In the following description, for convenience, the rotation axis of the dial 51 in Figure 2 is referred to as the rotation axis Z, the direction along the rotation axis Z is referred to as the "axial direction," the direction perpendicular to the rotation axis Z is referred to as the "radial direction," and the direction around the rotation axis Z is referred to as the "circumferential direction." In addition, the traveling direction of the vehicle will be referred to as the "front," the side opposite the traveling direction of the vehicle as the "rear," the upper side in the vertical direction as the "upper," and the lower side in the vertical direction as the "lower."

[0019] 2, the steering input member 31 according to this embodiment is provided, for example, on a center console (not shown) inside the vehicle cabin. Specifically, the steering input member 31 has an operation unit 5 that rotates in response to a steering operation by the driver and is used to input a steering operation from the driver, and a fixed unit 6 that is fixed to the operation unit 5 and does not rotate relative to the rotation of the operation unit 5.

[0020] The operation unit 5 has a dial 51 that rotates in response to a steering operation input. A rotary shaft 52, which corresponds to a shaft member according to the present invention and is rotatable integrally with the dial 51, is connected to the dial 51. In this case, the rotary shaft 52 is provided eccentrically with respect to the center of the dial 51, so that the rotation axis Z of the rotary shaft 52 does not coincide with the center of the dial 51. Furthermore, the dial 51 and the rotary shaft 52 are connected to each other by a predetermined fixing means such as press-fitting or fastening so as to be rotatable integrally. Note that the dial 51 and the rotary shaft 52 do not necessarily have to be formed as separate bodies, and may be formed integrally.

[0021] The dial 51 is formed in a cylindrical shape from a resin or metal material and is connected to the rotary shaft 52 via a through-hole 510 formed in the direction of the rotation axis of the dial 51. Specifically, the dial 51 has a mounting surface 511 provided on the upper surface of the dial 51 and on which the driver's operating hand H (not shown in the figure) (see FIG. 4 ) is placed, and an operation surface 512 provided on the outer circumferential surface of the dial 51 and used for steering (rotating) the dial 51 by the operating hand H. The through-hole 510 is provided at a position eccentric to the center of the dial 51, and at least the opening on the mounting surface 511 side is formed into an irregular shape with a flat portion in a portion thereof. The mounting surface 511 is formed by a flat surface substantially parallel to the operation console 30. The operation surface 512 is provided continuously along the circumferential direction of the dial 51. The operation surface 512 has a surface roughness that is relatively rougher than that of a support portion 62 (described later) of the fixed portion 6. That is, it is desirable that the operation surface 512 is subjected to an anti-slip treatment, such as knurling, which increases the friction with the operating hand H.

[0022] The rotating shaft 52 is disposed so as to vertically penetrate the operation console 30 disposed on the center console (not shown). One axial end 521 of the rotating shaft 52 is formed to have a substantially D-shaped cross section with a flat portion in part, and the one end 521 is disposed so as to be exposed from the operation console 30. The one end 521 exposed from the operation console 30 is inserted into a through-hole 510 of the dial 51 and is connected to the dial 51 so as to be rotatable integrally therewith. Due to this shape, the dial 51 rotates on a plane substantially parallel to the operation console 30. Meanwhile, the other axial end of the rotating shaft 52 facing the inside of the operation console 30 (the interior of the center console (not shown)) is connected to a reaction force actuator CA (see FIG. 1 ) (not shown).

[0023] The operation console 30 is formed in a generally rectangular plate shape with a certain thickness and is provided, for example, on a center console (not shown) in the vehicle cabin. Here, the operation console 30 may be formed integrally with the center console. The operation console 30 also has a recess 301 at its front end that recesses toward the center console (the other axial end of the rotation shaft 52). The recess 301 has a shape corresponding to the fixed portion 6 (a flange portion 61 described later) and is formed so that the flange portion 61 of the fixed portion 6 can be fitted therein. While the center console is used as an example of the operation console 30 in this embodiment, the operation console 30 is not limited to the center console. In other words, the operation console 30 may be located in any position that can support the operating hand H. For example, the operation console 30 may be located on a dashboard in the vehicle cabin, a vehicle door (e.g., an armrest on the driver's side door), or an armrest of a vehicle seat, in addition to the center console.

[0024] The fixed portion 6 includes a flange portion 61 fixed to the operation console 30, a cylindrical support portion 62 gripped by some fingers of the operating hand H, a placement portion 63 on which the operating hand H is placed, and a support portion 64 connecting the placement portion 63 and the flange portion 61, all of which are integrally configured. The flange portion 61 is fitted into a recess 301 in the operation console 30 and fixed to the operation console 30 via any fastening means, such as a screw (not shown). The support portion 62 is disposed axially closer to the other end than the dial 51, i.e., below the dial 51, and is provided to rise perpendicularly from the flange portion 61 and extend axially from the flange portion 61 toward the dial 51. The support portion 62 has a circular shape in plan view that is substantially the same as the dial 51, and has an outer circumferential surface formed with a diameter substantially equal to the outer diameter of the operation surface 512 of the dial 51. The outer circumferential surface of the support portion 62 has a surface roughness that is relatively smaller than that of the operation surface 512.

[0025] The mounting portion 63 is disposed further toward one end in the axial direction than the dial 51, i.e., above the dial 51, and is generally raindrop-shaped in plan view. Specifically, the mounting portion 63 has an arc portion 631 formed on a side approaching the dial 51 in the radial direction, and a tapered portion 632 formed integrally with the arc portion 631 and formed on a side away from the dial 51 in the radial direction. The arc portion 631 has an arc shape concentric with the through-hole 510 of the dial 51 and is offset relative to the dial 51 toward the support portion 64, which is closer to the first end E1 (see FIG. 3 ), than the center Q (see FIG. 3 ) of the dial 51. In other words, the dial 51 is disposed offset toward the second end E2 than the arc portion 631 of the mounting portion 63, and the second end E2 of the dial 51 is disposed so as to protrude outward beyond the front end of the arc portion 631 in plan view. The tapered portion 632 is formed in a tapered shape that gradually becomes thinner in the radial direction as it moves away from the arc portion 631, and in a plan view, its tip extends to a position radially outward of the operation surface 512 (second end E2 shown in FIG. 3 ) of the dial 51. The support portion 64 extends vertically upward from the flange portion 61 and is connected to the tip of the tapered portion 632. In other words, the mounting portion 63 is supported on the flange portion 61 by the support portion 64, and the support portion 64 can support the load of the operating hand H acting on the mounting portion 63.

[0026] Figure 3 shows a plan view of the steering input member 31 shown in Figure 2. For convenience, the rotation shaft 52 is omitted from Figure 3. In Figure 3, the end of the dial 51 that is on the rear side of the operation console 30 (see Figure 2), not shown, is defined as a first end E1, and the end on the opposite side of the rotation shaft 52 from the first end E1 (180 degrees opposite in this embodiment) when viewed from the operation console 30 (see Figure 2) side is defined as a second end E2.

[0027] 3 , the dial 51 is formed to be approximately circular in plan view and has a through-hole 510 penetrating along the axial direction (a direction perpendicular to the plane of FIG. 3 ) at a position offset from the center Q of an imaginary circle C, which is an imaginary circle having a diameter including the first end E1 and a locking portion (a protrusion 513) described later. That is, in the radial direction of the dial 51, a distance X1 between the first end E1 and the rotation center (rotation axis Z) of the rotating shaft 52 is shorter than a distance X2 between the rotation center (rotation axis Z) of the rotating shaft 52 and the protrusion 513. The through-hole 510 has a generally D-shape consisting of an arc portion 510 a and a flat portion 510 b, and restricts relative rotation with the rotating shaft 52 inserted in the through-hole 510.

[0028] The dial 51 is provided with a protrusion 513 on the second end E2 side, protruding from the mounting surface 511 of the dial 51 toward the mounting portion 63 of the fixed part 6. The protrusion 513 may be formed in a hemispherical shape or a cylindrical shape. As will be described later with reference to FIG. 5 , the protrusion 513 corresponds to a locking portion according to the present invention, which is hooked onto by some fingers of the operating hand H (e.g., the thumb F1, the index finger F2, the middle finger F3, etc.) for operation. The number of protrusions 513 is not limited to one, and multiple protrusions may be provided. The protrusions 513 may be formed to protrude axially from the mounting surface 511 or, for example, to protrude radially from the operating surface 512.

[0029] (Explanation of Operational Mode of Steering Input Device) Figure 4 is a diagram showing an operational mode in which the steering input member 31 shown in Figure 2 is operated by the operating hand H, and shows a perspective view of the steering input member 31 as seen from the front. An example of an operational mode of the steering input member 31 is shown below.

[0030] For example, as shown in Figure 4, as an example of an operation mode of the steering input member 31 by the operating hand H, the steering input member 31 is in a basic posture for operating the dial 51 in which the wrist W of the operating hand H is supported on the operating table 30, which can be used as a fulcrum for steering operation, the palm of the operating hand H is placed on the support portion 63, and the fingers of the operating hand H (thumb F1, index finger F2, middle finger F3, ring finger F4, and little finger F5) are hooked on the operating surface 512 of the dial 51 so as to pinch the operating surface 512 of the dial 51.

[0031] In particular, in this embodiment, during a steering operation, which will be described later, the placing portion 63 of the fixing portion 6 does not fix the palm of the operating hand H. In other words, during a steering operation, in order to make it easier to operate the dial 51 with the index finger F2 or middle finger F3 of the operating hand H, the palm of the operating hand H can be appropriately slid on the placing portion 63 while feeling the difference in displacement of the dial 51 in accordance with the operation of the index finger F2 or middle finger F3 of the operating hand H.

[0032] [Correction based on Rule 91 11.07.2024] (Explanation of operation method of steering input device) Figure 5 shows plan views of the steering input member 31 shown in Figure 2, illustrating operation modes of the steering input member 31, (a) showing a straight-ahead state, (b) showing a right-hand steering state with a small steering angle, and (c) showing a right-hand steering state with a large steering angle. Figure 6 shows plan views of the steering input member 31 shown in Figure 2, illustrating operation modes of the steering input member 31, (a) showing a straight-ahead state, (b) showing a left-hand steering state with a small steering angle, and (c) showing a left-hand steering state with a large steering angle.

[0033] 5A, for example, with the wrist W placed on the operation console 30, the pad of the operating hand H is placed on the rest portion 63, and the fingers of the operating hand H (thumb F1, index finger F2, middle finger F3, ring finger F4, and little finger F5) are hooked on the operation surface 512 of the dial 51. As a result, the dial 51 is held in the neutral position by the fingers of the operating hand H (thumb F1, index finger F2, middle finger F3, ring finger F4, and little finger F5). More specifically, a reaction force generated by the reaction force portion 4 acts on the dial 51 in the neutral direction. Therefore, even if the dial 51 is not held by the operating hand H, the reaction force generated by the reaction force portion 4 will hold the dial 51 in the neutral position.

[0034] 5(b), for example, right steering with a small steering angle is performed by gripping the operation surface 512 with the operating hand H (mainly the thumb F1, index finger F2, and middle finger F3) and rotating the dial 51 to the right. Note that for right steering with a small steering angle, in addition to the operation mode of rotating the dial 51 by moving the fingers (thumb F1, index finger F2, and middle finger F3) of the operating hand H, the dial 51 may also be rotated by, for example, rotating the wrist W supported on the operation console 30 to the right while the dial 51 is gripped by the operating hand H.

[0035] Furthermore, in a relatively large right steering operation, i.e., a right steering operation with a large steering angle, for example, as shown in Fig. 5(c), from the right steering state with a small steering angle shown in Fig. 5(b), the index finger F2 of the operating hand H is opened to the right and the index finger F2 is pulled toward the user (rearward). As a result, the dial 51 rotates in the right direction (clockwise) while being accompanied by the side surface of the index finger F2 (the side surface on the middle finger F3 side) of the operating hand H, and right steering with a large steering angle is performed. Note that, for a right steering operation with a large steering angle, in addition to the operation mode of pulling the index finger F2 toward the user (rearward), the dial 51 may be rotated by being accompanied by the side surface of the index finger F2 (the side surface on the middle finger F3 side) by pulling the wrist W while the index finger F2 is hooked on the operation surface 512.

[0036] On the other hand, in a relatively small left steering operation, that is, a left steering operation with a small steering angle, for example, as shown in Fig. 6(a), the operation surface 512 is gripped with the operating hand H (mainly the thumb F1, the index finger F2, and the middle finger F3) and the dial 51 is rotated to the left, thereby performing left steering with a small steering angle. Note that, as with the right steering operation with a small steering angle, the left steering operation with a small steering angle can also be performed by rotating the dial 51 by moving the fingers (thumb F1, the index finger F2, and the middle finger F3) of the operating hand H to rotate the dial 51, or by rotating the wrist W supported on the operation console 30 to the right while the dial 51 is gripped by the operating hand H.

[0037] Furthermore, in a relatively large left steering operation, i.e., a left steering operation with a large steering angle, for example, as shown in Fig. 6(b), from the left steering state with a small steering angle shown in Fig. 6(a), the middle finger F3 of the operating hand H is opened to the left and the middle finger F3 is pulled toward the user (rearward). As a result, the dial 51 rotates in the left direction (counterclockwise) while being accompanied by the side surface of the middle finger F3 of the operating hand H (the side surface on the index finger F2 side), thereby performing left steering with a large steering angle. Note that, for a left steering operation with a large steering angle, in addition to the operating mode of pulling the middle finger F3 toward the user (rearward), the dial 51 may be rotated by being accompanied by the side surface of the middle finger F3 (the side surface on the index finger F2 side) by pulling the wrist W while the middle finger F3 is hooked on the operating surface 512.

[0038] As described above, the conventional steering input device does not give any consideration to improving operability. That is, in the conventional steering input device, the rotation axis of the dial, which is the operation unit, is located at the center of the dial, and the rotation amount of the dial is equal to the rotation amount of the rotation axis.

[0039] Here, in the case of a dial, which is a new operating device replacing the conventional round steering wheel, it is basically operated with one hand. Therefore, unlike the steering wheel, the dial cannot be changed hands. Therefore, in the case of a dial, it is considered to set a gear ratio that allows a large steering turn with a small amount of rotation. However, in this case, the vehicle behavior becomes overly sensitive to the amount of operation. In particular, when a driver is not accustomed to steering with a dial, the driver's steering input may be excessive, causing the driver to turn the steering wheel too much. Considering these circumstances, it becomes necessary to change the gear ratio of the dial.

[0040] Therefore, when performing a relatively large steering operation, i.e., a steering operation with a large steering angle, it is necessary to rotate the dial by a large amount. However, it is not easy to rotate the dial by a large amount with the fingertips of the operating hand without changing the grip, and there is still room for improvement.

[0041] In contrast, the steering input device 1 according to this embodiment can solve the problems of the conventional steering input devices by achieving the following advantageous effects.

[0042] That is, the steering input device 1 according to this embodiment is a steering input device that is disposed on an operation console 30 provided on a vehicle and that allows a driver to perform an operation input to steered wheels (wheels WL, WR) of the vehicle by operating it with one hand, and includes a shaft member (rotation shaft 52), a steering input member 31 that is attached to the shaft member and rotates on the operation console 30 around the shaft member as an axis, and that has a first end E1 and a second end E2 that is located on the opposite side of the shaft member from the first end E1 (in this embodiment, 180 degrees opposite), and that includes one or more engaging portions (protrusions 513) that can hook the driver's fingers, and a sensor (steering angle sensor AS) that outputs a signal corresponding to the amount of rotation of the shaft member or steering input member 31.

[0043] In other words, the steer-by-wire steering device SD according to this embodiment is a steer-by-wire steering device that includes a steering input device 1 mounted on a vehicle that has an operation console 30 that is provided so that the driver can perform steering operation with one hand, a steering device 2 that steers the wheels WR, WL of the vehicle, and a control device 7 that drives and controls the steering device 2 in accordance with the amount of steering operation to the steering input device 1, and the steering input device 1 and the steering device 2 are mechanically separated, and the steering input device 1 includes a shaft member (rotating shaft 52) ​​and a control device 7 that is attached to the shaft member and rotates around the shaft member on the operation console 30. a steering input member 31 that rotates about a first end E1 and a second end E2 that is located on the opposite side of the shaft member from the first end E1 (in this embodiment, 180 degrees opposite), and that includes one or more locking portions (protrusions 513) that can hook the driver's fingers, and a virtual circle C whose diameter is a straight line connecting the first end E1 and the locking portions has a center Q that is offset from the shaft member; and a sensor (steering angle sensor AS) that outputs a signal corresponding to the amount of rotation of the shaft member or the steering input member 31.

[0044] As described above, in this embodiment, the rotation shaft 52 is disposed at a position offset from the center Q of the imaginary circle C, the diameter of which is defined by the first end E1 and the protrusion 513 serving as the engaging portion. That is, in this embodiment, the rotation shaft 52 is disposed so as to be offset toward the first end E1 with respect to the center Q of the dial 51. Therefore, compared to when the rotation shaft 52 is located at the center position of the dial 51, which corresponds to the center Q of the imaginary circle C, the operation amount (movement amount) for the rotation angle of the dial 51 can be increased by the lever ratio in which the rotation shaft 52 is offset toward the first end E1. In other words, a relatively large steering input can be performed with a relatively small operation amount by the operating hand H, making steering operations at large steering angles in particular easy. This improves the operability of the steering input device 1.

[0045] In addition, in this embodiment, the steering input member 31 (dial 51) has a locking portion (protrusion 513) on the second end E2 side that can be hooked by the fingers of the operating hand H during steering operation.

[0046] Therefore, it becomes possible to operate the dial 51 by hooking the fingers of the operating hand H on the protrusion 513. This makes it possible to perform continuous steering operations from the small steering angle region to the large steering angle region, further improving the operability of the steering input device 1.

[0047] In addition, in this embodiment, the protrusion 513 protruding from the mounting surface 511 of the dial 51 is exemplified as the locking portion according to the present invention, but the locking portion according to the present invention is not limited to a convex portion. In other words, the locking portion according to the present invention may be configured to catch the operating hand H, and may also be formed in a concave shape, for example.

[0048] Although the present embodiment illustrates an example in which the axial center of the rotary shaft 52 is constant (fixed), the present invention is not limited to the case in which the rotary shaft 52 rotates about its axis while the axial center thereof remains fixed. For example, the rotary shaft 52 itself may be configured to move in an arc in some steering ranges, such as a small steering angle range. In this case, the offset arrangement of the rotary shaft 52 increases the steering input amount relative to the amount of operation, making it possible to allocate (division) the small steering angle range by ensuring rotation of the rotary shaft 52 and the large steering angle range by rotating the rotary shaft 52 based on the lever ratio due to the offset arrangement. This improves operability not only in the large steering angle range but also in the small steering angle range.

[0049] Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the rotation shaft 52 is offset (eccentric) toward the first end E1 corresponding to the rear side of the operation console 30, but the present invention also includes, in addition to an embodiment in which the rotation shaft 52 is offset (eccentric) toward the first end E1 that is rearward of the operation console 30, an embodiment in which the rotation shaft 52 is offset (eccentric) toward the second end E2 that is opposite the first end E1 across the rotation shaft 52 as viewed from the operation console 30. That is, the operation mode of the steering input device 1 is not uniform but varies depending on the driver, and therefore, in a steering input device 1 for a driver for whom an eccentricity toward the second end E2 is preferable, the rotation shaft 52 may be disposed on the second end E2 side of the dial 51.

[0050] In addition, in this embodiment, the distance X1 between the rotary shaft 52 and the first end E1 is shorter than the distance X2 between the rotary shaft 52 and the protrusion 513.

[0051] As described above, according to this embodiment, the distance X1 between the rotation shaft 52 and the first end E1 is configured to be shorter than the distance X2 between the rotation shaft 52 and the protrusion 513, and the rotation shaft 52 is located close to the fulcrum of the operating hand H. Therefore, when the operating hand H uses the wrist W of the operating hand H as the fulcrum to touch the second end E2 side of the dial 51 to perform an operation, it is possible to increase the amount of operation on the second end E2 side relative to the rotation angle of the dial 51. This makes it possible to further improve the operability of the steering input device 1 while suppressing the sensitivity of the vehicle's behavior to the amount of operation, even in a gear ratio that enables large steering with a small amount of rotation.

[0052] In this embodiment, the rotation shaft 52 rotates around the axis of the rotation shaft 52 (rotation axis Z).

[0053] As described above, according to this embodiment, the rotation shaft 52 is configured to rotate about the rotation axis Z, and the point of action of the steering input rotates, thereby achieving even better operability.

[0054] In addition, in this embodiment, when the side of the rotating shaft 52 where the steering input member 31 (dial 51) is provided is defined as one end side and the side opposite to the side where the steering input member 31 (dial 51) is provided is defined as the other end side, it is desirable that the engaging portion (protrusion portion 513) protrudes toward the one end side of the rotating shaft 52.

[0055] As described above, according to this embodiment, the protrusion 513 is provided on the dial 51 side, thereby further improving the operability of the steering input device 1.

[0056] In addition, in this embodiment, the steering input device 1 includes a reaction force unit 4 that applies a reaction force in a direction in which the steering input member 31 returns to the center position.

[0057] As described above, according to this embodiment, the steering input device 1 is provided with the reaction force unit 4 that applies a reaction force in a direction that returns the steering input member 31 to the center position. Therefore, during a further steering operation, the reaction force generated by the reaction force unit 4 prevents over-steering, while during a return steering operation, the reaction force generated by the reaction force unit 4 assists the return steering operation, making it possible to perform a satisfactory return steering operation. In this way, the provision of the reaction force unit 4 further improves the operability of the steering input device 1, particularly during further steering operation and return steering operation.

[0058] 7 to 10 show a second embodiment in which the steering input device 1 according to the present invention is applied to a steer-by-wire steering device SD, and is mainly a modification of the configuration of the steering input member 31 according to the first embodiment. Note that the basic configuration other than the modification is the same as that of the first embodiment, and therefore the same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof will be omitted.

[0059] Fig. 7 shows a perspective view of the steering input member 32 according to the second embodiment of the present invention, as seen from the front (rear) side. Fig. 8 shows a plan view of the steering input member 32 shown in Fig. 7. For convenience, in the following description, the rotation axis of the mouse-shaped device 53 in Figs. 7 and 8 is referred to as rotation axis Z, the direction along rotation axis Z is referred to as the "axial direction," the direction perpendicular to rotation axis Z is referred to as the "radial direction," and the direction around rotation axis Z is referred to as the "circumferential direction." Furthermore, the traveling direction of the vehicle is referred to as the "front," the side opposite the traveling direction of the vehicle is referred to as the "rear," the upper side in the vertical direction is referred to as the "upper," and the lower side in the vertical direction is referred to as the "lower." Also, in Figure 7, for convenience, the rotation axis 52 is omitted, and in Figures 7 and 8, the end of the mouse-shaped device 53 on the rear side of the operation table 30 (see Figure 7) is defined as the first end E1, and the end on the opposite side of the rotation axis 52 from the first end E1 (in this embodiment, 180 degrees opposite) when viewed from the operation table 30 (see Figure 7) side is defined as the second end E2.

[0060] As shown in FIG. 7 , the steering input member 32 according to this embodiment is rotatably disposed on the operation console 30 and rotates in response to a steering input. The steering input member 32 includes a mouse-shaped device 53 formed in a roughly egg-like shape that fits in the palm of the hand, and a rotation shaft 52, which corresponds to the axis according to the present invention and is connected to the mouse-shaped device 53 so as to be integrally rotatable. As will be described later, the rotation shaft 52 is disposed at a position offset from the center Q of an imaginary circle C, so that the rotation axis Z of the rotation shaft 52 does not coincide with the center Q of the imaginary circle C. The mouse-shaped device 53 and the rotation shaft 52 are connected to each other so as to be integrally rotatable by a predetermined fixing means, such as press-fitting or fastening. The mouse-shaped device 53 and the rotation shaft 52 do not necessarily need to be formed separately from each other and may be formed integrally.

[0061] 7 and 8 , the mouse-shaped device 53 is integrally formed from, for example, a resin material, and includes the egg-shaped main body 530 to be held by the operating hand H, and a plurality of protrusions that hook some of the fingers of the operating hand H for steering operation, namely, a first protrusion 531, a second protrusion 532, and a third protrusion 533, which correspond to the locking portions of the present invention. The main body 530 includes a placing portion 530a on which the pad of the operating hand H is placed, and a gripping portion 530b that is held by, for example, the thumb F1 and ring finger F4 of the operating hand H. In addition, the main body 530 is formed so that the first end E1 side is slightly tapered toward the second end E2 side in a plan view, and the projected area of ​​the first end E1 side is smaller than the projected area of ​​the second end E2 side (see FIG. 8 ).

[0062] The mounting portion 530a is curved to fit the palm of the operating hand H, and a through-hole 510, through which the rotating shaft 52 passes, is opened in the axial direction toward the operation table 30 at a position offset toward the second end E2 where the wrist W of the operating hand H is supported. Specifically, the through-hole 510 is provided along the axial direction (perpendicular to the plane of the paper in FIG. 8 ) at a position offset from the center Q of an imaginary circle C whose diameter is the first end E1 of the main body 530 and the locking portion (in this embodiment, the second protrusion 532 corresponding to the outermost diameter locking portion). With this configuration, in the mouse-shaped device 53, the distance X1 between the rotation center (rotation axis Z) of the rotating shaft 52 and the first end E1 is shorter in the radial direction than the distance X2 between the rotation center (rotation axis Z) of the rotating shaft 52 and the second protrusion 532, which is the locking portion. The through hole 510 has a generally D-shape consisting of an arc portion 510 a and a flat portion 510 b , and restricts the relative rotation of the rotary shaft 52 inserted into the through hole 510 .

[0063] Furthermore, the mounting portion 530a is provided with a first recess 535a which extends generally linearly from the through hole 510 toward the first locking groove 534a formed between the first protrusion 531 and the second protrusion 532, is formed as a groove having a generally arc-shaped concave cross section (concave curved surface), and smoothly connects to the first locking groove 534a. Similarly, the mounting portion 530a is provided with a second recess 535b which extends generally linearly from the through hole 510 toward the second locking groove 534b formed between the second protrusion 532 and the third protrusion 533, is formed as a groove having a generally arc-shaped concave cross section (concave curved surface), and smoothly connects to the second locking groove 534b. Furthermore, by providing the first recess 535a and the second recess 535b, a rib 536 is provided between the first recess 535a and the second recess 535b, passing through the center of the through-hole 510 and extending along the traveling direction of the vehicle. As described above, the rib 536 extends along the traveling direction of the vehicle, and therefore helps the driver to recognize the path of the vehicle while it is traveling.

[0064] The first protrusions 531, the second protrusions 532, and the third protrusions 533 are arranged to protrude radially outward from the main body 530 so as to have a generally semicircular (arcuate) shape in a plan view (see FIG. 8 ), and are arranged at generally equal intervals along the circumferential direction of the main body 530. The first protrusions 531, the second protrusions 532, and the third protrusions 533 each have generally flat sides on their base ends (root ends) and arc-shaped ends on their tip ends. The second protrusions 532 have a locking portion that protrudes most radially outward in the radial direction, which corresponds to the outermost locking portion. In this embodiment, three protrusions, consisting of the first protrusions 531, the second protrusions 532, and the third protrusions 533, are illustrated as an example of an embodiment of the locking portion according to the present invention, but the number of protrusions is not limited to these three. In other words, it is sufficient that at least one protrusion portion is provided as the engaging portion of the present invention, and the number and shape can be changed as desired depending on the specifications of the steering input device 1, etc.

[0065] (Explanation of Operational Mode of Steering Input Device) Figure 9 is a diagram showing an operational mode in which the steering input member 32 shown in Figure 8 is operated by the operating hand H, and shows a perspective view of the steering input member 32 as seen from the front. An example of an operational mode of the steering input member 32 is shown below.

[0066] 9 , in one example of an operation mode of the steering input member 32 of the steering input device 1 by the operating hand H, the operating hand H, whose wrist W is supported on the operation table 30, which can serve as a fulcrum for steering operation, grasps the main body 530 of the mouse-shaped device 53 in a wrapped manner with the palm of the operating hand H. Specifically, with the pad of the operating hand H placed on the rest portion 530a, the thumb F1, ring finger F4, and little finger F5 grasp the grip portion 530b. Then, the pad of the index finger F2 is positioned along the first recess 535a, and the fingertip of the index finger F2 is hooked into the first locking groove 534a. Similarly, the pad of the middle finger F3 is positioned along the second recess 535b, and the fingertip of the middle finger F3 is hooked into the second locking groove 534b. This state is the basic posture for operating the mouse-shaped device 53.

[0067] (Explanation of operation method of steering input device) Figure 10 shows plan views of the steering input member 32 shown in Figure 7, illustrating operation modes of the steering input member 32, (a) showing a straight-ahead state, (b) showing a right-hand steering state with a small steering angle, and (c) showing a right-hand steering state with a large steering angle. Figure 11 shows plan views of the steering input member 32 shown in Figure 7, illustrating operation modes of the steering input member 32, (a) showing a straight-ahead state, (b) showing a left-hand steering state with a small steering angle, and (c) showing a left-hand steering state with a large steering angle.

[0068] When the vehicle is traveling straight, as shown in FIG. 10A , for example, the wrist W is placed on the operation console 30, and the mouse-shaped device 53 is grasped by the palm of the operating hand H in a manner that envelops it. Specifically, with the pad of the hand placed on the rest portion 530a, the thumb F1, ring finger F4, and little finger F5 grasp the grip portion 530b. The pad of the index finger F2 is then placed along the first recess 535a, and the tip of the index finger F2 is hooked into the first locking groove 534a. Similarly, the pad of the middle finger F3 is placed along the second recess 535b, and the tip of the middle finger F3 is hooked into the second locking groove 534b. This allows the fingers of the operating hand H (thumb F1, index finger F2, middle finger F3, ring finger F4, and little finger F5) to hold the mouse-shaped device 53 in a neutral position. More specifically, as in the first embodiment, a reaction force generated by the reaction force section 4 acts on the mouse-shaped device 53 in the neutral direction, so even if the mouse-shaped device 53 is not being held by the operating hand H, the mouse-shaped device 53 will be held in the neutral position by the reaction force generated by the reaction force section 4.

[0069] In addition, for a relatively small right steering operation, that is, a right steering operation with a small steering angle, as shown in Figure 10 (b), for example, the index finger F2 of the operating hand H is hooked in the first locking groove 534a, the middle finger F3 is hooked in the second locking groove 534b, and the thumb F1 and ring finger F4 are gripping the gripping portion 530b of the main body 530 of the mouse-shaped device 53, and the mouse-shaped device 53 is rotated to the right, thereby performing right steering with a small steering angle.

[0070] 10(c), for example, in a relatively large right steering operation, i.e., a right steering operation with a large steering angle, the middle finger F3 hooked in the second locking groove 534b is pulled toward the user (rearward) from the right steering operation state with a small steering angle shown in FIG. 10(b). As a result, the second protrusion 532 is pulled toward the user (rearward) by the middle finger F3, causing the mouse-shaped device 53 to rotate in the right direction (clockwise), thereby performing right steering with a large steering angle. Note that for a right steering operation with a large steering angle, in addition to the operation mode of pulling the middle finger F3 toward the user (rearward), the wrist W of the operating hand H may be pulled backward with the middle finger F3 hooked in the second locking groove 534b (second protrusion 532), thereby rotating the mouse-shaped device 53 by being pulled by the middle finger F3.

[0071] On the other hand, in a relatively small left steering operation, that is, a left steering operation with a small steering angle, for example, as shown in Figure 11 (b), the index finger F2 of the operating hand H is hooked in the first locking groove 534a, the middle finger F3 is hooked in the second locking groove 534b, and the thumb F1 and ring finger F4 are gripping the gripping portion 530b of the main body 530 of the mouse-shaped device 53, and the mouse-shaped device 53 is rotated to the left, thereby performing left steering with a small steering angle.

[0072] 11(c), for example, in a relatively large left steering operation, i.e., a left steering operation with a large steering angle, the index finger F2 hooked in the first locking groove 534a is pulled toward the user (rearward) from the left steering operation state with a small steering angle shown in FIG. 11(b). As a result, the second protrusion 532 is pulled toward the user (rearward) by the index finger F2, causing the mouse-shaped device 53 to rotate in the left direction (counterclockwise), thereby performing left steering with a large steering angle. Note that for a left steering operation with a large steering angle, in addition to the operation mode of pulling the index finger F2 toward the user (rearward), the mouse-shaped device 53 may be rotated by being pulled by the index finger F2 by pulling the wrist W of the operating hand H backward with the index finger F2 hooked in the first locking groove 534a (second protrusion 532).

[0073] (Action and effect of this embodiment) As described above, in this embodiment, when the steering input member 32 is viewed from the shaft member (rotation shaft 52), the front side of the mouse-shaped device 53 in the direction of travel of the vehicle is the second end E2 side, and the rear side of the mouse-shaped device 53 in the direction of travel of the vehicle is the first end E1 side, the projected area of ​​the mouse-shaped device 53 on the first end E1 side is smaller than the projected area on the second end E2 side.

[0074] As described above, according to this embodiment, the projected area on the first end E1 side is smaller than the projected area on the second end E2 side, and the projected area of ​​the operating hand H on the operation console 30 side is configured to be relatively small, thereby ensuring good support of the operating hand H on the operation console 30. In other words, if the projected area on the first end E1 side were relatively large, the first end E1 side would protrude significantly, which would hinder ensuring good support of the operating hand H when part of the operating hand H is supported on the operation console 30. In contrast, in this embodiment, the second end E2 side is formed relatively large, which has the advantage of making it easier to ensure good support of the operating hand H.

[0075] In addition, in this embodiment, when the radial direction relative to the rotating shaft 52 is defined as the radial direction, the locking portions (the first protrusion 531, the second protrusion 532, and the third protrusion 533) are configured to protrude outward in the radial direction.

[0076] As described above, according to this embodiment, the provision of the first protrusion 531, the second protrusion 532, and the third protrusion 533 that protrude radially outward enables steering operation via the protrusions 531, 532, and 533, thereby further improving operability. In other words, the provision of the protrusions 531, 532, and 533 allows the driver to touch the protrusions 531, 532, and 533 with multiple fingers of the operating hand H. Therefore, for example, in a pulling operation toward the driver (rearward) during a relatively large steering operation, the driver can distribute the force to multiple fingers when performing the steering operation, and the driver can feel the amount of change in operation with multiple fingers, thereby further improving operability.

[0077] In addition, in this embodiment, the locking portion is made up of multiple locking portions, and when the locking portion that protrudes the most radially outward among the multiple locking portions (first protrusion 531, second protrusion 532, and third protrusion 533) is the outermost locking portion (second protrusion 532), the steering input member 32 is configured to be attached to the shaft member (rotating shaft 52) ​​at a position offset from the center Q of an imaginary circle (imaginary circle C) whose diameter is the straight line connecting the first end E1 and the outermost locking portion (second protrusion 532).

[0078] Thus, according to this embodiment, by setting the distance between the center of rotation (rotation axis Z) of the rotation shaft 52 and the second protrusion 532 that protrudes most radially outward to the radial direction as distance X2, the lever ratio can be increased, and the amount of operation (amount of movement) relative to the rotation angle of the mouse-shaped device 53 can be increased, thereby further improving operability.

[0079] In addition, in this embodiment, a rib 536 is provided between the shaft member (rotating shaft 52) ​​and the engaging portion (first protrusion 531, second protrusion 532, and third protrusion 533) to enable the driver to recognize the direction of travel of the vehicle when steering.

[0080] As described above, according to this embodiment, the rib 536 that enables the traveling direction of the vehicle to be recognized during a steering operation is provided between the rotation shaft 52 of the steering input member 32 and the first protrusion 531, the second protrusion 532, and the third protrusion 533. In other words, the direction of the vehicle can be recognized by the rib 536. As a result, the rib 536 that indicates the traveling direction of the vehicle serves as a guide for the appropriate amount of steering operation, and the operability of the steering input device 1 can be further improved.

[0081] The present invention is not limited to the configurations and aspects exemplified in the above-described embodiments, and can be freely modified in accordance with the specifications, costs, etc. of the steering input device 1 (steer-by-wire steering device SD) to which the present invention is applied, as long as the configuration can achieve the above-described effects of the present invention.

Claims

1. A steering input device that is disposed on an operating console provided on a vehicle and allows a driver to input operations to the steered wheels of the vehicle by operating them with one hand, comprising: a shaft member; a steering input member that is attached to the shaft member and rotates on the operating console about the shaft member as an axis, having a first end and a second end located on the opposite side of the shaft member to the first end, the second end including one or more engaging portions by which the driver's fingers can be hooked, the first end and the second end being such that the center of an imaginary circle having a diameter equal to a straight line connecting the first end and the engaging portions is positioned offset from the shaft member; and a sensor that outputs a signal according to the amount of rotation of the shaft member or the steering input member.

2. A steering input device according to claim 1, characterized in that the distance between the shaft member and the first end is shorter than the distance between the shaft member and the engaging portion.

3. A steering input device according to claim 2, characterized in that the shaft member rotates around its own axis.

4. A steering input device as described in claim 3, characterized in that, when viewed from the shaft member, the front side of the steering input member in the traveling direction of the vehicle is defined as the second end side and the rear side of the steering input member in the traveling direction of the vehicle is defined as the first end side, the steering input member has a smaller projected area on the first end side than the projected area on the second end side.

5. A steering input device as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that, when the side of the shaft member on which the steering input member is provided is defined as one end side and the side opposite to the side on which the steering input member is provided is defined as the other end side, the engaging portion protrudes towards the one end side of the shaft member.

6. A steering input device as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that, when the radial direction of the steering input member relative to the shaft member is taken as a radial direction, the engaging portion protrudes outward in the radial direction.

7. A steering input device as described in claim 6, characterized in that a plurality of the locking portions are provided, and when the locking portion among the plurality of locking portions that protrudes furthest radially outward is defined as the outermost locking portion, the steering input member is attached to the shaft member at a position offset from the center of an imaginary circle whose diameter is a straight line connecting the first end and the outermost locking portion.

8. A steering input device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the steering input member has a rib between the shaft member and the engaging portion, which enables the driver to recognize the traveling direction of the vehicle when steering.

9. A steering input device according to claim 1, characterized in that the steering input device comprises a reaction force section which applies a reaction force in a direction in which the steering input member returns to a central position.

10. A steer-by-wire type steering device comprising: a steering input device mounted on a vehicle having an operation console provided to allow a driver to perform steering operation with one hand; a steering device for turning the wheels of the vehicle; and a control device for drive-controlling the steering device in accordance with the amount of steering operation to the steering input device, wherein the steering input device and the steering device are mechanically separated, wherein the steering input device comprises: a shaft member; a steering input member attached to the shaft member and rotating on the operation console about the shaft member as an axis, having a first end and a second end located on the opposite side of the shaft member to the first end, the second end including one or more engaging portions by which the driver's fingers can be hooked, the first end and the second end being positioned such that the center of an imaginary circle having a diameter equal to a straight line connecting the first end and the engaging portions is positioned at a position offset from the shaft member; and a sensor for outputting a signal in accordance with the amount of rotation of the shaft member or the steering input member.

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