Manual operation device for operating in-vehicle apparatus

• US 7,219,759 B2
• Filed: 02/03/2004
• Issued: 05/22/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/04/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Original Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Inventors: Ito, Yuji, Kitagawa, Nozomi
• Primary Examiner(s): Ellis; Christopher P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Collado; Cynthia F.
• Application Number:
  US10/770,596
• Publication Number:
  US 20040154848A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,204 Days
• Field of Search: 180/168, 180/169, 180/170
• US Class Current: 180/168
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/0065 Control members, e.g. levers or knobs B60H1/00985 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 31/042 where at least one electrical quantity is set by the vehicle operator
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3664 Details of the user input interface, e.g. buttons, knobs or sliders, including those provided on a touch screen; remote controllers; input using gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3688 Systems comprising multiple parts or multiple output devices (not client-server), e.g. detachable faceplates, key fobs or multiple output screens
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 9/00 Measuring inclination, e.g. by clinometers, by levels
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/52 the contact returning to its original state immediately upon removal of operating force, e.g. bell-push switch
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2215/028 alterable

Abstract

An operation member is manually operable to select and drive an in-vehicle apparatus. A compression spring applies counterforce to the operation member against operational movement of the operation member. A load sensor senses an operational work load of a driver of a vehicle. A movable member is driven by a motor to change the counterforce based on the operational work load of the driver sensed by the load sensor.

Claims

1. A manual operation device for operating at least one in-vehicle apparatus installed in a vehicle, the manual operation device comprising:

an operation member that is manually operable in at least one predetermined direction to select and drive at least one of the at least one in-vehicle apparatus;

a counterforce applying means for applying counterforce to the operation member against operational movement of the operation member;

a load sensing means for sensing an operational work load of a person operating the vehicle; and

a counterforce changing means for changing the counterforce based on the operational work load of the person operating the vehicle sensed by the load sensing means;

wherein

the at least one in-vehicle apparatus is selected from a group of an air conditioning apparatus, an audio apparatus, a cruise control apparatus and a navigation apparatus.

2. The manual operation device according to claim 1, wherein:

the operational work load of the person operating the vehicle sensed by the load sensing means is expressed in terms of at least one of a vehicle speed, a vehicle-to-vehicle distance, an on/off state of the cruise control apparatus and a type of a subject road where the vehicle is traveling.

3. The manual operation device according to claim 2, wherein;

the load sensing means determines that the operational work load of the person operating the vehicle is relatively small when at least one of the following conditions is satisfied;

the vehicle speed is relatively slow;

the vehicle-to-vehicle distance is relatively large;

the cruise control apparatus is in an on-state; and

the type of the subject road is a motor road; and

the load sensing means determines that the operational work load of the person operating the vehicle is relatively large when at least one of the following conditions is satisfied;

the vehicle speed is relatively high;

the vehicle-to-vehicle distance is relatively small;

the cruise control apparatus is in an off-state; and

the type of the subject road is not a motor road.

4. The manual operation device according to claim 1, wherein:

when the operational work load of the person operating the vehicle is relatively small, the counterforce changing means makes the counterforce relatively small to make a required drive force for driving the operation member relatively small; and

when the operational work load of the person operating the vehicle is increased, the counterforce changing means increases the counterforce in a stepwise manner or in a proportional manner to increase the required drive force for driving the operation member in a stepwise manner or in a proportional manner.

5. The manual operation device according to claim 1, wherein:

the operation member is a depressable button, which is depressed in a depressing direction to operate one of the at least one in-vehicle apparatus;

the counterforce applying means is a compression spring, which urges the depressable button in a direction opposite from the depressing direction of the depressable button; and

the counterforce changing means is a movable member that is moved to change an extent of the compression spring.

6. The manual operation device according to claim 5, wherein the depressable button provides click feeling when the depressable button is depressed.

7. The manual operation device according to claim 1, wherein:

the at least one in-vehicle apparatus includes a plurality of in-vehicle apparatuses;

the operation member is a rotatable knob, which is rotated in an operating direction to selectively operate at least one of the in-vehicle apparatuses; and

the counterforce applying means and the counterforce changing means is integrated in a form of a motor, which provides a variable urging force to the rotatable knob in a direction opposite from the operating direction of the rotatable knob.

8. The manual operation device according to claim 7, wherein the rotatable knob provides click feeling at each switching position, at which the rotatable knob switches operation from a corresponding one of the in-vehicle apparatuses to a next one of the in-vehicle apparatuses.

9. The manual operation device according to claim 1, wherein the operational work load of the person operating the vehicle sensed by the load sensing means is expressed in terms of at least one of a vehicle speed, a vehicle-to-vehicle distance and a type of a subject road where the vehicle is traveling.

10. The manual operation device according to claim 9, wherein:

the load sensing means determines that the operational work load of the person operating the vehicle is relatively small when at least one of the following conditions is satisfied;

the vehicle speed is relatively slow;

the vehicle-to-vehicle distance is relatively large; and

the type of the subject road is a motor road; and

the load sensing means determines that the operational work load of the person operating the vehicle is relatively large when at least one of the following conditions is satisfied;

the vehicle speed is relatively high;

the vehicle-to-vehicle distance is relatively small; and

the type of the subject road is not a motor road.

11. A manual operation device for operating at least one in-vehicle apparatus installed in a vehicle, the manual operation device comprising:

an operation member that is manually operable in at least one predetermined direction to select and drive at least one of the at least one in-vehicle apparatus;

a counterforce applying means for applying counterforce to the operation member against operational movement of the operation member;

a load sensing means for sensing an operational work load of a person operating the vehicle; and

a counterforce changing means for changing the counterforce based on the operational work load of the person operating the vehicle sensed by the load sensing means;

wherein

the load sensing means includes a vehicle speed sensor that senses a vehicle speed of the vehicle; and

when it is determined that the vehicle speed sensed through the vehicle speed sensor is zero, the counterforce changing means sets the counterforce to a first value that is smaller than a second value that is set in a state where the vehicle speed sensed through the vehicle speed sensor is other than zero.