阅读说明：本技术 车辆用设备操作装置 (Device operation device for vehicle ) 是由 山本啓 西本崇 佐藤贤治 于 2021-03-23 设计创作，主要内容包括：本发明提供一种车辆用设备操作装置。所述车辆用设备操作装置具备：空调管道(20),其具有将空调空气向车厢(10)中吹出的开口端(26)；显示器(30),其被配置在空调管道(20)的外侧,并对图像进行显示；成像光学元件(40),其使被显示在显示器(30)上的图像的实像作为空中图像(41)而在空调管道(20)的开口端(26)的附近成像；设备操作用开关(50),其被配置在开口端(26)的下侧边缘(13b)处,空中图像(41)包括设备操作用的图标(32),设备操作用开关(50)为与图标(32)相对应的开关。(The invention provides a device operating apparatus for a vehicle. The vehicle device operation apparatus includes: an air-conditioning duct (20) having an open end (26) for blowing out air-conditioned air into the vehicle compartment (10); a display (30) that is disposed outside the air-conditioning duct (20) and displays an image; an imaging optical element (40) that images a real image of an image displayed on the display (30) as an aerial image (41) in the vicinity of the open end (26) of the air-conditioning duct (20); and a device operation switch (50) disposed at the lower edge (13b) of the open end (26), wherein the aerial image (41) includes an icon (32) for device operation, and the device operation switch (50) is a switch corresponding to the icon (32).)

1. A vehicle device operation apparatus that performs an operation of a device mounted on a vehicle, comprising:

an air-conditioning duct connected to an air-conditioning device mounted on the vehicle and having an opening end for blowing out air-conditioned air from the air-conditioning device into a vehicle compartment;

a display which is disposed outside the air-conditioning duct and displays an image;

an imaging optical element that is mounted on the air-conditioning duct and that images a real image of the image displayed on the display as an aerial image in the vicinity of the open end of the air-conditioning duct;

an equipment operation switch disposed at an edge of the open end of the air-conditioning duct,

the aerial image includes an icon for operation of the device,

the device operation switch is a switch corresponding to the icon.

2. The vehicular equipment operating device according to claim 1,

the aerial image includes the icons for a plurality of device operations,

a plurality of the device operation switches are provided at an edge of the open end of the air-conditioning duct,

each of the device operation switches is a switch corresponding to each of the icons.

3. The vehicular equipment operating device according to claim 2,

the open end of the air conditioning duct is in the shape of a horizontally long slit,

the plurality of device-operation switches are arranged in a row at an upper edge or a lower edge of the open end.

4. The vehicular equipment operating device according to any one of claims 1 to 3,

the air-conditioning duct includes a light-transmitting wall formed of a light-transmitting member,

the imaging optics are mounted on the outer surface of the light-transmitting wall,

the display is adjacent to the imaging optical element at a position rearward of the imaging optical element with respect to the vehicle, and is arranged so as to stand with respect to an outer surface of the air conditioning duct.

5. The vehicular equipment operating device according to any one of claims 1 to 3,

the imaging optics form a portion of a wall of the air conditioning duct.

6. The vehicular equipment operating device according to claim 4,

the open end of the air conditioning duct is provided on an instrument panel in front of a vehicle compartment,

the display is mounted on the inside of the instrument panel,

the device-operation switch is mounted on the instrument panel at an edge of the open end.

7. The vehicular equipment operating device according to claim 5,

the open end of the air conditioning duct is provided on an instrument panel in front of a vehicle compartment,

the display is mounted on the inside of the instrument panel,

the device-operation switch is mounted on the instrument panel at an edge of the open end.

Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to a configuration of a vehicle device operation apparatus for operating a device mounted on a vehicle.

Background

An air blowing device has been proposed which displays an image of a meter such as a speedometer or tachometer on a display, and forms a display image displayed on the display on an air blowing path of an air blowing device mounted on a vehicle through an optical element (see, for example, international application publication No. 2017/010395).

According to the device described in international application publication No. 2017/010395, since the air blowing duct of the air blowing device has both a function as an air ventilation duct for air and an image display function of a meter or the like, it is possible to eliminate an arrangement space for the meter or the like, and thus it is possible to improve the degree of freedom in designing the vehicle cabin.

Disclosure of Invention

In addition, although the conventional technology described in international application publication No. 2017/010395 can eliminate such a space for displaying vehicle information for instruments and the like, it is difficult to eliminate a space for an air conditioning operation panel and an audio operation panel, or an operation panel of other in-vehicle equipment and the like, which are necessary for the operation of the occupant.

On the other hand, in designing the vehicle interior, there is a further demand for space saving of various vehicle equipment operating devices disposed in the vehicle interior for a higher degree of freedom in design.

Accordingly, an object of the present disclosure is to achieve space saving of a vehicle device operation apparatus.

A vehicle device operation apparatus according to the present disclosure is a vehicle device operation apparatus for operating a device mounted on a vehicle, the vehicle device operation apparatus including: an air-conditioning duct connected to an air-conditioning device mounted on the vehicle and having an opening end for blowing out air-conditioned air from the air-conditioning device into a vehicle compartment; a display which is disposed outside the air-conditioning duct and displays an image; an imaging optical element that is mounted on the air-conditioning duct and that images a real image of the image displayed on the display as an aerial image in the vicinity of the open end of the air-conditioning duct; and a device operation switch disposed at an edge of the open end of the air-conditioning duct, the aerial image including an icon for device operation, the device operation switch being a switch corresponding to the icon.

In this way, since the vehicle device operation apparatus is configured by imaging the aerial image including the device operation icon in the vicinity of the open end of the air-conditioning duct and disposing the device operation switch corresponding to the device operation icon at the edge of the open end, the space in which the device operation icon is displayed and the space in the open end of the air-conditioning duct can be shared, and space saving of the vehicle device operation apparatus can be achieved.

In the vehicle equipment operating device according to the present disclosure, the aerial image may include a plurality of the icons for equipment operation, and a plurality of the equipment operation switches may be provided at an edge of the open end of the air-conditioning duct, each of the equipment operation switches being a switch corresponding to each of the icons.

This makes it possible to more effectively save space in the vehicle device operation device.

In the vehicle equipment operating device according to the present disclosure, the open end of the air conditioning duct may have a horizontally long slit shape, and the plurality of equipment operating switches may be arranged in a row at an upper edge or a lower edge of the open end.

This can improve the operability of each device operation switch.

In the vehicle equipment operating device according to the present disclosure, the air-conditioning duct may include a light-transmitting wall formed of a light-transmitting member, the imaging optical element may be attached to an outer surface of the light-transmitting wall, and the display may be disposed adjacent to the imaging optical element at a position rearward of the imaging optical element with respect to the vehicle and standing on the outer surface of the air-conditioning duct.

In this manner, since the imaging optical element and the display are arranged on the outer surface of the air-conditioning duct, it is possible to suppress deterioration of the imaging optical element and the display due to a temperature change of the air-conditioning air, moisture contained in the air-conditioning air, and the like.

In the vehicle equipment operating device of the present disclosure, the imaging optical element may constitute a part of a wall of the air conditioning duct.

This enables a simple configuration.

In the vehicle device operation apparatus of the present disclosure, the open end of the air conditioning duct may be provided on an instrument panel in front of a vehicle compartment, the display may be mounted inside the instrument panel, and the device operation switch may be mounted on the instrument panel at an edge of the open end.

This eliminates the need for an arrangement space for providing icons for operating the devices on the instrument panel, and improves the degree of freedom in designing the front of the vehicle interior including the instrument panel.

The present disclosure can achieve space saving of a device operating device for a vehicle.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a vehicle device operation apparatus according to an embodiment.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view showing the structure of the vehicular instrument operating device according to the embodiment.

Fig. 3 is a plan view showing icons displayed on the display of the vehicular appliance operating device according to the embodiment.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view showing a structure of a vehicle device operation apparatus according to another embodiment.

Detailed Description

Hereinafter, the vehicle device operation apparatus 100 according to the embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. Although the following description describes the case where the vehicle device operation apparatus 100 is provided on the instrument panel 11 in front of the vehicle compartment 10, the vehicle device operation apparatus 100 may be provided at a location other than the instrument panel 11. Arrow FR, arrow UP, and arrow RH shown in the drawings indicate the front direction (forward direction), the UP direction, and the right direction of the vehicle, respectively. The opposite directions of the respective arrow marks FR, UP, and RH indicate the vehicle rear direction, the down direction, and the left direction. Hereinafter, when only the front-rear, left-right, and up-down directions are used for description, unless otherwise specified, the directions are referred to as front-rear in the vehicle front-rear direction, left-right in the vehicle left-right direction (vehicle width direction), and up-down in the vehicle up-down direction.

As shown in fig. 1, the vehicular device operating apparatus 100 is constituted by an air-conditioning duct 20 having an open end 26, a display 30, an imaging optical element 40, and a device operating switch 50. Here, in fig. 1, the vehicle device operation apparatus 100 is shown in a state where the instrument panel 11 on the left side of the vehicle is cut out and is provided on the instrument panel 11 on the right side portion of the vehicle. In fig. 1, the air-conditioning duct 20 is shown with the side wall 24 on the left side of the vehicle removed.

The air-conditioning duct 20 is connected to an air-conditioning device, not shown, mounted on the vehicle, and has an open end 26, and the open end 26 blows out air-conditioned air from the air-conditioning device into the vehicle compartment 10 as indicated by an arrow 93 in fig. 2. The open end 26 is provided on the dash panel 11 in front of the vehicle compartment 10. A windshield 18 is provided in front of the instrument panel 11. A downstream end portion 21 of the open end 26 of the air-conditioning duct 20 has a horizontally long quadrangular cross section formed by an upper wall 22, a lower wall 23, and a pair of left and right side walls 24, and the open end 26 has a horizontally long slit shape.

As shown in fig. 2, a part of the downstream end portion 21 in the vicinity of the open end 26 of the lower wall 23 is a light-transmitting wall 25 formed of a light-transmitting member. The light transmitting wall 25 extends in the width direction between the pair of side walls 24 of the downstream end portion 21 of the air conditioning duct 20. An imaging optical element 40 is mounted on the outer surface of the lower side of the light-transmitting wall 25. The imaging optics 40 have a width substantially the same as the width of the open end 26. The imaging optical element 40 is, for example, a member having a dihedral corner reflector array structure, and divides light rays finely by discrete unit optical elements, and collects the light rays in a geometrical optical manner to image them.

The display 30 is disposed further toward the rear of the vehicle than the imaging optical element 40. The display 30 is fixed to the inner wall 12a of the interior 12 of the instrument panel 11 by a bracket 33 so that the image display surface 31 stands up with respect to the outer surface of the lower wall 23 of the air-conditioning duct 20, adjacent to the imaging optical element 40. The display 30 has a horizontally long shape having substantially the same width and height as the width and height of the open end 26.

As shown in fig. 3, on an image display surface 31 of the display 30, images of a plurality of icons 32 for operation on an air conditioner, which is a device mounted on a vehicle, are displayed. The icon 32 is an image in which the content of the operation is marked with a simple pattern or characters. In the following description, the icons 32 will be described as the icons 32 when the icons 32 are not distinguished, and letters such as a, b, and c will be added after the symbols 32 when the icons 32 are distinguished.

Fig. 3 shows a state in which ten icons 32a to 32j are displayed in a row on the horizontally long display 30. The leftmost icon 32a is an icon for operating the air conditioner to be turned on/off as a whole. Next icons 32b and 32c are an icon for switching operation for switching to the inside air circulation and an icon for switching operation for switching to the outside air introduction. The icons 32d, 32e are icons for on/off operations of the front and rear defrosters, respectively. The icon 32f is an icon for operating the air conditioner in the automatic operation mode. The icon 32g is an operation icon for stopping the fan of the air conditioner. The icons 32h and 32i are icons for the operation of raising and lowering the air conditioner temperature. The icon 32j is an icon for turning on/off the cold air of the air conditioner.

When the plurality of icons 32a to 32j are displayed on the image display surface 31 of the display 30 as shown in fig. 3, light emitted from the image display surface 31 of the display 30 is incident on the imaging optical element 40 as indicated by an arrow mark 91 in fig. 2. The light incident on the imaging optical element 40 passes through the light transmitting wall 25 and exits toward the open end 26 as indicated by an arrow 92 in fig. 2. Thereby, the imaging optical element 40 images real images of the plurality of icons 32a to 32j displayed on the image display surface 31 of the display 30 as aerial images 41 in the vicinity of the open end 26. The aerial image 41 includes a plurality of icons 32a to 32j aligned in a row from the left, similarly to the display 30. Thereby, the occupant 15 in the vehicle compartment 10 visually confirms the plurality of icons 32a to 32j displayed on the open end 26 of the air-conditioning duct 20.

As shown in fig. 1, a plurality of device operation switches 50 are attached in a row to the instrument panel 11 at the lower edge 13b of the horizontally long slit-shaped open end 26. In the following description, as in the case of the icon 32, the device operation switches 50 are described as the device operation switches 50 when the plurality of device operation switches 50 are not distinguished, and letters such as a, b, and c are added after the symbols 50 when the device operation switches 50 are distinguished.

The device operation switches 50a to 50j are switches which are respectively arranged below the icons 32a to 32j included in the aerial image 41 and which are used to perform operations corresponding to the icons 32a to 32 j. The equipment operation switch 50a disposed below the operation icon 32a for turning on/off the entire leftmost air conditioner is a switch for turning on/off the entire air conditioner. The lower device operation switches 50b and 50c of the icon 32b for switching operation to the inside air circulation and the icon 32c for switching operation to the outside air introduction are switches for switching to the inside air circulation and switching to the outside air introduction, respectively. Hereinafter, similarly, the device operation switches 50d and 50e are switches for performing on/off operations of front and rear defrosters, the device operation switch 50f is a switch for performing an operation of setting the air conditioner to the automatic operation mode, and the device operation switch 50g is a switch for performing an operation of stopping the fan of the air conditioner. The device operation switches 50h and 50i are switches for performing an operation of raising and lowering the air conditioning temperature, and the device operation switch 50j is a switch for performing an operation of turning on/off the cold air of the air conditioner.

As described above, the vehicle device operation apparatus 100 is configured by the aerial image 41 including the device operation icons 32a to 32j imaged in the vicinity of the open end 26 of the air-conditioning duct 20 and the device operation switches 50a to 50j corresponding to the device operation icons 32a to 32j arranged on the instrument panel 11 at the lower edge 13b of the open end 26. The occupant 15 in the vehicle compartment 10 visually confirms the plurality of icons 32a to 32j arranged on the open end 26 of the air-conditioning duct 20 through the aerial image 41. For example, when an operation corresponding to a certain icon 32 is to be performed, the device can be operated by operating the device operation switch 50 disposed below the icon 32. For example, when the circulation of the in-vehicle air is to be performed, if the device operation switch 50b on the lower side of the icon 32b for switching the circulation of the in-vehicle air is operated, the air conditioner is switched to the in-vehicle air circulation. Further, if the device operation switch 50c on the lower side of the icon 32c for switching to outside air introduction is operated, the air conditioner is switched to outside air introduction.

The device operation switch 50 can be configured by various types of switches. For example, when the infrared switch is used and the switch is operated when the occupant 15 extends a finger to the icon 32, the occupant 15 can be made to feel as if the icon 32 of the aerial image 41 is operated. In this case, the device operation switch 50 may be disposed at the upper edge 13a of the open end 26.

Further, as the device operation switch 50, a touch switch may be used. At this time, as described above, the operability of the occupant 15 can be improved by disposing the tactile switch at the lower edge 13b of the open end 26. Further, as the device operation switch 50, a mechanical push button switch or the like may be used.

As described above, the vehicle device operation apparatus 100 is configured by the aerial image 41 including the device operation icons 32a to 32j imaged in the vicinity of the open end 26 of the air-conditioning duct 20 and the device operation switches 50a to 50j corresponding to the device operation icons 32a to 32j arranged on the instrument panel 11 at the lower edge 13b of the open end 26. This makes it possible to share the space in which the icons 32a to 32j for operating the devices are displayed and the space in the open end 26 of the air-conditioning duct 20, thereby saving space and improving the degree of freedom in designing the cabin 10.

Further, since the plurality of device-operating switches 50a to 50j are arranged in a row on the instrument panel 11 at the lower side edge 13b of the laterally long slit-shaped open end 26, the occupant 15 can easily operate the device-operating switches 50a to 50 j.

Further, since the imaging optical element 40 and the display 30 are arranged on the outer surface of the air-conditioning duct 20, it is possible to suppress deterioration of the imaging optical element 40 and the display 30 due to a temperature change of the air-conditioning air, moisture contained in the air-conditioning air, or the like.

Although the vehicle device operation device 100 has been described as a device for operating an air conditioner mounted on a vehicle in the above description, the device is not limited to this, and may be configured to operate another device mounted on a vehicle. For example, the operation device of the acoustic apparatus may be configured by the icon 32 for operating the acoustic apparatus such as a radio installed in the vehicle and the corresponding apparatus operation switch 50.

In the above description, the open end 26 of the air-conditioning duct 20 has a horizontally long slit shape, and a plurality of icons are displayed so as to be horizontally aligned in a row in the aerial image 41. For example, the open end 26 may have a rectangular or square shape, a plurality of icons 32 may be displayed in two layers in the aerial image 41, and a plurality of device operation switches 50 may be disposed on the upper edge 13a and the lower edge 13b of the open end 26. Further, the open end 26 may have a vertically long slit shape, a plurality of icons 32 may be displayed in three or more layers in the aerial image 41, and a plurality of device operation switches 50 may be disposed on the left and right edges of the open end 26. Note that, one icon 32 may be displayed at the open end 26, and one device operation switch 50 may be provided.

In the above description, the vehicle-use device operating apparatus 100 is described as being disposed on the instrument panel 11 in front of the vehicle interior 10, but may be disposed on the rear side of a center console having an exhaust outlet facing the rear seat.

Next, a vehicle device operation apparatus 200 according to another embodiment will be described with reference to fig. 4. The same portions as those of the vehicle-use equipment operating device 100 described above with reference to fig. 1 to 3 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted.

The vehicular instrument operating device 200 is a device in which the imaging optical element 40 extending in the width direction between the pair of side walls 24 of the downstream end portion 21 is attached in place of the light transmitting wall 25 provided on a part of the lower wall 23 of the air-conditioning duct 20 of the vehicular instrument operating device 100 described above. The imaging optics 40 have a width substantially the same as the width of the open end 26 and constitute a portion of the lower wall 23 of the air conditioning duct 20.

The light emitted from the image display surface 31 of the display 30 enters the imaging optical element 40 as indicated by an arrow 91 in fig. 4. Then, the light incident on the imaging optical element 40 exits toward the open end 26 as indicated by an arrow mark 92 in fig. 4. Thereby, the imaging optical element 40 images real images of the plurality of icons 32a to 32j displayed on the image display surface 31 of the display 30 as aerial images 41 in the vicinity of the open end 26.

As with the vehicle device operation apparatus 100, the vehicle device operation apparatus 200 can share the space in which the device operation icons 32a to 32j are displayed and the space in the open end 26 of the air-conditioning duct 20, thereby saving space and improving the degree of freedom in designing the cabin 10. Further, since the vehicle device operation apparatus 200 is not provided with the light transmitting wall 25, it can be configured simply.