Alps Electric Co., Ltd.

Katsuya Mitsuzuka

Mikio Onodera

Hidetaka Numata

Hironori Kato

Ken Mizuta

Yukari Sano

Tadashi Sano

Katsutoshi Uchida

Kimihiro Furuichi

An in-car-device controller permits a switch unit to be easily replaced. Switch units formed by control switches and keytops are installed to unit mounts. The types of the switch units are identified by the unit mounts by detecting the different shapes of switching driving portions formed at the distal ends of the keytops. The unit mounts are provided with detection switches for detecting the presence of the keytops. A control unit detects detection switch signals from the detection switches thereby to determine the presence of the key tops. If the control unit decides that any one of the keytops has been removed from the unit mounts, then the control unit turns OFF at least the control function associated with the removed keytop.

In-car-device controller

A vehicle mounted input unit excellent in versatility and functional performance, which allows a manual operation section to be used as a mouse for a navigation system or a personal computer. The vehicle mounted input unit is composed of a body of equipment, a panel installed on an operating side of the body of equipment, an X-Y table, an engaging pin, a guide plate, a solenoid, a stick controller and a manual operation section. The guide plate is fitted to the X-Y table to be movable up and down and driven up and down through the solenoid. When the guide plate is lifted, the engaging pin and a guide groove are engaged with each other SO that the vehicle mounted input unit can be used as an operating unit for electronic equipment mounted in the motor vehicle. On the other hand, when the guide plate is lowered, the engaging pin and the guide groove are released form their engagement, at which time the manual operation section can be used as a mouse.

Vehicle mounted input unit

A signal input device includes a movable operating section for inputting a desired signal by selecting the shift position thereof, a shift position detecting device for detecting the shift position of the operating section, and an indication device for giving an operator information in different modes based on a shift position signal from the shift position detecting device.

Signal input device

A steering system mounted wherein a plurality of switch knobs are vertically movably inserted in a housing provided within a steering wheel, and a self-function detecting switch actuated by the pushing operation of each of the switch knobs is mounted on a printed circuit board located on the underside of said housing. The self-function detecting switch is comprised of four push switches having one driving pin. A driving portion is formed on the underside of each of the switch knobs to simultaneously press one or a plurality of driving pins. The shape of the driving portion varies with the switch knob to be used. The switch knob is restricted, by the holding cover openably provided on the steering wheel, so as not to fall out of the housing. When the operator presses any arbitrary switch knob projecting out of the holding cover, a specific identifying signal is outputted from the self-function detecting switch in accordance with the shape of the projection of the driving portion provided on the switch knob.

Steering system

A steering apparatus capable of accurately recognizing operations of an operation section and of reducing the number of parts and simplifying its structure. The steering apparatus is composed of a steering wheel for controlling movements, operation sections mounted on the steering wheel for operating equipment, and a vibration section for giving vibrations to at least a portion of the steering wheel in relation to the operations of said operation sections.

Steering apparatus

Disclosed is a steering sensor unit which can highly accurately detect the rotational angle of a steering wheel, can be easily mounted on a steering shaft, and ensures satisfactory operability after mounted on the steering shaft. A rotor of a steering sensor has joint portions provided thereon for transmitting rotation of a steering wheel to the rotor. When the steering sensor unit is mounted on a steering shaft, the steering sensor is disposed in a position close to the steering wheel and the rotary connector is disposed below the steering sensor. Elastic engagement bosses are formed at distal ends of the joint portions. The rotor and the steering wheel are coupled to each other by fitting the elastic engagement bosses into engagement holes bored in a central hub of the steering wheel.

Steering sensor unit

Disclosed is a power window switch device capable of informing the driver of the occurrence of a malfunction in the opening and closing of power windows. A power window switch device includes a plurality of pairs of power window switches individually connected to a plurality of power window motors, a detecting section for detecting a malfunction in the opening and closing of the power windows and outputting a malfunction signal, a control section for detecting the malfunction signal output from the detecting section and outputting an actuator drive signal, and a vibrating device driven by the drive signal output from the control section. The vibration of the vibrating device is transmitted to the finger operating the power window switches to thereby inform the driver of the occurrence of a malfunction.

Power window switch device

Disclosed is a vehicle equipment control device capable of effecting discrimination between a plurality of switch functions without involving any change in the circuit configuration. A plurality of detection switches 2 each of which has three driving pins 4a through 4c are mounted on a printed circuit board 1, and a plurality of key tops 6a through 6g are slidably supported by a housing 3 in correspondence with the detection switches 2. Provided on the lower surfaces of the key tops 6a through 6g are driving sections 9a through 9g each capable of simultaneously depressing arbitrary one or a plurality of driving pins 4a through 4c of the corresponding detection switch 2. When the driving pins 4a through 4c are selectively depressed by these driving sections 9a through 9g, each detection switch 2 outputs a switch signal peculiar to it, and discrimination between the control functions set for the key tops 6a through 6g is effected on the control circuit unit side by using this switch signal as a recognition signal.

Vehicle equipment control device

To easily set a rotary connector to a steering system when providing various types of switches for the steering system. A fixed-side housing and a movable-side housing are rotatably connected each other to wind a flat cable in a storage space partitioned between the both housings. The fixed-side housing has an outer cylindrical portion for partitioning a part of the storage space and a support wall is integrally formed outside of the outer cylindrical portion through a gap. Moreover, a switch is set inside of the support wall, the switch is connected to a joint bar through a flexible substrate at the inside of the support wall and conductors of the flat cable extended from the outer cylindrical portion are also connected to the joint bar.

Rotary connector

A torque sensor is provided which does not easily generate hysteresis in an output curve from a sensing device thereof and in which abnormality in detecting the rotational torque can therefore be prevented. An input shaft and an output shaft are connected to each other through a torsion bar. An actuator portion, having a semicircular cross sectional shape, and a stopper are, such that a predetermined interval is maintained, provided for a first mounting frame integrally formed with the input shaft. A sensing device comprising of a slide-operation-type variable resistor is secured to a second mounting frame integrally formed with the output shaft. A lever provided for the sensing device and having a circular cross sectional shape is caused to project between the actuator portion and the stopper. Moreover, the sensing device includes a restoring spring for urging the lever in one direction so that the elasticity of the restoring spring realizes point contact between the actuator portion and the lever;

Growing community of inventors

Miyagi-ken, Japan

Katsuya Mitsuzuka