Patent Publication Number: US-2023133929-A1

Title: Operation apparatus for vehicle

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     The present application claims priority to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2021-0147501, filed Oct. 30, 2021, the entire contents of which is incorporated herein for all purposes by this reference. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of the Invention 
     The present disclosure relates to an operation apparatus having a button used by a user to operate devices included in a vehicle, primarily from an inside of the vehicle. 
     Description of the Related Art 
     In general, vehicles are equipped with an array of devices that improves comfort and convenience of a user (driver and/or passenger). These devices are controlled by buttons (switches) that the user directly manipulates. 
     The buttons may be provided in various forms in an interior of the vehicle. In recent years, as vehicles have come equipped with more functions, the number of buttons disposed in the interior of the vehicle is gradually increasing. This may give the user the impression that the buttons are too complicated to use, or may lead to errors in the operation of the buttons. In addition, a cluttered interior with too many buttons may degrade the aesthetic quality of the interior of the vehicle. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, the present disclosure has been made keeping in mind the above described problems, and is intended to provide an operation apparatus for a vehicle that improves the visibility of a button and the aesthetic value of a vehicle by configuring the button to appear and disappear. 
     Another objective of the present disclosure is to provide an operation apparatus for a vehicle that is more advantageous in terms of improved appearing/disappearing mechanism for buttons, compactness, and reduction of manufacturing cost. 
     Still another objective of the present disclosure is to provide an operation apparatus for a vehicle that enables reduction of the number of buttons and simplification of the structure. 
     The objectives of the present disclosure are not limited to those mentioned above, and other objectives not mentioned will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the following description. 
     In order to achieve the above objective, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, there is provided an operation apparatus for a vehicle, the operation apparatus including: a panel provided in the vehicle, and having an opening; an operation module capable of moving, through the opening, between a first position and a second position spaced apart from each other in a first direction and having a button disposed at a front end; a first rotary link and a second rotary link, each configured to be rotatably provided, at a rear of the operation module, on an axis extending in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction, and to be paired with each other; a drive source configured to provide a driving force for rotating the first rotary link and the second rotary link; and a cam mechanism configured to connect the first rotary link and the second rotary link to the operation module, to induce an angular motion in which the first rotary link and the second rotary link are rotated in opposite directions, and to move the operation module to the first position or the second position according to a direction of the angular motion. 
     The cam mechanism may include: a first cam pin provided on the first rotary link and a second cam pin provided on the second rotary link; and a first cam pin guide having a first guide path connected to the first cam pin, and a second cam pin guide having a second guide path connected to the second cam pin, wherein each of the first cam pin guide and the second cam pin guide is provided on the operation module. 
     Each of the first rotary link and the second rotary link may have a first end and a second end opposite the first end. The first end may be disposed on the axis and the second end may be disposed in a rearward position or a forward position located forward of the rearward position according to the direction of the angular motion. The first cam pin and the second cam pin may be provided at the second end of the first rotary link and at the second end of the second rotary link, respectively, along the second direction. The first guide path and the second guide path may extend in a straight line along a third direction orthogonal to a plane including the first direction and the second direction. The drive source may be a linear actuator including a moving body, wherein the moving body is movable in the third direction. Each of the first rotary link and the second rotary link may be configured such that the first end thereof is rotatably connected to the moving body about the axis. 
     The first rotary link and the second rotary link, which are connected to the operation module by the cam mechanism and paired with each other, may be provided in plurality, and may be uniformly disposed in a central region of the rear of the operation module. 
     The operation module may be switched to an inactive state in the first position and an active state in the second position. The operation module may be configured such that, in the first position, a surface of the button may be flush with a surface of the panel. The second position may be located forward of the first position, whereby the operation module may be configured such that the button may protrude from the surface of the panel in the second position. Alternatively, the second position may be located rearward of the first position, whereby the operation module may be configured such that the button may be recessed from the surface of the panel in the second position. 
     The operation apparatus for a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may further include: a finish skin that provides a finished surface covering a surface of the panel to block the opening, has flexibility, and is configured such that a portion blocking the opening is moved together with the button so that a shape of the finished surface changes according to the moving of the operation module. 
     The operation apparatus for a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may further include: a sensor that detects a user&#39;s action for manipulating the button; and a control unit that controls the drive source on the basis of a detection signal from the sensor. The operation module may move a first distance or a second distance from the first position according to the user&#39;s action, wherein the movement of the first distance may place the operation module in a rear region of the second position and the movement of the second distance may place the operation module in a front region of the second position. 
     The button may be operated to perform different functions depending on whether the operation module is located in the front region or the rear region. 
     The sensor may detect, on the basis of the user action, whether a user&#39;s body is located in a first range of distance or a second range of distance from the button. 
     The operation apparatus for a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may be configured such that the operation module may move the first distance when the sensor detects that the user&#39;s body is located in the first range of distance, and the operation module may move the second distance when the sensor detects that the user&#39;s body is located in the second range of distance. 
     The operation module may include a light source. The light source may be controlled by the control unit to emit light of different colors depending on whether the operation module is located in the front region or the rear region. 
     The operation module may be configured to operate in a touch manner. For example, for the touch method, the operation module may be configured to use a change in capacitance as the user&#39;s body part, such as a hand, approaches the button. Alternatively, the operation module may be configured to operate in a push-based manner instead of the touch manner. 
     Technical solutions will become more specific and clear from the examples, drawings, etc. described below. In addition, various solutions other than the aforementioned ones may be additionally suggested below. 
     According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, depending on the position of an operation module, a button may be in a state easily seen by a user (for example, a state in which the operation module is located in the second position and the button protrudes from the surface of a panel) or in a state difficult to be seen by the user (for example, a state in which the operation module is located in the first position and the surface of the button is flush with the surface of the panel). Accordingly, it is possible to provide better visibility and improved design regarding the button. 
     In addition, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, since a drive unit for moving the operation module includes rotary links (paired first and second rotary links), a single drive source (linear actuator), and a cam mechanism (first cam pin and first cam pin guide connected to each other, and second cam pin and second cam pin guide connected to each other), and the cam mechanism is configured to convert angular motion of the rotary links by the drive source into linear motion and transmit it to the operation module, the operation module can be moved quickly and precisely by a simple configuration and high torque. 
     Moreover, since the paired first rotary link and the second rotary link are rotated in opposite directions to spread apart the rotary links or bring the rotary links together during angular motion, it is possible to implement a constant speed movement of the operation module without vibration by reliably transmitting the driving force of the drive source to the operation module, and to stably and evenly support the operation module so that the operation module does not move. Additionally, in the process of moving the operation module, since the rotation center of the rotary links is moved and the position of the rotation center changes, the drive unit can be configured compactly as a whole by shortening the moving distance of the first cam pin and/or the second cam pin, and the like. 
     Furthermore, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, since different functions are performed depending on the positions of the buttons, it is possible to reduce the number of buttons to be applied to the vehicle, thereby preventing the interior of a vehicle from being cluttered with many buttons. 
     The effects of the present disclosure are not limited to those mentioned above, and other effects not mentioned will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from this specification and accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The above and other objectives, features, and advantages of the present disclosure will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG.  1    is a side view illustrating an operation apparatus for a vehicle according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  2    is a block diagram illustrating main functional units of the operation apparatus for a vehicle according to embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  3    is a perspective view illustrating an operation module assembly shown in  FIG.  1   ; 
         FIG.  4    is a perspective view from the back with a base cover separated in  FIG.  3   ; 
         FIG.  5    is an exploded view illustrating a part of a drive unit shown in  FIG.  4   ; 
         FIGS.  6  and  7    are side views illustrating motions of the operation apparatus for a vehicle according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure; and 
         FIGS.  8  and  9    are side views illustrating motions of the operation apparatus for a vehicle according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, an operation apparatus for a vehicle, a vehicle including the same, etc. may be provided. The operation apparatus may be used to operate various devices included in a vehicle. For example, devices operated by the operation apparatus (hereinafter referred to as a device to be operated) may include a navigation device, an air conditioning device, a sound device, a lighting device, a door lock device, a door opening or closing device, a motor/engine starting device, a driving speed control device, etc. Therefore, the vehicle according to the embodiments of the present disclosure may include the operation apparatus and at least one or more devices to be operated by the operation apparatus. The operation apparatus and the device to be operated may be electrically connected to each other. 
     The operation apparatus is installed in a vehicle and includes a button manipulated by a user. The operation apparatus may be provided to constitute a part of a vehicle. The part to which the operation apparatus is applied may be primarily an interior part of a vehicle. For example, the interior part may be a door trim, a ceiling panel, a dashboard, a console, a seat, an armrest, and a central part of a steering wheel (hub), etc. Embodiments of the present disclosure will be mainly focused on application of the operation apparatus to an interior part of a vehicle. 
     First, an operation apparatus for a vehicle according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure will be described. The operation apparatus for a vehicle according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure is shown in  FIGS.  1  to  7   . 
     Referring to  FIG.  1   , the operation apparatus includes: a panel  1  constituting an interior part of a vehicle; and at least one operation module assembly  3  provided on the panel  1 . 
     The panel  1  has a panel surface and a panel back surface. The panel  1  may be configured such that the panel surface provides only a part of the surface of an interior part depending on the type, shape, etc. of the interior part, or that the panel surface provides the entire surface of the interior part. The panel  1  has an opening  2 . The opening  2  is provided to penetrate the panel  1  through the panel surface and the panel back surface. 
     The operation module assembly  3  includes an operation module  10 . The operation module  10  includes a button  11  manipulated by a user and is configured to operate, for example, in a touch manner. The button  11  is disposed at a front end of the operation module  10 , and thus the operation module  10  has a front part including the front end composed of the button  11 . The operation module  10  is moved in a front-back direction (refer to the Y-axis direction) which is a first direction with respect to the opening  2  of the panel  1 . Here, the front-back direction is a direction composed of a front direction F (see  FIG.  7   ) facing the interior of the vehicle from the panel surface and a back direction B (see  FIG.  6   ) facing a direction opposite to the front direction. 
     The button  11  that moves together with the operation module  10  may appear and disappear through the opening  2 . To make the button  11  appear and disappear, the button  11  may protrude in an embossed form with respect to the panel surface to reveal its position and/or shape (see  FIG.  7   ). The button  11  may be recessed in an engraved form rather than the embossed form with respect to the panel surface in order to reveal its position and/or shape. The embossed protrusion and the engraved recession may be achieved by moving the operation module  10  in the front-back direction with respect to the opening  2 . The number of openings  2  may be increased or decreased according to the number of operation module assemblies  3  provided. 
     The operation apparatus further includes a skin  4  covering the surface of the panel and the button  11  to provide a finished surface. The skin  4  may be sized to cover some or all of the panel surface including the opening  2  of the panel  1 . The skin  4  has flexibility (or elasticity) so that when the button  11  is moved, a portion covering the button  11  (a portion blocking the opening  2 ) is deformed by the button  11 . In other words, the shape of the finished surface may change. For example, the portion covering the button  11  may be protruded by the button  11  to form a generally flat shape of the finished surface (see  FIG.  7   ). When the finished surface is restored to the generally flat shape, the shape of the button  11  is hidden. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the interior of the vehicle from being cluttered with the button  11  (see  FIG.  6   ). 
     The skin  4  may be bonded to the panel surface. In addition, since the portion covering the button  11  (the portion that blocks the opening  2 ) is bonded to the surface of the button  11 , the skin  4  may be moved together with the button  11  and precisely deformed. In particular, the bonding of the skin  4  to the surface of the button  11  may be required when the button  11  is capable of being recessed to be flush with the panel surface. The bonding of the skin  4  to the panel surface and/or the bonding of the skin  4  to the surface of the button  11  maybe made firmly by an adhesive or the like. 
     Referring to  FIGS.  1 ,  3 , and  4   , the operation module assembly  3  further includes a base  21  disposed at a rear of the panel  1 , and a base cover  22  detachably coupled to the base  21  at a rear of the base  21 . The base  21  and the base cover  22  constitute a case  20 . Referring to  FIGS.  6  and  7   , the case  20  is configured to provide an accommodating space  23  therein, which is partially or wholly blocked from the outside, and the base  21  has a through region  24  facing the opening  2 . For example, the through region  24  may be provided in the form of a hole. As illustrated in  FIGS.  1 ,  3 , and  4   , the base  21  may be mounted on the back side of the panel by means of fastening elements  31 . The fastening elements  31  may be bolts, the base  21  may have an insertion hole  25  through which each bolt  31  passes, and the insertion holes  25  may be disposed around the through region  24 . The bolts  31  passing through the insertion holes  25  may be coupled to female screw members  32  on the back surface of the panel, respectively. 
     The operation module  10  is provided to be moving between a first position and a second position spaced apart from each other in the front-back direction while being inserted into the through region  24  of the base  21 . The first position is a position where the button  11  is accommodated in the opening  2 , and the button  11  is formed such that the surface thereof is flush with the panel surface. The second position is located forward of the first position in the front direction F, and is a position where the button  11  protrudes from the panel surface. When the operation module  10  is located in the first position, the skin  4  may hide the button  11  by providing a finished surface in a generally flat shape (see  FIG.  6   ). When the operation module  10  is moved to the second position, the button  11  protrudes from the panel surface and the skin  4  may be deformed into a shape in which a portion covering the button  11  protrudes by the button  11  to reveal the position of the button  11  (see  FIG.  7   ). Depending on implementation, the second position may be a position in which the button  11  is recessed with respect to the panel surface while being located rearward of the first position in the back direction B. In this case, when the operation module  10  is moved to the second position, the skin  4  may be deformed into a shape in which a portion covering the button  11  is recessed to reveal the position of the button  11 . 
     Referring to  FIGS.  4  and  5   , the operation module  10  may be precisely moved in the front-back direction with respect to the opening  2  by a module guide (Y-axis guide) having a plurality of guide pins  33  and guide holes  34 . Each of the guide pins  33  is provided in the base  21 , protrudes into the accommodating space  23  along the front-back direction, and is inserted into each of the guide holes  34 . Guide holes  34  are provided in the operation module  10 . Accordingly, the operation module  10  may be moved by the guidance of the guide pins  33 . The guide pins  33  may be arranged around the through region  24  in the accommodating space  23 . The guide holes  34  may be provided at the rear of the operation module  10 . As illustrated in  FIGS.  4  to  6   , the operation module  10  may further include a module box  15  disposed at the rear of the button  11 , the module box  15  has a cover member  16  constituting a rear portion including the rear end of the operation module  10 , and the guide holes  34  may be disposed around the cover member  16 . 
     The operation module assembly  3  may further include a drive unit (see  41 ,  45 A,  45 B,  50  and  60  in  FIGS.  4  and  5   ) provided in the accommodating space  23 . The drive unit may move the operation module  10  in the front-back direction with respect to the opening  2  to position the operation module  10  in the first position or the second position. 
     By the drive unit, the operation module  10  may be moved from the first position to the second position in the front direction F. When the operation module  10  is located in the second position, the button  11  protrudes from the panel surface, and the skin  4  is deformed into a shape in which a portion covering the button  11  protrudes (see  FIG.  7   ). On the other hand, by the drive unit, the operation module  10  may be moved from the second position to the first position in the back direction B. When the operation module  10  is located in the first position, the button  11  has a surface flush with the panel surface, and the skin  4  is restored to provide the generally flat finished surface (see  FIG.  6   ). Of course, if the second position is located rearward of the first position and is a position where the button  11  is recessed with respect to the panel surface, the skin  4  may be deformed into a shape in which a portion covering the button  11  is recessed. 
     Referring to  FIGS.  4  and  5   , the drive unit includes a drive source  50  and is configured to move the operation module  10  in the front-back direction by using a driving force of the drive source  50 . To be specific, the drive unit includes: a shaft member  41  positioned rearward of the operation module  10  and extended along an axis orthogonal to the front-back direction, wherein the axis that the shaft member  41  is extended is referred to as a second direction; a first rotary link  45 A and a second rotary link  45 B, each rotatable about the shaft member  41  and paired with each other; a drive source  50  providing a driving force for rotating the first rotary link  45 A and the second rotary link  45 B; and a cam mechanism  60  that performs an angular motion in which the paired first rotary link  45 A and the second rotary link  45 B rotate in opposite directions within a preset angular range, converts the angular motion into a linear motion in the front-back direction, and transmits the linear motion to the operation module  10 . In addition, the drive unit is configured such that the position of the shaft member  41 , which is the rotation center of the first rotary link  45 A and the second rotary link  45 B, is moved when the first rotary link  45 A and the second rotary link  45 B connected to the operation module  10  are rotated in order to move the operation module  10  through the cam mechanism  60 . The movement of the position of the shaft member  41  allows for a more compact configuration for the drive unit. 
     As noted above, the second direction is a direction orthogonal to the front-back direction. Accordingly, the second direction may be a left-right direction (refer to the X-axis direction), an up-down direction (refer to the Z-axis direction), etc. In this embodiment, the left-right direction is the second direction. 
     As illustrated in  FIG.  5   , the first rotary link  45 A has a first end  46 A and a second end  47 A, and the second rotary link  45 B has a first end  46 B and a second end  47 B. The first rotary link  45 A and the second rotary link  45 B may have a straight shape. The paired first rotary link  45 A and the second rotary link  45 B may be disposed adjacent and parallel to each other. The first rotary link  45 A has the first end  46 A and the second end  47 A spaced apart and positioned on opposite ends of the first rotary link  45 A, and the first end  46 A is rotatably connected to the shaft member  41  to be rotated about the shaft member  41 . The second rotary link  45 B has the first end  46 B and the second end  47 B spaced apart and positioned on opposite ends of the second rotary link  45 B, and the first end  46 B is rotatably connected to the shaft member  41  to be rotated about the shaft member  41 . The angular motion of the first rotary link  45 A and the angular motion of the second rotary link  45 B are performed in a state in which the first ends  46 A and  46 B are disposed rearward of the second ends  47 A and  47 B, respectively. By the cam mechanism  60 , the paired first rotary link  45 A and the second rotary link  45 B rotate in opposite directions during the angular motion, so that they may spread the first rotary link  45 A and the second rotary link  45 B apart or bring the first rotary link  45 A and the second rotary link  45 B the rotary links together. Thereby, the second end  47 A of the first rotary link  45 A and the second end  47 B of the second rotary link  45 B may be positioned in a rearward position or a forward position forward of the rearward position depending on a direction of the angular motion of the paired first rotary link  45 A and the second rotary link  45 B. The direction of the angular motion may be an angular motion in which the paired rotary links are rotated in opposite directions to spread the paired rotary links apart with respect to each other or an angular motion in which the paired rotary links are rotated in opposite directions to bring the paired rotary links together. 
     For the first rotary link  45 A, when the second end  47 A is positioned in the rearward position, a first imaginary straight line connecting the center of the first end  46 A and the center of the second end  47 A may form a 1A angle with respect to the front-back direction, while when the second end  47 A is positioned in the forward position, the first imaginary straight line may form a 2A angle with respect to the front-back direction. For the second rotary link  45 B, when the second end  47 B is positioned in the rearward position, a second imaginary straight line SL connecting the center of the first end  46 B and the center of the second end  47 B may form a 1B angle with respect to the front-back direction, while when the second end  47 B is positioned in the forward position, the second imaginary straight line SL may form a 2B angle with respect to the front-back direction. The 2A angle is smaller than the 1A angle and the 2B angle is smaller than the 1B angle. In this embodiment, the 2A angle and the 2B angle are defined as zero (0) degrees.  FIG.  6    shows the state in which the paired first rotary link  45 A and the second rotary link  45 B are spread apart with respect to each other so that the second ends  47 A and  47 B are positioned in the rearward position, and  FIG.  7    shows the state in which the paired first rotary link  45 A and the second rotary link  45 B are brought together so that the second ends  47 A and  47 B are positioned in the forward position. 
     Among the paired first rotary link  45 A and the second rotary link  45 B, the first rotary link  45 A may be brought to the 2A angle state (the state in which the second end  47 A is positioned in the forward position) by an angular motion in which the first rotary link  45 A rotates in a counterclockwise direction C 2  from the 1A angle state (the state in which the second end  47 A is positioned in the rearward position), while the second rotary link  45 B may be brought to the 2B angle state (the state in which the second end  47 B is positioned in the forward position) by an angular motion in which the second rotary link  45 B rotates in the a clockwise direction C 1  from the 1B angle state (the state in which the second end  47 B is positioned in the rearward position) (see  FIG.  7   ). Of course, the first rotary link  45 A may be brought to the 1A angle state by an angular motion in which the first rotary link  45 A rotates in the clockwise direction C 1  from the 2A angle state, and the second rotary link  45 B may be brought to the 1B angle state by an angular motion in which the second rotary link  45 B rotates in the counterclockwise direction C 2  from the 2B angle state (see  FIG.  6   ). 
     As illustrated in  FIGS.  4  to  7   , the drive source  50  is a linear actuator including a moving body  52  performing a linear motion, and the moving body  52  is provided to move along an up-down direction (refer to the Z-axis direction), which is also referred to as a third direction. The third direction is orthogonal to a plane including a first direction (front-back direction) and a second direction (left-right direction). The linear actuator  50  may be configured to move the moving body  52  in the up-down direction using a rotary motor  51 . 
     The rotary motor  51  may have a position fixed to the base  21  or the base cover  22 , and a male screw may be formed on the outer periphery of a motor shaft disposed in the up-down direction. The moving body  52  may be precisely moved in the up-down direction by a body guide  35  provided on the base  21  or the base cover  22 . The moving body  52  may have a female screw corresponding to the male screw of the motor shaft of the rotary motor  51 . The moving body  52  is screw-coupled with the motor shaft by means of the female screw and is restricted from being rotated together in the same direction as the motor shaft by the body guide  35  or the like, and thereby, may be moved in an upward direction U (see  FIG.  7   ) or in a downward direction L (see  FIG.  6   ) according to the rotation direction of the motor shaft. 
     Referring to  FIGS.  6  and  7   , the shaft member  41  is coupled to the moving body  52  of the linear actuator  50  to move in the up-down direction with the moving body  52 . Of course, since the first ends  46 A and  46 B of the first and second rotary links  45 A and  45 B are rotatably coupled to the shaft member  41 , the rotation center of the first and second rotary links  45 A and  45 B is also moved in the up-down direction with the moving body  52 . 
     As illustrated in  FIGS.  4  to  7   , the cam mechanism  60  includes the first cam pin  61 A and the second cam pin  61 B and the first cam pin guide  62 A and the second cam pin guide  62 B for converting angular motion of the first and second rotary links  45 A and  45 B into linear motion in the front-back direction and transmits the linear motion to the operation module  10  in order to move the operation module  10  in the front direction F or the back direction B. The first cam pin guide  62 A has a first guide path  63 A, and the second cam pin guide  62 B has a second guide path  63 B. The first guide path  63 A is connected to the first cam pin  61 A, and the second guide path  63 B is connected to the second cam pin  61 B. The cam mechanism  60  is configured such that the first cam pin  61 A is provided on the first rotary link  45 A and the second cam pin  61 B is provided on the second rotary link  45 B, the first and second cam pin guides  62 A and  62 B are provided in the operation module  10 , and the operation module  10  moves to the first position or the second position according to the direction of the angular motion of the first and second rotary links  45 A and  45 B. 
     The first cam pin  61 A is provided along the left-right direction (refer to the X-axis direction) at the center of the second end  47 A of the first rotary link  45 A and protrudes from the second end  47 A of the first rotary link  45 A, while the second cam pin  61 B is provided along the left-right direction at the center of the second end  47 B of the second rotary link  45 B and protrudes from the second end  47 B of the second rotary link  45 B. The first cam pin guide  62 A is provided at the rear portion of the operation module  10  to face the first cam pin  61 A, has the first guide path  63 A at a portion facing the first cam pin  61 A, and is disposed so that the first guide path  63 A may be connected to the first cam pin  61 A. The second cam pin guide  62 B is provided at the rear portion of the operation module  10  to face the second cam pin  61 B, has the second guide path  63 B at a portion facing the second cam pin  61 B, and is disposed so that the second guide path  63 B may be connected to the second cam pin  61 B. As shown in  FIG.  5   , the cam pin guides  62 A and  62 B may be attached to the cover member  16 . 
     The first guide path  63 A is provided to have a groove (cam groove) or hole (cam hole) structure into which the first cam pin  61 A is inserted, and the second guide path  63 B is provided to have a groove (cam groove) or hole (cam hole) structure into which the second cam pin  61 B is inserted. The first and second guide paths  63 A and  63 B are formed to extend along the up-down direction (refer to the Z-axis direction), have a constant length, and have a constant width in the front-back direction (refer to the Y-axis direction). The first and second guide paths  63 A and  63 B may be a straight shape. 
     The first and second guide paths  63 A and  63 B move the operation module  10  to the first position by motions of the first and second cam pins  61 A and  61 B activated when the second ends  47 A and  47 B of the first and second rotary links  45 A and  45 B are moved from the forward position to the rearward position, (See  FIG.  6   ), and move the operation module  10  to the second position when the second ends  47 A and  47 B of the first and second rotary links  45 A and  45 B are moved from the rearward position to the forward position (see  FIG.  7   ). 
     The first and second cam pins  61 A and  61 B may be provided in a cylindrical shape so that the respective cross-section of the portion inserted into the first and second guide paths  63 A and  63 B may be formed in a circular shape, and the first and second guide paths  63 A and  63 B may be formed with a width corresponding to the diameter of the respective first and second cam pins  61 A and  61 B. 
     The first guide path  63 A may be provided such that the upper end restricts further movement (upward rotation movement) of the first cam pin  61 A beyond a first predetermined distance when the first rotary link  45 A is rotated in the clockwise direction C 1  in order to place the second end  47 A of the first rotary link  45 A at the rearward position, while the second guide path  63 B may be provided such that the lower end restricts further movement (downward rotation movement) of the second cam pin  61 B beyond a second predetermined distance when the second rotary link  45 B is rotated in the counterclockwise direction C 2  in order to place the second end  47 B of the second rotary link  45 B at the rearward position (see  FIG.  6   ). The first guide path  63 A may also be provided such that the lower end restricts further movement (downward rotation movement) of the first cam pin  61 A beyond a third predetermined distance when the first rotary link  45 A is rotated in the counterclockwise direction C 2  in order to place the second end  47 A of the first rotary link  45 A at the forward position, while the second guide path  63 B may be provided such that the upper end restricts further movement (upward rotation movement) of the second cam pin  61 B beyond a fourth predetermined distance when the second rotary link  45 B is rotated in the clockwise direction C 1  in order to place the second end  47 B of the second rotary link  45 B at the forward position (see  FIG.  7   ). 
     As described above, in the drive unit, when the second ends  47 A and  47 B of the first and second rotary links  45 A and  45 B are positioned in the rearward position so that the operation module  10  is positioned in the first position, the shaft member  41  and the moving body  52  are maintained in the state moved in the downward direction L, and as the first and second rotary links  45 A and  45 B are spread apart with respect to each other, the first cam pin  61 A remains positioned at the upper end of the first guide path  63 A and the second cam pin  61 B remains positioned at the lower end of the second guide path  63 B (see  FIG.  6   ). 
     At this state, when the linear actuator  50  is operated to move the moving body  52  in the upward direction U, the shaft member  41  is moved together in the same direction. Accordingly, the paired first and second rotary links  45 A and  45 B rotate in opposite directions (the first rotary link  45 A rotates in the counterclockwise direction C 2 , and the second rotary link  45 B rotates in the clockwise direction C 1 ) so as to be rotatably brought together about the shaft member  41 . Next, the second ends  47 A and  47 B of the first and second rotary links  45 A and  45 B are moved from the rearward position to the forward position. As a consequence, the first rotary link  45 A is in the 2A angular state (a state in which the second end  47 A of the first rotary link  45 A is positioned in the forward position) while the second rotary link  45 B is in the 2B angular state (a state in which the second end  47 B of the second rotary link  45 B is positioned in the forward position), and the first cam pin  61 A and the second cam pin  61 B are moved together with the second end  47 A of the first rotary link  45 A and the second end  47 B of the second rotary link  45 B, respectively. Accordingly, the operation module  10  is moved from the first position in the front direction F to be positioned at the second position by the first cam pin  61 A and the first guide path  63 A connected to each other and the second cam pin  61 B and the second guide path  63 B connected to each other (see  FIG.  7   ). 
     Conversely, by moving the moving body  52  in the downward direction L, the first rotary link  45 A in the 2A angular state is rotated in the clockwise direction C 1  to reach the 1A angular state (a state in which the second end  47 A of the first rotary link  45 A is positioned in the reverse position) and the second rotary link  45 B in the 2B angular state is rotated in the counterclockwise direction C 2  to reach the 1B angular state (a state in which the second end  47 B of the second rotary link  45 B is positioned in the reverse position). As a consequence, the operation module  10  at the second position is moved in the back direction B and is positioned at the first position by the first cam pin  61 A and the first guide path  63 A connected to each other and the second cam pin  61 B and the second guide path  63 B connected to each other (see  FIG.  6   ). 
     As such, the drive unit (see  41 ,  45 A,  45 B,  50  and  60  of  FIGS.  4  and  5   ) is operated such that the paired first and second rotary links  45 A and  45 B perform angular motion in which the paired first and second rotary links  45 A and  45 B rotate in opposite directions for brining rotary links  45 A and  45 B together when the operation module  10  is moved from the first position in the front direction F to be positioned at the second position. Accordingly, the driving force of the linear actuator  50  is reliably transmitted to the operation module  10  through the first and second rotary links  45 A and  45 B that are brought together, and the operation module  10  may be precisely moved at a constant speed. 
     Conversely, when the operation module  10  is moved from the second position in the back direction B to be positioned at the first position, the drive unit is operated such that the paired first and second rotary links  45 A and  45 B perform angular motion in which the paired first and second rotary links  45 A and  45 B rotate in opposite directions for spreading apart with respect to each other. Accordingly, as an example, even if an external force in the back direction B is applied to the operation module  10  located in the first position, the operation module  10  may be more stably supported by the first and second rotary links  45 A and  45 B spread apart with respect to each other and may be maintained in the first position. 
     In order to further enhance the effect of the angular motion in which the first rotary link  45 A and the second rotary link  45 B are rotated in a direction to be spread apart or brought together, the paired first and second rotary links  45 A and  45 B may be arranged to have a vertical symmetry in the central region of the rear of the operation module  10  so as to uniformly transmit the driving force of the linear actuator  50  to the operation module  10 . 
     As described above, the drive unit is configured such that, the shaft member  41 , which is the rotation center of the first and second rotary links  45 A and  45 B, is moved in the up-down direction and the position of the shaft member  41  is changed in the process of moving the operation module  10 . Therefore, when compared with the configuration in which the first and second rotary links  45 A and  45 B are rotated about a shaft member  41  fixed to a position, the moving distance of at least one of the first cam pin  61 A and the second cam pin  61 B and the length of at least one of the first guide path  63 A and the second guide path  63 B may be shortened. Accordingly, the area required for the angular motion of the first and second rotary links  45 A and  45 B in the accommodating space  23  may be further reduced, and at least one of the first cam pin guide  62 A and the second cam pin guide  62 B may be provided in a smaller size, so that the overall size of the operation module  10  may be reduced. 
     Contrary to the description above, as illustrated in  FIGS.  4  and  5   , the paired first and second rotary links  45 A and  45 B may be provided in plurality, and be disposed at intervals so as to be spaced apart from each other in the left and right directions. As the paired first and second rotary links  45 A and  45 B are provided in plurality, the cam mechanism  60  may also be provided with a plurality of the first cam pin  61 A and the first cam pin guide  62 A, and a plurality of the second cam pin  61 B and the second cam pin guide  62 B. Here, the plurality of first rotary links  45 A or the plurality of second rotary links  45 B may be connected to each other by a connecting member  48  and rotated together, as shown in  FIG.  5   . Additionally, the plurality of pairs of the first rotary links  45 A and the second rotary links  45 B connected to the operation module  10  by the cam mechanism  60  may be uniformly disposed in the central region of the rear of the operation module  10  in order to further enhance the effect of the angular motion operation in which the plurality of pairs of the first rotary links  45 A and the second rotary links  45 B are rotated in a direction to be spread apart or brought together. 
     Referring to  FIGS.  1  and  2   , the operation apparatus further includes: a user detection sensor  5  for detecting a user&#39;s action for manipulating the button  11 ; and a control unit  6  for controlling the operation module  10  and the drive unit on the basis of a detection signal from the user detection sensor  5 . 
     The user detection sensor  5  may be a proximity sensor that detects whether a user&#39;s body part, such as a hand, is in proximity to the button  11 . To be specific, the user detection sensor  5  may be an optical proximity sensor, a magnetic proximity sensor, an ultrasonic proximity sensor, a high frequency oscillation proximity sensor, a capacitive proximity sensor, or the like. For reference, among these sensors, the optical proximity sensor may include a light emitting element and a light receiving element receiving light from the light emitting element. The light emitting element may be a light emitting diode, and the light receiving element may be a phototransistor. The user detection sensor  5  may be provided around the opening  2  in the panel surface (see  FIG.  1   ). 
     When a detection signal is input from the user detection sensor  5  while the operation module  10  is located in the first position, a control unit  6  determines that the user attempts to manipulate the button  11 , and moves the moving body  52  in the upward direction U by the control of the linear actuator  50  to move the operation module  10  from the first position to the second position (see  FIG.  7   ). When the button  11  is not manipulated for a preset time after the operation module  10  is located in the second position, the control unit  6  determines that the user does not want to manipulate the button  11 , and moves the moving body  52  in the downward direction L by the control of the linear actuator  50  to move the operation module  10  from the second position to the first position (see  FIG.  6   ). 
     The operation module  10  is kept in an inactive state in the first position and is kept in an active state in the second position. To switch the state of the operation module  10 , the control unit  6  may set the operation module  10  to an inactive state when the operation module  10  is in the first position, or to an active state when the operation module  10  is in the second position. Due to the configuration that allows switching between active and inactive states with respect to the operation module  10 , the user may manipulate the button  11  to operate a device to be operated when the operation module  10  is located in the second position, and while the operation module  10  is waiting in the first position, it is possible to prevent the button  11  from being accidentally actuated by the user, thereby avoiding an unintentional operation of a device associated to the button  11 . 
     Referring to  FIGS.  6  and  7   , the operation module  10  further includes a light source  12  for providing light. The light source  12  may be built in the button  11  to emit the light toward the surface of the button  11 . The light source  12  may provide light of various colors. For example, the light source  12  may include at least one light emitting diode. As illustrated in  FIG.  3   , the button  11  is provided with a light-transmitting area  13  through which light from the light source  12  passes, and a light-blocking area  14  blocking the light from passing through on the surface thereof. The light-transmitting area  13  may be formed to have the shape of characters and/or figures indicating the function of the button  11 . 
     In the operation module  10 , the light source  12  is maintained in an off state in the first position, and the light source  12  is maintained in an on state in the second position. To change the state of the light source  12 , the control unit  6  may turn off the light source  12  when the operation module  10  is located in the first position, and turn on the light source  12  when the operation module  10  is located in the second position. Due to the configuration that allows switching between off and on states with respect to the light source  12 , when the operation module  10  is located in the second position, the active state of the operation module  10  and the position of the button  11  may be more accurately recognized by the user. 
     The skin  4  has a uniform light transmittance which allows light from the light source  12  pass through the skin  4 , and the user&#39;s action for manipulating the button  11  can be detected by the user detection sensor  5  although the user detection sensor  5  is provided around the opening  2  in the panel surface. The skin  4  may be a sheet having the light transmittance woven with fibers having flexibility or elasticity. 
     Hereinafter, an operation apparatus for a vehicle according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure will be described. The operation apparatus for a vehicle according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure is illustrated in  FIGS.  8  and  9   . The operation apparatus for a vehicle according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure is different from the operation apparatus for a vehicle according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure only in that the button is configured to perform a plurality of functions, and a related configuration thereof will now be explained in details. 
     Referring to  FIGS.  8  and  9   , the operation apparatus for a vehicle is configured such that the button  11  may protrude (or recessed) at different heights from the panel surface of the panel  1 . That is, the second position may consist of a rear region and a front region, wherein the rear region is located relatively close to the panel surface and can be reached by moving the operation module  10  a first distance from the first position, and the front region is located relatively far from the panel surface and can be reached by moving the operation module  10  a second distance from the first position. Accordingly, the button  11  may protrude to a first height H 1  when the operation module  10  is moved the first distance from the first position and is located in the rear region of the second position (see  FIG.  8   ), and may protrude to a second height H 2  when the operation module  10  is moved the second distance longer than the first distance and is located in the front region of the second position. (see  FIG.  9   ). As another example, when the button  11  is configured to be recessed relative to the panel surface and the second position is located behind the first position, the button  11  may be recessed to different heights (depth). 
     The operation module  10  may be moved the first distance from the first position according to the detection signal of the user detection sensor  5  to be located in the rear region of the second position. In this case, the button  11  is projected to the first height H 1  (see  FIG.  8   ). The operation module  10  may be moved the second distance from the first position according to the detection signal of the user detection sensor  5  to be located in the front region of the second position. In this case, the button  11  is projected to the second height H 2  (see  FIG.  9   ). In addition, the button  11  may be operated to perform a first function and a second function when the operation module  10  is positioned in the rear region and the front region respectively. For example, when the device to be operated is a sound device, a volume increase may be performed as a first operation corresponding to the first function, and a volume decrease may be performed as a second operation corresponding to the second function. As another example, when the button  11  is manipulated while the operation module  10  is located in the rear region, a first device to be operated (e.g., a lighting device) may be operated as the first function, and when the button  11  is manipulated while the operation module  10  is located in the front region, a second device to be operated may be operated as the second function. With this configuration, since multiple functions may be performed with one button, the number of buttons required to be provided may be reduced, and further, the interior structure of the vehicle may be simplified. 
     To implement multiple functions with one button, the user detection sensor  5  may detect, on the basis of the user&#39;s action for manipulating the button  11 , whether a user&#39;s hand or the like that is in the proximity of the button  11  is located in a first range of distance or in a second range of distance based on the button  11 . For example, the region of the first range of distance may be a predetermined range of distance in which the user&#39;s hand or the like that is in the proximity of the button  11  is at a relatively close distance from the button  11 , and the region of the second range of distance may be another predetermined range of distance in which the user&#39;s hand or the like that is in the proximity of the button  11  is at a relatively long distance from the button  11 . As another example, the first range of distance and the second range of distance may be a left region (or an upper region) and a right region (or a lower region) with respect to the button  11  of the operation module  10  at the first position. 
     In this regard, when the user detection sensor  5  detects that the user&#39;s hand is positioned in the first range of distance while the operation module  10  is located in the first position, the control unit (see  6  in  FIG.  2   ) may determine that the user is attempting to perform the first function and may move the operation module  10  to the rear region of the second position (see  FIG.  4   ) by the control of the linear actuator (see  50  in  FIG.  4   ). Of course, when the user detection sensor  5  detects that the user&#39;s hand is positioned in the second range of distance, the control unit may determine that the user is attempting to perform the second function and may move the operation module  10  to the front region of the second position by the control of the linear actuator (see  FIG.  8   ). 
     Meanwhile, by the control unit (see  6  in  FIG.  2   ), the light source (see  12  in  FIGS.  6  and  7   ) may maintain a state of emitting different colors of light depending on whether the operation module  10  is located in the rear region or the front region of the second position. When the operation module  10  is located in the rear region, the light source may emit the light of a first color. When the operation module  10  is located in the front region, the light source may emit the light of a second color. With this configuration, the user may more accurately recognize if the operation module  10  is positioned in the front region or positioned in the rear region. 
     Although the present disclosure has been described above, the present disclosure is not limited by the disclosed embodiments and the accompanying drawings and may be variously modified by those skilled in the art without departing from the technical spirits of the present disclosure. In addition, the technical spirits described in the embodiments of the present disclosure may be implemented independently, or may be implemented in combination of two or more.