User interface apparatus for vehicle, method of manufacturing user interface apparatus, and vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10202040-B2
Application number	US-201715856369-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 28, 2017
Priority date	Mar 6, 2017
Publication date	Feb 12, 2019
Grant date	Feb 12, 2019

Abstract

A user interface apparatus for a vehicle includes: a circuit part injection-molded body formed in an insert injection process in which first resin melt is injected while a circuit part is inserted; and a cover part injection-molded body coupled to the circuit part injection-molded body, and formed in an insert injection process in which second resin melt is injected while a cover part is inserted. The circuit part includes: a light emitting unit; a touch sensor that detects a touch input; and at least one processor that controls the light emitting unit in response to an event to generate light; activates the touch sensor in response to generation of the light; and generates a signal for controlling a vehicle device in response to a touch input. The cover part allows light generated by the light emitting unit to pass therethrough and illuminate a shape on the cover part.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A user interface apparatus for a vehicle, comprising:
a circuit part injection-molded body formed in an insert injection process in which first resin melt is injected in a state in which a circuit part has been inserted; and
a cover part injection-molded body coupled to the circuit part injection-molded body, and formed in an insert injection process in which second resin melt is injected in a state in which a cover part has been inserted,
wherein the circuit part comprises:
a light emitting unit;
a touch sensor configured to detect a touch input;
at least one processor;
a computer-readable medium having stored thereon instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to perform operations comprising:
controlling the light emitting unit in response to an event to generate light;
activating the touch sensor in response to generation of the light; and
generating a signal for controlling a vehicle device in response to a touch input received via the activated touch sensor; and

a transparent flexible printed circuit board on which the light emitting unit, the touch sensor, the at least one processor, and the computer-readable medium are arranged,

wherein, in a state in which the light is generated by the light emitting unit, the cover part allows the light to pass therethrough and illuminate a shape on the cover part.

2. The user interface apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a light diffusion member that is formed by injecting the first resin melt and that is configured to transmit the light that is generated by the light emitting unit toward the cover part.

3. The user interface apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the light diffusion member is formed to cover a light-emitting portion of the light emitting unit.

4. The user interface apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the light diffusion member is formed to surround the light emitting unit.

5. The user interface apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a buffer member that is formed by injecting the second resin melt and that is configured to form a smoothed surface over at least one protrusion in the circuit part.

6. The user interface apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein the buffer member is formed of a transparent material.

7. The user interface apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein the cover part is formed to surround an edge of the buffer member.

8. The user interface apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a plastic portion configured to support reflection of the light generated by the light emitting unit.

9. The user interface apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein the plastic portion is formed in an insert injection process in which a third resin melt is injected in a state in which the circuit part injection-molded body and the cover part injection-molded body have been inserted.

10. The user interface apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein:
the light emitting unit comprises a plurality of light sources respectively disposed in a plurality of separate regions,
the cover part comprises a plurality of patterns which is formed to respectively correspond to the plurality of light sources, wherein light that is generated by the plurality of respective light sources pass through the plurality of patterns, and
the plastic portion is configured to block light, generated by the plurality of respective light sources, from leaking from the plurality of separate regions to an outside of the user interface apparatus.

11. The user interface apparatus according to claim 9 ,
wherein the cover part injection-molded body further comprises a buffer member that is formed by injecting the second resin melt and that is configured to form a smoothed surface over at least one protrusion in the circuit part, and
wherein the plastic portion is formed to surround an edge of the buffer member.

12. The user interface apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein the plastic portion comprises a coupling assembly that is configured to couple with a vehicle component.

13. The user interface apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the cover part comprises:
a pattern part comprising a pattern that corresponds to the shape that is configured to be illuminated on the cover part, the pattern part configured to allow the light to pass through the pattern; and
a film part having a predetermined light transmissivity rate and configured to allow light, passing through the pattern, to be output to an outside of the user interface apparatus.

14. The user interface apparatus according to claim 13 , wherein the cover part further comprises a surface that is formed on the film part and that is formed of a synthetic resin material, a fabric material, a leather material, a wooden material, or a metal material, and
wherein a region of the surface corresponding to the pattern is thinner than a region of the surface not corresponding to the pattern.

15. The user interface apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a light guide film configured to transfer light, generated by the light emitting unit, to the cover part.

16. The user interface apparatus according to claim 15 , wherein the light guide film is configured to uniformly transfer the light, generated by the light emitting unit, to the cover part and illuminate the shape on the cover part.

17. The user interface apparatus according to claim 15 , further comprising:
an optical clear film configured to guide the light, generated by the light emitting unit, to the light guide film.

18. The user interface apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a color film configured to change a wavelength of light generated by the light emitting unit.

19. The user interface apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the operations further comprise:
based on a first touch input being detected by the touch sensor, controlling the light emitting unit to generate light in response to the first touch; and
based on a second touch input being detected by the touch sensor, providing a signal for controlling a vehicle device in response to the second touch.

20. A vehicle comprising:
a plurality of wheels;
a power source configured to drive at least one of the plurality of wheels; and
a user interface apparatus comprising:
a circuit part injection-molded body formed in an insert injection process in which first resin melt is injected in a state in which a circuit part has been inserted; and
a cover part injection-molded body coupled to the circuit part injection-molded body, and formed in an insert injection process in which second resin melt is injected in a state in which a cover part has been inserted,

wherein the circuit part comprises:
a light emitting unit;
a touch sensor configured to detect a touch input;
at least one processor configured to:
control the light emitting unit in response to an event to generate light;
activate the touch sensor in response to generation of the light; and
generate a signal for controlling a vehicle device in response to a touch input received via the activated touch sensor; and

a transparent flexible printed circuit board on which the light emitting unit, the touch sensor, and the at least one processor are arranged,

wherein, in a state in which the light is generated by the light emitting unit, the cover part allows the light to pass therethrough and illuminate a shape on the cover part.

21. A method of m

Assignees

• Lg Electronics Inc

Inventors

• Kang Hyungoo
• Kim Jihyun
• Lee Yeonji

Classifications

• B60K35/20

  Output arrangements, i.e. from vehicle to user, associated with vehicle functions or specially adapted therefor · CPC title

• B60K37/20

  Dashboard panels · CPC title

• G02B6/0028 Primary

  Light guide, e.g. taper · CPC title

• B60K37/02 Primary

  Operations & Transport · mapped topic

• G09F2013/044

  Physics · mapped topic