Control panel for motor vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018334107-A1
Application number	US-201815970950-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	May 4, 2018
Priority date	May 18, 2017
Publication date	Nov 22, 2018
Grant date	—

Abstract

A control panel for motor vehicle includes a mount; a printed circuit board, which is fastened on the mount; a facade element, which is assembled on the mount and which covers the printed circuit board; the facade element comprising at least one actionable control key, which is integral with a fixed part of the facade element and which extends above a zone of the printed circuit board; the control key including an end joining the fixed part of the facade element and a mobile free end; the control key includes at its joining end a first protuberance bearing against the mount and/or against the printed circuit board, and includes at its free end a pressing zone provided to be touched by an operator with a view to actuating the control key; the control key also includes a second protuberance arranged between the first protuberance and the pressing zone, said second protuberance having a lesser height than the first protuberance and including at its free end opposite the printed circuit board a bearing surface provided to come into contact with a sensor arranged opposite on the printed circuit board when the control key is actuated.

First claim

We claim:

1 . A control panel for motor vehicle comprising:
a mount; a printed circuit board fastened on the mount; a facade element assembled on the mount and configured to cover the printed circuit board; the facade element comprising at least one actionable control key, which is integral with a fixed part of the facade element and which extends above a zone of the printed circuit board, the control key including an end joining the fixed part of the facade element and a mobile free end, wherein the control key includes at its joining end a first protuberance bearing against the mount or against the printed circuit board, and includes at its free end a pressing zone provided to be touched by an operator with a view to actuating the control key; and the control key also includes a second protuberance arranged between the first protuberance and the pressing zone, said second protuberance having a lesser height than the first protuberance and including at its free end opposite the printed circuit board a bearing surface provided to come into contact with a sensor arranged opposite on the printed circuit board when the control key is actuated.

2 . Control panel according to claim 1 , wherein the printed circuit board includes a cutout forming an elastic strip on which the sensor is arranged.

3 . Control panel according to claim 1 , wherein the mount includes a bump arranged to bear against the printed circuit board and arranged beneath the sensor.

4 . Control panel according to claim 1 , wherein the control key comprises a zone of reduced thickness between the first protuberance and the second protuberance so as to facilitate flexion of the pressing zone when the control key is actuated.

5 . Control panel according to claim 4 , wherein the zone of reduced thickness comprises a profile of diminishing thickness from the second protuberance to the first protuberance.

6 . Control panel according to claim 1 , wherein a light source is arranged on the printed circuit board opposite the pressing zone and in that a cavity forming a light guide is arranged in the thickness of the control key beneath the pressing zone so as to be able to illuminate a pictogram arranged on the pressing zone.

7 . Control panel according to claim 1 , wherein the control key comprises a third protuberance arranged beneath the free end of the control key and having its free end distant from the printed circuit board so as to form a stop against the printed circuit board when the control key is actuated.

8 . Control panel according to claim 1 , wherein an elastic capacitive detection element is arranged interposed between the pressing zone of the control key and the printed circuit board, the elastic capacitive detection element being arranged in contact with the control key and electrically connected to the printed circuit board so as to detect a touch of the control key by an operator.

9 . Control panel according to claim 1 , wherein the sensor is a force sensor arranged in contact with the bearing surface of the second protuberance.

10 . Control panel according to claim 9 , wherein the force sensor is simultaneously a tactile sensor and a haptic actuator.

11 . Control panel according to claim 1 , wherein the facade element comprises a plurality of control keys aligned edge to edge consecutively one after the other such that their joining ends are aligned with each other in a rectilinear manner and such that their free ends are aligned with each other in a rectilinear manner; and in that two consecutive control keys are separated by a hollowing of the facade element extending from their free ends up to their joining ends.

12 . Control panel according to claim 1 , wherein the facade element comprises a plurality of control keys aligned edge to edge consecutively one after the other such that their joining ends are aligned with each other in a rectilinear manner and such that their free ends are aligned with each other in a rectilinear manner; and in that two consecutive control keys are separated by a groove of the facade element extending from their free ends up to their joining ends.

13 . A roof electronic module for a motor vehicle interior comprising the control panel according to any one of the preceding claims.

Assignees

• Delphi Tech Llc

Inventors

• Polak Andrzej

Classifications

• H05K1/11

  Printed elements for providing electric connections to or between printed circuits · CPC title

• H03K17/962

  Capacitive touch switches · CPC title

• B60Q3/82 Primary

  Switches specially adapted for vehicle interior lighting, e.g. switching by tilting the lens · CPC title

• B60R11/0264 Primary

  for control means · CPC title

• H03K2217/96062

  with tactile or haptic feedback · CPC title