Console with grounded trim ring

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2021237663-A1
Application number	US-202117218552-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 31, 2021
Priority date	Dec 28, 2017
Publication date	Aug 5, 2021
Grant date	—

Abstract

A vehicle console includes a trim ring disposed over a periphery of a housing. The trim ring includes a polymeric material and is electrically conductive and grounded. A proximity switch assembly is retained in the housing. The proximity switch assembly includes a proximity sensor proximate a sensing pad for generating an activation field. The sensing pad is proximate the trim ring.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method of making a vehicular trim assembly comprising:
forming a housing assembly of a first substrate and a second substrate, wherein the first substrate has a higher electrical resistivity than the second substrate; and electroplating the second substrate.

2 . The method of making a vehicular trim assembly of claim 1 , further comprising:
placing a proximity switch assembly having a selectively generated activation field within the housing assembly.

3 . The method of making a vehicular trim assembly of claim 2 , further comprising:
conductively coupling the second substrate to a printed circuit board ground to prevent the second substrate from disrupting the selectively generated activation field.

4 . The method of making a vehicular trim assembly of claim 3 , wherein the first substrate is a first ABS material and the second substrate is second ABS material comprising approximately 0.5% to approximately 2% volume multi-walled carbon nanotubes and approximately 4% to approximately 6% volume high aspect ratio carbon black and having a surface resistivity of approximately 0.8×10 5 ohm/sq to approximately 1.2×10 5 ohm/sq.

5 . The method of making a vehicular trim assembly of claim 1 , wherein electroplating the second substrate further comprises:
etching a surface of the second substrate with chromic acid; rinsing the surface; coating the surface with copper; coating the copper with nickel; and coating the nickel with chrome.

6 . The method of making a vehicular trim assembly of claim 1 , wherein electroplating the second substrate further comprises:
etching an A-surface of the second substrate with chromic acid; rinsing the A-surface; coating the A-surface with copper; coating the copper with nickel; and coating the nickel with chrome.

7 . The method of making a vehicular trim assembly of claim 1 , wherein forming the housing assembly of the first substrate and the second substrate further comprises:
using a two shot molding process to form the housing assembly of the first substrate and the second substrate.

8 . The method of making a vehicular trim assembly of claim 4 , wherein forming the housing assembly of the first substrate and the second substrate further comprises:
using a two shot molding process to form the housing assembly of the first substrate and the second substrate.

9 . The method of making a vehicular trim assembly of claim 3 , wherein conductively coupling the second substrate to the printed circuit board ground to prevent the second substrate from disrupting the selectively generated activation field comprises disposing a plated signal line between the printed circuit board ground and a conductive rubber interface.

10 . The method of making a vehicular trim assembly of claim 9 , wherein disposing a plated signal line between the printed circuit board ground and the conductive rubber interface incudes using a conductive rubber interface having a gold-plated metal wire disposed in silicone rubber.

11 . A housing assembly for a proximity sensor comprising:
a trim ring disposed over a periphery of a housing, wherein the trim ring comprises a polymeric material and is electrically conductive and grounded; and a proximity switch assembly retained in the housing, comprising:
a proximity sensor proximate a sensing pad for generating an activation field, wherein the sensing pad is proximate the trim ring.

12 . The housing assembly for a proximity sensor of claim 11 , wherein the trim ring is electrically coupled to a conductive support, and wherein the conductive support is electrically coupled to a printed circuit board.

13 . The housing assembly for a proximity sensor of claim 12 , wherein the conductive support is electrically coupled to a printed circuit board with a conductive rubber interface.

14 . The housing assembly for a proximity sensor of claim 13 , wherein the conductive rubber interface is disposed between a tower extending from the conductive support and a printed circuit board.

15 . The housing assembly for a proximity sensor of claim 14 , wherein the conductive rubber interface includes wires arranged in a silicone rubber.

16 . The housing assembly for a proximity sensor of claim 11 , wherein the housing includes a first polymeric material and wherein the trim ring includes a second polymeric material.

17 . The housing assembly for a proximity sensor of claim 16 , wherein the trim ring has a lower surface resistivity than the housing.

18 . The housing assembly for a proximity sensor of claim 17 , wherein the trim ring is chrome plated.

19 . The housing assembly for a proximity sensor of claim 18 , wherein the second polymeric material includes an acryloninitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) comprising approximately 0.5% to approximately 2% volume multi-walled carbon nanotubes and approximately 4% to approximately 6% volume high aspect ratio carbon black.

20 . The housing assembly for a proximity sensor of claim 19 , wherein the first polymeric material is an acryloninitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) material.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Salter Stuart C
• Dellock Paul Kenneth
• Gall Richard
• Vemulapati Satyanarayana Raju
• Surman James J

Classifications

• B60R13/02 Primary

  {Internal} Trim mouldings {; Internal} Ledges; Wall liners {for passenger compartments}; Roof liners (B60R13/01 takes precedence {; padded linings for the vehicle interior B60R21/04; arrangements or adaptations of floor mats or carpets in vehicles B60N3/04; internal lining for trains B61D17/18}) · CPC title

• B60K35/50

  Instruments characterised by their means of attachment to or integration in the vehicle (B60K35/231 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B60K35/60

  Instruments characterised by their location or relative disposition in or on vehicles (arrangements of lighting devices on dashboards B60Q3/10) · CPC title

• B60K37/00

  Dashboards (as road-vehicle superstructure sub-units B62D25/14) · CPC title

• B60K35/10

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