DE102011016427A1 - A display switch unit for a vehicle and a method of manufacturing the display switch unit - Google Patents

Abstract

A display switch unit for a vehicle in the operating area of the driver and method for producing the display switch unit are described. The display switch unit has a multi-layer glass switch body with at least one front glass layer and one rear glass layer. The glass layers each have a front and a back. Switch symbols are visible in a glass volume of the front glass layer of the glass switch body and are arranged in the multi-layer glass switch body between the front glass layer and a rear glass layer.

Description

A display switch unit for a vehicle in the driver's operating area and a method of manufacturing the display switch unit will be described. The display switch unit has a multilayer glass switch body having at least a front glass sheet and a back glass sheet. The glass sheets each have a front side and a back side.

This is from the document DE 10 2008 004 995 B3 a body made of glass with a arranged below the surface of the body marker is known. This marker may have one or more numbers, letters or symbols or a combination thereof. These markings are produced by a laser beam directed onto the surface of the body, which penetrates the body to a predetermined depth and is focused at the location of the desired mark within the glass body. This results in the location of the desired mark a change in the material of the glass, which has a visible change in a secondarily introduced radiation without the surface of the glass body is changed. With such a laser-marked glass body can be created by introducing a secondary radiation, a display unit for symbols in a vehicle.

Especially for vehicles, the display options for display devices are limited to differently colored backlights, although there is a need for manufacturers to differentiate their vehicles and provide unique style and design segments, particularly in terms of look and feel. Since the available display options remained limited for years, the styling and design options for differentiating and characterizing vehicles in this area are extremely limited.

An object is to overcome these limitations and to provide a display switch unit for a vehicle and a method of manufacturing the display switch unit, which extends the possibilities of style and design of such display devices and improves the ease of use in a vehicle.

This object is achieved with the subject of the independent claims. Advantageous developments emerge with the features of the dependent claims.

As a solution to the problem, a display switch unit for a vehicle and a method for manufacturing the display switch unit will be described. The display switch unit has a multilayer glass switch body having at least a front glass sheet and a back glass sheet. The glass sheets each have a front side and a back side. Switching symbols are visibly arranged in a glass volume of the front glass layer of the glass switch body. Proximity sensors with sensor structures are arranged in the multilayer glass switch body between the front glass sheet and a back glass sheet.

This display switch unit has over the previous levers, toggle switches, rotary levers and other arranged on or on the steering wheel operation options has the advantage that with such a display switch unit, the driver can concentrate fully on the road and steering his vehicle. To trigger various auxiliary functions while driving, such as light on, fade, fade, climate settings, seat heaters, disc heaters and other functions, the driver can by simply approaching a finger of his hand to the display switch unit, the corresponding function without further actuation of levers, toggle switches or knobs cause , Ride comfort and driving safety are improved by the provision of such a display switch unit, especially since no opposing movements to the steering wheel movements are required, as is required for example in levers for operating windshield wipers, windshield wipers or the like. At the same time, an attractive and clear colored button can be created by the illuminated symbols of the switching indicator switch unit, which reduces the risk of incorrect operation by clear symbols.

In one embodiment, electrical connections are arranged on one edge side of the multilayer glass switch body and connected to the sensor structure. This has the advantage that the display switch unit is integrated into the vehicle driver area, wherein the arrangement of the terminals on the edge sides of the multilayer glass switch body, the terminals themselves can be arranged concealed without affecting the visible area with the symbols of the display switch unit.

Furthermore, it is provided that the sensor structure has capacitor structures whose capacitance can be varied by approaching an operating finger, so that an electronic circuit connected to the electrical connections can respond to the change in capacitance, for example by shifting resonance sequences and thereby switching operations and display signals can be triggered.

In order to further increase the ease of use, it is provided that the display switch unit has a backlight adapted to daytime and nighttime operation. On the other hand, the backlighting ensures that the laser-marked switching symbols in the front glass layer differ significantly from the transparent region of the surrounding glass volume and, in addition, the recognizability of the switching symbols can be enhanced by daylighting backlighting. On the other hand, the intensity of the backlight can be shut down in the after-run, so that glare, which could distract from the night traffic.

In a further embodiment, it is provided that each switching symbol has different switching position display colors. For example, differently illuminated switching symbols can indicate, for example, three switching positions, such as readiness of the function, switching on the function and switching off the function. Thus, for example, the readiness of the function can be shown by a yellow flashing of the switching symbol, an unlit switching symbol or a red illuminated switching symbol signaling the non-readiness of the function, a green display color revealing the activated function.

In order to provide these different display colors for the switching position, it is provided that light-emitting diodes with different luminous color are arranged on edge sides of the glass switch body and, for example, each aligned with one of the switching symbols. This ensures that each switching symbol can light up in different switching position display colors.

Furthermore, it is provided that the switching symbols are arranged three-dimensionally in the glass volume of the front glass layer. Due to the above-mentioned possibility to vary the focal point of the laser beam in the depth of the front glass layer to achieve the conversion of the glass into the desired switching symbol structure, so quickly recognizable three-dimensional symbols can be realized, which the driver the assignment of symbols to individual functions facilitate.

In addition, it is envisaged that the front glass sheet metal oxide doped amorphous glass material, with which it is possible to make the background of the symbols color through the backlight.

To realize the sensor structure, electrically conductive transparent coatings are structured on the rear side of the front glass layer or on the front side of the back glass layer, which have, for example, a strip shape and thus form an electrode of the capacitive sensor structure. As a conductive coating, indium oxide or iron oxide can be provided in a further embodiment. Instead of strip-shaped structures, meander-shaped structures can also be provided, and in extreme cases, lead wires can also be designed as antenna wires such that the approximation of a fingertip changes the resonance frequency of an electronic resonant circuit. It is provided that the capacitive sensor structure allows direction detection, so that operating functions for driver and front passenger can be distinguished. Changes such as seat heating, ventilation, temperature, climate settings can thus be set individually for the driver and the passenger side.

Furthermore, it is provided to arrange one or more circuit boards with the electronics for the sensor structure as an opaque additional layer on the back of the transparent glass body.

In a further embodiment, the glass mass has colored areas in which a doping of metal ions prevails, wherein the metal ions are excited when excited by light emitting diodes to secondary emissions. It is not necessary that the light source is arranged on the back of the rear plastic portion of the plastic body. Rather, the plastic body can be illuminated from its edge sides. It is also possible for reflector particles to be arranged in the rear plastic area in order to deflect or reflect a backlight arranged at the edge in the direction of the front side of the plastic body.

A method for producing a display switch unit of a vehicle has the following method steps. First, a front glass sheet is made of an amorphous glass sheet by, for example, separating the amorphous glass sheet in front glass sheets. Subsequently, introduction of three-dimensional switching symbols into an amorphous glass volume of the front glass sheet may be carried out to crystallize the amorphous glass material. In this case, this step of introducing three-dimensional circuit symbols on the amorphous glass plate can first be carried out and then the glass plate can be separated into individual front glass layers already with the switching symbols.

The application of a transparent electrically conductive coating can also be provided on a rear side of the circuit symbols Glass plate for a variety of display switch units done. On the other hand, it is also possible to perform an introduction of switching symbols only after separating the glass plate to glass switch layers. The structuring of the backside coating can also be done either on individual front glass layers or on the glass plate as mentioned above for a large number of front glass layers.

After at least one front glass layer is present, a back glass layer congruent with the front glass layer is then provided with a front side and a back side. At the end of the method, the front glass layer is materially bonded to the rear glass layer to form a glass switch body. This method has the advantage that a large number of glass switch bodies of the front glass layer and rear glass layer can be inexpensively manufactured with switching symbols mounted in the volume of the front glass layer.

For the introduction of the three-dimensional switching symbols, the above-mentioned three-dimensional laser writing is used.

In order to apply the transparent transparent electrically conductive coating for the proximity sensor, spraying, vapor deposition, PVD (physical vapor deposition) or CVD (chemical vapor deposition) methods can be carried out with a subsequent selective etching to a sensor structure or structuring by means of laser methods. Such selective etching is usually achieved by covering the components not to be etched with a structured photoresist layer before the actual etching process. In this case, the etchant or the etching solution is determined by the properties of the electrically conductive, but transparent coating which, as already mentioned above, can be indium oxide or iron oxide.

Moreover, it is possible that when switching one of the switching symbols, an optical or an acoustic or a haptic signal is triggered, with which the driver of the vehicle is additionally informed about the respective switching state of the switch of the display switch unit.

The bonding of the front glass layer with the rear glass layer to a glass switch body can be performed with a transparent adhesive, so that the parting line itself is not visible.

In addition, it is provided that when switching one of the switching symbols either a color change as a visual switching symbol or acoustic or haptic signals are triggered. This gives the driver an acknowledgment for the switch-on state of the respective vehicle function, so that the risk of incorrect operation is reduced.

Embodiments will now be described with reference to the accompanying figures.

1 shows a schematic view of a vehicle;

2 shows a schematic front view of a display switch unit;

3 shows a schematic front view of the display switch unit according to 2 with proximity sensors of a first embodiment;

4 shows a schematic plan view of a glass switch body of the display switch unit according to 2 ;

5 shows a schematic perspective view of a multilayer glass switch body of the display switch unit according to 3 ;

6 shows a schematic front view of a display switch unit with proximity sensors of another embodiment;

7 shows a schematic perspective view of a glass switch body of the display switch unit according to 6 ;

8th shows a schematic bottom view of a glass switch body with LED positions;

9 shows a schematic perspective view of the glass switch body according to 8th ,

1 shows a schematic view of a vehicle 1 with display switch unit in the driver's area 2 which is marked by a circle in which the components and functions of the vehicle 1 in the interior 20 are present, which are arranged in the operating range of the driver. This also includes a new display switch unit, as will be explained in more detail in the following figures.

2 shows a schematic front view of a display switch unit 3 , The display switch unit 3 has a multilayer glass switch body 4 on, from here in the front view a front glass layer 5 can be seen in the symbols 11 arranged, which a small section of possible switching symbols, with the help of such a display switch unit 3 are operable represent. Exemplary are six symbols 23 to 28 shown, where 23 an alphanumeric symbol is and 24 a symbol for a Vehicle boundary lamp, which in the multilayer glass switch body 4 is arranged. In addition, with the switching symbol 25 the dipped beam is shown and with the switching symbol 26 the high beam is shown.

Finally, there is the switching symbol 27 on this display switch unit 3 arranged, which is intended for turning on the rear fog lamp, and the switching symbol 28 , which is intended for a fog light. In addition, this front view shows that at a lower edge side 17 of the glass switch body 4 for each of the symbols 23 to 28 two LEDs 21 and 22 are provided. The additional light-emitting diodes provided for backlighting 21 and 22 can the glass volume 12 , which surrounds a switching symbol, illuminate in color, so that switching states, such as "switched on" or "switched off", can be signaled in color.

Thus, for the individual areas in which the switching symbols are arranged, for example, a red light emitting diode 21 provided, which indicates the OFF state and a green LED 22 that marks the power-on state.

3 shows a schematic front view of the display switch unit 3 with proximity sensors 13 a first embodiment. The proximity sensors 13 are here meander-shaped and provided as a capacitance electrode, wherein the capacity changes at the moment in which a control finger of the driver approaches this switching symbol. The proximity sensors 13 with the sensor structure 14 here meander structures 19 form, the proximity of a driver's operating finger, the capacity of, for example, an LC resonant circuit can be adjusted so that the change in the natural frequency of the resonant circuit triggers a switching operation. This is the meander structure 19 in connection areas 29 and 30 about that for each of the sensor structures 14 are provided.

4 shows a schematic plan view of the multilayer glass switch body 4 , where only two layers can be seen, namely a front glass layer 5 with a front side 7 and a back 9 , A reverse glass layer 6 has a front 8th and a back 10 on. In the front glass layer 5 with a depth T are the three-dimensional switching symbols 23 to 28 arranged, wherein the three-dimensional switching symbols 23 to 28 have a depth t that is less than the depth T of the front glass layer.

On the back side 9 the front glass layer 5 can the in 3 it is vapor-deposited on the meander-shaped structure shown or it is on the front side 8th the rear glass layer 6 arranged, due to the thin conductive coating in this plan view, only as a thin adhesive joint 31 you can see. The rear glass layer 6 is with her front 8th on the back 9 the front glass layer 5 applied with the help of a transparent adhesive cohesively.

5 shows a schematic perspective view of a multilayer glass switch body 4 the display switch unit 3 , However, neither the backlight source nor the position of the colored LEDs are shown, which are those in the front glass position 4 arranged three-dimensional switching symbols 11 Depending on the switching state, dip in different colors. Still shows 5 the sensor structure 14 the proximity sensors 11 , either as a thin wire construction or as a transparent electrically conductive strip meandering either on the top 8th the rear glass layer 6 or on the back 9 the front glass layer 5 are applied.

The two glass layers 5 and 6 are by means of a transparent adhesive, which is an adhesive joint 31 forms to the in 5 shown glass switch body 4 connected. From the bottom edge side 17 of the glass switch body 4 protrude in the area of the adhesive joint 31 the connections 15 and 16 to the sensor structures 14 out. These electrical connections 15 and 16 can be designed as a plug or as sockets or form contact surfaces on the lower edge side 17 over which the sensor structures 14 are connected to corresponding sensor circuits.

6 shows a schematic front view of a display switch unit 3 with proximity sensors 13 ' a further embodiment. Components having the same functions as in the previous figures are indicated by reference numerals and will not be discussed separately. The sensor structure symbolized by lines 14 ' can either have thin wires running between the front glass layer 5 and the back glass layer are embedded in the adhesive joint, or they may be formed as thin transparent electrically conductive strips on the back of the front glass layer 5 or on the front of the rear glass layer 6 are patterned by an electrically conductive coating, for example, indium oxide or iron oxide is subjected to a selective etching process.

When a driver's operating finger approaches one of the shift symbols, the stripe structure becomes 18 the proximity sensors 13 ' undergo a capacitance change that can be used to electronically initiate a shift and execute the functions associated with the shift icons when driving the vehicle.

7 shows a schematic perspective view of a glass switch body 4 ' of the Display switch unit 3 ' , in which it is once again clear that the symbols 11 in a front glass position 5 arranged three-dimensionally, which can be achieved for example by laser writing, and that between the front glass layer 5 and the rear glass layer 6 a stripe structure 18 as a sensor structure 14 is provided. The electrical connections 29 and 30 of these sensor structures 14 ' are again provided for each individual switching symbol.

8th shows a schematic bottom view of a glass switch body 4 for a display switch unit 3 with positions for every two LEDs 21 and 22 , which are the symbols 11 dive into an indirect colored light, so that the switching state of each display switch can be symbolized by different display colors, the LEDs are arranged in pairs, so that a total of three switching states can be shown, once the readiness of the entire display switching unit 3 through a backlight at the three-dimensional switching symbols 11 and the power-on state and the power-off state of each individual icon by a corresponding display color for each individual three-dimensional switching symbol 11 via an indirect illumination with the help of the LEDs 21 and 22 ,

9 shows a schematic perspective view of the glass switch body 4 according to 1 , In this embodiment, the light-emitting diodes 21 and 22 for indirect illumination of the switching symbols 11 on the lower edge side 17 the backsheet 6 arranged and can by color differences the on state of the symbols 11 represent.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

vehicle

2

Vehicle guides

3

Display switch unit

3 '

Signal switch device

4

vitreous

4 '

vitreous

5

front vitreous body layer

6

rear vitreous body layer

7

front

8th

front

9

back

10

back

11

Operating symbol

12

glass volume

13

Proximity sensor

13 '

Proximity sensor

14

sensor structure

14 '

sensor structure

15

electrical connection

16

electrical connection

17

edge side

18

stripe structure

19

meandering

20

Interior of the vehicle

21

led

22

led

23

alphanumeric switching symbol

24

Vehicle position lamp

25

dimmed headlights

26

high beam

27

Fog light

28

fog lights

29

connection

30

connection

31

glue line

T

Depth of the anterior vitreous body location

t

Depth of the symbols

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents listed by the applicant has been generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• DE 102008004995 B3 [0002]

Claims (15)

Display switch unit for a vehicle comprising: - a multilayer glass switch body ( 4 ) with at least one front glass layer ( 5 ) and a back glass layer ( 6 ), wherein the glass layers ( 5 . 6 ) one front each ( 7 . 8th ) and a back ( 9 . 10 ), - switching symbols ( 11 ) contained in a glass volume ( 12 ) of the front glass layer ( 5 ) of the glass switch body ( 4 ) are arranged visibly, - Proximity sensors ( 13 ) with sensor structures ( 14 ), wherein in the multilayer glass switch body ( 4 ) the sensor structures ( 14 ) between the front glass layer ( 5 ) and a back glass layer ( 6 ) are arranged. Vehicle according to claim 1, wherein electrical connections ( 15 . 16 ) on one edge side ( 17 ) of the multilayer glass switch body ( 4 ) and with the sensor structure ( 14 ) are connected. Display unit according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the sensor structures ( 14 ) behind the symbols ( 11 ) and on the front ( 8th ) the back glass layer ( 6 ) or on the back ( 9 ) of the front glass layer ( 5 ) are arranged, and wherein the front side ( 8th ) the back glass layer ( 6 ) cohesively with the back ( 9 ) of the front glass layer ( 5 ) connected is. Display unit according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the display switch unit ( 3 ) has a backlight adapted to daytime and nighttime operation. Display unit according to one of the preceding claims, wherein each switching symbol ( 11 ) has different shift position display colors. A display unit according to claim 5, wherein light emitting diodes for the different shift position display colors on edge pages ( 17 ) of the glass switch body ( 4 ) are arranged. Display unit according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the switching symbols ( 11 ) three-dimensionally in the glass volume ( 12 ) of the front glass layer ( 5 ) and crystallized regions in the volume of the amorphous front glass layer ( 5 ), and wherein the front glass layer ( 5 ) comprises a metal oxide doped amorphous glass material. Display unit according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the sensor structure ( 14 ) a strip structure ( 18 ) or a meander structure ( 19 ) is made of a transparent electrically conductive structured indium oxide or structured iron oxide coating. Display unit according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the sensor structure ( 14 ) has a direction detection, so that operating functions such as changes in the seat heating, ventilation, temperature, climate settings are individually adjustable for the driver and the passenger side differently. Display unit according to one of the preceding claims, wherein one or more circuit boards with the electronics for the sensor structure ( 14 ) as an opaque additional layer on the back of the transparent glass body ( 4 ) are arranged. Method for producing a display switch unit ( 3 ) of a vehicle ( 1 ), comprising the following method steps: - production of a first front glass layer ( 5 ) of an amorphous glass plate; - introduction of three-dimensional switching symbols ( 11 ) into an amorphous glass volume ( 12 ) of the front glass layer ( 5 ) crystallizing the amorphous glass material; Applying a transparent electrically conductive coating to a back side ( 9 ) of the front glass layer ( 5 ); - structuring the backside coating to a sensor structure ( 14 ) of a proximity sensor ( 13 ); Providing one to the front glass layer ( 5 ) congruent back glass layer ( 6 ) with a front side ( 8th ) and a back ( 10 ); - cohesive bonding of the front glass layer ( 5 ) with the rear glass layer ( 6 ) to a glass switch body ( 4 ). Method according to claim 11, wherein the introduction of the three-dimensional switching symbols ( 11 ) by means of laser writing. A method according to claim 11 or claim 12, wherein the application of a transparent electrically conductive coating by means of spraying, vapor deposition, PVD or CVD method. Method according to one of claims 11 to 13, wherein the structuring of the backside coating by means of etching or laser ablation takes place. Method according to one of claims 11 to 14, wherein for connecting the front glass layer ( 5 ) with the rear glass layer ( 6 ) to a glass switch body ( 4 ) a transparent adhesive is used.

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