DE102016004012A1 - Operating device for a motor vehicle with a translucent cover and method for producing a cover - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to an operating device (34) for a motor vehicle (38) having a light-permeable cover element (20), the cover element (20) having a front side (V) and a front side (V) and a light source (32) of the operating device (20). 34) facing the rear side (R), and at least one side surface (12) having a light blocking device (28), wherein the light blocking device (28) scattered light (L ') of the cover (20) absorbed and / or at least partially in the cover element (20) and wherein the rear side (R) of the cover element (20) has an opaque aperture element (14) with at least one light passage opening (16). The diaphragm element (14) allows light (L) of the light source (32) to enter the cover element (20) only through the at least one light passage opening (16). The invention also relates to a method for producing a cover element (20), in which the arrangement of the light blocking device (28, S4) on the at least one side surface (12) by means of a roller (30) or roller (30).

Description

The invention relates to an operating device for a motor vehicle with a translucent cover. The operating device is a device for receiving an operating action of a user and the cover can be considered as a component for at least partially covering an inner life of the operating device, which is installed in a motor vehicle state of the operating device facing the user and at least partially visible by the user.

For operating a motor vehicle, not only are those devices available to a user that directly control the drive of the motor vehicle, for example the steering wheel or a shift lever, but several available operating devices are required to control a variety of functions of the motor vehicle. Such operating devices may be designed, for example, as turntables or buttons, or, for example, as a button bar, through which a variety of functions, such as the control of comfort systems, is made possible. Such controls are often equipped with functional lighting, ie, lighting that informs the user whether a function or a motor vehicle component is currently on or off. Alternatively or additionally, for example, a search illumination can be made available for button strips, which serves as orientation for the user so that he can find the operating device in the dark. In order to be able to recognize the function with which the operating device is designed, a cover element frequently has an illuminable area which comprises an illuminable symbolism. However, in the case of operating devices or operating units with a transparent front spray and illumination, lateral light emission occurs. Such leakage light in a joint of a cover member is not beautiful and constitutes an undefined irradiation of light. This may also easily incur the disadvantage that adjacent control devices are illuminated, so that they are perceived by the user, for example, turned on.

From the DE 20 2006 014 084 U1 is a key cap for an electronic key known, on the front side, ie on the side facing the user, a color coat is applied. The colored lacquer is broken in the form of a symbol, so that a body of the key cap can be exposed to light and this passes through the recess of the paint to the outside. The plastic of the key body contains color pigments which ensure that only light of a desired color can escape from the key cap to the outside. In this case, however, arises within the body of the key cap scattered light, which can also escape through the recess of the paint. In addition, for example, a symbolism may not appear luminous in white because the body of the keycap only lets through a certain wavelength of light.

The US 2002/0191131 A1 describes a liquid crystal display with a light-shielding film that absorbs light entering the outside of the display and then radiates through the actual display glass. The light-shielding film is designed as a tape or tape. The tape can be peeled or peeled off.

An operating device for an electrical device, wherein a display device and a sensor switching element are arranged behind an at least partially transparent protective device, is known from US Pat DE 10 2005 028 278 A1 known. This should be an insight on the sensors are prevented. An opaque coating is arranged on a user-facing side. There is also the disadvantage that in a joint or at an edge by stray light conditional leakage light can radiate.

One object of the invention is to improve a sharp demarcation of illuminated areas of an operating device.

The object is achieved by the operating device according to the invention, the motor vehicle according to the invention and the method according to the invention according to the independent patent claims. Advantageous developments of the invention are given by the dependent claims.

The invention is based on the idea of reducing leakage light at a joint or side edge of a translucent cover element. An aperture element on a side of the cover element facing a light source concentrates or directs the light as it enters the cover element, so that little stray light is produced in the cover element. In addition, a light blocking device is arranged on a side surface of the cover, which absorbs scattered light of the cover and / or at least partially reflected in the cover. In other words, the light leakage of light fed into the cover element is reduced by the light blocking device.

In the interaction of the opaque aperture element of the back of the cover with the light blocking device on a side surface of the cover not only stray light is reduced within the body of the cover, but a residual amount of scattered light is blocked efficiently. Overshoot and emergence of leakage light is thus effectively prevented.

The operating device according to the invention for a motor vehicle has a light-transmitting cover element and a light source. The cover element has a front side and a rear side opposite the front side and facing the light source of the operating device. The cover also has at least one side surface with a light blocking device, wherein the light blocking device absorbs scattered light of the cover and / or at least partially reflected in the cover. In other words, the light blocking device absorbs and / or at least partially reflects scattered light from the cover element. The scattered light can arise in the cover, when the cover is acted upon by the light source with light.

The cover can be configured for example as a so-called "cover" or cover. A light blocking device is understood to mean a component or a component of the cover element which has light-absorbing and / or light-reflecting properties. The light blocking device can be designed, for example, as a roughened surface of the side surface, or, for example, as an adhesive tape ("tape"), an opaque plastic part or lacquer layer.

In this case, the rear side of the cover element has an opaque aperture element with at least one light passage opening, the aperture element allowing light from the light source to enter the cover element only through the at least one light passage opening.

As a result, an overshoot of that light, with which the cover is acted upon by the light source, effectively reduced. This also reduces the occurrence of leakage light. As already described above, the interaction of the diaphragm element and the light blocking device reduces potential leakage light by reducing stray light and actually occurring leakage light. The light which is applied to the translucent cover element is already directed by the aperture element when it enters the cover element. This results in less stray light that scatters to the side. The light blocking device actually absorbs or at least partially reflects the scattered light which is actually produced, as a result of which symbols are sharper to recognize.

According to one embodiment of the operating device according to the invention, the cover element may have at least two mutually parallel side surfaces and be designed as a plate or a circuit board. In such an embodiment of the cover element, the light blocking device reduces beams of leakage light to an adjacent operating device. If the scattered light is absorbed, the contours of a symbolism appear particularly sharp on the surface of the front of the cover. If the scattered light is partially reflected, the structure of the light blocking device can be used to direct it, for example, to a specific location on the front side. In contrast to a key cap, which is designed as a truncated cone, the beam path in a plate or circuit board is such that occurring stray light can easily fall on an adjacent operating device, so that a disturbing effect of leakage light is amplified. The interaction of diaphragm element and light blocking device, but also the operation of the light blocking device alone, can be used particularly efficiently in a designed as a board or plate cover.

At the front side of the cover element, according to a further embodiment, a scratch protection layer can be arranged. A scratch-resistant layer is a particularly robust and hard layer, which effectively counteracts scratching of the operating device by high stress by using the operating device. The scratch-resistant layer can be configured, for example, as a scratch-resistant lacquer.

According to a further, particularly preferred embodiment of the operating device according to the invention, the light blocking device and / or the diaphragm element can be formed from a lacquer layer. As a result, different lacquers with different optical properties can be used in a simple manner for different models of the operating device in order to bring about different optical effects. It is therefore easier to produce high-throughput models of the operating device. A lacquer layer is also very durable and robust.

The object set out above is likewise achieved by a method for producing a cover element for an operating device according to one of the preceding described embodiments of an operating device according to the invention, the method initially comprising providing a translucent workpiece as cover element, the workpiece having a front side, a front side opposite one another Has back and at least one side surface. The workpiece may for example consist of a translucent plastic. Arranging the light blocking device on the at least one side surface by means of a rotatable, as Cylinder-shaped device for applying a material to a surface of a workpiece. Preferably, the cylinder-shaped device for applying the material to the surface of the workpiece can be configured as a roller or roller. The placement of the light blocking device on the at least one side surface is effected by bringing the workpiece into contact with the roller or roller. It may be either guiding or moving the roller or roller along the at least one side surface of the workpiece, or guiding or moving the at least one side surface of the workpiece along the roller or roller.

As a result, a light blocking device can be applied to the at least one side surface particularly efficiently and quickly. For this purpose, the roll or roller can be equipped with the light blocking device, for example impregnated with a lacquer. The process is not only very time-saving, but also very cost effective.

According to a further embodiment of the method according to the invention, the diaphragm element can be arranged on the rear side of the workpiece, for example by gluing the diaphragm element or by painting the rear side of the workpiece. The process can be designed to be time-saving and cost-effective.

It can also be provided that the scratch-resistant layer is arranged on the front side of the workpiece.

The above object is also achieved by a motor vehicle, comprising an operating device according to the above-described embodiments of an operating device according to the invention.

The invention will be explained in more detail by means of concrete embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings. The exemplary embodiments explained below are preferred embodiments of the invention. In the exemplary embodiments, however, the described components of the embodiments each represent individual features of the invention that are to be considered independently of one another, which each further develop the invention independently of one another and thus also individually or in a different combination than the one shown as part of the invention. Furthermore, the described embodiments can also be supplemented by further features of the invention already described. Functionally identical elements have the same reference numerals in the figures. It shows:

1a Each a schematic sketch of a method step to an embodiment of the method according to the invention; and

2 a schematic diagram of an embodiment of an operating device according to the invention in a schematic sketch of an embodiment of a motor vehicle according to the invention.

The 1a - 1e illustrate the principle of a first embodiment of the method according to the invention for producing a cover with reference to a first embodiment of an operating device according to the invention for a motor vehicle with a translucent cover.

The 1a shows a workpiece for this purpose 10 made of a translucent plastic, such as polycarbonate or acrylic glass. In the example of 1a can the workpiece 10 be configured for example as a plate or board and two mutually parallel side surfaces 12 exhibit. The workpiece 10 can be provided for example by an injection molding process known to the person skilled in the art (process step S1). The workpiece 10 has a front side V and a back side R. If the cover is later installed as part of the operating device in a motor vehicle, the front side V is the side that faces a user. Thus, the back R is that side of the cover that faces away from the user in the installed operating device.

For example, a shutter for a row of keys, wherein the various keys or buttons may have different functions, for example, a workpiece 10 which can be 25 centimeters long and 3 centimeters high. The aperture can then receive operator actions by the user for a plurality of keys or buttons assigned with different functions, wherein the aperture can be configured seamlessly. A thickness of the workpiece 10 and thus a height of the at least one side surface 12 can be for example in a range of 1 millimeter to 3 millimeters.

The 1b shows the workpiece 10 in which an opaque diaphragm element or an at least partially opaque diaphragm element has been arranged on the rear side R (S2). The aperture element 14 is preferably formed from a completely opaque material and has at least one light passage opening 16 on. By way of example, the diaphragm element 14 consist of an opaque lacquer, for example, on the back of the R workpiece 10 can be applied. For this purpose, for example, those areas of the back R of the workpiece 10 , at the light transmission openings 16 should arise before the application of the opaque paint, a protective lacquer or a protective film are applied, the or after the application of the exemplary paint for the panel element 14 can be removed. Alternatively, the aperture element 14 for example, consist of an opaque plastic with openings, wherein the openings the light transmission openings 16 can form. The apertures of such an exemplary aperture element 14 can be created for example by lasering a plastic board. Such an aperture element 14 can then, for example, on the back R of the workpiece 10 glued on. Opaque plastics are known to those skilled in the art. Likewise, those skilled in the art from the prior art opaque paints are known.

The 1b also shows a scratch protection layer 18 , which may for example consist of a transparent plastic or paint. For this purpose, a material known to the person skilled in the art can be applied, glued or molded on (S3), for example. Preferably, the scratch-resistant coating 18 while a hardness on, which is stable against mechanical influences from the outside and so the workpiece 10 can protect against damage. Preferably, the scratch protection layer can also be used 18 be resistant to such damage.

The 1c shows an example of a cover 20 , in addition to another layer 22 may have a color for a later visible symbolism of the cover 20 pretend. This extra layer 22 For example, it can be formed from a color foil or a colored plastic, which or the example on the aperture element 14 can be glued or sprayed. The light transmission openings 16 may then have, for example, the form of letters or numbers, so that in this form light through the workpiece 10 and the optional scratch-resistant coating 18 can get. Is the extra layer 22 For example, white colored, so can with a lighting of the additional layer 22 then be seen by the user a white icon.

The 1c also shows exemplary latching hook 24 , which may for example consist of a plastic, for example, to the panel element 14 can be injected. Such optional locking hooks 24 can then for example Verklipsen the cover 20 be used on a housing of the operating device, an electronics or an interior trim of the motor vehicle.

Through the light transmission openings 16 and the extra layer 22 For example, a search light can be enabled that can indicate to the user where the exemplary buttons of the exemplary row of buttons are located. Through an optional functional fiber optic cable 26 , which may for example also consist of a molded plastic, then the workpiece 10 be exposed to light when, for example, a function is activated. When the corresponding function is deactivated, this function lighting can then go out.

The 1d schematically shows the placement of a light blocking device 28 on or on the at least one side surface 12 (S4). For this purpose, preferably a roll 30 or a roller 30 be used on the example, an opaque paint as a light blocking device 28 can be applied. The cover element 20 For example, it can be fixed in a holder and held in a certain position. The role 30 or roller 30 can then by a corresponding mechanism to the cover 20 be guided around, turning around, for example. Alternatively, the role 30 or roller 30 be firmly positioned and the cover 20 of a movable mechanism so around the role 30 or roller 30 be guided around so that all side surfaces 12 the role 30 or roller 30 be brought into contact. The second alternative may be the role 30 or roller 30 for example, also rotate around itself and, for example, on a moving cover elements 20 opposite side with the exemplary paint as a light blocking device 28 be soaked.

A corresponding device or tool for this method step S4 may be, for example, a control device (in the 1d not shown), in the data on dimensions of the cover 20 can be stored. Based on the stored dimensions, the controller then, for example, the movement of the role 30 or roller 30 or the movement or the guiding of the cover element 20 Taxes. Such a device may also have a motor (in the 1d not shown), the role 30 or roller 30 or the cover element 20 can move or lead.

Alternatively to that in the 1d shown method for arranging the light blocking device 28 (S4), for example, a side surface 12 roughened, for example by brushing or lasers. For this purpose, for example, instead of a role 30 or roller 30 a brush (in of the 1d not shown) along the side surfaces 12 be guided.

While the 1e an embodiment of a finished cover 20 shows, shows the 1d the cover 20 before the light blocking device 28 on the side surfaces 12 is applied. Schematically shows the 1d a potential beam path of light L, with which the cover element 20 , in fact, the translucent workpiece 10 , can be applied. To illustrate the beam path are in the 1d several light sources 32 shown, their mounting or arrangement of the cover 20 However, for the method step S4 is not necessary. In other words, the representation of the light sources is used 32 to illustrate the problem of a cover 20 without light blocking device 28 , The 1d shows the light rays L, through the light transmission openings 16 of the diaphragm element 14 and through the translucent workpiece 10 and the scratch-resistant layer 18 go and emerge on the front again. In this case, however, leakage light L 'can occur, which is the workpiece 10 through a side surface 12 can happen.

The 1e schematically shows an embodiment of a finished operating device 34 with a cover element 20 and light sources 32 , The cover element 20 points to each side surface 12 a light blocking device 28 on. The light sources 32 For example, on an inside of a housing 36 the operating device 34 be arranged.

The 2 shows an embodiment of a motor vehicle according to the invention 38 , which may preferably be designed as a motor vehicle, for example as a passenger car. The exemplary operating device 34 , For example, a row of buttons, it may, for example, a cover 20 having, for example, a symbolism in the form of numbers. The operating device 34 for example, on a center console 40 of the motor vehicle 38 be arranged.

The embodiments described above illustrate the principle of the invention, at least one side surface 12 the cover member with a light blocking device 28 cover, for example with a light-tight coating, which may be a paint, for example. As a result, unsightly leakage light in joints and undefined emission of light L can be almost completely or completely avoided. In other words, there is no or little overblasting and no or little leakage light.

In another embodiment, for example, a rotating roller 30 with the material of the coating around the cover 20 , ie around the component, are guided and on the side surfaces 12 apply a light-tight coating. Alternatively, the component, so the cover 20 to the roller 30 be guided. The roller 30 or role 30 (please refer 1d ) can serve for example for applying an opaque coating.

The optional scratch protection layer 18 may for example consist of a coating or coating for scratch resistance, abrasion and dullness on the surface.

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 202006014084 U1 [0003]
• US 2002/0191131 A1 [0004]
• DE 102005028278 A1 [0005]

Claims (8)

Operating device ( 34 ) for a motor vehicle ( 38 ) with a translucent cover element ( 20 ), wherein the cover element ( 20 ) - a front (V) and one of the front (V) opposite and a light source ( 32 ) of the operating device ( 34 ) facing back (R), - at least one side surface ( 12 ) with a light blocking device ( 28 ), wherein the light blocking device ( 28 ) Stray light (L ') of the cover element ( 20 ) and / or at least partially in the cover ( 20 ), and wherein the back (R) of the cover ( 20 ) an opaque aperture element ( 14 ) with at least one light passage opening ( 16 ), wherein the diaphragm element ( 14 ) an entrance of light (L) of the light source ( 32 ) in the cover ( 20 ) only through the at least one light passage opening ( 16 ). Operating device ( 34 ) according to claim 1, wherein the cover element ( 20 ) at least two mutually parallel side surfaces ( 12 ) and designed as a plate or board. Operating device ( 34 ) according to one of the preceding claims, comprising a scratch-resistant layer ( 18 ) on the front side (V) of the cover element ( 20 ). Operating device ( 34 ) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the light blocking device ( 28 ) and / or the diaphragm element ( 14 ) is formed from a lacquer layer. Method for producing a cover element ( 20 ) for an operating device ( 34 ) according to one of claims 1 to 4, - providing a translucent workpiece ( 10 ) as a cover element ( 20 , S1), wherein the workpiece ( 10 ) a front side (V), a front side (V) opposite rear side (R) and at least one side surface ( 12 ), and - arranging the light blocking device ( 28 ) on the at least one side surface ( 12 , S4) by means of a roller ( 30 ) or roller ( 30 ) by bringing the workpiece into contact ( 10 ) with the role ( 30 ) or roller ( 30 ) and by a) guiding the role ( 30 ) or roller ( 30 ) along the at least one side surface ( 12 ) of the workpiece ( 10 ), or b) guiding the at least one side surface ( 12 ) of the workpiece ( 10 ) along the roll ( 30 ) or roller ( 30 ). The method of claim 5, further comprising: arranging an aperture element ( 14 ) on the back (R) of the workpiece ( 10 , S2). Method according to claim 5 or 6, further comprising: arranging a scratch-resistant layer ( 18 ) on the front side (V) of the workpiece ( 10 , S3). Motor vehicle ( 38 ), comprising an operating device ( 34 ) according to one of claims 1 to 4.

Images