EP1525597B9 - Illuminable production part - Google Patents

Abstract

The illuminated switch array (1), and especially the key (5) for an electrical switch (3), has at least two neighboring and transparent zones (10,11) which are independent of each other as illuminated viewing fields to show a function symbol (7) or function display (8), and the like. The outer surface of the viewing fields has a coating which is not transparent to visible light to separate the illuminated fields. One field is of a transparent glass or plastics, as a lens, and the other is of an opaque material e.g. a milky plastics.

Description

The invention relates to an illuminable workpiece according to the preamble of patent claim 1 and a method for producing such a workpiece according to the preamble of patent claim 5.

In motor vehicles, control switches are used, especially in the form of control panels in the dashboard, in the center console or in the car door. These switches can be designed to be illuminated, wherein the actuating member for the electrical switch then represents an example of such an illuminable workpiece.

Known is an illuminable actuator for an electrical switch with a surface arranged on the visible surface, which may be a function icon, a function display o. The like. Act. By means of the function symbol, the user is shown the respective function to be operated by the switch. At the same time, the function icon may serve as a kind of search light for the user to use can find and operate electrical switch even in the dark. The function display is used to visualize the user to the state of the function to be operated. The actuator may also have a plurality of adjacently arranged areas each having a viewing surface, for example, both an area with a function icon and a range with a function display, these areas are designed independently illuminated. At least on the visible surface, the illuminable region consists of a material which is at least partially transparent to visible light. Optionally, the surface of this region may be provided by means of a substantially nontransparent visible light coating, such as a lacquer, such that only the visible surface is left exposed.

It has now been found that the light for the illumination of the respective visible surface due to the transmission within the material, even at a low transmittance of only 2 to 4%, can outshine the one illuminable area in the other illuminable area. This overshoot of light is especially noticeable if only the lighting for one area is turned on and off for the other area. Just as annoying is an over-radiation when the illuminable areas are illuminated with different colors.

From the US 4 683 359 A an illuminable actuator for a switch assembly is known in which the over-radiation between two separately illuminated areas to be prevented. For this purpose, a black frame part separates the actuating element from the one illuminable area, which consists of a graphic display on a crystal-clear inner part, from the other illuminable area, which consists of a window serving as a functional display. Further information on the production of such an actuator are not given in this document.

The invention is based on the object, the illuminable workpiece, which is in particular the actuator of an electrical switch, and in which the Oberstrahlung of light in the adjacent adjacent illuminable areas is largely attenuated to further develop. In particular, the overexposure should not be visible to the user.

This object is achieved in a generic illuminable workpiece, which is in particular the actuating member of an electrical switch, by the characterizing features of claim 1. A method for producing such an illuminable workpiece is given by the features of claim 5.

When the actuator according to the invention or any other, according to the invention formed workpiece at least one illuminable area is surrounded by a visible light substantially non-transparent material. This further region of essentially nontransparent material borders the two adjacent illuminable areas largely from each other. Thus, an over-radiation of light between the two illuminable areas is effectively prevented by this wider area. The substantially nontransparent visible light material for the wider area is injected into a tool substantially simultaneously with the material for the one illuminable area in one type of co-injection process. As a result, a cohesive connection between the wider area and the illuminable area is given. Further embodiments of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims.

If the one illuminable area serves as a function indicator for the functional lighting of the actuating element, then an embodiment of the area in the form of a lens lends itself, whereby the user can be particularly clearly visualized the respective state of the switch. For this purpose, this illuminable area consists of a crystal-clear material. For example, it can be a crystal clear plastic.

If the other illuminable area should contain a function symbol for the search illumination for the actuator, the use of an opaque material for the function symbol lends itself. For example, this may consist of a milky plastic. For the sake of simplicity, the entire illuminable area can be made of the opaque material and coated with an opaque lacquer. The visible surface for the function symbol is left exposed or recessed in the coating accordingly. Of course, in a simple manner, the surface of the illuminable area coated with paint over the entire surface and the visible surface for the function symbol then by thermal processing of the paint, for example by means of laser beams, are produced.

In order to achieve a strong attenuation of the overexposed light, it makes sense to use a dark colored material as a substantially non-transparent material for the wider area. For example, it may be a dark plastic. In order to prevent flow of the dark material into the illuminable area when producing the further area, it is expedient to design the delimitation from the substantially non-transparent material of the further area to the at least partially transparent material of the adjacent illuminable area in the manner of an edge. The edge then acts as a barrier seam in the production of the wider area, which sharply limits the flow of the dark material into the illuminable area. By this measure, an unintentional attenuation of the light used in the respective illuminable area for illuminating the visible surface is avoided by dark material components.

The production of a plastic actuator according to the invention actuator or other workpiece is preferably carried out by injection molding of the plastic in a corresponding tool. First of all, a plastic, which is in particular a crystal-clear plastic, is injected into the tool for an illuminable area. Subsequently, in one type of co-injection process, the dark plastic for overmolding one illuminable area substantially simultaneously with the plastic, which is in particular a milky plastic, is injected into the tool for the other illuminable area. With the aid of this procedure, a high-quality cohesive connection is achieved between the wider area and the illuminable areas. For defined demarcation between the wider area and the illuminable area, a flow restriction for the two plastics injected by the coinjection method can be arranged in the tool so that an undesired flow of the dark plastic into the illuminable area is precluded

As a tool for the production of the actuator according to the invention or other workpiece, a type of three-component wet-on-wet tool is suitably used. In such a tool, three different plastics are injected simultaneously into the mold so that the plastics have not yet completely cooled. As a result, the three plastics combine in the mutually adjacent regions during injection materially. Although the actuator or the workpiece consists of several components, this is then substantially in one piece and has a homogeneous appearance for the user.

The advantages achieved by the invention are in particular that an undesirable over-radiation of the light is avoided by the one illuminable area in the other illuminable area. At least such overshoot is reduced to an unrecognizable to the user level. In particular, in an actuator for an electrical switch, the blooming between the search and the function lighting can be excluded. Especially with a switch according to the invention used in the motor vehicle, the operating safety for the user is thus increased. Nevertheless, the invention is Actuator or workpiece in a simple manner and inexpensive to manufacture.

Fig. 1

einen Ausschnitt aus einem mehrere elektrische Schalter enthaltenden Bedienfeld für ein Kraftfahrzeug,

Fig. 2

einen Schnitt entlang der Linie 2-2 in Fig. 1,

Fig. 3

einen Schnitt entlang der Linie 3-3 in Fig. 1,

Fig. 4

das Betätigungsorgan im Schnitt entlang der Linie 4-4 in Fig. 1,

Fig.

5 das Betätigungsorgan von der Unterseite, gemäß Richtung V in Fig. 4 gesehen,

Fig. 6

schematisch, in perspektivischer Ansicht die Herstellung des Betätigungsorgans und

Fig. 7

einen elektrischen Schalter in perspektivischer Ansicht gemäß einem weiteren Ausführungsbeispiel.

Embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the drawings and will be described in more detail below. Show it

Fig. 1

a detail of a control panel containing a plurality of electrical switches for a motor vehicle,

Fig. 2

a section along the line 2-2 in Fig. 1 .

Fig. 3

a section along the line 3-3 in Fig. 1 .

Fig. 4

the actuator in section along the line 4-4 in Fig. 1 .

FIG.

5 the actuator from the bottom, according to the direction V in Fig. 4 seen,

Fig. 6

schematically, in perspective view the manufacture of the actuator and

Fig. 7

an electric switch in a perspective view according to another embodiment.

In Fig. 1 is closer to see a control panel 1 for a motor vehicle, which is arranged for example in the dashboard, in the center console, in the car door o. The like. In the motor vehicle. The control panel 1 has a housing 2 in which a plurality of illuminable electrical switches 3 are located. The switches 3 are used for example for switching on and off the seat heating, cooling and ventilation, the rear window heating, the blower o. The like. Functions in the vehicle. As an example, the switch 3 arranged on the left should be considered closer.

As in Fig. 2 can be seen, the switch has 3 module-like switching elements 14, which are mounted in the housing 2 on a printed circuit board 15. At the top of the housing 2 is an actuator 5 for the switch 3. The actuator 5 is presently formed in the manner of a rocker and by means of in Fig. 3 indicated bearing pin 4 movable to switch the switching elements 14 during manual movement of the actuator 5 by the user. Next, the actuator 5 is illuminated by means arranged in the housing 2 illuminant 16 from the inside. The illuminable workpiece formed in accordance with the invention is thus the actuating member 5 for the electrical switch 3, which will be explained in more detail below.

At the user-side surface 6 of the actuator 5 is located in Fig. 1 shown function symbol 7, 7 ', which represents the triggered by the switch 3 function graphically, in the present case, the seat heating and seat cooling or the Sitzbelüflung symbolizes. The Funktionsssysmbol 7, 7 'serves as search lighting for the user. Next is still on the surface 6 of the actuator 5, a function display 8, which indicates to the user as functional lighting that the seat heating and / or the seat ventilation is turned on. The function symbol 7, 7 'and the function display 8 are located as visible surfaces on two adjacently arranged regions 10, 11 of the surface 6, which are independently and thus separately illuminated.

The illuminable area 10, 11 consists at least on the visible surface of a visible light at least partially transparent and thus transparent material. The surface of the illuminable area 10 is as indicated by Fig. 4 is indicated, by means of a substantially non-transparent to visible light and thus opaque coating 9, which may be, for example, a paint, provided such that only the visible surface for the function symbol 7,7 'is released. At least the one illuminable area, in the present case the area 11, is one in Fig. 5 visible wider area 12, which consists of visible light substantially non-transparent and thus opaque material, so surrounded that the two adjacent illuminable areas 10,11 are delimited from each other by the substantially non-transparent material. This becomes effective Mutual influence on the lighting of function symbol 7, 7 'and function display 8 avoided.

Further developments and various embodiments of the actuator 5 are explained in more detail below.

The illuminable area 11 is made of a crystal-clear material, in particular made of transparent plastic. For example, the plastic may be crystal clear macrolone. The illuminable area 11 is configured in the form of an optical lens. Again Fig. 4 or 5 can be removed, are several such lenses, in the present case four lenses corresponding to the area 11 of the opaque further area 12 enclosed. The entire area 11 thus represents the illuminable viewing area for the function display 8, wherein due to the lens shape of the area 11, the function display 8 is particularly clearly visible to the user.

The other illuminable area 10 consists of an opaque material, in particular of a milky plastic. For example, the plastic may be white or light gray colored macrolone. The illuminable area 10 is coated with an opaque lacquer 9, for example in black, silver o. The like. Color. However, while the visible surface according to the function symbol 7, 7 'is released so as to allow the passage of light for the illumination of the function symbol 7, 7' through the opaque material. In a manner known per se, for this purpose, the surface of the illuminable region 10 can first be coated over its entire surface with varnish 9. Subsequently, the visible surface for the function symbol 7, 7 'is produced by appropriate thermal processing of the paint 9 by means of laser beams.

The substantially non-transparent material in the region 12, which serves to delineate the two regions 10 and 11, consists of a dark-colored material, in particular of a dark plastic. For example, the plastic may be black colored Makrolon. To a defined demarcation between the adjacent illuminable area 10 and 11 and the wider area 12, ie between the at least partially transparent material and in the To obtain essential non-transparent material, it makes sense to design this delimitation in the manner of an edge, as based on Fig. 5 can be seen. The edge thus serves as a flow restriction 13 or as a sperm seam for the dark plastic, in order to avoid "fraying" or "flowing" of the dark plastic into the milky plastic. The edge thus ensures clearly defined areas 10 and 11 and 12, so that no visible to the user brightness differences in the illumination of the function symbols 7, 7 'occur.

For the production of the actuator 5 according to the invention, the method described below offers itself, which schematically in Fig. 6 is shown.

The actuator 5 is made of plastic, so that this is produced by injection molding of the plastic in a not further shown tool. For this purpose, first of all the glass-clear plastic 17 for the one illuminable area 11 is injected into the tool. Subsequently, in a type of co-injection method, the particular dark plastic 18 for encapsulating the one illuminable region 11 is injected through the wider region 12 substantially simultaneously with the particular milky plastic 19 for the other illuminable region 10 in the tool substantially simultaneously with the coinjection process means in that the milky plastic 19 is injected approximately 0.6 to 0.7 seconds after the dark plastic 18, in order to ensure a good cohesive connection between the dark plastic 18 and the milky plastic 19. As already mentioned, there is an in Fig. 5 visible flow restriction 13 for these two injected in the coinjection process plastics 18, 19 arranged in the tool

The tool for the production of the actuator 5 is a kind of three-component wet-on-wet tool. In such a tool, the three different plastics 17, 18, 19 are injected for the areas 10,11,12 simultaneously in the tool. The injection takes place so that the plastics 17, 18, 19 are not yet completely cooled. As a result, the three plastics 17, 18, 19 connect to one another at the mutually adjacent and adjacent regions during injection molding materially.

According to the described embodiment, the actuator 5 is in a motor vehicle control panel. Of course, such an actuator 5 can also be used in a single electrical switch 20, as in Fig. 7 you can see. The switch 20 has a switch housing 21, on the underside of which electrical connections 22 protrude. The electrical connections 22 provide the electrical connection to a switch housing 21, not shown further contact system ago, which is switched by means of pivotable on bearing pin 4 actuator 5 by the user.

On the user-side surface 6 of the actuator 5 is again a function icon 7 and a function display 8. The function icon 7 and the function display 8, which are illuminated by a light source 16 are arranged on two adjacent areas 10, 11. The two areas 10, 11 are delimited from one another in the manner according to the invention by the further area 12 indicated by dashed lines, which is made of opaque material, thus avoiding mutual influencing of the respective illumination for the function symbol 7 and for the function display 8.

The invention is not limited to the described and illustrated embodiments. Rather, it also encompasses all expert developments within the scope of the invention defined by the claims. Thus, the invention can not only be used for actuators on electrical switches, but can also for other illuminable workpieces, such as function indicators on control units, controls on control units, housing parts of electrical appliances o. The like., Use.

Reference numeral list:

1:

Control panel

2:

Housing (for control panel)

3:

electrical switch (in the control panel)

4:

pivot

5:

actuator

6:

(user-side) surface

7,7 ':

function icon

8th:

function display

9:

Coating / lacquer

10.11:

(illuminated) area (on actuator)

12:

(further) area (on actuator)

13:

Edge (flow restriction)

14:

switching element

15:

circuit board

16:

Lamp

17:

crystal clear plastic

18:

dark plastic

19:

milky plastic

20:

(single) electrical switch

21:

switch housing

22:

electrical connection

Claims (6)

1. Illuminable production part, in particular an actuating member (5) for an electric switch (3, 20), with at least two adjacently arranged areas (10, 11), which can be illuminated independently of one another and which contain visual surfaces, such as a function symbol (7, 7'), a function display (8) or the like, whereby the illuminable areas (10, 11) consist, at least on the visual surface, of a material that is at least partially transparent to visible light, and, whereby at least one illuminable area (11) is surrounded by a further area (12) made of a material that is essentially opaque to visible light, and whereby the other illuminable area (10) if necessary is provided with a coating (9), such as a paint, that is essentially opaque to visible light, so that only the visual surface of this area is exposed, whereby the two adjacent illuminable areas (10, 11) are delimited from one another by the essentially opaque material of the additional area (12), characterised in that the material that is essentially opaque to visible light for the additional area (12) is injected into a die in a kind of coinjection method essentially at the same time as the material for the other illuminable area (10), so that there is a material bond between the additional area (12) and the other illuminable area (10).
2. Illuminable production part according to claim 1, characterised in that one illuminable area (11) is made of a glass-clear material, for example a glass-clear plastic (17), whereby preferably the illuminable area (11) is designed to be in the form of a lens, in particular for a function display (8).
3. Illuminable production part according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the other illuminable area (10) is made from an opaque material, for example a milky plastic (19), whereby preferably the illuminable area (10) is coated with an opaque paint (9), so that a visual surface is exposed, in particular for a function symbol (7, 7'), and whereby also preferably the surface (6) of the illuminable area (10) is coated completely with paint (9) and the visual surface is then produced by the thermal processing of the paint (9) with laser beams.
4. Illuminable production part according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterised in that the essentially opaque material is made from a dark material, for example a dark, coloured plastic (18), and in that preferably the delimitation from the essentially opaque material of the additional area (12) to the at least partly transparent material of the adjacent illuminable area (10) is achieved in a kind of edge-shaped flow delimitation (13) of the dark material.
5. Method for the production of the production part according to claim 1 by means of injection moulding plastic into a die, whereby the material that is at least partly transparent to visible light for one illuminable area (11) is made in particular out of glass-clear plastic (17), the material that is at least partly transparent to visible light for the other illuminable area (10) is made in particular of milky plastic (19), the material that is essentially opaque to visible light is made in particular of a dark coloured plastic (18), characterised in that firstly the particularly glass-clear plastic (17) for the one illuminable area (11) is injected into the die, and in that afterwards in a kind of coinjection method the in particular dark plastic (18) is injected to move round the one illuminable area (11) essentially at the same time as the in particular milky plastic (19) for the other illuminable area (10), whereby preferably a flow delimitation (13) for the two plastics (18, 19) injected in the coinjection method is arranged in the die.
6. Method according to claim 5, characterised in that the die is a kind of three component wet-in-wet die, in which three distinguishable plastics (17, 18, 19) are injected into the die simultaneously such that the plastics (17, 18, 19) are not yet completely cooled, whereby upon injection the three plastics (17, 18, 19) bond together materially at the adjoining, neighbouring regions (10, 11, 12).

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