JP2000159011A - Method for confirming operating element of motor vehicle in darkness - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To use a photoelectric element used for regulation of brightness also for lighting by setting the ray of light within ultraviolet range, and providing, on at least individual operating elements, a coating which emits fluorescence when irradiated with ultraviolet ray. SOLUTION: A light source 1 is integrated into the interior lamp or interior mirror of a motor vehicle. The light of the light source 1 is advantageously turned to an operation area 7 in the center of a vehicle or the central console of the vehicle. Further, receivers 2, 3 are constituted as ultraviolet ray or infrared ray photodiodes according to the light source 1 to be used. They are provided on the surface of the operation area 7, and the intervention of a hand 4 to the operation area 7 darkens the light 6 emitted to a plurality of receivers (the receiver 3 herein). The receivers can be provided as the accumulation onto a membrane conductor and a surface material. The position of the hand 4 is recognized by an evaluating device according to the position reference of the receivers 2, 3 darkened and thus shielded and the lapse of time of darkening the receivers, and the intension of operation of a user is confirmed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] The invention relates to a method for making an operating element of a motor vehicle visible, according to the preamble of claim 1.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Such a method is known from DE-A-43 22 972. It states that the proximity sensor can identify whether the hand is near the operating element. When the hand is near the operating element, the operating element and other operating elements around it can be illuminated via a controllable switch. It is further described therein that a photoelectric transmitting and receiving device is provided which operates, for example, as a photoelectric blocking fence or a reflective photoelectric blocking fence. The brightness of the proof is at least partially changed in response to identifying whether the body or body part or object is near the operating element. Identifying a body or body part or object by transmitting a light beam by at least one photoelectric transmitter and darkening the at least one receiver by the body or body part or object;
The evaluation of the at least one receiver makes it possible to identify whether a body or a body part or an object is near the operating element.

[0003] In addition, in a motor vehicle, instrument illumination is provided by enabling illuminating a composite instrument that displays values relating to the vehicle, such as, for example, speed, vehicle speed, coolant temperature, oil or oil pressure, and tank fill level. It is common to make it variable. Normal lighting can be dimmed by hand,
The brightness of this illumination can be adjusted by hand. This adjustability of the brightness allows the indicators to be identified well enough. On the other hand, the brightness needs to be reduced so that the lighting does not feel dazzling and therefore bothersome, especially on dark nights. Similarly, the central console is usually illuminated by operating elements, cassette compartments and the like provided therein. The brightness of this light is usually adjusted by hand together with the light of the complex instrument. An example known to the applicant in this regard is a 190 production line vehicle with an internal symbol W201 manufactured by 1992.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to improve the illumination of the interior space of a vehicle.

[0005]

This object is achieved according to the invention by ensuring that the light is in the ultraviolet range and by providing at least the individual operating elements with a coating which fluoresces when irradiated with ultraviolet light. .

[0006] Thereby, the photoelectric elements used for adjusting the brightness can be simultaneously used for illumination.

In order to be able to change the illumination brightness,
It is necessary that there be an illumination element whose brightness can be changed by appropriate control. For example, the brightness of a conventional lighting element illuminating the back of a switch can be changed by applying different voltages. These lighting elements can be varied in brightness, and the surface with the fluorescent coating shines at a constant brightness when illuminated with ultraviolet light.

[0008] It is furthermore advantageous if the light beam for adjusting the brightness is not visible to the driver. Thus, troublesome reflection and the like are not recognized.

In the method according to the second aspect, the basic brightness can be manually set, and the brightness is changed according to the set basic brightness based on the identification of the body, the body part, or the object.

Thus, the basic brightness can be set in advance according to the driver's request. If the driver's or passenger's hand is near the operating element, the brightness is set according to this basic brightness, so that a good identifiability of the operating element is ensured in this case.

[0011] In the method according to the third aspect, a fluorescent coating which is illuminated with ultraviolet light is provided on another surface.

By providing a coating, it is also possible to illuminate elements which otherwise would not be illuminated at all, or which would only be illuminated at a relatively high cost, as separate surfaces. This is also the case, for example, for covers such as ashtrays and cassette compartments.

Also in this case, it is necessary that an illumination element capable of changing the brightness by appropriate control exists. For example, a conventional lighting element that illuminates the back of a switch can change its brightness by applying different voltages. In that case, these lighting elements can change their brightness, but the surface with the fluorescent coating shines at a constant brightness when illuminated with ultraviolet light.

As a whole, the operating elements are still visible, but it is advantageous if the illumination of the operating elements can be reduced to the extent that the driver cannot be distracted. because,
The lighting seems too predominant. When the driver or passenger intends to operate a suitable operating element, for example, the hand may be brought close to the operating element. When this is done, the brightness of the operating element is increased at least in the area where the hand is just present. In this case, the operating elements provided there can be better identified. This is because the driver or passenger's hand is near the operating element,
This is significant in that it can be inferred that the user intends to operate the operating element. As a result, a good compromise is made between the requirement that the lighting be unobstructed and the requirement that the operating elements be sufficiently distinguishable.

If the brightness is to be increased in part, the illumination of a radio device integrated with, for example, a cassette device or a CD player can be increased if the user's hand is nearby.

For example, it is possible to implement the method with only one transmitter. It can be inferred whether the driver operates the operating element or the passenger operates the operating element depending on which of the receivers is darkened. In that case, it is possible to brighten a suitable area of the central console or to illuminate the entire central console.

Embodiments of the present invention are shown in the drawings and are described below.

[0018]

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment for identifying whether or not the hand of an operator (driver or passenger) of an automobile is near an operating element.

A centrally located light source 1 can be seen, transmitting as an optoelectronic transmitter, for example, light in the ultraviolet or infrared range. In this case, these rays are not perceived, and thus do not cause unwanted reflections, glare or increased brightness and thus the problem of contrast in observing the surroundings. The light source 1 can be integrated, for example, into a vehicle interior light or a vehicle interior mirror. The light rays of the light source 1 are advantageously directed to an operating area 7 in the center of the vehicle, i.

Further, receivers 2 and 3 can be seen and are configured as ultraviolet or infrared photodiodes, depending on the light source 1 used. These are provided on the surface of the operating area 7 so that the intervention of the hand 4 in the operating area 7 darkens the light rays 6 hitting one or more receivers (here the receivers 3). These receivers can be provided by modern manufacturing and construction methods, such as for example integration into membrane conductors and surface materials. Of course, it is also possible to use more than one receiver.

The number of receivers 2 and 3 and their distribution to the operating area 7 can be controlled by hand 4 in any case with as few receivers as possible.
Has been advantageously chosen so that interventions by

The position of the hand 4 is then identified by the evaluation device according to the position reference of the receivers 2, 3 which are to be darkened and therefore shadowed and the time course of the darkening of the receivers, and then the user's intention to operate. Is confirmed. In some cases, the current settings (operator's head position) and other parameters such as gaze direction 5 can also be taken into account.

The lighting of the operating area 7 can accordingly be partially brightened. All operation area 7
Can be partially brightened, so that only certain sub-ranges of the are brightened, this sub-range being chosen in such a way that the operating elements which are likely to be operated by the operator are in this sub-range.

In the application example according to the invention, about ± 5c
It has been found that a detection accuracy of the order of m is sufficient.

Only one light source 1 illuminating the entire surface to be detected is advantageously used. Thereby, the present invention is realized at low cost.

It is advantageous if the UV light source also illuminates the display or operating element and possibly other surfaces provided with a coating which fluoresces when illuminated with UV light. In this case, the UV light source is provided on the center of the surface to be illuminated so that the light can be uniformly irradiated on all the elements.

In this connection, it is advantageous to focus the UV light source so that only the area of the operating area is illuminated. In that case, no harmful lighting phenomena occur, for example when illuminating white shutters or illuminating passengers.

In order to illuminate the element, it is desirable that no shading occurs during operation. However, this is mechanically necessary, in connection with the confirmation via brightening and darkening of at least the sub-region during operation.

In order to be able to vary the brightness of the illumination, this embodiment requires that there be an illumination element which can be varied by appropriate control of the brightness.
For example, the brightness of a conventional lighting element illuminating the back of a switch can be changed by applying different voltages. These lighting elements can then change their brightness, but the surface provided with the fluorescent coating shines at a constant brightness when illuminated with ultraviolet light.

It is generally advantageous to be able to illuminate these elements without expensive connections for the transmission of current or light, in particular for mobile operating elements. No additional space is required to attach the fluorescent color or substance.

The applicability includes the use of various operating elements such as ashtray openings, ashtray inserts, ventilation grill adjustment pieces, radio-cassette compartments, portable goods mounting surfaces, and door handles which are particularly difficult to identify at night. Lighting possibilities. For example, a vehicle ceiling or a vehicle door can also be illuminated.

The surface can be illuminated alone or provided with lighting symbols and lighting structures, such as wood or marble, for example, which are implemented in sunlight or at night so that the same structures can be seen. Or, it can be implemented such that structures that are not visible in sunlight are identified as illuminating with ultraviolet light (night). Illuminating the night surface facilitates the spatial adaptation of the operating elements contained therein.

FIG. 2 shows the possibility of illuminating the operating area of a motor vehicle. In this case, the ultraviolet light source 1 is housed on the roof ceiling in combination with, for example, an interior space lamp. The UV light 6 is directed via a suitable optical system consisting of a reflector or optical element to illuminate only the area of the operating area (hatched area 7). No ultraviolet light strikes the handle 203 in the operation range. Otherwise, a harmful lighting effect would be noticed, for example, when illuminating white shutters. Within the area of the operating area 7 is the main operating area of the vehicle center console or dome 204,
In some cases, there is a glove compartment 206 and a ventilation nozzle 207 on the passenger side. Composite meter 202 can be similarly illuminated with ultraviolet light. Advantageously in the area of the operating area 7, the receivers 2 and 3 described with reference to FIG. 1 are also accommodated. In this case, the UV light source 1 can be used to determine whether at least individual sub-areas of the lighting and operating area 7 should be illuminated more brightly.

FIG. 3 shows an operating element 301 which in the embodiment shown is configured as a switch of an electric window elevator. The fluorescent coating can be provided, for example, on the edge of the operating element 301, so that the identifiability of the operating element 301 is increased. Due to the color change of the edge, for example, the operating element 30
As shown in FIG. 2, shade formation can be implied. Thereby, a three-dimensional effect is obtained. It is also possible to configure the entire operation element to emit fluorescence. This allows the entire switch to be seen at night.

FIG. 4 shows an embodiment of the movable operation element. In addition to the air quantity setting piece 401 having the positions “open” and “closed”, the adjusting piece 4 for the ventilation grid is formed by the ultraviolet illumination technology.
03 can also be illuminated.

FIG. 5 shows an embodiment of the movable operation element, the mark and the surface structure. The ashtray operating element can be shown, for example, as an oval 503 on the ashtray. The portable storage compartment is made visible better below and besides by the border line 502. Due to the shift lever 501 and the cockpit surface 504, there are various designs and configuration possibilities, such as, for example, company signs or equipment symbols. For the surface, different structures are conceivable (wood grain, marble,
Fiber plastic).

Supplementally for completeness, a fluorescent coating is used to change the brightness of the illumination accordingly, without combining with the identification of the body or body part or object, and to illuminate at ultraviolet incidence. It is also possible to do.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an embodiment for identifying a hand near an operation element.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the first embodiment for illuminating the operation element with ultraviolet rays.

FIG. 3 is a front view of a second embodiment for illuminating the operation element with ultraviolet rays.

FIG. 4 is a front view of a third embodiment for illuminating the operation element with ultraviolet rays.

FIG. 5 is a front view of a fourth embodiment for illuminating an operation element with ultraviolet rays.

[Explanation of symbols]

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 photoelectric transmitter 2, 3 receiver 4 body or body part or object 6 light source 7, 301, 302, 401, 402, 503 operating element

Claims (3)

[Claims] An operation element is illuminated to identify whether a body or a body part or an object (4) is near the operation element (7, 301, 302, 401, 402, 503). At least partially changing the brightness of the illumination, transmitting a light beam (6) by at least one photoelectric transmitter (1) and at least one receiver (2, 2) by a body or body part or object (4). The identification of the body or body part or object (4) is performed by darkening 3), and the evaluation of this at least one receiver (2, 3) allows the body or body part or object (4) to be In a method for identifying the presence or absence of a proximity, in which the operating elements of a motor vehicle are visible in the dark, the light beam (6) is in the ultraviolet range and at least the individual operating elements (301,
302, 401, 402, and 503), wherein a coating that emits fluorescence when irradiated with ultraviolet light is provided. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the basic brightness is settable by hand, and the brightness is determined based on the identification of the body or the body part or the object (4).
The method according to claim 1, wherein the method changes according to the set basic brightness. 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the garment that fluoresces when irradiated with ultraviolet light is provided on another surface (501, 502, 504).