DE102022120625A1 - User interface panel for a vehicle and method of manufacturing such a user interface panel - Google Patents

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a user interface panel (10) for a vehicle, comprising an interface surface (20) with two contact areas (21, 22), the user interface panel having an infrared emitter (30) and an infrared detector (31) on either side of the two contact areas are arranged, and comprises a light guide (40) arranged between the infrared emitter and the infrared detector, each of the two contact areas transmitting visible light through the interface surface and each being equipped with an illumination source (51, 52), and the light guide two Illumination sections, each arranged under the two contact areas, and an intermediate guide section arranged between the two illumination sections, the illumination sections (41, 42) transmitting visible and infrared light, the intermediate guide section (43) transmitting infrared Allows red light through and blocks visible light emitted by illumination sources.

Description

Technical part

The present invention belongs to the field of tactile user interfaces and relates in particular to a user interface panel capable of detecting the presence of a user's finger in the vicinity of a touch area, and a method for manufacturing such a user interface panel.

The present invention finds a very advantageous, though by no means limiting, application in user interface panels for vehicles, particularly for passenger compartments of passenger vehicles.

State of the art

Nowadays, vehicles, especially automobiles, are increasingly equipped with tactile user interfaces to control various vehicle functions such as ventilation/air conditioning, etc.

Typically, such a user interface panel comprises a plurality of contact areas, each contact area being associated with a specific command to be executed, which is triggered when a user's finger is near the contact area, for example in contact with the contact area. In order to be able to detect that a user's finger is in the vicinity of a contact area, each contact area is equipped with a presence sensor. Different types of sensors can be used, for example strain gauges, capacitive sensors, inductive sensors, infrared sensors, etc.

Typically, at least one occupancy sensor is provided for each contact area, so a large number of occupancy sensors may be required if the user interface panel includes many contact areas.

Furthermore, each contact area of the user interface panel is advantageously backlit, particularly to enable the user to see the contact areas in the dark. Each contact area is thus preferably backlit independently of the other contact areas, for example in order to selectively backlight the different contact areas and/or to backlight them with different colors in each case. Therefore, in some cases it may be necessary to equip each contact area with its own lighting source in order to be able to control the backlighting properties of the different contact areas separately.

It follows from the above that each contact area may require multiple electronic components (occupancy sensor, lighting source, etc.), which tends to increase the size of the volume required to install the user interface panel inside the vehicle, although the volumes available for installing such user interface panels are extremely limited are.

Summary

The present disclosure aims to overcome some or all of the limitations of the prior art solutions, particularly those set forth above, by providing a solution that makes it possible to reduce the amount of electronic components needed to detect the presence of fingers is required near backlit contact areas.

To this end, the present disclosure relates to a user interface panel for a vehicle, comprising an interface surface with at least two contact areas, the interface surface defining a user side and an inside of the user interface panel, the user interface panel having a sensor for the presence of a finger of a user in the vicinity of the both contact areas, wherein the presence sensor is arranged on the inside and comprises at least one infrared emitter and one infrared detector, which are arranged on both sides of the two contact areas, and an optical fiber between the infrared emitter and the infrared detector adjacent to the two contact areas, so that from the Infrared emitter emitted infrared light is passed through the light guide and at least partially received by the infrared detector. Furthermore, each of the two contact areas transmits visible light through the interface surface and is equipped with a respective illumination source suitable for emitting visible light and is arranged on the inside, and the light guide comprises at least three different sections, two of which are illumination sections, each adjacent to the two contact areas, and an intermediate guide section disposed between the two illumination sections, the illumination sections transmitting visible and infrared light and the intermediate guide section transmitting infrared light and blocking the visible light emitted by the illumination sources.

Thus, one and the same infrared emitter/infrared detector pair is used to detect the presence of a user's finger in the vicinity of two distinct contact areas, which are further individually backlit by respective light sources. The infrared emitter and the infrared detector are arranged on either side of these two contact areas and are optically connected by an optical fiber which runs under the two contact areas.

At the contact areas, the light guide includes lighting sections that allow the infrared light emitted by the infrared emitter in the direction of the infrared detector and the visible light emitted by the lighting sources to pass through to backlight the contact areas.

Between the lighting sections, however, the light guide has an intermediate guide section that only allows the infrared light emitted by the infrared emitter to pass in the direction of the infrared detector.

Therefore, visible light emitted by the illumination source of one contact area cannot be guided through the light guide to the other contact area. Thus, even when using the same infrared emitter/infrared detector pair for both contact areas, it is still possible to have separate control of the backlight characteristics of these two contact areas.

Furthermore, such an arrangement of the infrared emitter/infrared detector pair on either side of the two contact areas instead of opposite to the two contact areas enables a reduction in the thickness required for the user interface panel. Such an arrangement also makes it possible to limit the volume for installing the user interface panel in the passenger compartment of a motor vehicle.

In particular embodiments, the user interface panel can optionally additionally comprise one or more of the following properties, either individually or in all technically possible combinations.

In particular embodiments, each illumination source is aligned transversely to a guiding direction of the light guide between the infrared emitter and the infrared detector, with each illumination section comprising a reflective surface which faces the illumination source associated with the illumination section, the reflective surface being configured such that it faces away from the illumination source emitted visible light is reflected in the direction of the contact area associated with the lighting section.

In particular embodiments, the user interface panel includes an end guide section between the infrared emitter and an illumination section and/or includes an end guide section between the infrared detector and an illumination section.

In particular embodiments, the infrared emitter is embedded in the material that forms the end guide section between the infrared emitter and an illumination section and/or the infrared detector is embedded in the material that forms the end guide section between the infrared detector and an illumination section.

In particular embodiments, at least one illumination source is embedded in the material forming the illumination portion illuminated by the illumination source.

In particular embodiments, at least one of the contact areas allows the infrared light to pass through the interface.

In particular embodiments, at least one of the contact areas is impenetrable to infrared light and the associated illumination portion is deformable by pressing a finger on the contact area.

In particular embodiments, the light guide between the infrared emitter and the infrared detector is completely or partially surrounded by material that reflects infrared light.

In particular embodiments, the material forming a lighting portion includes one of: MAKROLONO Ai2217, ALCOM® LG PC 1000 UV 14094 CC1323-08, PLEXIGLAS® LED 8N LD12, PLEXIGLAS® Satinice df23 8N, etc.

In particular embodiments, the material that forms the intermediate guide portion includes one of: MAKROLONO Ai2295, MAKROLONO Ai2497, MAKROLONO Ai2497 ST, MAKROLONO Ai2695 ST, MAKROLONO Ai2697, ALCOM® LIR PC 1000 UV 14099 BK1203-14, ALCOM® LIR PC 1000 18155 BK1191-18, ALCOM® LIR PC 1000 19005 BK1009-19, ALCOM® LIR PC 1000 UV BK1226-19, etc.

According to a second aspect, the present disclosure relates to a vehicle for transporting passengers, such as a motor vehicle, having at least one user interface panel according to any embodiment of the invention.

• - Bereitstellung eines Substrats, das die Schnittstellenoberfläche bildet, aus einem Material, das zumindest sichtbares Licht hindurchlässt,
• - Bildung einer reflektierenden Schicht auf der Innenseite des Substrats aus einem Material, das sichtbares Licht reflektiert,
• - Bildung einer elektronischen Schicht mit elektrischen Leiterbahnen zur Verbindung mit elektronischen Komponenten, die mindestens die Beleuchtungsquellen, den Infrarotemitter und den Infrarotdetektor enthalten,
• - Verbindung der elektronischen Bauteile mit den elektrischen Leiterbahnen der elektronischen Schicht,
• - Bildung des Lichtleiters durch Verwenden eines Materials, das für infrarotes Licht und sichtbares Licht durchlässig ist, für die Beleuchtungsabschnitte und durch Verwenden eines Materials, das für infrarotes Licht durchlässig ist und sichtbares Licht, das von den Beleuchtungsquellen abgegeben wird, sperrt, für den zwischenliegenden Führungsabschnitt,
• - Bildung einer reflektierenden Schicht auf dem Lichtleiter aus einem Material, das infrarotes Licht reflektiert.

According to a third aspect, the present disclosure relates to a method for manufacturing a user interface panel according to any embodiment of the invention, comprising the following steps:

• - providing a substrate forming the interface surface, made of a material that transmits at least visible light,
• - formation of a reflective layer on the inside of the substrate from a material that reflects visible light,
• - formation of an electronic layer with electrical conductor tracks for connection to electronic components containing at least the illumination sources, the infrared emitter and the infrared detector,
• - connection of the electronic components with the electrical conductor tracks of the electronic layer,
• - Formation of the light guide by using a material that transmits infrared light and visible light for the lighting sections and by using a material that transmits infrared light and blocks visible light emitted from the lighting sources for the intermediate one guide section,
• - formation of a reflective layer on the light guide from a material that reflects infrared light.

character list

• [1] 1: eine schematische Darstellung, in einer Schnittebene A-A, eines Ausführungsbeispiels eines Benutzerschnittstellenpanels;
• [2] 2: eine nähere Darstellung eines Lichtleiters des Benutzerschnittstellenpanels von 1 in der Schnittebene A-A;
• [3] 3: eine schematische Darstellung, in einer Schnittebene B-B, des Benutzerschnittstellenpanels von 1;
• [4] 4: eine schematische Darstellung, in einer Schnittebene C-C, des Benutzerschnittstellenpanels von 1;
• [5] 5: eine schematische Darstellung, in der Schnittebene A-A, eines ersten Ausführungsbeispiels für die Kontaktbereiche des Benutzerschnittstellenpanels;
• [6] 6: eine schematische Darstellung in der Schnittebene A-A, eines zweiten Ausführungsbeispiels für die Kontaktbereiche des Benutzerschnittstellenpanels;
• [7] 7: ein Diagramm, das die wesentlichen Schritte eines Beispiels für die Bereitstellung eines Verfahrens zur Herstellung eines Benutzerschnittstellenpanels veranschaulicht.

The invention will be better understood reading the following description, given as a non-limiting example and made with reference to the figures, which show:

• [ 1 ] 1 1: a schematic representation, in a section plane AA, of an embodiment of a user interface panel;
• [ 2 ] 2 : a closer representation of a light pipe of the user interface panel of 1 in the cutting plane AA;
• [ 3 ] 3 : a schematic representation, in a section plane BB, of the user interface panel of FIG 1 ;
• [ 4 ] 4 : a schematic representation, in a section plane CC, of the user interface panel of FIG 1 ;
• [ 5 ] 5 1: a schematic representation, in section plane AA, of a first exemplary embodiment for the contact areas of the user interface panel;
• [ 6 ] 6 1: a schematic representation in section plane AA of a second exemplary embodiment for the contact areas of the user interface panel;
• [ 7 ] 7 : a diagram illustrating the essential steps of an example of providing a method for manufacturing a user interface panel.

Description of the embodiments

1 shows schematically an embodiment of a user interface panel 10, in a section plane AA (shown in 3 ). In the further description, it is not exclusively assumed that the user interface panel 10 is used in an interior of a motor vehicle, for example on a dashboard of the motor vehicle, a door of the motor vehicle, a center console of the motor vehicle, etc. However, such an interface panel 10 can also be used to establish a user interface outside of a motor vehicle or, in general, for any type of passenger transport vehicle.

As in 1 shown, the user interface panel 10 comprises an interface surface 20 via which a user of the motor vehicle can interact via at least two contact areas 21, 22 with one or more functions of the motor vehicle. The interface surface 20 delimits a first page, the "user page", via which a user of the motor vehicle can access the contact areas 21, 22. A second side opposite the user side, the "inside", corresponds to the inside of the user interface panel 10.

in the in 1 shown example, the interface surface 20 is largely flat. Of course, the interface surface 20 can also take on other, more complex forms, and the choice of a particular form for the interface surface 20 represents only one variant of the implementation of the present disclosure.

For example, the interface surface 20 comprises a substrate, which may be made of a material that transmits at least visible light and preferably also infrared light. The substrate is made of, for example, polycarbonate (PC), polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), or a combination of these materials, and so on. The substrate is Example between 150 microns (µm) and 300 µm thick.

By convention, an element hereinafter described as overlying the interface surface 20 or a contact area 21, 22 corresponds to an element that is on the user side and an element hereinafter described as under the interface surface 20 or a contact area 21, 22 lying corresponds to an element located on the inside inside the user interface panel 10.

The user interface panel 10 also includes a presence sensor located beneath the interface surface 20 . The presence sensor is designed to detect the presence of a user's finger near and touching one of the contact areas 21, 22 on the user's side.

In particular, the presence sensor comprises an infrared emitter 30 and an infrared detector 31 which are arranged on either side of the two contact areas 21,22. The infrared emitter 30 is capable of emitting infrared light, that is, it is capable of emitting radiation at infrared wavelengths. In a manner known per se, the spectrum of infrared wavelengths extends from 780 nanometers (nm) to 1 millimeter (mm) (in the sense of ISO 20473). The infrared emitter 30 emits radiation having wavelengths in the near infrared range (between 780 nm and 3000 nm), for example. The infrared detector 31 is designed to measure the infrared light emitted by the infrared emitter 30, i.e. it is receptive in the same infrared wavelengths used in the emission by the infrared emitter 30. For example, the infrared emitter 30 is an infrared light emitting diode (LED) and the infrared detector 31 is an infrared photodiode. The selection of a particular type of infrared emitter 30 or infrared detector 31 represents only one variation of the implementation of the present disclosure.

As in 1 shown, the presence sensor also comprises a light guide 40 which is arranged under and adjacent to the two contact areas 21, 22 between the infrared emitter 30 and the infrared detector 31. The light guide 40 is suitable for conducting the infrared light from the infrared emitter 30 to the infrared detector 31 . Thus, the infrared light emitted by the infrared emitter 30 is guided through the light guide 40 and at least partially received by the infrared detector 31, passing under the two contact areas 21,22. 2 shows a more detailed view of the light guide 40.

The infrared light is guided within the light guide 40 by reflection at the interfaces of the light guide 40. In preferred embodiments, the light guide 40 is of infrared light in the areas of the light guide 40 in which the infrared light is to be guided by reflection at the interfaces reflective material 60 surrounded. The reflective material 60 can be, for example, PC or polycarbonate/acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (PC/ABS), which preferably contains reflective particles. The reflective particles are, for example, titanium dioxide particles (TiO2), which can be introduced into the reflective material 60 with a proportion of more than 2%. The degree of reflection of the reflective material 60, measured according to DIN 5033, is more than 85%, for example.

Thanks to the light guide 40, the infrared emitter 30 and the infrared detector 31 do not have to be aimed at one of the contact areas 21, 22. Rather, the infrared light propagates within the light guide 40 in a main propagation direction, which runs largely parallel to the interface surface 20 . Thus, the infrared emitter 30 and the infrared detector 31 can be arranged in close proximity to the interface surface 20, so that the thickness required for the user interface panel 10 can be limited. The light guide 40 has a thickness between 1.2 mm and 3.5 mm, for example. The assembly of the interface surface 20, the light guide 40 and the reflective material 60 surrounding the light guide 40 has a thickness between 3.2 mm and 5.5 mm, for example.

In general, the presence of a user's finger in the vicinity of one of the contact areas 21, 22 is detected by measuring the intensity of the infrared light received by the infrared detector 31 via the light guide 40. For this purpose, the presence sensor comprises a processing unit (not shown in the figures) which receives the infrared intensity measurements made by the infrared detector 31 and analyzes the changes in the measured intensity in order to determine whether a finger is close to one of the contact areas 21, 22 is located, and to determine the corresponding contact area 21, 22 under the two contact areas 21, 22 if necessary. The processing unit can include, for example, one or more processors and storage media (magnetic hard disk, electronic memory, optical disk or any type of computer-readable recording medium) in which a computer program product is stored in the form of a set of program code instructions that must be executed in order to perform the operations related to the detection of the presence of a finger based of the infrared light intensity measurements made by the infrared detector 31 . Alternatively or in addition, the processing unit may comprise one or more programmable logic circuits (FPGA, PLD, etc.) and/or one or more specialized integrated circuits (ASIC, etc.) and/or a group of discrete electronic components, etc. capable of doing all of them or to perform any part of said operations.

In other words, the processing unit is configured in software (specific computer program product) and/or hardware (FPGA, PLD, ASIC, discrete electronic components, etc.) to detect the presence of a finger near one of the contact areas 21, 22 of the interface surface 20 in Depending on the intensity of the infrared light, which is measured by the infrared detector 31 to recognize.

The detection of the presence of a user's finger in the vicinity of one of the contact areas 21, 22 is described below with reference to FIG 5 and 6 discussed.

3 shows a schematic representation of the user interface panel 10 in a BB section plane (as in 1 shown).

As in 3 As shown, each contact area 21, 22 is backlit and is provided with a respective illumination source 51, 52 for this purpose. Each illumination source 51, 52 is designed to emit visible light, i.e. emit radiation at wavelengths that are visible to a human being. In a manner known per se, the spectrum of the visible wavelengths lies between 380 nm and 780 nm. Each of the light sources 51, 52 is, for example, a monochromatic or red-green-blue (RGB) LED. The selection of a specific type of illumination sources 51, 52 merely represents an implementation variant of the present disclosure.

Each of the two contact areas 21 , 22 allows visible light emitted by the associated illumination source 51 , 52 to pass through the interface surface 20 . Thus, each contact area 21, 22 is wholly or partially transparent or translucent in the visible wavelengths used by the associated illumination source 51, 52. The interface surface 20 can comprise, for example, a transparent or translucent substrate with impenetrable decorative inks that define the symbols to be backlit in the contact areas 21,22.

The user interface panel 10 also includes, in a conventional manner, one or more electronic layers (not shown in the figures) with electrical traces that are connected to the various electronic components of the user interface panel 10, in particular the illumination sources 51, 52, the infrared emitter 30 and the infrared detector 31 For example, the user interface panel 10 includes an electronic layer disposed immediately below the interface surface 20 .

As in the 2 and 3 shown, the light guide 40 consists of several sections, which are not all made of the same material. This is because while all sections of the light guide 40 allow the infrared light emitted by the infrared emitter 30 to pass through, they do not all behave in the same way towards the visible light emitted by the illumination sources 51, 52.

The light guide 40 has at least three different sections.

First of all, the light guide 40 comprises two distinct sections, referred to as “illumination sections 41, 42”, associated with and positioned below the two contact areas 21, 22, respectively. Each illumination section 41, 42 is made of a material that transmits infrared light from the infrared emitter 30 to the infrared detector 31 and transmits visible light from the illumination source 51, 52 to the contact area 21, 22 to backlight it. The material used to manufacture a lighting section 41, 42 includes, for example, PC or PMMA, transparent or translucent. Examples of suitable materials are sold with the following article numbers, for example: MAKROLON® Ai2217 (manufacturer COVESTRO®), ALCOM® LG PC 1000 UV 14094 CC1323-08 (manufacturer ALBIS®), PLEXIGLASO LED 8N LD12 and PLEXIGLASO Satinice df23 8N (manufacturer EVONIK ®), etc.

The light guide 40 also includes a section, the "intermediate guiding section 43", which is arranged between the two lighting sections 41, 42 and is in contact with them. Thus, the intermediate guide section 43 has an interface with the lighting section 41 and another interface with the lighting section 42 . The intermediate guide section 43 guides infrared light between the two illuminating sections 41, 42 from the illuminating section 41 located on the infrared emitter 30 side to the illuminating section 42 located on the infrared detector 31 side. The intermediate guide portion 43 consists of a Material that transmits infrared light from infrared emitter 30 to infrared detector 31 but blocks visible light emitted by illumination sources 51,52. The material used for manufacturing the intermediate guide portion 43 includes, for example, PC. Examples of suitable materials are sold, for example, with the following article numbers: MAKROLON® Ai2295, MAKROLON® Ai2497, MAKROLON® Ai2497 ST, MAKROLON® Ai2695 ST and MAKROLON® Ai2697 (manufacturer COVESTRO®), ALCOM® LIR PC 1000 UV 14099 BK1203-14 , ALCOM® LIR PC 1000 18155 BK1191-18, ALCOM® LIR PC 1000 19005 BK1009-19 and ALCOM® LIR PC 1000 UV BK1226-19 (manufacturer ALBIS®), etc.

Thanks to the intermediate guide portion 43, the visible light emitted from the illumination source 51 of the contact area 21 is not transmitted to the other contact area 22 and the visible light emitted from the illumination source 52 of the contact area 22 is not transmitted to the other contact area 21. This makes it possible to have separate control of the backlight characteristics of the two contact areas 21,22 even when using the same infrared emitter 30/infrared detector 31 pair for the two contact areas 21,22.

In the in the 1 until 3 In the illustrated example, the user interface panel 10 has a single infrared emitter 30/infrared detector 31 pair and two contact areas 21,22. Of course, the user interface panel 10 can also have a larger number of contact areas 21, 22 and/or infrared emitters 30 and/or infrared detectors 31 in other embodiments. For example, one and the same infrared emitter 30/infrared detector 31 pair can be implemented for three or more contact areas. If desired and when separate control of the backlighting characteristics of at least three contact areas is required, the light guide 40 may have, for example, at least three lighting sections and at least two intermediate guide sections, with each intermediate guide section being disposed between and in contact with two lighting sections. It is also possible to use several infrared emitters 30 and/or infrared detectors 31 for the same pair of contact areas 21, 22 arranged on both sides of the same light guide 40. Furthermore, such an arrangement as described with reference to FIG 1 until 3 described, only affect certain contact areas of the user interface panel 10.

• - einen ersten Endabschnitt 44, der zwischen dem Infrarotemitter 30 und dem Beleuchtungsabschnitt 41, der dem Infrarotemitter 30 am nächsten liegt, angeordnet ist und mit dem Beleuchtungsabschnitt 41 in Kontakt steht,
• - einen zweiten Endabschnitt 45, der zwischen dem Infrarotdetektor 31 und dem Beleuchtungsabschnitt 42, der dem Infrarotdetektor 31 am nächsten liegt, angeordnet ist und mit dem Beleuchtungsabschnitt 42 in Kontakt steht.

In the in the 2 and 3 In the example shown, the light guide 40 also has two further sections, which are referred to as "end guide sections 44, 45". In particular, the light guide 40 includes:

• - a first end portion 44 located between the infrared emitter 30 and the lighting portion 41 closest to the infrared emitter 30 and in contact with the lighting portion 41,
• - a second end portion 45 located between the infrared detector 31 and the illumination portion 42 closest to the infrared detector 31 and in contact with the illumination portion 42.

Each end guide portion 44, 45 is made of a material that transmits infrared light from the infrared emitter 30 to the infrared detector 31. FIG. Preferably, the material used for an end guide portion 44,45 blocks visible light emitted by the illumination sources 51,52. However, according to other exemplary embodiments, this material can also transmit the visible light emitted by the illumination sources 51, 52. The above material examples for the lighting sections 41, 42 and the intermediate guide section 43 can also be used to manufacture the end guide sections 44, 45.

It should be noted that the light guide 40 can also be free of end guide sections 44,45. If necessary, the infrared emitter 30 can emit the infrared light directly into the lighting section 41 and the infrared detector 31 can receive the infrared light directly from the lighting section 42 .

In the in the 1 until 3 In the example shown, the infrared emitter 30 and the infrared detector 31 are integrated into the material forming the end guide sections 44,45. Such arrangements are advantageous because they allow both a more compact design of the presence sensor (the infrared emitter 30 and the infrared detector 31 are integrated into the light guide 40), as well as mechanical protection of the pair of infrared emitter 30 / infrared detector 31 by the light guide 40 ensure. In such a case, the material forming the end guide portions 44, 45 is injection molded directly onto the infrared emitter 30 and infrared detector 31, for example. However, it cannot be ruled out that the infrared emitter 30 and/or the infrared detector 31 are not integrated into the light guide 40, as is shown in other examples that are not shown in the figures.

In an analogous manner are in the in the 1 until 3 In the example shown, the lighting sources 51, 52 are embedded in the material forming the lighting sections 41, 42, allowing for a more compact design of the user interface panel 10 while the lighting sources 51, 52 are mechanically protected by the light guide 40. In such a case, the material forming the illumination portions 41, 42 is applied directly to the illumination sources 51, 52, for example by injection molding. However, it is not excluded that one or more light sources are not integrated into the light guide 40, as is the case in other examples that are not illustrated by figures.

4 shows a schematic representation of the illumination section 41 in the sectional plane CC (as in 1 shown). In general and as in the 3 and 4 As shown, the illumination source 51 is positioned outside a guiding direction D _IR of the infrared light by the illumination portion 41 of the light guide 40 so as not to block the infrared light. In this example, the illumination source 51 is located under the interface surface 20, which is offset transversely to said guide direction D _IR . The illumination source 51 is arranged to emit the visible light in the direction of said guidance direction D _IR , the visible light being directed through the illumination section 41 along a principal direction Dv which is substantially perpendicular to the guidance direction D _IR and substantially parallel to the interface surface 20 runs. As in 4 shown, the illumination section 41 has a reflective surface 410 facing the illumination source 51, the reflective surface 410 being designed such that it reflects the visible light emitted by the illumination source 51 in the direction of the contact region 21 connected to the illumination section 41. in the in 4 In the non-limiting example shown, reflective surface 410 is generally planar and angled with respect to interface surface 20 . However, the reflective surface 410 may take any shape suitable to reflect visible light towards the contact area 21, such as a parabolically curved shape, etc.

Thanks to the reflective surface 410, the illumination source 51 does not have to be placed facing and directed towards the contact area 21. Rather, the visible light propagates inside the lighting section 41 in a main direction Dv, which runs largely parallel to the interface surface 20 . The illumination source 51 can therefore be placed in close proximity to the interface surface 20, which can limit the required thickness of the user interface panel 10. However, it is not excluded that an illumination source 51 is arranged differently according to other examples not shown in the figures, including the arrangement facing the contact area 21, outside the guide direction D _IR of the infrared light in the illumination section 41, not around it to lock.

The 5 and 6 12 schematically show two different embodiments of the contact areas 21, 22 for detecting the presence of a user's finger. In the 5 and 6 the various sections of the light guide 40 are not shown in order to ensure legibility of the figures.

in the in 5 In the example shown, the contact areas 21 , 22 allow infrared light to pass through the interface surface 20 . In this example, the light guide 40 is therefore not covered with material that reflects infrared light, at least in part of the contact regions 21, 22. The part of a contact region 21, 22 which transmits visible light through the interface surface 20 also transmits infrared light, for example. Alternatively or additionally, part of the contact area 21, 22 only lets visible light through and another part of the contact area 21, 22 only lets infrared light through.

Thus penetrate, as in part a) of 5 As illustrated, all or some of the infrared light rays impinging on a contact area 21, 22, the interface surface 20 and are therefore not received by the infrared detector 31. As in part b) of 5 As illustrated, upon contact of a finger with a contact area 21, 22, some infrared light rays which previously traversed the interface surface 20 are now reflected into the light guide 40 and towards the infrared detector 31. Generally speaking, the presence of a finger on a contact area 21, 22 will alter the optical properties of those areas and therefore alter the propagation of infrared light within the light guide 40. Such a change in the propagation of the infrared light, caused by the presence of a finger in the vicinity of a contact area 21, 22, results in a change in the intensity of the infrared light, which is detected by the infrared detector 31. Therefore, when the processing unit detects such a change in the intensity of the infrared light in the measurements made by the infrared detector 31, the presence of the finger is detected. It should be noted that the changes in infrared light intensity caused by the presence of a finger depend on the contact area 21, 22 near which the finger is located. Therefore, the evoked NEN changes in the intensity of the infrared light for each contact area 21, 22 are predetermined by simulation and / or calibration of the presence sensor and stored in a memory of the processing unit. The measured changes in the intensity of the infrared light can then be compared with the expected changes stored by the processing unit in order to determine whether a finger is in the vicinity of one of the contact areas 21, 22 and, if necessary, to move the relevant contact area 21, 22 determine.

in the in 6 In the example shown, the contact areas 21, 22 do not allow any infrared light to pass through the interface surface 20. In this example, the light guide 40 is therefore also covered with material 60 which reflects infrared light in the contact areas 21,22. In this example, each lighting section 41, 42 can be deformed when a finger is pressed on the associated contact area 21, 22. The deformation is reversible insofar as the lighting section 41, 42 resumes its original shape before the finger pressed on it when the finger no longer rests on the contact area 21, 22.

Thus, as in part a) of 6 shown, all infrared light rays impinging on a contact area 21, 22 are reflected in the direction of the light guide 40. As in part b) of 6 As shown, when a finger rests on a contact area 21, 22, the illumination section 41, 42 of the light guide 40 is deformed and the propagation of the infrared light within the light guide 40 is changed. Such a change in the propagation of the infrared light, triggered by placing a finger on a contact area 21, 22, leads to a change in the intensity of the infrared light, which is measured by the infrared detector 31. Therefore, the presence of the finger resting on a contact area 21, 22 is detected when the processing unit detects such a change in the intensity of the infrared light in the measurements made by the infrared detector 31. As already mentioned, the changes in the intensity of the infrared light caused by the presence of a finger depend on the contact area 21, 22 on which the finger lies. Therefore, the caused changes in the intensity of the infrared light for each contact area 21, 22 can be predetermined by simulation and/or calibration of the presence sensor and stored in a memory of the processing unit. Thereafter, the measured changes in the intensity of the infrared light can be compared with the expected changes stored by the processing unit in order to determine whether a finger is in the vicinity of one of the contact areas 21, 22 and, if so, to select the corresponding contact area 21, 22 to determine.

In other words, and in general, the processing unit is configured to detect the presence of a finger in the vicinity of a contact area 21, 22 by detecting a predetermined change in the intensity of the infrared light measured by the infrared detector 31.

It is also pointed out that with reference to the 5 and 6 described embodiments can also be combined. For example, the interface surface 20 may have a contact area 21 that transmits infrared light and another contact area 22 that does not transmit infrared light.

Furthermore, the 5 and 6 the examples shown are given with the assumption that only the infrared light intensity measurements are used to detect the presence of a finger in the vicinity of a contact area 21,22. In fact, an infrared emitter 30/infrared detector 31 pair is sufficient to detect the presence of a finger and to identify the contact area from the two contact areas 21, 22 near which the finger is located. However, it is not excluded that in other examples, measurements from other sensors, whether infrared or not, are also used, for example to improve the accuracy of the location of the detected finger in relation to the interface surface 20, if necessary.

7 schematically illustrates the essential steps of an embodiment of a method 70 for manufacturing a user interface panel 10.

As in 7 As shown, the manufacturing method 70 includes a step S71 of providing a substrate that forms the interface surface 20 . The substrate is made of a material that allows at least visible light and preferably also infrared light to pass through. The substrate is made of PC, PMMA, PET or a combination of these materials, etc., for example. The substrate has a thickness between 150 μm and 300 μm, for example.

The manufacturing method 70 also includes a step S72 of forming patterns on the user side and/or the inside of the substrate, at least two patterns corresponding to the contact areas 21,22. This optional step S72 is mainly aimed at a decorative layer on and/or under the substrate in order to to enable a user to recognize the contact areas 21, 22 on the interface surface 20. This step S72 can implement, for example, any known method for printing decorative patterns on a substrate.

The manufacturing method 70 also includes a step S73 of forming a reflective layer on the inside of the substrate from a material 60 that reflects infrared light. This reflecting layer is made of PC or PC/ABS, for example, and contains, for example, reflecting particles such as TiO2, with the TiO2 content preferably being more than 2%. The degree of reflection measured according to DIN 5033 is more than 85%, for example. The purpose of this reflective layer is to form one of the faces of the light guide 40 . As already mentioned, this reflective layer does not necessarily cover the entire substrate on the inside, but only the areas that are intended to reflect the infrared light. Thus, the reflective layer covers the contact areas 21, 22 on the inside in the example of FIG 5 not fully to transmit the infrared light through the interface surface 20. Preferably, the reflective layer also reflects visible light.

In some embodiments, steps S72 and S73 form only a single step when the decorative layer is reflective (that is, when the decorative layer and the reflective layer are blended).

The manufacturing method 70 also includes a step S74 of forming an electronic layer with electrical traces to be connected to electronic components of the user interface panel 10, which includes at least the illumination sources 51, 52, the infrared emitter 30 and the infrared detector 31. This step S74 can, for example, implement any known method for printing electrical conductor tracks.

The manufacturing method 70 also includes a step S75 in which the electronic components are connected to the electrical conductor tracks of the electronic layer. In particular, the illumination sources 51, 52, the infrared emitter 30 and the infrared detector 31 are connected to the various electrical conductor paths.

The manufacturing method 70 also includes a step S76 of forming the light guide 40 using a material that transmits infrared light and visible light for the illuminating portions 41, 42 and using a material that transmits infrared light and blocks visible light emitted by the illumination sources 51, 52 for the intermediate guide section 43 (and, if applicable, the end guide sections 44, 45). The various sections of the light guide 40 are formed, for example, by an injection molding process, for example by injecting an inside of the complex previously formed in steps S71 to S75. The formation of the light guide 40 is carried out, for example, in two successive injection steps in order to first produce the lighting sections 41, 42 and then the intermediate guide section 43 (and optionally the end guide sections 44, 45), or vice versa. The various sections of the light guide 40 are injected so that the adjacent sections touch, forming an interface that allows transmission of infrared light between adjacent sections. As already mentioned, all or some of the electronic components are preferably integrated into the light guide 40 . The light guide 40 has a thickness between 1.2 mm and 3.5 mm, for example.

The manufacturing method 70 also includes a step S77 of forming a reflective layer covering the light guide 40 from a material 60 reflecting infrared light and preferably visible light (preferably the same reflective material 60 as that used in step S73). This step S77 aims to cover the other sides of the light guide 40 in order to improve the guidance of the infrared light from the infrared emitter 30 to the infrared detector 31. In this step S77, for example, a method of printing a reflective layer on the light guide 40 or a method of spraying the reflective layer on the light guide 40, etc. can be used.

The assembly of the substrate, the light guide 40 and the reflective layers has a thickness between 3.2 mm and 5.5 mm, for example.

More generally, it should be noted that the implementations and embodiments considered above have been described as non-exclusive examples and that consequently other variants are also conceivable.

Claims (10)

A user interface panel (10) for a vehicle having an interface surface (20) comprising at least two contact areas (21, 22), the interface surface (20) defining a user side and an inside of the user interface panel, the user interface panel having a sensor for the presence of a finger of a user in the vicinity of the two contact areas (21, 22), wherein the user senheitssensor is arranged on the inside and comprises at least one infrared emitter (30) and one infrared detector (31), which are arranged on both sides of the two contact areas (21, 22), and a light guide (40) which is connected to the two contact areas (21 , 22) adjacent, between the infrared emitter (30) and the infrared detector (31), so that infrared light emitted by the infrared emitter (30) is guided through the light guide and at least partially received by the infrared detector (31), characterized in that each of the two contact areas (21, 22) allows visible light to pass through the interface surface and is provided with a respective illumination source (51, 52) which is suitable for emitting visible light and is arranged on the inside and that the light guide (40) has at least comprises three different sections, including two lighting sections (41, 42), each bordering the two contact areas, and a en intermediate guiding section (43) arranged between the two illumination sections (41, 42), the illumination sections (41, 42) transmitting visible and infrared light, and the intermediate guiding section (43) transmitting infrared light and that from the illumination sources ( 51, 52) blocks visible light emitted. User interface panel (10). claim 1 , each illumination source (51, 52) being aligned transversely to a guide direction between the infrared emitter (30) and the infrared detector (31), each illumination section (41, 42) comprising a reflective surface (410) facing the illumination source (51, 52) associated with the lighting section (41, 42), the reflective surface (410) being adapted to reflect visible light emitted by the lighting source towards the contact area (21, 22) associated with the lighting section (41, 42) to reflect. User interface panel (10). claim 1 or 2 , with an end guide section (44) between the infrared emitter (30) and an illumination section (41, 42) and/or with an end guide section (45) between the infrared detector (31) and an illumination section (41, 42). User interface panel (10). claim 3 , wherein the infrared emitter (30) is embedded in the material that forms the end guide section (44) between the infrared emitter (30) and an illumination section (41, 42), and/or the infrared detector (31) is embedded in the material that forms the end guide section (45) between the infrared detector (31) and an illumination section (41, 42). A user interface panel (10) as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein at least one illumination source (51, 52) is embedded in the material forming the illumination portion (41, 42) illuminated by the illumination source (51, 52). A user interface panel (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one of the contact areas (21, 22) transmits infrared light through the interface surface (20). A user interface panel (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one of the contact areas (21, 22) is opaque to infrared light and the associated illumination portion (41, 42) is deformable by pressing a finger on the contact area (21, 22). User interface panel (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein between the infrared emitter (30) and the infrared detector (31) the light guide (40) is completely or partially surrounded by infrared light reflecting material (60). Passenger vehicle, characterized in that it comprises at least one user interface panel (10) according to any one of the preceding claims. A method (70) for producing a user interface panel (10) according to any one of Claims 1 until 8th comprising the steps of: - (S71) providing a substrate forming the interface surface (20) from a material that transmits at least visible light, - (S73) forming a reflective layer on the inside of the substrate from a material (60 ) that reflects infrared light, - (S74) formation of an electronic layer with electrical conductor tracks for connection to electronic components, comprising at least the illumination sources (51, 52), the infrared emitter (30) and the infrared detector (31), - (S75 ) connecting the electronic parts to the electrical wirings of the electronic layer, - (S76) forming the light guide (40) using a material that transmits infrared light and visible light for the lighting portions (41, 42), and using a material , which transmits infrared light and blocks visible light for the intermediate guide section (43) coming from the Bele uh - (S77) forming a reflective layer on the light guide (40) from a material (60) which reflects infrared light.

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