Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
  • B60H—ARRANGEMENTS OF HEATING, COOLING, VENTILATING OR OTHER AIR-TREATING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR PASSENGER OR GOODS SPACES OF VEHICLES
  • B60H1/00—Heating, cooling or ventilating [HVAC] devices
  • B60H1/00642—Control systems or circuits; Control members or indication devices for heating, cooling or ventilating devices
  • B60H1/00985—Control systems or circuits characterised by display or indicating devices, e.g. voice simulators

Definitions

• Table comprising members for controlling the air conditioning of a vehicle
• the present invention relates to a table comprising members for controlling the air conditioning of a vehicle.
• Document US Pat. No. 6,066,225 discloses such a table comprising means for controlling the ventilation mode, the flow rate and the temperature of the air inside said passenger compartment.
• these control means comprise three separate rotary buttons distributed on an elongated plate, these buttons making it possible to respectively control the ventilation mode, the air flow rate and the air temperature .
• the object of the present invention is to provide an air conditioning control panel which can be modulated at the lowest cost as a function of the air conditioning control options provided.
• This object of the invention is achieved with a table comprising members for controlling the air conditioning of a vehicle, remarkable in that it comprises a central part intended to receive some of said members and a peripheral part intended to receive the others of said members , the shape of said central part being modular as a function of the control options provided on said table.
• said central part substantially defines a disk and said peripheral part substantially defines a crown surrounding said disk
• said certain members are adapted to control the flow rate and the temperature of the air arriving inside the passenger compartment of said vehicle
• said other members are adapted to control the ventilation mode inside said passenger compartment
• said other members include members chosen from the group comprising members for controlling the distribution of air, members for actuating an air refrigeration system and means for recycling the air in said passenger compartment,
• said table comprises fixed lugs interposed between the keys of said second series of keys
• said certain organs include at least one rotary button
• - Said table includes a display screen located in said central part.
• FIG. 1 is a front view of a first embodiment of the control panel according to the invention.
• FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the control panel according to the invention.
• FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of a control panel 1 according to the invention, comprising a plate 2 intended to be mounted inside the passenger compartment 3 of a vehicle automobile 5.
• This control panel 1 comprises members 7 for controlling the ventilation mode inside the passenger compartment 3, these members being mounted on the plate 2.
• These organs may include, for example, a first series of keys 7a, 7b, 7c, 7e, 7f, 7g, 7h allowing respectively to control an air refrigeration system, the recycling of the air inside the cockpit 3, resetting the control panel to zero, demisting the rear window, the air intake at the rear of the cockpit 3, the air intake at mid-height relative to the passenger , the air intake to the passenger's feet and head, and the windshield defogger.
• the keys 7d to 7h have in common the possibility of adapting the air distribution in the passenger compartment 3 according to the needs of the passengers.
• lugs 9a to 9h integral with the plate 2 are interposed between the keys 7a to 7h.
• the control panel according to the invention also comprises members 11 for controlling the flow rate and the temperature of the air arriving in the passenger compartment 3.
• These means may include, for example and respectively, first 11a and second 11b mounted buttons rotary and coaxial on plate 2.
• the members 11 for controlling the flow rate and the temperature of the air arriving in the passenger compartment 3 and the members 7 for controlling the ventilation mode in this passenger compartment are arranged respectively in a central part and in a peripheral part of the plate 2.
• the central part of the plate 2 substantially defines a disk and the peripheral part of the plate 2 substantially defines a ring surrounding this disk.
• FIG. 2 shows a second embodiment of a control panel according to the invention.
• the members 11 for controlling the flow rate and the temperature of the air arriving in the passenger compartment 3 comprise a second series of keys 11a, 11a 'and 11b, 11b' placed inside the crown defined by the first series of keys 7a at 7h.
• a display screen 13 is placed in the central part of the plate 2, between the keys 11a, 11a 'on the one hand and 11b, 11b' on the other hand.
• This display screen 13 is designed to provide various information on the operation of the air conditioning inside the passenger compartment 3: distribution mode, flow rate, temperature, etc.
• a passenger wishing to control the air conditioning of the passenger compartment 3 of the vehicle 5 approaches his hand to the control panel 1, then selects the ventilation mode by pressing the appropriate keys 7, then selects the flow rate of air arriving inside the passenger compartment 3 by turning the button 11a in the appropriate direction, then finally selects the temperature of this air by turning the button 11b.
• the passenger selects the air flow by pressing one of the two keys 11a, 11a ′, then he selects the temperature of this air by pressing one of the two keys 11b, 11b '.
• the display screen 13 allows the passenger to obtain confirmation of the adjustments he has made.
• This partial change of the manufacturing mold allows significant savings compared to the need to use a specific mold for each order option.
• control panel according to the invention can easily be adapted to selectively equip a right-hand drive vehicle or a left-hand drive vehicle.
• the various control members 7, 11 of the air conditioning are brought together in a very compact space, so that it becomes possible to place the control panel 1 according to the invention elsewhere than on the dashboard (not shown) of the motor vehicle 3, and in particular on each door (not shown) of this vehicle.
• This control panel 1 thus becomes very accessible for each passenger of the vehicle, which makes it possible to achieve much more satisfactory ergonomics than in the prior art.
• the circular shape of the plate 2 makes all of the control members 7, 11 very accessible with the fingers of a user's hand, for a given position of the latter, which also contributes to the improved ergonomics compared to the prior art.
• This accessibility of the control members 7, 11 is particularly advantageous when the control panel according to the invention must be handled “blind", as is the case for example in the dark.
• control panel according to the invention has an innovative aesthetic appearance, particularly in accordance with the shapes that will be found in vehicles for years to come.

Landscapes

• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Thermal Sciences (AREA)
• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Air-Conditioning For Vehicles (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=8861525

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (5)

Families Citing this family (5)

Family Cites Families (6)

• 2001
  • 2001-03-26 FR FR0104021A patent/FR2822416B1/fr not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 2002
  • 2002-02-14 WO PCT/FR2002/000559 patent/WO2002076774A1/fr not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 2002-02-14 US US10/472,182 patent/US20040130535A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2002-02-14 EP EP02706855A patent/EP1372994A1/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 2002-02-14 JP JP2002575257A patent/JP2004525021A/ja not_active Withdrawn

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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