EP2054904B1 - Control module, in particular for an automotive vehicle module - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a control module that comprises at least one touch control surface (3) made of a sensor (31) sensitive to the pressure applied on the touch surface (3) and of a flexible protection layer (33) covering said sensor (31) and allowing a pressure to be locally transmitted to the sensor. The module further includes a rigid mechanical support (15) in which openings (27) are formed, allowing therethrough the light from at least one light source (25) and defining back-lighting regions of the touch surface (3), and a plate (20) of an incompressible material and transparent to the light which is sandwiched between the mechanical support (15) and the sensor (31) and defines a continuous smooth surface at the touch surface (3), wherein the sensor (31) and the flexible protection layer (33) are made so as to allow the light at least partially through the back-lighting regions.

Description

The present invention relates to a control module, in particular for a motor vehicle.

More specifically, such a module finds an advantageous application for the controls located at the console between the two front seats of a motor vehicle for example to control air conditioning functions, an audio system, a control system. telephony or a navigation system.

The invention can also be applied in a region of the vehicle called the dome which is located at the usual location of the interior rearview mirror, for example to control interior lights, central locking, sunroof, hazard lights or the mood lights.

This module can also be used for window regulators, exterior mirrors positioning controls or motorized seat motion controls.

In the automotive field, the controls of various electrical components are conventionally performed by switches / switches. However, in view of the increasing number of electrical components to be controlled, multifunctional control devices are increasingly used because of ergonomic benefits that result. Indeed, from a single command button, made for example in the form of a joystick, associated with a display screen, you can navigate in drop-down menus to control for example the air conditioning, the audio system or even the navigation system.

To increase the ergonomic comfort, the use of a touch sensor technology, alone or in addition to such multifunction buttons, can be considered as an interesting development.

Indeed, tactile sensors, especially for the automotive field, have made significant progress. A technology using pressure-sensitive resistors (also known as FSR sensor for "Force Sensing Resistor") is ahead of more and more other equivalent technologies, such as capacitive or optical technologies thanks to its ease of use. implemented and its robustness.

Such sensors are for example known as the digitizing tablet ("Digitizer pad") and the following documents are cited as prior art: US 4,810,992 , US5,008,497 , FR 2683649 US5,239,152 , or EP 0541 102 .

These sensors comprise flexible semiconductor layers sandwiched between, for example, a conductive layer and a resistive layer. By exerting pressure on the FSR layer, its ohmic resistance decreases allowing, by applying a suitable voltage, to measure the pressure applied and / or the location of the place where the pressure is exerted.

According to a different design of the FSR technology, the touch sensor comprises two flexible support sheets spaced from each other by elastic spacers and on mutually opposite faces of the elements making it possible to make an electrical contact during the compression. of the sensor (see for example EP 1 429 355 and EP 1 429 356 ).

However, the known sensors are by their design generally opaque, which poses problems for lighting controls for driving at night in a motor vehicle.

Indeed, the backlighting of signaling symbols, that is to say the lighting by the rear face, has imposed itself in the automotive field for its advantages in terms of ergonomics and possibilities of integration into the vehicle. level of an order. For a command button, there is for example on its control side a pictogram showing the function that can be controlled by this button. This pictogram is often made of a white plastic material allowing the light of a light-emitting diode placed behind the pictogram to pass through. During daytime driving, the driver clearly sees the white pictogram on the button, and when driving at night, the backlighting allows the driver to easily locate the control.

The present invention aims at providing a control module comprising a touch sensor sensitive to pressure exerted on this sensor which can benefit from a backlight for better identification of the functions to be controlled, in particular when driving at night.

For this purpose, the subject of the invention is a control module, comprising at least one tactile control surface formed by means of a pressure-sensitive sensor exerted on the tactile surface, and a flexible protective layer covering said touch-sensitive sensor surface. sensor and for locally transmitting pressure to the sensor, characterized in that it further comprises a support rigid mechanism in which are provided openings for passing light from at least one light source and defining backlight regions of the touch surface, and a plate of incompressible material and passing light which is placed sandwiching between the mechanical support and the sensor, and which defines at the tactile surface a smooth continuous surface, and in that the sensor and the flexible protective layer are made so as to let light at least partially in the backlight regions.

The invention furthermore relates to a multifunctional control device for controlling the functions of at least one set of electrical or electronic components of a motor vehicle, such as an air conditioning system, an audio system, an a navigation system, a telephony system, motorized window regulators, exterior mirror adjustment controls, sunroof position adjustment controls, interior lighting controls, control commands for a motor vehicle seat, characterized in that it comprises a module as defined above.

• la figure 1 montre une vue en perpective d'un module selon l'invention à l'état assemblé,
• la figure 2 montre une vue éclatée en perspective de la figure 1,
• la figure 3 montre une vue en coupe transversale selon la ligne III - III de la figure 1,
• la figure 4 est une vue de principe d'un capteur tactile du module selon un premier mode de réalisation,
• la figure 5 est une vue de principe d'un capteur tactile selon un second mode de réalisation, et
• la figure 6 est un schéma synoptique d'un dispositif de commande multifonctions comprenant un module selon l'invention.

Other features and advantages of the invention will emerge from the following description given by way of example, without limitation, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

• the figure 1 shows a perspective view of a module according to the invention in the assembled state,
• the figure 2 shows an exploded perspective view of the figure 1 ,
• the figure 3 shows a cross-sectional view along line III - III of the figure 1 ,
• the figure 4 is a basic view of a touch sensor of the module according to a first embodiment,
• the figure 5 is a basic view of a touch sensor according to a second embodiment, and
• the figure 6 is a block diagram of a multifunction control device comprising a module according to the invention.

An exemplary non-limiting embodiment of the invention for an application of multifunctional controls will be described later in relation to the appended figures.

The figure 1 shows a control module 1 according to the invention which is in a general parallelepipedal term, intended to be mounted in a motor vehicle, preferably at the center console between the two front seats.

Of course, other shapes and other locations can be considered depending on the orders to be made and their usual location.

The module comprises a tactile control surface 3 indicated in dashed lines and, optionally, a housing 5 for receiving for example a multifunction button such as a joystick.

Inside the tactile control surface 3 are defined six touch zones for selection of electric or electronic organs 11 (for example "GENERAL MENU" "RADIO", "CD", "NAVIGATION", "TELEPHONE" and "AIR CONDITIONING" ") As well as a conventional alphanumeric keyboard 13 to twelve touch keys (the numbers" 0 "to" 9 "as well as the symbols" # "and" * "). Each zone or key comprises a symbol or an inscription of letter (s) or number (s) related to the function to be controlled which, as will be described later, may be permanently visible according to a first embodiment or, according to a second embodiment, only if a backlight is applied.

As we see it shabby in reference to figures 2 and 3 , the control module 1 comprises a rigid mechanical support 15, for example made of plastic, with two side walls 17 and a slightly curved / curved horizontal portion 19 supported by the walls 17.

Between the walls 17 is maintained a printed circuit board 23 carrying light sources 25, such as light emitting diodes ("LED" for "light emitting diodes", that is to say, light emitting diodes).

In the part 19 of the support 15 are formed openings 27 (see figure 3 ) for passing light from the light sources 25 and defining backlight regions of the symbols or lettering (s) or encrypted) of the touch zone 3. Preferably, a light source 25 is provided by region backlighting, the latter being surrounded by partition walls 28 to allow selective illumination of one or more tactile areas and to obtain an optimal lighting result.

The shape of the openings 27 is advantageously circular in shape, at least for the tactile keys of the alphanumeric keyboard 13, or of oval shape, in particular for a zone with elongated dimensions. Due to the fact that the light-emitting diodes generally emit a cone of light, this circular or oval shape makes it possible to obtain a fairly homogeneous and uniform illumination.

On the support 15 is placed a plate 29 made of an incompressible material, allowing the light to pass. By incompressible, it is understood that a user can not reduce the thickness by pressing the plate. To let the light through, the plate is made of a transparent or translucent material, preferably polycarbonate.

If it is desired to use light diodes of low power, a transparent plate is preferred because it does not reduce the light power emitted by the sources 25.

If it is desired to obtain a more uniform and uniform illumination, in particular if the size of the backlighting area is large relative to the size of the light source, a translucent or milky plate is preferred for homogenizing the light emitted by the light sources. sources 25.

The plate 29 is sandwiched between the support 15 on the one hand and a sensor 31 sensitive to the pressure exerted in the touch zone 3 on the other hand. These sensors 31 are sensitive to a compression which slightly decreases their thickness and which results in an exploitable electrical signal to know the location of the support and / or pressure applied.

This sensor 31 is preferably a sensor with FSR technology as described for example in the documents US 4,810,992 , US5,008,497 , FR 2683649 , EP 0 541 102 , or the documents EP 1 429 355 and EP 1 429 356 .

It should be noted that the plate 29 is at least at the surface of the touch control surface 3 continuous and perfectly smooth. By this, it is understood that it has no roughness or hole at the touch surface 3.

Indeed, edges of a hole or asperities on the surface could cause erroneous control signals and lead to premature deterioration of the sensor by repeated compression against an edge or asperity.

It is therefore understood that the plate 29 makes it possible both to protect the sensor 31 in order to place it in optimal working conditions and to let the light from the light sources 25 pass either directly (transparent plate) or by homogenizing the luminous flux (plate translucent / milky).

A flexible protective layer 33 covers the sensor 31 and makes it possible to locally transmit a pressure thereon.

The sensor 31 and the flexible protective layer 33 are made so as to let light at least partially at the backlighting regions.

For this purpose, it is envisaged according to a first embodiment (see principle view of the figure 4 ) to make a sensor 31 with holes 32 so as to pass light at least partially at the backlighting regions. If we take for example the sensor described in the documents EP 1 429 355 and EP 1 429 356 it suffices to make the edge of the holes 34 like the outer edges of the sensor 31. The size of these holes is preferably smaller than the footprint of a finger of a user. Surprisingly, it has been found that the operation of such a sensor is not affected by these discontinuities such as holes in the tactile surface.

According to a second embodiment (see principle view of the figure 5 ), the sensor comprises two flexible sheets made of a light-transmitting material and active tracks sandwiched between these flexible sheets, the tracks forming a gate 34 and the light passes through the gate 34.

Regarding the flexible layer 33, it has at the backlighting regions symbols / signs in the form of control pictograms or letter (s) or number (s). These symbols are made of a material allowing light to pass at least partially.

According to a first variant, the flexible layer 33 is for example made of silicone.

According to a second variant, this flexible layer 33 is produced according to the "Black Panel" technology (that is to say a so-called "black panel" technology) which is described in the documents DE2613024 , DE19702957 , DE19705536 , DE19935386 , EP0803711 , or WO2005035299 . In this case, symbols / signs such as numbers, letters or pictograms are made so that they are visbile only in case of backlighting. Therefore, in the absence of a light source, the protective layer 33 appears uniform without any indication or writing at the touch surface 3. In this case, the flexible layer 33 of protection is advantageously made of a polycarbonate sheet. a thickness of between 0.1mm and 0.5mm, preferably equal to about 0.2mm. Due to its small thickness, the polycarbonate sheet is capable of transmitting locally a support on the sensor 31.

Returning to figure 1 , the module 1 can receive in its central portion 35 of its housing 5 for example a multifunctional control button, made in the form of a joystick and in its side portions 37 control keys.

Of course, the combination of a multifunction button with the touch control surface is not imperative. For the realization of a simplified control module for example for adjustment commands of power windows, mirrors, a sunroof or a motorized seat, this housing 5 of the module is not necessary and can be omitted.

On the figure 4 is shown a block diagram of a multifunctional control device 40 for controlling the functions of at least one set of electrical or electronic components of a motor vehicle, such as an air conditioning system, an audio system, a 'a navigation system, telephony system, power window controls, exterior mirror adjustment controls, sunroof position adjustment controls, interior lighting controls, setting controls of a motor vehicle seat.

This device comprises a control module 1 as described in connection with the Figures 1 to 5 as well as a screen 42 for displaying the functions to be controlled.

The control module 1 and the screen 42 are connected to a processing unit 44 which manages the screen according to the touch commands received from the module 1. This unit 44 subsequently sends the definitive commands to the selected system (for example increasing the volume for a radio system).

To signal to the user that his command has been detected by the tactile surface 3, especially in night driving, it can further be provided in the control module 1, at least one vibrator 46 capable of applying a vibration to the surface control ( figure 3 ).

In the present context, a vibrator is a means of applying a movement to the tactile surface, so that the user perceives a haptic feedback of his command.

The vibrators are controlled by a controller and are configured to apply movement parallel to said touch surface 3.

Of course, perpendicular movements, a combination of motion directions, percussive movements or the like can be envisaged.

It is thus expected that the vibrator 46 is in contact with the inner face of a side wall 17 of the mechanical support 15 to vibrate the touch surface 3 as shown in FIG. figure 3 .

This arrangement allows the optimization of the space available in the control module.

In operation, the vibrator transmits the vibration movement to the touch surface 3, via the rigid mechanical support 15 and via the plate 29.

For this, the support 15 has feet (non-visible) in engagement with pistons vibrators 46, which include for example an electric motor, an electromagnet or a piezoelectric element to put the piston in motion.

According to an alternative embodiment not shown, the vibrator is in contact with the plate to vary the touch surface.

The electrical components are advantageously connected to the printed circuit board 23.

In an alternative version, the pistons can be made in the form of screws engaged with the feet of the tactile surface.

One can provide a direct connection between the control applied for example by a finger of a user on the surface 3 and the haptic feedback of information given by the vibrators.

The haptic feedback is detected by the same finger.

It is therefore understood that thanks to the plate 29, the sensor can be protected from repeated or excessive mechanical stress which can damage the sensor and considerably reduce the service life of the sensor.

A compact control module is obtained, making it possible to perform many functions that are ergonomically easy to understand.

Claims (17)

1. Control module, comprising at least one touch control surface (3) made by means of a sensor (31) sensitive to pressure exerted on the touch surface (3) and a flexible protection layer (33) covering said sensor (31) and enabling pressure to be transferred locally to the sensor, characterized in that it furthermore comprises a rigid mechanical support (15) in which openings (27) are formed enabling light to pass from at least one light source (25) and defining backlighting regions of the touch surface (3), and a plate (29) made of an incompressible material and allowing light to pass which is sandwiched between the mechanical support (15) and the sensor (31), and which defines a smooth continuous surface at the level of the touch surface (3), and in that the sensor (31) and the flexible protection layer (33) are made so as to allow light to pass at least partly in the backlighting regions.
2. Control module according to Claim 1, characterized in that the openings (27) in the mechanical support (15) have a circular or oval shape.
3. Control module according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the plate (29) is made of a transparent material.
4. Control module according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the plate (29) is made of a translucent material.
5. Control module according to any one of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the plate (29) is made of polycarbonate.
6. Control module according to any one of Claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the pressure sensitive sensor (31) is a sensor according to FSR technology.
7. Control module according to Claim 6, characterized in that the sensor comprises holes so as to allow light to pass at least partly in the backlighting regions.
8. Control module according to Claim 6, characterized in that the sensor comprises two flexible sheets made of a material that allows light to pass and active tracks sandwiched between these flexible sheets, the tracks forming a grid, and in that the light passes through the grid.
9. Control module according to any one of Claims 1 to 8, characterized in that in the backlighting regions the flexible protection layer (33) has control symbols or signs made of a material that allows light to pass at least partly.
10. Control module according to Claim 9, characterized in that the flexible protection layer (33) is made of silicone.
11. Control module according to Claim 9 or 10, characterized in that the control signs are made so that they are visible only when there is backlighting.
12. Control module according to Claim 11, characterized in that the flexible protection layer (33) is made of a polycarbonate sheet of a thickness of between 0.1 mm and 0.5 mm, preferably equal to around 0.2 mm.
13. Control module according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises at least one vibrating device (46) capable of applying vibration to the control surface (3) in order to signal to the user that a command has been registered.
14. Control module according to Claim 13, characterized in that the vibrating device (46) is in contact with the plate (29).
15. Control module according to Claim 13, characterized in that the vibrating device (46) is in contact with the mechanical support (15).
16. Multifunction control device for controlling the functions of at least one set of electrical or electronic units of a motor vehicle, such as an airconditioning system, an audio system, a navigation system, a telephone system, motorized window regulator controls, controls for adjusting exterior rearview mirrors, controls for adjusting the position of a sunroof, interior lighting controls, controls for adjusting the seat of a motor vehicle, characterized in that it comprises a module according to any one of Claims 1 to 15.
17. Device according to Claim 16, characterized in that the device furthermore comprises a screen for displaying the functions to be controlled.

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