FR3047868A1 - FUNCTIONAL MODULE COMPRISING A SCREEN AND TRIM PART INTEGRATING SUCH A MODULE - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a functional module comprising an electronic card and a screen connected together by a cable, the screen being associated with a heat sink body at least for this screen. Functional module (1) characterized in that the body (5) forming the heat sink is made of an electrically conductive material, in that the screen (3) is arranged in and / or on said body (5), such that so that the latter covers at least the rear face of said screen (3), in that the screen (3) is held frontally on and / or in the body (5) by a metal frame (7), covering all the zones peripheral edge of said screen (3) and electrically connected to said heat sink (5), and in that said heat sink (5) is connected to the ground of the remote electronic card (2) via the connecting cable ( 4).

Description

DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to the field of electronic equipment intended to be implemented in a sensitive and / or disruptive electromagnetic environment and that may come into contact, voluntarily or otherwise, with a user, more particularly in a context of a motor vehicle passenger compartment. Or other. The subject of the invention is a secure functional module with a display screen, and a piece of vehicle trim equipment comprising at least one such module.

Numerous embodiments of functional display and / or control modules fitted to vehicles are already known. These known modules generally comprise an electronic card and a display screen, and possibly control, connected together by at least one cable, the screen being associated with a heat sink body at least for this screen.

The dissipator body, which usually has a much larger spatial extension than the screen, is generally mounted on the rear face of a cover or trim piece, the screen being prominent with respect to said body and apparent level of the visible face (side A) of said piece, through a suitably shaped opening in said part.

The electronic card is, in turn, often located away from the screen, set back from the room, possibly in a housing, a housing or a suitable support ("rack"), together with other cards or not.

Such electronic equipment must meet safety standards and regulatory standards in terms of electromagnetic interference (EMI), electromagnetic compatibility (EMC), electrostatic discharge (ESD) and galvanic discharge (ESD) prevention and, more generally, , protection of persons.

In addition, these electronic equipment require the addition of significant cooling means, especially when they are likely to operate over long periods, or permanently.

While it is relatively easy to provide adequate measures to meet the standards and standards for the remote electronic card (shielded housing, blower, insulation by dielectric materials, concealed mounting and not accessible), the implementation of adequate measures and satisfactory at the screen is significantly more difficult and more restrictive.

No. 5,675,396 discloses a display screen module construction in which the screen is directly mounted on the electronic card and assembled with the latter by means of a metal frame partially covering the edges. devices on this screen. However, this integrated construction requires the presence of a sufficient available volume around the screen and the aforementioned document does not specifically address the cooling problem of the screen or the card.

Document US Pat. No. 5,705,860 discloses an on-board passenger entertainment system in which the display and the electronic card are mounted in separate shielded and isolated boxes connected by connecting cables. The result is a complex construction without the problem of cooling the screen is specifically treated. In addition, there is no mention in this document of special protective measures at the edges of the screen, outside the effective display area of the latter.

The object of the present invention is to propose a solution in the form of a module which can be easily implanted in a vehicle cabin environment, making it possible to overcome the limitations of the prior art, while also providing efficient cooling for the screen.

Preferably, the solution according to the invention must also aim to avoid floating potentials and make it possible to connect all the active circuits and all the metallic components of the functional module to a mass or a known reference potential (e) vehicle), despite their possible geographical dispersion. For this purpose, the invention relates to a functional module characterized in that the body forming the heat sink is made of an electrically conductive material and has a front face, in that the screen is disposed in and / or on said body, such that the latter substantially covers at least the rear face of said screen, in that the screen is held frontally on and / or in the body by a metal frame, covering all the peripheral edge areas of said screen and connected electrically to said heat sink, and in that said heat sink is connected to ground or ground of the remote or remote electronic card via the connecting cable. The invention will be better understood, thanks to the following description, which relates to a preferred embodiment, given by way of non-limiting example, and explained with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which: FIGS. 3 are perspective views in three different directions of a functional module according to the invention; Figure 4 is a perspective and partially exploded view of the module shown in Figures 1 to 3; FIG. 5 is a view on a different scale of a portion of the constructive assembly [screen / dissipator body] forming part of the module shown in FIGS. 1 to 3; FIG. 6 is a partial front elevational view of the heat sink body equipped with the backlighting means of the screen (the latter being removed), forming part of the module shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, and FIG. 7 is a simplified view, partially exploded and in section along a plane perpendicular to the plane of the screen of the assembly [screen / body forming a dissipator] shown in FIG. 5 and forming part of the module shown in FIGS. 1 to 3.

Figures 1 to 5 and 7 show, for some only part, a functional module 1 comprising an electronic card 2 and a display screen 3, and possibly control, connected together by at least one cable 4, the screen 3 being associated with a heat sink body 5 at least for this screen 3.

According to the invention, it is provided that the body 5 forming the heat sink is made of an electrically conductive material and has a front face 5 ', that the screen 3 is disposed in and / or on said body 5, such that way that the latter substantially covers at least the rear face of said screen 3, the screen 3 is held frontally on and / or in the body 5 by a metal frame 7, covering all the peripheral edge areas 3 'of said screen 3 and electrically connected to said heat sink 5 and said heat sink 5 is connected to ground or ground of the electronic card 2 remote or remote via the connecting cable 4.

Thus, this functional module 1 essentially comprises two constituent parts, both structurally and functionally, namely, on the one hand, the composite assembly formed by the screen 3 and the body 5 and, on the other hand, the electronic card 2 remote, these two main parts being connected by the flexible cable 4, allowing great freedom of installation in situ.

Thanks to the combined technical provisions of the invention, namely an electrical connection of all the constituent components of the module 1 to a common mass deported and the installation of the screen 3 in a Faraday cage (frame 7 + body 5 ), it is possible to significantly improve the performance in terms of EMI, EMC and ESD, while maintaining an immediate proximity of said screen 3 with its cooling means 5.

In accordance with a very advantageous characteristic of the invention which is more particularly apparent from FIGS. 1, 3 to 5 and 7, the module 1 also comprises an intermediate support frame 8 rigidly attached to the heat sink body 5 and made of a non-conductive material. for example a plastic material. This intermediate support frame 8 cooperates constructively with the front metal frame 7, with which it is mechanically assembled, for example by means of cooperating locking interlocking means 9, 9 ', to form together a mounting housing 6 of the screen 3 with a front opening 6 'giving access to the effective display area 3 "of the latter, said screen 3 being advantageously a touch screen and / or provided with contact or pressure control means.

The support frame 8 thus serves as an assembly intermediate between the screen 3 and the body 5 while forming with the front frame 7 a mounting housing 6. Thus, the screen 3 is physically maintained in the housing 6 and installed , being electromagnetically isolated, in the electromagnetically insulated enclosure formed by the body 5 and the front frame 7.

Advantageously, the support frame 8 may comprise wings, ears or similar lateral extensions 21 allowing its attachment to the front face 5 'of the body 5 and the front frame 7 may comprise at least one wing or tongue 7', preferably at least two, establishing electrical contact with said body 5, preferably under elastic stress.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, illustrated for example in Figures 3 and 7 of the drawings, the invention provides that the connecting cable 4 connecting the screen 3 and the remote electronic card 2 consists of a flat cable, preferably shielded, and that said cable 4 is held tight against the body 5 forming a heat sink, downstream of its connection zone with the screen 3 and upstream of its free central portion 4 ', via an element elastic or spring 10, the latter also establishing an electrically conductive connection between the heat sink body 5 and a conductor of said cable 4 connected to the ground or ground of the remote or remote electronic card 2.

In accordance with a practical constructive variant of the aforementioned embodiment, the conductive elastic element 10 consists of a metal spring blade mounted on the metal body forming a heat sink 5 and coming into pressure contact on the connecting cable 4 to pinch it against a corresponding support site 11 of said body 5 and said cable 4 is provided with a conductive surface terminal 12, such as a metal plate, connected to the conductor of the cable 4 connected to earth or ground and located on the face outside said cable 4, in its zone of contact with the conductive elastic element 10.

Preferably, and particularly in the context of an application of the invention improving the usability of the screen 3, the module 1 may also comprise means 13 for backlighting the screen 3, such as for example one or more electroluminescent diode (s) or the like (s), arranged on a specific electronic card 14 mounted in a receiving site 15, such as a corresponding recess of the heat sink body 5, located at the 3. Furthermore, said electronic card 14 residing in the body 5 and carrying the backlighting means 13 is advantageously connected to the electronic card 2 distant or offset by a second specific connecting cable 16, for example a flat cable, comprising a conductor which is connected to the ground or ground of said remote card 2.

Advantageously, the resident electronic card 14 is rigidly secured to the heat sink body 5 in its receiving site 15, for example at the bottom of the recess, by means of at least one screw 17, the latter also establishing a connection between said body 5 and the earth or the mass of said resident electronic card 14.

This additional connection of the conductive body 5 to the remote card 2 makes it possible to have a second indirect grounding of the screen 3, thus doubling the protection measures.

This second cable 16 may, for example, enter the recess 15 through a slot-shaped lateral opening of the latter (FIG. 2).

In order to achieve an optimized backlight, without complicating the construction of the module 1 by avoiding multiplying the additional parts, it can be provided, as shown for example in Figures 4 and 7, the intermediate support frame 8 is extended, the opposite side to the screen 3, by a tubular tapered structure 8 'extending to the vicinity of the backlighting means 13 and forming a diffusion cone for the latter in the direction of the screen 3. In addition, said tubular structure 8 'advantageously comprises an intermediate mounting bearing, for example in the form of an internal shoulder 8 ", adapted and intended to receive an optically active element 20, such as a plane or non-surface diopter, traversed by the luminous flux emitted by the backlighting means 13 towards the rear face of the screen 3.

In order to simplify the production of the body 5 and the assembly of the other functional components of the module 1 with the latter, the intermediate support frame 8 is advantageously attached to the opening 15 'of the receiving recess 15 opening on the end face 5 of the body 5, for example by being mounted in an internal shoulder 5 "of this opening 5 'This recess 15 is furthermore devoid of a side wall on the side of the screen 3 connected to the connecting cable 4, and is provided a shutter plate 10 'reported, which at least partially closes this open side 15 "and which also forms a support body for said connecting cable 4, between its screen connection area 3 and a tight holding zone in application against the body 5 by an elastic member or spring 10 (Figures 3, 4 and 7).

As shown by way of example of embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 4, the body 5 forming a heat sink comprises one or more zone (s) of contact, support, and / or wedging 18 and one or more site (s). ) for fastening and / or fixing 19, in particular on its front face 5, allowing its assembly with or its mounting in a piece of equipment or lining of a land, air or sea vehicle, provided with an opening for the screen 3, for example of the TFT type, said body 5 thus forming in situ mounting support for said screen 3.

The body 5 preferably consists of a metal part (for example aluminum or aluminum alloy) molded with the recess 15 receiving the support frame 8, 8 'and the resident card 14. The plate 10' and the flat cable 4 complete the electromagnetic shield of the recess 15 on the side of the open face of the latter.

Although not shown in the accompanying drawings, the invention also relates to a piece of equipment or trim of a vehicle, having an apparent surface, such as a dashboard, a seat back, a panel covering or filling, a flag or the like, comprising a display screen, and optionally control, advantageously integrated flush or slightly recessed relative to the apparent surface in said room.

This part is characterized in that the screen 3 is part of a functional module 1 as described above, only the effective display area 3 "being visible and accessible at the apparent surface of said piece of equipment or of filling.

Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiment described and shown in the accompanying drawings. Modifications are possible, particularly from the point of view of the constitution of the various elements or by substitution of technical equivalents, without departing from the scope of protection of the invention.

Claims (10)

1. Functional module comprising an electronic card and a display screen, and possibly control, connected together by at least one cable, the screen being associated with a body forming a heat sink at least for this screen, functional module (1) characterized in that the body (5) forming the heat sink is made of an electrically conductive material and has a front face (5 '), in that the screen (3) is disposed in and / or on said body (5). ), so that the latter substantially covers at least the rear face of said screen (3), in that the screen (3) is held frontally on and / or in the body (5) by a metal frame (7) covering all peripheral edge regions (3 ') of said screen (3) and electrically connected to said heat sink (5), and in that said heat sink (5) is connected to ground or ground of the electronic board (2) distant or deported through re of the connecting cable (4). 2. Functional module according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises an intermediate support frame (8) rigidly attached to the heat sink body (5) and made of a non-conductive material, for example a plastic material, intermediate support frame (8) cooperating constructively with the front metal frame (7), with which it is mechanically assembled, for example by cooperating interlocking locking means (9, 9 '), to form a housing together mounting (6) the screen (3) with a front opening (6 ') releasing access to the effective display area (3 ") thereof, said screen (3) being advantageously a touch screen and / or provided with control means by contact or pressure. 3. Functional module according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the connecting cable (4) connecting the screen (3) and the remote electronic card (2) consists of a flat cable, preferably shielded, and in that said cable (4) is held tight against the body (5) forming a heat sink, downstream of its connection area with the screen (3) and upstream of its free middle portion (4 '), via an elastic member or spring (10), the latter also establishing an electrically conductive connection between the heat sink body (5) and a conductor of said cable (4) connected to the ground or ground of the electronic board (2) distant or deported. 4. Functional module according to claim 3, characterized in that the conductive elastic element (10) consists of a metal spring blade mounted on the metal body forming a heat sink (5) and coming into pressure contact on the connecting cable ( 4) for clamping against a corresponding bearing site (11) of said body (5) and in that said cable (4) is provided with a conductive surface terminal (12), such as a metal plate, connected to the cable conductor (4) connected to ground or earth and located on the outer face of said cable (4) in its region of contact with the conductive elastic element (10). 5. Functional module according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that it also comprises means (13) for backlighting the screen (3), such as for example one or more LEDs (electroluminescent) (s) or the like (s), arranged on a specific electronic board (14) mounted in a receiving site (15), such as a corresponding recess of the heat sink body (5), located at the rear of the screen (3), and in that said electronic card (14) residing in the body (5) and carrying the backlighting means (13) is connected to the electronic card (2) remote or remote by a second connecting cable (16) specific, for example a flat cable, having a conductor which is connected to the ground or ground of said remote card (2). 6. Functional module according to claim 5, characterized in that the resident electronic card (14) is rigidly connected with the heat sink body (5) in its receiving site (15), via at least one a screw (17), the latter also establishing an electrical connection between said body (5) and the earth or mass of said resident electronic card (14). 7. Functional module according to claims 2 and 5, characterized in that the intermediate support frame (8) extends, on the side opposite the screen (3), by a tapered tubular structure (8 ') extending up to in the vicinity of the backlighting means (13) and forming a diffusion cone for the latter in the direction of the screen (3), said tubular structure (8 ') comprising an intermediate mounting bearing, for example in the form of a shoulder internal (8 "), adapted and adapted to receive an optically active element (20), such as a plane or non-surface diopter, crossed by the luminous flux emitted by the backlighting means (13) towards the rear face of the screen (3). 8. Functional module according to claim 2 and any one of claims 5 and 7, characterized in that the intermediate support frame (8) is attached to the opening (15 ') of the receiving recess (15) opening on the front face (5 ') of the body (5), for example mounted in an inner shoulder (5 ") of this opening (5'), and in that said recess (15) is devoid of a side wall on the side of the screen (3) connected to the connecting cable (4), a shutter plate (10 ') attached, at least partially closing this open side (15 ") and also forming a support body for said connecting cable (4) between its screen connection area (3) and a tight holding area in application against the body (5) by an elastic member or spring (10). 9. Functional module according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the body (5) forming a heat sink comprises one or more area (s) of contact, support, and / or wedging (18) and one or more securing and / or fastening sites (19), in particular on its front face (5), allowing its assembly with or mounting in a piece of equipment or trim of a land vehicle , aerial or maritime, provided with an opening for the screen (3), for example of the TFT type, said body (5) thus forming in situ mounting support for said screen (3). 10. Equipment or trim piece of a vehicle, having an apparent surface, such as a dashboard, seatback, lining or filler panel, horn or the like, incorporating a screen display, and optionally control, advantageously integrated flush or slightly recessed relative to the apparent surface in said room, characterized in that the screen (3) is part of a functional module (1) according to the any one of claims 1 to 9, only the effective display area (3 ") being visible and accessible at the apparent surface of said piece of equipment or lining.