FR3108066A1 - TOUCH-EFFECT ELECTRIC SWITCH INTEGRATED IN A MOTOR VEHICLE TRIM PANEL - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to an electrical switch (100), the housing (12-60) of which is coupled to a panel (200) comprising a (202) and an outer skin (206) bonded to a layer (204) of foam. , an electrical triggering member (36) and tactile sensation feedback and an actuating member (86) which is interposed axially between the triggering member (36) and the armature (202) It may include a diode ( LEDi) which illuminates through the skin (206) of the panel (200). Figure for abstract: 10

Description

ELECTRIC SWITCH WITH TOUCH EFFECT INTEGRATED IN A MOTOR VEHICLE DRESSING PANEL

Technical field of the invention

The present invention relates to an electrical switch.

The present invention relates more particularly to an electrical switch intended to be integrated and concealed in an interior trim panel of a motor vehicle.

The invention also relates to a motor vehicle trim panel incorporating such a switch

Technical background

As new functionalities requiring user intervention are added to the interior of a vehicle, the number of human-machine interfaces increases, and in particular the number of electrical switches comprising a mechanical actuator on which the user acts to control a function.

Similarly, the number of luminous devices whose change of state aims to inform the user – such as an indicator light for example – is also increasing significantly.

Such indicator lights may or may not be integrated into electrical switches.

As a result, the trim or trim surfaces - particularly inside the passenger compartment - such as the outer surfaces of the dashboard, door trims, etc., are invaded by a large number of components that can harm creating a pleasing visual appearance of these areas of the passenger compartment and/or making their design complex.

In order to remedy this general problem, it has already been proposed to arrange a switch and/or an indicator light in a "hidden" manner, that is to say in an inconspicuous manner by being covered by the outer skin of appearance of the panel equipped with such a component.

To this end, in document FR-A1-2,967,932, a motor vehicle interior trim has already been proposed, of the type comprising a multilayer panel comprising a rigid frame, a flexible lining covering the frame and a skin of appearance covering the trim and an electrical switch fixed to the frame of the panel, and comprising an actuation push button arranged and hidden under the appearance skin.

According to this design, the push button is arranged under the trim and it must be operated through the face skin and through the trim.

By push-button is meant an electrical switch whose open or closed state is modified by the movement of a movable actuating member by the user, by pressure exerted on this actuating member which is for example form of a button or an actuating finger.

In this document, it is also proposed that the electrical switch comprise a light source and that the trim and the appearance skin be at least partially translucent(s) or transparent(s) to allow light emitted by the light source is visible through the trim and the appearance skin.

The lining comprises a layer of foam, for example made of polyurethane and/or a layer of gel, for example made of polyurethane or silicone.

The solutions proposed in this document make it difficult to transmit a sufficient amount of emitted light through both the trim and the face skin.

In addition, in a very general way, such an electrical switch comprises an internal information feedback element which provides the user with a tactile sensation representative of the effective action on an electrical triggering member of the switch which causes a change of electrical switch status.

This is particularly the case of electrical switches which incorporate an electrical triggering "dome" which is of the monostable or bistable type, and whose changes of state provide such tactile sensations that the user perceives, in particular through his finger at the means of which it acts on the actuating member.

The design proposed in document FR A1 2,967,932 makes it difficult to transmit the tactile sensation sufficiently.

Moreover, the action on the switch systematically causes deformation of the appearance skin and the trim over a relatively large stroke, which can affect the reliability and durability of the panel and/or a permanent deformation of the area of the panel in which the switch is located.

Other layout solutions making it possible to hide the switch and/or the light source are illustrated for example in documents US-B2-7,651,145 or US--B2-6,652,128.

It is thus proposed to bring the actuating member closer to the appearance skin of the panel.

More recently, it has been proposed in document US-A1-2019/0326908 a switch assembly comprising a housing configured to be coupled to a trim panel and defining a cavity, a "haptic" device also called feedback which is coupled to the housing and positioned within the cavity, a printed circuit board coupled to the feedback device, a proximity sensor that is configured to actuate the feedback device, and a light source coupled to the printed circuit board and configured to emit light in response to actuation of the proximity sensor.

The panel comprises a translucent panel-like skin bonded to a layer of foam positioned over the panel frame.

The invention proposes an electrical switch, in particular for a motor vehicle, comprising:
- a housing configured to be coupled to a panel comprising a panel frame and a panel external appearance skin bonded to a layer of foam positioned on the panel frame;
- an electric trigger and tactile feedback device which is arranged inside a cavity of the housing and which is coupled to an internal face of the housing;
- And a mechanical actuating member of the trigger member, in an axial direction of actuation, which is interposed axially between the trigger member and the frame of the panel.

Thus, according to this design, the action of the user on the actuating member takes place indirectly by acting on the outer face of the housing which is opposite to the face through which the actuator extends. mechanical actuation.

It is thus possible to have a larger surface for actuating and transmitting tactile sensations which can be arranged adjacent to or very close to the appearance skin.

According to other switch features:
- the switch comprises a light source which is configured to illuminate through the outer skin of the trim panel, which is carried by the casing, which is arranged outside of said cavity of the casing, and which is coupled to a external face of the casing opposite to said internal face;
- the light source is configured to illuminate through the outer skin of the trim panel in response to a change in state of the trigger member;
- the switch comprises a sheet or a plate for diffusing the light emitted by the light source which is arranged in said external face of the casing;
- the light source comprises at least one light-emitting diode arranged in said outer face of the housing;
- the light-emitting diode is arranged axially between said external face of the casing and the diffusion plate or sheet;
- The frame of the panel comprises a member for guiding the axial displacements of the housing relative to the frame of the panel, and this guide member is received in axial sliding inside the cavity of the housing;
- the member for guiding the axial displacements of the housing relative to the frame of the panel is a guide pin which is received in axial sliding inside the cavity of the housing and whose free end cooperates with the member of mechanical actuation of the trigger member.

The invention also proposes a trim panel, in particular for a motor vehicle, comprising a panel frame, a skin with an external appearance of the panel bonded to a layer of foam positioned on the panel frame, and at least one switch electrical hidden by the appearance skin of the panel which comprises:
- a housing configured to be coupled to the panel;
- an information/tactile feedback element which is arranged inside a cavity of the casing and which is coupled to an internal face of the casing;
- an electrical triggering and tactile feedback member which is arranged in a cavity of the housing, which is coupled to an internal face of the housing, and which is arranged axially between the triggering member and the frame of the panel ;
- And in which the appearance skin of the panel comprises a deformable zone for actuating the electric switch which is arranged facing an external face of the case opposite to said internal face.

According to other characteristics of the panel, it comprises a light source configured to illuminate through the appearance skin of the trim panel in response to a change in state of the trigger member which is carried by the casing, which is arranged outside of said housing cavity and which is coupled to an outer face of the housing opposite said inner face;
- the light emitted by the light source passes through at least part of a portion of said deformable actuation zone

Brief descriptions of figures

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear during the reading of the detailed description which will follow for the understanding of which reference will be made to the appended drawings in which:

- Figure 1 is an upper three-quarter perspective view which represents an embodiment of an electrical switch according to the invention;

- Figure 2 is a three-quarter perspective view from below of the electrical switch of Figure 1;

- Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view of the components of the electrical switch shown in Figures 1 and 2;

- Figure 4 is an exploded perspective view similar to that of Figure 3, according to another angle of view;

- Figure 5 is a is a sectional view, along a median vertical and longitudinal plane PVLM of the electrical switch shown in Figures 1 to 5;

- Figure 6 is a sectional view similar to that of Figure 5 in which the housing is shown empty;

- Figure 7 is a top view of the electrical switch shown in Figures 1 and 5;

- Figure 8 is a top view of the electrical switch shown in Figure 6 with its electrical tripping dome illustrated in silhouette;

- Figure 9 is a perspective half-view of the electrical switch shown in Figure 8, in section through a vertical and transverse median plane PVTM;

- Figure 10 is a sectional view by a vertical and transverse median plane of the electrical switch of Figures 1 to 5 which is shown integrated and hidden in a motor vehicle panel.

Detailed description of the invention

For the description of the invention and the understanding of the claims, the vertical, longitudinal and transverse orientations according to the reference V, L, T indicated in the figures whose longitudinal axes L and transverse T extend in a horizontal plane.

The notion of vertical axis and orientation along this axis, from bottom to top, or lower, upper, etc. is used to simplify the understanding of the description and the claims, but without any reference to earth's gravity.

By convention, the vertical longitudinal axis V is oriented from back to front.

In the following description, identical, similar or analogous elements will be designated by the same reference numerals.

In the exemplary embodiment that follows, the electrical switch has a double general design symmetry along the two vertical planes, longitudinal and transverse PVLM and PVTM indicated in the figures.

There is shown in Figures 3 and 4, in exploded form along the vertical axis, the main components of an electric switch with tactile effect 100 according to the invention.

The electrical switch 100 comprises a lower half-housing 12 of generally square parallelepiped shape which comprises in particular a lower bottom plate 14 which extends in the horizontal plane, as well as two pairs of opposite transverse 16 and longitudinal 18 vertical walls.

The bottom bottom plate 14 is delimited by two opposite horizontal faces, inner upper 15 and outer lower 13.

In its central part, the bottom plate 14 comprises a central through housing 17 of generally rectangular parallelepipedic shape.

Above the bottom wall 14, the lower half-box 12 delimits a lower cavity 20. The lower cavity 20 is in particular delimited vertically by the inner horizontal upper face 15 of the bottom plate 14.

The lower half-housing 12 is able to be fixed for example on a printed circuit board (or on a flexible circuit), of known general design and on an upper face of which the electric switch 100 is able to be fixed and electrically connected by all known techniques.

The electrical switch 100 here comprises two fixed contacts 42 and 44 between which it is able to establish an electrical switching path, the electrical switch 100 here being of the normally open type.

In this exemplary embodiment, each fixed electrical contact 42, 44 is made in the form of a cut-out and bent conductive metal sheet element around which the lower half-case 12 made of insulating plastic material is overmolded.

The free and conductive upper horizontal faces 43, 45 of the two fixed contacts 42, 44 are here coplanar with the inner upper face 15 of the bottom plate 14 of the lower half-case 12.

The fixed contact 42 is a rectilinear lateral contact which comprises two contact pads 39, each of which is arranged in a corner of the lower cavity 20, along a transverse vertical wall 16.

The second fixed contact 44 is a rectilinear contact, opposite to the lateral contact 42, which extends transversely at a distance from the other transverse vertical wall 16.

The fixed contact 44 comprises two contact pads 41 arranged substantially centrally in the lower cavity 20.

For its electrical connection to the conductive tracks of the printed circuit board which carries the electrical switch 100, the lateral fixed contact 42 comprises a pair of transverse lugs 46 folded vertically downwards then horizontally which protrude outside each of the two opposite longitudinal side walls 18 of the lower half-box 12.

In the same way, for its electrical connection, the fixed contact 44 comprises a pair of folded tabs 48 of a design similar to that of the tabs 46 of the fixed contact 42.

In each of the two corners of the cavity adjacent to the fixed contact 44, the internal upper face 15 of the bottom plate 14 comprises a portion of extra thick insulating plastic material which is delimited by a flat surface portion 22.

The two flat surface portions 22 are coplanar with the upper faces of the contact pads 39 of the lateral fixed contact 42.

Centered longitudinally with respect to the two fixed contacts 42 and 44 and with respect to the central vertical axis V, the electrical switch 100 comprises a pair of transversely opposed central fixed contacts 24 and 26.

In this exemplary embodiment, each fixed electrical contact 24, 26 is made in the form of a cut-out and bent conductive metal sheet element around which the lower half-case 12 made of insulating plastic material is molded over.

The free and conductive lower horizontal faces 27, 29 of the two fixed contacts 24, 26 are here coplanar.

The internal free end of each central fixed contact 24, 26 extends inside the central housing 17.

Thus, above the conductive upper surfaces 23, 25, the central housing 17 can receive an upper light-emitting diode LEDs whose electrical supply is ensured by the central fixed contacts 24 and 26.

In the same way, below the lower conductive faces 27, 29, the central housing 17 can receive a lower light-emitting diode LEDi whose electrical supply is ensured by the central fixed contacts 24 and 26.

For its electrical connection to a conductive track of the printed circuit board which carries the electrical switch 100, the central fixed contact 24 comprises a transverse lug 28 folded vertically downwards then horizontally which projects outside of one of the two opposite longitudinal side walls 18 of the lower half-box 12.

In the same way, for its electrical connection, the central fixed contact 26 comprises a folded lug 30 of a design similar to that of the lug 28 of the fixed contact 24.

For the diffusion of the light emitted by the lower diode LEDi, under its lower external face 13, the lower half-case 12 is provided with a lower plate 19 made of translucent or transparent material.

Plate 19 is made of a rigid material and is attached or is made up of a glued thin sheet.

The lower plate 19 forming a diffuser is delimited by a lower horizontal flat face 21.

The electrical switch 100 comprises a trigger member 36, of known general design, which here is a monostable or bistable dome with sudden change of state which is housed in the lower cavity 20 of the lower half-housing 12.

In a known manner and without limitation, such a trigger member 36 comprises a convex domed upper central part 50 which is delimited by a convex upper face 52.

In addition to this section or central upper part 50, the trigger member 36 comprises a lower base which, without limitation, here consists of four radial branches 54 oriented vertically downwards and which extend radially from the central upper section 50.

The four radial branches 54 are here angularly offset at 90 degrees and, in the assembled position, each radial branch 54 extends into a corner recess in the side wall of the lower half-housing 12 to position and center the trigger 36 in the lower cavity 20.

Two consecutive radial branches 54 are each in vertical contact support on a contact pad 39.

The two other radial branches 54 each rest vertically on a flat insulating surface portion 22.

In known manner, when a user acts on the central part or upper section 50 to apply a release force to it, vertically downwards, there is a sudden change of state of the release member 36 by elastic deformation of this one.

The user causes the concave annular lower face 49 of the central part 50 to come into contact with the part facing the bottom of the lower cavity 20 which here comprises the two contact pads 41 in order to establish an electrical switching path between the two fixed contacts 42 and 44.

The release of the trigger force applied to the trigger member 36 causes the return of the trigger member to its stable state of rest and the interruption of the previously established electrical switching path.

By way of non-limiting, and here for the passage of the light emitted by the upper diode LEDs, the central part 50 of the trigger member 36 comprises a circular central hole 51.

The square contoured continuous horizontal upper annular face 55 of the vertical side walls 16 and 18 has a central rib 56 which extends vertically upwards.

In addition to the lower half-casing 12, the casing of the electrical switch 100 comprises a complementary upper half-casing 60 which delimits an upper cavity 61.

As can be seen in Figure 6, together with the lower cavity 20, the upper cavity 61 constitutes the internal cavity 20-61 of the two-part housing 20 and 60 of the electrical switch 100.

The upper half-box 60 is delimited by two pairs of opposite transverse 62 and longitudinal 64 vertical side walls and it is vertically open at its two opposite ends which are delimited by a horizontal lower annular face 66 of square outline and by an upper annular face horizontal 68 of square contour respectively.

Vertically downwards beyond the lower annular face 66, each transverse wall 62 is extended downwards by a lug 70 for hooking the upper half-housing 60 onto complementary notches 58 formed on the external faces of each of the two transverse walls 16 of the lower half-box 12.

The upper half-box 60 thus constitutes a cage for closing the lower half-box 12.

As a non-limiting example, the electrical switch 100 comprises a flexible membrane 72 for sealing the cavity 20 of the lower half-housing 12 and for actuating the trigger member 36.

When an upper LED diode is present, the flexible membrane 72 is made of a transparent or translucent material.

The flexible membrane 72 is elastically deformable and its peripheral edge 74 is mounted compressed axially between the annular face 66 and the upper annular face 55.

For its positioning, the flexible membrane 72 has a lower groove 76 in which the rib 56 of the lower half-casing 12 is received.

In its lower face 71, the flexible membrane 72 comprises a circular lower annular bead 78 which bears on the annular portion facing the convex annular upper face 52 of the central part 50 of the trigger member 36 .

In its upper face 73 and substantially vertically in line with the lower annular bead 78, the flexible membrane 72 comprises a circular annular housing 80.

The upper half-box 60 comprises a continuous horizontal internal rib 82 which is delimited by a continuous lower horizontal annular face 84 of square outline.

The upper cavity 61 of the upper half-housing 60 houses an actuator 86, or mechanical actuation member, made of rigid material.

When an upper LED diode is present, the rigid actuator 86 is made of a transparent or translucent material to constitute an upper diffuser for the light emitted by the LED diode.

The rigid actuator 86 is in the form of a block of generally cubic shape which, in the vicinity of the horizontal lower face 88, comprises a continuous horizontal outer rib 90 which is delimited by a continuous upper horizontal annular face 92 of square outline.

In its underside 85, the rigid actuator 86 comprises a circular lower annular bead 94 which is received in the upper housing 80 of the flexible membrane 72.

The circular lower annular bead 94 rests without play on the bottom of the upper housing 80 of the flexible membrane 72.

As can be seen in Figure 5, in the assembled position of the various components, the outer rib 90 of the rigid actuator 86 extends below the underside 84 of the inner rib 82 of the upper half-casing 60.

By way of non-limiting example, in its horizontal upper face 87, the rigid actuator 86 comprises a parallelepipedic housing 96 in which is arranged a rigid obturator block 98.

In Figure 10, there is shown schematically the hidden installation in a trim panel 200 of a motor vehicle, of an electrical switch 100 according to the embodiment which has just been described.

Along the axis V of the electrical switch 100, the trim panel 200 comprises a rear panel reinforcement 202, an intermediate layer 204 of foam which is positioned on the rear panel reinforcement 202, and a front skin 206 with a exterior of the trim panel 200.

The electrical switch 100 is hidden by the appearance skin 206 of the trim panel 200 and the appearance skin 206 of the trim panel comprises a deformable zone 208 for actuating the electrical switch 100.

There is also shown schematically a printed circuit board PCB for the electrical connection of the legs 28, 30, 46 and 48 of electrical connection of the electrical switch 100.

The rear panel reinforcement 202 is for example a reinforcement plate whose front face 203 carries a rigid guide finger 210 which extends axially from front to rear.

The guide finger 210 is for example of square section and it is received with play in the upper cavity 61 of the upper half-housing 60.

The guide finger 210 is delimited axially by a rear face 212 orthogonal to the axis V which bears axially against the continuous upper horizontal annular face 92 of the rigid actuator 86 of the electrical switch 100.

In addition to the function of positioning and guiding the electrical switch 100 provided by the guide pin 210, the rear face 212 of the guide pin 210 constitutes a rigid bearing surface for the rigid actuator 86.

As can be seen in Figure 10, the actuation of the electrical switch 100 is effected, through the aspect skin 206.

For this purpose, for example by means of a finger 214, the user exerts an actuation force on the lower face 13 of the lower half-housing 12, here through the rigid plate 19 forming a light diffuser.

By doing so, the user causes a relative movement – along the axis V and from back to front – of the lower half-housing 12 with respect to the guide pin 210.

This relative displacement causes the application of a control or actuation force on the electrical switch 100.

This force is transmitted to the trigger member 36.

By acting on the trigger member 36, the user causes its sudden change of state, which causes the conductive underside 49 of the central part 50 to come into electrical contact against the contact pads 39.

The triggering device then establishes an electrical connection of the fixed contacts 42 and 44 and therefore a change of state of the electrical switch 100 which passes here to its closed state.

The sudden change of state of the trigger dome-shaped member 36 causes the generation of a mechanical tactile effect which is transmitted to the user who acts on the plate 19, via his finger 214.

When the user releases his actuating force applied to the face 21 of the plate 19, the trigger member 36 changes state again to return to its stable rest position illustrated in the figures by again interrupting the path of electrical switching between fixed contacts 42 and 44.

Among the advantages of the design according to the invention:
- the area of the planar actuation surface of the electric switch 100 constituted by the lower face 13 or the lower face 21 of the plate 19 is greater than that of the free end of an actuation push-button;
- The tactile sensation resulting from the change of state of the trigger member 36 is produced near the end of the finger 214 of the user;
- The foam 204 provides a sealing effect between the two parts 12 and 60 of the housing as well as at the level of the guide finger 210;
- The design of the lower half-housing 12 makes it possible, depending on the uses, to have an electrical switch 100 comprising a single or two light sources.

Without departing from the scope of the invention, the following modifications or variants (not shown) are possible:
- the trigger member may not have a central hole;
- the trigger member can be a dome-shaped trigger with an associated fixed contact design;
- the printed circuit board can be replaced by a flexible circuit or by conductive tracks formed on the internal face of the external skin 206;
- all of the components consisting of the flexible membrane 72, the actuator 86 and the obturator block 98 can be replaced for example by a single component in the form of a mechanical actuation member interposed axially between the trigger member 36 and the frame 202 of the panel.

Claims (11)

Electrical switch (100), in particular for a motor vehicle, comprising:
- a housing (12-60) configured to be coupled to a panel (200) having a panel frame (202) and an outer panel skin (206) bonded to a layer (204) of foam positioned over the frame ( 202) of panel;
- a member (36) for electrical triggering and tactile feedback which is arranged in a cavity (20-61) of the housing (12-60) and which is coupled to an internal face (15) of the housing (12 -60);
- and a member (86) for mechanically actuating the trigger member (36), in an axial direction (V) of actuation, which is interposed axially between the trigger member (36) and the armature ( 202) of the panel. Electrical switch (100) according to Claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a light source (LEDi) which is configured to illuminate through the outer skin (206) of the trim panel (200), which is carried by the housing (12-60), which is arranged outside said cavity (20-61) of the housing (12-60), and which is coupled to an outer face (13) of the housing (12-60) opposite to said internal face 15). Switch according to Claim 2, characterized in that the light source (LEDi) is configured to illuminate through the outer skin (206) of the trim panel (200) in response to a change in state of the member ( 36) trigger. Electrical switch (100) according to Claim 2, characterized in that it comprises a sheet or a plate (19) for diffusing the light emitted by the light source (LEDi) which is arranged in the said external face (13) of the casing (12-60). Electrical switch (100) according to one of Claims 2 or 3, characterized in that the light source comprises at least one light-emitting diode (LEDi) arranged in the said external face (13) of the casing (12-60). Electrical switch (100) according to Claim 4 taken in combination with Claim 3, characterized in that the light-emitting diode (LEDi) is arranged axially between the said external face (13) of the casing (12-60) and the plate or sheet of broadcast (19). Electric switch (100) according to any one of Claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the reinforcement (202) of the panel comprises a member (210) for guiding the axial movements of the casing (12-60) with respect to the armature (202) of the panel, and in that this guide member (210) is received in axial sliding inside the cavity (61) of the housing (12-60). Switch according to Claim 6, characterized in that the member for guiding the axial displacements of the casing (12-60) relative to the frame of the panel is a guide pin which is received in axial sliding inside the cavity of the housing (12-60) and one free end (212) of which cooperates with the member (86) for mechanically actuating the trigger member (36). Trim panel (200), in particular for a motor vehicle, comprising a panel reinforcement (202), an outer panel skin (206) bonded to a layer of foam (204) positioned on the panel reinforcement (202), and at least one electrical switch (100) hidden by the outer skin (206) of the panel which comprises:
- a housing (12-60) configured to be coupled to the trim panel (200);
- a tactile sensation feedback element (36) which is arranged inside a cavity (20-61) of the housing (12-60) and which is coupled to an internal face (15) of the housing (12- 60);
- a member (36) for electrical triggering and feedback of tactile sensation which is arranged in a cavity (20-61) of the casing (12-60), which is coupled to an internal face of the casing (12-60), and which is arranged axially between the trigger member (36) and the frame (202) of the trim panel (200);
- and in which the outer skin (206) of the trim panel (200) comprises a deformable zone (208) for actuating the electrical switch (100) which is arranged opposite an outer face (13) of the casing ( 12-60) opposite said internal face (15). Panel according to Claim 9, characterized in that it includes a light source (LEDi) configured to illuminate through the outer skin (206) of the covering panel in response to a change in state of the member (36 ) trigger which is carried by the housing (12-60), which is arranged outside of said cavity (20-61) of the housing (12-60) and which is coupled to an outer face of the housing (12- 60) opposite said inner face. Panel according to Claim 10, characterized in that the light emitted by the light source (LEDi) passes through at least part of a portion of the said deformable zone (208) for actuation.