FR3140685A1 - Modular vehicle electrical control device with a single rocker actuator - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to an electrical control device (1) for a vehicle comprising a single manual rocker actuator (120) pivotally mounted between at least two control positions as well as a selection front (220) comprising several selection buttons with two states (221A, 221B, 222A, 222B, 223A, 223B, 223C) electrically connected to said actuator, each said button making it possible to select when it occupies its active state a corresponding organ or function controlled by this actuator; said device having a design modular by being made up of an actuation module (100) comprising said manual rocker actuator, as well as a covering module (200) comprising said selection facade and assembled interchangeably on said actuation module to which it is electrically connected. Figure to be published with the abstract: Fig. 6

Description

Modular vehicle electrical control device with a single rocker actuator

The present invention relates generally to electrical control devices for vehicles, particularly of the automobile type. It aims in particular at such a control device equipped with a single manual rocker actuator.

Electrical control devices equipped with one or more manual rocker actuators are generally installed in the armrests of the side doors of motor vehicles to control the opening and closing of one or more windows of these vehicles.

Described for example in patent application FR 3 104 753 A1, such an electrical control device conventionally comprises, for each window to be controlled, a respective rocker control actuator mounted pivoting around an articulation axis and arranged between two contactors.

For regulatory safety reasons and in order to comply in particular with American standard FMVSS 118 which requires that the vehicle windows cannot be closed by inadvertent pressing of a vehicle occupant on a control member, each of its rocker actuators have an upper support surface extending entirely on one side opposite its articulation axis.

This support surface is able to be pressed downwards so as to tilt said actuator in a first direction and activate said at least one first contactor so as to cause the opening of the corresponding opening.

The actuator also comprises, at the front end of the upper support surface, a protuberance allowing it to be pulled upwards so as to tilt it in a second direction and actuate said at least one second contactor so to cause the corresponding opening to close.

The obligation to use this type of rocker actuator makes the window control devices relatively expensive and also particularly bulky since each actuator requires the presence of an access recess adjoining its support surface in order to allow allows an occupant of the vehicle to slip one of their fingers into it to be able to pull it upwards.

In order to reduce their cost price and their size, document FR 3 081 236 A1 proposes an electrical control device for a motor vehicle comprising a single manual rocker actuator as well as a selection front comprising several manual selection buttons in two states electrically connected to said actuator, each said button making it possible to select when it is in its active state a corresponding window controlled by this actuator.

Such a control device thus has the advantage of being more economical and compact than conventional control devices.

However, the great diversity of organs and functions that can be controlled depending on the location of the control device in the vehicle and/or the equipment of this vehicle implies the development of a relatively large number of different references for this device, which induces design costs that still remain relatively high

The present invention therefore aims to reduce the design and production cost of such a control device.

To this end, it proposes an electrical control device for a vehicle comprising a single manual rocker actuator pivotally mounted between at least two control positions as well as a selection panel comprising several two-state selection buttons electrically connected to said actuator, each said button making it possible to select, when it is in its active state, a corresponding organ or function controlled by this actuator.

According to the invention, this control device has a modular design by being made up of an actuation module comprising said manual rocker actuator, as well as a covering module comprising said selection facade and assembled interchangeably on said actuation module to which it is electrically connected.

Such a modular design of the control device thus makes it possible to develop a multitude of different references of this device, equipped with distinct covering modules adapted to the constraints of installation in the vehicle and/or to the equipment of this vehicle, but equipped all of the same actuation module reference.

The invention thus makes it possible to significantly reduce the design, manufacturing and storage costs, by using the same actuation module, leading by the increase in the production quantities of this module to a reduction in the cost price and by reducing the number of references to be managed both in manufacturing and in intermediate stocks to a reduction in management and storage costs.

According to preferred characteristics both for regulatory reasons and for convenience of use:
- at least one of said selection buttons is associated with an opening of said vehicle, preferably with a window of this vehicle; and or
- at least two of said selection buttons are each associated with a respective window of said vehicle.

In order to facilitate the mounting of the covering module on the actuation module, said covering module comprises a first housing defining a casing open on the underside and fixedly attached to a second housing which comprises said actuation module.

According to a first preferred embodiment, said casing comprises two lugs intended to cooperate in interlocking by shape correspondence, during the mounting of said covering module on said actuation module, with respective recesses provided on two walls of said second housing of the actuation module, the fixing of said covering module on said actuation module being ensured by two screws each passing through an orifice made in said respective tab before screwing into a hole made on said corresponding wall of said second housing .

According to a second preferred embodiment, said casing comprises two elastically deformable tabs intended to cooperate by snap-fastening, when mounting said covering module on said actuation module, with two corresponding teeth provided on two walls of said second housing of the module d actuation.

In order to facilitate the mounting of the device conforming to this second embodiment, each said wall of said second housing of the actuation module advantageously comprises two ribs spaced transversely by a distance corresponding to the width of said tabs and intended to provide sliding guidance of the latter during the assembly of said covering module on said actuation module.

In order to improve the ergonomics of use, said selection buttons are preferably of the tactile type.

Each said tactile selection button also advantageously comprises haptic validation means of active or passive type allowing the user to feel the change in state of this button.

These haptic validation means comprise, for example, vibrators each implanted under the contact surface of a respective tactile button and capable of emitting a vibratory response when a pressing force greater than or equal to a predetermined value is exerted on the corresponding button .

Finally and always with the objective of improving the ergonomics of use, said selection buttons each preferably present a backlit surface area, in the form of a pictogram representative of the corresponding organ or function that it allows you to select, and whose color varies depending on the state of this button.

Finally, in a second aspect, the invention aims at a motor vehicle comprising at least one such control device.

The presentation of the invention will now be continued by the detailed description of several exemplary embodiments, given below by way of illustration but not limitation, with reference to the appended drawings, in which:
- represents a perspective view of a first version of the modular electrical control device for a vehicle according to the invention;
- is a perspective view of the actuation module included in the control device of the ;
- represents an elevation view illustrating the mounting of the covering module comprising the selection facade on the actuation module comprising the rocker actuator;
- And illustrate alternative means of fixing the covering module to the actuation module;
- represents a top view of the control device of the ; And
- is a top view of a second version of the control device according to the invention provided with a covering module different from that of the control device of the .

There represents an electrical control device 1 according to the invention intended to be integrated into equipment not shown in a motor vehicle such as an armrest of a side door of this vehicle or its central console.

By convention, we define with respect to this control device 1, an orthogonal reference frame XYZ comprising three perpendicular axes in pairs, namely:
- an X axis, defining a longitudinal, horizontal direction,
- a Y axis, defining a transverse, horizontal direction, which with the X axis defines a horizontal XY plane, and
- a Z axis, defining a vertical direction, perpendicular to the horizontal XY plane.

In the remainder of the description and with reference to the reference defined above, the terms "longitudinal" or "longitudinal" will refer to a direction parallel to the axis direction parallel to the Y axis, and the terms "vertical" or "vertically" will refer to a direction parallel to the Z axis.

The terms “lower”, “upper”, “front” and “rear” will be understood in relation to the conventional orientation of the control device 1 when it is installed in the armrest of a side door of a vehicle . Following such an orientation, the terms “lower” and “lower” will indicate greater proximity to the ground in the vertical direction than the terms “upper” or “high”. The term “front” will indicate a positioning towards the front of a vehicle in the horizontal direction and the term “rear” will indicate a positioning towards the rear of a vehicle in the same horizontal direction.

Furthermore, the term “significantly” will be used to indicate that a slight deviation is permitted from a predetermined nominal position or arrangement, while remaining included within the scope of the invention. For example, “substantially horizontal” will indicate that a deviation of around 15° from a strictly horizontal orientation is permitted within the framework of the invention.

Of modular design, the control device 1 consists of an actuation module 100 and a covering module 200 mounted interchangeably on this actuation module 100 to which it is electrically connected.

Represented alone on the , the actuation module 100 comprises a housing 110 comprising a hollow main body 111 of parallelepiped shape and whose horizontal upper wall 112 has a central opening 113.

Housing at least one first contactor and at least one second non-visible contactor, this housing 110 further comprises two side flanges 114, 115 extending vertically above the main body 111 from the two side edges of the opening 113.

The actuation module 100 also comprises a single manual rocker actuator 120 projecting above the main body 111 of the housing 110 between the two side flanges 114, 115 on which it is pivotally mounted along a first transverse articulation axis T ₁ via a cylindrical rod 121 passing through these two flanges 114, 115 and this actuator 120.

The rocker actuator 120 comprises a hollow articulation body 122 crossed by the rod 121 and intended to be hidden from the eyes of the user, as well as a nose-shaped gripping member 125 connected to the front end of this articulation body 122 so as to extend in front of the transverse articulation axis T ₁ , and intended to be manipulated by a user to control an organ or function of the vehicle.

The gripping nose 125 has an upper support surface 126 extending substantially horizontally and which can be pressed downwards so as to tilt the actuator 120 forward around the transverse articulation axis T ₁ and activate said at least one first contactor.

This gripping nose 125 further comprises, at the front end of this upper support surface 126, a protuberance 127 defined in this case by a cavity 128 formed on the front face of this nose 125 and allowing it to be pulled upwards so as to tilt the actuator 120 backwards around the transverse articulation axis T ₁ and activate said at least one second contactor.

In reference to the , the covering module 200 comprises a hollow housing 210 defining in its rear central part a casing 211 open on the underside and fixedly attached to the housing 110 of the actuation module 100 as illustrated by the and as will be explained in more detail later in this description.

The casing 211 is provided with an upper masking wall 212 covering the hollow articulation body 122 of the actuator 120 and from which extends an access recess 213 housing in its rear part the gripping nose 125 of the actuator 120 and dimensioned to allow manipulation of this gripping nose 125 by the finger of a user.

In the neutral rest position of device 1 and as illustrated on the , the upper bearing surface 126 of the gripping nose 125 of this actuator 120 extends coplanar to the upper masking wall 212 and in the extension of the upper rear edge of the access recess 213.

With reference to Figures 1 and 3, the casing 211 of this covering module 200 comprises two tabs 214 projecting downwards from its two longitudinal ends and intended to cooperate in interlocking by shape correspondence, during assembly of the covering module 200 on the actuation module 100, with respective recesses 116 provided on two end walls of the housing 110 of this actuation module 100 and visible on the . The fixing of the covering module 200 on the actuation module 100 is then ensured by two screws not shown, each passing through an orifice 214A made in a respective lug 214 before screwing into a hole 116A made in an end wall corresponding to the housing 110.

Alternatively, the means of fixing the covering module 200 to the actuation module 100 may be different, for example of the snap-on type.

According to an alternative embodiment illustrated by Figures 4 and 5, the casing 211 of this covering module 200 comprises two elastically deformable mounting lugs 215 in the shape of an H projecting downwards from its two longitudinal ends and designed to cooperate by snap-fastening , when mounting the covering module 200 on the actuation module 100, with two corresponding teeth 117 provided on the two end walls of the housing 110 of this actuation module 100.

Extending along a vertical transverse mean plane, each of the legs 215 is formed, as illustrated by the , by two vertically oriented uprights 215A as well as by a horizontal transverse branch 215B connecting these two uprights 215A. Each tab 215 thus has a rectangular light 215C extending above this transverse branch 215B and delimited laterally by the two uprights 215A.

Having a width slightly less than the spacing between the two uprights 215A of each tab 215, each tooth 117 comprises, with reference to the , a ramp 117A inclined downwards and outwards from the main body 111 to a horizontal retaining step 117B.

When mounting the covering module 200 on the actuation module 100 by a vertical sliding movement, the two teeth 117 are thus each inserted between the lower portions of the two uprights 215A of a corresponding tab 215 up to 'so that their ramp 117A comes to bear against the lower face of the transverse branch 215B of this same tab 215.

The continuation of this movement of rapprochement according to the mounting direction results in the progressive lifting and pivoting of these tabs 215 as their respective transverse branches 215B slide along the inclined ramps 117A, then the insertion of the teeth 117 into the through the lights 215C which causes the legs 215 to return to their initial positions.

The steps 117B, now facing the horizontal upper faces of the transverse branches 215B, therefore oppose the removal of the tabs 215.

In order to facilitate the sliding of the transverse branches 215B of the tabs 215 along the inclined ramps 117A of the teeth 117, the lower face of these transverse branches 215B advantageously has an inclined profile complementary to that of these ramps 117A.

As illustrated on the and in order to facilitate snap-fastening operations, each end wall of the housing 110 of the actuation module 100 advantageously comprises two vertical ribs 118 spaced transversely by a distance corresponding to the width of the tabs 215 and intended to provide guidance vertical sliding of the latter when mounting the covering module 200 on the actuation module 100.

Referring again to the , the covering module 200 also includes a selection front 220 covering the housing 210 to which it is fixed by snap-fastening. Extending coplanar to the upper masking wall 212 on the lateral sides and in front of the access recess 213, this selection facade 200 is equipped with a tactile matrix making it possible to identify the position of the user's finger.

As illustrated on the , the selection facade 220 thus comprises two lateral zones 221, 222 bordering this access recess 213 and a front zone 223 extending in front of this access recess 213 and these two lateral zones 221, 222.

Each lateral zone 221 (respectively 222) comprises two two-state tactile manual selection buttons 221A, 221B (respectively 222A, 222B) electrically connected to the rocker actuator 120 and allowing each to select a corresponding window controlled by this actuator 120.

In this case, the lateral zone 221 located on the driver's side of the access recess 213 comprises in its front part a first manual touch button 221A making it possible to select the front window on the driver's side of the vehicle. This lateral zone 221 also includes in its rear part a second manual touch button 221B making it possible to select the rear driver's side window of this vehicle.

In the same way, the lateral zone 222 located on the front passenger side of the access recess 213 comprises in its front part a first manual touch button 222A making it possible to select the front window on the front passenger side of the vehicle. This side zone 222 also includes in its rear part a second touchscreen manual button 222B making it possible to select the rear window on the front passenger side of this vehicle.

The front area 223 of this selection panel 220 includes three other two-state tactile manual selection buttons 223A, 223B, 223C electrically connected to the rocker actuator 120.

The two buttons 223A, 223B each make it possible to select another opening of the vehicle controlled by the actuator 120, in this case the fuel flap for button 223A and the rear trunk for button 223B.

The button 223C allows the actuator 120 to select a vehicle function controlled by the actuator 120, in this case the rear window locking function.

The front zone 223 of the facade also includes in this case a multidirectional touch control pad 223D making it possible to adjust the positioning of a rear-view mirror of the vehicle, as well as two manual touch selection buttons 223E, 223F being electrically connected to it and making it possible to each select a corresponding mirror controlled by this control pad 223D.

The selection buttons 221A, 221B, 222A, 222B, 223A, 223B, 223C, 223E, 223F each have a backlit surface area, in the form of a pictogram representative of the corresponding organ or function that 'it allows you to select, and whose color varies depending on the state of this button (for example, orange for the active state and white for the inactive state) in order to inform users of the organ(s) (opening and/or mirrors) selected.

Each selection button 221A, 221B, 222A, 222B, 223A, 223B, 223C, 223E, 223F is also advantageously provided with haptic validation means of active or passive type allowing the user to feel the change in state of this button.

Advantageously of the active type, these haptic validation means can for example comprise vibrators each implanted under the contact surface of a respective tactile button and capable of emitting a vibratory response when a support force greater than or equal to a predetermined value is exerted on the corresponding button.

Furthermore, the selection buttons associated with the windows 221A, 221B, 222A, 222B are advantageously provided with tactile identification means constituted by raised protrusions E visible on the and allowing the user to identify them by touch.

There represents a top view of a second version of the control device 1' according to the invention having an actuation module 100 identical to that of the control device 1 but being provided with a covering module 200' whose facade selection 220' differs from that of this control device 1.

In the following and on this , we kept the same references for elements identical to the first version and we added a bonus for similar elements.

In this case, the selection facade 220' differs from the facade 220 only at the level of the front zone 223' (the side zones 221 and 222 therefore remaining identical).

In addition to the two buttons 223A, 223B allowing respectively to select the fuel flap and the rear trunk, this front zone 223 'is provided with six other two-state tactile manual selection buttons 223G, 223H, 223I, 223J, 223K, 223L connected electrically to the actuator 120.

The three buttons 223G, 223H, 223I each make it possible to select another opening of the vehicle controlled by the actuator 120, in this case the sunroof for button 223G, the convertible top for button 223H and the front hood for button 223I .

The three buttons 223J, 223K, 223L allow the actuator 120 to each select a respective function associated with the seat located closest to the reception location of the control device 1', in this case the function for adjusting the inclination of the backrest for button 223J, for adjusting its longitudinal position for button 223K and for adjusting its seat height for button 223L.

Furthermore and unlike the facade 220, this selection facade 220' is here devoid of a selection button such as 223C allowing the rear window locking function to be selected, of a multidirectional touch control pad such as 223D as well as of buttons. selection such as 223E, 223F allowing you to adjust the positioning of the vehicle's mirrors.

The selection buttons 223G, 223H, 223I, 223J, 223K, 223L also each have a backlit surface area similar to that of the selection buttons 221A, 221B, 222A, 222B, 223A, 223B.

Each selection button 223G, 223H, 223I, 223J, 223K, 223L is also advantageously provided with haptic validation means of active or passive type and identical to those present on the buttons 221A, 221B, 222A, 222B, 223A, 223B .

According to alternative embodiments of the invention, the conformation of the trim module may vary depending on the constraints of installation of the control device in the vehicle and/or the equipment of this vehicle.

This is particularly the case of the selection front and in particular of the number and arrangement of the selection buttons electrically connected to the actuator that it may include. These selection buttons can thus each allow the rocker actuator to control the opening and closing of other types of openings or to activate certain functions of various vehicle equipment.

Generally speaking, this selection panel will include at least two selection buttons electrically connected to the single actuator, preferably at least one associated with an opening of the vehicle (for example, the window located closest to the location control device).

The selection buttons can also be different, for example consisting of push-type mechanical buttons.

According to yet other alternative embodiments, the tactile identification means may be absent or constituted differently (for example by hollow impressions).

Finally, it is recalled that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described and represented, but also encompasses all the variants of execution within the reach of those skilled in the art.

Claims (13)

Electrical control device (1; 1') for a vehicle comprising a single manual rocker actuator (120) pivotally mounted between at least two control positions as well as a selection front (220; 220') comprising several selection buttons with two states (221A, 221B, 222A, 222B, 223A, 223B, 223C; 221A, 221B, 222A, 222B, 223A, 223B, 223G, 223H, 223I, 223J, 223K, 223L) electrically connected to said actuator (120), each said button making it possible to select, when it is in its active state, a corresponding organ or function controlled by this actuator (120);
characterized in that it has a modular design consisting of an actuation module (100) comprising said manual rocker actuator (120), as well as a covering module (200; 200') comprising said selection facade (220; 220') and assembled interchangeably on said actuation module (100) to which it is electrically connected. Control device (1; 1') according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one (221A, 221B, 222A, 222B, 223A, 223B; 221A, 221B, 222A, 222B, 223A, 223B, 223G , 223H, 223I) of said selection buttons is associated with an opening of said vehicle. Control device (1; 1') according to claim 2, characterized in that at least one (221A, 221B, 222A, 222B) of said selection buttons is associated with a window of said vehicle. Control device (1; 1') according to claim 3, characterized in that at least two (221A, 221B, 222A, 222B) of said selection buttons are each associated with a respective window of said vehicle. Control device (1; 1') according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that said covering module (200; 200') comprises a first housing (210) defining a casing open on the underside (211 ) and fixedly attached to a second housing (110) which comprises said actuation module (100). Control device (1; 1') according to claim 5, characterized in that said casing (211) comprises two tabs (214) intended to cooperate in interlocking by shape correspondence, during the assembly of said covering module (200) on said actuation module (100), with respective recesses (116) provided on two walls of said second housing (110) of the actuation module (100), fixing said covering module (200) on said module d the actuation (100) being ensured by two screws each passing through an orifice (214A) made in said respective lug (214) before screwing into a hole (116A) made on said corresponding wall of said second housing (110). Control device (1; 1') according to claim 5, characterized in that said casing (211) comprises two elastically deformable tabs (215) designed to cooperate by snap-fastening, during the assembly of said covering module (200) on said actuation module (100), with two corresponding teeth (117) provided on two walls of said second housing (110) of the actuation module (100). Control device (1; 1') according to claim 7, characterized in that each said wall of said second housing (110) of the actuation module (100) comprises two ribs (118) spaced transversely by a distance corresponding to the width of said tabs (215) and intended to ensure the sliding guidance of the latter during the assembly of said covering module (200) on said actuation module (100). Control device (1; 1') according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that said selection buttons (221A, 221B, 222A, 222B, 223A, 223B, 223C; 221A, 221B, 222A, 222B, 223A, 223B, 223G, 223H, 223I, 223J, 223K, 223L) are touch type. Control device (1; 1') according to claim 9, characterized in that each said tactile selection button (221A, 221B, 222A, 222B, 223A, 223B, 223C; 221A, 221B, 222A, 222B, 223A, 223B , 223G, 223H, 223I, 223J, 223K, 223L) includes haptic validation means of active or passive type allowing the user to feel the change in state of this button. Control device (1; 1') according to claim 10, characterized in that said haptic validation means comprise vibrators each implanted under the contact surface of a respective tactile button (221A, 221B, 222A, 222B, 223A, 223B, 223C; 221A, 221B, 222A, 222B, 223A, 223B, 223G, 223H, 223I, 223J, 223K, 223L) and capable of emitting a vibration response when a support force greater than or equal to a predetermined value is pressed on the corresponding button. Control device (1; 1') according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that said selection buttons (221A, 221B, 222A, 222B, 223A, 223B, 223C; 221A, 221B, 222A, 222B, 223A, 223B, 223G, 223H, 223I, 223J, 223K, 223L) each present a backlit surface area, in the form of a pictogram representative of the corresponding organ or function that it allows to select , and whose color varies depending on the state of this button. Motor vehicle characterized in that it comprises at least one control device (1; 1’) according to one of claims 1 to 12.