GB2368054A - Method for producing an instrument panel and instrument panel obtained according to said method - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for producing an instrument panel consisting of fittings (1) corresponding to a variable amount of equipment. The inventive method comprises the following: a plurality of conductors (2) is provided for the power supply and/or circulation of data for said fittings (1); conductor modules (3a,3b, 3c) are formed with said conductors (2), corresponding to a given type of conductor modules, whereby said conductors (2) are connected to a specific number of fittings contained in the modules (3a, 3b, 3c) of a given type of module; the amount of equipment required is defined for each instrument panel, the type or types of conductor modules (3a, 3b,3c) is/are selected according to the amount of equipment required and the conductor module corresponding to the fittings (1) of the instrument panel is connected for each type of conductor module thus selected.

Description

mr \ a _" TITLE: Method of manufacturing a dashboard, and dashboard

obtained by such a method.

The invention relates to a method of manufactur- ing a dashboard, and a dashboard, especially for a ve- hicle, obtained by such a method.

Nowadays, in the field of motor vehicles, the dashboards comprise elements of equipment such as in- strumentation housings, car radio, heating, ventilation and air-conditioning devices, airbag-type or other safety devices, for example, depending on a level of equipment fit the diversity of which continues to grow in order to respond to the expectations of the users.

For a given level of equipment fit, the electri- cal conductors intended to be connected to the said equipment elements are configured in a specific way, in order to be able to be ready to fit In the event of a change of level of equipment fit, it is therefore nec- essary to modify the number and/or the nature of the conductors previously employed.

It can be imagined that such a solution requires the management of a very large number of references if it is wished to make use of ready-to-fit conductors for numerous levels of equipment fit.

The object of the invention is to propose a method of manufacturing dashboards and a dashboard, es- pecially for vehicles, obtained according to such a method, which overcome the above-mentioned drawbacks and make it possible to rationalise production, while preserving a large diversity of levels of equipment fit for the said dashboards.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will emerge in the course of the description which will follow which is given only by way of indication and which is not intended to be limiting.

The invention first of all relates to a method of manufacturing dashboards comprising equipment ele- ments according to a variable level of equipment fit, a method in which:

a plurality of conductors are provided for the power supply and/or the circulation of data intended for the said equipment elements, conductor modules are formed with the said conductors, according to a given number of types of conductor modules, the conductors intended to be con- nected to a given set of equipment elements being grouped together in the conductor modules of one said type of conductor module, the desired level of equipment fit is defined for each dashboard, the type or types of conductor modules corre- sponding to the said desired level of equipment fit is or are selected and, for each of the said types of con- ductor modules selected, the said corresponding conduc- tor module is connected with the equipment elements of the corresponding dashboard.

The invention also relates to a dashboard ob- tained by such a method.

The invention will be better understood on read- ing the following description accompanied by the draw- ing in the annex which forms an integral part of it, and which diagrammatically illustrates an example of an arrangement of conductor modules of the dashboard in accordance with the invention.

The invention relates to a method of manufactur- ing a dashboard comprising equipment elements 1, as il- lustrated, depending on a variable level of equipment fit.

According to the invention, a plurality of con- ductors 2 are provided for the power supply and/or the circulation of data intended for the said equipment elements 1, and conductor modules 3 a, 3 b, 3 c are formed with the said conductors 2.

The said conductor modules are formed according to a given number of different types, the conductors 2 intended to be connected to a given set 4 a, 4 b, 4 c of equipment elements 1 being grouped together in the modules 3 a, 3 b, 3 c of one said type of modules.

It is thus possible to provide a first type of module 3 a grouping together the conductors intended to be connected, for example, to an instrumentation hous- ing, to control and/or visual-display units, such as control knob and/or screen, and/or a heating, ventila- tion and/or air-conditioning device.

It would also be possible to provide a second type of module 3 b grouping together the conductors 2 intended to be connected to the various equipment ele- ments allowing, for example, the amusement of the us- ers, such as a car radio, or communication with the outside.

There may also be a third type of module 3 c in- volved, grouping together the conductors 2 intended to be connected to the various equipment elements playing a role of reinforcing the safety of the users, such as an inflatable bag or cushion-type retaining device.

There may therefore be three said types of modules pro- vided, in particular.

At most, one said module 3 a, 3 b, 3 c of one said type of modules is provided per dashboard, for example.

Still according to the invention, the desired level of equipment fit is defined for each dashboard, the type or types of conductor modules corresponding to the said desired level of equipment fit is or are selected and, for each of the said types of conductor modules selected, the said corresponding conductor mod- ule is connected with the equipment elements of the corresponding dashboard.

By way of example, for a dashboard comprising an instrumentation housing, various control and/or visual- display units, a heating and ventilation device as well as a device for retention by inflatable cushion or airbag, only one module of the said first type of module and one module of the said third type of module are necessary to allow connection of these equipment ele- ments 1 In the module of the said first type of mod- ule, the conductors intended for the air-conditioning will not be used.

With such a solution, it is possible to ration- alise production since it is then only necessary to deal with conductors grouped together into a limited number of types of modules, which it is sufficient to combine on the basis of the desired level of equipment fit for the dashboard to be equipped.

It is possible, moreover, to provide for the said modules 3 a, 3 b, 3 c to be designed at a first site whereas the rest of the dashboard is designed at an- other site, the said modules being mounted on the rest of the said dashboard at a third site, especially the vehicle production site, in the case of application in this field.

It should be noted, moreover, that, on this third site, with the number of references of conductors having been reduced, available floor space is released at those locations which previously had to be given over to storing them.

Furthermore, the solution in accordance with the invention makes it possible to preserve diversification of the level of equipment fit which is as wide as de- sired.

That being so, the said modules 3 a, 3 b, 3 c could be equipped, before fitting, for example, with means 5 for connection with the said equipment elements.

Each conductor module is formed, in particular, by forming their said conductors into a harness and/or by arranging them at the level of a flexible strip 6 to which the said conductors 2 are fastened.

For each conductor module, the said conductors consist, for example, of a cable 7 for data circula- tion, multiplexed data if appropriate, and/or of two power-supply cables 8, 9, a live and a neutral, if ap- propriate.

The said strip 6 of conductors 2 could be in- tended to be able, in particular, to accommodate elec- trical and/or electronic components, connected to the said conductors 2 as well as, if appropriate, actuators controlled by the said electrical and/or electronic components To that end, the said strip 6 is, at least locally, stiffened in the region of the said actuators.

The said electrical and/or electronic components are arranged, for example, within cards, fastened to the said strip 6.

As already set out above, the said conductor harness 2 and/or the said strip 6 of conductors are equipped with connectors for linking the said conduc- tors 2 and the said equipment elements 1.

For each dashboard, it is possible to fasten the harness or harnesses and/or the strip or strips 6 to a support, able to constitute a reinforcement for the said dashboard.

According to one particular embodiment, the mod- ules 3 a of one of the said types of conductor modules, called basic conductor modules, group together the con- ductors 2 intended for the equipment elements 1 common to the dashboard of a single group of dashboards One said basic conductor module is then provided per dashboard.

That being so, it is possible, for each dashboard, to provide data-processing means 10 intended for the equipment elements The said processing means consist, for example, of a first processing module 11, intended for processing the data of the equipment elements which are common to the dashboards of a single group of dashboards, called basic processing modules, and possibly of other processing modules 12, 13, called optional processing modules, intended for processing the data of the other equipment elements.

The said basic processing module is intended, especially, to control the operation of the said op- tional processing modules 12, 13 Two of the said op- tional processing modules may be provided.

By way of example, the said basic and optional processing modules will be intended for the equipment elements 1 according to the same distribution as that adopted for the conductor modules 3.

For each dashboard, at least one conductor mod- ule 3 is connected, for example, at least to the said basic processing module 11 This will take the form, in particular, of the said basic conductor module 3.

As regards the conductor modules 3 b, 3 c, these could be connected to the basic processing modules 11, to the optional processing modules 12, 13 and/or to the said basic conductor modules 3.

According to the embodiment illustrated, each module of one said type of module is connected to a different optional or basic processing module.

The invention also relates to a dashboard ob- tained by the method described above.

According to one particular embodiment of the said dashboard, the said basic 11 or optional 12, 13 processing modules are each provided in housings 14, 15, 16, able to be connected up to one another for the circulation at least of data between the processing means 10 provided, distributed in each of the said housings.

The latter could, furthermore, be designed to be able to be fastened mechanically to one another.

The said housings 14, 15, 16, are equipped, es- pecially, with connectors 17, able to interact with the said harnesses and/or the said strips 6 of conductors 2 by virtue of corresponding connectors 18 provided on them.

The said housings 14, 15, 16 possibly also ac- commodate means 19 for a power supply to flow, for the said processing means 10 and/or the said conductors 2, and/or means for electrical protection of the said equipment elements 1, such as fuses.

The said housing 14 comprising the basic proc- essing module 11 is, for example, equipped with means 19 for connection with the outside.

The said processing means 10 could consist, es- pecially, of electronic components, able to handle at least the addressing of the data in the case of multi- plexed circulation, and/or of electrical components such as relays controlling access to a vehicle, in the case of application to a vehicle, the sweeping of the windscreen wipers, the turning-on of the flashing and/or other lights.

Naturally, other embodiments of the invention, within the scope of the person skilled in the art, could have been envisaged without to any extent depart- ing from the context of the invention.

Claims (1)

1 Method of manufacturing a dashboard comprising equipment elements ( 1) according to a variable level of equipment fit, a method in which:

a plurality of conductors ( 2) are provided for the power supply and/or the circulation of data in- tended for the said equipment elements ( 1), conductor modules ( 3 a, 3 b, 3 c) are formed with the said conductors ( 2), according to a given number of types of conductor modules, the conductors ( 2) intended to be connected to a given set of equipment elements being grouped together in the modules ( 3 a, 3 b, 3 c) of one said type of conductor modules, the desired level of equipment fit is defined for each dashboard, the type or types of conductor mod- ules ( 3 a, 3 b, 3 c) corresponding to the said desired levels of equipment fit is or are selected and, for each of the said types of conductor modules selected, the said corresponding conductor module is connected with the equipment elements ( 1) of the said dashboard.

2 Method according to Claim 1, in which each con- ductor module is formed by forming its conductors ( 2) into a harness and/or by arranging its conductors ( 2) at the level of a flexible strip ( 6) to which the said conductors ( 2) are fastened.

3 Method according to Claim 2, in which, for each dashboard, the said harness or harnesses and/or the said strip or strips ( 6) are fastened to a support able to constitute a reinforcement for the said dashboard.

4 Method according to Claim 1, in which the mod- ules ( 3 a) of one of the said types of conductor mod- ules, called basic conductor modules, group together the conductors ( 2) intended for the equipment elements common to the dashboard of a single group of dashboards, one said basic conductor module ( 3 a) being provided per dashboard.

Method according to any one of the preceding claims, in which, for each dashboard, data-processing means ( 10) are provided, intended for the equipment elements ( 1), the said processing means ( 10) consist- ing:

of a first processing module ( 11), intended for processing the data of the equipment elements which are common to the dashboard of a single group of dashboards, called basic processing module, possibly of other processing modules ( 12, 13), called optional processing modules, intended for proc- essing the data of the other equipment elements ( 1), the said basic processing module ( 11) being intended to control the operation of the said optional processing modules ( 12, 13).

6 Method according to Claim 5, in which, for each dashboard, at least one conductor module ( 3) is con- nected at least to the said basic processing modules ( 11).

7 Method according to Claim 6, in which, for each dashboard, the said basic conductor module ( 3 a) is con- nected to the said basic processing modules ( 11).

8 Method according to Claim 7, in which, for each dashboard, the said conductor modules ( 3 b, 3 c), as well as the basic conductor modules ( 3 a), are connected to the basic processing modules ( 11), to the optional processing modules ( 12, 13) and/or to the said basic conductor modules ( 3).

9 Dashboard, especially vehicle dashboard, ob- tained by the method according to any one of the pre- ceding claims.

Dashboard according to Claim 9, in which the said basic ( 11) and/or optional ( 12, 13) processing modules are each provided within housings ( 14, 15, 16) - able to be connected up to one another for the circula- tion at least of data between the processing means ( 10) provided, distributed into each of the housings ( 14, 15, 16).

11 Dashboard according to Claim 10, in which the said housings ( 14, 15, 16) are designed to be able to be fastened mechanically to one another.