GB2489795A

GB2489795A - Multilayered glass proximity switch display unit for vehicle

Info

Publication number: GB2489795A
Application number: GB1205624.8A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Dino Demma
Original assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
Current assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
Priority date: 2011-04-08
Filing date: 2012-03-29
Publication date: 2012-10-10
Also published as: DE102011016427A1; CN102739225A; GB201205624D0

Abstract

A switch display unit 3 for a vehicle comprises a multi-layer glass switch body 4 with at least one front glass layer 5 and a rear glass layer 6. The glass layers respectively comprise a front side 7, 8 and a rear side 9, 10. Switch symbols 11 are visibly arÂranged in a glass volume of the front glass layer. Proximity sensors 13 with sensor structures 14 are arranged in the multi-layer glass switch body between the front glass layer and a rear glass layer. The switch symbols may be three dimensional and may be formed by laser writing and sensor structures may be arranged behind the switch symbols. The display unit may have background illumination and the symbols may be illuminated by light emitting diodes (LEDs) (21, 22 fig. 9) on edge sides of the glass body giving different colours for switch positions.

Description

A display switch unit for a vehicle and a method for producing the display switch unit A display switch unit for a vehicle in the operating area of the driver and a method for pro- ducing the display switch unit are described. The display switch unit comprises a multi-layer glass switch body with at least one front glass layer and one rear glass layer. The glass layers respectively have a front side and a rear side.

A body made of glass with a marking arranged beneath the surface of the body is known in this respect from the specification DE 10 2008 004 995 B3. Said marking can comprise one or several numbers, letters or symbols, or a combination thereof. These labels are produced by a laser beam directed against the surface of the body, which laser beam penetrates the body up to a predetermined depth and is focused at the location of the de-sired marking within the glass body. This leads to a change in the material of the glass at the location of the desired marking, which change leads to a visible change in a radiation introduced in a secondary manner without changing the surface of glass body. A display unit for symbols in a vehicle can be created with such a laser-marked glass body by intro-duction of a secondary radiation.

The design options for display apparatuses are limited especially for vehicles to back-ground illuminations with different colors, although there is a need by the producers to differentiate their vehicles and to provide unique style and design segments especially with respect to visual appearance and haptics. Since the available possibilities for display have remained limited over many years, the style and design possibilities for differentiat-ing and characterizing vehicles are extremely limited in this area.

lt is an object to overcome these limits and to provide a display switch unit for a vehicle and a method for producing the display switch unit which expands the possibilities of the type of style and design for such display apparatuses and improves ease-of-use in a vehi-cle.

This object is achieved by the subject matter of the independent claims. Advantageous further developments are provided by the features of the dependent claims.

A display switch unit for a vehicle and a method for producing the display switch unit are described as the solution of the object. The display switch unit comprises a multi-layer glass switch body with at least one front glass layer and one rear glass layer. The glass layers respectively comprise a front side and a rear side, Switch symbols are visibly ar- ranged in a glass volume of the front glass layer of the glass switch body. Proximity sen-sors with sensor structures are arranged in the multi-layer glass switch body between the front glass layer and a rear glass layer.

This display switch unit offers the advantage over current switch levers, flip switches, rota- ry levers and other possibilities for actuation arranged on the steering wheel that the driv-ers are able to fully concentrate on road traffic and the steering of their vehicle with such a display switch unit. In order to trigger different additional functions during driving such as switching on the light, dipping the light, setting the air conditioning, seat heating, window heating and other functions, the driver can trigger the respective function without actuating levers, flip switches or rotary buttons by simply moving a controlling finger of his of her hand towards the display switch unit. Driving convenience and safety are improved by providing such a display switch unit, since no movements contrary to the steering wheel movements are required such as are required for example in switch levers for actuating windshield wipers, windshield washers or the like. At the same time, an appealing and clear colored switching surface can be created by the illuminatable switch symbols of the display switch unit, which will reduce the likelihood of erroneous operation by distinct switch symbols.

In one embodiment, the electrical connections are arranged on an edge side of the multi- layer glass switch body and are connected with the sensor structure. This offers the ad-vantage that the display switch unit can be integrated in the vehicle driver area, wherein the connections themselves can be arranged in a covered way by the arrangement of the connections on the edge side of the multi-layer glass switch body without impairing the visible area with the switch symbols of the display switch unit.

It is further provided that the sensor structure comprises capacitor structures, the capaci-tance of which can be varied by the approach of a controlling finger, so that an electronic circuit connected to the electrical connections can respond to the change in capacitance in that resonance sequences are shifted for example and switching processes and display signals can be triggered thereby.

In order to increase operating convenience even further it is provided that the display switch unit has a background illumination which is adjusted to day and night operation. On the other hand, background illumination will ensure that the laser-marked switch symbols in the front glass layer will differ considerably from the transparent area of the surrounding glass volume and, in addition the recognizability of the switch symbols can be enhanced by background illumination during operation during the day. Furthermore, the intensity of background illumination can be reduced during operation during the night, so that dazzling effects which might deflect attention from road traffic during the night can be avoided.

It is provided in a further embodiment that each switch symbol has different switch- position display colors. Switch symbols which are illuminated in different colors can mdi-cate three switching positions for example such as readiness of the function, activation of the function and deactivation of the function. As a result, readiness of the function can be indicated by yellow lighting of the switch symbol, and a non-illuminated switch symbol or red illumination of a switch symbol can signalize non-readiness of the function, whereas a green display color indicates the activated function.

In order to provide these different display colors for the switching position, it is provided that light-emitting diodes of different lighting colors are arranged on the edge sides of the glass switch body and are respectively aligned towards one of the switch symbols. It is ensured thereby that each switch symbol can be illuminated separately in different switch-position display colors.

It is further provided that the switch symbols are arranged in a three-dimensional manner in the glass volume of the front glass layer. As a result of the aforementioned possibility to vary the focal point of the laser beam in the depth of the front glass layer in order to achieve the conversion of the glass into the desired switch symbol structure, rapidly rec-ognizable three-dimensional symbols can be realized which help the driver to allocate the symbols to the individual functions.

It is further provided that the front glass layer comprises amorphous glass material doped with metal oxide, with which it is enabled to provide the surrounding area of the switch symbols with colors through the background illumination.

For the purpose of realizing the sensor structure, electrically conductive transparent coat-ings are structured on the rear side of the front glass layer or on the front side of the rear glass layer, which coatings are provided in strip form for example and thereby form an electrode of the capacitive sensor structure. Indium oxide or iron oxide can be provided in a further embodiment as a conductive coating, It is also possible to provide meandering structures instead of strip-like structures, and in the most extreme of cases conducting wires can also be arranged as antenna wires in such a way that as a result of an ap-proach of a fingertip the resonant frequency of an electronic oscillation circuit is changed.

It is provided that the capacitive sensor structure enables directional recognition, so that operating functions for driver and passenger can be distinguished. Changes in the seat heating, ventilation, temperature, settings of the air-conditioning system can therefore be set individually for the driver side and passenger side.

It is further provided to arrange one or several circuit boards with the electronic parts for the sensor structure as a non-transparent additional layer on the rear side of the transpar-ent glass body.

In a further embodiment, the glass composition comprises various areas which are illumi- nated in colors and in which there is a doping of metal ions, with the metal ions being ex- cited to provide secondary emissions upon radiation by light-emitting diodes. It is not nec-essary in this respect that the light source is arranged on the rear side of the rear plastic area of the plastic body. The plastic body can rather be illuminated from its edge sides. It is also possible that reflector particles are arranged in the rear plastic region in order to deflect or reflect background illumination arranged on the edge side in the direction to-wards the front side of the plastic body.

A method for producing a display switch unit of a vehicle comprises the following method steps. A front glass layer is produced at first from an amorphous glass pane in that the amorphous glass pane is split into front glass layers for example. This can be followed by an introduction of three-dimensional switch symbols into an amorphous glass volume of the front glass layer under crystallization of the amorphous glass material. This step of introducing three-dimensional switch symbols on the amorphous glass pane can occur at first and then the splitting of the glass pane into individual front glass layers already with the switch symbols.

The application of a transparent electrically conductive coating can also occur on a rear side of the glass pane provided with the switch symbols for a plurality of display switch units. On the other hand, it is also possible to perform the introduction of switch symbols only after the splitting of the glass pane into glass switch layers. The structuring of the rear S side coating can occur either on individual front glass layers or on the aforementioned glass pane for a plurality of front glass layers.

Since there is at least one front glass layer, a rear glass layer with a front side and the rear side is then provided which is congruent to the front glass layer. The method is com-pleted in that the front glass layer is materially joined with the rear glass layer into a glass switch body. This method offers the advantage that a plurality of glass switch bodies made of front glass layer and rear glass layer with switch symbols attached to the volume of the front glass layer can be produced at low cost.

The aforementioned three-dimensional laser writing is used for introducing three- dimensional switch symbols. In order to apply the transparent three-dimensional electrical-ly conductive coating for the proximity sensor, spraying, vapor deposition, PVD (physical vapor deposition) or CVD (chemical vapor deposition) methods can be used with subse-quent selective etching into a sensor structure or structuring by means of a laser process.

Such selective etching is usually achieved in such a way that the components that are not to be etched are coated with a structured photosensitive resist layer prior to the actual etching process. The etching agent or the etching solution is determined by the properties of the electrically conductive but transparent coating, which as already mentioned above can be indium oxide or iron oxide.

It is further possible that during the switchover from one of the switch symbols an optical or an acoustic or a haptic signal is triggered, with which the driver of the vehicle is addi-tionally informed about the respective switching state of the display switch unit.

The connection of the front glass layer with the back glass layer to a glass switch body can be performed with a transparent adhesive so that the parting line itself will not be visi-ble.

It is further provided that during the switchover from one of the switch symbols either a change in the color will be triggered as an optical switch symbol, or acoustic or haptic sig-nals will be triggered. The driver will thereby be provided with a confirmation for the switching state of the respective vehicle function, so that the likelihood of erroneous oper-ation will be reduced.

Embodiments will now be explained in closer detail by reference to the enclosed draw-ings, wherein: Fig. 1 shows a schematic view of a vehicle; Fig. 2 shows a schematic front view of a display switch unit; Fig. 3 shows a schematic front view of the display switch unit according to Fig. 2 with proximity sensors of a first embodiment; Fig. 4 shows a schematic top view of a glass switch body of the display switch unit according to Fig. 2; Fig. 5 shows a schematic perspective view of a multi-layer glass switch body of the display switch unit according to Fig. 3; Fig. 6 shows a schematic front view of a display switch unit with proximity sensors of a further embodiment; Fig. 7 shows a schematic perspective view of a glass switch body of the display switch unit according to Fig. 6; Fig. 8 shows a schematic bottom view of a glass switch body with the light-emitting diode positions; Fig. 9 shows a schematic perspective view of the glass switch body according to Fig. 8.

Fig. I shows a schematic view of a vehicle 1 with a display switch unit in the driver area 2 which is marked by a circle in which the components and functions of the vehicle 1 are provided in the interior space 20 arranged in the operating range of the driver. This also includes a new display switch unit, as explained in closer detail in the following drawings.

Fig. 2 shows a schematic front view of a display switch unit 3. The display switch unit 3 comprises a multi-layer glass switch body 4, of which a front glass layer 5 is shown here in a front view in which the switch symbols 11 are arranged which are representative of a small section of potential switch symbols that can be actuated with the help of such a dis- play switch unit 3. Six switch symbols 23 to 28 are shown by way of example, with 23 be-ing an alphanumeric switch symbol and 24 a switch symbol for a side-marker lamp of the vehicle which is arranged in the multi-layer glass switch body 4. Furthermore, switch sym- bol 25 is representative of the low-beam light and switch symbol 26 indicates the high-beam light.

Finally, switch symbol 27 is arranged on this display switch unit 3 which is provided for activating the rear fog lamp and the switch symbol 28 which is provided for a fog lamp.

This front view further shows that two light-emitting diodes 21 and 22 are provided on a bottom edge side 17 of the glass switch body 4 for each of the switch symbols 23 to 28.

The light-emitting diodes 21 and 22 which are provided in addition to background illumina-tion can illuminate the glass volume 12 in color, which glass volume encloses a switch symbol, so that the switching states such as "activated" or "deactivated" can be signalized in color.

As a result, a red light-emitting diode 21 is provided for example for the individual areas in which the switch symbols are arranged, which diode indicates the deactivated state, and a green light-emitting diode 22 which indicates the activated state.

Fig. 3 shows a schematic front view of the display switch unit 3 with proximity sensors 13 in a first embodiment. The proximity sensors 13 are arranged in this case in a meandering manner and are provided as a capacitance electrode, with the capacitance changing in the moment in which a controlling finger of the driver approaches this switch symbol. The proximity sensors 13 with the sensor structure 14 which form meandering structures 19 in this case can change the capacitance of an LC oscillating circuit for example upon ap-proach of a controlling finger of the driver in such a way that the change of the resonant frequency of the oscillating circuit triggers a switching process. For this purpose, the me- andering structure 19 converges into the connection regions 29 and 30 which are provid-ed for each of the sensor structures 14.

Fig. 4 shows a schematic top view of the multi-layer glass switch body 4, with only two layers being shown here, which are a front glass layer 5 with a front side 7 and a rear side 9. A rear glass layer 6 comprises a front side 8 and a rear side 10. The three-dimensional switch symbols 23 to 28 are arranged in the front glass layer 5 with a depth T, with the three-dimensional switch symbols 23 to 28 having a depth t which is lower than the depth T of the front glass layer.

The meandering structure can be vapor-deposited onto the rear side 9 of the front glass layer 5 as shown in Fig. 3, or it is arranged on the front side 8 of the rear glass layer 6, which structure is shown in this top view merely as a thin adhesive joint 31 as a result of the thin conductive coating. The rear glass layer 6 is materially applied with its front side 8 to the rear side 9 of the front glass layer 5 with the help of a transparent adhesive.

Fig. 5 shows a schematic perspective view of a multi-layer glass switch body 4 of the dis-play switch unit 3. The drawing neither shows the background illumination source nor the position of the colored light-emitting diodes which provide the three-dimensional switch symbols 11 arranged in the front glass layer 4 with different colors depending on the switching state. Fig. 5 nevertheless shows the sensor structure 14 of the proximity sen-sors 11, which are applied either as a thin wire construction or as transparent, electrically conductive strips in a meandering manner either to the surface 8 of the rear glass layer 6 or to the rear side 9 of the front glass layer 5.

The two glass layers 5 and 6 are connected by means of a transparent adhesive which forms an adhesive joint 3lto form the glass switch body 4 as shown in Fig. 5. The con-nections 15 and 16 to the sensor structures 14 protrude from the bottom edge side 17 of the glass switch body 4 in the region of the adhesive joint 31. These electric connections and 16 can be arranged as plugs or connector sockets, or form contact areas on the bottom edge side 17 via which the sensor structures 14 are connected with respective sensor circuits.

Fig. 6 shows a schematic front view of a display switch unit 3' with proximity sensors 13' of a further embodiment. Components with the same functions as in the preceding draw-ings will be marked with reference numerals and will not be discussed separately again.

The sensor structure 14' which is symbolized with the lines can either comprise thin wires which are embedded between the front glass layer 5 and the rear glass layer in the adhe-sive joint, or they can be arranged as thin transparent electrically conductive strips which are structured on the rear side of the front glass layer 5 or on the front side of the rear glass layer 6 in that an electrically conductive coating of indium oxide or iron oxide for ex-ample is subjected to a selective etching process.

When a controlling finger of the driver approaches one of the switch symbols, the strip structure 18 of the proximity sensors 13' will be subjected to a change in capacitance which can be utilized to electronically trigger a switching process and to perform the func-tions linked to the switch symbol when driving the vehicle.

Fig. 7 shows a schematic perspective view of a glass switch body 4' of the display switch unit 3' in which it is illustrated again that the switch symbols 11 are arranged three-dimensionally in a front glass layer 5, which can be achieved for example by laser writing, and that a strip structure 18 is arranged as a sensor structure 14 between the front glass layer 5 and the rear glass layer 6. The electric connections 29 and 30 of said sensor struc-tures 14' are again provided for every single switch symbol.

Fig. 8 shows a schematic bottom view of a glass switch body 4 for a display switch unit 3 with positions for two respective light-emitting diodes 21 and 22 which provide the switch symbols 11 with an indirect colored light, so that the switching state of every single display switch can be symbolized by different display colors, with the light-emitting diodes being arranged in pairs so that in summary three switching state can be indicated, which in one case is the readiness of the entire switch display unit 3 by background illumination in which the three-dimensional switch symbols 11 will be illuminated, as well as the activated state and deactivated state for every single symbol by a respective display color for every single three-dimensional switch symbol 11 by way of indirect illumination with the help of the light-emitting diodes 21 and 22.

Fig. 9 shows a schematic perspective view of the glass switch body 4 according to Fig. 1.

In this embodiment, the light-emitting diodes 21 and 22 for the indirect illumination of the switch symbols 11 are arranged on the bottom edge side 17 of the rear side layer 6 and can illustrate the activation state of the switch symbols 11 by differentiation in color.

List of reference numerals 1 Vehicle 2 Driver area 3 Display switch unit 3' Display switch apparatus 4 Glass body 4' Glass body Front glass body layer 6 Rear glass body layer 7 Front side 8 Front side 9 Rear side Rearside 11 Switch symbol 12 Glass volume 13 Proximity sensor 13' Proximity sensor 14 Sensor structure 14' Sensor structure Electric connection 16 Electric connection 17 Edge side 18 Strip structure 19 Meandering structure Interior space of the vehicle 21 Light-emitting diode 22 Light-emitting diode 23 Alphanumeric switch symbol 24 Side-marker lamp Low-beam light 26 Hi-beam light 27 Rear fog lamp 28 Fog lamp 29 Connection Connection 31 Adhesive joint I Depth of the front glass layer body t Depth of the switch symbols

Claims

CLAIMS: 1. A display switch unit for a vehicle, comprising: -a multi-layer glass switch body (4) with at least one front glass layer (4) and a rear glass layer (6), with the glass layers (5, 6) respectively having a front side (7, 8) and a rear side (9, 10); -switch symbols (11) which are visibly arranged in a glass volume (12) of the front glass layer (5) of the glass switch body (4); -proximity sensors (13) with sensor structures (14); wherein the sensor structures (14) are arranged in the multi-layer glass switch body (4) between the front glass layer (5) and a rear glass layer (6).
2. A vehicle according to claim 1, wherein electric connections (15, 16) are arranged on an edge side (17) of the multi-layer glass switch body (4) and are connected with the sensor structure (14).
3. A vehicle according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the sensor structures (14) are arranged behind the switch symbols (11) and are arranged on the front side (8) of the rear glass layer (6) or on the rear side (9) of the front glass layer (5), and wherein the front side (8) of the rear glass layer (6) is materially connected with the rear side (9) of the front glass layer (5).
4. A display unit according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the display switch unit (3) comprises a background illumination that is adapted to day and night oper-ation.
5. A display unit according to one of the preceding claims, wherein each switch sym-bol (11) has different switch-position display colors.
6. A display unit according to claim 5, wherein light-emitting diodes are arranged on edge sides (17) of the glass switch body (4) for the different switch-position display colors.
7. A display unit according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the switch sym-bols (11) are arranged three-dimensionally in the glass volume (12) of the front glass layer (5) and comprise crystallized areas in the volume of the amorphous front glass layer (5), and wherein the front glass layer (5) comprises an amorphous glass material doped with metal oxide.
8. A display unit according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the sensor struc-ture (14) is a strip structure (18) or a meandering structure (19) consisting of a transparent, electrically conductive structured indium oxide or structured iron oxide coating.
9. A display unit according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the sensor struc-ture (14) comprises directional recognition, so that operating functions such as changes to the seat heating, ventilation, temperature, settings of the air- conditioning system can be set in different ways individually for the driver and pas-senger side.
10. A display unit according to one of the preceding claims, wherein one or several circuit boards with the electronics for the sensor structure (14) are arranged as a non-transparent additional layer on the rear side of the transparent glass body (4).
11. A method for producing a display switch unit (3) of a vehicle (1), comprising the following method steps: -producing a first front glass layer (5) from an amorphous glass pane; -introducing three-dimensional switch symbols (11) into an amorphous glass volume (12) of the front glass layer (5) under crystallization of the amor-phous glass material; -application of a transparent, electrically conductive coating to a rear side (9) of the front glass layer (5); -structuring the rear side coating into a sensor structure (14) of a proximity sensor (13); -providing a rear glass layer (6) with a front side (8) and a rear side (10), which rear glass layer (6) is congruent to the front glass layer (5); -materially connecting the front glass layer (5) with the rear glass layer (6) into a glass switch body (4).
12. A method according to claim 11, wherein the introduction of the three-dimensional switch symbols (11) occurs by means of laser writing.
13. A method according to claim 11 or claim 12, wherein the application of a transpar-ent, electrically conductive coating occurs by means of spraying, vapor-depositing, PVD or CVD processes.
14. A method according to one of the claims 11 to 13, wherein the structuring of the rear side coating occurs by means of etching or laser ablation.
15. A method according to one of the claims 11 to 14, wherein a transparent adhesive is used for connecting the front glass layer (5) with the rear glass layer (6) to form a glass switch body (4).