GB2591263A

GB2591263A - IP69 Protection Illumination Push Button

Info

Publication number: GB2591263A
Application number: GB2000964.3A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Sugumaran Manimaran; Palaniappen Sivaprakasam
Original assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
Current assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
Priority date: 2020-01-23
Filing date: 2020-01-23
Publication date: 2021-07-28
Also published as: GB202000964D0

Abstract

A button cap unit for enclosing a plurality of electronic components within a housing 102 includes an ingression sealing element 120 to keep dust and moisture from entering the housing. The ingression sealing element 120 comprises an engagement portion 120’ at each of two distal ends. Each engagement portion has a profiled geometrical shape, one of which engages a retaining mechanism 124 of a button cover 108. The sealing element can be: made of an elastic material comprising rubber, plastics or rubber coated with plastic; deform between 1-2mm when pressure is applied; and be U-shaped with an extended at arm at one end and a plurality of teeth at the other. The engagement portions 120’ can be a mould-insert. Button cover 108 can have a transparent light transmission surface with a thinned cross section comprising diamond-shaped cut-outs.

Description

IP69 Protection Illumination Push Button

TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure relates to a button cap unit for enclosing a plurality of electronic components within a housing. In particular, the button cap is suitable for outdoor applications, such as operating devices for use in motor vehicles for outdoor applications, for example, a two-wheeler, an all-terrain vehicle, an agriculture machinery or a heavy equipment vehicle, which has a protection against dust and moisture.

BACKGROUND

Conventionally, switches are mechanical devices for operating functions of a motor vehicle. However, functionality and durability of devices onboard a motor vehicle is of significant importance, in particular, switching devices for motor vehicles such as two-wheelers and all-terrain vehicles are highly exposed to environmental factors such as moisture and dust when on the road, which deteriorate the functionality of the mechanical switch. Another environmental issue is visibility of the switch to a rider during night-time operation.

A known method of solving the problem of dust and moisture entering the switching device is to use waterproof sheet or coating to cover the switching device.

A known method of solving the problem of visibility of switch is to incorporate a backlight to the switch, such that the switching device illuminates during operation.

However, the use of waterproof sheet or coating on switching device is not immune to natural wear and tear due to frequent handling by a rider, or external environmental factors such as sunlight and rain, or even high-pressure cleaning (e.g. jet washing) of the motor vehicle for outdoor applications. Once the waterproof sheet or coating is subjected to wear and tear, dust and moisture may still enter the interior of the switching device, causing electronic components residing within the switching device to corrode or deteriorate.

There is therefore a need to provide a button cap unit for enclosing a plurality of electronic components with in a housing, to achieve an electronic devices that complies with the requirement of ingress protection rating according to the international standards of International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), in particular 69 or 69K requirements.

SUMMARY

A purpose of this disclosure is to provide a button cap unit for enclosing a plurality of electronic components within a housing, to prevent dust and moisture from entering the housing, so as to satisfy the requirement of international standards protection rating 69 or 69K according to IEC.

Another purpose of this disclosure is to provide a button cap unit with an ingression sealing element that is able to prevent or delay deterioration due to wear and tear.

In an aspect of this disclosure, a button cap unit for enclosing a plurality of electronic components within a housing is provided. The button cap unit may comprise an ingression sealing element configured to keep dust and moisture from entering the housing. The ingression sealing element may further comprises an engagement portion at each distal end. Each of the engagement portion may have a profiled geometrical shape. The profiled geometrical shape of the ingression sealing element enables any type of button cover having distal ends with a complementary profiled geometrical shape to engage into the distal ends of the ingression sealing and thereby creating the sealing of the housing. The button cap unit may further comprises a button cover. The button cover may comprise a retaining mechanism.

The retaining mechanism may be configured to be engaged into the engagement portion of the ingression sealing element. Advantageously, the ingression sealing element seals any opening between the button cap unit and the housing of an electronic device, thereby yielding a dust tight and moisture or waterproof electronic device. Consequently, the purpose of providing an electronic device that meets the requirement of ingression protection rating 69 or 69K is achieved.

The ingression sealing element may further comprises a plurality of teeth on one distal end. Advantageously, the plurality of teeth engages into the retaining mechanism, thus securing the ingression sealing element to the retaining mechanism. The ingression sealing element may comprise an extended arm forming the other distal end. The ingression sealing element may be made of an elastic material comprising of rubber, plastic or a combination thereof.

Advantageously, the elastic material allows the ingression sealing element to deform and restore its shape.

The ingression sealing element may comprises a u-shaped elastic elbow connecting the extended arm and the engagement portion. The extended arm and the engagement portion may form a 90 degrees angle. The u-shaped elastic elbow may be configured to deform between 1mm to 2mm when an external force is applied to the ingression sealing element. Advantageously, the deformation capabilities of the ingression sealing element allows the button cap unit operable to move in a downward direction, without breaking or snapping.

The engagement portion may be made of mould insert. Advantageously, mould insert created from injection moulding process is cost efficient and the shape of the insert may be moulded into any shape according to design configuration. Advantageously, the engagement portion may be provided in any shape to suit the parts of the button cap and/or the housing that the engagement portion is in connection with.

The ingression sealing element may be made of rubber material and coated with plastic material. Advantageously, the elastic nature of rubber material and plastic material allows the ingression sealing element to move in a downward direction when an external force is applied.

The button cover may comprise a light transmission surface area with a thinned cross section configured to receive and transmit light rays through said area of the button cover.

The thinned cross section may comprise of diamond-shaped cut-outs. Advantageously, the light transmission surface area allows light rays to be transmitted through the button cover.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Other objects and aspects of this disclosure will become apparent from the description of embodiments set forth below, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a cross section view illustrating an exemplary embodiment of this disclosure Fig. 2 is a top view illustrating an embodiment of this disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a bottom view of a button cap according to an exemplary embodiment of this disclosure.

Fig.4 is a cross section illustrating a structure of a top portion of a push button switch according to an exemplary embodiment of this disclosure.

Fig. 5 is an exploded view illustrating an exemplary embodiment of this disclosure.

DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, an explanation of a button cap unit 400 for and method of enclosing a plurality of electronic component within a housing to yield an IP69 compliant electronic device is described in detail. In certain embodiments, an IP69 compliant push button switch or an IP69 compliant push button switch with illumination is described.

With reference to Fig. 1, an electronic device such as a push button switch 100 in accordance to an exemplary embodiment is shown. The push button switch 100 comprises a housing 102, for enclosing electronic components and/or circuitry within the push button switch 100. In addition, the housing 102 prevents dust and moisture from entering the interior of the push button switch 100. The housing 102 may comprise of two working pieces, for e.g. an inner wall 102a and an outer wall 102b which work together, to achieve a pushing projection when in operation. The housing 102 may be made of waterproof material such as plastic, to achieve the purpose of preventing moisture from entering an interior of the push button switch 100. The push button switch 100 further comprises a powering device 104, for supplying an electric charge to a printed circuit board (PCB) 106, thereby enabling the switching function of the push button switch 100. Depending on the design configuration of the powering device 104, sub-groups of smaller electronic devices may be included. In an exemplary embodiment, the powering device 104 includes an actuator or an actuator element 112 in the form of a knob, and a latch switch 114, where the latch switch 114 has a plurality of pins which are connected to the PCB 106. The latch switch 114 is further in connection with the actuator 112, which is displaced adjacent to the latch switch 114. In the exemplary embodiment as shown in FIG. 1, the actuator 112 provides actuating motion. Since the actuator 112 is in connection with the latch switch 114, when an external force or a turning motion is applied through the button cover 108, the actuator 112 actuates the latch switch 114 further into the housing 102 of the push button switch 100, i.e. in a downward directional motion, thereby supplying an electric charge to the PCB 106. Concurrently, the ingression sealing element 110 moves in a downward directional motion in as the external force is being applied to the button cover 108.

In another exemplary embodiment, one or more light emitting diode 116 may be electrically connected to the PCB 106, for supplying illumination. In this exemplary embodiment, the actuator 112 is made of a material to be transparent or permitting light rays to pass through. The button cover 108 may comprise a light transmission surface area with a thinned cross section, allowing light rays to be transmitted through, thus an icon or symbol 202 will be displayed to a rider from top view of an illuminated button cap unit 200 as shown in Fig. 2. To enhance illumination, the side of the button cap unit 300 facing the one or more LED (i.e. the side of the button cap unit 300 forming ceiling of the housing 102) may be treated to create a thinned cross section to receive and transmit light rays through said area of the button cover. The thinned cross section may be in the form of diamond-shaped cut-outs 302, as shown in Fig. 3. The diamond-shaped cut-outs 302 located at the ceiling of the housing 102 facilitates refraction of light rays passing through the button cap unit 300. The refraction of light rays caused by the diamond-shaped cut-outs 302 achieves an enhanced illumination effect when viewed by the rider during operation, thus appearing highly illuminated.

In both exemplary embodiments, an ingression sealing element 110 seals any opening between the housing 102 and the button cap unit 200, 300. By doing so achieves a dust tight and moisture proof push button switch 100. As shown in Fig. 1, the ingression sealing element 110 is displaced within the interior of the push button switch 100. Displacing the ingression sealing element within an interior of the push button switch 100 ensures higher durability of the ingression sealing element 110. Nonetheless, in the alternative, the ingression sealing element 110 may be displaced at an exterior surface (not shown) of the push button switch 100. The term "interior" shall refer to an inside or inner wall of the push button switch, i.e. the inner walls of the button cap 108 and the housing 102 which forms the structure of the push button switch. The term "exterior" shall refer to the reserve.

A main advantage of this disclosure is to provide a button cap unit with an ingression sealing element for enclosing a plurality of electronic components within a housing, to achieve an electronic device which is compliant with the requirement of IP69 or IP 69K protection rating according to IEC standards. The first digit of the protection rating represents protection for electrical equipment against the ingress of solid particles, including dust and the second digit represents protection of electrical equipment against the ingress of moisture or water. According to IEC standards, protection IP69 or IP69K represents ingression protection (IP) that provides a dust tight (6) electrical equipment and is protected against high pressure cleaning / steam jet condition (69 or 69K). To achieve this objective, any opening between the button cap unit and an external housing of an electronic device is sealed with an ingression sealing element which is durable and elastic to external force. Additional feature(s) which achieves protection against ingress of high-pressure water (e.g. heavy rainstorm) and/or cleaning / steam jet conditions are further explained in detail below.

Referring to Fig. 4 which shows a button cap unit 400 according to an embodiment, it can be observed the ingression sealing element 110 has an engagement portion 102, 102' on each end. Each end of the ingression sealing element 110 has a profiled geometrical shape, e.g. a plurality of teeth 120, and an extended arm 120'. The plurality of teeth 120 engages with at least a part of the button cover 404, while the other end of the ingression sealing element 110 engages with at least a part of the inner wall 102a of the housing 102 (refer to embodiment shown in Fig. 1). The at least a part of the button cover 108 may be an inner wall. In an exemplary embodiment, a retaining mechanism 124 is positioned at a wall of the button cover 108 receives and retains an end or an engagement portion 102. This is done when the plurality of teeth 120 of the ingression sealing element 110 engages into the retaining mechanism 124. The other end of the ingression sealing element 110 may be connected to at last a part of the housing 102 of the electronic device or push button switch 100.

The ingression sealing element 110 forms an elastic elbow 122 when one of the engagement portions, such as an extended arm 120' is connected to at least a part of the housing 102. The elastic elbow 122 may form a U-shape configuration. The U-shaped elastic elbow 122 provides a deformation of the ingression sealing element 110 when an external force is applied to the push button switch 100 to activate supplying of electric charge. The elastic elbow 122 provides a buffer for deformation of the ingression sealing element 110. In an exemplary embodiment, the powering device 104 travels in a downward direction towards the PCB 106 when the external force is applied. Therefore, the elastic elbow 122 deforms between 1mm to 2mm. In another exemplary embodiment, the latch switch 114 which forms part of the powering device 104 is pushed and one or more pins of the latch switch 114 moves in a downward direction towards the PCB 106 when the external force is applied. Therefore, the elastic elbow 122 deforms at a length of 1.5mm due to the downward directional movement of the latch switch 114. The elastic elbow 122 is configured to deform and restore to its original shape when the powering device 104 or the latch switch 114 is not in connection with the PCB 106.

In order to achieve resilience, the ingression sealing element 110 may be made of an elastically elastic material. The ingression sealing element 110 may be made of a rubber material. An example of a suitable type of rubber material is thermoplastic elastomer (TPE). Another suitable type of elastic material may be plastic. Example of types of plastics suitable includes polyvinyl chloride (PVC) or polycarbonate (PC).

In an exemplary embodiment, the engagement portion 120, 120' is a mould insert, which may be moulded together with a body of the ingression sealing element 110.

The benefit of applying hard pressing process or injection moulding process to produce mould insert is that the engagement portion 102, 120' may be easily moulded into different shapes of configurations as desired, at very low cost. In another exemplary embodiment, the ingression sealing element 110 is first manufactured to a desired shape and length and further coated with plastic. In yet another exemplary embodiment, the ingression sealing element 110 is made of rubber material and the engagement portions 120, 120' are made of plastic, for connection to the button cap 108 and/or at least a part of the housing 102.

Referring to Fig. 5 which shows an exploded view of a working embodiment, an electronic device such as a push button switch 100 is being used as a switch for an instrument cluster 500. In this exemplary embodiment, the PCB 106 of the push button switch 100 is part of a PCB 502 for the instrument cluster 500. Therefore, a part of the powering device 104, i.e. the latch switch 114, is in connection with the PCB 502 of the instrument cluster. A dial layer 504 of the instrument cluster 500 includes a light guide 506 for receiving light rays from one or more LEDs 116 which are electrically connected to the PCB 502 of the instrument cluster 500. An actuator 112 of the push button switch 100 is at least partially within the light guide 506. A button cap unit 200, 300 in accordance to the preferred embodiment of this disclosure covers the actuator 112. A top cover 508 of the instrument cluster 500 may include a hole the size of the button cover 108, for accommodating the button cover 108 within.

To assemble a push button switch 100 configuration which possesses IP69 or IP69K protecting rating as disclose herein, the steps involves comprises providing a housing 102; supplying an electric charge, by way of a powering device 104; displacing a button cap 108 at a distal end of the housing 102; and sealing, by way of an ingression sealing element 110, the button cap 108 and the housing 102 of the push button switch 100. This allows a symbol 202 to be illuminated and displayed when viewed from the top view of the push button switch 100 (Fig. 2 referred) by a rider.

Additionally, one or more LED 116 is electrically connected to a PCB 106, which forms part of the push button switch 100 configuration, for transmitting illumination through the push button switch 100.

The detailed description above serves the purpose of explaining the principles of the present disclosure and its practical application, thereby enabling others skilled in the art to understand the disclosure for various exemplary embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. The detailed description is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the present disclosure to the precise embodiments herein. Modifications and equivalents will be apparent to practitioners skilled in this art and are encompassed within the scope and spirit of the appended claims.

List of Reference Skins 100 -push button switch 102 -engagement portion 102a -inner wall 102b -outer wall 104-Powering device 106-PCB 108 -button cover 110-an ingression sealing element 112 -an actuator 114-a latch switch 116-LED 118-an extended arm 120,120' -engaging portions 122 -a elastic elbow 124 -a retaining mechanism -Top view of button cover 202 -symbol 300 -Bottom view of button cover 302 -light transmission surface area 304 -diamond-shaped cut-outs 400 -button cap unit 500 -instrument cluster 502 -PCB 504 -dial layer 506 -light guide 508 -top layer of instrument cluster

Claims

Patent claims 1. A button cap unit (400) for enclosing a plurality of electronic components within a housing (102), the button cap comprising: an ingression sealing element (110) configured to keep dust and moisture from entering the housing (102), wherein the ingression sealing element (110) further comprises an engagement portion (102, 102') at two distal end, wherein one distal end of the engagement portion (102,102') having a profiled geometrical shape, and a button cover (108) with one distal end comprising a retaining mechanism (124), wherein the retaining mechanism (124) is configured to be engaged into the engagement portion (420, 420') of the ingression sealing element.
2. The button cap unit (400) of Claim 1, wherein the ingression sealing element (110) comprises a plurality of teeth (120) on one distal end.
3. The button cap unit (400) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the ingression sealing element (110) comprises an extended arm (120') forming the other distal end.
4. The button cap unit (400) of claim 1 -3, wherein the ingression sealing element (110) is made of an elastic material comprising of rubber, plastic or a combination thereof.
5. The button cap unit (400) of claim 1 -4, wherein the ingression sealing element (110) comprises a u-shaped elastic elbow (122) connecting the extended arm (120') and the engagement portion (102').
6. The button cap unit (400) of claim 5, wherein the extended arm (120') and the engagement portion (102') forms a 90 degree angle.
7. The button cap unit (400) of claim 5-6, wherein the u-shaped elastic elbow (122) is configured to deform between 1mm to 2mm when an external force is applied to the ingression sealing element (110).
8. The button cap unit (400) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the engagement portion (102, 102') is made of mould insert.
9. The button cap unit (400) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the ingression sealing element (110) is made of rubber material and coated with plastic material.
10. The button cap unit (400) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the button cover (108) comprises a light transmission surface area (302) with a thinned cross section configured to receive and transmit light rays through said area of the button cover (108).
11. The button cap unit (400) according to Claim 10, wherein the thinned cross section comprises diamond-shaped cut-outs (304).