JP2001325848A - Switching operation part provided for vehicular control panel - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a switch operation part, having an optical display part provided for a vehicular control panel, improving the sense of operation, decreasing the difference in brightness of the optical display part and further reducing the number of light source lamps. SOLUTION: An air-conditioner switch 11 is arranged on a center line in the moving direction of the switch operation part 31 to be advanced and moved with a pushing operation. A light conductive lens 32 is mounted in the switching operation part 31 for conducting a light to a symbol mark 16 as the optical display part. The light of the light source lamp 24 is injected from a light conductive protruded portion 32b, provided on the light conductive lens 32, and an engagement claw provided as an interlocking part 32a on the light conductive lens 32 is engaged with and coupled to an engagement recessed part formed in a movable part 23 of the air-conditioner switch 11.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a switch operation unit provided on a vehicle control panel as an operation unit for various switches.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As is widely known, a control panel for a vehicle is provided with operation parts for various switches, and these operation parts are provided with an optical element which allows the operation position to be recognized even in a dark state. Display unit is provided,
A symbol mark representing various switch functions is provided as an optical display unit.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view of a control panel 13 showing an air conditioner switch 11 and an operation section 12 thereof as an example. As shown in the figure, a switch operation unit 12 is provided on the control panel 13 so as to be able to be pushed. Let it.

The switch operating section 12 includes an operating section base 14 having a ring section 14a, and a cap-shaped operating section head 15 fitted to the front of the operating section base 14.

[0005] The operation section head 15 is provided with a symbol mark 16 raised by illumination light and a small hole 18 for emitting light transmitted through a lens 17. Note that the lens 17 is provided on the operation unit base 14, and the lens 1
The light emitting diode 19 illuminating through the operation unit 7 is
4 is provided.

Further, a light source lamp 20 is provided as a light source for illuminating the symbol mark 16. The light source lamp 20 is provided on a wiring board 22 attached to a base 21, and is disposed at a deep position where the switch operating section 12 moves forward.

Further, the above-described air conditioner switch 11 is mounted on a wiring board 22, and a movable portion 23 of the switch 11 is engaged with a protruding portion 14b of the operation portion base 14.

Another light source lamp 24 attached to the wiring board 22 is a light source for illuminating various symbol marks provided on the control panel 13.

[0009]

The switch operating section 12 constructed as described above has a structure in which the light source lamp 20 is disposed at a deep position where the switch operating section moves forward and backward.
A projecting portion 14b is provided at the lower portion of 4, and the movable portion 23 is pushed by the projecting portion 14b to switch the air conditioner switch 11.

For this reason, when the switch operation unit 12 is pushed, the operation unit 12 is shifted, resulting in poor operability, and may be damaged depending on the operation direction.

The symbol mark 16 and the light source lamp 2
Since the distance to 0 changes equivalently to the stroke amount of the switch operation unit 12, the luminance difference of the symbol mark 16 increases in accordance with the pushing operation of the switch operation unit 12, and a light source for eliminating this effect. Setting the lamp 20 was difficult.

Further, since the light source lamp 20 is provided as a dedicated light source for illuminating the optical display unit of the switch operation unit 12, at least two or more light source lamps are required. The amount of heat generated by the panel becomes large, which is one of the causes of failure of components mounted on panels and bases.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has as its object to provide a switch operation unit capable of improving operability, reducing a difference in luminance of an optical display unit, and suppressing heat generation in a panel. I do.

[0014]

In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, as a first invention, a switch control section for performing a push operation is provided on a control panel for a vehicle, and a head section of the control section is provided. In a switch operation unit having an optical display unit, an operation switch is arranged on a center line in a moving direction of the switch operation unit that is moved by a push operation, and a lens that guides light from a light source to the optical display unit is provided in the switch operation unit. A switch operation unit provided in a vehicle control panel, characterized in that a member is provided therein, and an interlocking unit for operating the operation switch is provided on the lens member.

As described above, the switch operating section is configured to guide the light of the light source to the optical display section by the lens member provided therein, and to operate the operation switch by the interlocking section provided on the lens member. The operation switch can be arranged on the center line in the movement direction of the switch operation unit.

As a result, the switch operation unit has good operability without being shifted by the pushing operation of the switch operation unit. In addition, since a dedicated light source for illuminating the optical display unit of the switch operation unit is not required, the number of light sources can be reduced. Therefore, heat generation in the panel can be suppressed, and it is advantageous for reduction in production cost.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the switch operating section according to the first aspect, the lens member is formed so as to protrude in a direction perpendicular to a moving direction of the switch operating section, and receives light from a light source. A switch operation unit provided on a control panel for a vehicle, wherein a light guide projection is provided.

According to the second aspect, the light of the light source disposed at a position other than the moving direction of the switch operating section can be made to effectively enter the lens member, and the optical display section can be illuminated.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the switch operating section of the first aspect described above, the lens member is provided with an interlocking portion comprising a locking claw, and the operation switch is engaged with the locking claw. A switch operation unit provided on a vehicle control panel, characterized in that movable units each having a concave portion are provided.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the switch operation section can be connected to the operation switch only by engaging the engagement concave / convex section between the lens member and the movable section of the operation switch, and the assembling work is easy. Becomes

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the switch operating section of the first aspect of the present invention, the control panel is provided on the rear side.
A base member integrally mounted on the panel is provided. The base member includes the above-described operation switch and other optical display provided on the control panel together with the optical display of each switch operation section. A light source for illuminating the control unit, wherein the light guide projection of the lens member is moved in parallel with the light source in accordance with the movement of the switch operation unit. Suggest a department.

According to this structure, since the projection of the lens member moves parallel to the light source in accordance with the pushing operation of the switch operation unit, the distance between the optical display unit and the light source is reduced. There is no significant change according to the amount of stroke, and there is almost no difference in luminance of the optical display unit.

According to a fifth aspect, in the switch operating portion of the first aspect, an engagement concave portion is provided on one of the lens member and the inside of the switch operation portion, and an engagement convex portion is provided on the other. A switch operation unit provided in a vehicle control panel, characterized in that the engagement concave and convex portions are engaged to determine a mounting position of a lens member.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, since the engaging concave and convex portions are engaged simply by being provided in the switch operating portion of the lens member, the positioning and mounting of the lens member are simplified, and the assembling work is facilitated. .

[0025]

Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a control panel showing a switch operation section of an air conditioner switch.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the switch operation unit, and FIG.
4 is a bottom view of the operation unit, FIG. 4 is a front view of the operation unit, FIG. 5 is a rear view of the operation unit, and FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the operation unit.

In this embodiment, a light guide lens 32 is provided in the switch operation section 31, and the light of the light source lamp 24 is guided to the optical display section by the light guide lens 32.
The air conditioner switch 11 is switched by an interlocking unit 32a provided in the second air conditioner 2.

The rest of the configuration is the same as that of the conventional example shown in FIG. 9, and the same components or parts as those shown in FIG.

As shown in the figure, the switch operation section 31 includes an operation section base 33 having a ring section 33a, and a cap-shaped operation section head 34 fitted to a front portion of the operation section base 33.

As can be seen from the drawings, the operating portion base 33 has a slit-shaped tubular portion 33b integrally formed on the front side of the ring portion 33a, and the operating portion head 34 is fitted to the tubular portion 33b. . As shown in FIG. 4, the operation section head 34 has a symbol marker as an optical display section similar to the conventional example.
And a small hole 18 for illumination.

As can be seen from FIG. 5, the operating portion base 33 has a horizontal plate portion 33c and a semi-cylindrical portion 33d integrally formed on the rear side of the ring portion 33a, and the light guide lens 32 is attached to the semi-cylindrical portion 33d. It has been inserted.

The light guide lens 32 is formed of a light-transmitting synthetic resin material, and as shown in a perspective view in FIG. The light guide projection 32b is formed to project downward.
There is. The light guide projection 32b is formed as a sloped front end surface to allow the light from the light source lamp 24 to enter.

At the tip of the light guide lens 32,
A bifurcated claw is integrally formed as the interlocking portion 32a. That is, as shown in FIG. 8, the ring groove formed in the movable portion 23 of the air conditioner switch 11 is locked by the above-described forked claw, and the light guide lens 32 and the air conditioner switch 11 are connected.

Further, an engaging recess 32c is provided on the upper surface of the light guide lens 32, and this engaging recess 32c is
Is made to engage with the engaging projection 33e provided on the upper surface of the first member.

That is, the light guide lens 32 is connected to the operation unit base 3.
When the light guide projection 32b comes into contact with the groove edge of the cut groove 33f formed in the semi-cylindrical portion 33d, the engagement projection 33e is engaged with the engagement recess 32c. And the light guide lens 32 is positioned and attached.

In addition, rail projections 33g are provided on both sides of the operating portion base 33, and the rail projections 33g are slidably fitted into the rail grooves of the base 21. The switch operation section 31 is moved forward and backward with respect to the control panel 13.

The switch operation unit 31 configured as described above
The light guide lens 32 moves forward together with the operation unit base 33 in accordance with the pushing operation, the movable unit 23 is pushed by the interlocking unit 32a, and the air conditioner switch 11 switches.

As described above, the air conditioner switch 11 is arranged on the advance movement line of the switch operation unit 31, and the air conditioner switch 11 is pushed by the interlocking unit 32 a of the light guide lens 32 to perform the switching operation. There is no deviation in the movement, and the operability is improved. When the pushing operation of the switch operating unit 31 is released, the switch operating unit 31 retreats by receiving the returning power of the movable unit 23 of the air conditioner switch 11.

The light guide lens 32 receives the light of the light source lamp 24 from the light guide projection 32b and receives the light from the symbol mark 16a.
The symbol mark 16 is illuminated to optically raise the mark.

When the switch operating section 31 is pushed, the light guide projection 32b of the light guide lens 32 is
Light is incident while moving in parallel to the symbol 4
The lamp 16 is illuminated.

Therefore, the luminance of the symbol mark 16 hardly changes with the stroke amount of the switch operation section 31. Also, since the light of the light source lamp 24 is incident,
There is no need for a dedicated light source lamp for the symbol mark.

Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the switch operating section of the air conditioner switch, but can be similarly implemented as a switch operating section of various switches.

[0043]

As described above, according to the present invention, a lens member for guiding light from a light source to an optical display unit is provided in a switch operation unit, and an operation switch is operated by an interlocking unit of the lens member. Therefore, the operation switch can be arranged in the advance movement direction of the switch operation unit. As a result, there is no deviation in the movement of the switch operation unit that is pushed and operated, and the switch operation unit has a good operation feeling.

Further, by providing the lens member with a light guide projection that moves in parallel with the light source, the difference in illumination brightness of the optical display unit can be minimized. Since a dedicated light source for the display unit is not required, the number of light sources can be reduced, and heat generation in the panel can be suppressed.

Further, by providing the lens member with an engagement claw as an interlocking portion and the movable portion of the operation switch with an engagement recess, the connection between the switch operation portion and the operation switch is simplified, and By positioning the lens member by the engaging concave / convex portion and providing the lens member inside the switch operation portion, the incorporation of the lens member becomes extremely simple, and as a result, the switch operation portion is convenient for assembly.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a control panel showing an embodiment in which the present invention is implemented as a switch operation section of an air conditioner switch.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the switch operation unit.

FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the switch operation unit.

FIG. 4 is a front view of the switch operation unit.

FIG. 5 is a rear view of the switch operation unit.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the switch operation unit.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a light guide lens provided in the switch operation unit.

FIG. 8 is a partial view showing a connection configuration of an interlocking unit provided on the light guide lens and a movable unit of an air conditioner switch.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of a control panel showing a conventional switch operation unit of the air conditioner switch.

[Description of Signs] 11 Air conditioner switch 13 Control panel 16 Symbol mark 23 Movable part 24 Light source lamp 31 Switch operation part 32 Light guide lens 32a Interlocking part 32b Light guide projection 32c Engagement recess 33 Operation part base 33e Engage Convex part 33f Cut groove 34 Operation part head

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A switch operation section provided on a vehicle control panel as a switch operation section for performing a push operation and having an optical display section on the operation section head, wherein the movement of the switch operation section moved by the push operation. In addition to disposing the operation switch on the direction center line, the switch operation unit is provided with a lens member for guiding light from the light source to the optical display unit, and the lens member is provided with an interlocking unit for operating the operation switch. A switch operation unit provided in a control panel for a vehicle. 2. The switch operation unit according to claim 1, wherein the lens member is formed so as to protrude in a direction orthogonal to a moving direction of the switch operation unit, and is a light guide projection that receives light from a light source. A switch operation unit provided on a control panel for a vehicle, characterized by comprising a unit. 3. The switch operating part according to claim 1, wherein the lens member has an interlocking part comprising a locking claw, and the operation switch has a movable recess having an engaging concave part which engages with the locking claw. A switch operation unit provided on a control panel for a vehicle, comprising: 4. The switch operating section according to claim 1, further comprising: a base member integrally attached to the control panel on a rear side of the control panel. A switch and a light source for illuminating another optical display unit provided on the control panel together with the optical display unit of each switch operation unit are mounted, and the light guide projection of the lens member follows the movement of the switch operation unit. A switch operation unit provided on a vehicle control panel, wherein the switch operation unit is configured to move parallel to a light source. 5. The switch operation unit according to claim 1, wherein an engagement concave portion is provided on one of the lens member and the inside of the switch operation portion, and an engagement convex portion is provided on the other. A switch operation unit provided on a vehicle control panel, wherein the switch operation unit is configured to be engaged to determine a mounting position of a lens member.