Arrangement for illuminating the adjusting knob of an input unit by means of transmitted light

• US 20020075668A1
• Filed: 06/08/2001
• Published: 06/20/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/09/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH (Continental AG)
• Original Assignee: Mannesmann VDO AG (Continental AG)
• Inventors: Dorrie, Christian
• Granted Patent: US 6,685,327 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/27
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 19/025 Light-emitting indicators
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2011/0081 using double shot moulding, e.g. for forming elastomeric sealing elements on form stable casing
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2219/062 Light conductor

Abstract

For a rotary switch (7) fastened on a dividing wall (1), it is proposed to illuminate the adjusting knob (4) by means of transmitted light by providing as a light guide (20) a conical ring (28) formed with continuations (29, 30, 31) formed on in the axial direction, the continuations (29, 30, 31) reaching through the dividing wall (1) and being aligned with light-emitting diodes (8, 9), which are located on a printed-circuit board (6) assigned to the rotary switch (7). The light guide (20) is fastened on the dividing wall (1) indirectly by fastening the housing (3) and is secured against twisting by suitable indentations (47, 48, 49) in the dividing wall (1).

Claims

1. Arrangement for illuminating the adjusting knob of an input unit by means of transmitted light, the input unit having a rotary switch which is fastened on a dividing wall and the setting stem of which, carrying the adjusting knob, reaches through to the opposite side of the dividing wall, and at least one light source being provided, located on the rotary switch side, characterized in that a light guide (20) is provided, in that on the light guide (20) there is formed a light-exiting face corresponding to the region of the adjusting knob (4) to be illuminated, in that the light guide (20) is fastened on the dividing wall (1) on the adjusting knob side and in that the light guide (20) reaches through the dividing wall (1) to the light source.

2. Arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that a light-guide channel with a light-entering face assigned to the light source is formed on the light guide (20) and in that the light guide (20) can be fastened on the dividing wall (1) indirectly when the input unit (2) is fastened.

3. Arrangement according to claim 2, characterized in that the fastening of the input unit (2) takes place by means of a screwed connection, with a threaded lug (21) being provided on the input unit (2), and in that a receptacle (46) corresponding to the diameter of the threaded lug (21) and a clearance serving for the leading through of the light-guide channel are formed in the dividing wall (1).

4. Arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that the rotary switch (7) is assigned a printed-circuit board (6) and in that a light-emitting diode (8, 9) with contacts established on the printed-circuit board (6) serves as the light source.

5. Arrangement according to claim 2, characterized in that the light guide (20) is designed as a conical ring (28) with at least one continuation (29, 30, 31), which is formed on in the axial direction and serves as a light-guide channel.

6. Arrangement according to claim 5, characterized in that continuations (29, 30, 31) are formed on the light guide (20) at angular intervals of 120°

and in that each continuation (29, 30, 31) is assigned a light-emitting diode (8, 9) arranged on the printed-circuit board (6).

7. Arrangement according to claim 6, characterized in that partially conically formed depressions (33, 34, 35) are provided in extension of the continuations (29, 30, 31) on the side of the light guide (20) facing away from the continuations (29, 30, 31).

8. Arrangement according to claim 7, characterized in that the depressions (29, 30, 31) have in each case two conical deflecting faces (36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41), the deflecting faces (36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41) being formed non-concentrically in relation to the light-exiting outer surface (27) of the light guide (20).

9. Arrangement according to claim 6, characterized in that the input unit (2), essentially comprising rotary switch (7), printed-circuit board (6) and light-emitting diodes (8, 9), is assigned a housing (3) and in that additional bores (43, 44) for the entry of the continuations (29, 30, 31) are formed in the housing wall, which is provided with an opening for the exit of the setting stem (10).

10. Arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that the adjusting knob (4) has at the edge a ring of transparently formed graduation elements (15) and in that an annular light-exiting face, formed in a light-scattering manner and assigned to the outer surface 27, is provided on the light guide (20).