CONTROL PANEL WITH PRINTED LED FOR VEHICLE AND METHOD FOR CREATING SAME

• US 20170062153A1
• Filed: 08/26/2016
• Published: 03/02/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/28/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Faurecia Interieur Industrie (Stellantis NV)
• Original Assignee: Faurecia Interieur Industrie (Stellantis NV)
• Inventors: BEN ABDELAZIZ, Omar
• Granted Patent: US 10,102,986 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B05D 5/12 to obtain a coating with specific electrical properties
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/1446 Touch switches
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/34 Backlit symbols
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/345 Illumination of controls
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/48 Sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/1446 Touch switches
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/34 Backlit symbols
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/345 Illumination of controls
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/48 Sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/00 Instruments specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement of instruments in or on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/10 Input arrangements, i.e. from user to vehicle, associated with vehicle functions or specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03547 Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0362 with detection of 1D translations or rotations of an operating part of the device, e.g. scroll wheels, sliders, knobs, rollers or belts
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/14 Operating parts, e.g. push-button
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2201/02 Piezo element
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2219/037 using organic materials, e.g. organic LED
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2231/016 Control panel; Graphic display; Programme control
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 9/181 using a programmable display, e.g. LED or LCD
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/96 Touch switches specially adapted for electronic time-pieces with no moving parts G04G21/08
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/9643 : using a plurality of detectors, e.g. keyboard
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2217/96019 : using conductive paint
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2217/96023 : Details of electro-mechanic connections between different elements, e.g.: sensing plate and integrated circuit containing electronics
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2217/96042 : with illumination

Abstract

A control panel for a vehicle. The control panel includes a decorative layer and a control assembly. The decorative layer has a visible face and a rear face opposite to the visible face. The control assembly has a front face and a rear face opposite to the front face. The front face of the control assembly faces the rear face of the decorative layer. The control assembly is fixed to the decorative layer and includes a support film, a pressure sensor and a light-emitting diode. The pressure sensor and the light-emitting diode are printed on the support film.

Claims

1. Control panel, in particular for a vehicle, said control panel comprising:

a decorative layer having a visible face and a rear face opposite to the visible face,

a control assembly comprising a front face and a rear face opposite to the front face, the front face of said control assembly facing the rear face of the decorative layer, said control assembly being fixed to the decorative layer and comprising a support film, a pressure sensor, and a light-emitting diode,

wherein the pressure sensor and the light-emitting diode are printed on the support film.

2. Control panel according to claim 1, wherein the control assembly further comprises electrically conductive tracks printed on the support film and connected to the pressure sensor and to the light-emitting diode.

3. Control panel according to claim 2, further comprising a single connector, electrically connected to both the pressure sensor and the light-emitting diode by said electrically conductive tracks, said connector being intended to be connected to the electronic control unit of the vehicle.

4. Control panel according to claim 1, wherein the pressure sensor and the light-emitting diode are superposed one onto the other on the support film.

5. Control panel according to claim 1, wherein:

the pressure sensor and the light-emitting diode are arranged on opposite faces of the support film,

the light-emitting diode is arranged between the pressure sensor and the decorative layer, and

the support film is flexible.

6. Control panel according to claim 1, wherein the front face of the control assembly is bonded to the rear face of the decorative layer.

7. Control panel according to claim 1, wherein the light-emitting diode is an organic light-emitting diode.

8. Control panel according to claim 1, wherein the pressure sensor is a piezoelectric sensor.

9. Method for creating a control panel, in particular for a vehicle, said method comprising:

a) creating a control assembly by printing a pressure sensor and a light-emitting diode onto a support film, and

b) fixing the control assembly to a decorative layer.

10. Method according to claim 9, wherein, in step a), the pressure sensor and the light-emitting diode are made by depositing material on the support film.

11. Method according to claim 10, wherein the step of depositing of material comprises screen printing the material onto the support film or depositing a jet of droplets of material onto the support film.