Setting device with rotating actuator and illuminated index display

• US 6,744,374 B1
• Filed: 10/02/2000
• Issued: 06/01/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
• Original Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
• Inventors: Kuenzner, Hermann
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu, Daniel J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Tai T.
• Application Number:
  US09/677,783
• Time in Patent Office: 1,338 Days
• Field of Search: 340/815.78, 340/815.86, 340/815.48, 340/815.53, 200/312, 200/314, 200/315, 200/316, 200/341, 200/336, 362/555, 362/800
• US Class Current: 340/815.78
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00985 Control systems or circuits characterised by display or indicating devices, e.g. voice simulators characterised by the input of sound using a voice synthesizer B60H1/00757; B60H1/00978 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/33 Illumination features
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/33 Illumination features
• 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: Y10S 362/80 Light emitting diode

Abstract

A setting device includes a rotating actuator, a switch, an illuminated index display on which a value which is manually set at the rotating actuator is assigned to the rotating actuator and, by actuating the switch, the manual setting at the rotating actuator can be overridden. To improve the display of the setting device, a light device is provided in addition to the rotating actuator. The switch, aside from its actual switching function, is constructed for switching over between the illumination of the index display and the operation of the light device. The illumination of the index display is activated when the rotating actuator is a manual mode, and the light device is activated when a different mode is set by the actuation of the switch.

Claims

1. A setting device with a rotating actuator and a switch, an illuminated index display assigned to the rotating actuator on which a value can be read which is manually set at the rotating actuator, the switch being operable such that the manual setting at the rotating actuator can be overridden by actuating the switch,

wherein a light device is provided in addition to the rotating actuator,

wherein the switch, in addition to having an actual switching function, is operable for switching over between illumination of the index display and operation of the light device, and

wherein at the rotating actuator the illumination of the index display is activated when the rotating actuator is in a manual mode and the light device is activated when a different mode is set by the actuation of the switch.

2. The setting device of claim 1, wherein the switch is provided separately from the rotating actuator.

3. The setting device of claim 2, wherein the rotating actuator is a control element of a potentiometer.

4. The setting device of claim 2, wherein the index display comprises a pointer which is illuminated or formed by an LED or a fiber optical light guide.

5. The setting device of claim 2, wherein the index display comprises a scale which can be illuminated.

6. The device according to claim 2, wherein the light device comprises a display which can be illuminated by an illuminant.

7. The setting device according to claim 2, wherein the rotating actuator is constructed so that, by its actuation, it is operable to switch over from operation of the light device to the index display, which can be illuminated.

8. The setting device of claim 1, wherein the rotating actuator and the switch are combined in the form of a rotating push button.

9. The setting device of claim 8, wherein the rotating actuator is a control element of a potentiometer.

10. The setting device of claim 8, wherein the index display comprises a pointer which is illuminated or formed by an LED or a fiber optical light guide.

11. The setting device of claim 8, wherein the index display comprises a scale which can be illuminated.

12. The device according to claim 8, wherein the light device comprises a display which can be illuminated by an illuminant.

13. The setting device according to claim 8, wherein the rotating actuator is constructed so that, by its actuation, it is operable to switch over from operation of the light device to the index display, which can be illuminated.

14. The setting device of claim 1, wherein the rotating actuator is a control element of a potentiometer.

15. The setting device of claim 14, wherein the index display comprises a pointer which is illuminated or formed by an LED or a fiber optical light guide.

16. The setting device of claim 14, wherein the index display comprises a scale which can be illuminated.

17. The device according to claim 14, wherein the light device comprises a display which can be illuminated by an illuminant.

18. The setting device according to claim 14, wherein the rotating actuator is constructed so that, by its actuation, it is operable to switch over from operation of the light device to the index display, which can be illuminated.

19. The setting device of claim 1, wherein the index display comprises a pointer which is illuminated or formed by an LED or a fiber optical light guide.

20. The setting device of claim 19, wherein the index display comprises a scale which can be illuminated.

21. The device according to claim 19, wherein the light device comprises a display which can be illuminated by an illuminant.

22. The setting device according to claim 19, wherein the rotating actuator is constructed so that, by its actuation, it is operable to switch over from operation of the light device to the index display, which can be illuminated.

23. The setting device of claim 1, wherein the index display comprises a scale which can be illuminated.

24. The device according to claim 23, wherein the light device comprises a display which can be illuminated by an illuminant.

25. The setting device according to claim 23, wherein the rotating actuator is constructed so that, by its actuation, it is operable to switch over from operation of the light device to the index display, which can be illuminated.

26. The setting device of claim 1, wherein the light device comprises a display which can be illuminated by an illuminant.

27. The setting device of claim 1, wherein the rotating actuator is constructed so that, by its actuation, it is operable to switch over from operation of the light device to the index display, which can be illuminated.

28. The setting device according to claim 1, wherein the actuator is operable to control a passenger vehicle air conditioner.

29. The setting device according to claim 28, setting device, said first and second setting devices being disposed in a vehicle in respective front and back passenger sections and being operably interconnected with one another.