Control panel for a motor vehicle fascia, having at least one optically controlled rotary adjustment knob
First Claim
1. A motor vehicle control panel, having a face (2) having an aperture, and at least one rotatable knob (10) for adjustment of a parameter relating to a stream of air which is propelled by a ventilating, heating and/or air conditioning apparatus that at least partially extends through the aperture, wherein:
- the rotatable knob (10) is an optical encoder comprising a rotatable part (20) and a fixed part (30)underneath the face of the control panel;
the rotatable part (20) of the optical encoder at least partially extends through the aperture and is passenger accessible, and the fixed part (30) is provided with an optical detection device (31) comprising;
at least one light emitter (33;
37) for forming an incident light beam (E1;
E3) directed towards the rotatable part (20); and
at least two optical receivers (34, 38) capable of intercepting a second light beam (E2;
E4) reflected off the rotatable part (20);
the rotatable part (20) comprises a plurality of radial incremental elements having a reflective surface and consisting of an alternate arrangement of projecting portions (23;
23′
) and recesses (24;
24′
);
the fixed part (30) is on a base plate (1) and the alternate arrangement of projection portions and recesses are found on apices or crowns (25, 25′
) of the radial incremental elements, and at least one crown faces the optical detection device (31);
and wherein the optical receivers (34, 38) are offset circumferentially in respect to one another in such a way that one of the optical receivers (34;
38) receives a light beam reflected by the moving part (21), while the other optical receiver (38;
34) receives none.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention relates to a control panel, in particular for a motor vehicle, provided with at least one rotary button (10) for adjusting a parameter relating to an air stream propelled by a ventilating, heating and/or air conditioning apparatus, characterised in that the said adjusting button (10) is an optical encoder with selective light emission and reception, and comprising a rotatable part (20) protruding from the control panel, and a fixed part (30) co-operating with the moving part (20) for emitting and receiving the light. This control panel is adapted to adjust, for example, the temperature, flow rate or distribution of the said air stream.
76 Citations
7 Claims
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1. A motor vehicle control panel, having a face (2) having an aperture, and at least one rotatable knob (10) for adjustment of a parameter relating to a stream of air which is propelled by a ventilating, heating and/or air conditioning apparatus that at least partially extends through the aperture, wherein:
-
the rotatable knob (10) is an optical encoder comprising a rotatable part (20) and a fixed part (30)underneath the face of the control panel; the rotatable part (20) of the optical encoder at least partially extends through the aperture and is passenger accessible, and the fixed part (30) is provided with an optical detection device (31) comprising;
at least one light emitter (33;
37) for forming an incident light beam (E1;
E3) directed towards the rotatable part (20); and
at least two optical receivers (34, 38) capable of intercepting a second light beam (E2;
E4) reflected off the rotatable part (20);the rotatable part (20) comprises a plurality of radial incremental elements having a reflective surface and consisting of an alternate arrangement of projecting portions (23;
23′
) and recesses (24;
24′
);the fixed part (30) is on a base plate (1) and the alternate arrangement of projection portions and recesses are found on apices or crowns (25, 25′
) of the radial incremental elements, and at least one crown faces the optical detection device (31);and wherein the optical receivers (34, 38) are offset circumferentially in respect to one another in such a way that one of the optical receivers (34;
38) receives a light beam reflected by the moving part (21), while the other optical receiver (38;
34) receives none. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A motor vehicle control panel, having a face (2) having an aperture, and at least one rotatable knob (10) for adjustment of a parameter relating to a stream of air which is propelled by a ventilating, heating and/or air conditioning apparatus that at least partially extends through the aperture, wherein:
-
the rotatable knob (10) is an optical encoder comprising a rotatable part (2O) and a fixed art 30 underneath the face of the control panel; the rotatable part (20) of the optical encoder at least partially extends through the aperture and is passenger accessible, and the fixed part (30) is provided with an optical detection device (31) comprising;
at least one light emitter (33;
37) for forming an incident light beam (E1;
E3) directed towards the rotatable part (20); and
at least two optical receivers (34, 38) capable of intercepting a second light beam (E2;
E4) reflected off the rotatable cart (20);the rotatable part 20 comprises a plurality of radial incremental elements having a reflective surface and consisting of an alternate arrangement of projecting portions (23;
23′
) and recesses (24;
24′
);the fixed part (30) is on a base plate (1) and the alternate arrangement of projection portions and recesses are found on apices or crowns (25, 25′
) of the radial incremental elements, and at least one crown faces the optical detection device (31); andwherein the parameter relating to the stream of air to be adjusted is selected from the group consisting of the temperature, flow rate and ejection zone of the stream of air. - View Dependent Claims (7)
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Specification