Display switch unit for a vehicle and method for producing the display switch unit

• US 8,882,317 B2
• Filed: 04/06/2012
• Issued: 11/11/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/08/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Demma, Dino
• Primary Examiner(s): CARTER, WILLIAM JOSEPH
• Application Number:
  US13/441,388
• Publication Number:
  US 20120255846A1
• Time in Patent Office: 949 Days
• Field of Search: 362459-549
• US Class Current: 362/511
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/962 Capacitive touch switches
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2017/9602 characterised by the type or shape of the sensing electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2217/96078 Sensor being a wire or a strip, e.g. used in automobile door handles or bumpers
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2217/960785 with illumination
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/4913 Assembling to base an electrical component, e.g., capacitor, etc.

Abstract

A display switch unit is provided for a vehicle and a method for producing the display switch unit. The display switch unit has at least one transparent front plastic region and a rear plastic region. Plastic switch symbols are disposed in the transparent front plastic region of the plastic body. Sensor structures of proximity sensors are each disposed behind one of the plastic switch symbols in the rear plastic region. The material of the plastic switch symbols includes, but is not limited to light-sensitive invisible particles, which are disposed in such a manner that under irradiation, colored illuminated switch symbols are visible in the surrounding transparent front plastic region.

Claims

1. A display switch unit for a vehicle comprising:

a plastic body comprising;

a transparent front plastic region; and

a rear plastic region;

a plurality of plastic switch symbols disposed in the transparent front plastic region of the plastic body; and

a plurality of proximity sensors with a sensor structure disposed behind one of the plurality of plastic switch symbols in the rear plastic region,

wherein a material of the plurality of plastic switch symbols comprises light-sensitive invisible particles,

wherein the light-sensitive invisible particles are disposed in such a manner that under irradiation a plurality of colored illuminated switch symbols are visible in a surrounding transparent front plastic region.

2. The display switch unit according to claim 1, wherein the sensor structure comprises a plurality of invisible electrically conducting layer structures and connected to electrical connections on one edge side of the plastic body including a plurality of regions.

3. The display switch unit according to claim 1, wherein the sensor structure comprises a capacitor structure.

4. The display switch unit according to claim 1, further comprising a backlight adapted to day operation and night operation.

5. The display switch unit according to claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of plastic switch symbols comprises different switch position display colors and light-emitting diodes for the different switch position display colors that are disposed on edge sides of the plastic body.

6. The display switch unit according to claim 1,

wherein the plurality of plastic switch symbols are arranged three-dimensionally in a transparent plastic volume of the transparent front plastic region, and

wherein the plurality of plastic switch symbols comprises a pre-formed colored illuminating plastic and is clad in a transparent plastic compound.

7. The display switch unit according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of light-sensitive nanoparticles that are disposed in a pre-formed colored illuminating plastic that is configured to light up in color.

8. The display switch unit according to claim 1, wherein the sensor structure is a strip structure made at least partially from a transparent electrically conducting structured oxide coating.

9. The display switch unit according to claim 1, wherein the sensor structure is a meander structure made at least partially from a transparent electrically conducting structured oxide coating.

10. The display switch unit according to claim 1, wherein the sensor structure comprises a direction identification so that operating functions such as changes in seat heating, ventilation, temperature, air conditioning settings are individually adjustable for a driver and a passenger side.

11. The display switch unit according to claim 1, further comprising a circuit boards with electronics for the sensor structure that are disposed as a nontransparent additional layer on the rear side of a transparent plastic body.

12. A method for producing a display switch unit for a vehicle, comprising:

producing dimensionally stable three-dimensional transparent plastic switch symbols at least partially from a plastic compound that is configured to light up upon excitation;

embedding the dimensionally stable three-dimensional transparent plastic switch symbols in a transparent front plastic region made of a transparent plastic compound;

applying a transparent electrically conducting coating to a rear side of the transparent front plastic region;

structuring the coating to form a sensor structure of a proximity sensor; and

applying a rear plastic region congruent to the transparent front plastic region.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the embedding is conducted under an approximate vacuum.

14. The method according to claim 12, wherein the embedding comprises gluing the dimensionally stable three-dimensional transparent plastic switch symbols into prepared recesses of the transparent front plastic region.

15. The method according to claim 12, wherein the applying and the structuring comprises spraying and selective etching to form the sensor structure.

16. The method according to claim 12, wherein the applying and the structuring comprises vapor deposition and subsequent selective etching to form the sensor structure.

17. The method according to claim 12, wherein the applying and the structuring comprises PVD and subsequent selective etching to form the sensor structure.

18. The method according to claim 12, wherein the applying and the structuring comprises CDV and subsequent selective etching to form the sensor structure.

19. The method according to claim 12, further comprising casting a rear plastic region onto the transparent front plastic region by embedding the sensor structure to produce a plastic body.