Human-machine interface for a motor vehicle and method for assembling the same

• US 9,102,237 B2
• Filed: 07/07/2010
• Issued: 08/11/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/21/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Valeo Systemes Thermiques (Valeo SE)
• Original Assignee: Valeo Systemes Thermiques (Valeo SE)
• Inventors: Autran, Frdric, El Khoury, Ziad, Lafferayrie, Jean-David
• Primary Examiner(s): Cheng, Joe H
• Application Number:
  US13/383,440
• Publication Number:
  US 20120188186A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,861 Days
• Field of Search: 345/156, 345/164, 345/173, 345/184, 361/679.01, 340/438, 340/461
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/50 Instruments characterised by their means of attachment to or integration in the vehicle B60K35/231 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

The present invention relates to a human-machine interface (30, 60), including a multifunctional screen (32) arranged in a housing (34) to be housed in the dashboard of a vehicle, said housing (34) having an opening (36) corresponding to an outline (38) of the screen in order to enable a user to view the information displayed on said screen (32), characterized in that the screen (32) and the housing (34) are covered by a common surface (40) forming a single front panel for the screen (32) and the housing (34).

Claims

1. A human-machine interface comprising:

a single display device, wherein the single display device is a multifunction screen arranged in a housing configured to be placed in a dashboard of a motor vehicle, the housing having an opening corresponding to an outline of the screen to enable a user to view information displayed on the screen,

wherein the single display device and the housing are covered by a common surface forming a single front panel for the screen and the housing, and

wherein the common surface has a variable transparency such that an outline of the screen visible to the user of the human-machine interface is distinct from the outline of the screen.

2. The human-machine interface as claimed in claim 1, wherein the variable transparency of the common surface is generated by a pigment of at least one of a variable density and a variable concentration on the common surface.

3. The human-machine interface as claimed in claim 1, further comprising light sources bordering the screen for generating a light radiation that is practically identical to a light radiation generated by the screen.

4. The human-machine interface as claimed in claim 3, wherein the light sources comprise at least one of light guides and prisms arranged to emit light radiation in the same direction as the screen.

5. The human-machine interface as claimed in claim 3, wherein the light sources are maintained on an electronic card implemented for operation of the screen.

6. The human-machine interface as claimed in claim 3, wherein the light sources bordering the multifunction screen are linked to a light source of the screen.

7. The human-machine interface as claimed in claim 1, wherein the human-machine interface comprises a touch-sensitive surface.

8. The human-machine interface as claimed in claim 1, wherein the common surface also covers at least one selected from a group consisting of the following elements:

a control panel, a control, and an indicator.

9. A method for assembling a human-machine interface comprising:

arranging a single display device wherein the single display device is a multifunction screen in a housing to be placed in a dashboard of a motor vehicle, the housing comprising an opening corresponding to an outline of the screen to enable a user to view information displayed on the screen,

wherein the human-machine interface comprises a common surface forming a single front panel for both the screen and the housing, and

wherein the common surface has a variable transparency such that an outline of the screen visible to the user of the human-machine interface is distinct from the outline of the screen

inserting the human-machine interface into the dashboard of the motor vehicle as a single-block.

10. The assembly method as claimed in claim 9, wherein the human-machine interface further comprises light sources bordering the screen for generating a first light radiation, wherein a second light radiation of the screen is set to at least one of a wavelength and an intensity that is substantially identical to at least one of a wavelength and an intensity of the first light radiation generated by the light sources.