Control panel with resistive keys and prestressed sensors

• US 9,111,669 B2
• Filed: 08/02/2011
• Issued: 08/18/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/12/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aptiv Technologies AG (Aptiv PLC)
• Original Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc. (BorgWarner Incorporated)
• Inventors: Auberger, Stephane, Lobstein, Roland
• Primary Examiner(s): LEE, KYUNG S
• Application Number:
  US13/816,496
• Publication Number:
  US 20130342307A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,477 Days
• Field of Search: 338/47, 200/293, 200/5.A, 200/341, 341/34
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/1446 Touch switches
• 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: B60K 35/50 Instruments characterised by their means of attachment to or integration in the vehicle B60K35/231 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/60 Instruments characterised by their location or relative disposition in or on vehicles arrangements of lighting devices on dashboards B60Q3/10
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/70 Instrument provisions for avoiding injuries to vehicle occupants in case of accidents
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/045 using resistive elements, e.g. a single continuous surface or two parallel surfaces put in contact
• CPC Class Codes: H01C 10/00 Adjustable resistors
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/704 characterised by the layers, e.g. by their material or structure H01H13/703 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/705 characterised by construction, mounting or arrangement of operating parts, e.g. push-buttons or keys
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2217/004 Larger or different actuating area
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2217/024 Profile on actuator
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2231/026 Car
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/9625 using a force resistance transducer

Abstract

A control panel comprising a cover that is equipped with at least one zone for detecting tactile contact forming a control button, in which a force sensor comprising a pressure-sensitive zone is arranged between the cover and the support so as to detect actuation of the control button, the force of the tactile contact being transmitted axially to the sensitive zone via a spacer plate made of an elastically compressible material that is inserted between the sensor and the cap, characterized in that the internal surface of the cap comprises a series of protruding elements that are distributed over the internal surface of the cap opposite the sensitive zone so as to form a number of regularly distributed zones of localized overpressure.

Claims

1. A control panel suitable for a motor vehicle, said control panel including a cover mounted on a support, wherein said control cover defines at least one zone for detection of a tactile pressure to form a control button, wherein a force sensor that includes a zone sensitive to pressure is arranged between the cover and the support, and behind the detection zone so as to detect the actuation of the control button to produce an electrical control signal when a user applies a determined tactile pressure force to the detection zone, the tactile pressure force being transmitted axially to the sensitive zone via a spacing plate made of elastically compressible material which is inserted between the sensor and the cover, wherein the inside surface of the cover includes a series of relief elements distributed over the inside surface of the cover opposite the sensitive zone to form a plurality of localised zones of increased pressure on the spacing plate, the localised zones of increased pressure being uniformly distributed so that the spacing plate applies a substantially even prestressing force over the sensitive zone.

2. The control panel as described in claim 1, wherein at least one of the relief elements has an axial thickness that varies in a transversal direction so as to compensate for the variations in intensity of the pressure force at rest of the cover on the spacing plate along the said transversal direction.

3. The control panel as described in claim 2, wherein the cover has a curved profile in the detection zone, wherein the axial thickness of the relief elements varies proportionally to the curvature of the cover relative to the support.

4. The control panel as described in claim 1, wherein the relief elements are separated from each other by interstitial spaces so as to allow sufficient flexion of the detection zone of the cover when a tactile pressure force is applied.

5. The control panel as described in claim 1, wherein the relief elements are formed of ribs.

6. The control panel as described in claim 5, wherein the relief elements are arranged in at least one line which is substantially parallel with the external outline of the sensitive zone.

7. The control panel as described in claim 1, wherein the relief elements are formed in one piece with the cover.

8. The control panel as described in claim 1, wherein the force sensor is of the type with detection of a variation in electrical resistance between conductive tracks.

9. The control panel as described in claim 1, wherein it includes a portion including a plurality of detection zones forming a plurality of substantially adjacent control buttons associated with a plurality of force sensors, each force sensor including a spacing plate and a series of associated relief elements.

10. The control panel as described in claim 9, wherein the axial thickness of the relief elements is generally increasing in a transversal direction, from the periphery of the portion including the detection zones to a central part of the said portion.

11. The control panel as described in claim 1, wherein a small plate made of material more rigid than the material forming the spacing plate is inserted between the spacing plate and the sensitive zone of the sensor in order to contribute to an even distribution of the prestressing force and of the tactile pressure force over the sensitive zone of the sensor.