Method for manufacturing a human-machine interface for a motor vehicle, and human-machine interface produced by said method

• US 9,126,484 B2
• Filed: 07/07/2010
• Issued: 09/08/2015
• 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
• Primary Examiner(s): Cheng, Joe H
• Application Number:
  US13/384,818
• Publication Number:
  US 20120235932A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,889 Days
• Field of Search: 345/156, 345/164, 345/173, 345/184, 361/679.01, 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: G06F 3/04886 by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing human-machine interface (40) including an opening (48) for enabling a user to observe information displayed on the screen (44), characterized in that, each screen module (42) being provided with a specific control (52), various human-machine interfaces (40) are manufactured from the same screen modules (42) by arranging the screen modules (42) in the housings (46) housing a control board provided with at least one control and/or at least one indicator for a function separate from the screen.

Claims

1. A method for manufacturing a man-machine interface comprising a module of a multifunction screen arranged in a housing having a first opening for allowing a user to view information displayed on the multifunction screen, the multifunction screen comprising a second opening, wherein the module of the multifunction screen is furnished with specific control means, the method comprising:

manufacturing the man-machine interface by arranging the module of the multifunction screen in the housing which houses a control panel, furnished with at least one of at least one control and at least one indicator, of an independent function of the multifunction screen,

wherein only the first opening of the housing is covered with a transparent or semitransparent surface, the second opening of the multifunction screen remaining uncovered by the transparent or semitransparent surface.

2. The manufacturing method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the housing of the man-machine interfaces has various shapes of the first opening.

3. The manufacturing method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the first opening masks, in a distinct manner, a contour of the multifunction screen with respect to a user of the man-machine interface.

4. The manufacturing method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control means are associated with the transparent or semitransparent surface.

5. The manufacturing method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control means of the module of the multifunction screen are linked to a control panel connector via a link internal to the man-machine interface.

6. The manufacturing method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control means is a transparent touch-sensitive control means which covers the second opening of the multifunction screen.

7. A man-machine interface comprising:

a module of a multifunction screen arranged in a housing having a first opening for allowing a user to view information displayed on the multifunction screen, the multifunction screen comprising a second opening,

wherein the module of the multifunction screen is furnished with specific control means and the housing accommodates a control panel furnished with at least one of at least one control and at least one indicator, of an independent function of the screen, and

wherein only the first opening of the housing is covered by a transparent or semitransparent surface, the second opening of the multifunction screen remaining uncovered by the transparent or semitransparent surface.

8. The man-machine interface as claimed in claim 7, wherein the first opening masks, totally or partially, a contour of the multifunction screen with respect to a user of the man-machine interface.

9. The man-machine interface as claimed in claim 7, wherein the transparent or semitransparent surface are associated with the control means.

10. The man-machine interface as claimed in claim 7, wherein the control means of the module of the multifunction screen are connected to a connector of the control panel via a connection internal to the module of the multifunction screen.

11. The man-machine interface as claimed in claim 7, wherein the control means is a transparent touch-sensitive control means which covers the second opening of the multifunction screen.

12. A method for assembling a man-machine interface comprising a multifunction screen arranged in a housing configured to be placed in a dashboard of a motor vehicle, the method comprising:

inserting the man-machine interface into the dashboard as a single unit, wherein the man-machine interface is according to claim 7.