Motor vehicle control interface and corresponding method of manufacture

• US 9,207,789 B2
• Filed: 06/10/2011
• Issued: 12/08/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/10/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Valeo Systemes Thermiques (Valeo SE)
• Original Assignee: Valeo Systemes Thermiques (Valeo SE)
• Inventors: Guenin, Grard
• Primary Examiner(s): FARAGALLA, MICHAEL A
• Application Number:
  US13/703,086
• Publication Number:
  US 20130154969A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,642 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2045/14114 using an adhesive
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 41/12 Spreading-out the material on a substrate , e.g. on the surface of a liquid
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/00 Injection moulding, i.e. forcing the required volume of moulding material through a nozzle into a closed mould; Apparatus therefor injection blow-moulding B29C49/06
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/14 incorporating preformed parts or layers, e.g. injection moulding around inserts or for coating articles B29C45/1671 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/14065 Positioning or centering articles in the mould
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/14467 Joining articles or parts of a single article B29C45/14377, B29C45/14385, B29C45/14581, B29C45/14614 and B29C45/006 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/143 Touch sensitive instrument input devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/693 Cover plate features
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/774 on or in the centre console
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/143 Touch sensitive input devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/693 Cover plate features
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/774 on or in the centre console
• 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: B60R 11/02 for radio sets, television sets, telephones, or the like; Arrangement of controls thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0235 of flat type, e.g. LCD
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/01 Input arrangements or combined input and output arrangements for interaction between user and computer G06F3/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03547 Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/96 : Touch switches specially adapted for electronic time-pieces with no moving parts G04G21/08
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2217/96015 : Constructional details for touch switches
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/00 : Casings, cabinets or drawers for electric apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0017 : with operator interface units

Abstract

The present invention relates to a motor vehicle control interface comprising a touch-sensitive tile (2) having a front face (3); a housing (4) housing said touch-sensitive tile (2), said housing (4) having—an opening delimited by an edge (5) via which a user can access the front face (3) of the touch-sensitive tile (2); and a levelling trim (6), peripheral to the touch-sensitive tile (2) and interposed between an edge face (7) of the touch-sensitive tile (2) and the edge (5) of the housing (4), characterized in that said interface further comprises a seal (9) inserted between a rear face (10) of the touch-sensitive tile (2) and a retaining projection (11) of the housing (4), said seal (9) bordering the levelling trim (6) between the rear face (10) of the touch-sensitive tile (2) and the retaining projection (11). The present invention also relates to a method of manufacturing such a control interface (1).

Claims

1. A control interface for a motor vehicle comprising:

a touch-sensitive tile having a front face;

a casing housing said touch-sensitive tile, said casing having an opening delimited by a border so that a user can access the front face of the touch-sensitive tile; and

a leveling compound, peripheral to the touch-sensitive tile and interposed between an edge face of the touch-sensitive tile and the border of the casing,

wherein said interface also comprises a seal interposed between a rear face of the touch-sensitive tile and a retaining projection of the casing, said seal bordering the leveling compound between the rear face of the touch-sensitive tile and the retaining projection.

2. The interface according to claim 1, wherein said seal comprises a foam.

3. The interface according to claim 2, wherein said seal comprises a closed-cell foam.

4. The interface according to claim 3, wherein said closed-cell foam is made of polyethylene.

5. The interface according to claim 1, wherein said seal comprises an adhesion means.

6. The interface according to claim 1, wherein the retaining projection is in a form of a surround extending from the border of the casing toward the center of the opening.

7. The interface according to claim 1, wherein the retaining projection has an interior shoulder.

8. The interface according to claim 7, wherein at least one injection orifice and at least one corresponding vent hole are formed in the retaining projection respectively for introducing liquid leveling compound and for discharging air.

9. The interface according to claim 8, wherein said injection orifice and said vent hole are positioned on opposite faces of said surround.

10. The interface according to claim 1, wherein the casing has at least one strengthening means.

11. A method of manufacturing a control interface, the method comprising:

during a first step, the opening of the casing is positioned around the touch-sensitive tile provided with a film on the front face, the film covering at least the front face of the touch-sensitive tile and the edges of the casing, a seal being interposed between the rear face of the touch-sensitive tile and a retaining projection of the casing;

during a second step, a retaining force is applied to the casing to hold the casing in position and to compress the seal between the rear face of the touch-sensitive tile and the retaining projection of the casing; and

during a third step, a liquid leveling compound is introduced via the injection orifice of the retaining projection which orifice opens into a peripheral space stopped off by the film, the border and the retaining projection of the casing, the seal and the edge face of the touch-sensitive tile, so that the liquid leveling compound is spread out in said peripheral space.

13. The method of manufacture according to claim 11, wherein, during the second step, the seal is compressed with a compression ratio of between 5% and 40%.

12. A method of manufacturing a control interface, the method comprising:

during a first step, the touch-sensitive tile and the casing are positioned on a preconfigured surface, with the opening of the casing surrounding the front face of the touch-sensitive tile, said opening and said front face being positioned facing the preconfigured surface, a seal being interposed between the rear face of the touch-sensitive tile and a retaining projection of the casing;

during a second step, a retaining force is applied to the casing to hold the casing in position facing the preconfigured surface and to compress the seal between the rear face of the touch-sensitive tile and the retaining projection;

during a third step, the liquid leveling compound is introduced via the injection orifice of the retaining projection which orifice opens into a peripheral space stopped off by the preconfigured surface, the border and the retaining projection of the casing, the seal and the edge face of the touch-sensitive tile, so that the liquid leveling compound is spread out in said peripheral space; and

during a fourth step, a film is applied that covers at least the front face of the touch-sensitive tile, the leveling compound and the edges of the casing.

14. The method of manufacture according to claim 12, wherein, during the second step, the seal is compressed with a compression ratio of between 5% and 40%.