Vehicle temperature regulation control unit

• US 7,712,678 B2
• Filed: 07/28/2005
• Issued: 05/11/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/02/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Mizukoshi, Takeo
• Primary Examiner(s): JIANG, CHEN WEN
• Application Number:
  US11/191,759
• Publication Number:
  US 20060021363A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,748 Days
• Field of Search: 236/94, 236/49.3, 236/1.C, 621/29, 622/44, 200/11.R, 200/11.TC, 200/5.R, 200/5.D, 200/5.E
• US Class Current: 236/94
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00985 Control systems or circuits characterised by display or indicating devices, e.g. voice simulators characterised by the input of sound using a voice synthesizer B60H1/00757; B60H1/00978 takes precedence

Abstract

A control unit including a switch for regulating the temperature of a passenger compartment and/or the temperature of a vehicle seat. The switch is of a unit type with a control member, a switch member, a light-emitting member, and an indicator member housed in a single case, and can be disposed anywhere near a driver.

Claims

1. A switch for a temperature regulation control unit for regulating a temperature of a passenger compartment or a temperature of a vehicle seat by a heater and/or a cooler and a blower provided in a vehicle, the switch comprising:

a control member having a plurality of buttons;

a switch member operated by the plurality of buttons;

a light-emitting member operated by a signal outputted from the switch member;

an indicator member transmitting light from the light-emitting member; and

a single case member having an upper case body and a lower case body operatively joined to the upper case body,

wherein the control member, the switch member, and the indicator member are mounted in the upper case body and the light emitting member is mounted in the lower case body,

wherein the indicator member includes a light-guiding block having multiple barriers forming multiple spaces whereby light from the light-emitting member passes through one of the spaces and is transmitted through the indicator member, and

wherein the control member comprises a first push button for operation to raise the temperature, and a second push button for operation to lower the temperature.

2. A switch for a temperature regulation control unit for regulating a temperature of a passenger compartment or a temperature of a vehicle seat by a heater and/or a cooler and a blower provided in a vehicle, the switch comprising:

a control member having a plurality of buttons;

a switch member operated by the plurality of buttons;

a light-emitting member operated by a signal outputted from the switch member;

an indicator member transmitting light from the light-emitting member; and

a single case member having an upper case body and a lower case body operatively joined to the upper case body,

wherein the control member, the switch member, and the indicator member are mounted in the upper case body and the light emitting member is mounted in the lower case body,

wherein the indicator member includes a light-guiding block having multiple barriers forming multiple spaces whereby light from the light-emitting member passes through one of the spaces and is transmitted through the indicator member, and

wherein the indicator member comprises a plurality of indicators to be illuminated upon operation to raise the temperature, and a plurality of indicators to be illuminated upon operation to lower the temperature.