Touch pad for motor vehicle and sensor therewith
An interface comprises an interior trim component having a touch pad and a target area associated with the touch pad. A non-movable switch is located behind the target area. The switch is operable to actuate and de-actuate an electrically operated device of the motor vehicle. The target area is associated with a sensitive operating portion or region of the switch.
This invention relates in general to motor vehicles and more particularly to an interface for controlling operations of a motor vehicle. Most particularly, the invention relates to a touch pad for motor vehicles.
A conventional interface for a motor vehicle typically includes a switch or a switch array, which generally comprises a large number of switches, that is mounted in and around the armrests, console, and/or dashboard of the motor vehicle. By convention, motor vehicles employ mechanical switches, which have physically moving (e.g., sliding) parts that create contact between conductors. Openings are provided in the interior trim components of the motor vehicle for receiving the switches. The openings commonly attract dust and dirt. This dust and dirt is difficult to reach. Consequently, the interior trim component is difficult to clean.
The physical characteristics of the switches usually occupy space (i.e., usually about 0.5 to 5 mm) for the mechanical movement of the switches. This limits the ability to style and craft the interior trim component. The switches are also subject to wear and mechanical breakdown due to the moving parts of the switches and thus may become unreliable.
The requirement for the switch openings in the interior trim components requires increased cut lines during the production of the interior trim components and the unique character of each of the switches requires an increased parts count.
What is needed is a highly-reliable interface with non-movable switches that is easy to use and that increases the ability to style and craft an attractive, easy-to-clean, environmentally protected interior component while reducing cut lines and total parts count.
SUMMARY OF INVENTIONThe present invention is directed towards an interface that meets the foregoing needs. The interface comprises an interior trim component having a touch pad and a target area associated with the touch pad. A non-movable switch is located behind the target area. The switch is operable to actuate and de-actuate an electrically operated device of the motor vehicle. The target area is associated with a sensitive operating portion or region of the switch.
Various objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment, when read in light of the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
Referring now to the drawings, there is illustrated in
The interior trim component 10 is preferably made of a material, such as a plastic-based material, that is molded or otherwise crafted as desired to produce a substantially rigid structure having a desired style. The molding of interior trim components is well known to those of ordinary skill in the art of the invention and thus will not be described in further detail.
The interior trim component 10 is preferably molded in a single piece, having unitary construction, and preferably having no openings, at least where switches are located, for collecting dust and dirt and thus is relatively easy to wash or otherwise keep clean.
The interior trim component 10 may be substantially flat or non-ornamental in style or have tactile features, such as, for example, deformations, such as raised areas, depressed areas, or both raised and depressed areas, to permit a user to easily locate the switches.
The interior trim component 10 according to the present invention may comprise a trim bezel, face plate or fascia 20, which preferably has a tactile identifier 22, such as the trough or mote shown in
The fascia 20 may further be provided with a tactile identifier 32 in the form of a protruding member, similar in shape to an adjustment knob, for identifying a home position or starting point for a switch array, such as the vent switch array shown in
Another example of a switch array is illustrated in
Another example of a switch array is illustrated in a partially cutaway view in
In accordance with the present invention, the switches are non-mechanical or non-movable touch cells or switches, such as, but not limited to, resistive, inductive, piezoelectric and capacitive switches. A capacitive switch that is suitable for carrying out the invention is shown at 58 in
The operation of the aforementioned switch 58 is best understood with reference to the diagrammatic representation in
An alternative switch 80, similar to the switch 58 described above, is illustrated in
The interior trim component 10 according to the invention may have attached thereto an audio driver assembly 86, as shown in
An example of a smoked polycarbonate fascia 20 with an applique 88 as described above is illustrated in
In accordance with the present invention, the switch 80, the audio driver assembly 86, and the light source 100 may be supported by a flexible printed circuit board 98 that is located behind or adjacent the applique 88. The flexible printed circuit board 98 may conform tightly to the shape of the fascia 20, whether the fascia 20 is flat or has tactile features. Consequently, the audio driver assembly 86 may be located sufficiently close to the fascia 20 to produce a tactile sensation when operating the switch 80.
It should be understood that a tone generator 102 and a tactile transducer 104, as shown in
It should be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art of the invention that various components of the invention may be programmable. For example, as stated above, the sensitivity of the switches 58 and 80 may be adjusted to accommodate the tactile features, or lack thereof, in the fascia 20. The intensity of the light source 100 may be programmed as desired. The frequency of the audio driver assembly 86 may be programmed to control the audible and tactile sensations produced therewith. For example, higher frequency signals could be produced by the audio driver assembly 86 to produce audible sensations while lower frequency signals could be produced by the audio driver assembly 86 to produce tactile sensations. Both high and low frequency signals can be produced to produce both audible and tactile sensations. These programmable features may be achieved by a controller, such as a microcontroller or processor, as indicated at 110 in
It should further be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art that the audio driver assembly 86, in addition to producing audible sensations, may also function as a center speaker for the motor vehicle.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, the switches, the light sources 100, the audio driver assembly 86, the tone generator 102, and the tactile transducer 104 are contained within a box or housing 112 so as to be a self-contained unit. The entire housing 112 is preferably very small or thin and simple to remove from the interior trim component.
Through the use of mechanical or non-movable touch pads or switches, multiple parts and motion can be eliminated. The elimination of motion permits the elimination of gaps, which would otherwise be provided between the moving parts. Through the elimination of gaps, the appearance of the interior trim component 10 is improved, as is the cleanability of the interior trim component 10 and the environmental protection afforded by the interior trim component 10.
The principle and mode of operation of this invention have been explained and illustrated in its preferred embodiment. However, it must be understood that this invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically explained and illustrated without departing from its spirit or scope.
Claims
1. A touch pad for use in a motor vehicle, comprising:
- a motor vehicle interior trim component having a touch pad having at least one target area associated with the touch pad; and
- at least one non-movable switch located behind the target area, the switch being operable to actuate and de-actuate an electrically operated device of a motor vehicle, the target area being associated with a sensitive operating region of the switch.
2. The touch pad of claim 1, wherein the interior trim component is molded and has no openings associated with the target area.
3. The touch pad of claim 1, wherein the interior trim component has tactile features that permit a user to easily identify the target area via tactile sensations.
4. The touch pad of claim 1, wherein the interior trim component is at least partially translucent and back-lit to enable a user to visually identify the location of the switch when operating the motor vehicle in the dark.
5. The touch pad of claim 1, wherein the interior trim component carries indicia that allows a user to associate the switch with the electrically operated device that the switch operates.
6. The touch pad of claim 1, wherein the switch is a capacitive switch.
7. The touch pad of claim 1, wherein the switch is a capacitive switch including at least one electrode for sensing external disturbance representing a stimulus for operating of the switch.
8. The touch pad of claim 1, wherein the switch is a capacitive switch including at least one dielectric substance and at least one electrode for sensing external disturbance representing a stimulus for operating the switch.
9. The touch pad of claim 1, wherein the switch is a capacitive switch including two or more independent dielectric substances, a first one of the dielectric substances having a first electrode and a second one of the dielectric substances having a second electrode so as to provide three-dimensional separation between the first and second electrode, whereby the first and second electrodes form background capacitive sensors for detecting external disturbance, the second electrode having a greater coupling to the external disturbance than the first electrode.
10. The touch pad of claim 1, wherein the switch is a capacitive switch supported by first and second printed circuit boards, and wherein the second printed circuit board has an opening through which the target area of the touch pad passes, the second electrode being supported by the first printed circuit board about the opening, the first electrode being supported by the first printed circuit board, coincident with the opening in the second circuit printed board, and opposite the target area.
11. The touch pad of claim 1, wherein the switch is a capacitive switch including a first electrode and a second electrode spaced from and surrounding the first electrode so as to be oriented in the same plane, whereby the switch is adapted to generate an electric field that is subject to disturbance by a stimulus, the disturbance being detected by a control circuit, which is adapted to generate a control signal that actuates and de-actuates the electrically operated device.
12. The touch pad of claim 1, further comprising an audio driver assembly operatively connected to the switch for producing an audio sensation when the switch is operated.
13. The touch pad of claim 1, further comprising an audio driver assembly located behind the interior trim component and sufficiently to the interior trim component to produce a tactile sensation when the switch is operated.
14. The touch pad of claim 1, wherein the switch is supported on a flexible printed circuit board that is located behind the interior trim component and which conforms to the shape of the interior trim component.
15. The touch pad of claim 1, further comprising a tone generator operatively connected to the switch for producing an audible sensation when the switch is operated.
16. The touch pad of claim 1, further comprising a tactile transducer operatively connected to the switch for producing a tactile sensation when the switch is operated.
17. The touch pad of claim 16, wherein the tactile transducer is in the form of a solenoid that is energized to displace a plunger, which engages the interior trim component when the switch is operated.
18. The touch pad of claim 1, wherein the sensitivity of the switch is adjustable.
19. The touch pad of claim 1, further comprising audio driver assembly that is programmable to operate at different frequencies to produce an audio sensation, a tactile sensation, or both audio and tactile sensations.
20. The touch pad of claim 19, wherein the audio driver assembly functions as a speaker for the motor vehicle.
Type: Application
Filed: Dec 22, 2003
Publication Date: Jun 23, 2005
Inventors: David Hein (Sterling Heights, MI), James Mulvihill (Royal Oaks, MI), Thomas Hicks (Livonia, MI), Larry Shelton (Brighton, MI)
Application Number: 10/744,168