Assembly of an electric display and a control dial having foreign-body ingress protection, view protection, and/or light isolation

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a display adjuster including a rotary adjuster; and an electronic display including a transparent outer layer, wherein the rotary adjuster includes an actuation member and a rotational detection means, wherein the actuation member is rotatably mounted about a rotational axis mounted with bearing means, and the rotary adjuster is arranged on the transparent layer; and the display adjuster also includes a surrounding wall on the transparent layer that surrounds at least the bearing means.

Claims

1. A display adjuster, comprising: a rotary adjuster; an electronic display having a transparent outer layer; and a surrounding wall on the transparent outer layer that surrounds at least a bearing means, wherein the surrounding wall includes an annular projection located above the transparent outer layer, wherein: the rotary adjuster comprises an actuation member and a rotational position detection means; the actuation member is rotatably mounted about a rotational axis by a bearing means; the rotary adjuster is arranged on the transparent outer layer; at least one aperture located at the center of the rotary adjuster is provided for visibility or optical projection of the electronic display through the transparent outer layer; the bearing means comprises a roller bearing that is arranged on an annular base and having an inner track, the roller bearing supported by the annular base so that the roller bearing is offset from the transparent outer layer in a direction to an operator; the annular base includes an outer circumference and an inner circumference, the inner circumference defining an inside track of the roller bearing that is in contact with the inner circumference of the annular base; and a bottom portion of the annular base having the outer circumference supports the roller bearing.

2. The display adjuster of claim 1, wherein the surrounding wall and the actuation member are made of an opaque material, and that the surrounding wall and the actuation member are arranged adjacent to each other with a circumferential air gap between the surrounding wall and the actuation member.

3. The display adjuster of claim 1, wherein an air gap extends from an interior of the rotary adjuster to an exterior of the rotary adjuster, and that a course of the air gap that extends from inside to outside comprises a sloping section defined by the rotational axis in radial direction of the transparent layer.

4. The display adjuster of claim 2, wherein the circumferential air gap is limited by a first surrounding surface of the surrounding wall and a second surrounding surface of the actuation member which faces the surrounding wall, wherein the first and the second surfaces run parallel to each other.

5. The display adjuster of claim 2, wherein the course of the circumferential air gap in radial direction has one or more curvatures or creases.

6. The display adjuster of claim 1, wherein the aperture includes at least one of: a light conductor, a projection layer, or an optics.

7. The display adjuster of claim 6, wherein the light conductor, the projection layer, or the optics are interlockingly or positively connected with the transparent layer or are formed in one piece with the transparent layer.

8. The display adjuster of claim 6, wherein the annular base is interlockingly or positively connected with the at least one of: the light conductor, the projection layer, or the optics, or the annular base is formed in one piece with the at least one of: the light conductor, the projection layer, or the optics.

9. The display adjuster of claim 6, wherein the optics comprises a projection optics, when the aperture includes the optics.

10. The display adjuster of claim 1, wherein the surrounding wall at least partially surrounds the rotational position detection means.

11. The display adjuster of claim 1, wherein the annular projection and the transparent layer are formed in one piece.

12. The display adjuster of claim 1, wherein the annular projection and the transparent layer are interlockingly connected.

13. The display adjuster of claim 1, wherein the transparent layer is a glass layer with a thermal linear extension coefficient at 20 C. between 3.2 and 8.710.sup.6/K.

14. The display adjuster of claim 1, wherein the rotational position detection means is designed to detect the rotary position or the change in rotary position of the rotary adjuster with a capacitive detection means.

15. The display adjuster of claim 1, wherein the bearing means further includes a detent spring that is configured to generate a haptic feedback when the rotary adjuster comprising the roller bearing is turned, the detent spring being surrounded by the wall.

16. The display adjuster of claim 1, wherein the annular base is formed in one piece with the surrounding wall.

17. The display adjuster of claim 1, wherein the annular base is interlockingly or positively connected with the transparent layer or formed in one piece with the transparent layer.

18. The display adjuster of claim 1, wherein the display adjuster is installed within a motor vehicle.

Description

(1) Below, the present disclosure is described in detail with reference to the drawings. The drawings are only to be understood as examples, each representing only one preferable embodiment, where

(2) FIG. 1 shows a sectional view of a first embodiment of the present disclosure;

(3) FIG. 2 shows a sectional view of a second embodiment of the present disclosure;

(4) FIG. 3 shows a sectional view of a third embodiment of the present disclosure;

(5) FIG. 4 shows a partial sectional view of a fourth embodiment of the present disclosure.

(6) FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of the present disclosure. According to the present disclosure, the arrangement comprises an electronic display 1 and a rotary adjuster 2, arranged on electronic display 1. Display 1 has a lower layer or layer composition 15, which essentially serves to visualize the electronic data such as those showing the functionality of the function symbols assigned to the rotary adjuster. In the present case, it is a conventional layer composition in TFT technology. Above it, a transparent adhesive layer 16 and a transparent electrode array 3 for providing a capacitive sensor system are provided. Above it, a transparent glass layer 4 is provided which defines an outer surface, in this case an upper surface, on which rotary adjuster 2 is arranged. Rotary adjuster 2 comprises an annular actuation member 9 of opaque material, which is rotatable fastened to transparent layer 4. The rotational mounting is achieved with roller bearing 8 supported by an annular base 7 wherein the inside track of roller bearing 8 is arranged such that in the direction of the operator, in this case upwardly, it is offset to transparent layer 4. Base 7 is glued to transparent layer 4. For detecting the rotary position of actuation member 9, a capacitive position sensor 6 is also provided, which is arranged on a flange facing transparent layer 4 of actuation member 9. Its position is detected by the above described electrode structure 3 on the display side. In the central aperture of rotary adjuster 2 defined by the annular actuation member 9 and the annular base 7, a light conductor 10 is arranged, which allows the operator to view display 1 below it, particularly the function symbol it represents.

(7) For the protection of mounting 8, of the capacitive sensor system, in particular of capacitive position sensor 6, and of light conductor 10 in the center of rotary adjuster 2, against the intrusion of foreign bodies, especially of liquids, a circumferential annular protrusion is provided on annular layer 4. This protrusion of an opaque plastic material such as a thermoplastic, is glued to transparent layer 4 and has a surrounding sealing lip 14 at its opposite free end, which is in grinding contact with actuation member 9 to achieve a particularly effective liquid-sealing, light-shielding and opaque effect.

(8) FIG. 2 shows a second embodiment of the present disclosure. According to the present disclosure, the arrangement comprises an electronic display 1 and a rotary adjuster 2 arranged on electronic display 1. Display 1 has a lower layer or layer composition 15 that serves mainly to visualize electronic data such as a function signal assigned to the functionality of the rotary adjuster. In the present case, it is a conventional layer composition in TFT technology. Provided above this are a transparent adhesive layer 16 and a transparent electrode array 3 for the capacitive sensor system. Above this, a transparent glass layer 4 is provided which defines an outer surface, in this case an upper surface, on which rotary adjuster 2 is arranged. Rotary adjuster 2 has an annular actuation member 9, which is rotatably fastened to transparent layer 4. The rotational mounting is provided via a roller bearing 8 supported by an annular base 8 wherein the inner track of roller bearing 8 is arranged such that in the direction of the operator, in this case upwardly, it is offset to transparent layer 4. Base 7 is glued to transparent layer 4. For detecting the rotary position of actuation member 9, a capacitive position sensor 6 is also provided that is arranged on a flange of actuation member 9 that faces transparent layer 4. Its position is detected by the above described capacitive electrode structure 3 on the display side. In the central aperture of rotary adjuster 2, defined by annular actuation member 9 and annular base 7, a projection layer 10 designed as a diffusely translucent matt screen on which an image is projected that is produced with a lens optics 12 on the display below. Lens optics 12 is fastened to base 7 with fastening means 13. Alternatively, the individual lens 12 can be replaced by an array of micro lenses.

(9) To protect mounting 8, the capacitive sensor system and in particular the capacitive position sensor 6, as well as optics 12 provided in the center of rotary adjuster 2, against the intrusion of foreign bodies, in particular liquids, a surrounding annular protrusion 5 is provided on transparent layer 4. This protrusion is made of a plastic material such as thermoplastic, is glued to transparent layer 4, and with the surface opposite its free end it has no contact with actuation member 9 but forms an air gap with the same.

(10) FIG. 3 shows a third embodiment of the present disclosure. According to the present disclosure, the arrangement comprises an electronic display 1 and a rotary adjuster 2, arranged on electronic display 1. Display 1 has a lower layer or layer composition 15, which essentially serves to make electronic data visible, such as a function symbol assigned to the functionality of the rotary adjuster. In the present case, this is a conventional layer composition in TFT technology. Above this is an adhesive layer 16 and a transparent electrode array 3 for providing a capacitive sensor system. Above this is a transparent glass layer 4 defining an outer surface, in this case an upper surface, on which rotary adjuster 2 is arranged. Rotary adjuster 2 has an annular actuation member 9 that is rotatably fastened to transparent layer 4. The rotational mounting is achieved via a roller bearing 8 supported by a base 7 wherein the inner track of roller bearing 8 in the direction of the operator, here upwardly, is offset to transparent layer 4. Base 7 is glued to transparent layer 4. For detecting the rotary position of actuation member 9, a capacitive position sensor 6 is also provided that is arranged on a flange of actuation member 9 facing transparent layer 4. Its position is detected by the above described capacitive electrode structure 3 on the display side.

(11) An image produced by display 1 is projected in the central aperture of rotary adjuster 2, which central aperture is defined by annular actuation member 9, by a aperture formed in transparent layer 4 and by annular base 7. For that purpose, a projection layer 11 is arranged in the aperture onto which the image is projected by display 1 that lies under light conductor 10, which extends through the aperture. In the present case, light conductor 10 is formed by adhesive layer 16, which serves to glue at least two layers on the display side.

(12) A surrounding annular protrusion is provided on transparent layer 4 for protecting mounting 8, the capacitive sensor system, in particular the capacitive position sensor 6 and light conductor 10 in the center of rotary adjuster 2 against the intrusion of foreign bodies, particularly liquids. This protrusion 5 is made of an opaque plastic material such as thermoplastic, is glued to transparent layer 4, and with the surface opposite its free end it has no contact with actuation member 9 but forms an air gap with the same.

(13) The fourth embodiment shown in FIG. 4 substantially differs from the third embodiment by the shape or course of air gap 20 formed between actuation member 9 and the wall, or more accurately between the first surrounding surface of the wall facing actuation member 9 and the inward facing second surface of actuation member 9. The first and second surface extend parallel to each other. The air gap extends circumferentially between the wall and actuation member 9. Its course through protrusion 21 on the operating side shows a crease wherein the outer portion 20 of the gaprelative to a radial direction R which is vertical to rotational axis Dis sloping in the direction of transparent layer 4 such that it has a particularly good light-shielding and opaque effect while avoiding any grinding contact between actuation member 9 and wall 5.