MOTOR VEHICLE CONTROL DEVICE

Abstract

There is described a motor vehicle control device (10), comprising an outer housing part (12), a control unit (14) including a control surface (16) and a printed circuit board (22) which is carried by a circuit board carrier (28) that is at least partly accommodated and floatingly mounted in the outer housing part (12).

Claims

1. A motor vehicle control device (10) with an outer housing part (12), a control unit (14) including a control surface (16) and a printed circuit board (22) which is carried by a circuit board carrier (28) that is at least partly accommodated and floatingly mounted in the outer housing part (12).

2. The motor vehicle control device (10) according to claim 1, wherein the printed circuit board (22) includes touch sensors (24), in particular wherein the touch sensors (24) are of the capacitive type.

3. The motor vehicle control device (10) according to claim 2, wherein the touch sensors (24) are formed to recognize an approach of a control object to the control surface (16).

4. The motor vehicle control device (10) according to claim 1, wherein a haptic actuator unit (36) is provided, which comprises a haptic actuator (38), in particular wherein the haptic actuator (38) constitutes an electromagnetic drive.

5. The motor vehicle control device (10) according to claim 4, wherein the haptic actuator (38) supports on an abutment surface (42) provided on the outer housing part (12).

6. The motor vehicle control device (10) according to claim 4 wherein the control unit (14) and the haptic actuator unit (36) are mechanically coupled with each other such that the control unit (14) is movable via the haptic actuator (38), in particular relative to the outer housing part (12).

7. The motor vehicle control device (10) according to claim 4, wherein the haptic actuator (38) is electrically connected with the printed circuit board (22) without any cable.

8. The motor vehicle control device (10) according to claim 4, wherein the circuit board carrier (28) is floatingly mounted on the outer housing part (12), in particular via spring elements (30).

9. The motor vehicle control device (10) according to claim 1, wherein the outer housing part (12) includes a connector opening (44) for a connection plug.

10. The motor vehicle control device (10) according to claim 9, wherein the circuit board carrier (28) comprises a connector chamber (46) which in the assembled condition of the motor vehicle control device is aligned with the connector opening (44).

11. The motor vehicle control device (10) according to claim 10, wherein contact pins (48) of the printed circuit board (22) extend into the connector chamber (46).

12. The motor vehicle control device (10) according to claim 1, wherein the control unit (14) is formed as a trim (49) which comprises several switching symbols (18) which at least include translucent portions.

13. The motor vehicle control device (10) according to claim 1, wherein to the control unit (14) at least one light guiding element (52) is associated, in particular wherein the light guiding element (52) is formed to be compressible.

14. The motor vehicle control device (10) according to claim 1, wherein the motor vehicle control device (10) is a light island or a light strip.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0025] Further advantages and properties of the invention can be taken from the following description and the drawings to which reference is made. In the drawings:

[0026] FIG. 1 shows a sectional view of a motor vehicle control device according to the invention in a first sectional plane,

[0027] FIG. 2 shows a sectional representation of the motor vehicle control device according to FIG. 1 in another sectional plane, and

[0028] FIG. 3 shows an exploded view of the motor vehicle control device of FIGS. 1 and 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0029] FIG. 1 shows a motor vehicle control device 10 which is incorporated in a motor vehicle, for example in an instrument panel of the motor vehicle.

[0030] The motor vehicle control device 10 comprises an outer housing part 12 and a control unit 14 which together with the outer housing part 12 forms the outer surfaces of the motor vehicle control device 10.

[0031] In the installed condition of the motor vehicle control device 10 the outer housing part 12 is completely accommodated in a frame in the instrument panel of the motor vehicle, whereas the control unit 14 merely is laterally surrounded by a frame or a trim. The control surface 16 provided on the control unit 14 however is accessible for the vehicle occupants, in particular for the vehicle operator, so that the switching symbols 18 arranged on the control surface 16 can be actuated.

[0032] Beside the switching symbols 18 provided on the control surface 16 light exit surfaces 20 furthermore are provided on the control surface 16, as will yet be explained below.

[0033] The sectional representations of FIGS. 1 and 2 as well as the exploded view of FIG. 3 reveal that the motor vehicle control device 10 comprises a printed circuit board 22 which is associated to the control unit 14. The printed circuit board 22 comprises touch sensors 24 which together with the control unit 14 form capacitive sensors. The touch sensors 24 can detect a touch of the control surface 16 by an actuating object, for example a finger of a vehicle occupant. The touch sensors 24 also can be formed as approach sensors 26 which detect an approach of an actuating object to the control surface 16.

[0034] The printed circuit board 22 is carried by a circuit board carrier 28 which is at least partly accommodated in the outer housing part 12.

[0035] The circuit board carrier 28 is floatingly mounted on the outer housing part 12, wherein for this purpose spring elements 30 are provided, which in the illustrated embodiment are formed as metal springs. The spring elements 30 with a first end 32 are firmly coupled to the outer housing part 12, in particular to an inside of the outer housing part 12, whereas via their second end 34 they are firmly coupled with the circuit board carrier 28, It thereby is possible that the circuit board carrier 28 as well as the printed circuit board 22 attached thereto can move relative to the outer housing part 12.

[0036] The relative movement can be initiated by a haptic actuator unit 36, which comprises a haptic actuator 38 that for example constitutes an electromagnetic drive.

[0037] The haptic actuator unit 36 furthermore comprises a rubber buffer 40 which rests against a corresponding abutment surface 42 on the outer housing part 12. During the operation of the haptic actuator unit 36 the haptic actuator 38 supports on the abutment surface 42 via the rubber buffer 40, in order to produce a relative movement of the circuit board carrier 28, the printed circuit board 22 attached thereto and the control unit 14 with respect to the outer housing part 12.

[0038] It can thereby be signaled to the vehicle occupant, who has operated the motor vehicle control device 10, that his/her actuation has been detected in that the control surface 16, which the vehicle occupant touches, is moved correspondingly, for example vibrates.

[0039] The direction of movement can extend parallel to the plane defined by the control surface 16, as can be taken from the arrows shown in FIG. 2.

[0040] The sectional view of FIG. 2 reveals that the outer housing part 12 comprises a connector opening 44 which is aligned with a connector chamber 46 that is formed on the circuit board carrier 28.

[0041] Contact pins 48 of the printed circuit board 22 extend into the connector chamber 46, in order to be coupled with a connection plug which is inserted into the connector opening 44 and the connector chamber 46 from outside. The motor vehicle control device 10 thereby is connected to the motor vehicle, so that a power supply and control is ensured. In particular, the control signals are transmitted from the motor vehicle control device 10 to a central control device of the motor vehicle, in order to execute the functions which correspond to the switching symbols 18 actuated on the control surface 16.

[0042] FIG. 3, in which the motor vehicle control device 10 is shown in an exploded view, reveals that the control unit 14 is formed as a trim 49 which via latching means 50 can be coupled with the circuit board carrier 28. Both the control unit 14 formed as trim 49 and the outer housing part 12 each are formed like a half shell, wherein as regards its dimensions the control unit 14 might be accommodated in the outer housing part 12, i.e. it is dimensioned slightly smaller, in order to provide for the relative movements.

[0043] In particular, the trim 49 has a circumferential collar portion 51 which partly is accommodated in the outer housing part 12 formed like a half shell (see FIG. 2). The collar portion 51 is arranged substantially at right angles to the control surface 16. On the collar portion 51 the latching means 50 also are arranged.

[0044] In addition, the motor vehicle control device 10 in the illustrated embodiment comprises two light guiding elements 52, which each include a light seal 54 on an associated side face. The light guiding elements 52 each are associated to different light sources 56 which for example emit different colors. The light sources 56 are arranged on the circuit board carrier 28, wherein the emitted light impinges on the light guiding elements 52 through an opening 58 in the printed circuit board 22.

[0045] The light emitted by the light sources 56 accordingly is distributed in the light guiding element 52, so that it can exit from the corresponding light exit surfaces 20 on the control unit 14.

[0046] In so far, the light sources 56 and the light guiding elements 52 form a search illumination which for example is activated when an approach of a touching object to the control surface 16 has been recognized.

[0047] The switching symbols 18 themselves can be backlit via separate, non-illustrated light sources, in case the corresponding function has been activated.

[0048] The light guiding elements 52 are arranged between the printed circuit board 22 and the control unit 14, wherein they are formed to be compressible, so that a vehicle occupant can depress the corresponding switching symbols 18, which are associated to corresponding control elements, in order to operate the correspondingly associated function. The light guiding element 52, which is arranged below the corresponding switching symbol 18, thereby is compressed. The light guiding elements 52 constitute a protection of the underlying printed circuit board 22, as they correspondingly absorb (at least in part) an excessively high actuating force. For example, the light guiding elements 52 are made of an optical silicone.

[0049] Furthermore, FIG. 3 reveals that the haptic actuator 38 includes a pin 60 which extends through an associated opening in the circuit board carrier 28, in order to directly contact the printed circuit board 22. In so far, the haptic actuator unit 36 is electrically connected with the printed circuit board 22 without any cable.

[0050] In case the haptic actuator unit 36 generates a haptic feedback, the haptic actuator 38 for the most part (except for the portion provided with the rubber buffer 40) moves with the circuit board carrier 29, the printed circuit board 22 and the control unit 14 relative to the stationary outer housing part 12. This ensures that the contact pins 48 of the printed circuit board 22 always have the same relative position with respect to the connector chamber 46, whereby the plug connection is not loaded.

[0051] In general, the motor vehicle control device 10 according to the illustrated embodiment is a light island which for example is arranged in the instrument panel of the motor vehicle beside the steering wheel. Alternatively, a light strip can be provided, in which the individual switching symbols 18 are arranged in one row.

[0052] The control unit 14 in particular can be manufactured as a two-component injection-molded part which at least partly is electrically conductive. This ensures that the control unit 14 together with the touch sensors 24 on the printed circuit board 22 can form the capacitive sensors.

[0053] In general it is ensured that the touch sensors 24 or the approach sensors 26 always are associated to the corresponding switching symbols 18, as the printed circuit board 22 together with the control unit 14 is mechanically moved via the haptic actuator unit 36, in particular to the left or right, i.e. in the plane which is defined by the control surface 16.