VEHICULAR PANEL AND WIRING STRUCTURE FOR VEHICLE

Abstract

An instrument panel as a vehicular panel includes a panel body on a surface side of which key tops are installed, a printed wiring section arranged on the surface side of the panel body, and an insulation outer layer arranged on the surface side of the panel body so as to cover the printed wiring section.

Claims

1. A vehicular panel, comprising: a panel body on a surface side of which an electric component is installed; a printed wiring section comprising a conductive member arranged on the surface side of the panel body; and an insulation outer layer arranged on the surface side of the panel body so as to cover the printed wiring section.

2. The vehicular panel of claim 1, wherein a routing groove is formed on the panel body, and the printed wiring section is arranged in the routing groove.

3. The vehicular panel of claim 2, wherein: the printed wiring section comprises a large current wiring section for a large current and a small current wiring section for a small current; the routing groove includes a large current routing groove in which the large current wiring section is arranged, and a small current routing groove in which the small current wiring section is arranged; a bus bar is buried at a bottom of the large current routing groove; the large current wiring section comprises the bus bar and the conductive member arranged in the large current routing groove; and the small current wiring section is composed of the conductive member arranged in the small current routing groove.

4. A wiring structure for vehicle, comprising: a panel body on a surface side of which an electric component is installed; an insulation outer layer arranged on the surface side of the panel body; and a printed wiring section comprising a conductive member arranged between the panel body and the insulation outer layer.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0009] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of an instrument panel according to an embodiment.

[0010] FIG. 2A is a plan view of a main part of printed wiring sections of the instrument panel according to the embodiment (in which printed wiring sections 3 are illustrated as being hatched).

[0011] FIG. 2B is a cross-sectional view of the main part of the printed wiring sections of the instrument panel according to the embodiment.

[0012] FIG. 3A is a plan view of the main part for explanation of a manufacturing process of the printed wiring sections of the instrument panel according to the embodiment.

[0013] FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional view of the main part for explanation of a manufacturing process of the printed wiring sections of the instrument panel according to the embodiment.

[0014] FIG. 4A is a plan view of the main part for explanation of a manufacturing process of the printed wiring sections of the instrument panel according to the embodiment (in Which a conductive member 30 is illustrated as being hatched).

[0015] FIG. 4B is a cross-sectional view of the main part for explanation of a manufacturing process of the printed wiring sections of the instrument panel according to the embodiment.

[0016] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the main part for explanation of a manufacturing process of the printed wiring sections of the instrument panel according to the embodiment.

[0017] FIG. 6A is a plan view of a main part of printed wiring sections of the instrument panel according to a comparative example 1 (in which printed wiring sections 3 are illustrated as being hatched).

[0018] FIG. 6B is a cross-sectional view of the main part of the printed wiring sections of the instrument panel according to the comparative example 1.

[0019] FIG. 7A is a plan view of a main part for explanation of a manufacturing process of an electronic component mounting portion of the printed wiring sections of the instrument panel according to a first modification (in which the printed wiring sections 3 are illustrated as being hatched).

[0020] FIG. 7B is a cross-sectional view of the main part for explanation of the manufacturing process of the electronic component mounting portion of the printed wiring sections of the instrument panel according to the first modification.

[0021] FIG. 8A is a plan view of the main part for explanation of a manufacturing process of the electronic component mounting portion of the printed wiring sections of the instrument panel according to the first modification (in which the conductive members 30 are illustrated as being hatched).

[0022] FIG. 8B is a cross-sectional view of the main part for explanation of the manufacturing process of the electronic component mounting portion of the printed wiring sections of the instrument panel according to the first modification.

[0023] FIG. 9A is a plan view of the main part for explanation of a manufacturing process of the printed wiring sections of the instrument panel according to the first modification (in which printed wiring sections 3 are illustrated as being hatched).

[0024] FIG. 9B is a cross-sectional view of the main part for explanation of the manufacturing process of the printed wiring sections of the instrument panel according to the first modification.

[0025] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of a main part of a portion in which a printed wiring section for a small current and a printed wiring section for a large current exist in the instrument panel according to a second modification.

[0026] FIG. 11A is a cross-sectional view of a main part of the printed wiring sections of the instrument panel according to a comparative example 2.

[0027] FIG. 11B is a cross-sectional view of a main part of the printed wiring sections of the instrument panel according to a comparative example 3.

[0028] FIG. 12 is a perspective view of an instrument panel and a wire harness according to a conventional example.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0029] Hereinafter, a vehicular panel according to an embodiment will be explained based on the drawings.

(Overall Structure)

[0030] An instrument panel 1 as the vehicular panel according to the embodiment and a wiring structure for vehicle applied thereto will be explained.

[0031] As illustrated in FIG. 1, the instrument panel 1 as the vehicular panel according to the embodiment includes a panel body 2, a printed wiring section 3 arranged on the surface of the panel body 2, and an insulation outer layer 4 arranged on the surface side of the panel body 2 so as to cover the printed wiring section 3.

[0032] Key tops 6 of switches as a plurality of electric components are installed on the surface side of the panel body 2.

[0033] The printed wiring section 3 is arranged by directly printing a conductive member (conductive ink, conductive paste, or the like) on the surface of the panel body 2. An electronic component 7 for the switches is mounted on a terminal of the printed wiring section 3. Fabrication of the printed wiring section 3 and mounting of the electronic component 7 will be described in detail below.

[0034] The insulation outer layer 4 is formed in approximately the same shape as a surface shape of the panel body 2. The insulation outer layer 4 covers almost entirety of the panel body 2 except for the installation regions of the key tops 6.

[0035] Assembling order of the instrument panel 1 will be explained. An intended printed wiring section 3 is formed such as by spraying conductive ink with an ink jet nozzle (not illustrated) onto the surface of the panel body 2. Next, the key tops 6 of the switches are mounted on the panel body 2 from its surface side. Then, the insulation outer layer 4 is affixed to the surface side of the panel body 2. Next, bezels 8 are put on the surface side of the panel body 2 so as to cover the parting lines. With this, assembly of the instrument panel 1 is completed.

[0036] As explained above, the instrument panel 1 includes the panel body 2 on the surface side of which the key tops 6 as the electric components are installed, the printed wiring section 3 arranged on the surface of the panel body 2, and the insulation outer layer 4 arranged on the surface side of the panel body 2 so as to cover the printed wiring section 3. As the vehicular wiring structure, it has a structure such that it includes the panel body 2 on the surface side of which the key tops 6 as the electric components are installed, the insulation outer layer 4 arranged on the surface side of the panel body 2, and the printed wiring section 3 arranged between the panel body 2 and the insulation outer layer 4.

[0037] Therefore, mounting of the key tops 6 as the electric components, an arranging operation of the printed wiring section 3, and a mounting operation of the insulation outer layer 4 onto the panel body 4 can all be performed from the surface side of the panel body 2, and thus, workability in the manufacturing process is good.

[0038] Since the insulation outer layer 4 has a design function of the instrument panel 1 and at the same time performs insulation and protection of the printed wiring section 3, it is not necessary to provide an insulation protective film on the surface of the printed wiring section 3 separately.

[0039] In the embodiment, the printed wiring section 3 is arranged by directly printing the conductive member (such as conductive ink) on the surface of the panel body 2, but it can also be arranged for example by affixing a film on which a conductive member (such as conductive ink) is printed onto the surface of the panel body 2.

(Details of the Printed Wiring Section)

[0040] As illustrated in FIGS. 2A and 2B, routing grooves 10 are formed along the wiring patterns of the printed wiring sections 3 on the surface side of the panel body 2. The printed wiring sections 3 are respectively arranged on each of the routing grooves 10. Fabrication of the printed wiring sections 3 is as follows. First, as illustrated in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the routing grooves 10 are formed on the panel body 2. Next, as illustrated in FIGS. 4A and 4B, a conductive member (such as conductive ink) 30 is sprayed with an ink jet nozzle 20 over the entire region of the panel body 2. Then, as illustrated in FIG. 5, the entire surface region of the panel body 2 is wiped with e.g. sandpaper 21, thus removing the conductive member 30 on the surface of the panel body 2 (i.e., other than the conductive member within the routing grooves 10). With this, the printed wiring sections 3 as illustrated in FIGS. 2A and 2B are formed.

[0041] Moreover, in the plan views of FIGS. 2A, 4A, and 6A, the printed wiring sections 3 and the conductive member 30 are illustrated as being hatched for the sake of clarity.

[0042] According to such a structure, fabrication (processing) time for the printed wiring sections 3 can be shortened.

[0043] In a case of disposing the electronic component 7 on the way of a route of the printed wiring section 3, the routing groove 10 is not formed at that position. In other words, divided routing grooves 10 are formed. The electronic component 7 is arranged at the divided portion of the routing groove 10. Thus, the printed wiring section 3 on which the electronic component 7 is mounted is fabricated.

[0044] In other words, in a conventional example using a wire harness as the wiring member, there is usually a need to connect with the panel body side by a connector; however, in a case of the printed wiring section 3, it becomes possible to make an electronic connection without using a connector and the structure becomes simple.

COMPARATIVE EXAMPLE 1

[0045] In an instrument panel according to a comparative example 1 as illustrated in FIGS. 6A and 6B, a conductive member (such as conductive ink) is sprayed onto the panel body 2 along a wiring pattern with the ink jet nozzle 20. In other words, the printed wiring sections 3 are formed by drawing with the ink jet nozzle 20. Since it is necessary that all of the printed wiring sections 3 are drawn with the ink jet nozzle 20, there is a problem that the fabrication (processing) time to form the printed wiring sections 3 becomes long. In the present embodiment, such a problem is solved and it is possible to shorten the fabrication (processing) time to form the printed wiring sections 3.

(Details of the Electronic Component Arrangement and its Peripheral Printed Wiring Section)

[0046] FIGS. 7A to 9B illustrate a first modification of the embodiment. As illustrated in FIGS. 7A and 7B, a protrusion 11 is provided at a portion on which the electronic component 7 is arranged on the surface of the panel body 2. The printed wiring sections 3 are arranged at both sides of the protrusion 11.

[0047] The electronic component 7 is mounted on the protrusion 11. Lead portions 7a of the electronic component 7 are connected to the printed wiring sections 3 at both sides of the protrusion 11 such as by soldering.

[0048] Arrangement of the electronic component 7 and fabrication of the peripheral printed wiring sections 3 are as follows. First, the protrusion 11 is formed at a mounting position of the electronic component 7 on the surface of the panel body 2. Then, as illustrated in FIGS. 8A and 8B, the conductive member 30 (such as conductive ink) is sprayed with the ink jet nozzle 20 along a wiring pattern that includes an area on the protrusion 11. Since the protrusion 11 exists on the wiring pattern, the conductive member (such as conductive ink) 30 is disposed on the upper surface of the protrusion 11 also. Then, as illustrated in FIGS. 9A and 9B, only the conductive member 30 (such as conductive ink) on the upper surface of the protrusion 11 is wiped with e.g. sandpaper 21. Thus, the divided printed wiring sections 3 are formed at both sides of the protrusion 11. Next, as illustrated in FIGS. 7A and 7B, once the electronic component 7 is mounted on the protrusion 11 and the lead portions 7a of the electronic component 7 are connected to the printed wiring sections 3 such as by soldering, it is completed.

[0049] Moreover, in the plan views of FIGS. 7A, 8A, and 9A, the printed wiring sections 3 and the conductive member 30 are illustrated as being hatched for the sake of clarity.

[0050] Since spraying of the conductive member at the ink jet nozzle 20 can be performed without considering the mounting position of the electronic component 7, controlling of the ink jet nozzle 20 is easy.

(Printed Wiring Sections for Small Current and for Large Current)

[0051] FIG. 10 illustrates a second modification of the embodiment. As illustrated in FIG. 10, the printed wiring sections 3A, 3B includes large current wiring sections 3A for a large current and a small current wiring section 3B for a small current. Bus bars 12 are buried along large current routing grooves 10A at the bottom of the large current routing grooves 10A in which the printed large current wiring sections 3A are arranged.

[0052] Each of the large current wiring sections 3A includes the bus bar 12 and a conductive member (such as conductive ink) 3a arranged in the large current routing groove 10A. The small current wiring section 3B is composed only of a conductive member (such as conductive ink) arranged in the routing groove for a small current 10B.

[0053] With such a structure, by preparing a panel body 2 in which the bus bars 12 are buried, operations of the later printing process for the large current wiring sections 3A and for the small current wiring section 3B can be the same. In other words, the large current wiring sections 3A and the small current wiring section 3B can be worked on by an operation of the same printing process, and thus, work efficiency can be improved.

[0054] Instead of the bus bar 12, copper foil may be buried for each of the large current wiring sections 3A also.

COMPARATIVE EXAMPLES 2 AND 3

[0055] In a comparative example 2 as illustrated in FIG. 11A, in a case that large current wiring sections 3C and a small current wiring section 3D are formed as the printed wiring sections 3C, 3D, thickness of each of the large current wiring sections 3C is formed to be thicker and thickness of the small current wiring section 3C is formed to be thinner.

[0056] In a comparative example 3 as illustrated in FIG. 11B, in a case that large current wiring sections 3E and a small current wiring section 3F are formed as the printed wiring sections 3E, 3F, width of each of the large current wiring sections 3E is formed to be wider and width of the small current wiring section 3F is formed to be narrower.

[0057] In both of the comparative examples 2 and 3, operations of the printing process for the large current wiring sections 3C, 3E and for the small current wiring sections 3D, 3F need to be altered, and the operations become complex. The above-described structure solves the problems of these comparative examples 2 and 3, and makes it possible for operations of the printing process for the large current wiring sections 3A and for the small current wiring section 3B to be made the same.