Multifunctional communication device for instrument panel particularly in a motor vehicle

The invention relates to the field of control panels installation, such as facilities heating, ventilation and / or air vehicle automobile.

It relates more particularly devices switch, located in the control panels, and comprising at least one control member which can be manipulated by a user so as to select a condition predefined operating among a plurality of states, a component of the installation.

Such control panels generally comprise from many switching devices, mechanical (s) and / or electrical connector (s), arranged next to one another. congestion internal of these control panels is therefore large, which makes them difficult achievement.

Furthermore, these control tables include a front, near the controller, areas provided optionally markings symbolizing the function the neighbor controller, and settings that allow. Or, to allow in conditions of low visibility, as for example at night or in a tunnel through, the identification of these marking and handling of bodies associated control are used light sources are housed in the control panel. This contributes to further increase the internal space of the table command.

In addition, insofar as at least some of the bodies command and the light sources are part of electrical circuit of the system, they must be connected to the control means of the installation, between them, for some. This requires wiring electrical and / or printed circuits and / or integrated with the cost is high, and that do not allow a real standardization.

Accordingly, an object of the invention is to provide a switching device for the control panel, which not present all or part of the aforementioned drawbacks.

The invention provides for this purpose a switching device the type described in the introduction, in which one is expected support which is secured to the control panel and that comprises means for maintaining the control member, which may be of the rotary or linear movement, means for supporting at least one light source provided for illuminating a selected area of ​​one face back of a front-wall of the control panel, and first location for housing at least partially electrical connection means to the control means of each light source.

It follows that the thus provides modular elements switching multifunction which comprise at least one electrical or mechanical control member, at least one light source, and their connecting means to control means of the installation. This contributes to significantly reduce the space inside the table order to simplify the internal arrangement of the table control, and allow standardization of devices of commutation.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the support said face comprises a "lower" of the support a second location to house a connector that include connecting means. This connector is intended to cooperate with a mating connector as the means control, which are preferably accommodated in the control panel. In this way, during assembly of control panel, we have only to cooperate both connectors for establishing electrical connections.

Advantageously, the support and the control panel comprises each of the fixing means which cooperate together to allow immobilization of the support in the control panel.

Preferably, the control member comprises a shaft held by the holding support and an actuator means (Or button) integral with the shaft and projecting on a front face of the front-wall of the control panel. This allows a user to move the shaft relative the support to define the operating state in During the installation of the component.

According to another aspect of the invention, the first location the support can accommodate adjustment means for defining the plurality of operating states predefined component of the installation, when placed by the control member in a plurality of states Predefined. These adjustment means can be realized, by example, in the form of a potentiometer or tracks conductor intended to cooperate with a "shoe" porté by the shaft of the control member. This reduces more internal space of the control panel.

In a particular application, the control member may define the settings of an electric motor with a fan an installation of heating, ventilation and / or air conditioning motor vehicle. In this case, the means for setting allows you to vary the engine speed.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the body command can also allow placement of another component of the installation in at least two states of predefined operation. Thus, a device switch able to handle two components of the same installation. For example, when the installation comprises a cooling loop, the second component may be a compressor.

According to yet another aspect of the invention, the first location of the carrier can accommodate switching means for defining the two predefined operating states of the other component of the installation, when placed by the control member in two predefined states. These switching means may be made for example in the form of a power switch of a manager compressor.

When the control member comprises a shaft, moving axially thereof between at least first and second positions can be used to place the switching means in one of their predefined states, which are associated respectively said at least two operating states predefined of the other component. Thus, the displacement rotary or linear of the control member ensures the adjusting a first component, while the displacement axial control member ensures the setting (or setting on or off, operation) of a second component.

Preferably, the support comprises at least two communicating parties. The first part contains the means for holding the control member, and at least one second part extends the first portion and includes the support means of the light source. The first and second portions together define at least the first location.

Of course, we can provide several second parts to support multiple light sources. In that case, the second parts respectively prolong the first portion in different directions so as to allow the illumination of selected measurement areas, distinct from the rear face of the front-wall of the control panel.

Similarly, it is conceivable that a first part comprises several holding means of several organ command.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the first and second (s) parts of the support are preferably made in a single molded casing which delimits, in part internal hollow housing said. Thus, the means of connection and / or the switching means and / or adjusting means and / or other modules can be isolated and protected.

Preferably, the housing is a Subject plastic, and if possible in both upper and bottom which are joined to one another so as to delimiting the housing.

In the following description given by way of example, we Referring to the drawings, in which:<ul><li>Figure 1 schematically illustrates an embodiment a switching device according to the invention, installed in a control panel for an installation; and</li><li>2A and 2B schematically illustrate the switching device of Figure 1, respectively in perspective views of the upper faces and lower.</li></ul>

As illustrated in Figure 1, the invention concerns a switching device installed in a table 1 control of a facility. It is considered that hereinafter, by way of illustrative example, this facility is an air conditioning installation of a passenger motor vehicle (not shown in the figures). Good Naturally, this invention is applicable to many other areas or facilities, without limitation.

In the example illustrated in Figure 1, the device of switching comprises a control member 2 held by a shaped support housing 3 on which more will far.

The controller 2 comprises, in this example, a actuator button 41 forming, integral with a shaft 4 which extends in an axial direction XX. In this example, the controller 2 is type of rotary displacement. Of course, this control member could be of The linear movement.

The knob 41 protrudes forward of a front-wall 5 Control of Table 1, which also houses other control devices 6 for managing components installation.

Is provided, close to the actuators 41 of the bodies Order 2 and 6, 7 and 8 zones transparent and provided possibly markings to visualize their functions and their condition.

To allow viewing of the markings in the penumbra, is also provided light sources implanted inside the control panel and which will be discussed below.

In the example illustrated in Figure 1, the shaft 4 of the control member 2 has one end connected to a potentiometer 12 which is used to vary the diet Power of a component of the air conditioning system, such as an electric motor for a fan for pulsing air to be treated for its distribution in the vehicle cabin.

Thus, when the knob is rotated causes 41, one varies the current delivered by the potentiometer 12, which is used to vary fan speed 13.

In the illustrated example, the control member 2 may also control the operation of another component of installation, such as the compressor 14 of refrigeration circuit.

To do this, there is provided, on the one hand, a contactor electrical 15 carried by the shaft 4 and a ccmmutation module 16 also provided with an electrical switch 17.

To put into operation the compressor 14 of the loop refrigeration installation, it is sufficient to axially move the control member 2, inwardly the control panel so that the first contactor Power 15 comes in contact with the second contactor 17 of the electric switching module 16. In other words, it is sufficient to pass the controller 2 a first axial position to a second position axially to move the switching module 16 a first predefined state to a second predetermined state.

The switch module 16 is, like the potentiometer 12, connected to control means 18 of the installation, which are able to manage all the components of installation and in particular the compressor 14 and the fan 13. In fact, the control means 18 receive control members 2 and 6 of adjustment requests that can be either digital or analog, and then, From these requests they regulate the various components of the installation, so as to satisfy the user triggered queries by manipulating the organs Control 2 and / or 6.

Referring now more particularly to Figures 2A and 2B to describe the housing-support 3.

In the example illustrated in the figures, the housing 3 is made of a so-called "upper" part 19 and part so-called "lower" 20 which may be secured to the part top 19 by suitable means (not shown in the figures), such as clips. Preferably the two housing parts are molded in a 3 electrically insulating plastics material.

The upper 19 and lower parts 20 are recessed from so as to define a first location or in housing 21 which are installed the switching module 16 and the potentiometer 12. More specifically, in the example illustrated, switching module 16 is installed in the upper part 19 of the housing 3, while the potentiometer 12 is installed in the lower part 20 of the housing 3.

The upper part 19 of the housing 3 includes at an upper face 22, an opening 23 enabling the passing the shaft 4 of the control member 2. In addition, provides, at least on the upper face 22 of the part top 19 of the housing 3, a retaining ring 24 to maintain the shaft 4 in a direction substantially perpendicular to the upper face 22, while permitting axial displacement of the shaft 4 according to the direction XX.

As illustrated in Figures 2A and 2B, the housing 3, and therefore its upper portions 19 and lower 20, comprises a first part 25 generally form in this example, substantially circular and extended substantially radially and in different directions, by three seconds from 26 to 28 parts carrying-arm.

Of course, when the control member is of type linear displacement, the first portion 25 may have a substantially rectangular shape, for example.

In the example shown, the second portions 26 to 26 of the top 19 of the housing 3 each have a end projection 29 which extends axially substantially (Parallel interface-bly to XX) towards the rear of the 5. Each front end projection 29 supports a source light 9, 10 or 11 which may be for example a bulb electric, or a diode. Each of these sources of light is intended to illuminate one of the areas transparent 7 or 8 provided with eventual labeling.

The length of the arms 26 to 28 is therefore adapted to control panel 1 and more exactly to the distance between the control member 2 of the zones to be illuminated. So, depending on the vehicle model in which the table orders must be placed, the arms may submit forms significantly different from those illustrated. These including arms may not be radial, and the spacings between the arms 26-28 can be substantially different from those shown in Figures 2A and 2B.

The different light sources 9 to 11 are connected in this example to electrical conductors 43 which are themselves connected to contact terminals 30 of a connector 31 which is fixed at a second location 42 selected in a lower face 40, opposite the upper face 22 of the bottom 20 of the housing 3.

The connector 31, which, in the illustrated example, is a male connector type, is intended to cooperate with a second connector 32 of the female type in this example, provided hollow contact pins 33 each adapted to receive a contact pin 30 of first connector 31. This second connector 32 is connected to the control means 18, by example via an electrical sheath 34.

To immobilize the housing 3 inside the table 1 command, it is expected, for example on the college side are 35 of the bottom portion 20, fastening tabs 36 intended to cooperate with fixing arms 37 partially shown in Figure 1. These fastening arm may for example comprise in an end opposite the 5 front control panel 1 own projections be introduced into openings 38, suitable for this Indeed, performed in the brackets of the housing 36 3. These fixing tabs 36 are preferably made by simultaneously molding the portion of the housing which door.

The assembly of a switching device according to the invention can be achieved as follows.

First, it mounts to the lower face 40 of the bottom 20 of the housing 3 the first connector 31 to which the potentiometer 12, the switching module 16 and the light sources 9 to 11 are electrically connected by cable 43. Then, it houses the potentiometer 12 and the shaft 4 to which it is coupled in the lower part 20 of the housing 3. Then install the switch module 16 and the light sources 9 to 11 the upper part 19 Case 3. It then assembles the lower portions 20 and greater than 19.

Then, passing the shaft 4 through an aperture formed in the front 5 of the control panel 2, then secures the housing 3 at the control panel 1 by introducing the terminal projections of the fixing arms 37 in the openings 38 of the fixing lugs 36 carried on the sides 35 of the housing 3. It is then fasten the actuator 41 to the shaft 4, and then introduce partially the second female connector 32 in the first male connector 31 so as to establish an electrical connection between the control means 18 and the various elements housed or supported by the housing 3.

The invention is not limited to the embodiment described above, but encompasses all the variants that may develop those skilled in the art within the scope of the claims below.

First, the form and the embodiment of the housing to be materially different from that described above with reference to FIGS. Thus, the number and the different orientations of arms for support the light sources may be lower or higher at three.

Then, the fixing means of the housing supporting the control panel may be significantly different from described, provided they provide immobilization said housing inside the control panel.

Furthermore, there is described a type of control member rotational movement, but it is clear that the invention applies equally to a type controller linear displacement, capable of controlling one or two components of an installation.

Moreover, the housing can accommodate other modules that those who have been previously described (connection module, the module switch and potentiometer) or do not contain together these modules. In the latter case, the shaft 4 can pass completely through the housing-support so that its opposite end to the actuator (or button) can control the module (s) (s) set (s) outside the housing-support.

It also discloses a control member coupled to a potentiometer to allow the supply regulation an electric motor, for example a fan, but it is clear that instead of the potentiometer, one could providing a set of conductive traces coupled to resistor values ​​or not installed inside the lower housing part and which different tracks can be connected in pairs by via a sliding contact carried by the body of the shaft from command. Of course, other components may be controlled by the device according to the invention, whether mechanically or electrically.

Finally, throughout the description, there is described a carrier shaped case for accommodating and supporting various elements, but it is clear that the media could be made in the form of a pad which would possibly installed in the selected locations switching modules and / or electric control and / or other modules, as well as the light sources and electrical connection means to the control means of installation.