JP7639573B2 - Vehicle switch device - Google Patents

Description

The technology disclosed in this specification relates to a switch device for a vehicle.

Switch devices that enhance the design of vehicle interiors have been proposed in the past. The following Patent Document 1 discloses a switch device that uses a light source to illuminate a decorative panel for the interior of a vehicle from the back and displays a specified pattern on the front side of the decorative panel. This switch device has an electrode disposed on the back side of the position where the pattern is displayed, and is configured so that when an occupant touches the pattern, the operation of an in-vehicle device corresponding to the pattern is performed.

JP 2006-321336 A

In recent years, there has been an increasing need to improve the design of vehicle interiors, and with regard to switch devices as well, there is a demand for switch devices that not only display a pattern, but also display patterns with better clarity and design than ever before.

The technology disclosed in this specification aims to provide a switch device that displays images with excellent clarity and design.

The vehicle switch device disclosed in this specification is configured with a light-transmitting skin material whose surface serves as a switch operation surface, and a switch member disposed on the back side of the skin material, the switch member having a detection unit that detects an operation performed by a user on the operation surface, a light-emitting unit that emits light toward the back side of the skin material, and a display layer that is disposed closer to the skin material than the light-emitting unit, has a light-shielding unit that blocks light, and displays an image of the switch at a position on the operation surface that corresponds to the detection unit, the skin material having a recess that is recessed from the back side toward the front side, and at least a portion of the light-emitting unit is fitted into the recess.

According to the above configuration, while ensuring the necessary thickness for the entire skin material, by providing a recess only in the area where the light-emitting section is provided, it is possible to shorten the distance from the display layer to the surface of the skin material (operation surface), and therefore the image of the switch projected on the operation surface is clearer compared to a configuration in which no recess is provided. In addition, by fitting the light-emitting section into the recess, it is possible for light leaking from the side of the light-emitting section to be projected onto the operation surface through the skin material, and this light can be used to improve the design of the operation surface. In addition, the visibility of the switch device is improved.

The detection unit detects a pressing operation on the operation surface by the user, and the skin material is configured with a light-transmitting skin layer arranged on the front side and a foam layer made of a foam material arranged on the back side, and the recess may be formed by partially squashing the foam layer.

When the detection unit detects a pressing operation, the skin material can be composed of a light-transmitting skin layer and a foam layer, allowing the user to feel the operation due to the elasticity of the foam layer. However, there is a concern that repeated pressing operations will deteriorate the foam layer and lose its elasticity, causing the operating surface to partially sink due to sagging.

According to the above configuration, the foam layer in the portion corresponding to the detection section, which is prone to sagging due to repeated pressing operations, is crushed to a certain extent in advance to form a recess for fitting the above-mentioned light-emitting section, thereby suppressing deformation of the foam layer due to pressing operations and thereby suppressing sagging of the foam layer in that portion.

The display layer may be provided between the foam layer and a surface of the light-emitting portion that faces the skin material.

To make the image of the switch projected on the surface (operation surface) of the skin material clear, it is preferable to shorten the distance between the display layer and the operation surface. For this reason, when the skin material is composed of a light-transmitting skin layer and a foam layer, the display layer has conventionally been provided between the light-transmitting skin layer and the foam layer. However, with such a configuration, the display layer is disposed inside the skin material and is difficult to see from the outside, making it difficult to align the display layer with the switch member, and there is a risk of display defects being caused by misalignment.

In response to this problem, the above-mentioned configuration forms a recess in the skin material and fits the light-emitting unit into it, so that the distance between the operating surface and the light-emitting unit is originally small. Therefore, even if a display layer is provided between the foam layer and the opposing surface of the light-emitting unit, a clear switch image can be projected onto the operating surface. In addition, in this configuration, the display layer is provided outside the skin material, so alignment between the skin material and the switch member is relatively easy.

The light-shielding portion may be a printed layer printed on the opposing surface of the light-emitting portion.

The above configuration reduces the number of parts compared to a configuration in which the display layer is, for example, a stencil sheet.

The detection unit may be a contact-type detection unit that can detect a pressing operation by contacting a movable contact with a fixed contact when the user presses the light, and may be superimposed on the opposite surface of the light-emitting unit opposite the skin material.

The above configuration allows the switch device to be manufactured more inexpensively than a configuration that uses a touch sensor, motion sensor, electrostatic sensor, or the like as the detection unit. In addition, the contact-type detection unit can be provided at a position away from the operation surface, so the detection unit does not interfere with projecting an image of the switch onto the operation surface.

The technology disclosed in this specification makes it possible to provide a switch device with excellent clarity of the displayed image and excellent design.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a door trim in which a switch device according to an embodiment is installed, viewed from inside a vehicle interior; FIG. 2 is a partially enlarged perspective view of the door trim in which the switch device is installed, viewed from the inside of the vehicle compartment. Schematic cross-sectional view of a switch device

Below, an embodiment for implementing the technology disclosed in this specification will be described in detail with reference to Figs. 1 to 3. In this embodiment, a switch device 20 (one example of a vehicle switch device) provided on a door trim 10 for a vehicle such as an automobile will be illustrated. The symbols F, Rr, IN, OUT, U, and D shown in each figure respectively indicate the front and rear in the vehicle travel direction, the inside (front side) and the outside (back side) in the vehicle width direction perpendicular to the vehicle travel direction, and the upper and lower in the vertical direction (up and down direction). However, the above directions are merely defined for convenience and should not be interpreted in a restrictive manner.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a door trim 10 next to the driver's seat, equipped with a switch device 20 according to this embodiment, as viewed from inside the vehicle compartment. The door trim 10 constitutes the interior portion of a vehicle door, and is attached to a door inner panel (not shown) from the inside of the vehicle compartment. The door trim 10 is mainly composed of a trim board 11, and multiple parts are assembled together, with the surface (the surface facing the interior of the vehicle compartment) covered with a skin material 21.

An armrest 12, which is used as an armrest for a passenger, is formed in the vertical center of the door trim 10 and projects into the passenger compartment. The upper surface of the armrest 12 is a horizontal portion 12A that extends along a substantially horizontal direction. A sloping portion 13 is formed in the front portion of the armrest 12, sloping upward from near the side end of the horizontal portion 12A (the inner peripheral end in the vehicle's interior/exterior direction) toward the outside of the passenger compartment, and an inside handle 14 is provided at the upper end of the sloping portion 13.

The rear portion of the armrest 12 is arranged so that the horizontal portion 12A intersects the wall surface of the door trim 10 in a substantially vertical direction. Hereinafter, the portion of the trim board 11 that is above the armrest 12 and behind the inclined portion 13 will be referred to as the rear middle board 15. The switch device 20 of this embodiment is installed at the front end of this rear middle board 15.

The switch device 20 is used to preset the front-rear position, height, and angle of the driver's seat, the angle of the seat back, etc., and to switch between settings according to the passenger. When the engine starts, the switching switches are displayed in a line at the front end of the rear middle board 15. As shown in FIG. 2, the switch device 20 of this embodiment can be set for three passengers.

As shown in FIG. 3, the switch device 20 is configured to include a skin 21 and a switch member 31 arranged on the back side (outside the vehicle compartment) of the skin 21. As described above, the skin 21 covers the surface of the trim board 11 and is made of a light-transmitting material that transmits light. Note that the surface of the trim board 11 other than the rear middle board 15 may be configured to be covered with a different type of skin made of a material other than the light-transmitting material.

The skin material 21 of this embodiment is configured with a skin layer (an example of a light-transmitting skin layer) 22 arranged on the front surface (operation surface 21A) side, and a foam layer 23 made of a foam material arranged on the back surface (outdoor) side. The skin layer 22 can be made of light-transmitting synthetic leather, or fabric such as woven fabric, knitted fabric, or nonwoven fabric. The foam layer 23 is made of, for example, a urethane material, and has light-transmitting and cushioning properties. The thickness dimension ratio of the skin layer 22 to the foam layer 23 is approximately 1:3.

The foam layer 23 has a recess 25 recessed from the back surface toward the front surface in a portion where the light-emitting portion 32 (described later) is disposed. The recess 25 is approximately 2/3 the depth of the thickness dimension of the foam layer 23 and does not reach the skin layer 22. The portion of the skin layer 22 that corresponds to the recess 25 is flat, as is its surroundings.

The recess 25 is formed by compressing part of the foam layer 23 from the back side. That is, the thin-walled portion 23A of the foam layer 23 located between the recess 25 and the skin layer 22 has a higher foam density than the surrounding portion. As a result, when pressed from the surface of the skin material 21 (the surface facing the room, the operation surface 21A), the hardness of the portion where the recess 25 is formed is higher than that of the other portions.

A part of the light emitting unit 32 is fitted into the recess 25. The light emitting unit 32 is configured to include an LED (not shown), an LED board on which the LED is mounted, and a plate-shaped light emitter 33. The plate-shaped light emitter 33 is made of a synthetic resin material (e.g., acrylic resin such as PMMA or polycarbonate) that has a refractive index sufficiently higher than that of air and is almost transparent, and has a rectangular plate shape in a plan view. The plate-shaped light emitter 33 is configured to introduce light emitted from an LED (not shown) arranged on one side thereof, propagate the light inside, raise it so that it faces the skin material 21 side, and emit it from the front surface (referred to as the opposing surface 33A).

The light emitting unit 32 has a portion opposite the skin material 21 (lower portion in FIG. 3) housed in a shallow dish-shaped storage case 17, and this storage case 17 is attached to the inside of the hole 16 of the rear middle board 15 (trim board 11), with the portion on the skin material 21 side (upper portion in FIG. 3) protruding from the storage case 17 toward the skin material 21. This protruding portion is fitted into the recess 25 of the skin material 21. In other words, the opposing surface 33A and part of the side surface 33C of the plate-shaped light emitting body 33 arranged on the skin material 21 side are fitted into the recess 25 in contact with the foam layer 23. The skin material 21 is in close contact with the surface of the rear middle board 15 around the hole 16.

A light-shielding section (an example of a display layer and a printed layer) 35 is provided on the opposing surface 33A of the plate-shaped light-emitting body 33. The light-shielding section 35 is a layer that partially blocks light emitted from the plate-shaped light-emitting body 33 toward the skin material 21, and is provided by printing a black resin material on the opposing surface 33A of the plate-shaped light-emitting body 33. The light-shielding section 35 is for creating a projected image of the switch on the operating surface 21A of the skin material 21, and is printed on the opposing surface 33A of the plate-shaped light-emitting body 33 in a white state so that the pattern that is the basis of the image is a light-transmitting section 36 that transmits light, and the surrounding area is the light-shielding section 35.

A detection unit 41 is superimposed on the opposite surface 33B of the plate-shaped light-emitting body 33 opposite the skin material 21. In this embodiment, the detection unit 41 is a contact-type film switch (an example of a contact-type detection unit) that can detect a pressing operation by contacting a movable contact with a fixed contact when the occupant presses the operation surface 21A. The detection unit 41 is connected to the door ECU 45, and when the occupant presses the switch, the front-to-rear position, height, and angle of the driver's seat, the angle of the seat back, etc. are changed as previously set.

This contact-type film switch (detection unit 41) is housed in the housing case 17 together with the portion on the opposite side 33B of the plate-shaped light-emitting body 33 (the lower portion in FIG. 3).

The switch device 20 of the present embodiment described above is not displayed on the door trim 10 when the vehicle engine is turned off, but an image of the switch (i.e., the switch) is projected on the door trim 10 when the engine is started. Figure 2 shows the state in which the image of the switch is projected, and in this figure, for the sake of convenience, the brightly illuminated parts are shown in black, and the non-illuminated parts are shown in inverted white.

As shown in FIG. 2, in this embodiment, three switch images (referred to as S1, S2, and S3) are arranged vertically, and the seat pattern S0 is displayed at the top of them. When an occupant presses a switch in which a preset seat state is registered, the detection unit 41 detects the pressing operation and transmits a signal, changing the seat to the specified state.

As described above, in the switch device 20 of this embodiment, the upper portion (the portion on the opposing surface 33A side) of the plate-shaped light emitter 33 shown in FIG. 3 is fitted into the recess 25 in a manner that it bites into the foam layer 23. This allows the relatively weak light leaking out from the side surface 33C of the plate-shaped light emitter 33 to pass through the skin material 21 and leak out from the skin material 21 so as to surround all of the switches lined up in the vertical direction. This allows the switch device 20 to be visually beautiful, with the switches surrounded by the leaked out relatively weak light in a gradation pattern.

Next, the effects of the switch device 20 will be described. The switch device 20 of this embodiment is configured with a light-transmitting skin 21, the surface of which is the switch operation surface 21A, and a switch member 31 arranged on the back side of the skin 21. The switch member 31 is equipped with a detection unit 41 that detects the occupant's pressing operation on the operation surface 21A, a light-emitting unit 32 that emits light toward the back side of the skin 21, and a light-shielding unit 35 that is provided on the skin 21 side of the light-emitting unit 32 and has a light-shielding shading unit 35 that has light-shielding properties and displays an image of the switch at a position on the operation surface 21A corresponding to the detection unit 41. The skin 21 has a recess 25 that is recessed from the back side toward the front side, and the light-emitting unit 32 has an opposing surface 33A side that is fitted into the recess 25.

With this configuration, the necessary thickness is ensured for the entire skin 21, and by providing the recess 25 only in the area where the light-emitting unit 32 is provided, the distance from the light-shielding unit 35 to the surface of the skin 21 (operation surface 21A) can be shortened, so that the image of the switch projected on the operation surface 21A is clearer than in a configuration without the recess 25. In addition, by fitting the light-emitting unit 32 into the recess 25, it is possible to project the relatively weak light leaking from the side surface 33C of the plate-shaped light-emitting body 33 onto the operation surface 21A through the skin 21, and this light can be used to improve the design of the operation surface 21A. The visibility of the switch device 20 is also improved.

The detection unit 41 detects the user's pressing operation on the operation surface 21A, and the skin material 21 is configured with a skin layer 22 arranged on the front side and a foam layer 23 made of a foam material arranged on the back side, and the recess 25 is formed by partially squashing the foam layer 23.

When the detection unit 41 detects a pressing operation, the skin material 21 is composed of the skin layer 22 and the foam layer 23, so that the occupant can feel the operation due to the elasticity of the foam layer 23. However, there is a concern that repeated pressing operations will deteriorate the foam layer 23 and cause it to lose its elasticity, resulting in partial depression of the operating surface 21A due to sagging.

To address this problem, in this embodiment, the recess 25 for fitting the light-emitting unit 32 is formed by compressing to a certain extent in advance the portion of the foam layer 23 corresponding to the detection unit 41, which is prone to settling due to repeated pressing operations. This configuration makes it possible to suppress deformation of the foam layer 23 due to pressing operations, and thus suppress settling of the foam layer 23 in that portion.

The light-shielding portion 35 is provided between the facing surface 33A of the light-emitting portion 32 that faces the skin material 21 and the foam layer 23.

To make the image of the switch projected on the surface (operation surface 21A) of the skin material 21 clear, it is preferable to shorten the distance between the light-shielding portion 35 and the operation surface 21A. For this reason, when the skin material 21 is composed of the skin layer 22 and the foam layer 23, the light-shielding portion 35 is conventionally provided between the skin layer 22 and the foam layer 23. However, in such a configuration, the light-shielding portion 35 is disposed inside the skin material 21 and is difficult to see from the outside, making it difficult to align the light-shielding portion 35 with the switch member 31, and there is a risk of display defects being caused by misalignment.

To address this problem, the above configuration forms a recess 25 in the skin 21 and fits the light-emitting unit 32 into it, so that the distance between the operation surface 21A and the light-emitting unit 32 is originally small. Even if a light-shielding unit 35 is provided between the foam layer 23 and the opposing surface 33A of the light-emitting unit 32, a clear switch image can be projected on the operation surface 21A. In addition, with this configuration, the light-shielding unit 35 is provided outside the skin 21, so it is relatively easy to align the skin 21 and the switch member 31.

The light-shielding portion 35 is a printed layer printed on the opposing surface 33A of the light-emitting portion 32.

The above configuration reduces the number of parts compared to when the light shielding section 35 is configured, for example, from a stencil sheet.

The detection unit 41 is a contact-type film switch that can detect a pressing operation by contacting a movable contact with a fixed contact when the occupant presses the detection unit 41, and is superimposed on the opposite surface 33B of the light-emitting unit 32 opposite the skin material 21.

The above configuration allows the switch device 20 to be manufactured more inexpensively than a configuration that uses a touch sensor, a motion sensor, an electrostatic sensor, or the like as the detection unit 41. In addition, the contact-type film switch can be provided at a position away from the operation surface 21A, so the detection unit 41 does not interfere with projecting an image of the switch onto the operation surface 21A.

<Other embodiments>
The technology disclosed in this specification is not limited to the embodiments described above and illustrated in the drawings, and for example, the following embodiments are also included within the technical scope.

(1) In the above embodiment, a switch device 20 for changing the settings of the driver's seat depending on the occupant is illustrated, but the use of the switch device is not limited to this. The location where the switch device is installed is not limited to the door trim 10 next to the driver's seat, but may be any location in the vehicle, such as next to the passenger seat. Furthermore, the switch device is not limited to use in vehicles, but can be applied to various types of vehicles.

(2) In the above embodiment, the portion of the light-emitting section 32 that is disposed on the opposite side of the skin material 21 protrudes from the recess 25, but the technical scope also includes a configuration in which the entire light-emitting section is fitted into the recess.

(3) The display layer is not limited to a printed layer, but may be a stencil sheet having a light-transmitting portion with light-transmitting properties and a light-shielding portion with light-shielding properties.

(4) The display layer may also be configured to be provided between the skin layer 22 and the foam layer 23.

(5) The detection unit is not limited to a detection unit that detects a pressing operation, but may be, for example, a human sensor, electrostatic sensor, touch sensor, or the like that can detect an approach operation or abutment operation by a user against the operation surface. In such a case, the detection unit is configured to be provided on the skin side of the light-emitting unit, rather than on the opposite side of the light-emitting unit.

(6) In the above embodiment, the skin material 21 has a two-layer structure of the skin layer 22 and the foam layer 23. However, if the detection unit is a motion sensor, electrostatic sensor, touch sensor, or the like that does not involve a pressing operation, the skin material may have a single-layer structure.

(7) Even if the skin material 21 has a two-layer structure of the skin layer 22 and the foam layer 23, the recesses 25 may be formed by cutting out a portion of the foam layer rather than by squeezing the foam layer 23.

10: Door trim, 11: Trim board, 15: Rear middle board, 20: Switch device, 21: Cover material, 21A: Operation surface, 22: Cover layer (light-transmitting cover layer), 23: Foam layer, 25: Recess, 31: Switch member, 32: Illuminating part, 33: Plate-shaped light emitter, 33A: Opposing surface, 33B: Opposite surface, 33C: Side, 35: Light-shielding part (display layer, printed layer), 36: Light-transmitting part, 41: Detection part, S1, S2, S3: Switch image

Claims (7)

A switch device for a vehicle comprising a light-transmitting skin having a surface serving as a switch operation surface and a switch member disposed on a back surface side of the skin,
The switch member is
A detection unit that detects an operation on the operation surface by a user;
A light emitting section that emits light toward a rear surface of the skin material;
a display layer provided on the skin side of the light-emitting portion, the display layer having a light-shielding portion having a light-shielding property, and configured to display an image of the switch at a position on the operation surface corresponding to the detection portion,
the skin material comprises a light-transmitting skin layer disposed on the front surface side and a foam layer made of a foam material disposed on the back surface side, the foam layer has a recess recessed from the back surface toward the front surface side , and a portion of the light-transmitting skin layer corresponding to the recess is in a flat state flush with its surroundings,
The light-emitting portion is arranged in a direction intersecting the light-transmitting skin layer, and is fitted into the recess such that at least a portion of the side surface is in contact with the light-transmitting foam layer . The switch device for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the switch member is housed in a housing case, and a part of the light-emitting part constituting the switch member protrudes from the housing case toward the skin material and is fitted into the recess. The detection unit detects a pressing operation on the operation surface by a user,
3. The vehicle switch device according to claim 1, wherein the recess is formed by partially squashing the foam layer. A switch device for a vehicle comprising a light-transmitting skin having a surface serving as a switch operation surface and a switch member disposed on a back surface side of the skin,
The switch member is
A detection unit that detects a pressing operation on the operation surface by a user;
A light emitting section that emits light toward a rear surface of the skin material;
a display layer provided on the skin side of the light-emitting portion, the display layer having a light-shielding portion having a light-shielding property, and configured to display an image of the switch at a position on the operation surface corresponding to the detection portion,
the skin material has a recess recessed from the back surface toward the front surface,
the light emitting section is fitted into the recess in such a manner that at least a part of a side surface of the light emitting section is in contact with the skin material through which light passes;
the skin material is configured to include a light-transmitting skin layer disposed on the front surface side and a foam layer made of a foam material disposed on the back surface side,
The recess is formed by partially squashing the foam layer. 5. The switch device for a vehicle according to claim 3 , wherein the indication layer is provided between the foam layer and a surface of the light-emitting portion that faces the skin material. The switch device for a vehicle according to claim 5 , wherein the light blocking portion is a printed layer printed on the opposing surface of the light emitting portion. The switch device for a vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the detection unit is a contact-type detection unit capable of detecting a pressing operation by a user when a movable contact comes into contact with a fixed contact , and is superimposed on an opposite surface of the light-emitting unit opposite to the skin material.

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