A steering wheel touch switch structure

Abstract

The present invention discloses a steering wheel touch switch structure, which includes a control circuit board, a touch panel, a touch detection device and a pressure detection device arranged in a switch housing. The touch detection device is arranged on the inner bottom surface of the touch panel; the pressure detection device includes a pressure sensing part arranged on the control circuit board and a driving rod correspondingly arranged on the inner bottom surface of the touch panel and connected to the pressure sensing part. By adopting the technical solution, only when the touch detection device and the pressure detection device are jointly triggered can the control circuit board confirm the effectiveness of the touch function, which can effectively prevent the occurrence of accidental touch. Moreover, for the touch panel designed with this structure, no pressing stroke amount is generated when it is stressed at any position, the structure is more compact, thus avoiding the shaking of the touch panel, having good structural stability, better use feel, and improving the use performance and service life of the steering wheel switch.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of automotive switches, and particularly to a steering wheel touch switch structure. Background Art

[0002] With the continuous development and popularization of automotive technologies, touch switches are gradually adopted for automotive steering wheel switches. When a user touches the key characters on the steering wheel with a hand, the corresponding key function is triggered. Compared with traditional mechanical switches, this pressing touch steering wheel switch is more modern, is a replacement product of traditional mechanical key switches, and is also the development trend in the future switch field.

[0003] In order to prevent the touch function of the steering wheel switch from being accidentally triggered, the existing method is to press the switch as a whole during touching to confirm the conduction of the switch touch function. For example, Chinese Patent Document CN209133396U discloses an overall pressing touch type steering wheel switch structure, which includes a touch panel, a flexible PCB board, a button seat, a housing, a PCB main board, and a base arranged in sequence from top to bottom. The lower end surface of the touch panel is closely attached to the flexible PCB board, and the flexible PCB board is communicatively connected to the PCB main board. The structure further includes linkage rods connected to both sides of the button seat and the housing. The linkage rods are simultaneously inserted into a first linkage hole of the button seat and a second linkage hole of the housing. Pressing the touch panel transmits force through the linkage rods, so that sufficient force can be applied to the surface of the touch panel to press the switch as a whole, and then the corresponding touch function can be triggered.

[0004] Furthermore, Chinese Patent Document CN108777243A discloses an automotive touch type steering wheel switch, which includes a box body, a key board arranged in the box body, and a circuit board. The key board is provided with direction keys and a confirmation key. A rubber sleeve is sleeved on the circuit board, and the key board is snap-connected to the rubber sleeve. A terminal seat is arranged at the bottom of the circuit board. A capacitive film is arranged above the rubber sleeve. The capacitive film is provided with a connecting piece. After the connecting piece extends downward toward the bottom plate to a position corresponding to the terminal seat, it is bent inward and inserted into the terminal seat. A micro switch is arranged at a position corresponding to the confirmation key on the circuit board. When the key board is pressed down by a certain distance, the micro switch can be triggered to confirm the conduction of the function, thereby avoiding accidental triggering of the confirmation key by the driver and having better safety.

[0005] Combined with the above-mentioned literature, it can be seen that the existing push-type touch steering wheel switch still has the following problems in actual use: 1. The method of triggering the micro switch by pressing the key panel down a certain distance to realize the touch function has a complex structural setting, and the space occupied by the micro switch is also large, which is not conducive to the miniaturization development of the switch, and the triggering speed is relatively slow; 2. The pressing stroke of the above-mentioned key panel or switch panel is large, and the side position is prone to tilting when the force is uneven, the pressing produces a large amount of shaking, the structural stability is poor, and the feel of use is not good, which affects the use effect of the product. Summary of the Invention

[0006] Therefore, the technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to overcome the problems in the prior art of the complex structure of the push-type touch steering wheel switch, which is not conducive to the miniaturization development of the switch, and the large pressing stroke of the switch panel, which produces a large amount of shaking, poor user feel, and affects the product's use effect, thereby providing a steering wheel touch switch structure with a simple and compact structure, which does not produce a pressing stroke and shaking when pressing the touch panel, thereby improving the product's use feel and performance.

[0007] In order to solve the above technical problems, the present invention provides a steering wheel touch switch structure, comprising:

[0008] A switch housing, in which a control circuit board is disposed;

[0009] A touch panel is provided on the switch housing and includes touch keys provided on its surface;

[0010] a touch detection device connected to the inner bottom surface of the touch panel, for collecting touch signals when the touch key is triggered, the touch detection device being connected to the control circuit board;

[0011] The pressure detection device includes a pressure sensing portion arranged on the control circuit board and a driving rod arranged opposite to the touch panel, the driving rod being connected to the pressure sensing portion; the control circuit board receives pressure information sent by the pressure sensing portion, and receives a touch signal sent by the touch detection device when the pressure applied by the driving rod to the pressure sensing portion exceeds a set value.

[0012] As a preferred solution, the driving rod is fixedly connected to or integrally formed with the touch panel, and one end of the driving rod extending toward the pressure sensing portion is in contact with and connected to the pressure sensing portion.

[0013] As a preferred solution, the end of the driving rod facing the pressure sensing portion is provided with a protective sleeve made of a flexible material.

[0014] As a preferred solution, the pressure sensing portion is a sheet-like structure and has a force-bearing surface that cooperates with the driving rod.

[0015] As a preferred solution, the touch detection device includes a capacitive film adhered to the inner bottom surface of the touch panel, and a sensing part arranged on the capacitive film corresponding to a plurality of touch keys; alternatively, the capacitive film is integrally injection-molded on the inner bottom surface of the touch panel.

[0016] As a preferred solution, the capacitive film is connected to the control circuit board through a plug-in structure, and the plug-in structure includes: a plug-in part that extends and bends on the capacitive film, and a plug-in port arranged on the control circuit board, and the plug-in part is suitable for being inserted into the plug-in port.

[0017] As a preferred solution, it further includes a vibrator arranged on the inner bottom surface of the touch panel, and / or a voice prompt device arranged in the switch housing, and the vibrator and the voice prompt device are respectively connected to the control circuit board and are turned on when the control circuit board receives the touch signal.

[0018] As a preferred solution, the touch keys are arranged in a convex structure or a concave structure on the touch panel.

[0019] As a preferred solution, the control circuit board includes a first circuit board arranged facing the touch panel, and a second circuit board arranged below the first circuit board. The first circuit board is respectively connected to the touch detection device and the pressure detection device, and the first circuit board is provided with a plurality of backlights corresponding to the plurality of touch keys.

[0020] As a preferred solution, the switch housing includes a mounting bracket connecting the touch panel and the first circuit board. The touch panel is mounted on the top of the mounting bracket, the first circuit board is fixed to the bottom of the mounting bracket through a screw structure, and the capacitive film and the mounting bracket are respectively formed with through-hole structures suitable for the driving rod to pass through.

[0021] As a preferred solution, a conductive terminal assembly is arranged on one of the first circuit board and the second circuit board, and a jack connector corresponding to the conductive terminal assembly is arranged on the other of the first circuit board and the second circuit board.

[0022] The technical solution of the present invention has the following advantages compared with the prior art:

[0023] 1. The steering wheel touch switch structure provided by the present invention, when a user touches a touch key on the touch panel, a corresponding touch signal is collected by a touch feeling detection device and sent to a control circuit board. At this time, the user applies a certain pressure to the touch panel, and the pressure is transmitted to a pressure sensing part through a driving rod. The control circuit board judges whether the pressure information collected by the pressure sensing part exceeds a set value. That is, when the pressure value exceeds the set value, the control circuit board receives and processes the touch signal, so as to confirm the effectiveness of the touch function. Otherwise, it is confirmed to be invalid. By adopting this technical solution, only when the touch feeling detection device and the pressure detection device are triggered together can the control circuit board confirm that the touch function is turned on, and the control is more accurate and reliable, which can effectively prevent the occurrence of mis-touch phenomena. Moreover, for the touch panel designed with this structure, no pressing travel amount is generated when it is stressed at any position, only a tiny deformation occurs, and the structure is more compact, which is beneficial to reducing the product volume, and the transmission is reliable, thus avoiding the shaking of the touch panel, having good structural stability, better use feel, and improving the use performance and service life of the steering wheel switch.

[0024] 2. The steering wheel touch switch structure provided by the present invention, the end of the driving rod extending towards the pressure sensing part abuts against the pressure sensing part. When the touch panel is extruded by an external force, it directly presses on the pressure sensing part through the driving rod. The conduction speed is fast and accurate. The touch panel does not move downward during this process but remains in its original position, so that the user does not feel any key feeling. That is, it is more comfortable and has a better feel to adopt the static touch mode for the touch panel, and the operation is also more convenient, and the structure is stable and reliable, thereby improving the driving experience of the driver.

[0025] 3. The steering wheel touch switch structure provided by the present invention, the pressure sensing part is a sheet-like structure connected to the control circuit board, its volume is very small, and its installation height on the circuit board is very low, which is beneficial to the development trend of the steering wheel switch product towards miniaturization.

[0026] 4. The steering wheel touch switch structure provided by the present invention, the capacitive film is electrically connected to the control circuit board by inserting the capacitive film into the insertion port through the insertion part. This plug-in type cooperation makes the connection between the capacitive film and the control circuit board have good mechanical properties and electrical properties, and the installation connection is convenient and fast, and it is also convenient for the replacement and maintenance of the capacitive film. Description of the Drawings

[0027] In order to more clearly illustrate the specific embodiments of the present invention or the technical solutions in the prior art, the following will briefly introduce the drawings required for use in the description of the specific embodiments or the prior art. Obviously, the drawings in the following description are some embodiments of the present invention. For those of ordinary skill in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative efforts.

[0028] Figure 1 Schematic diagram of the split structure of the steering wheel touch switch provided by the present invention;

[0029] Figure 2 Schematic diagram of the cross-sectional structure of the steering wheel touch switch of the present invention;

[0030] Figure 3 Schematic diagram of the installation structure of the control circuit board of the present invention;

[0031] Figure 4 Schematic diagram of the installation structure of the touch panel and the touch detection device of the present invention;

[0032] Description of reference numerals: 1 - switch housing, 2 - control circuit board, 20 - plug-in port, 21 - first circuit board, 22 - second circuit board, 23 - backlight, 24 - conductive terminal assembly, 25 - jack connector, 3 - touch panel, 4 - touch detection device, 41 - capacitive film, 42 - sensing part, 43 - plug-in part, 5 - pressure sensing part, 6 - drive rod, 61 - protective sleeve, 7 - toggle switch, 8 - conductive rubber. Detailed implementation manners

[0033] The technical solutions of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Apparently, the described embodiments are some, but not all, of the embodiments of the present invention.

[0034] In the description of the present invention, it should be noted that the terms "first", "second", and "third" are only used for descriptive purposes and cannot be construed as indicating or implying relative importance.

[0035] In the description of the present invention, it should be noted that unless otherwise clearly defined and limited, the terms "installation", "connection", and "coupling" should be understood in a broad sense. For example, it can be a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; it can be a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; it can be directly connected or indirectly connected through an intermediate medium, and it can be the internal communication of two components.

[0036] Embodiment 1

[0037] This embodiment provides a steering wheel touch switch structure as shown in Figures 1-4 and includes:

[0038] A switch housing 1, inside which a control circuit board 2 is provided;

[0039] A touch panel 3, arranged on the switch housing 1 and including touch keys arranged on its surface;

[0040] The touch detection device 4 is disposed connected to the inner bottom surface of the touch panel 3 for collecting touch signals when the touch keys are triggered, and the touch detection device 4 is connected to the control circuit board 2;

[0041] The pressure detection device includes a pressure sensing portion 5 disposed on the control circuit board and a driving rod 6 disposed opposite to the touch panel 3, and the driving rod 6 is connected to the pressure sensing portion 5; the control circuit board 2 receives the pressure information sent by the pressure sensing portion 5 and receives the touch signal sent by the touch detection device 4 when the pressure exerted by the driving rod 6 on the pressure sensing portion 5 exceeds a set value.

[0042] In the above embodiment, when a user touches the touch keys of the touch panel 3, the corresponding touch signals are collected by the touch detection device 4 and sent to the control circuit board 2. At this time, the control circuit between the control circuit board and the touch detection device is not yet conducting. According to the fact that the user will apply a certain pressure to the touch panel 3, the pressure is transmitted to the pressure sensing portion 5 through the driving rod 6, and the control circuit board 2 determines whether the pressure information collected by the pressure sensing portion 5 exceeds the set value. That is, when the pressure value exceeds the set value, the control circuit board 2 will receive and process the touch signal, thereby confirming the effectiveness of the touch function. Otherwise, it is confirmed as invalid. By adopting this technical solution, only when the touch detection device 4 and the pressure detection device are jointly triggered can the control circuit board 2 confirm that the touch function is conducting, and the control is more accurate and reliable. It can effectively prevent the occurrence of accidental touch phenomena. Moreover, in this structural design of the touch panel 3, no pressing stroke amount is generated when it is stressed at any position, only a slight deformation occurs. The structure is more compact, which is beneficial to reducing the product volume, the transmission is reliable, thereby avoiding the shaking of the touch panel, the structural stability is good, the use feel is better, and the use performance and service life of the steering wheel switch are improved.

[0043] The following will Figures 1-2 , Figure 4 make a detailed description of the specific setting method of the pressure detection device:

[0044] The driving rod 6 is fixedly connected to the touch panel 3 or formed as one piece, so that the driving rod 6 and the touch panel 3 are connected as one piece, which is also convenient for installation. The end of the driving rod 6 extending toward the pressure sensing part 5 is in contact with and connected to the pressure sensing part 5. When the touch panel 3 is squeezed by an external force, the driving rod 6 directly presses against the pressure sensing part 5, and the transmission speed is fast and accurate. The touch panel 3 does not move downward during this process but remains in its original position. Only a slight deformation may occur at the pressed position, so that the user will not feel any mechanical button feeling. That is, the touch panel 3 adopts a static touch mode, which is more comfortable and has a better feel, is more convenient to operate, and has a stable and reliable structure, thereby improving the driving experience of the driver.

[0045] like Figure 2 As shown, the driving rod 6 is provided with a protective sleeve 61 made of flexible material at one end thereof facing the pressure sensing part 5. The protective sleeve 61 can prevent hard squeezing between the driving rod 6 and the pressure sensing part, thereby protecting the pressure sensing part 5, having a long service life and safe and reliable cooperation.

[0046] In this embodiment, the pressure sensing part 5 is a sheet-like structure connected to the control circuit board, and has a force-bearing plane that cooperates with the driving rod 6. One end of the driving rod 6 is matched and pressed against the force-bearing plane, which can increase the force-bearing surface and make the force more uniform and stable. Therefore, the pressure sensing part 5 can accurately detect the force condition of the touch panel 3 and send it to the control circuit board 2 for processing in a timely manner. The trigger pressure value of the pressure sensing part 5 can be set according to design requirements. In the specific setting, the pressure sensing part can select a pressed-sheet pressure sensor, which is very small and has a very low installation height on the circuit board, which is conducive to the miniaturization trend of steering wheel switch products. The pressure condition of the touch panel can be detected in real time by contacting with the driving rod. It has the characteristics of reliable operation, stable performance and high sensitivity.

[0047] The following combination Figures 2-4 The specific setting method of the touch detection device is described in detail:

[0048] The touch detection device 4 includes a capacitive film 41 adhered to the inner bottom surface of the touch panel 3, and six sensing parts 42 arranged on the capacitive film 41 corresponding to the six touch keys. The sensing parts 42 can sense the touch information at the positions where the touch keys are located, that is, the capacitive film can collect the touch signals corresponding to the touch keys through the sensing parts 42. And when the pressure value collected by the pressure sensor also reaches the preset value, the control circuit board 2 receives the touch signals collected by the capacitive film 41 to control the turning on or off of the in-vehicle entertainment system. The operation is simple and convenient, and the function of preventing accidental touch can also be realized. Although in the above embodiment, the capacitive film is connected to the touch panel in a adhered manner, obviously, the capacitive film can also be manufactured by the IML in-mold injection process, that is, to integrally injection-mold the capacitive film on the inner bottom surface of the touch panel 3, which is convenient for molding manufacture and has good structural stability of the capacitive film.

[0049] In order to reliably achieve the installation connection between the capacitive film 41 and the control circuit board, as shown in Figures 3-4 The capacitive film 41 is connected to the control circuit board 2 through a plug-in structure. The plug-in structure includes a plug-in part 43 that can be bent and extended from the capacitive film, and a plug-in port 20 arranged on the control circuit board 2. The plug-in part 43 is a tab structure. The capacitive film 41 is electrically connected to the control circuit board 2 by inserting the plug-in part 43 into the plug-in port 20. This plug-in type of cooperation makes the connection between the capacitive film 41 and the control circuit board 2 have good mechanical properties and electrical properties. The installation connection is convenient and fast, which not only improves the installation efficiency but also facilitates the replacement and maintenance of the capacitive film.

[0050] When the touch function of the touch key is confirmed to be effective, it can timely feedback information to the user. For this purpose, the steering wheel touch switch provided in this embodiment further includes a vibrator arranged on the inner bottom surface of the touch panel 3, and a voice prompt device arranged in the switch housing 1. The voice prompt device can be a buzzer. The vibrator and the voice prompt device are respectively connected to the control circuit board 2 and are turned on and work when the control circuit board 2 receives the touch signal. Of course, either the vibrator or the voice prompt device can be set. In this way, the user can sense the vibration feeling transmitted by the vibrator through the touch panel or the voice prompt issued by the voice prompt device, realizing the human-machine information exchange and improving the use effect and performance of the product.

[0051] Further, the touch keys are arranged in a convex structure or a concave structure on the touch panel 3. The specific shapes and sizes of these convex and concave structures can be set according to actual needs. The advantage of such a design is that when the user's hand touches a raised or sunken position on the touch panel 3, it means that the touch key has been touched. In a relatively dim in-vehicle environment, the user can accurately perform blind operations through these convex and concave structures, which is convenient to operate and has a good use effect.

[0052] In this embodiment, the control circuit board 2 has the function of processing data information. With it as the core, other devices and components are centrally controlled through protocols or circuits. For example, it can control the activation of the corresponding functions of the in-vehicle entertainment system on the steering wheel switch. Figures 2-3 As shown, the control circuit board 2 includes a first circuit board 21 arranged facing the touch panel 3, and a second circuit board 22 arranged below the first circuit board 21. The first circuit board 21 is respectively connected to the touch detection device 4 and the pressure detection device, and is used to receive the touch information of the touch detection device 4 and the pressure information of the pressure detection device respectively. And the first circuit board 21 is provided with a plurality of backlights 23 corresponding to the plurality of touch keys, so as to realize the backlight function of the touch panel 3, which is convenient for the user to touch and use.

[0053] As a specific structural setting, as Figure 1 shown, the switch housing 1 includes a mounting bracket 11 connecting the touch panel 3 and the first circuit board 21. The touch panel 3 is mounted on the top of the mounting bracket 11, and the first circuit board 21 is fixed to the bottom of the mounting bracket 11 through a screw structure. The capacitive film 41 and the mounting bracket 11 are respectively formed with through-hole structures suitable for the driving rod 6 to pass through, so that the driving rod 6 can pass through the through-hole structure to be cooperatively connected with the pressure sensing part. With such a structural setting, the mounting bracket 11 plays a role of installation and support between the touch panel 3 and the first circuit 21, so that the touch panel will not move downward when pressed, increasing the installation structure strength and having good installation stability.

[0054] According to the control circuit board, the first circuit board and the second circuit board are divided into upper and lower layer structures, which not only meet the installation space requirements of the switch housing, but also meet the corresponding control function requirements of themselves. In order to reliably achieve the electrical connection between the first circuit board and the second circuit board, a conductive terminal assembly 24 is provided on one of the first circuit board 21 and the second circuit board 22, and a jack connector 25 corresponding to the conductive terminal assembly 24 is provided on the other of the first circuit board 21 and the second circuit board 22. The installation connection between the first circuit board and the second circuit board can be completed through the plug-in cooperation between the conductive terminal and the jack connector. This connection method has the characteristics of large specific connection strength, convenient and fast installation, and good plug-in reliability.

[0055] Combined with Figures 1-2 As shown, a toggle switch 7 is further provided on the switch housing 1, and a conductive rubber 8 connected to the toggle switch 7 is provided in the switch housing 1. The toggle switch 7 drives a plurality of trigger switches provided on the second circuit board 22 through the conductive rubber, so as to realize the triggering of corresponding functions. It can be seen that the automotive steering wheel switch provided in this embodiment not only has a touch function, but also has a lever trigger function, with diverse operation modes and multiple control functions that can be realized, and can meet various usage requirements of users.

[0056] Obviously, the above embodiments are merely examples given for clear illustration and are not limitations on the implementation manners. For those of ordinary skill in the art, other different forms of changes or modifications can be made based on the above description. It is not necessary and impossible to enumerate all the implementation manners here. And the obvious changes or modifications derived therefrom still fall within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A steering wheel touch switch structure, characterized in that: include: A switch housing (1) having a control circuit board (2) disposed therein; A touch panel (3) is provided on the switch housing (1) and includes touch keys provided on its surface; A touch detection device (4) is connected to the inner bottom surface of the touch panel (3) and is used to collect touch signals when the touch key is triggered. The touch detection device (4) is connected to the control circuit board (2); The pressure detection device comprises a pressure sensing portion (5) arranged on the control circuit board, and a driving rod (6) arranged opposite to the touch panel (3), wherein the driving rod (6) is connected to the pressure sensing portion (5); the control circuit board (2) receives pressure information sent by the pressure sensing portion (5), and receives a touch signal sent by the touch detection device (4) when the pressure exerted by the driving rod (6) on the pressure sensing portion (5) exceeds a set value; The driving rod (6) is fixedly connected to or integrally formed with the touch panel (3), and one end thereof extending toward the pressure sensing portion (5) is in contact with and connected to the pressure sensing portion (5); the pressure sensing portion (5) is a sheet-like structure; The touch detection device (4) comprises a capacitance film (41) attached to the inner bottom surface of the touch panel (3), and a plurality of sensing parts (42) arranged on the capacitance film (41) corresponding to the plurality of touch keys; or the capacitance film is integrally injection-molded on the inner bottom surface of the touch panel (3).

2. The steering wheel touch switch structure according to claim 1, characterized in that: The end of the driving rod (6) facing the pressure sensing portion (5) is sleeved with a protective sleeve (61) made of a flexible material.

3. The steering wheel touch switch structure according to claim 1, characterized in that: The capacitive film (41) is connected to the control circuit board (2) via a plug-in structure, wherein the plug-in structure comprises: a plug-in portion (43) of the capacitive film that is bent and extended, and a plug-in port (20) provided on the control circuit board (2), wherein the plug-in portion (43) is suitable for being inserted into the plug-in port (20).

4. The steering wheel touch switch structure according to claim 3, characterized in that: It also includes a vibrator arranged on the inner bottom surface of the touch panel (3), and / or a voice prompter arranged in the switch housing (1), wherein the vibrator and the voice prompter are respectively connected to the control circuit board (2) and start working when the control circuit board (2) receives the touch signal.

5. The steering wheel touch switch structure according to claim 4, characterized in that: The touch key is arranged on the touch panel (3) in a convex structure or a concave structure.

6. The steering wheel touch switch structure according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that: The control circuit board (2) comprises a first circuit board (21) arranged facing the touch panel (3), and a second circuit board (22) arranged below the first circuit board (21); the first circuit board (21) is connected to the touch detection device (4) and the pressure detection device respectively; and the first circuit board (21) is provided with a plurality of backlights (23) corresponding to the plurality of touch keys.

7. The steering wheel touch switch structure according to claim 6, characterized in that: The switch housing (1) comprises a mounting bracket (11) connecting the touch panel (3) and the first circuit board (21); the touch panel (3) is mounted on the top of the mounting bracket (11); the first circuit board (21) is fixed to the bottom of the mounting bracket (11) via a screw structure; and the capacitive film (41) and the mounting bracket (11) are respectively formed with a through-hole structure suitable for the driving rod (6) to pass through.

8. The steering wheel touch switch structure according to claim 7, characterized in that: A conductive terminal assembly (24) is provided on one of the first circuit board (21) and the second circuit board (22), and a socket connector (25) correspondingly connected to the conductive terminal assembly (24) is provided on the other of the first circuit board (21) and the second circuit board (22).

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