Modular electrical control for a vehicle provided with a single trom actuator

Abstract

The invention relates to an electrical control device (1) for a vehicle, comprising a single manual toggle actuator (120) mounted so as to be pivotable between at least two control positions, and a selection panel (220) comprising a plurality of two-state selection buttons (221A, 221B, 222A, 222B, 223A, 223B, 223C) electrically connected to said actuator, said two-state selection buttons (221A, 221B, 222A, 222B, 223A, 223B, 223C) being electrically connected to said actuator, said two-state selection buttons (221A, 221B, 222A, 222B, 223A, 223B, 223C) being electrically connected to said actuator. Each button makes it possible to select a member controlled by the actuator or a corresponding function when it is in its activated state; the device has a modular design, consists of an actuation module (100) comprising the manual toggle actuator and a decoration module (200) comprising the selection panel, and is interchangeably assembled on the actuation module to which it is electrically connected.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention generally relates to an electrical control device for a vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle, and is particularly directed to such a control device provided with a single manual toggle actuator. Background Art

[0002] Electrical control devices provided with one or more manually operated toggle actuators are usually mounted in the armrests of the side doors of motor vehicles in order to control the opening and closing of one or more windows of these vehicles.

[0003] Such electrical control devices generally comprise, for each window to be controlled, a respective control toggle actuator mounted so as to be pivotable about an articulation axis and arranged between two contactors, as described for example in patent application FR 3 104 753 A1.

[0004] For regulatory safety reasons, in particular to meet US standard FMVSS 118 which requires that the windows of a vehicle cannot be closed by an occupant of the vehicle accidentally pressing a control member, each of its toggle actuators has an upper bearing surface extending completely on one side relative to its articulation axis.

[0005] The bearing surface can be pressed downwards in order to switch the actuator in a first direction and actuate the at least one first contactor in order to cause a corresponding opening leaf to open.

[0006] The actuator further comprises a protrusion at the front end of the upper bearing surface, which allows it to be pulled upwards so that it switches in the second direction and actuates the at least one second contactor to cause closing of the corresponding opening blade.

[0007] The necessity to use this type of toggle actuator makes the window control relatively expensive and also particularly bulky because each actuator requires an access recess adjacent its supporting surface for the vehicle occupant to slide a finger into the access recess to be able to pull the actuator upward.

[0008] In order to reduce their cost price and volume, document FR 3 081 236 A1 proposes an electrical control device for a motor vehicle comprising a single manual toggle actuator and a selection panel comprising a plurality of manual two-state selection buttons electrically connected to said actuator, each of said buttons making it possible to select a corresponding window controlled by this actuator when it occupies its activated state.

[0009] Therefore, this control device has the advantages of being more economical and compact than the conventional control device.

[0010] However, depending on the installation of the control device on the vehicle and / or the equipment of the vehicle, the variety of controllable components and functions is large, which requires the development of a relatively large number of different variants of the device, resulting in still relatively high design costs. Summary of the invention

[0011] Therefore, the present invention aims to reduce the design cost and cost price of such a control device.

[0012] To this end, an electrical control device for a vehicle is proposed, comprising a single manual toggle actuator mounted to be pivotable between at least two control positions, and a selection panel comprising a plurality of dual-state selection buttons electrically connected to said actuator, each of said buttons making it possible to select a component or a corresponding function controlled by the actuator when it is in its activated state.

[0013] According to the invention, the control device has a modular design and is composed of an actuation module including the manual toggle actuator and a decoration module including the selection panel and interchangeably assembled on the actuation module electrically connected thereto.

[0014] This modular design of the control device thus makes it possible to develop a plurality of different variants of the device, provided with individual trim modules adapted to the installation constraints in the vehicle and / or to the equipment of this vehicle, but all equipped with the same actuation module variant.

[0015] The invention therefore makes it possible to significantly reduce the design, manufacturing and storage costs by using the same actuation module, the cost price being reduced due to the increase in the production volume of this module, and the management and storage costs being reduced due to the reduction in the number of variants that need to be managed during manufacturing and in intermediate stocks.

[0016] According to the features preferred both for regulatory reasons and ease of use:

[0017] - at least one of the selection buttons is associated with an opening blade of the vehicle, preferably a window of the vehicle; and / or

[0018] - At least two of the selection buttons are each associated with a respective window of the vehicle.

[0019] In order to facilitate mounting the decoration module on the actuation module, the decoration module includes a first housing defining an outer shell which is open at the bottom and fixedly attached to a second housing included in the actuation module.

[0020] According to a first preferred embodiment, the housing comprises two tabs, which are arranged to cooperate with corresponding recesses arranged on two walls of the second housing of the actuating module through shape-fitting interlocking engagement when the decorative module is mounted on the actuating module, and the fastening of the decorative module to the actuating module is ensured by two screws, each of which passes through an orifice arranged in the corresponding tab before being screwed into a hole arranged on the corresponding wall of the second housing.

[0021] According to a second preferred embodiment, the housing comprises two elastically deformable tabs arranged to cooperate with two corresponding teeth arranged on two walls of the second housing of the actuating module by snap-fitting when the decoration module is mounted on the actuating module.

[0022] To facilitate the installation of the device according to this second embodiment, each of the walls of the second housing of the actuating module advantageously comprises two ribs which are laterally spaced apart by a distance corresponding to the width of the tab and which serve to slidingly guide the tab when the decorative module is mounted on the actuating module.

[0023] To improve the ergonomics of use, the selection button is preferably a tactile button.

[0024] Each of said tactile selection buttons also advantageously comprises active or passive tactile verification means allowing the user to feel a change of state of the button.

[0025] These tactile verification devices include, for example, vibrators, each of which is installed below the contact surface of a corresponding tactile button and is capable of emitting a vibration response when a pressing force greater than or equal to a predetermined value is applied to the corresponding button.

[0026] Finally, and still in order to improve the ergonomics of use, the selection buttons preferably each have a backlit surface area representing the selectable component or the corresponding function in the form of a pictogram and whose color changes depending on the state of the button.

[0027] In a second aspect, the invention is finally directed to a motor vehicle comprising at least one such control device. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0028] The disclosure of the invention will now be continued with the following detailed description of several exemplary embodiments given by way of non-limiting illustration, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0029] -[ Figure 1 ] shows a perspective view of a first version of a modular electrical control device for a vehicle according to the present invention;

[0030] -[ Figure 2 ]yes Figure 1 A perspective view of an actuation module included in the control device;

[0031] -[ Figure 3 ] shows a front view showing the installation of a trim module including a selection panel on an actuation module including a toggle actuator;

[0032] -[ Figure 4 ]and[ Figure 5 ] shows an alternative arrangement for securing a trim module to an actuation module;

[0033] -[ Figure 6 ] shows Figure 1 A top view of the control device in FIG. 1 ; and

[0034] -[ Figure 7 ] is a top view of a second version of a control device according to the present invention, the control device being provided with a decorative module, the decorative module being Figure 1 The trim modules for the controls in the . DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0035] Figure 1 An electrical control device 1 according to the invention is shown, which is intended to be integrated in an equipment (not shown) of a motor vehicle, such as a side door armrest or a central console of the vehicle.

[0036] Conventionally, an orthogonal reference system XYZ is defined with respect to the control device 1 , comprising three axes that are perpendicular to each other in pairs, namely:

[0037] - an axis X which defines a horizontal longitudinal direction,

[0038] - an axis Y defining a horizontal transverse direction, this axis Y defining together with the axis X a horizontal plane XY, and

[0039] - an axis Z defining a vertical direction perpendicular to the horizontal plane XY.

[0040] In the remainder of the specification and with reference to the reference system defined above, the term "longitudinal" or "longitudinally" will refer to the direction parallel to axis X, the term "transverse" or "transversely" will refer to the direction parallel to axis Y, and the term "vertical" or "vertically" will refer to the direction parallel to axis Z.

[0041] The terms "lower", "upper", "front" and "rear" are to be understood relative to the conventional orientation of the control device 1 when it is mounted in the side door armrest of a vehicle. According to such an orientation, the terms "lower" and "bottom" will indicate a position closer to the ground in a vertical direction than the terms "upper" or "top". The term "front" will indicate a position directed toward the front of the vehicle in a horizontal direction, and the term "rear" will indicate a position directed toward the rear of the vehicle in the same horizontal direction.

[0042] In addition, the term "substantially" will be used to indicate that slight deviations are allowed relative to a predetermined nominal position or arrangement while still being included within the scope of the invention. For example, "substantially horizontal" will indicate that deviations of the order of 15° relative to a strictly horizontal orientation are allowed within the scope of the invention.

[0043] For modular design, the control device 1 is composed of an actuation module 100 and a decoration module 200 . The decoration module 200 can be interchangeably mounted on the actuation module 100 , and the control device 1 is electrically connected to the actuation module 100 .

[0044] like Figure 2 As shown in FIG. 1 , the actuation module 100 comprises a housing 110 including a hollow body 111 in the shape of a parallelepiped, the horizontal upper wall 112 of the hollow body 111 having a central opening 113 .

[0045] The housing 110 further comprises two lateral flanges 114 , 115 extending vertically above the main body 111 from two lateral edges of the opening 113 .

[0046] The actuation module 100 also includes a single manual toggle actuator 120, which protrudes above the body 111 of the housing 110 between two lateral flanges 114, 115, and the actuation module 100 is pivotally mounted on the lateral flanges 114, 115 along a first transverse hinge axis T1 by a cylindrical rod 121 passing through these two flanges 114, 115 and the actuator 120.

[0047] The toggle actuator 120 comprises a hollow articulated body 122 traversed by a rod 121 and intended to be hidden from the user's eyes, and a gripping member 125 in the form of a nose connected to the front end of the articulated body 122 so as to extend in front of the transverse articulation axis T1 and intended to be manipulated by the user in order to control a component or function of the vehicle.

[0048] The gripping nose 125 has an upper bearing surface 126 which extends substantially horizontally and which can be pressed downwards in order to switch the actuator 120 towards the front about the transverse articulation axis T1 and actuate the at least one first contactor.

[0049] The gripping nose 125 also includes a protrusion 127 at the front end of the upper support surface 126, which in this case is defined by a cavity 128 provided on the front surface of the nose 125 and allows the nose 125 to be pulled upward so as to switch the actuator 120 toward the rear about the transverse articulation axis T1 and actuate the at least one second contactor.

[0050] refer to Figure 1 The decoration module 200 includes a hollow housing 210, which defines a housing 211 at its rear central portion, which is open at the bottom and fixedly attached to the housing 110 of the actuation module 100, as shown in FIG. Figure 3 As shown and as will be explained in more detail in the remainder of this specification.

[0051] The housing 211 is provided with an upper shielding wall 212 which covers the hollow hinged body 122 of the actuator 120, and an entry recess 213 extends from the upper shielding wall 212, which accommodates the gripping nose 125 of the actuator 120 at its rear, and the size of the entry recess 213 is designed to allow the gripping nose 125 to be manipulated by the user's fingers.

[0052] In the neutral rest position of the device 1, such as Figure 1 As shown, the upper bearing surface 126 of the gripping nose 125 of the actuator 120 extends in a coplanar manner relative to the upper masking wall 212 and in continuation of the upper rear edge entering the recess 213 .

[0053] refer to Figure 1 and Figure 3 The housing 211 of the decoration module 200 includes two tabs 214, which protrude downward from two longitudinal ends thereof and are configured to interlock with the two end walls of the housing 110 of the actuating module 100 through shape fit when the decoration module 200 is mounted on the actuating module 100. Figure 2 The fastening of the trim module 200 to the actuating module 100 is then ensured by two screws (not shown), each of which passes through an orifice 214A provided in a corresponding tab 214 before being screwed into a hole 116A provided in a corresponding end wall of the housing 110.

[0054] In a variant, the means for fastening the trim module 200 to the actuating module 100 may be different, for example of the snap-fastening type.

[0055] according to Figure 4 and Figure 5 In the illustrated embodiment variant, the housing 211 of the decoration module 200 includes two H-shaped elastically deformable mounting tabs 215, which protrude downward from its two longitudinal ends and are configured to cooperate with two corresponding teeth 117 arranged on the two end walls of the housing 110 of the actuating module 100 through snap fastening when the decoration module 200 is installed on the actuating module 100.

[0056] like Figure 4 As shown, each tab 215 extending in a vertical transverse mean plane is formed by two vertically oriented uprights 215A and a horizontal transverse branch 215B connecting these two uprights 215A. Thus, each tab 215 has a rectangular slot 215C extending above the transverse branch 215B and delimited laterally by the two uprights 215A.

[0057] refer to Figure 5 Each tooth 117 has a width slightly smaller than the spacing between the two posts 215A of each tab 215, and each tooth 117 includes a slope 117A that slopes toward the bottom and outside of the body 111 until a horizontal holding step 117B.

[0058] During the installation of the decoration module 200 on the actuating module 100 by means of a vertical sliding approach movement, the two teeth 117 are therefore each inserted between the lower part of the two uprights 215A of the corresponding tab 215 until their bevels 117A abut against the lower surface of the lateral branch 215B of this same tab 215 .

[0059] Continuation of this approaching movement in the installation direction causes the tabs 215 to gradually pivot up as their respective lateral branches 215B slide along the inclined ramps 117A, and then the teeth 117 are inserted through the slots 215C, returning the tabs 215 to their initial position.

[0060] Thus, the step 117B now faces the horizontal upper surface of the transverse branch 215B, thereby preventing the removal of the tab 215 .

[0061] In order to facilitate the sliding of the transverse branches 215B of the tabs 215 along the inclined ramps 117A of the teeth 117 , the lower surface of these transverse branches 215B advantageously has an inclined profile complementary to that of these ramps 117A.

[0062] like Figure 5As shown, and in order to facilitate the snap-fastening operation, each end wall of the housing 110 of the actuator module 100 advantageously includes two vertical ribs 118, which are laterally spaced apart by a distance corresponding to the width of the tab 215 and are used to guide the tab 215 in vertical sliding during the installation of the decorative module 200 on the actuator module 100.

[0063] Reference again Figure 1 The decoration module 200 further includes a selection panel 220 covering the housing 210, which is fixed to the housing 210 by snap fastening. The selection panel 200 is provided with a tactile matrix extending in a coplanar manner on the lateral side relative to the upper shielding wall 212, so that the position of the user's finger can be identified.

[0064] like Figure 6 As shown, the selection panel 220 therefore comprises two lateral regions 221 , 222 bordering the access recess 213 and a front region 223 extending in front of the access recess 213 and the two lateral regions 221 , 222 .

[0065] Each lateral zone 221 (respectively 222 ) comprises two manual two-state tactile selection buttons 221A, 221B (respectively 222A, 222B) electrically connected to the toggle actuator 120 and making it possible to respectively select a respective window controlled by this actuator 120 .

[0066] In this case, the lateral area 221 on the driver's side of the entry recess 213 includes a first manual tactile button 221A at its front, so that the front window on the driver's side of the vehicle can be selected. The lateral area 221 also includes a second manual tactile button 221B at its rear, so that the rear window on the driver's side of the vehicle can be selected.

[0067] In the same manner, the lateral area 222 located on the front passenger side of the entry recess 213 includes a first manual tactile button 222A at its front, so that the front window on the front passenger side of the vehicle can be selected. The lateral area 222 also includes a second manual tactile button 222B at its rear, so that the rear window on the front passenger side of the vehicle can be selected.

[0068] The front region 223 of the selection panel 220 includes three other manual two-state tactile selection buttons 223A, 223B, 223C that are electrically connected to the toggle actuator 120 .

[0069] The two buttons 223A, 223B make it possible to select each of the other vehicle opening vanes controlled by the actuator 120, in this case the button 223A for the fuel filler flap and the button 223B for the trunk.

[0070] The button 223C itself allows the actuator 120 to select a vehicle function controlled by the actuator 120, in this case a locking function of the rear window.

[0071] In this case, the front area 223 of the panel also includes a multi-directional tactile control panel 223D for adjusting the positioning of the vehicle's rearview mirrors, and two manual tactile selection buttons 223E, 223F, which are electrically connected to the control panel and make it possible to select the corresponding rearview mirrors controlled by the control panel 223D.

[0072] The selection buttons 221A, 221B, 222A, 222B, 223A, 223B, 223C, 223E, 223F each have a backlit surface area, which represents the selectable components or corresponding functions in the form of a pictogram, and its color changes according to the state of the button (for example, orange for active state and white for inactive state) so as to inform the user about the selected one or more components (opening the blades and / or the rearview mirror).

[0073] Each selection button 221A, 221B, 222A, 222B, 223A, 223B, 223C, 223E, 223F is also advantageously provided with active or passive tactile verification means allowing the user to feel the change of state of the button.

[0074] Advantageously, these tactile verification means may for example comprise vibrators, each of which is mounted below the contact surface of a respective tactile button and is capable of emitting a vibratory response when a pressing force greater than or equal to a predetermined value is exerted on the respective button.

[0075] Furthermore, the selection buttons 221A, 221B, 222A, 222B associated with the windows are advantageously provided with tactile marking means formed by a protrusion in the relief E, which Figure 3 visible in the image and allow the user to identify them by touch.

[0076] Figure 7 A top view of a second version of a control device 1 ′ according to the invention is shown, which has an actuation module 100 identical to that of control device 1 , but is provided with a decoration module 200 ′ having a selection panel 220 ′ different from that of control device 1 .

[0077] In the subsequent text and the Figure 7 , the same reference numerals are retained for the same elements as the first version, and primes are added for similar elements.

[0078] In this case, the panel 220 ′ is selected to differ from the panel 220 only in the front region 223 ′ (the lateral regions 221 and 222 therefore remain identical).

[0079] Besides the two buttons 223A, 223B respectively making it possible to select the fuel filler flap and the trunk, the front zone 223 ′ is also provided with six other manual two-state tactile selection buttons 223G, 223H, 223I, 223J, 223K, 223L which are electrically connected to the actuator 120 .

[0080] Three buttons 223G, 223H, 223I make it possible to select each of the other vehicle opening blades controlled by the actuator 120, in this case button 223G for the sunroof, button 223H for the folding roof and button 223I for the front bonnet.

[0081] The three buttons 223J, 223K, 223L for their part allow the actuator 120 to select in each case the corresponding function associated with the seat closest to the position housing the control device 1', in this case button 223J for adjusting the inclination of the backrest, button 223K for adjusting its longitudinal position and button 223L for adjusting its seat height.

[0082] Furthermore, in contrast to the panel 220, in this case the selection panel 220' does not have a selection button such as 223C which makes it possible to select the locking function of the rear window, a multidirectional tactile control pad such as 223D which makes it possible to adjust the positioning of the vehicle's rearview mirrors, and selection buttons such as 223E, 223F.

[0083] The selection buttons 223G, 223H, 223I, 223J, 223K, 223L also each have a backlight surface area similar to the backlight surface area of ​​the selection buttons 221A, 221B, 222A, 222B, 223A, 223B.

[0084] Each selection button 223G, 223H, 223I, 223J, 223K, 223L is also advantageously provided with active or passive tactile verification means identical to those present on the buttons 221A, 221B, 222A, 222B, 223A, 223B.

[0085] According to embodiment variants of the invention, the structure of the trim module will be able to vary according to the installation constraints of control devices in the vehicle and / or of equipment of this vehicle.

[0086] This is particularly true for the selection panel, in particular for the number and arrangement of selection buttons that the actuator may include, which are electrically connected to the actuator. Thus, these selection buttons may each allow the toggle actuator to control the opening and closing of other types of opening blades, or to activate certain functions of various devices of the vehicle.

[0087] Typically, the selection panel will include at least two selection buttons electrically connected to a single actuator, wherein at least one selection button is preferably associated with an opening blade of the vehicle (eg the window located closest to the location housing the control device).

[0088] The selection button can also be different, for example formed by a mechanical button.

[0089] According to other embodiment variants, the tactile marking means may be absent or formed differently (for example by a hollowed-out indentation).

[0090] Finally, it should be borne in mind that the invention is not limited to the described and illustrated embodiments, but also encompasses all embodiment variants that are within the capabilities of a person skilled in the art.

Claims

1. An electrical control device (1, 1') for a vehicle, comprising a single manual toggle actuator (120) mounted to be pivotable between at least two control positions and a selection panel (220, 220'), the selection panel (220, 220') comprising a plurality of two-state selection buttons (221A, 221B, 222A, 222B, 223A, 223B, 223C; 221A, 221B, 222A, 222B, 223A, 223B, 223G, 223H, 223I, 223J, 223K, 223L) electrically connected to the actuator (120), each of the buttons enabling selection of a component or a corresponding function controlled by the actuator (120) when the button is in its activated state; It is characterized in that It has a modular design and is composed of an actuation module (100) including the manual toggle actuator (120) and a decoration module (200, 200') including the selection panel (220, 220'), and the decoration module (200, 200') can be interchangeably assembled on the actuation module (100) electrically connected thereto.

2. The control device (1, 1') according to claim 1, characterized in that: At least one of the selection buttons (221A, 221B, 222A, 222B, 223A, 223B; 221A, 221B, 222A, 222B, 223A, 223B, 223G, 223H, 223I) is associated with an opening vane of the vehicle.

3. The control device (1, 1') according to claim 2, characterized in that: At least one of the selection buttons (221A, 221B, 222A, 222B) is associated with a window of the vehicle.

4. The control device (1, 1') according to claim 3, characterized in that: At least two of the selection buttons (221A, 221B, 222A, 222B) are each associated with a corresponding window of the vehicle.

5. The control device (1, 1') according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that: The decoration module (200, 200') comprises a first housing (210) defining a casing (211) which is open at the bottom and fixedly attached to a second housing (110) comprised by the actuation module (100).

6. The control device (1; 1') according to claim 5, characterized in that: The housing (211) comprises two tabs (214), which are arranged to cooperate with corresponding recesses (116) arranged on two walls of the second housing (110) of the actuating module (100) through shape-fitting interlocking engagement when the decoration module (200) is installed on the actuating module (100), and the fastening of the decoration module (200) to the actuating module (100) is ensured by two screws, each of which passes through an orifice (214A) arranged in the corresponding tab (214) before being screwed into a hole (116A) arranged on the corresponding wall of the second housing (110).

7. The control device (1, 1') according to claim 5, characterized in that The housing (211) comprises two elastically deformable tabs (215), wherein the tabs (215) are configured to cooperate with two corresponding teeth (117) provided on two walls of the second housing (110) of the actuating module (100) through snap fastening when the decoration module (200) is mounted on the actuating module (100).

8. The control device (1, 1') according to claim 7, characterized in that Each of the walls of the second housing (110) of the actuating module (100) comprises two ribs (118) which are laterally spaced apart by a distance corresponding to the width of the tab (215) and are intended to guide the tab in a sliding manner when the decoration module (200) is mounted on the actuating module (100).

9. The control device (1, 1') according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that The selection buttons ( 221A, 221B, 222A, 222B, 223A, 223B, 223C; 221A, 221B, 222A, 222B, 223A, 223B, 223G, 223H, 223I, 223J, 223K, 223L) are tactile buttons.

10. The control device (1, 1') according to claim 9, characterized in that: Each of the tactile selection buttons (221A, 221B, 222A, 222B, 223A, 223B, 223C; 221A, 221B, 222A, 222B, 223A, 223B, 223G, 223H, 223I, 223J, 223K, 223L) includes an active or passive tactile verification device that allows the user to feel the state change of the button.

11. The control device (1, 1') according to claim 10, characterized in that The tactile verification device includes a vibrator, each of which is installed below the contact surface of a corresponding tactile button (221A, 221B, 222A, 222B, 223A, 223B, 223C; 221A, 221B, 222A, 222B, 223A, 223B, 223G, 223H, 223I, 223J, 223K, 223L) and is capable of emitting a vibration response when a pressing force greater than or equal to a predetermined value is applied to the corresponding button.

12. The control device (1, 1') according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that The selection buttons (221A, 221B, 222A, 222B, 223A, 223B, 223C; 221A, 221B, 222A, 222B, 223A, 223B, 223G, 223H, 223I, 223J, 223K, 223L) each have a backlight surface area, which is in the form of a pictogram representing the component or corresponding function that it enables to be selected, and the color of the backlight surface area changes according to the state of the button.

13. A motor vehicle, characterized in that: The motor vehicle comprises at least one control device (1, 1') according to any one of claims 1 to 12.

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