Control equipment

Abstract

A control device includes: a housing; a control panel; a light source is arranged on one side, facing the control panel, of the circuit board; a light guide formed of a plurality of reflective surfaces and disposed between the circuit board and the control panel; wherein the range of the first illumination area is larger than the range of the second illumination area, the first illumination area is an area receiving the light emitted by the light source on the control panel under the condition that the light guide body is arranged, and the second illumination area is an area receiving the light emitted by the light source on the control panel under the condition that the light guide body is not arranged.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a control device, and in particular, to a control device capable of illuminating an identifier on the surface of the control device so that a user can still see the identifier on the surface of the control device in an environment lacking light. Background Art

[0002] For a control device where a user can perform control operations by manipulating a control panel, when in an environment with insufficient light, the user may not be able to clearly see the identifiers (such as patterns or texts, etc.) on the surface of the control panel, making it impossible for the user to normally use the control device.

[0003] To this end, many such control devices include a light source inside, so that even in a dark environment, the user can see the identifiers on the surface of the control panel through the light emitted by the light source. However, for the case where the distance between the light source and the control panel is relatively close, due to the limited emission angle of the light source, some areas on the control panel cannot receive the light emitted by the light source, which is not conducive to the user's use of the control device.

[0004] Therefore, it is desirable to propose a control device to overcome the above defects in the prior art. Summary of the Invention

[0005] According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a control device, comprising: a housing; a control panel; a circuit board, on one side of the circuit board facing the control panel, there is a light source; a light guide body, arranged between the circuit board and the control panel; wherein the range of the first illumination area is larger than the range of the second illumination area, the first illumination area is the area on the control panel that receives the light emitted by the light source when the light guide body is arranged, and the second illumination area is the area on the control panel that receives the light emitted by the light source when the light guide body is not arranged.

[0006] According to this solution, by arranging a light guide body between the light source and the control panel, the area of the illuminated area on the control panel is increased, so that the area that cannot be illuminated when the light guide body is not arranged can be illuminated after the light guide body is arranged, improving the user experience of using the control device.

[0007] In some solutions, the light guide body includes an incident part, an exit part, and a guiding part, wherein the incident part and the exit part are made of a light-transmitting material, and the guiding part includes a plurality of reflecting surfaces, so that light refracts into the light guide body through the incident part, then enters the exit part through multiple reflections in the guiding part, and finally refracts out of the light guide body through the exit part; wherein, the plurality of reflecting surfaces of the guiding part are designed such that the light propagates along a predetermined optical path, and the predetermined optical path makes the exit cone angle of the light greater than the incident cone angle of the light.

[0008] In some solutions, total internal reflection occurs at the plurality of reflecting surfaces of the guiding part.

[0009] In some embodiments, the control device may further include a bracket having a hollow columnar structure. Openings facing the circuit board and the control panel are respectively provided at both axial ends of the bracket. The bracket is fixed to the circuit board, and the light guide is disposed inside the bracket and fixed to the bracket.

[0010] In some embodiments, the bracket is fixed to the circuit board by welding. A buckle is provided on the light guide, and a card hole is provided on the bracket. The buckle is inserted into the card hole to fix the light guide to the bracket.

[0011] According to this embodiment, the light guide and the bracket are connected by the cooperation of the buckle and the card hole, avoiding the adverse effects of the high temperature during welding on the connection.

[0012] In some embodiments, the inner surface of the bracket may be made of a material with a reflectivity greater than 80%.

[0013] According to this embodiment, the high reflectivity of the inner surface of the bracket can make more light be reflected to the control panel instead of being absorbed by the bracket, further increasing the brightness of the illuminated area on the control panel.

[0014] In some embodiments, the inner surface of the bracket may be made of a white material.

[0015] In some embodiments, at least one threaded hole is provided on the circuit board, and the circuit board is fixed to the housing by screws passing through at least one threaded hole.

[0016] According to this embodiment, the fixation of the circuit board and the housing by screws makes the fitting installation of the buckle and the card hole easier.

[0017] In some embodiments, the control device may further include an inductance coil disposed around the light guide inside the bracket.

[0018] According to this embodiment, the circuit board and the inductance coil in the control device can together function as an antenna.

[0019] In some embodiments, the distance between the circuit board and the control panel may be less than 5 mm.

[0020] In some embodiments, the light source may be an LED light source.

[0021] In some embodiments, the spatial emission cone angle of the light source is less than 60°.

[0022] According to the second aspect of the present invention, a vehicle is provided, which includes the control device according to the first aspect of the present invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of a control device according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown;

[0024] Figure 2 A schematic diagram showing a part of a control device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0025] Figure 3 A schematic diagram showing a light guide according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0026] Figure 4 A schematic diagram showing a bracket according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0027] Reference numerals: 100 control device, 110 housing, 120 control panel, 130 light guide, 132 reflecting surface, 134 buckle, 140 circuit board, 142 threaded hole, 150 bracket, 152 opening, 154 card hole, 160 inductance coil, 170 light source. Detailed implementation manners

[0028] In order to make the objectives, solutions and advantages of the technical solutions of the present invention clearer, the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings of the specific embodiments of the present invention. Unless otherwise specified, the terms used herein have the ordinary meanings in the art. The same reference numerals in the drawings represent the same components.

[0029] Figure 1 A schematic diagram showing a control device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The control device 100 mainly includes a housing 110, a control panel 120 and a circuit board 140. Among them, the user controls the circuit board 140 by operating the control panel 120, so as to realize the control function of the control device 100. There are markings (such as text or patterns, etc.) on the control panel 120 to provide instructions for relevant operations for the user. However, the user may not be able to clearly see the markings on the control panel 120 in the dark (for example, on a street without street lights during the night time period), and thus cannot realize the control of the control device 100. For this reason, a light source 170 is arranged on the side of the circuit board 140 facing the control panel 120. In this way, even in the dark, the user can see the instructions on the control panel 120 by means of the light emitted by the light source 170, and thus realize the control of the control device 100. It should be understood that the light source 170 can be, for example, an LED, but the present invention is not intended to limit the type of the light source 170, and the light source 170 can be any other suitable type of light source.

[0030] When the distance between the circuit board 140 and the control panel 120 is very close (e.g., less than 5 mm) and / or the emission angle of the light source 170 is small (e.g., less than 60°) (under ideal conditions, for a uniformly emitting light source 170, the illuminated area of the light emitted from it on the control panel 120 is a circle with a radius of R, where R = D * sinθ, D is the distance between the circuit board 140 and the control panel 120, and θ is the emission angle of the light source 170; when D is 5 mm and θ is 60°, the radius of the illuminated area of the light emitted from the light source 170 on the control panel 120 is approximately 4.3 mm), there are technical defects, that is, the light emitted from the light source 170 is very likely unable to illuminate the entire area of the control panel 120. For example, it can only illuminate the central part of the control panel 120 and cannot illuminate the edge part of the control panel 120, which has an adverse impact on the user's ability to clearly see the markings on the control panel 120.

[0031] The present invention overcomes the above technical defects by arranging a light guide 130 between the circuit board 140 and the control panel 120. Specifically, the light guide 130 is formed by a plurality of reflecting surfaces 132, such that the range of the first light illumination area of the light emitted by the light source 170 received on the control panel 120 when the light guide 130 is arranged is larger than the range of the second light illumination area of the light emitted by the light source 170 received on the control panel 120 when the light guide 130 is not arranged. In other words, through the light guide 130 formed by a plurality of reflecting surfaces 132, the light emitted from the light source 170 is diverged, enabling it to illuminate more areas on the control panel 120, allowing the user to clearly see the entire area of the control panel 120 (instead of only being able to see a partial area of the control panel 120, such as the central area of the control panel 120 when the light guide 130 is not arranged), improving the user experience of using the control device 100.

[0032] Specifically, the plurality of reflecting surfaces 132 of the light guide 130 can be designed such that the light emitted by the light source 170 propagates along a predetermined optical path to achieve the divergence of the light. Preferably, the light emitted by the light source 170 undergoes total internal reflection at the plurality of reflecting surfaces 132, which reduces the transmission loss of the light at the reflecting surfaces 132 and enhances the intensity of the light finally reaching the control panel 120, making it easier for the user to clearly see the markings on the control panel 120.

[0033] Optionally, the light guide 130 can be fixed in the bracket 150. Specifically, as Figure 2 shown, the bracket 150 has a hollow columnar structure (as Figure 3As shown, openings 152 facing the circuit board 140 and the control panel 120 are respectively provided at both axial ends of the bracket 150. The bracket 150 is fixed to the circuit board 140, and the light guide 130 is arranged inside the bracket 150 and fixed to the bracket 150.

[0034] Preferably, the bracket 150 is fixed to the circuit board 140 by welding. A buckle 134 is provided on the light guide 130, and a locking hole 154 is provided on the bracket 150. The buckle 134 is inserted into the locking hole 154 to fix the light guide 130 to the bracket 150. Compared with the light guide 130 and the bracket 150 being integrally formed by injection molding, the connection operation between the light guide 130 and the bracket 150 by the cooperation of the buckle 134 and the locking hole 154 is simpler, and the adverse effect of the heat generated when the bracket 150 is fixed to the circuit board 140 by welding on the injection-molded part is avoided, because the buckle-locking hole cooperation method can fix the light guide 130 to the bracket 150 after the bracket 150 is fixed to the circuit board 140 for a period of time (a time sufficient for the relevant components to cool down).

[0035] Preferably, the inner surface of the bracket 150 can be made of a material with a reflectivity greater than 80% (for example, a white material). Although the inner surface of the bracket 150 in the embodiments of the present invention is made of a white material, it should be understood that the present invention is not intended to limit the color of the inner surface of the bracket 150, but can include any material with a high reflectivity. In this way, the high reflectivity of the inner surface of the bracket 150 can make more light be reflected to the control panel 120 instead of being absorbed by the bracket 150, further increasing the brightness of the illuminated area on the control panel 120, which is more conducive to the user to clearly see the markings on the control panel 120.

[0036] Preferably, at least one threaded hole 142 is provided on the circuit board 140, and the circuit board 140 is fixed to the housing 110 by screws passing through at least one threaded hole 142. In this way, the relative fixation of the circuit board 140 and the housing 110 by screws makes the installation of the cooperation between the buckle 134 and the locking hole 154 easier.

[0037] Optionally, the control device 100 may further include an inductance coil 160, and the inductance coil 160 is arranged around the light guide 130 inside the bracket 150. In this way, the circuit board 140 and the inductance coil 160 in the control device 100 can together function as an antenna. Although the control device 100 in the embodiments of the present invention functions as an antenna, it should be understood that the present invention is not intended to limit the specific control function of the control device 100, but includes any other suitable control device having a light source 170 to illuminate the control panel 120 so that the user can clearly see the markings on the control panel 120 and then operate the control device 100.

[0038] The control device 100 of the present invention can be applied to, for example, a vehicle. Particularly, in a vehicle traveling at night, for example, the control device 100 of the present invention enables a user to more clearly see the markings (such as text or patterns, etc.) on the control panel 120 to provide an indication for the user to perform relevant operations (such as unlocking the vehicle door, turning on the air conditioner, etc.).

[0039] The present invention has been described in detail with reference to preferred embodiments. However, those skilled in the art can understand that various modifications and variations can be made to the above specific embodiments without departing from the concept of the present invention. Various technical features and structures proposed by the present invention can also be combined without exceeding the protection scope of the present invention. The protection scope of the present invention is determined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A control device, characterized in that, Comprising: A housing; A control panel; A circuit board, on one side of which facing the control panel there is a light source; A light guide body arranged between the circuit board and the control panel; Wherein the range of the first light illumination area is larger than the range of the second light illumination area. The first light illumination area is the area on the control panel that receives the light emitted by the light source when the light guide body is arranged, and the second light illumination area is the area on the control panel that receives the light emitted by the light source when the light guide body is not arranged.

2. The control device according to claim 1, characterized in that The light guide body includes an incident part, an exit part and a guiding part. Wherein the incident part and the exit part are made of a light-transmitting material, and the guiding part includes a plurality of reflecting surfaces, such that light refracts into the light guide body through the incident part, then undergoes multiple reflections through the guiding part and enters the exit part, and finally refracts out of the light guide body through the exit part; Wherein, the plurality of reflecting surfaces of the guiding part are designed such that light propagates along a predetermined light path, and the predetermined light path makes the exit cone angle of the light greater than the incident cone angle of the light.

3. The control device according to claim 2, wherein Total internal reflection of light occurs at the plurality of reflecting surfaces of the guiding part.

4. The control device according to claim 1, wherein, It further includes a bracket, the bracket has a hollow columnar structure, openings facing the circuit board and the control panel are respectively provided at both axial ends of the bracket, the bracket is fixed to the circuit board, and the light guide body is arranged inside the bracket and fixed to the bracket.

5. The control device according to claim 4, characterized in that The bracket is fixed to the circuit board by welding; The light guide body is provided with a buckle, and the bracket is provided with a card hole, and the buckle is inserted into the card hole to fix the light guide body to the bracket.

6. The control device according to claim 4, wherein The inner surface of the bracket is made of a material with a reflectivity greater than 80%.

7. The control device according to claim 6, characterized in that, The inner surface of the bracket is made of a white material.

8. The control device according to claim 5, characterized in that At least one threaded hole is provided on the circuit board, and the circuit board is fixed to the housing by screws passing through the at least one threaded hole.

9. The control device according to claim 4, characterized in that It further includes an inductance coil, and the inductance coil is arranged around the light guide body inside the bracket.

10. The control device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The distance between the circuit board and the control panel is less than 5 mm.

11. The control device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The light source is an LED light source.

12. The control device according to claim 11, wherein The spatial emission cone angle of the light source is less than 60°.

13. A vehicle, characterized in that, Including the control device according to any one of claims 1 to 12.

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