A center console switch for a vehicle

Abstract

The application relates to the technical field of switches, in particular to a vehicle center control panel switch which comprises a plurality of button assemblies and light sources, the button assemblies are used for electrical connection with circuit boards, the button assembly comprises a button shell and a light guide plate located in the button shell, a button character is arranged on the surface of the button shell, a tooth-shaped structure in an inclined arrangement is formed on the surface of the light guide plate away from the button character, and the tooth-shaped structure is used for conducting light of the light source to the button character. According to the application, the tooth-shaped structure is arranged on the light guide plate, light loss is reduced, light conduction efficiency is improved, and light distribution is more uniform.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of switches, and more particularly to a vehicle center console switch. Background Technology

[0002] The vehicle's central control panel switches are a core component for driver-vehicle interaction, and their design must balance functionality, safety, and aesthetics.

[0003] In existing technology, vehicle center consoles include multiple button assemblies, each controlling a different function. Each button assembly includes a housing, a light guide within the housing, and a light source. Button characters are displayed on the housing, and the light guide reflects or refracts light from the light source onto the button characters, illuminating them and enhancing the aesthetics of the assembly. However, the light guides in existing technology generally have poor light-guiding effects, exhibiting areas of excessive brightness or darkness, uneven light distribution, and high light loss. Utility Model Content

[0004] In order to achieve efficient light transmission and uniform distribution, this application provides a vehicle center console switch.

[0005] This application provides a vehicle center console switch, which adopts the following technical solution: A vehicle center console switch includes multiple button assemblies and a light source. The button assemblies are used for electrical connection to a circuit board. Each button assembly includes a button housing and a light guide plate located inside the button housing. Button characters are provided on the surface of the button housing. An inclined toothed structure is formed on the surface of the light guide plate away from the button characters. The toothed structure is used to conduct light from the light source to the button characters.

[0006] By adopting the above technical solution, the light guide plate is used to transmit the light from the light source to the button characters. The light guide plate has a toothed structure, which can reflect and scatter the light emitted by the light source multiple times, control the reflection, refraction and scattering path of the light, reduce light loss, improve light transmission efficiency, and make the light distribution more uniform, avoiding the problem of local over-brightness or dark areas on the button characters.

[0007] Optionally, a light guide surface is formed on the surface of the light guide plate facing the button characters, and the light guide surface is inclined toward the button characters.

[0008] By adopting the above technical solution, the light guide surface can direct light onto the button characters at a specific angle, further optimize the light path, concentrate the light, enhance the brightness and illumination uniformity of the button characters, and reduce light scattering.

[0009] Optionally, two sides of the light guide plate are scattering surfaces, which extend along the length of the light guide plate. The scattering surfaces are used to connect the surface with the light guide surface and the surface with the toothed structure. The distance between the two scattering surfaces decreases in the direction away from the light guide surface.

[0010] By adopting the above technical solution, the design of the scattering surfaces on both sides of the light guide plate extending along the length direction and with decreasing spacing can compensate for the scattering of edge light, so that the light gradually diffuses inside the light guide plate, eliminates the light spot phenomenon, and ensures the overall lighting consistency of the button characters.

[0011] Optionally, the button assembly further includes a button bracket, the light guide plate is disposed on the button bracket, and the button housing is detachably connected to the button bracket.

[0012] By adopting the above technical solution, the light guide plate is fixed on the detachable button bracket, and the button housing and bracket are designed separately, which simplifies the assembly process, facilitates the replacement or repair of the light guide plate or light source, and reduces maintenance costs.

[0013] Optionally, the button bracket is provided with a buckle, and the button housing is provided with a buckle slot for the buckle to be inserted. The button bracket and the button housing are connected by the buckle and the buckle slot.

[0014] By adopting the above technical solution, the button bracket and the housing are connected through the cooperation of the snap and snap slot, without the need for additional fasteners, which improves the assembly efficiency, while ensuring structural stability and connection reliability, and avoiding loosening of parts due to vibration.

[0015] Optionally, the snap-fit ​​groove is provided in multiple sets, one set of which is opened on the inner wall of the button housing away from the toothed structure, and there is a distance between the bottom wall of the snap-fit ​​groove and the outer wall of the button housing away from the toothed structure.

[0016] By adopting the above technical solution, there is a distance between the bottom wall of the buckle groove and the outer wall of the button housing away from the toothed structure. The buckle is completely hidden inside the button housing, which is more aesthetically pleasing. Moreover, this design can distribute the force on the buckle, enhance the impact resistance and durability of the buckle connection, and prevent the buckle from breaking after long-term use.

[0017] Optionally, it also includes an inner shell for mounting the circuit board, the button bracket being rotatably mounted on the inner shell, the inner shell having a mounting shaft, and the button bracket having a mounting hole for inserting the mounting shaft.

[0018] By adopting the above technical solution, the rotating installation design of the inner shell and the button bracket, combined with the installation shaft and the installation hole, gives the button assembly a certain degree of freedom of movement, optimizes the pressing feel, and at the same time, the shaft and hole fit can achieve stable installation of the inner shell and the button bracket.

[0019] Optionally, it also includes a housing for covering the circuit board, the inner housing being disposed on the outer housing, the outer housing being provided with a connecting component, the outer housing being used for fixed connection with the display screen via the connecting component.

[0020] By adopting the above technical solution, the outer casing protects the circuit board, and the outer casing is fixedly connected to the display screen through connecting components, realizing the modular integration of the central control panel switch and the display screen, simplifying the assembly process of the vehicle's central control system, and improving the compactness and protection of the overall structure.

[0021] Optionally, the connecting component includes a positioning block for insertion into a positioning slot on the display housing.

[0022] By adopting the above technical solution, the positioning block cooperates with the positioning groove on the display screen housing to ensure precise alignment and installation of the housing and the display screen, reduce assembly errors, improve assembly convenience, enhance product consistency, and at the same time enhance the anti-displacement capability of the connection structure.

[0023] Optionally, the button bracket has a through hole for accommodating the light guide plate, and a stop block is provided on the wall of the through hole. The light guide plate has a limiting block and a locking block, which are arranged along the direction in which the light guide plate is inserted into the through hole. The locking block is used to abut against the outer wall of the button bracket, and the limiting block is used to abut against the stop block.

[0024] By adopting the above technical solution, the card block and the limiting block cooperate with each other, and both abut against the button bracket, thereby limiting and fixing the light guide plate in the through hole.

[0025] In summary, this application includes at least one of the following beneficial technical effects: 1. By setting a toothed structure on the light guide plate, light loss is reduced, light transmission efficiency is improved, and light distribution is made more uniform. 2. The positioning block cooperates with the positioning groove on the display screen housing to ensure precise alignment and installation of the housing and the display screen, reduce assembly errors, improve assembly convenience, enhance product consistency, and at the same time enhance the anti-displacement capability of the connection structure; 3. The inner shell sidewall cooperates with the limiting block to limit the sidewall of the button bracket, preventing the button bracket from moving relative to the inner shell in the axial direction of the mounting shaft during use. Attached Figure Description

[0026] Figure 1 This is a structural diagram of this application.

[0027] Figure 2 This is a side sectional view of this application.

[0028] Figure 3This is a schematic diagram of the light guide plate in this application.

[0029] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the button bracket and light guide plate in this application.

[0030] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the button housing in this application.

[0031] Figure 6 This is an exploded view of the button bracket and inner shell in this application.

[0032] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached drawings: 1. Button assembly; 11. Button housing; 111. Button character; 112. Snap-fit ​​groove; 12. Light guide plate; 121. Toothed structure; 122. Light guide surface; 123. Diffusing surface; 124. Limiting block; 125. Locking block; 13. Button bracket; 131. Snap-fit; 132. Mounting hole; 133. Through hole; 134. Relief groove; 135. Guide slope; 136. Stop block; 2. Light source; 3. Inner shell; 31. Mounting shaft; 311. Guide surface; 4. Outer shell; 41. Connecting assembly; 411. Positioning block; 412. Fixing hole; 413. Snap-fit ​​component. Detailed Implementation

[0033] The following is in conjunction with the appendix Figure 1-6 This application will be described in further detail.

[0034] This application discloses a vehicle center console switch. (Refer to...) Figure 1 The vehicle's central control panel switch includes multiple button assemblies 1, which are used for electrical connection to a circuit board. Each button assembly 1 includes a button housing 11. The multiple button assemblies 1 are arranged in a left-right direction, and the button housing 11 is toggled by the user in a up-down direction. A button character 111 is provided on the front end of the upper surface of the button housing 11, and the button character 111 is made of a light-transmitting material.

[0035] Reference Figure 1 and Figure 2 The vehicle's central control panel switch also includes multiple light sources 2, each corresponding to a button assembly 1, mounted on a circuit board. The button assembly 1 also includes a light guide plate 12 located within the button housing 11. The light guide plate 12 extends in a front-to-back direction, with the light sources 2 located behind it. The light guide plate 12 guides the light from the light sources 2 to the button characters 111. A toothed structure 121 is formed on the surface of the light guide plate 12 facing the light sources 2. The toothed structure 121 is a V-shaped groove formed on the lower sidewall of the light guide plate 12, with the tips of the teeth of the toothed structure 121 tilted rearward.

[0036] Reference Figure 1 and Figure 3A light guide surface 122 is formed on the front end of the upper surface of the light guide plate 12 by a chamfering process. The light guide surface 122 is inclined in the direction of moving forward and downward, so that the light guide surface 122 faces the button character 111.

[0037] Reference Figure 3 The left and right sides of the light guide plate 12 are scattering surfaces 123. The scattering surfaces 123 extend along the length of the light guide plate 12. The distance between the two scattering surfaces 123 decreases in the rearward direction, making the upper side of the light guide plate 12 trapezoidal.

[0038] Reference Figure 3 Two limiting blocks 124 are integrally formed on the upper surface of the light guide plate 12, and the two limiting blocks 124 are set close to the scattering surface 123. A locking block 125 is integrally formed on the upper surface of the light guide plate 12, and the locking block 125 is located behind the limiting blocks 124.

[0039] Reference Figure 2 and Figure 4 The button assembly 1 also includes a button bracket 13, on which a through hole 133 extending in the front-rear direction is formed. The through hole 133 is used to accommodate the light guide plate 12. A relief groove 134 is formed on the upper inner wall of the through hole 133 for sliding the locking block 125. A guide slope 135 is formed on the rear wall of the relief groove 134 for guiding the deformation of the locking block 125, thereby guiding the locking block 125 to be squeezed out from the through hole 133. The locking block 125 is used to abut against the rear side wall of the button bracket 13. A stop 136 is integrally formed on the upper wall of the through hole 133. When the locking block 125 abuts against the rear side wall of the button bracket 13, the rear side wall of the limiting block 124 abuts against the front side wall of the stop 136, thereby limiting and fixing the light guide plate 12. At the same time, the left and right side walls of the limiting block 124 abut against the left and right side walls of the through hole 133, guiding the light guide plate 12 into the through hole 133.

[0040] Reference Figure 4 and Figure 5 The button housing 11 and the button bracket 13 are detachably connected. In this embodiment, the button housing 11 and the button bracket 13 are snap-fit ​​connected. The button housing 11 has two sets of snap-fit ​​slots 112, which are respectively located on the upper and lower inner walls of the button housing 11. The button bracket 13 has two sets of snap fasteners 131 corresponding to the snap-fit ​​slots 112. The snap-fit ​​slots 112 on the upper inner wall of the button housing 11 do not penetrate the button housing 11; that is, there is a distance between the bottom wall of the slot 112 and the upper surface of the button housing 11. The snap-fit ​​slots 112 on the lower inner wall of the button housing 11 penetrate the button housing 11, making it easier to observe whether the button housing 11 and the button bracket 13 are properly snapped together.

[0041] In other embodiments, the button housing 11 can be fixedly connected to the button bracket 13 by a bolt assembly; any method that enables the button housing 11 and the button bracket 13 to be detachably connected is acceptable.

[0042] Reference Figure 6 The vehicle's central control panel switch also includes an inner shell 3, on which a circuit board is mounted, and a button bracket 13 is rotatably mounted. Mounting shafts 31 are integrally formed on both the left and right inner walls of the inner shell 3, and mounting holes 132 are provided through the left and right side walls of the button bracket 13 for the mounting shafts 31 to be inserted and rotated. A guide surface 311 is formed on the end of each mounting shaft 31, and the distance between the guide surfaces 311 on the two mounting shafts 31 increases in the forward direction. The guide surfaces 311 are used to guide the mounting shafts 31 into the mounting holes 132.

[0043] Reference Figure 1 The vehicle's central control panel switch also includes a housing 4, which covers the circuit board. An inner housing 3 is fixed to the housing 4 by a bolt assembly. A connecting assembly 41 is provided on the housing 4, and the housing 4 is fixedly connected to the display screen via the connecting assembly 41. The connecting assembly 41 includes a positioning block 411, which has a cross-section in the shape of a cross. The positioning block 411 is used to insert into a positioning slot on the housing of the display screen, thereby positioning the housing of the display screen. The connecting assembly 41 also includes a fixing hole 412 formed on the housing 4, through which the housing 4 is fixedly connected to the display screen housing via the fixing hole 412 and the bolt assembly. The connecting assembly 41 also includes a snap-fit ​​component 413 integrally formed on the housing 4, through which the housing 4 is snap-fit ​​connected to the display screen housing.

[0044] The assembly principle of a vehicle center console switch according to an embodiment of this application is as follows: First, the light guide plate 12 is snapped and fixed in the through hole 133 of the button bracket 13, then the button housing 11 is snapped and fixed on the button bracket 13, then the button bracket 13 is fixedly installed on the inner shell 3, then the inner shell 3 is fixed on the outer shell 4, and finally the outer shell 4 is fixedly connected to the display screen housing.

[0045] This application sets a toothed structure 121 on the light guide plate 12. The toothed structure 121 reflects and scatters the light emitted by the light source 2 multiple times, controls the reflection, refraction and scattering path of the light, reduces light loss, improves light transmission efficiency, and makes the light distribution more uniform, avoiding the problem of local over-brightness or dark areas in the button character 111.

[0046] The above are all preferred embodiments of this application, and are not intended to limit the scope of protection of this application. Therefore, all equivalent changes made in accordance with the structure, shape and principle of this application should be covered within the scope of protection of this application.

Claims

1. A vehicle center console switch, comprising a plurality of button assemblies (1) and a light source (2), wherein the button assemblies (1) are used for electrical connection to a circuit board, the button assemblies (1) comprising a button housing (11) and a light guide plate (12) located within the button housing (11), and button characters (111) are provided on the surface of the button housing (11), characterized in that: The light guide plate (12) has an inclined tooth structure (121) formed on the surface away from the button character (111), the tooth structure (121) being used to transmit the light from the light source (2) to the button character (111).

2. The vehicle center console switch of claim 1, wherein: The light guide plate (12) has a light guide surface (122) formed on the surface facing the button character (111), and the light guide surface (122) is inclined towards the button character (111).

3. The vehicle center console panel switch of claim 2, wherein: Two sides of the light guide plate (12) are scattering surfaces (123). The scattering surfaces (123) extend along the length of the light guide plate (12). The scattering surfaces (123) are used to connect the surface with the light guide surface (122) and the surface with the toothed structure (121). The distance between the two scattering surfaces (123) decreases in the direction away from the light guide surface (122).

4. The vehicle center console switch of claim 1, wherein: The button assembly (1) also includes a button bracket (13), the light guide plate (12) is disposed on the button bracket (13), and the button housing (11) is detachably connected to the button bracket (13).

5. The vehicle center console panel switch of claim 4, wherein: The button bracket (13) is provided with a buckle (131), and the button housing (11) is provided with a buckle groove (112) for the buckle (131) to be inserted. The button bracket (13) and the button housing (11) are connected by buckle (131) and buckle groove (112).

6. The vehicle center console switch of claim 5, wherein: The snap-fit ​​groove (112) is provided in multiple sets, one set of which is opened on the inner wall of the button housing (11) away from the toothed structure (121), and there is a distance between the bottom wall of the snap-fit ​​groove (112) and the outer wall of the button housing (11) away from the toothed structure (121).

7. The vehicle center console panel switch of claim 4, wherein: It also includes an inner shell (3), which is used for mounting the circuit board. The button bracket (13) is rotatably mounted on the inner shell (3). The inner shell (3) is provided with a mounting shaft (31), and the button bracket (13) is provided with a mounting hole (132) for the mounting shaft (31) to be inserted.

8. The vehicle center console switch of claim 7, wherein: It also includes a housing (4) for covering the circuit board, the inner housing (3) being disposed on the housing (4), the housing (4) being provided with a connecting component (41), the housing (4) being used to fix the display screen through the connecting component (41).

9. The vehicle center console panel switch of claim 8, wherein: The connecting component (41) includes a positioning block (411) for insertion into a positioning slot on the display housing.

10. The vehicle center console switch of claim 4, wherein: The button bracket (13) has a through hole (133) for accommodating the light guide plate (12). A stop block (136) is provided on the wall of the through hole (133). The light guide plate (12) is provided with a limiting block (124) and a locking block (125). The limiting block (124) and the locking block (125) are arranged along the direction in which the light guide plate (12) is inserted into the through hole (133). The locking block (125) is used to abut against the outer wall of the button bracket (13), and the limiting block (124) is used to abut against the stop block (136).

Images