Control device comprising an actuator that allows the control device to be controlled

Abstract

Control device (1) of an interior fitting of a vehicle, comprising: - a body (2), - at least one movable element (6) which is movable in relation to the body (2) according to at least a first degree of freedom, - at least one actuator (12) which allows the movable element (6) to be displaced in relation to the body (2) according to the first degree of freedom, - at least one control device (16) of a function of the control device (1), wherein a switch (18) of the control device (16) can be actuated between an open position in which the function is deactivated and a closed position in which the function is activated, wherein the control device (1) is characterized in that the actuator (12) can be moved in relation to the body (2) according to a second degree of freedom between a spaced-away position in which the actuator (12) does not interact with the control device (16) and a control position,in which the actuator (12) actuates the switch (18) between its open position and its closed position.

Description

The present invention relates to a control device for a vehicle interior, of the type comprising: - a body, - at least one movable element which is movable in relation to the body according to at least a first degree of freedom, - at least one actuator which allows the movable element to be displaced in relation to the body in accordance with the first degree of freedom, and - at least one control device of a function of the control device, wherein a switch of the control device can be actuated between an open position in which the function is deactivated and a closed position in which the function is activated. One such control device is, for example, an air outlet device of a vehicle's ventilation system. US 5 688 167 A , KR 10 0 457 089 B1 , JP 2005-55 061 A and DE 12 74 313 A disclose a control device according to the preamble of claim 1. The ventilation system of a vehicle's passenger compartment generally terminates in a trim element of the passenger compartment, such as an instrument panel, door panel, center console, headliner, etc. An air outlet or vent forms this opening and allows control of the direction and / or volume of airflow exiting the ventilation system. The air outlet device comprises at least one movable element forming a deflector, for example, a louver, a set of louvers, or other element, which is movable relative to the air outlet opening such that its displacement allows the airflow exiting the opening to be directed in a specific direction. The displacement is manually controlled by a user by means of an actuator that is rigidly connected to the deflector. Such an air outlet device generally further comprises a control device that allows at least one function of the device to be controlled, for example, to trigger or deactivate the air output, etc. Such a control device is operated by a user, for example, by actuating a switch that triggers or deactivates the function. The switch is actuated, for example, by means of a button located near or opposite the air outlet opening, or placed in a control area where a plurality of control buttons are grouped together to control various functions of the vehicle. Consequently, to operate the air outlet, a user must press both the control button and the actuator. The user cannot control the air outlet with a single movement. Furthermore, the presence of the control button increases the space required for the air outlet, which may detract from the aesthetics of the component in which it is installed. The same problem can occur with other types of control devices as soon as they include a movable element whose position or orientation is controlled by an actuator and a control knob that allows a function of the control device to be controlled. One of the objectives of the invention is to remedy these disadvantages by proposing a control device whose operation is simplified and whose space requirements are reduced. For this purpose, the invention relates to a control device of the aforementioned type, wherein the actuator is movable according to a second degree of freedom with respect to the body between a spaced-away position in which the actuator does not interact with the control device and a control position in which the actuator operates the switch between its open position and its closed position. This means that the actuator in the control device according to the invention allows both the movable element to be moved and the function of the control device to be controlled. The presence of an additional control knob is therefore unnecessary, which simplifies the use of the control device and reduces its space requirements. According to other features of the control device according to the invention, which may be used individually or in any technically possible combination: - the actuator is mounted on an actuating element which is mounted in at least one holder mounted on the body, wherein the actuating element and the holder are movable with respect to the body between a spaced-away position and an activation position according to the second degree of freedom, wherein the holder actuates the switch in the activation position; - the actuating element is formed by the movable element, wherein the actuating element is furthermore movable with respect to the holder according to the first degree of freedom; - the actuating element is formed by an element which is different from the movable element, wherein the actuator is movably mounted with respect to the actuating element and with respect to the holder according to the first degree of freedom.- the body comprises at least one guide element of the holder, wherein the holder is movable in the guide element between its spaced position and its activation position according to the second degree of freedom, - the switch is in the spaced position of the holder in the open position and in the activation position of the holder in the closed position, - the spaced position and the activation position of the holder are stable positions, - the holder is forced in the direction of its spaced position, wherein the actuation of the switch in the direction of its open position and in the direction of its closed position is effected by moving the holder from the spaced position to the activation position, - the control device comprises at least two control devices, each for a function of the control device, wherein the actuating element is mounted on at least two holders which are mounted on the body,wherein each of the holders is movable between a spaced position and an activation position in relation to the body according to the second degree of freedom, wherein each of the holders actuates one of the switches of the control devices into its activation position,- the first degree of freedom is a rotational displacement about an axis of the movable element,- the second degree of freedom is a displacement of the actuator, and- the control device is an air outlet device of a vehicle ventilation system, wherein the body defines an air outlet opening configured to direct an airflow into the vehicle compartment, wherein the movable element is a deflector that changes the direction and / or quantity of the airflow exiting the air outlet opening when it is displaced according to the first degree of freedom. Further aspects and advantages will become apparent from reading the following description, which is given as an example and refers to the accompanying drawings, of which: - Fig. 1 is a schematic front view of a control device according to a first embodiment of the invention, - Fig. 2 is a schematic front view of a control device according to a second embodiment of the invention, - Fig. 3 is a perspective schematic representation of the actuator of the control device of Fig. 1, - Fig. 4 is a sectional view along axis III-III of Fig. 2, wherein the switch is in the open position, and - Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4, wherein the switch is in the closed position. With reference to Figures 1 and 2, a control device 1, here an air outlet device or air vent, of the vehicle is described. Such an air outlet device is classically designed to form an air outlet opening that extends into a (not shown) trim element of the passenger compartment of a vehicle, for example, in a dashboard, door panel, center console, headliner, etc. The invention is applied, for example, to a ventilation system of a motor vehicle. In the following description, the control device 1 is described as an air outlet device.However, it goes without saying that the invention is applicable to other types of control devices, such as a control device for the lighting of the passenger compartment of the vehicle or a trim element, a control device for the volume of a sound system in the passenger compartment, or other such devices. In the description, the term "longitudinal" is defined as according to the direction of the airflow of the ventilation system, and the term "transverse" is defined according to a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. In a classic manner, the control device 1 comprises a body 2 that defines the air outlet opening 4, which opens into the trim element and is connected to an air duct of the ventilation system in such a way that an airflow from the ventilation system is directed into the passenger compartment of the vehicle. At least one movable element 6, for example a deflector, which in the case of an air outlet device comprises at least one air guide surface, is mounted on the body 2. In the case of an air outlet device, the movable element 6 is mounted transversely to the opening 4 such that the direction and / or the quantity of the airflow exiting the opening is changed depending on the orientation of the movable element 6 relative to the opening 4. The movable element 6 is, for example, formed by a lamella extending transversely from one edge to the other of the opening 4. In a further embodiment, the movable element 6 is formed by a plurality of lamellae rigidly connected to one another, each extending transversely from one edge to the other of the opening 4 parallel to one another. Such a lamella assembly is known, for example, as a "grille".According to a further embodiment, the movable element 6 is formed by several air guide surfaces extending in different planes, for example, surfaces forming a cross that extend transversely to a cylindrical wall which is itself mounted on the body 2. According to another variant, shown in Fig. 1, the control device 1 comprises a plurality of movable elements 6, each formed, for example, by a lamella, wherein a first lamella set 8 extends from one edge to the other of the opening 4 in a first transverse direction A, and a second lamella set 10 extends from one edge to the other of the opening 4 in a second transverse direction B, which is approximately perpendicular to the first transverse direction A, and extends in relation to the direction of the airflow in front of the first lamella set 8. The movable element 6 is movably mounted relative to the body 2 according to at least one first degree of freedom. In the case of a slat, the movement according to the first degree of freedom is, for example, a rotational movement about the axis A in which the slat extends, that is, a transverse axis. In the case of a grid, the movement according to a first degree of freedom is a rotational movement about a central transverse axis parallel to the direction in which the slats of the grid extend. In the case of a deflector with several guide surfaces extending in different planes, the movement according to a first degree of freedom is a ball-and-socket type rotational movement, that is, the deflector can rotate about several axes of rotation extending in different directions, at least one of which is a longitudinal direction and one transverse direction.In the case of a first louver set 8 and a second louver set 10, each louver is rotatably movable about the transverse axis in which it extends, that is, in a first transverse direction for the louvers of the first louver set 8 and in a second transverse direction for the louvers of the second louver set 10. In this case, a connection system between the louvers of the first louver set 8 and a connection system between the louvers of the second louver set 10 can be provided such that the rotation of one louver of the first louver set 8 causes the rotation of the other louvers of this set, and the rotation of one louver of the second louver set 10 causes the rotation of the other louvers of this set. The various configurations of the mobile elements 6 described above and their movement relative to the body 2 are known per se in the context of an air outlet device.In another type of control device, the movement according to the first degree of freedom of the moving element could be a displacement movement in a first direction. The air outlet device further comprises an actuator 12 configured to displace the movable element 6 according to the first degree of freedom. The actuator 12 is mounted on an actuating element. According to a first embodiment, which is shown in Fig. 1, the actuating element is formed by the movable element 6 in such a way that the actuator 12 is mounted on the movable element 6 and that the actuator 12 is movable with the movable element 6 according to the first degree of freedom. Thus, in the case of a louver, the actuator 12 is formed, for example, by a tab that is attached around the louver and forms gripping surfaces 14 designed to be grasped by a user, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. By grasping the actuator 12 and moving it according to the first degree of freedom, the user, in a known manner, causes the movable element 6 to move according to the first degree of freedom and changes the direction of the airflow exiting the opening. In the case of a first and second lamella set 8, 10, the actuator 12 can be configured to allow the displacement of the lamellae of the first lamella set 8 and the lamellae of the second lamella set 10, as is known per se. For this purpose, the actuator 12 is rigidly connected to a lamella of the first lamella set 8 and movable with it according to the first degree of freedom. Furthermore, the actuator 12 is slidably movable on the first lamella along the axis of this lamella, as illustrated by arrow F in Fig. 1, and is connected to a lamella of the second set. Thus, by rotating the actuator about the axis of the first lamella, the lamellae of the first lamella set 8 can be displaced, and by sliding the actuator about the first lamella, the lamellae of the second lamella set 10 are rotated about their axis.In such an embodiment, the first louver set 8 allows the air to be aligned vertically, and the second louver set 10 allows the air to be aligned from right to left with an approximately vertical air outlet opening. According to the embodiment shown in Fig. 2, the actuating element is formed by an element 15 that differs from the movable element 6 in that the actuator 12 is separate from the movable element 6. The actuating element 15 is therefore provided in an opening that differs from the air outlet opening 4 provided in the body 2. The actuator 12 is movable on the actuating element 15 and relative to the body according to the first degree of freedom and is connected to the movable element 6 by a transmission device (not shown) such that the displacement of the actuator 12 on the actuating element 15 according to the first degree of freedom moves the latter from the movable element 6 according to the first degree of freedom. In the case of a second set of lamellae 10, the actuator 12 can also be movably mounted on the actuating element 15, as indicated by arrow F in Fig.Figure 2 shows the actuating element 15, for example, a rod that extends in the opening, which differs from the air outlet opening, along an axis that is approximately parallel to the axis of the first degree of freedom. For the sake of simplicity, the description now refers to the case of a movable element 6 formed by a lamella, the invention applying in the same way to the other movable elements described above. The actuator 12 is furthermore movable according to a second degree of freedom, as will be described later, in order to control at least one control device 16 of a function of the control device 1, which is partially shown in Fig. 4 and Fig. 5. The control device 16 is designed to allow a function of the control device 1 to be switched on or off, for example, to switch the supply of conditioned air through the ventilation system on or off, to switch a fan on or off, or to switch a facade lighting element of the control device on or off. The control device 16 extends accordingly within the body 2 and the cladding element to the elements to be controlled and includes a switch 18, which is provided for the case of an air outlet device near the opening 4. The switch 18 can be operated between an open position (Fig. 4), in which the function controlled by the control device 16 is deactivated, and a closed position (Fig. 5), in which the function controlled by the control device 16 is activated.The actuation of the switch 18 between its open position and its closed position is effected, for example, by a button 20, which is movable between a relaxed position (Fig. 4), in which the switch 18 is open, and a pressed position (Fig. 5), in which the switch 18 is closed. The movement of the button 20 is controlled by the actuator 12. For this purpose, the actuator 12 is movable with respect to the body 2 according to a second degree of freedom between a spaced-away position, in which the actuator 12 does not interact with the control device 16, i.e., in which the button 20 is in its relaxed position, and an activation position, in which the actuator 12 actuates the switch 18, i.e., in which the button 20 is in its pressed position. According to the first embodiment, wherein the actuating element is formed by the movable element 6, and, as illustrated in Fig. 3, Fig. 4 to Fig. 5, the switch 18 is actuated by the actuator 12 with the aid of the movable element 6 and a holder 22 on which the movable element 6 is mounted. The holder 22 is, for example, a bearing that, in the case of a rotating lamella, allows the movable element 6 to rotate about its axis. The holder 22 is movably mounted on the body 2 in a guide element 24 formed in the body 2, according to the second degree of freedom between a spaced-away position (left in Fig. 3 and Fig. 4), in which the holder 22 does not press the button 20, and an activation position (right in Fig. 3 and Fig. 5), in which the holder 22 presses the button 20. The movable element 6 and its holder 22 are rigidly connected in displacement according to the second degree of freedom of the actuator 12, meaning that a displacement of the actuator 12 according to the second degree of freedom causes a displacement according to this second degree of freedom of the movable element 6 and the holder 22. In contrast, the actuator 12 and the movable element 6 are rigidly connected in displacement according to the first degree of freedom with respect to the holder 22, meaning that a displacement of the actuator 12 according to the first degree of freedom causes a displacement according to this first degree of freedom of the movable element 6 with respect to the holder 22. According to the second embodiment, shown in Fig. 2, in which the actuating element is formed by an element 15 that is distinct from the movable element 6, the actuating element 15 is movably mounted in a guide element 24, which is provided on an edge of the opening by means of a holder 22, according to the second degree of freedom, and the actuator 12 is rigidly connected to the actuating element 15 in displacement according to this second degree of freedom. In this case, the movable element 6 does not need to be movable according to the second degree of freedom. Thus, when the actuator 12 is displaced on the actuating element 15 according to the first degree of freedom, the transmission device causes the movable element 6 to be displaced according to the first degree of freedom. When the actuator 12 is displaced according to the second degree of freedom, the actuating element 15 is displaced according to the second degree of freedom, but not the movable element 6. According to the embodiment shown in the figures, the movement according to the second degree of freedom is a displacement movement in the longitudinal direction, that is, in a direction approximately perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the movable element 6. Consequently, when the user wishes to activate the function of the air outlet device controlled by the control device 16, the user presses the actuator 12 in such a way that it is displaced longitudinally in the upstream direction with respect to the airflow, such that, according to the first embodiment, the movable element 6 and the holder 22 are displaced longitudinally, the holder being guided by the guide element 24 in the direction of its control position during this displacement. In its activation position, the holder 22 presses the button 20, as shown in Fig. 5, thereby changing the switch 18 to its closed position when the button 20 is pressed, thus activating the function controlled by the control device 16.According to the second embodiment and as already described, when the user presses on the actuator 12, the actuating element 15 and the holder 22 are displaced by the actuator 12 according to the second degree of freedom, without displacing the movable element 6. According to one embodiment, the spaced and activated positions of the holder 22 are stable positions, meaning that the holder 22 remains in its current position without any external force being applied. Thus, the holder 22 remains in the activated position when the user moves it into this position, as long as the user does not use the actuator 12 to move the holder 22 into its spaced position. The button 20 is therefore held in its pressed position, and the switch 18 remains in its closed position. When the user pulls the actuator 12, the holder 22 returns to its spaced position, and the button 20 returns to its relaxed position, thereby placing the switch 18 in its open position. According to this embodiment, the function is activated by pressing on the actuator 12 and deactivated by pulling on the actuator 12. According to another embodiment, shown in Figures 4 and 5, the holder 22 can be stressed in the direction of its spaced position, for example by means of a stressing element 26 between the switch 18 and the holder 22. In this case, when the user moves the holder 22 into its activation position, the stressing element 26 is compressed, as shown in Figure 5. When the user releases the actuator 12, the holder 22 returns to its spaced position under the action of the stressing element 26. Thus, according to this embodiment, only the spaced position is a stable position. According to one embodiment, the tensioning element 26 can be integrated into the button 20, and the button 20 is of the "push" type, meaning that upon a first press of the button 20, the switch 18 moves to its closed position, remaining in this position, while the button 20 returns to its relaxed position under the action of the tensioning element. A further press of the button 20 moves the switch 18 to its open position, remaining in this position, while the button 20 returns to its relaxed position. As the button 20 returns to its relaxed position, it moves the holder 22 toward its spaced position. Thus, according to this embodiment, the activation and deactivation of the function always take place by pressing on the actuator 12. According to another embodiment, the switch is of the "digital switch" type. In this embodiment, when the holder 22 moves into the activation position, the knob 20 moves, which is configured to send an activation signal designed to activate the function controlled by the control device 16. When the actuator 12 is released, the knob 20 returns to its relaxed position and moves the holder 22 into its spaced position. With a new pressure on the actuator 12, the holder 22 moves into the activation position, thereby moving the knob 20, which is then configured to send a deactivation signal designed to deactivate the function controlled by the control device 16. When the actuator 12 is released, the knob 20 returns to its relaxed position. According to the embodiment shown in Fig. 3, the actuating element, that is, the movable element 6 in the first embodiment or the element 15, which differs from the movable element, in the second embodiment, is mounted in two holders 22 at each of its ends. The air outlet device comprises two control devices 16, each controlling a function of the control device and controlled by a respective switch, with each holder 22 allowing the movement of a switch between its open and closed positions. Thus, by pressing the actuator 12 towards one end of the actuating element, one of the functions of the control device can be controlled, and by pressing the actuator towards the other end, the other function of the control device can be controlled.This allows a single actuator 12 to control both the direction and / or the amount of airflow and two different functions in the case of an air outlet device. The second degree of freedom was described as a displacement along the longitudinal direction, whereby pressing on the actuator 12 places the switch in the closed position. However, it is obvious that the switch could also be moved into the closed position by pulling on the actuator 12. In one variant, the second degree of freedom could be a rotational movement, for example about a longitudinal axis, whereas the first degree of freedom is a rotational movement about a transverse axis. According to another variant, the movement according to the second degree of freedom could be a displacement and a rotational movement. The user can adjust the control device by operating only the actuator 12, without having to press another button located elsewhere. This simplifies the use of the control device and reduces its space requirements.

Claims

Control device (1) of an interior fitting of a vehicle, comprising: - a body (2), - at least one movable element (6) which is movable in relation to the body (2) according to at least a first degree of freedom, - at least one actuator (12) which allows the movable element (6) to be displaced in relation to the body (2) according to the first degree of freedom, - at least one control device (16) of a function of the control device (1), wherein a switch (18) of the control device (16) is actuable between an open position in which the function is deactivated and a closed position in which the function is activated, wherein the control device (1) is characterized in that the actuator (12) is movable in relation to the body (2) according to a second degree of freedom between a spaced position in which the actuator (12) does not interact with the control device (16) and a control position,in which the actuator (12) actuates the switch (18) between its open position and its closed position. Control device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the actuator (12) is mounted on an actuating element (6, 15) which is mounted in at least one holder (22) mounted on the body (2), wherein the actuating element (6, 15) and the holder (22) are movable in the second degree of freedom with respect to the body (2) between a spaced position and an activation position, wherein the holder (22) actuates the switch (18) in the activation position. Control device (1) according to claim 2, wherein the actuating element (6, 15) is formed by the movable element (6), wherein the actuating element (6) is furthermore movable in the first degree of freedom with respect to the holder (22). Control device (1) according to claim 2, wherein the actuating element (6, 15) is formed by an element (15) that differs from the movable element (6), wherein the actuating member (12) is movably mounted in accordance with the first degree of freedom with respect to the actuating element (15) and with respect to the holder (22). Control device (1) according to one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the body (2) comprises at least one guide element (24) of the holder (22), wherein the holder (22) is movable in the guide element (24) between its spaced position and its activation position according to the second degree of freedom. Control device (1) according to one of claims 2 to 5, wherein the switch (18) is in the spaced position of the holder (22) in the open position and in the activation position of the holder (22) in the closed position. Control device (1) according to claim 6, wherein the spaced position and the activation position of the holder (22) are stable positions. Control device (1) according to one of claims 2 to 6, wherein the holder (22) is forced in the direction of its spaced position, wherein the actuation of the switch (18) in the direction of its open position and in the direction of its closed position is effected by moving the holder (22) from the spaced position into the activation position. Control device (1) according to one of claims 2 to 8, comprising at least two control devices (16) each for a function of the control device, wherein the actuating element (6, 15) is mounted on at least two holders (22) which are mounted on the body (2), wherein each of the holders is movable in the second degree of freedom with respect to the body (2) between a spaced position and an activation position, wherein each of the holders (22) actuates one of the switches (18) of the control devices (16) into its activation position. Control device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the first degree of freedom is a rotational displacement about an axis of the movable element (6). Control device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the second degree of freedom is a displacement of the actuator (12). Control device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the control device (1) is an air outlet device of a ventilation system of the vehicle, wherein the body (2) defines an air outlet opening (4) configured to direct an airflow into the compartment of the vehicle, wherein the movable element (6) is a deflector that changes the direction and / or the quantity of the airflow exiting the air outlet opening (4) when it is displaced according to the first degree of freedom.

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