Multi-switch for vehicle

Abstract

Provided is a multi-switch for a vehicle, which generates an input signal when a user applies pressure in the forward, backward, leftward, rightward, upward, and downward directions through a touch panel that is coupled to the top surface of a fixed housing so as to be movable in the forward, backward, left, right, upward, and downward directions, and which generates feedback for the user's forward, backward, leftward, rightward, upward, and downward inputs through a vibration unit provided in the touch panel, wherein the feedback is transmitted to a printed circuit board of the housing through an elastic member that provides the same restoring force with respect to the user's forward, backward, leftward, rightward, upward, and downward inputs, thus enabling prevention of a reduction in the lifespan of an electronic element. To this end, the multi-switch for a vehicle, according to an embodiment of the present invention, comprises: a housing in which a printed circuit board is installed; a touchpad that is movably installed on above the housing and senses a user's input; an elastic member disposed between the housing and the touchpad to prevent transmission of vibration; and a sensor that is installed on the printed circuit board and senses movement of the touchpad.

Description

Multi-switch for vehicles

[0001] The present invention relates to a multi-switch for a vehicle, and more particularly, to a multi-switch for a vehicle, which generates an input signal by a user applying pressure in the forward, backward, left, right, up, and down directions through a touch panel movably coupled to the upper surface of a fixed housing, generates feedback for the user's forward, backward, left, right, up, and down input through a vibration unit provided on the touch panel, and transmits the feedback to a printed circuit board of the housing through an elastic member that provides the same restoring force for the user's forward, backward, left, right, up, and down input, thereby preventing the lifespan of electronic components from being reduced.

[0002] Typically, a vehicle has a console box placed between the driver's seat and the passenger seat.

[0003] These console boxes are divided into a rear console box that is used as the driver's armrest and can store simple items using the space underneath, and a front console box that houses various convenience features such as a gear shift lever, side brake, cigarette lighter, and door switches.

[0004] In recent vehicles, the gear shift lever, which is housed in the front console box, is performed by a lever switch on the steering wheel, and the side brake is performed by a pedal located on the driver's left foot, so there is a trend of the gear shift lever and side brake being removed from the front console box.

[0005] The front console box is equipped with a driver convenience function control system.

[0006] The convenience function control system provided in the above front console box includes a vehicle air conditioning control system, a vehicle audio control system, a driver's seat and passenger's seat heating control system, a driver's seat and passenger's seat seat control system, an interior lighting control system, etc.

[0007] In general, the above convenience function control system is provided in the form of a switch that controls each convenience function in the front console box.

[0008] The above front console box can be equipped with a switch type control function for the gear shift lever and side brake.

[0009] However, as technology advances and the number of convenience function control systems included in the front console box increases, switches for controlling each convenience function are added, which leads to a problem of insufficient space in the front console box.

[0010] As a solution to the above-mentioned problem, the above-mentioned convenience function control system is provided as a touch screen type that controls at least one convenience function.

[0011] However, in the case of a touch screen, while it has the advantage of taking up less space compared to a switch, it has the problem that feedback must be formed so that the user can recognize the user's input, and thus the lifespan of the tiny electronic components mounted on the printed circuit board of the housing for detecting the user's touch screen input is reduced due to the feedback.

[0012] A conventional technique to solve the above-described problem connects the housing and the touchscreen with an elastic member, thereby preventing feedback generated from the touchscreen from being transmitted to the housing by the elastic member.

[0013] However, due to the flexibility of the elastic member, the assembly tolerance between the housing and the touch screen is not uniform, which causes the sensitivity of the touch screen to be uneven.

[0014] The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a multi-switch for a vehicle capable of operating various convenience function control systems.

[0015] Another problem that the present invention seeks to solve is to provide a multi-switch for a vehicle capable of generating feedback for a user's input.

[0016] Another problem that the present invention seeks to solve is to provide a multi-switch for a vehicle that reduces the amount of feedback regarding a user's input transmitted to the housing.

[0017] Another problem that the present invention seeks to solve is to provide a multi-switch for a vehicle that prevents a decrease in feedback sensitivity to a user's input.

[0018] Another problem that the present invention seeks to solve is to provide a multi-switch for a vehicle that can maintain a uniform assembly tolerance between the housing and the touch screen.

[0019] Another problem that the present invention seeks to solve is to provide a multi-switch for a vehicle that can maintain the sensitivity of a touch screen uniformly.

[0020] The tasks of the present invention are not limited to the tasks mentioned above, and other tasks not mentioned will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the description below.

[0021] In order to achieve the above object, a vehicle multi-switch according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises: a housing in which a printed circuit board is installed; a touchpad that is movably installed on the upper side of the housing and detects a user's input; an elastic member that is disposed between the housing and the touchpad and prevents transmission of vibration; and a sensor that is installed on the printed circuit board and detects movement of the touchpad.

[0022] In addition, the housing may be formed with a receiving portion that receives an elastic member, and the touchpad may be formed with an insertion portion that is inserted into the receiving portion and the elastic member protruding downward.

[0023] In addition, the elastic member may include a horizontal elastic member arranged between the inner surface of the receiving portion and the outer surface of the insertion portion to buffer forward, backward, left, and right vibrations of the touchpad; and a vertical elastic member arranged between the upper surface of the receiving portion and the lower surface of the touchpad to buffer the up-down vibrations of the touchpad.

[0024] In addition, the horizontal elastic portion is formed into a plurality of arc shapes that are spaced at the same angle from each other in the circumferential direction with respect to the center horizontally with respect to the ground and have the same radius of curvature, so that it can provide a restoring force of the same size for forward, backward, left, and right flows.

[0025] In addition, the screw may further include a screw projection that is inserted into the insertion portion to form a screw connection; a screw step portion that is engaged with the insertion portion so that the screw projection is inserted into the insertion portion at a certain depth; and a screw head that is engaged with the housing so that the touchpad is prevented from being separated upward from the housing.

[0026] In addition, it may include a feedback generating unit installed on a printed circuit board and generating a magnetic field according to a user's input; and a vibration unit installed in a portion corresponding to the feedback generating unit of the touchpad and forming vibration according to the magnetic field.

[0027] Specific details of other embodiments are included in the detailed description and drawings.

[0028] A vehicle multi-switch according to an embodiment of the present invention has one or more of the following effects.

[0029] First, it has the effect of enabling the operation of various convenience function control systems.

[0030] Second, it has the effect of generating feedback on the user's input.

[0031] Third, it has the effect of preventing the lifespan of electronic components configured on the printed circuit board of the housing from being reduced by reducing the amount of feedback regarding the user's input transmitted to the housing.

[0032] Fourth, it has the effect of preventing a decrease in feedback sensitivity to user input.

[0033] Fifth, it has the effect of maintaining uniform assembly tolerances between the housing and the touch screen.

[0034] Sixth, it has the effect of maintaining the sensitivity of the touch screen evenly.

[0035] The effects of the present invention are not limited to the effects mentioned above, and other effects not mentioned will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the description of the claims.

[0036] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a vehicle multi-switch according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0037] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a joint between a housing and a touch pad in a vehicle multi-switch according to an embodiment of the present invention, cut vertically to the ground.

[0038] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the joint between the housing and the touchpad in a vehicle multi-switch according to an embodiment of the present invention, cut horizontally to the ground.

[0039] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a joint of a vehicle multi-switch according to an embodiment of the present invention and a joint of a vehicle multi-switch of the prior art, cut vertically to the ground.

[0040] Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a feedback unit in a vehicle multi-switch according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0041] The advantages and features of the present invention, and the methods for achieving them, will become clearer with reference to the embodiments described in detail below together with the accompanying drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed below and may be implemented in various different forms. These embodiments are provided only to ensure that the disclosure of the present invention is complete and to fully inform those skilled in the art of the scope of the invention, and the present invention is defined only by the scope of the claims. Like reference numerals designate like elements throughout the specification.

[0042] The terms used in the examples have been selected from widely used, current terms, taking into account the functions of the present invention. However, these terms may vary depending on the intentions of those skilled in the art, precedents, the emergence of new technologies, etc. Furthermore, in certain cases, terms may be arbitrarily selected by the applicant, in which case their meanings will be described in detail in the relevant description of the invention. Therefore, the terms used in the present invention should be defined based on their meaning and the overall content of the present invention, rather than simply their names.

[0043] When a part of the specification is said to "include" a component, this does not exclude other components, but rather implies the inclusion of other components, unless otherwise specifically stated. Furthermore, terms such as "part" and "module" used in the specification mean a unit that processes at least one function or operation, which may be implemented in hardware, software, or a combination of hardware and software.

[0044] In the drawings below, thicknesses and areas are enlarged to clearly represent various layers and areas. The same reference numerals are used for similar parts throughout the specification. When an element such as a layer, area, or substrate is said to be “on” or “on top of” another element, this includes not only the case where it is “directly on” the other element, but also the case where there is another element in between. Conversely, when an element is said to be “directly on” another element, it means that there is no other element in between.

[0045] Additionally, terms such as "below," "lower," "above," and "upper" are used to describe the relationships between components depicted in the drawings. These terms are relative concepts and are described based on the directions indicated in the drawings.

[0046] Below, with reference to the attached drawings, embodiments of the present invention are described in detail so that those skilled in the art can easily implement the invention. However, the present invention may be implemented in various different forms and is not limited to the embodiments described herein.

[0047] Hereinafter, the present invention will be described with reference to drawings for explaining a vehicle multi-switch according to embodiments of the present invention.

[0048] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a vehicle multi-switch according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0049] Referring to FIG. 1, a vehicle multi-switch according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a touch pad (20) and a rotary switch (30).

[0050] The touchpad (20) detects the position where the user touches the upper surface and operates a convenience function control system corresponding to the detected position.

[0051] A rotary switch (30) may be installed on a portion of the upper surface of the touchpad (20) so as to be formed to detect more types of user input in a narrow area.

[0052] A common function area (21a, 21b, 21c) may be set on a portion of the upper surface of the touchpad (20), so that the user can execute a function commonly used in the convenience function control systems selected through the rotary switch (30) in the common function area (21a, 21b, 21c).

[0053] The rotary switch (30) performs user input by rotating the knob or pushing the knob. The rotary switch (30) transmits the rotation and pressure of the knob to the touchpad (20) located at the bottom, so that the touchpad (20) can detect various types of user input.

[0054] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a joint between a housing and a touch pad in a vehicle multi-switch according to an embodiment of the present invention, cut vertically to the ground, and FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a joint between a housing and a touch pad in a vehicle multi-switch according to an embodiment of the present invention, cut horizontally to the ground.

[0055] Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, a vehicle multi-switch according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a housing (10), a touch pad (20), a rotary switch (30), an elastic member (40), a screw (50), and a sensor (60).

[0056] The housing (10) receives power from the vehicle and supplies power to the touchpad (20) and other components of the vehicle multi-switch through the printed circuit board.

[0057] Although not shown in the drawing, the vehicle multi-switch is powered from the vehicle's battery.

[0058] The housing (10) is formed with a receiving portion (11), and the upper touch pad (20) is connected through the receiving portion (11) so that it can move up, down, forward, backward, left, and right.

[0059] The touchpad (20) can receive information input from the user in various ways or output information to the user.

[0060] For example, the touchpad (20) can receive information input from a user using, but is not limited to, a contact-type electrostatic capacitance method, a pressure-type resistive film method, an infrared detection method, a surface ultrasonic conduction method, an integral tension measurement method, a piezo effect method, etc.

[0061] For example, the touchpad (20) may have a feedback section installed on the lower side, which will be described later, and may transmit vibrations generated in the feedback section to the user in response to user input, but is not limited thereto.

[0062] For example, the touchpad (20) can output information to the user by providing feedback of a responsive image in response to user input in a display format, but is not limited thereto.

[0063] The touchpad (20) is connected to the upper side of the housing (20) so that it can move up, down, forward, backward, left, and right. A rotation switch (30) is installed on the upper side of the touchpad (20). The touchpad (20) has an insertion portion (21) that protrudes downward at a portion corresponding to the receiving portion (11) of the housing (10). A hole into which a screw (50) is inserted is formed at the center of the insertion portion (21).

[0064] The rotary switch (30) performs user input by rotating the knob or pushing the knob. The rotary switch (30) transmits the rotation and pressure of the knob to the touchpad (20) located at the bottom, so that the touchpad (20) can detect various types of user input.

[0065] The rotary switch (30) has been described as a rotary type switch, but is not limited thereto and may be changed to a switch of any other type.

[0066] The elastic member (40) is inserted into the receiving portion (11) of the housing (10). The insertion portion (21) of the touchpad (20) is inserted into the inside of the elastic member (40). A screw (50) is inserted into the elastic member (40).

[0067] The elastic member (40) performs a buffering function between the housing (10) and the touchpad (20) to reduce the transmission of user input and / or vibration of the touchpad (20) to the housing (10).

[0068] The elastic member (40) includes a horizontal elastic member (41) and a vertical elastic member (42).

[0069] The horizontal elastic member (41) is placed between the inner surface of the housing (10) receiving portion (11) and the outer surface of the touchpad (20) insertion portion (21), and buffers the front, back, left, and right vibrations of the touchpad (20).

[0070] Referring to Fig. 3, the horizontal elastic member (41) is formed into a plurality of arc shapes that are spaced apart from each other at the same angle in the circumferential direction with respect to the center horizontally with respect to the ground and have the same radius of curvature.

[0071] For example, the horizontal elastic member (41) can be formed into eight arc shapes having the same radius of curvature when viewed in the vertical direction.

[0072] For example, the horizontal elastic member (41) can be formed into four arc shapes having the same radius of curvature when viewed in the vertical direction.

[0073] For example, the horizontal elastic member (41) can be formed into 12 arc shapes having the same radius of curvature when viewed in the vertical direction.

[0074] The horizontal elastic member (41) is formed in the shape described above, and can provide the same size of restoring force regardless of the direction of forward, backward, left, and right movement of the touch pad (20).

[0075] Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the vertical elastic member (42) is placed between the upper surface of the housing (10) receiving portion (11) and the lower surface of the touch pad (20), thereby buffering the vertical vibration of the touch pad (20).

[0076] The screw (50) includes a screw projection (51), a screw step (52), and a screw head (53).

[0077] The screw protrusion (51) is inserted into the insertion portion (21) of the touchpad (20) to form a screw connection.

[0078] The screw protrusion (52) is formed on the lower side of the screw projection (51) to be thicker than the screw projection (51) to prevent the screw (50) from being inserted into the insertion portion (21) by a length longer than the screw projection (51).

[0079] It is preferable that the outer surface of the screw step portion (52) be formed so that the thickness of the screw step portion (52) is the same as the thickness of the insert portion (21) so that it forms a surface that is continuous with the outer surface of the insert portion (21).

[0080] The lower surface of the screw head (53) is caught on the housing (10) to prevent the touchpad (20) from being separated upward from the housing (10).

[0081] In general, a screw (50) including a screw step portion (52) is called a step screw.

[0082] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a joint of a vehicle multi-switch according to an embodiment of the present invention and a joint of a vehicle multi-switch of the prior art, cut vertically to the ground.

[0083] Referring to FIG. 4a, a screw (50) including a screw step portion (52) forming a joint portion of a vehicle multi-switch according to an embodiment of the present invention is inserted into the insertion portion (21) of the touch pad (20) at a uniform depth, thereby preventing over-assembly in which the vertical elastic portion (42) of the elastic member (40) is pressed.

[0084] Accordingly, the distance (L1) between the sensor (60) of the housing (10) and the touchpad (20) is maintained uniformly, so that sensitivity adjustment of the sensor (60) due to over-assembly may not be required.

[0085] Referring to FIG. 4b, a screw (50) that does not include a screw step portion (52) forming a joint portion of a conventional vehicle multi-switch has a problem in that the screw projection (51) can be inserted until the insertion portion (21) of the touch pad (20) touches the screw head (53), resulting in over-assembly that causes the vertical elastic portion (42) of the elastic member (40) to be pressed.

[0086] Accordingly, the distance (L2) between the sensor (60) of the housing (10) and the touchpad (20) is reduced by the length of the vertical elastic member (42) pressed, so that sensitivity adjustment of the sensor (60) according to over-assembly is required.

[0087] Referring to FIGS. 2 to 4, a sensor (60) is provided on a printed circuit board (not shown) placed in a housing (10). The sensor (60) detects the distance from a touch pad (20) located on the upper side, and detects the up-and-down movement of the touch pad (20) based on changes in the distance.

[0088] A plurality of sensors (60) are formed, and each sensor (60) detects the distance from the touch pad (20) located on the upper side, and detects the forward, backward, left, and right movement of the touch pad (20) based on changes in the distance.

[0089] Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a feedback unit in a vehicle multi-switch according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0090] Referring to FIGS. 2 and 5, the feedback unit includes a feedback generation unit (70) and a vibration unit (80).

[0091] The feedback generating unit (70) is installed in the housing (10). The feedback generating unit (70) may be installed on a printed circuit board (not shown) of the housing (10). The feedback generating unit (70) is formed as a solenoid coil and can generate a magnetic field according to feedback.

[0092] The vibrating unit (80) is installed on the touchpad (20). The vibrating unit (80) is installed at a position corresponding to the feedback generating unit (70). The vibrating unit (80) may be formed of a metal plate that vibrates according to the magnetic field generated by the feedback generating unit (70).

[0093] The touchpad (20) moves due to the vibration of the vibrating part (80), so that the user can feel a feedback response according to the user input, and the vibration of the vibrating part (80) can be reduced or prevented from being transmitted to the housing (10) by the elastic member (40).

[0094] Accordingly, the vibration-sensitive electronic components of the printed circuit board (not shown) installed in the housing (10) are not affected by the vibration unit (80), and thus the lifespan can be prevented from being reduced.

[0095] In the vehicle multi-switch according to the embodiment of the present invention, the feedback unit has been described as a separate configuration, but is not limited thereto, and the feedback unit may be installed on the touchpad (20) as a single vibration motor configuration.

[0096] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the present invention can be implemented in other specific forms without altering the technical spirit or essential characteristics thereof. Therefore, the embodiments described above should be understood as illustrative in all respects and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is indicated by the scope of the claims described below rather than the detailed description above, and all changes or modifications derived from the meaning and scope of the claims and their equivalents should be interpreted as being included within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. Housing in which the printed circuit board is installed; A touchpad that is installed movably on the upper side of the housing and detects user input; An elastic member arranged between the housing and the touchpad to prevent transmission of vibration; and A multi-switch for a vehicle, comprising a sensor installed on the printed circuit board and detecting the movement of the touchpad.

2. In paragraph 1, The above housing is formed with a receiving portion in which the elastic member is received, The above touchpad is a multi-switch for a vehicle in which the insertion part inserted into the receiving part and the elastic member protrudes downward.

3. In paragraph 2, The above elastic member is, A horizontal elastic member arranged between the inner surface of the receiving portion and the outer surface of the insertion portion to buffer the forward, backward, left, and right vibrations of the touchpad; and A multi-switch for a vehicle, comprising a vertical elastic member arranged between the upper surface of the receiving portion and the lower surface of the touchpad to buffer up-and-down vibration of the touchpad.

4. In paragraph 3, The above horizontal elastic part is formed into a plurality of arc shapes having the same radius of curvature and spaced at the same angle from each other in the circumferential direction with respect to the center horizontally with respect to the ground, and provides a restoring force of the same size for forward, backward, left, and right movements.

5. In paragraph 2, Including more screws, The above screw, A screw projection inserted into the above insertion portion to form a screw connection; A screw step portion that is engaged with the insertion portion so that the screw protrusion is inserted into the insertion portion at a certain depth; and A multi-switch for a vehicle, comprising a screw head that is engaged with the housing to prevent the touchpad from being dislodged upward from the housing.

6. In paragraph 1, A feedback generating unit installed on the printed circuit board and generating a magnetic field according to the user's input; and A multi-switch for a vehicle, comprising a vibration unit installed in a portion corresponding to the feedback generating unit of the touchpad and forming vibration according to the magnetic field.

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