GB2266578A

GB2266578A - Control panel for a vehicle air conditioning system.

Info

Publication number: GB2266578A
Application number: GB9307327A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Dieter Heinle; Oliver Beck; Martin Spengler; Manfred Ohlhausen
Original assignee: Daimler Benz AG; Mercedes Benz AG
Current assignee: Daimler Benz AG; Mercedes Benz AG
Priority date: 1992-04-30
Filing date: 1993-04-07
Publication date: 1993-11-03
Anticipated expiration: 2013-04-07
Also published as: GB2266578B; JP2562780B2; FR2690657A1; IT1262362B; FR2690657B1; ITRM930250A0; GB9307327D0; JPH07257150A; DE4214178C1; ITRM930250A1

Description

2266578 A control panel for an air conditioning system in a motor vehicle

The invention relates to a control panel for an air conditioning system in a motor vehicle.

Control panels are known, for example in television and hi-fi equipment or similar to that in DE 34 09 321 C2, in which, for reasons of well organized design, secondary actuation elements which are rarely required are covered by a cover element which can be moved about an axis of rotation and which terminates flush with the front panel of the control panel. The secondary actuation elements here are arranged in an installation shaft, countersunk with respect to the front panel of the control panel. It is considered disadvantageous.that the secondary actuation elements are, as a result, difficult to identify and control, which may distract the driver of a motor vehicle and can adversely affect driving safety.

Furthermore, DE 32 46 814 Al discloses, for example, that the secondary actuation elements are accommodated in an extractable push-in module so that, when required, the secondary actuation elements are not only accessible but are also moved into an ergonomically favourable position. The disadvantage with this solution is that, constructionally, a large installation depth is required and that, in the event of a vehicle accident, a protruding push-in module increases the risk of injury in the head area.

The present invention seeks to avoid the disadvantages of the known control panels and to propose a control panel in which there is also good access to the secondary actuation elements.

According to the present invention there is provided a control panel for an air conditioning system in a -motor vehicle, having, on the one hand, freely accessible primary actuation elements and. on the other hand, secondary actuation elements which are arranged to be covered with a 2 cover element pivotable about an axis of rotation, the cover element closing, in the closed position, a recess in the front panel of the control panel in a flush manner and, in the open position, uncovering the secondary actuation elements, wherein, with an opening movement of the cover element, the control panel of the secondary actuation elements is moved into a position which is user-friendly for the operator.

In a preferred embodiment, the cover element is adapted to be swivelled away downwards and into the installation recess, after which the control panel of the secondary actuation elements which are constructed as key elements takes the place of the cover element and fills the recess in the front panel of the control panel in a virtually flush manner. In this case, the secondary actuation elements may form a control module with a circuit board which bears them and is permanently connected to the cover element, the visible surfaces of the cover element and the control panel of the secondary actuation elements form a right angle and the control module is mounted by means of two lateral holders so as to be rotatable about a horizontal axis parallel to the lower edge of the control panel.

Preferably, the closed cover element is unlockable by tapping on it in the upper area, after which it swivels up automatically. The drive energy for the movement of the cover element may be provided by the operator in a manual and mechanical fashion, for example by tensioning a spring, pneumatically, electromotively or a combination thereof, the movement being damped hydraulically or by dry friction.

The movements of the cover element and of the secondary actuation elements are preferably connected by means of a coupler mechanism and the secondary actuation elements carry out an additional translatory movement when the cover element moves over into the open position.

An embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the drawing and is described in greater detail below. In the drawing:

3 Fig. 1: shows the control panel in closed position Fig. 2: shows the control panel in open position Fig. 3: shows the movable control module in side view The embodiment in Fig. 1 shows a control panel 1 f or an air conditioning system. The control panel 1 is f illed with keys of the actuation elements 2. 12. 11 which adjoin in a flush manner, a display device 3 (for example liquid crystal display), let into the front panel 4, and the cover element 5 (in closed position). The most important functions of the air conditioning system can be switched on manually by the driver using the primary actuation elements. These are: automatic keys 2.2, 2.10 which are separate for the left-hand and right-hand side of the vehicle, four set value adjustment keys 2.1, 2.3, 2.9, 2.11 for raising or lowering the temperature separately for the left-hand and right-hand side of the vehicle and five program keys 2.3-2.8 (Defrost program 2.4, air recirculation mode 2.5, activated carbon filter mode 2.6, utilisation of the residual heat of the engine 2.7 and rear-window heater 2.9). These, in total, 11 primary actuation elements 2.1-2.11 are constantly visible and accessible.

By slightly pressing in the upper region of the cover element 5, the cover element 5 is unlocked and swivels out downwards automatically, after which the control panel of the secondary actuation elements 6.1-6.6 comes into view, as illustrated in Fig. 2. The secondary actuation elements 6.1-6.6 provide the user with the possibility of over-riding manually functions which can be controlled automatically by the air conditioning system. These are: an EC-key 6.1 (economy i.e. no compressor operation), air distribution keys 6.2, 6.5 which are separate for the left-hand and right-hand side of the vehicle, two keys for selecting blower power 6.3, 6.4 and a 0-key 6.6 for switching off the air conditioning.

As illustrated in Fig. 3, the secondary actuation 4 elements 6.1-6.6 constructed as key elements 8 are soldered onto a common circuit board 9 which is in turn rigidly mechanically connected to the cover element 5 in such a way that the surface of the cover element 5 which is visible in the closed position and the control panel of the secondary actuation elements 6.1-6.6 form a right angle. This inherently rigid arrangement forms a control module 11 which is movably connected at its two ends to in each case one lateral holder 10 via an axis 7 of rotation to the chassis of the control panel 1, the electrical contact being made to the circuit board 9 via a flexible cable (not illustrated in the drawing). Starting from a closed position (shown by broken lines), a quarter rotation of the control module 11 about the axis 7 of rotation so that the secondary actuation elements 6.1-6.6 which are constructed as key elements swivel into the recess, provided for the installation shaft 12, in the f ront panel 4 and take the place of the cover element 5 (shown by unbroken lines). In the open position, the upper edge of the cover element 5 terminates the secondary actuation elements 6.1-6.6 on the underside and serves at the same time as a lever in order to move the control module 11 manually into the closed position.

In a simple, robust and inexpensive embodiment, the drive energy for the movement of the control module 11 is provided by the operator in a manual and mechanical fashion for example by tensioning a spring, it being possible for the movement to be damped by dry friction or hydraulically. However, a pneumatic or an electromotive drive is also conceivable. In addition, there can be provision, when the cover element 5 is in the closed position, for a symbol which is illuminated and can be dimmed in night mode, to indicate the concealed functions to the operator and, when the cover element 5 is in the open position, for the secondary actuation elements 6.1-6.6 to be directly illuminated in a dimmable fashion for example by incident light, or indirectly illuminated for example by rear illumination.

In a further embodiment, it may be appropriate, in addition to a def ined initial position and limit position of the movable control module 11, to provide one or more catch points for intermediate positions so that these can also be set by the operator. A signal-generating unit (for example magnet/Hall sensor, photoelectric barrier, electric switches, potentiometers, incremental signal generators) can also be provided on the control module 11 in order to report its position to an electronic system.

It is also conceivable that the control module 11, connected for example via a coupler mechanism to the movement of the cover element 5 f should also receive a translatory movement component in addition to the rotary movement.

6

Claims

Claims

1. A control panel for an air conditioning system in a motor vehicle, having, on the one hand.. freely accessible primary actuation elements and, on the other hand, secondary actuation elements which are arranged to be covered with a cover element pivotable about an axis of rotation, the cover element closing, in the closed position, a recess in the front panel of the control panel in a flush manner and, in the open position, uncovering the secondary actuation elements, wherein, with an opening movement of the cover element, the control panel of the secondary actuation elements is moved into a position which is user-friendly for the operator.

2. A control panel according to Claim 1, wherein the cover element is adapted to be swivelled away downwards and into the installation recess, after which the control panel of the secondary actuation elements which are constructed as key elements takes the place of the cover element and fills the recess in the f ront panel of the control panel in a virtually flush manner.

3. A control panel according to Claim 2, wherein the secondary actuation elements form a control module with a circui t board which bears them and is permanently connected to the cover element, the visible surf aces of the cover element and the control panel of the secondary actuation elements form a right angle and the control module is mounted by means of two lateral holders so as to be rotatable about a horizontal axis parallel to the lower edge of the control panel.

4. A control panel according to claim 1, 2, or 3, wherein the closed cover element is unlockable by tapping on it in the upper area, after which it swivels automatically.

7 5. A control panel according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the drive energy f or the movement of the cover element is provided by the operator in a manual and mechanical fashion, for example by tensioning a spring, pneumatically, electromotively or a combination thereof, the movement being damped hydraulically or by dry friction.

6. A control panel according to any one of Claims 1 to 5, wherein the movements of the cover element and of the secondary actuation elements are connected by means of a coupler mechanism and the secondary actuation elements carry out an additional translatory movement when the cover element moves over into the open position.

7. A control panel for an air conditioning system in a motor vehicle, substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.