JP5203765B2 - Operation device for vehicle air conditioner - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an operating device that is installed on an instrument panel in a passenger compartment and operates an air conditioner mounted on a vehicle.

  The operation device of the vehicle air conditioner has a substrate installed inside the control box, and various switches provided on the substrate are operated with a rotary operation knob or a press arranged on the operation panel on the surface of the control box. The air conditioner is operated by operating the operation buttons of the formula, and the operation status can be confirmed by the liquid crystal display unit of the operation panel. In addition, the operation knob and the operation button are provided with a display portion such as a character or a pattern for displaying the operation function, and by illuminating it with a backlight such as an LED or a lamp provided in the control box, It is easy to see day and night and improves operability.

  In such an operation device, Patent Documents 1 and 2 show examples of an operation device in which a push-type operation button is configured by an embossed portion formed on an embossed sheet. In Patent Document 1, a film layer in which an embossed part is molded is provided on the back surface of the molded resin layer, and the embossed part protrudes from the through hole provided in the molded resin layer to the surface side, and is configured by the embossed part. An example of an operating device is shown in which a switch or a switch with illumination is operated by pressing an operating button.

  Further, in Patent Document 2, a front sheet having an embossed portion processed on the front surface side of the panel, a back sheet provided on the back surface side, and a switch pushed down in a through hole provided in the panel and the back sheet corresponding to the embossed portion. An operation device is disclosed in which a member is installed so as to be movable up and down, and a switch is switched by an operation of a switch depressing member that is depressed by depressing an operation button composed of an embossed portion.

JP 2005-189401 A JP 2005-233996 A

  In the operating device disclosed in Patent Document 1, a molded resin layer is provided on the surface side of a film layer formed with an embossed portion so that a three-dimensional effect and a crystal sensation appear. However, although this operation device is described as being able to create a beautiful illuminated switch by means of printing and a light source, the switch function that operates the switch by pressing the operation button, and the design surface It does not specifically disclose a configuration for achieving both a printing function and an illumination function that improves the visibility of the function buttons.

  Further, the operation device shown in Patent Document 2 requires a printed layer on the front and back surfaces of the panel, and for the operation buttons, the switch function and the display function display are distinguished, and the operation buttons are close to each other. The display unit is provided. For this reason, not only is the configuration complicated, but the function visibility of the operation buttons is low, and the panel surface becomes a printed display layer with a molded embossed part, so a deep design can be achieved. There wasn't.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and has a simple configuration, is easy to make, has a good click feeling and operation feeling of an operation button, and can provide a high-quality texture. An object of the present invention is to provide an operating device.

In order to solve the above problems, the operating device for a vehicle air conditioner of the present invention employs the following means.
That is, the operation device for a vehicle air conditioner according to the present invention operates an operation button provided on the operation panel and operates a switch installed opposite to the operation button to operate the air conditioner. In the air conditioner operation device, a transparent cover provided on the surface side of the operation panel and having a through hole formed at a position corresponding to the operation button, and provided between the transparent cover and the operation panel. An embossed sheet in which an embossed portion constituting the rising button that penetrates the through hole and the operation button that extends from the surface of the transparent cover is connected to the rising portion, and the operation button on the operation panel Correspondingly, they are integrally provided by cutting, and a rising portion and a convex portion are formed along the shape of the operation button, and are engaged with the switch. And an operating lever projecting portion is formed, the embossed sheet, the raised portion is printed in a permeable color transparency or light, is design on the back side except for the operation button and the raised portion In addition, the front side has been subjected to processing for enhancing the design effect and illumination effect on the back side design, and the operation lever is elastically deformed by the operation of the operation button to operate the switch. To do.

According to the present invention, the operation button formed on the embossed sheet is pressed, the operation lever provided corresponding to the operation button is elastically deformed, and the switch is operated by the protrusion to operate the air conditioner. can do. As a result, it is possible to obtain an operating device that has a simple configuration, is easy to make, and has a good click feeling and operating feeling for the operation buttons. In addition, since the operation button is formed in the embossed sheet so as to penetrate the transparent cover provided on the surface side by the rising portion and protrude from the surface, the operation button has a convex shape higher than that of the embossed portion. A stereoscopic effect can be imparted, and a crystal feeling can be imparted to the operation panel by the transparent cover provided on the surface. Therefore, a high-grade texture can be displayed on the operating device, and the grade can be improved. In particular, the embossed sheet is printed in a color where the raised part is transparent or light transmissive, and the design is applied to the back side excluding the operation buttons and the raised part, and the design effect on the back side design on the front side. Because the processing that enhances the lighting effect is applied, the design surface of the embossed sheet is illuminated with the light introduced from the backlight to the transparent cover, so that the high-class feeling of the design surface can be drawn out At this time, the light to be introduced into the transparent cover is set to an arbitrary illumination color by the combination of the light emission color of the backlight which has been transmitted through the start-up portion printed in the transparent or light transmission color and the light transmission color. Thus, the illumination color for the design surface or the like can be easily changed according to the user's preference. Moreover, because the surface side of the embossed sheet is subjected to a design effect on the design on the back side, a process that enhances the lighting effect, such as hard coat processing or grain coating, etc., the design surface etc. is reflected by irregularly reflecting the light introduced into the transparent cover Illuminates uniformly, and the design effect and lighting effect can be further enhanced.

  Furthermore, the operating device for a vehicle air conditioner according to the present invention is the above-described operating device for a vehicle air conditioner, wherein the rising portion of the embossed sheet and the operation lever are configured to transmit light from a backlight. It is characterized by.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to illuminate the transparent cover by introducing the light from the backlight into the transparent cover through the operation lever configured to allow the light of the backlight to pass through and the raised portion of the embossed sheet. As a result, the crystal feeling of the transparent cover can be further enhanced.

  Furthermore, the vehicle air conditioner operating device according to the present invention is the vehicle air conditioner operating device according to any one of the above-described vehicle air conditioner operating devices, wherein a display portion indicating a switch function is light on the back surface of the operation button formed on the embossed sheet. Is printed in a color that can be transmitted through.

  According to the present invention, the light from the backlight is transmitted to the display unit that is printed in a color that allows light to be transmitted on the back surface of the operation button, so that the characters and designs on the display unit are raised, and the function of the operation button Can be visually recognized. For this reason, the visibility with respect to an operation button can be improved and operation can be made easy.

  Furthermore, the vehicle air conditioner operating device according to the present invention is the vehicle air conditioner operating device according to any one of the above, wherein the embossing sheet has a rising portion that is slanted toward the operation button. It is characterized by being.

  According to the present invention, the light from the backlight is introduced into the transparent cover through the oblique start-up portion that narrows toward the operation button. For this reason, it becomes easier to introduce light into the transparent cover than in the vertical rising portion, and the illumination effect can be enhanced. In addition, the mold releasability during molding of the embossed sheet and the transparent cover can be improved, and productivity can be improved.

  Further, in the vehicle air conditioner operating device according to the present invention, in the above vehicle air conditioner operating device, the oblique start-up portion has a dome shape continuously connected to the embossed portion constituting the operation button. It is characterized by that.

  According to the present invention, the boundary between the oblique rising portion and the embossed portion constituting the operation button can be eliminated by forming the dome shape in which the oblique rising portion and the embossed portion are continuously connected. . For this reason, even if the positional relationship with the surface of the transparent cover deviates slightly, it can be made inconspicuous and the influence on the appearance of the operation buttons can be eliminated.

  Furthermore, the vehicle air conditioner operating device according to the present invention is characterized in that, in any of the above-described vehicle air conditioner operating devices, the operating lever has a rigidity on the base portion side lower than that of the other portion. And

  According to the present invention, by reducing the rigidity of the operation lever at the base portion side, it is possible to reduce the operation force when the operation button is pressed to elastically deform the operation lever. For this reason, the operation touch of an operation button can be lightened and operativity can be improved.

According to the present invention, the operation button formed on the embossed sheet is pressed, the operation lever provided corresponding to the operation button is elastically deformed, and the air conditioner is operated by operating the switch with the protrusion. Therefore, it is possible to obtain an operation device that has a simple configuration and is easy to make, and that has a good click feeling and operation feeling of the operation buttons. In addition, since the operation button is molded so as to penetrate the transparent cover and protrude from the surface thereof, the operation button can be given a three-dimensional effect more than the convex shape by embossing, and the transparent provided on the surface Since the cover can give the operation panel a crystal feeling, a high-quality texture can be displayed on the operation device, and the grade can be upgraded. In particular, the embossed sheet is printed in a color where the raised part is transparent or light transmissive, and the design is applied to the back side excluding the operation buttons and the raised part, and the design effect on the back side design on the front side. Because the processing that enhances the lighting effect is applied, the design surface of the embossed sheet is illuminated with the light introduced from the backlight to the transparent cover, so that a high-class feeling due to the design surface can be drawn out. At this time, the light to be introduced into the transparent cover is set to an arbitrary illumination color by the combination of the light emission color of the backlight which has been transmitted through the start-up portion printed in the transparent or light transmission color and the light transmission color. Thus, the illumination color for the design surface or the like can be easily changed according to the user's preference. Moreover, because the surface side of the embossed sheet is subjected to a design effect on the design on the back side, a process that enhances the lighting effect, such as hard coat processing or grain coating, etc., the design surface etc. is reflected by irregularly reflecting the light introduced into the transparent cover Illuminates uniformly, and the design effect and lighting effect can be further enhanced.

Embodiments according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
[First Embodiment]
Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3.
FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of an operating device 1 for a vehicle air conditioner according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view corresponding to the aa cross section of FIG. A plan view (B) is shown. The vehicle air conditioner operating device 1 includes a control box 2 whose surface side is a resin operating panel 3, and the operation panel 3 is provided with a liquid crystal display unit 4 for displaying an operating state of the air conditioner. ing.

  Inside the control box 2 is installed a substrate 5 in which a circuit for operating the air conditioner is installed. The substrate 5 has a tact switch (switch) 6 and a backlight for switching the operation state of the air conditioner. A plurality of LEDs 7 are provided.

  The operation panel 3 is made of a transparent resin material such as ABS resin, polycarbonate resin, or acrylic resin that can transmit light, and a plurality of operation buttons 11 are embossed in an appropriate arrangement on the surface side. An embossed sheet 10 is provided, and a transparent cover 20 made of a transparent resin material such as ABS resin, polycarbonate resin, or acrylic resin having a relatively large thickness is provided on the surface side of the embossed sheet 10. It has been. The operation panel 3 is integrally formed with operation levers 30 at a plurality of locations corresponding to the operation buttons 11.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the operation button 11 includes an embossed portion 13 that is formed in a convex shape so as to be connected to a raised portion 12 raised in a cylindrical shape from the embossed sheet 10. The embossed portion 13 is configured to protrude from the surface of the transparent cover 20. On the back surface of the embossed portion 13 constituting the operation button 11, a display portion 14 for displaying the function of the operation button 11 is printed in a color capable of transmitting light. As shown in FIG. 2A, characters “A / C” are printed on the operation button 11 of the present embodiment, which indicates that the button is for operating the air conditioner switch.

  Further, the surface of the embossed sheet 10 that is in contact with the transparent cover 20 excluding the portion where the operation button 11 and the rising portion 12 are molded is provided with a hard coat processing or a grain coating 15 on the back surface. An appropriate design 16 is printed. Furthermore, it is assumed that the start-up unit 12 is transparent so that light can be transmitted, or has been printed with a transparent color capable of transmitting light.

  The transparent cover 20 is provided so as to cover the entire surface of the embossed sheet 10 except for the operation button 11, and a through hole 21 through which the cylindrical rising portion 12 passes is formed in a portion corresponding to the operation button 11. It is installed. The embossed sheet 10 may be a thin sheet of about 0.2 mm or less, for example, but the transparent cover 20 desirably has a plate thickness of about 1.5 mm or more in order to emphasize depth and stereoscopic effect.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the operation lever 30 is integrally formed by inserting a slit-shaped cut 31 in the operation panel 2, and is configured to constitute the operation button 11 provided on the embossed sheet 10. A raised portion 32 and a convex portion 33 that are similar to the raised portion 12 and the embossed portion 13 are formed. Further, a protrusion 34 extending downward is provided on the lever tip side of the operation lever 30, and the tip thereof is engaged with the tact switch 6 (see FIG. 2A).

  Further, the operating lever 30 has a hole 35 punched out on the root side, and the thickness of the lever portion left on both sides of the hole 35 is made thinner than the thickness of the other portion. Thereby, the rigidity of the base portion side of the operation lever 30 is made lower than the rigidity of the other portions, and the operation force when the switch 6 is operated can be reduced by pressing the operation button 11 to elastically deform the operation lever 30. I have to. Since the operation lever 30 is made of a transparent resin integrally with the operation panel 3, light can be transmitted therethrough.

With the configuration described above, according to the present embodiment, the following operational effects can be obtained.
When the air conditioner is operated, the backlight LED 7 is turned on, and the illumination light passes through the operation lever 30 and the display unit 14 of the operation button 11. Thereby, since the display part 14 is illuminated by predetermined brightness | luminance, the operator can confirm the function of each operation button 11 by visually recognizing the illuminated display part 14 irrespective of the brightness of surroundings. Then, when changing the operation content, it is possible to change the operation content by selecting the desired button 11 and operating the tact switch 6 by pressing the button 11.

  For example, when switching the air suction to the air conditioner from the outside air introduction state to the inside air introduction state, the operator may select the operation button 11 on which a pattern or the like of the inside air circulation is displayed and press the operation button 11. The pressing force of the operation button 11 is transmitted to the convex portion 33 of the operation lever 30 as it is, and the operation lever 30 is bent and elastically deformed downward with the base portion side as a fulcrum. As a result, the protrusion 34 engaged with the switch 6 operates the switch 6, and the inside / outside air switching damper is replaced with the inside air introduction side. In this manner, the air conditioner can be operated by operating the operation button 11 having a predetermined function and operating the corresponding switch 6.

  Therefore, the configuration of the operation button 11 is a simple and simple configuration having no sliding parts such as knobs and sliders, so that the operation button 11 can be easily built and the cost can be reduced by reducing the number of components. Can be achieved. In addition, since the operation lever 30 is provided with a rising portion 32 and a convex portion 33 that are similar in shape to the operation button 11, there is no response delay due to the depression of the embossed portion 13 of the operation button 11, and the operation button 11 is clicked. Feeling and operation feeling can be kept good.

  Furthermore, since the operation lever 30 has low rigidity on the base side, the operation force when the button 11 is pressed to deform the operation lever 30 can be reduced. Therefore, the touch of the operation button 11 can be lightened and the operational feeling can be improved. Further, since it is not necessary to guide light from the LED 7 that illuminates the display unit 14 of the operation button 11 with a prism or the like, the illumination structure can be simplified. In addition, since the character and the picture of the display unit 14 can be raised by the light from the LED 7, the visibility of the function of the operation button 11 can be improved and the operation can be facilitated.

  Further, since the surface side of the embossed sheet 10 is covered with the transparent cover 20 and the operation button 11 is projected from the surface of the transparent cover 20 by the rising portion 12 penetrating the transparent cover 20, A depth corresponding to the thickness and a three-dimensional effect can be displayed, and the operation button 11 can be provided with a three-dimensional effect more than a convex shape by the embossed portion 13. At the same time, a crystal feeling can be produced by the transparent cover 20. As a result, a high-grade texture can be displayed on the controller device 1 and the grade can be improved.

  In particular, as shown in FIG. 2A, the light from the LED 7 is introduced into the transparent cover 20 through the transparent operation lever 30 and the rising portion 12 of the embossed sheet 10 (see the arrow), and the transparent cover 20 is illuminated. Because it is made possible, it makes the crystal feeling stand out and give it a more luxurious feel. Furthermore, since the design 16 is printed on the back surface of the embossed sheet 10 and the design 16 can be illuminated by the light introduced into the transparent cover 20, it is possible to further bring out a high-class feeling due to the design surface.

  In addition, since the surface of the embossed sheet 10 on the side of the transparent cover 20 is subjected to hard coat processing or grain coating 15, the light introduced into the transparent cover 20 is diffusely reflected by the hard coat processing or grain coating 15 to provide a design. The surface 16 and the like can be illuminated uniformly. For this reason, the design effect and the illumination effect can be further enhanced. Furthermore, by printing the light-transmitting color on the rising portion 12 of the embossed sheet 10, the light introduced into the transparent cover 20 can be arbitrarily illuminated by a combination of the printing color of the printing and the emission color of the LED 7. Can be set to color. As a result, the illumination color for the design surface or the like can be easily changed according to the user's preference.

[Second Embodiment]
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
This embodiment differs from the first embodiment described above in the configuration of the rising portion 12A on which the embossed sheet 10 is formed. Since other points are the same as those in the first embodiment, description thereof will be omitted.
In the present embodiment, the rising portion 12A raised from the embossed sheet 10 is an oblique rising portion 12A that gradually narrows toward the embossed portion 13 constituting the operation button 11, as shown in FIG. Yes. That is, the diagonally rising portion 12 </ b> A has a dome shape continuously connected to the embossed portion 13 constituting the operation button 11.

  As described above, the rising portion 12A is an inclined rising portion 12A that gradually narrows toward the embossed portion 13, so that the light from the LED 7 can be compared with the vertical rising portion 12 shown in the first embodiment. It becomes easy to be introduced into the transparent cover 20. For this reason, the illumination effect can be further enhanced. In addition, the mold releasability when forming the obliquely raised portion 12A, the embossed portion 13 and the through hole 21 with respect to the embossed sheet 10 and the transparent cover 20 can be improved, and the productivity can be increased.

  Furthermore, since the diagonally raised portion 12A has a dome shape continuously connected to the embossed portion 13 constituting the operation button 11, the boundary between the obliquely raised portion 12A and the embossed portion 13 can be eliminated. . Thereby, even if the positional relationship with the surface of the transparent cover 20 is slightly deviated, it is not conspicuous, the influence on the appearance of the operation button 11 is eliminated, and the appearance can be kept good.

  In addition, this invention is not limited to the invention concerning the said embodiment, In the range which does not deviate from the summary, it can change suitably. For example, the number and shape of the operation buttons 11 and the design of the display unit 14 that displays the function thereof can be variously changed, and needless to say, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment. Of course, the control box 2 and the operation panel 3 are appropriately shielded so that light does not leak from other than necessary portions.

1 is an external perspective view of an operating device for a vehicle air conditioner according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view corresponding to aa in FIG. 1 (A) and a plan view of the operation buttons (B). It is sectional drawing of the operation button shaping | molding part of the embossing sheet which comprises the operating device for vehicle air conditioners shown in FIG. It is sectional drawing (A) of the operating lever which comprises the operating device for vehicle air conditioners shown in FIG. 1, and its top view (B). It is sectional drawing of the principal part of the operating device for vehicle air conditioners concerning 2nd Embodiment of this invention.

1 Operation device for vehicle air conditioner 3 Operation panel 6 Tact switch (switch)
7 Backlight LED
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Embossed sheet 11 Operation button 12 Raising part 12A Slant raising part 13 Embossing part 14 Display part 15 Hard coat processing or grain coating 16 Design 20 Transparent cover 21 Through-hole 30 Operation lever 31 Notch 32 Raising part 33 Convex part 34 Projection 35 hole

Claims (6)

In an operation device for a vehicle air conditioner that operates an air conditioner by operating an operation button provided on an operation panel and operating a switch installed opposite to the operation button.
A transparent cover provided on the surface side of the operation panel and having a through hole formed at a position corresponding to the operation button;
An embossed portion that is provided between the transparent cover and the operation panel and that constitutes the operation button that protrudes from the surface of the transparent cover that is connected to the rising portion and that protrudes from the surface of the transparent cover is formed. Embossed sheet,
The operation panel is integrally provided by cutting corresponding to the operation button, and a rising portion and a convex portion are formed along the shape of the operation button, and a projection portion that engages with the switch is formed. And an operating lever
The embossed sheet is printed in a color in which the raised portion is transparent or light transmissive, and a design is applied to the back side excluding the operation button and the raised portion, and the design on the back side is applied to the front side. Processing that enhances the design effect and lighting effect has been applied,
An operating device for a vehicle air conditioner, wherein the operating lever is elastically deformed by operating the operating button to operate the switch.   2. The vehicle air conditioner operating device according to claim 1, wherein the rising portion of the embossed sheet and the operation lever are configured to transmit light from a backlight. 3. The vehicle air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein a display portion representing a switch function is printed in a color capable of transmitting light on a back surface of the operation button formed on the embossed sheet. Operating device. The operating device for a vehicle air conditioner according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , wherein the rising portion of the embossed sheet is an obliquely rising portion that narrows toward the operation button side. 5. The operating device for a vehicle air conditioner according to claim 4 , wherein the diagonally rising portion has a dome shape continuously connected to the embossed portion constituting the operation button. The operating lever, the vehicle air-conditioner operating device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the rigidity of the root portion side is lower than the rigidity of the other portions.

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