Trw Automotive Electronics & Components Gmbh

Harald Koehnlein

Joachim Korherr

Ulrich Backes

Joachim Koherr

A symbol display element for a vehicle interior is proposed, which comprises a front cover formed by a diffusing lens. A shadow mask is arranged in the optical path between the diffusing lens and a plurality of point light sources which can be activated separately, and includes for each point light source an associated symbol which is projected in an enlarged manner onto the rear side of the diffusing lens upon activation of the corresponding point light source. With this easily realizable configuration of the display element, the different symbols share a common display surface on the diffusing lens which acts as a rear projection screen.

Symbol display element for a vehicle interior

A pushbutton switch array is proposed which provides an illuminatable operating surface and manages with only few light sources without requiring any separate optical waveguide structures. The pushbutton switch array has a frame which is covered by a transparent film and includes recesses which have actuating elements accommodated therein for displacement. The actuating elements are configured to have light-guiding and light-coupling structures. A shared light source is, or only few shared light sources are, optically coupled to the light-coupling structures of the actuating elements which, for their part, are optically coupled to each other by adjoining light-coupling structures. The light-guiding structures guide the light coupled into the actuating elements to the actuating surface adjacent to the film. The actuating elements may be provided with symbols on their actuating surface adjoining the film, the symbols being visible through the film. Preferably, however, it is the film itself which is provided with symbols and/or legends which are assigned to the actuating elements arranged therebehind. These symbols are then illuminated by the actuating elements.

Group of momentary-contact switches as control panel which can be illuminated in motor vehicles

A pushbutton switch array is proposed which provides a uniform operating surface in which switching units are distinguished from dummy elements only by symbols provided on the switching units and the switching units are realized with few functional parts. The pushbutton switch array has a frame which is covered by a transparent film and includes recesses which selectively have an actuating element accommodated therein for displacement or a dummy element accommodated therein so as to be non-displaceable. The actuating elements are provided with symbols on the surface thereof facing the film and hold a printed circuit board at the opposite end. The printed circuit board carries a switch element that cooperates with a contact element on an opposite base plate. The transparent film, which completely covers the frame along with the actuating elements and the dummy elements, provides a continuous smooth surface. Arranged behind the film are the actuating elements, which are identifiable only by the selectively illuminated symbols.

Contact switches in a uniform control panel

An optical display element () made up of selectively illuminatable concentric rings () is provided, in which the rings () are obtained by the light exit surface () of a respective optical waveguide body (). Each optical waveguide body () has a light entry surface () which couples light in from an associated light source () which is adapted to be selectively activated. The light entry surface (), as related to the common axis (), has a larger radial extent than the light exit surface (). Further, the optical waveguide bodies () have directly radially adjacent light-blocking side surfaces (). Owing to this configuration, it is solely the optical waveguide bodies () which determine the geometry of the concentric rings (). Since the optical waveguide bodies () can be manufactured with high precision, the intended close tolerances are obtained. In this way, radial distances between the rings () of only approximately 0.2 mm or less can be achieved.

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Hilzingen, Germany

Harald Koehnlein