Abstract:
An operational element receives manipulation and moves relative to a base. A light source emits light. A visor is extended from the base and is located on an upper side of the light source.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates to an illuminated operational device. 
     BACKGROUND 
     For example, a user may manipulate various operational devices such as a knob and/or a lever to operate a device. An operational device may have additional visual effect. 
     SUMMARY 
     According to an aspect of the preset disclosure, an operational element may be configured to receive manipulation and movable relative to the base. A light source may be configured to emit light. A visor may be extended from the base and located on an upper side of the light source. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description made with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings: 
         FIG. 1  is an exploded view showing components of an operational device of a first embodiment; 
         FIG. 2  is a partially sectional view showing the operational device; 
         FIG. 3  is a top view showing the operational device; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view showing an operational device of a second embodiment; 
         FIG. 5  is a partially sectional view showing the operational device of the second embodiment; 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view showing an operational device of a third embodiment; 
         FIG. 7  is a partially sectional view showing the operational device of the third embodiment; 
         FIG. 8  is a top view showing the operational device of the third embodiment; 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view showing an operational device of a fourth embodiment; and 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective view showing an operational device of a fourth embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     (First Embodiment) 
     As follows, a first embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to drawings. In the description, a height direction is along an arrow represented by “HEIGHT” in drawing(s). A radial direction is along an arrow represented by “RADIAL” in drawing(s). A circumferential direction is along an arrow represented by “CIRCUMFERENTIAL” in drawing(s). 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , in the example, an operational device  1  may include a knob  10 , a bezel  20 , a base plate  40 , a visor  50 , an encoder  80 , and a display device  90 . 
     The knob  10  may include a top wall  12  and a sidewall  14 , which may be integrally molded of an opaque plastic material by injection molding. The opaque plastic material may be, for example, ABS resin. The top wall  12  may be in a circular plate shape. The sidewall  14  may be in a tubular shape extending in the circumferential direction. The knob  10  may expand from the top wall  12  to the bottom to form a chamfered conical shape. The sidewall  14  may form a round tapered surface. The knob may function as an operational element. 
     The bezel  20  may be integrally molded of an opaque plastic material such as ABS resin. The bezel  20  may be in an annular shape extending in the circumferential direction and having a width in the radial direction. 
     The display device  90  may include a screen  92 , a light conductor  94 , and a light source  96 . The display device  90  may be, for example, an LCD display having, for example, a full-color dot-matrix configuration with multiple pixels  98  ( FIG. 2 ), which may be selectively activated. More specifically, the display device  90  may be an active matrix display such as a TFT LCD display and may be configured to indicate, for example, a full-color moving picture on the screen  92 . The display device  90  may indicate a symbol  110  in various forms such as a graphic pattern, a letter, and/or a gradation image. In the example of  FIG. 1 , the symbol  110  may be numerical letters  110 . 
     The display device  90  may accommodate a driver circuit for controlling activation of the pixels  98 , the light source  96 , and an I/O device. The I/O device may be connectable with an electronic control device (ECU)  100  of a vehicle to receive an electric power and to exchange graphic information related to the indication with the ECU  100 . The ECU  100  may control the display device  90  to indicate various information, such as infotainment contents information, navigation information, operation icons, and/or the like. 
     The light conductor  94  may be affixed to a rear surface of the screen  92 . The light conductor  94  may be in a plate shape and may be formed of a non-opaque material. The non-opaque light-conductive material may be formed of acrylic resin (PMMA) or polycarbonate resin. The light source  96  may be located at an edge of the light conductor  94 . The light source  96  may be LED and/or a fluorescence tube to emit, for example, white light. The display device  90  may have an edge-light configuration. Specifically, the light source  96  may emit light to the edge of the light conductor  94 , and the light conductor  94  may irregularly reflect the light internally to diffuse the light toward the screen  92 . In this way, the light conductor  94  may illuminate the screen  92  from the backside. Thus, the display device  90  may function as a light source to emit light through the screen  92 . The display device  90  may have a circular center hole  90   a  ( FIG. 2 ) around which the knob  10  and the bezel  20  are mounted coaxially with each other. 
     In another example, the display device  90  may employ a backlight configuration including a light source located behind the screen to emit light from the backside of the screen. In another example, the display device  90  may employ an organic EL display. The display device  90  may be an organic EL display having a self-luminous configuration without an additional light source. 
     The base plate (base)  40  may be a part of a control panel and/or a head unit of the vehicle. The base plate  40  may be opaque and may be formed of resin such as ABS resin. The base plate  40  may be equipped on the front side of the display device  90  such that the base plate  40  covers a part of the display device  90 . In the example, the base plate  40  may have a line-symmetric structure in which the right side and the left side in  FIG. 1  are symmetric relative to the center in  FIG. 1 . As follows, one side of the base plate  40  will be described as a representative example. The base plate  40  may have an inner periphery  40   a , which linearly extends, and a dent  42 , which is recessed inward form the inner periphery  40   a . In the present example, the dent  42  may be in a trapezoidal shape. 
     The base plate  40  may be equipped with the visor  50 . The visor  50  may be integrally formed with the base plate  40  to extend from a periphery  42   a  of the dent  42 . In the example, the visor  50  may be formed of one center plate portion  52  and two side plate portions  54 , which are integrated with the periphery  42   a  of the dent  42 . The center plate portion  52  may be interposed between the two side plate portions  54  and inclined relative to the two side plate portions  54 . The center plate portion  52  may be in a rectangular shape. The side plate portion  54  may be in a triangular shape. The center plate portion  52  may be interposed between the side plate portions  54  and may be inclined relative to the side plate portions  54 . 
     Each of the center plate portion  52  and the side plate portions  54  may be inclined relative to the screen  92  such that the visor  50  forms an opening  50   a . The opening  50   a  may have a cross section in a trapezoidal shape enlarged from the periphery  42   a  of the dent  42  toward a brim of the visor  50 . The visor  50  and the dent  42  may form a hollow space  50   b  to which the screen  92  is exposed. The opening  50   a  of the visor  50  may have a cross section in various shapes such as a semicircular shape and/or a semioval shape. 
     The encoder  80  may include a rotary detector and a shaft  82 . The rotary detector may include a hall element and a magnet. The hall element may generate a detection signal according to an intensity of a magnetic flux generated from the magnet to pass through the hall element. The shaft  82  may be rotationally supported by the rotary detector. The rotary detector may detect a rotational position of the shaft  82  according to intensity of the magnetic flux. The encoder  80  may transmit the detection signal to the ECU  100 . The encoder  80  may be mounted on a printed circuit board (PCB)  180  ( FIG. 2 ). 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the display device  90  may be affixed to the rear side of base plate  40 . The bezel  20  may be mounted on the front side of the screen  92  to be coaxial with the center hole  90   a  of the display device  90 . The encoder  80  may be located behind the display device  90  such that the shaft  82  of the encoder  80  is coaxial with the center hole  90   a  of the display device  90  and is protruded through the center hole  90   a . The knob  10  may be affixed to the shaft  82  from the front side of the screen  92  such that the knob  10  may be rotational with the shaft  82 . Thus, the knob  10  may be rotational relative to the bezel  20 , the screen  92 , and the base plate  40 . A user may be enabled to manipulate the knob  10 . 
     The visor  50  may have a reflective surface  60  opposed to the dent  42 . The reflective surface  60  may be formed by, for example, plating the inner surface of the visor  50  with reflective material such as chrome. The reflective surface  60  may be formed by, for example, adhering a reflective sheet on the inner surface of the visor  50 . 
     In  FIG. 1 , each of the center plate portion  52  and the side plate portions  54  may have a part of the reflective surface  60 . The corresponding part of the reflective surface  60  of each of the center plate portion  52  and the side plate portions  54  may be angled relative to the screen  92  such that light emitted from the screen  92  and reflected on the reflective surface  60  of the visor  50  is directed toward a lateral surface  14   a  of the knob  10 . 
     In  FIG. 2 , the screen  92  may have pixels  98  selectively activated according to the signal from the ECU. The light source  96  emits light, and the light conductor  94  diffuses the light internally to direct the light toward the screen  92  in a wide region. The activated or deactivated pixel  98  may pass the light therethrough toward the visor  50  and a user, while modifying the color and intensity of the light. The light reflected on the reflective surface  60  of the visor  50  may be directed to the lateral surface  14   a  of the knob  10  to illuminate the lateral surface  14   a . Thus, the lateral surface  14   a  having the tapered round surface may be partially or entirely illuminated. The illumination may be controlled by modifying the color, intensity, and/or activated/deactivated region of the pixels  98 . In the example, a part of the screen  92  concealed behind the visor  50  may function as a light source. 
     The symbol  110  indicated on the screen  92  may be viewed as an indication by a user  5  through a clearance between the visor  50  and the knob  10 . Thus, the user  5  may view combination of the illumination on the lateral surface  14   a  of the knob  10  and the indication (e.g., symbol  110 ) on the screen  92  viewable through the clearance. 
     In  FIG. 3 , the screen  92  may indicate a symbol  120  and/or  130  behind the visor  50 . The symbol  120  and/or  130  may be reflected on the reflective surface  60  of the visor  50  and directed toward the lateral surface  14   a  of the knob  10 . Thus, the symbol  120  and/or  130  may be projected on the lateral surface  14   a  of the knob  10 . The symbol  120  and/or  130  may be, for example, a letter, a gauge, and/or a graphical image. In the example of  FIG. 3 , the screen  92  may indicate gauges  120  to project the gauges  120  on the lateral surface  14   a  of the knob  10  on the left side in the drawing. The screen  92  may indicate an image  130  to project the image  130  on the lateral surface  14   a  of the knob  10  on the right side in the drawing. The ECU  100  may create the symbol  120  and/or  130  according to an operating condition of the vehicle such as a speed, engine revolution, traffic condition, and/or the like. 
     In  FIG. 3 , a part of the reflective surface  60  of the side plate portion  54  may reflect a portion of the gauge  120  toward the lateral surface  14   a  of the knob  10  thereby to project the portion of the gauge  120  at an angled position on the lateral surface  14   a.    
     The operational device  1  may be employed for various operational devices such as an operational console of an air conditioning device to set a set temperature of a cabin of the vehicle. 
     (Second Embodiment) 
     As shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , in the example, an operational device  201  may not include the display device  90  described in the first embodiment. In  FIG. 4 , the knob  10  and the bezel  20  may be mounted on a base plate  240 . A light conductor  294  may be in an arc shape or in a bent shape extending along a periphery  242   a  of a dent  242 . The light conductor  294  may surround the knob  10  and the bezel  20 . The light conductor  294  may be formed of a non-opaque material. 
     Symbols  210  may be printed on the surface of the base plate  240 . In the example, the symbols  210  may not be modifiable. 
     In  FIG. 5 , the light conductor  294  may be concealed behind the visor  50  from a viewpoint of a user  5 . The light conductor  294  may be extended in the height direction from the rear side of the base plate  240  though the base plate  240  into the dent  242 . Multiple light sources  296  may be equipped on the PCB  180  such that the light sources  296  are faced to a backside of the light conductor  294 . In the example, each of the light sources  296  may emit light through the backside (rear surface) of the light conductor  294  into the light conductor  294 . The light conductor  294  may diffuse the light therethough and may irradiate the light in an angular range toward the reflective surface  60  behind the visor  50 . The reflective surface  60  of the visor  50  may reflect the light toward the lateral surface  14   a  of the knob  10 . In the example, the light conductor  294  and the light source  296  may function as a light source. 
     (Third Embodiment) 
     As shown in  FIGS. 6 to 8 , in the example, an operational device  301  may include a knob  310 . The knob  310  may include an inner light conductor  330 . In  FIGS. 6 and 7 , the inner light conductor  330  may include a tubular portion  332 , a tapered portion  334 , and a disc portion  336 , which may be integrally formed of a non-opaque material. The tubular portion  332  may be in a tubular shape and may extend in the height direction. The disc portion  336  may be in a disc shape extending in the circumferential direction and having a width in the radial direction. The tapered portion  334  connects the tubular portion  332  with the disc portion  336 . The tapered portion  334  may have a tapered inner surface  334   a  inclined relative to both the height direction and the radial direction. 
     In  FIG. 7 , light emitted from the light conductor  294  may be reflected on the reflective surface  60  of the visor  50  toward a lateral surface  314   a  of a sidewall  314  of the knob  310 . The light may incident through a circumferential periphery of the disc portion  336  to be reflected on the tapered inner surface  334   a  of the tapered portion  334 . Thus, the light may be directed upward in the height direction to pass through the tubular portion  332 . 
     In  FIG. 8 , the light reflected on the reflective surface  60  of the visor  50  may be directed toward the lateral surface  314   a  of the sidewall  314  of the knob  310 . The light may also illuminate the circumferential periphery of the disc portion  336 . The light passing though the tubular portion  332  may illuminate a portion of the end surface of the tubular portion  332  on the side of the visor  50 . 
     (Fourth Embodiment) 
     As shown in  FIG. 9 , in the example, an operational device  401  may include a knob  410 . A lateral surface  414   a  of a sidewall  414  of the knob  410  may have multiple grooves  418 . Each of the grooves  418  may be dent  242  from the lateral surface  414   a  to have a semicircular cross section. The groove  418  may be extended linearly in the height direction. The groove  418  may have a bottom surface forming a reflective surface  418   a . Specifically, the bottom surface of the groove  418  may be plated with a reflective material such as chrome. The reflective surface  418   a  of the groove  418  may reflect light from the reflective surface  60  of the visor  50 . The reflected light may be directed toward the viewpoint of a user  5 . The reflective surface  418   a  of the groove  418  may produce a luster different from that of the lateral surface  414   a.    
     (Fifth Embodiment) 
     As shown in  FIG. 10 , in the example, an operational device  501  may include a lever  510 , instead of the knob  310  in the above embodiments. The lever  510  may function as an operational element. 
     The lever  510  may be in a chamfered conical shape. The lever  510  may be a cross key having four arrow keys corresponding to four directions. The lever  510  may be pivoted on a bezel  520  and may be configured to be inclined relative to the base plate  40 . The lever  510  may press an internal switch (encoder) when a corresponding arrow key is depressed by a user to incline the lever  510  relative to the base plate  40 . 
     The internal switch may be connected with the ECU  100  and may send a signal to the ECU  100 . Thus, the ECU  100  may detect depression of the arrow key. For example, a user may manipulate the operational device  501  to instruct a direction to move a cursor on a screen of a infotainment device. The lever may be a lever or a joystick. 
     (Other Example) 
     The elements of the embodiments may be partially or entirely replaced with each other or combined with each other. The display device may be employed in the second to firth embodiment. The knob in the third to fourth embodiment may be employed in the first embodiment. The display device of the first embodiment may be combined with the light source and/or the light conductor of the second to fifth embodiments. The reflective surface  60  may be omitted from the visor  50 . 
     It should be appreciated that while the processes of the embodiments of the present disclosure have been described herein as including a specific sequence of steps, further alternative embodiments including various other sequences of these steps and/or additional steps not disclosed herein are intended to be within the steps of the present disclosure. 
     While the present disclosure has been described with reference to preferred embodiments thereof, it may be to be understood that the disclosure is not limited to the preferred embodiments and constructions. The present disclosure is intended to cover various modification and equivalent arrangements. In addition, while the various combinations and configurations, which are preferred, other combinations and configurations, including more, less or only a single element, are also within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.