Patent Publication Number: US-2004042623-A1

Title: Modular bezel design for an automotive entertainment system

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001] This invention generally relates to an entertainment system installed in a motor vehicle. More specifically to a two-piece bezel assembly installed in the entertainment system of the motor vehicle.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002] Today&#39;s automobiles come with complete entertainment systems installed in them. Current entertainment systems are generally designed and manufactured separately according to the particular features available on a specific model. Existing radio bezels exhibit considerable complexity to account for different functions and to meet various market requirements. A given base model of radio may have several design derivatives that have unique features associated with the buttons to implement different features such as clock versions, digital signal processing (DSP) features, noise reduction, etc. These features require unique plastic bezel assemblies with the associated button differences.  
       [0003] Referring to FIG. 1, a typical bezel assembly installed in an interior of an automobile is shown and designated by reference numeral  200 . As seen, the bezel assembly  200  comprises a front panel  210  and a back panel  212 . In order to mount the buttons  214  to implement different features or functions, the back side  211  of the front panel  210  is provided with a plurality of button mounts  216 . These button mounts  216  are unique to the kind of control buttons  214  used in a bezel assembly  200 . Therefore, in case a customer or a car manufacturer desires a different size and shape control button, it would essentially require retooling of the entire bezel assembly. Additionally, due to packaging of the bezel assembly, the control buttons may only be mounted to the back  211  of the front panel  210 . This limits the number of control buttons  214  that may be mounted to the bezel assembly  200 .  
       [0004] Yet another drawback of the prior art is that since the front panel  214  is the Class A surface, manufacturing the front panel with the button mounts is expensive. Additionally, during the manufacturing of the front panel, each button mount may cause surface flaw that is very expensive to fix.  
       [0005] Consequently, in order to reduce costs and tooling time of the bezel assembly, it is highly desirable to utilize a common back panel for all radio models in a given product family, with only front panel variations.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0006] In accordance with one of the preferred embodiments of the present invention, a bezel assembly is provided for an entertainment system. The bezel assembly comprises a control panel and a front panel.  
       [0007] In the preferred embodiment, the control panel is provided with multiple mounting features for mounting various electronic components. The control panel includes an optical disc guide for receiving a DVD, CD or a MP3 disc. The control panel further includes mounting points for mounting controls. The front panel is provided with corresponding holes such that the controls can be operated by the occupant of the motor vehicle. In the preferred embodiment, the size and the shape of the holes on the front panel correspond to the size and shape of the controls. 
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0008] Further features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following discussion and the accompanying drawings in which:  
     [0009]FIG. 1 is a exploded view of the back of the front panel and the back panel of a bezel assembly according to the prior art;  
     [0010]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an interior of a motor vehicle incorporating the bezel assembly in accordance with the teachings of the present invention;  
     [0011]FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing that two illustrative bezel assemblies in accordance with the teachings of the present invention, capable of being assembled to create the entertainment system;  
     [0012]FIG. 4 is an front exploded view of a bezel assembly, in accordance with the teachings of the present invention;  
     [0013]FIG. 5 is an back exploded view of a bezel assembly, seen in FIG. 4;  
     [0014]FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the bezel assembly, seen in FIG. 4 as assembled, in accordance with the teachings of the present invention; and  
     [0015]FIG. 7 is a second embodiment of a bezel assembly in accordance with the teachings of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
     [0016] The following description of the preferred embodiment is merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the invention or its application or uses.  
     [0017] A representative motor vehicle incorporating the features of the present invention is shown in FIG. 2 and generally designated by referenced number  10 . The motor vehicle&#39;s interior compartment  12  includes an instrument panel  14 . The instrument panel  14  is generally installed in the vicinity of and beneath a windshield (not shown) in the motor vehicle  10 . The instrument panel  14 , which functions to incorporate a number of controls easily accessible to an occupant of a motor vehicle, typically comprises a steering wheel system  16  installed in the driver side, a glove compartment (not shown) installed in the passenger side of the motor vehicle  10  and a central console  20 .  
     [0018] The central console  20  typically includes a plurality of controls easily accessible to an occupant of the motor vehicle  10  to adjust a number of user options provided in any motor vehicle. Typically such controls include an HVAC ventilation  22 , a display unit  23  associated with the HVAC system for displaying the temperature of the interior of the motor vehicle and/or the temperature outside the motor vehicle, the intensity or the speed of the blower unit and other features such as time and the distance traveled by the motor vehicle  10 . The central console  20  also includes an entertainment system  24 . The central console  20  may or may not include all of the above features. Typically, the central console  20  is an integral part of the instrument panel  14  although it is possible to make the central console  20  modular and separate from the instrument panel  14 .  
     [0019] Referring in particular to FIG. 3, the entertainment system  24  comprises a housing  26  and a bezel assembly  28  attached to the housing  26 . The housing  26  is fixedly attached to the central console  20  and is preferably nested in a cavity (not shown) provided in the central console  20 . Alternatively, the housing  26  can be an integral part of the central console  20  or the housing  26  can be a stand alone unit sold separately from the instrument panel. In the preferred embodiment the housing  26  located therein a control assembly comprising a main micro-processor (not shown) and other micro-controller chips (not shown) and devices to implement the audio and video functions of the entertainment system  24 . The housing  26  also includes a bezel connector  30  so as to electrically connect the bezel assembly  28  to the housing  26 . The housing  26  is connected to a speaker unit (not shown). Preferably, the housing  26  is also connected to a navigation system (not shown) and an external antenna (not shown) typically present in any motor vehicle.  
     [0020] With continued reference to FIG. 3, the housing  26  is rectangular in shape and comprises sides  32  and  34 , that are parallel to each other. The rear ends of the sides  32  and  34  are connected by a back plate  36 . As described herein, the back and front of the housing  26  are with reference to the occupant in the vehicle, the front facing the occupant. In order to protect the electronic therein from external elements, the housing  26  may be provided with a top (not shown) and bottom  37 . As discussed above, the housing  26  is located inside a cavity provided in the central console  20  such that the housing  26  is horizontally oriented. The bezel assembly  28  is attached between the sides  32  and  34  of the housing  26  such that the bezel assembly  28  is located on a front plate  38  of the housing, substantially parallel to the back plate  36 .  
     [0021] As seen in FIGS. 3, 4 and  5 , the bezel assembly  28  is preferably of a two piece construction and comprises a control panel  40  and a front panel  42 . The front panel  42  is attached to the control panel  40 . The control panel  40  typically functions as a vehicle interface unit between the vehicular occupant and the electronics located within the housing  26 . As shown, the control panel  40  with reference to the vehicular occupant has a front face  44  (shown in FIG. 4) and a back face  46  (as shown in FIG. 5) facing the housing  26 . In order to mount the control panel  40  to the housing  26 , the control panel  40  preferably has a housing mount  47  extending generally off of and preferably perpendicular from the back face  46  of the control panel. As shown, the housing mount  47  has a plurality of openings  48  to insert a fastener, screw or other means to attach the control panel  40  to the housing  26 . Alternatively, the control panel  40  and the housing  26  can be provided with fasteners enabling a snap fit construction such that the control panel  40  is snap fitted into the housing  26 . Preferably, the control panel  40  is made of plastic and is formed by an injection molding process. Alternatively, the control panel  40  may be formed of metal or other materials formed by other processes. While it is preferred that the control panel  40  is formed as a separate piece removable from the housing  26 , it may be formed as an integral or a unitary part of the housing  26 .  
     [0022] With reference to FIGS. 4 and 5, the control panel  40  has a plurality of features associated with it to allow the entertainment system to perform its functions. As shown in the figures, the control panel  40  has a guide slot  50  for inserting an optical disc such as a DVD/CD/MP3 disc. The control panel  40  also has a rectangular cut-out  53  extending horizontally across the control panel  40 . A plurality of control mounts  52  are positioned immediately above the cut-out  53 . The control mounts  52  are used to mount controls  54  to the control panel  40  such that they align in front of the cut-out  53 . The control mounts  52  are preferably formed by a “T-shaped” recess  49  defined on the front face  44  of the control panel  40 . The recess  49  interact with the pivots  51  formed on the controls  54  so as to retain the pivots  51  within the recess  49 . Alternatively, the control mounts  52  may be formed on both the front face  44  and the back face  46  of the control panel  40 . These controls  54  are capable of performing pre-defined functions when electrically connected through a circuit board to the electronics located within the housing  26 . The pre-defined functions may include volume control, fast forwarding, rewind functions, etc. Preferably, the plurality of controls  54  is in form of hinge button (as shown). Alternatively, the plurality of controls  54  can be in form of push buttons or touch pad. The plurality of controls  54  can be of different size and shape depending on the preference of the motor vehicle manufacturer or the vehicular occupant. For example, it is possible to have the controls  54  that have a circular shape, a rectangular shape or an oval shape. It must be understood that these shapes are only listed as an example and do not prevent other shapes that the controls  54  may have. The size and shape of the controls  54  are only for aesthetic purpose and does not affect the function of the control panel  40  or the entertainment system  24 .  
     [0023] The front face  44  of the control panel  40  also includes a socket  56  near the guide slot  50  for inserting lights or jewels capable of illuminating the guide slot  50  in the dark. The lights used in the invention are LED lights and are well known in the art and therefore are not explained in detail. In order for the control panel  40  to perform a video function, the control panel  40  is provided with an Audio/Video input/output socket  55  adjacent to the cut-out  53 . The socket  55  is connected to the electronics located inside the housing  26  with the help of connecting pins  57 .  
     [0024] In order to operate the control panel  40 , the control panel  40  is connected to a circuit board (not shown). A pre-defined circuit is etched to the circuit board and the controls  54  are operatively connected to the circuit board. The circuit board is connected to the bezel connector  30  on the front plate  38  of the housing  26 . Therefore, when the occupant of the vehicle operates the button, they press against the circuit board, thereby performing the pre-defined function.  
     [0025] With continued reference to FIGS. 4 and 5, the front panel  42  of the bezel assembly  28  is attachable to the control panel  40 . The front panel  40  is flush with the central console  20  of the instrument panel  14  such that the front panel  42  adds to the aesthetic appearance of the interior  12  of the motor vehicle. The front panel  42  of the bezel assembly  28  also functions as a Class A surface. Alternatively, it is also possible that the control panel  40  is protruding outwards towards the occupants such that the front panel  42  is not flush with the central console  20 . The preference of whether the front panel  42  is flush with the central console  20  or is protruding outside the central console  20  is a matter of aesthetics and will not affect the function or the use of the control panel  40 . Preferably, the front panel  40  is formed of plastic by an injection molding process. Alternatively, it may be formed of metal, wood composite or any other any material capable of functioning as a Class A surface by an other process.  
     [0026] As seen in FIGS. 4, 5 and  6 , the front panel  42  is attached to the front face  44  of the control panel  40  and is separate from the control panel  40 . It is also possible to design the front panel  42  such that when the front panel  42  is removed it renders the entertainment system  24  inoperable. As shown, the front panel  42  is rectangular in shape and has dimensions such that it snuggly fits onto the front face  44  of the control panel  40 . Preferably, the front panel  42  has snap points  58  and the control panel  40  has corresponding holes  60 , such that the front panel  42  is snap fitted to the front face  44  of the control panel  40 . Alternatively, the front panel  42  may be screwed or bolted to the front face  44  of the control panel  40 .  
     [0027] With continued reference to FIGS. 4, 5 and  6 , like the control panel  40 , the front panel  42  has a front face  62  (as shown in FIG. 4) and a back face  64  (as shown in FIG. 5). The front face  62  is exposed to the vehicular occupant and is the Class A surface. Therefore, when the control panel  40  and the front panel  42  are fitted together they give the appearance of a single unit (as shown in FIG. 6).  
     [0028] With continued reference to FIGS. 4, 5, and  6 , the front panel  42  defines a number opening corresponding to the features in the control panel  40  to enable the occupant to operate the features. As shown, opening slot  66  corresponds to the guide slot  50  in the control panel  40  for inserting an optical disc. Openings  68  correspond to the plurality of controls  54  attached to the control mounts  52  in the control panel  40 . The openings  68  in the front panel  42  are designed such that the controls  54  protrude out of the opening  68  and can be operated by a occupant. The shape and size of the openings  68  on the front panel  42  correspond to the shape and size of the controls  54 . For example, if the controls  54  used on the control panel  40  are oval in shape, then the openings  68  in the front panel  42  are also oval (see FIG. 3). Alternatively, if the controls  54  in the control panel  40  are rectangular, then the openings  68  on the front panel  42  are also rectangular. As shown in the drawing, the front panel  42  also includes a separate socket  70  corresponding to the AV input/output  55  on the control panel  40 .  
     [0029]FIG. 7, represents an alternate embodiment of the bezel assembly  128 . In this embodiment, the bezel assembly  128  includes a control panel  140  and a front panel  142 . Like the first embodiment, the control panel has mounting points  152  for mounting controls  154 . As shown, the audio video input out control is fixed on the front panel  142 . The control panel  140  defines a corresponding opening  141  to receive the AV input output such that an audio/video plug can be externally connected to the AV input output  55 .  
     [0030] The present invention provides for using a common design for the control panel  40  in different motor vehicles. Particularly, it provides for installing different entertainment systems with different features and designs at minimum tooling and designing efforts. For example, a first vehicle may be provided with a control panel  40  having circular control buttons  54 . In order to create the front panel  42  corresponding to the control panel  40 , a front panel  42  with circular openings  68  has to be tooled and designed. Similarly, a second vehicle may be provided with a control panel  40  having rectangular control buttons  54 . In this instance, the same design of the control panel  40  can be used on the second vehicle, with only design modifications to the front panel  42 . Therefore, the present invention reduces the need to design and retool the entire bezel assembly  28 . Additionally, since the mounting features are present in the control panel  40 , not visible to the vehicular occupant any surface flaws on the control panel  40  can be covered by attaching the front panel  42 .  
     [0031] As any person skilled in the art will recognize from the previous description and from the figures and claims, modifications and changes can be made to the preferred embodiment of the invention without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.