Patent Abstract:
The invention relates to a control unit that includes a case able to receive a first device which may in particular be a printed circuit, a fascia intended to be placed against the case, the fascia being able to receive a second device which may in particular be a force sensor, a connection link connecting the first device to the second device. The control unit is in addition provided with an integrated device for assisting assembly keeping the control unit in an open state (EO), the case and the fascia being at a distance one from the other in a first position (P1) and this so as to facilitate inter alia the assembly of the connection link, the integrated device for assisting assembly then permitting placing of the control unit in a closed state (EF), the fascia and the case having been brought one towards the other and being one against the other.

Full Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §371 of published PCT Patent Application Number PCTEP 2012066886, filed Aug. 30, 2012 and claims priority to French Patent Application 1158109 filed Sep. 13, 2011, and published as WO2013037644 on Mar. 21, 2013, the entire contents of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD OF INVENTION 
     The invention relates to a control unit which can be integrated in the dashboard of a vehicle, the unit comprising control means permitting the adjustment of various functions in a vehicle. The invention more particularly relates to a device for assisting assembly of the control unit. Lastly the invention also relates to a method for mounting of a control unit comprising an integrated device for assisting assembly. 
     BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
     Motor vehicles have in their dashboard and central console means for controlling many systems such as the air-conditioning, the radio and others. These means which up to now have used electromechanical buttons of rotary knob or sliding cursor type are progressively being replaced by sensory and tactile proximity sensors, zero displacement or very short travel sensors, employing flexible resistive films of the FSR (Force Sensing Resistor) type. These sensors comprise a wide detection zone electrically connected to a printed circuit. The control units are formed of two main parts, a case and a fascia, which must after assembly be proof against water, against dusts and other contaminants. To assist protection of the printed circuit it is placed in an isolated compartment of the case while the flexible film of the sensor is on the fascia under a protective device such as a thin wall and is thus actuatable by a user. 
     These increasingly numerous control means are integrated into control units which are also increasingly small and the assembly of these units is then increasingly difficult. One of the most difficult operations consists of connecting the flexible film to the integrated circuit. Indeed the two components being fixed for the one in a compartment of the case and for the other to the fascia, an opening is provided in an internal wall of the case so that a connection link in the form of a long and narrow flexible tongue is inserted in it and can enter the compartment to be electrically connected there to the printed circuit. The difficult manipulation of the components during the assembly requires considerable time and can cause damage at the connection link. Moreover the problem is not specific to resistive sensors but to any flexible element having to connect the fascia to the case. Thus can be used optical fibers, conventional electrical cables. 
     It has become important to propose a simple device facilitating manipulation and ensuring the quality of the mounting of the control units. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention resolves the problem mentioned above by proposing a control unit. 
     The invention also proposes a process for assembly of the said control unit. 
     The invention proposes a control unit comprising a case able to receive a first device which may in particular be a printed circuit, and a fascia intended to be placed against the case, the fascia being able to receive a second device which may in particular be a proximity sensor. A connection link connects the first device to the second device. The control unit is in addition provided with an integrated device for assisting assembly keeping it in an open state, the case and the fascia being at a distance one from the other in a first position. Thus the assembly of the connection link is facilitated. The integrated device for assisting assembly then allows the control unit to be placed in a closed state, the fascia and the case having been brought one towards the other and being one against the other in a complementary engagement of the edge of the case with the periphery of the fascia. The integrated device for assisting assembly allows the fascia and the case to pivot and to translate one relative to the other so as to pass the control unit from the open state to the closed state. The integrated device for assisting assembly is a hinge comprising a crossbar attached to the fascia or to the case, the crossbar comprising a spindle fixed between a first support and a second support. The hinge also comprising an arm attached to the case, to the fascia respectively, the arm terminating in an open hook which can be engaged on the spindle so as to pivot about and slide along the spindle. 
     The space under the crossbar, between the supports, the spindle and the fascia, the case respectively, left free in order to allow the passage of the hook on passage from the open state to the closed state forms a right-angle having a first slot situated just under the spindle and a second slot extending the first and running along the second support. Moreover, the hook has a width less than the length of the spindle and its engagement on the spindle can only occur at the free end of the first slot, on the side of the first support. In this position the case can only pivot about the spindle between the first open position and a second position in which it is distant, parallel and slightly offset relative to the fascia. The case being in the second position it can be laterally translated towards a third position, so as to be distant, parallel, and just facing the fascia, the hook sliding along the spindle in the first slot until it is level with the second slot. The second slot has a width greater than the width of the hook and, being in the third position, the hook can be disengaged from the spindle and thus translated and brought towards the fascia. The hook can slide in the second slot until the case and the fascia are in contact one with the other, the control unit then being in the closed state. 
     Moreover, the integrated device for assisting assembly can comprise two hinges, each hinge having a spindle and an arm terminated in a hook, the two spindles being co-axial so as to form a long guidance. 
     More precisely, the first device is a printed circuit and the second device a sensor comprising a flexible film having a detection zone connected to the printed circuit by a long and narrow flexible tongue. Lastly, the connection link can comprise an optical fibers. 
     The invention also relates to a method for assembly of a control unit comprising the following steps: 
     providing a case and a fascia provided for the one with a crossbar supporting a spindle and for the other with an arm terminated in an open hook designed to be engaged on the spindle, 
     providing a device intended to be arranged against the fascia, the device having a link designed to be connected to another device arranged on the case, 
     engaging the hook on the spindle so as to form a hinge linking the case to the fascia, 
     placing the control unit in an open state, the fascia and the case being in a first position, as distant as possible one from the other, 
     arranging the device on the fascia, 
     arranging the connection link ( 30 ) from the device ( 24 ) to the case, 
     pivoting the fascia, or the case, so as to pass from the first position to a second position in which the case and the fascia are distant, parallel and slightly offset one relative to the other, 
     placing the control unit in a closed state, the case and the fascia being brought towards each other until they are in contact one with the other. 
     The method can also comprise the following step: 
     arranging another device in the case, 
     connecting the connection link to the said other device. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
       An embodiment of the invention is now described by means of the following figures. 
         FIG. 1  is an overall view of the inside of the vehicle in which a control unit in accordance with the invention has been placed. 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the control unit of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a detail of  FIG. 2  presenting a hinge of the control unit the elements not being engaged. 
         FIG. 4  is an isometric view of the control unit of  FIG. 2  during mounting and placed in a first position. 
         FIG. 5  is a detail of  FIG. 4  presenting the hinge of the control unit engaged. 
         FIG. 6  is an isometric view of the control unit during closing. 
         FIG. 7  is a detail of  FIG. 6  showing the hinge of the control unit. 
         FIG. 8  is an isometric view of the control unit during mounting and placed in a second position. 
         FIG. 9  is a detail of  FIG. 8  showing the hinge of the control unit. 
         FIG. 10  is an isometric view of the control unit during mounting and placed in a third position. 
         FIG. 11  is a detail of  FIG. 10  showing the hinge of the control unit. 
         FIG. 12  is a detail of the hinge of the control unit once closed. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG. 1  shows the inside of a convertible vehicle, a control unit  10  in accordance with the invention being integrated in the dashboard of the vehicle so as to be accessible to the driver. In this case the control unit  10  contains the control actuators of the air-conditioning or any other system such as the radio or the navigation system. This representation is in no case limiting to the invention which is independent of the type of environment selected, here a vehicle, and of the type of control operable from the actuators of the control unit. 
       FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the control unit  10  in which the main components are distinguished. The control unit  10  comprises a case  12  intended to be closed by a fascia  14 . The control unit  10  can optionally comprise a wide central opening, here shown rectangular allowing the viewing of an information screen. The case  12  has a base surrounded by an edge. It is provided on the sides of the central opening with protected compartments  16  each intended to receive a printed circuit  18 . Each compartment  16  is protected from contaminants and foreign bodies, such as water or dust, by a partition  20  internal to the case generally parallel with the bottom of the case  12 . A small opening  22  is formed in the internal partition  20 . Moreover, the control buttons are zero-displacement touch pressure sensors  24 . They comprise a flexible multilayer resistive film  26  the resistance of which decreases under the effect of a slight pressure. Such films are sometimes known by their English designation Force Sensing Resistor (FSR). The resistive sensor  24  comprises a detection zone  28  sufficiently wide for a user to find it easily and actuate the required control. The detection zone  28  is extended by a long and flexible tongue  30  intended to be connected to the printed circuit  18  which provides the electrical supply of the sensor  24 . The case  12  and the fascia  14  having to be finally fixed one to the other, the edge of the case  12  and the periphery of the fascia  14  are designed to allow a complementary engagement one with the other. The fixing is provided by complementary male and female clips  32  placed on the edge of the case  12  and on the periphery of the fascia  14 . 
     To facilitate mounting, the control unit  10  is provided with a device for assisting assembly  34  which allows articulation of the case  12  and the fascia  14  one relative to the other by means of two aligned hinges  36 ,  38 . Each hinge  36 ,  38  is formed on the one hand of a crossbar  40  comprising two supports  42 ,  44 , supporting a spindle  46  and, on the other hand, of an arm  48  the free end of which is curved in the shape of a hook  50 . The hook  50  and the spindle of the crossbar  40  are designed to cooperate and form a hinge  36 ,  38 .  FIG. 3  details the elements of the hinge  36 , unassembled. 
     The pieces are referenced in a direct reference frame (X, Y, Z) as shown in the figures. The spindle  46  of the crossbar  40  extends along the axis Y, the plane (X, Y), which for the sake of simplification and without thereby limiting the description will also be called “horizontal plane”, corresponding to the plane in which the fascia  14  is placed in  FIGS. 2 to 12 . The bottom of the case  12  is for its part placed, in  FIGS. 2 and 4 , in a plane S0 forming an obtuse angle with the horizontal plane. 
     In the description the crossbar  40  is attached to the fascia  14 , extending from it in the vertical plane (Y, Z) perpendicularly to the main plane (X, Y) of the fascia  14 . The arm  48  terminated in a hook  50  is for its part attached to the case  12  extending perpendicularly to the main plane of the case  12 . 
     It is obvious that a symmetrical arrangement with the crossbar  40  attached to the case  12  and the arm  48  terminated in a hook  50  attached to the fascia  14  is possible. 
       FIG. 4  shows the control unit  10 , the elements presented above being linked the ones to the others. The hooks  50  cooperate with the spindles  46  so that the case  12  and the fascia  14  are articulated and are placed in a first position P1 corresponding to an open state EO of the control unit  10 . More easily observable in the detail of  FIGS. 3 and 5 , the spindle  46  comprises a first cylindrical section  52  in the proximity of the first support  42  around which the hook  50  can be engaged. The spindle  46  continues in a second section  54  wider than the first section  52  and extending to a second support  44 . The widening of the second section  54  relatively to the first section  52  of the spindle  46  retains the diameter of the first section  52  and extends above the crossbar  40  so that in the open state EO, the hook  50  being engaged around the first section  52  of the spindle is kept there by the widening of the second section  54 . The first support  42  also comprises a widening  58  extending under the crossbar  40  from the foot of the support to under the spindle  46 . Indeed, under the crossbar  40 , the space left free takes the form of two perpendicular slots  60 ,  62 . The first slot  60  is situated just under the spindle  46  extending along the axis Y and the second slot  62  runs along the second support  44  along the axis Z. In the first position P1, the hook  50  is engaged around the first section of the spindle  52 , the free end  64  of the hook engaging under the spindle  46  in the first slot  60 . In this position it is easy for an operator to proceed with the difficult mounting operations such as the arrangement of the sensor  24  and the passage of the flexible tongue  30  through the small opening  22  of the internal partition  20  so as to cause it to enter the compartment  16  for the electrical connection with the printed circuit  18 . The hinge  36  keeps the case  12  and the fascia  14  at a distance one from the other and forms the device for assisting assembly  34  of the control unit  10 . 
     As mentioned above, the device for assisting assembly  34  thus formed can be used when difficult operations must be performed in a small space, such as that of the control unit  10 . The flexible tongue  30  of the resistive film  26  can be depending on the circumstances a fine electrical cable or an optical fibers or any other connection link. 
       FIG. 6  shows the control unit  10  in an intermediate position during closure after the completion of the difficult mounting operations. The case  12  and the fascia  14  are closed one towards the other by rotation RY about the axis Y, in the direction of the curved arrow F1 of  FIG. 5 . The hook  50  turns about the first section of the spindle  52  as detailed in  FIG. 6 , the free end  64  of the hook being engaged under the spindle  46  in the first slot  60 . 
       FIG. 9  shows the control unit  10  in a second position P2 attained on completion of the rotation RY described above. The case  12  and the fascia  14  are parallel one with the other. However they remain at a distance D1 one from the other, the distance D1 being measured along the axis Z, and slightly offset D2 along the axis Y. The hook  50  is still engaged around the first section of the spindle  52 , as detailed in  FIG. 8 , and the rotation RY from the first position P1 towards the second position P2 has largely engaged it under the spindle  46  in the first slot  60 . However the hook  50  which was until now kept around the first section  52  of the spindle  46  by the widening of the second section  54  of the spindle and which could only turn about this first section  52  can now translate along the axis Y in the first slot  60 , in a translation TY, in the direction of the arrow F2 of  FIG. 7 , from the first section  52  of the spindle towards the second section  54  of the spindle  46 . 
       FIG. 10  shows the control unit  10  in a third position P3 attained after the hook  50  has translated TY horizontally along the axis Y from the first section  52  to the second section  54  of the spindle. The case  12  and the fascia  14  are still in parallel horizontal planes and still at a distance D1 one from the other but are now one facing the other, the preceding offset D2 having been closed by the translation TY of the passage from the second P2 to the third P3 position.  FIG. 10  details the configuration of the hinge  36 , in the third position P3. The hook  50  has slid along the spindle  46  from the first section  52  to the second section  54  of the spindle  46  and is placed against the second support  44 . In this place the first slot  60  meets the second slot  62  which runs along the second support  44  all along the latter. The second slot  62  has a width LR slightly greater than the width LC of the hook  50  so that, as indicated by the arrows F3 of  FIG. 10 , the case  12  and the fascia  14  can be brought one towards the other by vertical translation TZ of the case  12 . The hook  50  then disengages from the spindle  46  and can slide in the second slot  62 . 
     A fourth and last closed position P4 is simply detailed in  FIG. 12  in which, seen at a different angle from that of the preceding figures, the hook  50  has slid in the second slot  62  so that the edge of the case  12  and the periphery of the fascia  14  are in complementary contact one with the other. The male and female clips  32  are then engaged so as to fix the pieces and permanently close the control unit  10 . 
     Alternatively to the closure by clips, other means such as systems with screws, rivets or even glued fixing are possible. 
     The preceding description details a hinge  36 . A preferred embodiment comprises two similar hinges  36 ,  38 , the spindles of which are aligned so as to provide better stability during mounting manipulations. Alternatively, the integrated device for assisting assembly  34  of the control unit  10  could only comprise a single long spindle  46  having a plurality of sections and a plurality of hooks  50  cooperating with the different sections of the same spindle  46 . It is also possible to have only a single hinge  36  of large width so as to provide the necessary stability by itself. Moreover, a control unit  10  can comprise one or more sensors  24  each being connected to a printed circuit  18  and the case  12  can comprise a plurality of compartments  16 . 
     The control unit  10  described comprises a force sensor  24  connected via a flexible tongue  30 . Alternatively, and without influence on the invention of the device for assisting assembly  34 , the tongue  30  can be replaced for example by an electrical cable or by an optical fibers connecting a light source situated in the case  12  to a display attached to the fascia  14 . Lastly such a hinge  36 , the object of the invention, can be used for any device in which two pieces must be kept in an open position before being closed one towards the other. In the present case the control unit  10  is intended to be closed, but the hinge  36  of the invention can assist in the case of devices having to be regularly manipulated and opened and then closed such as for maintenance and upkeep operations.

Technology Classification (CPC): 1