The present disclosure generally relates to a button assembly for an exterior surface of a vehicle, and more particularly, to a button and bezel arrangement configured to facilitate drainage of water along a vehicle's exterior.
Generally, a vehicle body is provided with various moving parts, for example, a trunk lid and a tailgate, as well as front and rear doors. The moving parts are mounted or otherwise secured within fixed mounting parts of the vehicle body in such a way as to be openable and closeable. At the intersection between the two vehicle parts, gaps are inevitably formed between the moving parts and the fixed parts of the vehicle body. Such gaps are generally referred to as seal gaps. The seal gaps provide the necessary clearance to prevent interference between the moving part and the mounting part. However, while a vehicle is operating, rainwater or other fluids may enter through the seal gaps into the vehicle. Conventionally, in order to reduce the exposure of these areas of the vehicle to undesirable elements, various types of seals or weatherstrips, such as rubber, may be installed in the seal gaps created between the moving parts and corresponding mounting parts of the vehicle body. However, in cases where the moving part is relatively small and must move smoothly in order to provide the required functionality, such seals can be intrusive. In addition, seals can experience wear and tear over time, particularly in cases where the moving part is designed for regular, rugged, daily use by multiple passengers and various degrees of force.
There is a need in the art for a button assembly system that reduces the accumulation of rainwater or other elements while accommodating the installation of the button in vehicles designed for public transport, in particularly with respect to autonomous vehicles.
The disclosed embodiments provide an exterior button assembly for use in vehicles.
In one aspect, a button assembly for an exterior of a vehicle is disclosed. The assembly includes a button switch with an outermost surface and a bezel housing surrounding the button switch. The bezel housing includes an innermost surface that is spaced apart from and faces toward the outermost surface of the button switch. The assembly further includes a channel extending between the innermost surface and the outermost surface, where the channel has a first width at its proximal end of approximately 0.5 mm.
Another aspect provides a button assembly for an exterior of a vehicle. The assembly includes a button switch with a substantially cylindrical distal portion and a bezel housing surrounding the distal portion. The assembly further includes a channel formed between the distal portion and the bezel housing, the channel having a height of approximately 3 mm.
In yet another aspect, a button assembly for an exterior of a vehicle is disclosed. The assembly includes button switch with an outermost surface and a bezel housing surrounding the button switch. The bezel housing includes an innermost surface that is spaced apart from and faces toward the outermost surface of the button switch. In addition, the assembly includes a channel extending between the innermost surface and the outermost surface, where the innermost surface of the bezel housing extends distally outward at an angle of approximately 15 degrees relative to the outermost surface of the button switch.
Other systems, methods, features, and advantages of the disclosure will be, or will become, apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art upon examination of the following figures and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional systems, methods, features, and advantages be included within this description and this summary, be within the scope of the disclosure, and be protected by the following claims.
The embodiments can be better understood with reference to the following drawings and description. The components in the figures are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the embodiments. Moreover, in the figures, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the different views.
As vehicles become increasingly automated, conventional manually operated components may instead be activated by various control technology, such as push-button mechanisms. As will be described in greater detail below, in different embodiments, components of the proposed button assembly are shaped and dimensioned to provide an effective drainage conduit along the exterior of the vehicle. For example, a button mechanism formed along an exterior of a vehicle that serves as an open or close switch used for vehicle ingress may be disposed on an outer side panel of the vehicle. In order to prevent the accumulation of water in the gap between the movable button and the surrounding bezel, in an exemplary embodiment, the button assembly is arranged such that a minimum gap between the button (e.g., a knob) and outer bezel is 0.5 mm. In addition, the bezel draft angle in the gap is approximately 15 degrees. Furthermore, drainage is significantly improved by providing a relatively low channel height in the gap between the button and the bezel so that water can easily flow out from the gap. It may be appreciated that such features are desirable in preventing the button from sticking or otherwise becoming “ice-locked” due to freezing environmental conditions.
For purposes of introduction, an overview of one embodiment of the proposed systems and methods is illustrated with reference to
For purposes of convenience, the description makes reference to a set of axes. As a general matter, the term “longitudinal axis” as used throughout this detailed description and in the claims refers to an axis that extends in a longitudinal direction, which is a direction extending the length of a component, such as the length of the vehicle 100 between the forward end 116 and rearward end 114. Similarly, the term “lateral axis” as used throughout this detailed description and in the claims refers to an axis that extends in a lateral direction, which is a direction running a width of each component, such as between the first end 110 and second end 112 of vehicle 100. In addition, the term “vertical axis” as used throughout this detailed description and in the claims refers to an axis that extends in a vertical direction, for example in
Furthermore, the description makes reference to distal and proximal directions (or portions). As used herein, the distal direction is a direction outward or oriented away from a center of the vehicle 100. Also, the proximal direction is a direction oriented toward a center of the vehicle 100. Thus, a distal side or region refers to a portion of a component that is disposed further from the center and a proximal side or region refers to a portion of a component that is disposed nearer to the center. In this case, the button assembly 150 may be understood to have an exterior-facing side configured for contact by users that is distal relative to an interior facing side (not shown in
In the example of
However, in other embodiments, the proposed button assembly may be utilized by any other type of vehicle or component surface that may be exposed to fluids or other undesirable elements. For example, the control system is similarly amenable for use with other types of vehicles, such as sedans, coupes, hatchbacks, station wagons, buses, trucks, etc. The illustrated shared autonomous vehicle 100 is used as the exemplary vehicle due to the use of double sliding doors, which offer expanded and easier access to the shared passenger compartment. Thus, particularly in the case of some shared vehicles that may be driverless and used for ride-sharing, being outfitted a button assembly with a specialized drainage structure can significantly reduce the cost for both the manufacturer and, down the road, the passengers, as the life of the button is extended and/or the number of parts comprising the assembly is reduced as the need for a sealing material is removed. The assembly allows for lower costs in production, maintenance, repair, and replacement. In addition, repetitive and potentially rugged use by a wide range of passengers who may not be invested in maintaining the overall condition of components of the vehicle are more readily accommodate by the proposed design. As will be discussed in detail below, this arrangement is possible in part because of the structural features of a button component (“button”) 152 relative to an outer bezel housing (“bezel”) 154 that surrounds the button 152, shown more clearly in an enlarged view 128 of panel 126.
For purposes of context, it can be seen in
In
A magnified view of a portion of the cutaway view is shown in
Additional details regarding the relative spacing and surface orientation of the two components are presented with reference to a cutaway view in
Furthermore, it can be seen that innermost surface 480 of the bezel is sloped or inclined relative to the outermost surface 490 of the distal portion 452 of button 152. In other words, the innermost surface 480 has a slope that is associated with an increase in distance between the two components from an interior of the channel 350 to an exterior of the channel 350. In this exemplary example, the innermost surface 480 is associated with an angle A1 of approximately 15 degrees relative to the outermost surface 490 of the button. This relatively large draft angle has been shown to allow water to drain easily from the gap while retaining the protective features of the bezel housing around the button. Together with the relatively low channel depth, water drainage is significantly improved. In other embodiments, the draft angle A1 can be greater or less than 15 degrees (+/−5 degrees). In addition, once the innermost surface 380 reaches the channel exit, the bezel can slope further upward and radially outward.
It may be appreciated that the inclination of the innermost surface 480 ensures that a width W2 between the bezel 154 and button 152 is smallest at the bottom of the channel 350, and largest at the top of the channel 350. In an exemplary embodiment, the gap or distance W2 (the smallest distance between the components) is approximately 0.5 mm at a base of the channel associated with its proximal end, and gradually and steadily increases as it approaches the exterior of the button assembly at its distal end to a maximum width W1. The minimum distance W2 of approximately 0.5 mm was tested and shown to provide better water drainage than smaller base widths. In other embodiments, the distance W2 can be slightly greater or less than 0.5 mm (+/−0.7 mm), for example to accommodate a thickness of paint that may be applied to the surfaces of the components.
As noted above, the proposed structural characteristics can offer significantly improved drainage properties for the button assembly. An example of some of these improvements is presented in
In different embodiments, the button assemblies described herein can offer significant advantages, particularly with respect to drainage flow. As discussed above, the button and bezel include specific structural characteristics that improve drainage for the button assembly. In one example, the button assembly includes a button switch with an outermost surface and a bezel housing surrounding the button switch. The bezel housing includes an innermost surface that is spaced apart from and faces toward the outermost surface of the button switch. The assembly further includes a channel extending between the innermost surface and the outermost surface, where the channel has a first width at its proximal end of approximately 0.5 mm.
In another example, a button assembly includes a button switch with a substantially cylindrical distal portion and a bezel housing surrounding the distal portion. The assembly further includes a channel formed between the distal portion and the bezel housing, the channel having a height of approximately 3 mm. In yet another example, the button assembly includes button switch with an outermost surface and a bezel housing surrounding the button switch. The bezel housing includes an innermost surface that is spaced apart from and faces toward the outermost surface of the button switch. In addition, the assembly includes a channel extending between the innermost surface and the outermost surface, where the innermost surface of the bezel housing extends distally outward at an angle of approximately 15 degrees relative to the outermost surface of the button switch.
In some embodiments, the assembly also includes additional features. In one example, the channel has a second width at its distal end that is greater than the first width. In such cases, the width of the channel can increase at a substantially steady rate from the proximal end to the distal end. In another example, the button switch has a substantially round cross-sectional shape and the bezel housing has a substantially ringed cross-sectional shape. In some embodiments, the innermost surface extends distally outward at an angle of approximately 15 degrees relative to the outermost surface. In another example, the channel has a height of approximately 3 mm. In some cases, the channel has a substantially trapezoidal cross-sectional shape (e.g., a right trapezoid). In some embodiments, the channel has a first width at its proximal end that is approximately 0.5 mm. In another example, an innermost surface of the bezel housing provides an outer boundary of the channel, and the innermost surface extends distally outward at an angle of approximately 15 degrees relative to an outermost surface of the button switch.
The following includes definitions of selected terms employed herein. The definitions include various examples and/or forms of components that fall within the scope of a term and that can be used for implementation. The examples are not intended to be limiting. Aspects of the present disclosure can be implemented using hardware, software, or a combination thereof and can be implemented in one or more computer systems or other processing systems. In one example variation, aspects described herein can be directed toward one or more computer systems capable of carrying out the functionality described herein. An example of such a computer system includes one or more processors. A “processor”, as used herein, generally processes signals and performs general computing and arithmetic functions. Signals processed by the processor may include digital signals, data signals, computer instructions, processor instructions, messages, a bit, a bit stream, or other means that may be received, transmitted and/or detected. Generally, the processor may be a variety of various processors including multiple single and multicore processors and co-processors and other multiple single and multicore processor and co-processor architectures. The processor may include various modules to execute various functions.
The apparatus and methods described herein and illustrated in the accompanying drawings by various blocks, modules, components, circuits, steps, processes, algorithms, etc. (collectively referred to as “elements”) can be implemented using electronic hardware, computer software, or any combination thereof. Whether such elements are implemented as hardware or software depends upon the particular application and design constraints imposed on the overall system. By way of example, an element, or any portion of an element, or any combination of elements can be implemented with a “processing system” that includes one or more processors. One or more processors in the processing system can execute software. Software shall be construed broadly to mean instructions, instruction sets, code, code segments, program code, programs, subprograms, software modules, applications, software applications, software packages, routines, subroutines, objects, executables, threads of execution, procedures, functions, etc., whether referred to as software, firmware, middleware, microcode, hardware description language, or otherwise.
Accordingly, in one or more aspects, the functions described can be implemented in hardware, software, firmware, or any combination thereof. If implemented in software, the functions can be stored on or encoded as one or more instructions or code on a computer-readable medium. Computer-readable media includes computer storage media. Storage media can be any available media that can be accessed by a computer. By way of example, and not limitation, such computer-readable media can comprise RAM, ROM, EEPROM, CD-ROM or other optical disk storage, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium that can be used to carry or store desired program code in the form of instructions or data structures and that can be accessed by a computer.
The processor can be connected to a communication infrastructure (e.g., a communications bus, cross-over bar, or network). Various software aspects are described in terms of this example computer system. After reading this description, it will become apparent to a person skilled in the relevant art(s) how to implement aspects described herein using other computer systems and/or architectures.
Computer system can include a display interface that forwards graphics, text, and other data from the communication infrastructure (or from a frame buffer) for display on a display unit. Display unit can include display, in one example. Computer system also includes a main memory, e.g., random access memory (RAM), and can also include a secondary memory. The secondary memory can include, e.g., a hard disk drive and/or a removable storage drive, representing a floppy disk drive, a magnetic tape drive, an optical disk drive, etc. The removable storage drive reads from and/or writes to a removable storage unit in a well-known manner. Removable storage unit, represents a floppy disk, magnetic tape, optical disk, etc., which is read by and written to removable storage drive. As will be appreciated, the removable storage unit includes a computer usable storage medium having stored therein computer software and/or data.
Computer system can also include a communications interface. Communications interface allows software and data to be transferred between computer system and external devices. Examples of communications interface can include a modem, a network interface (such as an Ethernet card), a communications port, a Personal Computer Memory Card International Association (PCMCIA) slot and card, etc. Software and data transferred via communications interface are in the form of signals, which can be electronic, electromagnetic, optical or other signals capable of being received by communications interface. These signals are provided to communications interface via a communications path (e.g., channel). This path carries signals and can be implemented using wire or cable, fiber optics, a telephone line, a cellular link, a radio frequency (RF) link and/or other communications channels. The terms “computer program medium” and “computer usable medium” are used to refer generally to media such as a removable storage drive, a hard disk installed in a hard disk drive, and/or signals. These computer program products provide software to the computer system. Aspects described herein can be directed to such computer program products. Communications device can include communications interface.
Computer programs (also referred to as computer control logic) are stored in main memory and/or secondary memory. Computer programs can also be received via communications interface. Such computer programs, when executed, enable the computer system to perform various features in accordance with aspects described herein. In particular, the computer programs, when executed, enable the processor to perform such features. Accordingly, such computer programs represent controllers of the computer system.
In different embodiments, vehicles described herein can be understood to include a vehicle control system. The vehicle control system is realized by, for example, one or more processors or hardware having equivalent functions. The vehicle control system may have a configuration in which a processor such as a central processing unit (CPU), a data storage device, an electronic control unit (ECU) in which a communication interface is connected by an internal bus, a micro-processing unit (MPU), and the like are combined. In some embodiments, the vehicle control system can include components and modules configured to enable an AV to operate autonomously. As some non-limiting examples, the vehicle control system might include a target lane determination module, an automated driving control module, a travel control module, a human-machine interface (HMI) control module, a door control module, and/or a storage module. The automated driving control module could include, for example, an automated driving mode control module, a vehicle position recognition module, an external environment recognition module, an action plan generation module, a trajectory generation module, and/or a switching control module. Each module can be realized or implemented by the processor executing a program (software). Further, some or all of these may be realized by hardware such as a large-scale integration (LSI) or an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) or may be realized by a combination of software and hardware. In some embodiments, information such as map information, target lane information, action planning information, and HMI control can be stored in the storage module. The program executed by the processor may be stored in the storage module in advance, or may be downloaded from an external device via a communications module.
In variations where aspects described herein are implemented using software, the software can be stored in a computer program product and loaded into computer system using removable storage drive, hard disk drive, or communications interface. The control logic (software), when executed by the processor, causes the processor to perform the functions in accordance with aspects described herein. In another variation, aspects are implemented primarily in hardware using, e.g., hardware components, such as application specific integrated circuits (ASICs). Implementation of the hardware state machine so as to perform the functions described herein will be apparent to persons skilled in the relevant art(s). In yet another example variation, aspects described herein are implemented using a combination of both hardware and software.
The foregoing disclosure of the preferred embodiments has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the embodiments to the precise forms disclosed. Many variations and modifications of the embodiments described herein will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art in light of the above disclosure.
While various embodiments have been described, the description is intended to be exemplary, rather than limiting, and it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that many more embodiments and implementations are possible that are within the scope of the embodiments. Any feature of any embodiment may be used in combination with or substituted for any other feature or element in any other embodiment unless specifically restricted. Accordingly, the embodiments are not to be restricted except in light of the attached claims and their equivalents. Also, various modifications and changes may be made within the scope of the attached claims.
Further, in describing representative embodiments, the specification may have presented a method and/or process as a particular sequence of steps. However, to the extent that the method or process does not rely on the particular order of steps set forth herein, the method or process should not be limited to the particular sequence of steps described. As one of ordinary skill in the art would appreciate, other sequences of steps may be possible. Therefore, the particular order of the steps set forth in the specification should not be construed as limitations on the claims. In addition, the claims directed to the method and/or process should not be limited to the performance of their steps in the order written, and one skilled in the art can readily appreciate that the sequences may be varied and still remain within the spirit and scope of the present embodiments.