Patent Application
20150144469
The subject invention relates to a switch for a door of a vehicle and, more particularly, to a window switch that shields a printed circuit board from moisture.
Electrical switches are used for controlling electrical circuits. Many electrical switches are constructed from a combination of mechanical and electrical components. Such switches translate user input to an electrical control signal. For example, a light switch having an external toggle enables a user to selectively open and close a circuit for turning “on” and “off” a light.
In automotive applications, electrical switches are often used for controlling electro-mechanical systems such as power windows that open and close automobile door windows. These window switches may often be integrated into a console or door frame along with other electrical switches, e.g. power door locks. As the number of electrically controlled components in an automobile increases, the space available for housing these components can become limited.
Electrical components used in an automobile are also prone to contamination due to the nature of activities that may occur during operation of the automobile. For example, a beverage that is spilled or rain water from a door or window being opened may contaminate electrical switches and their accompanying circuitry. It should be appreciated that these contaminates may cause reliability and operating issues for the vehicle operator.
Accordingly, while existing vehicle door switches are suitable for their intended purposes, it is desirable to provide a vehicle door switch that shields its internal electrical circuitry from contaminates such as moisture to improve reliability of the door switch.
In one exemplary embodiment of the invention a vehicle door switch is provided. The door switch includes a top housing and a bottom housing. The bottom housing having at least one first opening arranged opposite the top housing. A printed circuit board is disposed within the housing. A shield member is provided having a planer portion with a top surface and a bottom surface. The bottom surface is arranged adjacent the printed circuit board, the shield member further having a side wall extending about the perimeter of the planer portion. The printed circuit board is disposed within the area defined by the side wall.
In another exemplary embodiment of the invention another vehicle door switch is provided. The vehicle door switch includes a top housing having a first wall extending about a perimeter. A button member is operably coupled to the top housing. A bottom housing is provided having a second wall extending about a perimeter, the bottom housing being coupled to the top housing to define an interior space, the bottom housing having a plurality of first openings arranged opposite the top housing. A printed circuit board is disposed within the interior space. A shield member is disposed within the interior space between the printed circuit board and the button, the shield member having a side wall extending about a perimeter, the printed circuit board being disposed within an area defined by the side wall. A drain member is sealingly coupled to the shield member, the drain member having a channel disposed about a perimeter adjacent the side wall, the channel having a plurality of second openings substantially aligned with the plurality of first openings.
The above features and advantages and other features and advantages of the invention are readily apparent from the following detailed description of the invention when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.
Other features, advantages and details appear, by way of example only, in the following detailed description of embodiments, the detailed description referring to the drawings in which:
The following description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the present disclosure, its application or uses. It should be understood that throughout the drawings, corresponding reference numerals indicate like or corresponding parts and features.
Embodiments of the subject invention provide a switch for use in a vehicle door. The switch provides improved performance and reliability by shielding internal electrical circuits from contaminates such as water or other liquids. Embodiments of the subject invention provide advantages in directing water that migrates into the switch into a drain that facilitates removal of the water from the switch without contacting the internal electrical circuits.
Referring now to
In one embodiment, the switches 28 allow the vehicle occupant to control one or more functions of the vehicle. The switches 28 may be a window actuator that allows the operator to open and close the window for example. In other embodiments, the switches 28 may provide other functionality, such as lock and unlock the door 20, turn on a vehicle light, allow adjustment of a mirror or control an entertainment system for example. It should be appreciated that while embodiments herein may refer to a window switch, this is for exemplary purposes and not intended to limit the claimed invention.
Referring now to
Opposite the top housing 30 is a bottom housing 38. Similar to the top housing 30, the bottom housing 38 includes a wall 40 extending from a bottom surface 42. In the exemplary embodiment, the wall 40 couples to the wall 32, such as with snap-fit features for example. As shown in
Referring now to
In the exemplary embodiment, the shield member 52 is made from an elastomeric material, such as rubber for example, that resists the absorption or transfer of liquids therethrough. The shield member 52 includes a generally planar top surface portion 54. In one embodiment, the top surface portion 54 may be contoured (e.g. sloped) to facilitate the flow of liquid. A side wall 56,
The shield member 52 is coupled to a drain member 66. The drain member 66 includes an inner wall 68 that extends about a periphery and defines an interior portion 71 (
The drain member 66 further includes an outer wall 74 that is connected to the inner wall 68 by a third wall 76. The inner wall 68, outer wall 74 and third wall 76 cooperate to define a generally u-shaped channel 78. The channel 78 includes one or more openings 80 that extend through the third wall 76. In the exemplary embodiment, there are four openings 78 positioned within the channel 78 to align with the openings 44 of the bottom housing 42. The u-shaped channel is sized and positioned to receive liquids flowing from the top surface portion 54 into the openings 80.
In the event that water or another liquid is spilled, sprayed or otherwise transferred onto the door panel 22, the water or liquid could migrate into the switch 28 via a path represented by the arrows 82 (
While the invention has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiments disclosed, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the application.
