Switching apparatus
The invention relates to a switching apparatus ( 10 ) for switching a load on and off, in particular a motor or the like in a vehicle, having a housing ( 20 ), an operating element ( 30 ), a switching element ( 40 ), wherein the switching element ( 40 ) can be activated by the operating element ( 30 ), and at least one switching signal for a control unit can be produced by means of the switching element ( 40 ), and the operating element ( 30 ) has a symbol element ( 50 ). The invention provides for a first optical waveguide element ( 60 ) to carry a first light ( 71 ) from at least one first light source ( 70 ) such that the symbol element ( 50 ) is uniformly illuminated.
1. A switch device for switching a load on or off in a vehicle, comprising:
a housing,
an activation element, and
a switch element,
wherein the switch element is activatable by the activation element, at least one switch signal for a control unit is generatable by means of the switch element, the activation element having a symbol element,
wherein a first light-guide element guides a first light of at least a first light source, so that the symbol element is illuminated uniformly,
wherein the first light-guide element encloses the first light source at least partially in a cap-like and/or screen-like manner, wherein the first light-guide element has a number of reflector surfaces, and wherein an opening side of the cap-like and/or screen-like first light-guide element faces the activation element.
2. A switch device according to claim 1 , wherein the first light-guide element reflects the first light.
3. A switch device according to claim 1 , wherein the first light-guide element is arranged within the housing and behind the activation element, and wherein the first light guide element is molded onto the activation element.
4. A switch device according to claim 1 , wherein the reflector surfaces are provided at least in areas with a reflector layer, in whereby the reflector layer diffusely reflects the first light, wherein the reflector layer has a luminescent material.
5. A switch device according to claim 1 , wherein the first light source is arranged at least partially in the first light-guide element.
6. A switch device according to claim 1 , wherein the first light-guide element has a scattering device, whereby the scattering device comprises at least one of the following: a diffusing disk, a diffusing dome, or a diverging lens.
7. A switch device according to claim 1 , wherein the switch device has a circuit boardand the first light-guide element and the first light source are arranged on the circuit board.
8. A switch device according to claim 1 , wherein the first light-guide element has a snap device, the snap device cooperating with a mating snap device of the switch device, and wherein the mating snap device is arranged on at least one of the following: a circuit board, a housing, an activation element, or a first light source.
9. A switch device according to claim 1 , wherein the switch device has a second light source if the first light guide element guides the first light of the first light source, and a second light of the second light source.
10. A switch device according to claim 9 , wherein the first light and the second light have different wavelengths.
11. A switch device according to claim 9 , wherein a second light guide element guides the second light of the second light source.
12. A switch device according to claim 9 , wherein a light emission of the first and/or second light is essentially orthogonal or parallel to an activation surface of the activation element.
13. A switch device according to claim 9 , wherein the symbol element has at least a first area and a second area.
14. A switch device according to claim 13 , wherein the first light of the first light source illuminates the first area and a second light of the second light source illuminates the second area uniformly.
15. A switch device according to claim 14 , wherein the first and/or second light source is at least one of the following: an LED, an OLED, or a fluorescent lamp.
16. A switch device according claim 1 , wherein the light-guide element has at least one mechanical guide element, the guide element being used to position the first light-guide element with respect to the first light source.
17. A switch device according to claim 1 , wherein the symbol element is designed like a film, wherein the symbol element is arranged on, against, and/or in the activation element, and wherein the activation element and the symbol element are in one piece.