Shape-changing control panel button based on activation/deactivation

1. A button configuration comprising:

a vehicle console having a console surface;

a user-operable push button having a central region and a peripheral region, said peripheral region encircling said central region and defining a surface plane;

said central region of said user-operable push button and said peripheral region of said user-operable push button forming said console surface;

said user-operable push button having an active state and an inactive state;

said central region of said user-operable push button protruding from the surface plane such that said console surface forms a protrusion on said vehicle console when said user-operable push button is in the active state and said protrusion on said vehicle console provides a push button function; and

said central region of said user-operable push button extending substantially in said surface plane and providing no push button function when said user-operable push button is in the inactive state such that said console surface forms a substantially flat surface when said user-operable push button is in the inactive state.

2. The button configuration according to claim 1 , wherein a continuous layer of a shape memory polymer forms said central region and said peripheral region of said user-operable push button.

3. The button configuration according to claim 1 , wherein at least said central region of said user-operable push button includes a compliant mechanism having two stable states such that said central region of said user-operable push button forms a protrusion on the surface plane defined by said peripheral region when said user-operable push button is in the active state and said central region of said user-operable push button is substantially flat and level with said peripheral region of said user-operable push button when said user-operable push button is in the inactive state.

4. The button configuration according to claim 1 , wherein:

at least said central portion of said user-operable push button includes a shape memory material;

said shape memory material exhibits a bistability such that said shape memory material forms a protrusion on said surface plane when said user-operable push button is in the active state; and

said shape memory material forms a substantially flat layer extending in the surface plane when said user-operable push button is in the inactive state.

5. The button configuration according to claim 4 , wherein said shape memory material is a material selected from the group consisting of a shape memory polymer and a shape memory alloy.

6. The button configuration according to claim 4 , wherein:

said shape memory material is a shape memory alloy thin film; and

a flexible material and said shape memory alloy thin film form a sandwich structure.

7. The button configuration according to claim 4 , wherein:

said shape memory material is a shape memory alloy wire mesh; and

said shape memory alloy wire mesh is embedded in a flexible material.

8. The button configuration according to claim 7 , wherein:

said shape memory alloy wire mesh has an ohmic resistance and is configured to be heated with an electric current flowing through said shape memory alloy wire mesh; and

said shape memory alloy wire mesh has a memory shape and deforms into the memory shape when heated to a given transformation temperature.

9. The button configuration according to claim 4 , wherein said shape memory material is a shape memory polymer having a memory shape and said shape memory polymer deforms into the memory shape when heated to a given transformation temperature.

10. The button configuration according to claim 9 , including an internal heating mechanism integrated with said shape memory polymer.

11. A vehicle control panel configuration, comprising:

a control panel including a user-operable push button, said control panel having a control panel surface;

said user-operable push button having a central region and a peripheral region, said peripheral region encircling said central region and defining a surface plane;

said central region of said user-operable push button and said peripheral region of said user-operable push button forming said control panel surface;

said user-operable push button having an active state and an inactive state;

said central region of said user-operable push button protruding from the surface plane such that said control panel surface forms a protrusion on said control panel when said user-operable push button is in the active state and said protrusion on said control panel provides a push button function; and

said central region of said user-operable push button extending substantially in said surface plane and providing no push button function when said user-operable push button is in the inactive state such that said control panel surface forms a substantially flat surface when said user-operable push button is in the inactive state.

12. The vehicle control panel configuration according to claim 11 , wherein said control panel is provided on a vehicle interior component selected from the group consisting of a vehicle console, a door panel, a steering wheel and a dashboard.

13. The vehicle control panel configuration according to claim 11 , including:

a display disposed adjacent to said user-operable push button; and

said display indicating a function of said user-operable push button when said user-operable push button is in the active state.

14. The vehicle control panel configuration according to claim 11 , including:

a control unit operatively connected to said user-operable push button for selectively activating and deactivating said user-operable push button.

15. The vehicle control panel configuration according to claim 14 , wherein said control unit is configured to activate said user-operable push button via a voice control.

16. The vehicle control panel configuration according to claim 14 , wherein:

said control panel includes further user-operable push buttons having an active state and an inactive state; and

said control panel is configured to operate in a plurality of operating modes wherein a respective subset of said user-operable push buttons is activated when said control panel is in a respective one of the operating modes; and

a selection device is connected to said control unit for selecting the operating modes.

17. The vehicle control panel configuration according to claim 14 , wherein:

said control panel includes further user-operable push buttons operatively connected to said control unit; and

said control unit selectively activates and deactivates said user-operable push buttons for controlling an electronic vehicle subsystem.

18. The vehicle control panel configuration according to claim 17 , wherein said user-operable push buttons are configured to control an electronic vehicle subsystem selected from the group consisting of an audio system, a navigation system, a climate control system and a communications system.