Human machine interface with light sensing contact activation

1. A human machine interface with light sensing contact activation, comprising:

an operating panel; and

a display unit,

wherein the operating panel comprises at least one or more of a transparent or a translucent substrate provided with at least one key area and at least one illumination source which can emit light into the substrate,

the display unit provides at least one information section at least temporarily displaying information on at least one function which can be contact activated via the at least one key area of the operating panel,

a plurality of information sections and a plurality of key areas are provided, with each key area being associated with one information section, and

each one of the key areas is aligned with and arranged next to one information section associated therewith, and wherein the operating panel includes a line arranged along an edge of the display unit,

wherein the at least one transparent or translucent substrate is provided with a reflective coating with at least one opening or region of reduced thickness defining the at least one key area, with light emitted by the at least one illumination source can pass through the substrate and the opening or region of reduced thickness of the reflective coating.

2. The human machine interface according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of the function or the information on the function displayed in the information section can be changed by one or more of a user or depending on at least one parameter.

3. The human machine interface according to claim 1 , further comprising:

at least one ToF (Time-of-Flight) sensor configured to monitor the at least one illumination source, and

a controller configured to control the function defined by the information section depending on the light sensed by the at least one ToF sensor,

wherein in response to at least one of light is sensed, it is monitored that sensed light is interrupted for a certain amount of time, or sensed light level is reduced or enhanced in a certain amount, the controller activates the function.

4. The human machine interface according to claim 1 , wherein the reflective coating is a chromium-based reflective coating.

5. The human machine interface according to claim 4 , wherein the coating has a thickness of 200 nm or less and is an alloy of chromium and a dopant material, the dopant material being selected from the hexagonally close-packed transition metals, and the alloy having a crystal structure of a primary body-centered cubic phase in coexistence with a secondary omega hexagonally close-packed phase,

the alloy is a binary alloy of chromium and the dopant material, and

the atomic percentage of the dopant material in the binary alloy is in the range of from about 1.9 at. % to about 5.8 at. %.

6. The human machine interface according to claim 5 , wherein at least one of:

the dopant material is selected from the hexagonally close-packed transition metals zirconium, titanium, cobalt, hafnium, ruthenium, yttrium and osmium, or the dopant material is selected from the hexagonally close-packed transition metals zirconium, titanium and cobalt, or

the dopant material is zirconium, with the atomic percentage of the zirconium in the binary alloy being in the range of from about 4.5 at. % to about 5.8 at. %, or the dopant material is titanium, with the atomic percentage of the titanium in the binary alloy being in the range of from about 1.9 at. % to about 5.8 at. %, or the dopant material is cobalt, with the atomic percentage of the cobalt in the binary alloy being in the range of from about 1.9 at. % to 5.7 at. %.

7. The human machine interface according to claim 5 , wherein the thickness of the coating is 100 nm or less, the thickness of the coating being in the range of from 40 nm to 80 nm, the thickness of the coating being in the range of from 50 nm to 70 nm, or the thickness of the coating being about 60 nm.

8. The human machine interface according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of:

the opening or region of reduced thickness of the coating comprise a cut-out, or

the coating is provided with at least one selective laser cut-out in a depth of the coating, each cut-out providing one opening.

9. The human machine interface according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one or more of the transparent or the translucent substrate provides at least one optical waveguide for guiding the light emitted by the at least one illumination source to at least one deflection point, and for guiding deflection signals deflected at the deflection point to at least one assigned exit point in the at least one key area on a first surface of the optical waveguide, the first surface acting as an operating surface, and, in response to an object, in the form of a finger of a user, approaching the exit point or touching the same, for guiding reception signals deflected at the object; and

the control means triggers the function assigned to the key area in receipt of information signals outputted by the ToF sensor dependent on the reception signals.

10. The human machine interface according to claim 9 , wherein the deflection point is provided on a second surface which is opposite to the first surface of the optical waveguide and constitutes a deflection surface of the optical waveguide via an extraction element, and

the extraction element is provided by a recess, in the form of a milled point, in the material of the optical waveguide or via one or more of a material inclusion or a coating.

11. The human machine interface according to claim 1 , further comprising at least one mark in the key area, in the form of a coating, surface processing such as polishing or illumination of the optical waveguide, with visible light transmitted when an object approaches, such as in the form of a finger of a user, or with greater intensity when registering a touch of the key area by the object.

12. The human machine interface according to claim 1 , wherein the substrate is a polymeric substrate, the polymeric substrate includes a pre-coated film in the form of either a hardcoat, an inorganic oxide, or a thin metal film, or a combination of such pre-coated films.

13. The human machine interface according to claim 1 , wherein the human machine interface part of at least one a door handle, a rearview device, a dashboard, or an interior space of a motor vehicle.

14. A rearview device of a motor vehicle, comprising:

a human machine interface with light sensing contact activation, comprising:

an operating panel; and

a display unit,

wherein the operating panel comprises at least one or more of a transparent or a translucent substrate provided with at least one key area and at least one illumination source which can emit light into the substrate,

the display unit provides at least one information section at least temporarily displaying information on at least one function which can be contact activated via the at least one key area of the operating panel,

a plurality of information sections and a plurality of key areas are provided, with each key area being associated with one information section,

each one of the key areas is aligned with and arranged next to one information section associated therewith, and wherein the operating panel includes a line arranged along an edge of the display unit,

the operating panel is provided by a frame or bezel for an interior rearview device, and

the display unit is part of the interior rearview device,

wherein the at least one or more transparent or translucent substrate is provided with a reflective coating with at least one opening or region of reduced thickness defining the at least one key area, with light emitted by the at least one illumination source can pass through the substrate and the opening or region of reduced thickness of the reflective coating.

15. The rearview device of claim 14 , wherein the reflective coating is a chromium-based reflective coating.

16. A motor vehicle, comprising

a human machine interface with light sensing contact activation, comprising:

an operating panel; and

a display unit,

wherein the operating panel comprises at least one or more of a transparent or a translucent substrate provided with at least one key area and at least one illumination source which can emit light into the substrate,

the display unit provides at least one information section at least temporarily displaying information on at least one function which can be contact activated via the at least one key area of the operating panel,

a plurality of information sections and a plurality of key areas are provided, with each key area being associated with one information section,

each one of the key areas is aligned with and arranged next to one information section associated therewith, and wherein the operating panel includes a line arranged along an edge of the display unit, and

at least one of:

the function comprises a first function controlling at least one motor vehicle component including at least one of a door, a rearview device, or a lighting device,

the function comprises a second function of an infotainment system of the motor vehicle,

the function or the displayed information on the function can be selected or changed, or

the point of the time or the duration of the displaying of the information on the display unit can be selected or changed,

wherein the at least one transparent or translucent substrate is provided with a reflective coating with at least one opening or region of reduced thickness defining the at least one key area, with light emitted by the at least one illumination source can pass through the substrate and the opening or region of reduced thickness of the reflective coating.

17. The motor vehicle of claim 16 , wherein the reflective coating is a chromium-based reflective coating.