The present disclosure relates to switches and in particular, relates to an improved Head Lamp Leveling (HLL) switch assembly.
BACKGROUND
Generally, headlamps are employed in vehicles like passenger cars, multi utility vehicles, sports utility vehicles and the like for illuminating path in front of the vehicles. The headlamps include multiple light sources which may be operable to generate light beams for illuminating path in the front of a vehicle. It is important that the light beams emitted from the headlamps must be directed at a suitable level on the path with respect to the vehicle. However, when the vehicle is loaded with passengers or cargo load, a level of the headlamps must be adjusted in order to compensate for a deviation in level of light beams due to the weight of the passengers or the cargo load.
Usually, a leveling switch is provided in the vehicle which can be operated in order to adjust the level of the headlamps. The leveling switch includes multiple positions that can be selected to adjust the headlamps at different levels. In such a leveling switch, a pointer may be provided to indicate the selected position of the leveling switch. Further, multiple Light Emitting Diodes (LED(s)) may be disposed in the leveling switch in order to illuminate each position of the leveling switch. However, the inclusion of multiple LED(s) and the pointer substantially increases the overall complexity of the headlamp leveling switch, and also reduces the aesthetic value of the leveling switch. Moreover, owing to the presence of a large number of sub¬components, the weight of the leveling switch is substantially increased which is undesirable.
Therefore, there is a need for an improved headlamp leveling switch for adjusting the level of the headlamps of the vehicle.
SUMMARY
In an embodiment of the present disclosure, an improved Head Lamp Leveling (HLL) switch assembly for a vehicle is disclosed. The HLL switch assembly includes a housing

member and a knob assembly adapted to be disposed within the housing member. The knob assembly includes a rotary knob adapted to be operated between a plurality of positions to select a level of headlamps of the vehicle. Each of the plurality of position is associated with a symbol formed on the rotary knob indicating the level of headlamps. Further, the HLL switch assembly includes an illumination assembly adapted to be disposed below the rotary knob within the housing member. The illumination assembly includes a light source adapted to emit light beam. Further, the illumination assembly includes a light cover adapted to guide the light beam from the light source to the rotary knob. The light beam illuminates the symbol associated with the selected position among the plurality of positions of the rotary knob
To further clarify advantages and features of the present invention, a more particular description of the invention will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments thereof, which is illustrated in the appended drawings. It is appreciated that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope. The invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood when the following detailed description is read with reference to the accompanying drawings in which like characters represent like parts throughout the drawings, wherein:
Figure 1 illustrates a perspective view of a Head Light Leveling (HLL) switch assembly, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;
Figure 2 illustrates an exploded view of the HLL switch assembly, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;
Figures 3a and 3b illustrate sectional views of the HLL switch assembly taken along an axis X-X' of Figure 1, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

Figure 4 illustrates a sectional view of the HLL switch assembly taken along an axis Y-Y' of Figure 1, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;
Figure 5a, 5b, and 5c illustrate different views of a light guide of the HLL switch assembly, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;
Figures 6a, 6b, and 6c illustrate different views of a portion A' of Figure 3b depicting a knob assembly positioned in the HLL switch assembly, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; and
Figures 7a, 7b, 7c, and 7d illustrate illumination of the HLL switch assembly at different positions, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
Further, skilled artisans will appreciate that elements in the drawings are illustrated for simplicity and may not have been necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the flow charts illustrate the method in terms of the most prominent steps involved to help to improve understanding of aspects of the present invention. Furthermore, in terms of the construction of the device, one or more components of the device may have been represented in the drawings by conventional symbols, and the drawings may show only those specific details that are pertinent to understanding the embodiments of the present invention so as not to obscure the drawings with details that will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art having benefit of the description herein.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES
For the purpose of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference will now be made to the embodiment illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended, such alterations and further modifications in the illustrated system, and such further applications of the principles of the invention as illustrated therein being contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates. Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skilled in the art to which this invention

belongs. The system, methods, and examples provided herein are illustrative only and not intended to be limiting.
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
For the purpose of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference will now be made to the embodiment illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended, such alterations and further modifications in the illustrated system, and such further applications of the principles of the invention as illustrated therein being contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates.
It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are explanatory of the invention and are not intended to be restrictive thereof.
Reference throughout this specification to "an aspect", "another aspect" or similar language means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, appearances of the phrase "in an embodiment", "in another embodiment" and similar language throughout this specification may, but do not necessarily, all refer to the same embodiment.
The terms "comprises", "comprising", or any other variations thereof, are intended to cover a nonexclusive inclusion, such that a process or method that comprises a list of steps does not include only those steps but may include other steps not expressly listed or inherent to such process or method. Similarly, one or more devices or subsystems or elements or structures or components proceeded by "comprises... a" does not, without more constraints, preclude the existence of other devices or other sub-systems or other elements or other structures or other components or additional devices or additional sub-systems or additional elements or additional structures or additional components.

Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. The system, methods, and examples provided herein are illustrative only and not intended to be limiting.
It should be understood at the outset that although illustrative implementations of the embodiments of the present disclosure are illustrated below, the present invention may be implemented using any number of techniques, whether currently known or in existence. The present disclosure should in no way be limited to the illustrative implementations, drawings, and techniques illustrated below, including the exemplary design and implementation illustrated and described herein, but may be modified within the scope of the appended claims along with their full scope of equivalents.
The term "some" as used herein is defined as "none, or one, or more than one, or all." Accordingly, the terms "none," "one," "more than one," "more than one, but not all" or "all" would all fall under the definition of "some." The term "some embodiments" may refer to no embodiments or to one embodiment or to several embodiments or to all embodiments. Accordingly, the term "some embodiments" is defined as meaning "no embodiment, or one embodiment, or more than one embodiment, or all embodiments."
The terminology and structure employed herein is for describing, teaching and illuminating some embodiments and their specific features and elements and does not limit, restrict or reduce the spirit and scope of the claims or their equivalents.
More specifically, any terms used herein such as but not limited to "includes," "comprises," "has," "consists," and grammatical variants thereof do NOT specify an exact limitation or restriction and certainly do NOT exclude the possible addition of one or more features or elements, unless otherwise stated, and furthermore must NOT be taken to exclude the possible removal of one or more of the listed features and elements, unless otherwise stated with the limiting language "MUST comprise" or "NEEDS TO include."
Whether or not a certain feature or element was limited to being used only once, either way it may still be referred to as "one or more features" or "one or more elements" or "at least

one feature" or "at least one element." Furthermore, the use of the terms "one or more" or "at least one" feature or element do NOT preclude there being none of that feature or element, unless otherwise specified by limiting language such as "there NEEDS to be one or more ..." or "one or more element is REQUIRED."
Unless otherwise defined, all terms, and especially any technical and/or scientific terms, used herein may be taken to have the same meaning as commonly understood by one having an ordinary skill in the art.
Reference is made herein to some "embodiments." It should be understood that an embodiment is an example of a possible implementation of any features and/or elements presented in the attached claims. Some embodiments have been described for the purpose of illuminating one or more of the potential ways in which the specific features and/or elements of the attached claims fulfil the requirements of uniqueness, utility and non-obviousness.
Use of the phrases and/or terms such as but not limited to "a first embodiment," "a further embodiment," "an alternate embodiment," "one embodiment," "an embodiment," "multiple embodiments," "some embodiments," "other embodiments," "further embodiment", "furthermore embodiment", "additional embodiment" or variants thereof do NOT necessarily refer to the same embodiments. Unless otherwise specified, one or more particular features and/or elements described in connection with one or more embodiments may be found in one embodiment, or may be found in more than one embodiment, or may be found in all embodiments, or may be found in no embodiments. Although one or more features and/or elements may be described herein in the context of only a single embodiment, or alternatively in the context of more than one embodiment, or further alternatively in the context of all embodiments, the features and/or elements may instead be provided separately or in any appropriate combination or not at all. Conversely, any features and/or elements described in the context of separate embodiments may alternatively be realized as existing together in the context of a single embodiment.
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 illustrates a perspective view of an improved Head Light Leveling (HLL) switch assembly 100, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The improved HLL switch assembly 100 may interchangeably be referred to as the HLL switch assembly 100, without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. In an embodiment, the HLL switch assembly 100 may be adapted to be operated for adjusting the inclination of headlamps in a vehicle. In particular, the HLL switch assembly 100 may be operated to select a level with respect to the vehicle at which light beams are to be projected from the headlamps. The HLL switch assembly 100 may be employed in vehicles including, but not limited to, passenger cars, multi utility vehicles, sports utility vehicles, four-wheeler vehicles, commercial vehicles, and off-road vehicles, to adjust a level of light beams emitting from the headlamps.
In an embodiment, the HLL switch assembly 100 may be mounted on a dashboard (not shown) of the vehicle. The present disclosure is explained with respect to the HLL switch assembly 100 employed for adjusting the inclination of the headlamps. However, it should be appreciated by a person skilled in the art that it should not be construed as limiting, and the present disclosure is equally applicable to other switch assemblies in the vehicle, without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.
Figure 2 illustrates an exploded view of the HLL switch assembly 100, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Referring to Figure 1 and Figure 2, the HLL switch assembly 100 includes a first body member 202-1 and a second body member 202-2. In an embodiment, the first body member 202-1 and the second body member 202-2 may be adapted to be coupled with each other to form a housing member 203 for accommodating various sub¬components of the HLL switch assembly 100. In the illustrated embodiment, the HLL switch assembly 100 may include, but is not limited to, a bezel 204, a knob assembly 206, at least one lens 208, a Printed Circuit Board (PCB) assembly 210, and an illumination assembly 212, without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.
Figures 3a and 3b illustrate sectional views of the HLL switch assembly 100 taken along an axis X-X' of Figure 1, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Figure 4 illustrates a sectional view of the HLL switch assembly 100 taken along an axis Y-Y' of Figure 1, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Referring to Figure 1, Figure 2, Figures 3a-3b, and Figure 4, the knob assembly 206 may include, but is not limited to, a rotary knob 214,

a moving contact 216, a contact holder 218, a resilient member 220, and a steel ball 222. The contact holder 218 may be adapted to accommodate the moving contact 216. The contact holder 218 may be disposed in the housing member 203 through the resilient member 220 and the steel ball 222.
In an embodiment, the rotary knob 214 may be rotatably disposed within the housing member 203 of the HLL switch assembly 100. The rotary knob 214 may be adapted to be operated by a user for selecting a level of the headlamps of the vehicle. In particular, the rotary knob 214 may be adapted to be operated between a plurality of positions to select the level of headlamps of the vehicle. Each of the plurality of positions may be associated with a symbol 602 (as shown in Figure 6a) formed on the rotary knob (214) indicating the level of headlamps. The rotary knob may include a plurality of symbols, such as the symbol 602, corresponding to the plurality of positions. In an embodiment, the plurality of symbols 602 may interchangeably be referred to as the symbols 602 and individually be referred to as the symbol 602, without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.
For instance, the rotary knob 214 may be rotatable between a plurality of positions, such as a first position indicated by symbol '0', a second position indicated by symbol '1', a third position indicated by symbol '2', and a fourth position indicated by symbol '3'. In an embodiment, the rotary knob 214 may include an upper surface 402 and a lower surface 404 distal to the upper surface 402. The symbols 602 (as shown in Figure 6a) associated with each of the plurality of positions may be etched on the upper surface 402 of the rotary knob 214, without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.
In such an instance, the first position of the rotary knob 214 corresponds to the alignment of the headlamps at a normal level, i.e., a highest level. Further, the second position, the third position, and the fourth position correspond to alignment of the headlamps to a first level, a second level, and a third level, respectively. The third level indicates a lowest level of alignment of the headlamps of the vehicle.
Figure 5a, 5b, and 5c illustrate different views of a light guide of the HLL switch assembly 100, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Referring to Figure 2, Figures 3a-3b, Figure 4, and Figures 5a-5c, the illumination assembly 212 may be disposed

within the housing member 203 of the HLL switch assembly 100. In an embodiment, the illumination assembly 212 may be adapted to illuminate the symbols 602 formed on the rotary knob 214 of the HLL switch assembly 100. In particular, the illumination assembly 212 may be adapted to illuminate one of the symbols 602 corresponding to a position of the rotary knob 214 selected by the user.
In the illustrated embodiment, the illumination assembly 212 includes, but is not limited to, a light source 302 adapted to emit light beam and a light cover 304 adapted to guide the light beam. The light beam from the light source 302 may illuminate the symbol 602 associated with the selected position from among the plurality of positions of the rotary knob 214. The light source 302 may be embodied as a Light Emitting Diode (LED). In an embodiment, the light source 302 may interchangeably be referred to as the LED 302, without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. The LED 302 may be positioned beneath the rotary knob 214 in the housing member 203 of the HLL switch assembly 100.
In the illustrated embodiment, the LED 302 may be positioned within the housing member 203 such that a light beam emitted from the LED 302 may be projected on the symbol corresponding to a selected position of the rotary knob 214. In particular, the light beam from the LED 302 may be projected on the lower surface 404 of the rotary knob 214 corresponding to the symbol of the selected position from among the plurality of positions of the rotary knob 214. The LED 302 may be operably coupled to the PCB assembly 210 of the HLL switch assembly 100.
Referring to Figure 5a, Figure 5b, and Figure 5c, the light cover 304 may be adapted to guide the light beam (shown by arrows L-L') emitted from the LED 302 to the symbol corresponding to the selected position of the rotary knob 214. In the illustrated embodiment, the light cover 304 may include a guiding portion 502 adapted to guide the light beam from the LED 302 to the rotary knob 214. The light cover 304 may be disposed within the housing member 203 of the HLL switch assembly 100 such that the guiding portion 502 of the light cover 304 is positioned above the LED 302. The guiding portion 502 of the light cover 304 focuses the light beam from the LED 302 towards the selected position of the rotary knob 214 and thereby, substantially eliminates scattering of the light beam towards symbols corresponding to other positions of the rotary knob 214.

Figures 6a, 6b, and 6c illustrate different views of a portion A' of the Figure 3b depicting the knob assembly 206 positioned in the HLL switch assembly 100, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. For the sake of brevity, details of the present disclosure that are explained in details in the description of Figure 1, Figure 2, Figure 3a, Figure 3b, Figure 4, Figure 5 a, Figure 5b, and Figure 5 c are not explained in detail in the description of Figure 6a, Figure 6b, and Figure 6c.
Referring to Figure 3b, Figure 6a, Figure 6b, and Figure 6c, the knob assembly 206 may include a parting member 406 disposed below the rotary knob 214. The parting member 406 may include a plurality of partitions 604. In an embodiment, the plurality of partitions 604 may interchangeably be referred to as the partitions 604. Further, the partitions 604 may individually be referred to as the partition 604, without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.
The partition 604 may be positioned between each of the symbols 602 corresponding to different positions of the rotary knob 214. In the illustrated embodiment, the partition 604 may be provided beneath the rotary knob 214 such that the light beam emitted from the LED 302 is projected on the symbol indicating the selected position of the rotary knob 214. In particular, the parting member 406 may be disposed below the rotary knob 214 such that each of the plurality of partitions 604 is positioned between each of the plurality of symbols 602 associated with each of the plurality of positions of the rotary knob 214.
Further, the partition 604 ensures that the light beam projected on the symbol indicating the selected position of the rotary knob 214 should not scatter towards other symbols of the rotary knob 214. In particular, each of the plurality of partitions 604 is adapted to restrict scattering of the light beam projected on one of the plurality of symbols 602 associated with the selected position among the plurality of positions of the rotary knob 214. In another embodiment, the rotary knob 214 may include a plurality of partitions positioned between each of the plurality of symbols 602 associated with each of the plurality of positions of the rotary knob 214. In such an embodiment, the plurality of partitions may be provided on the lower surface 404 of the rotary knob 214.

Figures 7a, 7b, 7c, and 7d illustrate illumination of the HLL switch assembly at different positions, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. For the sake of brevity, details of the present disclosure that are explained in details in the description of Figure 1, Figure 2, Figure 3 a, Figure 3b, Figure 4, Figure 5 a, Figure 5b, Figure 5 c, Figure 6a, Figure 6b, and Figure 6c are not explained in detail in the description of Figure 7a, Figure 7b, Figure 7c, and Figure 7d.
Referring to Figure 7a, when the rotary knob 214 is positioned at the first position indicated by the symbol '0', the illuminating assembly 212 may illuminate only the symbol '0' on the rotary knob 214 indicating the selection of the first position. Referring to Figure 7b, in one instance, the rotary knob 214 may be operated to the second position indicated by the symbol '1' on the rotary knob. In such an instance, the illuminating assembly 212 of the HLL switch assembly 100 may illuminate only the symbol Ton the rotary knob 214 indicating the selection of the second position of the rotary knob 214.
Further, referring to Figure 7c, in one instance, the rotary knob 214 may be operated to the third position indicated by the symbol '2' on the rotary knob 214. In such an instance, the illuminating assembly 212 of the HLL switch assembly 100 may illuminate only the symbol '2' on the rotary knob 214 indicating the selection of the third position of the rotary knob 214. Referring to Figure 7d, in one instance, the rotary knob 214 may be operated to the third position indicated by the symbol '3' on the rotary knob 214. In such an instance, the illuminating assembly 212 may illuminate only the symbol '3' on the rotary knob 214 indicating the selection of the third position of the rotary knob 214.
As would be gathered, the present disclosure offers the improved HLL switch assembly 100 for the vehicle. The HLL switch assembly 100 of the present disclosure includes the illumination assembly 212 adapted to illuminate only one of the symbols which indicates the selected position of the rotary knob 214. The illumination assembly 212 may include a single LED, i.e., the LED 302 disposed beneath the rotary knob 214 such that the LED 302 may illuminate only the symbol corresponding to the selected position of the rotary knob 214. Owing to such an arrangement, an overall requirement of a pointer and multiple LEDs are substantially eliminated from the HLL switch assembly 100. This results in a substantial enhancement in the overall aesthetic value of the HLL switch assembly 100 and an overall reduction in the

complexity of the HLL switch assembly 100. Therefore, the HLL switch assembly 100 of the present disclosure is flexible in implementation, compact, cost-effective, convenient, and has a wide range of applications.
The drawings and the forgoing description give examples of embodiments. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that one or more of the described elements may well be combined into a single functional element. Alternatively, certain elements may be split into multiple functional elements. Elements from one embodiment may be added to another embodiment. For example, orders of processes described herein may be changed and are not limited to the manner described herein.
Moreover, the actions of any flow diagram need not be implemented in the order shown; nor do all of the acts necessarily need to be performed. Also, those acts that are not dependent on other acts may be performed in parallel with the other acts. The scope of embodiments is by no means limited by these specific examples. Numerous variations, whether explicitly given in the specification or not, such as differences in structure, dimension, and use of material, are possible. The scope of embodiments is at least as broad as given by the following claims.
Benefits, other advantages, and solutions to problems have been described above with regard to specific embodiments. However, the benefits, advantages, solutions to problems, and any component(s) that may cause any benefit, advantage, or solution to occur or become more pronounced are not to be construed as a critical, required, or essential feature or component of any or all the claims.
While specific language has been used to describe the present subject matter, any limitations arising on account thereto, are not intended. As would be apparent to a person in the art, various working modifications may be made to the method in order to implement the inventive concept as taught herein. The drawings and the foregoing description give examples of embodiments. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that one or more of the described elements may well be combined into a single functional element. Alternatively, certain elements may be split into multiple functional elements. Elements from one embodiment may be added to another embodiment.

WE CLAIM;

1.A Head Lamp Leveling (HLL) switch assembly (100) for a vehicle, the HLL switch
assembly (100) comprising:
a housing member (203);
a knob assembly (206) adapted to be disposed within the housing member (203), wherein the knob assembly (206) comprising:
a rotary knob (214) adapted to be operated between a plurality of positions to select a level of headlamps of the vehicle, wherein each of the plurality of position is associated with a symbol (602) formed on the rotary knob (214) indicating the level of headlamps; and
an illumination assembly (212) adapted to be disposed below the rotary knob (214) within the housing member (203), wherein the illumination assembly (212) comprising: a light source (302) adapted to emit light beam; and
a light cover (304) adapted to guide the light beam from the light source (302) to the rotary knob (214), wherein the light beam illuminates the symbol (602) associated with the selected position from among the plurality of positions of the rotary knob (214).
2. The HLL switch assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rotary knob (214) includes an upper surface (402) and a lower surface (404), wherein the symbol (602) associated with each of the plurality of positions is etched on the upper surface (402) of the rotary knob (214).
3. The HLL switch assembly (100) as claimed in claim 2, wherein the light source (302) is positioned below the rotary knob (214) such that the light beam emitting from the light source (302) is projected on the lower surface (404) of the rotary knob (214) corresponding to the symbol (602) associated with the selected position from among the plurality of positions of the rotary knob (214).
4. The HLL switch assembly (100) as claimed in claim 3, wherein the knob assembly (206) includes a parting member (406) disposed below the rotary knob (214) and having a plurality of partitions (604).

5. The HLL switch assembly (100) as claimed in claim 4, wherein the parting member (406) is disposed below the rotary knob (214) such that each of the plurality of partitions (604) is positioned between each of a plurality of symbols (602) associated with each of the plurality of positions of the rotary knob (214).
6. The HLL switch assembly (100) as claimed in claim 5, wherein each of the plurality of partitions (604) is adapted to restrict scattering of the light beam projected on one of the plurality of symbols (602) associated with the selected position among the plurality of positions of the rotary knob (214).
7. The HLL switch assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the light source (302) is a Light Emitting Diode (LED).
8. The HLL switch assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the light cover (304) includes a guiding portion (502) adapted to guide the light beam from the light source (302) to the rotary knob (214).
9. The HLL switch assembly (100) as claimed in claim 9, wherein the light cover (304) is disposed within the housing member (203) such that the guiding portion (502) is positioned above the light source (302).