Illuminated switch

• US 10,086,700 B2
• Filed: 10/20/2016
• Issued: 10/02/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Salter, Stuart C., Huebner, Annette Lynn, Hellman, Kristin Ann, Buttolo, Pietro, Dellock, Paul Kenneth
• Primary Examiner(s): NEILS, PEGGY A
• Application Number:
  US15/298,924
• Publication Number:
  US 20180111546A1
• Time in Patent Office: 712 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/1446 Touch switches
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/188 Displaying information using colour changes
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/34 Backlit symbols
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/345 Illumination of controls
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/693 Cover plate features
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/00 Instruments specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement of instruments in or on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/10 Input arrangements, i.e. from user to vehicle, associated with vehicle functions or specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/29 Instruments characterised by the way in which information is handled, e.g. showing information on plural displays or prioritising information according to driving conditions
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/16 Circuits; Control arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/20 for lighting specific fittings of passenger or driving compartments; mounted on specific fittings of passenger or driving compartments lighting for dashboards B60Q3/10
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/76 for spotlighting, e.g. reading lamps spotlighting on or for specific fittings B60Q3/20; spotlighting in mass transit vehicles B60Q3/44
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/80 Circuits; Control arrangements for dashboards B60Q3/16; for mass transit vehicles B60Q3/47

Abstract

A vehicle switch is provided herein. The vehicle switch includes a housing including an output window. A first light source and a second light source are disposed within the housing. The first light source emits excitation light of a first wavelength. The second light source emits excitation light of a second wavelength. A proximity switch assembly is positioned within the housing and is configured to control a vehicle feature. A first luminescent structure is disposed rearwardly of the output window and luminesces in response to excitation light of the first wavelength when the feature is in a first state. A second luminescent structure is disposed rearwardly of the output window and is configured to luminesce in response to excitation light of the second wavelength when the feature is in a second state.

Claims

1. A vehicle switch, comprising:

a housing including an output window;

a first light source and a second light source disposed within the housing, wherein the first light source emits excitation light of a first wavelength and the second light source emits excitation light of a second wavelength;

a proximity switch assembly positioned between the first and second light sources and the output window, the proximity switch assembly configured to control a vehicle feature;

a first luminescent structure disposed rearwardly of the output window and configured to luminesce in response to excitation light of the first wavelength when the feature is in a first state, wherein the first and second light sources are disposed at an equal distance from a film containing the first luminescent structure; and

a second luminescent structure disposed rearwardly of the output window and configured to luminesce in response to excitation light of the second wavelength when the feature is in a second state.

2. The vehicle switch of claim 1, wherein the proximity switch assembly is configured to emit an activation field that detects an object in close proximity to the switch.

3. The vehicle switch of claim 2, wherein the first and second luminescent structures are interspersed with each other on the film and define indicia, wherein the first luminescent structure luminesces independently in the first state and the first and second luminescent structures luminesce simultaneously in the second state.

4. The vehicle switch of claim 1, further comprising:

a diffusive layer between the proximity switch assembly and the first and second luminescent structures.

5. The vehicle switch of claim 4, further comprising:

a light filter disposed between the diffusive layer and the first and second luminescent structures that are disposed on the film.

6. The vehicle switch of claim 5, wherein the first and second light sources are separated from the first and second luminescent structures such that light emitted from the first or second light source may be reflected off of both opposing sides of the housing.

7. The vehicle switch of claim 5, wherein the proximity switch assembly is configured as a capacitive switch comprising one or more capacitive sensors.

8. The vehicle switch of claim 7, wherein the capacitive switch includes a first plurality of electrode fingers that are interlaced with a second plurality of electrode fingers.

9. A vehicle switch, comprising:

a capacitive sensor configured to switch a vehicle feature between first and second states;

a first luminescent structure rearwardly of the capacitive sensor and configured to luminesce when the feature is in the first state; and

a second luminescent structure rearwardly of the capacitive sensor and configured to luminesce when the feature is in the second state.

10. The vehicle switch of claim 9, wherein a first light source emits the first excitation light and a second light source emits the second excitation light.

11. The vehicle switch of claim 9, further comprising:

a housing defining an output window through which the luminescence of the first and second luminescent structures may be visible to a vehicle occupant.

12. The vehicle switch of claim 9, wherein the first and second luminescent structures are interspersed on a film.

13. The vehicle switch of claim 9, wherein the first luminescent structure is disposed on a first film and the second luminescent structure is disposed on a second film, the second film disposed along an interior side of the first film.

14. The vehicle switch of claim 9, wherein the first and second luminescent structures define indicia.

15. A switch, comprising:

a housing defining an output window;

a sensor disposed rearwardly of the output window;

first and second luminescent structures disposed rearwardly of the sensor;

a light source disposed within the housing, wherein the first luminescent structure luminesces when the light source emits a first wavelength of light and the second luminescent structure luminesces when the light source emits a second wavelength of light; and

a light filter and a diffusive layer disposed between the first and second luminescent structures and the sensor, the light filter configured to absorb excitation light that is emitted from the light source.

16. The switch of claim 15, wherein the first wavelength of light is emitted when a feature controlled by the switch is in a first state and the second wavelength of light is emitted when a feature controlled by the switch is in a second state.

17. The switch of claim 15, further comprising:

a capacitive switch comprising one or more capacitive sensors.

18. The switch of claim 17, wherein the capacitive sensor provides an activation field to detect contact or close proximity of an object to the switch.

19. The switch of claim 15, wherein the light source includes first and second LEDs that respectively emit the first and the second wavelength of light.

20. The switch of claim 15, wherein the first and second luminescent structures define indicia, the indicia emitting converted light through the light filter as the excitation light from the light source is absorbed by the light filter.