Vehicle keypad formed in a window

• US 10,279,659 B2
• Filed: 01/12/2017
• Issued: 05/07/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 01/12/2017
• 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., Dellock, Paul Kenneth, Buttolo, Pietro
• Primary Examiner(s): Guharay, Karabi
• Application Number:
  US15/404,525
• Publication Number:
  US 20180194203A1
• Time in Patent Office: 845 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 1/20 Accessories, e.g. wind deflectors, blinds antiglare provisions B60J3/00; wind deflectors associated with roof openings B60J7/22; removable external protective coverings for windows or windscreens B60J11/08 ; aerodynamical spoiler for vehicles B62D35/00; heating arrangements specially adapted for transparent or reflecting areas H05B3/84
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 9/30 Elements containing photoluminescent material distinct from or spaced from the light source shades F21V1/17; globes, bowls or cover glasses F21V3/08, F21V3/12; refractors F21V5/10; reflectors F21V7/26, F21V7/30; elements with provision for controlling the spectral properties or intensity F21V9/40
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2107/10 for land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0036 2-D arrangement of prisms, protrusions, indentations or roughened surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/006 to produce indicia, symbols, texts or the like
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00 Individual registration on entry or exit
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/0069 actuated in a predetermined sequence
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2219/044 Edge lighting of layer
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2219/052 Phosphorescence
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2239/006 Containing a capacitive switch or usable as such
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 9/00 Details of switching devices, not covered by groups H01H1/00 - H01H7/00

Abstract

A vehicle capacitive key input pad assembly includes a pad comprising a region defining an illuminated character. The assembly also includes a first electrode having electrode fingers and extending at least partially around the illuminated character region, and a second electrode having electrode fingers and at least partially extending into the character region. One or more electrode fingers trace a portion of the illuminated character.

Claims

1. An input pad assembly comprising:

a light transmissive medium comprising a window;

a proximity sensor positioned on the medium;

a fluorescent pattern located on the medium; and

a light source positioned outside of the window near an edge to edge light the window and illuminate the fluorescent pattern.

2. The input pad assembly of claim 1, wherein the medium comprises a first glass layer and a second glass layer, wherein the sensor and pattern are located between the first and second glass layers.

3. The input pad assembly of claim 1, wherein the window is a vehicle door window.

4. The input pad assembly of claim 1, wherein the light source comprises at least one of an ultraviolet and infrared light source.

5. The input pad assembly of claim 1, wherein the pad assembly is employed on a vehicle.

6. The input pad assembly of claim 5, wherein the input pad assembly is employed as a keypad assembly to control operation of a door lock to lock or unlock a vehicle door.

7. The input pad assembly of claim 1 further comprising optics operatively coupled to the light transmissive medium for directing light towards the fluorescent pattern.

8. A vehicle input pad assembly comprising:

a vehicle window comprising a first layer and a second layer;

a proximity sensor positioned between the first and second layers;

an illuminable fluorescent pattern positioned between the first and second layers; and

a light source positioned outside of the window near an edge to edge light the window and illuminate the fluorescent pattern.

9. The input pad assembly of claim 8, wherein the window comprises a movable vehicle door window, and the light source is positioned to edge light the window and the fluorescent pattern through the window.

10. The input pad assembly of claim 8, wherein the light source comprises at least one of an ultraviolet and infrared light source.

11. The input pad assembly of claim 8, wherein the input pad assembly is employed as a keypad assembly to control operation of the door lock to lock or unlock a vehicle door.

12. The input pad assembly of claim 8, wherein the first layer and the second layer each comprise glass.

13. A vehicle input keypad assembly comprising:

a vehicle window comprising first and second glass layers;

a proximity sensor positioned between the first and second glass layers;

a fluorescent illuminable pattern positioned between the first and second layers; and

a light source positioned outside of the window near an edge to edge light the window and illuminate the fluorescent illuminable pattern.

14. The input pad assembly of claim 13, wherein the window comprises a vehicle door window, and the light source is positioned to edge light the window and the fluorescent pattern through the window.

15. The input pad assembly of claim 13, wherein the light source comprises at least one of an ultraviolet and infrared light source.

16. The input pad assembly of claim 13, wherein the input pad assembly is employed as a keypad assembly to control operation of the door lock to lock or unlock a vehicle door.

17. The input pad assembly of claim 13 further comprising a light transmissive medium disposed between the first and second glass layers to transmit light to the pattern.

18. The input pad assembly of claim 17 further comprising optics operatively coupled to the light transmissive medium for directing light towards the fluorescent pattern.