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Switch device

  • US 10,303,260 B2
  • Filed: 09/11/2014
  • Issued: 05/28/2019
  • Est. Priority Date: 10/02/2013
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A switch device that is for a vehicle and inputs an operation condition to a specified instrument according to a manipulation by a finger of a user, the switch device comprising:

  • a plurality of switch portions provided with design portions indicating switch functions, the design portions being illuminated by light sources, the plurality of switch portions overlapping with a plurality of electrode portions;

    a detection portion configured to detect a capacitance change corresponding to each of the electrode portions generated in accordance with a distance between the finger of the user and each of the electrode portions;

    a brightness adjustment portion configured to adjust a brightness of each of the light sources illuminating each of the design portions; and

    a control portion configured to perform a brightness adjustment control by;

    controlling the brightness adjustment portion to increase the brightness of the light sources for the design portions corresponding to all of the electrode portions with capacitances detected by the detection portion that exceed a predetermined approach determination threshold value to an increased brightness that is higher than an original brightness of the light sources,maintaining the brightness of the light sources that correspond to electrode portions with corresponding capacitances that exceed the approach determination threshold value while the corresponding capacitances exceed the approach determination threshold value and are less than a predetermined switch-on determination threshold value that is higher than the approach determination threshold value,turning on the switch portion corresponding to any of the electrode portions with corresponding capacitances that exceed the switch on determination threshold to operate the instrument, and subsequently returning the brightness of the light sources corresponding to any turned on switch portions to the original brightness.

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