Switch device
First Claim
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.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A switch device includes a control portion that performs brightness adjustment control. Under the brightness adjustment control, a detection portion acquires capacitance of several electrode portions. The control portion allows a brightness adjustment portion to increase brightness of design portions corresponding to all the electrode portions whose capacitance exceeds an approach determination threshold value so that the increased brightness is higher than original brightness. The control portion maintains brightness control by the brightness adjustment portion when the capacitance exceeds the approach determination threshold value and is lower than a switch-on determination threshold value. When the capacitance exceeds a predetermined switch-on determination threshold value, the control portion turns on a switch portion corresponding to the electrode portion to operate an instrument, and subsequently returns the brightness by the brightness adjustment portion to the original brightness.
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Citations
14 Claims
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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:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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7. 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:
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a plurality of switch portions provided with design portions displaying 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; decrease the brightness of the light sources for any design portions with corresponding electrode portions other than any electrode portions with capacitances detected by the detection portion that exceed a predetermined first approach determination threshold value so that the decreased brightness is lower than a predetermined night illumination brightness level, increase the brightness of the light sources for the design portions corresponding to any the electrode portions with capacitances that exceed a predetermined second approach determination threshold value higher than the first approach determination threshold value and that fall short of a predetermined switch-on determination threshold value that is higher than the second approach determination threshold value so that the increased brightness is higher than the predetermined night illumination brightness level, and turn 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 return the brightness of the light sources corresponding to any turned on switch portions to the predetermined night illumination brightness level.
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12. 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:
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a plurality of switch portions for input; a detection portion configured to detect a distance between the finger of the user and each of the switch portions; a brightness adjustment portion configured to adjust a brightness of a plurality of light sources, each of the light sources being associated with one of the switch portions from the plurality of switch 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 all of the switch portions with manipulation distances that are shorter than a predetermined approach determination threshold value to an increased brightness that is higher than an original brightness of the light sources, controlling the brightness adjustment portion to maintain the brightness of the light sources at the increased brightness for any light sources corresponding to switch portions with corresponding manipulation distances that are smaller than the approach determination threshold value and larger than a predetermined switch-on determination threshold value that is smaller than the approach determination threshold value, and turning on the switch portions with corresponding manipulation distances that are smaller than the switch on determination threshold value to operate the instrument and subsequently returning the brightness for the corresponding light sources increased by the brightness adjustment portion to the original brightness. - View Dependent Claims (13)
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14. A switch device that is for a vehicle and inputs an operation condition to a specified instrument according to manipulation by a part of a body of a user, the switch device comprising:
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a plurality of switch portions provided with design portions displaying 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 part of the body 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; identifying all design portions corresponding to electrode portions with capacitances that exceed a first approach determination threshold value as specific design portions, and controlling the brightness adjustment portion so that a brightness of the light sources for the specific design portions is higher than a brightness of the light sources for design portions other than the specific design portions, controlling the brightness adjustment portion to maintain the increased brightness for the light sources of the specific design portions when the capacitances of the electrode portions corresponding to the specific design portions range between the first approach determination threshold value and a second approach determination threshold value that is larger than the first approach determination threshold value, controlling, when a capacitance of the electrode portion corresponding to any of the specific design portion exceeds the second approach determination threshold value the brightness adjustment portion so that a brightness of the light sources for the specific design portions is higher than a brightness of the other specific design portions, and turning on the switch portion corresponding to any electrode portions with corresponding capacitances that exceed a switch on determination threshold value that is larger than the second approach determination value and controlling the brightness adjustment portion so that the brightness of the design portion of any switch portion that is turned on equals the brightness of all the other design portions.
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Specification