Switch device

• US 10,303,260 B2
• Filed: 09/11/2014
• Issued: 05/28/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Original Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Inventors: Sakamaki, Tomohiko
• Primary Examiner(s): Edouard, Patrick N
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hughes, Eboni N
• Application Number:
  US15/026,068
• Publication Number:
  US 20160239101A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,720 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04108 Touchless 2D- digitiser, i.e. digitiser detecting the X/Y position of the input means, finger or stylus, also when it does not touch, but is proximate to the digitiser's interaction surface without distance measurement in the Z direction
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/02 Input arrangements using manually operated switches, e.g. using keyboards or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2380/10 Automotive applications
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/10 Intensity circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2219/039 Selective or different modes of illumination
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2239/006 Containing a capacitive switch or usable as such
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/955 using a capacitive detector
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/962 Capacitive touch switches
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/9622 using a plurality of detectors, e.g. keyboard
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2217/96062 with tactile or haptic feedback
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2217/960785 with illumination

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.

Claims

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.

2. The switch device according to claim 1, wherein

the approach determination threshold value is referred to as a first approach determination threshold value,

the control portion has the first approach determination threshold value and a second approach determination threshold value that is between the first approach determination threshold value and the switch-on determination threshold value, and

the control portion is further configured to increase the brightness of the light sources for the design portions corresponding to all of the electrode portions whose capacitance acquired by the detection portion exceeds the second approach determination threshold value and falls short of the switch-on determination threshold value so that the increased brightness is higher than the original brightness of the light source for the design portion, to thereby change an adjustment state of the brightness based on the first approach determination threshold value.

3. The switch device according to claim 1, wherein

at least a part of the design portion is used to increase brightness of the design portion.

4. The switch device according to claim 1, comprising:

a recognition portion that allows the user to recognize that the switch portion is turned on, wherein

the control portion operates the recognition portion in a period from a time the switch portion turns on to a time the brightness adjustment portion returns the brightness of the design portion to the original brightness.

5. The switch device according to claim 4, wherein

the recognition portion includes at least one of a sound generator to generate sound for the user, a vibrator to vibrate the switch portion, a device to further increase brightness increased by the brightness adjustment portion, and a blink device to blink the brightness adjustment portion.

6. The switch device according to claim 2, wherein

the switch portions are in black-out states in response to an off condition of the brightness adjustment portions and enables the original brightness of the design portions in response to an on condition of the brightness adjustment portions;

and

when the control portion increases the brightness of the light sources for the design portions corresponding to all the electrode portions whose capacitance exceeds the second approach determination threshold value and falls short of the switch-on determination threshold value so that the increased brightness is higher than the original brightness, the control portion turns off the brightness adjustment portions corresponding to other design portions.

8. The switch device according to claim 1, comprising:

a display portion that displays an operation state of the instrument corresponding to each of the switch portions, wherein

when the capacitance of the electrode portion exceeds the switch-on determination threshold value, the control portion highlights an operation state of the switch portion, on the display portion, corresponding to the electrode portion whose capacitance exceeds the switch-on determination threshold value.

9. The switch device according to claim 1, wherein

the control portion performs the brightness adjustment control when the vehicle stops.

10. The switch device according to claim 1, comprising:

a setup portion that determines validity of the brightness adjustment control performed by the control portion according to a speed of the vehicle, wherein

the setup portion is configured to allow the user to set up a speed condition of the vehicle that enables the brightness adjustment control.

11. The switch device according to claim 1, wherein

each of the design portions includes a switch icon in an image display device to form an image on a display surface, and

the brightness adjustment portion adjusts brightness of the image of the switch icon.

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:

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.

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:

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.

13. The switch device according to claim 12, wherein

the approach determination threshold value is referred to as a first approach determination threshold value,

the control portion has a second approach determination threshold value between the first approach determination threshold value and the switch-on determination threshold value,

the control portion is further configured to increase the brightness of all light sources corresponding to switch portions whose manipulation distance is smaller than the second approach determination threshold value and is larger than the switch-on determination threshold value so that the increased brightness is higher than original brightness of light sources, to thereby change an adjustment state of the brightness based on the first approach determination threshold value.

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:

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.