Capacitive sensor and switch assembly with decorative conductive component

• US 10,476,501 B2
• Filed: 06/05/2017
• Issued: 11/12/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/18/2017
• 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, Xu, Wei, Vemulapati, Satyanarayana Raju
• Primary Examiner(s): LaBalle, Clayton E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sanghera, Jas A
• Application Number:
  US15/613,386
• Publication Number:
  US 20180297513A1
• Time in Patent Office: 890 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/141 Activation of instrument input devices by approaching fingers or pens
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/1446 Touch switches
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/771 on the ceiling
• 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 35/50 Instruments characterised by their means of attachment to or integration in the vehicle B60K35/231 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/60 Instruments characterised by their location or relative disposition in or on vehicles arrangements of lighting devices on dashboards B60Q3/10
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/74 for overall compartment lighting; for overall compartment lighting in combination with specific lighting, e.g. room lamps with reading lamps general lighting mounted on specific fittings B60Q3/20; general lighting for mass transit vehicles B60Q3/43
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/82 Switches specially adapted for vehicle interior lighting, e.g. switching by tilting the lens
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 13/0212 Roof or head liners movable head-liners B60J7/0007
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2013/0287 integrating other functions or accessories
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/955 using a capacitive detector
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2217/960755 Constructional details of capacitive touch and proximity switches

Abstract

A capacitive sensor and switch assembly is provided. The assembly includes a first electrode forming a decorative conductive component on a vehicle, and a second electrode dielectrically isolated from the first electrode and electrically coupled therewith to generate an activation field. The assembly also includes a dielectric layer disposed between the first and second electrodes, and a controller for processing a signal generated from the activation field and sensing an object, wherein the controller determines activation of a switch based on the signal generated from the activation field.

Claims

1. A capacitive sensor assembly comprising:

a first electrode forming a decorative conductive component comprising a metal trim component made of chrome or aluminum, wherein the first electrode is viewable by a user;

a second electrode dielectrically isolated from the first electrode and electrically coupled therewith to generate an activation field;

a dielectric layer disposed between the first and second electrodes;

a controller for processing a signal generated from the activation field and sensing an object based on the signal; and

an electric insulation layer disposed between the first electrode and a vehicle mounting assembly, wherein the assembly is located on a vehicle.

2. The capacitive sensor assembly of claim 1, wherein the controller determines activation of a switch based on the signal generated from the activation field.

3. The capacitive sensor assembly of claim 1, wherein the second electrode comprises a plurality of electrode fingers that electrically couple with the first electrode to generate the activation field.

4. The capacitive sensor assembly of claim 1, wherein the first electrode is formed on a first layer and the second electrode is formed on a second layer separated by the dielectric layer.

5. The capacitive sensor assembly of claim 1, wherein the controller determines activation of a switch based on the signal generated from the activation field.

6. A capacitive switch assembly comprising:

a first electrode forming a decorative conductive component on a vehicle comprising a metal trim component made of chrome or aluminum, wherein the first electrode is viewable by a user;

a second electrode dielectrically isolated from the first electrode and electrically coupled therewith to generate an activation field;

a dielectric layer disposed between the first and second electrodes;

a controller for processing a signal generated from the activation field and sensing an object, wherein the controller determines activation of a switch based on the signal generated from the activation field; and

an electric insulation layer disposed between the first electrode and a vehicle mounting assembly.

7. The capacitive sensor assembly of claim 6, wherein the second electrode comprises a plurality of electrode fingers that electrically couple with the first electrode to generate the activation field.

8. The capacitive sensor assembly of claim 6, wherein the first electrode is formed on a first layer and the second electrode is formed on a second layer separated by the dielectric layer.

9. A method of forming a capacitive sensor assembly, comprising:

forming a first electrode on a first dielectric layer;

forming a second dielectric layer on an opposite side of the first electrode;

forming a second electrode shaped as a decorative conductive component comprising a metal trim component made of chrome or aluminum onto an opposite side of the second dielectric layer, wherein the second electrode is viewable by a user;

disposing an electric insulation layer between the second electrode and a vehicle mounting assembly, wherein the assembly is located on a vehicle;

generating an activation field with the first and second electrodes; and

processing a signal generated by the activation field to sense an object in the activation field.

10. The capacitive sensor assembly of claim 9, wherein the controller determines activation of a switch based on the signal generated from the activation field.