Vehicle window assembly with integrated touch/proximity sensor
First Claim
1. A window assembly for a vehicle, said window assembly comprising:
- a glass window panel;
wherein said glass window panel has a non-light-transmitting layer established at a perimeter region thereof;
a sensing device disposed at an interior surface of said glass window panel at and behind said non-light-transmitting layer;
wherein said non-light-transmitting layer has a plurality of light-transmitting apertures established thereat;
wherein said sensing device is disposed at said interior surface of said glass window panel such that a sensor of said sensing device is disposed at a respective one of said light-transmitting apertures established at said non-light-transmitting layer;
wherein said sensing device includes a plurality of illumination sources, and wherein, when each of said illumination sources is activated, the respective activated illumination source emits light through a respective light-transmitting aperture established at said non-light-transmitting layer and does not emit light through said non-light-transmitting layer;
wherein said sensing device comprises a circuit element and a reflector, and wherein said illumination sources are disposed at said circuit element, and wherein said reflector is disposed along said circuit element to reflect light emitted by said illumination sources toward and through said glass window panel;
wherein, when said glass window panel is disposed at a vehicle and said illumination sources are activated, a person viewing said glass window panel from exterior of the vehicle views a plurality of light-transmitting icons or alphanumeric characters illuminated by respective ones of said illumination sources; and
wherein said light-transmitting apertures comprise the light-transmitting icon or alphanumeric characters established at said non-light-transmitting layer, and wherein said illumination sources, when activated, emit light through respective ones of the light-transmitting icons or alphanumeric characters established at said non-light-transmitting layer.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A window assembly for a vehicle includes a glass window panel having a non-light-transmitting layer established at a perimeter region thereof, and a sensing device disposed at the glass window panel at and behind the non-light-transmitting layer. The non-light-transmitting layer has at least one light-transmitting aperture or icon or alphanumeric character established thereat. The sensing device is disposed at the glass window panel such that a sensor and an illumination source of the sensing device are disposed at each of the light-transmitting apertures established at the non-light-transmitting layer. When the illumination sources are activated, the respective illumination source emits light through the respective light-transmitting aperture and does not emit light through the non-light-transmitting layer, whereby a person viewing the window panel from exterior of the vehicle views a plurality of icons or alphanumeric characters illuminated by respective ones of the illumination sources when the illumination source is/are activated.
44 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A window assembly for a vehicle, said window assembly comprising:
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a glass window panel; wherein said glass window panel has a non-light-transmitting layer established at a perimeter region thereof; a sensing device disposed at an interior surface of said glass window panel at and behind said non-light-transmitting layer; wherein said non-light-transmitting layer has a plurality of light-transmitting apertures established thereat; wherein said sensing device is disposed at said interior surface of said glass window panel such that a sensor of said sensing device is disposed at a respective one of said light-transmitting apertures established at said non-light-transmitting layer; wherein said sensing device includes a plurality of illumination sources, and wherein, when each of said illumination sources is activated, the respective activated illumination source emits light through a respective light-transmitting aperture established at said non-light-transmitting layer and does not emit light through said non-light-transmitting layer; wherein said sensing device comprises a circuit element and a reflector, and wherein said illumination sources are disposed at said circuit element, and wherein said reflector is disposed along said circuit element to reflect light emitted by said illumination sources toward and through said glass window panel; wherein, when said glass window panel is disposed at a vehicle and said illumination sources are activated, a person viewing said glass window panel from exterior of the vehicle views a plurality of light-transmitting icons or alphanumeric characters illuminated by respective ones of said illumination sources; and wherein said light-transmitting apertures comprise the light-transmitting icon or alphanumeric characters established at said non-light-transmitting layer, and wherein said illumination sources, when activated, emit light through respective ones of the light-transmitting icons or alphanumeric characters established at said non-light-transmitting layer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A window assembly for a vehicle, said window assembly comprising:
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a glass window panel; wherein said glass window panel has a non-light-transmitting layer established at a perimeter region thereof; a sensing device disposed at an interior surface of said glass window panel at and behind said non-light-transmitting layer; wherein said non-light-transmitting layer has a plurality of light-transmitting apertures established thereat; wherein said sensing device is disposed at said interior surface of said glass window panel such that a sensor of said sensing device is disposed at a respective one of said light-transmitting apertures established at said non-light-transmitting layer; wherein said sensing device includes a plurality of light emitting diodes, and wherein, when each of said light emitting diodes is activated, the respective activated light emitting diode emits light through a respective light-transmitting aperture established at said non-light-transmitting layer and does not emit light through said non-light-transmitting layer; wherein said sensing device comprises a circuit element, a reflector and a cover element, and wherein said light emitting diodes are disposed at said circuit element, and wherein said reflector is disposed along said circuit element to reflect light emitted by said light emitting diodes toward and through said glass window panel; wherein said circuit element and said reflector are disposed within a cavity of said cover element and between said cover element and said glass window panel; wherein said sensing device comprises an electrical connector configured to electrically connect circuitry of said circuit element to a wire harness of a vehicle when said glass window panel is disposed at the vehicle; and wherein, when said glass window panel is disposed at the vehicle and said light emitting diodes are activated, a person viewing said glass window panel from exterior of the vehicle views a plurality of light-transmitting icons or alphanumeric characters illuminated by respective ones of said light emitting diodes. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A window assembly for a vehicle, said window assembly comprising:
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a glass window panel comprising an inner glass sheet and an outer glass sheet that are laminated together; wherein said glass window panel comprises a movable glass window panel that is movably disposed at the vehicle and is movable between an opened position and a closed position; a sensing device disposed between said laminated inner and outer glass sheets of said glass window panel; wherein said sensing device includes a plurality of sensors and a plurality of illumination sources disposed between said laminated inner and outer glass sheets of said glass window panel; wherein, when said movable glass window panel is in the closed position, and when individual ones of said illumination sources are activated, the respective illumination sources emit light that is viewable through said outer glass sheet; wherein, when said glass window panel is disposed at a vehicle and one or more of said illumination sources are activated, a person viewing said glass window panel from exterior of the vehicle views one or more of a plurality of icons or alphanumeric characters illuminated by the respective one or more of said illumination sources; and wherein, when said illumination sources are not activated, said sensing device is not readily visible to the person viewing said glass window panel from exterior of the vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification