Illuminated switch element

• US 20040108193A1
• Filed: 12/09/2002
• Published: 06/10/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/09/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IEE International Electronics & Engineering SA (Aerospace Hi-Tech Holding Group Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: IEE International Electronics & Engineering SARL
• Inventors: Schoos, Aloyse, Schmiz, Marc, Schockmel, Paul
• Granted Patent: US 6,875,938 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 200/512
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/702 with contacts carried by or formed from layers in a multilayer structure, e.g. membrane switches
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/785 characterised by the material of the contacts, e.g. conductive polymers
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2201/036 Variable resistance
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2209/016 Protection layer, e.g. for legend, anti-scratch
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2219/018 Electroluminescent panel
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2219/02 programmable
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2300/01 Application power window

Abstract

The invention relates to a switch element in the form of a film, comprising a first film carrier and a second film carrier which are placed a certain distance apart. At least one film-like luminescent screen is applied to the side of the first film carrier which faces the second film carrier.

Claims

1. Foil style switch element having a first carrier foil and a second carrier foil arranged at a certain distance from one another, characterized by at least one foil style luminescent screen unit applied on the side of the first carrier foil facing away from the second carrier foil.

2. Switch element according to claim 1, characterized in that the foil style luminescent screen unit comprises a capacitor structure having a dielectric luminescent matter embedded between two contactable electrode layers.

3. Switch element according to claim 2, characterized in that the luminescent matter comprises a phosphorous layer.

4. Switch element according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the luminescent screen unit comprises a first electrode layer, a dielectric layer, a luminescent matter layer and a second electrode layer being applied to one another in this order, the first electrode layer being directly applied to the side of the first carrier foil facing away from the second carrier foil.

5. Switch element according to one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the electrode layer facing away from the first carrier foil is transparent.

6. Switch element according to claim 5, characterized in that the transparent electrode layer comprises a suitable carrier foil comprising at the side facing the luminescent matter layer a coating of indium-zinc-oxide or of a conductive polymer, the transparent electrode layer being laminated onto the luminescent matter layer.

7. Switch element according to claim 5, characterized in that the transparent electrode layer comprises a conductive material which is printed onto the luminescent matter layer.

8. Switch element according to one of claims 3 to 7, characterized in that the luminescent matter layer has the shape of a graphic symbol.

9. Switch element according to one of claims 3 to 7, characterized in that the luminescent matter layer comprises a plurality of individually drivable regions.

10. Switch element according to claim 9, characterized in that the individually drivable regions of the luminescent matter layer are arranged in a screen-shape in lines and columns.

11. Switch element according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the luminescent screen unit comprises a protective layer on the side facing away from the first carrier foil.

12. Switch element according to one of claims 1 to 10 having two contact arrangements being applied on one of the two carrier foils at a certain distance from one another, the contact arrangements being applied on the side of the carrier foil which faces the other carrier foil, and a triggering element which is applied on the side of the other carrier foil facing the two contact arrangements such that it brings into contact the two contact arrangements when the two carrier foils are pressed together.

13. Switch element according to claim 11, characterized in that the triggering element comprises a pressure-sensitive layer.

14. Switch element according to one of claims 1 to 10 having two contact arrangements one of which each is applied to each of the two carrier foils, such that the two contact arrangements are facing each other and are brought into contact when the two carrier foils are pressed together.

15. Switch element according to claim 13, characterized in that between the first and the second contact arrangement, a layer made of a pressure-sensitive material is arranged.

16. Use of a switch element according to one of the preceding claims in a switch module of a motor vehicle.