Capacitive contact switch

• US 20070068789A1
• Filed: 06/02/2004
• Published: 03/29/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/03/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: E.G.O. Control Systems GmbH
• Original Assignee: E.G.O. Control Systems GmbH
• Inventors: Streifler, Rolf
• Granted Patent: US 7,507,929 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 200/600
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/962 Capacitive touch switches
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2217/960785 with illumination

Abstract

A detctor for a capactive contact switch comprises a flat material consisting of a transparent carrier foil and a ITO-coating. The ITO coating is embodied in the form of a transparent electric conductor. The flat material can be arranged between a transparent cover and a lighted display in such a way that a sensor element is obtained. The flat material as the sensor element 10 makes it possible to represent an illuminated symbol or the corresponding display thereof.

Claims

1. A sensor device for producing a switch signal on approaching or contacting a sensor element through an approach of a finger or the like of a user, said sensor device having:

a capacitive sensor element defining a surface and having an impression or coating comprising conductive material,

a flat panel of translucent or transparent material, said capacitive sensor element being located on a back surface of said flat panel remote from said user, and

a control connected to the said sensor element wherein said sensor element has a conductive contacting with said control, characterized in that said impression or coating of said sensor element is transparent.

2. The sensor device according to claim 1, wherein said impression or coating extends over most of a surface of said sensor element.

3. The sensor device according to claim 1, wherein a part of a surface of said sensor element has an impression, in the form of a symbol.

4. The sensor device according to claim 1 wherein said sensor element is non-detachable applied to said panel.

5. The sensor device according to claim 1, wherein said impression or coating is applied to a transparent film placed on a back of the said panel.

6. The sensor device according to claim 5, wherein said film integrally forms said sensor element and a contacting on said control, wherein said film extends from a back of said panel integrally to said control, said control being located on a printed circuit board and said film extending up to said printed circuit board.

7. The sensor device according to claim 6, wherein an electrical contacting of the said film on said control is achieved via a fixing to a contact bank of the said control.

8. The sensor device according to claims 1, wherein behind said sensor element is provided on a back of said panel an illuminating means.

9. The sensor device according to claim 8, wherein one said sensor element in the form of a film passes at least partly around said illuminating means.

10. The sensor device according to claim 8, wherein said illuminating means is pressed against an area of said film on a back of said panel and said film area is loose.

11. Sensor device according to claim 8, wherein said illuminating means have a display.

12. The sensor device according to claim 4, wherein said sensor element is in the form of a thin, conductive coating.

13. The sensor device according to claim 8, characterized in that said illuminating means is a light guide with a LED for illumination purposes.