METHOD FOR THE OPTICAL MARKING OF A TOUCH CONTACT SWITCH AND TOUCH CONTACT SWITCH

• US 20070144874A1
• Filed: 03/08/2007
• Published: 06/28/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/09/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: EGO Elektro-Gerã¤Tebau GmbH (EGO Blanc und Fischer & Company GmbH)
• Original Assignee: EGO Elektro-Gerã¤Tebau GmbH (EGO Blanc und Fischer & Company GmbH)
• Inventors: DORWARTH, RALF, SCHILLING, WILFRIED
• Granted Patent: US 7,525,063 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 200/5.A
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/0339 Touch strips, e.g. orthogonal touch strips to control cursor movement or scrolling; single touch strip to adjust parameter or to implement a row of soft keys
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03547 Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2217/032 Feedback about selected symbol, e.g. display
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2219/039 Selective or different modes of illumination
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2221/014 Slide selector
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2239/006 Containing a capacitive switch or usable as such
• 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 2217/96066 Thumbwheel, potentiometer, scrollbar or slider simulation by touch switch
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2217/960705 Safety of capacitive touch and proximity switches, e.g. increasing reliability, fail-safe
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2217/960785 with illumination

Abstract

An elongate contact switch with several partial contact areas has associated illumination means for indicating the actuation mode and also the actuation point to an operator in order to increase operational safety. The illumination means are directly associated with individual partial contact areas or can indicate the progress of movements for operating the contact switch by applying a finger and pulling the same along a contact area. Moreover, malfunctions can be indicated.

Claims

1. A method for optically marking a touch contact switch under a cover by using illumination means, wherein said touch contact switch has defined actuation states comprising “

not actuated”

, “

incorrectly actuated” and

“

correctly actuated”

, wherein an activation state of said illumination means is capable of being changed with the changing of an actuation state of said touch contact switch by a user.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said illumination means are activated from an off-state to an on-state with the entry of the contact switch into the “

correctly actuated”

state, and said illumination means are being are deactivated and changed to an off-state when said contact switch is no more being activated or a finger of said user is being removed from said contact switch.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein said illumination means are activated and deactivated in the same way independently of the the method of activating said contact switch.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein said illumination means are only changed in their activation state when said contact switch is “

correctly actuated”

.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein said illumination means remain unchanged in their activation state when said contact switch is “

incorrectly actuated”

.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein said illumination means are changed in their activation state when said contact switch is being “

incorrectly actuated”

.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein said touch contact switch is subdivided into different areas.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein different functions are initiated when a user touches different touch contact positions on a contact surface of said touch contact switch, wherein activating or deactivating said illumination means or detecting and classifying said actuation state is dependent on a touch contact position of said contact surface by a finger.

9. The method according to claim 7, wherein several different illumination means are associated with said different areas of said contact surface, wherein when contacting one of said different areas an illumination means associated with said contact point is activated or deactivated.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein said illumination means are constructed for being activated with different activation states.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein said illumination means are constructed for being activated with different light intensities or brightness.

12. The method according to claim 10, wherein said illumination means are constructed for flashing with different frequencies.

13. The method according to claim 1, wherein said touch contact switch has several subdivisions within said contact switch surface, wherein said a point being touched by a finger is being indicated by lighting up with said illumination means.

14. A touch contact switch means under a cover and having illumination means, wherein said touch contact switch has defined actuations states comprising “

not actuated,”

“

incorrectly actuated” and

“

corrected actuated,”

wherein said illumination means has an activation state that is changed with the changing of an actuation state of said touch contact switch by a user

15. The touch contact switch according to claim 14, having a plurality of juxtaposed partial contact surfaces each of which are capable of activation by a user'"'"'s touch, wherein further each said partial contact surface is respectively associated with one of said individual illumination means, being separately activatable and deactivatable as a function of said individual illumination means actuation state or on actuation emit a differentiatable signal.

16. The touch contact switch according to claim 14, having a plurality of juxtaposed partial contact surfaces being constructed for emitting a differentiatable signal on actuation, wherein each said partial contact surface is associated with one of said individual illumination means, capable of separate activation and deactivation as a function of the actuation state of said one of said individual illuminations means.

17. The touch contact switch according to claim 15, wherein said illumination means are provided underneath of a surface of said partial contact areas and said partial contact areas comprise electrically conductive sensor surfaces having an opening for said illumination means radiating through said surface.

18. The touch contact switch according to claim 17, comprising a plurality of adjacent recesses.

19. The touch contact switch according to claim 18, wherein said recesses are constructed as a longitudinal slot.

20. The touch contact switch according to claim 14, wherein said illumination means forms a frame around said entire contact surface.

21. The touch contact switch according to claim 14, wherein said illumination means comprise LEDs.