Electric capacitance-type touch switch

• US 20080055118A1
• Filed: 04/20/2007
• Published: 03/06/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kojima Press Industry Company Limited (Kojima Industries Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kojima Press Industry Company Limited (Kojima Industries Corporation)
• Inventors: Kamon, Yoshio, Shimada, Hitoshi, Ando, Yasuyuki
• Granted Patent: US 8,203,468 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 341/26
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/962 Capacitive touch switches
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2217/960755 Constructional details of capacitive touch and proximity switches

Abstract

An electric capacitance-type touch switch, capable of reducing malfunction in switching operations and improving the degree of freedom in the visual design of switch, includes a detection circuit that can detect an electric capacitance change occurring when a human body approaches or contacts to an electrode. A sputter layer (i.e., a metallic thin film formed by sputtering) is provided on a surface of an upper lens (i.e., insulating base resin layer). The sputter layer can provide a beautiful metallic glossy appearance similar to a mirror surface. The sputter layer can be used as a panel surface providing a glossy appearance with iridescent or dichromatic effects obtainable from the hue of the base resin layer transmitted via the metallic layer. Furthermore, the sputter layer can be used as an electric capacitance detection electrode.

Claims

1. A touch switch comprising:

an insulating base resin layer;

a conductive layer provided on a surface of the base resin layer; and

an electric capacitance detection circuit electrically connected to the conductive layer to detect an electric capacitance change caused when a human body approaches or contacts to the conductive layer,

wherein the conductive layer is a layer formed by sputtering, vaporization, plating, or metallic painting.

5. The touch switch according to claim 1, further comprising a light source that can realize a stepwise change of luminance in accordance with the electric capacitance change detected by the electric capacitance detection circuit.

7. The touch switch according to claim 1, wherein the base resin layer is a surface layer of an automotive interior or exterior decorative component.

2. A touch switch comprising:

an insulating base resin layer;

a conductive layer provided on a surface of the base resin layer; and

an electric capacitance detection circuit electrically connected to the conductive layer to detect an electric capacitance change caused when a human body approaches or contacts the conductive layer,

wherein the conductive layer is a light-transmissive sputter layer formed by sputtering.

3. The touch switch according to claim 2, wherein the thickness of the sputter layer falls within the range of 5 nm to 500 nm.

4. The touch switch according to claim 2, further comprising a top coat layer coated on a surface of the sputter layer, wherein the top coat layer is a transparent resin film capable of protecting the sputter layer.

6. The touch switch according to claim 2, further comprising a light source that can realize a stepwise change of luminance in accordance with the electric capacitance change detected by the electric capacitance detection circuit.

8. The touch switch according to claim 2, wherein the base resin layer is a surface layer of an automotive interior or exterior decorative component.