Proximity sensor switch-controlled meter and lamp switch system

• US 20100001974A1
• Filed: 01/21/2009
• Published: 01/07/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/04/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: I-Te Chang, Kuo-Hsin Su
• Original Assignee: I-Te Chang, Kuo-Hsin Su
• Inventors: Chang, I-Te, Su, Kuo-Hsin
• Granted Patent: US 8,947,348 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/174
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/0082 mounted on the steering wheel
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/1484 mounted on the steering wheel
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/9622 using a plurality of detectors, e.g. keyboard
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2217/960755 Constructional details of capacitive touch and proximity switches

Abstract

A proximity sensor switch-controlled meter and lamp switch system installed in a motor vehicle that can be a motorcycle or car is disclosed to include a meter having a micro-controller unit (MCU) and an electronic display device, a lamp switch unit installed in one handlebar (or the motorcycle) or steering wheel (of the car), and proximity sensor switches respectively mounted in the meter and the lamp switch unit for controlling the micro-controller unit (MCU) to control the display mode of an electronic display device of the meter or to switch on/off the headlamp or left/right turn signal light of the motor vehicle when the motorcycle rider or car driver touches the meter or the lamp switch unit with a finger.

Claims

1. A proximity sensor switch-controlled meter and lamp switch system installed in a motor vehicle, comprising:

a meter, said meter comprising a faceplate, a transparent glass covering said faceplate, a circuit board provided at a bottom side of said faceplate, said circuit board comprising a micro-controller unit (MCU), and an electronic display device mounted in said faceplate and electrically connected to said micro-controller unit (MCU); and

at least one proximity sensor switch mounted in said faceplate in close contact with said transparent glass and electrically connected to said micro-controller unit (MCU) of said circuit board;

wherein when a user touches said transparent glass corresponding to one said proximity sensor switch with a finger, the respective proximity sensor switch is induced to output a signal to said micro-controller unit (MCU), causing said micro-controller unit (MCU) to switch the display mode of said electronic display device.

2. The proximity sensor switch-controlled meter and lamp switch system as claimed in claim 1, wherein each said proximity sensor switch comprises an induction plate mounted in said faceplate, a conducting means fastened to said circuit board with a respective nut and kept in contact with a bottom conductor of said induction plate for outputting a signal to said micro-controller unit (MCU) of said circuit board upon touching of said transparent glass corresponding to said induction plate by a finger of a person.

3. The proximity sensor switch-controlled meter and lamp switch system as claimed in claim 2, wherein each said proximity sensor switch further comprises a capacitive proximity sensor respectively electrically connected between said conducting means and said micro-controller unit (MCU) to detect a change of electric charge at the associating induction plate and to output a corresponding signal to said micro-controller unit (MCU).

4. The proximity sensor switch-controlled meter and lamp switch system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said micro-controller unit (MCU) is electrically connected with a headlamp, a left turn signal light, a right turn signal light, a speed sensor and a fuel sensor of said motor vehicle for receiving signal therefrom and controlling said electronic display device of said meter to display device subject to the signal received.

5. The proximity sensor switch-controlled meter and lamp switch system as claimed in claim 4, wherein said micro-controller unit (MCU) is electrically connected to a fuel injection engine control unit of the motor vehicle to provide the speed data of the motor vehicle obtained through said speed sensor to said fuel injection engine control unit for enabling said fuel injection engine control unit to control fuel injection of the motor vehicle subject to the speed data received.

6. The proximity sensor switch-controlled meter and lamp switch system as claimed in claim 2, wherein said conducting means of each said proximity sensor switch is a wire conductor.

7. The proximity sensor switch-controlled meter and lamp switch system as claimed in claim 2, wherein said conducting means of each said proximity sensor switch is a metal conducting column.

8. The proximity sensor switch-controlled meter and lamp switch system as claimed in claim 2, wherein said conducting means of each said proximity sensor switch is a non-metallic conducting member.

9. The proximity sensor switch-controlled meter and lamp switch system as claimed in claim 2, wherein said conducting means of each said proximity sensor switch is a printed circuit board.

10. The proximity sensor switch-controlled meter and lamp switch system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a lamp switch unit for controlling said micro-controller unit (MCU) to turn on/off a headlamp, a left turn signal light and a right turn signal light of the motor vehicle, said lamp switch unit comprising a faceplate, a circuit board, the circuit board of said lamp switch unit comprising a plurality of proximity sensor switches respectively disposed in contact with a respective sign on the faceplate of said lamp switch unit and a plurality of capacitive proximity sensors respectively electrically connected to the proximity sensor switches of said lamp switch unit, a transparent top cover housing the faceplate and circuit board of said lamp switch unit, a bottom cover plate covering a bottom side of said transparent top cover, and an electric connector electrically connecting the capacitive proximity sensors of said lamp switch unit to said micro-controller unit (MCU), wherein when a finger of a person touches said transparent top cover corresponding to one said proximity sensor switch, the associating capacitive proximity sensor senses an electric charge change and outputs a signal to said micro-controller unit (MCU) for a lamp switching control.

11. The proximity sensor switch-controlled meter and lamp switch system as claimed in claim 11, wherein each proximity sensor switch of said lamp switch unit is comprised of an induction plate and a conducting member.

12. The proximity sensor switch-controlled meter and lamp switch system as claimed in claim 11, wherein the circuit board of said lamp switch unit further comprises a light source for giving off light for illumination.

13. The proximity sensor switch-controlled meter and lamp switch system as claimed in claim 11, wherein the motor vehicle in which the proximity sensor switch-controlled meter and lamp switch system is installed is a motorcycle and said lamp switch unit is installed in one handlebar of the motorcycle.

14. The proximity sensor switch-controlled meter and lamp switch system as claimed in claim 11, wherein the motor vehicle in which the proximity sensor switch-controlled meter and lamp switch system is installed is a car;

said lamp switch unit is installed in the steering wheel of the car.