Touchless Keyless Entry Keypad Integrated with Electroluminescence Backlight

• US 20100296303A1
• Filed: 09/11/2008
• Published: 11/25/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/17/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Magna International Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Magna International Incorporated
• Inventors: Sarioglu, Guner R., Xue, Ryan
• Granted Patent: US 8,400,265 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/487
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 17/10 Illuminating devices on or for locks or keys; Transparent or translucent lock parts; Indicator lights
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2239/032 Anti-tamper
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/9622 using a plurality of detectors, e.g. keyboard
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2217/960785 with illumination
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/30 Driver circuits

Abstract

The present invention is a dead front actuating assembly, including a first layer having at least one selectively illuminated area, and a second layer having a plurality of sensors used for activating the at least one selectively illuminated area such that the at least one selectively illuminated area becomes illuminated, and the first layer is adjacent to the second layer.

Claims

1. A dead front actuating assembly, comprising:

a first layer having at least one selectively illuminated area; and

a second layer adjacent to said first layer, said second layer having a plurality of sensors used for activating said at least one selectively illuminated area such that said at least one selectively illuminated area becomes illuminated.

2. The dead front actuating assembly of claim 1, said dead front actuating assembly further comprising a cover plate, wherein said first layer is adjacent to said cover plate, and said first layer is located between said cover plate and said second layer.

3. The dead front actuating assembly of claim 2, further comprising a B-pillar of an automobile, said cover plate forming a portion of said B-pillar of said automobile.

4. The dead front actuating assembly of claim 2, wherein said cover plate is opaque, and said first layer and said second layer cannot be seen behind said cover plate when said at least one selectively illuminated area is not illuminated.

5. The dead front actuating assembly of claim 1, further comprising a third layer, wherein a portion of said third layer allows light from said at least one selectively illuminated area to pass through said third layer, and said first layer is located between said second layer and said third layer.

6. The dead front actuating assembly of claim 5, said third layer further comprising a layer of graphics, said first layer further comprising an electroluminescence strip, said at least one selectively illuminated area further comprising an electroluminescence area, and when said at least one selectively illuminated area is illuminated, said layer of graphics provides the location of each of said plurality of sensors.

7. The dead front actuating assembly of claim 1, further comprising:

a controller operably associated with said first layer such that at least one of said plurality of sensors is used for detecting the presence of an object in proximity to said first layer and said second layer, and at least one of said plurality of sensors is used for providing a signal to said controller, and said controller will activate said at least one selectively illuminated area when said object is detected in proximity to said first layer and said second layer.

8. The dead front actuating assembly of claim 7, further comprising a function performed by said controller when said controller receives said signal from said at least one sensor used for providing a signal to said controller.

9. The dead front actuating assembly of claim 8, wherein said at least one sensor used for providing a signal to said controller provides a plurality of signals, and said plurality of signals command said controller to perform said function.

10. The dead front actuating assembly of claim 8, said function further comprising unlocking and locking a door of an automobile.

11. The dead front actuating assembly of claim 1, said first layer further comprising microlens having at least one light source, and said at least one selectively illuminated area is formed as a portion of said microlens.

12. The dead front actuating assembly of claim 1, said second layer further comprising a printed circuit board, wherein said plurality of sensors are mounted on said printed circuit board.

13. A dead front actuating assembly for a vehicle, comprising:

a first layer having at least one selectively illuminated area;

a second layer having a plurality of sensors, operably associated with said first layer;

a cover plate for concealing said first layer and said second layer when said at least one selectively illuminated area is not illuminated; and

a controller for receiving a plurality of signals from said plurality of sensors, and when said controller receives said plurality of signals from said plurality of sensors, said controller will perform a function in said vehicle.

14. The dead front actuating assembly of claim 13, further comprising a third layer, a portion of said third layer allowing light to pass through said third layer from said at least one selectively illuminated area.

15. The dead front actuating assembly of claim 14, said first layer further comprising an electroluminescence strip, said at least one selectively illuminated area further comprising at least one electroluminescence area, and said third layer further comprising a layer of graphics, wherein said layer of graphics indicates the location of said plurality of sensors when said at least one electroluminescence area is illuminated.

16. The dead front actuating assembly of claim 13, further comprising said controller will actuate said at least one selectively illuminated area to become illuminated when at least one of said plurality of sensors senses the presence of an object near said second layer, and when said at least one of said plurality of sensors for sensing the presence of an object near said second layer senses an object.

17. The dead front actuating assembly of claim 13, further comprising when said at least one selectively illuminated area is illuminated, said at least one selectively illuminated area projects light through said cover plate, allowing at least a portion of said first layer to be seen.

18. The dead front actuating assembly of claim 13, said vehicle further comprising a B-pillar, wherein said cover plate comprises a portion of said B-pillar.

19. The dead front actuating assembly of claim 13, wherein said controller is used for performing a function in said vehicle when said controller receives said plurality of signals from said plurality of sensors.

20. The dead front actuating assembly of claim 19, said function further comprising unlocking and locking a door of said vehicle.

21. The dead front actuating assembly of claim 13, said first layer further comprising a microlens having at least one light source, and when said at least one light source is illuminated, said microlens directs light from said light source to produce a desired beam pattern through said cover plate, indicating the position of said plurality of sensors.

22. The dead front actuating assembly of claim 13, said second layer further comprising a printed circuit board, wherein said plurality of sensors are mounted on said printed circuit board.

23. A dead front actuating assembly for performing a function in a vehicle, comprising:

a first layer having at least one selectively illuminated area;

a sensor printed circuit board having a plurality of sensors adjacent said at least one selectively illuminated area;

a cover plate for concealing said first layer and said sensor printed circuit board when said at least one selectively illuminated area is not activated; and

a controller for receiving at least two types of signals from said plurality of sensors, and when said controller receives one of said at least two types of signals from said plurality of sensors, said controller will command a door of a vehicle to lock or unlock, and when said controller receives another of said at least two types of signals from said plurality of sensors, said controller will command said first layer to activate said at least one selectively illuminated area.

24. The dead front actuating assembly for performing a function in a vehicle of claim 23, said first layer further comprising an electroluminescence strip, and said at least one selectively illuminated area further comprising at least one electroluminescence area.

25. The dead front actuating assembly for performing a function in a vehicle of claim 23, said first layer further comprising a microlens having at least one light source, and said at least one selectively illuminated area formed as a portion of said microlens, wherein said at least one selectively illuminated area is illuminated by said at least one light source, indicating the location of said plurality of sensors.

26. The dead front actuating assembly for performing a function in a vehicle of claim 23, further comprising a graphics layer disposed between said cover plate and said first layer, wherein said graphics layer indicates the location of at least a portion of said plurality of sensors when said at least one selectively illuminated area is illuminated.

27. The dead front actuating assembly for performing a function in a vehicle of claim 23, wherein said cover plate forms a portion of a B-pillar in an automobile.