INPUT DEVICE OF TOUCH PANEL TYPE FOR VEHICLE

• US 20110134054A1
• Filed: 04/20/2010
• Published: 06/09/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/04/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai Motor Group), Kia Motors Corporation (Kia Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai Motor Group), Kia Motors Corporation (Kia Corp.)
• Inventors: Kim, Dong Ok, Woo, Sung Il
• Granted Patent: US 8,411,054 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/962 Capacitive touch switches
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2217/960755 Constructional details of capacitive touch and proximity switches
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2217/960775 Emitter-receiver or "fringe" type detection, i.e. one or more field emitting electrodes and corresponding one or more receiving electrodes

Abstract

The present invention features an input device for a touch panel type for a vehicle, wherein, by replacing the conventional switch of a tact type into a touch panel using an electric field sensor, it is able to change an analog input method according to an operation of the conventional switch of the tact type into a digital input method according to electric signals, and also, by a touch panel of a button-integrated type that senses a change of an electric field, it is able to improve utilization of the inner space in the vehicle, and for unifies the panel.

Claims

1. An input device for a touch panel type for a vehicle, in which the input device includes a window panel for constituting a front side of a front panel and a front board for constituting a rear side of the front panel, the input device comprising:

a touch cell sensor unit composed of a plurality of touch cells for sensing a change of pulse corresponding to change of electric field and for inputting a signal; and

an LED driving unit for providing a lighting as a feedback in case of touching the touch cell,

wherein each of the touch cells inputs the signal by sensing the change of the pulse corresponding to the change of electric field in case of being touched, respectively.

2. The input device of claim 1, further comprising an LED guide formed at the rear side of the window panel, wherein the LED guide plays a role in a body for controlling the lighting between buttons.

3. The input device of claim 1, wherein the window panel and the touch cell sensor unit are integrated with each other for constituting a touch panel of a button-integrated type.

4. The input device of claim 1, wherein the touch cell sensor unit is a touch cell formed by a method of ASIC (Application-Specific Integrated Circuit), and it is mounted on a flexible PCB (FPCB).

5. The input device of claim 1, wherein the LED driving unit is mounted on a flexible PCB (FPCB).

6. The input device of claim 1, wherein, as the feedback information in touching the touch cell, a beep sound is provided.

7. The input device of claim 1, wherein, as the feedback information in touching the touch cell, the lighting is provided by a touch LED.

8. The input device of claim 1, wherein the window panel and the touch cell sensor unit are mutually attached using a double-sided tape.

9. The input device of claim 1, wherein the input device of the touch panel type is used for a panel input device including an audio front panel and a navigation front panel, or the input device of the touch panel type is used for a switch for an air conditioner or a switch for a heater.

10. An audio front panel for a touch panel type for a vehicle, the audio front panel comprising:

a window panel for representing an outside of the audio front panel;

a touch cell sensor unit for being attached to an rear side of the window panel, and being composed of a plurality of touch cells for sensing a change of electric field in case of touching;

an LED driving unit for providing a lighting as a feedback in case of touching the touch cell;

an LED guide for being formed at the rear side of the window panel, and for playing a role in a body for controlling the lighting between buttons; and

a front board for constituting a rear side of the audio front panel, and providing an interface between an audio box and the touch cell sensor unit.

11. The audio front panel of claim 10, wherein the window panel and the touch cell sensor unit are integrated with each other for constituting a touch panel of a button-integrated type.

12. The audio front panel of claim 10, wherein the touch cell sensor unit is a touch cell formed by a method of ASIC (Application-Specific Integrated Circuit), and it is mounted on a flexible PCB (FPCB).

13. The audio front panel of claim 10, wherein the LED driving unit is mounted on a flexible PCB (FPCB).

14. The audio front panel of claim 10, wherein, as the feedback information in touching the touch cell, a beep sound is provided.

15. The audio front panel of claim 10, wherein, as the feedback information in touching the touch cell, the lighting is provided by a touch LED.

16. The audio front panel of claim 10, wherein the window panel and the touch cell sensor unit are attached using a double-sided tape.

17. An input device for a touch panel type for a vehicle comprising:

a touch cell sensor unit composed of a plurality of touch cells that input a signal; and

an LED driving unit.

18. The input device for a touch panel type for a vehicle of claim 17, wherein the input device includes a window panel that comprises a front side of a front panel and a front board that comprises a rear side of the front panel.

19. The input device for a touch panel type for a vehicle of claim 17, wherein the touch cells sense a change of pulse corresponding to a change of electric field.

20. The input device for a touch panel type for a vehicle of claim 17, wherein the LED driving unit provides lighting as a feedback when the cell is touched.

21. The input device for a vehicle of claim 17, wherein each of the touch cells inputs the signal by sensing a change of the pulse corresponding to a change of electric field in case of being touched, respectively.