LAMP AND PROXIMITY SWITCH ASSEMBLY AND METHOD

• US 20130113397A1
• Filed: 11/04/2011
• Published: 05/09/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/04/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Salter, Stuart C., Gardner, Cornel Lewis, Singer, Jeffrey, Buttolo, Pietro
• Granted Patent: US 8,878,438 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 315/362
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/82 Switches specially adapted for vehicle interior lighting, e.g. switching by tilting the lens
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/04 the elements being switches safety devices F21V25/00
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/0471 the sensor detecting the proximity, the presence or the movement of an object or a person
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/18 Modifications for indicating state of switch
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/955 using a capacitive detector
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2217/960785 with illumination
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/00 Circuit arrangements for operating light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/105 in response to determined parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/115 by determining the presence or movement of objects or living beings

Abstract

A lamp and proximity assembly is provided that includes a lens having a transparent window and a light source disposed to illuminate light through the transparent window of the lens. The lamp and proximity assembly further includes a proximity switch having one or more proximity sensors disposed near a perimeter of the transparent window of the lens and generating an activation field proximate to the transparent field of the lens to sense activation of the proximity switch to control activation of the light source.

Claims

1. A lamp and proximity switch assembly comprising:

a lens having a transparent window;

a light source disposed to illuminate light through the transparent window of the lens; and

a proximity switch comprising one or more proximity sensors disposed near a perimeter of the transparent window and generating an activation field proximate to the transparent window to sense activation of the proximity switch to control activation of the light source.

2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the one or more proximity sensors are disposed substantially surrounding the perimeter of the transparent window.

3. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the one or more proximity sensors comprises first and second proximity sensors generating first and second activation fields, wherein the first and second activation fields overlap.

4. The assembly of claim 3, wherein control of the light source occurs when both the first and second activation fields are activated.

5. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the assembly is employed on a vehicle.

6. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the one or more proximity sensors comprise one or more capacitive sensors.

7. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the light source comprises an LED.

8. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the one or more proximity sensors comprises a plurality of proximity sensors disposed substantially around the perimeter of the lens.

9. The assembly of claim 8, wherein each of the plurality of proximity sensors may be individually controlled so as to control the activation field output of each of the proximity sensors.

10. A method of controlling a lamp with a proximity switch assembly, said method comprising:

providing a lens having a transparent window;

providing a proximity switch disposed about a perimeter of the transparent window;

generating an activation field proximate to the transparent window with the proximity switch; and

controlling activation of a light source to illuminate light through the transparent window of the lens in response to activation of the proximity switch.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the step of providing the proximity switch comprises providing one or more proximity sensors substantially surrounding the perimeter of the transparent window.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the step of providing a proximity switch comprises providing first and second proximity sensors generating first and second activation fields, wherein the first and second activation fields overlap.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the control of the light source occurs when both the first and second activation fields are activated.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the step of providing a proximity switch comprises providing a plurality of proximity sensors disposed substantially around the perimeter of the lens.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising the step of individually controlling the activation field output of each of the proximity sensors.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein the assembly is employed on a vehicle.

17. The method of claim 10, wherein the proximity switch comprises a capacitive switch.

18. The method of claim 10, wherein the light source comprises an LED.

19. The method of claim 10, wherein the step of providing a proximity switch comprises applying a conductive ink onto a substrate to form a proximity sensor.