PROXIMITY SWITCH HAVING SENSOR WITH DECORATIVE METAL

• US 20180302088A1
• Filed: 05/18/2017
• Published: 10/18/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 04/18/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Majkowski, Matthew Anthony, Vemulapati, Satyanarayana Raju, Xu, Wei, Antilla, Steven J., Sudershan, Akshay Kaasam
• Granted Patent: US 10,454,474 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/20 for lighting specific fittings of passenger or driving compartments; mounted on specific fittings of passenger or driving compartments lighting for dashboards B60Q3/10
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/74 for overall compartment lighting; for overall compartment lighting in combination with specific lighting, e.g. room lamps with reading lamps general lighting mounted on specific fittings B60Q3/20; general lighting for mass transit vehicles B60Q3/43
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/80 Circuits; Control arrangements for dashboards B60Q3/16; for mass transit vehicles B60Q3/47
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/82 Switches specially adapted for vehicle interior lighting, e.g. switching by tilting the lens
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/955 using a capacitive detector
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/962 Capacitive touch switches
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2017/9602 characterised by the type or shape of the sensing electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2217/960755 Constructional details of capacitive touch and proximity switches
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2217/96079 using a single or more light guides

Abstract

A proximity switch assembly is provided having a sensing pad and a proximity sensor extending around the sensing pad for generating an activation field. The proximity sensor comprises at least one electrode that forms a decorative trim component that is visibly exposed. The proximity switch assembly also includes a controller for determining activation of the switch based on a signal generated from the activation field.

Claims

1. A proximity switch assembly comprising:

a sensing pad; and

a proximity sensor proximate the sensing pad for generating an activation field, wherein the proximity sensor comprises at least one electrode that forms a decorative trim component that is viewable by a user on a front side.

2. The proximity switch assembly of claim 1 further comprising a controller for determining activation of the switch based on a signal generated from the activation field.

3. The proximity switch assembly of claim 1, wherein the proximity sensor comprises a capacitive sensor.

4. The proximity switch assembly of claim 3, wherein the proximity sensor comprises a first electrode comprising a first plurality of electrode fingers and a second electrode comprising a second plurality of electrode fingers, wherein the first and second electrode fingers are interdigitated and electrically coupled to generate the activation field.

5. The proximity switch assembly of claim 4, wherein the second electrode surrounds the first electrode.

6. The proximity switch assembly of claim 1 further comprising an opaque portion covering a portion of the at least one electrode so as to expose a portion of the decorative trim component.

7. The proximity switch assembly of claim 1, wherein the proximity switch assembly is employed on a vehicle.

8. The proximity switch assembly of claim 7, wherein the proximity switch assembly is provided on a vehicle lamp.

9. The proximity switch assembly of claim 8, wherein the sensing pad comprises a lens.

10. The proximity switch assembly of claim 1, wherein the proximity sensor comprises chrome.

11. The proximity switch assembly of claim 10, wherein the chrome forms an electrical circuit for transmitting signals for the sensor.

12. A proximity switch assembly comprising:

a sensing pad;

a capacitive sensor extending around the sensing pad for generating an activation field, wherein the capacitive sensor comprises at least one electrode that also forms a decorative trim component that is viewable by a user on a front side;

an opaque layer covering only a portion of the capacitive sensor; and

a controller for determining activation of the switch based on a signal generated from the activation field.

13. The proximity switch assembly of claim 12, wherein the capacitive sensor comprises a first electrode comprising a first plurality of electrode fingers and a second electrode comprising a second plurality of electrode fingers, wherein the first and second electrode fingers are interdigitated and electrically coupled to generate the activation field.

14. The proximity switch assembly of claim 13, wherein the second electrode substantially surrounds the first electrode.

15. The proximity switch assembly of claim 12 further comprising an opaque portion covering a portion of the at least one electrode so as to expose a portion of the decorative trim component.

16. The proximity switch assembly of claim 12, wherein the proximity switch assembly is employed on a vehicle.

17. The proximity switch assembly of claim 16, wherein the proximity switch assembly is provided on a vehicle lamp.

18. The proximity switch assembly of claim 12, wherein the capacitive sensor comprises chrome.

19. The proximity switch assembly of claim 18, wherein the chrome forms an electrical circuit for transmitting signals for the capacitive sensor.

20. A vehicle proximity switch assembly comprising:

a sensing pad;

a capacitive sensor extending around the sensing pad for generating an activation field, wherein the capacitive sensor comprises at least one electrode that also forms a decorative trim component that is viewable by a user on a front side;

an opaque layer covering only a portion of the capacitive sensor so as to expose the trim component; and

a controller for determining activation of the switch based on a signal generated from the activation field.