Proximity switch and circuit system
First Claim
1. Proximity switch and circuit system havingan insulating substrate (11, 32);
- two surface electrodes (13, 13'"'"';
36, 36'"'"') on the substrate insulated from each other, one electrode forming a transmitting electrode and the other a receiving electrode to receive radiation transmitted from the transmitting electrode;
an electrically floating metallic shield (15,
34) covering the electrodes and insulated therefrom and from ground,whereby at least a portion of the field upon transmission of radiation by the transmitting electrode will pass through the shield to affect the receiving electrode and, upon approach in the proximity of the shield (15,
34) or contact therewith of a grounded mass, the field passing through the shield will change, thus changing the received radiation and providing, in the receiving electrode, a proximity sensing signalcomprising, in accordance with the inventionan integrated circuit (IC) element (17,
38) located beneath the metallic shield (15), the IC element being secured to the insulating substrate (11,
32) to which the surface electrodes are also secured;
terminals (19,
40) secured to the substrate (11,
32);
and connection means (18,
37) respectively connecting the IC element (17,
38) to the surface electrodes (13, 13'"'"';
36, 36'"'"') and to the terminals (19,
40).
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Two surface electrodes are applied to an insulating substrate. The surface electrodes are totally surrounded by a metallic shield which is electrically floating, one of the electrodes being an emitter electrode emitting ac radiation and the other a receiving electrode. A portion of the emitted field is conducted by the shield. Upon approach, or touching of the shield by a grounded body, for example by the hand of a user, the field distribution within the shield will change and the radiation received by the receiving electrode will likewise change. In accordance with the present invention, an integrated circuit (IC) evaluation circuit is located beneath the metallic shield on the insulating substrate, the surface electrodes as well as external terminals passing through the insulated substrate being connected to the IC. Preferably, the shield is a plastic cap which is metallized, formed with snap tongs to snap over the insulated substrate.
-
Citations
15 Claims
-
1. Proximity switch and circuit system having
an insulating substrate (11, 32); -
two surface electrodes (13, 13'"'"';
36, 36'"'"') on the substrate insulated from each other, one electrode forming a transmitting electrode and the other a receiving electrode to receive radiation transmitted from the transmitting electrode;an electrically floating metallic shield (15,
34) covering the electrodes and insulated therefrom and from ground,whereby at least a portion of the field upon transmission of radiation by the transmitting electrode will pass through the shield to affect the receiving electrode and, upon approach in the proximity of the shield (15,
34) or contact therewith of a grounded mass, the field passing through the shield will change, thus changing the received radiation and providing, in the receiving electrode, a proximity sensing signalcomprising, in accordance with the invention an integrated circuit (IC) element (17,
38) located beneath the metallic shield (15), the IC element being secured to the insulating substrate (11,
32) to which the surface electrodes are also secured;terminals (19,
40) secured to the substrate (11,
32);and connection means (18,
37) respectively connecting the IC element (17,
38) to the surface electrodes (13, 13'"'"';
36, 36'"'"') and to the terminals (19,
40). - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
-
Specification