Door unlatch switch assembly

• US 6,639,161 B2
• Filed: 10/01/2002
• Issued: 10/28/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/03/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nidec Motor Corporation (Nidec Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Emerson Electric Company
• Inventors: Meagher, James Patrick, Arens, Vaughn Clark
• Primary Examiner(s): FRIEDHOFER, MICHAEL A
• Application Number:
  US10/262,496
• Publication Number:
  US 20030029704A1
• Time in Patent Office: 392 Days
• Field of Search: 702/78, 200/17.R, 200/511, 200/512, 200/61.58 R, 200/520, 200/341, 200/61-1-, 200/61.23, 200/85.R, 292/201, 307/9.1, 307/10.R, 307/10.1, 340/5.2, 340/5.51, 361/71
• US Class Current: 200/61.73
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/76 Detection of handle operation; Detection of a user approaching a handle; Electrical switching actions performed by door handles
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 3/122 with enlarged actuating area, e.g. of the elongated bar-type; Stabilising means therefor

Abstract

A switching apparatus and electromechanical latching system includes an elastomeric button with independently movable electrically conducting spring plates mounted to the button. The button includes a button cap including a relatively high durometer material and button walls including a relatively low durometer button material, such that the button walls collapse and the button cap generally maintains its shape when pressure is applied to the button cap. Each spring plate includes a plurality of cantilever springs. When the button is depressed, the cantilever springs of the spring plates come in contact with electrical tracks to complete a circuit. The completion of the circuit causes a signal to be sent to a vehicle computer, which signals a motor to release the automotive vehicle door latch.

Claims

1. A switching apparatus for completing a circuit to actuate a latch, wherein the actuation of the latch is initiated in response to the completion of the circuit, the apparatus comprising:

an elastomeric button;

a base supporting said button;

a leadframe supported by said base, electrically coupled to a control, and including at least one electrical contact;

an electrically conducting spring plate having a plurality of cantilever springs, said spring plate operatively disposed intermediate said button and said leadframe;

wherein the depression of said button causes said spring plate to come into contact with said at least one electrical contact to complete the circuit and initiate actuation of the latch.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said button includes walls and wherein said walls of said button collapse when said button is depressed.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said button can be further depressed even after said spring plate to comes into contact with said at least one electrical contact.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said first and second spring plates are silver plated.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said leadframe comprises a printed circuit board.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said apparatus comprises a sealed unit closed from the outside environment.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said spring plate is mounted to said button.

8. An electromechanical latching system for an automotive vehicle door including a door latch, said system comprising:

a motor mounted in the vehicle door, said motor operationally releasing a door latch to allow the vehicle door to be opened;

a vehicle computer coupled to said motor, said computer controlling the operation of said motor; and

an electromechanical switch assembly coupled to said vehicle computer, wherein actuation of said switch assembly causes a signal to be sent to said vehicle computer causing said motor to release the door latch, the switch assembly including;

an elastomeric push button;

a base supporting said button;

at least two electrical tracks supported by said base; and

a conducting spring plate molded to said push button, said spring plate including independently movable cantilever springs, wherein said cantilever springs are movable to contact said electrical tracks to complete a circuit.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the push button includes a button cap and button walls, the button cap including a higher durometer material than the button walls, whereby the shape of the button cap remains relatively consistent and the button walls generally collapse when force is applied to the button cap.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said electrical contacts comprise a printed circuit board.

11. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said switch assembly comprises a sealed unit closed from the outside environment.