Illuminated switch element

• US 6,875,938 B2
• Filed: 06/08/2001
• Issued: 04/05/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/09/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: IEE International Electronics & Engineering SA (Aerospace Hi-Tech Holding Group Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: IEE International Electronics & Engineering SARL
• Inventors: Schmiz, Marc, Schoos, Aloyse, Schockmel, Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Scott, James R.
• Application Number:
  US10/297,793
• Publication Number:
  US 20040108193A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,397 Days
• Field of Search: 200 1 R- 1 TK, 200512-517, 200308-317, 200/86.R, 200/86.A, 200/600, 341 22- 35, 313483-522
• US Class Current: 200/310
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/702 with contacts carried by or formed from layers in a multilayer structure, e.g. membrane switches
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/785 characterised by the material of the contacts, e.g. conductive polymers
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2201/036 Variable resistance
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2209/016 Protection layer, e.g. for legend, anti-scratch
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2219/018 Electroluminescent panel
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2219/02 programmable
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2300/01 Application power window

Abstract

A foil style switching element includes a first carrier foil and a second carrier foil arranged at a certain distance from one another and a plurality of contact arrangement arranged between the first and the second carrier foils. The contact arrangements are arranged on the first and second carrier foils so that an electric contact between the contact arrangements is generated when the first and the second carrier foil are pressed together. A foil style luminescent screen unit applied on a side of the first carrier foil facing away from the second carrier foil, the luminescent screen unit includes a first electrode layer, a dielectric layer, a luminescent matter layer and a second electrode layer. The first electrode layer of the foil style luminescent screen unit is applied directly on the first carrier foil which faces away from the second carrier foil.

Claims

1. A foil style switching element comprising

a first carrier foil and a second carrier foil arranged at a certain distance from one another,

a plurality of contact arrangements arranged between the first and the second carrier foil, said contact arrangements being arranged on said first and second carrier foil so that an electric contact between the contact arrangements is generated when the first and the second carrier foil are pressed together, and

a foil style luminescent screen unit applied on a side of the first carrier foil facing away from the second carrier foil, said luminescent screen unit comprising a first electrode layer, a dielectric layer, a luminescent matter layer and a second electrode layer, which are applied on one another in this order, wherein the first electrode layer of said foil style luminescent screen unit is applied directly on the side of the first carrier foil which faces away from said second carrier foil.

2. The switching element according to claim 1, wherein the foil style luminescent screen unit comprises a capacitor structure having a dielectric luminescent matter embedded between two contactable electrode layers.

3. The switching element according to claim 2, wherein the luminescent matter layer comprises a phosphorous layer.

4. The switching element according to claim 1, wherein the second electrode layer is transparent.

5. The switching element according to claim 4, wherein the transparent electrode layer comprises a suitable carrier foil, said carrier foil comprising at the side facing the luminescent matter layer a coating of indium-zinc-oxide or of a conductive polymer, the transparent electrode layer being laminated onto the luminescent matter layer.

6. The switching element according to claim 4, wherein the transparent electrode layer comprises a conductive material which is printed onto the luminescent matter layer.

7. The switching element according to claim 1, wherein the luminescent screen unit comprises a protective layer on the side facing away from the first carrier foil.

8. The switching element according to claim 1, comprising two contact arrangements, said contact arrangements being applied on one of the two carrier foils at a certain distance from one another, the contact arrangements being applied on a side of the carrier foil which faces the other carrier foil, and a triggering element comprising a conductive material which is applied on the side of the other carrier foil facing the two contact arrangements in such a way that said triggering element brings into contact the two contact arrangements when the two carrier foils are pressed together.

9. The switching element according to claim 8, wherein the triggering element comprises a pressure-sensitive layer.

10. The switching element according to claim 1, comprising two contact arrangements one of which is applied to each of the two carrier foils, such that the two contact arrangements are facing each other and are brought into contact when the two carrier foils are pressed together.

11. The switching element according to claim 10, wherein a layer made of a pressure-sensitive material is arranged between the first and the second contact arrangement.

12. The switching element according to claim 1, wherein said switching element is incorporated into a motor vehicle.