Touch-sensitive momentary-contact switch and control device having the momentary-contact switch

• US 7,355,164 B2
• Filed: 05/05/2005
• Issued: 04/08/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Diehl AKO Stiftung & Company KG
• Original Assignee: Diehl AKO Stiftung & Company KG
• Inventors: Arnold, Georg
• Primary Examiner(s): Monbleau; Davienne
• Assistant Examiner(s): Livedalen; Brian J
• Application Number:
  US11/123,776
• Publication Number:
  US 20050252754A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,069 Days
• Field of Search: 250/221, 250/227.11, 250/227.22, 345/175, 345/176, 345/173
• US Class Current: 250/227.22
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2105/58 Indications or alarms to the control system or to the user
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 34/32 characterised by graphical features, e.g. touchscreens
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/9631 using a light source as part of the switch
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/9638 using a light guide

Abstract

An infrared momentary-contact switch for a control device of a domestic appliance, has a transmitter which emits infrared radiation and a receiver which receives infrared radiation. The transmitter and receiver are disposed behind a cover through which at least some of the infrared radiation passes. In order to achieve a good ratio of useful signal to interference signal for the momentary-contact switch, the transmitter has an associated first optical fiber element and the receiver has an associated second optical fiber element. The ends of these optical fiber elements which respectively face away from the transmitter and receiver are adjacent one another and adjoin the cover. A control device is also provided.

Claims

1. A touch-sensitive momentary-contact switch, comprising:

a cover;

a transmitter disposed behind said cover and emitting electromagnetic radiation;

a receiver disposed behind said cover and receiving electromagnetic radiation;

at least some of the electromagnetic radiation passing through said cover;

a first optical fiber element associated with said transmitter and having an end facing away from said transmitter;

a second optical fiber element associated with said receiver and having an end facing away from said receiver;

said ends of said first and second optical fiber elements being adjacent one another and adjoining said cover;

each of said first and second optical fiber elements having an end facing toward a respective one of said transmitter and said receiver; and

at least one indicating element emitting visible light being associated with said end of at least one of said first and second optical fiber elements facing toward a respective one of said transmitter and said receiver, said at least one indicating element being associated with both said first optical fiber element and said second optical fiber element.

2. The momentary-contact switch according to claim 1, wherein the electromagnetic radiation is infrared radiation.

3. The momentary-contact switch according to claim 1, wherein:

said first optical fiber element has an end facing toward said transmitter;

said second optical fiber element has an end facing toward said receiver; and

said ends of said first and second optical fiber elements respectively facing away from said transmitter and said receiver being wider than said ends of said first and second optical fiber elements respectively facing toward said transmitter and said receiver.

4. The momentary-contact switch according to claim 1, which further comprises a dark filter element disposed between said first and second optical fiber elements and said cover.

5. The momentary-contact switch according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said optical fiber elements is darkened.

6. The momentary-contact switch according to claim 1, wherein said first and second optical fiber elements extend substantially parallel to one another.

7. The momentary-contact switch according to claim 1, wherein said first and second optical fiber elements each extend substantially perpendicularly to said cover and substantially rectilinearly between said cover and a respective one of said transmitter and said receiver.

8. The momentary-contact switch according to claim 1, wherein said at least one indicating element is a light-emitting diode.

9. The momentary-contact switch according to claim 1, wherein said at least one indicating element is disposed between said transmitter and said receiver.

10. The momentary-contact switch according to claim 1, wherein said at least one indicating element is a plurality of identically colored indicating elements.

11. The momentary-contact switch according to claim 1, wherein said at least one indicating element is a plurality of differently colored indicating elements.

12. The momentary-contact switch according to claim 1, which further comprises a mounting board on which said transmitter, said receiver and said at least one indicating element are disposed in common.

13. The momentary-contact switch according to claim 1, which further comprises a screen for screening external light, said screen surrounding at least the vicinity of at least one of said transmitter and said receiver.

14. A control device for an electronic domestic appliance, the control device comprising:

at least one touch-sensitive momentary-contact switch according to claim 1.

15. The control device according to claim 14, wherein a plurality of said touch-sensitive momentary-contact switches are combined to form a touch-operated element.