Touch-sensitive momentary-contact switch and control device having the momentary-contact switch
First Claim
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.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
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.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. A touch-sensitive momentary-contact switch, comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification