Instrument panel assembly
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A switch assembly for an instrument panel assembly in a vehicle a passenger compartment comprising:
- an instrument panel having a surface generally defining a plane;
a light emitter supported by the instrument panel and configured to emit a light beam along a beam path that extends in a direction generally parallel with the plane; and
a light receiver supported by the instrument panel and configured to sense the light beam; and
a controller coupled to the light receiver and configured to detect interruptions in the light beam sensed by the light receiver indicative of a desired instrument setting change of the instrument panel.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An instrument panel assembly for a passenger compartment is provided, including an instrument panel surface, a light emitter that emits a light beam so that the light beam extends along a beam path, and a light receiver that senses the light beam and detects a desired instrument setting change.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. A switch assembly for an instrument panel assembly in a vehicle a passenger compartment comprising:
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an instrument panel having a surface generally defining a plane; a light emitter supported by the instrument panel and configured to emit a light beam along a beam path that extends in a direction generally parallel with the plane; and a light receiver supported by the instrument panel and configured to sense the light beam; and a controller coupled to the light receiver and configured to detect interruptions in the light beam sensed by the light receiver indicative of a desired instrument setting change of the instrument panel. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A switch assembly for an instrument panel assembly in a vehicle passenger compartment comprising:
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a base panel configured to support at least one instrument display component; a protective panel defining a plane and spaced apart from the base panel by a gap distance; a light emitter supported by the instrument panel and configured to emit a light beam along a beam path so that at least a portion of the beam path extends at an angle less than 90 degrees with respect to the plane; a light receiver supported by the instrument panel and configured to sense the light beam; and a controller coupled to the light receiver and configured to detect interruptions in the light beam sensed by the light receiver indicative of a desired instrument setting change of the instrument panel. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification