Interior/exterior component with electroluminescent lighting and soft touch switching
First Claim
1. A light panel comprising:
- an outer layer including a translucent portion;
a first proximity switch disposed beneath the outer layer, the first proximity switch having a first electrically conductive switch portion and a second electrically conductive switch portion that are non-movably arranged with respect to one another and arranged to form an electric field that emanates through the outer layer when the first proximity switch is energized such that the first proximity switch operates in response to fluctuations in the electric field caused by proximity or touch of a human finger;
an electroluminescent element disposed beneath the outer layer to provide backlighting to the outer layer, with one of the first and second electrically conductive switch portions of the first proximity switch forming at least a portion of an electrode of the electroluminescent element; and
a base portion disposed beneath the electroluminescent element and the first proximity switch.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A light panel includes an outer layer, a first proximity switch, an electroluminescent element and a base portion. The outer layer includes a translucent portion. The first proximity switch is disposed beneath the outer layer and has first and second electrically conductive switch portions that are arranged to form an electric field that emanates through the outer layer when the first proximity switch is energized. The electroluminescent element is disposed beneath the outer layer to provided backlighting to the outer layer. One of the first and second electrically conductive switch portions of the first proximity switch forms at least a portion of an electrode of the electroluminescent element. The base portion is disposed beneath the electroluminescent element and the first proximity switch.
68 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A light panel comprising:
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an outer layer including a translucent portion; a first proximity switch disposed beneath the outer layer, the first proximity switch having a first electrically conductive switch portion and a second electrically conductive switch portion that are non-movably arranged with respect to one another and arranged to form an electric field that emanates through the outer layer when the first proximity switch is energized such that the first proximity switch operates in response to fluctuations in the electric field caused by proximity or touch of a human finger; an electroluminescent element disposed beneath the outer layer to provide backlighting to the outer layer, with one of the first and second electrically conductive switch portions of the first proximity switch forming at least a portion of an electrode of the electroluminescent element; and a base portion disposed beneath the electroluminescent element and the first proximity switch. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A light panel comprising:
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an outer layer including a translucent portion; a first proximity switch disposed beneath the outer layer, the first proximity switch having a first electrically conductive switch portion and a second electrically conductive switch portion that are non-movably arranged to form an electric field that emanates through the outer layer when the first proximity switch is energized, the first switch portion being applied on the outer layer to at least partially coincide with the translucent portion; an electroluminescent element disposed beneath the outer layer to provide backlighting to the outer layer, with one of the first and second electrically conductive switch portions of the first proximity switch forming at least a portion of an electrode of the electroluminescent element; and a base portion disposed beneath the electroluminescent element and the first proximity switch.
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17. A light panel comprising:
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an outer layer including a translucent portion; a first proximity switch disposed beneath the outer layer, the first proximity switch having a first electrically conductive switch portion and a second electrically conductive switch portion that are arranged to form an electric field that emanates through the outer layer when the first proximity switch is energized, the first and second switch portions being translucent; an electroluminescent element disposed beneath the outer layer to provide backlighting to the outer layer, with one of the first and second electrically conductive switch portions of the first proximity switch forming at least a portion of an electrode of the electroluminescent element; and a base portion disposed beneath the electroluminescent element and the first proximity switch.
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18. A light panel comprising
an outer layer including a translucent portion; -
a first proximity switch disposed beneath the outer layer, the first proximity switch having a first electrically conductive switch portion and a second electrically conductive switch portion that are non-movably arranged to form an electric field that emanates through the outer layer when the first proximity switch is energized; an electroluminescent element disposed beneath the outer layer to provide backlighting to the outer layer, with one of the first and second electrically conductive switch portions of the first proximity switch forming at least a portion of an electrode of the electroluminescent element; a base portion disposed beneath the electroluminescent element and the first proximity switch; and a second proximity switch that forms an electric field that emanates through the outer layer when energized and that forms at least a portion of the electrode of the electroluminescent element. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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21. A light panel comprising:
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an outer layer including a translucent portion; a first proximity switch disposed beneath the outer layer, the first proximity switch having a first electrically conductive switch portion and a second electrically conductive switch portion that are non-movably arranged to form an electric field that emanates through the outer layer when the first proximity switch is energized; an electroluminescent element disposed beneath the outer layer to provide backlighting to the outer layer, with one of the first and second electrically conductive switch portions of the first proximity switch forming at least a portion of an electrode of the electroluminescent element; a base portion disposed beneath the electroluminescent element and the first proximity switch; and the outer layer also includes a visible graphic. - View Dependent Claims (22)
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Specification