Capacitive contact switch

• US 7,507,929 B2
• Filed: 06/02/2004
• Issued: 03/24/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/03/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: E.G.O. Control Systems GmbH
• Original Assignee: E.G.O. Control Systems GmbH
• Inventors: Streifler, Rolf
• Primary Examiner(s): Lewis; David L
• Application Number:
  US10/559,193
• Publication Number:
  US 20070068789A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,756 Days
• Field of Search: 345156-184, 178 1801- 1811, 200/600
• US Class Current: 200/600
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/962 Capacitive touch switches
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2217/960785 with illumination

Abstract

A detector for a capacitive contact switch comprises a flat material consisting of a transparent carrier foil and a ITO-coating. The ITO coating is embodied in the form of a transparent electric conductor. The flat material can be arranged between a transparent cover and a lighted display in such a way that a sensor element is obtained. The flat material as the sensor element 10 makes it possible to represent an illuminated symbol or the corresponding display thereof.

Claims

1. A sensor device for producing a switch signal on approaching or contacting a sensor element through an approach of a finger or the like of a user, said sensor device having:

a capacitive sensor element defining a surface and having an impression or coating comprising electrically conductive material,

a flat panel of translucent or transparent material, said capacitive sensor element being located on a back surface of said flat panel remote from said user, and

a control connected to said sensor element, wherein said sensor element has a conductive contacting with said control,

wherein said impression or coating of said sensor element is transparent and is applied to a transparent film placed on a back of said panel, and

wherein said film integrally forms said sensor element and an electrical contact to said control, wherein said film extends in one piece from a back of said panel to said control, said control being located on a printed circuit board and said film extending up to said printed circuit board.

2. The sensor device according to claim 1, wherein said impression or coating extends over most of a surface of said sensor element.

3. The sensor device according to claim 1, wherein a part of a surface of said sensor element has an impression in the form of a symbol.

4. The sensor device according to claim 1 wherein said sensor element is non-detachable applied to said panel.

5. The sensor device according to claim 1, wherein an electrical contact of said film to said control is achieved via a fixing to a contact bank of said control.

6. The sensor device according to claim 1, wherein behind said sensor element is provided on a back of said panel an illuminating means.

7. The sensor device according to claim 6, wherein one said sensor element in the form of a film passes at least partly around said illuminating means.

8. The sensor device according to claim 6, wherein said illuminating means is pressed against an area of said film on a back of said panel and said film area is loose.

9. Sensor device according to claim 6, wherein said illuminating means have a display.

10. The sensor device according to claim 4, wherein said sensor element is in the form of a thin, conductive coating.

11. The sensor device according to claim 6, characterized in that said illuminating means is a light guide with a LED for illumination purposes.

12. The sensor device according to claim 1, wherein the film engages flat on the back of the panel.