Sensor element for a touch switch, method for the manufacture of a sensor element and touch switch
First Claim
1. A sensor element for a capacitive touch switch, said sensor element having a sensor element body comprising an electrically conductive elastic material, said sensor element body having a top surface with a top thickness and a bottom surface with a bottom thickness, said top surface and said bottom surface being substantially parallel to each other and facing each other, wherein said sensor element has a box-like construction with walls constructed continuously around a larger interspace, said top surface and said bottom surface being in each case formed by a side wall and said top surface and said bottom surface being interconnected via said side wall extending between them.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A sensor element for a touch switch device has a sensor element body of elastic, electrically conductive material. The sensor element body has two parallel end wall areas as the top and bottom surfaces, which are integrally connected in one piece by inwardly cambered side wall areas. Such a sensor element body can be very easily compressed. The wall thickness of the wall areas is substantially the same throughout. Such sensor elements can be constructed by forming a linear strip of such material having a cross section as described, where the strip is cut into individual pieces, thereby forming each individual sensor element.
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Citations
20 Claims
- 1. A sensor element for a capacitive touch switch, said sensor element having a sensor element body comprising an electrically conductive elastic material, said sensor element body having a top surface with a top thickness and a bottom surface with a bottom thickness, said top surface and said bottom surface being substantially parallel to each other and facing each other, wherein said sensor element has a box-like construction with walls constructed continuously around a larger interspace, said top surface and said bottom surface being in each case formed by a side wall and said top surface and said bottom surface being interconnected via said side wall extending between them.
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17. A touch switch device comprising:
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a plurality of sensor elements juxtaposed to each other, wherein each sensor element comprises; a sensor element body comprising an electrically conductive elastic material, said sensor element body having a top surface and a bottom surface being substantially parallel to each other and positioned over each other, wherein said sensor element has a box-like construction with wall areas being constructed continuously around an interspace, said top surface and said bottom surface being in each case interconnected via said side walls extending between said top surface and said bottom surface; an operating surface forming a surface of a hob, said operation surface contacting said top side of each of said plurality of sensor elements; and a circuit board positioned parallel to said operating surface, said circuit board contacting said bottom side of each of said plurality of sensor elements. - View Dependent Claims (18)
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19. A method for the manufacture of a sensor element comprising an electrically conductive elastic sensor element material, said sensor element comprising a sensor element body having a top surface with a top thickness and a bottom surface with a bottom thickness being substantially parallel to each other and facing each other, wherein said sensor element has a box-like construction with walls constructed continuously around a larger interspace, said top surface and said bottom surface being in each case formed by a side wall and said top and said bottom surfaces being interconnected via said side wall extending between them, comprising the steps of:
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forming a strip made from said sensor element material comprising a cross-section of said sensor element; and cutting a fixed length from said strip to form said individual sensor element. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification