Capacitive touch switch, circuit configuration for a capacitive touch switch and control device for an electronic domestic appliance with at least one capacitive touch switch

• US 7,851,720 B2
• Filed: 01/26/2007
• Issued: 12/14/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/06/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Diehl AKO Stiftung & Company KG
• Original Assignee: Diehl AKO Stiftung & Company KG
• Inventors: Raunig, Bernd
• Primary Examiner(s): Friedhofer; Michael A.
• Application Number:
  US11/698,812
• Publication Number:
  US 20070181412A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,418 Days
• Field of Search: 200/600, 341/22, 341/33, 341/34, 345/168, 345/169, 345/173, 345/176
• US Class Current: 200/600
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/962 Capacitive touch switches
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2017/9613 using two electrodes per touch switch
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2217/960755 Constructional details of capacitive touch and proximity switches
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2217/96076 with spring electrode
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2217/960765 Details of shielding arrangements

Abstract

A capacitive touch switch which is used, for example, in a control device for an electronic domestic appliance, includes a sensor area as part of a capacitive sensor element having a capacitance which changes when touched. A measuring electrode, which is coupled to the sensor area, is disposed on a printed circuit board and is at a first potential. An additional electrode, which is disposed near the measuring electrode, likewise on the printed circuit board, is electrically insulated from the measuring electrode and is at a second potential, which is different from the first potential. The additional electrode brings about a shielding of the measuring electrode and thus an output signal of an associated sensor circuit that is less sensitive to interference. A circuit configuration for a capacitive touch switch and a control device for an electronic domestic appliance, are also provided.

Claims

1. A capacitive touch switch and circuit configuration, comprising:

a sensor circuit supplying an output signal, said sensor circuit including;

a capacitive touch switch having a measuring electrode and an additional electrode;

a first voltage source for supplying an operating voltage having positive and negative poles;

a first pnp transistor having a base, an emitter and a collector, a first resistor connected between the base of said first pnp transistor and said measuring electrode, a second resistor connected between the base of said first pnp transistor and the positive pole of the operating voltage, and a third resistor connected between the emitter of said first pnp transistor and the positive pole of the operating voltage, the collector of said first pnp transistor being connected to said additional electrode;

a second voltage source for supplying a pulse voltage, said second voltage source connected between the collector of said first pnp transistor and a reference potential connected to the negative pole of the operating voltage;

a second pnp transistor having a base, an emitter and a collector, the base of said second pnp transistor being connected with the emitter of said first pnp transistor, the collector of said second pnp transistor being connected with the reference potential, and a parallel circuit connected between the emitter of said second pnp transistor and the positive pole of the operating voltage, said parallel circuit having a fourth resistor and a capacitance;

the output signal of said sensor circuit being present between the emitter of said second pnp transistor and the reference potential connected to the negative pole of the operating voltage; and

an evaluation circuit receiving the output signal of said sensor circuit for determining whether or not said capacitive touch switch is actuated.

2. The configuration according to claim 1, wherein said capacitive touch switch includes:

a sensor area; and

a printed circuit board;

said measuring electrode being disposed on said printed circuit board, coupled to said sensor area and at a first potential;

said additional electrode being disposed on said printed circuit board close to said measuring electrode, electrically insulated from said measuring electrode and at a second potential differing from the first potential.

3. The configuration according to claim 2, wherein said additional electrode surrounds said measuring electrode in at least one of strip or areal form.

4. The configuration according to claim 2, wherein said measuring electrode is disposed on one side of said printed circuit board and said additional electrode is disposed on another side of said printed circuit board opposite said measuring electrode.

5. The configuration according to claim 4, wherein said additional electrode has an area equal to or larger than said measuring electrode.

6. The configuration according to claim 5, wherein said additional electrode is additionally disposed on the same side of said printed circuit board as said measuring electrode and surrounds said measuring electrode in one of strip or areal form.

7. The configuration according to claim 4, wherein said additional electrode is additionally disposed on the same side of said printed circuit board as said measuring electrode and surrounds said measuring electrode in one of strip or areal form.

8. The configuration according to claim 2, wherein said additional electrode and said measuring electrode have corresponding contours.

9. The configuration according to claim 2, which further comprises an elastic compression element electrically conductively connecting said measuring electrode to said sensor area.

10. The configuration according to claim 2, which further comprises an electrically insulating, at least partly light-transmissive control panel plate behind which said sensor area is disposed.

11. The configuration according to claim 10, wherein said sensor area is said measuring electrode and is disposed directly behind said control panel plate.

12. The configuration according to claim 1, wherein said second potential of said additional electrode is different from ground.

13. A control device for an electronic domestic appliance, the control device comprising said sensor circuit and at least one capacitive touch switch according to claim 1.