Touch-sensitive surface activation device for the controls of a vehicle

• US 8,058,577 B2
• Filed: 12/07/2005
• Issued: 11/15/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DAV Société par actions simplifiée
• Original Assignee: DAV Société par actions simplifiée
• Inventors: Tissot, Jean Marc
• Primary Examiner(s): FRIEDHOFER, MICHAEL A
• Application Number:
  US11/722,151
• Publication Number:
  US 20080289944A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,169 Days
• Field of Search: 200/600, 200/51.LM, 200/334, 200/1.B, 341 20- 22, 341/33, 341/34, 341/24, 341/25, 345/168, 345/169, 345/173, 345/174
• US Class Current: 200/334
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/785 characterised by the material of the contacts, e.g. conductive polymers
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2003/0293 with an integrated touch switch
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2201/036 Variable resistance
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2239/03 Avoiding erroneous switching
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2300/01 Application power window
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2300/028 Application dead man switch, i.e. power being interrupted by panic reaction of operator, e.g. further pressing down push button
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 3/02 Operating parts, i.e. for operating driving mechanism by a mechanical force external to the switch

Abstract

The invention relates to a touch-sensitive surface (3) activation device (1) for a motorized mechanism used to open and close an opening such as an electric windscreen wiper, comprising a touch-sensitive surface which controls the opening and/or closing of at least one opening. The device comprises means for detecting (9) the charge applied to the touch-sensitive control surface and means (11) for inhibiting control of the opening and/or closing when the applied charge is outside an acceptable predefined charge range.

Claims

1. A touch-sensitive surface activation device of a motorized mechanism for opening and/or closing an opening element of a motor vehicle, the device comprising:

a touch-sensitive surface comprising a matrix based sensor for controlling the opening and/or closure of at least one opening element, said touch sensitive surface comprising;

means for measuring a load pressure value applied to said touch-sensitive control surface; and

means for disabling the opening and/or closure control when the load pressure value is outside a predefined admissible load range with an upper limit and a lower limit.

2. The device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said lower limit of said admissible range corresponds to the load of a weight of approximately 30 g.

3. The device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said upper limit of said admissible range corresponds to the load of a weight of approximately 3 kg.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein the means for measuring the applied load pressure value are formed by said touch-sensitive surface made so as to be able to measure a parameter of the load applied to said surface.

5. The device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the means for detecting the applied load are formed by said touch-sensitive surface made so as to be able to measure the pressure or a weight exerted on said touch-sensitive surface.

6. A touch-sensitive surface activation device of a motorized mechanism for opening and/or closing an opening element of a motor vehicle, the device comprising:

a touch-sensitive surface comprising a matrix based sensor for controlling the opening and/or closure of at least one opening element, said touch sensitive surface comprising;

means for detecting a load pressure value applied to said touch-sensitive control surface; and

means for disabling the opening and/or closure control when the load pressure value is outside a predefined admissible load range with an upper limit and a lower limit wherein;

said touch-sensitive surface is mounted so that an applied load causes a predefined movement of said surface; and

the means for detecting said applied load is placed beneath said touch-sensitive surface and comprises;

an elastic means; and

a switch, said elastic means and said switch operable for disabling the opening and/or closure control of the opening element such that, in response to a load greater than the upper limit of said admissible range being applied, said touch-sensitive surface deforms said elastic means and causes the actuation of said switch.

7. The device as claimed in claim 6, wherein said predefined movement is a translation movement parallel to the normal of said touch-sensitive surface.

8. The device as claimed in claim 6, wherein said predefined movement is a pivoting movement of the touch-sensitive surface.

9. The device as claimed in claim 6, wherein said predefined movement is a bending of the touch-sensitive surface.

10. The device as claimed in claim 6, wherein said elastic means comprise a spring.

11. The device as claimed in claim 10, wherein said elastic means comprises a coil spring.

12. The device as claimed in claim 6 wherein said elastic means comprise an elastic stop.

13. The device as claimed in claim 12, wherein said elastic stop is provided from rubber.

14. The device as claimed claim 6 wherein the load necessary to actuate the switch is selected such that said elastic means are formed by the switch itself.

15. The device as claimed in claim 14, characterized in that said switch is an elastic contactor blade switch.

16. A touch-sensitive surface for controlling at least one opening element, said touch sensitive surface comprising:

a matrix based sensor for controlling the opening and/or closure of at least one opening element

means for measuring a load pressure value applied to said touch-sensitive surface; and

means for disabling an opening and/or closure control when the load pressure value is outside a predefined admissible load range with an upper limit and a lower limit.

17. The device of claim 16 wherein said means for measuring the applied load pressure value are formed by said touch-sensitive surface so as to be able to measure a parameter of the load applied to said surface.

18. A touch-sensitive surface for controlling at least one opening element, said touch sensitive surface comprising:

a matrix based sensor for controlling the opening and/or closure of at least one opening element

means for detecting a load pressure value applied to said touch-sensitive surface; and

means for disabling an opening and/or closure control when the load pressure value is outside a predefined admissible load range with an upper limit and a lower limit wherein said touch-sensitive surface is adapted to be mounted such that an applied load causes a predefined movement of said surface.

19. The device of claim 18 wherein said means for detecting said applied load is placed beneath said touch-sensitive surface and comprises:

an elastic means; and

a switch with said elastic means and said switch coupled and operable to disable an opening and/or closure control of an opening element such that, in response to a load greater than the upper limit of an admissible range being applied, said touch-sensitive surface deforms said elastic means and causes the actuation of said switch.