Electric control device for an automobile

• US 8,390,422 B2
• Filed: 02/20/2008
• Issued: 03/05/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/02/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DAV Société par actions simplifiée
• Original Assignee: DAV Société par actions simplifiée
• Inventors: Laurent, Patrice, Drouin, Xavier, Bonhoure, Patrick
• Primary Examiner(s): HARVEY, JAMES R
• Application Number:
  US12/528,463
• Publication Number:
  US 20110000773A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,840 Days
• Field of Search: 338/47, 338/114, 338/310, 338/333
• US Class Current: 338/47
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03547 Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0414 using force sensing means to determine a position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/045 using resistive elements, e.g. a single continuous surface or two parallel surfaces put in contact

Abstract

The invention relates to an electric control device for an automobile, that comprises a touch-surface sensor using pressure-sensitive resistors and to be assembled with a holder (3) having a recessed or protruding three-dimensional surface, characterized in that the touch-surface (1) of the sensor is shaped so that, at the assembled state, a portion of at least the shaped touch-surfaces (1) meet each other while conforming to the shape of said three-dimensional surface (4) in order to define an essentially continuous touch-surface (1).

Claims

1. An electric control device for a motor vehicle, comprising:

a sensor with a touch-sensitive surface constructed using pressure-sensitive resistors, wherein the touch-sensitive surface is assembled with a support having a three-dimensional surface, recessed or protruding,

wherein the touch-sensitive surface of the sensor has a shape such that, in the assembled state, at least one portion of the touch-sensitive surface joins together closely following the shape of said three-dimensional surface in order to form a continuous touch-sensitive surface.

2. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the touch-sensitive surface has a predefined number of circularly arcuate strips the small arched sides of which are connected to a common base having a disk shape so that said touch-sensitive surface closely follows the support having a recessed surface with a truncated cone shape.

3. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the touch-sensitive surface has a predefined number of circularly arcuate strips the large arched sides of which are connected to a common base having a parallelepipedal shape so that said touch-sensitive surface closely follows the support having a recessed surface with a truncated cone shape.

4. The device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the touch-sensitive surface has between six and twelve circularly arcuate strips.

5. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the touch-sensitive surface has a spiral shape so that said touch-sensitive surface closely follows the support having a protruding domed or spherical surface.

6. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the touch-sensitive surface has a spiral shape so that said touch-sensitive surface closely follows the support having a conical protruding surface.

7. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the touch-sensitive surface has a predefined number of trapezoidal strips the small bases of which are connected to a common polygonal base so that said touch-sensitive surface closely follows the support having a surface in the shape of a truncated polyhedron.

8. The device as claimed in claim 7, wherein the touch-sensitive surface comprises four trapezoidal strips.

9. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the touch-sensitive surface comprises a connection lug.