Light bar proximity switch

• US 8,454,181 B2
• Filed: 08/25/2010
• Issued: 06/04/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/25/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Salter, Stuart C., Igoe, Denis Patrick, Singer, Jeffrey, Gardner, Cornel Lewis
• Primary Examiner(s): Guharay, Karabi
• Assistant Examiner(s): LEE, NATHANIEL J.
• Application Number:
  US12/868,494
• Publication Number:
  US 20120048708A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,014 Days
• Field of Search: 362/26, 362/158
• US Class Current: 362/26
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/229 Cup holders
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/82 Switches specially adapted for vehicle interior lighting, e.g. switching by tilting the lens
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/96 Touch switches specially adapted for electronic time-pieces with no moving parts G04G21/08
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/9622 using a plurality of detectors, e.g. keyboard
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2217/96066 Thumbwheel, potentiometer, scrollbar or slider simulation by touch switch
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2217/96079 using a single or more light guides

Abstract

A light bar proximity switch is provided that includes a light pipe having a first surface and a second surface, wherein the first and second surface define an area. The light bar proximity sensor further includes an at least partially reflective surface adjacent the second surface, at least one circuit board spaced from the light pipe and the at least partially reflective surface, at least one proximity sensor electrically connected to the at least one circuit board, and at least one light source configured to project light along the area, wherein the emitted light is reflected by the at least partially reflective surface and viewed through the first surface.

Claims

1. A light bar proximity switch comprising:

a light pipe comprising;

a first surface; and

a second surface, wherein said first and second surfaces define an area;

an at least partially reflective surface adjacent said second surface;

at least one circuit board spaced from said light pipe and said at least partially reflective surface;

at least one proximity sensor electrically connected to said at least one circuit board; and

at least one light source configured to project light along said area, wherein said emitted light is reflected by said at least partially reflective surface and viewed through said first surface, and wherein the at least partially reflective surface is between the light pipe and the at least one proximity sensor.

2. The light bar proximity switch of claim 1, wherein said at least one proximity sensor is a capacitive sensor.

3. The light bar proximity switch of claim 1, wherein said at least partially reflective layer is opaque.

4. The light bar proximity switch of claim 1, wherein said at least partially reflective surface comprises at least one image, said image comprises at least one of:

text;

a symbol;

a picture;

artwork;

a logo; and

a drawing.

5. The light bar proximity switch of claim 1, wherein said at least partially reflective layer comprises a paper material.

6. The light bar proximity switch of claim 1, wherein said at least partially reflective surface has a surface area at least approximately equal to a surface area of at least one of said second surface and said at least one circuit board.

7. The light bar proximity switch of claim 1, wherein said at least one light source is configured to emit light having a plurality of hues.

8. The light bar proximity switch of claim 7, wherein continuously activating said at least one proximity sensor for a first time period toggles said at least one light source through said plurality of hues.

9. The light bar proximity switch of claim 1, wherein said at least one proximity sensor is a plurality of proximity sensors configured as a slide switch.

10. The light bar proximity switch of claim 1 integrated into a console of a vehicle.

11. A light bar proximity switch configured to operate a vehicle component, said proximity switch comprising:

a light pipe comprising;

a first surface; and

a second surface, wherein said first and second surfaces define an area;

an at least partially reflective surface adjacent said second surface, wherein said at least partially reflective surface comprises at least one image;

at least one circuit board spaced from said light pipe and said at least partially reflective surface;

at least one capacitive sensor electrically connected to said at least one circuit board; and

at least one light source configured to project light having a plurality of hues along said area, wherein said emitted light is reflected by said at least partially reflective surface and viewed through said first surface, and wherein the at least partially reflective surface is between the light pipe and the at least one capacitive sensor.

12. The light bar proximity switch of claim 11, wherein said at least partially reflective layer is opaque.

13. The light bar proximity switch of claim 11, wherein said image comprises at least one of:

text;

a symbol;

a picture;

artwork;

a logo; and

a drawing.

14. The light bar proximity switch of claim 11, wherein said at least partially reflective surface comprises a paper material.

15. The light bar proximity switch of claim 11, wherein said at least partially reflective surface has a surface area at least approximately equal to a surface area of at least one of said second surface and said at least one circuit board.

16. The light bar proximity switch of claim 11, wherein continuously activating said at least one proximity sensor for a first time period toggles said at least one light source through said plurality of hues.

17. The light bar proximity switch of claim 11, wherein said at least one proximity sensor is a plurality of proximity sensors configured as a slide switch.

18. The light bar proximity switch of claim 11 integrated into a console of a vehicle.

19. A light bar proximity switch integrated in a vehicle comprising:

a light pipe;

an at least partially reflective surface comprising an image and adjacent said light pipe;

at least one capacitive sensor spaced from said light pipe behind the at least partially reflective surface; and

at least one light source to project light having a plurality of hues that is reflected by said at least partially reflective surface and viewed through said light pipe.

20. The light bar proximity switch of claim 19, wherein said image comprises at least one of:

text;

a symbol;

a picture;

artwork;

a logo; and

a drawing.

21. A light bar proximity switch comprising:

a light pipe;

a proximity sensor;

a reflective surface disposed between the light pipe and the proximity sensor and covering the proximity sensor; and

a light source coupled to the light pipe to project light into the light pipe, wherein said light is reflected by the reflective surface.

22. The light bar proximity switch of claim 21 further comprising an image disposed on the reflective surface.