Control module for an automotive vehicle using a touch sensor
First Claim
1. A control module, comprising:
- at least one touch control surface including a sensor having a touch surface, said sensor including two flexible sheets and active tracks between the flexible sheets, said sensor sensitive to pressure exerted on the touch surface and a flexible protection layer covering said sensor and enabling pressure to be transferred locally to the sensor;
a mechanical support having openings formed therein to enable light to pass from at least one light source to define backlighting regions of the touch surface; and
a single layer made of an incompressible material and allowing light to pass which is sandwiched between said mechanical support and said sensor and is in direct contact with one of the two flexible sheets of said sensor, and which defines a smooth, continuous, and incompressible surface at the level of the sensor, and wherein the sensor and the flexible protection layer are made so as to allow light to pass at least partly in the backlighting regions.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention relates to a control module that comprises at least one touch control surface (3) made of a sensor (31) sensitive to the pressure applied on the touch surface (3) and of a flexible protection layer (33) covering said sensor (31) and allowing a pressure to be locally transmitted to the sensor. The module further includes a rigid mechanical support (15) in which openings (27) are formed, allowing therethrough the light from at least one light source (25) and defining back-lighting regions of the touch surface (3), and a plate (20) of an incompressible material and transparent to the light which is sandwiched between the mechanical support (15) and the sensor (31) and defines a continuous smooth surface at the touch surface (3), wherein the sensor (31) and the flexible protection layer (33) are made so as to allow the light at least partially through the back-lighting regions.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A control module, comprising:
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at least one touch control surface including a sensor having a touch surface, said sensor including two flexible sheets and active tracks between the flexible sheets, said sensor sensitive to pressure exerted on the touch surface and a flexible protection layer covering said sensor and enabling pressure to be transferred locally to the sensor; a mechanical support having openings formed therein to enable light to pass from at least one light source to define backlighting regions of the touch surface; and a single layer made of an incompressible material and allowing light to pass which is sandwiched between said mechanical support and said sensor and is in direct contact with one of the two flexible sheets of said sensor, and which defines a smooth, continuous, and incompressible surface at the level of the sensor, and wherein the sensor and the flexible protection layer are made so as to allow light to pass at least partly in the backlighting regions. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A multifunction control device for controlling the functions of at least one set of electrical or electronic units of a motor vehicle, such as an air conditioning system, an audio system, a navigation system, a telephone system, motorized window regulator controls, controls for adjusting exterior rearview mirrors, controls for adjusting the position of a sunroof, interior lighting controls, controls for adjusting the seat of a motor vehicle comprising:
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at least one touch control surface including a sensor having a touch surface, the sensor including two flexible sheets and active tracks between the flexible sheets, said sensor sensitive to pressure exerted on the touch surface and a flexible protection layer covering said sensor and enabling pressure to be transferred locally to the sensor; a mechanical support having openings formed therein to enable light to pass from at least one light source define backlighting regions of the touch surface; a single layer made of an incompressible material and allowing light to pass which is sandwiched between said mechanical support and said sensor and is in direct contact with one of the flexible sheets of the sensor, and which defines a smooth continuous, and incompressible surface at the level of the sensor, and wherein the sensor and the flexible protection layer are made so as to avow light to pass at least partly in the backlighting regions. - View Dependent Claims (17)
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Specification