Touch switch for a control device of an electric and/or electronic apparatus

• US 10,298,232 B2
• Filed: 06/13/2014
• Issued: 05/21/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Electrolux Appliances Aktiebolag (AB Electrolux)
• Original Assignee: Electrolux Appliances Aktiebolag (AB Electrolux)
• Inventors: Bosscher, Eric
• Primary Examiner(s): Figueroa, Felix O
• Application Number:
  US14/899,682
• Publication Number:
  US 20160134284A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,803 Days
• Field of Search: 345173, 200600
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/962 Capacitive touch switches
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2017/9602 characterised by the type or shape of the sensing electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2217/960765 Details of shielding arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2217/960785 with illumination

Abstract

The present invention relates to a touch switch of (10) for a control device of an electric and/or electronic apparatus. The touch switch (10) comprises a non conductive layer (14) made of an electrically non-conductive material or material composition, a touch sensor (12) arranged at a bottom side or rear side of the non conductive layer (14), a metallic layer (16) arranged at a top side or front side, respectively, of the non conductive layer (14), and a cut-out (18) formed in the metallic layer (16) and arranged at the non conductive layer (14) opposite to the touch sensor (12). The metallic layer (16) is connected to a ground connection (22). Further, the present invention relates to a control device for an electric and/or electronic apparatus. Moreover, the present invention relates to an electric and/or electronic apparatus, in particular a domestic appliance.

Claims

1. A touch switch for a control device of an electric and/or electronic apparatus, wherein said touch switch comprises:

a first layer made of an electrically non-conductive material or material composition,

a touch sensor arranged at a bottom side of the first layer,

a metallic layer arranged at a top side of the first layer, and

a cut-out formed in the metallic layer and arranged opposite to the touch sensor relative to the first layer, wherein;

the metallic layer is connected to a ground connection, and

the cut-out is filled with a non-conductive material, wherein a top surface of the metallic layer and a top surface of the non-conductive material together define a smooth surface.

2. The touch switch according to claim 1, wherein the metallic layer is formed as a single-piece part.

3. The touch switch according to claim 1, wherein at least one light source element is arranged below the first layer, the first layer is transparent, and the touch sensor and/or the first layer is transparent and extend within and/or below the cut-out.

4. The touch switch according to claim 3, wherein

the touch sensor is at least partially transparent for the light from the light source element.

5. The touch switch according to claim 1, wherein the touch sensor is a capacitive sensor and includes at least two electrodes.

6. The touch switch according to claim 1,

wherein the touch sensor is a part of a capacitive sensor and forms a first electrode, and

wherein the metallic layer forms a second electrode.

7. The touch switch according to claim 1,

wherein the touch sensor is an inductive sensor and includes at least one coil.

8. The touch switch according to claim 1, wherein the touch sensor is an optical sensor.

9. The touch switch according to claim 1, wherein the touch sensor is an infrared sensor.

10. The touch switch according to claim 1, wherein the touch switch comprises at least one identification mark indicating the area which has to be touched by a user in order to actuate the touch switch.

11. A control device of an electric and/or electronic apparatus including at least one touch switch according to claim 1.

12. The control device according to claim 11, wherein the control device includes a number of touch switches, and wherein at least a part of said touch switches comprises a common metallic layer formed as a single-piece part.

13. The control device according to claim 11, wherein the control device comprises a number of identification marks indicating areas which have to be touched by a user in order to actuate a corresponding touch switch.

14. An electric and/or electronic apparatus including at least one touch switch according to claim 1, wherein the electric and/or electronic apparatus is a domestic appliance.

15. The touch switch according to claim 1, wherein a structure or color of the non-conductive material used to fill the cut-out is different from the structure or the color of the front panel, to indicate to a user of the control device where to put his or her finger to active the touch switch.

16. The touch switch according to claim 1, wherein a height of the metallic layer is equal to the height of the non-conductive material.