GROUNDED REFLECTOR FOR A VEHICLE LIGHTING FIXTURE WITH A CAPACITIVE SWITCH

• US 20180257556A1
• Filed: 03/10/2017
• Published: 09/13/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/10/2017
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Salter, Stuart C., Dellock, Paul Kenneth, Buttolo, Pietro, Musleh, Michael A., Karmo, Talat
• Application Number:
  US15/456,432
• Publication Number:
  US 20180257556A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/60 characterised by optical aspects
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/74 for overall compartment lighting; for overall compartment lighting in combination with specific lighting, e.g. room lamps with reading lamps general lighting mounted on specific fittings B60Q3/20; general lighting for mass transit vehicles B60Q3/43
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/82 Switches specially adapted for vehicle interior lighting, e.g. switching by tilting the lens
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/955 using a capacitive detector
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/962 Capacitive touch switches
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2217/960755 Constructional details of capacitive touch and proximity switches
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2217/960785 with illumination

Abstract

Apparatus are disclosed for a grounded reflector for a vehicle lighting fixture with a capacitive switch. An example disclosed lamp assembly for a vehicle includes a lamp assembly, a grounded reflector, and a capacitive switch. The grounded reflector has a metal layer electrically coupled to a ground plane of the vehicle. However, the metal layer is not directly coupled to the ground plane of the vehicle. The capacitive switch is electrically coupled to the lamp assembly to control the lamp assembly based on detecting a capacitive object within a detection field.

Claims

1. A lighting fixture for a vehicle comprising:

a lamp assembly;

a grounded reflector including;

a conductive thermoplastic layer; and

a metal layer having the shape of the conductive thermoplastic layer electrically coupled to a ground plane of the vehicle via the conductive thermoplastic layer; and

a capacitive switch electrically coupled to the lamp assembly to control the lamp assembly by detecting a capacitive object within a detection field.

2. The lighting fixture of claim 1, wherein the grounded reflector includes a grounding wire embedded in the conductive thermoplastic layer.

3. The lighting fixture of claim 1, wherein the conductive thermoplastic layer is impregnated with high aspect ratio graphite.

4. The lighting fixture of claim 1, wherein the conductive thermoplastic layer has a melting point of at least 210 degrees Celsius.

5. The lighting fixture of claim 1, wherein the conductive thermoplastic layer is polyethylene terephthalate.

6. The lighting fixture of claim 1, wherein the grounding wire is connected to the ground plane of the vehicle.

7. The lighting fixture of claim 1, including a bezel with the metal layer.

8. The lighting fixture of claim 7, wherein the bezel includes:

a conductive thermoplastic layer impregnated with high aspect ratio graphite; and

a second grounding wire connected to the ground plane of the vehicle.

14. The lighting fixture of claim 1, wherein the grounded reflector is a truncated cone.

15. The lighting fixture of claim 14, wherein the metal layer forms an interior portion of the truncated cone and the conductive thermoplastic layer forms an exterior portion of the truncated cone.

9. A reflector for a vehicle light fixture comprising:

a conductive thermoplastic layer;

a metal layer covering a rounded concave surface of the conductive thermoplastic layer, the metal layer having the same shape as the conductive thermoplastic layer; and

grounding pins embedded in the conductive thermoplastic layer, the grounding pins not in direct contact with the metal layer.

10. The reflector of claim 9, wherein the conductive thermoplastic layer is impregnated with high aspect ratio graphite.

11. The reflector of claim 9, wherein the conductive thermoplastic layer has a melting point of at least 210 degrees Celsius.

12. The reflector of claim 9, wherein the conductive thermoplastic layer is polyethylene terephthalate.

13. The reflector of claim 9, wherein the grounding pins are electrically coupled to a ground plane of a vehicle.