Touch sensitive switch with light

• US 6,234,651 B1
• Filed: 08/03/1999
• Issued: 05/22/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 08/04/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Stanley Electric Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Stanley Electric Company Limited
• Inventors: Hibiya, Kazuyoshi, Kodama, Tomoaki
• Primary Examiner(s): O'Shea, Sandra
• Assistant Examiner(s): NEILS, PEGGY A
• Application Number:
  US09/365,853
• Time in Patent Office: 658 Days
• Field of Search: 362/95, 362/464, 362/489, 362/276, 362/802, 200/314, 200/317
• US Class Current: 362/276
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2003/0293 with an integrated touch switch
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2217/032 Feedback about selected symbol, e.g. display
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2217/033 by speech
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2239/022 with opto-electronic switch
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 9/18 Distinguishing marks on switches, e.g. for indicating switch location in the dark; Adaptation of switches to receive distinguishing marks
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/9627 Optical touch switches
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/802 Position or condition responsive switch

Abstract

A touch sensitive switch with a light comprises a light sensor which detects a finger approaching the key top using the output of the light sensor to detect that the touch sensitive switch with a light is to be operated before the operation takes place. Notification to the person who operates the key-top can therefore be given by any predetermined effect such as a voice accruing based on the output of the light sensor just before the operation starts. Therefore, confusion does not arise even when the switch is put to a large number of uses.

Claims

1. A touch sensitive switch with a light, comprising:

a switch element for controlling the operation of a device connected to the switch element;

a key top located adjacent the switch element;

a light emitting element provided within the key top and with a surface of the key top being illuminated by light transmitted by the light emitting element; and

a light sensor for detecting a finger approaching the key top before operation of the switch element to indicate the device to be operated by the switch element.

2. The touch sensitive switch of claim 1, wherein detection of the approach of the finger is carried out using light from the illuminated light emitting element reflected by the finger.

3. The touch sensitive switch of claim 1, wherein detection of the approach of the finger is carried out using blocking out of external light by the finger when the light emitting element remains extinguished.

4. The touch sensitive switch of claim 2, wherein detection of the approach of the finger is carried out using blocking out of external light by the finger when the light emitting element remains extinguished.

5. The touch sensitive switch of claim 1, wherein a front surface of the key top undergoes fine roughing processing in order to bring about light diffusion.

6. The touch sensitive switch of claim 2, wherein a front surface of the key top undergoes fine roughing processing in order to bring about light diffusion.

7. The touch sensitive switch of claim 3, wherein a front surface of the key top undergoes fine roughing processing in order to bring about light diffusion.