Input device of touch panel type for vehicle

• US 8,411,054 B2
• Filed: 04/20/2010
• Issued: 04/02/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/04/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai Motor Group), Kia Motors Corporation (Kia Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai Motor Group), Kia Motors Corporation (Kia Corp.)
• Inventors: Woo, Sung Il, Kim, Dong Ok
• Primary Examiner(s): Lao, Lun-Yi
• Assistant Examiner(s): Siddiqui, MD Saiful A
• Application Number:
  US12/763,524
• Publication Number:
  US 20110134054A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,078 Days
• Field of Search: 345156-158, 345172-174, 345168-169, 178 1801- 1809, 340/815.4, 701/36
• US Class Current: 345/173
• 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 2217/960775 Emitter-receiver or "fringe" type detection, i.e. one or more field emitting electrodes and corresponding one or more receiving electrodes

Abstract

The present invention features an input device for a touch panel type for a vehicle, wherein, by replacing the conventional switch of a tact type into a touch panel using an electric field sensor, it is able to change an analog input method according to an operation of the conventional switch of the tact type into a digital input method according to electric signals, and also, by a touch panel of a button-integrated type that senses a change of an electric field, it is able to improve utilization of the inner space in the vehicle, and for unifies the panel.

Claims

1. An input device for a touch panel type for a vehicle, in which the input device includes a window panel for constituting a front side of a front panel and a front board for constituting a rear side of the front panel, the input device comprising:

a touch cell sensor unit composed of a plurality of touch cells for sensing a change of pulse corresponding to change of electric field and configured to input a signal; and

a light emitting diode (LED) driving unit configured to provide lighting as a feedback in case of touching the touch cell,

wherein each of the touch cells inputs the signal by sensing the change of the pulse corresponding to the change of electric field in case of being touched, respectively, and

when Illumination (ILL) is turned off and an operating signal of corresponding key is applied through a power source for driving a control integrated circuit inside of each LED, a first LED is turned on, and when the ILL is turned on and the operating signal of corresponding key is not applied through a ILL power source of a button, a second LED is turned on, and when the ILL is turned on and the operating signal of corresponding key is applied through the ILL power source of the button, the second LED is turned off and the first LED is turned on, the first and second LED configured as different colors.

2. The input device of claim 1, further comprising an LED guide formed at the rear side of the window panel, wherein the LED guide plays a role in a body for controlling the lighting between buttons.

3. The input device of claim 1, wherein the window panel and the touch cell sensor unit are integrated with each other for constituting a touch panel of a button-integrated type.

4. The input device of claim 1, wherein the touch cell sensor unit is a touch cell formed by a method of ASIC (Application-Specific Integrated Circuit), and it is mounted on a flexible PCB (FPCB).

5. The input device of claim 1, wherein the LED driving unit is mounted on a flexible PCB (FPCB).

6. The input device of claim 1, wherein, as the feedback information in touching the touch cell, a beep sound is provided.

7. The input device of claim 1, wherein, as the feedback information in touching the touch cell, the lighting is provided by a touch LED.

8. The input device of claim 1, wherein the window panel and the touch cell sensor unit are mutually attached using a double-sided tape.

9. The input device of claim 1, wherein the input device of the touch panel type is used for a panel input device including an audio front panel and a navigation front panel, or the input device of the touch panel type is used for a switch for an air conditioner or a switch for a heater.

10. An audio front panel for a touch panel type for a vehicle, the audio front panel comprising:

a window panel operating as an outside of the audio front panel;

a touch cell sensor unit configured to be attached to an rear side of the window panel, and composed of a plurality of touch cells for sensing a change of electric field in case of touching;

an LED driving unit configured to provide lighting as feedback when the touch cell is touched;

an LED guide formed at the rear side of the window panel, and configured to control lighting between buttons; and

a front board constituting a rear side of the audio front panel, and configured to provide an interface between an audio box and the touch cell sensor unit,

wherein when Illumination (ILL) is turned off and an operating signal of corresponding key is applied through a power source for driving a control integrated circuit inside of each LED, a first LED is turned on, and when the ILL is turned on and the operating signal of corresponding key is not applied through a ILL power source of a button, a second LED is turned on, and when the ILL is turned on and the operating signal of corresponding key is applied through the ILL power source of the button, the second LED is turned off and the first LED is turned on, the first and second LED configured as different colors.

11. The audio front panel of claim 10, wherein the window panel and the touch cell sensor unit are integrated with each other for constituting a touch panel of a button-integrated type.

12. The audio front panel of claim 10, wherein the touch cell sensor unit is a touch cell formed by a method of ASIC (Application-Specific Integrated Circuit), and it is mounted on a flexible PCB (FPCB).

13. The audio front panel of claim 10, wherein the LED driving unit is mounted on a flexible PCB (FPCB).

14. The audio front panel of claim 10, wherein, as the feedback information in touching the touch cell, a beep sound is provided.

15. The audio front panel of claim 10, wherein, as the feedback information in touching the touch cell, the lighting is provided by a touch LED.

16. The audio front panel of claim 10, wherein the window panel and the touch cell sensor unit are attached using a double-sided tape.