Proximity sensor with enhanced activation

• US 8,575,949 B2
• Filed: 08/25/2010
• Issued: 11/05/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/25/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Salter, Stuart C., Gardner, Cornel Lewis, Simon, Scott, Oldani, Raymond Anthony, Singer, Jeffrey
• Primary Examiner(s): Hollington, Jermele M
• Assistant Examiner(s): PRETLOW, DEMETRIUS R
• Application Number:
  US12/868,281
• Publication Number:
  US 20120049870A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,168 Days
• Field of Search: 324/686
• US Class Current: 324/686
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/141 Activation of instrument input devices by approaching fingers or pens
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/10 Input arrangements, i.e. from user to vehicle, associated with vehicle functions or specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/82 Switches specially adapted for vehicle interior lighting, e.g. switching by tilting the lens
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 13/0212 Roof or head liners movable head-liners B60J7/0007
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2013/016 integrating other functions or accessories
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/955 using a capacitive detector
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/962 Capacitive touch switches
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2017/9604 characterised by the number of electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2217/960755 Constructional details of capacitive touch and proximity switches
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2217/96079 using a single or more light guides

Abstract

A vehicle component is provided that includes a console surface, at least one circuit board proximate the console surface, and an array of proximity sensors electrically connected to the at least one circuit board. Each of the proximity sensors emit a field that combine to form an activation field, wherein a lateral direction of the activation field extending approximately parallel to the console surface is greater than a longitudinal direction of the activation field extending approximately perpendicular to the console surface.

Claims

1. A vehicle component comprising:

a console surface;

at least one circuit board proximate said console surface; and

an array of proximity sensors electrically connected to said at least one circuit board, each of said proximity sensors emit a field that combine to form an activation field to activate a single proximity switch responsive to a user finger, wherein a lateral direction of said activation field extending approximately parallel to said console surface is greater than a longitudinal direction of said activation field extending approximately perpendicular to said console surface.

2. The vehicle component of claim 1, wherein said proximity sensors are capacitive sensors.

3. The vehicle component of claim 1, wherein said console surface defines an activation surface, wherein said lateral direction of said activation field is approximately equal to said activation surface.

4. The vehicle component of claim 1 being a hidden dome lamp, wherein said console surface is a headliner.

5. The vehicle component of claim 4 further comprising at least one light source proximate said console surface configured to emit light through said console surface.

6. The vehicle component of claim 1 being a capacitive moon roof switch.

7. The vehicle component of claim 1 being a light bar switch.

8. The vehicle component of claim 7 further comprising at least one light source intermediate to said at least one circuit board and said console surface, wherein said light source emits light into an area between said at least one circuit board and said console surface and said emitted light is viewed through said console surface.

9. The vehicle component of claim 1, wherein said array of proximity sensors is a N×

1 array.

10. The vehicle component of claim 1, wherein said array of proximity sensors is at least a 2×

2 array.

11. The vehicle component of claim 1, wherein said console surface comprises at least one of the following:

a headliner;

a dashboard;

an interior panel;

and exterior panel;

a center console between a driver'"'"'s seat and a passenger'"'"'s seat; and

a console extending along a pillar of the vehicle.

12. A vehicle component comprising:

a console surface;

at least one circuit board proximate said console surface;

at least one light source intermediate to said at least one circuit board and said at least one console surface, wherein said at least one light source emits light into an area between said at least one circuit board and said at least one console surface and said emitted light is viewed through said at least one console surface; and

an array of capacitive proximity sensors electrically connected to said at least one circuit board, each of said capacitive proximity sensors emit a capacitive field that combine to form an activation field to activate a single proximity switch responsive to a user finger, wherein a lateral direction of said activation field extending approximately parallel to said console surface is greater than a longitudinal direction of said activation field extending approximately perpendicular to said console surface.

13. The vehicle component of claim 12, wherein said console surface defines an activation surface, wherein said longitudinal direction of said activation field is approximately equal to said activation surface.

14. The vehicle component of claim 12, wherein said array of proximity sensors is a N×

1 array.

15. The vehicle component of claim 12, wherein said array of proximity sensors is at least a 2×

2 array.

16. A vehicle component comprising:

a console surface that defines an activation surface;

a circuit board proximate said activation surface; and

an array of capacitive sensors, each of which emit a field that combine to form an activation field to activate a single proximity switch responsive to a user finger, wherein a lateral direction of said activation field is approximately equal to said activation surface and greater than a longitudinal direction of said activation field.

17. The vehicle component of claim 16 being a hidden dome lamp, wherein said console surface is a headliner.

18. The vehicle component of claim 16 being a capacitive moon roof switch.

19. The vehicle component of claim 16 being a light bar switch.

20. The vehicle component of claim 16, wherein said lateral direction of said activation field extends approximately parallel to said activation surface, and said longitudinal direction of said activation field extends approximately perpendicular to said activation surface.

21. The vehicle component of claim 16, wherein each of the array of capacitive sensors are not independently controlled.

22. A proximity switch comprising:

an activation surface; and

an array of capacitive sensors each emitting a sensor field that combine to form an activation field for activating the proximity switch responsive to a user finger commanded input, wherein a lateral direction of said activation field is approximately equal to said activation surface and greater than a longitudinal direction of said activation field extending approximately perpendicular to said activation surface.