Hidden switch assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10778223-B2
Application number	US-201815959426-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 23, 2018
Priority date	Apr 23, 2018
Publication date	Sep 15, 2020
Grant date	Sep 15, 2020

Abstract

A switch assembly comprising a housing configured to operably couple to a trim panel and defining a cavity, a feedback device operably coupled to the housing and positioned within the cavity, a printed circuit board operably coupled to the feedback device, a proximity sensor operably coupled to a connector and configured to actuate the feedback device, and a light source operably coupled the printed circuit board and configured to luminesce in response to actuation of the proximity sensor. The trim panel comprises a panel substrate operably coupled to a backup layer, an icon layer positioned within the cavity and operably coupled to the backup layer, an outline positioned about a periphery of the backup layer, and a translucent panel skin bonded to a foam layer positioned over the panel substrate, wherein the panel skin stretches over the panel substrate and the backup layer.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A switch assembly comprising:
a housing having first and second sides and defining a cavity and an opening, the opening in communication with the cavity;
a trim panel coupled with the housing, wherein the trim panel includes:
a backup layer positioned to cover the opening, wherein the backup layer extends beyond the first and second sides of the housing and defines an aperture;
a panel substrate including a protrusion, wherein the protrusion is received by the aperture of the backup layer to couple the panel substrate with the backup layer;
an icon layer positioned within the cavity and coupled to the backup layer;
an outline positioned about a periphery of the backup layer;
a foam layer positioned over the panel substrate; and
a panel skin bonded to the foam layer, wherein the panel skin stretches over the panel substrate and the backup layer;

a feedback device coupled to the housing and positioned within the cavity;
a printed circuit board coupled to the feedback device;
a proximity sensor coupled to a connector and configured to actuate the feedback device; and
a light source coupled to the printed circuit board and configured to luminesce in response to actuation of the proximity sensor.

2. The switch assembly of claim 1 , wherein the light source is positioned on a first opposing side of the printed circuit board, and further wherein the feedback device is positioned on a second opposing side of the printed circuit board.

3. The switch assembly of claim 1 , wherein the light source is configured to change color in response to activation of the proximity sensor.

4. A switch assembly for a vehicle comprising:
a housing coupled to a panel and having first and second sides defining an opening, wherein the housing defines a cavity in communication with the opening and containing a feedback device coupled to a first side of a printed circuit board;
a backup layer positioned over the opening of the housing and at least partially abutting the first and second sides of the housing;
a panel substrate coupled with the backup layer;
an outline bonded to the backup layer, wherein the outline is spaced apart from the housing by the backup layer;
a foam layer positioned over the panel substrate and positioned flush with the outline;
an icon layer positioned within the cavity;
a panel skin positioned over the backup layer; and
a light source coupled to a second side of the printed circuit board, wherein the light source is configured to illuminate through the icon layer and the panel skin.

5. The switch assembly of claim 4 , wherein the backup layer and the foam layer define a space configured to receive the outline, and further wherein the panel skin is coupled to the foam layer and positioned on top of the backup layer.

6. The switch assembly of claim 4 , wherein the backup layer and the icon layer are translucent.

7. The switch assembly of claim 4 , wherein the icon layer includes indicia configured to be illuminated by the light source.

8. The switch assembly of claim 7 , wherein the indicia include a luminescent material configured to luminesce in response to illumination of the light source.

9. The switch assembly of claim 4 , wherein the panel skin is configured to conceal the switch assembly when the light source is not illuminated.

10. A switch assembly comprising:
a housing defining a cavity and an opening, the opening in communication with the cavity;
a backup layer positioned over the opening;
a panel substrate coupled with the backup layer;
a foam layer positioned over a portion of the panel substrate;
an outline bonded to the backup layer proximate the foam layer, wherein the outline has a first hardness proximate the backup layer and a second hardness proximate the foam layer, and further wherein the second hardness is less than the first hardness;
a feedback device positioned within the cavity;
a light source positioned within the cavity proximate an icon layer; and
a switch configured to actuate the feedback device and the light source.

11. The switch assembly of claim 10 , further comprising:
a panel skin, wherein the panel skin positioned over the panel substrate and the backup layer, and further wherein the foam layer is positioned between the panel skin and the panel substrate.

12. The switch assembly of claim 11 , wherein the panel skin is configured to provide visual color to a user when the light source is illuminated.

13. The switch assembly of claim 11 , wherein the icon layer includes indicia configured to be made visible by illumination of the light source.

14. The switch assembly of claim 13 , wherein the icon layer and indicia are color-corrected as determined by the panel skin.

15. The switch assembly of claim 10 , wherein the light source is configured to emit different colors in response to activation of the switch.

16. The switch assembly of claim 10 , wherein the switch is a proximity switch.

17. The switch assembly of claim 10 , wherein the feedback device is configured to produce vibrations when actuated.

18. The switch assembly of claim 10 , wherein the housing is integrally formed with the panel substrate.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Salter Stuart
• Lee Yun Shin
• Surman James J
• Dellock Paul Kenneth

Classifications

• B60K35/50

  Instruments characterised by their means of attachment to or integration in the vehicle (B60K35/231 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B60K35/60

  Instruments characterised by their location or relative disposition in or on vehicles (arrangements of lighting devices on dashboards B60Q3/10) · CPC title

• B60K35/21

  using visual output, e.g. blinking lights or matrix displays · CPC title

• H03K17/955

  using a capacitive detector · CPC title

• H03K2217/96042

  with illumination · CPC title