Proximity switch assembly having groove between adjacent proximity sensors

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9531379-B2
Application number	US-201414314364-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 25, 2014
Priority date	Apr 11, 2012
Publication date	Dec 27, 2016
Grant date	Dec 27, 2016

Abstract

A proximity switch assembly and method for detecting activation of a proximity switch assembly is provided. The assembly includes a plurality of proximity switches each having a proximity sensor providing a sense activation field and control circuitry processing the activation field of each proximity switch to sense activation. A pliable material overlays the proximity sensors. The control circuitry monitors the activation field and determines an activation of a proximity switch based on a signal generated by the sensor in relation to a threshold when a user's finger depresses the pliable material. The pliable material may further include an elevated portion and an air gap between the elevated portion and the sensor.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A proximity switch assembly comprising:
a rigid substrate having top and bottom surfaces;
a first proximity sensor proximate a surface of the substrate;
a second proximity sensor proximate a surface of the substrate adjacent to the first sensor with a region therebetween;
pliable material disposed on the top surface of the substrate; and
a groove formed in the substrate entirely in the region between the first and second proximity sensors.

2. The proximity switch assembly of claim 1 , wherein the groove has a dimension longer than the sensor.

3. The proximity switch assembly of claim 1 , wherein the groove dimension exceeds the sensor by 5 to 10 millimeters.

4. The proximity switch assembly of claim 1 , wherein the pliable material is rubber.

5. The proximity switch assembly of claim 1 , wherein the groove has a thickness in the range of 0.5 to 2.0 millimeters.

6. The proximity switch assembly of claim 1 further comprising control circuitry monitoring an activation field associated with the proximity sensor and determining an activation of the proximity switch based on a signal generated by the sensor in relation to a threshold when a user's finger depresses the pliable material.

7. The proximity switch assembly of claim 1 further comprising a first depression formed in the rigid substrate between the pliable material and the first proximity sensor.

8. The proximity switch assembly of claim 7 further comprising a second depression formed in the rigid substrate between the pliable material and the second proximity sensor.

9. The proximity switch assembly of claim 1 , wherein the proximity switch comprises a capacitive switch comprising one or more capacitive sensors.

10. The proximity switch assembly of claim 1 , wherein the assembly is installed on a vehicle.

11. A vehicle proximity switch assembly comprising:
a rigid substrate having top and bottom surfaces;
a first proximity sensor mounted on the bottom surface of the substrate;
a second proximity sensor mounted on the bottom surface of the substrate adjacent to the first sensor with a region therebetween;
a pliable material disposed on the top surface of the substrate; and
a groove formed in the substrate entirely in the region between the first and second proximity sensors.

12. The proximity switch assembly of claim 11 , wherein the groove has a dimension longer than the sensor.

13. The proximity switch assembly of claim 11 , wherein the groove dimension exceeds the sensor by 5 to 10 millimeters.

14. The proximity switch assembly of claim 11 , wherein the pliable material is rubber.

15. The proximity switch assembly of claim 11 , wherein the groove has a thickness in the range of 0.5 to 2.0 millimeters.

16. The proximity switch assembly of claim 11 further comprising control circuitry monitoring an activation field associated with the proximity sensor and determining an activation of the proximity switch based on a signal generated by the sensor in relation to a threshold when a user's finger depresses the pliable material.

17. The proximity switch assembly of claim 11 further comprising a first depression formed in the rigid substrate between the pliable material and the first proximity sensor.

18. The proximity switch assembly of claim 17 further comprising a second depression formed in the rigid substrate between the pliable material and the second proximity sensor.

19. The proximity switch assembly of claim 11 , wherein the proximity switch comprises a capacitive switch comprising one or more capacitive sensors.

20. The proximity switch assembly of claim 11 , wherein the assembly is installed on a vehicle.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Dassanayake Mahendra Somasara
• Buttolo Pietro
• Salter Stuart C

Classifications

• H03K2217/94031

  Calibration involving digital processing · CPC title

• H03K2217/96073

  Amplitude comparison · CPC title

• H03K2217/960705

  Safety of capacitive touch and proximity switches, e.g. increasing reliability, fail-safe · CPC title

• H03K2217/94052

  with evaluation of actuation pattern or sequence, e.g. tapping · CPC title

• H03K17/955 Primary

  using a capacitive detector · CPC title