IP Library › Granted Patent US 7,142,189
Granted Patent B2
US 7,142,189 · App. 10/429,109 · Granted Nov 28, 2006

Arrangement for illuminating a switch surface for a touch sensor switch

Assignee: Schott AG
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,142,189
App. No.
10/429,109
Granted
Nov 28, 2006
Kind
B2
Abstract

The arrangement for illuminating at least one switch surface ( 3 ) provided on a transparent panel ( 1 ) has at least one light source ( 9 ) and a touch sensor switch ( 5 ) arranged behind the at least one switch surface ( 3 ). The illumination should not interfere with the switching function and a touch sensor switch ( 5 ) does not need its own light source ( 9 ). The light source ( 9 ) is spaced from the at least one switch surface ( 3 ) so that the at least one light source ( 9 ) radiates light into the transparent panel ( 1 ) or into an optical waveguide ( 15, 16, 17, 19, 20 ) arranged on the transparent panel ( 1 ). The light of the at least one light source ( 9 ) is guided into the transparent panel or the optical waveguide toward the at least one switch surface ( 3 ) and conducted into a region between the at least one switch surface ( 3 ) and a sensor element ( 7 ) of the touch sensor switch ( 5 ).

Claims (6)

1. An arrangement for illuminating at least one switch surface ( 3 ) provided on a transparent panel ( 1 ), said arrangement comprising at least one light source ( 9 ) and a touch sensor switch ( 5 ) arranged behind the at least one switch surface ( 3 ), wherein the at least one light source ( 9 ) is positioned and spaced from the at least one switch surface ( 3 ) so that the at least one light source ( 9 ) radiates light into the transparent panel ( 1 ) or into a light waveguide ( 15 , 16 , 17 , 19 , 20 ) arranged on the transparent panel ( 1 ), said light of the at least one light source ( 9 ) guided into the transparent panel or the optical waveguide is guided toward the at least one switch surface ( 3 ) and conducted into a region between the at least one switch surface ( 3 ) and a sensor element ( 7 ) of the touch sensor switch ( 5 ), wherein said light waveguide comprises a transparent adhesive strip, which is glued on at least one of the panel ( 1 ) and a circuit board ( 6 ) carrying the at least one light source ( 9 ) so that light of the at least one light source 99 ) is coupled into said transparent adhesive strip, a plurality of optical fibers and wherein light from a common lighting device is guided to the light waveguide by means of said optical fibers.

2. The arrangement as defined in claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of optical fibers and wherein tight from a common lighting device is guided to the light waveguide by means of said optical fibers.

3. The arrangement as defined in claim 1 , wherein the transparent panel ( 1 ) is composed of plastic, glass or glass ceramic material.

4. An arrangement for illuminating at least one switch surface ( 3 ) provided on a transparent panel ( 1 ), said arrangement comprising at least one light source ( 9 ) and a touch sensor switch ( 5 ) arranged behind the at least one switch surface ( 3 ), wherein the at least one light source ( 9 ) is positioned and spaced from the at least one switch surface ( 3 ) so that the at least one light source ( 9 ) radiates light into the transparent panel ( 1 ) or into a light waveguide ( 15 , 16 , 17 , 19 , 20 ) arranged on the transparent panel ( 1 ), said light of the at least one light source ( 9 ) guided into the transparent panel or the optical waveguide is guided toward the at least one switch surface ( 3 ) and conducted into a region between the at least one switch surface ( 3 ) and a sensor element ( 7 ) of the touch sensor switch ( 5 ), wherein said at least one light source ( 9 ) comprises a plurality of lighting devices and said lighting devices provide at least one of different colored light and different intensity light or said at least one light source consists of a single lighting device having at least one of a variable color and variable intensity, wherein said transparent adhesive strip comprises a transparent supporting strip ( 23 ) and an adhesive film ( 24 , 25 ) adhering on at least one side of the supporting strip or said transparent adhesive strip comprises a light-transmitting adhesive film ( 26 ).

5. The arrangement as defined in claim 4 , wherein said adhesive film is provided with non-adhesive covering foil ( 27 ) on one side thereof.

6. The arrangement as defined in claim 4 , wherein said adhesive strip is provided with a cavity ( 30 ) in which said at least one light source ( 9 ) extends or is glued over said at least one light source ( 9 ).

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 14, 2005
From: SCHOTT GLAS
To: SCHOTT AG
Reel/Frame 015766/0926 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 2, 2003
From: ENGELMANN, HARRY
To: SCHOTT GLAS
Reel/Frame 014041/0492 →
Priority Claims (2)
DE 102 20 268 · May 7, 2002 · national
DE 102 59 297 · Dec 18, 2002 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20030210537A1 · Nov 13, 2003