IP Library › Granted Patent US 11,485,297
Granted Patent B2
US 11,485,297 · App. 17/218,552 · Granted Nov 1, 2022

Console with grounded trim ring

Inventors: Stuart C. Salter (White Lake, MI); Paul Kenneth Dellock (Northville, MI); Richard Gall (Ann Arbor, MI); Satyanarayana Raju Vemulapati (Westland, MI); James J. Surman (Clinton Township, MI)
Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
B60R13/0206B60K37/06B60R7/06B60R11/0235B60R11/0258B60R11/0264B60R2011/0005B60R2013/0287
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,485,297
App. No.
17/218,552
Granted
Nov 1, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

A vehicle console includes a trim ring disposed over a periphery of a housing. The trim ring includes a polymeric material and is electrically conductive and grounded. A proximity switch assembly is retained in the housing. The proximity switch assembly includes a proximity sensor proximate a sensing pad for generating an activation field. The sensing pad is proximate the trim ring.

Claims (13)

1. A housing assembly for a proximity sensor comprising:

a trim ring disposed over a periphery of a housing, wherein the trim ring comprises a polymeric material and is electrically conductive and grounded; and

a proximity switch assembly retained in the housing, comprising:

a proximity sensor proximate a sensing pad for generating an activation field, wherein the sensing pad is proximate the trim ring.

2. The housing assembly for a proximity sensor of claim 1 , wherein the trim ring is electrically coupled to a conductive support, and wherein the conductive support is electrically coupled to a printed circuit board.

3. The housing assembly for a proximity sensor of claim 2 , wherein the conductive support is electrically coupled to a printed circuit board with a conductive rubber interface.

4. The housing assembly for a proximity sensor of claim 3 , wherein the conductive rubber interface is disposed between a tower extending from the conductive support and a printed circuit board.

5. The housing assembly for a proximity sensor of claim 4 , wherein the conductive rubber interface includes wires arranged in a silicone rubber.

6. The housing assembly for a proximity sensor of claim 1 , wherein the housing includes a first polymeric material and wherein the trim ring includes a second polymeric material.

7. The housing assembly for a proximity sensor of claim 6 , wherein the trim ring has a lower surface resistivity than the housing.

8. The housing assembly for a proximity sensor of claim 7 , wherein the trim ring is chrome plated.

9. The housing assembly for a proximity sensor of claim 8 , wherein the second polymeric material includes an acryloninitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) comprising approximately 0.5% to approximately 2% volume multi-walled carbon nanotubes and approximately 4% to approximately 6% volume high aspect ratio carbon black.

10. The housing assembly for a proximity sensor of claim 9 , wherein the first polymeric material is an acryloninitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) material.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 31, 2021
From: SALTER, STUART C.; DELLOCK, PAUL KENNETH; GALL, RICHARD; VEMULAPATI, SATYANARAYANA RAJU; SURMAN, JAMES J.
To: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
Reel/Frame 055781/0475 →
Continuity (3)
Division 16545711 · Aug 20, 2019
Division 15856648 · Dec 28, 2017
Related Publication 20210237663A1 · Aug 5, 2021
Cited By (1)
US 12,358,441