Abrégé

The present invention relates to a switch assembly (1) comprising a housing (2), an activation button (3) slidable along an activation axis (A), and a variable capacitor (4) defining a capacitive switch having an off position and at least one on position. In order to simply predefine a haptic response of said switch assembly (1), as well as variation of capacitance of said variable capacitor (4) in a function of a displacement of said activation button (3), said variable capacitor (4) comprises a resilient activation member (41) with a closed cross-section (S) supported on at least two support points (P1, P2) and on an activation point (P3), wherein said support points (P1, P2) are located on the opposite sides of the activation axis (A) and on one side of the longest, perpendicular to the activation axis (A) chord (C) of said cross-section (S), define a support section (B) located at least partially inside said cross-section (S), and are defined by at least one support member (42), while said activation point (P3) is located substantially on the activation axis (A); a first conductive layer (44) located on the activation member (41); and a second conductive layer (45) located in said off position at a non-zero distance (L1) from the first conductive layer (44); wherein the approach of said activation point (P3) to said support points (P1, P2) along the activation axis causes bilateral centripetal compression of the activation member (41) along the activation axis (A) and centrifugal stretching of the activation member (41) in a direction substantially perpendicular to the activation axis (A) and displacement of said first conductive layer (44) relative to the second conductive layer (45) of the variable capacitor (4)..

Classes IPC  ?

• H03K 17/96 - Commutateurs à effleurement
• H03K 17/975 - Commutateurs actionnés par le déplacement d'un élément incorporé dans ce commutateur utilisant un élément mobile capacitif

Abrégé

The invention relates to a short stroke button assembly (2), in particular for use in an automotive vehicle, comprising a housing (3), a button (4) held in said housing (2) and apt to be moved axially in the activation direction along an activation axis (A), at least one switch (5) corresponding to said button (4), having an active state and an Inactive state separated by an activation gap (L) along said activation axis (A), and preloaded to normally maintain said inactive state, and at least one connector (8) disposed along said activation axis (A) between said button (3) and said switch (5). In order to adjust the assembly in a simple way and precisely to maintain its inactive state corresponding to or lower than the activation gap (L) said connector (8) comprises a first member (81) and a second member (82) displaceable angularly about and axially along said activation axis (A) with respect to said first member (81), and means to maintain the relative angular position between said first member (81) and said second member (82) when the torque between said first member (81) and said second member (82) about said activation axis (A) Is below a predefined threshold, wherein said first member (81) comprises at least one protrusion (814) extending along said activation axis (A) and said second member (82) further comprises at least one substantially helical surface (824) cooperating with said protrusion (814), The invention also relates to a keypad (1) comprising a number of such short stroke button assemblies (2).

Classes IPC  ?

• H01H 13/70 - Interrupteurs ayant un organe moteur à mouvement rectiligne ou des organes adaptés pour pousser ou tirer dans une seule direction, p. ex. interrupteur à bouton-poussoir ayant une pluralité d'éléments moteurs associés à différents jeux de contacts, p. ex. claviers
• H01H 13/807 - Interrupteurs ayant un organe moteur à mouvement rectiligne ou des organes adaptés pour pousser ou tirer dans une seule direction, p. ex. interrupteur à bouton-poussoir ayant une pluralité d'éléments moteurs associés à différents jeux de contacts, p. ex. claviers caractérisés par les contacts ou les sites de contact caractérisés par l'agencement dans l'espace des sites de contact, p. ex. contacts superposés
• H01H 13/705 - Interrupteurs ayant un organe moteur à mouvement rectiligne ou des organes adaptés pour pousser ou tirer dans une seule direction, p. ex. interrupteur à bouton-poussoir ayant une pluralité d'éléments moteurs associés à différents jeux de contacts, p. ex. claviers avec des contacts portés par ou formés à partir de couches dans une structure multicouche, p. ex. interrupteurs à membrane caractérisés par la structure, le montage ou l'agencement des organes d'actionnement, p. ex. des boutons-poussoirs ou des touches
• H01H 13/12 - Organes mobilesContacts montés sur ces organes
• H01H 13/18 - Organes d'actionnement, p. ex. bouton-poussoir adaptés pour être actionnés dans une position limite ou autre position prédéterminée dans le trajet d'un corps, le mouvement relatif de l'interrupteur et du corps ayant principalement un autre but que d'actionner l'interrupteur, p. ex. interrupteur de porte, interrupteur de fin de course, interrupteur de niveau d'étage d'un ascenseur

Abrégé

A self-returning rotary switch assembly (1), in particular a self-returning rotary switch assembly of a steering wheel column integrated module of an automotive vehicle, comprising a support (2, 3), an activating element (4) disposed rotationally within the support and mechanically coupled with an electric signal device, and a self-returning haptic assembly (5) coupled with said activating element (4) to maintain the neutral position thereof. In order to provide a switch assembly having a compact, cost efficient and simple construction that would provide several intermediate angular positions, said self-returning haptic assembly (5) comprises at least one spring plunger (51) disposed substantially parallelly to the axis (A) of rotation of said activating element (4) and pressing onto a curved, preferably helical, engaging surface (52) in order to maintain the neutral position of said activating element (4), wherein said switch assembly (1) further comprises a multi-position haptic assembly (6) comprising at least one spring plunger (61) disposed substantially perpendicularly to the axis (A) of rotation of said activating element (4) and pressing onto a curved, engaging surface (62) provided with a number of radial recessions (63) and a number of radial projections (64) corresponding to intermediate positions and providing haptic multi-position functionality of the assembly (6).

Classes IPC  ?

• B60Q 1/14 - Agencement des dispositifs de signalisation optique ou d'éclairage, leur montage, leur support ou les circuits à cet effet les dispositifs étant principalement destinés à éclairer la route en avant du véhicule ou d'autres zones de la route ou des environs les dispositifs étant des phares comportant un dispositif d'atténuation de la lumière
• H01H 21/24 - Organes moteurs, p. ex. manette agencés pour retourner à la position normale après suppression de la force motrice
• H01H 21/50 - Mécanismes moteurs avec moyens d'arrêt ou de verrouillage, p. ex. arrêt par bille et ressortMécanismes moteurs avec moyens assurant l'arrêt à des positions de travail intermédiaires
• G05G 5/05 - Moyens pour faire revenir ou tendant à faire revenir les organes de commande vers une position de repos ou une position neutre, p. ex. en prévoyant des ressorts de retour ou des butées de fin de course élastiques

Abrégé

The present invention relates to a capacitive control system (1), in particular a steering wheel column integrated module of an automotive vehicle, comprising a support (6), at least one control element (3, 4, 5) disposed displaceably within the support (6), at least one first capacitive activating region (81a-81e) adjacent to a second capacitive activating region (71a-71e) and disposed beneath and cooperating with said control element (3, 4, 5) to change the distance and thus electrical capacitance between the first (81a-81e) and the second (71a-71e) capacitive activating regions. In order to increase robustness of the capacitive control system (1) said at least one first capacitive activating region (81a-81e) is disposed at a metal, deformable arm (83) haptically engaged with said control element (3, 4, 5), wherein said haptical engagement is provided by a shaped projection (82) or recess of the arm (83) cooperating with at least one internal recess (32, 42, 52) or projection of said control element (3, 4, 5), and the distance between the first (81a-81e) and the second (71a-71e) capacitive activating regions remains greater than zero.

Classes IPC  ?

• H03K 17/975 - Commutateurs actionnés par le déplacement d'un élément incorporé dans ce commutateur utilisant un élément mobile capacitif

Abrégé

The present invention relates to a capacitive touch panel unit (1) for a motor vehicle control system, comprising a cover (2) marked at its external side with a number of activating areas (21), a support (4) disposed at the internal side of the cover (2) and provided with an electric interface to connect the unit (1) with other components of the control system, a housing (3) disposed between the cover (2) and the support (4), a number of capacitive activating regions (231) adjoining the cover (2) at the internal side thereof at locations corresponding to activating areas (21) of the cover (2) and electrically connected with the electric interface of the support (4). In order to provide a capacitive touch panel unit, which would be cost efficient and simple to manufacture and assembly said cover (2) is coated with a conductive layer (23) comprising said activating regions (231) and connecting pads (233) coupled with said activating regions (231), said support (4) comprises a number of connecting pads (42) at the side of said cover (2) electrically connected with the electric interface thereof, said housing (3) comprises at least one coupling slot (33) having a cross-section surrounding said at least one connecting pad (233) of said conductive layer (23) and said at least one connecting pad (42), and the unit further comprises at least one elastomeric connector (5) squeezed inside said slot (33) between said at least one connecting pad (233) of said conductive layer (23) and said at least one connecting pad (42) and consisting of a number of conductive layers (51) separated with a number of insulating layers (52) that run substantially perpendicularly to said cross-section of said slot (33).

Classes IPC  ?

• G06F 3/044 - Numériseurs, p. ex. pour des écrans ou des pavés tactiles, caractérisés par les moyens de transduction par des moyens capacitifs
• H03K 17/96 - Commutateurs à effleurement
• H01R 13/24 - Contacts pour coopération par aboutage élastiquesContacts pour coopération par aboutage montés élastiquement
• B60K 35/00 - Instruments spécialement adaptés aux véhiculesAgencement d’instruments dans ou sur des véhicules
• B60K 37/06 - Agencement des accessoires sur le tableau de bord des commandes, p.ex. boutons de commande
• H05K 3/32 - Connexions électriques des composants électriques ou des fils à des circuits imprimés
• H05K 3/12 - Appareils ou procédés pour la fabrication de circuits imprimés dans lesquels le matériau conducteur est appliqué au support isolant de manière à former le parcours conducteur recherché utilisant la technique de l'impression pour appliquer le matériau conducteur
• H05K 1/14 - Association structurale de plusieurs circuits imprimés

Abrégé

The present invention relates to an elastomeric keypad (1) having at least one key (3) comprising an elastomeric dome (41) defining a chamber (42) and provided inside with an activating means (43), an activation means (44) cooperating with said activation means (44), and at least one compensating channel (48) opening at said chamber (42) to enable for a flow of fluid from said chamber (42), while said elastomeric dome (41) collapses, and to said chamber (42), while said elastomeric dome (41) releases. In order to suppress the sound intensity of the push up event, at least one of said compensating channels (48) comprises at least one valve arrangement (5) generating fluid restrictions while the fluid returns to said chamber (42). Preferably said valve arrangement (5) has a form of a Tesla Valve.

Classes IPC  ?

• H01H 13/82 - Interrupteurs ayant un organe moteur à mouvement rectiligne ou des organes adaptés pour pousser ou tirer dans une seule direction, p. ex. interrupteur à bouton-poussoir ayant une pluralité d'éléments moteurs associés à différents jeux de contacts, p. ex. claviers caractérisés par des moyens de ventilation de la zone de contact

Abrégé

The present invention relates to a capacitive touch panel unit (1) of a control system, comprising a cover (2) marked with at least one external activating area (21), a rigid support (4) disposed at a predetermined distance beneath the cover (2) and provided with an electric interface to connect said unit with other components of the control system, at least one conductive, capacitive area (383) adjoining said cover at the internal side thereof, beneath said activating area (21) and electrically connected with said electric interface of said support (4). In order to provide a touch panel unit, which would be cost efficient and simple to manufacture and assembly it comprises a carrier sheet (3) coated with a conductive pattern (38) and having at least one folding line (A) defining a front section (31) disposed at one side of said folding line (A) and a rear section (32) disposed at the other side of said folding line (A), wherein at said front section (31) said pattern (38) comprises the capacitive area (383), and at said rear section (32) the pattern (38) comprises at least one connecting pad (381) connected with said capacitive area (383), and wherein said connecting pad (381) is apt to be connected with a connecting pad (41) of said electric interface of said support (4), while said carrier sheet (3) is folded along said at least one folding line (A) and the capacitive touch panel unit (1) is assembled.

Classes IPC  ?

• H03K 17/96 - Commutateurs à effleurement