Patent Application
20130285735
The present invention relates to control devices for enabling operator inputs and system displays, and more particularly, the application of capacitance user-interface switches in such devices.
Capacitance switching circuits are typically configured on the planar surface of a circuit board whether it is a rigid substrate like an FR4 material or a flexible substrate like a polyamide film. This approach has limitations on the design for providing switch illumination and pushbutton layouts, especially when the switches border a display area or with complex curved areas commonly found on control front end styling. Flexible circuits can adapt but generally are more expensive and require an adhesive interface to ensure intimate contact with the pushbutton are a material to enable energy transfer to the switch.
By plating the edge of a circuit board at an intended capacitance switch area, almost any curved surface can be replicated with the circuit board edge to enable the intimate contact needed with a trim plate for efficient energy transfer without using an expensive flex circuit or adding a silicone gap filling compound in conjunction with the planar surface. Since primarily only a circuit board edge is needed for the switch, the open area can enable a flood lit volume of space for illumination or light pipe access for a controlled light dispersion as opposed to using individual light emitting diodes (LED) for each pushbutton graphic/switch area.
The circuit board efficiency is realized by providing the switch circuitry in only the required area leaving the additional surface available for interconnections or other componentry. In addition, by using an overlapping circuit board running in a perpendicular fashion to the main switch board, a rotary function can be realized with the contact pad locations at the 3 o'clock, 6 o'clock, 9 o'clock and 12'oclock positions. This can be especially beneficial when integrated with a vehicular audio or navigation system that uses a display with the sides and either top row or bottom row of pushbuttons where there may be a typical rotary style control at the corners where the rows of switches intersect.
In the preferred embodiment of the invention a control assembly for providing operator inputs and displays includes a uniface ornamental escutcheon forming a display area and a plurality of operator input devices at least partially circumscribing the display area. Each said operator input device forms a faux control member integrally within the escutcheon having beveled circumferential contours mimicking a discrete relatively displacable control element. At least one substrate extends normally rearwardly from a rear facing surface of said escutcheon, said substrate including a front edge surface configured to closely conform to the rear facing surface of the escutcheon and transecting a plurality of adjacent faux control members. One or more capacitance sensors associated with each faux control member carried on the front edge surface of said substrate, said at least one capacitance sensor is adapted to sense a change in capacitance at said front edge surface resulting from proximate engagement with an associated faux control member by an object having predetermined capacitance characteristics. Lastly, capacitance change responsive switching circuitry carried on said substrate and in-circuit with said at least one capacitance sensor for providing a desired switching function responsive to said engagement. This provides a control assembly which is inexpensive and simple to build which faithfully mimics the overall appearance and functionality of traditional control assemblies.
These and other features and advantages of this invention will become apparent upon reading the following specification, which, along with the drawings, describes preferred and alternative embodiments of the invention in detail.
The present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Although the drawings represent embodiments of the present invention, the drawings are not necessarily to scale and certain features may be exaggerated in order to illustrate and explain the present invention. The exemplification set forth herein illustrates an embodiment of the invention, in one form, and such exemplifications are not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention in any manner.
In its preferred embodiment, the present invention is described as an automotive trim panel for providing an operator interface with an audio or navigation system or the like.
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The faux push-buttons 28-50 and faux rotary knobs 52 and 54 are each integrally formed from the same polymer based material comprising the ornamental escutcheon 12. Each of the faux push-buttons 28-50 and faux rotary knobs 52 and 54 are formed as an integral part of the front wall or face portion 14 of the ornamental escutcheon 12. Definitionally, the ornamental escutcheon 12 is deemed to be “uniface”, meaning that all of the faux control members (faux push button device, faux slider device and faux rotary knob device) are integrally formed on the curvilinear plane defined by the front wall/face portion 14 of the ornamental escutcheon. No faux control members are formed in the walls 16-22.
Conventional audio systems, such as the automotive radio/CD played described in FIG. 1 of U.S. Pat. No. 7,733,659 B2, typically include a trim plate assembly carrying a complex assemblage of discrete operator accessible control devices, such as rotary knobs and pushbuttons, which are physically displacable with respect to the trim plate. For the sake of brevity, the entire specification of U.S. Pat. No. 7,733,659 B2 is incorporated herein in its entirety. U.S. Pat. No. 7,733,659 B2 has been and remains the exclusive property of the assignee of the present application.
Each faux control member 28-54 has molded-in features such as beveled circumferential contours enabling them to mimic their conventional discrete counterpart and enabling the overall cosmetic appearance of the control assembly to mimic a conventional trim panel assembly.
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The control assembly 10 further includes three elongated substrates, such as rigid printed circuit boards (PCBs) 56, 58 and 60, mounted to the rear surface of the escutcheon 12 and carrying electrical circuitry as will be further described herein below. The PCBs 56-60 are disposed substantially normally to and extend longitudinally rearwardly from the rear facing surface of the front wall 14 of the escutcheon 12.
PCB 56 is disposed vertically transecting push buttons 28-34 and faux rotating knob 52. PCB 56 has a front edge surface 62 shaped to generally conform with the adjacent rear facing surface of the front wall 14. Four capacitive sensors 64, 66, 68 and 70 are carried on the front edge surface 62 of PCB 56 and are positioned to register with faux push buttons 28-34, respectively. Each of the sensors 64-70 comprise a pair of spaced-apart contacts electrically interconnected with capacitance change switching circuitry (not illustrated) also carried on PCB 56. PCB 56 has an extension portion 72 nestingly extending within a cavity 74 defined by faux rotary knob 52. Upper and lower capacitive sensors, 76 and 78, respectively, are carried on the upper surface 80 of extension part 72, separated by a guide slot 82.
Definitionally, “operator input devices” consist of a faux control member, at least one associated capacitive sensor and the associated capacitance change switching circuitry. By example, the upper left-hand most (push-button type) operator input device comprises faux push button 28, capacitive sensor 64 and its associated capacitance change switching circuitry.
PCB 58 is disposed vertically transecting push buttons 36-42 and faux rotating knob 54. PCB 58 has a front edge surface 84 shaped to generally conform with the adjacent rear facing surface of the front wall 14. Four capacitive sensors 86, 88, 90 and 92 are carried on the front edge surface 84 of PCB 58 and are positioned to register with faux push buttons 36-42, respectively. Each of the sensors 86-92 comprise a pair of spaced-apart contacts electrically interconnected with capacitance change switching circuitry 94 also carried on PCB 58. PCB 58 has an extension portion 96 nestingly extending within a cavity 98 defined by faux rotary knob 54. Upper and lower capacitive sensors, 100 and 102, respectively, are carried on the upper surface 104 of extension part 96, separated by a guide slot 106.
PCB 60 is disposed horizontally transecting push buttons 44-50 and faux rotating knobs 52 and 54. PCB 60 has a front edge surface 108 shaped to generally conform with the adjacent rear facing surface of the front wall 14. Four capacitive sensors 110, 112, 114 and 116 are carried on the front edge surface 108 of PCB 60 and are positioned to register with faux push buttons 44-50, respectively. Each of the sensors 110-116 comprise a pair of spaced-apart contacts electrically interconnected with capacitance change switching circuitry 118 also carried on PCB 60. PCB 60 has a first extension portion 120 nestingly extending within the cavity 74 defined by faux rotary knob 52. Left and right capacitive sensors, 122 and 124, respectively, are carried on the upper surface 126 of extension portion 120, laterally separated by a guide slot 128. PCB 60 has a second extension portion 130 nestingly extending within the cavity 98 defined by faux rotary knob 54. Left and right capacitive sensors, 132 and 134, respectively, are carried on the upper surface 136 of extension portion 130, laterally separated by a guide slot 128.
By second example, the lower left-hand most (rotary knob type) operator input device comprises faux rotary knob 52, capacitive sensors 76, 78, 122 and 124 and their associated capacitance change switching circuitry.
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The faux slider 146 has a plurality of aligned sensing regions, wherein proximity of an operator's fingertip is detected by one or two of the capacitive sensors 160, 162, 164, 166 and 168 to provide an analog switch signal representative of finger location.
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The use of capacitive touch switch technology boosts operator interface options and allows the elimination of multiple mechanical switch devices with their inherent cost and complexity while enabling packaging of switch functionality in highly curvilinear packages. Furthermore, as described herein, capacitive touch switch technology can be employed to provide faux traditional mechanical switch configurations, without their inherent cost and complexity.
It is to be understood that the invention has been described with reference to specific embodiments and variations to provide the features and advantages previously described and that the embodiments are susceptible of modification as will be apparent to those skilled in the art.
Furthermore, it is contemplated that many alternative, common inexpensive materials can be employed to construct the basis constituent components. Accordingly, the forgoing is not to be construed in a limiting sense.
The invention has been described in an illustrative manner, and it is to be understood that the terminology, which has been used is intended to be in the nature of words of description rather than of limitation.
Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is, therefore, to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, wherein reference numerals are merely for illustrative purposes and convenience and are not in any way limiting, the invention, which is defined by the following claims as interpreted according to the principles of patent law, including the Doctrine of Equivalents, may be practiced otherwise than is specifically described.
