Capacitive sensor and switch assembly with decorative conductive component
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorsStuart C. Salter, Paul Kenneth Dellock, Pietro Buttolo, Wei Xu, Satyanarayana Raju Vemulapati
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Abstract
A capacitive sensor and switch assembly is provided. The assembly includes a first electrode forming a decorative conductive component on a vehicle, and a second electrode dielectrically isolated from the first electrode and electrically coupled therewith to generate an activation field. The assembly also includes a dielectric layer disposed between the first and second electrodes, and a controller for processing a signal generated from the activation field and sensing an object, wherein the controller determines activation of a switch based on the signal generated from the activation field.
Claims10
A capacitive sensor assembly comprising:
- a first electrode forming a decorative conductive component comprising a metal trim component made of chrome or aluminum, wherein the first electrode is viewable by a user;
- a second electrode dielectrically isolated from the first electrode and electrically coupled therewith to generate an activation field;
- a dielectric layer disposed between the first and second electrodes;
- a controller for processing a signal generated from the activation field and sensing an object based on the signal;
- and
- an electric insulation layer disposed between the first electrode and a vehicle mounting assembly, wherein the assembly is located on a vehicle.
A capacitive switch assembly comprising:
- a first electrode forming a decorative conductive component on a vehicle comprising a metal trim component made of chrome or aluminum, wherein the first electrode is viewable by a user;
- a second electrode dielectrically isolated from the first electrode and electrically coupled therewith to generate an activation field;
- a dielectric layer disposed between the first and second electrodes;
- a controller for processing a signal generated from the activation field and sensing an object, wherein the controller determines activation of a switch based on the signal generated from the activation field;
- and
- an electric insulation layer disposed between the first electrode and a vehicle mounting assembly.
A method of forming a capacitive sensor assembly, comprising:
- forming a first electrode on a first dielectric layer;
- forming a second dielectric layer on an opposite side of the first electrode;
- forming a second electrode shaped as a decorative conductive component comprising a metal trim component made of chrome or aluminum onto an opposite side of the second dielectric layer, wherein the second electrode is viewable by a user;
- disposing an electric insulation layer between the second electrode and a vehicle mounting assembly, wherein the assembly is located on a vehicle;
- generating an activation field with the first and second electrodes;
- and
- processing a signal generated by the activation field to sense an object in the activation field.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.