# US 10,501,027 B2 · Proximity switch having wrong touch adaptive learning and method > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,501,027 B2 - Document ID: US10501027B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/059,548 - Filed: 2018-08-09 - Published: 2018-12-06 - Granted: 2019-12-10 - Earliest claimed: 2011-11-03 - Assignees: Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Applicants: Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Inventors: Pietro Buttolo; Stuart C. Salter - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10501027B2 ## CPC - B60R 16/005: {Electro-mechanical devices, e.g. switched (electric switches in general H01H)} - H03K 2217/94026: Automatic threshold calibration; e.g. threshold automatically adapts to ambient conditions or follows variation of input - H03K 2217/945: Proximity switches - B60R: VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - H03K: PULSE TECHNIQUE (measuring pulse characteristics G01R; modulating sinusoidal oscillations with pulses H03C; transmission of digital information H04L; discriminator circuits detecting phase difference between two signals by counting or integrating cycles of oscillation H03D3/04; automatic control, starting, synchronisation or stabilisation of generators of electronic oscillations or pulses where the type of generator is irrelevant or unspecified H03L; coding, decoding or code conversion, in general H03M) ## Abstract A proximity switch assembly and method are provided having wrong touch feedback and adaptive learning. The method includes the steps of detecting multiple attempted activations of a proximity switch that is not allowed, and adjusting one or more settings based on the detected multiple attempted activations to provide adaptive learning. The method also includes the steps of detecting an allowed activation of the proximity switch based on the adjusted one or more settings, and performing an action in response to the detected allowed activation. The proximity switch assembly includes one or more user perceived feedback devices for generating user perceived feedback when an attempted activation that is not allowed is detected. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of activating a proximity switch assembly comprising: detecting repeated attempts to activate a proximity switch that does not result in activation; adjusting one or more settings based on the detected repeated attempts to provide adaptive learning; detecting an allowed activation of the proximity switch based on the adjusted one or more settings; and performing an action in response to the detected allowed activation. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the step of adjusting one or more settings comprises adjusting an activation threshold. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the step of adjusting one or more settings comprises adjusting a stable range value that is compared to a signal associated with the proximity switch to determine activation of the proximity switch. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the step of adjusting one or more settings comprises adjusting a signal ratio of a signal associated with the proximity switch compared to another signal associated with one or more other proximity switches. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of generating a first user perceived feedback indicative of detection of repeated attempts to activate a proximity switch that does not result in activation. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5 further comprising the step of generating a different second user perceived feedback indicative of completion of the action. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6 further comprising the step of generating a different third user perceived feedback indicative of detection of an allowed activation of a switch. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the proximity switch assembly is installed in a vehicle for use by a passenger in the vehicle. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the proximity switch comprises a capacitive switch comprising one or more capacitive sensors. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the step of detecting repeated attempts to activate a proximity switch that does not result in activation comprises detecting insufficient signal response during user interface with the proximity switch. ### Claim 11 A proximity switch assembly comprising: one or more proximity switches; and control circuitry processing an activation field associated with each proximity switch to detect an allowed activation of a proximity switch, said control circuitry further detecting repeated attempts to activate a proximity switch that does not result in activation and adjusting one or more settings based on the attempted activations to provide adaptive learning. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The switch assembly of claim 11, wherein the one or more settings comprise an activation threshold. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The switch assembly of claim 11, wherein the one or more settings comprise a stable range value that is compared to a signal associated with the proximity switch to determine activation of the proximity switch. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The switch assembly of claim 11, wherein the one or more settings comprise a signature ratio of a signal associated with the proximity switch compared to another signal associated with one or more other proximity switches. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The switch assembly of claim 11 further comprising a feedback device for generating a first user perceived feedback when repeated attempts to activate a proximity switch that does not result in activation is detected. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The switch assembly of claim 15, wherein the feedback device generates a second different user perceived feedback indicative of completion of the action. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The switch assembly of claim 16, wherein the feedback device generates a different third user perceived feedback indicative of detection of an allowed activation of a switch. ### Claim 18 (depends on 11) The switch assembly of claim 11, wherein the plurality of proximity switches are installed in vehicle for use by a passenger in the vehicle. ### Claim 19 (depends on 11) The switch assembly of claim 11, wherein each of the proximity switches comprises a capacitive switch comprising a capacitive sensor.