# US 11,309,889 B2 · Capacitive proximity switch > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,309,889 B2 - Document ID: US11309889B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/775,444 - Filed: 2020-01-29 - Published: 2020-06-18 - Granted: 2022-04-19 - Earliest claimed: 2017-08-04 - Assignees: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft - Applicants: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft - Inventors: Andreas Bierbaumer; Tobias Mueller-Kambeitz - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11309889B2 ## CPC - H03K 17/955: using a capacitive detector - H03K 17/9622: {using a plurality of detectors, e.g. keyboard} - B32B 15/02: {Layer formed of wires, e.g. mesh} - H03K 17/962: {Capacitive touch switches} - H03K 2217/960755: Constructional details of capacitive touch and proximity switches - H03K 2217/96078: Sensor being a wire or a strip, e.g. used in automobile door handles or bumpers - 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) - B32B: LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM ## Abstract A capacitive proximity switch has a fiber composite body, which has an electrically non-conductive matrix and a multiplicity of fibers embedded in the matrix. The capacitive proximity switch includes at least one first capacitive proximity sensor, at least one second capacitive proximity sensor and one or more sensor evaluation devices. The first capacitive proximity sensor has at least one sensor electrode, which has at least one electrically conductive fiber, which is embedded in the matrix. The second capacitive proximity sensor has at least one further sensor electrode, which has at least one electrically conductive fiber, which is embedded in the matrix. The sensor electrode of the first capacitive proximity sensor and the further sensor electrode of the second capacitive proximity sensor are each connected to a sensor evaluation apparatus. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A capacitive proximity switch, comprising: a fiber composite body, which comprises an electrically nonconductive matrix and a plurality of fibers embedded in the matrix; at least one first capacitive proximity sensor, which comprises at least one sensor electrode, wherein the sensor electrode consists of at least one electrically conductive fiber which is embedded in the matrix; at least one second capacitive proximity sensor, which comprises at least one further sensor electrode, wherein the further sensor electrode consists of at least one electrically conductive fiber which is embedded in the matrix; and one or more sensor analysis devices, to which the sensor electrode of the first capacitive proximity sensor and the further sensor electrode of the second capacitive proximity sensor are connected, wherein one or both of the sensor electrode and the further sensor electrode consist of one or more carbon fibers. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The capacitive proximity switch according to claim 1, wherein one of the sensor electrode and the further sensor electrode consists of one or more metallic fibers, and the other of the sensor electrode and the further sensor electrode consists of one or more carbon fibers. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The capacitive proximity switch according to claim 1, wherein the at least one electrically conductive fiber of the sensor electrode and the at least one electrically conductive fiber of the further sensor electrode extend substantially in a same main propagation direction. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The capacitive proximity switch according to claim 1, wherein the at least one electrically conductive fiber of the sensor electrode and the at least one electrically conductive fiber of the further sensor electrode extend in different main propagation directions. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The capacitive proximity switch according to claim 1, wherein the at least one electrically conductive fiber of the sensor electrode and the at least one electrically conductive fiber of the further sensor electrode have a substantially equal distance to a surface of the fiber composite body. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The capacitive proximity switch according to claim 1, wherein the at least one electrically conductive fiber of the sensor electrode and the at least one electrically conductive fiber of the further sensor electrode extend in different planes within the fiber composite body. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The capacitive proximity switch according to claim 1, wherein one or both of the at least one electrically conductive fiber of the sensor electrode and the at least one electrically conductive fiber of the further sensor electrode are formed as unidirectional fibers and/or as endless fibers. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The capacitive proximity switch according to claim 1, wherein the fiber composite body comprises a plurality of electrically nonconductive fibers. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The capacitive proximity switch according to claim 1, wherein one or both of the at least one electrically conductive fiber of the sensor electrode and or the at least one electrically conductive fiber of the further sensor electrode are each part of a fiber bundle. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The capacitive proximity switch according to claim 1, wherein fibers of the fiber composite body are embodied as a fiber scrim, fiber woven fabric, fiber mesh, and/or fiber embroidery. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The capacitive proximity switch according to claim 10, wherein the at least one electrically conductive fiber of the sensor electrode and the at least one electrically conductive fiber of the further sensor electrode are each part of the fiber scrim, fiber woven fabric, fiber mesh, and/or fiber embroidery. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The capacitive proximity switch according to claim 1, further comprising: one or more further capacitive proximity sensors, which each comprise at least one sensor electrode, which respectively comprises at least one electrically conductive fiber, which are embedded in the matrix. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) An interior and/or exterior component for a motor vehicle, comprising: at least one capacitive proximity switch according to claim 1.