Integrated switch pad and sensor holder/thermal isolator
AssigneeDelphi Technologies, Inc.
InventorsChris R. Snider, Darcy M. Wallace
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An automotive climate control for a motor vehicle includes a printed circuit board (PCB), a flexible conductive switch pad and a temperature sensor. The flexible conductive switch pad includes a structure that is formed in conjunction with the flexible conductive switch pad. A switch dome of the flexible conductive switch pad is shaped to make electrical contact with switch contacts formed on the PCB responsive to activation of the switch dome. A portion of the structure includes a thermally conductive elastomer and the temperature sensor is positioned within the structure and electrically coupled to sensor contacts on the PCB.
Claims31
An automatic climate control for a motor vehicle, comprising:
- a printed circuit board (PCB);
- a flexible conductive switch pad including an integrated temperature sensor holder that is formed in conjunction with the flexible conductive switch pad, wherein a switch dome of the flexible conductive switch pad is shaped to make electrical contact with switch contacts formed on the PCB responsive to activation of the switch dome;
- and
- a temperature sensor positioned within the temperature sensor holder and electrically coupled to sensor contacts of the PCB, wherein a shape of the sensor holder defines an orientation between the PCB and the temperature sensor.
An automatic climate control for a motor vehicle, comprising:
- a printed circuit board (PCB);
- a flexible conductive switch pad, wherein a switch dome of the flexible conductive switch pad is shaped to make electrical contact with switch contacts formed on the PCB responsive to activation of the switch dome;
- a temperature sensor including an infrared sensor and a thermistor both electrically coupled to different sensor contacts of the PCB;
- and
- a temperature sensor holder affixed to the PCB, wherein the temperature sensor holder includes a first recess for receiving the thermistor and a second recess for receiving the infrared sensor, and wherein a shape of the sensor holder defines an orientation between the PCB and the temperature sensor, where a portion of the temperature sensor holder that is in contact with the infrared sensor and the thermistor is made of a thermally conductive material that facilitates heat transfer from a base of the infrared sensor to the thermistor.
An automatic climate control for a motor vehicle, comprising:
- a printed circuit board (PCB);
- a flexible conductive switch pad including an integrated ductwork that is formed in conjunction with the flexible conductive switch pad, wherein a switch dome of the flexible conductive switch pad is shaped to make electrical contact with switch contacts formed on the PCB responsive to activation of the switch dome, and wherein a portion of the ductwork includes a thermally conductive elastomer;
- and
- a temperature sensor positioned within the ductwork and electrically coupled to sensor contacts on the PCB, wherein the thermally conductive elastomer provides temperature isolation for the temperature sensor.
An automatic climate control for a motor vehicle, comprising:
- a printed circuit board (PCB);
- a flexible conductive switch pad including a structure that is formed in conjunction with the flexible conductive switch pad, wherein a switch dome of the flexible conductive switch pad is shaped to make electrical contact with switch contacts formed on the PCB responsive to activation of the switch dome, and wherein a portion of the structure includes a thermally conductive material;
- and
- a temperature sensor positioned within the structure and electrically coupled to sensor contacts on the PCB.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.