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US 7,072,533 B1Granted
Automotive optical touch sensitive switch method
AssigneeVisteon Global Technologies, Inc.
InventorJames F. Krier
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The optical control having an optical source that uses a transmission medium to deliver energy to an optical detector. Upon physical contact with the transmission medium changes in the internal reflection of the transmission medium occur and reduce the amount of energy being delivered to the detector. The change in internal reflection causes a change in the state of the optical control.
Claims16
An optical control for an HMI of a vehicle, the optical control comprising:
- an optical source configured to generate a light beam;
- a waveguide optically coupled to the optical source and configured to propagate the light beam therethrough, the waveguide including a touch surface;
- a detector optically coupled to the waveguide, wherein the detector is configured to sense changes in the internal reflection of the waveguide when an object contacts the waveguide on the touch surface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.