Capacitive touch switch and domestic appliance provided with such switch
AssigneeWhirlpool Corporation
InventorsAnders Zeijlon, Bjorn Goransson, Giuseppe Arena, Roberto Lazzarotto, Ettore Arione
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A capacitive touch switch having a printed circuit board and capacitive electrode provided on a surface of the printed circuit board is disclosed. The printed circuit board is interposed between a transparent planar light guide and the electrode, the planar light guide being attached to a first face of a transparent cover whose second face is adapted to be touched by the user, a light source being connected to the printed circuit board and being able to convey light to the planar light guide.
Claims12
A capacitive touch switch comprising:
- a non-conductive transparent cover including a touch-sensitive area adapted to be touched by a user;
- a planar light guide extending beneath the touch-sensitive area of the non-conductive transparent cover, the planar light guide including an end portion;
- a capacitive electrode provided on a surface of a printed circuit board, the printed circuit board interposed between the planar light guide and the capacitive electrode;
- and
- a light source connected to the printed circuit board adjacent the end portion of the planar light guide, wherein light generated by the light source is directed into the end portion of the planar light guide and through the planar light guide beneath the touch-sensitive area of the non-conductive transparent cover.
A user interface comprising at least one capacitive touch switch including:
- a non-conductive transparent cover including a touch-sensitive area adapted to be touched by a user;
- a planar light guide extending beneath the touch-sensitive area of the non-conductive transparent cover, the planar light guide including an end portion;
- a capacitive electrode provided on a surface of a printed circuit board, the printed circuit board interposed between the planar light guide and the capacitive electrode;
- and
- a light source connected to the printed circuit board adjacent the end portion of the planar light guide, wherein light generated by the light source enters the planar light guide at the end portion and is directed through the planar light guide beneath the touch-sensitive area of the non-conductive transparent cover.
A cooking appliance comprising:
- a door hinged to a structure of the appliance;
- and
- a user interface supported by the door, the user interface including at least one capacitive touch switch comprising:
- a non-conductive transparent cover including a touch-sensitive area adapted to be touched by a user;
- a planar light guide extending beneath the touch-sensitive area of the non-conductive transparent cover, the planar light guide including an end portion;
- a capacitive electrode provided on a surface of a printed circuit board, the printed circuit board interposed between the planar light guide and the capacitive electrode;
- and
- a light source connected to the printed circuit board adjacent the end portion of the planar light guide, wherein light generated by the light source enters the planar light guide at the end portion and is directed through the planar light guide beneath the touch-sensitive area of the non-conductive transparent cover.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.