Touch pad for motor vehicle and sensor therewith

Abstract

An interface comprises an interior trim component having a touch pad and a target area associated with the touch pad. A non-movable switch is located behind the target area. The switch is operable to actuate and de-actuate an electrically operated device of the motor vehicle. The target area is associated with a sensitive operating portion or region of the switch.

1 . A touch pad for use in a motor vehicle, comprising: 
 a motor vehicle interior trim component having a touch pad having at least one target area associated with the touch pad; and    at least one non-movable switch located behind the target area, the switch being operable to actuate and de-actuate an electrically operated device of a motor vehicle, the target area being associated with a sensitive operating region of the switch.    
     
     
         2 . The touch pad of  claim 1 , wherein the interior trim component is molded and has no openings associated with the target area.  
     
     
         3 . The touch pad of  claim 1 , wherein the interior trim component has tactile features that permit a user to easily identify the target area via tactile sensations.  
     
     
         4 . The touch pad of  claim 1 , wherein the interior trim component is at least partially translucent and back-lit to enable a user to visually identify the location of the switch when operating the motor vehicle in the dark.  
     
     
         5 . The touch pad of  claim 1 , wherein the interior trim component carries indicia that allows a user to associate the switch with the electrically operated device that the switch operates.  
     
     
         6 . The touch pad of  claim 1 , wherein the switch is a capacitive switch.  
     
     
         7 . The touch pad of  claim 1 , wherein the switch is a capacitive switch including at least one electrode for sensing external disturbance representing a stimulus for operating of the switch.  
     
     
         8 . The touch pad of  claim 1 , wherein the switch is a capacitive switch including at least one dielectric substance and at least one electrode for sensing external disturbance representing a stimulus for operating the switch.  
     
     
         9 . The touch pad of  claim 1 , wherein the switch is a capacitive switch including two or more independent dielectric substances, a first one of the dielectric substances having a first electrode and a second one of the dielectric substances having a second electrode so as to provide three-dimensional separation between the first and second electrode, whereby the first and second electrodes form background capacitive sensors for detecting external disturbance, the second electrode having a greater coupling to the external disturbance than the first electrode.  
     
     
         10 . The touch pad of  claim 1 , wherein the switch is a capacitive switch supported by first and second printed circuit boards, and wherein the second printed circuit board has an opening through which the target area of the touch pad passes, the second electrode being supported by the first printed circuit board about the opening, the first electrode being supported by the first printed circuit board, coincident with the opening in the second circuit printed board, and opposite the target area.  
     
     
         11 . The touch pad of  claim 1 , wherein the switch is a capacitive switch including a first electrode and a second electrode spaced from and surrounding the first electrode so as to be oriented in the same plane, whereby the switch is adapted to generate an electric field that is subject to disturbance by a stimulus, the disturbance being detected by a control circuit, which is adapted to generate a control signal that actuates and de-actuates the electrically operated device.  
     
     
         12 . The touch pad of  claim 1 , further comprising an audio driver assembly operatively connected to the switch for producing an audio sensation when the switch is operated.  
     
     
         13 . The touch pad of  claim 1 , further comprising an audio driver assembly located behind the interior trim component and sufficiently to the interior trim component to produce a tactile sensation when the switch is operated.  
     
     
         14 . The touch pad of  claim 1 , wherein the switch is supported on a flexible printed circuit board that is located behind the interior trim component and which conforms to the shape of the interior trim component.  
     
     
         15 . The touch pad of  claim 1 , further comprising a tone generator operatively connected to the switch for producing an audible sensation when the switch is operated.  
     
     
         16 . The touch pad of  claim 1 , further comprising a tactile transducer operatively connected to the switch for producing a tactile sensation when the switch is operated.  
     
     
         17 . The touch pad of  claim 16 , wherein the tactile transducer is in the form of a solenoid that is energized to displace a plunger, which engages the interior trim component when the switch is operated.  
     
     
         18 . The touch pad of  claim 1 , wherein the sensitivity of the switch is adjustable.  
     
     
         19 . The touch pad of  claim 1 , further comprising audio driver assembly that is programmable to operate at different frequencies to produce an audio sensation, a tactile sensation, or both audio and tactile sensations.  
     
     
         20 . The touch pad of  claim 19 , wherein the audio driver assembly functions as a speaker for the motor vehicle.