Switch housing for capacitive switches

Abstract

The switch housing for capacitive switches has an outer contact surface and flat electrode structures which are arranged on the inside and in a position opposite the contact surface and which are placed by two-component injection molding in recessed regions of the housing body injected from a first, electrically non-conductive plastic component by means of a second, electrically conductive plastic component. Preferably, both plastic components are a polycarbonate, the second plastic component containing carbon fibers.

1 . A method of producing a switch housing for capacitive switches having a contact surface by two-component injection molding, a housing body being injected using a first, electrically insulating plastic component, the housing body having recessed regions on the inside in a position opposite the contact surface, and a second, electrically conductive plastic component containing the same base material as the first plastic component being injected into the recessed regions. 
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein both plastic components are a polycarbonate and the second plastic component contains carbon fibers. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein electrode structures are integrally formed by injecting said second, electrically conductive plastic component. 
     
     
         4 . A switch housing for capacitive switches, having an outer contact surface and flat electrode structures which are arranged on the inside in a position opposite the contact surface and which are placed by two-component injection molding in recessed regions of the housing body injected from a first electrically non-conductive plastic component by means of a second, electrically conductive plastic component, and wherein the flat electrode structures are configured with integrally formed contact tags which are guided to a contacting block formed integrally on the inside of the housing body 
     
     
         5 . The switch housing according to  claim 4 , wherein both plastic components are a polycarbonate and the second plastic component contains carbon fibers. 
     
     
         8 . The switch housing according to  claim 4 , wherein the flat electrode structures have recessed windows and the contact surface is translucent opposite the recessed windows. 
     
     
         7 . The switch housing according to  claim 4 , wherein the flat electrode structures are configured with integrally formed contact tags which are guided to a contacting block formed integrally on the inside of the housing body. 
     
     
         8 . The switch housing according to  claim 7 , wherein the contacting block has cutouts into which the ends of the contact tags are positioned and form flush contacting surfaces with the surface of the contacting block. 
     
     
         9 . The switch housing according to  claim 4 , wherein cylindrical track supports are formed integrally with the housing body on the inside. 
     
     
         10 . A capacitive switch having a switch housing according to  claim 4 , wherein a circuit board equipped with an evaluation electronics is arranged at the bottom of the switch housing and is electrically connected to the electrode structures. 
     
     
         11 . The switch according to  claim 10 , wherein the circuit board is additionally equipped with luminous elements which illuminate symbols arranged on the contact surface of the switch housing through recessed windows of the electrode structures and through thinned wall regions of the switch housing. 
     
     
         12 . The switch according to  claim 10 , wherein said circuit board comprises light sources that are configured to illuminate a back side of a front of said capacitive switch. 
     
     
         13 . The switch according to  claim 12 , wherein said light sources are light-emitting diodes. 
     
     
         14 . The switch according to  claim 10 , wherein a front of said capacitive switch is provided with symbols which are associated with the available switching functions wherein the symbols are illuminated from the inside of said switch housing. 
     
     
         15 . The switch according to  claim 14 , wherein said symbols are illuminated through windows In said electrode structures. 
     
     
         16 . The switch according to  claim 10 , wherein said electrode structures are configured such that they each surround a corresponding window configured to guide light. 
     
     
         17 . The switch according to  claim 16 , wherein said electrode structures are allocated to capacitive switching portions corresponding to a dedicated switching function. 
     
     
         18 . The switch according to  claim 16 , wherein said electrode structures are connected to a circuit board comprising evaluation electronics and light sources that are configured to radiate light, said light being guided through said window.