Proximity sensor switched automotive lamp

Abstract

A lamp that includes a lens, an electrode, and a sensing circuit connected to a light source. The lens is spaced apart from the sensing circuit. The forward-facing surface of the lens has a sensing location. The electrode has a first portion opposite a second portion. The first portion is connected to the sensing circuit. The second portion is positioned alongside a backward facing surface of the lens. The electrode senses an electric field through the lens at the sensing location. The sensing circuit is configured to turn on the light source when the light source is turned off and the electrode senses the electric field. The sensing circuit is configured to turn off the light source when the light source is turned on and the electrode senses the electric field.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of constructing a lamp comprising:
 connecting an attaching end of an electrode to a sensing circuit of a printed circuit board;   positioning a remote sensing end of the electrode proximate to a backward facing surface of a lens near a sensing location for sensing an electric field;   placing the printed circuit board and the electrode inside an interior of a housing; and   attaching the lens to a front opening of the housing,   wherein the sensing circuit is configured to turn on one or more light emitting diodes when the one or more light emitting diodes are turned off and the remote sensing end of the electrode senses the electric field.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 soldering the attaching end of the electrode to a solder pad mounted on the printed circuit board, wherein the sensing circuit is connected to the solder pad and the one or more light emitting diodes, and wherein the solder pad is in electrical communication with the sensing circuit.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 inserting an anchor portion of the attaching end of the electrode into a through-hole formed in the printed circuit board before the attaching end of the electrode is soldered to the solder pad.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising providing the lens, wherein the lens includes a front facing surface including the sensing portion. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein attaching the lens to the front opening of the housing results in the remote sensing end of the electrode to be aligned with the backward facing surface of the lens and across from the sensing portion. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 inserting a reflector into the front opening such that the remote sensing end of the electrode extends through an opening in the reflector.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 inserting a terminal set into plated through-holes formed in the printed circuit board, wherein the plated through-holes are in electrical communication with the sensing circuit, and wherein the terminal set is configured to supply power to the sensing circuit via the plated through-holes.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 inserting the terminal set through channels formed in the housing, wherein the channels opening up into a first connector configured to mate with a second connector.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 connecting the first connector with the second connector thereby forming an electrical connection between the lamp and a component of a vehicle.   
     
     
         10 . A lamp for attaching to a component of a vehicle comprising:
 a lens covering a front opening of a housing, the lens having a backward facing surface, a forward facing surface, and a sensing location;   one or more light emitting diodes electrically connected to a sensing circuit of a printed circuit board positioned inside the housing; and   at least one electrode having an attaching end for connecting to the sensing circuit and a remote sensing end positioned proximate the backward facing surface for sensing an electric field at the sensing location,   wherein the sensing circuit is configured to turn on one or more light emitting diodes when the one or more light emitting diodes are turned off and the remote sensing end of the electrode senses the electric field.   
     
     
         11 . The lamp of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 a solder pad mounted on the printed circuit board and electrically connected to the sensing circuit for soldering the attaching end of the electrode to the printed circuit board.   
     
     
         12 . The lamp of  claim 10 , wherein the attaching end of the electrode includes an anchor portion for inserting in a through-hole formed in the printed circuit board. 
     
     
         13 . The lamp of  claim 10 , wherein the remote sensing end of the electrode is aligned with the backward facing surface of the lens and across from the sensing portion. 
     
     
         14 . The lamp of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 one or more reflectors positioned between the one or more light emitting diodes and the printed circuit board, wherein the one or more reflectors includes an opening through which a portion of the electrode between the attaching end and the remote sensing end extends.   
     
     
         15 . The lamp of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 a terminal set into plated through-holes formed in the printed circuit board and in electrical communication with the sensing circuit for supplying power to the sensing circuit.   
     
     
         16 . The lamp of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 one or more channels formed in the housing, wherein the channels open into a first connector configured to mate with an electrical component of the vehicle.   
     
     
         17 . The lamp of  claim 10 , further comprising an indicia for communicating to a user where the sensing location of the lens is located. 
     
     
         18 . The lamp of  claim 10 , wherein the electrode is configured to transmit a signal to the sensing circuit in response to the remote sensing end of the electrode sensing a change in capacitance due to a presence of the electrical field associated with a user touching the sensing location of the lens.