WO2010040641A2 - An electronic device - Google Patents

An electronic device Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2010040641A2
WO2010040641A2 PCT/EP2009/062315 EP2009062315W WO2010040641A2 WO 2010040641 A2 WO2010040641 A2 WO 2010040641A2 EP 2009062315 W EP2009062315 W EP 2009062315W WO 2010040641 A2 WO2010040641 A2 WO 2010040641A2
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
sensor element
electronic device
electronic board
frame
panel
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Ceased
Application number
PCT/EP2009/062315
Other languages
French (fr)
Other versions
WO2010040641A3 (en
Inventor
Ali Kelem
Fahrettin Basaran
Ufuk Osman Topcu
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Arcelik AS
Original Assignee
Arcelik AS
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Arcelik AS filed Critical Arcelik AS
Publication of WO2010040641A2 publication Critical patent/WO2010040641A2/en
Publication of WO2010040641A3 publication Critical patent/WO2010040641A3/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Ceased legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H03—ELECTRONIC CIRCUITRY
    • H03K—PULSE TECHNIQUE
    • H03K17/00—Electronic switching or gating, i.e. not by contact-making and –breaking
    • H03K17/94—Electronic switching or gating, i.e. not by contact-making and –breaking characterised by the way in which the control signals are generated
    • H03K17/96—Touch switches
    • H03K17/962—Capacitive touch switches
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H03—ELECTRONIC CIRCUITRY
    • H03K—PULSE TECHNIQUE
    • H03K17/00—Electronic switching or gating, i.e. not by contact-making and –breaking
    • H03K17/94—Electronic switching or gating, i.e. not by contact-making and –breaking characterised by the way in which the control signals are generated
    • H03K17/96—Touch switches
    • H03K2017/9602—Touch switches characterised by the type or shape of the sensing electrodes
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H03—ELECTRONIC CIRCUITRY
    • H03K—PULSE TECHNIQUE
    • H03K2217/00—Indexing scheme related to electronic switching or gating, i.e. not by contact-making or -breaking covered by H03K17/00
    • H03K2217/94—Indexing scheme related to electronic switching or gating, i.e. not by contact-making or -breaking covered by H03K17/00 characterised by the way in which the control signal is generated
    • H03K2217/96—Touch switches
    • H03K2217/9607—Capacitive touch switches
    • H03K2217/960755—Constructional details of capacitive touch and proximity switches
    • H03K2217/96076—Constructional details of capacitive touch and proximity switches with spring electrode
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H03—ELECTRONIC CIRCUITRY
    • H03K—PULSE TECHNIQUE
    • H03K2217/00—Indexing scheme related to electronic switching or gating, i.e. not by contact-making or -breaking covered by H03K17/00
    • H03K2217/94—Indexing scheme related to electronic switching or gating, i.e. not by contact-making or -breaking covered by H03K17/00 characterised by the way in which the control signal is generated
    • H03K2217/96—Touch switches
    • H03K2217/9607—Capacitive touch switches
    • H03K2217/960785—Capacitive touch switches with illumination

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to an electronic device comprising a touch button having a capacitive sensor.
  • the disclosed sensor element is a wire bent in spiral form.
  • the spiral wire is flattened whereby transforming to a planar form.
  • the sensor element is a cylindrical conductor. One end of the conductor cylinder is bent in the form of a sheet to provide the feature of stretching to it.
  • a light source is arranged in the center of the sensor element.
  • EP1732224A1 The sensor elements in the said document are produced from a strip conductor (metallic folio) by giving a form to it.
  • the objective of the present invention is to realize an electronic device comprising a touch button that has a sensor element, which enables the light source to be easily mounted to the electronic board without getting deformed and helps protecting the light source when being mounted into the board.
  • the electronic device realized to fulfill the objective of the present invention and defined in Claim 1 and its dependent claims, comprises a panel, at least one touch button disposed below the panel and an electronic board where the button is mounted.
  • the button comprises a sensor element and a light source.
  • the sensor element is formed by bending a wire.
  • the wire is bent to form a frame in the shape of a circle or a tetragon, leaving the center thereof hollow, such that a light source can be disposed in the center thereof and that there will remain enough space for adequate illumination.
  • the sensor element additionally comprises at least two legs extending downwards from the frame. These legs are fixed perpendicular to the electronic board.
  • the frame and the inner part of the panel are in contact.
  • the sensor element forms a bridge between the panel and the electronic board enabling them to contact each other. This way, when the user touches the area surrounded by the frame on the panel, capacity increase is provided in the sensor element and the button is triggered.
  • the end parts of the legs inserted into the electronic board are folded so as to facilitate mounting of the sensor element to the board.
  • the folded part is in the shape of a spiral spring or a zigzag in the preferred embodiment of the invention.
  • the folded part of the leg stretches during mounting of the electronic board to the device whereby enabling the panel surface that will be touched and the frame to contact each other and when contact is established, allowing the sensor element to stop and be fixed.
  • the amount of stretching basically depends on the folded structure at the end parts and the length of this structure. Stretching margin is limited to the height of the light source. The said limitation prevents the light source from getting crushed during mounting and the sensor element from contacting undesirable areas on the electronic board.
  • Figure 1 is the side schematic view of the inventive electronic device.
  • Figure 2 is the perspective view of the sensor element used in the inventive electronic device.
  • the electronic device (1) comprises a panel (8), at least one touch button (2) operating according to the principle of capacitive proximity and an electronic board (5) to which the button (2) is mounted.
  • the button (2) comprises at least one sensor element (3) and at least one light source (4) positioned in the center of the sensor element (3).
  • the sensor element (3) comprises a hollow frame (6) formed by folding a conductive wire, and at least two legs (7) which extend downwards from the edges of the frame (6) perpendicular to the electronic board (5) and enable fixing the sensor element (3) to the electronic board (5).
  • the end parts of the legs (7) which are inserted into the electronic board (5) are bent in the form of a spring (biasing means) in order to ensure controlled stretching of the sensor element (3).
  • the button (2) is mounted to the electronic board (1), below the panel (8); such that the frame (6) abuts to the panel (8).
  • the area where the frame (6) abuts to the panel (8) determines the area where the sensor element (3) can perform detection.
  • the said area is marked on the panel (8). When the user touches the marked area, the electronic board (5) detects as if the button (2) is depressed.
  • the light source (4) is fixed to the electronic board (5) such that it remains in the projection of the area that the frame (6) surrounds on the panel (8). After mounting, the frame (6) is positioned above the light source (4) such that there remains a distance between it and the top of the light source (4).
  • the frame (6) is in the form of a hollow circle or a tetragon or polygon. After the button (2) is mounted to the electronic board (5), the electronic board (5) is mounted to the electronic device (1). When the electronic board (5) is being positioned on the electronic device (1), the legs (7) stretch and the frame (6) is fixed upon touching the panel (8) of the electronic device (1).
  • the stretching amount of the sensor element (3) during mounting depends on the structure of the spring formed parts of the legs (7) and the stretching coefficient of the wire.
  • the structure of the spring formed parts of the legs (7) and the stretching coefficient of the wire are selected so as to prevent contact of the sensor element (3) with the light source (4) during stretching. This way, the sensor element (3) protects the structure and position of the light source.
  • the frame (6) causes capacity increase in the sensor element (3) and stimulates the electronic board (5).
  • the electronic board (5) turns on the light source (4).
  • the light passes through the frame (6) illuminating the area that the button (2) surrounds on the panel (8), and informs the user that she/he has touched the button (2).
  • the parts of the legs (7) that will enable stretching are formed by bending the wire in zigzag form at the concerned points of the wire.
  • the zigzag formed structure provides mounting ease to the sensor element (3).
  • number of the legs (7) of the sensor element (3) is configured to be three or more. This way, balance and robustness of the sensor element (3) when being positioned on the electronic board (5) is enhanced.
  • detection sensitivity of the sensor element (3) is increased and the sensor element (3) is rendered more sensitive due to the fact that the frame (6) is in contact with the lower surface of the panel (8).
  • the fact that the sensor element (3) in the inventive electronic device (1) is made of wire has decreased the amount of materials used whereby reducing the cost.

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  • Switches That Are Operated By Magnetic Or Electric Fields (AREA)

Abstract

The present invention relates to an electronic device (1 ) comprising a panel (8), an electronic board (5) and at least one touch button (2) which operates in accordance with the principle of capacitive proximity and has at least one sensor element (3) enabling the electronic board (5) to detect when the user touches the marked part of the panel (8) and a light source (4) positioned in the center of the sensor element.

Description

Description
AN ELECTRONIC DEVICE
[0001] The present invention relates to an electronic device comprising a touch button having a capacitive sensor.
[0002] In the state of the art, when a button which will function as a capacitive sensor is desired to be formed in electronic devices, the panel and the sensor and thus the electronic board of the device should be near to each other in order for the approaching object to be better detected. In the said electronic devices, various sensor elements are developed for the panel to be located closer to the sensor. A light source can be arranged in the center of some of the developed sensor elements. In order for the said light sources to adequately illuminate the panel surface, they should be mounted perpendicular to the electronic board and their positions should not be deformed.
[0003] A capacitive sensor element in the state of the art is disclosed in the
German patent document DE202005002157U. In one embodiment of the said document, the disclosed sensor element is a wire bent in spiral form. In order to expand the frame of the sensor element, the spiral wire is flattened whereby transforming to a planar form. In another embodiment disclosed in the said document, the sensor element is a cylindrical conductor. One end of the conductor cylinder is bent in the form of a sheet to provide the feature of stretching to it. A light source is arranged in the center of the sensor element.
[0004] Another capacitive sensor in the state of the art is disclosed in the
European patent document EP1732224A1. The sensor elements in the said document are produced from a strip conductor (metallic folio) by giving a form to it.
[0005] In the state of the art applications of sensors produced in the form of a strip, during mounting of the light source and the sensor into the electronic board, the sensor elements touch and deform the light sources and change their positions. Therefore, the light source cannot be placed perpendicular to the electronic board and the button cannot be sufficiently illuminated. Furthermore, the sensor applications produced by bending thick conductive strips cause increase in cost.
[0006] In sensor applications where the wire is formed by being bent in spiral form, errors may occur in the operation of the button and the electronic board as a result of the spirals contacting an undesirable point or each other.
[0007] The objective of the present invention is to realize an electronic device comprising a touch button that has a sensor element, which enables the light source to be easily mounted to the electronic board without getting deformed and helps protecting the light source when being mounted into the board.
[0008] The electronic device realized to fulfill the objective of the present invention and defined in Claim 1 and its dependent claims, comprises a panel, at least one touch button disposed below the panel and an electronic board where the button is mounted.
[0009] The button comprises a sensor element and a light source. The sensor element is formed by bending a wire. The wire is bent to form a frame in the shape of a circle or a tetragon, leaving the center thereof hollow, such that a light source can be disposed in the center thereof and that there will remain enough space for adequate illumination. The sensor element additionally comprises at least two legs extending downwards from the frame. These legs are fixed perpendicular to the electronic board.
[0010] In the device, the frame and the inner part of the panel are in contact. The sensor element forms a bridge between the panel and the electronic board enabling them to contact each other. This way, when the user touches the area surrounded by the frame on the panel, capacity increase is provided in the sensor element and the button is triggered.
[0011] The end parts of the legs inserted into the electronic board are folded so as to facilitate mounting of the sensor element to the board. The folded part is in the shape of a spiral spring or a zigzag in the preferred embodiment of the invention. The folded part of the leg stretches during mounting of the electronic board to the device whereby enabling the panel surface that will be touched and the frame to contact each other and when contact is established, allowing the sensor element to stop and be fixed. In addition to the stretching coefficient of the metal, the amount of stretching basically depends on the folded structure at the end parts and the length of this structure. Stretching margin is limited to the height of the light source. The said limitation prevents the light source from getting crushed during mounting and the sensor element from contacting undesirable areas on the electronic board.
[0012] The electronic device realized to fulfill the objective of the present invention is illustrated in the accompanying figures wherein,
[0013] Figure 1 is the side schematic view of the inventive electronic device.
[0014] Figure 2 is the perspective view of the sensor element used in the inventive electronic device.
[0015] The components shown in the figures are numbered individually, where the numbers refer to the following:
1. Electronic device
2. Touch button
3. Sensor element
4. Light source
5. Electronic board
6. Frame
7. Leg
8. Panel
[0016] The electronic device (1) comprises a panel (8), at least one touch button (2) operating according to the principle of capacitive proximity and an electronic board (5) to which the button (2) is mounted.
[0017] The button (2) comprises at least one sensor element (3) and at least one light source (4) positioned in the center of the sensor element (3).
[0018] The sensor element (3) comprises a hollow frame (6) formed by folding a conductive wire, and at least two legs (7) which extend downwards from the edges of the frame (6) perpendicular to the electronic board (5) and enable fixing the sensor element (3) to the electronic board (5). The end parts of the legs (7) which are inserted into the electronic board (5) are bent in the form of a spring (biasing means) in order to ensure controlled stretching of the sensor element (3). [0019] The button (2) is mounted to the electronic board (1), below the panel (8); such that the frame (6) abuts to the panel (8). The area where the frame (6) abuts to the panel (8) determines the area where the sensor element (3) can perform detection. The said area is marked on the panel (8). When the user touches the marked area, the electronic board (5) detects as if the button (2) is depressed.
[0020] The light source (4) is fixed to the electronic board (5) such that it remains in the projection of the area that the frame (6) surrounds on the panel (8). After mounting, the frame (6) is positioned above the light source (4) such that there remains a distance between it and the top of the light source (4).
[0021] The frame (6) is in the form of a hollow circle or a tetragon or polygon. After the button (2) is mounted to the electronic board (5), the electronic board (5) is mounted to the electronic device (1). When the electronic board (5) is being positioned on the electronic device (1), the legs (7) stretch and the frame (6) is fixed upon touching the panel (8) of the electronic device (1).
[0022] The stretching amount of the sensor element (3) during mounting depends on the structure of the spring formed parts of the legs (7) and the stretching coefficient of the wire. The structure of the spring formed parts of the legs (7) and the stretching coefficient of the wire are selected so as to prevent contact of the sensor element (3) with the light source (4) during stretching. This way, the sensor element (3) protects the structure and position of the light source.
[0023] When the user touches the area marked in advance and surrounded by the frame (6) on the panel (8), the frame (6) causes capacity increase in the sensor element (3) and stimulates the electronic board (5). As a result of this effect, the electronic board (5) turns on the light source (4). The light passes through the frame (6) illuminating the area that the button (2) surrounds on the panel (8), and informs the user that she/he has touched the button (2).
[0024] In one embodiment of the invention, the parts of the legs (7) that will enable stretching are formed by bending the wire in zigzag form at the concerned points of the wire. The zigzag formed structure provides mounting ease to the sensor element (3). [0025] In one embodiment of the invention, number of the legs (7) of the sensor element (3) is configured to be three or more. This way, balance and robustness of the sensor element (3) when being positioned on the electronic board (5) is enhanced. [0026] In the inventive electronic device (1), detection sensitivity of the sensor element (3) is increased and the sensor element (3) is rendered more sensitive due to the fact that the frame (6) is in contact with the lower surface of the panel (8). [0027] The fact that the sensor element (3) in the inventive electronic device (1) is made of wire, has decreased the amount of materials used whereby reducing the cost.

Claims

Claims
1. An electronic device (1), comprising a panel (8); at least one touch button (2) which operates according to the principle of capacitive proximity and has at least one sensor element (3) and at least one light source (4) positioned in the center of the sensor element (3); and an electronic board (5) to which the button (2) is mounted; characterized by a a hollow frame (6) formed by folding a conductive wire, and at least two legs (7), which extend from the edges of the frame (6) toward the electronic board (5) that they are inserted and which descend perpendicular to the electronic board (5) enabling the sensor element (3) to be fixed to the electronic board (5), and parts of which are bent in the form of a spring in order to provide stretching.
2. An electronic device (1) according to Claim 1 characterized by a circular frame (6).
3. An electronic device (1) according to Claim 1 characterized by a hollow polygonal frame (6).
4. An electronic device (1) according to any of the preceding claims characterized by legs (7) formed by bending a part of the wire in zigzag form.
5. An electronic device (1) according to any of the preceding claims characterized three or more legs (7).
PCT/EP2009/062315 2008-10-08 2009-09-23 An electronic device Ceased WO2010040641A2 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
TR200807566 2008-10-08
TR2008/07566 2008-10-08

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2010040641A2 true WO2010040641A2 (en) 2010-04-15
WO2010040641A3 WO2010040641A3 (en) 2010-07-15

Family

ID=41581125

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/EP2009/062315 Ceased WO2010040641A2 (en) 2008-10-08 2009-09-23 An electronic device

Country Status (1)

Country Link
WO (1) WO2010040641A2 (en)

Family Cites Families (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE102005041109A1 (en) * 2005-08-30 2007-03-01 BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeräte GmbH Capacitive proximity switch for use in input field of e.g. washing machine, has electronic components of evaluation circuit arranged on support such that they protrude into cavity, which is surrounded by electrically-conducting body
DE102006005581B4 (en) * 2006-02-06 2007-10-04 Diehl Ako Stiftung & Co. Kg Capacitive touch switch

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
WO2010040641A3 (en) 2010-07-15

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