Touch-sensitive momentary-contact switch and operating device having at least one touch-sensitive momentary-contact switch
US7777175B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 12, 2008 |
| Grant date | Aug 17, 2010 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 12, 2028 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH03K17/9631
- WIPO fieldBasic communication processes
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A touch-sensitive momentary-contact switch includes an infrared-radiation-emitting transmitter, an infrared-radiation-receiving receiver and at least one visible-light-emitting signal element. The transmitter, receiver and signal element radiate into a single light-guiding element. Due to optical beam guidance, a separation of a transmission channel and a reception channel in the light-guiding element is effected in such a way that at a top-side area of the light-guiding element remote from the transmitter and the receiver, a superimposition of a region that can be irradiated by the transmitter and a region that can be detected by the receiver is produced only on a small portion of the area. An operating device for a domestic appliance including at least one touch-sensitive momentary-contact switch, is also provided.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.