Patent · US Active

Optical pushbutton or switch

US8748804B2 · kind B2 · utility

0Cited by

3References

20Claims

0Family size

Assignee

Mechaless Systems GMBH · DE

Inventors

Erhard Schweninger · Karlsruhe, DE
Michael Hase · Wiesloch, DE

Key dates

Filing date	Dec 19, 2012
Grant date	Jun 10, 2014
Priority date	—
Expiry date	Dec 19, 2032

Classification

Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
CPC primaryH03K2217/96042
WIPO fieldBasic communication processes
WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

An optical operating element comprises a light-emitting transmitter, an optical receiver, a prism, and a cover. The prism has a side surface that is an active sensor area, and the prism is arranged below the cover such that the active sensor area is oriented substantially parallel to the underside of the cover. The cover has a sensor region which is above the active sensor area and which has a transmittance of at most 99%, at most 95%, at most 90%, at most 80% or at most 50%. Light emitted by the transmitter is guided through the prism and passes through the active sensor area and the cover. The emitted light reflected at an object enters through the sensor region and the active sensor area and is guided through the prism to the receiver. A change in reflection is identified by an evaluation circuit and is interpreted as switching.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.