Abstract:
A switch includes a substrate that has a contact area on a first face. At least one first conductor is located in the substrate and extends onto the contact area. At least one second conductor is located in the substrate and extends onto the contact area. A sensor is configured to detect when a user contacts the contact area.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     The present invention relates to a switch that provides feedback to a user when the user contacts the switch. 
     A number of approaches have been taken to provide feedback to a user. One approach has been to provide visual feedback, such as a moving a switch between an on and an off position or through the use of a light. However, these approaches require the user to visually observe the switch which might be distracting while the user is performing other tasks. 
     Audible feedback is another approach taken to provide feedback to the user. With this approach, if the user is in an area surrounded by loud noises, the loud noises might drown out the audible feedback so that the user might be unsure if audible feedback was provided. Additionally, audible feedback requires a significant number of components, such as speakers and wiring. 
     Mechanical feedback has also been used to provide feedback to the user. With this approach, a mechanical element might contact the user&#39;s finger during operation of the switch or the switch may vibrate to signal to the user that the switch has been engaged. However, mechanical feedback requires a significant number of components that can be prone to failure and require repair. Therefore, there is a need for a switch that provides feedback to a user that is not prone to failure and requires the least number of parts. 
     SUMMARY 
     In one exemplary embodiment, a switch includes a substrate that has a contact area on a first face. At least one first conductor is located in the substrate and extends onto the contact area. At least one second conductor is located in the substrate and extends onto the contact area. A sensor is configured to detect when a user contacts the contact area. 
     In another exemplary embodiment, an automotive component includes a plurality of switch assemblies for controlling at least one vehicle parameter. Each of the plurality of switch assemblies includes a substrate that has a contact area on a first face. At least one first conductor is located in the substrate and extends onto the contact area. At least one second conductor is located in the substrate and extends onto the contact area. A sensor is configured to detect when a user contacts the contact area. A microprocessor is in communication with the sensor to determine when a user contacts the contact area. 
     In another exemplary embodiment, a method of operating a switch includes a) grounding a first conductor located on a contact surface of a button to a ground, b) connecting an electrical power source to a second conductor located on the contact surface of the button, c) determining when a user contacts the button with a sensor, and d) sending an electrical current to the second conductor when the user contacts the button. 
     These and other features of the disclosed examples can be understood from the following description and the accompanying drawings, which can be briefly described as follows. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  illustrates an example vehicle interior. 
         FIG. 2  illustrates an example vehicle component including multiple switches. 
         FIG. 3  illustrates an enlarged view of the example vehicle component of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a schematic view of a switch assembly. 
         FIG. 5  illustrates an example switch. 
         FIG. 6  illustrates a cross-sectional view taken along line  6 - 6  of  FIG. 5 . 
         FIG. 7  illustrates another example switch. 
         FIG. 8  illustrates a cross-sectional view taken along line  8 - 8  of  FIG. 7 . 
         FIG. 9  illustrates yet another example switch. 
         FIG. 10  illustrates a cross-sectional view taken along line  10 - 10  of  FIG. 9 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG. 1  illustrates an example vehicle  10 , such as a passenger or commercial vehicle, having an interior compartment  12 . The interior compartment  12  includes a center stack  14  located in a dash  18  in a center of the vehicle  10 . The center stack  14  includes multiple example vehicle components  16  for controlling a safety system, a temperature system, an entertainment system, or another parameter in the vehicle  10 . 
       FIGS. 2 and 3  illustrate the example vehicle component  16  for use in the interior compartment  12  of the vehicle  10 . The vehicle component  16  includes multiple switches  21  arranged into rows with rotary dial switches  25  on opposite ends of the vehicle component  16 . The switches  21  may be used to turn on or off or vary the settings of the safety system, the temperature system, or the entertainment system in the vehicle  10 . 
     The switches  21  include a button  22  having a contact surface  24  with at least one negative conductor  26  and at least one positive conductor  28  located on the contact surface  24 . Some of the switches  21  may include a visual indicator  30  on the contact surface  24  of the button  22  to indicate the status of the switch  21 . The vehicle component  16  includes multiple fasteners  32  for attaching the vehicle component  16  to the center stack  14  on the dash  18 . 
       FIG. 4  illustrates schematic view of a switch assembly  40 . The switch assembly  40  includes the switch  21 , a microprocessor  42 , an electrical system  44  with a positive electrical source, and a sensor  46 . In the illustrated example, the button  22  is formed of a substrate  23 , such as plastic, that electrically isolates the negative conductor  26  from the positive conductor  28  such that current cannot flow through the button  22  between the negative conductor  26  and the positive conductor  28 . The positive and negative conductors  26  and  28  are rectangular in cross section and extend from the contact surface  24  to a bottom wall  50  on an opposite side of the button  22  from the contact surface  24 . 
     The negative conductor  26  is in electrical communication with a ground  52 . The positive conductor  28  is in electrical communication with the electrical system  44  when a switch  54  located between the positive conductor  28  and the electrical system  44  is closed by a signal sent from the microprocessor  42 . 
     The switch assembly  40  provides haptic feedback to a user  56  in the form of an electrical stimulation when the user  56  contacts the negative conductor  26  and the positive conductor  28  on the contract surface  24  of the button  22 . When the user  56  contacts the button  22 , the sensor  46  sends a signal to the microprocessor  42  that the user  56  is in contact with the button  22 . In one example, the sensor  46  is a capacitive sensor that senses a change in capacitance when the user  56  contacts the button  22  that is measured by the microprocessor  42  to determine that the user  56  is contacting the button  22 . 
     Once the microprocessor  42  receives the signal from the sensor  46  that the user  56  is in contact with the button  22 , the microprocessor  42  sends a signal to the electrical system  44  and closes the switch  54  to direct a current to the positive conductor  28 . The current is able to transfer from the positive conductor  28  to the negative conductor  26  and into the ground  52  because a finger of the user  56  completes the circuit between the negative and positive conductors  26  and  28  such that the current travels through the user  56 . The current traveling through the user  56  provides an electrical stimulation felt by the user  56  confirms that the switch  21  has been properly engaged. 
       FIG. 5  illustrates another example switch  121  that is similar to the switch  21  except where discussed below or shown in the Figures. The switch  121  includes a button  122  having a contact surface  124  with alternating negative conductors  126  and positive conductors  128  separated from each other by a substrate  123  of the button  122 . 
     The negative and positive conductors  126  and  128  extend substantially the entire width of the button  122  between opposite sides  122   a  and  122   b  of the button  122 . Opposite ends of the negative and positive conductors  126  and  128  are covered by the substrate  123  so that the negative and positive conductors  126  and  128  do not protrude out of the opposite sides  122   a  and  122   b  of the button  122 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 6 , the positive and negative conductors  126  and  128  are rectangular in cross section and extend from the contact surface  124  to a bottom wall  150  of the button  122 . The negative conductors  126  have a width D 1  and the positive conductors  128  have a width D 2 . In the illustrated example, the width D 1  is approximately equal to the width D 2 . However, the width D 1  could vary between negative conductors  126  and the width D 2  could vary between positive conductors  128 . Alternatively, the width D 2  could be larger than the width D 2  or the width D 1  could be smaller than the width D 2 . A sensor  146  is located adjacent the bottom wall  150  of the button  122 . 
       FIG. 7  illustrates another example switch  221  that is similar to the switch  21  except where discussed below or shown in the Figures. The switch  221  includes a cylindrical button  222  with a contact surface  224  having alternating negative and positive conductors  226  and  228  separated from each other by a substrate  223 . The negative and positive conductors  226  and  228  and the substrate  223  are individual hollow cylindrical rings that form the complete button  222 . In the illustrated example, the radially innermost member is the negative conductor  226  forming a solid cylinder. However, the positive conductor  228  or the substrate  223  could form the innermost member depending on the sequence of the negative and positive conductors  226  and  228  and the quantity of the negative and positive conductors  226  and  228 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 8 , the negative and positive conductors  226  and  228  are rectangular in cross section and extend from the contact surface  224  to a bottom wall  250  of the button  222 . The negative conductors  226  have a width D 3  and the positive conductors  228  have a width D 4 . In the illustrated example, the width D 3  of the radially outermost conductor is greater than the width D 4  of a radially inner positive conductor  228  and a width D 5  of a radially inner negative conductor  226 . The widths D 4  and D 5  are approximately equal. However, the widths D 3 , D 4 , and D 5  could be approximately equal. Alternatively, the widths D 3 , D 4 , and D 5  could vary having a decreasing width moving radially inward. A sensor  246  is located adjacent the bottom wall  250  of the button  222 . 
       FIG. 9  illustrates another example switch  321  that is similar to the switch  21  except where discussed below or shown in the Figures. The switch  321  includes a button  322  with a contact surface  324  having alternating columns of cylindrical negative and positive conductors  326  and  328  separated from each other by a substrate  323 . Alternatively, the button  322  could include alternating rows or a checker board of negative and positive conductors  326  and  328 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 10 , the positive and negative conductors  326  and  328  are rectangular in cross section and extend from the contact surface  324  to a bottom wall  350  of the button  322 . A sensor  346  is located adjacent the bottom wall  350  of the button  322 . The negative conductors  326  have a width or diameter D 6  and the positive conductors  328  have a width or diameter D 7 . In the illustrated example, the width D 6  is approximately equal to the width D 7 . Alternatively, the width D 6  could be larger than the width D 7  or the width D 6  could be smaller than the width D 7 . 
     The preceding description is exemplary rather than limiting in nature. Variations and modifications to the disclosed examples may become apparent to those skilled in the art that do not necessarily depart from the essence of this disclosure. The scope of legal protection given to this disclosure can only be determined by studying the following claims.