Patent ID: 7355164

Claim:
A touch-sensitive momentary-contact switch, comprising: a cover; a transmitter disposed behind said cover and emitting electromagnetic radiation; a receiver disposed behind said cover and receiving electromagnetic radiation; at least some of the electromagnetic radiation passing through said cover; a first optical fiber element associated with said transmitter and having an end facing away from said transmitter; a second optical fiber element associated with said receiver and having an end facing away from said receiver; said ends of said first and second optical fiber elements being adjacent one another and adjoining said cover; each of said first and second optical fiber elements having an end facing toward a respective one of said transmitter and said receiver; and at least one indicating element emitting visible light being associated with said end of at least one of said first and second optical fiber elements facing toward a respective one of said transmitter and said receiver, said at least one indicating element being associated with both said first optical fiber element and said second optical fiber element.