US 12,261,002 B2
Touch switch structure
Seong Hyeon Shin, Suwon-si (KR); Jung Sang You, Hwaseong-si (KR); Ju Hyun Cha, Seoul (KR); Sang Hyun Lee, Anyang-si (KR); Seon Chae Na, Yongin-si (KR); Sang Ho Kim, Incheon (KR); Byung Yong Choi, Hwaseong-si (KR); Hyeok Lee, Siheung-si (KR); Seong Kwon Go, Hwaseong-si (KR); and Chong Hwan Jeon, Anyang-si (KR)
Assigned to HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, Seoul (KR); and KIA CORPORATION, Seoul (KR)
Filed by HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, Seoul (KR); and KIA CORPORATION, Seoul (KR)
Filed on May 19, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/748,722.
Claims priority of application No. 10-2021-0067747 (KR), filed on May 26, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2022/0384122 A1, Dec. 1, 2022
Int. Cl. H01H 3/12 (2006.01); H01H 9/02 (2006.01); H01H 9/16 (2006.01); H01H 3/00 (2006.01); H01H 3/02 (2006.01)
CPC H01H 3/12 (2013.01) [H01H 9/02 (2013.01); H01H 9/161 (2013.01); H01H 2003/008 (2013.01); H01H 2003/0293 (2013.01); H01H 2009/0292 (2013.01)] 13 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A touch switch structure comprising:
a seat housing embedded in a seat of a vehicle so as to be fastened to a seat frame;
a switch housing disposed in the seat housing, an outer surface of the switch housing being coupled to the seat housing via a hook;
a light-emitting unit disposed in the switch housing, the light-emitting unit being stacked on the seat frame; and
a knob unit having a portion disposed in the switch housing, the knob unit being stacked on the light-emitting unit,
wherein the light-emitting unit comprises:
a haptic actuator stacked on the seat frame;
a main circuit board stacked on the haptic actuator;
a light emitting diode (LED) portion stacked on the main circuit board; and
a holder configured to wrap outermost sides of the haptic actuator, the main circuit board, and the LED portion,
wherein the knob unit comprises:
a proximity sensor unit stacked on the holder;
a touch sensor unit stacked on the proximity sensor unit; and
a button knob configured to wrap outermost sides of the proximity sensor unit and the touch sensor unit,
wherein the proximity sensor unit comprises:
a proximity sensor configured to generate a sensing output signal in response to a user approach; and
a proximity sensor controller configured to generate approach information based on the sensing output signal received from the proximity sensor and turn on the LED portion,
wherein, when there is no user touch, based on a touch output signal from the touch sensor unit, within a predetermined time after the LED portion is turned on, the LED portion is turned off, and
wherein, when there is a user touch, based on the touch output signal from the touch sensor unit, within the predetermined time after the LED portion is turned on, color of the LED portion is changed, and the haptic actuator vibrates simultaneously.