Ford Global Technolgoies, LLC

Khaled Omar

Stuart C Salter

Pietro Buttolo

James Stewart Rankin, Ii

Dipanjan Ghosh

James J Surman

Jeffrey Singer

Matthew Anthony Majkowski

A proximity switch assembly and method for detecting activation of a proximity switch assembly and tuning the assembly. The assembly includes proximity switches each having a proximity sensor providing a sense activation field and control circuitry processing the activation field to sense activation. The method of tuning includes generating an activation field with a proximity sensor, generating a signal in response to the activation field, detecting noise associated with the signal, and adjusting a parameter based on the detected noise, wherein the parameter is used to detect a proximity state such as activation of the proximity switch.

Proximity switch assembly and method of tuning same

A proximity switch assembly and method for detecting activation of a proximity switch assembly is provided. The assembly includes a plurality of proximity switches each having a proximity sensor providing a sense activation field and control circuitry processing the activation field of each proximity switch to sense activation. The control circuitry controls the activation field of each proximity switch to sense activation, monitors signals indicative of the activation field, and determines a first stable signal amplitude and a subsequent second signal amplitude, and generates an activation output when the second stable signal amplitude exceeds the first stable amplitude by a known amount.

Proximity switch assembly and activation method having virtual button mode

A vehicle reading lamp is provided and includes an outer lens and a light source for illuminating an outer lens. A controller is included for prompting the light source to generate a low intensity light to assist a vehicle occupant in visually locating the reading lamp in dark conditions, wherein when the occupant desires task lighting and subsequently activates the light source, the controller prompts the light source to switch from the low intensity light to a high intensity light.

Vehicle reading lamp with low intensity light setting

Growing community of inventors

Dearborn, MI, United States of America

Khaled Omar