Switch device with indication of switching states

Abstract

A switch device (1) with indication of switching states comprises a touch-sensitive surface (10) configured as a human machine interface for setting the switching states, and an optical force sensor (20) including at least one light emitter (21a, 21b). The optical force sensor (20) is configured to detect the set switching state. The at least one light emitter (21a, 21b) is configured to indicate the set switching state.

Description

[0001] Description

[0002] SWITCH DEVICE WITH INDICATION OF SWITCHING STATES

[0003] Technical Field

[0004] The disclosure relates to a switch device with indication of switching states so that , for example , a setting of the switch device is visually easy to recogni ze . The disclosure further relates to an electronic device comprising a switch device with indication of switching states .

[0005] Background

[0006] Touch-sensitive surfaces such as buttons / push-buttons or touch sensors that can sense the position of a touch from a finger or a touching device are commonly used as a human machine interface to set operating or switching states in electronic devices . A simple application is switching the electronic device on and of f by touching or pressing the touch-sensitive surface . The current setting of the switch device is very often not recogni zable at first glance , especially i f a touch-sensor is integrated in an outer surface of a casing of the electronic device or a position of a button changes only slightly when the button is pressed . However, a user of such a switch device would like to be able to see reliably and quickly which switching state is set , for example whether the switch device is in an ON or OFF state .

[0007] In addition to switching an electronic device on and of f , touch-sensitive surfaces are used in electronic devices to change operating parameters of the device . An example of use is a lamp where di f ferent brightness levels can be set by pressing a push-button into di f ferent detent positions or touching a touch sensor at di f ferent positions . Here , too , it is advantageous for a user i f the current detent position of the push-button or the last touched position of the touch sensor is easy to recogni ze .

[0008] It would be welcome in the art to provide a switch device which enables a reliable indication of its switching states , wherein the complexity of the switch device is , i f at all , then only slightly increased .

[0009] Summary

[0010] A switch device in which the current switch position can be reliably recogni zed and in which an already existing electronic structure of the switch device can be used as far as possible to indicate the set switching state of the switch device is speci fied in claim 1 .

[0011] A switch device with indication of switching states comprises a touch-sensitive surface configured as a human machine interface for setting the switching states and an optical force sensor . The optical force sensor is configured to detect the set switching state and includes at least one light emitter . The at least one light emitter is configured to indicate the set switching state .

[0012] The optical force sensor is used to detect a touch or press on the touch-sensitive surface , and thus a displacement or distortion of the touch-sensitive surface for setting the di f ferent switching states . The touch-sensitive surface may be configured as a button / push-button or a touch sensor that can sense the position of a touch from a finger or a touching device .

[0013] According to a possible embodiment of the proposed approach of the switch device , the at least one light emitter, which is part of the optical force sensor, is used to detect a displacement of the touch-sensitive surface and is also used to indicate a current switching state of the touch-sensitive surface , for example a button, and thus the current switching state of the switch device . According to another possible embodiment of the proposed approach, the optical force sensor comprises separate light emitters , wherein one of the light emitters is used to detect a displacement of the touch- sensitive surface , for example a displacement of a button to the di f ferent positions , and the other one of the light emitters is used to optically indicate a current switching state of the touch-sensitive surface .

[0014] In conclusion, in both of the embodiments , the proposed switch device allows inputs via the touch-sensitive surface to be measured or detected, and the state set by touching the touch-sensitive surface to be displayed with only one optical sensing solution . The proposed approach requires only a few components to build an optical button with signalling which, at least for the embodiment which uses the same light emitter of the optical force sensor for detecting the switching state of the touch-sensitive surface and signalling the switching state , does not need additional components for indicating the switching state of the switch device . The switch device for detecting a current switching state and displaying the current switching state can thus be manufactured in a small si ze . Since the components already present for detecting a press on the touch-sensitive surface are also used for displaying the switching state , there is no increased manufacturing ef fort that would be associated with additional costs .

[0015] According to a possible embodiment of the switch device , the at least one light emitter may be configured as a lightemitting diode for emitting visible light .

[0016] According to a possible embodiment , the switch device comprises a light reflector being arranged spaced apart from the optical force sensor . The light reflector is configured so that at least a portion of the light emitted by the at least one light emitter is reflected by the light reflector . The light reflector may be attached to a side of the touch- sensitive surface facing the optical force sensor . This means that the back of the touch-sensitive surface is used as the light reflector, so that no additional separate component needs to be used as a reflective element . The back of the touch-sensitive surface can, for example , be coated with a reflective layer .

[0017] According to a possible embodiment of the switch device , the touch-sensitive surface is configured as a semi-transparent membrane or a light guiding element for the light emitted by the at least one light emitter . The light emitted by the at least one light emitter to indicate a switching state of the switch device can thus be emitted into the environment through the material of the touch-sensitive surface . This means that the touch-sensitive surface itsel f lights up depending on the detected switching state .

[0018] According to a possible embodiment , the switch device comprises a controller for controlling the optical force sensor to detect the set switching state and for controlling the at least one light emitter to indicate the set switching state .

[0019] According to an embodiment of the switch device , the controller may be configured to operate the switch device alternately in a detection phase to detect the set switching state by the optical force sensor and in a signalling phase to indicate the detected switching state by the at least one light emitter .

[0020] According to a possible embodiment of the switch device , the optical force sensor comprises at least one light detector . The controller is configured to control the at least one light emitter in the detection phase to emit light towards the light reflector . The optical force sensor and the light reflector are arranged so that a portion of the reflected light is received by the at least one light detector . The at least one light detector is configured to provide an output signal in response to the detected light intensity of the portion of the reflected light received by the at least one light detector . The controller is configured to evaluate the output signal of the at least one light detector to determine the set switching state .

[0021] According to a possible embodiment of the switch device , the touch-sensitive surface is coupled to the light reflector so that a distance between the optical force sensor and the light reflector is changed when the touch-sensitive surface is touched to set the switching states .

[0022] When the touch-sensitive surface is deformed, for example a button is pressed to a certain switch position, the distance between the at least one light emitter of the optical force sensor and the light reflector changes , as does the distance between the at least one light detector of the optical force sensor and the light reflector . Depending on the current distance between the light reflector and the at least one light emitter, more or less light is reflected onto the at least one optical detector of the optical force sensor . By evaluating the change in intensity of the reflected light detected at the at least one optical detector, the controller can determine the current switch position in which the touch- sensitive surface is placed .

[0023] According to an embodiment of the switch device , the same at least one light emitter of the optical force sensor that emits light in the detection phase towards the light reflector to determine the current switch position of the touch-sensitive surface is used in the signalling phase to indicate the switching state of the switch device . The electronic components of the optical force sensor are thus used for both to detect a current switching state of the touch-sensitive surface in the detection phase and for signalling the detected switching state .

[0024] According to another possible embodiment of the switch device , the optical force sensor comprises a first light emitter and a second light emitter . The controller is configured to control the first light emitter in the detection phase to emit light towards the light reflector . Furthermore , the controller is configured to control the second light emitter in the signalling phase to emit light in dependence from the detected switching state . In this embodiment , the same light emitter of the optical force sensor that is used in the detection phase to determine the position / state of the touch-sensitive surface is not used in the signalling phase to optically indicate the switch position / state . Instead, the optical force sensor is provided with di f ferent light emitters for di f ferent functions . The first light emitter is only turned on in the detection phase to determine the switching state of the switch device , and the second light emitter is only turned on in the signalling phase to optically indicate the detected switching state .

[0025] According to a possible embodiment of the switch device , the controller is configured to operate the optical force sensor in the detection phase in a light-of f measurement phase and a light-on measurement phase . In the light-of f measurement phase , the optical force sensor is controlled so that the at least one light emitter is turned of f . In the light-on measurement phase , the optical force sensor is controlled so that the at least one light emitter is turned on to emit the light .

[0026] In the light-of f measurement phase , only the ambient light is received by the at least one light detector of the optical force sensor . The at least one light emitter of the optical force sensor is turned on to emit light in the direction of the light reflector only in the subsequent light-on measurement phase .

[0027] The controller is further configured to control the at least one light emitter in the signalling phase to emit the light in dependence from the detected switching state . As explained above , the same light emitter of the optical force sensor that was already turned on in the detection phase to detect the current position / switch state of the touch-sensitive surface or another separate light emitter of the optical force sensor can be used for this purpose .

[0028] According to a possible embodiment of the switch device , the touch-sensitive surface is configured to set a first one of the switching states and a second one of the switching states . The controller is configured to operate the at least one light emitter in the signalling phase in a turned-of f state in which no light is emitted by the at least one light emitter, when the controller detects the set first switching state in the detection phase . The first switching state of the touch-sensitive surface may be , for example , a state in which an electronic device is switched of f . To indicate this state , the at least one light emitter can be turned of f during the signalling phase .

[0029] The controller can further be configured to operate the at least one light emitter in the signalling phase in a turned- on state in which light is emitted by the at least one light emitter, when the controller detects the set second switching state in the detection phase . The second switching state of the touch-sensitive surface can be , for example , a state in which an electronic device is switched on . To indicate this state , the at least one light emitter of the optical force sensor can be turned on during the signalling phase to emit a light signal in the environment .

[0030] According to a further embodiment of the switch device , the touch-sensitive surface is configured to set a plurality of third switching states . The controller is configured to operate the at least one light emitter in the signalling phase so that a brightness or a flashing frequency of the emitted light is dependent from the detected one of the third switching states .

[0031] With this embodiment , it is possible to optically indicate intermediate states of the button in addition to a first / "on" state or a second / "of f" state . For example , the at least one light emitter can generate light with di f ferent brightness or flashing frequency, depending on the set intermediate switching state of the switch device .

[0032] Additional features and advantages of the switch device and the electronic device are set forth in the detailed description that follows . It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are merely exemplary, and are intended to provide an overview or framework for understanding the nature and character of the claims .

[0033] Brief Description of the Drawings

[0034] The accompanying drawings are included to provide further understanding, and are incorporated in, and constitute a part of , the speci fication . As such, the disclosure will be more fully understood from the following detailed description, taken in conj unction with the accompanying figures in which :

[0035] Figure 1 shows a first embodiment of a switch device with indication of switching states by using an optical force sensor ;

[0036] Figure 2 shows a second embodiment of a switch device with indication of switching states by using an optical force sensor ; Figure 3 shows the first embodiment of a switch device with indication of switching states in an OFF state ;

[0037] Figure 4 shows the first embodiment of a switch device with indication of switching states in an ON state ;

[0038] Figures 5A to 50 illustrate an operation of the switch device with indication of switching states during a switch operation from a button OFF state to a button ON state ; and

[0039] Figures 6A to 60 illustrate an operation of a switch device with indication of switching states during a switch operation from a button ON state to a button OFF state .

[0040] Detailed Description of the Drawings

[0041] Figures 1 and 2 show a first and second embodiment of an electronic device 100 which comprises a switch device 1 with indication of switching states of the switch device . The system components common to the two embodiments are described below, before the di f ferences between the two embodiments are discussed .

[0042] The electronic device 100 shown in Figures 1 and 2 may be operated in di f ferent operating states , wherein a particular operating state can be set by a user in dependence on a switching state of the switch device 1 . As an example , the electronic device 100 can be a lamp which can be turned on and of f by the switch device 1 . A possible application is further, for example , a lamp in which the brightness of a light source can be adj usted by switching the switch device 100 in di f ferent switching states .

[0043] The switch device 100 comprises a touch-sensitive surface 10 for setting or activating the various switching states of the switch device . For example , the touch-sensitive surface 10 may be configured as a button / push-button or a touch sensor . The switch device 100 further comprises an optical force sensor 20 that is configured to detect the set switching state of the switch device 1 or the touch-sensitive surface 10 . For this purpose , the optical force sensor 20 includes at least one light emitter 21a . According to the proposed approach for the switch device , the at least one light emitter 21a of the optical force sensor 20 is also configured to indicate the set switching state of the switch device 1 or the touch-sensitive surface 10 .

[0044] The switch device 1 thus makes it possible , on the one hand, to detect a set switching state of the switch device 1 or the touch-sensitive surface 10 and can also visuali ze the detected switching state so that the current switching state can be easily recogni zed by a user . The switching state of the switch device 1 / touch-sensitive surface 10 can be determined by the optical force sensor 20 . Furthermore , by means of components of the optical force sensor 20 , in particular the at least one light emitter 21a, light signals can be generated which indicate the switching state of the switch device 1 or the touch-sensitive surface 10 .

[0045] According to a possible embodiment , the touch-sensitive surface 10 may be configured as a semi-transparent membrane or a light guiding element for the light emitted by the at least one light emitter 21a, in order to visuali ze the detected switching state . As a result , the touch-sensitive surface 10 is illuminated by rear illumination from the at least one light emitter 21a depending on the detected switching state .

[0046] The switch device 1 comprises a light reflector 30 that is arranged spaced apart from the optical force sensor 20 . The light reflector 30 is configured so that at least a portion of the light emitted by the at least one light emitter 21a of the optical force sensor 20 is reflected by the light reflector 30 .

[0047] The touch-sensitive surface 10 is coupled to the light reflector 30 so that a distance between the optical force sensor 20 and the light reflector 30 is changed when the touch-sensitive surface 10 is pressed to set or activate the di f ferent switching states . For example , the distance between the optical force sensor 20 and the light reflector 30 may be decreased when the touch-sensitive surface 10 is pressed down towards the optical force sensor 20 .

[0048] According to a possible embodiment of the switch device 1 , the light reflector 30 may be attached to a side of the touch-sensitive surface 10 facing the optical force sensor 20 . In particular, the light reflector 30 may be reali zed on the back side of the touch-sensitive surface 10 by applying a reflective layer to the back of the button 10 .

[0049] The switch device 1 further comprises a controller 40 for controlling the optical force sensor 20 to detect the set switching state of the switch device 1 or the touch-sensitive surface 10 and for controlling the at least one light emitter 21a to indicate the set switching state .

[0050] The optical force sensor 20 comprises at least one light detector 22a, 22b . The at least one light emitter 21a and the at least one light emitter 22a, 22b are enclosed in a casting material 23 forming a casing of the optical force sensor . In order to detect a current set switching state of the switch device 1 or touch-sensitive surface 10 , the at least one light emitter 21a is controlled by the controller 40 to emit light towards the light reflector 30 . The at least one light emitter 21a may be configured as a light-emitting diode for emitting visible light . At least a portion of the emitted light is reflected at the light reflector 30 . The optical force sensor 20 and the light reflector 30 are arranged so that a portion of the reflected light is received by the at least one light detector 22a, 22b .

[0051] When the touch-sensitive surface 10 is pressed down and thereby moved towards the optical force sensor 20 , the distance between the optical force sensor 20 and the light reflector 30 changes . Depending on the position of the touch- sensitive surface 10 , the amount or intensity of the reflected light hitting a photosensitive area of the at least one light detector 22a, 22b changes .

[0052] The at least one light detector 22a, 22b is configured to provide an output signal in response to the detected light intensity of the portion of the reflected light that is received by the at least one light detector 22a, 22b . The controller 40 is configured to evaluate the output signal of the at least one light detector 22a, 22b to determine the set switching state . Figures 1 and 2 show a configuration of the optical force sensor comprises a light emitter 21a and two light detectors 22a, 22b . The optical force sensor is , however, not limited to the illustrated configuration of the optical force sensor 20 . In principle , configurations with at least one light emitter and at least one light detector for determining the current set switching state of the switch device 1 or touch- sensitive surface 10 are possible . For example , depending on the application of the switch device 1 in the electronic device 100 the optical force sensor 20 may comprise the same number of light emitters and light detectors or di f ferent numbers of light emitters and light detectors , as shown in Figure 1 and 2 .

[0053] According to the first embodiment of the switch device 1 shown in Figure 1 , the same light emitter 21a of the optical force sensor 20 which is used to illuminate the light reflector 30 for determining the current set switching state of the switch device 1 or touch-sensitive surface 10 , is also used to indicate the detected switching state by emitting an appropriate light signal . According to the first embodiment of the switch device , a single light emitter 21a is used for both input / switching state detection and signalling . The switch device 1 thus uses a light emitter of an optical force sensor, which is already present for the detection of a current setting of the touch-sensitive surface 10 , to also visuali ze the current switching state of the switch device 1 or the touch-sensitive surface 10 .

[0054] Since the light emitter 21a, which is already present in the proximity sensor 20 for determining the switch position, is used for the optical display of the current switch position, the additional function of optical signalling of the switch status of the switch device 1 or touch-sensitive surface 10 can be realised without having to provide additional components for this purpose . Instead, the light emitter 21a has a dual function . This is also associated with a reduction in the installation volume and a reduction in the costs compared to a solution in which a proximity sensor and additionally a light emitter, for example an LED for emitting visible light , are provided for indicating the current set or activated switching state .

[0055] According to the second embodiment of the switch device 1 , the optical force sensor 20 comprises a first light emitter 21a and a second light emitter 21b . The first light emitter 21a and the second light emitter 21b may be configured as a light-emitting diode for emitting visible light . The first light emitter 21a is provided to emit light towards the light reflector 30 for detecting the current switching state of the switch device 1 or the button 10 by evaluating the received portion of the reflected light by the at least one light detector 22a, 22b .

[0056] In the second embodiment of the switch device 1 , the second light emitter 21b is not used to emit light for determining the current set switching state of the switch device 1 or the touch-sensitive surface 10 , but is used exclusively to visuali ze the detected switching state . The switch device 1 of the second embodiment shown in Figure 2 thus uses separate light emitters 21a and 21b for input / switching state detection and signalling .

[0057] Even i f an extra light emitter 21b is provided in the second embodiment speci fically for visuali zing the switching state of the switch device 1 or the touch-sensitive surface 10 , the volume requirement for such a solution is nevertheless small , since the second light emitter 22b can be integrated into the optical force sensor 20 together with the first light emitter 21a .

[0058] In the following, with reference to Figures 3 and 4 , the operation of the switch device 1 when switching from a first state , for example an OFF state , to a second state , for example an ON state , and the associated further embodiments will be described using the example of the first embodiment of the switch device 1 shown in Figure 1 . The embodiments described below are also applicable to the second embodiment of the switch device 1 shown in Figure 2 . Figure 3 illustrates the switch device 1 in an OFF switching state . Figure 4 shows the switch device 1 in an ON switching state .

[0059] According to an embodiment of the switch device 1 , the controller 40 is configured to operate the switch device 1 alternately in a detection phase DP to detect the set switching state by the optical force sensor 20 and in a subsequent signalling phase SP to indicate the detected set switching state by the at least on light emitter 21a . The detection phase DP and the signalling phase SP are permanently repeated by the controller 40 . Figures 2 and 3 show the operation of the switch device 1 by the controller 40 in the detection phase DP and the signalling phase SP .

[0060] As illustrated in Figures 3 and 4 , the controller 40 is configured to operate the optical force sensor 20 in the detection phase DP in a light-of f measurement phase DPI and a light-on measurement phase DP2 . In the light-of f measurement phase DPI , the optical force sensor 20 is controlled by controller 40 so that the at least one light emitter 21a of the optical force sensor 20 is turned of f . In this case , the at least one light detector 22a, 22b of the optical force sensor 20 receives only ambient light .

[0061] In a subsequent light-on measurement phase DP2 of the detection phase DP, the optical force sensor 20 is controlled so that the at least one light emitter 21a is turned on to emit the light towards the light reflector 30 . In the lighten measurement phase DP2 , the reflected light received by the at least one light detector 22a, 22b is evaluated by the controller 40 to determine the current switching state of the switch device 1 or touch-sensitive surface 10 .

[0062] Referring again to Figures 3 and 4 , the controller 40 is further configured to control the at least one light emitter 21a in the signalling phase SP to emit the light in dependence from the detected set switching state of the switch device 1 or the touch-sensitive surface 10 .

[0063] In the embodiments shown in Figures 2 and 3 , the touch- sensitive surface 10 is configured to set a first one of the switching states and a second one of the switching states . The first one of the switching states is , for example , an OFF switching state , as illustrated in Figure 3 . The second switching state is , for example , an ON switching state , as illustrated in Figure 4 .

[0064] The controller 40 is configured to operate the at least one light emitter 21a in the signalling phase SP in a turned-of f state in which no light is emitted by the at least one light emitter 21a, when the controller 40 detects the set first switching state , i . e . the OFF switching state , in the detection phase DP, as illustrated in Figure 3 . The controller 40 is further configured to operate the at least one light emitter 21a in the signalling phase SP in a turned- on state in which light is emitted by the at least one light emitter 21a, when the controller 40 detects the set second switching state , i . e . , the ON switching state , in the detection phase DP, as illustrated in Figure 4 .

[0065] In order to allow the light to be emitted to the outside , the touch-sensitive surface 10 may be formed of a semitransparent material so that the light is emitted through the touch-sensitive surface to the surroundings during the signalling phase when the light emitter is in the ON state . The touch-sensitive surface 10 then lights up according to its switching state . I f necessary, the light intensity with which the light is emitted by the light emitter in the signalling phase is increased in comparison to the light intensity with which the light is emitted in the detection phase .

[0066] In addition to the simple switching states of a first / OFF- state and a second / ON-state illustrated in Figures 3 and 4 , the touch-sensitive surface 10 can in principle be switched to any number of intermediate switching states , between the first and the second switching state .

[0067] According to a possible embodiment of the switch device 1 , the controller 40 may be configured to operate the at least one light emitter 21a in the signalling phase SP so that the set intermediate switching state of the switch device 1 or touch-sensitive surface 10 is indicated by a particular light emission . The controller 40 may be configured, for example , to operate the at least one light emitter 21a in the signalling phase SP so that a brightness or a flashing frequency of the emitted light is dependent from the detected set intermediate switching state of the switch device 1 or touch-sensitive surface 10 .

[0068] In principle , any switching states of the switch device 1 or touch-sensitive surface 10 can be displayed in the signalling phase SP by changing the light emitter output , for example by driving a photodiode with lower or higher LED current , by switching an LED to a fast or slow blinking state or dimming the LED di f ferently depending on the detected switching state of the switch device 1 or touch-sensitive surface 10 .

[0069] Figures 5A to 5C illustrate the operation of the switch device 1 with a touch-sensitive surface 10 being configured as a button / push-button, when the button 10 is switched from the button OFF state ( Figure 5A) to the button ON state ( Figure 50 ) by pressing the button ( Figure 5B ) . The current switching state is continuously monitored in the detection phases DP by evaluating the light emitted from the at least one light emitter 21a towards the light reflector 30 and reflected at the light reflector 30 towards the at least one light detector 22a, 22b . In the shown example , when the button ON state has been detected ( Figure 50 ) in the detection phase DP, the at least one light emitter 21a of the optical force sensor 20 lights up continuously during the successive signalling phases SP .

[0070] Figures 6A to 60 illustrate the operation of the switch device 1 of Figures 5A to 50 with the switching sequence reversed, i . e . the button 10 is switched from the button ON switching state to the button OFF switching state . The ON switching state is indicated by the illuminated button 10 . The button 10 is backlit by the turned-on light emitter 21a during the signalling phases SP for this purpose , as shown in Figure 6A. After pressing the button ( Figure 6B ) , the button 10 is switched back to the button OFF switching state . In the button OFF switching state shown in Figure 60, the light emitter 21a is turned of f during the signalling phases SP so that no light is emitted in the signalling phases SP, and is only continuously turned on in the detection phases DP, particularly in the light-on measurement phases DP2 , in order to detect the current switching state by the optical force sensor 20 .

[0071] The embodiments of the switch device and the electronic device disclosed herein have been discussed for the purpose of familiari zing the reader with novel aspects of the optical rotary encoder and the electronic device . Although preferred embodiments have been shown and described, many changes , modi fications , equivalents and substitutions of the disclosed concepts may be made by one having skill in the art without unnecessarily departing from the scope of the claims .

[0072] In particular, the design of the switch device and the electronic device is not limited to the disclosed embodiments , and gives examples of many alternatives as possible for the features included in the embodiments discussed . However, it is intended that any modi fications , equivalents and substitutions of the disclosed concepts be included within the scope of the claims which are appended hereto .

[0073] Features recited in separate dependent claims may be advantageously combined . Moreover, reference signs used in the claims are not limited to be construed as limiting the scope of the claims .

[0074] Furthermore , as used herein, the term "comprising" does not exclude other elements . In addition, as used herein, the article "a" is intended to include one or more than one component or element , and is not limited to be construed as meaning only one . This patent application claims the priority of German patent application with application No . 10 2023 136 780 . 3 , the disclosure content of which is hereby incorporated by reference .

[0075] References

[0076] 1 switch device

[0077] 10 touch-sensitive surface 20 optical force sensor

[0078] 21a, 21b light emitter

[0079] 22a, 22b light detector

[0080] 30 light reflector

[0081] 40 controller DP detection phase

[0082] SP signalling phase

Claims

Claims1. A switch device with indication of switching states, comprising :- a touch-sensitive surface (10) configured as a human machine interface for setting the switching states,- an optical force sensor (20) including at least one light emitter (21a, 21b) ,- wherein the optical force sensor (20) is configured to detect the set switching state,- wherein the at least one light emitter (21a, 21b) is configured to indicate the set switching state.

2. The switch device of claim 1, comprising:- a light reflector (30) being arranged spaced apart from the optical force sensor (20) ,- wherein the light reflector (30) is configured so that at least a portion of the light emitted by the at least one light emitter (21a, 21b) is reflected by the light reflector (30) .

3. The switch device of claim 2, wherein the light reflector (30) is attached to a side of the touch-sensitive surface (10) facing the optical force sensor (20) .

4. The switch device of claims 2 or 3, wherein the touch-sensitive surface (10) is configured as a semi-transparent membrane or a light guiding element for the light emitted by the at least one light emitter (21a, 21b) .

5. The switch device of any of claims 2 to 4,wherein the touch-sensitive surface (10) is coupled to the light reflector (30) so that a distance between the optical force sensor (20) and the light reflector (30) is changed, when the touch-sensitive surface (10) is touched to set the switching states.

6. The switch device of any of the claims 1 to 5, comprising: a controller (40) for controlling the optical force sensor (20) to detect the set switching state and for controlling the at least one light emitter (21a, 21b) to indicate the set switching state.

7. The switch device of claim 6, wherein the controller (40) is configured to operate the switch device (1) alternately in a detection phase (DP) to detect the set switching state by the optical force sensor (20) and in a signalling phase (SP) to indicate the detected switching state by the at least one light emitter (21a, 21b) .

8. The switch device of claim 7,- wherein the controller (40) is configured to operate the optical force sensor (20) in the detection phase (DP) in a light-off measurement phase (DPI) and a light-on measurement phase (DP2 ) ,- wherein, in the light-off measurement phase (DPI) , the optical force sensor (20) is controlled so that the at least one light emitter (21a, 21b) is turned off,- wherein, in the light-on measurement phase (DP2) , the optical force sensor (20) is controlled so that the at least one light emitter (21a, 21b) is turned on to emit the light.

9. The switch device of claim 7 or 8,wherein the controller (40) is configured to control the at least one light emitter (21a, 21b) in the signalling phase (SP) to emit the light in dependence from the detected switching state.

10. The switch device of any of the claims 7 to 9,- wherein the touch-sensitive surface (10) is configured to set a first one of the switching states and a second one of the switching states,- wherein the controller (40) is configured to operate the at least one light emitter (21a, 21b) in the signalling phase (SP) in a turned off state in which no light is emitted by the at least one light emitter (21a, 21b) , when the controller (40) detects the set first switching state in the detection phase (DP) ,- wherein the controller (40) is configured to operate the at least one light emitter (21a, 21b) in the signalling phase (SP) in a turned on state in which light is emitted by the at least one light emitter (21a, 21b) , when the controller (40) detects the set second switching state in the detection phase (DP) .

11. The switch device of claim 10,- wherein the touch-sensitive surface (10) is configured to set a plurality of third switching states,- wherein the controller (40) is configured to operate the at least one light emitter (21a, 21b) in the signalling phase (SP) so that a brightness or a flashing frequency of the emitted light is dependent from the detected one of the third switching states.

12. The switch device of any of the claims 7 to 11,- wherein the optical force sensor (20) comprises at least one light detector (22a, 22b) ,- wherein the controller (40) is configured to control the at least one light emitter (21a, 21b) in the detection phase (DP) to emit light towards the light reflector (30) ,- wherein the optical force sensor (20) and the light reflector (30) are arranged so that a portion of the reflected light is received by the at least one light detector (22a, 22b) ,- wherein the at least one light detector (22a, 22b) is configured to provide an output signal in response to the detected light intensity of the portion of the reflected light received by the at least one light detector (22a, 22b) ,- wherein the controller (40) is configured to evaluate the output signal of the at least one light detector (22a, 22b) to determine the set switching state.

13. The switch device of any of the claims 7 to 12,- wherein the optical force sensor (20) comprises a first light emitter (21a) and a second light emitter (21b) ,- wherein the controller (40) is configured to control the first light emitter (21a) in the detection phase (DP) to emit light towards the light reflector (30) ,- wherein the controller (40) is configured to control the second light emitter (21b) in the signalling phase (SP) to emit light in dependence from the detected switching state.

14. The switch device of any of the claims 1 to 13, wherein the at least one light emitter (21a, 21b) is configured as a light-emitting diode for emitting visible light .

15. An electronic device, comprising:- a switch device (1) as claimed in any of the claims 1 to14,- wherein an operating state of the electronic device (100) is dependent on the switching states of the switch device (1) .

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