Vehicle indicator circuit having controlled backlighting
First Claim
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1. An indicator circuit comprising:
- a backlight associated with a graphical element, said graphical element indicating an active vehicle function when illuminated;
an indicator light associated with the graphical element, said graphical element adapted in an active vehicle function state to be illuminated by the indicator light for indicating the active vehicle function and adapted in a backlight state to be backlit by the backlight, wherein the graphical element illuminated in the active vehicle function state is visually distinguishable from the graphical element backlit in the backlight state, said indicator light adapted to supply a drive signal in the active vehicle function state and adapted to not supply the drive signal in the backlight state; and
a switch electrically connected to the backlight and to the indicator light for alternately operating the graphical element in the backlight state and in the active vehicle function state, said switch being responsive to the drive signal supplied by the indicator light in the active vehicle function state to selectively turn OFF the backlight associated with the graphical element when the graphical element is illuminated by the indicator light associated therewith.
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Abstract
Indicator circuit having a backlight and an indicator light associated with a graphical element. The graphical element is adapted to be illuminated by the indicator light for indicating an active vehicle function as well as backlit by the backlight. A switch coupled to the backlight selectively turns OFF the backlight in response to a drive signal supplied by the indicator light. In this manner, the backlight is OFF when the graphical element is illuminated by the indicator light.
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Citations
10 Claims
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1. An indicator circuit comprising:
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a backlight associated with a graphical element, said graphical element indicating an active vehicle function when illuminated; an indicator light associated with the graphical element, said graphical element adapted in an active vehicle function state to be illuminated by the indicator light for indicating the active vehicle function and adapted in a backlight state to be backlit by the backlight, wherein the graphical element illuminated in the active vehicle function state is visually distinguishable from the graphical element backlit in the backlight state, said indicator light adapted to supply a drive signal in the active vehicle function state and adapted to not supply the drive signal in the backlight state; and a switch electrically connected to the backlight and to the indicator light for alternately operating the graphical element in the backlight state and in the active vehicle function state, said switch being responsive to the drive signal supplied by the indicator light in the active vehicle function state to selectively turn OFF the backlight associated with the graphical element when the graphical element is illuminated by the indicator light associated therewith. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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Specification