Programmable dichromatic legend lighted switches

• US 20050231946A1
• Filed: 03/15/2005
• Published: 10/20/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aerospace Optics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Aerospace Optics, Inc.
• Inventors: Guthrie, Don W.
• Granted Patent: US 7,453,218 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/231
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/023 Light-emitting indicators for multi-layer switches H01H13/83
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2013/026 with two or more independent lighting elements located inside the push button switch that illuminate separate zones of push buttons
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 9/181 using a programmable display, e.g. LED or LCD
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/80 Light emitting diode

Abstract

Illumination color for a dedicated legend display area of an illuminated pushbutton switch may be programmed by controlling application of the driving voltage to one of two or more different groups of interleaved LEDs alternately illuminating the display area. Each of the different LED groups illuminates the display area with a different color, produced by different color LEDs, filtering of individual LEDs within each group, or dip-coating the LEDs. Application of the driving voltage to different switch input pins causes the legend to be illuminated by different LED groups in different colors, reflecting different conditions.

Claims

1. An illumination mechanism comprising:

first and second sets of light emitting diodes illuminating a display area in either a first or second color, respectively, to indicate a corresponding state of a switch, an indicator or an element associated with the switch or indicator.

2. The illumination mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the first and second sets of light emitting diodes each comprise interleaved diodes coupled respectively to first and second input pins, wherein a driving voltage is applied to the first input pin to illuminate the display area in the first color using the first set of light emitting diodes and to the second input pin to illuminate the display area in the second color using the second set of light emitting diodes.

3. The illumination mechanism according to claim 2, wherein the first and second sets of light emitting diodes each comprise four interleaved diodes.

4. The illumination mechanism according to claim 2, wherein the first and second sets of light emitting diodes form two rows of light emitting diodes, each row comprising four diodes including diodes from the first set of light emitting diodes alternating with diodes from the second set of light emitting diodes.

5. The illumination mechanism according to claim 4, wherein the display area comprises half of a display for a pushbutton switch or indicator, the illumination mechanism further comprising:

third and fourth sets of light emitting diodes illuminating a remaining half of the display in either a third or fourth color, respectively, wherein the third and fourth sets of light emitting diodes form two additional rows of light emitting diodes, each row comprising four diodes including diodes from the third set of light emitting diodes alternating with diodes from the fourth set of light emitting diodes.

6. The illumination mechanism according to claim 5, wherein the first and third sets of light emitting diodes are coordinately operated and the second and fourth sets of light emitting diodes are coordinately operated to concurrently illuminate both halves of the display in either the first and third colors or the second and fourth colors.

7. The illumination mechanism according to claim 5, wherein the first and third sets of light emitting diodes are independently operated and the second and fourth sets of light emitting diodes are independently operated to independently illuminate either or both halves of the display.

8. The illumination mechanism according to claim 5, wherein:

(a) the first and third colors are the same,

(b) the second and fourth colors are the same, or

(c) the first color is the same as the third color and the second color is the same as the fourth color.

9. The pushbutton switch illumination mechanism according to claim 2, further comprising:

a first driving circuit coupling the first set of light emitting diodes to the first input pin and to a common connection; and

a second driving circuit coupling the second set of light emitting diodes to the second input pin and to the common connection.

10. The pushbutton switch illumination mechanism according to claim 5, wherein a single variable voltage is applied to one of the first and second input pins to dim illumination from the first or second set of light emitting diodes.

11. The pushbutton switch illumination mechanism according to claim 2, further comprising:

filter elements of the first color between each light emitting diode within the first set of light emitting diodes and the display area; and

filter elements of the second color between each light emitting diode within the second set of light emitting diodes and the display area.