Front panel apparatus for electric apparatus

• US 20050243468A1
• Filed: 04/13/2005
• Published: 11/03/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/13/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Funai Electric Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Funai Electric Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Miyamoto, Takashi
• Granted Patent: US 7,380,952 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 360/137
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 33/027 Covers G11B33/022 takes precedence; with means for guiding the record carrier G11B17/34
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 33/10 Indicating arrangements; Warning arrangements G11B15/04, G11B19/04, G11B27/34, G11B27/36 take precedence

Abstract

In a front panel apparatus for an electric apparatus including a volume knob partially exposed outward from an operating port opened at a front panel of a casing of a disk drive, and a light emitting diode for emitting light based on a starting signal of the disk drive, the volume knob is molded by a light transmitting synthetic resin, the light emitting diode is arranged rearward from the volume knob, and light is made to be incident on the volume knob from the light emitting diode.

Claims

1. A front panel apparatus for an electric apparatus comprising:

a volume knob partially exposed outward from an operating port opened at a front panel of a casing of a disk drive; and

a light emitting diode for lighting light based on a starting signal of the electric apparatus, wherein;

the volume knob is molded by a light transmitting synthetic resin;

a light emitting diode is arranged rearward from the volume knob; and

light is made to be incident on the volume knob from the light emitting diode.

2. A front panel apparatus for an electric apparatus comprising:

a volume knob partially exposed outward from an operating port opened at a front panel of a casing of a disk drive; and

a light emitting diode for lighting light based on a starting signal of the electric apparatus, wherein;

the volume knob is molded by a light transmitting synthetic resin;

a ring-like projected portion is integrally formed with an upper face of the volume knob concentrically with the volume knob;

the light emitting diode is inserted into the ring-like projected portion; and

light is made to be incident on the volume knob from the light emitting diode.

3. A front panel apparatus for an electric apparatus comprising:

a volume knob partially exposed outward from an operating port opened at a front panel of a casing of a disk drive; and

a light emitting diode for lighting light based on a starting signal of the electric apparatus, wherein;

the volume knob is molded by a light transmitting synthetic resin;

a ring-like projected portion is integrally formed with an upper face of the volume knob concentrically with the volume knob;

a reflecting face is formed by constituting an inner peripheral face of the ring-like projected portion by an inclined face converged to a depth side;

the light emitting diode is arranged rearward from the ring-like projected portion; and

light is made to be incident on the volume knob from the light emitting diode via the reflecting face.

4. A front panel apparatus for an electric apparatus comprising:

a volume knob partially exposed outward from an operating port opened at a front panel of a casing of a disk drive; and

a light emitting diode for lighting light based on a starting signal of the electric apparatus, wherein;

the volume knob is molded by a light transmitting synthetic resin;

a ring-like projected portion is integrally formed with an upper face of the volume knob concentrically with the volume knob;

a reflecting face is formed by constituting an inner peripheral face of the ring-like projected portion by an inclined face converged to a depth side;

the light emitting diode is arranged rearward from the ring-like projected portion; and

light is made to be incident on the volume knob from the light emitting diode via the reflecting face bypassing a light transmittancy control sheet.

5. A front panel apparatus for an electric apparatus comprising:

a volume knob partially exposed outward from an operating port opened at a front panel of a casing of an electric apparatus; and

a light emitting diode for emitting light based on a starting signal of the electric apparatus, wherein;

the volume knob is molded by a light transmitting synthetic resin; and

light is made to be incident on the volume knob from the light emitting diode.

6. The front panel apparatus for an electric apparatus according to claim 5, wherein:

the light emitting diode is arranged rearward from the volume knob; and

light is made to be incident on the volume knob from the light emitting diode.

7. The front panel apparatus for an electric apparatus according to claim 5, wherein:

a ring-like projected portion is integrally formed with an upper face of the volume knob concentrically with the volume knob;

the light emitting diode is inserted into the ring-like projected portion; and

light is made to be incident on the volume knob from the light emitting diode.

8. The front panel apparatus for an electric apparatus according to claim 5, wherein:

a ring-like projected portion is integrally formed with an upper face of the volume knob concentrically with the volume knob;

a reflecting face is formed by constituting an inner peripheral face of the ring-like projected portion by an inclined face converged to a depth side;

the light emitting diode is arranged rearward from the ring-like projected portion; and

light is made to be incident on the volume knob from the light emitting diode via the reflecting face.

9. The front panel apparatus for an electric apparatus according to claim 5, wherein:

a ring-like projected portion is integrally formed with an upper face of the volume knob concentrically with the volume knob;

a reflecting face is formed by constituting an inner peripheral face of the ring-like projected portion by an inclined face converged to a depth side;

an outer peripheral face of the ring-like projected portion is wound with a light transmittancy control sheet molded by a light transmitting synthetic resin a light transmittancy of which is gradually changed from one end portion thereof to other end portion thereof;

the light emitting diode is arranged rearward from the ring-like projected portion; and

light is made to be incident on the volume knob from the light emitting diode via the reflecting face by passing the light transmittancy control sheet.