VEHICLE ENTERTAINMENT AND COMMUNICATION SYSTEM PERSONAL CONTROL UNIT WITH RACETRACK LIGHTING DESIGN

• US 20100253230A1
• Filed: 04/01/2009
• Published: 10/07/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Thales Avionics Incorporated (Thales SA)
• Original Assignee: Thales Avionics Incorporated (Thales SA)
• Inventors: Sakadjian, Hagop, Foreman, Bradley, Nguyen, Derek
• Granted Patent: US 8,147,080 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 315/153
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2219/014 LED
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2219/056 Diffuser; Uneven surface
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2219/062 Light conductor
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2223/04 portable; hand held
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 9/0228 Line cord switches
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 9/182 Illumination of the symbols or distinguishing marks H01H9/181 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/80 Light emitting diode

Abstract

A personal control unit (PCU) for a transportation-based entertainment system comprises a number of buttons. Illumination is provided for the buttons by illuminating a border region that is rounded containing some of the keys, and is provided for some of the buttons themselves. A light diffusion mechanism is provided between the illumination source and the illuminated regions related to the keys so that the illumination appears even across the entire PCU. A controller may adjust the illumination level and color of the illumination source. A system may be provided for matching at least one of color and brightness of the PCU lighting with cabin lighting.

Claims

1. A personal control apparatus for controlling an entertainment or communications system in a vehicle, comprising:

a case;

a top surface comprising a rounded and elongated region comprising;

a plurality of user control elements; and

one or more illumination regions;

the apparatus further comprising;

an illumination source or sources located within the case, wherein illumination from the illumination source is transmitted through the one or more illumination regions to a user of the apparatus; and

an illumination diffuser located between the illumination source and the illumination regions of the top surface.

2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rounded and elongated region is race-track shaped, comprising to semi-circles at opposite ends joined by parallel lines.

3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the illumination source comprises one or more light-emitting diodes (LEDs).

4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the LEDs comprise two different types of LEDs, a first type, and a second type.

5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein the first type LEDs are laid out to positionally correspond with a border of the rounded and elongated region to illuminate a region adjacent to the border of the rounded and elongated region.

6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein the first type LEDs comprise fourteen in number.

7. The apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein the first type LEDs are colored.

8. The apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein the first type LEDs are color adjustable.

9. The apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein the second type LEDs are laid out positionally to reside within the rounded and elongated region, more towards a center of the rounded and elongated region than the first type LEDs.

10. The apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein the second type LEDs comprise ten in number.

11. The apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein the second type LEDs are white.

12. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising, a controller for varying an attribute of the illumination source.

13. The apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein the attribute is brightness.

14. The apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein the attribute is color.

15. The apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein the illumination source comprises a first type LED and a distinct second type LED, and wherein the first type LED and the second type LED are separately controllable by the control.

16. The apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein the controller is user controllable during normal operation.

17. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1,wherein the diffuser is comprised of a translucent flexible material.

18. The apparatus as claimed in claim 17, wherein the material is rubberized silicon.

19. The apparatus as claimed in claim 17, wherein a thickness of the diffuser over one or more of the LEDs is approximately 0.03-0.04″

.

20. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the diffuser is comprised of a single piece of material.

21. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the PCU further comprises a bottom surface comprising a keyboard with keys.

22. The apparatus as claimed in claim 21, further comprising a separate light diffuser and for the bottom keys.

23. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

the illumination source comprises one or more light-emitting diodes (LEDs); and

the LEDs comprise two different types of LEDs, a first type, and a second type;

the apparatus further comprising;

an isolation element for isolating illumination from the first type LEDs and the second type LEDs from mixing together.

24. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a transparent or translucent border window bordering the rounded and elongated region, the window comprising a layer above the diffuser.

25. The apparatus as claimed in claim 24, wherein the border window is made of acrylic.

26. The apparatus as claimed in claim 24, wherein the border window is textured to further diffuse lighting on at least one of its top and bottom surface.

27. The apparatus as claimed in claim 24, wherein the illumination sources comprise a plurality of RGB LEDs that are oriented so that a same-colored end faces the border window.

28. A system for controlling an illuminated appearance of a user interface device for an entertainment or communications system in a vehicle, comprising:

a personal control apparatus for controlling an entertainment or communications system in a vehicle, comprising;

a case;

an illumination source or sources located within the case, wherein illumination from the illumination source is transmitted through one or more illumination regions to a user of the apparatus;

an input via which information related to at least one of color and brightness is provided; and

an apparatus controller that adjusts at least one of the color and brightness of the illumination source based on the input information;

the system further comprising;

a system controller comprising;

an input connected to an other system that generates information related to at least one of light color and brightness information of cabin lighting, or a processor that generates information related to at least one of light color and brightness information of cabin lighting;

a processor that provides or converts the cabin lighting information into personal control apparatus lighting information so that the personal control apparatus illumination source can mimic the cabin lighting information; and

an output connected to the input of the personal control apparatus to communicate the lighting information to the personal control apparatus.