Switching assembly equipped with display means installed behind the switching assembly

• US 4,218,603 A
• Filed: 10/23/1978
• Issued: 08/19/1980
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/1975
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Satoh, Masaharu
• Primary Examiner(s): Tolin, Gerald P.
• Application Number:
  US05/953,867
• Time in Patent Office: 666 Days
• Field of Search: 340/365 R, 340/365 C, 340/366 R, 340/366 A, 58/23 R, 58/23 BA, 200/5 R, 200/5 A, 200/5 E, 200/56 R, 200/153 R, 200/159 R, 200/159 B, 200/165, 200/DIG. 1, 200/DIG. 2, 200/243, 200/308, 200/317, 200/310-314, 200/33 3, 307/116, 307/113, 362/23, 362/800, 362/812, 350/150
• US Class Current: 200/312
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/702 with contacts carried by or formed from layers in a multilayer structure, e.g. membrane switches
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/703 characterised by spacers between contact carrying layers
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/785 characterised by the material of the contacts, e.g. conductive polymers
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/83 characterised by legends, e.g. Braille, liquid crystal displays, light emitting or optical elements
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2201/028 Indium tin oxide [ITO]
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2209/04 Glass
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2211/006 Individual areas
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2217/018 Indication of switch sites
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2219/002 replaceable; adaptable
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2219/01 Liquid crystal
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2219/014 LED
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2223/034 Bezel
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2229/016 Selective etching
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/812 Signs

Abstract

Contact patterns are formed on a transparent substrate to introduce information or a command into a system. A display means, responsive to the opening and closing of the contact patterns, is installed behind the transparent substrate, thereby indicating a switching condition of a switching means associated with the contact patterns.

Claims

1. A switching assembly comprising:

a. a transparent substrate having an indicating surface;

b. a pair of transparent conductive contact patterns formed on a surface of the transparent substrate in a configuration such that the pair of contact patterns may be electrically connected with each other through an operator'"'"'s finger;

c. an electro-optical display means responsive to the opening and closing of the pair of contact patterns for altering the appearance of said switching assembly when actuated, said display means being disposed behind the transparent substrate and visible therethrough; and

d. label means positioned on the indicating surface of said transparent substrate to indicate the function of the switching assembly.

2. The switching assembly of claim 1, wherein the electro-optical display means is activated when the pair of contact patterns is connected with each other through the operator'"'"'s finger.

3. The switching assembly of claim 1, wherein the electro-optical display means is made of a light-emitting diode.

4. The switching assembly of claim 1, wherein the electro-optical display means is made of a liquid-crystal display device.

5. The switching assembly of claim 1, wherein the pair of contact patterns is made of SnO₂.

6. A switching assembly comprising:

a. a transparent substrate;

b. a pair of transparent conductive contact patterns formed on the transparent substrate in a configuration such that the pair of contact patterns may be electrically connected with each other through an operator'"'"'s finger;

c. an electro-optical display means responsive to the opening and closing of the pair of contact patterns for altering the appearance of said switching assembly when actuated, said display means being disposed behind the transparent substrate and visible therethrough; and

d. label board means disposed between the transparent substrate and electro-optical display means for indicating the function of the switching assembly.

7. The switching assembly of claim 6, wherein the electro-optical display means is activated when the pair of contact patterns is connected with each other through the operator'"'"'s finger.

8. The switching assembly of claim 6, wherein the electro-optical display means is made of a light-emitting diode.

9. The switching assembly of claim 6, wherein the electro-optical display means is made of a liquid-crystal display device.

10. The switching assembly of claim 6, wherein the pair of contact patterns is made of SnO₂.