Control panel
First Claim
1. A control panel for a radio comprising:
- a transparent front panel having a rear surface, a front surface and openings therethrough and adapted to be mounted to the radio;
a plurality of light bulbs providing point sources of light;
diffuser means having first openings sized to receive the plurality of light bulbs and second opening matching the openings in the front panel, the diffuser means extending over a substantial area of the rear surface of the transparent front panel to provide a generally uniform source of light;
a plurality of switches extending through the openings in the transparent front panel and the matching openings in the diffuser means; and
the front panel having an illuminated front surface being luminous over substantially the entirety of the front surface in response to the plurality of light sources and the diffuser means back lighting a portion of the rear surface of the front panel with the generally uniform source of light, whereby the illuminated front surface provides a lighting contrast with the plurality of switches to facilitate use of the plurality of switches.
7 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An illuminated control panel typically for an audio device used in an automobile. The control panel includes a front panel made of a light conducting material through which push buttons and switches extend. A light conducting diffuser extends over a substantial portion of the rear surface of the front panel. The light conducting diffuser contains a plurality of sources of light which produce a generally uniform distribution of light throughout the light conducting diffuser. The illuminated light conducting diffuser back lights the entire area of the front panel, thereby increasing the general illumination of the control panel and facilitating the location and identity of the push buttons and switches. The front panel is preferably colored to improve its general appeal and appearance. In an alternative embodiment, the control panel includes one or more trim plates that are attachable to the front panel and may be used and exchanged at the choice of the user.
90 Citations
31 Claims
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1. A control panel for a radio comprising:
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a transparent front panel having a rear surface, a front surface and openings therethrough and adapted to be mounted to the radio; a plurality of light bulbs providing point sources of light; diffuser means having first openings sized to receive the plurality of light bulbs and second opening matching the openings in the front panel, the diffuser means extending over a substantial area of the rear surface of the transparent front panel to provide a generally uniform source of light; a plurality of switches extending through the openings in the transparent front panel and the matching openings in the diffuser means; and the front panel having an illuminated front surface being luminous over substantially the entirety of the front surface in response to the plurality of light sources and the diffuser means back lighting a portion of the rear surface of the front panel with the generally uniform source of light, whereby the illuminated front surface provides a lighting contrast with the plurality of switches to facilitate use of the plurality of switches. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A control panel for an audio device comprising:
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a front panel made of a light conducting material having openings therethrough and adapted to be mounted to the audio device; a light conducting diffuser mounted adjacent to and extending over at least a portion of a rear side of the front panel, the light conducting diffuser having openings matching the openings in the front panel; a plurality of light sources having one end extending into the light conducting diffuser, the plurality of light sources in combination with the light conducting diffuser providing a generally uniform source of light; a plurality of switches extending through the openings in the front panel and the matching openings in the light conducting diffuser; and the front panel having an illuminated front surface being luminous over substantially the entirety of the front surface in response to the plurality of light sources and the light conducting diffuser back lighting a rear surface of the front panel with the generally uniform source of light, whereby the illuminated front surface provides a lighting contrast with the plurality of switches to facilitate use of the plurality of switches. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A detachable control panel for a radio receiver comprising:
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a front panel made from a light conducting material and having opaque indicia applied thereto, the front panel containing openings extending therethrough; a light conducting plate mounted adjacent to and extending over a portion of a rear side of the front panel, the light conducting plate having openings matching the openings in the front panel; a light diffuser mounted between a front side of the light conducting plate and the rear side of the front panel, the light diffuser have opening extending therethrough matching the openings in the light conducting plate and the front panel; a circuit board located adjacent a rear side of the light conducting plate; a plurality of light sources mounted at different positions on the circuit board, each of the plurality of light sources having one end connected to a power source on the circuit board and having an opposite end extending into the light conducting plate; tubular light diffusing sleeves extending over the plurality of light sources within the light conducting plate; a character display mounted on the circuit board adjacent the light conducting plate, at least one of the sources of light being mounted adjacent the character display for illuminating a front surface of optical character display; a plurality of opaque switches extending through the openings in the front panel, the openings in the light diffuser and the openings in the light conducting plate, the plurality of opaque switches operatively contacting switch elements on the circuit board; and a rear panel connected to the front panel and enclosing therebetween the light conducting plate, the light diffuser, the plurality of light sources, the diffusing sleeves, the circuit board, the character display, and the plurality of opaque switches, the light sources providing a generally uniform illumination of the character display and the front panel behind, the illumination of the front panel contrasting with the indicia thereon and contrasting with the plurality of opaque switches to more clearly identify the indicia and the locations of the plurality of opaque switches.
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24. A control panel for an audio device comprising:
a panel assembly including a front panel having a rear surface, a front surface and an opening therethrough and adapted to be mounted to the audio device, a light conducting diffuser mounted adjacent to and extending over at least a portion of a rear side of the front panel; a switch extending through the opening in the front panel, and a source of light mounted in the panel assembly and having one end extending into the diffuser; and the front panel having an illuminated front surface being luminous over substantially the entirety of the front surface in response to the light source and the light conducting diffuser back lighting a rear surface of the front panel with a generally uniform source of light, a trim plate mounted on the front panel and covering the front surface. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A control panel for an audio device comprising:
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a front panel made of a light conducting material having an opening therethrough and adapted to be mounted to the audio device; a light conducting diffuser mounted adjacent to and extending over a portion of a rear side of the front panel; a plurality of light sources having one end extending into the light conducting diffuser, the plurality of light sources in combination with the light conducting diffuser providing a generally uniform source of light backlighting the rear side of the front panel; a switch extending through the opening in the front panel; and the front panel having an illuminated front surface being luminous over substantially all of the front surface in response to the plurality of light sources and the light conducting diffuser backlighting the rear surface of the front panel with the generally uniform source of light, the front surface being luminous over substantially all of the front surface providing a lighting contrast with the switch to identify the location of the switch.
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30. A control panel for an audio device comprising:
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a front panel made of a light conducting material and adapted to be mounted to the audio device; a light conducting diffuser mounted adjacent to and extending over at least a portion of a rear side of the front panel; a light source having one end extending into the light conducting diffuser, the light source in combination with the light conducting diffuser providing a generally uniform source of light backlighting the rear side of the front panel; a switch accessible from the front panel; and the front panel having an illuminated front surface being luminous over substantially all of the front surface in response to the light source and the light conducting diffuser backlighting the rear side of the front panel with the generally uniform source of light, the illuminated front surface of the front panel providing a lighting contrast with the switch to facilitate use of the switch.
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31. A control panel for an audio device comprising:
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a front panel made of a light conducting material and adapted to be mounted to the audio device, the front panel having an opening therethrough; a light source mounted adjacent to and extending over at least a portion of a rear side of the front panel, the light source providing a backlighting of a rear surface of the front panel; a switch extending through the opening in the front panel; and the front panel having an illuminated front surface being luminous over substantially all of the front surface in response to the light source backlighting the rear surface of the front panel, the front surface being luminous over substantially all of the front surface to provide a lighting contrast with the switch to clearly identify the location of the switch.
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Specification