Combined door and display panel for consumer electronics products

• US 5,579,597 A
• Filed: 12/29/1994
• Issued: 12/03/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Zenith Electronics Corporation (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Zenith Electronics Corporation (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Stewart, David S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuomo, Peter M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hansen, James O.
• Application Number:
  US08/365,854
• Time in Patent Office: 705 Days
• Field of Search: 40/546, 40/547, 40/451, 40/580, 362/26, 362/27, 362/30, 362/31, 362/32
• US Class Current: 40/451
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 9/3023 Segmented electronic displays
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 9/33 being semiconductor devices, e.g. diodes

Abstract

A combination media ingress/egress door and display panel for a consumer electronics product is disclosed as having tunnels therein with openings for receiving light from controllable light sources mounted within the casing. The opposite end of the tunnels connect with the front face of the display panel. The front openings are fitted with lenses or overlays in the shape of the necessary information segments. Thus, the combination door and display panel has no electrical components or connections thereon which would be subject to undue mechanical stress which might cause failure of the display.

Claims

1. A combined door and display panel for media ingress/egress opening in a consumer electronics product housing comprising:

A) a door having a display surface ordinarily visible to an operator, the door having;

i) tunnels for the transmission of light,

ii) the tunnels extending through the door,

iii) each tunnel having a first light-receiving end on a surface of the door other than the display surface,

iv) a second light-emitting end exiting proximate the display surface; and

v) means for providing for pivotal attachment of the door to the product housing; and

B) an information display visible at the display surface, the information display having;

i) light-activated, information-conveying segments,

ii) each information-conveying segment being aligned with the second end of at least one of the tunnels.

2. The combined door and display panel of claim 1 further comprising a lens covering the second end of at least one of the tunnels to form at least one of the information-conveying segments.

3. The combined door and display panel of claim 2 wherein the lens has a reflective backing.

4. The combined door and display panel of claim 1 wherein the tunnel has a reflective portion for directing light to the display panel.

5. The combined door and display panel according to claim 1 wherein said information segment further comprises an overlay over the second end of the tunnel.

6. The combined door and display panel of claim 1 wherein at least some of said tunnels are offset from each other by having some tunnels proximate the display surface and some tunnels offset distally from the display surface.

7. The combined door and display panel of claim 1 wherein the door is a one-piece molded plate with the tunnels formed therein.

8. A consumer electronics product housing comprising:

A) a door having a display surface ordinarily visible to an operator and sized to cover a media ingress/egress opening in the consumer electronics product, the door having;

i) tunnels for the transmission of light,

ii) the tunnels extending through the door,

iii) each tunnel having a first light-receiving end on a surface of the door other than the display surface, and

iv) a second light-emitting end exiting proximate the display surface;

B) an information display visible at the display surface, the information display having;

i) light-activated, information-conveying segments,

ii) each information-conveying segment being aligned with the second end of at least one of the tunnels;

C) means for allowing the door to open so as to allow ingress and egress of media through the door opening;

D) light emitters positioned proximate the first ends of the tunnels; and

E) a controller for the light emitters to control transmission of light through the tunnels and light the information-conveying segments to convey information to the viewer.

9. The consumer electronics product housing according to claim 8 wherein the door is a one-piece molded plate with the tunnels formed therein.

10. The consumer electronics product housing according to claim 8 wherein the light emitters are light emitting diodes.

11. The consumer electronics product housing according to claim 8 wherein the light emitters are surrounded by hoods which extend to adjacency with the light-receiving opening of the tunnels.