Illuminated controller

• US 5,876,106 A
• Filed: 09/04/1997
• Issued: 03/02/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 09/04/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Minebea Company Limited (MinebeaMitsumi Inc.)
• Original Assignee: CTS Corporation
• Inventors: Kordecki, David L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sember, Thomas M.
• Application Number:
  US08/923,624
• Time in Patent Office: 544 Days
• Field of Search: 362/29, 362/32, 362/84, 338/118, 338/119, 200/314
• US Class Current: 362/29
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 11/28 Structurally-combined illuminating devices
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 5/165 by relative movement of a point of contact or actuation and a resistive track
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2219/018 Electroluminescent panel

Abstract

An illuminated controller having a membrane potentiometer for use as a light dimmer or other voltage controlling device. The controller has a backplate that acts as a sturdy base, and a cover, having sidewalls and a top wall with a central opening. The cover is mounted on the backplate and a layered structure is interposed between the cover and backplate. The layered structure includes a membrane potentiometer for varying voltage, and an electroluminescent panel, for generating light to illuminate the controller.

Claims

1. A controller that is illuminated, for receiving a first voltage and outputing a second voltage, comprising:

a) a backplate for providing a sturdy base for the controller;

b) a cover, having sidewalls and a top wall which has a central opening defining a cavity therein, for mounting on the backplate;

c) a membrane potentiometer, interposed between the cover and the backplate, for receiving a first voltage, outputing a second voltage that is a percentage of the first voltage; and

d) an electroluminescent panel, interposed between the cover and the membrane potentiometer, for generating a light to illuminate the controller and being exposed through the central opening, the top wall extending over and retaining the membrane potentiometer and the electroluminescent panel to the backplate.

2. The controller of claim 1, further including an electrically insulative sheet, located above the membrane potentiometer and electroluminescent panel but beneath the cover.

3. The controller of claim 2, wherein the electrically insulative sheet is transparent.

4. The controller of claim 2, wherein the electrically insulative sheet has graphic overlays to aid the user in controlling the controller.

5. The controller of claim 1, wherein the membrane potentiometer and electroluminescent panel are formed between common flexible films.

6. The controller of claim 1, further comprising a stiffener board for pressing the membrane potentiometer thereagainst.

7. The controller of claim 1, wherein the cover is transparent and light from the electroluminescent panel is transmitted therethrough.

8. The controller of claim 7, wherein the electroluminescent panel extends beyond the membrane potentiometer and the stiffener board.

9. The controller of claim 1, wherein light generation is restricted to a periphery of the electroluminescent panel.

10. The controller of claim 1, wherein a plurality of electrical terminations for both the membrane potentiometer and electroluminescent panel are mounted on common film layers and the electrical terminations extend through a slot in the backplate.

11. A controller that is illuminated for receiving a first voltage and outputing a second voltage, comprising:

a) a backplate for providing a sturdy base for the controller;

b) a light transmissive cover, having sidewalls and a top wall with a central opening, for mounting on the backplate;

c) a membrane potentiometer, interposed between the membrane potentiometer and the backplate, for receiving a first voltage, outputing a second voltage that is a percentage of the first voltage; and

d) an illumination means, interposed between the cover and the backplate for illuminating at least a portion of the cover by transmitting light through the side and top walls.

12. The controller of claim 11, wherein the illumination means comprises an electroluminescent panel for generating light.

13. The controller of claim 12, wherein the cover is light transmissive for transmitting light to illuminate the controller.

14. The controller of claim 12, wherein the cover comprises light piping for illuminating selected portions of the controller.

15. The controller of claim 12, wherein the cover comprises fiber optics for illuminating selected portions of the controller.

16. The controller of claim 11, wherein a plurality of electrical connectors attached to both the membrane potentiometer and electroluminescent panel extend through a slot in the backplate.

17. The controller of claim 11, wherein the membrane potentiometer prevents light from being directly transmitted through the central opening.