Reconfigurable user-interface device

• US 8,749,397 B2
• Filed: 12/03/2012
• Issued: 06/10/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/11/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: C.R.F. Societa Consortile Per Azioni
• Original Assignee: C.R.F. Societa Consortile Per Azioni
• Inventors: Bernard, Stefano, Carvignese, Cosimo, Marzorati, Diego, Masoero, Giorgio
• Primary Examiner(s): HUNNINGS, TRAVIS R
• Application Number:
  US13/693,027
• Publication Number:
  US 20130241740A1
• Time in Patent Office: 554 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 340/815.57
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 5/36 using visible light sources
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/83 characterised by legends, e.g. Braille, liquid crystal displays, light emitting or optical elements
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2231/026 Car
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2239/026 Internal encoding, e.g. validity bit
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2300/04 Programmable interface between a set of switches and a set of functions, e.g. for reconfiguration of a control panel
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49002 Electrical device making

Abstract

A user-interface device comprises a plurality of indication elements (3), each provided with a visual indication (4), mounted on a structure (5). Operatively associated to at least one indication element (3) is a lighting system (12a, 12b, 14) comprising light-generating means (12a, 12b) in position set at the back of the body of the indication element (3). The lighting system also comprises an optical module (14) made of transparent material associated to the light-generating means (12a, 12b) and configured for changing the direction of rays of light emitted by the generating means (12a, 12b).

Claims

1. A user-interface device, which comprises:

a plurality of indication elements for signalling of information and/or input of commands, each indication element having an individual identity and including a visual indication;

a structure adapted for receiving the indication elements, the indication elements being in particular mounted in a relocatable way on the structure;

wherein each indication element has a body including at least one upper face, provided with a corresponding visual indication, and one or more side faces,

wherein operatively associated to at least one indication element is a lighting system comprising light-generating means in position set at the back of the body of the indication element,

and wherein the lighting system also comprises an optical module made of transparent material associated to the light-generating means and configured for changing the direction of rays of light emitted by said generating means.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the optical module is housed in a cavity of the body of the indication element.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the optical module is configured for generating a cone of rays of pre-set semidivergence □

and a substantially uniform lighting profile of pre-set shape and dimensions in a plane set at a pre-set distance from a substrate associated to which are the light-generating means.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein said upper face belongs to an upper wall of the body of the indication element and at least one surface of said upper wall has a surface roughness configured such that a light beam impinging on said surface from a direction normal to the surface itself is diffused with an angle of diffusion.

5. The device according to claim 1, wherein the body of the indication element is made of a transparent material and the corresponding upper face is coated by a layer of optically non-transmissive paint, formed in which is the respective visual indication.

6. The device according to claim 1 wherein the light-generating means comprise at least two light sources having different colour or spectral emission peak.

7. The device according to claim 1, wherein the indication elements comprise identification means configured for co-operating with detection means of the device, for identification of the identity of the indication elements.

8. The device according to claim 7, wherein the identification means comprise a layer of electrically conductive material on a respective said side face, there being superimposed on the layer of electrically conductive material a layer of electrically insulating material.

9. The device according to claim 8, wherein the detection means comprise one or more contact elements set up against a respective said side face.

10. The device according to claim 9, wherein the layer of electrically insulating material has one or more windows for exposure of respective local portions of the underlying layer of electrically conductive material, each window being obtained substantially at a respective contact element.

11. The device according to claim 10, wherein the contact elements are at least in part elastically deformable and configured such that, in a respective condition of coupling with the body of the indication element, they are elastically pressed on the respective said side face of said body.

12. The device according to claim 10, wherein the detection means comprise a control system to which the interface device is operatively connected, and wherein a succession of correspondences between contact elements with respective windows and/or local portions of the electrically insulating layer provides a binary succession identifiable in a unique way by the control system.

13. The device according to claim 10, wherein the body of each indication element has a plurality of said side faces, extending on each of which is the layer of electrically conductive material and the layer of electrically insulating material, each of said side faces being provided with one or more of said windows, at least one said contact element being set up against each of said side faces.

14. The device according to claim 10, wherein a number of contact elements belong to one and the same connection member defining a reception seat for a lower region of a side wall of the body of one said indication element, one said side face belonging to said wall, with the corresponding window or windows that extends/extend at least in part in said lower region.

15. The device according to claim 1, wherein the body of at least one indication element belongs to a key for input of commands or data.