Illuminated rotary control for a communication device
First Claim
1. A rotary control interface for a communication device, comprising:
- a light source for generating light rays;
a light guide for reflecting light rays;
a reflector shield for controlling shielding and unshielding of the reflected light rays;
a helix slider coupled to the light guide, the helix slider having a helical slide within which to rotate the reflector shield;
a knob for rotating the reflector shield along the helix slider while concurrently controlling a feature of the communication device; and
a light guide arc reflector providing an illuminated indicator of the location of the knob and a current status level of the feature in response to rotation of the knob.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A rotary control (120) is illuminated through a controlled illuminated indicator provided by a light guide arc reflector (114) disposed on a control panel (104) along an outer periphery of a rotary control knob (112). The controlled illuminated indicator concurrently indicates status and location of the rotary control knob. The controlled illuminated indictor generates an increased rotational arc of illumination in response to the knob being rotated in a first direction and generates a decreased rotational arc of illumination in response to the knob rotated in a second direction. The rotary control (120) utilizes a helix slider (304) to control upwards and downwards movement of a reflector shield (302) which block and unblocks light rays in response to the knob (112) being rotated.
12 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A rotary control interface for a communication device, comprising:
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a light source for generating light rays; a light guide for reflecting light rays; a reflector shield for controlling shielding and unshielding of the reflected light rays; a helix slider coupled to the light guide, the helix slider having a helical slide within which to rotate the reflector shield; a knob for rotating the reflector shield along the helix slider while concurrently controlling a feature of the communication device; and a light guide arc reflector providing an illuminated indicator of the location of the knob and a current status level of the feature in response to rotation of the knob. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A communication device, comprising:
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a housing; a rotary control coupled to the housing, the rotary control comprising; a knob; an illumination indicator disposed on the housing along an outer periphery of the knob, the illumination indicator providing an arc of illumination synchronized with rotation of the knob; a light guide generating light rays to illuminate the illumination indicator; a reflector shield for shielding the light rays from the light guide in response to the knob being rotated in a first direction and for unshielding the light rays from the light guide in response to the knob being rotated in a second direction; and a helix slider coupled to light guide, the helix slider providing a helical slide upon which the reflector shield rotates upwards and downwards in response to rotation of the knob in the first and second directions. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A radio, comprising:
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a housing having a control panel upon which is located a plurality of controls, at least one of the controls being a rotary control knob; a controlled illuminated indicator disposed on the control panel along an outer periphery of the rotary control knob, the controlled illuminated indicator concurrently indicating volume status and location of the rotary control knob, the controlled illuminated indictor generating an increased rotational arc of illumination in response to the knob being rotated in a first direction and providing a decreased rotational arc of illumination in response to the knob rotated in a second direction, wherein the rotational arc of illumination is controlled via a control mechanism comprising; a light guide for reflecting light rays; a helix slider coupled to light guide, the helix slider having first and second helical slots; and a reflector shield mounted to the helix slider, the reflector shield moving upwards and downwards along the helical slots to shield and unshield the reflected light rays in response to the knob being rotated. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
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Specification