INTERCHANGEABLE SWITCH ASSEMBLY FOR MEDIA DEVICE

• US 20070242172A1
• Filed: 03/26/2007
• Published: 10/18/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: VOXX International Corporation
• Original Assignee: VOXX International Corporation
• Inventors: Macholz, Jeff
• Granted Patent: US 8,400,572 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/837
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/02 for radio sets, television sets, telephones, or the like; Arrangement of controls thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0235 of flat type, e.g. LCD
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0094 characterised by means for covering after user, e.g. boxes, shutters or the like

Abstract

A media device for a vehicle includes an interchangeable switch assembly, and a console including a receiving part accommodating the interchangeable switch assembly. The interchangeable switch assembly includes a switch panel and a circuit board. The interchangeable switch assembly further includes a backlight unit for providing light to the switch panel.

Claims

1. A media device for a vehicle, comprising:

an interchangeable switch assembly; and

a console including a receiving part accommodating the interchangeable switch assembly.

2. The media device of claim 1, wherein the interchangeable switch assembly includes a switch panel and a circuit board.

3. The media device of claim 2, wherein the interchangeable switch assembly further includes a backlight unit for providing light to the switch panel.

4. The media device of claim 3, wherein the console further includes an opening for receiving a data source.

5. The media device of claim 4, wherein the opening further includes a light pipe formed around the opening.

6. The media device of claim 5, wherein a light source of the light pipe is changeable between at least two colors.

7. The media device of claim 6, wherein the console includes a switch for selecting a color of the light source.

8. The media device of claim 6, wherein the backlight unit and the light pipe display a same color.

9. The media device of claim 6, wherein the light pipe comprises a transparent plastic material.

10. The media device of claim 2, wherein the switch panel includes a plurality of buttons.

11. The media device of claim 2, wherein the circuit board includes a pin connector.

12. The media device of claim 1, wherein the interchangeable assembly is mounted to the console by screws.

13. A media device for a vehicle, comprising:

an interchangeable switch assembly;

a console including a receiving part accommodating the interchangeable switch assembly;

a media player disposed in the console, wherein the media player receives a data source through an opening in the console; and

a display attached to the console for displaying image using the data.

14. The media device of claim 13, wherein the interchangeable switch assembly includes a switch panel and a circuit board.

15. The media device of claim 14, wherein the interchangeable switch assembly further includes a backlight unit for providing light to the switch panel.

16. The media device of claim 15, wherein the console further includes a light pipe formed around the opening.

17. The media device of claim 16, wherein a light source of the light pipe is changeable between at least two colors.

18. The media device of claim 17, wherein the console includes a switch for selecting a color of the light source.

19. The media device of claim 17, wherein the backlight unit and the light pipe display a same color.

20. The media device of claim 13, wherein the interchangeable assembly is mounted to the console by screws.

21. A method for changing a switch assembly in a media device for a vehicle, the method comprising:

removing a first switch assembly having a backlight unit of a first color from a console of the media device; and

disposing a second switch assembly having a backlight unit of a second color to the console of the media device.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

selecting the second color as an illuminating color of a light pipe formed around an opening in the console.