Quotables
"Radio has no future."
Lord Kelvin, British mathematician and physicist ; 1897
PatentStorm News
Make the Most of Our Site
See this month's Top Inventors and Most Cited Patents.
Stay on top of the latest innovations by subscribing to an RSS feed.
Registered users: Manage your profile.
| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 8173921 | Switch module A switch module includes a substrate (4), a plurality of switches (6) provided on an upper surface of the substrate (4), first and second light-guiding sheets (8, 10) disposed to be stacked above the plurality of switches (6), at l... | 05/08/2012 |
| 7851717 | Light-guide sheet, movable contact unit and switch using the same A light-guide sheet includes a light transmissive film substrate, and luminescent protrusions formed at predetermined points on the substrate. At least one of the substrate and each of the luminescent protrusions is colored to a color tone that absorbs yellow light ... | 12/14/2010 |
| 7369064 | Key and keyboard A key includes a light-permeable body, a light-shading layer and a first dye layer. The light-shading layer is formed on the surface of the light-permeable body and has a first light-permeable area and a second light-permeable area. The first dye layer is formed on ... | 05/06/2008 |
| 7339128 | All-color light control switch An all-color light control switch that is used by an operator for free adjustment or control of a light emitting diode lamp set; using multiple sets of commands for light variations stored in a non-volatile memory unit in a microprocessor on the circuit board, and b... | 03/04/2008 |
| 7335844 | Keypad assembly for electronic device A keypad assembly for an electronic device is disclosed. The keypad assembly includes a light guide plate through which a light moves, a plurality of first key buttons on the top surface of the light guide plate, a plurality of reflecting patterns on the bottom surf... | 02/26/2008 |
| 7220930 | Floor care appliance with an electro luminescent switch panel A floor care appliance such as a vacuum cleaner is provided having a display panel having at least one indicator light for indicating a status of a feature of the appliance wherein the indicator light is lighted by electro luminescent lighting. The electro luminesce... | 05/22/2007 |
| 7194699 | Animating images to reflect user selection Images displayed on a display device are animated to reflect a user's selection of the images. According to one embodiment, the displayed images include keyboard characters that are selected when the user touches the display at the locations of the display where the... | 03/20/2007 |
| 7186935 | Keypad assembly for a portable terminal A keypad assembly for a portable terminal is disclosed. The keypad assembly for the portable terminal includes a light guide plate which has reflection patterns locally formed on a lower surface of the light guide plate for reflecting a part of light transmitted in ... | 03/06/2007 |
| 7090368 | Key for use in low light conditions A key, which may be used in a user interface, including indicia formed at least in part from UV reactive material. ... | 08/15/2006 |
| 6960732 | Electric switch insertable into a control/display screen The invention concerns an electric switch with an activation element that is inserted and retained with limited axial adjustability in a pot-shaped receptacle formed on a control/display screen and that can be connected to a control component of a switch part. The i... | 11/01/2005 |
| 6911971 | Computer and method providing for illumination of keyboard The computer of the present invention is provided with a main body on which keys to be operated by the user are disposed and a display unit that displays an image in accordance with each operation executed for the main body. Each key disposed on the main body is com... | 06/28/2005 |
| 6747402 | EL element lighting unit employing the same EL element An EL element includes plural light transmitting front-electrodes forming plural lines by wiring and plural back-electrodes forming plural lines by further wiring. The front-electrodes are angled relative to the back-electrodes and a light-emitting layer is disposed... | 06/08/2004 |
| 6608271 | Method of dynamically lighting keyboard glyphs In one embodiment a light source is provided to illuminate one or more keys. Each key has at least one glyph. The color of each glyph corresponds to the light source.... | 08/19/2003 |
| 6590174 | Switch assembly having diffused illumination A switch assembly comprises a substrate and a multi-way switch mounted on the substrate. A knob is connected to the multi-way switch and has a perimeter. The knob is used for controlling a position (e.g., a shaft position) or corresponding electrical stat... | 07/08/2003 |
| 6576856 | Sheet shaped key top A sheet shaped key top wherein molded resin key tops are arranged on a sheet, wherein the resin key top is fixed so as to cover the core upper part passing through the sheet, allowing to vary easily the key top design, and permitting a high manufacturing ... | 06/10/2003 |
| 6210010 | Illuminated pushbutton with colors and brightness electronically controlled An illuminated pushbutton has a display assembly which is movable relative to a fixed part containing a switch assembly. The display assembly contains a plurality of solid state light generating devices which can individually or in combination provide ill... | 04/03/2001 |
| 6036326 | Illuminated resinous button key with optical means for highlighting character formed on the key A resinous member with a character visually arranged therein, including a resinous body, a character formed by a laser beam machining on a surface of the body, and a light transmittable coating arranged on the surface of the body for covering at least the... | 03/14/2000 |
| 5950809 | Keyboard with multifunction keys and apparatus including such a keyboard An illuminated keyboard with keys capable of selectively passing through polarized light of different polarization directions. Keys are provided with two different labels. In a first mode a first label associated with a key is selected, and in a second mo... | 09/14/1999 |
| 5807002 | Super-thin plastic key The subject invention relates to a type of super-thin plastic key, comprising a top part and a base part; said top part comprising a top part foundation, a layer of light permeable ink and a layer of light-proof ink; using a plastic film as the top part f... | 09/15/1998 |
| 5684468 | Illuminating display device An illuminating display device for limiting the travel direction of beams. This device includes a main body which is transparent; a display layer disposed on the surface of the main body and including a display mark composed of a cut-out section; a reflec... | 11/04/1997 |
| 5635927 | Magnifying key switch A key switch includes a rubber key body mounted within a key switch hole on a key pad device above a circuit board thereof, and a key cap fastened to the rubber key body at the top and depressed to move the rubber key body downward in triggering a contact... | 06/03/1997 |
| 5573107 | Internally-illuminable push-button switch unit An improved internally-illuminable push-button switch unit is proposed, which is an assembly comprising: (a) an upper sheet member integrally consisting of a first elastic sheet having such a light-transmissivity as to ensure image-visibility therethrough... | 11/12/1996 |
| 5471023 | Light illumination membrane switch with reduced size and improved light illumination A light illumination membrane switch having a configuration with a reduced size, capable of realizing an effective light illumination of the keys and a highly reliable operation even under the high humidity environment. The switch has a light source secti... | 11/28/1995 |
| 5455743 | Switch panel for electronic device A substrate 70 carrying a button plate 54 having an actuating button, and a switch element 72, is arranged at the back side of a front panel of an outer housing 1, and is supported by a bracket 74 screwed to the outer housing 1. The actuating button 52 an... | 10/03/1995 |
| 5408060 | Illuminated pushbutton keyboard An illuminated keyboard in which the keys are operable in at least two different modes. Each key is provided with symbols or areas of color which denote the different modes. The symbols or areas are selectively illuminated depending upon which mode is sel... | 04/18/1995 |
| 5401927 | Selectively illuminated indicator and method for making the same An keypad comprises at least first and second actuators formed of a substantially translucent elastomeric material. A barrier (103) disposed within the first actuator (200) permits light, emitted by a first light source (105), present inside the first act... | 03/28/1995 |
| 5397867 | Light distribution for illuminated keyboard switches and displays Disclosed is the backlit display and/or backlit keyboard display which have a controlled level of illumination at the surface thereof. Where such switch and/or display are illuminated by a light emitting diode, the present invention interposes an optical ... | 03/14/1995 |
| 5386090 | Electric switch unit for the control of air conditioning units in automotive vehicles An electric switch unit, in particular for the control of air conditioning units in automotive vehicles. The switch unit includes pushbuttons whose symbols are illuminated by light which is guided from a central source of light through a light-guiding mem... | 01/31/1995 |
| 5332877 | Pictorial symbol switch A pictorial symbol switch which is effective to minimize a panel and to prevent an operation in error thereof. The pictorial symbol switch comprises first and second switch units having first and second pictorial symbols indicated on surfaces thereof, res... | 07/26/1994 |
| 5012054 | Closely spaced back-lit push button array A back-lit push button array which permits close spacing of the buttons while preventing light leaks between the buttons. The buttons are individually keyed into the outer shell of a housing to provide lateral support while permitting axial movement, and ... | 04/30/1991 |
| 4947011 | Illuminated switch device An illuminated switch device including a single light source and an operating knob provided with an indicator adapted to be illuminated in different selective colors by a light from the light source. The switch device further includes a light transmissive... | 08/07/1990 |
| 4778967 | Illuminated switch The present invention relates to an illuminated switch and in particular to one having a housing, switch contacts in the housing, an electrical device disposed in the housing and operatively associated with the switch contacts, a light transmissive colore... | 10/18/1988 |
| 4758701 | Indicator light assembly for control panel An indicator light assembly forms part of a push button switch. A base member is formed from a transparent material having a high index of refraction. A shaft is formed on the back of the base member which cooperates with other switch elements and which d... | 07/19/1988 |
| 4758724 | Panel mounted toggle switch An electrical toggle switch with self-contained indicating devices for displaying the operating condition of the switch and the electrical equipment controlled thereby. The switch may be of the single pole double throw type, or the double pole double thro... | 07/19/1988 |
| 4700025 | Transparent touch-sensitive panel A transparent touch-sensitive panel comprising a transparent touch-sensitive switch consisting of an upper plate, a lower plate, and an insulating spacer. A transparent board has an outer peripheral portion to which the lower plate is bonded via a transpa... | 10/13/1987 |
| 4667073 | Electrical switch with self contained indicating means An electrical toggle switch with self-contained indicating devices for displaying the operating condition of the switch and the electrical equipment controlled thereby. The switch may be of the single pole double throw type, or the double pole double thro... | 05/19/1987 |
| 4459448 | Double pull double throw switch The switch includes a housing having a translucent sleeve of one color projecting from one end thereof. A translucent pushbutton of a different color is reciprocable in the sleeve against the resistance of a compression spring between an OFF position in w... | 07/10/1984 |
| 4458124 | Multicolor illuminated toggle switch A three-position toggle switch having a transparent toggle lever (28) illuminated in its natural color in the center position and illuminated in second and third colors in its respective left and right positions. Molded color filters (32, 34) are structur... | 07/03/1984 |
| 4408104 | Lever switch arrangement for motor vehicle This disclosure is directed to an improved lever switch arrangement for use in a motor vehicle and the like, in which positions of a control lever are clearly indicated through illumination particularly at night for improved operability, while the illumin... | 10/04/1983 |
| 4395611 | Illuminated push-button switch An illuminated push-button switch which has the functions of both the optical display and the mechanical display, and which produces a plurality of displays simultaneously, the displays being easily recognizable.... | 07/26/1983 |
