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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 8178805 | Appliance control knob providing illuminated setting indication A shaft of a rotary switch, for example, useful as a control for an appliance, such as a washing machine, incorporates an LED at the end of the shaft and projecting light laterally from the shaft to provide an indication of the rotary position of the corresponding k... | 05/15/2012 |
| 8080752 | Control assembly for interlocked sockets A control assembly for interlocked sockets includes a rotary breaker which is actuated by a knob and is mounted on a supporting structure. The control assembly includes a visual indication means which has the purpose of highlighting the open/closed state of the rota... | 12/20/2011 |
| 7943878 | Operating device for an electrical appliance and control panel An operating device for an electrical appliance with a control panel has a control element for operation through rotary actuation arranged in the control panel, said control element being disposed and mounted in a receptacle behind the control panel. The receptacle ... | 05/17/2011 |
| 7812274 | Rotary knob for a motor vehicle A rotary knob is for operating a motor vehicle by rotation of the rotary knob, the rotary knob having an at least partially transparent display layer which rotates along in response to an angular movement of the rotary knob, and a controllable light source for displ... | 10/12/2010 |
| 7612307 | Light directing structure for instruction switches A light directing structure for instruction switches includes an instruction switch, a control element coupled on the perimeter of the instruction switch that is made from a light directing material and has an installation opening to hold the instruction switch, and... | 11/03/2009 |
| 7361858 | Swing switch A swing switch, which is disposed in a decorative panel having a surface and an opening, includes a switch body, and a panel-side guide. The switch body has an input element, a switch-side guide, and a swing center. The input element is disposed in the opening of th... | 04/22/2008 |
| 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 |
| 7255061 | Control knob with symbol display Control, comprising a knob (12a) with a prism (20) that has an axial part (22) located centrally in the knob, with a symbol display surface (28) at an external end (30) of the knob, and a part (24) arranged at an angl... | 08/14/2007 |
| 7253369 | Backlight button assemblage A backlight button assemblage includes an opaque button, a light-guiding element, and a light-emitting element. The light-emitting element is disposed under the button and light emitted from the light-emitting element is guided to the front side of the button via th... | 08/07/2007 |
| 7222979 | Illuminated dial An illuminated knob assembly includes a base. The base includes an annular track on an upper base surface of the base. A PC board is disposed in the track. The PC board includes a plurality of light sources disposed on an upper board surface of the board. A light tr... | 05/29/2007 |
| 7205492 | Push button actuator A push button actuator unit has a housing which defines a through passage that extends along an axis of the housing, and a slot that extends in a plane which transversely intersects the axis and communicates with the passage for supporting in the housing-defined slo... | 04/17/2007 |
| 7205495 | Control knob with multi-color indicator A control knob for controlling an underlying signal is disclosed. The control knob includes a clear radial portion which serves as an indicator on the knob. The radial portion receives light from a multi-color LED which is housed within a clear shaft of a potentiome... | 04/17/2007 |
| 7202428 | Automotive air conditioning switch system Light projected from a light source is reflected to a pointer side by a reflecting portion in such a state that a dial is rotated to a FOOT position position. Due to this, since light projected from the light source can be emitted to the pointer by bypassing an insi... | 04/10/2007 |
| 7171727 | Method and apparatus for appliance control and status display A method and apparatus for an appliance control knob incorporating a microprocessor and a status display built into the control knob housing. Such a control knob gives the appliance a clean and uncluttered appearance, and allows a user of the appliance both to contr... | 02/06/2007 |
| 7126066 | Push button actuator A push button actuator unit has a housing which defines a through passage that extends along an axis of the housing, and a slot that extends in a plane which transversely intersects the axis and communicates with the passage for supporting in the housing-defined slo... | 10/24/2006 |
| 7105759 | Instrument with illuminated control knob An electronic instrument has a rotary switch with an extending shaft, a light source proximate to the shaft, and a knob attached to the shaft. The knob has a body with a rear face, an opposed front face, and side surfaces extending between the faces. The rear face d... | 09/12/2006 |
| 7094982 | Switch device A switch device includes a base member, a rotary mechanism and a vertical actuation mechanism. The rotary mechanism is received in the base member to move a present circular displacement while a hollow handle turning. The vertical actuation mechanism is received in ... | 08/22/2006 |
| 7091434 | Dial switch having an ornamental colored ring A dial switch disposed on a front surface of a control panel is surrounded by a colored ring which is visible from a front side of the control panel. Behind the front surface of the control panel, an ornamental prism made of a transparent material and a light source... | 08/15/2006 |
| 7067754 | Bezel-button assembly and method A bezel-button assembly comprising at least one button connected to a bezel. The button is moveable between a first position and at least a second position. An elastic layer connects the bezel to the button and is adapted to provide at least a partial mechanical bia... | 06/27/2006 |
| 7059735 | Illuminating mechanism of rotary electric component In a rotary electric component, an annular thin faceplate disposed around a rotary knob is provided with an illuminated display portion inner and outer circumferential portions of the rear surface of the faceplate are bonded and fixed to a holder, and the rotary kno... | 06/13/2006 |
| 7057127 | Safety electric switch A safety electric switch in which a safety plate is insertable through a button into an actuating member to lock the actuating member to the button for enabling the actuating member to be moved with the button to switch on/off the electric circuit. ... | 06/06/2006 |
| 7053320 | Switch device A switch device is configured by engaging a plurality of switches in a cam section of an operating member in a manner such that a detecting section can detect positions of operation of the operating member based on electric ON/OFF states of the switches. With this a... | 05/30/2006 |
| 6997572 | Illumination structure for pushbutton and electronic device with pushbutton having illumination structure A pushbutton switch mechanism has board 28 incorporating an electronic circuit thereon, metal sheet contact 26 disposed on board 28, a light-transmissive pushbutton disposed in an opening defined in a casing of the electronic device for being pr... | 02/14/2006 |
| 6998554 | Push-button switch units for vehicle interior light assembly A push-button switch unit includes a push switch which is fixed to a main body and includes an operating part; and a push button fitted to the operating part. The push button is pressed in order to turn the push switch on and off. An undersurface of the push button ... | 02/14/2006 |
| 6948824 | Illuminated electric part capable of efficiently receiving incident light from light source in light-transmissive manipulating shaft An illuminated electric part includes a manipulating shaft which is rotatable and is stable at least at two points. The manipulating shaft is light-transmissive and includes a pictograph portion which is illuminated at a top portion thereof. The illuminated electric... | 09/27/2005 |
| 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 |
| 6876313 | Rotary knob structure A rotary knob, particularly an illuminant rotary knob, provides function selection and execution through single-handed operation. The invention includes a light transparent light guide to couple with a compiling controller to facilitate user operations. A plurality ... | 04/05/2005 |
| 6781076 | Swing type multi-way switch There is provided a swing type multi-way switch in which light irradiated from a light source built therein sufficiently illuminates substantially all over the rear surface of an operation knob. The switch comprises: a box-like operation knob; a square frame-shaped ... | 08/24/2004 |
| 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 |
| 6744374 | Setting device with rotating actuator and illuminated index display A setting device includes a rotating actuator, a switch, an illuminated index display on which a value which is manually set at the rotating actuator is assigned to the rotating actuator and, by actuating the switch, the manual setting at the rotating actuator can b... | 06/01/2004 |
| 6608272 | Illuminating rotary switch The present invention is a rotary switch with illumination capabilities utilizing a light pipe within the rotary switch to carry light from a light source to the outside of the rotary switch. The light source is preferably an LED or incandescent bulb, and... | 08/19/2003 |
| 6565223 | Integrated light transfer structure for providing halo and end illumination for a control switch assembly An illuminated control assembly which comprises a light guide having a an outer illumination section and an end illumination section. The assembly also comprises at least one outer light conducting leg and at least one end light conducting leg. Each leg h... | 05/20/2003 |
| 6531669 | Method and system for illuminating a mechanical rotary push-button switch A system and method for illuminating a push-button type avionics mechanical-to-electrical rotary switch, which includes an optical fiber extending through a hollow shaft in said switch, and where said optical fiber provides illumination of the push button... | 03/11/2003 |
| 6392175 | Control element for control functions A control element for control functions within a passenger area of a vehicle having several turning knobs whose positions are indicated by an illumination display, includes an LED (Light Emitting Device) and a light-guide coupled directly with the LED and... | 05/21/2002 |
| 6348772 | Control device In a control device (1) having an actuator (2) which can be activated manually, an arresting element (8) is used to provide haptic feedback for a rotating sensation which is associated with the selected function. This rotating sensation, for example indiv... | 02/19/2002 |
| 6155691 | Light illuminating type manipulation and display apparatus In a light illuminating type manipulation and display apparatus including a light source and rotary knobs having a plurality of stop positions and indicator sections which are illuminated and displayed with the light from the light source at each of the s... | 12/05/2000 |
| 5913414 | Illuminated switch apparatus An apparatus (10) comprises a manually rotatable knob (14) and a source (18) of light. The knob (14) has an axis (15) of rotation, and has a discrete light-transmitting portion (40) which is spaced from the axis (15). A hollow part (36) of the knob (14) d... | 06/22/1999 |
| 5901835 | Illuminated rotary switch An electrical switch capable of emitting light is composed of a base, a conductive disk, a switching conductive piece, a first, a second, a third and a fourth fastening conductive pieces, a light emitting diode, a cap, and a rotating mechanism. The conduc... | 05/11/1999 |
| 5901836 | Lighting knob switch A lighting-knob-switch comprises a first light conductor shaped in a cylinder or an oval-top pillar. The first light conductor has a light interceptor (22B) having a concave slope on its rear end and has a lighting face (22A) on its front end. The lightin... | 05/11/1999 |
