Controller for ablutionary settings
AssigneeKohler Mira Limited
InventorsMarwan Estiban, Govinda Rao Koyala, Krishna C Poduru, Richard Mead, Adam May
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A controller for use in a wet environment such as an ablutionary setting includes a display for displaying information related to the operation of a fluid delivery system. The display includes a light source, a semi-transparent layer, and a touch interface configured to provide an input to the controller. The light source and the semi-transparent layer are configured such that the semi-transparent layer absorbs or reflects light transmitted towards the light source and allows light transmitted from the light source to be transmitted from the display, such that the light source appears hidden when light is not transmitted from the light source.
Claims16
A controller for use in a wet environment such as an ablutionary setting, comprising a display for displaying information related to the operation of a fluid delivery system, the display comprising:
- an anterior side and a posterior side;
- a light source adjacent the anterior side;
- a semi-transparent layer;
- and
- a space between the light source and the semi-transparent layer, the space consisting of a touch interface having a first side and a second side, wherein the first side is attached to the light source and the second side is attached to the semi-transparent layer;
- wherein the touch interface is configured to provide an input to the controller, wherein the semi-transparent layer is integrally formed with the touch interface;
- wherein the touch interface is directly coupled to the light source and is arranged between the light source and the semi-transparent layer such that the semi-transparent layer is adjacent the posterior side, or the semi-transparent layer is arranged between the light source and the touch interface such that the touch interface is adjacent the posterior side;
- wherein a thickness of the touch interface is less than about 10 mm such that information represented by the light source is visible;
- and
- wherein the light source and the semi-transparent layer are configured such that the semi-transparent layer absorbs or reflects light transmitted towards the light source and allows light transmitted from the light source to be transmitted from the display, such that the light source appears hidden when light is not transmitted from the light source.
A method of manufacturing a controller for use in a wet environment such as an ablutionary setting, the controller comprising a display for displaying information related to the operation of a fluid delivery system and for providing an input to the controller, the display comprising:
- an anterior side and a posterior side,
- a light source adjacent the anterior side,
- a semi-transparent layer, and
- a space between the light source and the semi-transparent layer, the space consisting of a touch interface having a first side and a second side, wherein the first side is attached to the light source and the second side is attached to the semi-transparent layer, wherein the semi-transparent layer is integrally formed with the touch interface, wherein a thickness of the touch interface is less than about 10 mm such that information represented by the light source is visible, and wherein the touch interface is directly coupled to the light source and is arranged between the light source and the semi-transparent layer such that the semi-transparent layer is adjacent the posterior side, or the semi-transparent layer is arranged between the light source and the touch interface such that the touch interface is adjacent the posterior side;
- the method comprising:
- providing a light source, a semi-transparent layer, and a touch interface;
- and
- configuring the light source and the semi-transparent layer such that the semitransparent layer absorbs or reflects light transmitted towards the light source and allows light transmitted from the light source to be transmitted from the display, such that the light source appears hidden when light is not transmitted from the light source.
A controller for use in a wet environment such as an ablutionary setting, comprising a display for displaying information related to the operation of a fluid delivery system, the display comprising:
- an anterior side and a posterior side;
- a light source adjacent the anterior side;
- a semi-transparent layer;
- and
- a space between the light source and the semi-transparent layer, the space consisting of a touch interface having a first side and a second side, wherein the first side is attached to the light source and the second side is attached to the semi-transparent layer;
- wherein the touch interface is configured to provide an input to the controller, wherein the semi-transparent layer is integrally formed with the touch interface;
- wherein the touch interface is arranged between the light source and the semi-transparent layer such that the semi-transparent layer is adjacent the posterior side, or the semi-transparent layer is arranged between the light source and the touch interface such that the touch interface is adjacent the posterior side;
- wherein a thickness of the touch interface is less than about 10 mm such that information represented by the light source is visible, and wherein a maximum thickness of the semi-transparent layer is 0.2 mm;
- and
- wherein the light source and the semi-transparent layer are configured such that the semi-transparent layer absorbs or reflects light transmitted towards the light source and allows light transmitted from the light source to be transmitted from the display, such that the light source appears hidden when light is not transmitted from the light source.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.