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US 5,477,430 AGranted
Fluorescing keypad
AssigneeDelco Electronics Corporation
InventorCharles W. LaRose
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
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AssigneeDelco Electronics Corporation
InventorCharles W. LaRose
Estimating the term…
A backlit component is provided which is suitable for use in an illuminated graphic display in an instrument panel of an automobile. The backlit component can be formed as a molded plastic button for use in a display group forming a keypad, in which minimal variability of backlighting intensity can be readily achieved within the backlit component as well as within the display group. The backlit component is preferably molded from a translucent substrate in which at least one phosphor additive is dispersed. The phosphor additive is preferably uniformly dispersed such that the backlit component is characterized by a substantially uniform backlighting intensity upon the phosphor additive being excited by an appropriate light source in proximity to the backlit component. The light source can be received within a recess formed in the backlit component, or spaced apart from the component, in which case light emitted by the light source may be transmitted by a recess or light pipe integrally formed in the component. An insignia can be formed on the surface of the component, and phosphors capable of fluorescing in different colors can be combined to produce essentially any backlighting color.
A backlit component having a substantially uniform backlighting intensity, the backlit component including a button member comprising an optically clear silicone and at least one phosphor additive dispersed in a portion of the button member, the button member having means for enabling a light source in proximity to the button member to excite the at least one phosphor additive such that the button member will fluoresce when excited by the light source, the at least one phosphor additive generating a substantially uniform backlighting intensity.
A backlit component having a substantially uniform backlighting intensity, the backlit component comprising:
A backlit component having a substantially uniform backlighting intensity, the backlit component comprising:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.