Apparatus front panel allowing indicia on an indicia-bearing element to be read therethrough

#1. Field of the Invention

#The present invention relates to an apparatus front panel with a mechanical user interface in the form of mechanically controllable regulation and setting elements on the face of the front panel.

#2. Description of the Prior Art

#FIG. 1 shows an exemplary embodiment of the inventive front panel, in cross-section.

#FIG. 2 shows an example of a pattern for a potentiometer on the inventive front panel.

#FIG. 3 shows a first example of a pattern for a switch or a pulse generator on the inventive front panel.

#The embodiment of the inventive front panel shown in FIG. 1 includes three layers 2, 4 and 6, assembled to one another each made of a transparent material such as a glass-like plastic, e.g., Plexiglas.RTM.. The layers 2, 4 and 6 are assembled by means of vacuum gluing in order to avoid the formation of bubbles between the layers. The layers 2 and 4 can alternatively be manufactured in one piece.

#Thin conductor patterns are printed on the rear layer 6, in order to connect various controllable mechanical regulation and setting elements on the face of the front panel with a front panel connection 12 in the form of contacts or flat (ribbon) cables. These conductor patterns, which are thin enough so that they do not disturb the transparency, are produced using a silk screening technique. The printed conductor patterns can also be produced from carbon paths.

#Due to the fact that the front panel has only one front panel connection 12, the front panel can be switched on and off when it is necessary to exchange it.