Illuminated controller
AssigneeCTS Corporation
InventorDavid L. Kordecki
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An illuminated controller having a membrane potentiometer for use as a light dimmer or other voltage controlling device. The controller has a backplate that acts as a sturdy base, and a cover, having sidewalls and a top wall with a central opening. The cover is mounted on the backplate and a layered structure is interposed between the cover and backplate. The layered structure includes a membrane potentiometer for varying voltage, and an electroluminescent panel, for generating light to illuminate the controller.
Claims17
A controller that is illuminated, for receiving a first voltage and outputing a second voltage, comprising:
- a) a backplate for providing a sturdy base for the controller;
- b) a cover, having sidewalls and a top wall which has a central opening defining a cavity therein, for mounting on the backplate;
- c) a membrane potentiometer, interposed between the cover and the backplate, for receiving a first voltage, outputing a second voltage that is a percentage of the first voltage;
- and
- d) an electroluminescent panel, interposed between the cover and the membrane potentiometer, for generating a light to illuminate the controller and being exposed through the central opening, the top wall extending over and retaining the membrane potentiometer and the electroluminescent panel to the backplate.
A controller that is illuminated for receiving a first voltage and outputing a second voltage, comprising:
- a) a backplate for providing a sturdy base for the controller;
- b) a light transmissive cover, having sidewalls and a top wall with a central opening, for mounting on the backplate;
- c) a membrane potentiometer, interposed between the membrane potentiometer and the backplate, for receiving a first voltage, outputing a second voltage that is a percentage of the first voltage;
- and
- d) an illumination means, interposed between the cover and the backplate for illuminating at least a portion of the cover by transmitting light through the side and top walls.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.