Control apparatus
AssigneeMatsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
InventorHiroshi Wakahara
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A control apparatus is provided which is imparted with a reliable waterproofness against liquid spilt thereon to prevent a short circuit accident and which matches various armrests of different colors in terms of color. At least a cabinet face plate 6 forming part of an operating section of a cabinet 1 is a light-transmitting plate which covers all the other components of the operating section entirely and tightly. An optical contact-detecting unit such as a reflection-type infrared photo-coupler 9 is located inside of the cabinet face plate 6 to detect an contacting operation through the cabinet face plate 6. A liquid crystal panel 2 may be disposed inside of the cabinet face plate 6 for displaying an operational indication.
Claims6
A control apparatus comprising:
- a cabinet on a face of which an operating section is formed which is operable by contact, at least a cabinet face plate forming part of said operating section comprising a light-transmitting plate covering all the other components of said operating section tightly and entirely;
- a liquid crystal panel disposed behind said cabinet face plate for displaying an operational indication;
- and
- an optical contact-detecting unit disposed behind said liquid crystal panel, the optical contact-detecting unit comprising a light emitting device and a light receiving device for detecting the contact with a surface of said cabinet through said liquid crystal panel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.