Indicator with daylight visibility using a single light emitting diode
AssigneeHewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
InventorJon P. Mittler
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A single LED combined with a dark-colored reflective cavity, a diffusing graphic overlay, and a dark tinted window, provides a backlighted indicator with low power requirements. The design exhibits high visual contrast between on and off conditions, giving daylight visibility. The diffusing overlay and the window are nested and individually attached to a housing with adhesives, thus providing a double barrier against liquid penetration. Thus, the indicator can be used outdoors and under conditions of limited power. For example, the indicator may be part of a customer terminal mounted outdoors at retail establishments, such as gasoline stations.
Claims32
A backlighted indicator comprising:
- a dark-colored reflective cavity comprising a cavity surrounded by a dark-colored reflective surface;
- a single light emitting diode mounted in a first end of the reflective cavity and configured to generate an LED light output through the cavity;
- a layer of diffusing material proximate to a second end of the reflective cavity opposite the light emitting diode, the layer including a clear portion;
- and
- a dark tinted window proximate to the layer of diffusing material;
- wherein the reflective cavity reflects LED light output that is back-scattered by specular reflection from the layer of diffusing material, provides uniform lighted background for a graphics image in the layer of diffusing material, and provides a uniform dark background to make the window appear as opaque when the LED light output is not generated.
A customer terminal comprising:
- an antenna coupled to the controller unit, the antenna configured to receive signals from a device external to the terminal;
- and
- an indicator-coupled to the controller unit, wherein the indicator is activated in response to a signal from the controller unit, the indicator comprising:
- a dark-colored reflective cavity comprising a cavity surrounded by a dark-colored reflective surface;
- a single light emitting diode mounted in a first end of the reflective cavity and configured to generate an LED light output through the cavity;
- a layer of diffusing material proximate to a second end of the reflective cavity opposite the light emitting diode, the layer including a clear portion;
- and
- a dark tinted window over the layer of diffusing material;
- wherein the reflective cavity reflects LED light output that is back-scattered by specular reflection from the layer of diffusing material, provides uniform lighted background for a graphics image in the layer of diffusing material, and provides a uniform dark background to make the window appear as opaque when the LED light output is not generated.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.