# US 9,520,257 B2 · Integral module with lighted faceplate display > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,520,257 B2 - Document ID: US9520257B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/125,153 - Filed: 2012-06-26 - Published: 2014-04-24 - Granted: 2016-12-13 - Earliest claimed: 2011-06-27 - Assignees: Labinal - Applicants: Patrick Wellington Mills; James Michael McCormick - Inventors: Patrick Wellington Mills; James Michael McCormick - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9520257B2 ## CPC - H01H 71/04: Means for indicating condition of the switching device {(by means of an auxiliary contact H01H71/46)} - F21V 33/00: Structural combinations of lighting devices with other articles, not otherwise provided for - H02B 1/044: Mounting through openings - H01H 9/182: {Illumination of the symbols or distinguishing marks (H01H9/181 takes precedence)} - H02B 1/056: Mounting on plugboards - H01H: ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES (contact cables H01B7/10; electrolytic self-interrupters H01G9/18; emergency protective circuit arrangements H02H; switching by electronic means without contact-making H03K17/00) - F21V: FUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS THEREOF; STRUCTURAL COMBINATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES WITH OTHER ARTICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - H02B: BOARDS, SUBSTATIONS OR SWITCHING ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE SUPPLY OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER ## Abstract A faceplate assembly is provided. The faceplate assembly includes a faceplate having planar member with a first side and a second side, the planar member having a number of openings therethrough, the planar member first side having a number of opaque portions and a number of translucent portions, each planar member first side translucent portion disposed adjacent one planar member opening, a number of sources of localized illumination, each the source of localized illumination disposed adjacent the planar member second side and adjacent a planar member first side translucent portion, and wherein the source of localized illumination may be illuminated causing a selected planar member first side translucent portion to be illuminated. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A faceplate assembly for a circuit breaker panel electrical module, said circuit breaker panel electrical module having frame assembly and a number of circuit breakers, said circuit breaker panel electrical module frame assembly having a front member and a back member, said circuit breaker panel electrical module frame assembly front member and said circuit breaker panel electrical module frame assembly back member being spaced from each other and defining an enclosed space, said circuit breakers each having a body with an outwardly extending movable handle, each said circuit breaker body disposed in said circuit breaker panel electrical module frame assembly enclosed space, said faceplate assembly comprising: a faceplate including a planar member with a first side and a second side, wherein the planar member is a compressive member and said planar member first side has a number of opaque portions and a number of translucent portions, said planar member defining a number of openings that are sized to receive the respective movable handles of the circuit breakers so as to prevent a passage of light through the openings while permitting the light to pass through the translucent portions of the planar member first side, each planar member first side translucent portion disposed adjacent one planar member opening; a number of sources of localized illumination; each said source of localized illumination disposed adjacent said planar member second side and adjacent a planar member first side translucent portion and wherein said source of localized illumination may be illuminated causing a selected planar member first side translucent portion to be illuminated, wherein said source of localized illumination is an electroluminescent backlight that is a panel member applied to the planar member; and a number of fasteners and a number of faceplate assembly couplings, the faceplate assembly couplings being sized and positioned to correspond to the faceplate assembly fasteners; wherein the faceplate planar member is spaced from the circuit breaker panel electrical module frame assembly back member such that when said faceplate assembly fasteners are connected to said frame assembly faceplate assembly couplings, said faceplate planar member compresses said circuit breakers in said frame assembly so as to bias the circuit breakers toward the circuit breaker panel electrical module frame assembly back member. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The faceplate assembly of claim 1 wherein said source of localized illumination has changeable characteristics, said changeable characteristics selected from a group including color, strobe, and intensity. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The faceplate assembly of claim 2 wherein: selected said planar member first side translucent portions are associated with an adjacent planar member opening; and said planar member first side translucent portions include shaped translucent portions selected from the group including a halo and a highlight. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The faceplate assembly of claim 3 wherein: said source of localized illumination structured to change characteristics in response to a condition of an associated circuit breaker; and wherein the combination of a selected illumination characteristic and a selected shaped translucent portion provides a fault identification. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The faceplate assembly of claim 4 wherein: the condition of an associated circuit breaker includes conditions selected from a group including arc fault, ground fault, degrading CVD thermal, ACFI, GF, and diagnostic; and wherein each said fault identification is associated with one circuit breaker condition. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The faceplate assembly claim 4 wherein said fault identification is a sole warning indicia of a fault associated with a selected circuit breaker. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The faceplate assembly of claim 1 wherein an illumination of said source of localized illumination is a sole warning indicia of a fault associated with a selected circuit breaker. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The faceplate assembly of claim 1 wherein said circuit breaker module includes an electrical module configured to communicate with said faceplate and an electrical connector receptacle in electrical communication with said electrical module and wherein said faceplate includes a plug-in electrical connector, said plug-in electrical connector configured to correspond to said electrical connector receptacle. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The faceplate assembly of claim 1 wherein said source of localized illumination also includes an LED strand having a plurality of LEDs. ### Claim 10 A circuit breaker panel electrical module comprising: a frame assembly, a number of circuit breakers, and a faceplate assembly; said frame assembly having a front member and a back member, said frame assembly front member and said frame assembly back member being spaced from each other and defining an enclosed space; each said circuit breaker having a body with an outwardly extending movable handle; said faceplate assembly including a faceplate and a number of sources for localized illumination; said faceplate including a planar member with a first side and a second side, wherein the planar member is a compressive member and said planar member first side has a number of opaque portions and a number of translucent portions, said planar member defining a number of openings that are sized to receive the respective movable handles of the circuit breakers so as to prevent a passage of light through the openings while permitting the light to pass through the translucent portions of the planar member first side, each planar member first side translucent portion disposed adjacent a planar member opening; each said source of localized illumination is disposed adjacent said planar member second side and adjacent a planar member first side translucent portion; said faceplate assembly coupled to said frame assembly front member; each said circuit breaker body disposed in said circuit breaker panel electrical module frame assembly enclosed space with each circuit breaker outwardly extending movable handle extending through a faceplate planar member opening; wherein each said source of localized illumination may be illuminated causing one said planar member first side translucent portion to be illuminated, wherein said source of localized illumination is an electroluminescent backlight that is a panel member applied to the planar member; said faceplate assembly further including a number of fasteners and a number of faceplate assembly couplings, the faceplate assembly couplings being sized and positioned to correspond to the faceplate assembly fasteners; and the faceplate planar member being spaced from the frame assembly back member such that when said faceplate assembly fasteners are connected to said frame assembly faceplate assembly couplings, said faceplate planar member compresses said circuit breakers in said frame assembly so as to bias the circuit breakers toward the frame assembly back member. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The circuit breaker panel electrical module of claim 10 wherein: said source of localized illumination has changeable characteristics, said changeable characteristics selected from a group including color, strobe, and intensity; selected said planar member first side translucent portions are associated with an adjacent planar member opening; said planar member first side translucent portions include shaped translucent portions selected from a group including a halo and a highlight, said source of localized illumination structured to change characteristics in response to a condition of an associated circuit breaker; wherein the combination of a selected illumination characteristic and a selected shaped translucent portion provides a fault identification; and the condition of an associated circuit breaker includes conditions selected from a group including arc fault, ground fault, degrading CVD thermal, ACFI, GF, and diagnostic; and wherein each said fault identification is associated with one circuit breaker condition. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The circuit breaker panel electrical module of claim 11 wherein said fault identification is a sole warning indicia of a fault associated with a selected circuit breaker. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The circuit breaker panel electrical module of claim 10 wherein said circuit breaker panel electrical module includes an electrical module configured to communicate with said faceplate and an electrical connector receptacle in electrical communication with said electrical module and wherein said faceplate includes a plug-in electrical connector said plug-in electrical connector configured to be correspond to said electrical connector receptacle. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The circuit breaker panel electrical module of claim 10 wherein said source of localized illumination also includes an LED strand having a plurality of LEDs.