Abstract: An apparatus for illuminating the keys on keyboards includes a relatively thin transparent material having a plurality of through apertures providing clearance for each of the keys of the keyboard that are to be received therein for illuimination. The surfaces and external edges of the relatively thin transparent material is treated to prevent light from escaping therefrom, with the internal edges of the clearance through apertures being left clear for permitting the light to excape therefrom, thereby illuminating each of the keys. A bracket is adapted to removably retained a light source in the thin transparent material and permits the orientation of the light rays emanating from the light source to enter into an edge of the relatively thin transparent material. The light source is coupled to an electrical power source power and includes a fuse and an on/off switch.

Abstract: A wearable transmitter assembly includes a housing containing a radio frequency transmitter and tamper detecting circuit that are attached to an appendage of an individual with a buckle and strap. A light emitter and a light sensor are disposed in the housing and extend to the outside of the housing through one or more apertures. The strap includes an embedded optical fiber. Attachment of the housing to the buckle positions the emitter and sensor adjacent the ends of the optical fiber in the strap to complete an optical path or circuit from the emitter around the appendage to the sensor. The housing is sealed closed, including sealant between the emitter, the sensor and the aperture, providing a water tight enclosure for said transmitter from the time of its manufacture. Attachment of the housing to the buckle completes a seal blocking contaminates, such as water, water vapor, and soap from the ends of the optical fiber, the emitter and the sensor.

Abstract: An appliance control assembly includes an escutcheon assembly to support controls for the appliance. A push button switch mechanism includes a row of push buttons, each having an extended and a depressed position. The switch mechanism also includes a row of indicator flags integral with the push buttons for movement therewith. The escutcheon assembly includes a row of light ports positioned to be exposed to ambient light and adapted to pass ambient light through the escutcheon assembly. The switch mechanism further includes a row of prisms positioned adjacent the row of push buttons. The switch mechanism is mounted to the escutcheon assembly with the prisms aligned with the light ports to direct toward the indicator flags ambient light received through the light ports and to direct toward the light ports light reflected by the indicator flags.

Abstract: A backlit component which is suitable for use in an illuminated graphic keypad in an instrument panel of an automobile The backlit component is adapted to be illuminated by a light source located beneath the keypad, but off to one side of the backlit component in order to accommodate an actuator member extending from the backlit component and an electrical switch actuated by the actuator member when the backlit component is pressed. The backlit component is formed from an optically conductive material to enable light emitted by the light source to be transmitted through the component to an insignia formed on the exposed or exterior surface of the component. The backlighting intensity of the backlit component is enhanced by forming the actuator member from an optically conductive material, and equipping the actuator member with a reflective surface such that light emitted from the light source is reflected toward the insignia.

Abstract: An illuminated keyboard in which the keys are operable in at least two different modes. Each key is provided with symbols or areas of color which denote the different modes. The symbols or areas are selectively illuminated depending upon which mode is selected. Thus, in one mode, one area of the keys will be illuminated, while in another mode, another area of the keys will be illuminated. Thus, only the symbols or areas of color on denoting a selected mode are differentially visibly distinguishable by the user, assisting the user to press the correct key, in any selected mode.

Abstract: An illuminated rocker switch having a transparent actuator in the form of a light pipe pivoted on the switch housing. The light pipe has a set of generally parallel spaced arms each transmitting light to a separate projection surface on each arm from the common edge of an aperture illuminated by a lamp. A separate arm receives light from a separate lamp at a second light receiving surface and transmits light to a projection surface on the end of the separate arm. An opaque actuator cover is attached to the light pipe and has transparent regions adjacent each projection surface for illumination. The cover has an opaque shroud tube received on the separate arm and shields it from illumination other than from its own lamp. The light pipe carries a shorting bar which, upon user movement of the actuator switches between stationary contacts on the housing.

Abstract: A unitized, switch activating mechanism for use in keyboard assemblies for activating snap dome or similar type switches. The mechanism includes a relatively hard actuating tip portion disposed intermediate an elastomeric conical skirt portion and a light guide portion. The conical skirt functions both as a light reflector and as a return spring. The light guide portion is constructed from a diffused translucent, relatively hard elastomeric material which functions as a highly efficient light guide for uniformly illuminating the key legend of the key board assembly with which the light guide interfaces.

Abstract: A keyboard has a plurality of key operated switches, each including a key having a manually engagable key surface. The keyboard selectively determines the function produced by operation of the key operated switches, and displays on each key its current function. The display provides a sensible output indication corresponding to the current function of each key, and includes an elongate strip symbol bearing member located alongside each key and lying in a plane generally perpendicular to the plane of each key surface.

Abstract: A laniform illumination plate comprising light emitters at one side thereof to irradiate the display section of the necessary keys with uniform illumination, a light-transmitting thin plate which has total reflection inside the plate thickness, the light emitters located in predetermined intervals, with sloped or curved concave reflecting sections formed on the bottom surface of the thin plate corresponding to the location of the keys, or strip shaped concave reflecting sections which run across the width of the thin plate, whereby the light is directed to the corresponding keys on the top surface of the thin plate.

Abstract: A back-lit push button array which permits close spacing of the buttons while preventing light leaks between the buttons. The buttons are individually keyed into the outer shell of a housing to provide lateral support while permitting axial movement, and interleaving laterally extending features are formed on juxtaposed sidewalls of the buttons within the housing to prevent interbutton light leaks. This permits the buttons to be spaced very closedly, and there is no limitation on the size of the symbols or legends other than the dimensions of the button face itself.

Abstract: In a resetting apparatus having an inner cable one end of which confronts a reset button of an appliance mounted inside a control panel and the other end of which is connected with a push button protruded outside the control panel, and an outer cable which envelops the inner cable and which is fixed to a front of the control panel at one end therof and to the appliance at the other end thereof, the push button being depressed thereby to depress the reset button of the appliance; an apparatus for resetting an appliance characterized in that the inner cable is made of an optical conductor, and that a light emitting device is mounted in the reset button of the appliance.

Abstract: A keyboard capable of efficiently illuminating push buttons with a small number of light sources, wherein light sources are randomly distributed below a grating-like retainer provided for retaining push buttons of the keyboard and light rays from the light sources are reflected by means of pyramidal reflectors disposed above the light sources so as to illuminate a plurality of push buttons sideways and thereby efficiently illuminate a push button with light rays from light sources positioned along a plurality of directions.

Abstract: A keyboard having a side-lighted transparent support plane including a plurality of light-pipes vertically projecting therefrom through an overlying foam over-travel pad. A pair of patterned membrane switch layers, separated by a low density foam spacer, overly the over-travel pad and are positioned relative to a plurality of key-caps slidably mounted to the light-pipes. The sensation of key travel is achieved via the over-travel pad and/or a foam spring mounted beneath the key-caps with switch contact being made intermediate full key depression. An audible click is achieved via overlapping slidably abrasive projections.

Abstract: A change-over position display device for use in a switch having a switch casing in which a movable contact is displaced to at least two positions through a pushing operation or a pulling operation of an operation knob. The device includes a plurality of change-over position display portions provided on the operating knob, an illuminating light source and a movable light guide for introducing illuminating light from the illuminating light source to any one of the plurality of the change-over position display portions in response to the pushing operation or the pulling operation of the operating knob.

Abstract: An electrically passive keyboard is provided with an array of keys. Each key is provided with an actuating bar which when depressed cooperates with a plurality of coded shutters. Each shutter is arranged to intercept a beam of light passing from light projecting elements to light collecting elements. Light pulses generated at a light source are coupled to the projecting elements with fiber optic cables. Decoding logic is coupled to the light collectors with fiber optic cables. Delay elements are provided in series in the fiber optic cables so that the decoding elements receives a plurality of binary coded light signals in a predetermined timed sequence which are converted into binary coded electrical signals at a point remote from the electrically passive keyboard.

Abstract: Electromagnetically operated contactor or relay employing contact modules which are removably mounted in either of two positions respectively providing normally open and normally closed contact conditions. One set of contact modules is mounted in a main frame and a second set is mounted in an upper frame which overlies the main frame and obscures the first set of contact modules. Transparent viewing members extend through apertures in the upper frame. Each transparent viewing member has a viewing surface exposed externally of the upper frame and an image transmitting surface adjacent to a contact module of the underlying first set. Each contact module has two light reflecting surface areas which are distinguishable from each other, one or the other being adjacent to the image transmitting surface of the associated transparent viewing member depending upon the position of the contact module.

Abstract: A pushbutton tuner display apparatus for an entertainment device is disclosed in which a plurality of pushbuttons are used to tune a radio apparatus in the entertainment device in one mode of operation, while in another mode of operation the entertainment device operates as a cartridge tape player in which the pushbuttons are utilized as display devices which indicate which tape track is being monitored by the cartridge tape player. Additionally, one pushbutton is utilized as a display to indicate the reception of a stereo radio signal. Each pushbutton comprises a clear plastic light pipe surrounded by an opaque plastic part having openings at the front and rear. An associated light bulb mounted inside the frame of the entertainment device is utilized to provide light to each rear portion of each light pipe, and each light pipe has a prismatic portion which transmits received light to a front portion of the light pipe where an illuminated operative state display indication is produced.