Patent ID: 7948765
Filing Date: 2011-05-24
Classification: A47J,H05K

Abstract:
1. A reconfigurable control panel assembly to allow for the production of multiple control panel variations using a common circuit board, the reconfigurable control panel comprising: the common circuit board having a generally planar structure and being generally rigid; a connector coupled to the common circuit board; components carried on the common circuit board; electrical conductors associated with the common circuit board, the electrical conductors coupled to corresponding components on the circuit board; a prepared overlay selectively positionable on the common circuit board providing control areas in registration with at least one of the corresponding components on the common circuit board; the at least one of the components on the common circuit board being responsive to programming for activation or deactivation to provide registration with selected components and corresponding control areas on the overlay; and wherein the overlay is one of a variety of overlays that can be selected for compatible use with the common circuit board for allowing a single common circuit board to be compatibly used with the variety of overlays, one at a time.