Patent ID: 6441806
Filing Date: 2002-08-27
Classification: B60K,G02F,G05B,G06F,H01H

Abstract:
In an electromechanical switch having a movable switch cap which may be depressed by an operator to operate said switch, said switch cap having an end surface bounded by side surfaces, said switch further having an electrically controlled display screen embedded in said switch cap end surface which screen includes an image area at which visible images may be generated, and control means for causing display of an image on said screen which conveys information pertaining to use of the switch, wherein said image area of said screen extends substantially to each of two opposite side surfaces of said switch cap, wherein said display screen includes spaced apart front and back light transparent panels and a volume of image producing material therebetween and has edge walls which extend between said panels at right angles thereto, said switch further having a first plurality of spaced apart bus conductors which extend across said front panel at one side of said volume of image producing material and a second plurality of spaced apart bus conductors which extend across said back panel at the other side of said volume of image producing material, bus conductors of said second plurality thereof being in orthogonal relationship with the bus conductors of said first plurality thereof, bus conductors of said first plurality thereof having ends which are angled and which extend towards said back panel along a first edge wall of said screen and said bus conductors of said second plurality thereof having ends which are angled and which extend towards said front panel along a second edge wall of said screen, said switch further having connector means for connecting each of said bus conductors with said control means which connector means includes a plurality of connector conductors which extend to said first and second edge walls of said screen and each of which connects with an individual one of said bus conductors at an edge wall of said screen.