Patent Publication Number: US-2006007684-A1

Title: Visually enhanced switch for electronic devices

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
      The present invention relates generally to an electronic device switch, and more particularly to an electronic switch capable of producing a visual effect display.  
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      It is well known that certain personal, home and sometimes commercial electronics sell better or at a higher price than others not because their functional capabilities are superior, but because their physical designs are more aesthetically appealing to the consumers.  
      Often times, consumers favor certain electronic devices because they are designed to convey a “high-tech” style or appearance. For example, Motorola, Inc. has acquired much of its market share in the telephone and cellular telephone industries via the sales of its futuristic clam-shell flip phones. Another example is the make of transparent chasses for personal computers, mice, and other consumer electronics that show the internal components of the electronics.  
      The present invention provides an electronic device switch that, in addition to controlling a certain function of the device, sets off the display of a light sequence or pattern that is aesthetically appealing. It is believed that the incorporation of such a switch in an electronic device would give the device a futuristic feel and boost its sales.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      The present invention is directed to a control feature that is suitable to be incorporated in any electronic device and, in addition to controlling various functions of the device, triggers the display of a light sequence or pattern when a particular function of the electronic device is activated or deactivated.  
      In a preferred embodiment, a control feature of an electronic device in accordance with the present invention includes a plurality of buttons, keys or switches, each of which controls a certain function of the electronic device, such as power on and off. In addition, the control feature includes a plurality of Light Emitting Diode (LED) lights, each of which is an indicator of whether a function has been activated or the degree at which a particular function has been set or programmed. Most importantly, the control feature includes a means for using the existing functional LED lights to create a light sequence or pattern which is displayed when a particular function is activated or deactivated.  
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
      The foregoing and other objects, aspects and advantages will be better understood from the following description of the embodiments in accordance with the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawing, wherein:  
       FIG. 1  is a top view of an exemplar control feature in accordance with the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
      The subject invention discloses a control feature for an electronic device that generates the display of a light sequence or pattern when a particular function of the device is activated or deactivated.  
      It is well known in the art that LED lights are often used with control buttons, keys or switches in electronic devices to indicate the activation of a particular function or the degree of such function. For example, a LED light that is on, adjacent to, or embedded in a power-on button emits visible light when the power is turned on (i.e., when the button is pushed), and turns off when the power is turned off. Another LED light next to a control key labeled “med” may be lit when the key is pressed to denote that the device is operating at medium speed or power. LED can be used to emit different colored lights, depending on the material used.  
      A control feature in accordance with the present invention uses the aforementioned LED lights, which are normally used to indicate the activation of a specific function or the state of that function, to display a light sequence or pattern when the same function is activated and/or deactivated.  
      In other words, when a control button, key or switch is pressed, turned or otherwise engaged to activate a specific function, a particular light sequence or pattern is displayed via the LED lights. It is preferred that only the LED lights that are also used as function indicators are employed to display the light sequence or pattern—no LED lights are used solely for displaying light sequences or patterns.  
      The technology for creating a light sequence or pattern using LED lights to be set off by the press of a button is well known. For example, the LEDs may be designed to have an electronic current run through them at different times or delayed intervals when a control key is pressed. Additional means for creating an LED light sequence or pattern are available and well known.  
      Turning now to  FIG. 1 , a control feature for an electric fan and in accordance with the present invention is illustrated. The control feature  100  includes a power on/off button  10  and corresponding power LED light  11 ; a fan speed button  20  and corresponding fan-on LED light  21 , low speed LED light  22 , medium speed LED light  23 , and high speed LED light  24 ; an oscillation button  30  and corresponding oscillation LED light  31 ; a timer button  40  and corresponding 0.5 h LED light  41 , 1 h LED light  42 , 2 h LED light  43 , and 4 h LED light  44 ; a pre-set program button  50  and corresponding pre-set sleep mode LED light  51  and pre-set day-time mode LED light  52 .  
      As their names suggest, LED lights  11 ,  21 , and  31  become lit when their corresponding control buttons  10 ,  20 , and  30 , respectively, are pressed to activate their corresponding functions. Likewise, the LED lights  11 ,  21 , and  31  are turned off when their corresponding control buttons are pressed again to deactivate their respective functions.  
      LED lights  41 ,  42 ,  43  and  44  indicate the status of the timer function, which is controlled by timer button  40 . For example, when the power is on, the timer button  40  may be pressed once to set an auto-off timer for 30 minutes, or 0.5 hour. Accordingly, the 0.5 h LED light  41  would turn on and remain on until the end of the 30-minute cycle, at which time the power shuts off and the 0.5 h LED light  41  turns off. Similarly, the timer button  40  may be pressed two times to set the time at 1 hour, or three times to set the time at 2 hours, etc.  
      The timer button  40  may also be used to program an automatic power on. When the power is off, the timer button  40  may be pressed twice, for example, to set an auto-on timer for one hour. The 1 h LED light would blink for 30 minutes and, at the end of the time cycle, turn off and the 0.5 h LED light would come on and blink for another 30 minutes. At the end of the second 30 minute cycle, the 0.5 h LED light turns off while the power turns on simultaneously.  
      LED lights  51  and  52  indicate the activation of one of two pre-set programs, which can be selected back and forth by pressing the pre-set program button  50  one or more times.  
      As described above, therefore, each of the LED lights is used to indicate the activation, status or degree of a particular function. However, all of these LED lights are also used to display a light sequence or pattern.  
      For example, when the electric fan is off and the power on/off button  10  is pressed, the following light sequence is displayed: the LED lights flash one after another, starting with the power LED light  11 , clockwise and sequentially for three revolutions around the control buttons; followed by three simultaneous flashes of all of the LED lights. After the completion of the aforesaid light sequence, the power is turned on.  
      Furthermore, when the power is already on and the power on/off button  10  is pressed, the following light sequence is displayed: the LED lights flash one after another, starting with the power LED light  11 , counterclockwise and sequentially for three revolutions around the control buttons; followed by two simultaneous flashes of all of the LED lights; followed by a simultaneous and gradual dimming and fading off of all of the LED lights. Subsequent to the display of the light sequence, the power is turned off.  
      Although the invention herein has been described with references to particular embodiments, it is to be understood that the embodiments are merely illustrative of, and are not intended as a limitation upon, the principles and application of the present invention. It is therefore to be understood that various modifications may be made to the above mentioned embodiments and that other arrangements may be devised without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.  
      For example, control buttons other than the power on/off button may be used to trigger a light sequence or patter, which sequence or pattern may be the same or different than the ones disclosed herewith.  
      In addition, although LED lights are preferred, other display technologies may be used to create a control feature in accordance with the present invention. For example a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) may be used and the light sequence or pattern may be shown on the LCD screen. Alternatively, the control buttons may be backlit instead of having LED lights adjacent to them. Moreover, backlit icons embedded in the control buttons may be used. Other lighting devices such as incandescent lamps and any combination or permutation of any of the above or other technologies may also be used.