Patent ID: 6963040

Claim:
An illuminated touch switch having a touch sensitive area, said illuminated touch switch comprising: (a) a first circuit means having a top surface and oppositely disposed bottom surface; (b) a second circuit means having a top surface and a bottom surface disposed opposite to said top surface of said first circuit means; (c) a first electrical conductor means of a first predetermined area and a first predetermined pattern disposed on said top surface of said first circuit means in alignment with said touch sensitive area; (d) a second electrical conductor means of a second predetermined area and a second predetermined pattern disposed on said bottom surface of said second circuit means in alignment with said first electrical conductor means; (e) a spacer means of a first predetermined thickness disposed intermediate said first circuit means and said second circuit means for maintaining a predetermined distance between said first electrical conductor means and said second electrical conductor means, said spacer means having a plurality of apertures; (f) at least one light source of a second predetermined thickness secured to said top surface of said first circuit means; (g) a control circuit means secured to said first circuit means having at least one voltage source means electrically coupled to a positive lead of said at least one light source, at least one electrical ground source means electrically coupled to a negative lead of said at least one light source, at least one switch power source means electrically coupled to said first electrical conductor means, at least one switch output source means electrically coupled to said first electrical conductor means, at least one resistor means disposed intermediate said at least one voltage source means and said at least one light source, and a plurality of internal electrical connection means associated with each one of said source means; (h) a means disposed within said illuminated touch switch for mounting thereof to a rigid surface; (i) whereby application of at least one distinct voltage signal supplied to said at least one voltage source means in combination with at least one ground signal supplied to said at least one electrical ground source means provides electrical current to said at least one light source and causes it to illuminate at least one color light; and (j) whereby a touch contact pressure applied to said touch sensitive area couples said second electrical conductor means to said first electrical conductor means to transmit at least one switch output signal from said at least one switch output source means upon supply of a switch power source signal to said at least one switch power source means.