Audio console delegation system with visual readout

Claim 2

In a distributor-switching unit for an audio console delegation system including means for selectively enabling at least one program source to at least one buss; readout means for visually indicating that a buss is enabled comprising an outer substantially rigid readout panel of transparent material of a color providing visibility inhibiting characteristics therethrough in the absence of illumination from a source adjacent said panel, said panel having outer and inner faces, the outer face of said panel having a mat surface finish in the area thereof constituting the readout area, a thin layer of white translucent material in contact with the inner face of said panel and extending over said face so as to cover the readout indicating area thereof, a thin layer of opaque black material which will inhibit the transmission therethrough of light from a source within said unit, said black layer extending over and being in contact with said white layer and having open areas representative of readout indicia to be visible at the outer mat face of said panel when light from said source is directed through said open areas and through said white layer and panel to said mat surface, and a source of light externally of said panel in juxtaposition to said black layer.

Claim 3

A switching unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein said readout panel is of a smoke gray synthetic plastic material.

Claim 4

A switching unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein said open areas in said black layer when viewed from the side in contact with said white layer delineate a pair of columns of indicia each column comprising a plurality of spaced-apart independent indicia.

Claim 5

A switching unit as claimed in claim 3, wherein said source of light comprises a plurality of independent electrical lighting elements at least one behind each indicia.

Claim 6

A switching unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein said open areas in said black layer when viewed from the side in contact with said white layer delineate a pair of columns of indicia, each column comprising a plurality of spaced-apart independent indicia, and wherein said source of light comprises structure providing a plurality of independent light wells of nonlight transmitting material, at least one behind each indicia, and means for mounting an independent electrical lighting element in each of said light wells, each said light well being capable of substantially concentrating the light from a lighting element when mounted therein on the indicia in front of such light well and substantially excluding the light of this lighting element from any other indicia and the light wells behind such other indicia.

Claim 7

In a distributor-switching unit for an audio console delegAtion system, said unit including means for selectively enabling a program source to a plurality of program busses: readout means for visually indicating which busses are enabled comprising a readout panel of transparent material of a color providing visibility inhibiting characteristics therethrough in the absence of illumination from a source within said unit, said panel having outer and inner faces and said outer face having a mat surface finish in the area thereof constituting the readout area, a thin layer of white translucent material in contact with the inner face of said panel and extending over said inner face so as to cover the readout indicating area thereof, a thin layer of opaque black material which will inhibit the transmission therethrough of light from a source within said unit, said black layer extending over and being in contact with said white layer and having open areas representative of readout indicia to be visible at the outer mat face of said panel when light from said source is directed through said open areas and through said white layer and panel to said mat surface, said open areas in said black layer when viewed from the side in contact with said white layer delineating a pair of columns of indicia each column comprising a plurality of spaced-apart independent indicia, a source of light in juxtaposition to said black layer comprising a plurality of independent electrical lighting elements at least one behind each indicia, a container for carrying said enabling means and readout means, a first block supported by said container and seating said panel, a second bock supported by said first block and having a plurality of spaced bores for receiving and mounting the base portions of some of said lighting elements, said lighting elements having their filament ends projecting above said second block to a point in juxtaposition to said panel, said first block also having a plurality of bores coincident with those of said second block for receiving and surrounding the said filament ends of said elements, each said bore defining an independent light well for the filament end it receives capable of substantially concentrating the light from such filament end on the indicia above it and being capable of substantially excluding light from a filament in any other of said bores of said first block.

Claim 8

In a distributor-switching unit for an audio console delegAtion system, said unit including means for selectively enabling a program source to a plurality of program busses: readout means for visually indicating which busses are enabled comprising a readout panel of transparent material of a color providing visibility inhibiting characteristics therethrough in the absence of illumination from a source within said unit, said panel having outer and inner faces and said outer face having a mat surface finish in the area thereof constituting the readout area, a thin layer of white translucent material in contact with the inner face of said panel and extending over said inner face so as to cover the readout indicating area thereof, a thin layer of opaque black material which will inhibit the transmission therethrough of light from a source within said unit, said black layer extending over and being in contact with said white layer and having open areas representative of readout indicia to be visible at the outer mat face of said panel when light from said source is directed through said open areas and through said white layer and panel to said mat surface, said open areas in said black layer when viewed from the side in contact with said white layer delineating a pair of columns of indicia each column comprising a plurality of spaced-apart independent indicia, a source of light in juxtaposition to said black layer comprising a plurality of independent electrical lighting elements at least one behind each indicia, a container for carrying said enabling means and readout means, a first block supported by said container and seating said panel, a second bock supported by said first block and having a plurality of spaced bores for receiving and mounting the base portions of some of said lighting elements, said lighting elements having their filament ends projecting above said second block to a point in juxtaposition to said panel, said first block also having a plurality of bores coincident with those of said second block for receiving and surrounding the said filament ends of said elements, each said bore defining an independent light well for the filament end it receives capable of substantially concentrating the light from such filament end on the indicia above it and being capable of substantially excluding light from a filament in any other of said bores of said first block.

Claim 9

A switching unit as claimed in claim 6, wherein said first block is colored black in all of its said bores and on its face adjacent said readout panel.

Claim 10

A switching unit as claimed in claim 6, wherein there is an air circulation slot formed between the readout panel and first block and another between said first and second blocks, said slots extending the full width of said blocks and lengthwise of said blocks over said bores.

Claim 11

A switching unit as claimed in claim 6, including a third block supported by said first block and endwise adjacent said second block said third block having a plurality of spaced bores for receiving and mounting the base portions of the remainder of said lighting elements and said bores in said third block being substantially coincident with bores in said first block.

Claim 12

A switching unit as claimed in claim 6 wherein one of said bores in said first block is transversely elongated to receive a plurality of filament ends and wherein the indicia illuminated by said filament ends comprises a word.

Claim 13

A switching unit as claimed in claim 6 wherein said readout panel is of a smoke gray color.