US3681665A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Status indicating display for electronic circuit cards
Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp
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Filing: 1971-02-11
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Granted: 1972-08-01
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Expires: 1991-02-11
Abstract
Abstract A translucent plastic strip having various indicia thereon is positioned along the front edge of an electronic circuit card. A plurality of lamps are electrically connected to selected circuits on the card and are positioned behind the strip to selectively light selected portions of the strip in response to a particular status of the circuits to which they are connected. The indicia on the strip schematically represent various electrical components on a machine which is being controlled by the electronic logic circuitry on the card. The strip is detachably attached to a panel fixedly mounted on the card to permit the strip to be transferred whenever the card is replaced.
Inventors
- 👤 Richard G Olds
- 👤 Frank X Zammitt
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 04:35
CPC Classifications
H; H02; H02B; H02B15/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
184 words
In an electronic circuit card of the type comprising a generally planar board having a forward edge portion, a plurality of electronic components on said board, a plurality of terminals on said board adapted to be engaged with a plurality of corresponding terminals in an electrical panel and means on said board for electrically connecting said components in circuit with said terminals on said board, that improvement which comprises a single strip of translucent material having indicia on selected portions thereof, a support panel positioned adjacent said forward edge portion of said board and fixedly attached to said board and means on said support panel for detachably attaching said strip thereon, said strip being detachably supported on said panel so as to extend lengthwise of said front edge portion, the length of said strip being substantially co-extensive with the length of said front edge portion, lighting means electrically connected with selected circuits on said board for selectively lighting said selected portions of said strip in response to the electrical status of the circuitry on said board to which said lighting means is electrically connected.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
184 words
In an electronic circuit card of the type comprising a generally planar board having a forward edge portion, a plurality of electronic components on said board, a plurality of terminals on said board adapted to be engaged with a plurality of corresponding terminals in an electrical panel and means on said board for electrically connecting said components in circuit with said terminals on said board, that improvement which comprises a single strip of translucent material having indicia on selected portions thereof, a support panel positioned adjacent said forward edge portion of said board and fixedly attached to said board and means on said support panel for detachably attaching said strip thereon, said strip being detachably supported on said panel so as to extend lengthwise of said front edge portion, the length of said strip being substantially co-extensive with the length of said front edge portion, lighting means electrically connected with selected circuits on said board for selectively lighting said selected portions of said strip in response to the electrical status of the circuitry on said board to which said lighting means is electrically connected.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
The circuit card of claim 1 wherein said strip is generally flat and lies in a plane generally perpendicular to the plane of said board.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
The circuit card of claim 1 wherein said panel comprises means for mounting said lighTing means behind said strip.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
44 words
The circuit card of claim 2 wherein said panel comprises a pair of transversely spaced apart side walls and means on said side walls for detachably supporting said strip thereon, said lighting means being positioned between said side walls and behind said said strip.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
75 words
The circuit card of claim 2 wherein said panel is dished rearwardly to form a rear wall extending transversely from the plane of said board and transversely spaced apart side walls extending forwardly from said rear wall to define a hollow dished portion and wherein said strip is spaced forwardly of said rear wall to cover at least a portion of said hollow dished portion, said lighting means being positioned within said hollow dished portion.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
The circuit card of claim 5 wherein said rear wall includes means for mounting said lighting means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
45 words
The circuit card of claim 4 wherein said means for detachably supporting said strip on said side walls comprises a pair of opposed parallel grooves formed in the inner opposed surfaces of said side walls and engageable with the opposite side edges of said strip.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
35 words
The circuit card of claim 7 wherein each of said grooves extends lengthwise from a lengthwise end of said side walls for substantially the entire length thereof and wherein said strip slidably engages said grooves.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
49 words
The circuit card of claim 8 wherein said panel further comprises a rear wall connecting the rear edges of said side walls and extending lengthwise of said panel, said rear wall including means for mounting said lighting means thereon such that said lighting means is positioned behind said strip.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
The circuit card of claim 1 wherein said indicia comprise symbolic representations of various devices adapted to be controlled by the circuitry on said board.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
52 words
The circuit card of claim 1 wherein said lighting means comprises a plurality of lamps, each of said lamps being electrically connected to a circuit on said card and positioned behind one of said selected portions on said strip for highlighting the indicia on said one portion whenever the lamp is illuminated.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-08-01 | 1976-01-31 | 1976-08-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-08-01 | 1980-01-31 | 1980-08-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-08-01 | 1984-01-31 | 1984-08-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |