US5059960A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Control panel
Assignee: NexPress Solutions LLC
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Filing: 1986-12-22
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Granted: 1991-10-22
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Expires: 2006-12-22
Abstract
Abstract A control panel includes electronically addressable display means and a removable opaque overlay. The overlay has transparent graphics indicating machine options for primary functions. The machine options are selectively backlit by the display means to indicate a particular option. When the overlay is removed the display means operates in its conventional manner to guide the operator through more complex special features.
Inventors
- 👤 Daniel J. Rosenberg
- 👤 Thomas C. Littlefield
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 11:06
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03G; G03G15/00; G03G15/50; G03G15/5016
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
119 words
A control panel for a copier, printer or the like, comprising: electronically addressable display means, an overlay for said display means, said overlay including permanet light attenuating portions indicating operator options in response to backlighting, and means for indicating a particular option by actuating the electronically addressable display means to selectively backlight the light attenuating portion indicating that option, said panel having first and second modes of operation in which: in said first mode, said overlay overlies the display means and the display means is actuable to selectively backlight operator options permanently indicated in said overlay, and in said second mode, said overlay does not overlie the display means and the display means is actuable to directly display information.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
119 words
A control panel for a copier, printer or the like, comprising: electronically addressable display means, an overlay for said display means, said overlay including permanet light attenuating portions indicating operator options in response to backlighting, and means for indicating a particular option by actuating the electronically addressable display means to selectively backlight the light attenuating portion indicating that option, said panel having first and second modes of operation in which: in said first mode, said overlay overlies the display means and the display means is actuable to selectively backlight operator options permanently indicated in said overlay, and in said second mode, said overlay does not overlie the display means and the display means is actuable to directly display information.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
A control panel according to claim 1 wherein the overlay has an opaque portion, said light attenuating portions being formed as transparent or cutout text or graphics in the opaque portion.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
A control panel according to claim 1 wherein the overlay also has a transparent portion permitting use of the display means to directly display.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
52 words
A control panel according to claim 1 wherein said light attenuating portions for a particular set of options are arranged in a row, column or diagonal and there is an operator actuatable means aligned with said row, column or diagonal actuatable to control indication of options in that column, row or diagonal.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
A control panel according to claim 4 wherein said operator actuable means is also actuable to control the display means when in its second mode.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
41 words
A control panel according to claim 1 wherein said panel is settable between modes one and two by raising the overlay and includes means responsive to raising and lowering of said overlay to set associated equipment electrically for the appropriate mode.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
45 words
A control panel according to claim 1 wherein said overlay is part of a larger flexible element including a substantially transparent portion and wherein said panel includes means for scrolling said element to position either said overlay or said transparent portion over said display means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
A control panel according to claim 1 or 6 wherein said panel includes means to automatically switch to said first mode in response to a particular condition of associated equipment.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
28 words
A control panel according to claim 1 or 6 further including a plurality of overlays, and means for selectively positioning each of the overlays over the display means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
95 words
A control panel comprising a backlit electronically addressable liquid crystal display means and a partially transparent or translucent, partially opaque or translucent overlay for said display means said opaque and transparent portions defining operator options, said panel having first and second modes of operation, in which in said first mode, said overlay is backlit by the display means, with the display means being actuatable to selectively highlight operator options in said overlay, and in said second mode, said overlay does not overlie the display means and the display means is actuable to directly display information.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
95 words
A control panel comprising a backlit electronically addressable liquid crystal display means and a partially transparent or translucent, partially opaque or translucent overlay for said display means said opaque and transparent portions defining operator options, said panel having first and second modes of operation, in which in said first mode, said overlay is backlit by the display means, with the display means being actuatable to selectively highlight operator options in said overlay, and in said second mode, said overlay does not overlie the display means and the display means is actuable to directly display information.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
21 words
A control panel according to claim 10 wherein said operator options are lightly backlit in said first mode when not highlighted.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
65 words
A control panel according to claim 1 wherein said electronically addressable display means includes an array of separately addressable pixels which function in the first mode of said panel by emitting light behind the light attenuating portion corresponding to the operator option to be indicated and function in said second mode by emitting light from specific pixels located in a pattern directly representative of information.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
77 words
A control panel for a copier, printer or the like, comprising: electronically addressable display means, an overlay for said display means, said overlay including permanent light attenuating portions indicating operator options in response to backlighting, means for indicating a particular option by actuating the electronically addressable display means to selectively backlight the light attenuating portion indicating that option, and means for directly displaying information by actuation of said electronically addressable display means without attenuation by said overlay.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
77 words
A control panel for a copier, printer or the like, comprising: electronically addressable display means, an overlay for said display means, said overlay including permanent light attenuating portions indicating operator options in response to backlighting, means for indicating a particular option by actuating the electronically addressable display means to selectively backlight the light attenuating portion indicating that option, and means for directly displaying information by actuation of said electronically addressable display means without attenuation by said overlay.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
104 words
A control panel for a copier, printer or the like, comprising: electronically addressable display means including an array of separately addressable pixels, an overlay for said display means, said overlay including permanent light attenuating portions indicating operator options in response to backlighting. means for indicating a particular option by actuating the electronically addressable display means to emit light behind the the light attenuating portion corresponding to the operator option to be indicated, and means for directly displaying information by actuation of said display means to emit light from specific pixels located in a pattern directly representative of such information without attenuation by said overlay.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
104 words
A control panel for a copier, printer or the like, comprising: electronically addressable display means including an array of separately addressable pixels, an overlay for said display means, said overlay including permanent light attenuating portions indicating operator options in response to backlighting. means for indicating a particular option by actuating the electronically addressable display means to emit light behind the the light attenuating portion corresponding to the operator option to be indicated, and means for directly displaying information by actuation of said display means to emit light from specific pixels located in a pattern directly representative of such information without attenuation by said overlay.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1994-10-21 | 1995-04-22 | 1995-10-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-10-21 | 1999-04-22 | 1999-10-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-10-21 | 2003-04-22 | 2003-10-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |