Illuminated pushbutton with colors and brightness electronically controlled

Claim 1

An illuminated pushbutton comprising: a fixed part having a flange adapted to be mounted on a panel; a display assembly mounted on said fixed part and comprising: a display support movable perpendicularly to said flange, a translucent display cover spanning said support and through which internal illumination of said pushbutton is visible, at least one solid-state variable color and variable intensity light-generating device on said support for producing illumination visible through said display cover with electronically controlled color and brightness, and optical means in said support transmitting said illumination from said devices to said cover and including at least one reflector, and an actuator support on said display support; a connector for external connection on said fixed part spaced from said display assembly at an opposite end of said pushbutton from said display support; electronic circuitry in said fixed part located between said connector and said display assembly for controlling illumination of said pushbutton and including circuitry for energizing said device to vary intensity and color of the illumination; a flexible circuit element connecting said device to said electronic circuitry; means for connecting said electronic circuitry to said connector; a rear cover closing said fixed part at said opposite end, said connector extending through said rear cover; a mechanical-wear-free switch supported by said rear cover and from a rubber switch and a solid-state optical switch; a switch actuator acting upon said mechanical-wear-free switch; an actuator pin extending along an actuation axis and transmitting motion of said actuator support to said switch actuator; a spring guide surrounding said actuator pin and braced against said actuator support; a spring surrounding said actuator pin and surrounded by said spring guide; and an actuator slide guide surrounding said pin and braced against said actuator, one of said guides being sleeve-shaped and axially engaging the other of said guides to limit displacement of said display support.