Method and apparatus for enabling optical communication through low intensity indicators in an appliance that uses a vacuum fluorescent display
US7095333B2 · kind B2 · utility
3Cited by
12References
20Claims
0Family size
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 18, 2003 |
| Grant date | Aug 22, 2006 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 31, 2024 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG05B2219/25197
- WIPO fieldOther consumer goods
- WIPO sectorOther fields
Abstract
An optical interface using indicator lights is provided for an appliance having a vacuum fluorescent display (VFD) by mounting the indicator lights behind a VFD. In a VFD having a dark background, apertures are formed in the VFD so the indicator lights are enabled for optical communication through the VFD. Preferably, the apertures are formed in the dark layer covering a glass substrate in the VFD so the dark layer helps absorb reflected light that may cause optical noise in the light signals being communicated. Each aperture may be located equidistantly from a group of four pixels in the VFD.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.