IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
US-0487217
(2002-09-02)
|
등록번호 |
US-7334362
(2008-02-26)
|
우선권정보 |
DK-2001 01287(2001-08-31) |
국제출원번호 |
PCT/DK02/000571
(2002-09-02)
|
§371/§102 date |
20040219
(20040219)
|
국제공개번호 |
WO03/019505
(2003-03-06)
|
발명자
/ 주소 |
|
출원인 / 주소 |
|
대리인 / 주소 |
Harness, Dickey & Pierce, P.L.C.
|
인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
15 인용 특허 :
7 |
초록
▼
Displays for information exist, which appear to emerge out of a solid piece of metal. In order to obtain an aluminium-like and translucent material, according to prior art glass has aluminium vapour deposited onto the front surface, and a diode matrix display is hidden behind this translucent materi
Displays for information exist, which appear to emerge out of a solid piece of metal. In order to obtain an aluminium-like and translucent material, according to prior art glass has aluminium vapour deposited onto the front surface, and a diode matrix display is hidden behind this translucent material while inactive, whereas it becomes visible when lit. In order to avoid the use of glass and to make the metal surface and the display surface indistinguishable from each other under all lighting conditions, the surface is made out of the piece of material constituting the surrounding parts. A cavity is formed from behind, and the bottom of said cavity is made very thin and hence translucent by etching or a similar material removing process. Oxide layers support this translucent layer, and an internal support is provided in the cavity, said support also carrying the sources of light.
대표청구항
▼
The invention claimed is: 1. A luminous character and symbol read-out device wherein the read-out device is integrated in a metal blank, where said blank has a front surface and a rear surface and a material thickness therebetween, where said blank is of a type where the read-out device is integral
The invention claimed is: 1. A luminous character and symbol read-out device wherein the read-out device is integrated in a metal blank, where said blank has a front surface and a rear surface and a material thickness therebetween, where said blank is of a type where the read-out device is integral with a surrounding surface of said blank, and where the blank is a ferrous or non-ferrous metal, wherein a cavity in the blank is formed from the rear surface, said read-out device when seen from the front surface and towards the rear surface comprises an outer protective transparent or translucent layer integral with, and identical with respect to visual appearance and touch to a protective layer for the surrounding surface of said blank, a translucent layer of the ferrous or non-ferrous metal, and a reinforcing structure for said layers, which provides access to sources of light for a display of information. 2. A read-out device according to claim 1, wherein the outer protective transparent or translucent layer is a lacquer layer of a type which displays a hardness, toughness, and transparency expected of a metal lacquer adapted for the ferrous or non-ferrous metal in use. 3. A read-out device according to claim 1, wherein the outer protective transparent or translucent layer is a vitreous enamel or a ceramic. 4. A read-out device according to claim 1, wherein the outer protective transparent or translucent layer is an oxide of a type obtained by anodization. 5. A read-out device according to claim 4 in which the metal blank is aluminium, and a bottom of the cavity seen from the front surface and towards the rear surface comprises an outer transparent oxide layer integral with an oxide layer of the surrounding surface, and a translucent layer of aluminium. 6. A read-out device according to claim 1, wherein part of the translucent layer of the ferrous or non-ferrous metal is essentially transparent in a predetermined pattern. 7. A read-out device according to claim 1, wherein the reinforcing structure for said layers additionally serves as a carrier for sources of light. 8. A read-out device according to claim 1, wherein the reinforcing structure is made in a dimensionally stable casting compound, which supports said layers and carries a fixture for sources of light in order that light is brought all the way to said layers. 9. A read-out device according to claim 8, wherein the fixture is an element in the metal blank of essentially the same but suitably reduced dimensions as the cavity, and in that the dimensionally stable casting compound is translucent and fills a plurality of interstices between the fixture and the cavity. 10. A read-out device according to claim 8, wherein further comprising a plurality of optical fibers, the optical fibers are used as light sources, each of the plurality of optical fibers has at least one end, the fixture holds the ends of said optical fibers, the optical fibers configured to transmit light from more remote light sources. 11. A read-out device according to claim 7, wherein low power light emitting diodes are used close to the front surface functioning as a display area. 12. A read-out device according to claim 1, wherein it is provided in a prominently visible outer part of a cabinet for electronic equipment. 13. A read-out device according to claim 12, wherein said prominently visible outer part of a cabinet is a structural element of said cabinet. 14. A process for manufacturing a read-out device, where said read-out device when seen from a front surface and towards a rear surface comprises an outer protective transparent or translucent layer integral with, and identical with respect to visual appearance and touch to a protective layer for a surrounding surface of a metal blank, wherein the process comprises the following steps: 1) forming a cavity in a blank where said blank has a front surface and a rear surface and a material thickness therebetween, the cavity having a depth that leaves sufficient material such that a material layer between a bottom of the cavity and said front surface is translucent, and further the depth leaves sufficient material in order that the protective layer on the front surface is not stressed, 2) depositing a protective translucent or transparent layer at least on the front surface of the blank, 3) performing an etch-like process, such as a laser ablation or similar removal of material at an atomic level on the bottom of the cavity, until a suitable translucency is obtained, 4) protecting material remaining in the bottom of the cavity against oxidation, 5) placing a reinforcing structure in the cavity, 6) casting a compound in a space left between the reinforcing structure and the cavity, 7) disposing light sources relative to the reinforcing structure. 15. A process for manufacturing a read-out device where said read-out device when seen from a front surface and towards a rear surface comprises an outer protective transparent or translucent layer integral with, and identical with respect to visual appearance and touch to a protective layer for a surrounding surface of a blank wherein the process comprises the following steps: 1) forming a cavity in an aluminum blank, where said blank has a front surface and a rear surface and a material thickness therebetween, the cavity having a depth that leaves sufficient material such that a material layer between a bottom of the cavity and said front surface is translucent, and further the depth leaves sufficient material that the an oxide layer on the front surface is not stressed, 2) performing an etch-like process, such as a laser ablation or similar removal of material at an atomic level on the bottom of the cavity, until a suitable translucency is obtained, 3) converting part of material remaining in the bottom of the cavity electrolytically to aluminium oxide, 4) fitting a fixture for a plurality of light sources into the cavity, 5) casting a compound in a space left between the fixture and the cavity.
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