The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.

The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.

Date of Patent:
Aug. 01, 2017

Filed:

Oct. 28, 2014
Applicant:

Whirlpool Corporation, Benton Harbor, MI (US);

Inventors:

Neomar Giacomini, Benton Harbor, MI (US);

Mark E. Glotzbach, Granger, IN (US);

Brian N. Radford, Stevensville, MI (US);

Eric J. Schuh, Stevensville, MI (US);

Assignee:

Whirlpool Corporation, Benton Harbor, MI (US);

Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Assistant Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
G02B 27/30 (2006.01); G02B 27/34 (2006.01); G02B 27/09 (2006.01);
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
G02B 27/30 (2013.01); G02B 27/09 (2013.01); G02B 27/34 (2013.01);
Abstract

Light collimators and methods for human machine interfaces are disclosed. An example human machine interface includes a top surface having a decorative element to be illuminated, a light source, and a plurality of parallel light collimators that collimate visible light emitted by the light source and direct the collimated light toward the bottom side of the decorative element. An example method of illuminating a decorative element of a human machine interface includes emitting light, passing the light through a plurality of collimators defined in the human machine interface, and directing the collimated light toward the decorative element.


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