CA-3143531-C - LOW PROFILE SWITCH PANEL ASSEMBLY

Abstract

A switch panel for an aircraft includes a cover and a back plate. A distance from the cover to the back plate is a thickness of the switch panel. In some cases, the thickness is less than about 9.525 mm. A button assembly for a switch panel for an aircraft includes a button base, a button retainer, and a lens. The button base includes a bottom end, a base side, and a transition portion between the bottom end and the base side. In certain cases, the transition portion of the button base is beveled or radiused with a sloped or concave shape.

Inventors

• Alan L. Emerson

Assignees

• IDD AEROSPACE CORPORATION

Dates

Publication Date

20260505

Application Date

20200824

Priority Date

20190828

Claims (16)

1. Claims 1.
2. 2. An aircraft switch panel assembly comprising: a cover defining a cover receiving area and a cover opening providing access to the cover receiving area; a button stop within the cover receiving area, wherein the button stop defines a button stop receiving area that is aligned with the cover opening; a switch within the button stop receiving area; at least one light source within the button stop receiving area; and a button assembly positioned at least partially in the cover opening and the cover receiving area, wherein the button assembly is movable between an engaged position and a disengaged position relative to the switch, and wherein, in the engaged position, the button assembly contacts the button stop and the switch, wherein, in the disengaged position, a ledge of the button assembly contacts the cover and the button assembly is spaced apart from the button stop and the switch. The aircraft switch panel assembly of claim 1, further comprising a back plate, wherein the cover receiving area is defined between the cover and the back plate, wherein the cover comprises a cover outer surface and the back plate comprises a back plate outer surface, and wherein a distance from the cover outer surface to the back plate outer surface is a thickness of the aircraft switch panel assembly, and wherein the thickness is less than 9.525 mm.
3. 3. The aircraft switch panel assembly of claim 1, wherein the button assembly comprises: a button base comprising a bottom end, a base side, and a transition portion between the bottom end and the base side, wherein the transition portion of the button base is beveled or radiused with a concave or sloped shape; a button retainer supported on the button base; and a lens, wherein the button assembly is configured to direct light from below the button base from the at least one light source, through the transition portion, through the button retainer, and through the lens. 19
4. 4. The aircraft switch panel assembly of claim 3, wherein the bottom end of the button base defines a plunger cavity recessed in the bottom end, wherein the button retainer comprises a ledge within the cover receiving area, and wherein the button assembly further comprises: a plunger at least partially within the plunger cavity, wherein the plunger contacts the switch in the engaged position, and wherein the ledge of the button retainer contacts the button stop in the engaged position.
5. 5. The aircraft switch panel assembly of claim 4, wherein a cavity wall of the plunger cavity extends at an oblique angle relative to the bottom end.
6. 6. The aircraft switch panel assembly of claim 1, wherein the button stop defines a closed perimeter, and wherein the button stop receiving area is within the closed perimeter.
7. 7.
8. 8. The aircraft switch panel assembly of claim 1, wherein the button stop is opaque. A switch panel assembly for an aircraft, the switch panel assembly comprising: a cover defining a cover receiving area and a cover opening providing access to the cover receiving area, wherein the cover comprises a cover outer surface; a back plate defining a mounting surface of the switch panel assembly facing a direction opposite of the cover outer surface; a switch within the cover receiving area and aligned with the cover opening; and a button assembly positioned at least partially in the cover opening and the cover receiving area, wherein the button assembly is movable between an engaged position and a disengaged position relative to the switch, wherein a distance from the cover outer surface to the mounting surface of the back plate is a thickness of the switch panel assembly, and wherein the thickness is less than 9.525 mm, wherein the button assembly further comprises: a button base comprising a bottom end, a base side, and a transition portion between the bottom end and the base side, wherein the transition portion of the button base is beveled or radiused with a concave or sloped shape; 20 a button retainer supported on the button base; and a lens, wherein the button assembly is configured to direct light from below the button base, through the transition portion, through the button retainer, and through the lens, wherein the bottom end of the button base defines a plunger cavity recessed in the bottom end, wherein the button retainer comprises a ledge within the cover receiving area, and wherein the button assembly further comprises: a plunger at least partially within the plunger cavity, wherein the plunger contacts the switch in the engaged position.
9. 9.
10. 10. The switch panel assembly of claim 8, further comprising: a button stop within the cover receiving area, wherein the button stop defines a button stop receiving area that is aligned with the cover opening; and at least one light source within the button stop receiving area, wherein the switch is within the button stop receiving area. The switch panel assembly of claim 9, wherein the button stop defines a closed perimeter, and wherein the button stop receiving area is within the closed perimeter.
11. 11.
12. 12. The switch panel assembly of claim 8, wherein the thickness is 6.35 mm. The switch panel assembly of claim 8, wherein, in the disengaged position, the button assembly contacts the cover within the cover receiving area and the button assembly is spaced apart from the switch, and wherein, in the engaged position, the button assembly contacts the switch and a ledge of the button assembly is spaced apart from the cover within the cover receiving area.
13. 13. A button assembly for a switch panel assembly for an aircraft, the button assembly comprising: a button base comprising a bottom end, a base side, and a transition portion between the bottom end and the base side, wherein the transition portion of the button base is 21 beveled or radiused with a concave or sloped shape, and wherein the transition portion is transparent such that light may pass through the transition portion; a button retainer supported on the button base; and a lens, wherein the button assembly is configured to direct light from below the button base, through the transition portion, through the button retainer, and through the lens, wherein the bottom end of the button base defines a plunger cavity recessed in the bottom end, wherein the button retainer comprises a ledge, and wherein the button assembly further comprises: a plunger stem within the plunger cavity; and a plunger supported on the plunger stem at least partially within the plunger cavity.
14. 14. The button assembly of claim 13, wherein a cavity wall of the plunger cavity extends at an oblique angle relative to the bottom end, and wherein the cavity wall is opaque.
15. 15. The button assembly of claim 14, wherein the cavity wall is reflective, and wherein the oblique angle is 45°.
16. 16. The button assembly of claim 13, further comprising at least one intermediate layer between the button base and the lens, and wherein the at least one intermediate layer comprises at least one of a diffuser or a filter. 22

Description

WO 2021/041328 PCT/0S2020/047661 LOW PROFILE SWITCH PANEL ASSEMBLY CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION [0001] This application is related to and claims priority benefits from U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 62/892,739, filed on August 28, 2019, and entitled LOW PROFILE SWITCH PANEL, the content of which is hereby incorporated in its entirety by this reference. FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] This application relates to switch panels for vehicles, in particular in the aviation or automotive industries, and more particularly to switch panels with light-emitting buttons. BACKGROUND [0003] Switch panels for vehicles, particularly in the aviation industry, include push buttons, knobs, switches, etc. that must provide several functions in a limited amount of space. In particular, the buttons must provide an electrical contact with a corresponding contact on the panel when pressed, and the buttons must also convey information to the user via tactile feedback and/or backlit illumination of the buttons via incandescent lamps. Typically, light from the incandescent lamps is distributed to the buttons via a light-pipe. To accommodate the light sources, light-pipe, and other components needed for the switch panel, traditional switch panels are generally thick and have a high profile. As used herein, a "high profile" switch panel has a thicknesses of 9.525 mm or greater. Such switch panels are bulky for areas of limited space (such as aircraft cockpits) and have increased weights that may be limiting to weight-sensitive vehicles such as aircraft. SUMMARY [0004] Embodiments covered by this patent are defined by the claims below, not this summary. This summary is a high-level overview of various embodiments and introduces some of the concepts that are further described in the Detailed Description section below. This summary is not intended to identify key or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used in isolation to determine the scope of the claimed subject matter. The subject matter should be understood by reference to appropriate portions of the entire specification of this patent, any or all drawings, and each claim. I WO 2021/041328 PCT/0S2020/047661 [0005] According to certain embodiments of the present invention, an aircraft switch panel assembly includes a cover, a button stop, a switch, at least one light source, and a button assembly. The cover includes a cover receiving area and a cover opening providing access to the cover receiving area. The button stop may be within the cover receiving area, and the button stop defines a button stop receiving area that is aligned with the cover opening. The switch may be within the button stop receiving area, and the at least one light source may be within the button stop receiving area. The button assembly may be positioned at least partially in the cover opening and the cover receiving area. The button assembly is movable between an engaged position and a disengaged position relative to the switch, and, in the engaged position, the button assembly contacts the button stop and the switch. [0006] In some embodiments, in the disengaged position, a ledge of the button assembly contacts the cover and the button assembly is spaced apart from the button stop and the switch. In certain embodiments, the aircraft switch panel assembly also includes a back plate, and the cover receiving area is defined between the cover and the back plate. The cover includes a cover outer surface and the back plate includes a back plate outer surface, and a distance from the cover outer surface to the back plate outer surface is a thickness of the aircraft switch panel assembly. In some embodiments, the thickness is less than 9.525 mm. [0007] In various embodiments, the button assembly includes a button base, a button retainer, and a lens. The button base includes a bottom end, a base side, and a transition portion between the bottom end and the base side, and the transition portion of the button base may be beveled or radiused with a concave or sloped shape. The button retainer may be supported on the button base, and the button assembly may be configured to direct light from below the button base from the at least one light source, through the transition portion, through the button retainer, and through the lens. In certain examples, the bottom end of the button base defines a plunger cavity recessed in the bottom end, and the button retainer includes a ledge within the cover receiving area. The button assembly may also include a plunger at least partially within the plunger cavity and that contacts the switch in the engaged position. In certain cases, the ledge of the button retainer contacts the button stop in the engaged position. In some embodiments, a cavity wall of the plunger cavity extends at an oblique angle relative to the bottom end. 2 WO 2021/041328 PCT/0S2020/047661 [0008] In certain embodiments, the button stop defines a closed perimeter,