US Patent 7176885 Retaskable switch-indicator unit

An integrated switch-indicator unit includes a light emitting diode (LED) structure for providing a plurality of indicators and an overlay input device integrated with the LED structure. The overlay input device includes a non-conductive substrate and a plurality of conductive electrode pairs. The plurality of conductive electrode pairs are formed on the substrate and each form a proximity sensitive region and include a first electrode that receives an input signal and a second electrode that provides an output signal. The first and second electrodes are capacitively coupled and the capacitance of the electrode pair changes when a conductive member, e.g., a user's finger, is located near the electrode pair.