Bi-stable display based off-screen keyboard

• US 10,282,091 B2
• Filed: 12/20/2016
• Issued: 05/07/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Mahajan, Ayeshwarya, Pendakur, Ramesh, Lawrence, Sean, Tapaswi, Ankita, Mahapatra, Rajib
• Primary Examiner(s): Wills-Burns, Chineyere D
• Application Number:
  US15/385,552
• Publication Number:
  US 20170097766A1
• Time in Patent Office: 868 Days
• Field of Search: 345168
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/023 Arrangements for converting discrete items of information into a coded form, e.g. arrangements for interpreting keyboard generated codes as alphanumeric codes, operand codes or instruction codes
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0238 Programmable keyboards key guide holders G06F3/0224
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04886 by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/38 using electrochromic devices

Abstract

A display based keyboard is described herein. The display based keyboard includes a bi-stable segmented-based display, a master controller, and a display driver. The bi-stable segmented-based display may include a front barrier layer, a top plane layer, a display technology specific layer, a back plane layer, and a rear barrier layer.

Claims

1. A segmented display for an off-screen keyboard, the segmented display comprising:

a top plane layer comprising an electrode;

a layer comprising a bi-stable material; and

a back plane layer comprising a plurality of electrodes, each electrode of the plurality of electrodes forming a segment of the segmented display, wherein the segment comprises a part of a character on the off-screen keyboard in response to the segment being activated by a change in the bi-stable material, the change in the bi-stable material to be caused by a difference between a voltage of the electrode on the back plane layer corresponding to the segment and a voltage of the electrode comprising the top plane layer;

wherein the segmented display consumes a maximum of 12 microwatts per square centimeter during an image change.

2. The segmented display for an off-screen keyboard of claim 1, wherein the segmented display is a non-pixelated segmented display.

3. The segmented display for an off-screen keyboard of claim 1, wherein a front barrier layer and a rear barrier layer comprise an environmental barrier solution to protect the layer comprising the bi-stable material, the top plane layer, and the back plane layer.

4. The segmented display for an off-screen keyboard of claim 1, wherein the layer comprising the bi-stable material is disposed between the top plane layer and the back plane layer.

5. The segmented display for an off-screen keyboard of claim 1, wherein the layer comprising the bi-stable material is divided into multiple segments.

6. The segmented display for an off-screen keyboard of claim 1, wherein the plurality of electrodes are routed on the back plane layer to form a display connector or a tail.

7. The segmented display for an off-screen keyboard of claim 6, wherein multiple segments are connected together to reduce a number of pins on the display connector.

8. The segmented display for an off-screen keyboard of claim 1, wherein the bi-stable material forms a glyph on the off-screen keyboard, and wherein the glyph is a visual representation of a character on the off-screen keyboard.

9. The segmented display for an off-screen keyboard of claim 8, wherein a character on the off-screen keyboard corresponds to a plurality of glyphs or a plurality of characters corresponds to one glyph.

10. The segmented display for an off-screen keyboard of claim 1, wherein a fixed wedge lifts the off-screen keyboard into an angled position.

11. The segmented display for an off-screen keyboard of claim 10, wherein the fixed wedge comprises a push lock mechanism to lift the off-screen keyboard.

12. The segmented display for an off-screen keyboard of claim 1, wherein the segmented display consumes zero power when content of the off-screen keyboard is static.

13. The segmented display for an off-screen keyboard of claim 1, wherein the segmented display consumes a maximum of 480 microwatts per square centimeter during an entire key update.

14. The segmented display for an off-screen keyboard of claim 1, wherein the segmented display maintains a pitch in a range of 19-21 millimeters.

15. A method of creating a segmented display for an off-screen keyboard, comprising:

forming a top plane layer comprising an electrode;

forming a layer comprising a bi-stable material; and

forming a back plane layer comprising a plurality of electrodes, each electrode of the plurality of electrodes forming a segment of the segmented display, wherein the segment comprises a part of a character on the off-screen keyboard in response to the segment being activated by a change in the bi-stable material, the change in the bi-stable material to be caused by a difference between a voltage of the electrode on the back plane layer corresponding to the segment and a voltage of the electrode comprising the top plane layer;

wherein the segmented display consumes a maximum of 12 microwatts per square centimeter during an image change.

16. The method of claim 15, comprising forming an environmental barrier solution comprising a front barrier layer and a rear barrier layer to protect the layer comprising the bi-stable material, the top plane layer, and the back plane layer.

17. The method of claim 15, comprising disposing the layer comprising the bi-stable material between the top plane layer and the back plane layer.

18. The method of claim 15, comprising dividing the layer comprising the bi-stable material into multiple segments.

19. The method of claim 15, comprising routing the plurality of electrodes on the back plane layer to form a display connector or a tail.

20. The method of claim 19, comprising connecting together multiple segments to reduce a number of pins on the display connector.

21. The method of claim 15, comprising forming a glyph on the off-screen keyboard from the bi-stable material, wherein the glyph is a visual representation of a character on the off-screen keyboard.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein a character on the off-screen keyboard corresponds to a plurality of glyphs or a plurality of characters corresponds to one glyph.

23. The method of claim 15, comprising forming a fixed wedge to lift the off-screen keyboard into an angled position.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the fixed wedge comprises a push lock mechanism to lift the off-screen keyboard.

25. The method of claim 15, wherein the segmented display consumes a maximum of 480 microwatts per square centimeter during an entire key update.

26. The method of claim 15, wherein the segmented display consumes zero power when content of the off-screen keyboard is static.

27. The method of claim 15, wherein the segmented display maintains a pitch in a range of 19-21 millimeters.

28. The method of claim 15, wherein the segmented display is a non-pixelated segmented display.

29. A segmented display for an off-screen keyboard, the segmented display comprising:

a top plane layer comprising an electrode;

a layer comprising a bi-stable material; and

a back plane layer comprising a plurality of electrodes, each electrode of the plurality of electrodes forming a segment of the segmented display, wherein the segment comprises a part of a character on the off-screen keyboard in response to the segment being activated by a change in the bi-stable material, the change in the bi-stable material to be caused by a difference between a voltage of the electrode on the back plane layer corresponding to the segment and a voltage of the electrode comprising the top plane layer;

wherein the segmented display consumes a maximum of 480 microwatts per square centimeter during an entire key update.

30. The segmented display for an off-screen keyboard of claim 29, wherein the segmented display maintains a pitch in a range of 19-21 millimeters.

31. The segmented display for an off-screen keyboard of claim 29, wherein the segmented display is a non-pixelated segmented display.

32. The segmented display for an off-screen keyboard of claim 29, wherein a front barrier layer and a rear barrier layer comprise an environmental barrier solution to protect the layer comprising the bi-stable material, the top plane layer, and the back plane layer.

33. The segmented display for an off-screen keyboard of claim 29, wherein the layer comprising the bi-stable material is disposed between the top plane layer and the back plane layer.

34. The segmented display for an off-screen keyboard of claim 29, wherein the layer comprising the bi-stable material is divided into multiple segments.

35. The segmented display for an off-screen keyboard of claim 29, wherein the plurality of electrodes are routed on the back plane layer to form a display connector or a tail.

36. The segmented display for an off-screen keyboard of claim 29, wherein the bi-stable material forms a glyph on the off-screen keyboard, and wherein the glyph is a visual representation of a character on the off-screen keyboard.

37. The segmented display for an off-screen keyboard of claim 29, wherein a fixed wedge lifts the off-screen keyboard into an angled position.

38. The segmented display for an off-screen keyboard of claim 29, wherein the segmented display consumes zero power when content of the off-screen keyboard is static.

39. A segmented display for an off-screen keyboard, the segmented display comprising:

a top plane layer comprising an electrode;

a layer comprising a bi-stable material; and

a back plane layer comprising a plurality of electrodes, each electrode of the plurality of electrodes forming a segment of the segmented display, wherein the segment comprises a part of a character on the off-screen keyboard in response to the segment being activated by a change in the bi-stable material, the change in the bi-stable material to be caused by a difference between a voltage of the electrode on the back plane layer corresponding to the segment and a voltage of the electrode comprising the top plane layer;

wherein the segmented display maintains a pitch in a range of 19-21 millimeters.

40. The segmented display for an off-screen keyboard of claim 39, wherein the segmented display consumes a maximum of 12 microwatts per square centimeter during an image change, and wherein the segmented display consumes a maximum of 480 microwatts per square centimeter during an entire key update.

41. The segmented display for an off-screen keyboard of claim 39, wherein the segmented display is a non-pixelated segmented display.

42. The segmented display for an off-screen keyboard of claim 39, wherein a front barrier layer and a rear barrier layer comprise an environmental barrier solution to protect the layer comprising the bi-stable material, the top plane layer, and the back plane layer.

43. The segmented display for an off-screen keyboard of claim 39, wherein the layer comprising the bi-stable material is disposed between the top plane layer and the back plane layer.

44. The segmented display for an off-screen keyboard of claim 39, wherein the layer comprising the bi-stable material is divided into multiple segments.

45. The segmented display for an off-screen keyboard of claim 39, wherein the plurality of electrodes are routed on the back plane layer to form a display connector or a tail.

46. The segmented display for an off-screen keyboard of claim 39, wherein the bi-stable material forms a glyph on the off-screen keyboard, and wherein the glyph is a visual representation of a character on the off-screen keyboard.

47. The segmented display for an off-screen keyboard of claim 39, wherein a fixed wedge lifts the off-screen keyboard into an angled position.

48. The segmented display for an off-screen keyboard of claim 39, wherein the segmented display consumes zero power when content of the off-screen keyboard is static.

49. A method of creating a segmented display for an off-screen keyboard, comprising:

forming a top plane layer comprising an electrode;

forming a layer comprising a bi-stable material; and

forming a back plane layer comprising a plurality of electrodes, each electrode of the plurality of electrodes forming a segment of the segmented display, wherein the segment comprises a part of a character on the off-screen keyboard in response to the segment being activated by a change in the bi-stable material, the change in the bi-stable material to be caused by a difference between a voltage of the electrode on the back plane layer corresponding to the segment and a voltage of the electrode comprising the top plane layer;

wherein the segmented display consumes a maximum of 480 microwatts per square centimeter during an entire key update.

50. The method of claim 49, wherein the segmented display is a non-pixelated segmented display.

51. The method of claim 49, comprising forming an environmental barrier solution comprising a front barrier layer and a rear barrier layer to protect the layer comprising the bi-stable material, the top plane layer, and the back plane layer.

52. The method of claim 49, comprising disposing the layer comprising the bi-stable material between the top plane layer and the back plane layer.

53. The method of claim 49, comprising dividing the layer comprising the bi-stable material into multiple segments.

54. The method of claim 49, comprising routing the plurality of electrodes on the back plane layer to form a display connector or a tail.

55. The method of claim 49, comprising forming a glyph on the off-screen keyboard from the bi-stable material, wherein the glyph is a visual representation of a character on the off-screen keyboard.

56. The method of claim 49, comprising forming a fixed wedge to lift the off-screen keyboard into an angled position.

57. The method of claim 49, wherein the segmented display consumes zero power when content of the off-screen keyboard is static.

58. The method of claim 49, wherein the segmented display maintains a pitch in a range of 19-21 millimeters.

59. A method of creating a segmented display for an off-screen keyboard, comprising:

forming a top plane layer comprising an electrode;

forming a layer comprising a bi-stable material; and

forming a back plane layer comprising a plurality of electrodes, each electrode of the plurality of electrodes forming a segment of the segmented display, wherein the segment comprises a part of a character on the off-screen keyboard in response to the segment being activated by a change in the bi-stable material, the change in the bi-stable material to be caused by a difference between a voltage of the electrode on the back plane layer corresponding to the segment and a voltage of the electrode comprising the top plane layer;

wherein the segmented display maintains a pitch in a range of 19-21 millimeters.

60. The method of claim 59, wherein the segmented display is a non-pixelated segmented display.

61. The method of claim 59, comprising forming an environmental barrier solution comprising a front barrier layer and a rear barrier layer to protect the layer comprising the bi-stable material, the top plane layer, and the back plane layer.

62. The method of claim 59, comprising disposing the layer comprising the bi-stable material between the top plane layer and the back plane layer.

63. The method of claim 59, comprising dividing the layer comprising the bi-stable material into multiple segments.

64. The method of claim 59, comprising routing the plurality of electrodes on the back plane layer to form a display connector or a tail.

65. The method of claim 59, comprising forming a glyph on the off-screen keyboard from the bi-stable material, wherein the glyph is a visual representation of a character on the off-screen keyboard.

66. The method of claim 59, wherein the segmented display consumes zero power when content of the off-screen keyboard is static.

67. The method of claim 59, wherein the segmented display consumes a maximum of 12 microwatts per square centimeter during an image change, and wherein the segmented display consumes a maximum of 480 microwatts per square centimeter during an entire key update.