Methods and systems for changing the appearance of a position sensor with a light effect
First Claim
1. A position sensor for detecting a position of an object, the position sensor comprising:
- a sensor configured to sense the position of the object;
a light source configured to produce a light; and
a light conductor at least partially located between the sensor and the object, wherein the light conductor is configured to transmit the light from the light source to produce a light effect that alters an appearance of the position sensor.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and systems are provided for producing a light effect on a touchpad or other position sensor. In one aspect, a position sensor for detecting a position of an object suitably includes a sensor, a light source, and a light conductor at least partially located between the sensor and the object. The light conductor is configured to transmit light from the light source to produce a light effect that alters the appearance of the position sensor. Because the light conductor is located between the sensor and the object, the sensor need not be made from transparent or translucent material, thereby significantly reducing the cost of the sensor. In a further aspect, the position sensor includes at least one marking or pattern in proximity to the light conductor such that the marking can be made visible by at least a component of the light to produce an image of a soft control, logo, ornamental design, status indicator or the like.
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Citations
48 Claims
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1. A position sensor for detecting a position of an object, the position sensor comprising:
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a sensor configured to sense the position of the object;
a light source configured to produce a light; and
a light conductor at least partially located between the sensor and the object, wherein the light conductor is configured to transmit the light from the light source to produce a light effect that alters an appearance of the position sensor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A touchpad having a sensing region for receiving an input from a user, the touchpad comprising:
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an opaque, capacitive proximity sensor configured to sense the input;
a light source configured to produce a light; and
a light pipe located between the proximity sensor and the sensing region, wherein the light pipe is configured to transmit at least a portion of the light from the light source to produce a light effect that alters an appearance of the touchpad.
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21. A system having a processor, a digital memory and an input/output sub-system communicating with a touchpad configured to receive a user input in a sensing region, wherein the touchpad comprises:
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an opaque sensor configured to sense the user input;
a light source configured to produce a light; and
a light conductor located between the sensor and the sensing region, wherein the light conductor is configured to transmit the light from the light source to produce a light effect that alters an appearance of the touchpad.
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22. A method of operating a device having a position sensor and a sensing region, the method comprising the steps of:
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activating a light source to thereby produce a light;
transmitting at least a portion of the light from the light source with a light conductor, wherein the light conductor is located at least in part between the sensor and the sensing region; and
scattering at least a portion of the light from the light conductor to thereby produce a light effect that changes an appearance of the device. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A device comprising:
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means for sensing an object position in proximity to a surface;
means for producing light;
means for conducting the light from the light producing means, wherein the conducting means is located at least in part between the sensing means and the surface; and
means for scattering at least a portion of the light from the conducting means to thereby produce a light effect that changes an appearance of the device.
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32. A position sensing device having a sensing region, the sensing device comprising:
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a sensor configured to detect a user input received at the sensing region;
a light source configured to produce a light;
a light conductor located at least in part between the sensor and the sensing region, wherein the light conductor is configured to transmit the light from the light source; and
at least one marking in proximity to the light conductor, wherein the at least one marking is configured to be made visible by at least a component of the light to produce an image of a soft control. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43)
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44. A method of controlling a position sensing device having a sensing region for detecting a user input correlating to a position of an object, the method comprising the steps of:
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controlling a light source to make visible a soft control corresponding to a soft control portion of the sensing region;
detecting the user input to determine the position of the object; and
producing a first result if the user input corresponds to the soft control portion, and to produce a second result different from the first result if the user input does not correspond to the soft control portion. - View Dependent Claims (45)
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46. A digital storage medium having computer-executable instructions stored thereon for controlling a sensing device having a sensing region for detecting a user input correlating to a position of an object, the instructions comprising:
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a first code module configured to control a light source to make visible a soft control corresponding to a soft control portion of the sensing region;
a second code module configured to detect the user input to determine the position of the object; and
a third code module configured to produce a first result if the user input corresponds to the soft control portion, and to produce a second result different from the first result if the user input does not correspond to the soft control portion.
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47. An apparatus for providing a light effect to a sensing device having a proximity sensor and a sensing region for detecting an object, the apparatus comprising a light conductor configured to be at least partially located between the proximity sensor and the object, and wherein the light conductor is further configured to transmit the light from a light source to produce the light effect and to thereby alter an appearance of the sensing device.
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48. A digital storage medium having computer-executable instructions stored thereon for operating a position sensor having a light source, a sensor configured to detect a position of an object, and a light conductor at least partially located between the sensor and the object, wherein the instructions comprise a code module configured to control the light source to thereby modify a light effect that alters an appearance of the position sensor.
Specification