Controlling device having multiple user interfaces

• US 20050200598A1
• Filed: 08/20/2004
• Published: 09/15/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Universal Electronics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Universal Electronics, Inc.
• Inventors: Hayes, Patrick H., Klein, Sandro David
• Granted Patent: US 7,872,642 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/156
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/202 by remote control

Abstract

A controlling device using a source of energy, such as light energy, to provide the controlling device with a user interface having multiple, different visual appearances.

Claims

1. A controlling device for commanding operating functions of an appliance, comprising:

a plurality of function keys operable to cause a transmission of a command to the appliance for commanding operating functions of the appliance; and

a touch-sensitive translucent display area including a first defined portion;

wherein the first defined portion is visually more prominent when the first defined portion is placed in an activated state than when the first defined portion is in a non-activated state to thereby indicate which operating functions of the appliance are commandable in response to operation of one or more of the plurality of function keys.

2. The controlling device as recited in claim 1, wherein the first defined portion is placed in the activated state in response to a presence of a light source.

3. The controlling device as recited in claim 2, wherein the light source comprises an ambient light source external to the controlling device.

4. The controlling device as recited in claim 2, wherein the light source comprises a light source internal to the controlling device.

5. The controlling device as recited in claim 4, wherein the light source comprises at least one light source selected from the group consisting of:

a single color LED, a multi-color LED, a phosphorescent light source, a fluorescent light source, a laser, an IR light source, and a UV light source.

6. The controlling device as recited in claim 4, wherein the light source comprises a multi-color capable light source.

7. The controlling device as recited in claim 1, wherein the first defined portion comprises a defined area of ink printed on the display area.

8. The controlling device as recited in claim 7, wherein the defined area of ink is configured to be of low visibility in the absence of an internal light source and configured to more prominently display a desired color when the internal light source is activated.

9. The controlling device as recited in claim 4, wherein the display area includes a second defined area, the second defined area being less visually prominent than the first defined area when the internal light source is present.

10. The controlling device as recited in claim 9, wherein the second defined area is configured to display a desired color when the light source is caused to illuminate the display area with a second light energy and the first defined area is configured to be less visually prominent than the second defined area when the light source is caused to illuminate the display area with the second light energy.

11. A controlling device, comprising:

a face panel having a first user interface and a second user interface;

a first source of energy; and

a second source of energy;

wherein the first source of energy causes the first user interface to be displayed on the face panel more visually prominently relative to the second user interface and the second source of energy causes the second user interface to be displayed on the face panel more visually prominently relative to the first user interface.

12. The controlling device as recited in claim 11, wherein the first and second sources of energy comprise light energy.

13. The controlling device as recited in claim 11, wherein the first user interface and the second user interface are ink screen printed on the display panel.

14. The controlling device as recited in claim 11, comprising a touch panel overlaying the face panel for accepting user input directed to the first user interface and the second user interface.

15. The controlling device as recited in claim 11, wherein the face panel is translucent.

16. The controlling device as recited in claim 12, wherein the first source of light energy and the first user interface have substantially the same color.

17. The controlling device as recited in claim 11, wherein the first source of energy causes the first user interface to change its appearance.

18. The controlling device as recited in claim 17, wherein the appearance change is a color change.

19. The controlling device as recited in claim 11, wherein the first source of energy has substantially no effect on a color of the second user interface.

20. The controlling device as recited in claim 11, wherein the first source of energy comprises at least one light emitting diode.

21. The controlling device as recited in claim 11, wherein the first source of energy and the second source of energy are emitted from a multi-color light emitting diode.

22. A controlling device, comprising:

a first source of light energy; and

a face panel having an user interface including a first element arranged to reflect light energy from the first source of light energy such that the first source of light energy serves to provide the first element of the user interface with a discernable visual appearance.

23. The controlling device as recited in claim 22, wherein the first source of light energy comprises an LED.

24. The controlling device as recited in claim 22, wherein the first source of light energy comprises a multi-colored source of light energy.

25. The controlling device as recited in claim 22, wherein the face panel comprises a translucent material.

26. The controlling device as recited in claim 22, wherein the first element comprises an indentation formed in the face panel, the indentation having at least one surface having an angle relative to a direction of travel of the light energy from the first source of light energy such that light energy from the first source of light energy is reflected generally towards a top surface of the face panel.

27. The controlling device as recited in claim 22, comprising a second source of light energy and wherein the user interface includes a second element arranged to reflect light energy from the second source of light energy such that the second source of light energy serves to provide the second element of the user interface with a discernable visual appearance.

28. The controlling device as recited in claim 27, wherein the second source of light energy comprises a LED.

29. The controlling device as recited in claim 27, wherein the second source of light energy comprises a multi-colored source of light energy.

30. The controlling device as recited in claim 27, wherein the face panel comprises a translucent material.

31. The controlling device as recited in claim 27, wherein the second element comprises an indentation formed in the face panel, the indentation having at least one surface having an angle relative to a direction of travel of the light energy from the second source of light energy such that light energy from the second source of light energy is reflected generally towards a top surface of the face panel.

32. The controlling device as recited in claim 30, wherein the first element is arranged such that light energy from the first source of light energy is more visually prominent in the discernable visual appearance provided to the first element relative to light energy from the second source of light energy.

33. The controlling device as recited in claim 32, wherein the first element includes a surface having an angle relative to a direction of travel of the light energy from the second source of light energy such that at least a part of the light energy from the second source of light energy is directed away from a top surface of the face panel.

34. The controlling device as recited in claim 32, wherein the second element is arranged such that light energy from the second source of light energy is more visually prominent in the discernable visual appearance provided to the second element relative to light energy from the first source of light energy.

35. The controlling device as recited in claim 34, wherein the second element includes a surface having an angle relative to a direction of travel of light energy from the first source of light energy such that at least a part of the light energy from the first source of light energy is directed away from a top surface of the face panel.

36. A method for manufacturing a controlling device, comprising:

arranging a first element of a user interface on a face panel of the controlling device to reflect light energy from a first source of light energy such that the first source of light energy serves to provide the first element of the user interface with a discernable visual appearance.

37. The method as recited in claim 36, comprising arranging a second element of the user interface on the face panel of the controlling device to reflect light energy from a second source of light energy such that the second source of light energy serves to provide the second element of the user interface with a discernable visual appearance.

38. The method as recited in claim 37, comprising arranging the first element of the user interface on the face panel of the controlling device such that light energy from the first source of light energy is more visually prominent in the discernable visual appearance provided to the first element relative to light energy from the second source of light energy.

39. The method as recited in claim 38, comprising providing the first element with a surface having an angle relative to a direction of travel of light energy from the second source of light energy such that at least a part of the light energy from the second source of light energy is directed away from a top surface of the face panel.

40. The method as recited in claim 38, comprising arranging the second element of the user interface on the face panel of the controlling device such that light energy from the second source of light energy is more visually prominent in the discernable visual appearance provided to the second element relative to light energy from the first source of light energy.

41. The method as recited in claim 40, comprising providing the second element with a surface having an angle relative to a direction of travel of light energy from the first source of light energy such that at least a part of the light energy from the first source of light energy is directed away from a top surface of the face panel.

42. The method as recited in claim 36, wherein arranging the first element of the user interface on the face panel comprises providing the first element with at least one surface having an angle relative to a direction of travel of light energy from the first source of light energy such that light energy from the first source of light energy is reflected generally towards a top surface of the face panel.

43. The method as recited in claim 37, wherein arranging the second element of the user interface on the face panel comprises providing the second element with at least one surface having an angle relative to a direction of travel of light energy from the second source of light energy such that light energy from the second source of light energy is reflected generally towards a top surface of the face panel.

44. The method as recited in claim 36, wherein the face panel comprises a translucent material.

45. The method as recited in claim 36, wherein the first source of light energy comprises a LED.

46. The method as recited in claim 36, wherein the first source of light energy comprises a multi-colored source of light energy.

47. A controlling device, comprising:

a first source of light energy;

a second source of light energy; and

a face panel having an user interface including a first element and a second element wherein the first element and the second element are arranged such that a visual appearance provided to the first element is primarily attributable to the first source of light energy and a visual appearance provided to the second element is primarily attributable to the second source of light energy when light energy from the first source of light energy and light energy from the second source of light energy are simultaneously applied to the face panel.

48. The controlling device as recited in claim 47, wherein light energy from the first source of light energy and light energy from the second source of light energy are applied to the face panel in a direction that is generally parallel to a top surface of the face panel.

49. The controlling device as recited in claim 48, wherein the first element functions to reflect light energy from the first source of light energy generally towards the top surface of the face panel and functions to reflect at least a part of light energy from the second source of light energy away from the top surface of the face panel.

50. The controlling device as recited in claim 49, wherein the first element comprises an indentation formed in the face panel.

51. The controlling device as recited in claim 49, wherein the second element functions to reflect light energy from the second source of light energy generally towards the top surface of the face panel and functions to reflect at least a part of light energy from the first source of light energy away from the top surface of the face panel.

52. The controlling device as recited in claim 51, wherein the second element comprises an indentation formed in the face panel.

53. The controlling device as recited in claim 49, wherein the face panel comprises a translucent material.

54. The controlling device as recited in claim 47, wherein the first source of light energy and the second source of light energy each comprise an LED.

55. The controlling device as recited in claim 47, wherein at least one of the first source of light energy and the second source of light energy comprises a multi-colored source of light energy.