Controlling device with selectively illuminated user interfaces
First Claim
Patent Images
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 translucent display area comprising a first portion and a second portion each containing indicia disposed in cooperable relation to the plurality of function keys;
wherein the first portion and the second portion are arranged proximate to one another and the indicia of the first portion are made more visibly prominent when the first portion is placed in an activated state and indicia of the second portion are made more visibly prominent when the second portion is placed in an activated state; and
wherein the first portion and the second portion are each selectively placeable into the 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.
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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.
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Citations
34 Claims
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1. A controlling device for commanding operating functions of an appliance, comprising:
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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 translucent display area comprising a first portion and a second portion each containing indicia disposed in cooperable relation to the plurality of function keys;
wherein the first portion and the second portion are arranged proximate to one another and the indicia of the first portion are made more visibly prominent when the first portion is placed in an activated state and indicia of the second portion are made more visibly prominent when the second portion is placed in an activated state; and
wherein the first portion and the second portion are each selectively placeable into the 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. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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9. A controlling device, comprising:
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a plurality of keys in a key matrix; and
a plurality of translucent display portions disposed in cooperable relationship with the key matrix, each display portion being individually activatable and each display portion having at least one image fragment which, in response to activation of its corresponding display portion, is made more visibly prominent such that the plurality of display portions are activatable in various combinations to cause image fragments of activated display portions to be made more visibly prominent in various combinations to form various complete images in relation to corresponding ones of the plurality of keys in the key matrix whereby the controlling device is provided with the ability to have multiple, different user interfaces. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11)
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- 18. A display for providing a device with a graphical user interface, comprising a plurality of translucent display portions arranged in overlapping relation each being individually illuminable and each display portion having an image which, in response to illumination of its corresponding display portion, is made more visibly prominent such that the plurality of display portions are illuminable in various combinations to cause the images of illuminated display portions to be made more visibly prominently relative to remaining images in various combinations to thereby provide multiple, different graphical user interfaces.
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20. A device, comprising:
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a display comprised of a plurality of translucent face portions each having at least one graphical user interface element; and
a sources of energy;
wherein the source of energy is used to selectively activate one or more of the translucent face portions such that select graphical user interface elements are made more visibly prominently relative to remaining graphical user interface elements to thereby provide the device with multiple, different graphical user interfaces. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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- 28. A method for manufacturing a device having multiple, different graphical user interfaces, comprising arranging a plurality of individually illuminable translucent display portions in overlapping relation and arranging on each display portion an image such that the plurality of display portions are illuminable in various combinations to cause the images of illuminated display portions to be made more visibly prominent relative to remaining images in various combinations to thereby provide the multiple, different graphical user interfaces.
Specification