Controlling device with selectively illuminated user interfaces

• US 20060132458A1
• Filed: 12/21/2004
• Published: 06/22/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Universal Electronics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Universal Electronics, Inc.
• Inventors: Garfio, Alejandro, Alvarado, Cesar
• Granted Patent: US 8,149,218 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0238 Programmable keyboards key guide holders G06F3/0224
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• 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: 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 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.

2. The controlling device as recited in claim 1, wherein the first portion and the second portion are disposed in overlapping relation.

3. The controlling device as recited in claim 1, wherein the function keys comprise a touch sensitive surface disposed above the first portion and the second portion.

4. The controlling device as recited in claim 1, wherein the first portion and the second portion are each placed in the activated state in response to receiving light from a light source.

5. The controlling device as recited in claim 4, wherein the light source comprises an ambient light source external to the controlling device.

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

7. The controlling device as recited in claim 6, 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.

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

12. The controlling device as recited in claim 1, wherein each of the display portions is activatable in response to receiving light from a light source.

13. The controlling device as recited in claim 12, wherein the light source comprises an ambient light source external to the controlling device.

14. The controlling device as recited in claim 13, wherein the light source comprises a light source internal to the controlling device.

15. The controlling device as recited in claim 14, 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.

16. The controlling device as recited in claim 14, wherein the light source comprises a plurality of multi-color capable light sources each being associated with a respective one of the display portions.

17. The controlling device as recited in claim 7, wherein the display portions are activatable as a function of a selected operational mode of the controlling device.

9. A controlling device, comprising:

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.

10. The controlling device as recited in claim 9, wherein the display portions are disposed in overlapping relation.

11. The controlling device as recited in claim 9, wherein the key matrix comprises a touch sensitive surface disposed above the plurality of display portions.

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.

19. The display as recited in claim 18, wherein the images comprise image fragments and the image fragments are selectively made more visibly prominent to form various complete images whereby the various complete images are presentable in substantially the same location of the graphical user interface.

20. A device, comprising:

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.

21. The device as recited in claim 20, wherein the translucent face portions are disposed in overlapping relation.

22. The device as recited in claim 21, wherein the source of energy comprises a source of light energy.

23. The device as recited in claim 22, comprising a touch panel overlaying the plurality of translucent face portions for accepting user input.

24. The device as recited in claim 22, wherein the source of light energy comprises a plurality of sources of light energy each associated with a corresponding one of the translucent face portions.

25. The device as recited in claim 22, wherein the graphical user interface elements are arranged to reflect light energy from the source of light energy.

26. The device as recited in claim 25, wherein each of the graphical user interface elements comprises an indentation formed in a translucent face portion, the indentation having at least one surface having an angle relative to a direction of travel of the light energy from the source of light energy such that light energy from the first source of light energy is reflected generally towards a top surface of the display.

27. The device as recited in claim 24, wherein each of the plurality of sources of light energy comprises a multi-colored source of light energy.

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.

29. The method as recited in claim 28, wherein the images comprise image fragments and the image fragments are selectively made more visibly prominent to form various complete images whereby the various complete images are in substantially the same location of the graphical user interface.

30. The method as recited in claim 29, further comprising associating a source of light with each of the plurality of translucent display portions.

31. The method as recited in claim 30, wherein arranging the images comprises providing an image with at least one surface having an angle relative to a direction of travel of light energy from a source of light energy such that light energy from the source of light energy is reflected generally towards a user of the device.

32. The method as recited in claim 31, wherein at least one source of light energy comprises a multi-colored source of light energy.

33. The method as recited in claim 29, wherein at least one of the graphical user interfaces conveys information concerning a state of an appliance by means of selectively illuminated image fragments.

34. The method as recited in claim 32, wherein a color is utilized to convey information concerning a state of an appliance.