Multi-functional control interface

• US 20070152965A1
• Filed: 03/15/2007
• Published: 07/05/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/10/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ID8 Group R2 Studios Incorporated (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: OpenPeak Inc.
• Inventors: Flores, Justin, Krzyzanowski, Paul
• Granted Patent: US 8,698,752 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/156
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/83 characterised by legends, e.g. Braille, liquid crystal displays, light emitting or optical elements
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2219/018 Electroluminescent panel
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2219/026 with programming switches
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2219/039 Selective or different modes of illumination
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2219/056 Diffuser; Uneven surface
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2219/062 Light conductor
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2219/064 Optical isolation of switch sites
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2231/022 Telephone handset
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2231/032 Remote control

Abstract

A system and method are used to provide a user control interface for controlling multiple device functionality. The system comprises a support structure, control regions, depressible interaction devices, and a controller. The control regions are formed on the support structure. Each of the control regions comprises one or more light emitting panels. The depressible interaction devices cover respective ones of the control regions. The controller is coupled to the control regions and controls which portion of the one or more light emitting panels is output from respective ones of the interaction devices based on one or more modes of operation of the user control interface.

Claims

1. A user control interface for controlling multiple device functionality, comprising:

a support structure;

control regions formed on the support structure, each of the control regions comprising one or more light emitting panels;

depressible interaction devices covering respective ones of the control regions; and

a controller coupled to the control regions that controls which of the emitting panels is output from respective ones of the interaction devices based on one or more modes of operation of the user control interface.

2. The user control interface of claim 1, wherein the one or more light emitting panels comprise electroluminescent (EL) display materials.

3. The user control interface of claim 1, wherein the support structure comprises a circuit coupling the controller and the control regions.

4. The user control interface of claim 1, wherein the depressible interaction devices are physical buttons.

5. The user control interface of claim 1, wherein the mode of operation comprises at least one of a rest mode, a channels mode, a transport mode, and a phone mode.

6. The user control interface of claim 1, wherein the control regions comprise a switch that is activated when the respective one of the depressible interaction device is depressed, whereby activation of the switch initiates an operation based on the mode of operation.

7. The user control interface of claim 1, wherein the depressible interaction devices substantially eliminate lateral output of the one or more light emitting panels.

8. The user control interface of claim 1, wherein the depressible interaction devices substantially eliminate output of the one or more light emitting panels when the mode of operation is a rest mode.

9. The user control interface of claim 1, further comprising respective tinted layers coupled to corresponding ones of the depressible interaction devices, wherein the respective tinted layers are configured to make portions of the depressible interaction device invisible during a rest mode of the one or more modes of operation of the user control interface.

10. The user control interface of claim 1, wherein each respective one of the depressible interaction devices is translucent.

11. The user control interface of claim 1, further comprising respective label mask layers coupled to corresponding ones of the depressible interaction devices.

12. The user control interface of claim 1, further comprising:

respective tinted layers coupled to corresponding ones of the depressible interaction devices, wherein the respective tinted layers are configured to make portions of the depressible interaction devices invisible during a rest mode of the one or more modes of operation of the user control interface;

respective label mask layers coupled to corresponding ones of the depressible interaction devices; and

wherein each respective one of the depressible interaction devices comprises a translucent portion.

13. The user control interface of claim 1, further comprising:

a display device that is coupled to the controller, which displays information during each respective one of the one or more modes of operation.

14. The user control interface of claim 1, further comprising:

respective label masking layers coupled to corresponding ones of the depressible interaction devices, wherein the respective label masking layers are configured to substantially eliminate lateral output of the one or more light emitting panels.

15. The user control interface of claim 1, wherein each respective one of the depressible interaction devices is tinted to substantially eliminate output of the one or more light emitting panels when the mode of operation is a rest mode.

16. The user control interface of claim 1, wherein each respective one of the depressible interaction devices comprises one or more labels.

17. The user control interface of claim 1, wherein each respective one of the depressible interaction devices is transparent.