Segmented Electroluminescent Device for Morphing User Interface
First Claim
1. A dynamic user interface for an electronic device, comprising:
- a segmented optical shutter configured to present one of a plurality of keypad configurations by transitioning segments of the segmented optical shutter from opaque states to translucent states; and
a plurality of electroluminescent elements, each electroluminescent element being positioned beneath a corresponding segment of the segmented optical shutter, wherein each electroluminescent element is larger than the corresponding segment;
wherein each electroluminescent element is active only when the corresponding segment is in a translucent state; and
further wherein each electroluminescent element, when active, projects light both to illuminate the corresponding segment by projecting light through the corresponding segment and to circumscribe the corresponding segment by projecting light through the segmented optical shutter about the corresponding segment.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A dynamic user interface (1000) is configured to present one of a plurality of keypad configurations to a user. Each keypad configuration includes a plurality of user actuation targets that may be selectively presented to, or hidden from, a user. A segmented optical shutter (204) having segments (801,802,803,804) configured for selective transition from opaque to translucent states is disposed above an segmented optical shutter (204) having a plurality of transparent electrodes (901), each operating as an electroluminescent element. When each segment (801) is active and in a transparent state, a corresponding electroluminescent element is actuated so as to project light (1001,1002) both through the corresponding segment (801) at a first luminosity and about the corresponding segment (801) at a second luminosity, so as to circumscribe the segment (801). The illuminated segment (801) and the circumscription (1004) together form a user actuation target.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A dynamic user interface for an electronic device, comprising:
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a segmented optical shutter configured to present one of a plurality of keypad configurations by transitioning segments of the segmented optical shutter from opaque states to translucent states; and a plurality of electroluminescent elements, each electroluminescent element being positioned beneath a corresponding segment of the segmented optical shutter, wherein each electroluminescent element is larger than the corresponding segment; wherein each electroluminescent element is active only when the corresponding segment is in a translucent state; and further wherein each electroluminescent element, when active, projects light both to illuminate the corresponding segment by projecting light through the corresponding segment and to circumscribe the corresponding segment by projecting light through the segmented optical shutter about the corresponding segment. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A portable electronic device having a user interface comprising a dynamic keypad region, the dynamic keypad region comprising:
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a segmented optical shutter configured to a plurality of user actuation targets by by transitioning segments of the segmented optical shutter from opaque states to translucent states, wherein each segment is physically separated from another by semi-translucent material; and a luminescent device disposed beneath the segmented optical shutter, wherein the luminescent device is configured to project light both through at least one segment of the segmented optical shutter when the at least one segment is in a translucent state to illuminate the at least one segment with light of a first luminosity and about the at least one segment, through the semi-translucent material, to circumscribe the at least one segment with light of a second luminosity. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification