LIGHT-SENSITIVE KEYBOARD

• US 20090140891A1
• Filed: 10/10/2008
• Published: 06/04/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/04/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Ragusa, Ciro, Ragusa, Roberto
• Application Number:
  US12/249,043
• Publication Number:
  US 20090140891A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 341/31
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/83 characterised by legends, e.g. Braille, liquid crystal displays, light emitting or optical elements
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2219/039 Selective or different modes of illumination
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2219/046 above switch site

Abstract

Certain embodiments of the invention provide a keyboard apparatus that may include an array of keys including a modifier key associated with one or more modifiable keys. Each modifiable key may include a main label and a secondary label. The secondary label may represent a function accessible by activating the modifiable key in combination with the modifier key. Further, the secondary label may include a light-reactive material visible only upon irradiation with light having a certain predefined wavelength. A light-emitting device may direct light having the predefined wavelength towards the array. A control element, however, may activate the light-emitting device only upon activation of the modifier key. In this manner, the light-emitting device may selectively illuminate the secondary label to assist a user in identifying and accessing the same.

Claims

1. A keyboard apparatus to assist a user in identifying accessible labels on keys, the apparatus comprising:

an array of keys comprising a modifier key associated with at least one modifiable key, each modifiable key comprising a main label and a secondary label, wherein the secondary label represents a function accessible by activating the modifiable key in combination with the modifier key, and wherein the secondary label comprises a light-reactive material visible only upon irradiation with light having a predefined wavelength;

a light-emitting device to direct light having the predefined wavelength towards the array; and

a control element to activate the light-emitting device to illuminate the secondary label upon activation of the modifier key.

2. The keyboard apparatus of claim 1, wherein a plurality of secondary labels associated with a single modifier key react to light having the same predefined wavelength.

3. The keyboard apparatus of claim 1, wherein the light-emitting device irradiates a predefined portion of the array.

4. The keyboard apparatus of claim 1, wherein the main label comprises a non-light-reactive material.

5. The keyboard apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control element further comprises a power supply actionable to control the light-emitting device.

6. The keyboard apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control element activates the light-emitting device in response to activation of the modifier key by a user.

7. The keyboard apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control element activates the light-emitting device in response to activation of the modifier key by a software application.

8. The keyboard apparatus of claim 1, wherein the light-emitting device comprises a light-emitting diode and a support for supporting the light-emitting diode.

9. The keyboard apparatus of claim 8, wherein the support comprises a lower transparent wall through which the light-emitting diode irradiates at least a portion of the array.

10. The keyboard apparatus of claim 8, wherein the support comprises a mushroom-like shape.

11. The keyboard apparatus of claim 1, wherein the light-emitting device is positioned above the array.

12. The keyboard apparatus of claim 1, wherein the light-emitting device is integrated with the array.

13. The keyboard apparatus of claim 8, wherein the support comprises a ring-shaped transparent wall through which the light-emitting diode irradiates at least a portion of the array.

14. The keyboard apparatus of claim 8, further comprising a plurality of the light-emitting devices, each light-emitting device emitting ultraviolet light having a different predefined wavelength.

15. The keyboard apparatus of claim 14, wherein the at least one modifiable key includes a plurality of secondary labels, each of the secondary labels reactive to a predefined wavelength emitted by exactly one of the plurality of light-emitting devices.

16. The keyboard apparatus of claim 1, wherein the light-emitting device emits ultraviolet light, and wherein the secondary label is reactive to ultraviolet light.

17. A system to assist a user in identifying accessible labels on keys, the system comprising:

a computer;

a keyboard operably coupled to the computer, the keyboard comprising;

an array of keys comprising a modifier key associated with at least one modifiable key, each modifiable key comprising a main label and a secondary label, wherein the secondary label represents a function accessible by activating the modifiable key in combination with the modifier key, and wherein the secondary label comprises a light-reactive material visible only upon irradiation with light having a predefined wavelength;

a light-emitting device to direct light having the predefined wavelength towards the array; and

a control element to activate the light-emitting device to illuminate the secondary label upon activation of the modifier key.

18. The computer system of claim 17, wherein the array of keys is integrated into a base housing.

19. (canceled)

20. The computer system of claim 19, further comprising a switch positioned between the base housing and the display housing to detect whether the display housing is in an open position or a closed position, wherein the control element deactivates the light-emitting device in response to the switch detecting the closed position.