DEVICE FOR INPUTTING CONTROL COMMANDS

• US 20100225499A1
• Filed: 01/16/2007
• Published: 09/09/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/27/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Tan, Hwai Kiang, Tay, Chee Wee, Sim, Keong Huat, Peh, Beng Tee
• Application Number:
  US12/161,824
• Publication Number:
  US 20100225499A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/815.690
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0238 Programmable keyboards key guide holders G06F3/0224
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2219/039 Selective or different modes of illumination

Abstract

A device for inputting control commands has an at least in parts light-transmitting surface and includes an apparatus for projecting a number of graphic symbols through respective symbol areas (3,4) of the surface, a control command being associated with each graphic symbol. The apparatus includes a lighting arrangement (10;16;22) for selectively illuminating symbol areas (3,4) from within the device through at least one screen (12;17;24) patterned simultaneously in accordance with a plurality of the graphic symbols. The at least in parts light-transmitting surface includes at least one area (2) corresponding to a key, each area (2) corresponding to a key encompassing at least one of the symbol areas (3,4). The device for inputting control commands further includes an input device (13;20;25) for detecting selection of an area (2) corresponding to a key by a body. The device includes at least one sheet (14;19;26) arranged to allow at least partial transmission of light from the arrangement for selectively illuminating symbol areas (3,4) to the surface and arranged to decrease a contrast between graphic symbols and surrounding parts of at least symbol areas (3,4) other than those being illuminated.

Claims

1. Device for inputting control commands,

having an at least in parts light-transmitting surface and including

an apparatus for projecting a number of graphic symbols through respective symbol areas (3,4) of the surface, a control command being associated with each graphic symbol, which apparatus includes

a lighting arrangement (10;

16;

22) for selectively illuminating symbol areas (3,4) from within the device through at least one screen (12;

17;

24) patterned simultaneously in accordance with a plurality of the graphic symbols,

wherein the at least in parts light-transmitting surface includes at least one area (2) corresponding to a key, each area (2) corresponding to a key encompassing at least one of the symbol areas (3,4), wherein the device for inputting control commands further includes an input device (13,20,25) for detecting selection of an area (2) corresponding to a key by a body, characterised by

including at least one sheet (14;

19;

26) arranged to allow at least partial transmission of light from the arrangement for selectively illuminating symbol areas (3,4) to the surface and arranged to decrease a contrast between graphic symbols and surrounding parts of at least symbol areas (3,4) other than those being illuminated.

2. Device according to claim 1, wherein at least one area (2a) corresponding to a key encompasses multiple symbol areas (3,4).

3. Device according to claim 1, wherein the lighting arrangement includes a plurality of light-emitting diodes positioned behind the screen (12;

17;

24) and under the symbol areas (3,4) as seen from the surface of the device.

4. Device according to claim 1, wherein the screen (17;

24) comprises at least one liquid crystal display panel, preferably a negatively polarised liquid crystal display panel.

5. Device according to claim 1, wherein the screen (12) includes a reverse-printed diffuser plate.

6. Device according to claim 1, wherein the lighting arrangement includes a mechanical partition (11;

18;

23) placed over an array of light sources and located behind the at least one screen (12;

17;

24) as seen from the surface of the device.

7. Device according to claim 1, wherein the lighting arrangement (10) includes at least one source of coloured light and at least one of the sheets (14) for decreasing contrast includes a colour filter.

8. Device according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the sheets (19;

26) for decreasing contrast includes a layer for reflecting light away from the surface of the device, positioned over the screen (17;

24) to the side of the surface of the device.

10. Method of obtaining control commands, including

providing a device (5) having an at least in parts light-transmitting surface (1) and including an apparatus for projecting a number of graphic symbols through respective symbol areas (3,4) of the surface, which apparatus includes

a lighting arrangement (10;

16;

22) for selectively illuminating symbol areas from within the device through at least one screen (12;

17;

24) patterned in accordance with a plurality of the graphic symbols,

wherein the at least parts light-transmitting surface includes at least one area (2) corresponding to a key, each area (2) corresponding to a key encompassing at least one of the symbol areas (3,4), which method includes

associating a control command with each graphic symbol, and

selectively illuminating a sub-set of the symbol areas (3,4) in accordance with a mode of operation of a device being controlled, so as to project associated graphic symbols through the respective symbol areas (3,4),

wherein a control command is obtained by detecting selection of an area (2) corresponding to a key by a body, characterised by

obscuring at least the graphic symbols projected through at least one of the symbol areas (3,4) other than those being illuminated, including the use of a device (5) according to claim 1.

9. Method of obtaining control commands, including

providing a device (5) having an at least in parts light-transmitting surface (1) and including an apparatus for projecting a number of graphic symbols through respective symbol areas (3,4) of the surface, which apparatus includes

a lighting arrangement (10;

16;

22) for selectively illuminating symbol areas from within the device through at least one screen (12;

17;

24) patterned in accordance with a plurality of the graphic symbols,

wherein the at least in parts light-transmitting surface includes at least one area (2) corresponding to a key, each area (2) corresponding to a key encompassing at least one of the symbol areas (3,4), which method includes

associating a control command with each graphic symbol, and

selectively illuminating a sub-set of the symbol areas (3,4) in accordance with a mode of operation of a device being controlled, so as to project associated graphic symbols through the respective symbol areas (3,4),

wherein a control command is obtained by detecting selection of an area (2) corresponding to a key by a body, characterised by

obscuring at least the graphic symbols projected through at least one of the symbol areas (3,4) other than those being illuminated.

11. Electronic appliance, including a device (5) having an at least in parts light-transmitting surface (1) and including an apparatus for projecting a number of graphic symbols through respective symbol areas (3,4) of the surface (1), which apparatus includes

a lighting arrangement (10;

16;

22) for selectively illuminating symbol areas (3,4) from within the device through at least one screen (12;

17;

24) patterned in accordance with a plurality of the graphic symbols,

wherein the at least in parts light-transmitting surface (1) includes at least one area (2) corresponding to a key, each area (2) corresponding to a key encompassing at least one of the symbol areas (3,4), wherein the appliance is configured to execute a method according to claim 9.