Method of dynamically lighting keyboard glyphs

• US 6,608,271 B2
• Filed: 08/17/2001
• Issued: 08/19/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/17/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Danger Incorporated (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Duarte, Matias G.
• Primary Examiner(s): FRIEDHOFER, MICHAEL A
• Application Number:
  US09/932,195
• Publication Number:
  US 20030034240A1
• Time in Patent Office: 732 Days
• Field of Search: 200/308-314, 340/815.48, 340/815.53, 340/815.55, 340/815.56, 340/815.75, 341/20-23, 362/95, 362/277, 362/280-284, 362/293, 362/295, 362/319, 362/322-324
• US Class Current: 200/311
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/84 characterised by ergonomic functions, e.g. for miniature keyboards; characterised by operational sensory functions, e.g. sound feedback legends H01H13/83
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2009/183 Provisions for enhancing the contrast between the illuminated symbol and the background or between juxtaposed symbols
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2217/038 Prompting
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2219/002 replaceable; adaptable
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2219/03 in transparent keyboard
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2219/036 Light emitting elements
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2239/05 Mode selector switch, e.g. shift, or indicator
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 9/182 Illumination of the symbols or distinguishing marks H01H9/181 takes precedence

Abstract

In one embodiment a light source is provided to illuminate one or more keys. Each key has at least one glyph. The color of each glyph corresponds to the light source.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

first key;

a first non-opaque glyph of a first color disposed on said first key;

a second non-opaque glyph of a second color disposed on said first key;

a light source oriented towards the first key, the light source capable of providing light of a third color or a fourth color, the third color being relatively closer to a complementary color to said first color than to said second color, and the fourth color being relatively closer to a complementary color to said second color than to said first color; and

a light source selector to select between said third color and said fourth color to increase contrast between said first glyph and said second glyph.

2. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said light source selector selects either said third color or said fourth color responsive to a selection of a function associated with said second glyph or said first glyph.

3. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein regions of the first key not comprising a glyph are white.

4. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein regions of the first key not comprising a glyph are black.

5. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the first key is translucent.

6. The apparatus as recited in claim 5, wherein said first and second glyphs on the first key are transparent.

7. The apparatus as recited in claim 5, wherein said first and second glyphs on the first key are translucent.

8. The apparatus as recited in claim 1,wherein the first key is transparent.

9. The apparatus as recited in claim 8, wherein said first and second glyphs on the first key are translucent.

10. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

a third non-opaque glyph of a fifth color disposed on said first key;

wherein the light source is capable of providing light of a sixth color, the sixth color being relatively closer to a complementary color to said fifth color than to said first color or said second color, the light source selector to select between said third color, said fourth color and said sixth color to increase contrast between said first glyph, said second glyph and said third glyph.

11. The apparatus as recited in claim 10, wherein the glyphs on two or more of the plurality of keys are transparent.

12. The apparatus as recited in claim 10, wherein the first glyph, second glyph and third glyph are translucent.

13. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein the light of the third color is complementary to the light of the first color and wherein the light of the fourth color is complementary to the light of the second color.

14. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein the selected type of light decreases the visual contrast between a corresponding glyph and the remainder of the key over the visual contrast between a non-corresponding glyph and the remainder of the key.

15. The apparatus as recited in claim 14, wherein the selected type of light is of a complementary color to the color of the corresponding glyph.

16. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein the selected wavelength of the light source decreases the visual contrast between a glyph corresponding to the type of light selected and the remainder of the key over the visual contrast between a non-corresponding glyph and the remainder of the key.

17. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the light source is a light emitting diode (“

LED”

).

18. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the light source is at least one of a group consisting of:

a fluorescent light source, a laser light source, an incandescent light source, an ultraviolet light source, or an infrared light source.

19. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the light source is under the first key.

20. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the light source is above the first key.

21. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the light source is toward a side of the first key.

22. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the light source is located inside the first key.

23. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 further comprising:

a plurality of additional keys forming a keyboard.

24. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the light source selector is a second key.

25. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein the light source selector is voice activated.

26. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein the light source selector is a portion of a touch-screen.

27. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein the light source selector is implemented in software.

28. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the first glyph and the second glyph are either symbols, emblems, marks, figures, patterns, characters, letters, digits, or punctuation marks.

29. A method comprising:

providing a key wherein the key includes a first non-opaque glyph of a first color and a second non-opaque glyph of a second color; and

providing a light source oriented towards the first key, the light source capable of providing light of a third color or a fourth color, the third color being relatively closer to a complementary color to said first color than to said second color, and the fourth color being relatively closer to a complementary color to said second color than to said first color; and

selecting between said third color and said fourth color to increase contrast between said first glyph and said second glyph.

30. The method as recited in claim 29, wherein said third color or said fourth color are selected responsive to a selection of a function associated with said second glyph or said first glyph.

31. The method as recited in claim 29 wherein selection of said third color causes the first glyph to have an increased contrast when compared to the second glyph.

32. The method as recited in claim 29 wherein selection of said third color causes the second glyph to have a decreased contrast when compared to the first glyph.

33. The method as recited in claim 30, wherein the third color is complementary in color to the first color and the fourth color is complementary to the second color.

34. An apparatus comprising:

a keyboard having a perimeter and comprising a plurality of keys at least one of the plurality of keys having a first non-opaque glyph of a first color and a second non-opaque glyph of a second color disposed thereon;

a light source oriented towards the first key, the light source capable of providing light of a third color or a fourth color, the third color being relatively closer to a complementary color to said first color than to said second color, and the fourth color being relatively closer to a complementary color to said second color than to said first color

a light source to provide light of a third color or a fourth color, the third color being relatively closer to a complementary color to said first color than to said second color, and the fourth color being relatively closer to a complementary color to said second color than to said first color, wherein the light source is located on or outside of the perimeter of the keyboard; and

a glyph selector communicatively coupled to the light source to select between said third color and said fourth color to increase contrast between said first glyph and said second glyph.

35. The apparatus as recited in claim 34 wherein a light ray from the light source is substantially conducted laterally from the perimeter of the keyboard through at least one side of at least one of the plurality of keys.

36. The apparatus as recited in claim 34, wherein a light ray from the light source is substantially conducted laterally through a first key of the keyboard to a second key of the keyboard.

37. An apparatus comprising:

a first key;

a first non-opaque region of a first color disposed on said first key;

a second non-opaque region of a second color disposed on said first key;

a light source oriented towards the first key, the light source capable of providing light of a third color or a fourth color the third color being relatively closer to a complementary color to said first color than to said second color, and the fourth color being relatively closer to a complementary color to said second color than to said first color; and

a light source selector to select between said third color and said fourth color to increase contrast between said first region and said second region.

38. The apparatus as in claim 37 further comprising:

a first glyph disposed within said first region; and

a second glyph disposed within said second region.

39. The apparatus as in claim 38 wherein said first glyph and said second glyph are opaque.