Keyboard with multiple indicia sets
First Claim
1. A key for a keyboard, a keypad, or the like, comprising two or more indicia provided on the surface of the key body, characterized in that each of said two or more indicia is provided on said key in a plurality of separated portions, said portions being positioned in a spaced positioned relationship with one another, so as not to be physically closely juxtaposed, and wherein when viewed at a predetermined angle all parts of said indicia are optically juxtaposed to create the entire indicia.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention discloses a method for displaying individually on a plurality of keys of a keyboard or keypad two or more indicia representing two or more functions performed by each key. The keys are characterized in that each of the two or more indicia is provided on the key in a plurality of separated portions. The portions being positioned in a spaced positioned relationship with one another, so as not to be physically closely juxtaposed. When viewed at a predetermined angle all parts of the indicia are optically juxtaposed to create the entire indicia.
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Citations
36 Claims
- 1. A key for a keyboard, a keypad, or the like, comprising two or more indicia provided on the surface of the key body, characterized in that each of said two or more indicia is provided on said key in a plurality of separated portions, said portions being positioned in a spaced positioned relationship with one another, so as not to be physically closely juxtaposed, and wherein when viewed at a predetermined angle all parts of said indicia are optically juxtaposed to create the entire indicia.
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26. A method for displaying individually on a plurality of keys of a keyboard or keypad two or more indicia representing two or more functions performed by each key, the method comprising:
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dividing each of the individual indicia into portions;
positioning each of said individual portions in a spaced positional relationship with respect to the adjacent portions containing parts of the same indicia;
providing alternately, in the spaces between adjacent portions of the first indicia, portions containing information from the other indicia such that a single composite interlaced image, containing information about all of said indicia, is produced;
wherein said composite image is produced on the top surface of said key and, when observed from different viewing angles, the information contained in said composite image is separated such that said indicia are observed individually. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
cylindrical lenses; and
spherical lenses.
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29. A method according to claim 28, wherein the bottom of the sheet of lenticular lenses is non-planar.
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30. A method according to claim 26, wherein the number of indicia on each key is between 2 and 5.
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31. A method according to claim 26, wherein the composite interlaced image is produced on the key by a method chosen from the following group:
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printing said image on a sheet and attaching said sheet by suitable means to said key;
printing said image on the bottom surface of a sheet of lenticular lenses which is then attached to said key by suitable means; and
producing said image directly on the surface of said key as part of the manufacturing process of said key.
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32. A method according to claim 26, wherein the change in viewing angle is associated with angular orientation means.
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33. A method according to claim 32, wherein the angular orientation means comprise one or more gyroscopes.
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34. A method for displaying individually on each key of a keyboard or keypad two or more indicia representing the two or more functions performed by said key, said method comprising:
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dividing each of the individual indicia into portions;
positioning each of said separate portions of each of the indicia in separate parallel planes provided in the key, one set of said parallel planes for each of said indicia;
wherein, when observed from different viewing angles, each of said indicia is observed individually. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36)
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Specification