User control interface

• US 7,582,840 B2
• Filed: 07/26/2007
• Issued: 09/01/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications AB (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Lerenius, Jacob
• Primary Examiner(s): Friedhofer; Michael A
• Assistant Examiner(s): HOMZA, LISA NHUNG
• Application Number:
  US11/828,470
• Publication Number:
  US 20090026053A1
• Time in Patent Office: 768 Days
• Field of Search: 200310-345
• US Class Current: 200/314
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0202 Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the input device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03547 Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 13/04 Signs, boards or panels, illuminated from behind the insignia
• 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 2219/052 Phosphorescence

Abstract

The invention relates to a user control interface comprising a plurality of illuminated symbols such as letters, digits and similar characters being arranged for facilitating input commands from a user and being disposed at a defined area forming part of a top layer facing a user during operation. The user control interface according to the invention comprises a support structure comprising at least one light source emitting light generally in the ultraviolet range in a direction towards said top layer, wherein said symbols are of more than one color, each color being provided by means of fluorescent material arranged in said top layer in a design corresponding to said symbols.

Claims

1. A user control interface comprising a plurality of illuminated symbols such as letters, digits and similar characters being arranged for facilitating input commands from a user and being disposed at a defined area forming part of a top layer facing a user during operation, said user control interface further comprising a support structure comprising at least one light source emitting light generally in the ultraviolet range in a direction towards said top layer, wherein said symbols are of more than one colour, each colour being provided by means of fluorescent material arranged in said top layer in a design corresponding to said symbols.

2. The user control interface according to claim 1, further comprising a touch panel layer positioned between the support layer and the top layer, said touch panel layer being arranged for detecting the position of said input commands by the user.

3. The user control interface according to claim 2, wherein the touch panel layer comprises a resistive touch panel.

4. The user control interface according to claim 1, being constituted by a key pad comprising a switch structure positioned between the support layer and the top layer, said switch structure being arranged for detecting operation of the key pad by the user.

5. The user control interface according to claim 1, wherein said defined area corresponds to a key forming part of said key pad.

6. The user control interface according to claim 1, wherein said at least one light source is a UV or near UV light emitting diode being positioned on said support structure.

7. The user control interface according to claim 6, wherein said light source is constituted by a sidefire light source emitting light generally in a direction of an imaginary plane along which the support structure extends.

8. The user control interface according to claim 6, wherein said light source is constituted by a topfire light source emitting light generally perpendicular to an imaginary plane along which the support structure extends.