Illuminated touch pad

• US 6,822,640 B2
• Filed: 04/10/2001
• Issued: 11/23/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/10/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Derocher, Michael D
• Primary Examiner(s): Liang, Regina
• Application Number:
  US09/829,692
• Publication Number:
  US 20020145594A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,323 Days
• Field of Search: 345/176, 345/173, 345/174, 345/183, 345/102, 178/18.01, 178/18.03, 178/18.05, 178/18.06, 178/18.11
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03547 Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04886 by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus

Abstract

A device used to accept an operator input to a computing device is disclosed. The device includes a first layer that includes a translucent, two-dimensional cover. Additionally included is a second layer in which a plurality of surfaces is constructed using a translucent and conductive material. The device further includes a third layer that employs a light-emitting material that generates light in response to the operator input.

Claims

1. A device that accepts an input to a computing device, comprising:

a first layer having a translucent cover;

a second layer having a plurality of surfaces, said surfaces being one of a capacitive or resistive surface and being constructed using a translucent and conductive material;

a third layer having a light-emitting material which generates light responsive to said input, said light-emitting material generating light that persists for a period of time after one of a user'"'"'s finger and thumb has been positioned at a location on the top side of said first layer, said light being generated only in an area proximate to said location; and

a fourth layer which generates light of a different color than light generated by said third layer.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said one of a user'"'"'s finger and thumb is positioned at a location near a side of said first layer, said side being opposite said second layer, said operator input being used to control an aspect of a computer display controlled by said computing device.

3. The device of claim 2 wherein said control of said aspect of said computer display is conveyed through a wireless link between said device and said computing device.

4. The device of claim 2 wherein said control of said aspect of said computer display is conveyed through a wire line link between said device and said computing device.

5. The device of claim 2 wherein said plurality of surfaces functions by responding to changes in capacitance between adjacent ones of said plurality of surfaces.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein said input is said one of a user'"'"'s finger and thumb applying pressure to said first layer, said pressure being used to control an aspect of a computer display associated with said computing device.

7. The device of claim 6 wherein said plurality of surfaces function by responding to changes in resistance between adjacent ones of said plurality of surfaces.

8. The device of claim 1 wherein said plurality of surfaces is constructed using a material which is transparent.

9. The device of claim 1 wherein said computing device launches a software application that runs on said computing device in response to said operator input.

10. The device of claim 1 wherein said light-emitting material is an electroluminescent material.

11. The device of claim 1 wherein said light-emitting material is a light-emitting diode.

12. The device of claim 1, wherein said first, second, and third layers are substantially two-dimensional.

13. The device of claim 1, wherein said operator input is a character entered on said translucent cover and said generated light forms a trace of said character.

14. A device that accepts an input to a computing device, comprising:

a first layer having a translucent cover;

a second layer having a plurality of surfaces, said surfaces being one of a capacitive or resistive surface and being constructed using a translucent and conductive material;

a third layer having a light-emitting material which generates light responsive to said input, said light-emitting layer generating light that persists for a period of time after one of a user'"'"'s finger and thumb has been positioned at a location on the top side of said first layer, said light being generated in areas other than an area proximate to said location; and

a fourth layer for generating light of a different color than light generated by said third layer.

15. A device that accepts an input to a computing device, comprising:

a first layer having a translucent cover;

a second layer having a plurality of surfaces, said surfaces being one of a capacitive or resistive surface and being constructed using a translucent and conductive material;

a third layer having a light-emitted material which generates light responsive to said input; and

a fourth layer which generates light of a different color than light generated by said third layer, said generated light presenting the appearance of soft keys.

16. A computing device that makes use of a touch pad to provide feedback to a user, said feedback being indicative of an operating mode of at least one input device used by said computing device, comprising:

a first layer which includes a substantially rigid, transparent surface;

a second layer which includes a plurality of surfaces proximate with said first layer, said plurality of surfaces being constructed of a transparent and conductive material;

a third layer which includes a light-emitting layer, said third layer generating light in response to an operator input and notifying said user that said operator input is required, wherein said light-emitting layer is arranged to present a particular symbol to said user; and

an illumination controller coupled to said third layer for bringing about said light generated in response to said operator input.

17. The computing device of claim 16 wherein said touch pad additionally receives said operator input.

18. The computing device of claim 16 wherein said operator input is a user selecting to use said touch pad to control an aspect of a display coupled to said computing device.

19. The computing device of claim 18 wherein said aspect of said display is a position of a cursor on said display.

20. The computing device of claim 18 wherein said aspect of said display is a scroll bar used in a window of said display.

21. The computing device of claim 16 wherein said plurality of surfaces functions by responding to changes in capacitance of elements of said plurality of surfaces.

22. The computing device of claim 16 wherein said operator input is conveyed by way of a wireless interface between said computing device and said touch pad.

23. The computing device of claim 16 wherein said computing device is a laptop computer.

24. The computing device of claim 16 further comprising a selector which influences an operating state of said illumination controller.

25. The computing device of claim 16 further comprising a fourth layer which generates light of a different color than said light generated by said third layer, said fourth layer generating light in response to said operator input, said fourth layer also being coupled to said illumination controller for bringing about said light generated in response to said operator input.

26. The computing device of claim 25 wherein said fourth layer covers an area of said touch pad that is substantially less than the area covered by said third layer.

27. The computing device of claim 25 further comprising a selector which activates said third and said fourth layer, thereby allowing said light generated by said third and said fourth layers to be combined to form light of a different color than said third layer and different than said fourth layer.