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US 7,073,916 B2Granted
Key for use in low light conditions
AssigneeHewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
InventorsMemphis Zhihong Yin, Dennis R Esterberg
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A key, which may be used in a user interface, including indicia formed at least in part from phosphorescent material.
Claims53
A device, comprising:
- a housing;
- and
- a user interface, associated with the housing, including a plurality of keys, at least one of the keys defining an overall key volume and including a volume of phosphorescent key body material, which defines a surface, and a volume of substantially opaque material, associated with the surface of the phosphorescent key body material, having at least one inner boundary surface that defines an open region in the shape of a predetermined character, the volume of the substantially opaque material being substantially less than the volume of the phosphorescent key body material.
A device, comprising:
- a housing;
- and
- a user interface, associated with the housing, including a plurality of keys, at least one of the keys including a phosphorescent key body, defining a top exterior surface and a plurality of side exterior surfaces extending downwardly from the top exterior surface, and a substantially opaque portion at least partially covering each of the side exterior surfaces of the phosphorescent key body, covering less than all of at least one of the side exterior surfaces of the phosphorescent key body, and having at least one inner boundary surface on the top exterior surface that defines an open region in the shape of a predetermined character.
A user interface, comprising:
- a plurality of keys;
- at least one of the keys defining an overall key volume and including a volume of phosphorescent key body material, which defines a surface, and a volume of substantially opaque material, associated with the surface of the phosphorescent key body material, having at least one inner boundary surface that defines an open region in the shape of a predetermined character, the volume of the substantially opaque material being substantially less than the volume of the phosphorescent key body material.
A user interface, comprising:
- a plurality of keys;
- at least one of the keys including a phosphorescent key body, defining a top exterior surface and a plurality of side exterior surfaces extending downwardly from the top exterior surface, and a substantially opaque portion at least partially covering each of the side exterior surfaces of the phosphorescent key body, covering less than all of at least one of the side exterior surfaces of the phosphorescent key body, and having at least one inner boundary surface on the top exterior surface that defines an open region in the shape of a predetermined character.
A key for use with a user interface, comprising:
- a phosphorescent key body defining a surface;
- a substantially opaque portion, associated with the surface of the phosphorescent key body, having at least one inner boundary surface that defines an open region in the shape of a predetermined character;
- and
- a layer of at least substantially transparent material that covers the substantially opaque portion;
- wherein the key defines an overall key volume and the phosphorescent key body occupies a substantial portion of the overall key volume.
2 more elements
A key for use with a user interface, comprising:
- a phosphorescent key body defining a top exterior surface and a plurality of side exterior surfaces extending downwardly from the top exterior surface;
- and
- a substantially opaque portion at least partially covering each of the side exterior surfaces of the phosphorescent key body, covering less than all of at least one of the side exterior surfaces of the phosphorescent key body, and having at least one inner boundary surface on the top surface that defines an open region in the shape of a predetermined character.
A computer, comprising:
- a housing including a housing keyboard portion and a housing display portion pivotatly connected to the housing keyboard portion and movable between open and closed positions;
- a processor within the housing;
- a keyboard, carried by the housing keyboard portion and operably connected to the processor, including a plurality of keys, each of the keys defining an overall key volume and including a volume of phosphorescent key body material, which defines a surface, and a volume of substantially opaque material, associated with the surface of the phosphorescent key body material, having at least one inner boundary surface that defines an open region in the shape of a predetermined character, the volume of the substantially opaque material being substantially less than the volume of the phosphorescent key body material;
- and
- a display carried by the housing display portion and operably connected to the processor.
2 more elements
A device, comprising:
- a housing;
- and
- a user interface, associated with the housing, including a plurality of keys, at least one of the keys including a key body having a phosphorescent surface and a layer of substantially opaque material, having at least one inner boundary surface that defines an open region in the shape of a predetermined character with no material located therein, covering the phosphorescent surface such that a portion of the phosphorescent surface in the shape of the predetermined character is visible through the open region, wherein the phosphorescent surface defines a top surface of the key body, the top surface defines peripheral edges, and the layer of substantially opaque material defines an outer periphery that extends at least to the peripheral edges of the top surface.
A device, comprising:
- a housing;
- and
- a user interface, associated with the housing, including a plurality of keys, at least one of the keys including a key body, having a phosphorescent top exterior surface and phosphorescent side exterior surfaces extending downwardly from the phosphorescent top exterior surface, and a layer of substantially opaque material covering at least a portion of each of the phosphorescent side exterior surfaces, covering less than all of at least one of the phosphorescent side exterior surfaces, and a portion of the phosphorescent top exterior surface and having at least one inner boundary surface that defines an open region in the shape of a predetermined character covering the phosphorescent top exterior surface such that a portion of the phosphorescent surface in the shape of the predetermined character is visible through the open region.
A user interface, comprising:
- a plurality of keys;
- at least one of the keys including a key body having a phosphorescent surface and a layer of substantially opaque material, having at least one inner boundary surface that defines an open region in the shape of a predetermined character with no material located therein, covering the phosphorescent surface such that a portion of the phosphorescent surface in the shape of the predetermined character is visible through the open region, wherein the phosphorescent surface defines a top surface of the key body, the top surface defines peripheral edges, and the layer of substantially opaque material defines an outer periphery that extends at least to the peripheral edges of the top surface.
A user interface, comprising:
- a plurality of keys;
- at least one of the keys including a key body, having a phosphorescent top exterior surface end phosphorescent side exterior surfaces extending downwardly from the phosphorescent top exterior surface, and a layer of substantially opaque material covering at least a portion of each of the phosphorescent side exterior surfaces, covering less than all of at least one of the phosphorescent side exterior surfaces, and a portion of the phosphorescent top exterior surface and having at least one inner boundary surface that defines an open region in the shape of a predetermined character covering the phosphorescent top exterior surface such that a portion of the phosphorescent surface in the shape of the predetermined character is visible through the open region.
A key, comprising:
- a key body having a phosphorescent surface;
- and
- a layer of substantially opaque material, having at least one inner boundary surface that defines an open region in the shape of a predetermined character with no material located therein, covering the phosphorescent surface such that a portion of the phosphorescent surface in the shape of the predetermined character is visible through the open region, wherein the phosphorescent surface defines a top surface of the key body, the top surface defines peripheral edges, and the layer of substantially opaque material defines an outer periphery that extends at least to the peripheral edges of the top surface.
A key, comprising:
- a key body, having a phosphorescent top exterior surface and phosphorescent side exterior surfaces extending downwardly from the phosphorescent top exterior surface;
- and
- a layer of substantially opaque material covering at least a portion of each of the phosphorescent side exterior surfaces and a portion of the phosphorescent top exterior surface, covering less than all of at least one of the phosphorescent side exterior surfaces, and having at least one inner boundary surface that defines an open region in the shape of a predetermined character covering the phosphorescent surface such that a portion of the phosphorescent top exterior surface in the shape of the predetermined character is visible through the open region.
A computer, comprising:
- a housing including a housing keyboard portion and a housing display portion pivotably connected to the housing keyboard portion and movable between open and closed positions;
- a processor within the housing;
- a keyboard, carried by the housing keyboard portion and operably connected to the processor, including a plurality of keys, each of the keys including a key body having a phosphorescent surface and a layer of substantially opaque material, having at least one inner boundary surface that defines an open region in the shape of a predetermined character with no material located therein, covering the phosphorescent surface such that a portion of the phosphorescent surface in the shape of the predetermined character is visible through the open region, wherein the phosphorescent surface comprises a top surface and a plurality of side surfaces and the layer of substantially opaque material covers the entire top surface except for the open region and at least partially covers each of the side surfaces;
- and
- a display carried by the housing display portion and operably connected to the processor.
2 more elements
A method of making a key for a user interface, the key defining an overall key volume, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing a phosphorescent key body that includes a surface and occupies a substantial portion of the overall key volume;
- and
- providing a substantially opaque portion over the surface of the phosphorescent key body having at least one boundary surface that defines an open region in the shape of a predetermined character by forming a layer of opaque material on the surface of the phosphorescent key body and removing a portion of the substantially opaque material in the shape of the predetermined character.
A method of making a key for a user interface, the key defining an overall key volume, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing a phosphorescent key body that includes a surface and occupies a substantial portion of the overall key volume;
- forming a substantially opaque portion having at least one boundary surface that defines an open region in the shape of a predetermined character on a sheet of at least substantially transparent material;
- and
- providing the substantially opaque portion over the surface of the phosphorescent key body.
1 more element
A key for use with a user interface, comprising:
- a phosphorescent key body defining a surface;
- and
- a substantially opaque portion, associated with the surface of the phosphorescent key body, having a first boundary surface that defines a first open region in the shape of a predetermined character through which the phosphorescent key body is visible and a second boundary surface at least in part defining a second open region having a closed shape that extends around the first open region and through which the phosphorescent key body is visible.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.