Context sensitive labels for a hardware input device
AssigneeMicrosoft Corporation
InventorSteven N. Bathiche
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for hardware input devices provides context sensitive labels which can change according to an application running on a computer and/or the function assigned to an input element. An illustrative implementation of the method and apparatus includes employing ink having two or more electroluminescent pattern layers with an input device. Based on the context of a computer associated with the input device, an illuminated pattern identifies the current functionality of one or more of the inputs of the input device.
Claims19
A method for labeling a key on a hardware input device, wherein a plurality of pattern layers are associated with a key, one of first and second pattern layers being disposed on top of the other of the first and second pattern layers, and the first pattern layer being divided into first and second portions, said method comprising the steps of:
- receiving a first control signal from a computer in a first application context;
- displaying the first portion, and not the second portion, of the first pattern layer responsive to the first control signal in the first application context;
- receiving a second control signal from the computer in a second application context;
- displaying at least a portion of the second pattern layer responsive to the second control signal in the second application context;
- receiving a third control signal from the computer in a third application context;
- and
- displaying the second potion, and not the first portion, of the first pattern layer responsive to the third control signal in the third application context.
A method for labeling a key on a hardware input device, wherein a plurality of pattern layers are associated with a key, one of first and second pattern layers being disposed on top of the other of the first and second pattern layers and the first pattern layer being divded into first and second portions, said method comprising the steps of:
- receiving a first control signal from a computer in a first application context;
- displaying a first portion, and not a second portion, of the first pattern layer responsive to the first control signal in the first application context;
- receiving a second control signal from the computer in a second application context;
- displaying at least a portion of the second pattern layer responsive to the second control signal in the second application context;
- receiving a third control signal from the computer in a third application context;
- and
- displaying the second portion, and not the first portion, of the first pattern layer responsive to the third control signal in the third application context, wherein the first and second pattern layers are electroluminescent.
A computer readable storage medium having computer-executable instructions for performing the steps of:
- determining a current application context of a computer;
- generating a control signal representing the current application context;
- and
- transmitting the control signal to a keyboard, the control signal causing one of first and second portions of one of a plurality of stacked layers associated with a key of the keyboard to be illuminated, wherein the illuminated one of the first portion and the second portion of the stacked layer displays the current application context of the key and when one of the first portion and the second portion of the stacked layer is illuminated the other one of the first portion and the second portion of the stacked layer is not illuminated,
- wherein the stacked layers are electroluminescent.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.