Patent · US Active

Methods and systems for changing the appearance of a position sensor with a light effect

US8243044B2 · kind B2 · utility

2Cited by
18References
20Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateApr 10, 2008
Grant dateAug 14, 2012
Priority date
Expiry dateJun 15, 2031

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG06F3/042
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

Systems and methods for detecting a position of an object in a sensing region are disclosed. One system includes a position sensor having an opaque capacitive proximity sensor, a light source, and a light conductor coupled to the light source and at least partially disposed over the opaque sensor, the light conductor configured to transmit at least a portion of the light from the light source to generate driven light effects in the sensing region. The system further includes a processor configured to control production of the light, and a display configured to illustrate a digital representation based on the position. A method includes the steps of sensing a position of an object in the sensing region based on a conductive property of the object, controlling light produced by a light source, and generating driven light effects in the sensing region using at least a portion of the light.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.