Patent · US Active

Method and apparatus for enhancing keycap legend visibility in low light conditions

US9007307B2 · kind B2 · utility

0Cited by
26References
21Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateAug 9, 2010
Grant dateApr 14, 2015
Priority date
Expiry dateNov 5, 2031

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG06F3/0202
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

Techniques and apparatus to provide improved visibility to user input devices, such as keys, are disclosed. In low light conditions, keys can be difficult to distinguish. For example, often keys have legends on them to visually distinguish them from one another, but in low light conditions it can be difficult for users to visually distinguish the different keys. The legends can be textual and/or graphic. Hence, according to one embodiment, light from a nearby display device can be used to provide illumination to the user input devices (e.g., keys). More particularly, in one embodiment, some light from the nearby display device can be directed towards and reflected from the user input devices (e.g., keys) to enhance visibility of the keys or the legends thereon.

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