US20060285309A1 - Illuminted human-machine interface device - Google Patents
Illuminted human-machine interface device Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20060285309A1 US20060285309A1 US11/509,656 US50965606A US2006285309A1 US 20060285309 A1 US20060285309 A1 US 20060285309A1 US 50965606 A US50965606 A US 50965606A US 2006285309 A1 US2006285309 A1 US 2006285309A1
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- fluorescent
- keyboard
- machine interface
- interface device
- human
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
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Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
- G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
- G06F3/00—Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
- G06F3/01—Input arrangements or combined input and output arrangements for interaction between user and computer
- G06F3/03—Arrangements for converting the position or the displacement of a member into a coded form
- G06F3/033—Pointing devices displaced or positioned by the user, e.g. mice, trackballs, pens or joysticks; Accessories therefor
- G06F3/0354—Pointing devices displaced or positioned by the user, e.g. mice, trackballs, pens or joysticks; Accessories therefor with detection of 2D relative movements between the device, or an operating part thereof, and a plane or surface, e.g. 2D mice, trackballs, pens or pucks
- G06F3/03543—Mice or pucks
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
- G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
- G06F3/00—Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
- G06F3/01—Input arrangements or combined input and output arrangements for interaction between user and computer
- G06F3/02—Input arrangements using manually operated switches, e.g. using keyboards or dials
- G06F3/0202—Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the input device
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
- H01H9/00—Details of switching devices, not covered by groups H01H1/00 - H01H7/00
- H01H9/18—Distinguishing marks on switches, e.g. for indicating switch location in the dark; Adaptation of switches to receive distinguishing marks
- H01H9/185—Fluorescent or phosphorescent symbols or distinguishing marks
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
- H01H2219/00—Legends
- H01H2219/028—Printed information
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
- H01H2219/00—Legends
- H01H2219/036—Light emitting elements
- H01H2219/052—Phosphorescence
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
- Human Computer Interaction (AREA)
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Input From Keyboards Or The Like (AREA)
- Push-Button Switches (AREA)
Abstract
An illuminated human-machine interface device does not need prepare electric energy by itself to supply power for a light source and can operate by taking advantage of the brightness of a screen of a monitor without any extraordinary illuminating equipment. It can be a keyboard and the positions on which the fluorescent light emits from the keyboard can be chosen on plural key caps. Secondly, it can be a keyboard and the position on which the fluorescent light emits from the keyboard can be chosen on an upper cover. The printed symbols on the key caps and the upper cover can both be formed by positive or negative plate printing with fluorescent ink, or the key caps and the upper cover can both be mixed with fluorescent material therein. Thirdly, it can be a keyboard with a fluorescent plate thereon to emit fluorescent light to make the keyboard a fluorescent keyboard. Fourthly, it can be a mouse having a housing with fluorescent material therein.
Description
- The present invention is related to a human-machine interface device, and especially to a human-machine interface device without preparing electric energy by itself to supply power for a light source, and it can operate by taking advantage of the brightness of a screen of a monitor without an extraordinary illuminating equipment, the human-machine interface device can be a keyboard or a mouse.
- In prior arts, a U.S. patent publish No. 2,003,103,359 titled “ILLUMINATED KEYBOARD” using a backlight device for supplying light source, a U.S. Pat. No. 6,217,183B1 titled “KEYBOARD HAVING ILLUMINATED KEYS” using light emitting members such as LED's or LCD's for supplying light source. These prior arts inevitably use electric energy to afford electric power required for emitting light of the backlight device or the light emitting members; only under the condition that electric energy can keep on supplying, the backlight device or the light emitting members can work, and the keyboard can be operated in a darker environment only having weak light. If power supplying get lost, such light emitting keyboards having the backlight device or the light emitting members will be totally unable to operate under a darker environment only having weak light. And more, for those consumers getting severe and severe in requesting environmental protection, electronic devices are given with a requesting to satisfy the requirement of saving energy under the specification of industrial safety, the above stated conventional keyboards having the backlight device or the light emitting members evidently are contrary to the tendency of environmental protection.
- In view of the above defects to be solved pressingly of the prior arts, the inventor of the present invention provides a human-machine interface device completely without the need of a backlight device, and it can operate by taking advantage of the brightness of a screen of a monitor without an extraordinary illuminating equipment, the human-machine interface device of the present invention can be a keyboard or a mouse.
- The primary object of the present invention is to provide a human-machine interface device without the need of preparing electric energy by itself to supply power; the human-machine interface device can operate by taking advantage of the brightness of a screen of a monitor without any extraordinary illuminating equipment.
- Therefore, in order to get the abovementioned object, the present invention provides an illuminated human-machine interface device, wherein the illuminated human-machine interface device is a keyboard, and includes a plurality of key caps having therein fluorescent material, the fluorescent material is used to make the printed symbols on the caps recognizable under a weak light source.
- Moreover, in order to get the abovementioned object, the present invention provides an illuminated human-machine interface device, wherein the illuminated human-machine interface device is a keyboard; it includes an upper cover having therein fluorescent material, which fluorescent material is used to make the printed symbols on the upper cover recognizable under a weak light source.
- Further, in order to get the abovementioned object, the present invention provides an illuminated human-machine interface device, wherein the illuminated human-machine interface device is a keyboard; it includes an upper cover with a plurality of hole regions for keys and includes a fluorescent plate, wherein the fluorescent plate has thereon a plurality of hole regions in corresponding by position respectively to the hole regions for keys, and the fluorescent plate is placed on the upper cover.
- And further, in order to get the abovementioned object, the present invention provides an illuminated human-machine interface device, wherein the illuminated human-machine interface device is a mouse; it includes a housing having fluorescent material therein.
- The present invention will be apparent in its objects, features and functions after reading the detailed description of the preferred embodiment thereof in reference to the accompanying drawings.
-
FIGS. 1A-1C are perspective views of key caps having fluorescent material therein of the present invention; -
FIGS. 2A-2C are perspective views of embodiments of upper covers having fluorescent material therein of the present invention; -
FIG. 3A is a perspective view of a fluorescent plate of the present invention applied with fluorescent ink; -
FIG. 3B is a perspective view of a fluorescent plate of the present invention added with fluorescent material; and -
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a mouse of the present invention with a housing having fluorescent material therein. - The embodiments of the illuminated human-machine interface device of the present invention can be keyboards or mice; the followings disclose a detailed specification about a first embodiment of the present invention. The first embodiment of the present invention is an illuminated keyboard, the positions on which the fluorescent light emits from the keyboard can be chosen on
plural key caps 10, referring toFIG. 1A-1C showing embodiments of key caps having fluorescent material therein of the present invention. Thekey cap 10 depicted inFIG. 1A is directly printed thereon with a printedsymbol 20 by positive plate printing with fluorescent ink; for example, directly printed thereon with an English letter “X” as the printedsymbol 20. Thereby the printedsymbol 20 on thekey cap 10 can emit fluorescent light A by taking advantage of the brightness of a screen of a monitor without any extraordinary illuminating equipment. Moreover, in another printing mode for the printedsymbol 20 ofFIG. 1A , normal ink (without fluorescent material therein) is used to do positive plate printing in the first place, then transparent fluorescent ink is used to do a second time positive plate printing. Thekey cap 10 shown inFIG. 1B is printed directly with the printedsymbol 20 by negative plate printing using fluorescent ink, such as directly printed with the English letter “X” as the printedsymbol 20 by the negative plate printing. Thereby the periphery of the printedsymbol 20 on thekey cap 10 can emit fluorescent light A by taking advantage of the brightness of a screen of a monitor without any extraordinary illuminating equipment to allow operation of the keyboard propitiously. And in another printing mode for the printedsymbol 20 ofFIG. 1B , normal ink (without fluorescent material therein) is used to do negative plate printing in the first place, then transparent fluorescent ink is used to do a second time negative plate printing. Thekey cap 10 shown inFIG. 1C is made of transparent plastic mixed with fluorescent material therein, hence in the same environment as above, theentire key cap 10 can emit fluorescent light A to make outstanding of the printedsymbol 20 on thekey cap 10. - The second embodiment of the present invention is an illuminated keyboard, the position on which the fluorescent light emits from the keyboard can be chosen on an
upper cover 30, referring also toFIG. 2A-2C which show embodiments of upper covers 30 having fluorescent material therein of the present invention. Theupper cover 30 depicted inFIG. 2A is directly printed thereon with a printedsymbol 20 by positive plate printing with fluorescent ink; for example, directly printed thereon with the English letters “WWW” as the printedsymbol 20. Thereby the printedsymbol 20 on theupper cover 30 can emit fluorescent light A by taking advantage of the brightness of a screen of a monitor without any extraordinary illuminating equipment. Moreover, in another printing mode for the printedsymbol 20 ofFIG. 2A , normal ink is used to do positive plate printing in the first place, then transparent fluorescent ink is used to do a second time positive plate printing. Theupper cover 30 shown inFIG. 2B is printed directly with the printedsymbol 20 by negative plate printing using fluorescent ink, such as directly printed with the English letters “WWW” as the printedsymbol 20 by the negative plate printing. Thereby the periphery of the printedsymbol 20 on theupper cover 30 can emit fluorescent light A by taking advantage of the brightness of a screen of a monitor without any extraordinary illuminating equipment to allow operation of the keyboard propitiously. And in another printing mode for the printedsymbol 20 ofFIG. 2B , normal ink is used to do negative plate printing in the first place, then transparent fluorescent ink is used to do a second time negative plate printing. Theupper cover 30 shown inFIG. 2C is made of transparent plastic mixed with fluorescent material therein, hence in the same environment as above, the entireupper cover 30 can emit fluorescent light A to make outstanding of the printedsymbol 20 on theupper cover 30. - The third embodiment of the present invention is an illuminated keyboard, the position on which the fluorescent light emits from the keyboard can be chosen on an additional fluorescent plate 40 with fluorescent material therein, the fluorescent plate 40 has thereon a plurality of
hole regions 40 a in corresponding by position respectively to a plurality ofhole regions 30 a for keys; in assembling the keyboard of the present invention, the fluorescent plate 40 is placed on theupper cover 30. The fluorescent plate 40 of the present invention can have its surface contacting with theupper cover 30 applied with fluorescent ink, please refer toFIG. 3A which shows the fluorescent plate 40 of the present invention applied with fluorescent ink. And more, the fluorescent plate 40 can be made of some material mixed with fluorescent material therein, please refer toFIG. 3B which shows the fluorescent plate 40 of the present invention mixed with fluorescent material therein. By virtue that the fluorescent plate 40 both have fluorescent material therein, the fluorescent plate 40 will emit fluorescent light by taking advantage of the environment of brightness of fluorescence of a screen of a monitor without any extraordinary illuminating equipment, so that the entire keyboard of the present invention can obtain an effect of a fluorescent keyboard. -
FIG. 4 depicts a mouse of the present invention with ahousing 50 having fluorescent material therein, thehousing 50 of the mouse ofFIG. 4 has fluorescent material therein and thereby can emit fluorescent light A under the environment of brightness of fluorescence of a screen of a monitor, so that the mouse can obtain an effect of a fluorescent mouse. The fluorescent material added and mixed in thehousing 50 can be added only to the pressing areas including the left push button, the right push button and the middle push button, in this way, the mouse of the present invention can get fluorescent effects at these push buttons. The fluorescent material added and mixed in thehousing 50 can also be added to theentire housing 50, thereby an effect of shining mouse can be obtained under the environment of brightness of fluorescence of the screen of the monitor. - Whether the illuminated human-machine interface device of the present invention is a keyboard or a mouse, the fluorescent material therein is preferably fluorescent material capable of being effective for use for a long time such that fluorescence can exist to emit for a long time, thereby the illuminated human-machine interface device can be more sustained for operation in an environment of using same as that stated before.
- In addition to that the illuminated human-machine interface device of the present invention needs no extraordinary illuminating equipment, but it (especially when it is a keyboard) directly takes advantage of the brightness of a screen of a monitor to afford operation of the illuminated human-machine interface device; the illuminated human-machine interface device of the present invention can similarly work under an environment lack of illuminating equipment or provided with no illuminating equipment.
- It will be apparent to those skilled in this art that various equivalent modifications or changes can be made to the elements of the present invention without departing from the spirit and conception of this invention. Accordingly, all such equivalent modifications and changes shall fall within the scope of the appended claims.
Claims (3)
1-18. (canceled)
19. An illuminated human-machine interface device, said illuminated human-machine interface device is a pointing input device, said pointing input device comprises: a housing having therein fluorescent material.
20. The illuminated human-machine interface device as in claim 19 , wherein said pointing input device is a mouse.
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US11/509,656 US20060285309A1 (en) | 2003-09-17 | 2006-08-25 | Illuminted human-machine interface device |
Applications Claiming Priority (4)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
TW92216644 | 2003-09-17 | ||
TW092216644U TWM243722U (en) | 2003-09-17 | 2003-09-17 | Human-machine input device having luminous display |
US10/775,991 US7329018B2 (en) | 2003-09-17 | 2004-02-09 | Illuminated human-machine interface device |
US11/509,656 US20060285309A1 (en) | 2003-09-17 | 2006-08-25 | Illuminted human-machine interface device |
Related Parent Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US10/775,991 Division US7329018B2 (en) | 2003-09-17 | 2004-02-09 | Illuminated human-machine interface device |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US20060285309A1 true US20060285309A1 (en) | 2006-12-21 |
Family
ID=34134066
Family Applications (2)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US10/775,991 Expired - Fee Related US7329018B2 (en) | 2003-09-17 | 2004-02-09 | Illuminated human-machine interface device |
US11/509,656 Abandoned US20060285309A1 (en) | 2003-09-17 | 2006-08-25 | Illuminted human-machine interface device |
Family Applications Before (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US10/775,991 Expired - Fee Related US7329018B2 (en) | 2003-09-17 | 2004-02-09 | Illuminated human-machine interface device |
Country Status (2)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (2) | US7329018B2 (en) |
TW (1) | TWM243722U (en) |
Cited By (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20090102792A1 (en) * | 2007-10-19 | 2009-04-23 | Microsoft Corporation | User input device with phosphorescent indicator |
US20090224947A1 (en) * | 2008-03-05 | 2009-09-10 | Microsoft Corporation | Illuminating primary and alternate keyboard symbols |
Families Citing this family (12)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US7624281B2 (en) * | 2004-12-07 | 2009-11-24 | Video Products, Inc. | System and method for providing access to a keyboard video and mouse drawer using biometric authentication |
TW200802040A (en) * | 2006-06-23 | 2008-01-01 | Quanta Comp Inc | Luminous keyboard module |
US7531764B1 (en) * | 2008-01-25 | 2009-05-12 | Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. | Keyboard illumination system |
US8654524B2 (en) * | 2009-08-17 | 2014-02-18 | Apple Inc. | Housing as an I/O device |
TWM385036U (en) * | 2009-11-17 | 2010-07-21 | Darfon Electronics Corp | Input apparatus and keyswitch |
CN102890584A (en) * | 2012-09-29 | 2013-01-23 | 鸿富锦精密工业(深圳)有限公司 | Touch panel |
US9384916B1 (en) * | 2013-10-11 | 2016-07-05 | Google Inc. | Keycap with multi-character display |
US20160245461A1 (en) * | 2015-02-23 | 2016-08-25 | Phyllis Stoute | Glowing Cover System |
US10607797B2 (en) | 2016-11-15 | 2020-03-31 | Melissa Zuniga | Electrical switch with identification features |
US10732743B2 (en) | 2017-07-18 | 2020-08-04 | Apple Inc. | Concealable input region for an electronic device having microperforations |
WO2019213523A1 (en) | 2018-05-03 | 2019-11-07 | Melissa Zuniga | Electrical switch with identification features |
US11222759B2 (en) | 2019-05-23 | 2022-01-11 | Melissa Zuniga | Electrical switch with rocker and smart identification features |
Citations (6)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4218636A (en) * | 1978-02-08 | 1980-08-19 | Futaba Denshi Kogyo K.K. | Fluorescent display device |
US6658773B2 (en) * | 2002-03-11 | 2003-12-09 | Dennis Rohne | Label with luminescence inside |
US6773128B2 (en) * | 1998-08-26 | 2004-08-10 | Twenty-First Century Technology, Inc. | Low power, low cost illuminated keyboards and keypads |
US7019733B2 (en) * | 2003-03-31 | 2006-03-28 | Ban Kuan Koay | Optical mouse adapted for use on glass surfaces |
US7088338B2 (en) * | 2002-07-30 | 2006-08-08 | Atlab Inc. | Optical mouse and method for preventing an erroneous operation thereof |
US7098894B2 (en) * | 2000-12-15 | 2006-08-29 | Finger System Inc. | Pen type optical mouse device and method of controlling the same |
Family Cites Families (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US5793358A (en) * | 1997-01-14 | 1998-08-11 | International Business Machines Corporation | Method and means for managing a luminescent laptop keyboard |
JP2002260478A (en) * | 2001-03-01 | 2002-09-13 | Internatl Business Mach Corp <Ibm> | Keyboard |
US7090368B2 (en) * | 2002-04-26 | 2006-08-15 | Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. | Key for use in low light conditions |
JP2004047412A (en) * | 2002-05-24 | 2004-02-12 | Mitsumi Electric Co Ltd | Key top, key top lighting system, and electronic apparatus |
-
2003
- 2003-09-17 TW TW092216644U patent/TWM243722U/en not_active IP Right Cessation
-
2004
- 2004-02-09 US US10/775,991 patent/US7329018B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
-
2006
- 2006-08-25 US US11/509,656 patent/US20060285309A1/en not_active Abandoned
Patent Citations (6)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4218636A (en) * | 1978-02-08 | 1980-08-19 | Futaba Denshi Kogyo K.K. | Fluorescent display device |
US6773128B2 (en) * | 1998-08-26 | 2004-08-10 | Twenty-First Century Technology, Inc. | Low power, low cost illuminated keyboards and keypads |
US7098894B2 (en) * | 2000-12-15 | 2006-08-29 | Finger System Inc. | Pen type optical mouse device and method of controlling the same |
US6658773B2 (en) * | 2002-03-11 | 2003-12-09 | Dennis Rohne | Label with luminescence inside |
US7088338B2 (en) * | 2002-07-30 | 2006-08-08 | Atlab Inc. | Optical mouse and method for preventing an erroneous operation thereof |
US7019733B2 (en) * | 2003-03-31 | 2006-03-28 | Ban Kuan Koay | Optical mouse adapted for use on glass surfaces |
Cited By (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20090102792A1 (en) * | 2007-10-19 | 2009-04-23 | Microsoft Corporation | User input device with phosphorescent indicator |
US20090224947A1 (en) * | 2008-03-05 | 2009-09-10 | Microsoft Corporation | Illuminating primary and alternate keyboard symbols |
US8339294B2 (en) | 2008-03-05 | 2012-12-25 | Microsoft Corporation | Illuminating primary and alternate keyboard symbols |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
US7329018B2 (en) | 2008-02-12 |
US20050057916A1 (en) | 2005-03-17 |
TWM243722U (en) | 2004-09-11 |
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Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
STCB | Information on status: application discontinuation |
Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION |