The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Dec. 28, 2010
Filed:
Apr. 24, 2006
Sven Strohband, Menlo Park, CA (US);
Arne Stoschek, Palo Alto, CA (US);
Michael Derse, New Haven, CT (US);
Philippe Alessandrini, Montreal, CA;
Venkat Srinivasan, San Francisco, CA (US);
Sven Strohband, Menlo Park, CA (US);
Arne Stoschek, Palo Alto, CA (US);
Michael Derse, New Haven, CT (US);
Philippe Alessandrini, Montreal, CA;
Venkat Srinivasan, San Francisco, CA (US);
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc., Herndon, VA (US);
Abstract
A button configuration includes a shape-changing button that has a central region and a peripheral region. The peripheral region encircles the central region and defines a surface plane. The shape-changing button has an active state and an inactive state. The central region of the button protrudes from the surface plane and provides a push button function when the button is in the active state. The central region of the button extends substantially in the surface plane and provides no push button function when the button is in the inactive state. A control panel having shape-changing buttons is also provided.