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:
Nov. 17, 2015
Filed:
Dec. 20, 2010
Peter H. Mahowald, Los Altos, CA (US);
Ronald J. Moller, Los Gatos, CA (US);
M. Evans Hankey, San Francisco, CA (US);
Bart K. Andre, Cupertino, CA (US);
Rafael Dionello, San Francisco, CA (US);
Peter H. Mahowald, Los Altos, CA (US);
Ronald J. Moller, Los Gatos, CA (US);
M. Evans Hankey, San Francisco, CA (US);
Bart K. Andre, Cupertino, CA (US);
Rafael Dionello, San Francisco, CA (US);
Apple Inc., Cupertino, CA (US);
Abstract
Techniques and apparatus to provide improved visibility to user input devices, such as keys, are disclosed. In low light conditions, key legends 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 identify the different keys. The legends can be textual and/or graphic. Hence, according to one embodiment, light from a nearby (e.g., attached) display device can be used to provide illumination to the user input devices (e.g., keys). The user input devices can be configured to include reflective optical components to enhance reflection of light and thereby improve visibility of the keys or the legends thereon.