User interface with a composite image that floats

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9268146-B2
Application number	US-201013255532-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 9, 2010
Priority date	Mar 10, 2009
Publication date	Feb 23, 2016
Grant date	Feb 23, 2016

Abstract

User interface having a sensor and a composite interface that floats. Embodiments of user interfaces described herein are useful, for example, as automobile components (e.g., dashboard components), appliance components (e.g., dishwasher components, stove components, oven components, microwave oven components, clothes washer components, and clothes dyer components), medical equipment, elevator buttons, laboratory equipment (e.g., scales), as well as consumer electronics (e.g., entertainment devices and cell phones), automatic teller machines, and the like.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A user interface comprising:
an infrared sensor;
a sheeting, comprising:
at least one layer of microlenses, the layer having first and second sides;
a layer of material disposed adjacent the first side of the layer of microlenses;
an at least partially complete image formed in the material associated with each of a plurality of the microlenses, wherein each image contrasts with the material;
an opening on the sheeting aligned with the infrared sensor; and
a composite image, provided by the individual images, that appears to the unaided eye to be floating at least one of above or below the sheeting,

wherein the infrared sensor and the sheeting are arranged such that when a user interacts with the floating composite image, the infrared sensor detects the interaction through the opening and generates a sensor signal.

2. The user interface of claim 1 , wherein the material is a radiation sensitive material.

3. The user interface of claim 1 , and further comprising a spacer layer disposed between the material layer and the microlenses.

4. The user interface of claim 1 , wherein the composite image is perceptible across a viewing angle of less than one hundred degrees.

5. A user interface comprising:
an infrared sensor;
a sheeting, comprising:
an array of microlenses;
a material layer adjacent the array of microlenses;
an opening aligned with the infrared sensor;
at least one of a first modified or a first donor material in contact with the material layer, wherein the at least one of a first modified or a first donor material forms individual, partially complete images on the material layer associated with each of a plurality of the microlenses, wherein the sheeting exhibits a composite image, provided by the individual images, that appears to the unaided eye to at least one of float above or below the sheeting,

wherein the infrared sensor and the sheeting are arranged such that when a user interacts with the floating composite image, the infrared sensor detects the interaction through the opening and generates a sensor signal.

6. The user interface of claim 5 , wherein at least part of the composite image is at least one of fluoresces or phosphoresces and appears to the unaided eye to float above the sheeting, below the sheeting, or both above and below the sheeting.

7. The user interface of claim 5 , wherein the at least one of a first modified or a first donor material comprises radiation sensitive material.

8. The user interface of claim 5 , wherein the color of the composite image changes relative to a viewing angle of less than one hundred fifty degrees.

9. The user interface of claim 5 further comprising at least one of a second modified or a second donor material adjacent the material layer, wherein the at least one of a second modified or a second donor material forms individual, partially complete images on the sheeting associated with each of a plurality of the microlenses.

10. The user interface of claim 1 , further comprising a partially transmissive reflective film, wherein the sensor, the sheeting, and the film are positioned sequentially in said order.

11. The user interface of claim 1 , further comprising:
a tinted film or a color shifting film; and
a partially transmissive reflective film,
wherein the sensor, the sheeting, the tinted film or color shifting film, and the partially transmissive reflective film a are positioned sequentially in said order.

12. The user interface of claim 1 , further comprising:
a tinted film or a color shifting film;
a partially transmissive reflective film; and
a light control film,
wherein the sensor, the sheeting, the tinted film or color shifting film, the partially transmissive reflective film, and the light control film are positioned sequentially in said order.

13. The user interface of claim 1 , further comprising a light source, wherein the light source, the sensor, and the sheeting are positioned sequentially in said order.

14. The user interface of claim 1 , wherein the sheeting has a major surface opposite the sensor comprising a protective coating, an easy clean coating, an anti-fog coating, or an anti reflective coating on at least a portion of the major surface.

15. The user interface of claim 5 , further comprising a partially transmissive reflective film, wherein the sensor, the sheeting, and the film are positioned sequentially in said order.

16. The user interface of claim 5 , further comprising:
a tinted film or a color shifting film; and
a partially transmissive reflective film,
wherein the sensor, the sheeting, the tinted film or color shifting film, and the partially transmissive reflective film a are positioned sequentially in said order.

17. The user interface of claim 5 , further comprising:
a tinted film or a color shifting film;
a partially transmissive reflective film; and
a light control film,
wherein the sensor, the sheeting, the tinted film or color shifting film, the partially transmissive reflective film, and the light control film are positioned sequentially in said order.

18. The user interface of claim 5 , further comprising a light source, wherein the light source, the sensor, and the sheeting are positioned sequentially in said order.

Assignees

• Iwasawa Masaru
• Mizuno Kazuhiko
• Smithson Robert L W
• Rylander Richard L
• 3M Innovative Properties Co

Inventors

• Iwasawa Masaru
• Mizuno Kazuhiko
• Smithson Robert L W
• Rylander Richard L

Classifications

• G06F3/016

  Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user · CPC title

• G06F3/011

  Arrangements for interaction with the human body, e.g. for user immersion in virtual reality (blind teaching G09B21/00) · CPC title

• G02B2027/014

  comprising information/image processing systems · CPC title

• G02B13/14

  for use with infrared or ultraviolet radiation ({G02B13/008, } G02B13/16 take precedence) · CPC title

• G01J5/20

  using resistors, thermistors or semiconductors sensitive to radiation, e.g. photoconductive devices · CPC title