Keycap including a liquid crystal panel and polarizing glyphs

摘要

A keycap provides glyphs that are selectively visible. An exemplary keycap comprises a housing that has an at least partially transparent top side. A glyph made of a polarizing material is placed on the top side of the keycap. The glyph has a first plane of polarization. A liquid crystal panel is disposed inside the housing underneath the glyph. The liquid crystal panel is larger than the glyph above it. A polarizing filter having a second plane of polarization is arranged between the liquid crystal panel and a reflective carrier plate. Light enters the keycap through the transparent top side and is reflected at the bottom of the keycap by the reflective carrier plate. The reflected light is polarized by the polarization filter. The polarized light passes through the liquid crystal panel, which selectively rotates the polarization plane of light passing through it if the liquid crystal panel is active.

主权项

1. A keycap for an input device, comprising:
a housing having an at least partially transparent top side; two or more glyphs made of a polarizing material having a first plane of polarization; a carrier plate disposed at a bottom of the housing opposite the top side; a liquid crystal panel disposed inside the housing underneath the two or more glyphs, the liquid crystal panel comprising two or more partitions which are aligned with the two or more glyphs; and a polarizing filter disposed between the liquid crystal panel and the carrier plate, the polarizing filter having a second plane of polarization, wherein the two or more partitions of the liquid crystal panel are independently controlled and configured to selectively rotate the polarization plane of light passing from the carrier plate through the two or more partitions of the liquid crystal panel to the top side of the housing, and wherein each of the two or more glyphs appears light or dark in response to the selective rotation of the polarization plane of light passing through each of the two or more partitions of the liquid crystal panel.