PATENT DOCUMENT

Publication Number: US-10036907-B2
Application Number: US-201213627464-A
Country: US
Kind Code: B2

Title: Electronic equipment with status indicators

Abstract:
Electronic equipment such as a computer tablet stylus, computing equipment, or other electronic devices may be provided with status indicators. A status indicator may be formed from a layer of liquid crystal material interposed between a pair of polarizers. Electrode structures may be used to apply electric fields to the liquid crystal material to place the status indicator in an opaque state or a transparent state. A colored structure or other structure may be placed under the liquid crystal material to allow the status indicator to change between a dark or diffuse to colored appearance. The status indicator may be provided in the shape of a ring that extends around the perimeter of a cylindrical stylus. Multiple status indicators may be grouped in a cluster to serve as an analog gauge. Light guide structures and light sources may provide illumination for the status indicators.

Claims:
What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A tablet computer stylus, comprising:
 a shaft extending between a tip portion and an opposing end portion; and 
 a status indicator on the shaft, wherein the status indicator has a layer of liquid crystal material interposed between first and second transparent dielectric members, upper and lower polarizers, and electrode structures that apply electric fields to the liquid crystal material to place the status indicator in either a first state or a second state, wherein the status indicator comprises a colored structure that is visible through the liquid crystal material when the status indicator is in the second state, wherein the status indicator is opaque in the first state, wherein the status indicator is transparent in the second state, and wherein the status indicator is always in the first or second state 
 wherein the shaft has a perimeter and wherein the status indicator comprises a ring-shaped structure that surrounds the perimeter; 
 further comprising light guiding structures that guide light, wherein at least some of the light passes through the liquid crystal material. 
 
     
     
       2. The tablet computer stylus defined in  claim 1  wherein the light guiding structures comprise a transparent rod. 
     
     
       3. The tablet computer stylus defined in  claim 2  wherein the light guiding structures comprise light scattering structures aligned with the status indicator. 
     
     
       4. The tablet computer stylus defined in  claim 1  wherein the shaft has a length and a perimeter and wherein the light guiding structures comprise a sheet of transparent material that is wrapped at least partly around the perimeter of the shaft. 
     
     
       5. The tablet computer stylus defined in  claim 4  wherein the sheet of transparent material comprises light scattering structures that are aligned with the status indicator. 
     
     
       6. The tablet computer stylus defined in  claim 5  further comprising a pressure sensor in the tip. 
     
     
       7. The tablet computer stylus defined in  claim 1  further comprising a display on the shaft. 
     
     
       8. The tablet computer stylus defined in  claim 7  wherein the shaft has a length and a perimeter and wherein the display comprises a flexible organic light-emitting diode layer wrapped at least partly around the perimeter of the shaft. 
     
     
       9. The tablet computer stylus defined in  claim 1 , wherein the first and second transparent dielectric members comprise plastic. 
     
     
       10. The tablet computer stylus defined in  claim 1 , wherein the colored structure is formed from a material selected from the group consisting of: paper, ceramic, and metal. 
     
     
       11. The tablet computer stylus defined in  claim 1 , wherein the electrode structures include a first electrode and a second electrode, wherein the first electrode is formed as a coating on a lower surface of the first transparent dielectric member, and wherein the second electrode is formed as a coating on an upper surface of the second transparent dielectric member. 
     
     
       12. The tablet computer stylus defined in  claim 1 , wherein the entire status indicator appears red when the status indicator is in the second state and the entire status indicator appears black when the status indicator is in the first state. 
     
     
       13. The tablet computer stylus defined in  claim 1 , wherein the entire status indicator appears green when the status indicator is in the second state and the entire status indicator appears black when the status indicator is in the first state. 
     
     
       14. The tablet computer stylus defined in  claim 1 , wherein the colored structure has a color, and wherein the entire status indicator appears the color of the colored structure when the status indicator is in the second state and the entire status indicator appears black when the status indicator is in the first state. 
     
     
       15. The tablet computer stylus defined in  claim 1 , wherein all of the liquid crystal material in the status indicator is opaque when the status indicator is in the first state and wherein all of the liquid crystal material in the status indicator is transparent when the status indicator is in the second state. 
     
     
       16. An electronic device comprising:
 storage and processing circuitry; a display with which the storage and processing circuitry displays content for a user; input-output circuitry configured to receive input from a user of the electronic device; 
 a status indicator that the storage and processing circuitry controls to display status information for the user, wherein the status indicator includes first and second polarizer layers, a layer of liquid crystal material, a first transparent member interposed between the first polarizer layer and the layer of liquid crystal material, a second transparent member interposed between the second polarizer and the layer of liquid crystal material, and electrode structures with which the storage and processing circuitry applies electric fields to the liquid crystal material to place the status indicator in a selected one of: an opaque state and a transparent state; and a button that includes a clear plastic member, wherein the button overlaps the status indicator and the status indicator is viewable through the clear plastic member of the button. 
 
     
     
       17. The electronic device defined in  claim 16  further comprising a tip and an opposing end separated by an elongated shaft in which the display is mounted. 
     
     
       18. The electronic device defined in  claim 17  wherein the shaft has a perimeter and a length and wherein the status indicator comprises one of a plurality of ring-shaped status indicators that each extend around the perimeter and that are arranged along the length. 
     
     
       19. The electronic device defined in  claim 16 , wherein the status indicator is formed separately from the button. 
     
     
       20. A tablet computer stylus, comprising:
 a shaft extending between a tip portion and an opposing end portion; 
 a plurality of status indicators on the shaft, wherein the plurality of status indicators are arranged in a cluster to serve as an analog gauge and each status indicator comprises: 
 first and second transparent dielectric members; upper and lower polarizers; a layer of liquid crystal material interposed between the first and second transparent dielectric members and the upper and lower polarizers; and 
 electrode structures that apply electric fields to the layer of liquid crystal material to place the status indicator in either a first state in which a colored structure is visible through the layer of liquid crystal material or a second state in which the layer of liquid crystal material is opaque and the status indicator appears black; and 
 control circuitry configured to place a first number of adjacent status indicators of the plurality of status indicators in the first state and a remaining number of adjacent status indicators of the plurality of status indicators in the second state to display information on the analog gauge. 
 
     
     
       21. The tablet computer stylus defined in  claim 20 , wherein the control circuitry is configured to adjust the first number of adjacent status indicators of the plurality of status indicators in the first state and the remaining number of adjacent status indicators of the plurality of status indicators in the second state to represent a scalar value. 
     
     
       22. The tablet computer stylus defined in  claim 21 , wherein the control circuitry is configured to display line width information on the analog gauge.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     This relates generally to electronic equipment and, more particularly, to equipment that displays information such as status information to a user. 
     Electrical equipment is often used to display information for a user. For example, a user may view a video or read a text document using a computer display. Computers often contain status indicators for providing a user with information on operating status. For example, a portable computer may use a light-emitting diode as a status indicator to inform a user of whether or not the computer is turned on or off. 
     Conventional status indicator arrangements may not be satisfactory in situations in which power consumption and cost are of concern. If care is not taken, the use of conventional status indicators may drain the battery in a portable device. Cost and complexity are also concerns when using conventional arrangements for presenting a user with information such as operating status information. 
     It would therefore be desirable to be able to provide improved techniques for displaying information to a user of electronic equipment. 
     SUMMARY 
     Electronic equipment such as a computer tablet stylus, computing equipment, or other electronic devices may be provided with status indicators. A status indicator may be formed from a layer of liquid crystal material interposed between a pair of polarizers. Electrode structures may be used to apply electric fields to the liquid crystal material to place the status indicator in an opaque state or a transparent state. The electrode structures may be formed from layers of transparent conductive material such as indium tin oxide layers. The indium tin oxide layers may be formed as coatings on transparent substrate layers such as glass layer in the status indicator. 
     A colored structure or other structure may be placed under the liquid crystal material, polarizers, and electrodes to allow the status indicator to change between a dark state and a colored state. The status indicator may be provided in the shape of a ring that extends around the perimeter of a cylindrical stylus. The stylus may be used as an input device when a user is interacting with a tablet computer or other device with touch input circuitry. Multiple status indicators may be grouped in a cluster to serve as an analog gauge. 
     Light guide structures and light sources may provide illumination for the status indicators. The light guide structures may include solid rod structures, hollow rod structures, structures with light reflecting angled surfaces, wrapped flexible transparent sheets of material, and other clear light guiding structures. Light scattering structures such as patterns of bumps or pits may be used in scattering light from the light guiding structures through the status indicators. The status indicators may be aligned with the light scattering structures. 
     In portable computers, tablet computers, and other computing equipment, the status indicators may be used to display information on the sleep state of the computing equipment. Status indicators may be formed under transparent windows such as logo-shaped windows. Buttons may be illuminated using internal light sources. A status indicator may be aligned with a button so that the appearance of the button can be adjusted to reflect sleep state status or other operating status for an electronic device. 
     An electronic device such as a stylus may be provided with a display for displaying status information and other content. A stylus may have flat surfaces on which the display is formed or may have curved surfaces on which the display is formed. If desired, a flexible display may be wrapped around the perimeter of a stylus. 
     Further features of the invention, its nature and various advantages will be more apparent from the accompanying drawings and the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an illustrative system having electronic equipment such as a tablet computer and associated stylus in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic diagram of illustrative electronic equipment such as computing equipment and a stylus or other electronic equipment that interacts with the computing equipment in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional side view of a liquid crystal status indicator device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a side view of an illustrative liquid crystal display in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of an illustrative display based on an array of display pixels such as an array of organic light-emitting diode display pixels in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of an illustrative stylus with input-output components such as ring-shaped and stripe-shaped status indicators in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of an illustrative stylus showing how the stylus may be provided with a barrel having flat surfaces in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view of an illustrative stylus having a barrel with a display in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 9  is cross-sectional end view of an illustrative stylus having a wrapped flexible display layer in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective view of an illustrative stylus having roughened areas for scattering light to provide illumination for status indicators in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 11  is a cross-sectional side view of an illustrative stylus having light-guiding structures for providing a status indicator with backlight in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 12  is a cross-sectional side view of an illustrative stylus having a light-emitting diode that provides backlight and light guiding structures that guide the backlight radially outward in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 13  is a cross-sectional side view of an illustrative stylus having a light-emitting diode that provides backlight, light guiding structures, and a pressure sensitive tip in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 14  is a diagram of an illustrative status indicator structure that is formed from a cluster of status indicators and that is being used on a stylus to provide a user of the stylus with information on a current line width being used in associated with a drawing program that is receiving input from the stylus in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 15  is a cross-sectional side view of an illustrative stylus showing how a single light-emitting diode may provide illumination for multiple components such as status indicators in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 16  is a cross-sectional side view of an illustrative stylus having a light-emitting diode that provides light for status indicators and having a light-scattering structure to promote scattering of the light in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 17  is a perspective view of a portion of a light guide structure formed from a wrapped sheet of transparent material in an illustrative stylus in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 18  is a perspective view of an electronic device with a button that serves as a status indicator in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 19  is a perspective view of a portable computer with a status indicator in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 20  is a cross-sectional side view of a liquid crystal status indicator device based on an in-plane switching structure in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 21  is a graph showing how transparency may be continuously adjusted by varying a control voltage for a liquid crystal status indicator device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 22  is a diagram of a logo that has been provided with a set of strip-shaped liquid crystal structures so that the logo can be provided with a side-to-side visual effect while serving as a status indicator in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 23  is a cross-sectional side view of a liquid crystal status indicator device based on a polymer dispersed liquid crystal structure in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 24  is a perspective view of an electronic device such as a laptop computer that has been provided with liquid crystal status indicators in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Electronic equipment may be provided with components for providing output to a user. The components may include displays, status indicators, and other input-output circuitry. Electronic equipment that may be provided with these components may include computing equipment such as computers and other devices and equipment such as a stylus or other accessory. A stylus may be used, for example, to provide drawing input to a tablet computer or touch pad. 
     An illustrative system of the type that may include electronic equipment with components for providing users with output is shown in  FIG. 1 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , system  2  may include electronic equipment such as electronic device  10  and stylus  18 . Electronic devices such as device  10  may be cellular telephones, media players, other handheld portable devices, somewhat smaller portable devices such as wrist-watch devices, pendant devices, or other wearable or miniature devices, gaming equipment, tablet computers, notebook computers, desktop computers, televisions, computer monitors, computers integrated into computer displays, equipment with touch sensitive regions for gathering touch input from a user&#39;s finger or a stylus, or other electronic equipment. 
     Equipment  18  may be an accessory that is used by a user to interact with electronic device  10  or may be a peer device (e.g., equipment  18  may be a device such as device  10 ). In configurations of the type shown in  FIG. 1  in which electronic device  10  is a tablet computer, equipment  18  may, as an example, be a stylus (sometimes referred to as a tablet computer stylus or touch pad stylus). Other types of equipment may be used to interact with device  10  if desired. The illustrative configuration of  FIG. 1  in which device  10  is computing equipment such as a tablet computer and in which accessory  18  is a stylus for use in interacting with the tablet computer is merely illustrative. 
     As shown in the example of  FIG. 1 , device  10  may include a display such as display  14 . Display  14  may be mounted in a housing such as housing  12 . Housing  12  may have upper and lower portions joined by a hinge (e.g., in a laptop computer) or may form a structure without a hinge, as shown in  FIG. 1 . Housing  12 , which may sometimes be referred to as an enclosure or case, may be formed of plastic, glass, ceramics, fiber composites, metal (e.g., stainless steel, aluminum, etc.), other suitable materials, or a combination of any two or more of these materials. Housing  12  may be formed using a unibody configuration in which some or all of housing  12  is machined or molded as a single structure or may be formed using multiple structures (e.g., an internal frame structure, one or more structures that form exterior housing surfaces, etc.). 
     Display  14  may be a touch screen display that incorporates a layer of conductive capacitive touch sensor electrodes or other touch sensor components (e.g., resistive touch sensor components, acoustic touch sensor components, force-based touch sensor components, light-based touch sensor components, etc.) or may be a display that is not touch-sensitive. Capacitive touch screen electrodes may be formed from an array of indium tin oxide pads or other transparent conductive structures. 
     Display  14  may include an array of display pixels formed from liquid crystal display (LCD) components, an array of electrophoretic display pixels, an array of plasma display pixels, an array of organic light-emitting diode display pixels, an array of electrowetting display pixels, or display pixels based on other display technologies. The brightness of display  14  may be adjustable. For example, display  14  may include a backlight unit formed from a light source such as a lamp or light-emitting diodes that can be used to increase or decrease display backlight levels (e.g., to increase or decrease the brightness of the image produced by the display pixels) and thereby adjust display brightness. Display  14  may also include organic light-emitting diode pixels or other pixels with adjustable intensities. In this type of display, display brightness can be adjusted by adjusting the intensities of drive signals used to control individual display pixels. 
     Display  14  may be protected using a display cover layer such as a layer of transparent glass or clear plastic. Openings may be formed in the display cover layer. For example, an opening may be formed in the display cover layer to accommodate a button such as button  16 . An opening may also be formed in the display cover layer to accommodate ports such as a speaker port. 
     In the center of display  14 , display  14  may contain an array of active display pixels. The center of display  14  may therefore sometimes be referred to as the active region of display  14 . A rectangular ring-shaped region may surround the periphery of the active display region and may not contain any active display pixels. This peripheral portion of display  14  may therefore sometimes be referred to as the inactive region of display  14 . The display cover layer or other display layers in display  14  may be provided with an opaque masking layer in the inactive region to hide internal components from view by a user. 
     Openings may be formed in the opaque masking layer to accommodate light-based components. For example, an opening may be provided in the opaque masking layer to accommodate an ambient light sensor, a camera, and other sensors and components. 
     Stylus  18  may have an elongated shape such as the tubular shape of  FIG. 1  or other suitable shapes. As shown in  FIG. 1 , tip  4  and eraser end  8  may be formed on opposing ends of elongated shaft  6  (sometimes referred to as barrel  6 , elongated stylus member  6 , or elongated body  6 ). Tip  4  and opposing end  8  may contain circuitry for facilitating interactions with device  10  (e.g., a pressure sensors for detecting how firmly a user is pressing tip  4  or end  8  against display  14 , electronic components for ensuring that the touch sensors or other sensors in device  10  detect the user&#39;s motions of tip  4  and/or end  8  across the surface of display  14  during use, etc.). 
       FIG. 2  is a schematic diagram of system  2  showing how electronic equipment such as device  10  and stylus  18  may include sensors and other components. As shown in  FIG. 2 , electronic device  10  may include control circuitry such as storage and processing circuitry  40 . Storage and processing circuitry  40  may include one or more different types of storage such as hard disk drive storage, nonvolatile memory (e.g., flash memory or other electrically-programmable-read-only memory), volatile memory (e.g., static or dynamic random-access-memory), etc. Processing circuitry in storage and processing circuitry  40  may be used in controlling the operation of device  10 . The processing circuitry may be based on a processor such as a microprocessor and other suitable integrated circuits. With one suitable arrangement, storage and processing circuitry  40  may be used to run software on device  10 , such as internet browsing applications, email applications, media playback applications, operating system functions, software for capturing and processing images, drawing applications, software implementing functions associated with gathering and processing sensor data, software that makes adjustments to display brightness and touch sensor functionality, etc. 
     Input-output circuitry  32  may be used to allow data to be supplied to device  10  and to allow data to be provided from device  10  to external devices. 
     Input-output circuitry  32  may include wired and wireless communications circuitry  34 . Communications circuitry  34  may include radio-frequency (RF) transceiver circuitry formed from one or more integrated circuits, power amplifier circuitry, low-noise input amplifiers, passive RF components, one or more antennas, and other circuitry for handling RF wireless signals. Wireless signals can also be sent using light (e.g., using infrared communications) or other electromagnetic signals. 
     Input-output circuitry  32  may include input-output devices  36  such as button  16  of  FIG. 1 , joysticks, click wheels, scrolling wheels, a touch screen such as display  14  of  FIG. 1 , other touch sensors such as track pads or touch-sensor-based buttons, vibrators, audio components such as microphones and speakers, image capture devices such as a camera module having an image sensor and a corresponding lens system, keyboards, status-indicator lights, tone generators, key pads, and other equipment for gathering input from a user or other external source and/or generating output for a user. 
     Sensor circuitry such as sensors  38  of  FIG. 2  may include an ambient light sensor, a proximity sensor, a capacitive touch sensor array or a touch sensor formed using other touch technologies, a touch sensor that is part of a display, a pressure sensor, a temperature sensor, an accelerometer, a gyroscope, and other circuitry for making measurements of the environment surrounding device  10 . 
     Device  10  may communicate with stylus  18  (or other equipment) as indicated by communications path  42 . Path  42  may include one or more wired and/or wireless communications paths. If desired, equipment  18  may interact with device  10  using sensor measurements (e.g., pressure sensor measurements, capacitive sensor measurements, or other measurements). Device  10  and/or stylus  18  may contain sensors for making measurements and may contain components for conveying information to external equipment. 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , stylus  18  may include control circuitry such as storage and processing circuitry  20 . Storage and processing circuitry  20  may include one or more different types of storage such as hard disk drive storage, nonvolatile memory (e.g., flash memory or other electrically-programmable-read-only memory), volatile memory (e.g., static or dynamic random-access-memory), etc. Processing circuitry in storage and processing circuitry  20  may be used in controlling the operation of stylus  18 . The processing circuitry may be based on a processor such as a microprocessor and other suitable integrated circuits. With one suitable arrangement, storage and processing circuitry  20  may be used to run software for implementing stylus control functions. 
     Input-output circuitry  22  may be used to allow data to be supplied to stylus  18  from a user or external equipment such as device  10  and to allow data to be provided from stylus  18  to a user or external devices such as device  10 . 
     Input-output circuitry  22  may include wired and wireless communications circuitry  28 . Communications circuitry  28  may include radio-frequency (RF) transceiver circuitry formed from one or more integrated circuits, power amplifier circuitry, low-noise input amplifiers, passive RF components, one or more antennas, and other circuitry for handling RF wireless signals. Wireless signals can also be sent using light (e.g., using infrared communications) or other electromagnetic signals. 
     Input-output circuitry  22  may include visual input-output devices such as visual output devices  24 . Visual output equipment  24  may include status indicators, liquid crystal components, light-emitting diodes, organic light-emitting diode displays, liquid crystal displays, and other displays, etc. Input-output circuitry  22  may also include sensors  26  such as a capacitive touch sensor having an array of capacitive electrodes, touch sensors formed using other touch technologies, a single-element (one-bit) touch sensor, a one-dimensional touch sensor array, pressure sensors, accelerometers, etc. If desired, input-output circuitry  22  may be provided with other components such as buttons, joysticks, click wheels, scrolling wheels, vibrators, audio components such as microphones and speakers, image capture devices such as a camera module having an image sensor and a corresponding lens system, keyboards, tone generators, key pads, and other equipment for gathering input from a user or other external source and/or generating output for a user. 
     Stylus  18  may include power components  30 . Power components  30  may include components such as one or more batteries, solar cells for producing power from ambient light, and inductive or capacitive near-field electromagnetic charging circuitry. If desired, stylus  18  (or other equipment  18 ) may receive power from a wired connection (in addition to or instead of using a battery, solar cell, or near-field coupled circuit for obtaining power). Equipment  10  may likewise have a battery, solar cell, near-field electromagnetic coupling charging circuit, and/or line power connection. 
     Status indicators for system  2  (e.g., for device  10  and/or stylus  18 ) may be implemented using a liquid crystal status indicator arrangement of the type shown in  FIG. 3 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , liquid crystal status indicator  44  may have a layer of liquid crystal material such as liquid crystal layer  70 . Liquid crystal layer  70  may be sandwiched between other layers in liquid crystal shutter structures  56 . A signal source (e.g., control circuitry in the stylus) such as source  78  may supplied control signals to structures  56  that make structures  56  either opaque or transparent. When placed in a transparent state, viewer  60  (e.g., a user of stylus  18 ) may view structures such as member  80  through structures  56  in direction  62 . When structures  56  are made opaque, light will be prevented from passing through structures  56 , so member  80  will not be visible to viewer  60 . 
     Member  80  may be formed from materials such as plastic, glass, paper, ceramic, metal, etc. For example, member  80  may be formed form colored plastic or a structure that is covered with a colored coating. When structures  56  are opaque, status indicator  44  will appear black to viewer  60 . When structures  56  are transparent, status indicator  44  will appear to have the color of member  80 . Different status indicators  44  may be provided in stylus  18  to convey different colors (or other information) to the user. For example, a red status indicator (e.g., an indicator such as indicator  44  of  FIG. 3  in which member  80  is red) may be used to indicate the presence of a particular condition, whereas a green status indicator may be used to indicate the presence of another condition. 
     If desired, illumination such as backlight illumination may be provided for status indicator  44 . As an example, a light source such as light source  46  may produce light  48  or ambient light  50  may be gathered from the surrounding environment. Light source  46  may be, for example, a single color light-emitting diode, a tricolor (controllable red/blue/green) light-emitting diode, or a white light-emitting diode. A light guiding structure such as structure  52  may convey light  54  (e.g., light  48  from light source  46  or ambient light  50 ) to structure  80 . Light  54  may illuminate structure  80  (e.g., from the front or from the rear). In the example of  FIG. 3 , structure  80  is translucent, so light  54  may travel vertically through structure  80  and structures  56  for viewing by viewer  60 , as indicated by light ray  58 . 
     Shutter structure  56  may include upper polarizer  76  and lower polarizer  64 . Transparent substrate layer  74  and transparent substrate layer  66  may be formed from clear plastic, clear glass, or other transparent dielectric material. Transparent electrodes  72  and  68  may be formed from a transparent conductive material such as indium tin oxide. Electrode  72  may be formed as a coating on the lower surface of substrate  74 . Electrode  68  may be formed as a coating on the upper surface of substrate  66 . Control circuitry  20  of stylus  18  (shown as signal source  78  in the example of  FIG. 3 ) may apply voltages (electric fields) to liquid crystal layer  70  to rotate the liquid crystal material. The orientation of the liquid crystals in layer  70  affects the polarization state of the light passing through layers  56 . In conjunction with the presence of polarizers  76  and  64 , adjustment of liquid crystal layer  70  may be used to place structures  56  in either a transparent or opaque state. Status indicator  44  may be characterized by low amounts of power consumption, making status indicator  44  suitable for use in equipment that is powered by a battery (as an example). 
     If desired, the equipment of system  2  (e.g., stylus  18  and/or device  10 ) may be provided with one or more displays. An illustrative liquid crystal display is shown in  FIG. 4 . As shown in  FIG. 4 , liquid crystal display  94  may include an upper polarizer such as upper polarizer  86 , a lower polarizer such as lower polarizer  84 , a thin-film transistor layer such as thin-film transistor layer  88 , a color filter layer such as color filter layer  92 , and a layer of liquid crystal material such as liquid crystal layer  90 . Thin-film transistor layer  88  may contain an array of thin-film transistors and corresponding display pixel electrodes for controlling the transmission of the display pixels of display  94 . Color filter layer  92  may contain an array of color filter elements that are used to provide display  94  with the ability to display color images. Color filter layer  92  may be omitted when it is desired to display black and white images. A backlight unit may be used to provide display  94  with backlight illumination or a structure such as a white sheet may be placed under display (e.g., display  94  may be a reflective display). If desired, a colored member may be placed under display  94  (e.g., to use display  94  as a multi-element shutter as described in connection with the single-element shutter of  FIG. 3 ). 
       FIG. 5  is a perspective view of an illustrative display in which display pixels  98  have been formed from individual light-emitting structures such as organic light-emitting diodes. As shown in  FIG. 5 , light-emitting diodes  98  may be arranged in an array of rows and columns on substrate  100 . Substrate  100  may be a rigid layer of material such as a layer of glass or a layer of polymer supported by a layer of glass or may be a flexible layer such as a sheet of thin flexible polymer. During operation, display pixels  98  may emit light  102  to present images to a user. 
       FIG. 6  is a perspective view of an illustrative stylus having status indicators such as status indicator  44  or other components (e.g., light-emitting diodes, etc.) for displaying operating status information. Status indicators typically each display one bit of information (e.g., by being in one of two states such as the illustrative opaque and transparent states of shutter structure  56  in indicator  44  of  FIG. 3 ). If desired, a status indicator may be configured to provide a user with more information (e.g., by exhibiting high, medium, and low states, by exhibiting a continuously variable transmission level, etc.). 
     As shown in  FIG. 6 , status indicators such as status indicators  104  may be provided in ring shapes each of which extends around the perimeter of shaft  6  (i.e., the circular circumference of shaft  6  when shaft  6  is viewed in an end view along longitudinal axis  110  in the  FIG. 6  example). Each ring-shaped status indicator  104  may, for example, have a different associated colored member  80  ( FIG. 3 ) and may therefore exhibit a different color (or shade of gray) when placed in a transparent state. As an example, one of ring-shaped status indicators  104  may be red when its shutter  56  is transparent and black when its shutter  56  is opaque, whereas another of ring-shaped status indicators  104  may be green when its shutter  56  is transparent and black when its shutter  56  is opaque. 
     Ring-shaped status indicators  104  may be placed at one or more locations along the length of shaft  6 . For example, one or more status indicators  104  may be located near end  8 , one or more status indicators  104  may be located near tip  4 , status indicators  104  may be distributed evenly along shaft  6 , status indicators  104  may be distributed unevenly along shaft  6 , or status indicators  104  may be displayed in conjunction with additional input-output devices. If desired, status indicators for stylus  18  may be formed in region  108  using status indicator elements  106  that have shapes that run parallel to longitudinal axis  110  of stylus  18  and that are distributed circumferentially around the perimeter of shaft  6 . 
     Status indicators such as status indicators  104  and  106  of  FIG. 6  (e.g., status indicators implemented using liquid crystal structures of the type used by status indicator  44  of  FIG. 3 ) may be used to display information on the operating status of equipment such as stylus  18  and/or device  10 . Examples of status information that can be conveyed using status indicators include information on whether equipment (e.g., stylus  18  and/or device  10 ) is in a powered on state or is in a powered off state (or is in a low-power sleep state), information on a color being used to draw lines in a drawing program, line width information in a drawing program, or other information regarding the use of a drawing program or other image-editing application using stylus  18  (e.g., which drawing tool is active, which drawing mode is being used, whether stylus  18  is being used to draw or is being used to erase, etc.). These are merely illustrative examples. Any information associated with the use of equipment such as equipment  10  and/or equipment  18  may be displayed using status indicators if desired. 
     As shown in  FIG. 7 , stylus  18  may be provided with flat (planar) surfaces on shaft  6  such as surfaces  112 . There may be eight surfaces  112  arranged evenly around the perimeter of shaft  6  or there may be fewer than eight planar surfaces or more than eight planar surfaces. 
     In the example of  FIG. 8 , stylus  18  has been implemented using a shaft (shaft  6 ) with three planar surfaces arranged to provide shaft  6  with a triangular cross section when viewed along longitudinal axis  110 . As shown in  FIG. 8 , stylus  18  may be provided with a display such as display  14 ′ for displaying content  114  for a user. Display  14 ′ may be a liquid crystal display such as liquid crystal display  94  of  FIG. 4 , an organic light-emitting diode display such as organic light-emitting diode display  96  of  FIG. 5 , or other suitable display. Status indicators such as status indicator  44  of  FIG. 3  may be used on shaft  6  in addition to one or more displays such as display  14 ′ Display  14 ′ may be used to display information on drawing program status or other content of interest to the user of stylus  18 . One of the planar surfaces in stylus  18  may be provided with a display or more than one of the planar surfaces in stylus  18  may be provided with a display. Displays may also be provided on curved stylus surfaces. 
       FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional end view of stylus  18  in a configuration in which flexible display layer  118  has been wrapped around the outer surface of shaft  6  to form a display. In the configuration of  FIG. 9 , shaft  6  has three planar surfaces and a triangular cross-sectional shape. This is merely illustrative. Shaft  6  may have a circular cross-sectional shape, a cross section with a combination of curved and flat regions, or other suitable shape. Flexible display layer  118  may be a flexible organic light-emitting diode display or may include flexible display layers using other types of display technology (e.g., liquid crystal technology, electrophoretic display technology, electrowetting display technology, etc.). 
       FIG. 10  shows how shaft  6  of stylus  18  may be provided with light scattering features such as structures  120 . Shaft  6  may, for example, include a solid rod portion or other portions that are formed from clear materials such as plastic. Light may propagate within the plastic (e.g., shaft  6  may have portions that serve as a light guide). When scattering features such as structures  120  are encountered by the light within shaft  6 , the light will be scattered outwards in directions  122  to serve as backlight for overlapping status indicators  44 . Scattering structures  120  may be formed from bumps, pits, voids, ridges, troughs, rough textured structures, beads of material having an index of refraction that differs from the index of refraction of the light-guiding structures in shaft  6 , etc. Light such as light  124  (e.g., light from a light-emitting diode or ambient light) may be used to supply the light that scatters from structures  120 . 
       FIG. 11  is a cross-sectional side view of stylus  18  in a configuration in which a clear hollow tube such as a plastic tube is being used to form light guiding structures  126  for stylus  18 . Light  124  may propagate in direction  130  within light guiding structures  126  due to the principal of total internal reflection. Structures  126  may have angled surfaces  128  that cause light  124  to reflect radially outwards through status indicator  44  as light  122 . A clear protective polymer coating such as coating  132  may be used to cover and protect status indicator  44 , if desired. 
     In the illustrative configuration of  FIG. 12 , light  124  is being produced by a light source such as light-emitting diode  134 . Light-guiding structures  126  in the  FIG. 12  configuration are formed from a solid clear rod of material that forms shaft  6 . Angled surfaces  128  may be formed on the leading surface of the rod to reflect light  124  outwards as light  122 . 
       FIG. 13  is a side view of an illustrative configuration for stylus  18  in which angled portions  128  meet at point  136 . Pressure sensor  138  may be used to gather information on how forcefully a user is pressing tip  4  against device  10 . If desired, a pressure sensor may also be provided at end  8 . Accelerometer  140  may be used to gather information on the orientation of stylus  18  toward the surface of the Earth (e.g., by analyzing the force and direction of the Earth&#39;s gravity). Control circuitry  20  may analyze data from sensors such as sensors  138  and  140  and may control the operation of stylus  18  accordingly. Control circuitry  20  may display operating status information and other information on displays such as display  14 ′ of  FIG. 8 , display  118  of  FIG. 9 , and status indicators  44 . 
     Multiple status indicators may be placed in close proximity to each other in a cluster on the surface of stylus  18  to serve as an analog gauge. An example of this type of arrangement is shown in  FIG. 14 . As shown in  FIG. 14 , information may be displayed on status indicators  44  by placing N status indicators  44  in a transparent (colored) state. In this configuration there are TOTAL-N status indicators in an opaque (black) state, where TOTAL represents that total number of status indicators  44  in status indicator cluster  142 . The value of N may be adjusted to represent a scalar value associated with the operation of stylus  18 . Status indicator structures  142  may, for example, be used to display status information such as the line width being used by a drawing program as stylus  18  is being used to draw lines on device  10  or other information benefiting from an analog-type gauge. 
     One or more light sources such as light-emitting diode  144  of  FIG. 15  may be used to provide backlight illumination for one or more status indicators. In the illustrative configuration of  FIG. 15 , a single light-emitting diode is being used to provide illumination  146  for three associated status indicators  44 . Other numbers of status indicators  44  may be illuminated in this way if desired. Light guiding structures may be used to guide light within stylus  18  and to gather light from exterior sources (i.e., to gather ambient light). 
       FIG. 16  is a cross-sectional side view of stylus  18  in a configuration in which shaft  6  has been formed from a clear solid rod and in which light-scattering structures  120  have been formed within an interior portion of the rod in alignment with status indicator  44 . 
     If desired, light guiding structures in stylus  18  may be formed from a wrapped flexible layer of light guide material. This type of configuration is shown in  FIG. 17 . As shown in  FIG. 17 , stylus  18  may be provided with a wrapped clear flexible layer of material (e.g., a clear polymer sheet) such as layer  150 . Layer  150  may be wrapped around an internal plastic cylindrical support structure or other shaft structure (e.g., around a structure that is elongated along longitudinal axis  110 , so that layer  150  is wrapped around axis  110 ). Light  124  may be injected into the exposed ends of layer  150  from a light-emitting diode such as light-emitting diode  134  of  FIG. 16 . Light from the light-emitting diode may propagate within layer  150  due to the principal of total internal reflection. Upon reaching light scattering structures  120 , the light in light guide layer  150  may be scattered outwards in direction  122  to provide illumination for an overlapping ring-shaped status indicator  44 . 
     Status indicators such as status indicator  44  of  FIG. 3  may, if desired, be used in electronic device  10  or other electronic equipment in system  2 . Consider, as an example, device  10  of  FIG. 18 . As shown in  FIG. 18 , device  10  may have a display such as display  14  mounted in housing  12 . Light  124  may be produced by an optional light source such as light-emitting diode  134  or may be gathered from ambient light sources (e.g., using light-guiding structures). 
     Device  10  may be a computer or other device (e.g., a stylus) having one or more buttons such as button  160 . Button  160  may be formed from a clear member such as a clear plastic structure or a piece of glass or ceramic. Status indicator  44  may be located under button  160  or may be integrated into button  160 . Because status indicator  44  and button  160  overlap, light  124  can be blocked or allowed to pass by controlling the state of shutter structure  56  in status indicator  44  ( FIG. 3 ). 
     The state of status indicator  44  may be used to provide a user of device  10  with status information. For example, when device  10  is in an active normal mode of operation, status indicator  44  may be placed in a transparent state so that a green structure is visible through button  160  (i.e., button  160  will appear green). When device  10  is in a sleep state, button  160  may be made to appear black by controlling status indicator  44  so that status indicator  44  becomes opaque. If desired, a red status indicator color may be made to appear on button  160  when device  10  is in the sleep state (e.g., by using an additional status indicator  44  in parallel with the green status indicator). 
     Another illustrative configuration for device  10  (or a stylus or other equipment) is shown in  FIG. 19 . Device  10  of  FIG. 19  may be, for example, a portable computer having a base such as base housing  12 A with track pad  164  and an upper housing such as upper housing  12 A with translucent logo  162  or other transparent window structure. Light source  134  may produce light  124 , ambient light may be gathered using a light guiding structure or other arrangement, or light  124  may be produced using backlight that has leaked from a display light guide plate. Status indicator  44  may be controlled to control the color of logo  124 . When status indicator  44  is placed in its opaque state, for example, logo window  162  may be dark. When status indicator  44  is placed in its transparent state, logo window  162  may become brighter due to the presence of light  124  (e.g., window  162  may appear white or otherwise brighter than when status indicator  44  is opaque). 
     Devices such as devices  10  of  FIGS. 1, 18, and 19  and other electronic equipment that includes status indicators such as status indicator  44  of  FIG. 3  may have components of the type shown by device  10  and/or equipment  18  of  FIG. 2 . 
     A status indicator such as liquid crystal status indicator  44  for a stylus or other electronic device may be implemented using a configuration of the type shown in  FIG. 3  in which liquid crystal material  70  is interposed between upper indium tin oxide electrode  72  and lower indium tin oxide electrode  68  or may be implemented using other configurations. As an example, liquid crystal status indicator  44  may be implemented using in-plane switching liquid crystal structures.  FIG. 20  is a cross-sectional side view of a liquid crystal status indicator device based on in-plane switching structures. As shown in  FIG. 20 , status indicator  44  may include an upper substrate such as substrate  74  and a lower substrate such as substrate  202 . Substrates  74  and  202  may be formed from materials such as clear glass or plastic. Liquid crystal material  70  may be interposed between substrates  74  and  202 . Upper polarizer  76  may be formed on the upper surface of substrate  74 . Lower polarizer  64  may be formed on the lower surface of substrate  202 . Common voltage electrode  204  may be formed from a blanket layer of transparent conductor such as indium tin oxide. Positive electrode  208  may be formed from thin fingers of metal (as an example). When voltage source  78  applies a control voltage V between electrodes  208  and  204 , an electric field E may be formed in liquid crystal material  70  that rotates the liquid crystals in material  70  and thereby controls the amount of light transmission through status indicator  44 . 
     The amount of transmission exhibited by status indicator  44  may, if desired, be varied continuously in an analog fashion.  FIG. 21  is a graph showing how transmission T of status indicator  44  may vary continuously with applied voltage V from signal source  78 . As indicated by arrow  222  and curve  220 , source  78  may vary the value of V up and down in real time to create a flashing status indicator output (e.g., a logo-shaped indicator or other indicator that varies from white to black continuously) or may otherwise smoothly vary the transparency of the status indicator to control the visibility of underlying colored structures or other information under status indicator  44 . 
     If desired, a logo or other feature an accessory or other electronic device may be provided with multiple liquid crystal structures to serve as a status indicator. An illustrative status indicator of this type is shown in  FIG. 22 . Status indicator  44  of  FIG. 22  may have the shape of a rectangle, a logo, a shape with curved edges, a shape with straight edges, or a shape with both straight and curved edges. Individually controllable status indicator portions  44 P may be arranged so as to cover the entire area of status indicator  44  (as an example). In the example of  FIG. 22 , portions  44 P have the shape of vertically extending strips. Individually controlled liquid crystal elements such as structures  44 P may be formed using other shapes, if desired. 
     Using an arrangement of the type shown in  FIG. 22  in which spatially distinct and individually controllable elements such as elements  44 P cover the surface of indicator  44  allows indicator  44  to present information using side-to-side visual effects or other motion effects. For example, each of elements  44 P may be made more transparent in sequence to provide indicator  44  with the appearance of side to side movement. This type of side-to-side visual effect may, if desired, be imposed on top of collective dimming and brightening of the elements of indicator  44  or other global effects. 
     Liquid crystal status indicator  44  may, if desired, be implemented using structures such as polymer dispersed liquid crystal structures. Polymer dispersed liquid crystal structures may function as light collectors and may therefore be suitable for use in equipment where no supplemental backlighting is available. A cross-sectional side view of a polymer dispersed liquid crystal structure is shown in  FIG. 23 . As shown in  FIG. 23  status indicator  44  may include a polymer such as polymer  258 . Droplets of liquid crystal material such as liquid crystal droplets  254  may be interspersed amount polymer  258 . Each droplet  254  may have a diameter of about 1-10 microns (as an example). A voltage may be applied to liquid crystal droplets  254  using transparent electrodes such as upper and lower indium tin oxide electrodes  250  and  252 . The voltage rotates the liquid crystals to adjust the index of refraction of each of the droplets and thereby adjusting the difference in index of refraction between the droplets and polymer  258 . As the voltage across terminals  250  and  252  is adjusted, the transparency of status indicator structures  44  is varied from opaque to clear. 
     Liquid crystal status indicators  44  may be used in displaying information on a laptop computer such as computer  10  of  FIG. 24 . As shown in  FIG. 24 , status indicators may be used to display status information such as whether computer  10  is in an “ON” mode or is in an “OFF” mode. Status indicators  44  may also display information on whether computer  10  is in a low power sleep state, etc. Information such as temperature information and other information about the environment or operating status of computer  10  may be display. Status indicators  44  may be mounted in housing  12  around the periphery of display  14  (e.g., in an inactive border region of display  14 ) or elsewhere in computer  10  or other electronic equipment. In the  FIG. 24  example, computer  10  is a portable computer such as a laptop computer. If desired, a stylus, a computer integrated into a computer display, or other equipment may use stylus indicators such as stylus indicators  44  of  FIG. 24 . 
     The foregoing is merely illustrative of the principles of this invention and various modifications can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. The foregoing embodiments may be implemented individually or in any combination.

Metadata:
Filing Date: 20120926
Publication Date: 20180731
Grant Date: 20180731
Priority Date: 20120926
Inventors: ARMSTRONG-MUNTNER, JOEL S.
Assignee: APPLE INC
CPC Classifications: [{"code": "G02F1/1333", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F3/03545", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F3/03545", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G02F1/1333", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}]
Family ID: 48980271