Changing icons on user input device

Abstract

Embodiments are disclosed that relate to pushable buttons comprising individually controllable display devices. For example, one disclosed embodiment provides a hand-held game controller comprising a body and a plurality of pushable buttons movably coupled to the body, each pushable button comprising a transparent cap and an individually controllable display device arranged behind the transparent cap such that the display device is viewable through the transparent cap. The hand-held game controller further comprises a controller configured to receive an input from an application requesting display of a first icon on a first display device of a first pushable button of the plurality of pushable buttons and a second icon on a second display device of a second button of the plurality of pushable buttons, and, in response, display the first icon on the first display device and display the second icon on the second display device.

1 . A hand-held video game controller, comprising:
 a body;   a plurality of pushable buttons movably coupled to the body, each pushable button comprising a transparent cap and an individually controllable display device arranged behind the transparent cap such that the display device is viewable through the transparent cap; and   a controller configured to:
 receive an input from an application requesting display of a first icon on a first display device of a first pushable button of the plurality of pushable buttons and a second icon on a second display device of a second button of the plurality of pushable buttons; and 
 in response, display the first icon on the first display device and display the second icon on the second display device. 
   
     
     
         2 . The hand-held video game controller of  claim 1 , wherein each pushable button further comprises a support structure located behind the individually controllable display device to support the individually controllable display device against the transparent cap. 
     
     
         3 . The hand-held video game controller of  claim 2 , wherein, for each pushable button, the support structure is retained within the pushable button by one or more retaining tabs. 
     
     
         4 . The hand-held video game controller of  claim 2 , wherein, for each pushable button, the support structure is retained within the pushable button by an adhesive. 
     
     
         5 . The hand-held video game controller of  claim 2 , wherein, for each pushable button, the support structure comprises one or more vias configured to accommodate one or more electrical connections to the individually controllable display. 
     
     
         6 . The hand-held video game controller of  claim 5 , wherein the one or more vias are formed along one or more side portions of the support structure. 
     
     
         7 . The hand-held video game controller of  claim 1 , wherein each pushable button of the plurality of pushable buttons comprises a single actuatable component. 
     
     
         8 . The hand-held video game controller of  claim 1 , wherein each display device is configured to display two or more predefined fixed icons. 
     
     
         9 . The hand-held video game controller of  claim 8 , wherein each display device comprises an electronic paper display device. 
     
     
         10 . The hand-held video game controller of  claim 1 , wherein each display device comprises an active matrix display, and wherein the controller is configured to provide image data to each active matrix display specifying an image to be displayed. 
     
     
         11 . A hand-held video game controller, comprising:
 a body;   a plurality of pushable buttons movably coupled to the body, each pushable button comprising a transparent cap, an individually controllable display device arranged behind the transparent cap such that the display device is viewable through the transparent cap, and a support structure configured to support the individually controllable display device against the transparent cap;   a logic subsystem; and   memory comprising code representing a plurality of predefined icons displayable on the individually controllable display devices, the memory also comprising executable instructions that are executable by the logic subsystem to:
 display on each display device icons selected from a fixed set of predefined icons; 
 receive an input from an application requesting display of a first predefined icon on a first display device of a first pushable button of the plurality of pushable buttons and a second predefined icon on a second display device of a second pushable button of the plurality of pushable buttons; and 
 in response, display the first predefined icon on the first display device and display the second predefined icon on the second display device, thereby causing the first predefined icon to appear on the first pushable button and the second predefined icon to appear on the second pushable button. 
   
     
     
         12 . The hand-held video game controller of  claim 11 , wherein the code representing the predefined icons includes code representing a default icon for each pushable button, and wherein the executable instructions are further executable to display the default icon for each pushable button for which the application does not request display of one of the predefined icons. 
     
     
         13 . The hand-held video game controller of  claim 11 , wherein each pushable button of the plurality of pushable buttons comprises a single actuatable component. 
     
     
         14 . The hand-held video game controller of  claim 11 , wherein each display device comprises an electronic paper display device. 
     
     
         15 . The hand-held video game controller of  claim 11 , wherein, for each pushable button, the support structure is retained within the pushable button by one or more retaining tabs. 
     
     
         16 . The hand-held video game controller of  claim 11 , wherein, for each pushable button, the support structure is retained within the pushable button by an adhesive. 
     
     
         17 . The hand-held video game controller of  claim 11 , wherein, for each pushable button, the support structure comprises one or more vias formed along one or more side portions of the support structure and configured to accommodate one or more electrical connections to the individually controllable display. 
     
     
         18 . The hand-held video game controller of  claim 11 , further comprising a directional pad disposed on the body at a location spaced apart from the plurality of pushable buttons, the directional pad comprising a plurality of pushable directions and a corresponding plurality of actuatable components, and wherein the directional pad comprises a transparent directional pad cap and a directional pad display device located behind the transparent directional pad cap such that the directional pad display device is viewable through the transparent directional pad cap, and a directional pad support structure configured to support the directional pad display device against the transparent cap. 
     
     
         19 . A method of operating a hand-held video game controller, the hand-held video game controller comprising a plurality of pushable buttons each having a transparent cap and an individually controllable display device arranged behind the transparent cap such that the display device is viewable through the transparent cap, a logic subsystem, and memory comprising code representing a plurality of predefined icons displayable on the individually controllable display devices, the method comprising:
 receiving an input front a first application requesting display of a first predefined icon on a first display device of a first pushable button of the plurality of pushable buttons and a second predefined icon on a second display device of a second button of the plurality of pushable buttons;   in response, display the first predefined icon on the first display device, display the second predefined icon on the second display device, and display a default icon on a third display device of a third pushable button, thereby causing the first predefined icon to appear on the first pushable button, the second predefined icon to appear on the second pushable button, and the default icon to appear on the third pushable button.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 detecting user actuation of the of the third pushable button;   receiving an input from the first application requesting display of a first dynamic icon on the third display device of the third pushable button; and   displaying the first dynamic icon on the third display device of the third pushable button.