Image based touchscreen device
First Claim
1. A customizable input device for a computer, said customizable input device comprising:
- a display device for displaying images;
a touchscreen device for receiving inputs from a user;
a microcontroller connected to said display device and said touchscreen device for loading a plurality of images into said display device and receiving inputs from said touchscreen device wherein said microcontroller is configured to receive a plurality of image files from said computer and wherein said microcontroller is configured to transmit an input from said user to said computer based on an area of said touchscreen device that is activated by said user wherein said input corresponds to a user-defined action to be executed by said computer; and
an interface connected to said microcontroller adapted for communicating with said computer.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An improved auxiliary input device for use with various computer applications which is more versatile and easier to use than prior devices. A touchscreen device is used to provide easier inputs to the computer applications. The layout of the touchscreen display may be customized using layout software that maps visual indicators on the touchscreen to user-defined key sequences, mouse events, external calling of Dynamic Link Libraries, URL links, or other miscellaneous actions. Control software runs in the background for loading the saved layout configurations and executing the user-defined key sequences or mouse events whenever the touchscreen is touched by the user. The control software can be configured to automatically load layouts based on the active program or game being played. The touchscreen configuration for each game may be programmed with bitmaps and key sequences and then stored for later retrieval. In order to provide rapid retrieval of a configuration, the touchscreen device is connected to the system through the USB port rather than the keyboard port. Once a layout is loaded onto the touchscreen display, the input device senses pressure on the integral touchscreen. Whenever pressure is sensed, the touchscreen display sends a signal back to the computer through the USB port, and the computer microprocessor executes the key sequence or other command associated with the location on the touchscreen that was pressed. Each location or area on the touchscreen is mapped to an entry in the user-defined table created using the layout editor.
101 Citations
27 Claims
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1. A customizable input device for a computer, said customizable input device comprising:
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a display device for displaying images;
a touchscreen device for receiving inputs from a user;
a microcontroller connected to said display device and said touchscreen device for loading a plurality of images into said display device and receiving inputs from said touchscreen device wherein said microcontroller is configured to receive a plurality of image files from said computer and wherein said microcontroller is configured to transmit an input from said user to said computer based on an area of said touchscreen device that is activated by said user wherein said input corresponds to a user-defined action to be executed by said computer; and
an interface connected to said microcontroller adapted for communicating with said computer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A computer system with an input device for controlling an application program running on said computer system, said computer system comprising:
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a computer for running said application program;
a display device for displaying a plurality of images received from said computer;
a touchscreen device for allowing a user to control said application program wherein said touchscreen device overlays said display device;
a microcontroller connected to said display device and said touchscreen device for interfacing with said computer wherein said microcontroller loads said plurality of images onto said display device and transmits inputs from said touchscreen device to said computer;
an interface connecting said computer and said microcontroller for allowing said computer to communicate with said input device; and
a memory means for storing said plurality of images and for storing a table associating a user-defined action with an input area on said touchscreen device wherein said computer retrieves said user-defined action from said memory means and executes said user-defined action when said input area is activated by said user. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method for controlling an application program running on a computer system, said method comprising:
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downloading a layout file to an input device;
displaying an image from said layout file on said input device using a display device;
sensing inputs from a user on said input device wherein said inputs are sensed using a touchscreen panel;
responsive to sensing an input by said user in a bounding region on said touchscreen panel, determining a user-defined action associated with said bounding region using said layout file; and
responsive to determining a user-defined action, performing said user-defined action. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A computer program product in a computer readable medium for controlling an application program running on a computer system, said computer program product comprising:
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first instructions for downloading a layout file to an input device;
second instructions for displaying an image from said layout file on said input device using a display device;
third instructions for sensing inputs from a user on said input device wherein said inputs are sensed using a touchscreen panel;
fourth instructions, responsive to sensing an input by said user in a bounding region on said touchscreen panel, for determining a user-defined action associated with said bounding region using said layout file; and
fifth instructions, responsive to determining a user-defined action, for performing said user-defined action. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27)
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Specification