System for a navigable display

• US 20020093492A1
• Filed: 01/18/2001
• Published: 07/18/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 01/18/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Baron, John M.
• Application Number:
  US09/765,172
• Publication Number:
  US 20020093492A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04105 Pressure sensors for measuring the pressure or force exerted on the touch surface without providing the touch position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03547 Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04142 the force sensing means being located peripherally, e.g. disposed at the corners or at the side of a touch sensing plate
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/631 Graphical user interfaces [GUI] specially adapted for controlling image capture or setting capture parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/633 for displaying additional information relating to control or operation of the camera

Abstract

A portable handheld device, such as a camera, is provided. The device comprises a functional unit and an associated electronic control system. The control system includes a flat panel display for providing a visual display used to control the functional unit. The electronic control system also comprises a switch platform mounted to detect a touching about a periphery of the display to provide a plurality of discrete output signals which are each indicative of a portion of the periphery in which the touching is detected. A user may navigate through information on the visual display by touching the display to activate the switches in a manner which moves a cursor through items depicted on the display.

Claims

1. A display for use in controlling the execution of a functional device, said display comprising;

an electronic control system housed in association with said display, said electronic control system including a switch platform mounted to detect a touching about a periphery of said display and to provide a plurality of discrete output signals each indicative of a portion of said periphery at which said touching is detected.

2. The display of claim 1 wherein said display is a flat panel display.

3. The display according to claim 1 wherein:

said functional device comprises an optical imaging device.

4. The display device according to claim 3 wherein said optical imaging device includes an optical system configured to project an image onto a light sensitive media.

5. The display according to claim 2 wherein said switch platform comprises pressure sensitive switches mounted in proximity to respective edges of said display and configured so that touching at a corner operates a corresponding one of said switches and touching at a midpoint of one of said edges operates a corresponding pair of said switches.

6. The display according to claim 1 wherein said display is mounted on said switch platform, said switch platform, which, in turn, is mounted on an enclosure, wherein said enclosure encompasses at least a portion of said functional device, and said switch platform including pressure sensitive switches positioned to detect pressure applied proximate respective corners of said display.

7. The display according to claim 6 further comprising a pressure sensitive switch positioned to detect pressure applied to a central portion of said display.

8. The display device according to claim 1 wherein said switch platform comprises a plurality of electrical switches mounted adjacent respective edges of said display and a frame mounted to said switches, said frame surrounding said display, said frame and switches configured to detect pressure applied proximate respective corners of said flat panel display.

9. The device according to claim 8 further comprising a pressure sensitive switch positioned to detect pressure applied to a central portion of said display.

10. The display according to claim 1 wherein said display is a rectangular shaped liquid crystal display device.

11. The display device according to claim 2 wherein said electronic control system is configured to cause said display to display a value of a control parameter and to detect an operation of said switch platform to change said value.

12. The display device according to claim 1 wherein said electronic control system is configured to allow a user to selectively position a cursor or said display.

14. The camera according to claim 13 wherein said display is a flat panel display.

15. The camera according to claim 13 wherein said switch platform comprises a plurality of electrical switches mounted adjacent respective edges of said display and a frame mounted to said switches, said frame surrounding said display, said frame and switches configured to detect pressure applied proximate respective edges of said flat panel display.

16. The camera according to claim 15 further comprising a pressure sensitive switch positioned to detect pressure applied to a central portion of said flat panel display.

17. The camera according to claim 13 wherein said display is configured to sequentially display a plurality of parameters in response to respective activations of left and right portions of said switch platform, increase and decrease a value associated with a displayed one of said parameters in response to activations of top and bottom portions of said switch platform, and select a displayed one of said values in response to a touching of a central portion of said flat panel display.

19. The operator interface device according to claim 18 wherein said display panel includes left, right, top and bottom edges, said frame comprising corresponding left, right, top and bottom portions whereby a pressure applied to said left and right portions of said frame causes respective reverse and forward scrolling through said parameters and a pressure applied to said top and bottom portions of said frame causes respective forward and reverse scrolling through values associated with a selected one of said parameters.

20. The operator interface device according to claim 18 wherein said frame is positioned peripheral to said display panel.

13. A camera comprising:

an optical system configured to project an image onto an imaging platform;

a controller configured to control an operation of said optical system;

a display operable to provide a visual display of parameter values used in conjunction with said optical system; and

a switch platform configured to provide control signals to said controller for selecting said parameter values, said switch platform mounted to detect a touching about a periphery of said display and operational for providing a plurality of discrete output signals to said controller, each indicative of a portion of said periphery at which said touching is detected.

18. An operator interface device comprising:

a display panel operable to provide a visual display indicative of a parameter to be controlled and values associated with respective ones of said parameters;

a first discrete electrical switch operable to select a displayed value in response to a touching of a cental portion of said display panel;

an array of discrete pressure sensitive electrical switches positioned adjacent respective edges of said display panel; and

a frame attached to said array of pressure sensitive electrical switches and configured whereby a pressure applied to a portion of said frame adjacent a respective edge of said display panel causes an activation of a corresponding one of said switches.