CONTROL PANEL FOR AN ELECTRONIC DEVICE
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A control panel for an electronic device, the control panel comprising:
- a support panel;
a sensor array on the support panel and operable to sense a location along the sensor array of a finger proximate to the sensor array;
an outer panel covering the support panel and having a nominal surface; and
a channel formed in the outer panel with at least a portion of the channel located below the nominal surface, the channel defining a guide path sized to receive a portion of a finger and in register with at least a portion of the sensor array;
whereby the channel is configured to guide a finger of a user along the sensor array, and the sensed location of the finger along the sensor array is used as an indication of an input selection by the user.
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Abstract
A control panel for an electronic device includes a sensor array capable of sensing a location along the sensor array of a finger proximate to the sensor array. A channel on the control panel defines a guide path in register with at least a portion of the sensor array and is sized to receive a portion of a finger. The channel is operable to guide a finger of a user along the sensor array, and the sensed location of the finger along the sensor array can be used as an indication of an input selection by the user.
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Citations
45 Claims
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1. A control panel for an electronic device, the control panel comprising:
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a support panel;
a sensor array on the support panel and operable to sense a location along the sensor array of a finger proximate to the sensor array;
an outer panel covering the support panel and having a nominal surface; and
a channel formed in the outer panel with at least a portion of the channel located below the nominal surface, the channel defining a guide path sized to receive a portion of a finger and in register with at least a portion of the sensor array;
whereby the channel is configured to guide a finger of a user along the sensor array, and the sensed location of the finger along the sensor array is used as an indication of an input selection by the user. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43)
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27. A control panel for an electronic device, the control panel comprising:
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a sensor array operable to sense a location along the sensor array of a finger proximate to the sensor array;
a guide path in register with at least a portion of the sensor array and sized to receive a portion of a finger, the guide path operable to guide a finger of a user along the sensor array, and the sensed location of the finger along the sensor array is used as an indication of a selection by the user; and
a plurality of indicators associated with the guide path and operably coupled with the sensor array to communicate to the user the selection corresponding to the sensed location of the finger along the sensor array. - View Dependent Claims (28, 30, 31, 32, 33, 44)
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34. A control panel for an electronic device, the control panel comprising:
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a panel having a guide path with a width of about 10 mm to about 15 mm and a depth of about 0.1 mm to about 3 mm and operable to receive a finger;
one of a plurality of sensors and a sensor array operable to sense the location of a finger received by the guide path; and
a plurality of indicators associated with the guide path and operable to provide a visual indication corresponding to the location of a finger relative to the one of the plurality of sensors and the sensor array. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37, 38)
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45. A control panel for an electronic device, the control panel comprising:
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a sensor array operable to sense a location along the sensor array of a finger proximate to the sensor array;
a guide path in register with at least a portion of the sensor array and sized to receive a portion of a finger, the guide path operable to guide a finger of a user along the sensor array, and the sensed location of the finger along the sensor array is used as an indication of a selection by the user; and
a plurality of indicators located adjacent the guide path and operably coupled with the sensor array to communicate to the user the selection corresponding to the sensed location of the finger along the sensor array.
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Specification