ATTACHABLE DISPLAY CONTROL SYSTEM

• US 20100302174A1
• Filed: 05/28/2009
• Published: 12/02/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/28/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
• Original Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
• Inventors: Dowe, David R., Schindler, Roland R. II, Cornell, David J.
• Application Number:
  US12/473,596
• Publication Number:
  US 20100302174A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1601 Constructional details related to the housing of computer displays, e.g. of CRT monitors, of flat displays constructional details related to flat displays integrated in a portable computer, e.g. laptop, handheld computer G06F1/1637; constructional details related to television receivers H04N5/64
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0202 Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the input device

Abstract

A digital picture frame includes a display on which images are displayed; a detachable and re-attachable apparatus that includes: (i) a mounting base; (ii) a transparent overlay mounted in the mounting base; wherein the overlay spans the display and includes a first side that receives pressure from a user for indicating a mode preference and a second side opposite the first side; (iii) a plurality of activation mechanisms each of which activates a mode preference and are adjacent the second side of the transparent overlay; wherein a particular activation mechanism is activated when user pressure is received within a predetermined spatial relationship to the particular activation mechanism; and (iv) an attachment mechanism that permits the apparatus to be attached and detached from the display.

Claims

1. A digital picture frame comprising:

(a) a display on which images are displayed;

(b) a detachable and re-attachable apparatus comprising;

(i) a mounting base;

(ii) a transparent overlay mounted in the mounting base;

wherein the overlay spans the display and includes a first side that receives pressure from a user for indicating a preferred mode of operation and a second side opposite the first side;

(iii) a plurality of activation mechanisms each of which activates a mode of operation and are adjacent the second side of the transparent overlay;

wherein a particular activation mechanism is activated when user pressure is received within a predetermined spatial relationship to the particular activation mechanism; and

(iv) an attachment mechanism that permits the apparatus to be attached and detached from the display.

2. The digital frame as in claim 1, wherein when two activation mechanisms share a portion of its predetermined spatial relationship and, when the user presses the shared spatial relationship, a time delay is enabled in order to determine which activation mechanism is more likely desired.

3. The digital frame as in claim 1 further comprising a support disposed abutting the second side of the overlay and on the mounting base so that the transparent layer is in a spaced-apart relationship with the activation mechanism when user pressure is absent.

4. The digital frame as claim 3, wherein the activation mechanisms are mechanical switches.

5. The digital frame as in claim 1 further comprising a frame disposed around a periphery of the overlay.

6. The digital frame as in claim 5, wherein the activation mechanisms are positioned between the frame and the display.

7. The digital frame as in claim 1, wherein the activation mechanisms are positioned about a periphery of the overlay and wherein the activation mechanisms mechanically join the overlay to the display in a detachable manner.

8. A self-contained apparatus that is attachable to a display for permitting the display to have one or more touch-activated features, the self-contained apparatus comprising:

(a) a mounting base;

(b) a transparent overlay mounted in the mounting base;

wherein the overlay includes a first side that receives pressure from a user for indicating a preferred mode of operation and a second side opposite the first side;

(c) a plurality of activation mechanisms each of which activates a mode of operation and are adjacent the second side of the transparent overlay;

wherein a particular activation mechanism is activated when user pressure is received within a predetermined spatial relationship to the particular activation mechanism; and

(d) an attachment mechanism that permits the apparatus to be attached and detached from the display.

9. The self-contained apparatus as in claim 8, wherein when two activation mechanisms share a portion of its predetermined spatial relationship and, when the user presses the shared spatial relationship, a time delay is enabled in order to determine which activation mechanism is more likely desired.

10. The self-contained apparatus as in claim 8 further comprising a support disposed abutting the second side of the overlay and on the mounting base so that the transparent layer is in a spaced-apart relationship with the activation mechanism when user pressure is absent.

11. The self-contained apparatus as claim 10, wherein the activation mechanisms are mechanical switches.

12. The self-contained apparatus as in claim 8 further comprising a frame disposed around a periphery of the overlay.