Wall-Mounted Control System for a Portable Touch Screen Device

• US 20120068832A1
• Filed: 09/21/2011
• Published: 03/22/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/04/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Crestron Electronics Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Crestron Electronics Incorporated
• Inventors: Feldstein, George, LaBosco, Mark, Wickham, Timothy
• Granted Patent: US 9,405,395 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/12.5
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/041 Allowing quick release of the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 13/00 Other supports for positioning apparatus or articles heads thereof F16M11/02 ; undercarriages thereof F16M11/20 ; adapted to be stuck in the ground A45F3/44 ; sockets or holders for poles or posts E04H12/22; Means for steadying hand-held apparatus or articles supports for measuring instruments G01D11/30; supports for casings of remote control switching devices H01H9/025
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 13/02 for supporting on, or attaching to, an object, e.g. tree, gate, window-frame, cycle
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0416 Control or interface arrangements specially adapted for digitisers
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0291 Door telephones
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/04 Supports for telephone transmitters or receivers

Abstract

Presented is a wall-mounted control system for a portable touch screen device. The control system includes a housing, a touch screen mounting member moveably coupled to the housing and configured to releasably hold the portable touch screen device, a processor configured for providing an interface between the portable touch screen device and one or more remote systems, a docking connector configured for electrically mating with the portable touch screen device and establishing electrical communication between the processor and the portable touch screen device, and a communication circuitry configured for establishing communication between the processor the one or more remote systems.

Claims

1. A wall-mounted control system for a portable touch screen device, the control system comprising:

a housing;

a touch screen mounting member moveably coupled to the housing and configured to releasably hold the portable touch screen device;

a processor configured for providing an interface between the portable touch screen device and one or more remote systems;

a docking connector configured for electrically mating with the portable touch screen device and establishing electrical communication between the processor and the portable touch screen device; and

a communication means configured for establishing communication between the processor the one or more remote systems.

2. The control system of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of hard buttons, wherein at least one of the plurality of hard buttons is configured for use with an application program executing on the portable touch screen device and at least another one of the plurality of hard buttons is configured to execute a fixed function associated with an external device.

3. The control system of claim 1, wherein the communication means comprises at least one of a wired Ethernet connection, a wireless Ethernet connection, and a wireless Zigbee connection.

4. The control system of claim 5, wherein the communication means further comprises Bluetooth, infiNET, or a proprietary protocol in the ultra high frequency band.

5. The control system of claim 1, further comprising a microphone, at least one speaker, and a camera.

6. The control system of claim 1, further comprising an authentication coprocessor.

7. The control system of claim 1, further comprising circuitry configured for charging a battery disposed in the portable touch screen device.

8. The control system of claim 1, further comprising at least one indicator light.

9. The control system of claim 1, further comprising a light emitting diode display or a liquid crystal display.

10. The control system of claim 1, further comprising audio and video interfaces configured for transmitting and receiving audio and video.

11. The control system of claim 1, wherein the one or more remote systems comprise at least one of a home automation system, a home theater system, a lighting system, an environmental control system, or a security system.

12. A wall-mounted control system for a portable touch screen device, the control system comprising:

a housing;

a touch screen mounting member moveably coupled to the housing and configured to releasably hold the portable touch screen device;

a processor configured for executing a program for interfacing with the portable touch screen device and for controlling and interfacing with one or more remote systems;

a docking connector configured for electrically mating with the portable touch screen device and establishing electrical communication between the processor and the portable touch screen device;

a communication means configured for establishing communication between the processor the one or more remote systems; and

a plurality of hard buttons, at least one of the plurality of hard buttons being configured for use with an application program executing on the portable touch screen device and at least another one of the plurality of hard buttons being configured to execute a fixed function associated with an external device or system.

13. The control system of claim 12, wherein the communication means comprises at least one of a wired Ethernet connection, a wireless Ethernet connection, and a wireless Zigbee connection.

14. The control system of claim 13, wherein the communication means further comprises Bluetooth, infiNET, or a proprietary protocol in the ultra high frequency band.

15. The control system of claim 12, further comprising audio and video connections configured for transmitting and receiving audio and video.

16. The control system of claim 12, wherein the one or more remote systems comprise at least one of a home automation system, a home theater system, a lighting system, an environmental control system, or a security system.

17. The control system of claim 12, further comprising audio and video interfaces configured for transmitting and receiving audio and video.

18. The control system of claim 12, further comprising an authentication coprocessor.

19. The control system of claim 12, further comprising circuitry configured for charging a battery disposed in the portable touch screen device.

20. A wall-mounted control system for a portable touch screen device, the control system comprising:

a housing;

a touch screen mounting member moveably coupled to the housing and configured to releasably hold the portable touch screen device;

a processor configured for providing an interface between the portable touch screen device and one or more remote systems;

a docking connector configured for electrically mating with the portable touch screen device and establishing electrical communication between the processor and the portable touch screen device;

a communication means configured for establishing communication between the processor the one or more remote systems, the communication means comprising at least one of a wired Ethernet connection, a wireless Ethernet connection, and a wireless Zigbee connection; and

a plurality of hard buttons, at least one of the plurality of hard buttons being configured for use with an application program executing on the portable touch screen device and at least another one of the plurality of hard buttons being configured to execute a fixed function associated with an external device or system.