User Interfaces and Related Devices and Systems

• US 20150071465A1
• Filed: 09/10/2013
• Published: 03/12/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bose Corporation
• Original Assignee: Bose Corporation
• Inventors: Sakalowsky, John Michael, Miller, Joel H., Zalisk, Michael Andrew
• Granted Patent: US 9,768,746 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 381/105
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 1/01 Arrangements of two or more controlling members with respect to one another double foot control, e.g. for instruction vehicles G05G1/34; mounting units comprising an assembly with two or more pedals G05G1/36
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 1/025 actuated by sliding movement
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 1/10 Details, e.g. of discs, knobs, wheels or handles G05G1/085 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0312 for tracking the rotation of a spherical or circular member, e.g. optical rotary encoders used in mice or trackballs using a tracking ball or in mouse scroll wheels tracking relative movement in co-operation with a regularly or irregularly patterned surface, e.g. as in optical mice G06F3/0317; constructional details of scroll or thumb-wheels G06F3/0362; optical rotary encoders G01D5/3473
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0362 with detection of 1D translations or rotations of an operating part of the device, e.g. scroll wheels, sliders, knobs, rollers or belts
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/00 Arrangements for transmitting signals characterised by the use of a wireless electrical link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/30 User interface
• CPC Class Codes: H03G 3/02 Manually-operated control H03G3/001 and H03G3/002 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/962 Capacitive touch switches
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2217/960755 Constructional details of capacitive touch and proximity switches
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20474 Rotatable rod, shaft, or post

Abstract

A user interface includes a rotatable ring for controlling a function on an associated device, and a support ring for supporting the rotatable ring. The support ring includes a plurality of biasing elements, and a plurality of engagement members rotatably mounted on the biasing elements and configured to engage the rotatable ring so as to preload the biasing elements and thereby (i) biasing the rotatable ring toward a center position in which a central axis of the rotatable ring is coincident with a central axis of the support ring, and (ii) increasing resistance to rotational movement of the rotatable ring.

Claims

1. A user interface comprising:

a rotatable ring for controlling a function on an associated device;

a support ring for supporting the rotatable ring;

the support ring comprising;

a plurality of biasing elements; and

a plurality of engagement members rotatably mounted on the biasing elements and configured to engage the rotatable ring so as to preload the biasing elements and thereby (i) biasing the rotatable ring toward a center position in which a central axis of the rotatable ring is coincident with a central axis of the support ring, and (ii) increasing resistance to rotational movement of the rotatable ring.

2. The user interface of claim 1, wherein the rotatable ring comprises an encoded pattern and the remote control further comprises one or more sensors for reading the encoded pattern to sense rotational movement of the rotatable ring.

3. The user interface of claim 1, wherein at least one of the engagement members comprises:

a wheel rotatable relative to an associated one of the biasing elements; and

a compliant member disposed about an outer diameter of the wheel.

4. The user interface of claim 1, wherein the rotatable ring is rotatable to control audio volume on an associated audio playback device.

5. The user interface of claim 1, wherein the support ring defines a grease trough for retaining grease.

6. The user interface of claim 5, wherein the rotatable ring comprises a rib that is configured to rotate within the trough.

7. The user interface of claim 1, wherein the biasing elements comprise spring arms.

8. A remote control device comprising the user interface of claim 1.

9. The remote control device of claim 8, further comprising a wireless interface for communicating with an associated audio playback device.

10. The remote control device of claim 9, wherein the wireless interface is configured to communicate with an associated audio playback device via a Bluetooth protocol.

11. An audio playback device comprising the user interface of claim 1.

12. A user interface comprising:

a plurality of concentrically arranged user interface elements comprising;

a volume ring;

a middle ring comprising a plurality of discrete buttons;

an inner ring comprising an infinite position sensor; and

a center button comprising a display,

wherein the inner ring circumferentially surrounds the center button, the middle ring circumferentially surrounds the inner ring, and the volume ring circumferentially surrounds the middle ring.

13. The user interface of claim 12, wherein the volume ring can be activated by rotating the volume ring to adjust the audio volume of an associated audio playback device.

14. The user interface of claim 12, further comprising:

a support ring for supporting the volume ring, the support ring comprising;

a plurality of biasing elements; and

a plurality of engagement members mounted for rotation on the biasing elements and configured to engage the rotatable ring so as to preload the biasing elements and thereby (i) biasing the rotatable ring toward a center position in which an axis of rotation of the rotatable ring is coincident with a central axis of the support ring, and (ii) increasing resistance to rotational movement of the rotatable ring.

15. The user interface of claim 14, wherein the biasing elements comprise spring arms.

16. The user interface of claim 14, wherein the rotatable ring comprises an encoded pattern and the user interface further comprises at least one sensor for reading the encoded pattern to sense rotational movement of the rotatable ring.

17. The user interface of claim 14, wherein at least one of the engagement members comprises:

a wheel rotatable relative to an associated one of the spring arms; and

a compliant member disposed about an outer diameter of the wheel.

18. The user interface of claim 14, wherein the volume ring is rotatable to control audio volume on an associated audio playback device.

19. The user interface of claim 14, wherein the support ring comprises a grease trough for retaining grease.

20. The user interface of claim 19, wherein the rotatable ring comprises a rib that is configured to rotate within the grease trough.

21. The user interface of claim 12, wherein the plurality of discrete buttons comprise a plurality of capacitive touch buttons.

22. The user interface of claim 21, wherein at least one of the capacitive touch buttons comprises a backlit icon.

23. The user interface of claim 12, wherein the plurality of discrete buttons comprise a presets/recents modal button for toggling between a preset mode in which a user can access presets, wherein the presets are a set of user-defined shortcuts to entities for providing content, and a recents mode in which a user can access a list of previously accessed entities for providing content.

24. The user interface of claim 12, wherein the plurality of discrete buttons comprise:

(i) a skip forward button, and (ii) a skip back button.

25. The user interface of claim 12, wherein the inner ring comprises an infinite position sensor for sensing a position of a user'"'"'s finger on a surface of the inner ring.

26. The user interface of claim 25, wherein the inner ring operates as an absolute location of a plurality of preset indicators.

27. The user interface of claim 26, wherein the center button is displaceable to actuate a switch,

wherein the user interface is configured to interpret actuation of the switch, in the absence of input from the infinite position sensor indicating a position of a user'"'"'s finger relative to the inner ring, as selection of a function associated with the center button, and

wherein the user interface is configured to interpret actuation of the switch in combination with input from the infinite position sensor indicating a position of a user'"'"'s finger relative to the inner ring as selection of a preset.

28. The user interface of claim 25, wherein a circular swiping motion along the infinite position sensor allows a user to browse a recents list, wherein the recents list is a list of entities that is populated from content that the user has chosen to play on one or more audio playback devices.

29. The user interface of claim 28, wherein the center button is displaceable to actuate a switch,

wherein the user interface is configured to interpret actuation of the switch, in the absence of input from the infinite position sensor indicating a position of a user'"'"'s finger relative to the inner ring, as selection of a function associated with the center button, and

wherein the user interface is configured to interpret actuation of the switch in combination with input from the infinite position sensor indicating a position of a user'"'"'s finger relative to the inner ring as selection of an entity from the list of entities.

30. The user interface of claim 25, wherein the user interface is operable in a presets mode and a recents mode,

wherein, when the user interface is in the presets mode, the inner ring operates as an absolute location of a plurality of preset indicators, and

wherein, when the user interface is in a recents mode, a circular swiping motion along the infinite position sensor allows a user to browse a recents list, wherein the recents list is a list of entities that is populated from content that the user has chosen to play on one or more audio playback devices.

31. The user interface of claim 12, wherein the center button comprises a lens which covers the display.

32. The user interface of claim 12, wherein a central push on the center button can be actuated to (i) power on an associated audio playback device or (ii) to pause and unpause a rendering of audio on an associated audio playback device.

33. The user interface of claim 12, wherein a press-and-hold on the center button shuts down an associated audio playback device.

34. The user interface of claim 12, wherein the center button is displaceable to actuate a switch.

35. The user interface of claim 34, wherein the switch comprises a snap dome.

36. The user interface of claim 34, wherein the user interface is configured to interpret actuation of the switch, in the absence of input from the inner ring, as selection of a function associated with the center button.

37. The user interface of claim 34, wherein the user interface is configured to interpret actuation of the switch in combination with input from inner ring as selection of a preset.

38. The user interface of claim 34, wherein the user interface is configured to interpret actuation of the switch in combination with input from the infinite position sensor indicating a position of a user'"'"'s finger relative to the inner ring as selection of an entity from a recents list, wherein the recents list is a list of entities that is populated from content that the user has chosen to play on one or more audio playback devices within an audio system.

39. The user interface of claim 12, wherein the user interface is configured to display, on the display, information relating to an entity for providing content to be rendered on an associated audio playback device.

40. The user interface of claim 39, wherein the information comprises an identification of an audio source with which the entity is associated, and metadata associated with the entity.

41. The user interface of claim 40, wherein the identification of the audio source comprises an icon associated with the audio source.

42. The user interface of claim 39, wherein the displayed information relates to an entity currently providing content for rendering on an associated audio playback device.

43. The user interface of claim 39, wherein the displayed information relates to an entity assigned to one of a plurality of preset indicators on the inner ring, wherein the plurality of preset indicators one the inner ring correspond to a set of preset indicators on an associated audio playback device.

44. The user interface of claim 39, wherein the displayed information relates to an entity selected from a recents list, wherein the recents list is a list of entities that is populated from content that the user has chosen to play on one or more audio playback devices within an audio system.

45. A remote control device comprising the user interface of claim 12.

46. The remote control device of claim 45, wherein the remote control device comprises a wireless interface for communicating with an associated audio playback device.

47. The remote control device of claim 46, wherein the wireless interface is configured to communicate with an associated audio playback device via a Bluetooth protocol.

48. The remote control device of claim 45, wherein the remote control device further comprises a proximity detector,

wherein the remote control device is configured to enter a low power state, in which one or more functions are deactivated, after a period of non-use, and

wherein the remote control device is configured to re-activate the one or more deactivated functions in response to the proximity detector detecting a user'"'"'s hand near a surface of the remote control device.

49. An audio playback device comprising the user interface of claim 12.

50. A system comprising:

a remote control device comprising the user interface of claim 12, the remote control device further comprising a battery door comprising a metal portion, and a notch; and

a mount configured to be mounted on a wall and comprising a magnet for attracting the metal portion of the battery door, and a tab for engaging the notch in the battery door for orientation of the remote control device relative to the mount.

51. An audio system comprising:

I.) a remote control device comprising;

A.) a plurality of concentrically arranged user interface elements comprising;

i.) a center button comprising a display,

ii.) an inner ring circumferentially surrounding the center button and comprising an infinite position sensor,

iii.) a middle ring circumferentially surrounding the inner ring and comprising a plurity of discrete buttons, and

iv.) a volume ring circumferentially surrounding the middle ring; and

II.) an audio playback device associated with the remote control device and configured to operably connect to a plurality of digital audio sources, the audio playback device comprising;

A.) a digital-to-analog converter configured to receive a digital representation of content from the digital audio sources and convert to analog form;

B.) a electro-acoustic transducer;

C.) a set of user-selectable preset indicators stored within a memory of the remote control device, wherein each indicator in the set of preset indicators is configured to have assigned to it an entity associated with the plurality of digital audio sources; and

D.) an other display,

wherein the remote control device is configured to display, on the display, information relating to an entity for providing content to be rendered on the audio playback device, and wherein the audio playback device is configured to display, on the other display, substantially the same information associated with the entity as displayed by the remote control device.

52. The audio system of claim 51, wherein the audio playback device and the remote control device are configured to concurrently display substantially the same information associated with the entity.

53. The audio system of claim 51, wherein the audio playback device further comprises:

a processor; and

instructions stored on a computer-readable media that, when executed, cause the processor to;

update one or more preset assignments based on user input, each of the preset assignments representing an assignment of an entity associated with one of the digital audio sources to a corresponding one of the preset indicators; and

to

provide information regarding the update to the one or more preset assignments to the remote control device, and

wherein the remote control device is configured to store the information regarding the update to the one or more preset assignments within the memory on the remote control device.