Control System for Augmenting a Portable Touch Screen Device

• US 20150212590A1
• Filed: 04/06/2015
• Published: 07/30/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Crestron Electronics Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Crestron Electronics Incorporated
• Inventors: Feldstein, George, Labosco, Mark, Fagan, Brian
• Application Number:
  US14/679,426
• Publication Number:
  US 20150212590A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1607 Arrangements to support accessories mechanically attached to the display housing G06F1/1603, G06F1/1605 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1643 the display being associated to a digitizer, e.g. laptops that can be used as penpads details related to the relative motion of the display enclosure with respect to the body enclosure, e.g. to move between laptop and tablet PC configuration G06F1/1615
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1656 Details related to functional adaptations of the enclosure, e.g. to provide protection against EMI, shock, water, or to host detachable peripherals like a mouse or removable expansions units like PCMCIA cards, or to provide access to internal components for maintenance or to removable storage supports like CDs or DVDs, or to mechanically mount accessories mounting of accessories to a computer display G06F1/1607; display hoods G06F1/1603; cooling arrangements for portable computers G06F1/203
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1662 Details related to the integrated keyboard
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1671 Special purpose buttons or auxiliary keyboards, e.g. retractable mini keypads, keypads or buttons that remain accessible at closed laptop G06F1/1666 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/021 Arrangements integrating additional peripherals in a keyboard, e.g. card or barcode reader, optical scanner
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0227 Cooperation and interconnection of the input arrangement with other functional units of a computer G06F3/023 - G06F3/037 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/023 Arrangements for converting discrete items of information into a coded form, e.g. arrangements for interpreting keyboard generated codes as alphanumeric codes, operand codes or instruction codes
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0416 Control or interface arrangements specially adapted for digitisers
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 19/00 Electric signal transmission systems G08C17/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/10 Power supply of remote control devices
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/30 User interface
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/92 Universal remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/10 Current supply arrangements

Abstract

Presented is a control system for augmenting a portable touch screen device having integral processing capability. The control system includes an enclosure configured for encasing the portable touch screen device, an internal docking connector configured for communicatively mating with the portable touch screen device, and hard buttons. At least one of the hard buttons is functionally configured for use with an application program running on the portable touch screen device. The control system includes further includes a processor configured for converting button actuations into a digital format, and a first facility for communicating the digital format to the portable touch screen device via the internal docking connector. The application program is configured such that, during operation, the application program communicates the status of the one hard button to at least one external device.

Claims

1. A control system for a portable touch screen device having integral processing capability, the control system comprising:

(a) an enclosure configured for encasing the portable touch screen device;

(b) an internal docking connector configured for communicatively mating with the portable touch screen device;

(c) a plurality of hard buttons, wherein at least one of the hard buttons is functionally configured for use with an application program running on the portable touch screen device;

(d) a processor configured for converting button actuations into a digital format; and

(e) a first facility for communicating the digital format to the portable touch screen device via the internal docking connector, wherein the application program is configured such that, during operation, the application program communicates a status of the at least one hard button to at least one external device.

2. The control system of claim 1, further comprising:

(a) an IR emitter; and

(b) a second facility for communicating the digital format to the the IR emitter, wherein the IR emitter is configured to transmit IR control commands directly to the at least one external device.

3. The control system of claim 1, wherein the enclosure further comprises an infrared digital interface.

4. The control system of claim 3, wherein the infrared digital interface is selected from the group consisting of:

IrDA and RC-5 infrared protocol.

5. The control system of claim 3, wherein the infrared digital interface communicates using a proprietary protocol.

6. The control system of claim 3, wherein the infrared digital interface functions as a communication channel between the processor and the portable touch screen device.

7. The control system of claim 3, wherein the infrared digital interface functions as a communication channel between the processor and an external device.

8. A control system for a portable touch screen device, the control system comprising:

(a) an enclosure configured for encasing the portable touch screen device;

(b) one or more hard buttons disposed on the enclosure

(c) a communication path between the control system and the portable touch screen device, the communication path configured for communicating control information.

9. The control system of claim 8, further comprising an infrared digital interface selected from the group consisting of:

IrDA, RC-5 protocol, and a proprietary protocol.

10. The control system of claim 8, further comprising an infrared digital interface that functions as a communication channel between the control system and the portable touch screen device.

11. The control system of claim 8, further comprising an infrared digital interface that functions as a communication channel between the control system and an external device.