CAPACITIVE ROTARY ENCODER
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A human machine interface comprising:
- a capacitive touch screen including a capacitive sensor, the capacitive touch screen being configured to display text characters and/or graphical information; and
a control device rotatably coupled to a structure such that the control device is superimposed over the screen, the control device including at least one electrically conductive element, the control device being configured to rotate about an axis substantially perpendicular to the screen such that the at least one electrically conductive element follows the rotation of the control device;
wherein the capacitive sensor is configured to sense a rotational position of the at least one electrically conductive element; and
wherein the control device is actuatable in directions toward and away from the screen such that the at least one electrically conductive element follows the movement toward and away from the screen, the capacitive sensor being configured to sense a position of the at least one electrically conductive element in the directions toward and away from the screen without the control device touching the screen.
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Abstract
A human machine interface includes a capacitive touch screen having a capacitive sensor. The capacitive touch screen displays text characters and/or graphical information. A control device is rotatably coupled to a structure such that the control device is superimposed over the screen. The control device includes at least one electrically conductive element. The control device rotates about an axis substantially perpendicular to the screen such that the at least one electrically conductive element follows the rotation of the control device. The capacitive sensor senses a rotational position of the at least one electrically conductive element.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A human machine interface comprising:
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a capacitive touch screen including a capacitive sensor, the capacitive touch screen being configured to display text characters and/or graphical information; and a control device rotatably coupled to a structure such that the control device is superimposed over the screen, the control device including at least one electrically conductive element, the control device being configured to rotate about an axis substantially perpendicular to the screen such that the at least one electrically conductive element follows the rotation of the control device; wherein the capacitive sensor is configured to sense a rotational position of the at least one electrically conductive element; and wherein the control device is actuatable in directions toward and away from the screen such that the at least one electrically conductive element follows the movement toward and away from the screen, the capacitive sensor being configured to sense a position of the at least one electrically conductive element in the directions toward and away from the screen without the control device touching the screen. - View Dependent Claims (2, 5, 6, 7)
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- 3. The interface of claim I wherein the screen is configured to display information adjacent to the control device, the information being indicative of a function of the control device.
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8. A method of operating a human machine interface, comprising the steps of:
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providing a capacitive touch screen including a capacitive sensor; superimposing a control device over the screen, the control device including at least one electrically conductive element, the control device being rotatable about an axis substantially perpendicular to the screen such that the at least one electrically conductive element follows the rotation of the control device; displaying text characters and/or graphical information on the capacitive touch screen and adjacent to the control device, the text characters and/or graphical information being indicative of a function of the control device; using the capacitive sensor to sense a rotational position of the at least one electrically conductive element; and using the capacitive sensor to sense actuation of the control device in directions toward and away from the screen such that the at least one electrically conductive element follows the movement toward and away from the screen, the capacitive sensor sensing positions of the at least one electrically conductive element in the directions toward and away from the screen while the control device is spaced apart from the screen. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A human machine interface comprising:
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a capacitive touch screen including a capacitive sensor, the capacitive touch screen being configured to display information; and a control device rotatably coupled to a structure such that the control device is superimposed over the screen, the control device being configured to rotate about an axis substantially perpendicular to the screen, the control device including a central viewing channel through which a user may view a portion of the information on the screen that is indicative of a function of the control device, the control device including at least one electrically conductive element that follows the rotation of the control device; wherein the capacitive sensor is configured to sense a rotational position of the at least one electrically conductive element; and wherein the control device is actuatable in directions toward and away from the screen such that the at least one electrically conductive element follows the movement toward and away from the screen, the capacitive sensor being configured to sense a position of the at least one electrically conductive element in the directions toward and away from the screen with the control device remaining in disengagement from the screen. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification