Touch sensitive user interface for television control

• US 5,327,160 A
• Filed: 11/16/1992
• Issued: 07/05/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 05/09/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: David J. Asher
• Original Assignee: David J. Asher
• Inventors: Asher, David J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Oberley, Alvin E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, CHANH DUY
• Application Number:
  US07/978,148
• Time in Patent Office: 596 Days
• Field of Search: 340/706, 340/709, 340/712, 340/825.69, 340/825.72, 340/753, 340/722, 341/23, 455/603, 455/612, 358/194.1, 358/22, 358/192.1, 345/156, 345/157, 345/173, 345/140
• US Class Current: 345/156
• CPC Class Codes: H03J 9/06 using electromagnetic waves other than radio waves, e.g. light
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/202 by remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/485 End-user interface for client configuration

Abstract

A remote control system for control of an external device from a remote location is disclosed that comprises a remote controller 11 and a receive and display unit 16. The remote controller employs a touch fader 10, which the user touches to activate a visual feedback system 14, such as menus and bargraphs, in the receive and display unit. Changing the position of the touchpoint will change the selection, allowing the user to easily scroll through many selections or a hierarchy of menus. Releasing the touch fader will signal the user'"'"'s acceptance of a selection. Commands are sent to control the external device according to the user selections which follow from a predefined command structure.

Claims

1. A touch sensitive user interface for control of a television, having touch fader input for selecting and setting a plurality of operational parameters of said television, comprising:

(a) a touch fader for sensing the presence and position of a fingertip upon said touch fader, having a touchpoint output representing said fingertip presence and position, said touchpoint output having a plurality of touchpoint position states for indicating the linear position of said fingertip along said touch fader, and having a touchpoint invalid state for indicating the release of said fingertip from said touch fader;

(b) a transmitter electrically connected to said touch fader, having means to encode said touchpoint output into a transmit touchpoint signal, and incorporating a transmit transducer for transmitting said transmit touchpoint signal across a communication channel;

(c) a receiver located remotely from said transmitter, incorporating a receive transducer for receiving said transmit touchpoint signal from said communication channel, and having means to decode said transmit touchpoint signal into a received touchpoint signal; and

(d) a data processor electrically connected to said receiver and to said television, having means to interpret said received touchpoint signal as a command for selecting one of said operational parameters, comprising the steps of;

(i) displaying a set of operational parameters on said television;

(ii) changing the appearance of said set of displayed operational parameters in relationship to said touchpoint position states to indicate one of said set of operational parameters to be selected; and

(iii) selecting one of said set of displayed operational parameters when said touchpoint output enters said state of touchpoint invalid, and further having means to interpret said received touchpoint signal as a value for setting said selected operational parameter, comprising the steps of;

(i) displaying a range of values for said selected operational parameter on said television;

(ii) changing the appearance of said displayed range of values in relationship to said touchpoint position states to indicate the value of said selected operational parameter to be set; and

(iii) setting the value of said selected operational parameter when said touchpoint output enters said state of touchpoint invalid.

2. A touch sensitive user interface for control of a remote system, having touch fader input for selecting and setting a plurality of operational parameters of said remote system, comprising:

(a) a touch fader for sensing the presence and position of a fingertip upon said touch fader, having a touchpoint output representing said fingertip presence and position, said touchpoint output having a plurality of touchpoint position states for indicating the linear position of said fingertip along said touch fader, and having a touchpoint invalid state for indicating the release of said fingertip from said touch fader;

(b) a transmitter electrically connected to said touch fader, having means to encode said touchpoint output into a transmit touchpoint signal, and incorporating a transmit transducer for transmitting said transmit touchpoint signal across a communication channel;

(c) a receiver located remotely from said transmitter, incorporating a receive transducer for receiving said transmit touchpoint signal from said communication channel, and having means to decode said transmit touchpoint signal into a received touchpoint signal;

(d) a visual display; and

(e) a data processor connected to said receiver, to said visual display, and to said remote system, having means to interpret said received touchpoint signal as a command for selecting one of said operational parameters, comprising the steps of;

(i) displaying a set of operational parameters on said visual display;

(ii) changing the appearance of said set of displayed operational parameters in relationship to said touchpoint position states to indicate one of said set of operational parameters to be selected; and

(iii) selecting one of said set of displayed operational parameters when said touchpoint output enters said state of touchpoint invalid, and further having means to interpret said received touchpoint signal as a value for setting said selected operational parameter, comprising the steps of;

(i) displaying a range of values for said selected operational parameter on said visual display;

(ii) changing the appearance of said displayed range of values in relationship to said touchpoint position states to indicate the value of said selected operational parameter to be set; and

(iii) setting the value of said selected operational parameter of said remote system when said touchpoint output enters said state of touchpoint invalid.