Operator/circuit interface with integrated display screen

• US 5,786,811 A
• Filed: 08/26/1996
• Issued: 07/28/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 11/05/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Intertactile Technologies Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intertactile Technologies Corporation
• Inventors: Jaeger, Denny
• Primary Examiner(s): LIANG, REGINA
• Application Number:
  US08/702,978
• Time in Patent Office: 701 Days
• Field of Search: 345/168, 345/169, 345/170, 345/171, 345/172, 345/173, 345/184, 345/905, 341/22, 341/23, 341/28, 341/33, 341/34
• US Class Current: 345/172
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/126 Rotatable input devices for instruments
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/143 Touch sensitive instrument input devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/145 Instrument input by combination of touch screen and hardware input devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/10 Input arrangements, i.e. from user to vehicle, associated with vehicle functions or specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/13306 Circuit arrangements or driving methods for the control of single liquid crystal cells G02F1/132, G02F1/133382 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/13338 Input devices, e.g. touch panels
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1345 Conductors connecting electrodes to cell terminals
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/108 characterised by physical layout of switches; switches co-operating with display; use of switches in a special way
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/23023 Control knobs, levers integrated into display, display parameters near knobs
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/23141 Flat panel, thin film electro luminescent
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1601 Constructional details related to the housing of computer displays, e.g. of CRT monitors, of flat displays constructional details related to flat displays integrated in a portable computer, e.g. laptop, handheld computer G06F1/1637; constructional details related to television receivers H04N5/64
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1611 CRT monitor
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1612 Flat panel monitor
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0238 Programmable keyboards key guide holders G06F3/0224
• 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 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0489 using dedicated keyboard keys or combinations thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2009/184 Illumination of symbols by using laser light
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 9/181 using a programmable display, e.g. LED or LCD

Abstract

Operator interaction with electrical systems is facilitated by providing electromechanical control devices, which have switch buttons, rotary knobs or the like, with flat panel displays that convey information pertaining to the controls that can be changed instantly by a display controller. The display may identify the function of the control, the current setting, create calibration marks or provide other graphics. The images change automatically if the same control is used for multiple functions. In one form of the invention, the display screen has openings in the image area and the controls extend through and protrude from the screen enabling display of graphics in close proximity to the controls. In another form, the settings of controls which are secured to the face of a display screen are optically or magnetically detected by sensors located behind the screen. In still another form of the invention, the display is embedded in a switch key and has an image area that is substantially coextensive with the key. This enables permanent markings, such as are found on computer keyboard keys for example, to be replaced with changeable images that identify multiple functions of the keys.

Claims

1. In apparatus for enabling manual control of electrical equipment which apparatus has a plurality of operator actuated components each having a component housing and an actuator which extends from the housing and which can be moved from a first position to at least one other position to alter operation of said equipment, the improvement comprising:

a control panel formed at least in part by a flat panel display having a screen with an image area at which visible images can be displayed, said screen having a first array of parallel busbars therein which extend within said image area of said screen and which extend in orthogonal relationship with busbars of a second array of parallel busbars within said display screen and which enable activation of different combinations of image pixels at different times, said screen having a plurality of spaced apart openings which extend through said screen and which are situated in said image area thereof,

said operator actuated components being disposed at said image area of said screen with said housings of said components being behind said screen and wherein said actuators of said components extend through said openings in said image area of said screen, and

control means for generating visible images at said image area of said screen which images convey information pertaining to operation of said components.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said control means energizes said busbars in a variable manner to enable changing of the visible image associated with a control component when the component is used to control different operations of said equipment.