Operator/circuit interface with integrated display screen

• US 6,441,806 B1
• Filed: 08/26/1996
• Issued: 08/27/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/05/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Intertactile Technologies Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intertact Corporation
• Inventors: Jaeger, Denny
• Primary Examiner(s): Liang, Regina
• Application Number:
  US08/703,186
• Time in Patent Office: 2,192 Days
• Field of Search: 345/168, 345/170-172, 345/184, 345/173, 341/22, 341/27, 341/23, 455/170.1, 455/179.1, 455/186.1, 455/186.2, 455/158.4, 455/158.5
• 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 an electromechanical switch having a movable switch cap which may be depressed by an operator to operate said switch, said switch cap having an end surface bounded by side surfaces, said switch further having an electrically controlled display screen embedded in said switch cap end surface which screen includes an image area at which visible images may be generated, and control means for causing display of an image on said screen which conveys information pertaining to use of the switch, wherein said image area of said screen extends substantially to each of two opposite side surfaces of said switch cap, wherein said display screen includes spaced apart front and back light transparent panels and a volume of image producing material therebetween and has edge walls which extend between said panels at right angles thereto, said switch further having a first plurality of spaced apart bus conductors which extend across said front panel at one side of said volume of image producing material and a second plurality of spaced apart bus conductors which extend across said back panel at the other side of said volume of image producing material, bus conductors of said second plurality thereof being in orthogonal relationship with the bus conductors of said first plurality thereof, bus conductors of said first plurality thereof having ends which are angled and which extend towards said back panel along a first edge wall of said screen and said bus conductors of said second plurality thereof having ends which are angled and which extend towards said front panel along a second edge wall of said screen, said switch further having connector means for connecting each of said bus conductors with said control means which connector means includes a plurality of connector conductors which extend to said first and second edge walls of said screen and each of which connects with an individual one of said bus conductors at an edge wall of said screen.

2. In an electromechanical switch having a movable switch cap which may be depressed by an operator to operate said switch, said switch cap having an end surface bounded by side surfaces, said switch further having an electrically controlled display screen embedded in said switch cap end surface which screen includes an image area at which visible images may be generated, and control means for causing display of an image on said screen which conveys information pertaining to use of the switch, wherein said image area of said screen extends substantially to each of two opposite side surfaces of said switch cap, wherein said display screen includes spaced apart front and back light transparent plates and a volume of image producing material therebetween and wherein said screen has an opening therein which extends at least through said back panel and said volume of image producing material, further including a light emitting component disposed in said opening.

3. The electromechanical switch of claim 2 further including an opaque tube extending through said volume of image material within said opening and wherein said light emitting component is disposed within said opaque tube.

4. In an electromechanical switch having a movable switch cap which may be depressed by an operator to operate said switch, said switch cap having an end surface bounded by side surfaces of the switch cap, said switch further having an electrically controlled display screen embedded in said switch cap end surface which screen includes an image area at which visible images may be generated, and control means for causing display of an image on said screen which conveys information pertaining to use of the switch, wherein image pixels within said image area are activated by energization of busbar conductors of a first layer of parallel busbar conductors and a second layer of parallel busbar conductors within said display screen wherein busbar conductors of the first and second layers extend in orthogonal directions and wherein said layers of busbars extend substantially to each of two opposite side surfaces of said switch cap, and wherein said switch is a station selector switch of a radio and wherein said control means causes display of an image at said end surface of said switch cap which includes the call letters of the radio station which operation of said switch selects.

5. The electromechanical switch of claim 4 wherein said radio has an AM mode of operation and an FM mode of operation and wherein said control means changes the call letters which are displayed at said end surface of said switch cap when said radio is switched between the AM mode of operation and the FM mode of operation.