Integrated electrical controls and graphics display screens

• US 6,642,919 B1
• Filed: 04/18/2000
• Issued: 11/04/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/18/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Intertactile Technologies Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intertactile Technologies Corporation
• Inventors: Jaeger, Denny, Twain, Kenneth M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bella, Matthew C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sajous, Wesner
• Application Number:
  US09/551,484
• Time in Patent Office: 1,295 Days
• Field of Search: 345/179-184, 345/156, 345/60, 345/173-174, 345/629, 345/630, 345/641, 345/659, 345/649-651, 345/661, 345/662, 345/676, 345/677, 345/833, 345/161, 345/176, 345/177, 345/178, 345/204, 345/205, 345/206, 345/214, 345/1.2, 345/2.3, 345/4, 345/7, 345/31, 345/80, 178/19.01, 178/19.05, 178/18.01, 455/296, 455/307, 455/3.01, 455/3.05, 455/426.2, 455/14, 455/15, 455/24, 455/39, 455/73, 455/78, 455/88, 455/91, 455/130, 348/189
• US Class Current: 345/161
• 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 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: H01H 19/56 Angularly-movable actuating part carrying contacts, e.g. drum switch
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2229/022 Modular assembly
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2229/042 Snap coupling; Snap mounting
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 3/36 using belt, chain, or cord
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 3/40 using friction, toothed, or screw-and-nut gearing
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 9/181 using a programmable display, e.g. LED or LCD
• CPC Class Codes: H03M 1/245 Constructional details of parts relevant to the encoding mechanism, e.g. pattern carriers, pattern sensors
• CPC Class Codes: H03M 1/26 with weighted coding, i.e. the weight given to a digit depends on the position of the digit within the block or code word, e.g. there is a given radix and the weights are powers of this radix

Abstract

One or more controls producing control signals for electrical apparatus are disposed at the face of an electronic display screen which display graphics pertinent to the operation of the controls. Controls having a cap which is slidable along a track include a tongue in the track connecting with signal producing components at an off screen location thereby enabling use of a track of minimal bulk. Controls having slidable caps or turnable knobs and controls such as joysticks and switches snap engage at the face of the screen enabling easy replacement and movement to different locations on the screen. Control signals may be transmitted to an off screen location without use of conductors extending along the screen.

Claims

1. A control device for producing control signals for electrical apparatus which control device has a movable member that is slidable along a track and which has control signal producing components which vary the control signal in response to movement of the movable member, said movable member and track being disposed at least in part at the face of an electronic display screen which displays graphics pertinent to the operation of the control device, wherein the improvement comprises:

at least a portion of said control signal producing components being at an off screen location which is away from said face of said display screen and wherein said movable member is linked to said control signal producing components by a tongue which extends longitudinally along said track and is slidable in translation in common with said movable member to variably affect said portion of said control signal producing components at said off screen location.

2. The control device of claim 1 wherein said control signal producing components include a rotary component which is situated at said off screen location and which is turned to vary said control signal and wherein movement of said slidable tongue turns said rotary component.

3. The control device of claim 1 wherein said track includes a track member extending towards an edge of said display screen, said track member having a longitudinal groove extending therealong and wherein said slidable tongue is situated at least partially within said groove and extends past said edge of said display screen to said off screen location at which said control signal producing components are situated.

4. The control device of claim 3 wherein said groove has a wide region situated within the track member and a narrower slot region which extends from the wide region to a front surface of the track member, said slidable tongue being within said wide region of said groove and being wider than said slot region of said groove, said movable member being a cap situated at said front surface of said track member and having a stem which extends into said slot region of said groove and which is joined to said slidable tongue.

5. The control device of claim 3 wherein said track member has a rail situated within said groove and extending therealong, said slidable tongue being engaged on said rail for traveling therealong.

6. The control device of claim 1 wherein said control signal producing components include a signal varying component which varies an electric output signal in response to turning of a turnable shaft, further including means for turning said shaft in response to sliding movement of said slidable tongue.

7. The control device of claim 6 further including an electrical motor coupled to said shaft to turn said shaft, a touch sensing circuit having a touch signal input electrically connected to said movable member through said slidable tongue which touch sensing circuit inactivates said motor in response to touching of said movable member by an operator.

8. The control device of claim 6 wherein said shaft turns about an axis of rotation that is orthogonal to said slidable tongue and wherein said means for turning said shaft includes a rotary ear which is rotatable about said axis of rotation and coupled to said shaft to turn said shaft said slidable tongue having gear teeth which engage gear teeth of said rotary gear to turn said gear in response to sliding movement of said tongue.

9. The control device of claim 6 wherein said shaft turns about a first axis of rotation that is orthogonal to said slidable tongue and wherein said means for turning said shaft includes a rotary gear which is rotatable about said first axis of rotation and coupled to said shaft to turn said shaft, further including an intermediate gear which is rotatable about a second axis of rotation that is perpendicular to said first axis of rotation and which engages said rotary gear to turn said rotary gear, said slidable tongue having gear teeth which engage gear teeth of said intermediate gear to turn said intermediate gear in response to sliding movement of said tongue.

10. The control device of claim 6 and wherein said means for turning said shaft includes a rotary gear which is rotatable about a first axis of rotation that is orthogonal to said tongue and wherein said tongue has gear teeth which engage said rotary gear to turn said rotary gear and wherein said shaft turns about a second axis of rotation that is parallel to said slidable tongue, further including a first bevel gear which turns about said first axis of rotation with said rotary gear and a second bevel gear which is perpendicular to said first bevel gear and engaged therewith which second bevel gear turns said shaft.

11. The control device of claim 1 wherein said control signal producing components include a rotary component which is situated at said off screen location and which is turned to vary said control signal, and wherein said tongue contacts an annular peripheral region of said rotary component to turn said rotary component in response to sliding movement of said tongue, said tongue being formed of flexible material and wherein said tongue is flexed to extend along at least a portion of said annular peripheral region of said rotary component.

12. The control device of claim 11 wherein said tongue extends around at least a 180°

segment of said rotary component.

13. The control device of claim 11 further including at least one roller positioned to hold said tongue against said portion of said annular peripheral region of said rotary component.

14. The control device of claim 11 wherein said rotary component has an annular set of gear teeth at said annular peripheral region thereof and said tongue has gear teeth extending therealong which engage said gear teeth of said rotary component.

15. The control device of claim 1 wherein said control signal producing components include a rotary potentiometer having a rotary member which is turned about an axis of rotation by sliding movement of said tongue and which outputs a control signal that varies in response to turning of said rotary member.

16. The control device of claim 1 wherein said control signal producing components include a rotary encoder having a rotary member which is turned about an axis of rotation by sliding movement of said tongue, said rotary member having angular position identifying coding thereon which turns about said axis of rotation with said rotary member, further including at least one coding sensor positioned to read successive areas of said coding as said rotary member turns about said axis of rotation.

17. The control device of claim 16 wherein said rotary member is a cylinder centered on said axis of rotation.

18. The control device of claim 16 wherein said rotary member is a disk centered on said axis of rotation.

19. The control device of claim 16 wherein said coding is defined by areas on said rotary member which have differing optical characteristics and wherein said coding sensor includes a photo-optical device positioned to scan said areas of differing optical characteristics as said rotary member is turned about said axis of rotation.

20. The control device of claim 16 wherein said coding is defined by a plurality of zones on said rotary member which include electrically insulative areas and electrically conductive areas arranged in differing patterns further including a voltage source which applies an electrical voltage to said electrically conductive areas, wherein said coding sensor includes a plurality of electrical contacts each being positioned to contact said electrically insulative areas and electrically conductive areas of a separate one of said zones as said rotary member is turned about said axis of rotation.

21. A control device for producing control signals for electrical apparatus which control device is disposed in front of the image display area of an electronic display screen that displays graphics pertinent to the operation of the control device, wherein the improvement comprises:

said control device having a base fastened to said electronic display by a snap engagement, said snap engagement being selectively releasable to permit attachment and removal of said base and said control device from said display screen.

22. The control device of claim 21 wherein said control device has a knob which is turnable relative to a fixed base and wherein said snap engagement is configured to prevent turning of said base relative to said screen.

23. The control device of claim 21 wherein said control device is a control device of the type having a knob which is turned to vary a control signal.

24. The control device of claim 21 wherein said control device is a control device of the type having a cap which is slid along a linear path to vary a control signal.

25. The control device of claim 21 wherein said control device is a control device of the type having a joystick which is manipulated to vary a control signal.

26. The control device of claim 21 wherein said control device is an electrical switch.

27. The control device of claim 21 wherein said snap engagement engages a support plate with said display screen, said control device being affixed to said support plate.

28. A control device for producing control signals for electrical apparatus which control device is disposed in front of the image display area of an electronic display screen that displays graphics pertinent to the operation of the control device wherein the improvement comprises:

said control device being fastened to said electronic display by a snap engagement,

wherein said electronic display screen has an outermost layer of material at said image display area thereof and wherein said snap engagement includes a protrusion extending from said control device into an opening in said outermost layer, said protrusion having a region which is broader than a region of said opening thereby requiring distortion of at least one of said protrusion and said material of said outermost layer during insertion and withdrawal of said protrusion at said opening.

29. The control device of claim 28 wherein said outermost layer has a plurality of said openings therein enabling selective repositioning of said control device at any of a plurality of locations on said screen.

30. The control device of claim 28 wherein said opening has a circular configuration enabling rotary motion of said protrusion therein.

31. The control device of claim 30 further including a lining encircling said protrusion within said opening, said lining having a coefficient of friction which is lower than the coefficient of friction of a surface which is abutted by said lining.

32. The control device of claim 28 further including a circular resilient guide member attached to said control device in position to be forced against said outermost layer when said protrusion is emplaced in said opening.

33. The control device of claim 28 wherein said control device has first electrical contacts thereon for interconnecting said control device with a circuit which is away from the location of the control device, said first electrical contacts being on a surface of said control device which faces said outermost layer when said control device is snap engaged thereon, further including a plurality second electrical contacts disposed on said outermost layer at locations where said first and second electrical contacts contact each other when said control device is snap engaged on said screen, and a plurality of electrically conductive traces extending along said outermost layer from said second electrical contacts to at least one edge of said image display area for electrical interconnection of said second contacts with said circuit.

34. The control device of claim 28 wherein said control device has a plurality of electrical contacts thereon for interconnecting said control device with a circuit which is away from the location of the control device, said electrical contacts being on a surface of said control device which faces said outermost layer when said control device is snap engaged on said screen and being parallel spaced apart bands of resilient electrically conductive material, further including a plurality of electrically conductive traces extending along said outermost layer to at least one edge of said image display area, said conductive traces having ends positioned to be contacted by said electrical contacts when said control device is snap engaged on said screen.

35. The control device of claim 28 wherein said outermost layer has a plurality of said openings therein and wherein said control device has a plurality of said protrusions each of which extends into a separate one of said openings.

36. The control device of claim 28 wherein said outermost layer of material is a transparent plate overlaid on said display screen at said image display area thereof.

37. The control device of claim 28 wherein said electronic display screen is a flat panel display having a transparent cover layer, said outermost layer being said transparent cover layer of said screen.

38. The control device of claim 37 wherein said opening extends into said flat panel display at said image display area thereof.

39. A control device for an electrical circuit which control device has a knob which is turnable to any of a plurality of different angular orientations to chance an electrical condition in the circuit, wherein the improvement comprises:

said knob being disposed in front of an electronic image display device which has an image display area at which changeable images are displayed, and wherein at least a portion of said knob is at a location which overlays the image display area of said image display device,

a control signal producing circuit situated at said location and which produces an electrical signal that varies in response to turning of said knob, an infrared transmitter disposed in said control device at said location in electrical connection with said control signal producing circuit and which outputs said control signal in the form of modulated infrared energy, a control signal receiving circuit situated away from said image display area of said image display device which control signal receiving circuit includes an infrared receiver for receiving wireless transmission of said control signal from said transmitter and converting the infrared signal back into an electrical signal;

said image display device having a marginal region which adjoins said image display area, said infrared receiver being situated within said marginal region of said image display device.

40. A control device for an electrical circuit which control device has a knob which is turnable to any of a plurality of different angular orientations to change an electrical condition in the circuit, wherein the improvement comprises:

said knob being disposed in front of an electronic image display device which has an image display area at which changeable images are displayed, and wherein at least a portion of said knob is at a location which overlays the image display area of said image display device,

a control signal producing circuit situated at said location and which produces an electrical signal that varies in response to turning of said knob, an ultrasonic transmitter disposed in said control device at said location in electrical connection with said control signal producing circuit and which outputs said control signal in ultrasonic form, a control signal receiving circuit situated away from said image display area of said image display device which control signal receiving circuit includes an ultrasonic receiver for receiving wireless transmission of said control signal from said transmitter and converting the ultrasonic signal back into as electrical signal.

41. The control device of claim 40 wherein said image display device has a marginal region which adjoins said image display area, said ultrasonic receiver being situated within said marginal region of said image display device.

42. A control device for an electrical circuit which control device has a cap which is slidable along a track to any of a plurality of different positions to change an electrical condition in the circuit, wherein the improvement comprises:

said cap and track being disposed in front of an electronic image display device which has an image display area at which changeable images are displayed, and wherein at least portions of said cap and track overlay the image display area of said image display device,

further including a signal producing circuit disposed within at least one of said cap and said track and which produces an electrical signal that varies in response to movement of said cap alone said track, a signal transmitter disposed in said control device and being in electrical connection with said signal producing circuit and which transmits said signal wirelessly outwardly from said control device to a signal receiving circuit situated away from said image display area of said image display device.

43. The control device of claim 42 wherein said image display device has a marginal region which adjoins said image display area, said signal receiving circuit being situated within said marginal region of said image display device.

44. The control device of claim 42 wherein said signal transmitter is a radio transmitter and said signal receiving circuit is a radio receiver.

45. The control device of claim 42 wherein said signal transmitter is an infrared transmitter and said signal receiving circuit is an infrared receiver.

46. The control device of claim 42 wherein said signal transmitter is an ultrasound transmitter and said signal receiving circuit is an ultrasound receiver.

47. A control device for an electrical circuit which control device is a joystick having a member which is deflectable in lateral directions to change an electrical condition in the circuit, wherein the improvement comprises:

said joystick being disposed in front of an electronic image display device which has an image display area at which changeable images are displayed, and wherein at least portions of said joystick overlay the image display area of said image display device, and

a signal producing circuit disposed within said joystick and which produces an electrical signal that varies in response to deflections of said member a signal transmitter disposed in said joystick in electrical connection with said signal producing circuit and which transmits said signal wirelessly outwardly from said joystick to a signal receiving circuit situated away from said image display area of said image display device.

48. The control device of claim 47 wherein said image display device has a marginal region which adjoins said image display area, said signal receiving circuit being situated within said marginal region of said image display device.

49. The control device of claim 47 wherein said signal transmitter is a radio transmitter and said signal receiving circuit is a radio receiver.

50. The control device of claim 47 wherein said signal transmitter is an infrared transmitter and said signal receiving circuit is an infrared receiver.

51. The control device of claim 47 wherein said signal transmitter is an ultrasound transmitter and said signal receiving circuit is an ultrasound receiver.

52. A control device for producing control signals for electrical apparatus which control device has a movable member that is slidable along a track and which has control signal producing components which vary the control signal in response to movement of the movable member said movable member and track being disposed at least in part at the face of an electronic display screen which displays graphics pertinent to the operation of the control device, wherein the improvement comprises:

at least a portion of said control signal producing components being at an off screen location which is away from said face of said display screen and wherein said movable member is linked to said control signal producing components by a slidable tongue which extends along said track from said movable member to said off screen location,

wherein said control signal producing components include a rotary gear which is situated at said off screen location and electronic components which vary said control signal in response to turning of said rotary gear, said slidable tongue having a linear set of gear teeth extending along at least one surface of the tongue and which engage a circular set of gear teeth on said rotary gear.

53. The control device of claim 52 wherein said rotary ear turns about an axis of rotation and wherein said circular set of gear teeth are on a cylindrical surface of said rotary gear that is coaxial with said axis of rotation and said linear set of gear teeth are on an under surface of said slidable tongue which faces said cylindrical surface.

54. The control device of claim 52 wherein said rotary gear has a circular groove in a circular outer surface of the gear which groove is bounded by circular flange regions of the ear at each side of the groove, said rotary gear having a circular set of gear teeth on at least one of said flange regions of the gear and said slidable tongue having a linear set of gear teeth extending along at least one side surface of the tongue.

55. A control device for producing control signals for electrical apparatus which control device has a movable member that is slidable along a track and which has control signal producing components which vary the control signal in response to movement of the movable member, said movable member and track being disposed at least in part at the face of an electronic display screen which displays graphics pertinent to the operation of the control device, wherein the improvement comprises:

at least a portion of said control signal producing components being at an off screen location which is away from said face of said display screen and wherein said movable member is linked to said control signal producing components by a slidable tongue which extends along said track from said movable member to said off screen location,

wherein said control signal producing components include a rotary component which is situated at said off screen location and which is turned to vary said control signal, and wherein said tongue contacts an annular peripheral region of said rotary component to turn said rotary component in response to sliding movement of said tongue, said tongue being formed of flexible material and wherein said tongue is flexed to extend along at least a portion of said annular peripheral region of said rotary component,

further including a tongue guide having an arcuate surface positioned to hold said tongue against said portion of said annular peripheral region of said rotary component.

56. A control device for producing control signals for electrical apparatus which control device has a movable member that is slidable alone a track and which has control signal producing components which vary the control signal in response to movement of the movable member, said movable member and track being disposed at least in part at the face of an electronic display screen which displays graphics pertinent to the operation of the control device, wherein the improvement comprises:

at least a portion of said control signal producing components being at an off screen location which is away from said face of said display screen and wherein said movable member is linked to said control signal producing components by a slidable tongue which extends along said track from said movable member to said off screen location,

wherein said control signal producing components include a rotary component which is situated at said off screen location and which is turned to vary said control signal and wherein movement of said slidable tongue turns said rotary component,

wherein said control device has first electrical contacts thereon for interconnecting said control device with a circuit which is away from the location of the control device, said first electrical contacts being on a surface of said control device which faces said outermost layer when said control device is snap engaged thereon, further including a plurality of second electrical contacts disposed on said outermost layer at locations where said first and second electrical contacts contact each other when said control device is snap engaged on said screen, and a plurality of electrically conductive traces extending along said outermost layer from said second electrical contacts to at least one edge of said image display area for electrical interconnection of said second contacts with said circuit.

57. The control device of claim 56 wherein said control device is turnable about an axis of rotation that extends at right angles to said image display area, said first electrical contacts being circular bands of electrically conductive material which are of differing diameters and which are centered on said axis of rotation.