Controlling device with dual-mode, touch-sensitive display

• US 7,821,504 B2
• Filed: 06/10/2010
• Issued: 10/26/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/09/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Universal Electronics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Universal Electronics, Inc.
• Inventors: Janik, Craig M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Abdulselam; Abbas I
• Application Number:
  US12/797,686
• Publication Number:
  US 20100245110A1
• Time in Patent Office: 138 Days
• Field of Search: 345/173, 345/156, 345/169, 178/18.01, 348/14.02, 348/14.03, 348/14.05, 348/734, 348/14.04, 340/5.61, 340/825.22, 715/700, 715/717, 341/176, 386/83
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/92 Universal remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42204 User interfaces specially adapted for controlling a client device through a remote control device; Remote control devices therefor constructive details of casings for the remote control device H01H9/0235; user interfaces for controlling a tuning device of a television receiver through a remote control H03J9/00; remote control of peripheral devices connected to a television receiver through the remote control device of the television receiver H04B1/205
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42206 characterized by hardware details
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42208 Display device provided on the remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42221 Transmission circuitry, e.g. infrared [IR] or radio frequency [RF]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42224 Touch pad or touch panel provided on the remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42225 characterized by types of remote control, e.g. universal remote control

Abstract

A processing device of a universal controlling device is programmed to distinguish between a first input type provided to a touch-sensitive surface and a second input type provided to the touch-sensitive surface. In response to the touch-sensitive surface being provided the first input type which is indicative of a static touch made upon the touch-sensitive surface the processing device causes a transmitter to transmit first data representative of the static touch made upon the touch-sensitive surface. In response to the touch-sensitive surface being provided the second input type which is indicative of a moving touch made across the touch-sensitive surface, the processing device causes the transmitter to transmit second data being representative of the moving touch made across the touch-sensitive surface.

Claims

1. A method for using a universal controlling device comprised of a touch-sensitive surface to command functional operations of one or more appliances located remotely from the controlling device, comprising:

accepting via the touch-sensitive surface of the universal controlling device a first input type indicative of a static touch made upon the touch-sensitive surface;

causing the universal controlling device to transmit first data used to command at least a first functional operation of the one or more appliances, the first data being representative of the static touch made upon the touch-sensitive surface;

accepting via the touch-sensitive surface of the universal controlling device a second input type indicative of a moving touch made across the touch-sensitive surface;

causing the universal controlling device to transmit second data used to command at least a second functional operation of the one or more appliances, the second data being representative of the moving touch made across the touch-sensitive surface; and

causing the universal controlling device to distinguish the first input type received via the touch-sensitive surface from the second input type received via the touch-sensitive surface.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the universal controlling device supports a first operational mode and a second operational mode and the universal controlling device uses the first operational mode and the second operational mode to distinguish the first input type received via the touch-sensitive surface from the second input type received via the touch-sensitive surface.

3. The method as recited in claim 2, wherein the universal controlling device automatically toggles between the first operational mode and the second operational mode.

4. The method as recited in claim 3, wherein the universal controlling device automatically toggles between the first operational mode and the second operational mode as a function of a state of the one or more appliances.

5. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the second data comprises data for commanding movement of a displayed cursor associated with the one or more appliances.

6. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein at least one of the first data and the second data are transmitted from the universal controlling device utilizing an IR protocol.

7. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein at least one of the first data and the second data are transmitted from the universal controlling utilizing an RF protocol.

8. A universal controlling device, comprising:

a touch-sensitive surface;

a transmitter for transmitting data for commanding functional operations of one or more appliances located remotely from the controlling device; and

a processing device for causing the transmitter to transmit data in response to input provided to the touch-sensitive surface;

wherein, in response to the touch-sensitive surface of the universal controlling device being provided a first input type indicative of a static touch made upon the touch-sensitive surface, the processing device causes the transmitter to transmit first data for commanding at least a first functional operation of the one or more appliances with the first data being representative of the static touch made upon the touch-sensitive surface and, in response to the touch-sensitive surface being provided a second input type indicative of a moving touch made across the touch-sensitive surface, the processing device causes the transmitter to transmit second data for commanding at least a second functional operation of the one or more appliances with the second data being representative of the moving touch made across the touch-sensitive surface, and wherein the processing device is programmed to distinguish the first input type provided to the touch-sensitive surface from the second input type provided to the touch-sensitive surface.

9. The universal controlling device as recited in claim 8, wherein the second data comprises data for commanding movement of a displayed cursor associated with the one or more appliances.

10. The universal controlling device as recited in claim 8, wherein at least one of the first data and the second data are transmitted from the universal controlling device utilizing an IR protocol.

11. The universal controlling device as recited in claim 8, wherein at least one of the first data and the second data are transmitted from the universal controlling utilizing an RF protocol.