Segmented touch screen console with module docking
First Claim
1. A method of operating a control console comprising:
- displaying information on a console display;
detecting the presence of a docking module on the console display; and
changing the information presented on the console display in response to said step of detecting to convey information tailored specifically to user operation of the docking module;
whereinthe docking module is a special purpose input module, and the information tailored specifically to user operation of the special purpose input module comprises legends that are displayed under corresponding legend areas of the special purpose input module when the docking module is docked and overlays the display; and
the special purpose input module comprises a plurality of push button switches and an array of linear input devices or faders, the method further comprising obtaining independent position information from a plurality of touch screen segments on the display, and discontinuing said obtaining step for any individual touch screen segment when a module is detected on that segment.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A segmented touch screen overlies the display or displays of a console having an operating system and display controller for the display. A touch screen controller is continuously connected to each of the touch screen segments and separate touch position information is obtained for each touch screen segment. The console operating system can be supplied with separate position information for each segment or with a single touch position for combined segments. A number of docking module ports near the display optionally receive docking modules that cover segments of the touch screen and display. A module, including tactile elements such as push button switches, can be docked at any port. When a module is detected, the touch screen segment under the module is disabled and the display under the module is switched to display module specific information.
30 Citations
28 Claims
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1. A method of operating a control console comprising:
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displaying information on a console display; detecting the presence of a docking module on the console display; and changing the information presented on the console display in response to said step of detecting to convey information tailored specifically to user operation of the docking module;
whereinthe docking module is a special purpose input module, and the information tailored specifically to user operation of the special purpose input module comprises legends that are displayed under corresponding legend areas of the special purpose input module when the docking module is docked and overlays the display; and the special purpose input module comprises a plurality of push button switches and an array of linear input devices or faders, the method further comprising obtaining independent position information from a plurality of touch screen segments on the display, and discontinuing said obtaining step for any individual touch screen segment when a module is detected on that segment. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method of operating a control console comprising:
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obtaining position information from a touch screen covering a console display; detecting the presence of a docking module that docks to and overlays the console display; and discontinuing said obtaining step in response to said step of detecting;
whereinsaid detecting step includes sensing electrical contact with a module at a module docking port adjacent the display; and said obtaining step includes receiving independent position information from a plurality of touch screen segments on the display, and said discontinuing step includes disabling said receiving step for any individual touch screen segment when a module is detected on that segment. - View Dependent Claims (8)
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9. A control console comprising:
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a display; a plurality of touch screen segments on said display defining a plurality of underlying associated display areas of said display; a docking port located to the side of each one of said plurality of underlying associated display areas; a docking module detector; and a touch screen controller disabling one of said touch screen segments in response to detection of docking of a docking module to the docking port of an underlying associated display area. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A control console comprising:
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a display; an operating system including a display controller for displaying information on said display; a touch screen assembly overlying said display; said touch screen assembly including a plurality of touch screen segments; a touch screen controller continuously connected to each of said segments; said touch screen controller independently receiving touch position information from each of said touch screen segments; and a module docking port adjacent one of said touch screen segments, said docking port including a module detector, and said touch screen controller disabling said one touch screen segment in response to a module detection signal from said module detector. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A method of controlling a console having a display with a segmented touch screen overlying the display, said method comprising:
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obtaining separate touch position information from each segment of the segmented touch screen; and detecting the presence of a docking module over any one of the touch screen segments and disabling the touch screen segment under the docking module when a docking module is over the touch screen segment. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28)
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Specification