Touch sensor control devices

• US 8,199,114 B1
• Filed: 09/26/2000
• Issued: 06/12/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: NBOR Corp.
• Original Assignee: NBOR Corp.
• Inventors: Jaeger, Denny, Twain, Kenneth M., Ream, John
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, HAU H
• Application Number:
  US09/670,610
• Time in Patent Office: 4,277 Days
• Field of Search: 345/173, 345/174, 345/179, 345/184, 345/161, 345/160, 345/157, 345/702, 345/175, 345/158, 345/167, 178/18.01, 178 1901- 2001, 178 1803- 1807, 348/14.03
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0338 with detection of limited linear or angular displacement of an operating part of the device from a neutral position, e.g. isotonic or isometric joysticks
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03545 Pens or stylus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03548 Sliders, in which the moving part moves in a plane
• 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 3/0383 Signal control means within the pointing device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0393 Accessories for touch pads or touch screens, e.g. mechanical guides added to touch screens for drawing straight lines, hard keys overlaying touch screens or touch pads
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0433 in which the acoustic waves are either generated by a movable member and propagated within a surface layer or propagated within a surface layer and captured by a movable member
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/044 by capacitive means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/046 by electromagnetic means

Abstract

The invention provides mechanical devices to enhance the input process for touch screen devices. Fader tracks with or without fader caps, rotary and fixed knobs, and joysticks may be removably adhered to a touch screen and used to emulate their respective functions, using software interpretation of the touch detections provoked by the devices to carry out the emulations. The devices are inexpensive and simple, and the touch screen and associated software provide the function and feel of electromechanical controllers that are far more expensive and difficult to connect and maintain. The devices may be provided as components on a crack-and-peel sheet. For fixed knobs, the software application accepts initial inputs and determines the location on the touch screen, and also interprets the geometry of the input strokes as commands for selected controller emulations, such as joystick, fader, knob, or mouse. The invention also provides a touch sensor controller having a longitudinal web that incorporates touch sensor electrodes and conductors and emulates a fader controller. The invention further provides a flexible track controller mounted at the periphery of a touch screen and extendable thereover to emulate a fader controller. The flexible track may be motor driven.

Claims

1. A device for providing input to a generally flat touch screen, including:

a base member and means for securing said base member to the touch screen;

means associated with said base member for provoking a touch detection by the touch screen;

said base member including a longitudinally extending rib having a bottom surface adapted to impinge on the touch screen;

further including a fader cap, and means for securing said fader cap to said rib in longitudinally sliding fashion;

a stylus tip extending from said cap toward said touch screen;

wherein the touch screen is adapted to detect the position of a touch signal applied thereto, said fader cap including means for generating said touch signal and transmitting said touch signal through said stylus tip to said touch screen;

power supply means in said fader cap for driving said touch signal generating means, said power supply means including a battery.

2. A device for providing input to a generally flat touch screen, including:

a base member and means for securing said base member to the touch screen;

means associated with said base member for provoking a touch detection by the touch screen;

said base member including a longitudinally extending rib having a bottom surface adapted to impinge on the touch screen;

further including a fader cap, and means for securing said fader cap to said rib in longitudinally sliding fashion;

a stylus tip extending from said cap toward said touch screen;

wherein the touch screen is adapted to detect the position of a touch signal applied thereto, said fader cap including means for generating said touch signal and transmitting said touch signal through said stylus tip to said touch screen;

power supply means in said fader cap for driving said touch signal generating means, said power supply means including a photovoltaic cell.

3. A system for providing input to a generally flat touch screen, including:

a plurality of devices for interacting with the touch screen, each device including a base member and means for securing said base member to the touch screen;

means associated with said base member for provoking a touch detection by the touch screen;

wherein said plurality of said devices are joined in a crack-and-peel sheet.

4. A device for providing input to a generally flat touch screen, including:

a base member and means for securing said base member to the touch screen;

means associated with said base member for provoking a touch detection by the touch screen;

said base member comprising a post having a bottom surface adapted to impinge on the touch screen;

further including a knob cap secured coaxially to said post and adapted for rotation about a common axis;

a stylus tip extending from said knob cap toward said touch screen;

said touch screen being adapted to detect the position of a touch signal applied thereto, said knob cap including means for generating said touch signal and transmitting said touch signal through said stylus tip to said touch screen;

power supply means in said knob cap for driving said touch signal generating means, said power supply means including a photovoltaic cell.

5. A device for providing input to a generally flat touch screen, including:

a base member and means for securing said base member to the touch screen;

means associated with said base member for provoking a touch detection by the touch screen;

said base member comprising a post having a bottom surface adapted to impinge on the touch screen;

further including a computer having a graphic display associated with the touch screen, and software means for receiving touch input provoked by said post with fingertip pressure, said software means including means for analyzing touch inputs provoked by said post with fingertip pressure and emulating specific diverse controller characteristics in response to said touch inputs;

said software means including means for analyzing initial touch inputs provoked by said post with fingertip pressure and determining the center point of said initial touch inputs,

said software means providing a joystick controller emulation and interpreting a linear touch pattern at any angle from said center point as a command to move a graphic at the same angle on the display, wherein the rate of movement of the graphic is set by said software means.

6. A device for providing input to a generally flat touch screen, including:

a base member and means for securing said base member to the touch screen;

means associated with said base member for provoking a touch detection by the touch screen;

said base member comprising a post having a bottom surface adapted to impinge on the touch screen;

further including a computer having a graphic display associated with the touch screen, and software means for receiving touch input provoked by said post with fingertip pressure, said software means including means for analyzing touch inputs provoked by said post with fingertip pressure and emulating specific diverse controller characteristics in response to said touch inputs;

said software means including means for analyzing initial touch inputs provoked by said post with fingertip pressure and determining the center point of said initial touch inputs;

said software means providing a joystick controller emulation and interpreting a linear touch pattern at any angle from said center point as a command to move a graphic at the same angle on the display, wherein the rate of movement of the graphic is proportional to the amount of time that a touch detection is maintained at any given angle.

7. A device for providing input to a generally flat touch screen, including:

a base member and means for securing said base member to the touch screen;

means associated with said base member for provoking a touch detection by the touch screen;

said base member comprising a post having a bottom surface adapted to impinge on the touch screen;

further including a computer having a graphic display associated with the touch screen, and software means for receiving touch input provoked by said post with fingertip pressure, said software means including means for analyzing touch inputs provoked by said post with fingertip pressure and emulating specific diverse controller characteristics in response to said touch inputs;

said software means including means for analyzing initial touch inputs provoked by said post with fingertip pressure and determining the center point of said initial touch inputs;

said software means providing a mouse controller emulation and interpreting a touch detection displaced from said center point at an angle thereabout as a command to move a cursor at the same angle on the display.

8. A device for providing input to a generally flat touch screen, including:

a base member and means for securing said base member to the touch screen;

means associated with said base member for provoking a touch detection by the touch screen;

said base member defining a bottom opening, a control rod having a lower end with a stylus tip, and means for supporting said control rod on said base member with said stylus tip spaced closely to the touch screen to provoke a touch detection;

said means for supporting said control rod including a universal bearing engaging a medial portion of said control rod; and

,

a membrane extending radially from said control rod to said base member, said membrane formed of an elastic, resilient web.

9. A device for providing input to a generally flat touch screen having a peripheral edge, including:

a flexible track mounted at the peripheral edge of the touch screen, said flexible track being extendable along an axis extending inwardly on said screen;

means extending from said flexible track for provoking a touch detection by said touch screen; and

,

means for detecting extension and retraction of said flexible track with respect to the peripheral edge of the touch screen and correlating the extension and retraction with a controller function;

wherein said means for detecting includes a spindle about which said flexible track is passed, and means for sensing rotation of said spindle and converting said rotational data into location coordinates of said cap end of said flexible track;

said spindle including radial teeth, and said flexible track includes a toothed surface adapted to engage said radial teeth.

10. A device for providing input to a generally flat touch screen having a peripheral edge, including:

a flexible track mounted at the peripheral edge of the touch screen, said flexible track being extendable along an axis extending inwardly on said screen;

means extending from said flexible track for provoking a touch detection by said touch screen; and

,

means for detecting extension and retraction of said flexible track with respect to the peripheral edge of the touch screen and correlating the extension and retraction with a controller function;

wherein said means for detecting includes a spindle about which said flexible track is passed, and means for sensing rotation of said spindle and converting said rotational data into location coordinates of said cap end of said flexible track;

further including motor means for driving said spindle to extend and retract said flexible track with respect to the peripheral edge of the touch screen.

11. A device for providing input to a generally flat touch screen, including:

a base member and means for securing said base member to the touch screen;

means associated with said base member for provoking a touch detection by the touch screen;

said base member including a longitudinally extending rib having a bottom surface adapted to impinge on the touch screen;

further including a fader cap, and means for securing said fader cap to said rib in longitudinally sliding fashion;

a stylus tip extending from said cap toward said touch screen;

wherein the touch screen is adapted to detect the position of a touch signal applied thereto, said fader cap including means for generating said touch signal and transmitting said touch signal through said stylus tip to said touch screen;

further including power supply means in said fader cap for driving said touch signal generating means, said power supply means including a battery;

said fader cap including touch switch means for connecting said battery to said touch signal generator means in response to fingertip touch on said fader cap.