Customizable and reconfigurable virtual instrument panel
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An instrument control apparatus comprising:
- an interface surface that is used to interface with at least one electronic application;
at least one interface component removably coupled to the interface surface;
at least one control component electronically coupled to the at least one electronic application and configured to control at least one function of the electronic application, wherein the at least one interface component is remotely coupled to the at least one control component, wherein manipulation of the at least one interface component provides a means for controlling the at least one function of the electronic application wherein the at least one interface component further comprises;
a component body having a turning knob with a component cavity; and
one or more component magnets disposed within the component cavity;
wherein the at least one control component further comprises;
an encoder body having an encoder cavity; and
one or more encoder magnets disposed within the encoder cavity, wherein the one or more component magnets magnetically couple with the one or more encoder magnets through the interface surface; and
a means for communicating encoder data to a processor, wherein the processor translates the encoder data into control data indicating how the component body was manipulated, wherein at least one function of the application is controlled by the control data.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The invention provides an instrument control panel that is easily customized and reconfigured, and yet provides the familiar tactile sensation of physical knobs, sliders, and buttons. The instrument control panel comprises one or more interface components that are removably coupled to an interface display wherein the interface components communicate with one or more control components disposed behind the interface display. The present invention lends itself particularly well to an instrument panel.
-
Citations
19 Claims
-
1. An instrument control apparatus comprising:
-
an interface surface that is used to interface with at least one electronic application; at least one interface component removably coupled to the interface surface; at least one control component electronically coupled to the at least one electronic application and configured to control at least one function of the electronic application, wherein the at least one interface component is remotely coupled to the at least one control component, wherein manipulation of the at least one interface component provides a means for controlling the at least one function of the electronic application wherein the at least one interface component further comprises; a component body having a turning knob with a component cavity; and one or more component magnets disposed within the component cavity; wherein the at least one control component further comprises; an encoder body having an encoder cavity; and one or more encoder magnets disposed within the encoder cavity, wherein the one or more component magnets magnetically couple with the one or more encoder magnets through the interface surface; and a means for communicating encoder data to a processor, wherein the processor translates the encoder data into control data indicating how the component body was manipulated, wherein at least one function of the application is controlled by the control data. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
-
-
17. A method of controlling a device with reconfigurable interface components comprising:
-
providing an interface surface with a first side and a second side; coupling at least one control component for controlling a device with the second side of the interface surface wherein the at least one control component comprises a linear encoder with a moving magnetic control means; coupling at least one interface component to the first side of the interface surface; wherein the at least one interface component comprises a magnetic slider handle; coupling the magnetic slider handle with the magnetic control means through the interface surface; sliding the slider handle, thereby causing the magnetic control means to move within the linear encoder; determining the position of the magnetic control means within the linear encoder, thereby forming positional data; and controlling the device using the positional data. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19)
-
Specification