Resistive loop excitation and readout for touch point detection and generation of corresponding control signals
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A system for generating electronic data and/or control signals comprising:
- (a) a curvilinear conductive element attached to a garment adapted to be worn by a user,(b) an electrical excitation source electrically connected to the curvilinear element to apply a base data/signal to the curvilinear element;
(c) a sensing electrode, said sensing electrode being capable of electrically contacting the curvilinear conductive element at various locations along the length of the curvilinear element, the ‘
curvilinear element having electrical characteristics such that when contacted by the sensing electrode a circuit will be formed that has electrical characteristics unique to the portion of the curvilinear element associated with the contact point”
between the “
sensing electrode and the curvilinear element located adjacent to the contact point so that a data/signal generated from the base data/signal via the portion is unique to that portion; and
(d) circuitry connected to the sensing electrode and to the curvilinear element which receives a data/signal via the portion of the curvilinear element and which uses the unique data/signal associated with that portion to interpret the location of the sensing electrode with respect to the curvilinear element and transmitting data/signals responsive to the presence and location of the electrical contact between the sensing electrode and the curvilinear element.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A means and method for enabling contact or touch point location detection to be implemented on a particular garment. This means and method simplifies the design of the garment by reducing the number of conductors required to interconnect the various touch points and signal processing circuitry; it provides a way to dynamically reposition or resize the effective touch point target regions; and it provides for new control capabilities by optionally allowing continuously variable user input control.
49 Citations
34 Claims
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1. A system for generating electronic data and/or control signals comprising:
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(a) a curvilinear conductive element attached to a garment adapted to be worn by a user, (b) an electrical excitation source electrically connected to the curvilinear element to apply a base data/signal to the curvilinear element; (c) a sensing electrode, said sensing electrode being capable of electrically contacting the curvilinear conductive element at various locations along the length of the curvilinear element, the ‘
curvilinear element having electrical characteristics such that when contacted by the sensing electrode a circuit will be formed that has electrical characteristics unique to the portion of the curvilinear element associated with the contact point”
between the “
sensing electrode and the curvilinear element located adjacent to the contact point so that a data/signal generated from the base data/signal via the portion is unique to that portion; and(d) circuitry connected to the sensing electrode and to the curvilinear element which receives a data/signal via the portion of the curvilinear element and which uses the unique data/signal associated with that portion to interpret the location of the sensing electrode with respect to the curvilinear element and transmitting data/signals responsive to the presence and location of the electrical contact between the sensing electrode and the curvilinear element. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A system for generating electronic data and/or control signals comprising:
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(a) a curvilinear conductive element attached to a garment, said curvilinear conductive element having a first end and a second end and extending for a length along a curvilinear path between its first and second ends, said curvilinear element having various exposed locations along its length such that the curvilinear element can be electrically contacted at the exposed locations; (b) an electronic excitation source, said electronic excitation source being electrically connected to the first and second ends of the curvilinear conductive element and generating a differential electrical signal along the length of the curvilinear conductive element; (c) a sensing electrode that may electrically co{tilde over ( )}tact an exposed location along the length of the curvilinear element, thereby conducting a first electrical signal from the exposed location, the curvilinear element having electrical characteristics such that when contacted by the sensing electrode a circuit will be formed that has electrical characteristics unique to the portion of the curvilinear element associated with the contact point between the sensing electrode and the curvilinear element located adjacent to the contact point so that a signal generated from the differential signal via the portion is unique to that portion; (d) signal processing circuits that are connected to the sensing electrode and receive said first electrical signal therefrom and that generate a signal indicating the location along the length of the curvilinear conductive element where the sensing electrode electrically contacts the curvilinear conductive element. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A system for generating electronic data and/or control signals comprising:
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(a) a curvilinear conductive element attached to a garment, said curvilinear conductive element having a first end and a second end and extending for a length along a curvilinear path between its first and second ends, said curvilinear element having various exposed locations along its length such that electrical contact with the curvilinear conductive element can be effected at the exposed locations; (b) an electronic excitation source electrically connected to a sensing electrode and adapted to generate a signal; (c) a sensing electrode that is adapted to electrically contact the curvilinear element at an exposed location along the length of the curvilinear element, thereby conducting an electrical signal from the electronic excitation source to the exposed location; (d) a first electrical signal being conducted to the first end of the curvilinear element and a second electrical signal being conducted to the second end of the curvilinear element when the sensing electrode electrically contacts an exposed location along the length of the curvilinear element; and (e) signal processing circuits that receive electrical signals from the curvilinear element and generate a signal in response thereto indicating the location along the length of the curvilinear conductive element where the sensing electrode electrically contacts the curvilinear conductive element.
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27. A system for generating data and/or control signals comprising:
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(a) a garment adapted to be worn by a user; (b) a resistive loop located in the garment, the resistive loop being one-piece and having a plurality of portions which are positioned with respect to the garment to be exposed for electrical contact; (c) an electrical contact element located in position to be manipulated by the user to contact the resistive loop at an exposed portion to define an electrical circuit, the electrical circuit thus defined being unique to the portion of the resistive loop associated with the exposed portion being contacted by the electrical contact element, the resistive loop having a plurality of exposed portions whereby a plurality of different electrical circuits are associated with the resistive loop; (d) a data/signal processing circuit electrically connected to the resistive loop and to the contact element, the data/signal processing circuit including a data/signal generator to generate a data/signal to the resistive loop, the data/signal received by the resistive loop being applied to an electrical circuit defined by the resistive loop and the electrical contact element to be modified thereby to produce a modified data/signal, each electrical circuit being different from other electrical circuits whereby the modified data/signal associated with each electrical circuit is unique to that circuit, the data/signal processing circuit further including a data/signal receiver which is connected to the data/signal generator via an electrical circuit defined by the resistive loop and the electrical contact element to receive a modified data/signal from an electrical circuit defined by the resistive loop and the electrical contact. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30)
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31. A system for generating electronic data and/or control signals comprising:
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a curvilinear conductive element attached to a garment; a sensing electrode, said sensing electrode being capable of electrically contacting the curvilinear conductive element at various locations along the length of the curvilinear element; the system interpreting the location of said electrical contact and transmitting signals responsive to the presence and location of said electrical contact; and the electrical contact to the curvilinear conductive element resulting from an action on the part of the intended user of the system.
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32. A system for providing user input to an electronic device comprising:
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a source of electronic signals; a signal processing system; a garment which is adapted to be worn by a user; a curvilinear conductive element mounted on the garment, the curvilinear element being continuous and one-piece and extending across a region of the garment in a one-piece uninterrupted manner and defining an uninterrupted continuum of touch points on the single, one-piece curvilinear element, the curvilinear conductive element being electrically connected to the source of electronic signals to receive source signals therefrom; a sensing electrode which is spaced apart from the curvilinear conductive element and which combines with the curvilinear element when in contact therewith to generate a location based signal which is unique to the location of contact between the sensing electrode and the curvilinear conductive element whereby a continuum of location-based signals are available via the continuous curvilinear conductive element and the sensing electrode; and the sensing electrode being electrically connected to the signal processing system to send location-based signals thereto for use thereby. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34)
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Specification