Controller for graphical display

• US 20020163496A1
• Filed: 05/03/2001
• Published: 11/07/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/03/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TDG Acquisition Company, LLC
• Original Assignee: Icuiti Corporation
• Inventors: Menachof, Dan, Dunham, Mark, Travers, Paul, Churnetski, Paul
• Granted Patent: US 6,788,286 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/156
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0213 Arrangements providing an integrated pointing device in a keyboard, e.g. trackball, mini-joystick for pointing devices integrated in a laptop computer G06F1/169; joysticks G05G9/047; constructional details of pointing devices G06F3/033
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03547 Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/042 by opto-electronic means

Abstract

A controller for a graphical display. The controller is preferably integral to a computing device that is operable while being held in one hand. The user views the display through a magnifying lens while controlling the display and controllable elements on the display with the thumb, either by actuating a push plate or by moving the thumb over a window in the push plate.

Claims

1. A hand held computing device, having:

(a) a housing;

(b) a movable push plate in the housing, the push plate having a window aperture and at least one movable element;

(c) a window in the window aperture;

(d) a switch coupled to the push plate so that the switch is actuated when the push plate is moved;

(e) an imager within the housing, the imager detecting through the window a translation of an object between a first position and a second position and generating a signal in response thereto;

(f) a magnifying lens in the housing;

(g) a display recessed within the housing in alignment with the magnifying lens, the display having a controllable element which responds to the signal from the imager, the display further responding to the actuation of the switch.

2. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the display is angled relative to the push plate.

3. The computing device of claim 2, wherein the display has an external angle of at least 210°

relative to the push plate.

4. The computing device of claim 2, wherein the display is tiltable between a first orientation and a second orientation relative to the push plate.

5. The computing device of claim 4, wherein the display in the first orientation faces in the same direction as the push plate and in the second orientation faces perpendicularly to the push plate.

6. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the housing has a concave area surrounding the push plate.

7. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the push plate is concave.

8. The computing device of claim 1, having a first element coupled to at least one first switch and a second element coupled to at least one second switch.

9. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the controllable element moves in a linear relationship to the translation of the object.

10. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the controllable element moves in a non-linear relationship to the translation of the object.

11. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the controllable element moves at a rate which increases relative to the translation of the object as the object approaches the second position.

12. The computing device of claim 1, further having at least one communications port.

14. The controller of claim 13, wherein the detector comprises an imager, a signal processor connected to the imager, a signal converter connected to the signal processor, and an optical element through which passes an optical signal from the object to the imager.

15. The controller of claim 14, including a window in the window aperture.

16. The controller of claim 15 having also a light source illuminating the object through the window.

17. The controller of claim 15, wherein the signal converter transmits a signal to the computing device by one of a wired and a wireless connection.

18. The controller of claim 15, wherein the optical element includes one of a lens, a mirror, a prism and an optical fiber.

19. The controller of claim 15, wherein the light source emits visible light and the window and the optical element are transparent thereto.

20. The controller of claim 15, wherein the light source emits infrared light and the window and the optical element are transparent thereto.

21. The controller of claim 15, wherein the imager responds to heat from a user'"'"'s thumb.

22. The controller of claim 15, wherein the detector is fixedly attached to the window.

23. The controller of claim 15, wherein the detector is spaced apart from the window.

27. The controller of claim 26, wherein the detector is an optical detector.

29. The controller of claim 28, wherein the detector is an optical detector.

13. A controller for a display, comprising

(a) a push plate having a window aperture and at least one movable element;

(b) a switch coupled to the push plate so that the switch is actuated when the push plate is moved; and

(c) a detector aligned with the window aperture, the detector responding through the window aperture to a translation of an object.

24. A controller for a computing device, having:

(a) a housing;

(b) a movable push plate in the housing, the push plate having a window aperture and at least one movable element;

(c) a window in the window aperture;

(d) a switch coupled to the push plate so that the switch is actuated when the push plate is moved;

(e) an imager within the housing, the imager detecting through the window a translation of an object between a first position and a second position and generating a signal in response thereto; and

(f) a computer input device in the housing, the computer input device selected from a group including a joystick and a keyboard.

25. A controller for a display, comprising

(a) a movable window

(b) a switch coupled to the window so that the switch is actuated when the push plate is moved;

and

(c) a detector aligned with the window, the detector responding through the window aperture to a translation of an object.

26. A controller for a display, comprising

(a) a window generating a signal in response to pressure applied thereon by a user;

and

(b) a detector aligned with the window, the detector responding through the window to a translation of an object.

28. A controller for a display, comprising

(a) a plate generating a signal in response to pressure applied thereon by a user, the plate having a window aperture;

and

(b) a detector aligned with the window aperture, the detector responding through the window aperture to a translation of an object.

30. A method of controlling a display, comprising the steps of:

(a) connecting a controller to the display, the controller having a movable push plate with a window and at least one movable element;

at least one switch coupled to each movable element so that the switch is actuated when a corresponding portion of the movable element is depressed, the display being responsive to the actuation of each such switch;

the controller providing to the display a signal which causes a controllable element in the display to move in response to the movement of a user'"'"'s thumb across the window;

(b) placing the thumb of the selected hand in a first position against the window;

(c) translating the thumb in a selected direction across the window to a second position so that the controllable element moves in a corresponding direction to a rest position;

(d) if the rest position is not a desired position, returning the thumb to the first position;

(e) repeating steps (d) and (e) until the rest position is the desired position;

(f) as necessary, actuating one of the switches with the thumb, thus producing a desired response of the display; and

(g) repeating steps (b) through (f) as necessary.

31. A method of controlling a display in a computing device having a movable push plate with a window and at least one movable element;

at least one switch coupled to each movable element so that the switch is actuated when a corresponding portion of the movable element is depressed, the display being responsive to the actuation of each switch;

the controller providing to the display a signal which causes a controllable element in the display to move in response to the movement of a user'"'"'s thumb across the window;

the method comprising the steps of;

(a) grasping the computing device with a selected hand

(b) placing the thumb of the selected hand in a first position against the window;

(c) translating the thumb in a selected direction across the window to a second position so that the controllable element moves in a corresponding direction to a rest position;

(d) if the rest position is not a desired position, returning the thumb to the first position;

(e) repeating steps (d) and (e) until the rest position is the desired position;

(f) as necessary, actuating one of the switches with the thumb, thus producing a desired response of the display; and

(g) repeating steps (b) through (f) as necessary.

(h) releasing the computing device from the hand.