Analog controls housed with electronic displays for video recorders and cameras

• US 6,456,778 B2
• Filed: 12/08/2000
• Issued: 09/24/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/01/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Anascape, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Anascape, Ltd.
• Inventors: Armstrong, Brad A.
• Primary Examiner(s): PARADISO, JOHN ROGER
• Application Number:
  US09/733,437
• Publication Number:
  US 20010039208A1
• Time in Patent Office: 655 Days
• Field of Search: 463/36, 463/37, 273/143.B, 345/156, 345/159, 200/513, 700/91, 700/92, 700/93, 369/30, 369/292, 386/46
• US Class Current: 386/230
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/218 using pressure sensors, e.g. generating a signal proportional to the pressure applied by the player
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/24 Constructional details thereof, e.g. game controllers with detachable joystick handles
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/10 characterized by input arrangements for converting player-generated signals into game device control signals
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1056 involving pressure sensitive buttons
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 21/08 Touch switches specially adapted for time-pieces
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/23033 Variable pressure on key gives input value
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1601 Constructional details related to the housing of computer displays, e.g. of CRT monitors, of flat displays constructional details related to flat displays integrated in a portable computer, e.g. laptop, handheld computer G06F1/1637; constructional details related to television receivers H04N5/64
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1612 Flat panel monitor
• 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 3/03548 Sliders, in which the moving part moves in a plane
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03549 Trackballs G06F3/03541 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0485 Scrolling or panning
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0489 using dedicated keyboard keys or combinations thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/70 having a plurality of operating members associated with different sets of contacts, e.g. keyboard mounting together a plurality of independent switches H02B
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/702 with contacts carried by or formed from layers in a multilayer structure, e.g. membrane switches
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/785 characterised by the material of the contacts, e.g. conductive polymers
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2201/036 Variable resistance
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2215/004 Collapsible dome or bubble
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2215/006 : Only mechanical function
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2221/012 : Joy stick type
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2221/018 : Tumbler
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2231/008 : Video game
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2237/002 : Bell crank

Abstract

In an electronic device, a combination of an electronic visual display on a housing, electronic circuitry in the housing, the housing having at least one human user depressible surface with associated analog pressure-sensitive element for output of a signal of variable value utilized by the circuitry to control or manipulate one or more functions of the device. The at least one analog pressure-sensitive element receives pressure applied by a user'"'"'s finger or thumb to the depressible surface, varied pressure applied by the user determines varied value of the signal. The resultant control manipulation from the analog variable value is in some. manner indicated, displayed or made visually detectable on the display at least at the time of manipulation so that the user receives visual feedback allowing termination, increase or decrease, if needed or desired, of finger pressure on the depressible surface of the analog sensor.

Claims

1. A video recorder for recording imagery, comprising:

a housing;

electronic circuitry located in said housing;

a general image display operatively connected to said circuitry;

a first finger depressible surface in part exposed on said housing, said first finger depressible surface operatively connected to

a pressure-sensitive first analog sensor, said first analog sensor for inputting a first signal to said circuitry;

a second depressible surface in part exposed on said housing, said second depressible surface operatively connected to

a pressure-sensitive second analog sensor, said second analog sensor for inputting a second signal to said circuitry;

said circuitry structured to receive the signals and to cause said general image display to move displayed imagery at a variable rate according to variable pressure applied to the depressible surfaces.

2. A video recorder according to claim 1 wherein variable depression of a surface of a rocker having at least two depressible surfaces causes the imagery to zoom at a variable rate on said display.

3. A video recorder according to claim 1 wherein said first finger depressible surface and said second depressible surface are finger depressible single individual buttons, and said general image display is mounted in said housing.

4. A video recorder according to claim 1 wherein the pressure-sensitive analog sensors are structured with resilient dome caps, said dome caps structured to provide tactile feedback.

5. A video recorder according to claim 1 wherein said first finger depressible surface and said second depressible surface are surfaces of a rocker.

6. A video recorder according to claim 5 wherein the pressure-sensitive analog sensors are structured with resilient dome caps, said dome caps structured to provide tactile feedback.

7. An improved video recorder of the type having capability for recording imagery, wherein the improvements comprise:

a housing; and

electronic circuitry located in said housing;

a general image display mounted to said housing, said general image display operatively connected to said circuitry;

a first depressible surface in part exposed on said housing, said first depressible surface operatively connected to

a pressure-sensitive first analog sensor, said first analog sensor for inputting a first signal to said circuitry, said first signal having variable value depending on variable pressure applied to said first depressible surface;

a second depressible surface in part exposed on said housing, said second depressible surface operatively connected to

a pressure-sensitive second analog sensor, said second analog sensor for inputting a second signal to said circuitry, said second signal having variable value depending on variable pressure applied to said second depressible surface;

said circuitry structured to receive the signals and to cause said general image display to zoom imagery at a variable rate according to variable pressure applied to the depressible surfaces.

8. An improved video recorder according to claim 7 wherein variable depression of a first depressible surface of a rocker having at least two depressible areas causes the imagery to scroll at a variable rate in a first direction on said display, and variable depression of a second depressible surface of said rocker causes the imagery to scroll at a variable rate in a second direction on said display.

9. An improved video recorder according to claim 7 wherein said first depressible surface and said second depressible surface are finger depressible single individual buttons.

10. An improved video recorder according to claim 9 wherein the pressure-sensitive analog sensors are structured to provide tactile feedback.

11. An improved video recorder according to claim 7 wherein the pressure-sensitive analog sensors are structured with resilient dome caps, said dome caps structured to provide tactile feedback.

12. An image recorder, comprising:

a housing;

electronic circuitry located in said housing;

a general image display mounted to said housing, said general image display operatively connected to said circuitry;

at least one finger depressible surface in part exposed on said housing, said at least one finger depressible surface operatively connected to

at least one depressible pressure-sensitive proportional sensor, said pressure-sensitive proportional sensor for inputting a signal to said circuitry, said signal having a varying value representing varying depression of said at least one finger depressible surface;

said circuitry structured to receive said signal and to cause said general image display to change display of viewable imagery at a rate related to said value.

13. An image recorder according to claim 12 wherein said at least one finger depressible surface is a first depressible surface, said image recorder further includes a finger depressible surface which is a second depressible surface in part exposed on said housing, said second depressible surface operatively connected to a second pressure-sensitive proportional sensor, said second pressure-sensitive proportional sensor for inputting a second signal to said circuitry, said second signal having a varying value representing varying depression of said second depressible surface.

14. An image recorder according to claim 13 wherein the pressure-sensitive proportional sensors are structured with resilient dome caps, said dome caps structured to provide a break-over tactile feedback.

15. An image recorder according to claim 14 wherein said first depressible surface and said second depressible surface are surfaces of at least a two-way rocker.

16. An image recorder according to claim 15 wherein depression of said first depressible surface causes the imagery to scroll in a first direction on said display, and depression of said second depressible surface causes the imagery to scroll in a second direction on said display.

17. An image recorder according to claim 14 wherein said first depressible surface and said second depressible surface are surfaces of a 4-way rocker.

18. An image recorder according to claim 13 wherein depression of said first depressible surface causes the imagery to zoom in a first direction on said display, and depression of said second depressible surface causes the imagery to zoom in a second direction on said display.