Tactile visual indicator
First Claim
1. A tactile visual indicator, the indicator comprising:
- a light source;
an electromagnetically inductive wound coil; and
a light pipe coupled to a ferromagnetic-metal jacket surrounding the outside of the light pipe, the ferromagnetic-metal jacket within the wound coil, one end of the light pipe provided to the light source;
the light pipe and the ferromagnetic-metal jacket configured to move within the wound coil in response to the coil receiving power;
wherein light shining through the light pipe from the light source provides a visual indication of a status and the movement of the light pipe and jacket within the wound coil provides a tactile indication of the status via contact with a user.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A tactile visual indicator and methods, apparatuses, and computer program products for controlling a tactile visual indicator are provided. Embodiments include a light source; an electromagnetically inductive wound coil; and a light pipe coupled to a ferromagnetic-metal jacket surrounding the outside of the light pipe. The ferromagnetic-metal jacket is within the wound coil and one end of the light pipe is provided to the light source. The light pipe and the ferromagnetic-metal jacket are configured to move within the wound coil in response to the coil receiving power. Light shining through the light pipe from the light source provides a visual indication of a status and the movement of the light pipe and jacket within the wound coil provides a tactile indication of the status via contact with a user.
23 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A tactile visual indicator, the indicator comprising:
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a light source; an electromagnetically inductive wound coil; and a light pipe coupled to a ferromagnetic-metal jacket surrounding the outside of the light pipe, the ferromagnetic-metal jacket within the wound coil, one end of the light pipe provided to the light source;
the light pipe and the ferromagnetic-metal jacket configured to move within the wound coil in response to the coil receiving power;wherein light shining through the light pipe from the light source provides a visual indication of a status and the movement of the light pipe and jacket within the wound coil provides a tactile indication of the status via contact with a user. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A method of controlling a tactile visual indicator, the method comprising:
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providing, by a controller, a visual indication of a status, wherein providing the visual indication includes regulating power supplied to a light source; and providing, by the controller, a tactile indication of the status, wherein providing the tactile indication includes regulating power supplied to an electromagnetically inductive wound coil, the wound coil surrounding a light pipe with a ferromagnetic-metal jacket, the light pipe and jacket configured to move within the wound coil in response to the wound coil receiving power, the movement of the light pipe and jacket indicating the status via contact with a user, one end of the light pipe provided to the light source to allow light from the light source to shine through the light pipe. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. Apparatus for controlling a tactile visual indicator, the apparatus comprising a computer processor, a computer memory operatively coupled to the computer processor, the computer memory having disposed within it computer program instructions capable of:
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providing, by a controller, a visual indication of a status, wherein providing the visual indication includes regulating power supplied to a light source; and providing, by the controller, a tactile indication of the status, wherein providing the tactile indication includes regulating power supplied to an electromagnetically inductive wound coil, the wound coil surrounding a light pipe with a ferromagnetic-metal jacket, the light pipe and jacket configured to move within the wound coil in response to the wound coil receiving power, the movement of the light pipe and jacket indicating the status via contact with a user, one end of the light pipe provided to the light source to allow light from the light source to shine through the light pipe. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A computer program product for controlling a tactile visual indicator, the computer program product disposed upon a non-transitory computer readable storage medium, the computer program product comprising computer program instructions capable, when executed, of causing a computer to carry out the steps of:
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providing, by a controller, a visual indication of a status, wherein providing the visual indication includes regulating power supplied to a light source; and providing, by the controller, a tactile indication of the status, wherein providing the tactile indication includes regulating power supplied to an electromagnetically inductive wound coil, the wound coil surrounding a light pipe with a ferromagnetic-metal jacket, the light pipe and jacket configured to move within the wound coil in response to the wound coil receiving power, the movement of the light pipe and jacket indicating the status via contact with a user, one end of the light pipe provided to the light source to allow light from the light source to shine through the light pipe. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification