Touch sensor control devices

Abstract

The invention provides mechanical devices to enhance the input process for touch screen devices. Fader tracks with or without fader caps, rotary and fixed knobs, and joysticks may be removably adhered to a touch screen and used to emulate their respective functions, using software interpretation of the touch detections provoked by the devices to carry out the emulations. The devices are inexpensive and simple, and the touch screen and associated software provide the function and feel of electromechanical controllers that are far more expensive and difficult to connect and maintain. The devices may be provided as components on a crack-and-peel sheet. For fixed knobs, the software application accepts initial inputs and determines the location on the touch screen, and also interprets the geometry of the input strokes as commands for selected controller emulations, such as joystick, fader, knob, or mouse. The invention also provides a touch sensor controller having a longitudinal web that incorporates touch sensor electrodes and conductors and emulates a fader controller. The invention further provides a flexible track controller mounted at the periphery of a touch screen and extendable thereover to emulate a fader controller. The flexible track may be motor driven.

1 . An input control device, comprising:
 a touch sensing device having a touch input area, and   a mechanical overlay provided on or over the touch input area of the touch sensing device, the mechanical overlay having one or more mechanical input mechanisms that provide the touch input to the touch input area via a mechanical action.   
   
   
       2 . The input control device as recited in  claim 1  wherein the touch sensing device is a touch pad. 
   
   
       3 . The input control device as recited in  claim 1  wherein the touch sensing device is a touch screen positioned over a display. 
   
   
       4 . The input control device as recited in  claim 1  wherein the touch sensing device is a touch sensitive housing. 
   
   
       5 . The input control device as recited in  claim 1  wherein the touch sensing device is a multi-touch sensing device capable of detecting multiple touches that occur at the same time. 
   
   
       6 . The input control device as recited in  claim 1  wherein the touch sensing device is a capacitive touch sensing device. 
   
   
       7 . The input control device as recited in  claim 1  wherein the touch sensing means is configured to recognize gestures applied to the touch sensitive surface via the mechanical input mechanisms of the mechanical overlay. 
   
   
       8 . The input control device as recited in  claim 1  wherein the touch surface is broken up into regions, the regions being located in the area of the mechanical mechanisms. 
   
   
       9 . A mechanical overlay for a touch sensing device, the mechanical overlay comprising:
 a base configured for placement on or over a touch sensitive surface of the touch sensing device; and   one or more mechanical actuators that move relative to the base, the motion of the mechanical actuators being configured to cause activation of the touch sensitive surface of the touch sensing device.   
   
   
       10 . The mechanical overlay as recited in  claim 9  wherein the mechanical overlay does not include any electronic input mechanisms. 
   
   
       11 . The mechanical overlay as recited in  claim 9  wherein the mechanical actuator is a slider that slides relative to the base. 
   
   
       12 . The mechanical overlay as recited in  claim 9  wherein the mechanical actuator is a dial that rotates relative to the base. 
   
   
       13 . The mechanical overlay as recited in  claim 9  wherein the mechanical actuator is a button that translates relative to the base between and upright and depressed position. 
   
   
       14 . The mechanical overlay as recited in  claim 9  wherein the mechanical actuator is a switch that toggles relative to the base. 
   
   
       15 . The mechanical overlay as recited in  claim 9  wherein the mechanical actuators include a feature that is easily sensed by the touch sensing device. 
   
   
       16 . The mechanical overlay as recited in  claim 9 , wherein the touch sensing device is a capacitive sensing device, and wherein the mechanical actuators include a grounded conductive element that can be sensed by the underlying capacitive touch surface. 
   
   
       17 . The mechanical overlay as recited in  claim 9 , wherein the base includes an opening which provides access to the touch sensitive surface when the mechanical overlay is positioned on or over the touch sensitive device. 
   
   
       18 . The mechanical overlay as recited in  claim 9 , wherein the mechanical overlay is configured as a media mixing console including a plurality of mechanical actuators selected from at least sliders and dials. 
   
   
       19 . The mechanical overlay as recited in  claim 9  wherein the mechanical actuators are selected from buttons, sliders, switches, dials, navigations pads or joysticks. 
   
   
       20 . A mechanical overlay for a touch sensing device, the mechanical overlay comprising:
 a base configured for placement on or over a touch sensitive surface of the touch sensing device; and   one or more mechanical actuators that move relative to the base, the motion of the mechanical actuators being configured to cause activation of the touch sensitive surface of the touch sensing device, the one or more mechanical actuators including at least a button that translates relative to the base between an upright and depressed position, the button activating the touch sensitive surface when the button is moved from the upright to the depressed position.   
   
   
       21 . The mechanical overlay as recited in  claim 20  wherein the button includes a plug that translates up and down relative to the base, the plug including a contact pad at a bottom end, the contact pad engaging the touch sensitive surface of the touch sensing device when the plug is moved from an upright to a depressed position. 
   
   
       22 . The mechanical overlay as recited in  claim 21  wherein the touch sensing device is based on capacitance and wherein the plug includes a conductive element that interacts with the capacitive touch sensing device. 
   
   
       23 . A computing device, comprising:
 a touch surface provided by one of a touch pad, touch screen, or touch sensitive housing;   a mechanical overlay including one or more mechanical actuators that interfere with the touch surface in order to generate touch inputs, the touch inputs being used by the computing device to perform actions in the computing device.   
   
   
       24 . The computing device as recited in  claim 23  wherein the computing device is a personal computer, laptop computer, or tablet personal computer. 
   
   
       25 . The computing device as recited in  claim 23  wherein the computing device is a handheld computing device. 
   
   
       26 . A control panel, comprising:
 a removable mechanical overlay including a plurality of mechanical actuators selected from at least sliders, buttons, dials or switches; and   a touch sensing device configured to recognize multiple touch events generated by the plurality of actuators at the same time, and to report the multiple touch events to a host computing device.   
   
   
       27 . An input control device, comprising:
 a touch sensing device having a touch input area;   a base member removably securable on or over the touch input area of the touch sensing device; and   means supported by said base member for imparting a touch input to the touch input area of the touch sensing device.   
   
   
       28 . The input control device of  claim 27  wherein said means for imparting a touch input includes a fader cap slidably supported on said base member. 
   
   
       29 . The input control device of  claim 28 , further including a stylus tip extending from said fader cap toward said touch sensing device. 
   
   
       30 . The input control device of  claim 29 , wherein said stylus tip imparts a mechanical touch input to the touch sensing device. 
   
   
       31 . The input control device of  claim 29 , wherein the touch sensing device is adapted to detect the position of a touch signal applied thereto, and further including a touch signal generator disposed in said fader cap and connected to deliver said touch signal through said stylus tip to the touch sensing device. 
   
   
       32 . The input control device of  claim 27 , wherein said base member includes a post, and further including a knob cap rotatably secured to said post. 
   
   
       33 . The input control device of  claim 32 , further including a stylus tip extending from said knob cap toward said touch sensing device. 
   
   
       34 . The input control device of  claim 33 , wherein the touch sensing device is adapted to detect the position of a touch signal applied thereto, and further including a touch signal generator disposed in said knob cap and connected to deliver said touch signal through said stylus tip to the touch sensing device. 
   
   
       35 . The input control device of  claim 27 , wherein said means for imparting a touch input includes a joystick supported on said base member. 
   
   
       36 . The input control device of  claim 35 , further including a stylus tip extending from said joystick toward said touch sensing device. 
   
   
       37 . The input control device of  claim 36 , wherein the touch sensing device is adapted to detect the position of a touch signal applied thereto, and further including a touch signal generator connected to said joystick to deliver said touch signal through said stylus tip to the touch sensing device. 
   
   
       38 . The input control device of  claim 27 , wherein said base member includes a longitudinally extending web track, and at least one electrical rail supported by said web track. 
   
   
       39 . The input control device of  claim 38 , further including a fader cap supported by said base member in contact with said at least one electrical rail, and further including a stylus tip extending from said fader cap and connected to said power rail, whereby a signal from said electrical rail is conducted from said fader cap to said touch input area. 
   
   
       40 . The input control device of  claim 38 , wherein said at least one electrical rail is connected to an electrical circuit located at or near a peripheral edge of said touch input area. 
   
   
       41 . The input control device of  claim 40 , further including a pair of electrical rails supported by said web track and said electrical circuit comprises a touch sensing circuit connected to said electrical rails, whereby the position of a finger touch at any point along said web track may be detected. 
   
   
       42 . The input control device of  claim 41 , further including a ridge extending longitudinally on said web track to guide a sliding finger touch along said web track. 
   
   
       43 . The input control device of  claim 40 , further including a pair of electrical rails supported by said web track and said electrical circuit comprises a touch sensing circuit connected to said electrical rails, and further including a fader cap slidably secured to said web track and disposed in communication with said electrical rails whereby the position of said fader cap at any point along said web track may be detected. 
   
   
       44 . The input control device of  claim 27 , wherein said base member comprises a longitudinally extending flexible track supported at a peripheral edge of said touch input area, said flexible track including a proximal end having a stylus tip extending therefrom toward said touch input area to impart a touch input thereto, and means for translating said flexible track longitudinally to move the stylus tip on said touch input area. 
   
   
       45 . The input control device of  claim 44 , further including a conductor extending the length of said flexible track to said stylus tip, said conductor being connected to a touch signal generator, and said touch sensing device is adapted to detect the position of a touch signal applied thereto by said stylus tip. 
   
   
       46 . The input control device of  claim 44 , further including a motor drive to translate said flexible track longitudinally and reciprocally to comprise a motorized fader controller. 
   
   
       47 . The input control device of  claim 27 , wherein said touch sensing device includes a plurality of discrete touch input areas, each capable of detecting a respective touch input independently of the other touch input areas. 
   
   
       48 . The input control device of  claim 47 , wherein said plurality of discrete touch input areas are in contiguous arrangement within said touch sensing device. 
   
   
       49 . The input control device of  claim 47 , wherein said plurality of touch input areas include resistive touch detection means. 
   
   
       50 . The input control device of  claim 47 , wherein said plurality of touch input areas include capacitive touch detection means. 
   
   
       51 . The input control device of  claim 47 , further including a plurality of touch input devices, wherein at least one of said plurality of touch input devices is operable in a respective one of said touch input areas. 
   
   
       52 . The input control device of  claim 27 , wherein said base member includes an adhesive layer disposed on a bottom surface thereof and adapted to releasably adhere to said touch input device. 
   
   
       53 . The input control device of  claim 52 , wherein said adhesive layer is preferentially more adherent to said bottom surface than to said touch input device. 
   
   
       54 . A touch sensor controller, including:
 a web extending longitudinally;   a pair of sensor electrodes secured to longitudinally opposed ends of said web;   a conductive layer secured to said web;   at least one power rail extending longitudinally along said web between said sensor electrodes;   software means connected to said sensor electrodes for determining the position of a touch point on said web.   
   
   
       55 . The touch sensor controller of  claim 54 , wherein said software means includes means for emulating a fader controller in response to sliding touch on said web. 
   
   
       56 . The touch sensor controller of  claim 54 , further including a guide ridge extending longitudinally on said web and disposed to guide a sliding touch longitudinally therealong. 
   
   
       57 . The touch sensor controller of  claim 56 , further including a groove extending longitudinally in said guide ridge to guide a stylus in sliding translation therealong. 
   
   
       58 . The touch sensor controller of  claim 56 , further including a fader cap slidably secured to said guide ridge. 
   
   
       59 . The touch sensor controller of  claim 58 , further including a stylus tip extending from said fader cap toward said longitudinal web, and a touch signal generator disposed in said fader cap and connected to said stylus tip.