System and method for multi-mode command input

Abstract

A controlling device has a moveable touch sensitive panel positioned above a plurality of switches. When the controlling device senses an activation of at least one of the plurality of switches when caused by a movement of the touch sensitive panel resulting from an input at an input location upon the touch sensitive surface, the controlling device responds by transmitting a signal to an appliance wherein the signal is reflective of the input location upon the touch sensitive surface.

1 . A controlling device, comprising:
 a casing having an opening; and   an input device disposed in the opening comprised of a moveable touch sensitive panel positioned above a plurality of switches;   wherein the controlling device responds to an activation of at least one of the plurality of switches caused by a movement of the touch sensitive panel resulting from an input at an input location upon the touch sensitive surface by transmitting a signal to an appliance that is reflective of the input location upon the touch sensitive surface.   
     
     
         2 . The controlling device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the signal comprises a command to control a functional operation of the appliance. 
     
     
         3 . The controlling device as recited in  claim 2 , wherein a plurality of surface touch zones are defined for the touch sensitive panel and the command corresponds to a one of the plurality of surface touch zones having the input location upon the touch sensitive panel. 
     
     
         4 . The controlling device as recited in  claim 3 , wherein the plurality of surface touch zones for the touch sensitive panel are defined as a function of an active one of a plurality of operational modes for the controlling device. 
     
     
         5 . The controlling device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the signal comprises data representative of coordinates for the input location upon the touch sensitive surface. 
     
     
         6 . The controlling device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the touch sensitive panel comprises a keycap disposed over a multiple-electrode capacitive touch sensor. 
     
     
         7 . The controlling device as recited in  claim 6 , wherein the plurality of switches comprise silicon rubber keypad buttons supported upon a printed circuit board. 
     
     
         8 . The controlling device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the keycap displays a plurality of user interface elements. 
     
     
         9 . The controlling device as recited in  claim 8 , wherein a plurality of surface touch zones are defined for the touch sensitive panel each corresponding to a respective one of the plurality of user interface elements. 
     
     
         10 . The controlling device as recited in  claim 9 , wherein the plurality of user interface elements displayed by the keycap is defined as a function of an active one of a plurality of operational modes for the controlling device. 
     
     
         11 . A controlling device, comprising:
 a casing having an opening; and   an input device disposed in the opening comprised of a moveable touch sensitive panel having a plurality of defined surface touch zones positioned above a plurality of switches;   wherein the controlling device responds to an activation of at least one of the plurality of switches caused by a movement of the touch sensitive panel resulting from an input at an input location upon the touch sensitive surface by transmitting a signal to an appliance that is reflective of a one of the plurality of defined surface touch zones determined to include the input location upon the touch sensitive surface.   
     
     
         12 . The controlling device as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the signal comprises a command to control a functional operation of the appliance. 
     
     
         13 . The controlling device as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the plurality of surface touch zones for the touch sensitive panel are defined as a function of an active one of a plurality of operational modes for the controlling device. 
     
     
         14 . The controlling device as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the touch sensitive panel comprises a keycap disposed over a multiple-electrode capacitive touch sensor. 
     
     
         15 . The controlling device as recited in  claim 14 , wherein the keycap displays a plurality of user interface elements. 
     
     
         16 . The controlling device as recited in  claim 15 , wherein the plurality of surface touch zones defined for the touch sensitive panel each corresponding to a respective one of the plurality of user interface elements. 
     
     
         17 . The controlling device as recited in  claim 16 , wherein the plurality of user interface elements displayed by the keycap is defined as a function of an active one of a plurality of operational modes for the controlling device. 
     
     
         18 . A method for using a controlling device, comprising a casing having an opening and an input device disposed in the opening comprised of a moveable touch sensitive panel positioned above a plurality of switches, to transmit a signal to an appliance, the method comprising:
 sensing by the controlling device an activation of at least one of the plurality of switches caused by a movement of the touch sensitive panel resulting from an input at an input location upon the touch sensitive surface; and   in response to the sensed activation of at least one of the plurality of switches, causing the controlling device to transmit the signal to the appliance wherein the signal is reflective of the input location upon the touch sensitive surface.   
     
     
         19 . The method as recited in  claim 18 , wherein the signal comprises a command to control a functional operation of the appliance. 
     
     
         20 . The method as recited in  claim 19 , comprising defining a plurality of surface touch zones for the touch sensitive panel whereby the command corresponds to a one of the plurality of surface touch zones having the input location upon the touch sensitive panel. 
     
     
         21 . The method as recited in  claim 20 , comprising defining the plurality of surface touch zones for the touch sensitive panel as a function of an active one of a plurality of operational modes for the controlling device. 
     
     
         22 . The method as recited in  claim 18 , wherein the signal comprises data representative of coordinates for the input location upon the touch sensitive surface. 
     
     
         23 . The method as recited in  claim 18 , wherein the touch sensitive panel comprises a keycap disposed over a multiple-electrode capacitive touch sensor and comprising using the keycap to display a plurality of user interface elements. 
     
     
         24 . The method as recited in  claim 23 , comprising defining a plurality of surface touch zones for the touch sensitive panel each corresponding to a respective one of the plurality of user interface elements. 
     
     
         25 . The method as recited in  claim 24 , comprising using an active one of a plurality of operational modes for the controlling device to determine the plurality of user interface elements to be displayed.