Method for detecting events on a touch screen using mechanical input

Abstract

A mechanical input element (e.g., a dial or knob) that comprises one or more movable components is attached to an input screen (e.g., a touch screen). A microprocessor detects movement of the one or more movable components of the mechanical input element via the input screen. The detection of the movement of the one or more movable components of the mechanical input element is used to control various types of electronic/mechanical systems, such as controlling a volume on a radio.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A device comprising:
 a mechanical input element that comprises one or more movable components;   an input screen, wherein the mechanical input element is attached to the input screen; and   a microprocessor that detects movement of the one or more movable components of the mechanical input element via the input screen.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the input screen is one of a capacitive touch screen, a resistive touch screen, an inductive touch screen, or a force touch screen and wherein the microprocessor detects the movement of the one or more movable components via the one of the capacitive touch screen, the resistive touch screen, the inductive touch screen, or the force touch screen. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein the mechanical input element is a dial/knob and wherein the one or more movable components comprise a rotating element with an attached first stylus that at least one of rotates, moves right, moves left, moves up, and moves down with the rotating element while touching the one of the capacitive touch screen, the resistive touch screen, the inductive touch screen, or the force touch screen. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 3 , wherein the dial/knob comprises a second stylus that moves up and down based on a user pushing the dial/knob or a button in the dial/knob and wherein the microprocessor detects when the second stylus is in a down position via the one of the capacitive touch screen, the resistive touch screen, the inductive touch screen, or the force touch screen. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the input screen is an optical input screen and wherein the microprocessor detects movement, via the optical input screen, of the one or more movable components by detecting a change in a color and/or shape from a location under the mechanical input element. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 5 , wherein the mechanical input element is a dial/knob and wherein the one or more movable components comprise a rotating element with two or more different colors and/or shapes under the rotating element. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 6 , wherein the dial/knob or a button in the dial/knob can be pushed down by a user, wherein the pushing down by the user causes a different color and/or shape to be shown at a specific location under the dial/knob, and wherein the microprocessor detects, via the optical input screen, the different color and/or shape shown at the specific location under the dial/knob. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the mechanical input element is a rocker switch and wherein the rocker switch comprises two rocker styluses that alternate touching the input screen based on a position of the rocker switch. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the mechanical input element is a slider and wherein the slider comprises a slider element connected to a slider stylus that moves in contact with the input screen when a user moves the slider element. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the mechanical input element is a slider, wherein the slider comprises a slider element connected to a slider stylus, wherein the slider stylus comprises a color and/or shape on the slider stylus that is detected by the microprocessor, via the input screen, when a user moves the slider element. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the input screen is a force touch screen, wherein the mechanical input element is a dial/knob with a button and wherein the one or more movable components comprise a rotating element with an attached stylus that rotates with the rotating element while touching the force touch screen with a first pressure, and wherein when a user pushes the button, the attached stylus touches the force screen with a second pressure. 
     
     
         12 . A method comprising:
 detecting, by a microprocessor, movement of one or more movable components of a mechanical input element via an input screen, wherein the mechanical input element comprises one or more movable components and wherein the mechanical input element is attached to the input screen.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the input screen is one of a capacitive touch screen, a resistive touch screen, an inductive touch screen, or a force touch screen and wherein the microprocessor detects the movement of the one or more movable components via the one of the capacitive touch screen, the resistive touch screen, the inductive touch screen, or the force touch screen. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the mechanical input element is a dial/knob and wherein the one or more movable components comprises a rotating element with an attached first stylus that at least one of rotates, moves right, moves left, moves up, and moves down with the rotating element while touching the one of the capacitive touch screen, the resistive touch screen, the inductive touch screen, or the force touch screen. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the dial/knob comprises a second stylus that moves up and down based on a user pushing the dial/knob or a button in the dial/knob and wherein the microprocessor detects when the second stylus is in a down position via the one of the capacitive touch screen, the resistive touch screen, the inductive touch screen, or the force touch screen. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the input screen is an optical input screen and wherein the microprocessor detects movement, via the optical input screen, of the one or more movable components by detecting a change in a color and/or shape from a location under the mechanical input element. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the mechanical input element is a dial/knob and wherein the one or more movable components comprise a rotating element with two or more different colors and/or shapes under the rotating element. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the dial/knob or a button in the dial/knob can be pushed down by a user, wherein the pushing down by the user causes a different color and/or shape to be shown at a specific location under the dial/knob, and wherein the microprocessor, detects, via the input screen, the different color and/or shape shown at the specific location under the dial/knob. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the mechanical input element is a slider and wherein the slider comprises a slider element connected to a slider stylus that moves in contact with the input screen when a user moves the slider element. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the mechanical input element is a slider, wherein the slider comprises a slider element connected to a slider stylus, wherein the slider stylus comprises a color and/or shape on the slider stylus that is detected by the microprocessor, via the input screen, when a user moves the slider element.