Patent Application
20100302174
The present invention generally relates to image displays and more particularly to an assembly that is attachable to the display and that functions as a user-interface so that the display is less likely to be damaged due to ordinary usage.
A wide variety of touch sensitive display devices are known to those of skill in the art of user interface technology. Such display devices are known in the art as touch screen systems. In particular, highly sensitive finger-tip or stylus detection, touch screen systems are well known and are commonly used in a wide variety of applications. Examples of such touch sensitive display devices include, but are not limited to, resistant to touch detection systems, capacitive touch detection systems, and other forms of touch detection. Such touch sensitive display systems can have integral touch sensitive technology or such technology can be added separately. For example, the Magic Touch Add-On Touch Screen sold by KEYTEC, Garland, Tex., USA is an add on device that can be mounted to the face of a display such as an LCD monitor and that provides a touch sensitive area through which the images presented by the LCD monitor can be seen. Such a Touch Screen Kit is fixed onto the display and then linked to an input port of a personal computer. The computer must have a driver installed to interpret the signals provided by the touch screen kit. It will be appreciated that such systems are complex systems that add significantly to the costs of display devices that incorporate such screens.
There have been some efforts to reduce the costs of such display systems resulting for example, in the systems that are described in GB2180342 entitled “Pressure Sensitive Device” and in Roberts US Patent Application Number 2003/0210235 A1. These efforts generally describe the use of transparent sheets that are positioned between an image presentation area and a user. The transparent sheets are physically connected to pressure sensitive touch sensors. Each of the touch sensors produces a sensor signal in response to a touch applied to the touch surface. A control system coupled to the touch sensors, receives sensor signals and develops a plurality of reference levels for a force sensitive touch signal, selects or more of the plurality of reference levels based on information acquired from the touch signal, and determines the touch location using the selected reference levels.
Even where such systems are used, cost and complexity problems remain and these cost and complexity challenges impose a difficult decision on the designers and manufacturers of display devices. In particular, for some cost conscious display device users, touch sensitive interactions may be of little interest, while for other users, the range of additional interaction opportunities enabled by touch sensitive displays may be considered essential. This places a manufacturer and designer of such systems to make a difficult design choice as to whether to incorporate a touch sensitive display system and the extra cost associated therewith into a particular model of display device.
Further complicating this design decision is the problem of service life. The very technology that makes such touch sensitive systems capable of accurately sensing contact can also make such systems vulnerable to damage through repeated use or through incidental contact. Over time, continuous usage of the interface may necessitate the interface needing repair or replacement. Due to the integration of the components of the kiosk or picture frame, components integrally connected to the display may also need replacing. In any event, repair or replacement costs are undesirable.
What is still needed in the art is a way to provide a touch sensitive capability for a display device when desired and in a manner that has long service life and that provides adequate sensitivity to touch. Further, a need exists for a removable interface that is cost efficient so that maintenance costs are reduced.
The present invention is directed to overcoming one or more of the problems set forth above. Briefly summarized, according to one aspect of the invention, the invention resides in a digital picture frame comprising: (a) a display on which images are displayed; (b) a detachable and re-attachable sub-assembly comprising: (i) a mounting base; (ii) a transparent overlay mounted in the mounting base; wherein the overlay spans the display and includes a first side that receives pressure from a user for indicating a mode preference and a second side opposite the first side; (iii) a plurality of activation mechanisms each of which activates a mode preference and are adjacent the second side of the transparent overlay; wherein a particular activation mechanism is activated when user pressure is received within a predetermined spatial relationship to the particular activation mechanism; and (iv) an attachment mechanism that permits the sub-assembly to be attached and detached from the display.
These and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon a reading of the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the drawings wherein there is shown and described an illustrative embodiment of the invention.
The present invention has the advantage of preserving the integrity of displays by providing a user interface which prevents damage to the display due to user contact and the like during operation and which is cost efficient, detachable, seam-less to the user and can be retrofitted to existing displays.
The above and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent when taken in conjunction with the following description and drawings wherein identical reference numerals have been used, where possible, to designate identical features that are common to the figures, and wherein:
While the specification concludes with claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter of the present invention, it is believed that the invention will be better understood from the following description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
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From the foregoing, it can be appreciated that, since the user presses the cover glass 80, the display 20 is not the user interface for the user so that it is not exposed to typical degradation caused by ordinary use. It is appreciated that the assembly 120 is relatively inexpensive as compared to the display 20 and is more easily replaced or repaired than the display 20. As an illustrative embodiment, if the display 20 is a digital picture frame, the display may display “arrows” or the like indicating fast forwarding of images or reverse sequencing of images respectively spatially close to a particular interface activator 100. The user presses the cover glass 80 near the desired “arrow” in which case the particular function or feature is activated accordingly.
It will be appreciated from the foregoing that a designer or manufacturer of display devices will, using the devices described herein be able to provide a display device to which touch sensitive capabilities can be added as desired, either by a customer after purchase or otherwise. This simplifies the designers challenge in designing such systems as a non-touch sensitive model can be designed and manufactured with low cost, replaceable, touch sensitive capabilities added thereto as desired.
The invention has been described in detail with particular reference to certain preferred embodiments thereof, but it will be understood that variations and modifications can be effected within the spirit and scope of the invention.
