Patent Application
20050003851
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to an improved radio interface.
2. Description of Related Art
Mobile and portable radios have been available to the public for many years. As technology has progressed, the size of portable radios has dramatically decreased. However, at the same time, available functions and station selections for the radio have dramatically increased. With the decrease in size of portable radios and the increase in functionality, designing effective user interfaces has become increasingly important and difficult. Often, portable radio devices will use very small buttons, which are difficult to manipulate. Alternatively, radio systems may use multiple combinations of buttons to support the growing number of radio control commands. Now more than ever, with the increased functionality and number of stations available through the introduction of satellite radio, the use of portable systems have become increasingly difficult.
In view of the above, it is apparent that there exists a need for an improved radio interface.
In satisfying the above need, as well as, overcoming the enumerated drawbacks and other limitations of the related art, the present invention provides a radio system with an improved interface for portable use.
The radio system includes a radio tuner, a display, and a touch pad. The radio tuner is configured to receive radio transmissions and generate corresponding audio signals. The display is in communication with the radio tuner to display transmission information, radio control commands, or input from the touch pad. The touch pad is configured to sense gestures on a surface of the touch pad. Further, the radio tuner is capable of executing radio control commands in response to each of the gestures.
In another aspect of the present invention, the touch pad is configured to recognize gestures to advance to the next or a previous station, access a memory preset, or adjust the volume of the radio tuner. In addition, gestures may be used to enter or exit seek mode, lock or unlock the touch pad, or change the control orientation of the touch pad.
Further objects, features and advantages of this invention will become readily apparent to persons skilled in the art after a review of the following description, with reference to the drawings and claims that are appended to and form a part of this specification.
Referring now to
The radio tuner 12 is configured to receive radio transmissions and generate an audio signal based on the radio transmissions. The radio tuner 12 may be capable of receiving AM, FM, satellite, or other forms of radio transmissions. The display 14 is in electrical communication with the radio tuner 12 for displaying information regarding the radio transmission, the function of the radio tuner 12, or the input received by the touch pad 16.
The touch pad 16 is a device configured to sense and interpret a path created on a surface of the touch pad (a “gesture”), typically by the user's finger. In one implementation, the touch pad contains several layers of material. The top layer is the surface that the user touches. Beneath the surface are layers, separated by very thin insulation, containing horizontal and vertical rows of electrodes that form a grid. Beneath the electrode layers is a circuit board to which the electrode layers are connected. The electrode layers are charged with a constant alternating current, such that, as a finger approaches the electrode grid, the current is interrupted and the interruption is detected by the circuit board. The initial location where the finger touches the surface is registered so that subsequent finger movements can be determined in relation to the initial point. The path corresponding to the finger movement on the surface of the touch pad 16 may be interpreted as a gesture, and a radio control command may be executed in response thereto. In addition, the touch pad 16 may also sense the time between, or frequency of taps on the touch pad 16 and accordingly interpret such taps or multiple finger movements together as a single gesture corresponding to a radio control command.
As the touch pad 16 senses various finger movements to recognize a gesture, the gesture may be sent to the radio tuner 12 and shown on the display 14. In one embodiment, a gesture including a substantially linear motion from the left to the right of the pad causes the radio tuner 12 to execute the radio control command to advance to the next station, either based on station number or based on memory presets. Alternatively, a gesture from the right to the left of the touch pad 16 advances the radio tuner 12 to the previous station. Similarly, a gesture moving from the bottom of the touch pad 16 to the top of the touch pad 16 may increase the volume, while a gesture moving from the top to the bottom of the touch pad 16 may lower the volume. Further, to avoid confusion with other gestures, the touch pad 16 may be configured, such that, volume gestures are only sensed along the edge of the touch pad 16.
Gestures may take the form of letters that correspond to the name of the radio command to be executed. For example, an “S” shaped gesture may be used to initiate a seek mode. Similarly, another “S” may be used to exit the seek mode. Memory presets may be accessed by entering an “M” shaped gesture followed by a gesture in the shape of the number of the preset (i.e. “1”, “2”, etc.). Similarly, a tune command may be executed by entering a “T” shaped gesture followed by a gesture in the shape of the station number. For example, a gesture corresponding to “T“, “1”, “0”, “3” on the touch pad 16 to execute a command that will tune to station 103. To avoid inadvertent gestures from being recognized, an “L” gesture may be used to lock the touch pad, so that, the touch pad will not recognize subsequent gestures until an unlock gesture, such as, the shape “U” has been entered.
Further, for a portable or even wearable radio, the ability to change orientation for a left or right-handed person is desirable. For example, a gesture in the shape of an up arrow by making a “{circumflex over ( )}” then a “|” may be used to set the orientation. The direction of the “{circumflex over ( )}” may be used to indicate the top of the touch pad 16. In addition, the touch pad 16 may have a guide 18, such as, shaped ridges to help orient the user, so they do not need to look at the device to enter gestures in the proper orientation.
As a person skilled in the art will readily appreciate, the above description is meant as an illustration of implementation of the principles this invention. This description is not intended to limit the scope or application of this invention in that the invention is susceptible to modification, variation and change, without departing from spirit of this invention, as defined in the following claims.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60475972 | Jun 2003 | US |
