Circuit control devices utilizing electronic display screen light
AssigneeIntertact Corporation
InventorsDenny Jaeger, Kenneth M. Twain
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A control device provides a variable control signal to electrical apparatus and has a control member, such as a stylus or a turnable or slidable member, that is manipulated to vary the signal. Photoelectric sensors detect and track movement of the control member. The control member is disposed at the face of an electronic image display screen which can display calibration marks, identifying labels, current setting and/or other graphics pertinent to operation of the control device. The display screen also operates as the light source for the photoelectric sensors.
Claims23
A control device for providing a control signal to electrical apparatus wherein at least one photosensor in said control device detects movement of a moveable member, which photosensor responds to light produced by a light source, wherein the improvement comprises:
- an electronic image display screen employing a frame refresh timing scheme;
- said control device being disposed in front of said electronic image display screen within an image display area thereof which display screen displays changeable images conveying information pertinent to operation of the control device, said display screen also being said light source,
- said photosensor generating said control signal in response to variations in the image content of said changeable images and independently of said frame refresh timing scheme of said electronic image display screen, and means for converting said control signal from said photosensor to data indicating at least one of a group of control device parameters that include the position of said control device on said display screen and the rotational orientation of said control device.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.