Touch screen interface device

Apparatus for interfacing with a touchscreen coupled to the monitor of an electronic device, comprising:

• an overlay adapted to mount over the touchscreen of the electronic device, said overlay being formed of an electrically non-conductive material with a number of openings;
• an electrically conductive plate mounted to said overlay, said electrically conductive plate being formed with said openings;
• a number of tactile actuators each mounted to said overlay and coupled to said electrically conductive plate at one of said openings, each of said tactile actuators having a first end which projects outwardly from said overlay in position to be manipulated by a user of the apparatus and a second end which mounts at least one conductive pad, said at least one conductive pad of each tactile actuator being movable into engagement and disengagement with the surface of the touchscreen, or being in continuous engagement with and movable along the surface of the touchscreen, in response to manipulation of said first end of a respective tactile actuator by the user of the apparatus;
• a controller coupled to the touchscreen and to the monitor of the electronic device, said controller being effective to monitor the position of said conductive pads of said tactile sensors relative to the surface of the touchscreen of the electronic device and to control one or more of graphic images and text displayed on the monitor of the electronic device dependent on said position of said conductive pads on the surface of the touchscreen.

Apparatus for display of graphic images and text in response to tactile input, comprising:

• a monitor capable of displaying graphic images and text;
• a touchscreen coupled to said monitor, said touchscreen being effective in response to contact with it its surface to cause said monitor to display selected graphic images and/or text;
• an interface device, comprising:
• (i) an overlay mounted over said touchscreen, said overlay being formed of an electrically non-conductive material with a number of openings;
• (ii) an electrically conductive plate mounted to said overlay, said electrically conductive plate being formed with said openings;
• (iii) a number of tactile actuators each mounted to said overlay and coupled to said electrically conductive plate at one of said openings, each of said tactile actuators having a first end which projects outwardly from said overlay in position to be manipulated by a user of the apparatus and a second end which mounts at least one conductive pad, said at least one conductive pad of each tactile actuator being movable into engagement and disengagement with the surface of the touchscreen, or being in continuous engagement with and movable along the surface of the touchscreen, in response to manipulation of said first end of a respective tactile actuator by the user of the apparatus;
• a controller coupled to the touchscreen and to the monitor of the electronic device, said controller being effective to monitor the position of said conductive pads of said tactile sensors relative to the surface of the touchscreen of the electronic device and to control one or more of graphic images and text displayed on the monitor of the electronic device dependent on said position of said conductive pads on the surface of the touchscreen.