Abstract: The invention includes moveable magnetic devices, for use in conjunction with electronic displays associated with computers and electronic devices enable manual input devices and control devices to be joined to the display, whereby the electronic device may be controlled, inputs may be made thereto, and the electronic display may be altered in correspondence to these inputs. In one aspect, the invention includes a fader controller comprised of a longitudinally extending track having a portion thereof extending over an image area of an electronic display, and a fader cap joined to the track for longitudinal sliding translation therealong. A plurality of permanent magnets are spaced along the track, and the fader cap includes at least one electromagnet. Conductive rails extend longitudinally on the track, and the fader cap includes contacts that electrically engage the conductive rails.

Abstract: A method for on-screen programming of an electronic device includes hand drawing of graphic inputs on-screen. The graphic inputs are recognized by determining the vertices, trend, size, context, and other parameters, and, once recognized, are converted to functional objects on-screen. The functional objects may be linked in a selected order by arrows or lines to produce a desired output, or may be ganged for action in common. The device may provide a control panel for signal processing, or a telephone display for controlling call blocking and call answering.

Abstract: Operator interaction with electrical systems is facilitated by providing electromechanical control devices, which have switch buttons, rotary knobs or the like, with flat panel displays that convey information pertaining to the controls that can be changed instantly by a display controller. The display may identify the function of the control, the current setting, create calibration marks or provide other graphics. The images change automatically if the same control is used for multiple functions. In one form of the invention, the display screen has openings in the image area and the controls extend through and protrude from the screen enabling display of graphics in close proximity to the controls. In another form, the settings of controls which are secured to the face of a display screen are optically or magnetically detected by sensors located behind the screen.

Abstract: In an electronic device that accepts drawn graphic entries and includes a screen display, a tool for storing and recalling elements displayed on the screen enables a user to draw a simple diagonal line to establish where an element is to be placed onscreen and the definition of the element. The length and slope of the diagonal line determines outer dimensions which are used to define the size of the element displayed. Each element is assigned to a respective line specifier, such as line color. A plurality of zones may be defined on the screen display, each zone having unique specifier assignments for the diagonal lines. A plurality of electronic devices may be connected to a communications network, and elements recalled on one device may be transmitted at the same time to any other device. Elements that are functional objects may be transmitted in this manner, and actualized and operated independently by the recipient devices.

Abstract: A graphic programming system for associating distinctive arrow appearances to specific transaction(s) that the arrow may convey among and between on-screen objects. The distinctive appearance features include arrow color, arrow style, and double-headed arrows, among many other possibilities. The system provides default relationships between specific arrow transactions and arrow appearance, so that, for example, a arrow of a particular color is recognized by the system (and easily identified by the user) to carry out a particular transaction. These relationships may be selectively varied by the user to suit individual needs.

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.

Abstract: A touch sensing apparatus for receiving input from one or more touch stimulating devices employs a spread spectrum signaling arrangement to transmit signals from the touch stimulating devices for identification and location determination. Spread spectrum techniques may include DSSS, FHSS, THSS, chirp, or combinations thereof. Passive devices operate in the propagation medium of an energy field formed of acoustic, EM, or light waves and reflect signals to signal pickups, where RSS or time delay techniques are used to determine location and spread spectrum encoding is used to identify the devices. Active devices generate a touch stimulating signal that is spread spectrum encoded for identification, and signal pickups in a propagation medium receive the touch stimulation signals which are identified by the SS encoding and located using RSS or time-delay techniques.

Abstract: A system for interactively operating with a resistive touch screen for signaling that any physical control device applied to the touch screen has been touched. A field antenna extends about the perimeter of the touch screen to emit an EM field. Each physical control device includes a resonant antenna tuned to the EM field, and a simple switch on each physical control device completes the resonant antenna circuit only when the physical control device is touched by the user. The touch event may determine that a physical control device is being operated, and that all physical control devices should be turned ON, to the exclusion of other touch inputs to the touch screen. The LC resonant antenna may be incorporated in a pen wielded by a touch screen user, and the touch input may be used as a mouse click input.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for transmitting power to active touch stimulating devices associated with a touch sensing apparatus. In this invention four methods of providing power supply to the touch-input device are presented. These methods are: EM induction transmission using a single loop antenna, EM induction transmission using a conductive layer, acoustic transmission through air, and acoustic transmission through an acoustic conductive layer.

Abstract: A process for recording and playing audio, video and/or data signals simultaneously from a recording medium includes the steps of initially acquiring a plurality of audio, video and/or data signals. Incremental temporal segments of each signal are taken and assembled into a single composite data frame in memory, and the composite frame is recorded in a permanent or erasable recording system. For example, the first 100 ms of each signal comprises the first incremental temporal segments, and all of these first segments of all signals are recorded in a predetermined order in the first composite frame. The second composite frame consists of the second 100 ms segments of the same signals, which are recorded in the same order as the first composite frame. This process is reiterated until the entire lengths of all of the signals are recorded in such composite frames.

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.

Abstract: Operator interaction with electrical systems is facilitated by providing electromechanical control devices, which have switch buttons, rotary knobs or the like, with flat panel displays that convey information pertaining to the controls that can be changed instantly by a display controller. The display may identify the function of the control, the current setting, create calibration marks or provide other graphics. The images change automatically if the same control is used for multiple functions. In one form of the invention, the display screen has openings in the image area and the controls extend through and protrude from the screen enabling display of graphics in close proximity to the controls. In another form, the settings of controls which are secured to the face of a display screen are optically or magnetically detected by sensors located behind the screen.

Abstract: Electrical circuit control devices are affixed to the front of an electronic image display screen, within the image displaying area, to provide instantly changeable labels and other graphics which convey information pertaining to operation of the controls. The control devices may be of any of a variety of types that are variously operated by depressing switch buttons, turning a knob, flexing or tilting a joystick or exerting force against an immovable knob. The control devices have compact and durable constructions which enable the devices to be wholly at the front of the display screen as opposed to extending through openings in a screen. Operator manipulation of the control devices is variously sensed by radio frequency sensors, Hall effect sensors, strain gauge sensors, touch sensitive circuits or electromechanical contacts.

Abstract: Operator interaction with electrical systems is facilitated by providing electromechanical control devices, which have switch buttons, rotary knobs or the like, with flat panel displays that convey information pertaining to the controls that can be changed instantly by a display controller. The display may identify the function of the control, the current setting, create calibration marks or provide other graphics. The images change automatically if the same control is used for multiple functions. In one form of the invention, the display screen has openings in the image area and the controls extend through and protrude from the screen enabling display of graphics in close proximity to the controls. In another form, the settings of controls which are secured to the face of a display screen are optically or magnetically detected by sensors located behind the screen.

Abstract: An electrical circuit control of the type having a knob which is turned by an operator to vary a circuit condition is affixed to the face of an electronic image display device and at least a portion of the knob overlays the image display area. This enables display of instantly changeable calibration marks and/or other graphics in close proximity to the circuit control including at locations immediately adjacent to the perimeter of the knob. Electronic components of the control are contained within the knob and a base member at the front of the panel. Components of this kind may be embedded in or attached to the knob itself enabling easy repair by simply replacing the knob and/or may be contained in an easily replaced carrier that fits within the base. Knob motion sensors include radio frequency sensors, capacitive sensors, Hall effect sensors and photoelectric sensors among others and enable the controls to be compact, durable and enable economic manufacture.

Abstract: Keys or buttons for operating switches contain flat panel displays for displaying changeable images that convey information pertaining to operation of the switches. Labels at the face of the keys can change instantly and automatically when the functions of the switches change during different modes of operation of an electronic system. The display including driver integrated circuit chips is contained within a transparent key cap and has a bezel free construction enabling display of images that may extend to the edges of the face of the display. The invention provides for durable moisture sealing at the edges of a display which contains very thin internal edge seals and, in one form, provides similar sealing at a passage through the active image area of the display through which a switch button or other control may extend. A single set of such keys may be used to control diverse different types of electronic devices.

Abstract: An electrical circuit control of the type having a knob which is turned by an operator to vary a circuit condition is affixed to the face of an electronic image display device and at least a portion of the knob overlays the image display area. This enables display of instantly changeable calibration marks and/or other graphics in close proximity to the circuit control including at locations immediately adjacent to the perimeter of the knob. Electronic components of the control are contained within the knob and a base member at the front of the panel. Components of this kind may be embedded in or attached to the knob itself enabling easy repair by simply replacing the knob and/or may be contained in an easily replaced carrier that fits within the base. Knob motion sensors include radio frequency sensors, capacitive sensors, Hall effect sensors and photoelectric sensors among others and enable the controls to be compact, durable and enable economic manufacture.

Abstract: A circuit control device of the type having a knob which an operator travels along a track to vary a circuit condition is disposed on the face of an electronic display screen. This enables a display of calibration marks, symbols and/or other indicia pertaining to operation of the control including at; locations in immediate proximity to the slidable knob which display can change instantly when the function of the control changes or when other conditions call for different graphics. The track and sliding knob and electronic components of the control signal producing circuit are at the front of the display screen thereby enabling easy repair. Components of the control signal producing circuit are contained within the knob and/or track. Knob motion is detected by compact and durable sensors which may include radio frequency sensors, capacitive sensors, photoelectric sensors or Hall effect sensors among others.

Abstract: The operator manipulated rotary knob, sliding knob, depressible button or the like of an electrical circuit control device is situated at the face of an image display screen within the image display area. This enables display of calibration marks and/or other graphics pertinent to operation of the control including at locations immediately adjacent to the operator manipulated component. The graphics may change instantly when the function of the control is changed. Conductors for connecting the control device with the controlled circuit extend along a front or back surface of the transparent cover plate of the display or an overlay cover plate within the image display area. The conductors, which may be opaque or transparent, are positioned to avoid or minimize obscuring of images by the conductors.

Abstract: Operator interaction with electrical systems is facilitated by providing electromechanical control devices, which have switch buttons, rotary knobs or the like, with flat panel displays that convey information pertaining to the controls that can be changed instantly by a display controller. The display may identify the function of the control, the current setting, create calibration marks or provide other graphics. The images change automatically if the same control is used for multiple functions. In one form of the invention, the display screen has openings in the image area and the controls extend through and protrude from the screen enabling display of graphics in close proximity to the controls. In another form, the settings of controls which are secured to the face of a display screen are optically or magnetically detected by sensors located behind the screen.