Abstract: One or more controls producing control signals for electrical apparatus are disposed at the face of an electronic display screen which display graphics pertinent to the operation of the controls. Controls having a cap which is slidable along a track include a tongue in the track connecting with signal producing components at an off screen location thereby enabling use of a track of minimal bulk. Controls having slidable caps or turnable knobs and controls such as joysticks and switches snap engage at the face of the screen enabling easy replacement and movement to different locations on the screen. Control signals may be transmitted to an off screen location without use of conductors extending along the screen.

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: 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.

Abstract: A flat panel display facilitates operation of one or more electrical circuit control devices by providing changeable images which convey information pertinent to operation of the circuit. The manually movable member of the circuit control device, such as a turnable knob for example, is attached to the face of the display within the image area of the display. The display has a light transparent zone within the image area which extends to the back of the display to enable photoelectric detection of the setting of the movable member by a detector which is situated behind the flat panel display. Row and column busbar conductors within the flat panel display, which control light intensity at image pixels, are routed around the light transparent zone to prevent optical signal degradation.

Abstract: Circuit control devices of the kind having operator manipulated control members are disposed at the face of an electronically controlled flat panel display within the image display area. This enables display of calibration marks and/or other graphics that can change instantly and automatically in response to changing operating conditions. Operating power for the control devices is inductively transmitted from the back of the display or from the back of the transparent cover plate of the display through spaced apart coils. Control signals produced by the control devices are inductively transmitted to the back of the display or to the back of the cover plate through the same coils or through additional coils. This provides for coupling of the control devices with the controlled circuit without internal modifications of the flat panel display and without requiring that conductors extend across displayed images at the front surface of the display.

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.