Patent Document

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    This invention relates generally to electronic devices and, more particularly, relates to a universal remote control or universal remote control/telephone combination with touch operated user interface having tactile feedback. 
         [0002]    Remote controls including universal remote controls for controlling the operation of home appliances are well known. In this regard, a universal remote control functions by consolidating three, four, five, and more remote controls into one device. Also known in the art is combining the functionality of a universal remote control and a cordless telephone handset into a single unit as contemplated by, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,138,649 entitled “Portable Telephone Handset with Universal Remote Control” which patent is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
         [0003]    As more remotely controllable appliances enter the homes of consumers and the number of remotely controllable operations increase, the user interface of the universal remote control becomes increasingly more complex. This complexity arises from the need to provide more and more keys which are used to initiate the transmission of the control codes that control the burgeoning number of operations of the increasing number of home appliances. When included, the addition of telephone functionality further increases the complexity, or clutter, of the user interface. Disadvantageously, as the user interface of the universal remote control becomes more cluttered, the usability of the universal remote control diminishes. 
         [0004]    In an attempt to solve this problem, universal remote controls which comprise a touch screen or touch screen-like interface, for example, a transparent or translucent touch sensitive surface overlaid upon an LCD, or a flexible EL display panel positioned above a grid of pressure sensitive switches, have been proposed. Thus, by selectively illuminating portions of the LCD or EL segments, the user may be presented with keys (i.e., “soft keys”) to command different functions for different appliances in manner that serves to relatively simplify the user interface. Such universal remote control devices/interfaces are described in, for example, commonly assigned U.S. patent application Ser. Nos. 10/288,727 entitled “User Interface for a Hand Held Universal Remote Control Device” and 10/410,103 entitled “Universal Remote Control with a Local Screen Guided Setup,” which published applications for patent are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. 
         [0005]    While this technology has served to simplify operation of universal remote controls, a new disadvantage is introduced by this technology, that being a lack of tactile feedback to assist the user in locating a key position and/or in the perception of key actuation. Accordingly, a need exists for a universal remote control, with or without added cordless telephone functionality, having an improved user interface that simplifies the operation of the universal remote control and, as such, the remote operation of consumer appliances, while still providing appropriate tactile feedback to a user. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    In accordance with these and other needs, a touch operated user interface having tactile feedback for use in connection with a universal remote control or universal remote control with cordless phone functionality is provided. In particular, surface features are provided as part of or as an overlay to a touchable face area of the user interface in order to assist the user in locating key positions and/or to provide positive indication of key activation. A more complete understanding of the advantages, features, properties and relationships of the touch operated user interface having tactile feedback for use in connection with a universal remote control or universal remote control combined with a cordless phone will be obtained from the following detailed description and accompanying drawings which set forth illustrative embodiments indicative of the various ways in which the principles described hereinafter may be employed. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]    For a better understanding of the touch operated user interface having tactile feedback for use in connection with a universal remote control or universal remote control combined with a cordless phone, reference may be had to preferred embodiments shown in the following drawings in which: 
           [0008]      FIG. 1  illustrates an exemplary universal remote control as part of a system including a plurality of controllable appliances; 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  illustrates an exemplary universal remote control with cordless telephone functionality as part of a system including a plurality of controllable appliances; 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  illustrates in block diagram form the component parts of the universal remote control of  FIGS. 1 and 2 ; 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  illustrates an exemplary universal remote control having an electroluminescent (“EL”) panel display; 
           [0012]      FIG. 5  illustrates exemplary display segments of the universal remote control of  FIG. 4 ; 
           [0013]      FIGS. 6 through 9  illustrate exemplary screen displays of a user interface of the universal remote control of  FIG. 4 ; 
           [0014]      FIGS. 10 and 11  illustrate an exemplary universal remote control with cordless phone functionality having an electroluminescent (“EL”) panel display showing various exemplary user interfaces; 
           [0015]      FIG. 12  illustrates a prior art mechanical construction of a keypad for use as part of a user interface; 
           [0016]      FIG. 13  illustrates a mechanical construction of a keypad including tactile feedback for use as part of a user interface; and 
           [0017]      FIGS. 14 and 15  illustrate partial, cross-sectional views of the keypad including tactile feedback of  FIG. 13 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0018]    With reference to the figures, wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements, a universal remote control  100  and a universal remote control with cordless phone functionality  200  each having an EL display for presenting multiple universal remote control user interfaces are described. In this regard, each of the multiple user interfaces provides a user with the ability to use the universal remote control to command functional operations of one or more appliances of various types and various manufacturers, and in the case of universal remote control  200 , to also command the operation of a cordless telephone system (also to be considered “an appliance”). For example, the universal remote controls  100 ,  200  may include a mechanism, e.g., one or more device mode keys, a scroll wheel, navigation keys, or the like, for placing the universal remote controls  100 ,  200  into an operating mode for transmitting commands that are appropriate for the one or more appliances that have been assigned to or setup for that operating mode. In connection with being placed into a particular operating mode, one or more segments in the EL display may be selectively illuminated, in a manner described hereinafter, to present a user interface that is appropriate for that operating mode. It will also be appreciated that each operating mode may also have multiple user interface pages each of which may present one or more function keys that are appropriate for commanding the one or more appliances assigned to or setup for that operating mode, e.g., an user interface page providing a numerical keypad, an user interface page providing transport function keys, an user interface page providing menu navigation function keys, etc. Among other things, the use of multiple user interface pages in an operational mode (between which a user may navigate) having logical groupings of function keys has the advantage of providing function keys to a user in a relatively less cluttered manner. The same universal remote control interface page may also be included in a set of user interface pages across multiple operational modes. 
         [0019]    By way of example,  FIG. 1  illustrates an exemplary system including controllable appliances, such as a set top box (“STB”)  120 , a VCR  130 , an audio amplifier/receiver  140 , and a television  110 , which may be commanded through the use of universal remote control  100 . More particularly, the universal remote control  100  is capable of transmitting commands to the appliances, using any convenient IR, RF, Point-to-Point, or networked protocol, to cause the appliances to perform operational functions. While illustrated in the context of a STB  120 , VCR  130 , audio system  140  and television  110 , it is to be understood that controllable appliances can include, but are not limited to, televisions, VCRs, DVRs, DVD players, cable or satellite converter set-top boxes (“STBs”), amplifiers, CD players, game consoles, home lighting, drapery, fans, HVAC systems, thermostats, personal computers, etc. 
         [0020]    By way of further example,  FIG. 2  illustrates an exemplary system including an alternative universal remote control embodiment  200  which includes cordless telephone functionality. In addition to offering control of appliances  110 ,  120 ,  130  and  140  in a manner similar to that described above, universal remote control  200  may further be placed into a mode wherein it functions as a cordless telephone handset, communicating via a two-way RF signal with base station  210  which is in turn attached to the telephone network  220  via the usual connector. It will be appreciated that in this exemplary system, base station  210  may also serve as a recharging station for the universal remote control  200 . In one embodiment, base station  210  may also incorporate telephone answering machine functionality which may be further remotely controlled via transmissions from the universal remote control  200 . It will be further appreciated that the phone may be a cellular phone in certain embodiments communicating with a cellular phone tower in a conventional manner. 
         [0021]    Turning now to  FIG. 3 , for use in commanding the functional operations of one or more appliances, the universal remote control  100 ,  200  may include, as needed for a particular application, a processor  302  coupled to a memory device (such as ROM memory  304 , RAM memory  305 , and/or a non-volatile read/write memory  306 ) a key matrix  310  (e.g., dome style switch contact array, silicon rubber keypad, or a combination thereof), a segmented, electroluminescent (“EL”) display panel  318  overlaying the key matrix  310 , EL display interface electronics  316 , transmitter circuit  308  for communicating with the appliances to be controlled (e.g., IR and/or RF), and a power source  312  which may be rechargeable via contacts  314 . It will be appreciated that in certain embodiments power source  312  may alternately comprise replaceable batteries in which case recharging contacts  314  are not required. A universal remote control/cordless telephone combination handset  200  of the type illustrated in  FIG. 2  may additionally include a telephone control chip  320 , an earphone  324  (or speaker), a microphone  326 , and an RF transceiver circuit  322  with antenna  328  for communication with base station  210 . All of these components are well known in the art, thus for the sake of brevity they will not be discussed in further detail herein. 
         [0022]    As will be understood by those skilled in the art, the memory device may include executable instructions that are intended to be executed by the processor  302  to control the operation of the universal remote control  100 ,  200 . In this manner, the processor  302  may be programmed to control the various electronic components within the universal remote control  100 ,  200 , e.g., to monitor the power supply, to cause the transmission of signals, place the telephone circuit in the off-hook or on-hook state, etc. The non-volatile read/write memory  306 , for example an EEPROM, Flash, battery-backed up RAM, Smart Card, memory stick, or the like, may be provided to store setup data and parameters as necessary. While the memory  304  is illustrated and described as a ROM memory, memory  304  can also be comprised of any type of readable media, such as ROM, RAM, SRAM, FLASH, EEPROM, or the like which may also be non-volatile or battery-backed such that data is not required to be reloaded after battery changes. In addition, the memory devices may take the form of a chip, a hard disk, a magnetic disk, an optical disk, and/or the like. Still further, it will be appreciated that some or all of the illustrated memory devices may be physically incorporated within the same IC chip as the processor  302  (a so called “microcontroller”) and, as such, they are shown separately in  FIG. 3  only for the sake of clarity. 
         [0023]    Unlike conventional universal remote controls which are usually constructed using silicon rubber keypads protruding through cut-outs in a hard plastic upper housing, universal remote controls  100 ,  200  use a flexible, segmented electroluminescent (“EL”) panel  318  that is overlaid over a dome switch style key matrix  310 . Flexible EL panel  318  may comprise addressable segments arranged in various shapes which may be selectively illuminated to form icons or soft keys, for example as illustrated in  FIG. 4 . In this manner, pressure applied to a universal remote control user interface icon on EL panel  318  will cause it to flex and result in actuation of a corresponding underlying dome switch in the key matrix  310 , the combination thus forming a function key as will be further described hereafter in connection with  FIGS. 12 through 15 . In the illustrated examples, the EL display panels  318  may be constructed as described in PCT patent application WO 00/72638 which is assigned to Cambridge Consultants Ltd. and which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. This allows various parts of the display to be independently illuminated under control of the microprocessor  302  and EL display interface  316  to thereby present universal remote control user interface icons over select areas of the key matrix  310 . The advantage of such a construction is that different elements may be illuminated at different times, depending on the activity currently being performed by the user (i.e., depending upon a mode the universal remote control has been placed into). 
         [0024]    By way of a more detailed example, the numeric keypad portion  540  of the EL panel of universal remote control  100  may be arranged as three separately controllable segments  502 ,  503 , and  504 , as illustrated in  FIG. 5 . To achieve the numeric pad appearance  640 ′, shown for example in  FIG. 4  or  6 , segments  502  and  503  are illuminated by the microprocessor. Similarly, to achieve the appearance  640 ″, corresponding to a setup mode and shown for example in  FIG. 7 , segments  502  and  504  are illuminated. A function key area, e.g., the transport key/picture-in-picture control area  550 , may also be arranged into segments  512 ,  513 ,  514 ,  515 , and  516 . To achieve the appearance  650 ′, shown for example in  FIG. 6 , only segments  512  and  513  are illuminated. In order to achieve the appearance  650 ″, shown for example in  FIG. 8 , segments  512 ,  514 , and  516  are illuminated. This ability to independently illuminate various parts of the display may also be used to selectively illuminate groups of function keys which correspond to functions applicable to a particular device to be controlled by the universal remote control  100 ,  200 . By way of example,  FIGS. 9   a  and  9   b  illustrate how the keypad display may appear for use in controlling the operation of a television device which supports menu functionality  910  ( FIG. 9   b ) versus the keypad display for use in controlling the operation of a television which does not support menu functionality ( FIG. 9   a ). Thus, it will be appreciated that under a touch area of the user interface one of multiple different icons available for use in connection with that touch area may be displayed to the user to thereby provide multiple different user interfaces. For additional explanation regarding the display of function keys considering functionality of a device, reference may be had to co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/905,396 “Hand Held Device Having a Browser Application” which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
         [0025]    The ability to independently illuminate various parts of the display may be further used to display various key functionalities via the user interface according the current state of the intended target device (i.e., the device to which commands are to be transmitted). An example of this is shown in  FIGS. 9   b  and  8  where activation of the “PIP” key  812  by the user not only transmits the universal remote control command to toggle the television device in and out of a picture-in-picture mode, but also controls availability (i.e., the display of function keys for activation) of the key set  650 ″ ( FIG. 8 ) used to control the picture-in-picture display as a function of the PIP state the television device is commanded to enter. 
         [0026]    Turning now to  FIGS. 10 and 11 , there is illustrated an alternative embodiment of a universal remote control device  200  constructed using an addressable segmented EL panel. In this example, universal remote control  200  may include a cordless telephone capability as described earlier. In this instance, the addressable, independently illuminable EL segments may be arranged to present user icons suitable for universal remote control of entertainment equipment as shown in  FIG. 10  or suitable for operation of the cordless telephone capability as illustrated in  FIG. 11 . By way of further explanation,  FIG. 10   a  illustrates how the keypad display of device  200  may appear as part of a user interface for controlling functions of a television (this mode of universal remote control operation being entered by actuation, for example, of a TV mode key  1002 ), while  FIG. 10   b  illustrates how the keypad display of device  200  may appear as part of a user interface for controlling functions of a DVD or VCR device (this mode of universal remote control operation being entered by actuation, for example, of a DVD/VCR key  1004 ).  FIG. 11   a  illustrates how the keypad display of device  200  may appear as part of a user interface for communicating with (i.e., commanding) the cordless phone base station when the cordless telephone mode of operation is activated by, for example, actuation of the “Telephone” key  1102 . A comparison of  FIGS. 10   a  and  11   a  will reveal how selective illumination of various segments in the manner described earlier may be used to adapt a numeric keypad icon set  1010  of the user interface for the different modes of operation  1010 ′ (e.g., to control a television) and  1010 ″ (e.g., to communicate with a phone base station). 
         [0027]    The cordless telephone capability of device  200  may also include the ability to control an answering machine (for example, built into base station  210 ) by activation of an “Answering Machine” icon  1104 . Activation of the answering machine mode of operation may result in the illumination of specific additional user interface elements  1000 ″ as illustrated in  FIG. 11   b . Again, a comparison of  FIGS. 10   b  and  11   b  will reveal how selective illumination of various segments may be used to adapt a transport key group  1000  of a user interface for different modes of operation  1000 ′ (e.g., to control a DVD player) and  1000 ″ (e.g., to control an answering machine). 
         [0028]    Additionally, given that base station  210  includes wireless capabilities for communicating with device  200  and connections to both a powerline and phone line (for transferring power signals and telephony signals respectively to base station  210 ) base station  210  may be optionally configured with components and programming to enable command passing/bridging, control, and media playback functions within a desired control environment. By way of example, in one embodiment base station  210  may include the ability to transfer commands received from universal remote control device  200  to a powerline based control network (for example X10 or UPB) thereby enabling device  200  to control suitably equipped appliances such as lighting fixtures, thermostats, security systems, spas, etc., located anywhere on the premises. In this context it will be appreciated that although described above in terms of a simple powerline based system, such base station command transfer capabilities may in general encompass one or more of powerline, phone line, structured wiring, hardwired, wireless (RF or IR), or any other suitable control network technology. Alternatively or in addition, base station  210  may be configured with remote beaconing and/or location signaling components and programming as described more fully in commonly assigned and co-pending U.S. Provisional Application 60/517,558 entitled “System and Method for Controlling Device Location Determination” which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Base station  210  may also be configured as a control centric device and/or content server for enabling various command and content based functions via one or more existing control networks (i.e., RF, powerline, phoneline, etc. based networking methods, or a combination of the above) as more fully described in co-pending U.S. Provisional Application 60/517,283 entitled “Home Appliance Control System and Methods in a Networked Environment” which is owned by a common assignee and incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Additional extended control functions (such as the ability to pause and resume appliance states across multiple control environments or zones) may be implemented via one or more base stations by incorporating features and functions of a central data/state server (such as a media server, control pod, PC, etc. connected to one or more devices of the home entertainment center), which is more fully described in co-pending U.S. Application 60/517,737 entitled “System And Method For Saving And Recalling State Data For Media And Home Appliances” which is owned by a common assignee and incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
         [0029]    Referring now to  FIGS. 12 through 15 , the mechanical construction of exemplary embodiments of a universal remote control incorporating a flexible EL panel with selectively illuminable segments will be described in more detail. In a previously disclosed embodiment—which is illustrated in  FIG. 12  and disclosed previously in, for example, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/410,103—a flexible EL panel  318  is disposed above an array of mylar dome switches  310  such that pressure applied to, for example, any of the graphical user interface icons  1220  . . .  1224 , etc., will result in the corresponding dome switch  1230  . . .  1234 , etc. making contact with the underlying printed circuit board  370  to complete a circuit, whereby individual universal remote control functions are selected by the user. 
         [0030]    Turning now to  FIGS. 13 and 14 , there is illustrated an improved embodiment in which a transparent or translucent (collectively referred to as “translucent”) mylar panel  1300  may be positioned over the upper surface of flexible EL panel  318 . This outer mylar panel  1300  serves to enhance tactile feedback to the user of the device, both in locating key positions by touch, e.g., by means of the “bumps” provided by domes  1320  formed in the mylar panel  1300  over the location of user interface keys, as well as providing an additional “click” sensation upon activation of a user interface key via compression of its corresponding dome switch  1320 . In this context it be noted that the material of outer sheet  1300  is preferably selected such that the operational force of the outer dome  1320 , which is positioned over the illuminable segment(s) of a user interface element and its corresponding dome switch  1310 , is greater than that of the inner key matrix dome switch  1310 , thus assuring that key contact is completed before the tactile feedback occurs. While illustrated in the form of domes, it will be appreciated that any suitable shape(s) compatible with the mechanics of click-over and restore may be used for the surface features of outer sheet  1300 . 
         [0031]    In yet a further exemplary embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 15 , in cases where the only tactile feedback desired is for the purposes of locating positions of keys in the user interface, a translucent upper sheet  1350  may be formed from molded silicone rubber, cast or embossed mylar, or any other suitable flexible material to provide surface features  1360  or outwardly extending protuberances for use in tactile location of key positions, e.g., the upper sheet  1350  will have a protuberance formed over the illuminable segment(s) of a user interface element and its corresponding dome switch  1310 . Once again, any suitable shape may be used for surface features  1360 , in this instance without regard to click-over compatibility. For example, the “bumps” positioned over user interface elements that are to be used in connection with channel tuning operations  1010 ′ or phone number dialing  1010 ″ may be formed in shapes corresponding to the numbers 1-9. 
         [0032]    While various concepts have been described in detail, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various modifications and alternatives to those concepts could be developed in light of the overall teachings of the disclosure. For example, although described in the context of EL panels, it will be appreciated that the tactile feedback methods of  FIGS. 14 through 15  may also be applied to touch sensitive materials used to overlay LCD screens. Alternative embodiments may mix keypad technologies, combining EL panel-based portions with other portions comprising conventional silicone rubber keypads or other key switch technologies. Further, while described in the context of functional modules and illustrated using block diagram format, it is to be understood that, unless otherwise stated to the contrary, one or more of the described functions and/or features may be integrated in a single physical device and/or a software module, or one or more functions and/or features may be implemented in separate physical devices or software modules. It will also be appreciated that a detailed discussion of the actual implementation of each module is not necessary for an enabling understanding of the invention. Rather, the actual implementation of such modules would be well within the routine skill of an engineer, given the disclosure herein of the attributes, functionality, and inter-relationship of the various functional modules in the system. Therefore, a person skilled in the art, applying ordinary skill, will be able to practice the invention set forth in the claims without undue experimentation. It will be additionally appreciated that the particular concepts disclosed are meant to be illustrative only and not limiting as to the scope of the invention which is to be given the full breadth of the appended claims and any equivalents thereof. 
         [0033]    All patents cited within this document are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

Technology Category: 3