AU748118B2

AU748118B2 - A control pad and associated controller, and method for producing a control pad

Info

Publication number: AU748118B2
Application number: AU22368/00A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Lorenzo Cicchitelli; Zhenya Yourlo
Original assignee: Canon Inc
Current assignee: Canon Inc
Priority date: 1999-03-16
Filing date: 2000-03-16
Publication date: 2002-05-30
Anticipated expiration: 2020-03-16
Also published as: AU2236800A

Description

S&F Ref: 495332

AUSTRALIA

PATENTS ACT 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT

ORIGINAL

r r c r o u cc u r

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r Name and Address of Applicant: Actual Inventor(s): Address for Service: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha 30-2, Shimomaruko 3-chome, Ohta-ku Tokyo 146 Japan Zhenya Yourlo and Lorenzo Cicchitelli Spruson Ferguson St Martins Tower 31 Market Street Sydney NSW 2000 A Control Pad and Associated Controller, and Method for Producing a Control Pad Invention Title: ASSOCIATED PROVISIONAL APPLICATION DETAILS [33] Country [31] Applic. No(s) AU PP9236 [32] Application Date 16 Mar 1999 The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us:- 5815c A Control Pad and associated Controller, and Method for producing a Control Pad Field of Invention The present invention relates to a control pad for use with a controller having a control pad receptacle. The invention also relates to the controller and a method for producing the control pad.

Background Art Control pads of various types are known and used across a relatively wide variety of fields. Typically, such pads include one or more keys, buttons or pressure responsive areas which upon application of suitable pressure by a user, generate signals which are supplied to associated control circuitry.

These prior art control pads are somewhat limited, in that they only allow for a single configuration of keys, buttons or pressure sensitive areas. Standard layouts rarely exist in a given field, and so a user is frequently compelled to learn a new layout with 15 each control pad they use. For example many automatic teller machines and electronic funds transfer at point of sale ("EFTPOS") devices use different layouts, :notwithstanding their relatively similar data entry requirements. This can be potentially confusing for a user who must figure out for each control pad the location of buttons required to be depressed. The problem is exacerbated by the fact that such control pads frequently offer more options than the user is interested in, or even able to use.

Aspects of Invention oooo It is an object of the present invention to ameliorate one or more disadvantages of the prior art.

One or more exemplary aspects of the invention are listed below, but are not limited thereto.

According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a control pad for use with a controller having a control pad receptacle, a first data reader and a second data reader, the control pad comprising: sensing means forming a keypad of at least one key for sensing users contact by means of an electrical change; user; data output means for outputting key data indicative of the keys selected by a Cue m user; 120201; 16:31; 29/01/02; 02:11 PM 495332AU.DOC transmission means comprising conductive ink tracks on at least one face of a laminar substrate coupling the sensing means and the data output means; storage means for storing identification data for identifying functions associated with the keys; wherein upon selection by the user of said at least one key, the first data reader retrieves identification data from the storage means on the basis of the key data sensed by the second data reader from the data output means.

According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a controller for use with a control pad, the control pad comprising: sensing means forming a keypad of at least one key for sensing users contact by means of an electrical change; data output means for outputting key data indicative of the keys selected by a user; transmission means comprising conductive ink tracks on at least one face of a 15 laminar substrate coupling the sensing means and the data output means; storage means for storing identification data for identifying functions associated with the keys; wherein upon selection by the user of said at least one key, the first data reader o• retrieves identification data from the storage means on the basis of the key data sensed by 20 the second data reader from the data output means; wherein the controller comprises a housing; a control pad receptacle formed in said housing for receiving the control pad; a viewing area for allowing access to and selection by a user of said at least one key; a first data reader for reading the identification data in the storage means; and a second data reader for reading the key data from the data output means; wherein, upon insertion of the control pad into the control pad receptacle such that at least some of the keys are accessible in the viewing area and upon selection by a user of said at least one key, the first data reader reads said identification data from the storage means and the second data reader reads the key data indicative of the selected 4 x. keys from the data output means.

120201; 16:31; 20/03/02; 04:04 PM 495332au.doc 2a According to a third aspect of the invention, there is provided A method of producing a control pad, the method comprising the steps of: providing one or more active areas as one or more keys on a face of a laminar substrate, the keys being sensing means operable by placing a users finger in direct electrical contact therewith; providing data output means on a face of the laminar substrate; printing conductive tracks adapted to both form the keys, and to couple the keys to the data output means; and storing identification data in storage means on or in the laminar substrate for identifying associated functions.

Brief Description of the Drawings Embodiments of the invention are described with reference to the drawings, in which: Fig. 1 shows a control pad with conductive ink tracks and a controller having a control pad receptacle in accordance with a first preferred embodiment; Fl SFig. 2 shows a cross-section of the controller of Fig. 1, taken along the line II- II; o• go *o• oooo *oo oO* o o 120201; 16:31; 29/01/02; 02:11 PM 495332AU.DOC Fig. 3 shows a cross-section of the control pad of Fig. 1, taken along the line III

III;

Figs. 4A and 4B shows a number of different arrangements of contact points suitable for use in the control pad of Fig. 1; Fig. 5 shows a control pad with conductive ink and instantaneous contact buttons in accordance with another preferred embodiment; Figs. 6A and 6B show alternative sensor arrangement for use with the control pad of Fig. 1; Fig. 7 shows another alternative sensor arrangment for use with the control pad of Figs. 1; :pa Fig. 8 shows yet another alternative sensor arrangment for use with the control :pad of Figs. 1; and Fig. 9 shows a flowchart representation of a control pad being used in a personto-person communication application according to a preferred embodiment of the invention.

Detailed Description Where reference is made in any one or more of the accompanying drawings to steps and/or features, which have the same reference numerals, those steps and/or features have for the purposes of this description the same function(s) or operation(s), unless the contrary intention appears.

The principles of the preferred apparatus described herein have general applicability to, remote control systems, automatic tellers and video game controllers.

However, it will be appreciated that the invention is not limited to these fields of use and many other applications are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For ease of explanation, the preferred apparatus has been described with reference to a generic apparatus but it is envisaged the apparatus may have application to numerous specific fields of use, as would be apparent to the person skilled in the art.

Turning to Fig. 1 to 3, there is shown a control pad in the form of a smart card and a corresponding controller 1 having a control pad receptacle 4, within which the smart card 10 can be inserted to provide functionality. The controller 1, has a housing 2 which defines a control template receptable 4 and a viewing area 6. Data reading means are provided in the form of exposed contacts 7 and associated control circuitry (not shown).

(CFP1654AU DTV03) IAkELEC\CISRA\DTV\DTV03\495332AU. DOC The viewing area 6 is defined by a cut-out area in the housing 2 allowing access to the inside of the housing.

The controller 1 is configured for use with a control pad, which takes the form of a smart card 10. The smart card 10 includes a laminar substrate 12 with conductive ink tracks 34 and 36 printed on one face 16 of the substrate 12. The smart card has active areas 30 which form a key pad. The smart card 10 includes a storage facility 19 that allows an identification of these active areas 30 to functions corresponding to the smart card 10. The storage facility 19 is accessed by a set of contact points 18 that are contacted by a corresponding contact area 7 in the controller receptacle 4. The storage facility 19 can be an embedded on-board memory chip. Alternatively, the storage facility may be replaced with a magnetic strip in conventional manner. A corrresponding controller (not shown) for this embodiment includes a magnetic read head positioned at or adjacent to an entrance to the corresponding control pad receptacle. Another embodiment of the control •pad can have storage means in the form of a bar code. The corresponding controller can then include a corresponding bar code reader positioned at or adjacent to an entrance to the control pad receptacle.

On insertion of the control pad 10 into the controller receptacle 4, contact is also made between a contact point 38 and a set of contacts 36. These contacts provide a means for connection of a number of active areas 30 to the controller by way of paths consisting 20 of conductive ink 34. The number of contact points 38 provided by the controller 1 limits the number of active areas 30 on the control pad. The active areas 30 form a key pad of one or more keys. Once the smart card 10 is inserted in the controller 1, the user is able to access the active areas 30 of the keypad via the viewing area 6. The control circuitry( not shown) of the controller 1 is adapted to sense which active areas 30 have been touched or activated by the user. In this way, the controller 1 is adapted to access key data indicative of which keys have been selected by a user. The control circuitry(not shown) of the controller is also adapted to retrieve identification data from the storage facility 19 via contact area 7. This identification data identifies the type of card 10, and the function of the associated keys. For example, identification data may identify the card 10 as a video controller card for a particular game and identify each of the functions associated with the keys on the card. In one particular embodiment, the controller is then able to execute the particular function associated, with an activated key by using the identification data and key data. Alternatively, the controller transmits the information to a central unit which (CFP1654AU DTV03) I:\ELEC\CISRADV\DTVO3\495332AU.DOC then executes the particular function associated with the activated key. The controller can be coupled to the central unit, such as a general purpose computer, via cable or wireless.

The preferred control pad is manufactured using a standard smart card, as the basic component. Active areas 30 in the form of a key pad and conductive ink tracks 34 and contacts 36 are printed on at least one face 16 of the standard smart card Associated identification data for identifying functions associated with the keys are then stored in the embedded on-board chip 19 of the smart card 10. In this way, the preferred controller and control pad are standardised as far as possible, achieving significant savings in manufacture whilst still allowing significant flexibility in design application.

The control pad is application specific a football video game) and is only used when needed by the user. Furthermore, the controller 1 is extremely robust and the sensitive data readers 7 and 36 can be protected in a known manner. As such, the :controller 1 and control pad are able to be used in some situations, where they may be subject to extreme conditions, mishandling or wilful damage.

Turning now to Figs. 4A and 4B, there is shown a number of different arrangements of contact points suitable for use in the control pad of Fig. 1. Each contact 36 is formed of a conductive material. In the preferred embodiment this material is ""-conductive ink.

Turning now to Fig. 5, there is shown a control pad with conductive ink and instantaneous contact buttons in accordance with another preferred embodiment. The control pad is in the form of a smart card 10 and has active areas 30. These active areas are in the form of momentary contact switches on the control pad. In this embodiment, the momentary contact switches are raised domes formed of a conductive material that form a connection between conductive ink tracks 34 when depressed. The momentary contact switches may be affixed to the control pad by an adhesive compound on one side, or may form part of a contact sheet, which covers the whole, or part of the surface of the control pad.

In Figs. 6A and 6B, an alternative arrangement of sensing is provided, which does not require momentary contact switches. In this implementation, the conductive ink tracks 34 are formed into an arrangement for which a capacitance exists between track 603 and track 604. This arrangement is equivalent to the parallel capacitor arrangement 602.

(CFP1654AU DTV03) :\ELEC\CISRADTV\DTV03\495332AU.DOC The arrangement presented in Figs. 6A and 6B presents a nominal capacitive reactance when powered. This capacitive reactance will vary detectable when a finger or other substance is placed on top of the conductive ink arrangement so as to alter the permeability of the surroundings of the arrangement. Such a change in capacitance would represent an activation of the corresponding active region of the control pad possessing such a region.

Turning now to figure 7, there is shown another alternative sensor arrangment for use with the control pad of Figs. 1. In this example, a portion 701 of the conductive ink track 34 is arranged as shown. A separate stylus 702 is also provided, which is fitted with a magnetic tip 703. When the track 34 is formed into an unbroken circuit, moving the stylus tip across the surface of the arrangement will result in an induced current. Detection of this induced current indicates activation of the corresponding active region on a control pad possessing such a region.

Fig. 8 shows yet another alternative sensor arrangement 800 for use with the control pad of Fig. 1 which makes use of a resistor 804, electrically in parallel with a high impedance gap 802. As shown in the figure, a current flowing between a terminal pair 806 is essentially determined by a value of the resistor 804. When, however, a user places a V finger in electrical contact with the gap 802, and if the resistor is selected to have a resistance of the same order as that of the users skin insofar as the gap size is concerned, then the current flowing between the terminal pair 806 will be substantially doubled.

Detection of this current doubling indicates activation of the corresponding active region on a control pad possessing such a region. The resistor can be fabricated in discrete component form, or alternatively, as a section of conductive track using conductive ink of different resistivity to that used for other purely conductive track use (eg 34).

Fig. 9 shows a flowchart process representation of a control pad being used in a person-to-person communication application, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention. The described application comprises a user 900, and a system/application 902.

The communication process commences with a decision step 904 by a user, the user deciding to make a telephone call to a particular party. In a following step 906, the user inserts a control pad (exemplified, for example, by that shown in Fig. 5) into a suitable reader, this probably being located on a public telephone apparatus. The communication process is then directed to the system/application side of the Figure, where in a step 908 the system reads key function definitions from the inserted control pad, these definitions (CFP1654AU DTV03) I:\ELEC\CISRA\DTV\DTV03\495332AU.DOC defining the functions associated with the yet to be activated control keys on the control pad. In a following step 910, the system enters a "wait" state, depicted by a looped arrow 912. Sometime later, in a step 914, the user selects a desired called party, by pressing the corresponding key (e.g 30 in Fig. this selection being communicated to the system as depicted by an arrow 930. Thereafter, in a step 916, the system reads the data communicated by the activation of the aforementioned key, the system being able to associate the key data with the associated function in accordance with the key function data read in the step 908. In a following step 918, the system provides visual feedback to the user, and asks for confirmation. This step is included to provide the user with confidence that the correct information has been entered. The user in a step 920 provides the confirmation required, and the communication process is then directed to a step 922 where the system connects the desired call and enters a wait state as indicated by a looped arrow 924. When the user, in a step 926, indicates that the communication has ceased, by .withdrawing the control pad from the reader, this is communicated to the wait process 922 as indicated by an arrow 932. The communication process is then directed to a step 928 in which the connection is terminated, billing information is generated and so on.

The control pad may have many different applications. For example, the control V0:: pad may be used for controlling a video recorder. The active areas include keys for "Fast 0. Forward", "Rewind", "Play", "Stop" and "Pause". By using the control pad in combination S20 with the controller, the user by manipulating the various keys can control the playback or otherwise control of a movie through a video reproduction apparatus. In one embodiment, the card can be supplied with a bought or rented video movie. Alternatively, the movie can be accessed from a cable, satellite or other pay-per-view television arrangement.

There are many other applications which would be apparent to the person skilled in the art The foregoing only describes a small number of embodiments of the present invention, however, modifications and/or changes can be made thereto without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. The present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects to be illustrative and not restrictive. In the context of this specification and claims, the word "comprising" means "including principally but not necessarily solely". Variations of the word "comprising", such as "comprise" and "comprises" have correspondingly varied meanings.

(CFP1654AU DTV03) I:\ELEC\CISRA\DT\DTVO3\495332AU.DOC

Claims

1. A control pad for use with a controller having a control pad receptacle, a first data reader and a second data reader, the control pad comprising: sensing means forming a keypad of at least one key for sensing users contact by means of an electrical change; data output means for outputting key data indicative of the keys selected by a user; transmission means comprising conductive ink tracks on at least one face of a laminar substrate coupling the sensing means and the data output means; storage means for storing identification data for identifying functions associated with the keys; wherein upon selection by the user of said at least one key, the first data reader retrieves identification data from the storage means on the basis of the key data sensed by the second data reader from the data output means.

2. A control pad acording to claim 1, wherein the transmission means are adapted oooo to form said sensing means. .o

3. A control pad according to claim 1, wherein the sensing means for the control pad is operable by placing a users finger in direct electrical contact therewith.

4. A control pad according to claim 1, wherein said identification data further identifies a type of the control pad and a function of the associated keys. 16:31; 20/03/02; 04:07 PM 495332au.doc -9- A control pad according to claim 1, wherein said controller executes a particular function by using the key and the identification data.

6. A control pad according to claim 1, wherein the sensing means for the control pad comprises a plurality of capacitive sensing junctions.

7. A control pad according to claim 1, wherein the sensing means for the control pad comprises a plurality of inductive sensing arrangements.

8. A control pad according to claim 1, wherein the sensing means for the control pad comprises a plurality of resistive sensing arrangements.

9. A control pad according to claim 1, wherein the sensing means for the control pad comprises a number of contact buttons adapted to provide a plurality of connections *o between said conductive ink tracks. A controller for use with a control pad, the control pad comprising: sensing means forming a keypad of at least one key for sensing users contact by means of an electrical change; data output means for outputting key data indicative of the keys selected by a user; 120201; 16:31; 29/01/02; 02:11 PM 495332AU.DOC transmission means comprising conductive ink tracks on at least one face of a laminar substrate coupling the sensing means and the data output means; storage means for storing identification data for identifying functions associated with the keys; wherein upon selection by the user of said at least one key, the first data reader retrieves identification data from the storage means on the basis of the key data sensed by the second data reader from the data output means; wherein the controller comprises a housing; a control pad receptacle formed in said housing for receiving the control pad; a viewing area for allowing access to and selection by a user of said at least one key; a first data reader for reading the identification data in the storage means; and a second data reader for reading the key data from the data output means; wherein, upon insertion of the control pad into the control pad receptacle such 00.0 that at least some of the keys are accessible in the viewing area and upon selection by a user of said at least one key, the first data reader reads said identification data from the storage means and the second data reader reads the key data indicative of the selected keys from the data output means.

11. A controller according to claim 10, wherein the transmission means are adapted to form said sensing means.

12. A controller according to claim 10, wherein the receptacle is a slot configured to O slidably receive the control pad. 120201; 16:31; 20/03/02; 04:07 PM 495332au.doc

13. A controller according to claim 10, wherein a cutout area formed in the receptacle defines the viewing area.

14. A controller according to claim 10, wherein the first data reading means comprise a plurality of data contacts disposed within the receptacle to engage corresponding data points formed on the control pad. A controller according to claim 10, wherein the first data reader includes an optical or magnetic scanner for reading optically or magnetically stored data on the control pad. 0@g@O

16. A controller according to claim 10, wherein the second data reader comprises a plurality of data contacts disposed within the receptacle to engage corresponding data points formed on the control pad. ego• ooooo

17. A controller according to claim 10, wherein on the basis of the identification data oo and key data, the controller performs a said associated function.

18. A controller according to claim 10, further including output means for transmitting the identification data and key data to a central unit.

19. A method of producing a control pad, the method comprising the steps of: 120201; 16:31; 29/01/02; 02:55 PM 495332AU.DOC 12- providing one or more active areas as one or more keys on a face of a laminar substrate, the keys being sensing means operable by placing a users finger in direct electrical contact therewith; providing data output means on a face of the laminar substrate; printing conductive tracks adapted to both form the keys, and to couple the keys to the data output means; and storing identification data in storage means on or in the laminar substrate for identifying associated functions.

20. A control pad substantially as described herein with reference to any one of the embodiments, as that embodiment is shown in the accompanying drawings. i

21. A controller substantially as described herein with reference to any one of the embodiments, as that embodiment is shown in the accompanying drawings.

22. A method of producing a control pad, substantially as described herein with reference to any one of the embodiments, as that embodiment is shown in the accompanying drawings. DATED this twenty-ninth Day of January, 2002 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Patent Attorneys for the Applicant SPRUSON FERGUSON 120201; 16:31; 29/01/02; 02:11 PM 495332AU.DOC