WO2001026045A1

WO2001026045A1 - A user interface

Info

Publication number: WO2001026045A1
Application number: PCT/DK2000/000547
Authority: WO
Inventors: John Reipur
Original assignee: Reipur Technology A/S
Priority date: 1999-10-01
Filing date: 2000-10-02
Publication date: 2001-04-12
Also published as: AU7406400A

Abstract

A user interface and an apparatus having a user interface, the user interface having a pressure sheet connected to means for performing one or more operations and a display sheet illustrating the individual operations. The pressure sheet is transparent and the display sheet is positioned below the pressure sheet. The display sheet is replaceable in order to facilitate a change in the operations to be performed and so as to adapt the user interface to e.g. other languages. Instructions adapted to adapt the performing means to perform e.g. additional operations may be accompanied by information which may be printed as a correspondingly amended display sheet to replace an existing display sheet.

Description

A USER INTERFACE

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to touch screens/pads with easily replaceable information sheets in order to facilitate manufacture of screens for different uses.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is known in the art to have e.g. a computer connected to electrical apparatus for interfacing the computer and the user. The user may enter data via the computer, so as to activate desired functions of the apparatus.

It is further known in the art to have a processor integrated in electrical apparatus, eliminating the need for a computer interface. Hence, a user interface such as a keypad or a touch screen may be provided to the apparatus enabling the user to enter a choice of a specific function of the apparatus.

It is a disadvantage that the symbols and text on touch screens are defined at manufacturing of the device due to these being actually printed on the screens.

It is a further disadvantage that the language of the text writing on touch screens is determined at manufacturing of the device whereby replacement of a screen with one language with a screen with another language will normally correspond to a replacement of the touch screen per se.

It is another disadvantage that a number of touch screens with different symbols and with text in different languages must be manufactured and stocked so as to fulfil the demand for a user interface in the local language and the use of symbols according to local standards.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a user interface wherein the text and/or the symbols on touch screens need not be predetermined at the time of manufacturing. It is another object of the invention to provide a user interface wherein the language and/or the symbols on touch screens may be defined by the end user subsequent to manufacture of the user interface.

It is thus a further object of the invention to provide a user interface, such as a touch screen, wherein different symbols and/or text in different languages may be applied/used after manufacturing according to local languages and/or the use of symbols according to local standards.

In a first aspect, the invention relates to an apparatus comprising:

means for performing at least one predetermined function, and a user interface comprising:

a display sheet displaying at different areas thereof each of the at least one predetermined function,

a transparent pressure sheet positioned in adjacent to and in front of the display sheet, the pressure sheet having one or more pressure sensitive zones, each pressure sensitive zone representing a predetermined function and being positioned so that a pressure sensitive zone is positioned adjacent to and in front of each area of the display sheet,

the performing means being adapted to perform a predetermined function when pressure is applied to the corresponding pressure sensitive zone of the pressure sheet.

Thus, as opposed to normal touch screens, the display sheet is positioned below or under the pressure sheet in order for it to be protected thereby and preferably replaceable in order to facilitate production and stocking, altering, etc.

In the present context, "transparent" will mean that the pressure sheet is sufficiently transparent to have information represented by the display sheet visible through the pressure sheet. Preferably, the user interface and the performing means are adapted to have a depression of a displayed predetermined function of the display sheet imply a depression of the adjacent pressure sensitive zone, whereby the predetermined function or functions of the apparatus is activated. Thus, the images or the like of the display sheet, the pressure sensitive zone, and the performing means are adapted to correspond.

The display sheet may then display symbols and/or text corresponding to the function(s) of the apparatus. The function(s) of the apparatus are then activated by depressing of the symbols and hence depressing of the pressure sensitive zones corresponding to the function(s) of the apparatus.

This replaceability of the display sheet has a number of advantages. One such advantage is seen when the apparatus comprises means for altering the performing means to perform one or more additional functions when pressure is applied to predetermined pressure sensitive zones of the pressure sheet, the user interface being adapted to receive a display sheet displaying the one or more additional functions at areas thereof positioned in front of and adjacently to the predetermined pressure sensitive zones.

These altering means may be a computer port or other means for entering instructions into the performing means. As a matter of fact, the instructions for the additional functions may be provided to the apparatus together with information relating to the corresponding amended display sheet. Both types of information may be transmitted digitally such as via the Internet (as executable computer code and e.g. a PDF file).

Preferably, the display sheet may be removed and replaced by another display sheet.

The display sheet may be replaceable whereby a different display may be used for different countries and/or areas. By having a replaceable display sheet, the display sheet may easily be adjusted to the environment of the local user. The use of a language or of symbols, which are not familiar to the local user, is thus avoided.

It is an advantage of the replaceable display sheet that the language and/or the symbols of the pattern or patterns at the display sheet may be adjusted according to local languages and/or symbol standards without having to change the entire user interface. In order to facilitate this replaceability, the apparatus preferably further comprises an opening or a slot adapted to receive the display sheet and through which the display sheet may be removed.

The display sheet may display any pattern, such as any numbers, figures, symbols, letters, signs, icons, pictograms, etc. Each pattern may correspond to a specific function which function is activated by depressing of the corresponding pressure sensitive zone.

The display sheet may be fabricated of any suitable material, such as plastics, paper, etc. The display sheet may be modified by writing and/or drawing at the display sheet itself. The modifications may include creating a new display sheet with the desired patterns, adding text to pre-p nted symbols on the display sheet, adding symbols and/or text to a pre-fabricated display sheet, etc.

Preferably, the pressure sheet is made of a transparent material, such as a transparent polycarbonate material.

By positioning or mounting the pressure sheet on a base, such as a side of the apparatus, such as on a wall, on a table, on a box, etc, the display sheet may be positioned in- between the base and the pressure sheet. Hereby, the display sheet is held in a fixed position. Further, the display sheet may be protected against the environment by the pressure sheet and the base without requiring any further protection.

The pressure sheet may be any touch screen construction, such as any resistive or capacitive touch screen construction.

The pressure sheet in a resistive touch screen construction may be decoded based on the voltage divider principle. For example, a one-dimensional touch screen may be connected to respectively 5-volts power supply and ground via bus bars on e.g. the left and the right side of the layer. A linear voltage gradient is then developed across the touch screen surface. The voltage measured along the linear gradient provides a precise indication of the position in the left-right direction (denoted the X-direction). By combining two layers of material, one with the bus bars on respectively the left and the right side of the layer, and one with the bus bars on respectively the top and bottom of the layer, a touch screen wherein both the position in both the X and the Y direction may be decoded. In a second aspect, the invention relates to a user interface for use in the above apparatus.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

In the following, a preferred embodiment of a user interface will be described with reference to the drawings, wherein

Fig. 1 shows a construction of an analogue resistive touch screen,

Fig. 2 shows an exemplary display sheet, and

Fig. 3 shows an apparatus and a user interface according to an embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

Fig. 1 shows a construction of a pressure sheet. In Fig. 1 an analogue resistive touch screen is shown. The resistive touch screen comprises a top layer 1 and a bottom layer 2. A first Y⁺ and a second Y^" silver ink bus bar 6 and 7 are printed on the top layer 1 and a third X⁺ and a fourth X^" silver ink bus bar 8 and 9 are printed on the bottom layer 2. Each layer is coated with a transparent resistive coating 3. In order to ensure a predetermined distance between the first and the second layer spacer dots 4 is provided on the top surface 5 of the bottom layer.

The resistive touch screen is decoded by developing a voltage gradient on the top layer and sensing the voltage and hereby the position on the bottom layer and vice versa. In this example, a scan sequence as shown in table 1 used. No connections to the bus bars 6, 7, 8, and 9 are shown in Fig. 1.

To decode the position of the spot along the X-axis, where the pressure sheet is depressed, a drive voltage of 5 volts is supplied to X⁺ bus bar 8 and the X^" bus bar 9 is grounded. Hereby, a linear voltage gradient is developed across the bottom layer 2. The Y⁺ bus bar 6 is not connected and the Y^" bus bar 7 is sensing, i.e. the voltage at the Y^" bus bar 7 is the input of an analogue to digital converter (not shown). From the reading of the Y^" bus bar 7 the position in the X-direction 10 is determined. When the scan has been performed and the voltage at the Y^" bus bar 7 is sent to the analogue to digital converter, the drive voltage and the sensing is switched from one layer to the other, whereby a drive voltage 5 volts is supplied to the Y⁺ bus bar 6 and the Y^" bus bar 7 is grounded. Hereby, a linear voltage gradient is developed across the top layer 1. The X⁺ bus bar 8 is not connected and the X^" bus bar 9 is sensing, i.e. the voltage at the X^" bus bar 9 is the input of the analogue to digital converter (not shown). From the reading of the X^" bus bar 9 the position in the Y-direction 11 is determined. This provides the X and Y co-ordinates of the point on the pressure sheet, which was depressed.

The switching between the top layer and the bottom layer may be performed continuously. The switching between the layers may also be initiated as soon as a depression of the pressure sheet is sensed.

The pressure sheet is divided into a number of pressure sensitive zones based on the voltage readings in the X-Y direction. The pressure sensitive zones are not shown in Fig. 1.

In Fig. 2, an example of a display sheet is shown. The display sheet is divided into 9 zones 15-23, each zone being provided with a pattern, such as a symbol and/or a text identifying the zone.

In Fig. 3, a user interface 24 according to an embodiment of the invention is shown on the side of an apparatus 25 having means 26 for performing predetermined operations, such as for performing different operations required in a dental clinic. The display sheet 27 is positioned underneath the transparent pressure sheet so that each pressure sensitive zone corresponds to a pattern at the display sheet. By scanning the top layer and the bottom layer as described above, the X- and Y-co-ordinates of the depressing is decoded. By e.g. depressing the TEXT' pattern, the corresponding readings on the pressure sheet will decode the position in the X- and Y-direction. This information is then sent e.g. to an apparatus that in response to information received from the pressure sheet will activate a function corresponding to the pattern 'TEXT'.

The display sheet 27 may be removed via a slot (not illustrated) for replacement with another display sheet. This may be required when the apparatus comprises means 28 for receiving further or replacing instructions which make the means 26 either respond to depressions of other areas of the pressure sheet or which make the means 26 perform new functions when one or more predetermined areas are depressed. The means 28 may be means for receiving digital information, such as a digital port, a modem or the like which may be permanently or occasionally connected to an information providing means such as a computer or a computer network, such as the Internet.

In this manner, updating information may be provided via the Internet or the like together with e.g. a PDF-file which may be printed out and then provide a display sheet 27 having information in predetermined areas - information corresponding to the operations performed by the means 26 when depressing areas of the sheet 27.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

2. An apparatus according to claim 1 , where the user interface and the performing means is adapted to have a depression of a displayed predetermined function of the display sheet imply a depression of the adjacent pressure sensitive zone, whereby the predetermined function or functions of the apparatus is activated.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, the apparatus comprising means for altering the performing means to perform one or more additional functions when pressure is applied to predetermined pressure sensitive zones of the pressure sheet, the user interface being adapted to receive a display sheet displaying the one or more additional functions at areas thereof positioned in front of and adjacently to the predetermined pressure sensitive zones.

4. An apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the display sheet may be removed and replaced by another display sheet.

5. An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein further comprising an opening or a slot adapted to receive the display sheet and through which the display sheet may be removed.

6. An apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the display sheet displays a pattern, such as a pattern of numbers, figures, symbols, letters, signs and/or icons.

7. An apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the display sheet is adapted to be modified by writing and/or drawing on the display sheet.

8. An apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the pressure sheet is made of a transparent material.

9. An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the pressure sheet comprises a polycarbonate material.

10. An apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the display sheet is made of paper.

11. A user interface for use in the apparatus according to any of the preceding claims