IP Library › Granted Patent US 7,847,790
Granted Patent B2
US 7,847,790 · App. 11/840,135 · Granted Dec 7, 2010

Interactive touchpad

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,847,790
App. No.
11/840,135
Granted
Dec 7, 2010
Kind
B2
Abstract

A film interactive touchpad for control of home systems. A touchscreen defined by a glass panel and polyester film defines active areas responsive to contact. Multiple, customizable and interchangeable templates correspond with multiple levels of functionality and define input and control buttons corresponding to active areas of the touchpad. A display such as an organic light emitting diode (OLED) provides interactive, color feedback. The touchscreen has a hinged connection to the touchpad and is pivotable to an open position to permit insertion and removal of the overlay templates, and is surrounded by a trim ring dam to prevent moisture intrusion. A light sensor is provided for detecting the ambient light level and adjusting the intensity of a backlight for faceplates of any color.

Claims (28)

1. An interactive touchpad comprising:

a touchscreen defining active areas responsive to contact;

an overlay template removably coupled to the touchscreen and defining input and control buttons corresponding to the active areas of the touchscreen;

a display for providing feedback in response to contact with the touchscreen; and

an IR sensor and dual function IR sensor circuit providing a normal mode that produces a high gain IR signal during a normal operation and a learning mode that produces a low gain IR signal during a learning operation,

wherein the signal received by the IR sensor during the learning mode is amplified by a first amplification stage and then passed through a high impedance buffer and a high pass filter in the dual function IR sensor circuit to provide the low gain IR signal.

2. An interactive touchpad as claimed in claim 1 , and further comprising:

at least one additional overlay template removably couplable to the touchscreen and interchangeable with the overlay template removably coupled to the touchscreen.

3. An interactive touchpad as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the at least one additional overlay template defines input and control buttons corresponding to the active areas of the touchscreen, wherein the input and control buttons defined by the at least one additional overlay template are different from the input and control buttons of the overlay template such that the overlay template and the at least one additional overlay template correspond to different levels of touchscreen functionality.

4. An interactive touchpad as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the touchscreen is a resistive touchscreen comprising a glass panel and a polyester film.

5. An interactive touchpad as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the touchscreen is a capacitive touchscreen comprising two glass panels.

6. An interactive touchpad as claimed in claim 5 , and further comprising a trim ring surrounding the touchscreen, the trim ring defining a dam to prevent moisture intrusion into the space between the overlay and the touchscreen.

7. An interactive touchpad as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the touchscreen has a hinged connection to the touchpad and is pivotable to an open position to permit insertion and removal of the overlay template.

8. An interactive touchpad as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the display is an organic light emitting diode (OLED) having approximately 160 degrees of usable viewing angle.

9. An interactive touchpad as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the display is an organic light emitting diode (OLED) having a contrast ratio of approximately 200.

10. An interactive touchpad as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the touchscreen and the overlay template define a feedback area where feedback is provided by the display.

11. An interactive touchpad as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the touchpad has a dimension compatible with mounting in a double gang junction box.

12. An interactive touchpad as claimed in claim 1 , and further comprising:

a backlight; and

a light sensor for detecting an ambient light level and adjusting the intensity of the backlight in response, wherein the light sensor sets a maximum brightness value of the ambient room light when the light sensor is first activated and sets a minimum brightness value according to a predetermined offset value of the maximum brightness value.

13. An interactive touchpad as claimed in claim 12 , and further comprising:

a faceplate surrounding the touchscreen and the display;

wherein the light sensor is provided behind a hole in the faceplate.

14. An interactive touchpad as claimed in claim 13 , further comprising:

at least one additional overlay removably couplable to the touchscreen and interchangeable with the overlay removably coupled to the touchscreen.

15. An interactive touchpad as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the interactive touchpad can be programmed via a remote control device during the learning mode.

16. An interactive touchpad as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the IR sensor is provided behind the overlay template.

17. An interactive touchpad as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the IR sensor operating in normal mode can receive a signal from up to 30 feet away from the IR sensor.

Assignments (14)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 17, 2021
From: U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
To: BROAN-NUTONE LLC; NORTEK AIR SOLUTIONS, LLC; NORTEK GLOBAL HVAC LLC; NORTEK, INC.; ADVANCED BRIDGING TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; AIGIS MECHTRONICS, INC.; ALLSTAR PRO, LLC; ELAN HOME SYSTEMS, L.L.C.; GEFEN, INC.; GTO, INC.; HOMELOGIC LLC; INTERNATIONAL ELECTRONICS, INC.; JENSEN INDUSTRIES, INC.; LINEAR LLC; LITE TOUCH, INC.; MAGENTA RESEARCH LTD.; NILES AUDIO CORPORATION; OMNIMOUNT SYSTEMS, INC.; OPERATOR SPECIALTY COMPANY, INC.; PANAMAX INC.; SECURE WIRELESS, INC.; SPEAKERCRAFT; XANTECH CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 056614/0709 →
NOTICE OF RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Jan 11, 2017
From: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
To: NORTEK, INC.; BARCOM ASIA HOLDINGS, LLC; BARCOM CHINA HOLDINGS, LLC; BNSS LP, INC.; BNSS GP, INC.; BROAN-NUTONE LLC; BROAN-NUTONE STORAGE SOLUTIONS LP; CES GROUP, LLC (SUCCESSOR BY MERGER TO HUNTAIR, INC.); CES INTERNATIONAL LTD.; CORE BRANDS, LLC; ERGOTRON, INC.; GEFEN, LLC; GTO ACCESS SYSTEMS, LLC (F/K/A GATES THAT OPEN, LLC); HUNTAIR MIDDLE EAST HOLDINGS, INC.; LINEAR LLC; MAGENTA RESEARCH LTD.; NORTEK INTERNATIONAL, INC.; NORDYNE INTERNATIONAL, INC.; NORDYNE LLC; OPERATOR SPECIALTY COMPANY, INC.; PACIFIC ZEPHYR RANGE HOOD, INC.; REZNOR LLC; TV ONE BROADCAST SALES CORPORATION; ZEPHYR VENTILATION, LLC
Reel/Frame 041346/0048 →
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF SECURITY IN PATENTS Recorded Jan 10, 2017
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
To: NORTEK, INC.; AIGIS MECHTRONICS, INC.; BROAN-MEXICO HOLDINGS, INC.; BROAN-NUTONE LLC; BROAN-NUTONE STORAGE SOLUTIONS LP; CES GROUP, INC.; CES INTERNATIONAL LTD.; CLEANPAK INTERNATIONAL, INC.; ELAN HOME SYSTEMS, L.L.C.; GATES THAT OPEN, LLC; GEFEN, LLC; GOVERNAIR CORPORATION; HC INSTALLATIONS, INC.; HUNTAIR, INC.; INTERNATIONAL ELECTRONICS, LLC; LINEAR LLC; LITE TOUCH, INC.; MAGENTA RESEARCH LTD.; MAMMOTH-WEBCO, INC.; NILES AUDIO CORPORATION; NORDYNE LLC; NORDYNE INTERNATIONAL, INC.; NORTEK INTERNATIONAL, INC.; NUTONE LLC; OMNIMOUNT SYSTEMS, INC.; OPERATOR SPECIALTY COMPANY, INC.; PACIFIC ZEPHYR RANGE HOOD, INC.; PANAMAX LLC; RANGAIRE GP, INC.; RANGAIRE LP, INC.; SECURE WIRELESS, INC.; SPEAKERCRAFT, LLC; TEMTROL, INC.; XANTECH LLC; ZEPHYR VENTILATION, LLC
Reel/Frame 041327/0089 →
NOTICE OF RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Jan 10, 2017
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
To: TEMTROL, INC.; WDS LLC; WEBCO, INC.; NORTEK, INC.; ADVANCED BRIDGING TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; AIGIS MECHTRONICS, INC.; ALLSTAR PRO, LLC; AUBREY MANUFACTURING, INC.; BROAN-NUTONE LLC; CES GROUP, INC.; CLEANPAK INTERNATIONAL, INC.; ELAN HOME SYSTEMS, L.L.C.; GEFEN, INC.; GOVERNAIR CORPORATION; GTO, INC.; HC INSTALLATIONS, INC.; HOMELOGIC LLC; HUNTAIR, INC.; INTERNATIONAL ELECTRONICS, INC.; J.A.R. INDUSTRIES, INC.; JENSEN INDUSTRIES, INC.; LINEAR H.K. LLC; LINEAR LLC; LITETOUCH, INC.; MAGENTA RESEARCH LTD.; MAMMOTH, INC.; NILES AUDIO CORPORATION; NORDYNE CHINA LLC; NORDYNE INC.; NORDYNE INTERNATIONAL, INC.; NORTEK INTERNATIONAL, INC.; NUTONE INC.; OMNIMOUNT SYSTEMS, INC.; OPERATOR SPECIALTY COMPANY, INC.; PACIFIC ZEPHYR RANGE HOOD, INC.; PANAMAX INC.; RANGAIRE GP, INC.; RANGAIRE LP; RANGAIRE LP, INC.; SECURE WIRELESS, INC.; SPEAKERCRAFT, INC.; XANTECH CORPORATION; ZEPHYR CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 041326/0071 →
NOTICE OF RELEASE OF SECURITY INTERESTS IN PATENTS RECORDED AT REEL 026276, FRAME 0073 Recorded Jun 3, 2014
From: UBS AG, STAMFORD BRANCH, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: BROAN-NUTONE LLC; BROAN-NUTONE STORAGE SOLUTIONS LP; ERGOTRON, INC.; GTO ACCESS SYSTEMS, LLC (F/K/A GATES THAT OPEN, LLC); CES GROUP, LLC (SUCCESSOR BY MERGER TO HUNTAIR, INC.); LINEAR LLC; MAGENTA RESEARCH LTD.; NORDYNE LLC; ERGOTRON, INC. (SUCCESSOR BY MERGER TO OMNIMOUNT SYSTEMS, INC.; CORE BRANDS, LLC (SUCCESSOR BY MERGER TO SPEAKERCRAFT, LLC); CORE BRANDS, LLC (SUCCESSOR BY MERGER TO THE AVC GROUP, LLC); CORE BRANDS, LLC (F/K/A PANAMAX LLC); LINEAR LLC (SUCCESSOR BY MERGER TO SECURE WIRELESS, INC.)
Reel/Frame 033083/0001 →
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded May 13, 2014
From: LINEAR LLC; GTO ACCESS SYSTEMS, LLC (F/K/A GATES THAT OPEN, LLC); BROAN-NUTONE LLC; CORE BRANDS, LLC; ERGOTRON, INC.; CES GROUP, LLC (SUCCESSOR BY MERGER TO HUNTAIR, INC.); TV ONE BROADCAST SALES CORPORATION; NORDYNE LLC; CES GROUP, LLC; REZNOR LLC
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 032891/0753 →
MERGER AND CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jan 14, 2013
From: AVC GROUP, LLC, THE
To: CORE BRANDS, LLC
Reel/Frame 029708/0262 →
PATENT RELEASE Recorded May 3, 2011
From: U.S BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
To: BROAN-NUTONE LLC, A DELAWARE LLC; BROAN-NUTONE STORAGE SOLUTIONS LP, A DELAWARE LIMITED PARTNERSHIP; GATES THAT OPEN, LLC, A FLORIDA LLC; HUNTAIR, INC., A DELAWARE CORPORATION; LINEAR LLC, A CALIFORNIA LLC; MAGENTA RESEARCH LTD., A CONNECTICUT CORPORATION; NORDYNE LLC, A DELAWARE LLC; OMNIMOUNT SYSTEMS, INC., A ARIZONA CORPORATION; PANAMAX LLC, A CALIFORNIA LLC; SECURE WIRELESS, INC., A CALIFORNIA CORPORATION; SPEAKERCRAFT, LLC, A DELAWARE LLC; AVC GROUP, LLC, THE, A DELAWARE LLC; VENMAR CES, INC., A CANADIAN CORPORATION; VENMAR VENTILATION INC., CANADIAN CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 026275/0964 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded May 3, 2011
From: BROAN-NUTONE LLC, A DELAWARE LLC; BROAN-NUTONE STORAGE SOLUTIONS LP, A DELAWARE LIMITED PARTNERSHIP; ERGOTRON, INC., A MINNESOTA CORPORATION; GATES THAT OPEN, LLC, A FLORIDA LLC; HUNTAIR, INC., A DELAWARE CORPORATION; LINEAR LLC, A CALIFORNIA LLC; MAGENTA RESEARCH LTD., A CONNECTICUT CORPORATION; NORDYNE LLC, A DELAWARE LLC; OMNIMOUNT SYSTEMS, INC., A ARIZONA CORPORATION; PANAMAX, LLC, A CALIFORNIA LLC; SECURE WIRELESS, INC., A CALIFORNIA CORPORATION; SPEAKERCRAFT, LLC, A DELAWARE LLC; AVC GROUP, LLC, THE, A DELAWARE LLC
To: UBS AG, STAMFORD BRANCH, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 026276/0073 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 10, 2011
From: XANTECH LLC
To: AVC GROUP, LLC, THE
Reel/Frame 025940/0279 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jan 8, 2010
From: NORTEK, INC.; AIGIS MECHTRONICS, INC.; BROAN-MEXICO HOLDINGS, INC.; BROAN-NUTONE LLC; BROAN-NUTONE STORAGE SOLUTIONS LP; CES GROUP, INC.; CES INTERNATIONAL LTD.; CLEANPAK INTERNATIONAL, INC.; ELAN HOME SYSTEMS, L.L.C.; GATES THAT OPEN, LLC; GEFEN, LLC; GOVERNAIR CORPORATION; HC INSTALLATIONS, INC.; HUNTAIR, INC.; INTERNATIONAL ELECTRONICS, LLC; LINEAR LLC; LITE TOUCH, INC.; MAGENTA RESEARCH LTD.; MAMMOTH-WEBCO, INC.; NILES AUDIO CORPORATION; NORDYNE LLC; NORDYNE INTERNATIONAL, INC.; NORTEK INTERNATIONAL, INC.; NUTONE LLC; OMNIMOUNT SYSTEMS, INC.; OPERATOR SPECIALTY COMPANY, INC.; PACIFIC ZEPHYR RANGE HOOD INC.; PANAMAX LLC; RANGAIRE GP, INC.; RANGAIRE LP, INC.; SECURE WIRELESS, INC.; SPEAKERCRAFT, LLC; TEMTROL, INC.; XANTECH LLC; ZEPHYR VENTILATION, LLC
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
Reel/Frame 023750/0040 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jul 31, 2008
From: NORTEK, INC.; ADVANCED BRIDGING TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; AIGIS MECHTRONICS, INC.; ALLSTAR PRO, LLC; BROAN-NUTONE LLC; CLEANPAK INTERNATIONAL, INC.; ELAN HOME SYSTEMS, L.L.C.; GEFEN, INC.; GTO, INC.; HOMELOGIC LLC; HUNTAIR, INC.; INTERNATIONAL ELECTRONICS, INC.; JENSEN INDUSTRIES, INC.; LINEAR LLC; LITE TOUCH, INC.; MAGENTA RESEARCH LTD.; MAMMOTH, INC.; NILES AUDIO CORPORATION; NORDYNE INC.; NUTONE INC.; OMNIMOUNT SYSTEMS, INC.; OPERATOR SPECIALTY COMPANY, INC.; PANAMAX INC.; RANGAIRE LP; SECURE WIRELESS, INC.; SPEAKERCRAFT, INC.; TEMTROL, INC.; WEBCO, INC.; XANTECH CORPORATION; ZEPHYR CORPORATION
To: U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 021316/0764 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jul 29, 2008
From: NORTEK, INC.; ADVANCED BRIDGING TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; AIGIS MECHTRONICS, INC.; ALLSTAR PRO, LLC; AUBREY MANUFACTURING, INC.; BROAN-NUTONE LLC; CES GROUP, INC.; CLEANPAK INTERNATIONAL, INC.; ELAN HOME SYSTEMS, L.L.C.; GEFEN, INC.; GOVERNAIR CORPORATION; GTO, INC.; HC INSTALLATIONS, INC.; HOMELOGIC LLC; HUNTAIR, INC.; INTERNATIONAL ELECTRONICS, INC.; J.A.R. INDUSTRIES, INC.; JENSEN INDUSTRIES, INC.; LINEAR H.K. LLC; LINEAR LLC; LITETOUCH, INC.; MAGENTA RESEARCH LTD.; MAMMOTH, INC.; NILES AUDIO CORPORATION; NORDYNE CHINA LLC; NORDYNE INC.; NORDYNE INTERNATIONAL, INC.; NORTEK INTERNATIONAL, INC.; NUTONE INC.; OMNIMOUNT SYSTEMS, INC.; OPERATOR SPECIALTY COMPANY, INC.; PACIFIC ZEPHYR RANGE HOOD, INC.; PANAMAX INC.; RANGAIRE GP, INC.; RANGAIRE LP; RANGAIRE LP, INC.; SECURE WIRELESS, INC.; SEAKERCRAFT, INC.; TEMTROL, INC.; WDS LLC; WEBCO, INC.; XANTECH CORPORATION; ZEPHYR CORPORATION
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
Reel/Frame 021301/0927 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 16, 2007
From: BEWLEY, WILBUR; HADDIX, LANDRUM; TABB, SALLIE; MOORE, DAVID; ROSS, BRENT; BENSING, JAMES; SHIPMAN, MATTHEW; WHITE, MARSHALL; FRYSINGER, DAVID; GRATZ, RICHARD B.
To: ELAN HOME SYSTEMS
Reel/Frame 019707/0558 →