Multi-modal switching controller for communication and control
A controller is communicatively coupled to the one or more user input devices, such as sensors or electrodes, a user interface device, and one or more switch-controlled devices. The controller presents a configuration user interface on the user interface device including selectable configurations for access modes. The controller assigns one or more of the user input devices according to a current selected configuration of an access mode. The controller detects a volitional user input corresponding to a change in a particular signal detected by a particular user input device and switches the switch-controlled device based on the detected user input. In one or more embodiments, the system includes one or more biosignal electrodes attachable to a user and/or mechanical, positional, or other switch technologies. In one or more embodiments, the system includes one or more sensors for detection of movement, gestures, eye tracking or other input.
1. A system comprising:
one or more switches configured to be activated by a user or external event, each switch comprises at least one user input device configured to detect a user input signal or input trigger or at least one external event occurrence signal;
a controller that detects a switch input corresponding to a change in a particular input signal or input trigger detected by a particular one of the one or more switches;
a user interface device; and
a switch-controlled device configured to detect an output signal from the controller;
wherein the controller is communicatively coupled to (i) the one or more switches, (ii) the user interface device, and (iii) the switch-controlled device, and
wherein the controller:
presents a configuration user interface on the user interface device including selectable configurations for access modes;
assigns one or more of the switches with respect to one or more switch inputs according to a current selected configuration of an access mode; and
detects a switch input corresponding to a change in a particular input signal detected by a particular signal-producing input user device;
identifies an assigned switch input based on the current selected configuration and the detected switch input of the particular switch input device signal; and
communicates the selected switch output to the switch-controlled device,
wherein the access mode comprises:
a button quantity selection of one or more buttons;
wherein the access mode maps or assigns an input signal or input trigger to the controller to one or more buttons corresponding to the button quantity selection on a panel-by-panel basis;
wherein the one or more buttons are mapped independently to one or more controller outputs; and
wherein the input signal or input trigger is producible as an output signal by the one or more controller outputs.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller determines that a first user input is received in response to detecting the first volitional user input to a particular switch having a first duration; and determines that a second user input is received in response to detecting a second volitional user input to the particular switch having a second duration that is longer than the first duration and wherein the access mode comprises a first input of a first duration and a second input of a second duration of a first switch-controlled device, the first and the second durations being different.
3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the access mode comprises selecting one of: (i) a time scan; and (ii) a step scan.
4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the access mode comprises assigning a first switch-controlled device to a first input of a user interface and assigning a second switch-controlled device to a second input of the switch-controlled device.
5. A method comprising:
presenting a configuration user interface on a user interface device including selectable configurations for access modes;
assigning one or more of the switches as respective to one or more user inputs according to a current selected configuration of an access mode, each switch comprising a signal user input device configured to detect a signal from the user; and
detecting a user input corresponding to a change in a particular signal detected by a particular signal user input device;
identifying the user input based on the current selected configuration and the detected volitional user input of the particular signal user input device; and
communicating the user input to the switch-controlled device, wherein the method further comprising:
receiving a button quantity selection of one of one or more buttons; and
mapping or assigning one or more unique input signal or input trigger to the controller to one or more buttons corresponding to the button quantity selection on a panel-by-panel basis;
wherein the one or more buttons are mapped independently to one or more controller outputs; and
wherein the input signal or input trigger is producible as an output signal by the one or more controller outputs.
6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the method further comprising: determining that a first user input is received in response to detecting the first volitional user input to a particular switch having a first duration; and determining that a second user input is received in response to detecting a second volitional user input to the particular switch having a second duration that is longer than the first duration and wherein the access mode comprises a first input of a first duration and a second input of a second duration of a first switch-controlled device, the first and the second durations being different.
7. The method of claim 5 , wherein the access mode comprises selecting one of: (i) a time scan; and (ii) a step scan.
8. The method of claim 5 , wherein further comprising assigning a first switch-controlled device to a first input of a user interface and assigning a second switch-controlled device to a second input of the switch-controlled device.
9. A computer program product comprising:
a computer readable storage device; and
program code on the computer readable storage device that when executed by a processor associated with an electronic device, the program code enables the electronic device to provide functionality of:
presenting a configuration user interface on a user interface device including selectable configurations for access modes;
assigning one or more of the switches as respective to one or more user inputs according to a current selected configuration of an access mode, each switch comprising a set of signal user input devices configured to detect a signal from the user; and
detecting a volitional user input corresponding to a change in a particular signal detected by a particular signal user input device;
identifying the user input based on the current selected configuration and the detected volitional user input of the particular signal user input device; and
communicating the user input to the switch-controlled device, wherein the program code enables the electronic device to provide the functionality of:
receiving a button quantity selection of one of one or more buttons; and
mapping or assigning one or more unique input signal or input trigger to the controller to one or more buttons corresponding to the button quantity selection on a panel-by-panel basis;
wherein the one or more buttons are mapped independently to one or more controller outputs; and
wherein the input signal or input trigger is producible as an output signal by the one or more controller outputs.
10. The computer program product of claim 9 , wherein the program code enables the electronic device to provide the functionality of: determining that a first user input is received in response to detecting the first volitional user input to a particular switch having a first duration; and determining that a second user input is received in response to detecting a second volitional user input to the particular switch having a second duration that is longer than the first duration; and wherein the access mode comprises a first input of a first duration and a second input of a second duration of a first switch-controlled device, the first and the second durations being different.
11. The computer program product of claim 9 , wherein the access mode comprises selecting one of: (i) a time scan; and (ii) a step scan.
12. The computer program product of claim 9 , wherein the program code enables the electronic device to provide the functionality of assigning a first switch-controlled device to a first input of a user interface and assigning a second switch-controlled device to a second input of the switch-controlled device.