FR2940707A1 - ERGONOMIC REMOTE CONTROL DEVICE WITH SIMPLIFIED STRUCTURE - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a remote control device for interactive display system, this device comprising a housing (1) and a set of embedded components including a touchpad (CPT_1). The housing (1) comprises an upper shell (11) and a lower shell (12) which can be brought closer to each other by applying a clamping force, and this device comprises a sensor adapted to change state when the gap between the hulls reaches a minimum value. With this arrangement, the user of the device can validate a choice made by moving a finger on the touchpad without performing any other movement with respect to this touchpad.

Description

ERGONOMIC REMOTE CONTROL DEVICE WITH SIMPLIFIED STRUCTURE.

The invention relates generally to the techniques used in the design and production of human-machine interfaces.

More specifically, the invention relates to a remote control device for interactive display system, this device comprising at least one housing and a set of components embedded on or in the housing, this set of components including itself a logic unit, a transmitter, and at least one sensor including a touchpad, each sensor adopting a state varying according to a request from a user of the device, and the logic unit being designed to periodically record the state of each sensor and delivering to the transmitter a transmission signal representative of this state.

A device of this type is for example known from US Pat. No. 6,396,523, US Pat. No. 6,538,643, US Pat. No. 6,765,557 and US Pat. No. 7,174,518.

In general, and as these examples show, an interactive display system includes both a remote control device and a remote controlled device with a display.

The remote control device comprises a control unit responsive to the signals received from the remote control device and adapted to control, at least in part, the operation of the remote control device, and in particular its display, as a function of the signals it receives from the remote control unit. remote control device. One of the difficulties to overcome in the design of remote control devices lies in the existence of many compromises which arise, albeit only implicitly, between the ease of realization of these devices and their ease of use. and therefore must both be highlighted and solved.

In this context, the invention aims to provide a remote control device with a touchpad with a structure that optimizes both the ergonomics of use and ease of realization of this device.

To this end, the remote control device of the invention, moreover in accordance with the generic definition given in the preamble above, is essentially characterized in that the housing comprises at least one upper shell and one lower shell separated by from one another, at two corresponding points on their surface, by a distance varying between a maximum value and a minimum value such as a decreasing function of a pinching force selectively exerted between the shells against a force of elastic return, this restoring force reaching a maximum value for the minimum distance between the shells, in that this device further comprises, as a sensor, an actuation sensor adopting a first or a second state depending on the distance between the shells is greater than or equal to its minimum value, and in that the touchpad is responsive to a stress exerted on it with a support force of less than greater than the maximum value of the restoring force.

With this arrangement, not only the user can validate, without any other gesture than a simple pressure on the housing, a choice he made by moving his thumb on the touchpad, but it also becomes unnecessary to provide on the upper shell of the housing, the validation button which usually performs this function in known devices.

The upper and lower shells may for example be connected to each other by a pivot connection, and the elastic return force may be exerted by deformation of a spring blade disposed between the upper and lower shells at a distance from the link pivot.

In another embodiment of the invention, the elastic return force is exerted by elastic deformation of at least one of the upper and lower shells under the effect of the clamping force, this embodiment making it possible to dispense with the presence of the insert that is the blade spring.

The actuation sensor comprises for example an electrical contact disposed between the shells of the housing, under the touch pad, and actuated by relative movement of these shells.

The ergonomics of the device of the invention can be further improved by providing that the shells are superimposed in a minimum dimension or thickness of the housing, the lower shell has a median section lined, in a maximum direction or length of the housing, by two end sections, and that the housing has, in at least one of its end sections, and preferably in each of the end sections, a thickness greater than the thickness that this housing has in its middle section.

In particular, the touchpad can in this case be arranged on a median section of the upper shell, which is at least partially superimposed on the middle section of the lower shell. Moreover, it may be wise to provide that the pavement tactile comprises at least first and second zones separated from each other by a border at least detectable to the touch for the user, each zone itself forming a surface of the touchpad bounded by a border at least detectable to the touch by the user.

It is thus possible, using a single component consisting of the touchpad, both to perform several different functions, and to indicate intuitively to the user the presence of these different functions.

The first zone may for example be disposed in the center of the touchpad, the second zone then surrounding the first zone. In addition, the first zone may be composed of a plurality of cells separated by at least user-detectable borders and arranged in a generally rectangular matrix, each cell itself forming a surface of the pavement. tactile bounded by a border at least detectable to the touch by the user.

Thanks to this arrangement, the single component that constitutes the touchpad can fulfill, in addition to its traditional touch pad function, the functions that are generally performed by separate buttons, and this without any disruption of the habits of the user.

Preferably, the touchpad comprises a printed circuit 30 sensitive to the touch and an adhesive protective layer directly bonded to the printed circuit and on which each border is made in the form of an embossing or extra thickness.

To make the most of the particular layout of the touchpad, it is advisable to provide the device of the invention with additional memory associated with the logical unit, and to store in this memory the coordinates that delimit each bounded surface of the touchpad.

It is then possible to provide on the one hand that the device of the invention comprises a clock associated with the logic unit and designed to selectively deliver to the logic unit, as a signal clocking a touchpad status scan. by this logic unit, a signal selected from at least one minimum frequency scan signal and a maximum frequency scan signal, and further to provide that the logic unit is programmed to select the minimum frequency scan signal or the maximum frequency scan signal depending on whether the state of the touchpad detected by the logic unit translates into a solicitation of the first zone or the second zone of the touchpad, this measurement making it possible to reduce the power consumption of the device of the invention and thus to increase its autonomy.

As will be understood by those skilled in the art, this clock may be constituted by a set of frequency dividers associated with the clock which is traditionally provided with a logical unit to dispose of the time base setting its own operation, or be constituted by a subroutine built into this logical unit.

Other features and advantages of the invention will emerge clearly from the description which is given below, by way of indication and in no way limiting, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a remote control device according to the invention, this device being observed on the side of the upper shell of its housing; - Figure 2 is a perspective view of the device shown in Figure 1, this device being observed on the side of the lower shell of its housing;

- Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the device 10 illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, observed in the absence of clamping force;

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of the device illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3, observed in the configuration that it adopts under the effect of a pinching force reducing to its minimum value the distance between the casing shells; ;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the device illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 4, observed in the configuration illustrated in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a schematic view from above of a possible embodiment of the device of the invention;

Figure 7 is a diagram showing the main components of the device of the invention and their interactions; and

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a possible mode of operation of the device of the invention, making it possible to increase its autonomy.

As previously announced, the invention relates to a remote control device for an interactive display system of a type known to those skilled in the art and in particular by the aforementioned patents.

Such a device (FIGS. 1, 2 and 7) comprises in particular a housing 1 and a set of components embedded in the housing 1 or on the latter, such as a logic unit UL, an emitter EMT, for example of the infrared type, and one or more sensors CPT 1, CPT 2, and CPT 3, the sensor CPT 1 being in this case constituted by a touchpad, that is to say by a two-dimensional position sensor.

One or more batteries BAT BATTERY are also provided in the housing to ensure the power supply of the other components.

Each of the sensors adopts a state that varies according to a request that it receives from a user of the device, this state being able, according to the type of sensor considered, to be represented by a vector or a matrix of any dimension , or by a single numerical quantity capable of taking different number values at least equal to two.

The logic unit UL is designed to periodically record the status of each sensor such as CPT 1 to CPT 3, and to deliver to the transmitter EMT a transmission signal representative of this state.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, the housing 1 comprises in particular an upper shell 11 and a lower shell 12.

These shells are separated from one another at two corresponding points on their surface by a variable distance D. 8 More precisely, the distance D varies from a maximum value to a minimum value when a pinch force P d Increasing intensity is exerted between the shells 11 and 12 against an elastic restoring force which tends to reduce the distance D to its maximum value.

In other words, the distance D evolves as a decreasing function of the clamping force P, so that the restoring force which opposes the pinching force P reaches a maximum value when the distance between the shells 11 and 12 reaches its minimum value.

Furthermore, the device of the invention comprises, among its sensors, an actuation sensor CPT 2 which, in the most advantageous embodiment, can be designed to adopt a state represented by a single bit, that is, to say one or the other of two values.

More precisely, this CPT actuation sensor 2 adopts a state of value SO as long as the distance D between the shells 11 and 12 remains greater than its minimum value, that is to say as long as the pinching force P did not overcome the maximum value return force, this CPT sensor 2 instead adopting a state of value S1 in the opposite case, that is to say as soon as the distance D between the shells 11 and 12 reaches its minimum value.

For satisfactory operation of the device, it should nevertheless be provided that the touchpad CPT 1 is responsive to a stress exerted on it with a bearing force of intensity less than the maximum value of the restoring force.

The user of the device can therefore use the touchpad 35 CPT 1 by exerting on the latter, for example with his thumb, 9 a sufficient pressing force so that the position of the thumb is taken into account by the touchpad, then confirm the choice he made by the position of his thumb by applying on the housing 1 a pinching force P which brings the shells 11 and 12 closer together until the distance D reaches its minimum value and therefore that the sensor CPT 2 change of state (Figure 4).

The elastic return force can be exerted by deformation of a spring blade 14 disposed between the upper and lower shells 11 and 12 (FIG. 4), these shells being moreover linked to each other by a pivot connection (no visible), disposed at a distance from the spring blade 14, at the other end of the housing.

In an advantageous variant, the elastic return force can nevertheless be exerted by elastic deformation, under the effect of the pinching force P, of one of the upper and lower shells 11 and 12, or of the other of these two hulls, or both if their respective stiffness are similar.

In any case, the CPT actuation sensor 2 may consist of an electrical contact disposed between the shells 11 and 12 of the housing 1, under the touchpad CPY 1, and which is therefore actuated by relative displacement of these shells 11 and 12.

From a strictly material point of view, the sensor CPT 2 can however take various forms, and in particular be reduced to a simple galvanic contact or include a motion transducer such as a Hall effect sensor, a capacitive sensor, or a sensor optical.

As shown in particular in Figures 1 to 4, the shells 11 and 12 are superimposed according to the thickness E of the housing 1, that is to say according to the smallest dimension of this housing, and each 10 of these shells s' advantageously extends over the entire length L of the housing, that is to say according to its largest dimension.

These shells may nevertheless have respective guide webs such as 131 and 132 (FIG. 5), and the lower shell 12 may have a battery compartment BAT closed by a cover 133 (FIGS. 2 to 4).

As further shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the lower shell 12 has a median section 120 arranged, in the longitudinal direction L of the housing 1, between two end sections 121 and 122, the middle section 120 being different from these end sections. 121 and 122 in that the housing 1 has, in this middle section 120, a thickness E120 less than the thickness E121 that this housing has in its end section 121 and the thickness E122 that it has in its terminal section 122.

In fact, although the thickness of the housing in each of these sections is not necessarily constant, and although the thicknesses E121 and E122 may be identical or different, the middle section 120 is preferably distinguished from each of the end sections 121 and 122 by a reduction in thickness of the housing 1 in this middle section, which promotes the centering of the remote control device on several fingers of the hand other than the thumb.

Furthermore, it is desirable to have the touch pad CPT 1 on the upper shell 11 opposite the middle section 120, that is to say on a median section of the upper shell 11 which is superimposed at least partially at the middle section 120 of the lower hull 12.

The touchpad CPT 1 preferably comprises a plurality of zones and for example at least two zones Z1 and Z2 separated from each other by a NOZ boundary at least detectable to the user (FIG. 6).

Each zone is itself separated from the outside of the touchpad CPT 1 by a NOZ border at least detectable to the touch by the user, so that each of these areas form a bounded surface so at least detectable to the touch.

The zone Z1 is for example arranged in the center of the touchpad 10 CPT 1, and completely surrounded by the zone Z2.

FIG. 6 illustrates a preferred configuration in which zone Z1 is composed of a plurality of cells such as Z11, Z13, Z41, and Z43, which are separated from each other by NOZ boundaries at least detectable to the touch. user, and which are arranged in a matrix of generally rectangular shape.

Each of the cells such as Z11, Z13, Z41, and Z43 thus itself forms a surface of the touchpad CPT 1 bounded at least in a manner detectable by the user.

This arrangement naturally leads to zone Z2 having a frame shape, each side of which may be associated with a different functionality.

Thus, although the remote control device of the invention may comprise other control elements such as separate buttons BO, B1, B2 and B3, the wealth of instructions that the touchpad configured as described previously allows allows to dispense with these buttons or at least to reduce them considerably. The touchpad is preferably constituted by a printed circuit sensitive to the touch and by an adhesive protective layer directly bonded to this printed circuit.

The adhesive layer is for example constituted by a polycarbonate sheet, such as the polycarbonate marketed by the SABIC Innovative Plastics under the trademark "texan", each NOZ border can then take the form of an embossing or an extra thickness of this leaf.

In addition to the fact that this solution provides a pleasant feel and has excellent durability, it allows, due to the tightness that ensures the polycarbonate sheet, avoid damage that the touchpad could suffer accidental spraying a liquid.

The operation of the remote control device of the invention can be further optimized by recording, in the memory MEM associated with the logic unit UL, the coordinates which, on the touchpad CPT 1, delimit each of the bounded surfaces of this block, and especially zones Z1 and Z2 as well as cells of zone Z1, such as Z11, Z13, Z41, and Z43.

An advantageous example of exploitation of this memory storage is given with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 8 for a remote control device comprising a clock CLK associated with the logic unit UL and designed to deliver to this logic unit a scan signal Fscrut adjustable frequency.

By "polling signal Fscrut" is meant here a signal that can clock the scanning periodically performed by the UL logic unit, the state of the touchpad CPT 1 to identify if this touchpad is the subject of a solicitation from a user and, if so, to obtain instantaneous samples representative of the position or displacement of the supporting force which constitutes this bias.

In this example, the scan signal Fscrut can be chosen between a minimum frequency scan signal Fmin and a maximum frequency scan signal Fmax.

The program flow to which the UL logical unit responds is as follows. By scanning the touchpad CPT 1, the logic unit UL detects whether or not this pad is subject to a request from a user.

If not, the logical unit UL returns to the polling state.

If so, the logical unit UL has an instantaneous sample providing the coordinates, denoted X and Y, of the position "POSITION (X, Y)" occupied on the touchpad CPT 1, the finger who seeks this pavement.

In the next step, the logical unit UL compares the abscissa X of this position with the lower abscissa XMIN corresponding to the left edge of the zone Z1, and the upper abscissa XX corresponding to the right edge of this zone Z1 .

In the case where X is not in the range between XMIN and XX, the solicitation of the touchpad CPT 1 is not in the zone Z1.

The logic unit UL then chooses as scanning signal Fscrut the scanning signal Fmax having the maximum frequency to obtain an optimal definition of the following position 14 "POSITION (X, Y)" and returns to scanning mode at the frequency defined by the signal Fmax.

In the case where X is in the interval between XMIN and XX, it is not excluded that the solicitation of the touchpad CPT 1 is in the zone Z1.

In the next step, the logical unit UL then compares the ordinate Y of the position "POSITION (X, Y)" to the lower ordinate YMIN corresponding to the lower edge of the zone Z1, and to the upper ordinate YX corresponding to the upper edge of this zone Z1.

In the case where Y is not in the range between YMIN and YX, the solicitation of the touchpad CPT 1 is not in the zone Z1.

The logic unit UL then selects as polling signal Fscrut the scanning signal Fmax having the maximum frequency to obtain an optimal definition of the next position "POSITION (X, Y)" and returns to scanning mode at the frequency defined by the signal Fmax.

In the case where, on the contrary, Y is in the interval between YMIN and YX, it is then certain that the solicitation of the touchpad CPT 1 is in the zone Z1. In the latter case, the logic unit UL chooses as polling signal Fscrut the scanning signal Fmin having the minimum frequency so as to reduce the consumption of electrical energy by accepting to know the following position "POSITION (X, Y ) "with a non-optimal definition but nevertheless sufficient to determine in which cell of Z1, such as Z11, Z13, Z41 or Z43, the solicitation of the touchpad CPT 1 takes place. scan mode at the frequency defined by the signal Fmin.

As this example shows, the logic unit UL can therefore be programmed to select, as polling signal Fscrut, the minimum frequency scanning signal Fmin or the maximum frequency scanning signal Fmax according to the state of the pad. touch CPT 1 raised by this logic unit UL translates a solicitation of the first zone Z1 or the second zone Z2 of the touchpad CPT 1.

Claims (12)

REVENDICATIONS.1. Remote control device for interactive display system, this device comprising at least one housing (1) and a set of components embedded on or in the housing (1), this set of components itself comprising a logic unit (UL), a transmitter (EMT), and at least one sensor (CPT 1 to CPT 3) including a touchpad (CPT 1), each sensor adopting a state varying according to a request from a user of the device, and the logical unit (UL) being designed to periodically record the state of each sensor (CPT 1 to CPT 3) and to deliver to the transmitter (EMT) a transmission signal representative of this state, characterized in that the housing ( 1) comprises at least one upper shell (11) and one lower shell (12) separated from each other at two corresponding points on their surface by a distance (D) varying between a maximum value and a minimum value as a decreasing function of a pinch force (P ) selectively exerted between the shells (11, 12) against an elastic restoring force, this restoring force reaching a maximum value for the minimum distance between the shells (11, 12), in that this device comprises in addition, as a sensor, an actuation sensor (CPT 2) adopting a first or a second state (S0, S1) according to whether or not the distance (D) between the shells (11, 12) is greater than its minimum value, and that the touch pad (CPT 1) is sensitive to a stress exerted on him with a support force of intensity less than the maximum value of the restoring force. 2. Remote control device according to claim 1, characterized in that the upper and lower shells (11, 12) are connected to each other by a pivot connection, and in that the elastic return force is exerted by deformation 17 of a leaf spring (14) disposed between the upper and lower shells (11, 12) away from the pivot connection. 3. Remote control device according to claim 1, characterized in that the elastic return force is exerted by elastic deformation of at least one of the upper and lower shells (11, 12) under the effect of the clamping force ( P). 4. Remote control device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said actuation sensor (CPT 2) comprises an electrical contact (CPT 2) disposed between the shells (11, 12) of the housing (1), under the touchpad (CPY 1), and actuated by relative displacement of these shells (11, 12). 5. Remote control device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the shells (11, 12) are superimposed in a minimum dimension or thickness (E) of the housing (1), in that the lower shell (12) ) has a median section (120) bordered, in a maximum direction or length (L) of the housing (1), by two end sections (121, 122), and that the housing has, in at least one its end sections, a thickness (E121, E122) greater than the thickness (E120) that this housing (1) in its middle section (120). 6. Remote control device according to claim 5, characterized in that the touch pad (CPT 1) is disposed on a central section of the upper shell (11), at least partially superimposed on the middle section (120) of the lower shell (12). 7. Remote control device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the touch pad 18 (CPT 1) comprises at least first and second zones (Z1, Z2) separated from each other by a border (NOZ) at least detectable to the touch for the user, each zone (Z1, Z2) forming itself a surface of the touchpad (CPT 1) bounded by a border (NOZ) at least detectable to the touch by the user . 8. Remote control device according to claim 7, characterized in that the first zone (Z1) is disposed in the center of the touchpad (CPT 1), and in that the second zone (Z2) surrounds the first zone (Z1). 9. Remote control device according to claim 8, characterized in that the first zone (Z1) is composed of a plurality of cells (Z11, Z13, Z41, Z43) separated by boundaries (NOZ) at least detectable to the touch. the user and arranged in a matrix of rectangular general shape, each cell (Z11, Z13, Z41, Z43) itself forming a surface of the touchpad (CPT 1) bounded by a border (NOZ) at least detectable to the touch by the user. 10. Remote control device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the touchpad comprises a touch sensitive printed circuit and an adhesive protective layer, directly bonded to the printed circuit and on which each border (NOZ) is realized in the form of an embossing or an extra thickness. 11. Remote control device according to any one of the preceding claims combined with claim 7, characterized in that it further comprises a memory (MEM) associated with the logical unit (UL), and in that each bounded surface The touchpad (CPT 1) is delimited by coordinates that are stored in the associated memory (MEM) .35 19 12. Remote control device according to claims 9 and 11, characterized in that it further comprises a clock (CLK) associated with the logic unit (UL) and designed to selectively deliver to the logical unit (UL), in as a signal controlling a touch pad state scan (CPT 1) by this logical unit (UL), a signal (Fscrut) selected from at least one minimum frequency scan signal (Fmin) and a scan signal (Fmax) ), and in that the logical unit (UL) is programmed to select the minimum frequency scan signal (Fmin) or the maximum frequency scan signal (Fmax) according to the state of the touchpad ( CPT 1) raised by the logical unit (UL) translates a solicitation of the first zone (Z1) or the second zone (Z2) of the touchpad (CPT 1).