Intertactile Technologies Corporation

Other

Intertact Corporation

Kaiatech, Inc.

Lamp Technologies, Inc.

Kenneth M Twain

Denny Jaeger

Ronald R Stevens

John H Ream

Gabriel Ormonde

James Mitchener

John D Biggs

Craig Galloway

Daniel J Twain

Michelle (Meng) Shi

The invention provides an apparatus for treating surfaces of a container. The apparatus comprises an openable reaction chamber housing, an exhaust escapement and an electrode assembly. The electrode assembly comprises a probe assembly coupled with a power source, the probe assembly comprising an elongate wand body, and a helically configured primary electrode and a helically configured counter electrode disposed about an outer circumferential surface of the wand body in an alternating helical configuration. The elongate wand body has a fluid passageway defined therewithin, and one or more outlet openings that are formed on an outer circumferential surface of the wand body and that extend inward through said outer circumferential surface and upto the fluid passageway. One or both of the primary electrode and the counter electrode may be energizable by the power source.

Apparatus, probe assembly and methods for treating containers

The invention provides a stringed musical instrument comprising a guitar-type hollow body, a neck joined to the hollow body, and a banjo-type pot comprising a rim, a head and a tension hoop, positioned within a first interior chamber within the hollow body. The rim and head define a second interior chamber within the banjo-type pot. The banjo-type pot is affixed to a back surface of the hollow body such that the head of the banjo-type pot is proximal to a front surface of the hollow body and distal to the back surface of the hollow body. The banjo-type pot is positioned within the first interior chamber to form a path for sound waves generated by the head to travel from a second interior chamber within the banjo-type pot through the first interior chamber and out of at least one opening provided on the front surface of the hollow body.

Musical instrument combining sound characteristics of a guitar and banjo

The invention provides mechanical devices to enhance the input process for touch screen devices. Fader tracks with or without fader caps, rotary and fixed knobs, and joysticks may be removably adhered to a touch screen and used to emulate their respective functions, using software interpretation of the touch detections provoked by the devices to carry out the emulations. The devices are inexpensive and simple, and the touch screen and associated software provide the function and feel of electromechanical controllers that are far more expensive and difficult to connect and maintain. The devices may be provided as components on a crack-and-peel sheet. For fixed knobs, the software application accepts initial inputs and determines the location on the touch screen, and also interprets the geometry of the input strokes as commands for selected controller emulations, such as joystick, fader, knob, or mouse. The invention also provides a touch sensor controller having a longitudinal web that incorporates touch sensor electrodes and conductors and emulates a fader controller. The invention further provides a flexible track controller mounted at the periphery of a touch screen and extendable thereover to emulate a fader controller. The flexible track may be motor driven.

Touch sensor control devices

A powered touch screen input device is perpetually self-powered and free of any mechanical connection to the touch screen itself. The input device includes at least one photovoltaic cell supported thereon and disposed to receive light from the display screen associated with the touch screen device. The photovoltaic cell is connected to the electronic signaling circuit disposed within the input device. The input device comprises a stylus having a proximal tip connected to the electronic signaling circuit to generate or receive actinic radiation and interact with the touch screen device. A bezel extends about the barrel to enclose the photovoltaic cells and direct light from the display screen to the cells. Alternatively, RF energy may be transmitted to an antenna in the input device and rectified to drive the electronic signaling circuit.

Self-powered input devices for circuit control devices

A control device provides a variable control signal to electrical apparatus and has a control member, such as a stylus or a turnable or slidable member, that is manipulated to vary the signal. Photoelectric sensors detect and track movement of the control member. The control member is disposed at the face of an electronic image display screen which can display calibration marks, identifying labels, current setting and/or other graphics pertinent to operation of the control device. The display screen also operates as the light source for the photoelectric sensors.

Circuit control devices utilizing electronic display screen light

One or more controls producing control signals for electrical apparatus are disposed at the face of an electronic display screen which display graphics pertinent to the operation of the controls. Controls having a cap which is slidable along a track include a tongue in the track connecting with signal producing components at an off screen location thereby enabling use of a track of minimal bulk. Controls having slidable caps or turnable knobs and controls such as joysticks and switches snap engage at the face of the screen enabling easy replacement and movement to different locations on the screen. Control signals may be transmitted to an off screen location without use of conductors extending along the screen.

Integrated electrical controls and graphics display screens

The invention includes moveable magnetic devices, for use in conjunction with electronic displays associated with computers and electronic devices enable manual input devices and control devices to be joined to the display, whereby the electronic device may be controlled, inputs may be made thereto, and the electronic display may be altered in correspondence to these inputs. In one aspect, the invention includes a fader controller comprised of a longitudinally extending track having a portion thereof extending over an image area of an electronic display, and a fader cap joined to the track for longitudinal sliding translation therealong. A plurality of permanent magnets are spaced along the track, and the fader cap includes at least one electromagnet. Conductive rails extend longitudinally on the track, and the fader cap includes contacts that electrically engage the conductive rails. Some of the fader cap contacts are connected to the electromagnet(s), and at least one track interacts with one contact on the fader cap to detect the instantaneous position of the fader cap. The electromagnets are actuated to translate the fader cap distally or proximally along the track. In another aspect, the invention provides a magnetic arrangement for joining one or more controller device to a flat panel electronic display, whereby controllers such as switches, knobs, and faders (slide controllers) may be superposed on the display.

Moveable magnetic devices for electronic graphic displays

Electrical circuit control devices are affixed to the front of an electronic image display screen, within the image displaying area, to provide instantly changeable labels and other graphics which convey information pertaining to operation of the controls. The control devices may be of any of a variety of types that are variously operated by depressing switch buttons, turning a knob, flexing or tilting a joystick or exerting force against an immovable knob. The control devices have compact and durable constructions which enable the devices to be wholly at the front of the display screen as opposed to extending through openings in a screen. Operator manipulation of the control devices is variously sensed by radio frequency sensors, Hall effect sensors, strain gauge sensors, touch sensitive circuits or electromechanical contacts. A remote control unit controls any of variety of different electronic devices and displays different switch button labels and other graphics during controlling of different ones of the devices. A pivotable earpiece enables the same remote control unit to function as a cellular telephone and a cordless telephone.

Multiple purpose controls for electrical systems

An electrical circuit control of the type having a knob which is turned by an operator to vary a circuit condition is affixed to the face of an electronic image display device and at least a portion of the knob overlays the image display area. This enables display of instantly changeable calibration marks and/or other graphics in close proximity to the circuit control including at locations immediately adjacent to the perimeter of the knob. Electronic components of the control are contained within the knob and a base member at the front of the panel. Components of this kind may be embedded in or attached to the knob itself enabling easy repair by simply replacing the knob and/or may be contained in an easily replaced carrier that fits within the base. Knob motion sensors include radio frequency sensors, capacitive sensors, Hall effect sensors and photoelectric sensors among others and enable the controls to be compact, durable and enable economic manufacture. A signal processor can convert initial values of the control signal produced at successive settings of a control to differing assigned values. The conversion method is applicable to sliding knob controls as well as rotary controls and enables imparting of any desired response curve to a circuit control without regard to the actual response of the knob motion sensor.

Rotary circuit control devices with changeable graphics

A circuit control device of the type having a knob which an operator travels along a track to vary a circuit condition is disposed on the face of an electronic display screen. This enables a display of calibration marks, symbols and/or other indicia pertaining to operation of the control including at; locations in immediate proximity to the slidable knob which display can change instantly when the function of the control changes or when other conditions call for different graphics. The track and sliding knob and electronic components of the control signal producing circuit are at the front of the display screen thereby enabling easy repair. Components of the control signal producing circuit are contained within the knob and/or track. Knob motion is detected by compact and durable sensors which may include radio frequency sensors, capacitive sensors, photoelectric sensors or Hall effect sensors among others.

Integrated display screen and slidable control for electrical circuits

Circuit control devices of the kind having operator manipulated control members are disposed at the face of an electronically controlled flat panel display within the image display area. This enables display of calibration marks and/or other graphics that can change instantly and automatically in response to changing operating conditions. Operating power for the control devices is inductively transmitted from the back of the display or from the back of the transparent cover plate of the display through spaced apart coils. Control signals produced by the control devices are inductively transmitted to the back of the display or to the back of the cover plate through the same coils or through additional coils. This provides for coupling of the control devices with the controlled circuit without internal modifications of the flat panel display and without requiring that conductors extend across displayed images at the front surface of the display.

Circuit control panel with variable graphics display

A light module adapted to provide light temporarily in a confined space comprises a generally oblong and relatively thin housing that retains a bulb for providing a source of light, a power source sufficient to activate the bulb, and an electrical control circuit. The circuit includes a touch sensitive sensor for closing a circuit between the bulb and the power source to turn on the bulb, and a timer for opening the circuit to automatically turn off the bulb after it has been on for a predetermined period of time. The circuit also contains elements for requiring the sensor to be touched twice within a limited time period in order to activate the bulb.

Growing community of inventors

Oakland, CA, United States of America

Kenneth M Twain