The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 07, 2014
Filed:
Sep. 29, 2009
Ronald L. Sharp, Clinton, NJ (US);
Ronald L. Sharp, Clinton, NJ (US);
Alcatel Lucent, Boulogne-Billancourt, FR;
Abstract
A universal interface device comprises a housing having a curvilinear or other shape, and processing circuitry disposed within the housing. The housing incorporates a sensor array substantially surrounding the processing circuitry and configured to receive touch input from points distributed over an outer surface of the housing. The sensor array generates sensor signals responsive to the touch input and the sensor signals are converted by the processing circuitry into commands associated with a communication function supported by the communication device. In an illustrative embodiment, the housing has a spheroidal shape, and the sensor array is configured to receive touch input from points distributed over substantially the entire outer surface of the housing. The points distributed over the outer surface of the housing from which the sensor array receives touch input are undefined from a point of view of a user providing at least a portion of the touch input.