US20010003041A1 - Method of detachably attaching an insert to a remote control base and the resulting remote control - Google Patents

Abstract

A remote control includes a base and an insert that is attached in a detachable manner to the base. The base includes a remote control circuit, a button coupled to operate the remote control circuit and a fastener capable of holding the insert. The insert includes a printed publication (such as a card, a sheet of paper or a booklet) containing at least one leaf having human-understandable content (such as text and/or graphics). To assemble the remote control, a user attaches the insert to the fastener, so that the human-understandable content is laid over the button. Thereafter, when the user operates the button (e.g. by touching the leaf), the base transmits a remote control signal that causes a host device to visually display information related to the human-understandable content at the touched location. A base in the form of a three ring binder gives the user an intuitive feel of simply touching human-understandable content on a leaf in the binder to view a display of information related to the content. In addition to the human-understandable content, the insert can carry a predetermined pattern that can be sensed by a sensor during mounting of the insert on the base. The base transmits, in the remote control signal, a number determined from the predetermined pattern thereby to indicate to the host device the insert currently in the base.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
• This invention relates to an apparatus and method for the remote control of the display of information by an interactive media, such as a host device, e.g., a personal computer (PC) or a television (TV).[0001]
BACKGROUND
• A conventional remote control for a television (TV) includes a rectangular box, with buttons that are marked with symbols, such as the numerals “1”, “2”. . . “0”. A user touches one or more such buttons to switch the TV's display to a desired channel. For example, the user instructs the TV to display[0002]channel 5 by pressing a button labeled “5”. However, the user performs several steps prior to the display: consults a TV guide, selects a desired program, remembers a channel number for the program, and enters the channel number on the remote control. Alternatively, the user presses a button labeled for example “CH±” to sequentially display each TV channel, until the user finds a desirable TV program.
• Universal remote controls allow a user to control the operation of a video cassette player (VCR) in addition to the TV, e.g. to control a movie's retrieval by the VCR and display by the TV. However, the user again performs several steps prior to the display: reviews a list of available movies (for example by consulting an index in a movie rental store), selects and rents a desired movie's video tape, brings home and inserts the video tape into the VCR, tunes the TV to a predetermined channel,[0003]e.g. channel 3, and then presses a button labeled “PLAY” on the remote control.
• A settop box available from VideoGuide, Inc., 209 Burlington Road, Bedford, Mass., 01730 (see the Web page at http://www.vgi.com on the Internet), displays on a user's TV a list of upcoming TV programs, and requires the user to press a button labeled “TV” to select one of the listed TV programs. See also the Web page at http://www.theGIST.com for another similar product.[0004]
• A mouse and a keyboard for remotely controlling information displayed on a computer's monitor are also well known. The mouse and keyboard are more difficult to use than a TV remote control, because the user is required to be knowledgeable about computers. Specifically, the user must know computer instructions or be aware of the need to press, e.g., a left button of the mouse while a cursor is positioned on an icon.[0005]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
• A remote control in accordance with this invention includes a remote control base (also called simply “base”), and an insert that is attached in a detachable manner to the remote control base. The base includes (1) a support structure, (2) a remote control circuit supported by the support structure, and (3) a button also supported by the support structure and coupled to operate the remote control circuit. On operation of the button(s), the remote control circuit generates a signal that can control the operation of a host device, such as a personal computer (PC) or a television.[0006]
• The insert includes a printed publication having one or more leaves that are printed with content such as text and graphics. A user assembles the remote control by physically attaching the insert to the base so that a leaf of the printed publication is laid over the button in the base. Thereafter, when the user touches content (e.g. text or graphics) located on the leaf (e.g. printed thereon or affixed by a sticker), pressure from the touch transfers through the leaf to operate the button and transmit a remote control signal (e.g. a “wireless signal” or a signal over a cable) to the host device.[0007]
• The printed publication is attached to the base in a detachable manner so that the user can replace the attached printed publication with another printed publication, thereby to reuse the base any number of times. Detachable attachment of a printed publication to the remote control base allows the attached printed publication to be free of electronic components, and therefore be manufactured by conventional printing processes.[0008]
• In a first embodiment, the insert includes, as the printed publication, a single leaf, e.g. a card (such as a postcard, a playing card, or a business card). In this embodiment, the base has the form of a normal remote control (e.g. length being several times width). The base includes a fastener formed by two “U” shaped channels that each face the other along the longitudinal side of the base. In this embodiment, the user assembles the remote control by sliding two opposite edges of a card within the two channels of the fastener until the card touches a portion (also called “stop member”) of the base. Therefore, at the end of assembly, text and/or graphics carried in a central region of the card lie over a button that is located between the two channels.[0009]
• Thereafter, when the user touches the text and/or graphics on the card, pressure from the touch operates the underlying button, and in response the remote control circuit generates and transmits a signal to the host device. The signal carries data (e.g. x and y coordinates) indicative of the touched location on the card. On receipt of the signal, the host device visually displays information related to the text and/or graphics at the touched location on the card. The touched location's text and/or graphics is related to (e.g. is descriptive of, or is derived from) the to-be-displayed information.[0010]
• For example, touching the content “CHINA AIRLINES” of a card (when mounted on the base) generates a remote control signal that instructs a host device to automatically display electronic content accessible in the form of a page (also called “Web page”) on the World Wide Web part of Internet at the address http://www.china-airlines.com/. Such electronic content can be held in a storage media that is coupled to the host device by a server, for example, through a public or private network such as a telephone network, a satellite network, or a cable network. Alternatively, the electronic content can be held in a storage media that is packaged with the insert, and that is inserted into the host device by the user.[0011]
• The information displayed by the host device, and the content carried by the insert have an association (hereinafter “remote electronic association”) that is implemented by transmission of the signal generated by the remote control circuit. Moreover, there is a visual association between the insert's content and the underlying button implemented in one embodiment by the fastener (e.g. the above-described channels) that aligns the insert to the base.[0012]
• In this embodiment, the alignment is sufficient to ensure that an insert is positioned at approximately the same position on the base each time the remote control is assembled, so that content on the insert is appropriately aligned to one or more buttons in the base. For example, the base has a distance (also called “width”) between the two channels that is approximately equal to the width of an insert to be used in the base. Repeatability in the positioning of an insert with respect to the base ensures that approximately the same coordinates of a touched location are sensed by the underlying button(s), irrespective of the number of times or the way in which the insert is attached to the base.[0013]
• In this particular embodiment, the card carries a pattern (e.g. formed as a bar code or a series of punched holes), and the remote control base includes an identity reader (e.g. formed by a series of sensors, such as photodiodes or phototransistors) that reads the pattern. The remote control circuit transmits in the signal a number determined by the identity reader from the pattern, thereby to uniquely identify to the host device the card currently attached to the base, so that the base can be reused any number of times with such cards.[0014]
• A “card reader” remote control as described above allows a user to simply use a card (e.g. torn from a printed publication, such as the TIME™ magazine) to pull up a display of information on a host device. So such a remote control eliminates the need for a user to consult a guide (e.g. TV guide) and remember, e.g. a channel number or an Internet address as required in the prior art. Instead, the user simply touches human-understandable content located on a card mounted on the base, and pressure from the touch operates a button coupled to a remote control circuit that in turn transmits a signal (either wirelessly or over a cable) to control the display of related information.[0015]
• In a second embodiment, the insert includes, as the printed publication, a booklet having a number of leaves (also called “sheets” or “pages”), e.g. a catalog or a magazine. In such an embodiment, the base includes a file folder having a front cover, a back cover and a spine connecting the two covers. The file folder includes, mounted on the spine, a fastener capable of detachably holding the insert. Such a fastener includes, e.g. three rings capable of holding a booklet having three corresponding holes. In this particular embodiment, each booklet initially holds a storage media, e.g. an optical disc (such as a CD-ROM) that is encoded with the information to be displayed in response to touching a region of the booklet when mounted in the remote control base.[0016]
• Instead of a booklet, in an alternative embodiment the three-ring fastener holds a single sheet of paper having the three corresponding holes. Therefore, a remote control having the three ring fastener can be used with printed publications having either: (a) single leaf or (b) multiple leaves.[0017]
• In other embodiments, instead of a three-ring fastener, other types of fasteners are used, e.g. a female rail having a “C” shaped cross-section that can hold a single leaf. Such a single leaf can support a booklet, thereby allowing a remote control having the rail to be used with multiple leaves in a printed publication. Moreover, in one variant of the card reader remote control, the card supports a booklet thereby to make leaves in the booklet touch sensitive.[0018]
• A remote control as described herein has several unexpected advantages. For example, as an insert is mounted removably on a remote control base, the base can be reused any number of times, thereby resulting in lower cost than if a remote control circuit is integrated into the insert. Therefore, inserts can be manufactured by conventional printing processes. Furthermore, a remote control as described herein allows the display of electronic content on a bulky device (such as a TV or a PC) located at a distance from the remote control, thereby allowing a user to simply touch a mounted card and view a display of information related to content carried by the card.[0019]
• Furthermore, the above-described file-folder remote control is compatible with the standard three-hole format of normal catalogs. Therefore normal catalogs can be modified for use in a file-folder remote control by simply providing a mark on each touch-sensitive leaf of the catalog, thereby to allow a user to identify to a host device the leaf that is currently laid open.[0020]
• Also, the form of a file-folder remote control provides the user with a level of comfort due to familiar appearance that is otherwise lacking in a remote control of the prior art. Specifically, a user can flip through the leaves of a printed publication in the normal manner, and when desired merely touch appropriate locations to pull up the display of related information. Moreover, a user can easily access information related to the printed content on two adjacent leaves that are laid open, with a first leaf laid over a front cover and a second leaf laid over a back cover.[0021]
• Therefore, a printed publication when mounted in the file folder remote control can be laid open and touched in the normal manner of a book. Furthermore, printed content on both sides of a leaf can be used to select information, e.g. by using a back cover for one side, simply turning over the leaf and using the front cover for the other side. Such a file folder remote control having a button in each of a front cover and a back cover eliminates the need to remove and re-insert a leaf as required by the card-reader remote control. Also, the file-folder remote control does not have an identity reader, and is therefore cheaper than the card-reader remote control.[0022]
• In a third embodiment, a remote control includes features of both the above-described remote controls of the first and second embodiment. Specifically, in one implementation, the remote control includes a file folder with a fastener in the form of a female rail having a “C” shaped cross section, with a barcode scanner mounted in a cavity of the rail. In this particular embodiment, the insert includes a leaf on which is mounted a booklet, with a portion (also called “flap”) of the leaf forming a male rail. The mail rail carries a barcode to be read by the scanner during insertion of the male rail into the cavity of the female rail.[0023]
• A remote control base as described herein can include one or more additional input devices, e.g. (1) a pointing device (such as a touch pad, a mouse, a trackball, or a joystick) that controls the movement of a cursor on a monitor of the host device, and/or (2) an alphanumeric device (such as a keyboard) that allows a user to type in, for example, a search word related to the displayed information, thereby to pull up additional information related to the specific content carried by the insert.[0024]
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
• FIG. 1 illustrates, in a conceptual view, a remote control of this invention for controlling the display of information (also called “electronic content”).[0025]
• FIG. 2A illustrates, in a perspective view, one embodiment of a remote control wherein a card is being attached in a detachable manner to a remote control base.[0026]
• FIGS. 2B and 2C illustrate, in block diagrams, a system showing the control of information displayed by a host device by a wireless embodiment and a cable-based embodiment of a remote control of this invention.[0027]
• FIG. 3A illustrates, in a plan view, one example of the card of FIG. 2A having touch-sensitive areas for three articles and an advertisement when mounted in the remote control base of FIG. 2A.[0028]
• FIG. 3B illustrates, in a waveform, data generated by the remote controls of FIGS. 2B and 2C.[0029]
• FIG. 3C illustrates the display of information by the host device of FIG. 2B in response to receipt of the signal of FIG. 3B.[0030]
• FIG. 3D illustrates, in a cross-sectional view (in the direction[0031]3D-3D in FIG. 2B), one embodiment of the remote control.
• FIG. 4A illustrates, in a perspective view, a remote control that includes a two dimensional array of discrete switches.[0032]
• FIG. 4B illustrates, in a plan view, one example of the card of FIG. 2A having touch-sensitive areas for three articles and an advertisement when mounted in the remote control base of FIG. 4A.[0033]
• FIGS. 4C and 4D illustrate, in perspective views, in a closed position and an open position respectively, a remote control having a keyboard in accordance with the invention.[0034]
• FIG. 5A illustrates, in a perspective view, a file-folder shaped remote control that includes a female rail at the spine, and an insert with a flap for insertion into the rail.[0035]
• FIG. 5B illustrates, in an elevation view in the direction[0036]5B-5B in FIG. 5A, a “C” shaped cross-section of the rail.
• FIG. 5C illustrates, an elevation view in the direction[0037]5C-5C in FIG. 5A, a male rail formed by folding over a portion of the flap.
• FIGS. 5D and 5E illustrate, in perspective views, a file-folder shaped base in closed and open positions respectively.[0038]
• FIGS. 5F and 5G illustrate, in perspective views, an insert in the form of a booklet in closed and open positions respectively.[0039]
• FIG. 5H illustrates, in a perspective view, the booklet of FIGS. 5F and 5G mounted in the base of FIGS. 5D and 5E to form a remote control of the invention.[0040]
• FIG. 5I illustrates, in a perspective view, an insert in the form of a single three-holed leaf that is mounted on the base of FIGS. 5D and 5E to form another remote control of the invention.[0041]
• FIGS. 5J and 5K illustrate, in plan views, touch-sensitive areas of one leaf of a booklet when the booklet is mounted in a base having a touch panel or an array of switches respectively.[0042]
• FIGS. 5L and 5M illustrate, in exploded views, the base of FIG. 5D.[0043]
• FIG. 5N illustrates, in an enlarged plan view of the[0044]area5N (FIG. 5L) of the printed circuit board included in the base of FIG. 5D.
• FIG. 5O illustrates, in an enlarged plan view of the[0045]area5N (FIG. 5L), an alternative embodiment of the printed circuit board using a flexible tape.
• FIG. 6A illustrates, in an exploded view, a touch panel used in the remote control of FIG. 2A.[0046]
• FIG. 6B illustrates, in an enlarged view, the arrangement of the conductive and dielectric traces of FIG. 6A with respect to each other.[0047]
• FIG. 6C illustrates, in a cross-sectional view in[0048]direction6C-6C (FIG. 6B), the conductive traces and dielectric traces of FIG. 6B.
• FIG. 6D illustrates, in an enlarged view, the conductive traces of FIG. 6A with a schematic circuit diagram overlaid over the conductive traces.[0049]
• FIG. 7 illustrates , in a schematic circuit diagram, a remote control circuit included in the remote control of FIG. 2A.[0050]
• FIG. 8 illustrates, in a timing diagram, the[0051]pattern113 carried bycard11 of FIG. 2A.
• FIG. 9 illustrates, in a flow chart, various steps performed by the microcontroller of FIG. 7.[0052]
• FIGS. 10A and 10B illustrate, in a plan view, conductive traces and dielectric traces of an array of switches (used instead of touch panel) in the remote control of FIG. 4A.[0053]
• FIG. 11 illustrates, in a schematic circuit diagram, a remote control circuit included in the remote control of FIG. 4A.[0054]
• FIG. 12 illustrates, in a flow chart, various steps performed by the microcontroller shown in FIG. 11.[0055]
• FIGS. 13 and 14 illustrate schematic circuit diagrams that are similar to the respective diagrams in FIGS. 7 and 11, except for having two touch panels and not having a bar code scanner as required by base[0056]530 (FIG. 5E).
• FIGS.[0057]15A-15C illustrate, in flow charts, the steps performed by host device120 (FIG. 2C) to implement two-touch method for selecting the information related to printed content on multiple leaves of printed publication.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
• In the conceptual view of FIG. 1, a[0058]remote control10 includes at least two parts: a base32 that includes a remote control circuit, and aninsert31 that includes a printed publication.Insert31 is physically attached (as illustrated by physical attachment14A) indirectly by a fastener (not labeled; illustrated by mating part22) tobase32.Base32 includes, in addition to the remote control circuit, one ormore buttons12 that operate the remote control circuit.
• The printed publication of[0059]insert31 has the appearance of a normal periodical, journal, or magazine, and has content, such as text and/or graphics printed on one or more leaves included in the printed publication. For example, the printed publication can have the appearance (e.g. size and shape) of (1) a postcard, (2) a business card, (3) a playing card of a card game (such as poker), (4) a sheet of paper ofdimensions 8 inches×10 inches (5) a greeting card, and (6) a booklet having three holes (such as a catalog).
• When a user touches predetermined areas in the printed publication, pressure from the touch transfers through the leaves to a[0060]button12, thereby to operate the remote control circuit and cause transmission of a signal (illustrated by remote electronic association15) indicative of a location touched by the user. In response to the signal, a host device120 (FIG. 3A), such as a personal computer (PC) or a television (TV) optionally suspends displaying any information currently displayed (e.g. saves state of all processes), and displays information in the form of electronic content13 (FIG. 1) associated with (as illustrated by association16) printed content at the touched location.
• In one embodiment,[0061]electronic content13 is “data specific”, andbutton12 is a “data button”, as described briefly below and in detail in the U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/550,976 incorporated by reference above. The host device can be similar or identical to the host device described in detail in one or more of U.S. patent applications Ser. Nos. 08/550,976, 08/816,616 and 08/915,072 also referenced above.
• [0062]Button12 can be any device capable of transmitting an electrical signal in response to pressure. Examples ofbutton12 include a membrane switch and a touch panel. Operation of button12 (in one embodiment) indicates that specific electronic content including data (and optionally including code) is to be retrieved from a network (either live content from e.g. a video camera or prerecorded content from a remote storage media) or a local storage media in the host device, and is to be displayed to the user by the host device.
• An example of a data button is a button that when pressed causes a display (by the host device) of a list of automobiles sold by the FORD™ Motor Company, and is triggered by the user pressing a printed[0063]publication11, e.g. on content “Ford” carried by a leaf of printedpublication11. Therefore, in this example,electronic content13 is “data specific” and includes a listing of automobiles sold by FORD™. Association16 (also called “representative association”) is implemented by a publisher making available (e.g. over the Internet or on an optical disc)electronic content13 for display by a host device in response to operation ofbutton12.
• Yet another example of a data button is a button that when pressed causes the display of a Presidential address being delivered in real time, when the user presses the printed content “Presidential Address” in a leaf of printed[0064]publication11, if the Presidential address is currently being delivered by the President. If the user presses the printed content “Presidential Address” after the live broadcast, i.e. after the President has finished addressing the nation, a recording of the most recent Presidential address is retrieved from a remote storage media and displayed to the user by the host device. The displayed information, such as live content or prerecorded content can be retrieved from any network such as a telephone network, a satellite network or a cable network.
• Visual association[0065]14B (FIG. 1) is implemented wheninsert31 is aligned to base32, in one embodiment when the printed content ininsert31 is located at a predetermined location relative to one ormore buttons12 inbase32. The alignment between a leaf's printed content andbutton12 is sufficient to ensure that operation ofbutton12 causes the host device to pull up and display electronic content13 (FIG. 1) that is associated with the printed content (e.g. byassociation16 as described above).
• Therefore, visual association[0066]14B is substantially similar to visual association14B described in the U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/550,976 incorporated by reference above, except that the printed text and/or graphic content is not integrated intobutton12 and rather is located on a leaf of printedpublication11 that is attached in a detachable manner tobase32.
• In one embodiment, printed[0067]publication11 consists of only one leaf (for convenience such a leaf is also identified by reference numeral11). In this embodiment,leaf11 is formed as a portion of a magazine, and the user tears outleaf11 from the magazine, and detachably attachesleaf11 toremote control base32. In another embodiment, such aleaf11 is simply included loosely in a magazine, thereby eliminating the requirement for the user to tear out the leaf. Such aleaf11 can be similar or identical to a “Reader Response Card” commonly included in a magazine (such as the “TIME” magazine) for requesting information on products advertised in the magazine. Furthermore, in yet another embodiment, the user receivesleaf11 by itself in the mail, in a manner similar to a picture postcard, or alternatively in an envelope that contains a bill, such as the Visa™ bill.
• An insert[0068]31 (FIG. 1) can include, in addition toleaf11, a printed publication that has one or more covers (e.g., front and back covers) and leaves (in addition to the above-described leaf11) enclosed between the covers. Such leaves also carry text and graphics of a magazine, (e.g. the TIME™ magazine) in the normal manner. In one such an embodiment,leaf11 is attached as a flap to the printed publication, andleaf11 is detachably attached tobase32 without separation from the printed publication.
• In one implementation,[0069]leaf11 carries a pattern containing an identification code in the form of e.g. a bar code (such as the code “UPC”) that is printed onleaf11 in a manner similar to a bar code located below the mailing address on a preprinted post card. Such a pattern, when carried byleaf11, is read by an identity reader23 (e.g. a bar code scanner) that is optionally included inbase32.
• In an alternative implementation,[0070]leaf11 carries a pattern in the form of a series of holes that are punched inleaf11 in a manner similar to the holes of punched cards that were conventionally used to program a computer. However, in other implementations, aleaf11 can carry an identification code in another structure, e.g. encoded in a magnetic stripe or in an electronic chip, andidentity reader23 includes an appropriate circuit capable of reading the identification code from such a structure. In yet another implementation, the identification code is held in a memory in the remote control circuit, thereby eliminating the need foridentity reader23 and the need for a pattern to be carried byleaf11.
• In one embodiment, a base[0071]32 (FIG. 2A), includes twochannels34 and35 that face each other and a third channel38 that is located transverse to each ofchannels34 and35. Therefore, in this embodiment, the threechannels34,35, and38 form a “U” shaped fastener22 (FIG. 2A). Such afastener22 can be formed, for example as a single integral body by injection molding of high density polyethylene (HDPE) plastic material.
• [0072]Base32 also includes a button12 (FIG. 1) in the form of, for example, a touch panel12 (FIG. 2A) that is located centrally betweenchannels34 and35. For convenience, thesame reference numeral12 is used in FIGS. 1 and 2A to identify the conceptual “button” and the physical “touch panel” in the respective drawings.Base32 further includes a remote control circuit (not shown in FIG. 2A) and a signal transmitter, such as an infraredlight emitting diode37, that is coupled to the remote control circuit, and that is used to transmit to the host device a signal generated by the remote control circuit.
• In this embodiment,[0073]channels34,35 and38 each have a “U” shaped cross-section.Channels34 and35 are separated each from the other by a distance Wb (e.g. 3 inches) that is approximately equal to or slightly greater than (e.g. by 5%) a width Wc ofleaf11. Moreover, each ofchannels34 and35 has a clearance (between the two parallel sides in the “U” shaped channel) of Tb (e.g. 1 mm) that is approximately equal to or greater than (e.g. by 100%) the thickness of Tc ofleaf11. Therefore,leaf11 easily slides betweenchannels34 and35 in direction D. Such movement ofleaf11 is stopped by channel38 (also called “stop member”).
• Each of[0074]channels34 and35 has a length Lb (e.g. 8 inches) that is smaller than a length Lc ofleaf11, so that at the end of assemblingremote control10,leaf11 has a portion lip of length Le (FIG. 2B) that extends outside ofbase32, wherein Le=Lc−Lb (e.g. 0.5 inch). Portion lip allowsleaf11 to be easily grasped by a user for removal ofleaf11 frombase32, e.g. prior to insertion of anotherleaf11 in order to reusebase32.
• During the assembly of[0075]remote control10, anidentity reader23 that is included inbase32 is triggered by the movement ofleaf11, for example, by a switch (similar or identical to switch202 described in U.S. patent application, Ser. No. 08/824,103 incorporated by reference above). When triggered,identity reader23 reads apattern113 that is formed e.g. of black bars (or holes) as illustrated in chance cards208A-208R in U.S. patent application, Ser. No. 08/916,780 incorporated by reference above. In this embodiment,pattern113 is located at an edge11E ofleaf11, and is sensed byreader23 during the sliding of edge11E inchannel35.
• [0076]Identity reader23 includes a light sensor array of the type described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,884,974 (see, for example, FIGS. 6 and 7, andcolumn 7, lines 3-13) that is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. The light sensor array is located inchannel35 preferably but not necessarily atbase32's open end (opposite to stop member38) thereby to ensure thatpattern113 of any length can be read. The sensing ofpattern113 during the detachable attachment ofleaf11 tobase32 eliminates the need for a sliding mechanism otherwise required in the prior art to be swiped acrosspattern113.
• [0077]Remote control10 thereafter transmits to hostdevice120 in signal111 (FIG. 3B) an identification code (also called simply “code”) that is determined frompattern113. For example, remote control10 (FIG. 2B) operates alight emitting diode37, thereby to identify tohost device120 the identity ofleaf11 currently mounted inremote control10. Signal111 in this embodiment is an infrared signal in conformance with the format “TVIQ” of the protocol “TVIR” as described in microfiche Appendix B. Instead of TVIR, other protocols can be used, e.g. a protocol described in the IrDA specification available from IrDA e.g. via Internet at http://www.irda.org.
• Moreover, instead of an infrared signal[0078]111, an electrical signal can be transmitted through acable112 by a remote control50 (FIG. 2C). In such an embodiment,cable112 can be an RS-232 cable that is connected to a serial port ofhost device120. Instead of RS-232, the protocol Universal Serial Bus (USB) can be used for signals oncable112.
• Protocol USB is described in, e.g. “Universal Serial Bus to Simplify PC I/O” by Michael Slater in Microprocessor Report,[0079]Volume 9,Number 5,pages 1 and 6-9, that is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
• In another embodiment, the protocol “TVIR” as described in microfiche Appendix B is modified as follows. The carrier frequency is changed from 40 kilohertz to 38 kilohertz, by changing a constant “PulseNum” in microfiche Appendix A. Moreover, the number of bits in a check sum is changed from two bits to four bits, by changing the constant “PARITY” also in microfiche Appendix A.[0080]
• Depending on the implementation,[0081]host device120 can acknowledge to the user the receipt of an identification code that is transmitted e.g. during or immediately after insertion ofleaf11 into base32 (FIG. 2A) by displaying, for example, a message (hereinafter “prelude message”)133C_1 (FIG. 2B) that contains the text “PLEASE TOUCH AN AREA.”Host device120 can also display other information, such as a commercial (in addition to prelude message133C_1) as described in U.S. patent application, Ser. No. 08/715,809 referenced above.
• After assembly of[0082]remote control10, when the user touchesleaf11, e.g. touches the content of an article, e.g. photograph P1 (FIG. 3A), pressure from the touch transfers throughleaf11 to touchpanel12, (FIG. 2A), and remote control10 (FIG. 2B) operates LED37 again, this time to transmit another signal111 (FIG. 3B) that indicates the coordinates of the touched location. The coordinates identify an area (also called “touch sensitive area”) A1 ofleaf11 that is associated with electronic content133C_2.
• [0083]Host device120 uses the identification code and the coordinates (e.g. x1, y1) of the touched location to look up a table to identify, retrieve (if necessary through the Internet) and display electronic content133C_2. Instead of electronic content133C_2,host device120 can display any of otherelectronic contents133A-133D depending on which one of identity codes1-N is sensed fromleaf11 that is inserted inbase32.
• In an alternative embodiment,[0084]remote control10 does not transmit two separate signals111, one for the identification code and another for the coordinates of the touched location. Instead,remote control10 transmits the identification code as well as the touched location's coordinates in a single signal111 (as described below).
• In the example illustrated in FIG. 3A, other printed content in[0085]article1, e.g. text T1 and text T2 also lie over area A1, and therefore touching text T1 or text T2 also causes the same electronic content133C_2 to be displayed byhost device120. In this example, area A2 that underlies text T3 ofarticle1 is also associated with electronic content133C_2. The association of areas A1 and A2 to electronic content133C_2 (FIG. 2B) is provided in a table that is associated withleaf11 and that is identified by an identification code encode in pattern113 (FIG. 2A).
• Each of touch sensitive areas A[0086]1-A6 (FIG. 3A) is preferably made smaller than the overlaid content by a distance d (FIG. 3A) around the boundary of the content, thereby to ensure that even if a printed content is misaligned by distance d (e.g. 2 mm), the appropriate electronic content13 (FIG. 1) is still displayed. Moreover, the margin m (e.g. 10 mm) between adjacent printed contents is larger than distance d, thereby to ensure that even when a printed content is misaligned by distance d, the electronic content associated with an adjacent printed content is not inadvertently displayed.
• Therefore, remote control[0087]10 (FIG. 2B) provides a simple “touch and view” interface to the display of information byhost device120. For example, the user merely touches the car in area A6 (FIG. 3A) to view electronic content (also called “Web page”) at Internet address http://www.4adodge.com/neon/index.html, that is displayed visually byhost device120 on monitor122 (FIG. 3C).
• In one embodiment, a publisher of a weekly magazine uses a different number in the identity code (also called “identification code”) for each week's[0088]leaf11, thereby to identify e.g. the current week's electronic content13 (FIG. 1) for use with the current week'sleaf11. Moreover, the publisher makes a Web page available on a server131 (see FIG. 2B) that is accessible over the Internet. The publisher makes the Web page available on the publication date of a magazine that includesleaf11, so that a user can use leaf11 (FIG. 2A) to view the publisher's Web page on the user's host device120 (FIG. 2B).
• In this embodiment, the user replaces a leaf[0089]11 (FIG. 2A) inremote control10 once a week, e.g. substitutes theleaf11 torn from a TIME™ magazine published last week with anotherleaf11 torn from the TIME™ magazine published in the current week, and views news clips and other information on currently advertised products identified inleaf11's content (that is updated weekly by the TIME™ magazine publisher).
• The use of different identification codes for each week's[0090]leaf11 allows the user to access a prior week's electronic content13 (FIG. 1) by using a prior week'sleaf11. Moreover, such use of different identification codes requires a user to have the current week'sleaf11 to access the current week'scontent13, thereby requiring the user to renew subscription to the magazine.
• In an alternative embodiment, a publisher manufactures a number of storage media (such as optical discs; not shown) containing the to-be-displayed information, one for each copy of the magazine (not shown). Thereafter, the publisher inserts each storage media in a holder (not shown) attached to a magazine that contains[0091]leaf11. A user removes the storage media from the holder and inserts the storage media into a peripheral device124 (FIG. 2B) ofhost device120 prior to operatingremote control10. In response to the signal111 fromremote control10,host device120 retrieves to-be-displayed information from the inserted storage media inperipheral device124, and displays the retrieved information.
• In one implementation, such a[0092]leaf11 does not have the predetermined pattern to provide an identification code tohost device120. Instead, it is assumed thatperipheral device124 holds a storage media that was initially packaged withleaf11, e.g. in the current week's magazine TIME™. The storage media (e.g. a CD-ROM) has printed content that identifies (e.g. by date) theleaf11 to be used inremote control10. Therefore in this implementation, signal111 does not carry an identification code to identifyleaf11.Host device120 automatically uses a table in a storage media currently indevice124 to retrieve and display information related to the location indicated by signal111.
• In an alternative embodiment,[0093]base32 does not have identity reader23 (FIG. 2A). Instead,base32 holds, in a nonvolatile memory (not shown in FIG. 2A) included in the remote control circuit, a predetermined identification code that indicates (either directly or indirectly) the location (e.g. an Internet address) of electronic content13 (FIG. 1) to be displayed. The remote control circuit encodes the predetermined identification code in signal111 (e.g. during the sliding of a card into the base), and host device120 (FIG. 2B) accesses the most current electronic content13 (FIG. 1) at the indicated location. In this embodiment, the user needs to use the current magazine'sleaf11 each week to ensure that the displayedinformation13 is related to the specific content carried byleaf11.
• As noted above, the to-be-displayed information can be live content made available through a network, such as a satellite network, a cable network, or a telephone network by a publisher (e.g. publisher of TIME magazine). In such a case, the publisher prints specific content on[0094]leaf11, e.g. a title of a concert to be performed, and a user views live content by simply attachingleaf11 to the base and thereafter touching the title onleaf11 e.g. during the live broadcast of the concert.
• In one particular implementation, base[0095]32 (FIG. 3D) includes a number of integrated circuit die39A . . .39I . . .39R (where A≦I≦R, and R is the number of such dies) that are mounted on aside12H oftouch panel12.Touch panel12 also supportsLED37 and identity reader23 (that can be, for example, a bar code scanner of the type described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/916,780 incorporated by reference above).Touch panel12 is attached to a side ofchannel34 by an adhesive40.Base32 also includes a plate41 that is attached by adhesive40 toside12H ofpanel12, betweenchannels34 and35, thereby to protect dies39A-39R.
• In this implementation, base[0096]32 (FIG. 2A) also includes a pointing device, specifically a touch pad42 that can be used to control the movement and location of a cursor45 (FIG. 3C) onmonitor122, thereby to allow the user to navigate the display ofinformation13 in the normal manner (e.g. as in the Web browser Internet Explorer available from Microsoft Corporation). Pad42 can be, e.g. Versa Pad™ available from Interlink Electronics, 546 Flynn Road, Camarillo, Calif. 93012.
• Such integration of a pointing device and a remote control into a single device eliminates the need for, e.g. two separate housings, and two separate power supplies, and therefore provides cost savings over the prior art. The integration also eliminates the need for a user to keep track of and use two separate devices (e.g. a mouse and a remote control) otherwise necessary in the prior art.[0097]
• Numerous variations and modifications of[0098]remote control10 will be obvious to a person of skill in the art of remote controls in view of the disclosure. For example, instead of having atouch panel12, in another embodiment, button12 (FIG. 1) includes a switch in a two dimensional array S1 (FIG. 4A) of discrete switches SAA-SUV that are used to determine a location on leaf11 (FIG. 4B) by base100 (FIG. 4A).
• Therefore, when a user touches, for example, a photograph P[0099]2 (FIG. 4B), an underlying switch SIJ (FIG. 4A) closes an electrical path in the remote control circuit as described below in reference to FIG. 11. Therefore, in this particular embodiment,leaf11 has a number of touch sensitive areas (shown dotted in FIG. 4B) BAA, . . . BIJ, . . . BUV, where A≦I≦U and A≦J≦V, U and V being the number of columns and rows respectively in two dimensional array S1.
• When a user touches, for example, text T[0100]1 in touch sensitive area BAA, an underlying discrete switch SAA (FIG. 4A) is closed, thereby to cause the transmission of an appropriate signal111 (FIG. 3B) containing, e.g. predetermined Cartesian coordinates of switch SAA. The Cartesian coordinates for each switch SIJ are stored in a table encoded in a memory1103M (FIG. 11) included in microcontroller1103.
• Alternatively, microcontroller[0101]1103 can transmit a predetermined identifier for a closed switch SIJ, e.g. a row number I for row RI and a column number J for column CJ (FIG. 11). In another variant of the embodiment, instead of transmitting the row and column numbers, microcontroller1103 transmits a predetermined switch code, e.g. anumber 1 for switch SAA, anumber 2 for switch SAB, and a number IJ for switch SIJ and host device120 (FIG. 3A) uses number IJ in an appropriate table to identify an area BIJ (FIG. 4B) touched by the user.
• In this embodiment, a publisher of[0102]leaf11 ensures that the printed content, e.g. text T1, photograph P1, text T2 and text T3 are aligned to and located over touch sensitive areas BAA, BBA, BCA, BDA and BAB (FIG. 2F). Various touch sensitive areas that are not clearly covered by a single article, (e.g. touch sensitive area BBB is covered only partially by text T4) are unassociated with any electronic content13 (FIG. 1), and are inactive. Therefore, when a user touches touch sensitive area BBB, host device120 (FIG. 3A) does not display onmonitor122 any information related to the printed content ofarticles1 and2.Host device120 can optionally display an error message requesting the user to touch another touch sensitive area BIJ, e.g. the message “PLEASE TOUCH ANOTHER AREA IN THE SELECTED ARTICLE”.
• In some of the embodiments discussed above, remote control[0103]10 (FIG. 1) transmits, in wireless signal111 (FIG. 3B) an identification code that identifies to hostdevice120, the information to be displayed onmonitor122. In one implementation, the identification code includes an Internet address in the form of a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) code, andhost device120 uses the URL code directly (via browser software such as NETSCAPE's Navigator) to retrieve electronic content13 (FIG. 1).
• In an alternative implementation, the identification code includes a product code, such as the Universal Product Code (UPC) normally printed as a pattern on the cover of a magazine and used in determining the price at a checkout stand of a store. In the alternative implementation,[0104]host device120 uses the identification code indirectly, e.g. performs a table lookup to find the URL code or other address ofelectronic content13. Such a table can be stored either locally on a storage media (e.g. hard disk) permanently installed withinhost device120 or on a removable storage media, such as an optical disk removably mounted in astorage media drive124 of host device120 (FIG. 2B), or on a remote storage media accessible fromserver131 e.g. via Internet.
• In one variant of the alternative implementation, an optical disc (such as CD-[0105]ROM544 illustrated in FIG. 5G) is provided by the publisher of a periodical in a holder that is physically attached to the periodical. The user removes the optical disc from the holder and inserts the optical disc into storage media drive124 inhost device120. On insertion of an optical disc or other such storage media,host device120 can automatically suspend the display of any current displayed information and automatically start execution of software retrieved from the storage media as described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/497,177 incorporated by reference above. Thereafter, when the user assembles and operates remote control10 (as described herein),host device120 retrieves from the inserted storage media one or more tables required to identify the selected information and thereafter displays the selected information in response to wireless signal111, as described in, for example, U.S. patent applications, Ser. No. 08/269,492 and 08/816,616 incorporated by reference above.
• In another variant of the alternative implementation,[0106]host device120 uses a UPC code directly to display onmonitor122electronic content13. Specifically,remote control10 transmits in wireless signal111, as the identification code, a UPC code, e.g. the number 3224502192 that indicates the book “The Cruise Caper” by Marilyn L. Bollinger, available from Hasboro, Inc., Pawtucket, R.I. 02862. On receipt of the UPC code,host device120 looks up on server131 (FIG. 2B) the file 3224502192.HTML.Server131 is coupled to a storage media, e.g. one ofdisks132A-132D on which are stored a number of files each having a UPC code as the file name in a home directory ofserver131. Each of the files (not shown in FIG. 2B) includes a HTML instruction to redirect thehost device120 to the address of the requested electronic content.
• For example, if associated[0107]electronic content13 for “The Cruise Caper” is available at the Internet address http://www.cruise.com/movie2.html , the file 3224502192.HTML inserver131's home directory contains the following software instructions that redirecthost device120 to the publisher's server:
• <html><meta http-equiv=“refresh” content=“0;URL=http://www.cruise.com/movie2.html”> </html>
• To a user, electronic content[0108]13 (e.g. movie2.html) is displayed onmonitor122 afterhost device120 looks up the file 3224502192.HTML onserver131 and thereafter retrieveselectronic content13 from the publisher's server at the redirected Internet address. In this example, the Web page in the file movie2.html presents a movie and/or displays other information as determined by the publisher of “The Cruise Caper.” As is well known to the skilled artisan, the file movie2.html can be updated periodically, e.g. once a week to display a different movie, thereby to attract a user, such as a five year old child, into using the remote control at least once a week.
• In another embodiment,[0109]host device120 retrieveselectronic content13 from a video camera134 (FIG. 2B), such as model no. VLH450U by Sharp Corporation, available from Fry's Electronics, Campbell Calif. In one example,host device120 displays an on-going sports event, such as the Super Bowl, for example if the user touches printed content describing a to-be-played Super Bowl game in a sheet describing the game and enclosed e.g. in Sports Illustrated magazine.
• In another example, leaf[0110]11 (FIG. 2B) is a business card of a real estate agent, and touching an area of the business card causeshost device120 to automatically determine and dial a telephone number of the identified real estate agent, and thereafter to allow the user to converse with the real estate agent, e.g. via a voicelink established through a telephone instrument. As an option,host device120 uses a video camera127 (if included as a part of host device120) to establish a video link with the identified real estate agent thereby to allow a display of homes of interest to the user.
• In an alternative embodiment,[0111]host device120 retrieves electronic content13 (FIG. 1) from a local storage media, e.g. the above-described optical disc through storage media drive124. Specifically,host device120 compares an identification code retrieved from wireless signal111 with another identification code retrieved from the optical disc to ensure thatelectronic content13 associated with the touched printed content is available on the optical disc. On finding a match,host device120 displayselectronic content13 that is retrieved from the optical disc. Ifhost device120 cannot find an identification code from wireless signal111 in the optical disc,host device120 displays an error message requesting the user to insert the appropriate disc.
• In yet another embodiment,[0112]host device120 retrieveselectronic content13 from a hard disk125 (FIG. 2B) in a manner similar to that described above for the optical disk. Specifically,host device120 compares an identification code retrieved from wireless signal111 with another identification code retrieved fromhard disk125, to ensure thatelectronic content13 is available onhard disk125. On finding a match,host device120 displayselectronic content13 that is retrieved fromhard disk125.Electronic content13 can be stored onhard disk125, for example by use of software (commonly called “push” software) that retrieveselectronic content13 through Internet periodically and stores the electronic content onhard disk125. Push software such as POINTCAST is available from, for example, Pointcast Inc., 10101 North De Anza Blvd., Cupertino, Calif. 95014.
• In still another embodiment,[0113]host device120 does not compare two identification codes as described above. Instead, it is assumed that adrive124 contains an appropriate storage media (e.g. a CD-ROM that was initially supported by leaf11) andhost device120 displays information (e.g. the first file) from that storage media (e.g. in response to the touching of a first region of leaf11).
• [0114]Remote control base32 can include a light emitting diode (abbreviated as “LED”; not shown in FIG. 1) that is operated to momentarily emit, for example, green light, through a window in one ofchannels34 and35, thereby to indicate that theremote control10 is properly assembled and available for use. Ifidentity reader23 encounters an error during the sensing ofbar code pattern113,remote control base32 does not activate the light emitting diode, thereby to indicate to a user the need to remove and reinsertleaf11. In an alternative embodiment,identity reader23 activates the LED only on encountering an error during the reading ofbar code pattern113. In such an embodiment, the LED is operated to emit red light, thereby to indicate to the user the need to remove and reinsertleaf11.
• In another embodiment, a[0115]base400 has an upper portion401 (FIG. 4C) similar to above-describedbase32, and alower portion402 that includes akeyboard403. To accesskeyboard403, the user flips open the twoportions401 and402, e.g. by movingportion401 in the direction C1, away fromportion402. Such opening ofbase400 operates aswitch405 that in turn activateskeyboard403. In this embodiment, the user can foldportion401 over (to go under portion402) in the direction C2 to obtain a compact structure that has onlykeyboard403 exposed (leaf11 being hidden betweenportions401 and402).
• Thereafter, the user uses[0116]keyboard403 in the normal manner to navigate the display ofinformation13 byhost device120. The integration of akeyboard403 intobase400 further enhances the above-described advantages of integrating a pointing device and a remote control. Instead ofpad40, a joystick as described in U.S. patent application, Ser. No. 08/631,015 can be included in a remote control as described herein.
• In still another embodiment, a remote control[0117]500 (FIG. 5A) includes a base510 in the form of a file folder, and an insert520 in the form of a booklet having a number of leaves (e.g. 10 leaves).Base510 includes afront cover511, aback cover512 and a spine513 (FIG. 5B) that connects the twocovers511 and512. Each offront cover511 andback cover512 includes a button, such as a touch panel (as described above in reference tobase32 in FIG. 2A) or a switch in an array of discrete switches included in the cover (as described above in reference tobase100 in FIG. 4A).
• [0118]Base510 also includes, mounted on spine513, a fastener in the form ofrail514 that has a cross-section in the shape of the letter “C”.Rail514 has alongitudinal cavity515 formed behindlongitudinal edges514A and514B that each face the other. In this particular embodiment,base510 includes an identity reader S16 that is mounted on a ceiling ofcavity515 i.e. insiderail514.
• Insert[0119]520 (FIG. 5A) includes aleaf521 to which is attached abooklet522 having a number of leaves522A-522N, wherein A≦I≦N (FIG. 5C). In one particular implementation, each of leaves522A-522N andleaf521 are formed of conventional paper (e.g. 120 gsm) and are attached together in the normal manner, e.g. by staples or an adhesive. Therefore insert520 of this embodiment is manufactured by a conventional printing process.Leaf521 includes afirst portion521P that is located betweenlongitudinal edges514A and514B (FIG. 5B) when insert520 is mounted onbase510 by sliding a second portion521B (FIG. 5C) into cavity515 (FIG. 5B) in the direction D (FIG. 5A). During the mounting, a bar code pattern521I printed on second portion521B is read byidentity reader516, thereby to determine a number that identifies insert520. In another implementation, insert520 does not have bar code pattern521I, andchannel514 does not havereader516. Instead, base510 either operates under the assumption that the appropriate storage media containing the to-be-displayed information is packaged with insert520 or thatbase510 includes a memory pre-programmed with an identity code as described below.
• In this particular embodiment,[0120]first portion521P (FIG. 5C) has a thickness TP (e.g. 0.05 mm) that is smaller than the distance Tc (e.g. 1 mm) betweenedges514A and514B, while second portion521B has a thickness Tf (e.g. 1.5 mm) that is larger than the distance Tc. Therefore, second portion521B prevents the unintentional separation ofleaf521 fromrail514, e.g. when a user pulls onbooklet522. Therefore, second portion521B acts asmating part22 andrail514 acts as mating part21 (FIG. 1). Portion521B (FIG. 5A) is formed in one embodiment by folding apart521T and stapling or gluingpart521T to an underlying part521L of portion521B, thereby to form a male rail in portion521B.
• In a variant of the above-described embodiment,[0121]leaf521 supports a booklet in a transverse manner so that the booklet's spine is perpendicular to channel514 when assembled. Such a variant eliminates the need forfront cover511 to include a button because a touch panel inback cover512 is sufficient to make all leaves of the booklet touch sensitive.
• In an alternative embodiment, insert[0122]520 consists essentially ofleaf521, and is devoid ofbooklet522. Such aleaf521 can have the size of, for example, a postcard. Also, in another embodiment, such a leaf is devoid of the above-described male rail and instead, a planar edge of the leaf is mounted inchannel514, and can be yanked out by pulling in lateral direction L. The planar edge has a thickness approximately equal to the distance Te (FIG. 5B) and fits withinrail514, thereby to act as mating part22 (FIG. 1).
• In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 5A and 5C, each of leaves[0123]522A-522N has a corresponding mark (e.g. regions having predetermined content)523A-523N in an area AR that is reserved for such marks. Each of marks523A-523N on the respective leaves522A-522N is provided at a location different from the location of every other mark523-523N, so that touching a mark (also called “page mark”)523I immediately identifies two adjacent leaves521A and521I (FIG. 5C) that are currently laid open inremote control500. In one variant of this embodiment, each of page marks523A-523N (FIG. 5A), such as mark523I (FIG. 5J) has identical printed content (e.g. “TOUCH AND VIEW®”). In other variants, instead of text, a graphic icon indicates the location to be touched to identify the leaves that are currently laid open.
• When a user touches one of marks[0124]523A-523N, pressure from the user's touch is transferred through the leaf, e.g. leaf522I and through other intervening leaves,e.g. leaf522N (FIG. 5C) andleaf521 to back cover512 (FIG. 5A). Back cover512 includes a touch panel that responds to the pressure, to generate data indicating the location of the pressure (e.g. x,y coordinates) that are transmitted by an infrared LED517 (FIG. 5A) thereby to cause the transmission of data via a remote control signal111 (FIG. 3B).
• In one embodiment, the user must touch a page mark[0125]523I first, and thereafter touch one of areas (also called “regions”) A1-A7 to indicate the associated electronic content13 (FIG. 1) to be displayed. In an alternate embodiment, the user first touches one of areas A1-A7, and thereafter touches page mark523I to indicate theelectronic content13 to be displayed. In the alternative embodiment, a user can change their mind about the information to be displayed, e.g. touch an area A1 and then touch an area A3 and then followed by touching of page mark523I to cause the display of information related to area A3.
• Therefore, the alternative embodiment is more intuitive because the user uses page mark[0126]523I as a confirmation to indicate the most recent deselected information is to be displayed. Moreover, the requirement of touching printed content of a leaf522I multiple times, e.g. two times in this embodiment, eliminates the possibility of an information displayed being started accidentally by someone just touching leaf522I inadvertently.
• Each of touch sensitive areas A[0127]1-A7 (FIG. 5G) is preferably made smaller than the overlaid printed content by a distance d (FIG. 5J) around the boundary of the printed content, thereby to ensure that even if the printed content is misaligned by distance d, the appropriate electronic content13 (FIG. 1) is displayed. Moreover, the margin e.g. between adjacent printed contents is larger than distance d thereby to ensure that even when printed content is misaligned by distance d, the electronic content associated with an adjacent printed content is not inadvertently displayed.
• Instead of a touch panel, cover[0128]512 can include an array of switches SAA-SUV (see FIG. 4A) and in such an embodiment, each page mark523I lies over an underlying switch SIJ that is operated when the user touches page mark523I (see FIG. 5K).
• In still another embodiment, a[0129]remote control base530 has the form of a file folder, and includes afront cover531, aback cover532 and a spine533 (FIG. 5D) that connectscovers531 and532. Each ofcovers531 and532 has an external surface that is planar thereby to give the appearance of a normal file folder.Base530 also includes afastener534 having threerings534A-534C, and therefore base530 has the appearance of a normal 3-ring binder.
• In one particular implementation,[0130]fastener534 is a conventional three-ring binder mechanism (e.g. formed of steel), and rings534A-534C are movable between closed and open positions, so that paper having corresponding holes can be retained onrings534A-534C in the normal manner. One example offastener534 is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,295,747 that is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. Other types of file folders as described in, e.g. U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,552,478 and 4,214,839 can be used in other implementations ofbase530.
• A booklet[0131]540 (FIG. 5F) having threeholes541A-541C at locations corresponding to the locations ofrings534A-534C is mounted inbase530 thereby to form remote control550 (FIG. 5H). Therefore, in this particular embodiment, rings534A-534C andholes541A-541C function asmating parts22 and21 respectively (FIG. 1).Booklet540 includesleaves542A-542N, and each leaf542I has a corresponding mark543I used to identify adjacent leaves542I-1 and542I, as described below.
• A single page mark[0132]543I (FIG. 5H) is sufficient if leaves541I-1 and542I are held together in sequence (as in a booklet), becausefront cover531 identifies a touched location on the back side of leaf542I-1, andback cover532 identifies a touched location on the front side of leaf542I. However, if leaves542I-1 and542I are not held in sequence, i.e. leaves542Ak-542N (FIG. 5F) are loose leaves that can be arranged in any order, then a page mark is required on each of the two sides of a leaf, to identify which of the two sides is currently laid open for inspection by the user.
• In this particular embodiment,[0133]booklet540 does not have a bar code or any other type of pre-determined pattern to indicate an identity tobase530. Moreover,base530 does not have an identity reader (such asidentity reader516 described above in reference to FIG. 5B). Instead,booklet540 has, supported by a leaf (e.g.last leaf542N), a storage media, such as CD-ROM544.
• In one implementation, CD-[0134]ROM544 is supported within apouch545 attached toleaf542N.Pouch545 is formed in one particular embodiment by film of acetate that is glued toleaf542N on threesides545A-545C, andfourth side545D is left unglued to allow removal of CD-ROM544. In this implementation, CD-ROM544 has printed content (e.g. text) that uniquely identifies to the user the identity ofbooklet540 to be used with CD-ROM544. For example, each of CD-ROM544 andbooklet540 may have the same title, such as “FRED, THE FIRE ENGINE”, and the user coordinates the simultaneous use of CD-ROM544 andbooklet540.
• To use remote control[0135]550 (FIG. 5H), the user must first mount CD-ROM544 in a peripheral of host device120 (FIG. 2B) andcause host device120 to execute the software stored in CD-ROM544. During execution of software,host device120 interprets the signals transmitted by aninfrared LED537 included in base530 (FIG. 5E). As noted above, such anLED537 is operated to transmit a signal indicating the location of a region ofbooklet540 touched by the user.
• In an alternative embodiment, a booklet does not have a storage media, and instead has a mark (similar to mark[0136]543I described above) that is located at a different position in each booklet in a set of booklets that can be used inremote control base530. There can be, for example, twelve booklets, one for each month, with six positions for the marks at atop edge540T and six additional positions at thebottom edge540B (FIG. 5F). Each of the twelve booklets has only one mark (also called “booklet mark”) in any of the twelve positions, thereby identifying a month in which the booklet was published.
• In such an embodiment,[0137]remote control base530 includes a memory (e.g. memory1103M in FIG. 11) that is pre-programmed with an identity code. Such an identity code is transmitted tohost device120 along with the position of a booklet mark, thereby to identify the to-be-displayed information that is related to content printed in the booklet currently mounted in the remote control base. In one particular implementation,host device120 translates the identity code into an Internet address at which the to-be-displayed information is available. Therefore, a user must first touch a booklet mark attop edge540 or atbottom edge540B to identify the currently mounted booklet. Thereafter the user uses the booklet in the above-described manner, e.g. touches one of page marks543A-543N and an area e.g. area A1 (FIG. 5J) to pull up information related toarticle1.
• In one variant of card reader remote control[0138]1D (FIG. 2A),Card11 supports a booklet (not shown), thereby to make leaves in the booklet touch sensitive. In one implementation, such a booklet is mounted with the booklet's spine located next tochannel34, and therefore the booklet's leaves are touch sensitive only on one side (which is exposed when the leaf lies over button12). In another implementation, such a booklet is mounted with the booklet's spine located perpendicular to channel34, midway along the length Lb (FIG. 2A) so that leaves are touch sensitive on both sides of the spine.
• Moreover, instead of a[0139]booklet540, a single leaf560 (FIG. 5I) having the appropriate three holes561A-561C can be mounted inbase530 to formremote control550. The two file-folderremote controls500 and550 are simple and easy to use because a booklet in the remote controls can be opened in the normal manner of a book, e.g. by movingfront cover511 away from aback cover512. Thereafter, the user can read in the normal manner, and when necessary touch an area AI (FIG. 5J) followed by touching page mark523I to cause the display of information related to article I. Moreover, the user can flip one or more leaves522I-522J back and forth in the normal manner of a book, thereby the providing the user with a level of comfort not otherwise possible in remote controls of the prior art.
• As shown in FIG. 5L,[0140]base530 includes ahousing209 formed of a central section209C,end pieces209A and209B andposts209R-209S.Housing209 is formed, for example as a single integral body by injection molding of high density polyethylene (HDPE) plastic material.Posts209R and209S are used to support, and if necessary to align the various parts inbase530. For example, posts209R and209S pass through holes210R and210S in printed circuit board (PCB)210 included inbase530.PCB210 in turn supports a remote control circuit including an infrared LED537 (FIG. 5M).Batteries108A-108M are located in volume encoded betweenPCB210 andhousing209 as illustrated by battery compartment107 (FIG. 5M).
• In one variant of the embodiment,[0141]PCB210 hasconductive traces401,402 that are formed of, for example, copper directly onPCB210 as illustrated in FIG. 5N. In another variant of the embodiment,conductive traces401 and402 are formed on flexible tape403 (e.g. by printing carbon ink on MYLAR), andtape403 is attached (e.g. by an adhesive) to thePCB210 as illustrated in FIG. 50. The variant illustrated in FIG. 5N is simple to design but expensive to build, while the variant illustrated in FIG. 50 does not have exposed traces but requires additional parts and additional labor to assemble.
• In one variant of the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 5D, each of[0142]front cover531 andback cover532 includes a touch panel,e.g. touch panels211 and212 (FIG. 5L) that are sandwiched between two protective sheets,e.g. sheets211U and211L and212U and212L respectively. In an alternative variant, each offront cover531 andback cover532 includes an array of discrete switches, e.g. arrays S1 and S2 (FIG. 14) formed insubstrates211 and212 (for convenience, thesame reference numerals211 and212 are used to indicate touch panels (FIG. 6A) and substrates carrying discrete switch arrays S1 and S2 (FIG. 14).
• [0143]Sheets211L and212L (FIG. 5L) are both attached at the inner edges211I and212I respectively to a flexible element, such as afilm213 or a sheet of paper.Film213 is formed of flexible material, e.g. low density polyethylene (LDPE) plastic material and has a thickness of, for example, ⅛ inch. Use of afilm213 that is separate and distinct fromsheets211L and212L allowssheets211L and212L to have a thickness independent of the thickness offilm213. Therefore,sheets211L and212L can have a thickness of, for example, ⅛th inch, or a thickness of ¼th inch, depending on the application. Moreover,sheets211L and212L can have a thickness different from eachother e.g. sheets212L can have a thickness twice the thickness of sheet211L depending on the application.
• [0144]Sheets211L and212L can be formed of any material, e.g. of HDPE plastic material, a chip board, or card stock paper ifcovers531 and532 are rigid. Alternatively, ifcovers531 and532 are flexible,sheets211L and212L can be formed of LDPE plastic material, or paper of the same thickness as the paper used to form leaves of the normal magazine. Sheets211U and212U are formed sufficiently thin to allow pressure from touching a page of insert540 (FIG. 5F) to pass through to theunderlying touch panel211 or212.
• In this embodiment, posts[0145]209R and209S pass through therespective holes213R and213S (FIG. 5M) thereby to supportfilm213 and the attachedprotective sheets211L,211U,212L and212U. Posts109R and209S also pass throughrespective holes211R,211S intouch panel211 andholes212R and212S intouch panel212. Finally, posts209R and209S also pass through therespective holes534R and534S infastener534.Holes534R,534S,211R,211S and212R,212S are formed with sufficient accuracy so that each ofsheets211 and212 is sufficiently aligned with respect tofastener534, e.g. within the alignment distance d (FIG. 2E).
• In one particular embodiment, a touch panel[0146]12 (FIG. 6A) includes twosubstrates601 and602 formed of, for example, five mils thick MYLAR sheet having an area 8½ by 11 inches. As noted above, one or more integrated circuit dies39A-39R can be mounted onsubstrate602 that formsside12H of touch panel12 (FIG. 3D).
• Touch panel[0147]12 (FIG. 6A) also includes a number ofconductive traces603A-603N (where N is the number of conductive traces) and an equal number of dielectric traces604A-604N supported onsubstrate601. Specifically, dielectric traces604A-604N are formed onconductive traces603A-603N that are in turn formed onsubstrate601.
• Conductive traces[0148]603A-603N are formed parallel to each other and transverse (e.g. perpendicular) to another set of parallelconductive traces606A-606P (where P is the number of such conductive traces) formed onsubstrate602.Touch panel12 further includes a set of dielectric traces605A-605P that are formed on the respective conductive traces606A-606P. Whensubstrates601 and602 are assembled to formtouch panel211, dielectric traces604A-604N contact dielectric traces605A-605P thereby to keep each ofconductive traces603A-603N from contacting each ofconductive traces606A-606P.
• Dielectric traces[0149]604A-604N and605A-605P are formed narrower than the respective conductive traces603A-603N and606A-606P. The difference in widths between aconductive trace603I and a dielectric trace604I (FIG. 6A) allows aconductive trace603I to contact one ofconductive traces606A-606P depending on the location of anarea607I touched by a user.
• Specifically, when a user touches[0150]area607I (shown as a dotted circle in FIG. 6B), a portion of anotherconductive trace603I touches a portion of conductive trace606I, e.g. in theregion608 due to flexing ofsubstrate601 under pressure exerted by the touch. Such a contact between two transverseconductive traces603I and606I closes a switch in a remote control circuit700 (FIG. 7) and results in the transmission of a wireless signal111 (FIG. 3B) as described below in reference to FIG. 7.
• In one example, a[0151]conductive trace603I (FIG. 6B) has a width W5 of, for example, 145 mils and is made of, for example, carbon ink available as part number 423SS from Atcheson Colloids Company, 1600 Washington Avenue, P.O. Box 611747, Port Huron, Mich. 48061. Dielectric trace604I has a width W6 of, for example, 25 mils and is formed of, for example, dielectric ink available as part number 452SS also from Atcheson Colloids Company. Two adjacent conductive traces, e.g. traces603A and603B (FIG. 6A) are separated from each other by a distance W7 (FIG. 6A) of, for example, 20 mils.
• In one particular embodiment,[0152]substrates601 and602 are formed as two halves of a single integral substrate (not shown) that is folded along a center line (also not shown). When so folded, a dielectric trace605I (FIG. 6B) supported bysubstrate602 contacts another dielectric trace604I supported onsubstrate601 thereby to keep aconductive trace603I separated from conductive trace606I by a distance 2T (FIG. 6C), where T (i.e. half of 2T) is the thickness of each of dielectric traces604I and605I. In one particular example, thickness T is 1 mil.
• In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 6A, each of[0153]conductive traces603A-603N is connected at one end to another conductive trace (also called “resistive backbone trace”)610 that is formed transverse totraces603A-603N. Therefore traces603A-603N and trace610 together form a structure (also called “comb structure”) that has the appearance of a comb (commonly used for grooming hair).Trace610 has a resistance that depends on various parameters of the process and materials used to formtrace610, and the voltage drop acrosstrace610 depends on the state ofbatteries108A-108M (illustrated as battery B1 in FIG. 7) at thetime touch panel211 is used. The resistance of trace610 (FIG. 6D) is modeled byresistors621A . . .621N-1 located betweenparallel traces603A . . .603N (FIG. 6D).
• The resistance value of[0154]resistors621A . . .621N-1 is determined in a calibration step by coupling a terminal610G oftrace610 to a source of the ground reference voltage and another terminal610P oftrace610 to a source of the reference voltage VCC, while measuring the voltage atterminals610P and610G. The voltage measurements atterminals610P and610G are converted by an analog-to-digital converter (seeconverter701 in FIG. 7) into a count with a maximum count corresponding to the voltage at terminal610P and a minimum count corresponding to the voltage atterminal610G. A microcontroller703 (FIG. 7) included incircuit700 scales the difference between the maximum count and the minimum count into the range 0-255, and thereafter transmits to host device120 (FIG.2B) a scaled value in range 0-255 to indicate the location of touchedarea607I (FIG. 6D) alongresistive backbone trace610.Microcontroller703 performs a similar calibration step for aresistive backbone trace630 that is connected to each one ofconductive traces606A-606P.
• During the calibration steps, the voltage measurements are taken at[0155]terminals612C and611C (FIG. 6D) that are connected toterminals610P and610G respectively by traces613C and609C. Traces613C and609C have lengths that are at least approximately equal to (in one embodiment exactly equal to) the respective lengths oftraces613P and609G thatcouple terminals610P and610G torespective terminals612P and611G.Terminals612P and611G are coupled to sources of reference voltage VCC and the ground reference voltage respectively. Specifically, traces613C and613P are kept at lengths approximately equal to each other (and the lengths of traces609C and609G are also kept approximately equal to each other), so that a parasitic resistance intrace613P is balanced by a similar parasitic resistance in trace613C (and parasitic resistance's in traces609G and609C also balance each other), thereby to ensure that calibration measurements are accurate.
• The calibration steps ensure accuracy in measurement of the location of[0156]touch area607I (FIG. 6D) and also ensure use of the entire range 0-255. The calibration steps are performed eachtime touch panel211 is touched, prior to measuring voltages at nodes630I and610I for touch measurements (to determine the location ofarea607I). Repeated performance of calibration steps (at each touch) eliminates inaccuracies in touch measurements, for example, due to a variation in environmental parameters (such as temperature, humidity), due to battery discharge, and due to variations in resistance.
• In one particular embodiment, a single analog to digital converter[0157]701 (FIG. 7) and ananalog multiplexer702 perform all of the above-described measurements under the control ofmicrocontroller703. During initialization, capacitor C3 (FIG. 7) is fully charged to reference voltage VCC, byanalog multiplexer702 coupling a first terminal (not labeled) of capacitor C3 to a source of the ground reference voltage through resistor R3 (FIG. 7). A second terminal (also not labeled) of capacitor C3 is permanently connected to a source of the reference voltage VCC.
• Each of the measurements (i.e. the calibration measurements and the touch measurements) are performed in two steps. First, a node[0158]610I (FIG. 6D) oftrace610 is coupled througharea607I, node630I, a portion ofresistive backbone trace630 and a terminal630A to capacitor C3 by an analog multiplexer702 (not shown in FIG. 6D; see FIG. 7) controlled bymicrocontroller703.Terminal630B ofbackbone trace630 is left floating so that the voltage at node630I is identical to the voltage V at node610I at steady state.Microcontroller703 maintains the link between capacitor C3 and node610I until capacitor C3 is discharged to the voltage V at node610I (i.e. steady state). In one particular example,microcontroller703 maintains the link for one hundred milliseconds. Once capacitor C3 reaches steady state, the voltage at each of capacitor C3, terminal630A, node630I, terminal630B and node610I is the same, and no current flows throughbackbone trace630 andconductive traces606I and603I (FIG. 6D).
• During the second step, the first terminal of capacitor C[0159]3 is coupled byanalog multiplexer702 through a resistor R3 to a source of the ground reference voltage. When capacitor C3 is coupled to the ground reference voltage source,microcontroller703 starts measuring a time period (in terms the number of clock cycles, also called “counts”) required by capacitor C3 to charge to a threshold voltage of aninput pin703A inmicrocontroller703. The measured duration is indicative of the voltage at node610I, e.g. the measured duration is proportional to the difference between the voltage at node610I and the threshold voltage. In a similar manner,microcontroller703 determines another duration that is indicative of the voltage at node630I. The two durations indicate the Cartesian coordinates x, y ofarea607I touched by the user.
• As noted above, prior to determining the x, y coordinates of[0160]area607I,microcontroller703 calibratestouch panel211 by (1) measuring the voltages (in terms of duration) atterminals612C and611C (FIG. 7) which represent the two endpoints ofresistive backbone trace610 and (2) mapping the measurements to 255 and 0 respectively to determine a scaling factor (including, for example, a slope and an offset). Thereafter,microcontroller703 uses the scaling factor to map the measured x, y coordinates into the range 0-255. Next,microcontroller703 transmits the mapped x, y coordinates to hostdevice120 in wireless signal111 (FIG. 3B), as described below in reference to FIG. 9.
• In the embodiment of FIG. 7,[0161]analog multiplexer702 couples capacitor C3 to either the source of ground reference voltage, or to a terminal of touch panel211 (through terminals X1-X7 of analog multiplexer702), in response to a control signal frommicrocontroller703 at one of terminals A-C ofanalog multiplexer702.
• [0162]Remote control circuit700 also includes abar code scanner204 having a terminal204A coupled to a base of an npn transistor704 (FIG. 7). The collector oftransistor704 is connected to an input pin703B ofmicrocontroller703.Microcontroller703 includes an internal pull up resistor (not shown) that is coupled to the source of reference voltage VCC at one end and to pin703B at the other end. The emitter oftransistor704 is connected to the source of ground reference voltage. A resistor R6 is connected to terminal204A ofscanner204 to form a voltage follower using a phototransistor (not labeled) inscanner204.
• When a black bar in bar code pattern[0163]113 (FIG. 8) is being read, light from a light emitting diode (also called “LED”; not labeled) in scanner204 (FIG. 7) fails to reach the phototransistor (again not labeled) in an amount sufficient to raise the voltage at terminal204A above the threshold voltage required bytransistor704. Thereforetransistor704 remains off and the collector oftransistor704 remains at the reference voltage VCC. When there is no black bar in bar code pattern113 (FIG. 8), sufficient light from the LED in scanner204 (FIG. 7) reaches the phototransistor to cause the voltage at terminal204A to go above the threshold voltage oftransistor704. In response to the increase in voltage,transistor704 turns on and couples input pin703B to the source of ground reference voltage.Microcontroller703 monitors the voltage at input pin703B, and thereby reads bar code pattern113 (FIG. 8).
• In an example of[0164]circuit700, analog multiplexer702 (FIG. 7) is part CD4051B andmicrocontroller703 is part COP87L22CJ, both available from NATIONAL SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION. In this example,scanner204 is part GP2527C available from SHARP CORPORATION.
• Bar code pattern[0165]113 (FIG. 8) includes a number of frame bars802A-802N and a number of data locations803A-803P that are interspersed among frame bars802A-802N. Frame bars802A-802N and data locations803A-803P are grouped into three fields, aheader field810, adata field811 and achecksum field812. When a user insertsrail112 into rail104 (FIG. 2C), microcontroller703 (FIG. 7) first reads header field810 (FIG. 8).
• [0166]Microcontroller703 usesframe bars802A and802B inheader field810 to establish a time period (hereinafter “time base”) that indicates the bit rate at which bar code pattern113 (FIG. 8) is being read by scanner204 (FIG. 7).Microcontroller703 also usesheader810 to determine thatbarcode pattern113 is being read correctly by checking for a predetermined bit sequence. For example header field810 (FIG. 8) includes atdata locations803A,803B and803C,bits0,0 and1 that form a predetermined bit sequence, where each 0 value is represented by the absence of a black bar, and the 1 value is represented by the presence of a black bar.
• In an alternative embodiment,[0167]pattern113 is not printed as a barcode on an insert, and instead is formed by holes, wherein each 0 value is represented by the absence of the hole, and the 1 value is represented by the presence of a hole.Scanner204 works in the same manner irrespective of whetherpattern113 is formed by the printing of a barcode or by the punching of holes.
• If[0168]microcontroller703 does not detect the predetermined bit sequence, microcontroller703 (FIG. 7) operates LED207 (in this particular embodiment a red colored LED) to indicate to the user that an error occurred during the reading of bar code pattern113 (FIG. 8).
• Specifically, when[0169]leaf11 is inserted intobase32, microcontroller703 (FIG. 7) first detects a first frame bar (also called “start bit”)802A (FIG. 8) and starts measuring a duration tb (hereinafter “time base”) up to thenext frame bar802B. Time base tb (FIG. 8) when halved indicates the time at which the next data location803A occurs. Therefore, on detectingframe bar802B,microcontroller703 waits for duration tb/2 and samples the data location803A.
• Thereafter, when[0170]microcontroller703 detects the next bar, i.e. frame bar802C,microcontroller703 again measures the duration between frame bars802B and802C and uses the measured duration as the new time base tb to sample thenext data location803B.Microcontroller703 proceeds in this manner to read the entire bar code pattern113 (FIG. 8) using a currently determined time base to sample the next data location.Microcontroller703 also uses the currently determined time base to sample the next frame bar, within a window around the expected location; e.g. a 50% variation in the expected location, i.e. a 25% variation in each direction of the expected location.
• Remote control circuit[0171]700 (FIG. 7) also includes apnp transistor705 that has an emitter coupled to a source of a reference voltage VCC (e.g., battery B1), a base coupled to a terminal703C ofmicrocontroller703 and a collector coupled to an anode ofinfrared LED105. The cathode ofinfrared LED105 is coupled through a resistor R1 to the source of ground reference voltage. To transmit a wireless signal111 (FIG. 3B), microcontroller703 (FIG. 7) drives a signal on terminal703C low, thereby to turn ontransistor705, andtransistor705 conducts current drawn byinfrared LED105, thereby to cause the transmission of abit1 in wireless signal111. Similarly,microcontroller703 drives a signal on terminal703C high, thereby to turn offtransistor705 and cause transmission of abit0 in signal111. Resistor R1 limits the current throughinfrared LED105. Capacitors C1 and C5 filter out noise otherwise caused by the turning on and turning off oftransistor705 in the power supplied tomicrocontroller703 by battery B1.
• In one particular embodiment,[0172]microcontroller703 performs the steps of method900 (FIG. 9). Specifically, on being powered up,microcontroller703 starts instep901 and goes to step902. Instep902, microcontroller703 (FIG. 7) initializes various pins, such as input pins703A,703B,703D,703E and703F and output pin703C. In step902 (FIG. 9),microcontroller703 also sets a flag (hereinafter “bar code valid flag”), to be false (e.g. to the value 0). Thereafter,microcontroller703 goes to sleep instep903.
• On being woken up, for example due to a signal transition on an input pin, such as pin[0173]703D that is connected to terminal612P of touch panel211 (FIG. 7),microcontroller703 goes to step904 (FIG. 9). Instep904,microcontroller703 determines which of input pins703A,703B,703D,703E and703F (FIG. 7) was subjected to a signal transition. Thereafter,microcontroller703 goes to step905 (FIG. 9) to check ifbar code scanner204 is to be activated.
• For example, in[0174]step905,microcontroller703 checks if a signal transition occurred at pin703E (FIG. 7) that is connected viaswitch202 to the source of a ground reference voltage. If a signal transition was caused by closing of switch202 (e.g. on insertion ofrail112 intorail104; see FIG. 2C),microcontroller703 goes to step906 (FIG. 9). Instep906,microcontroller703 operates bar code scanner204 (FIG. 7) to read abar code pattern113 in the manner described above in reference to FIG. 8.
• Thereafter,[0175]microcontroller703 goes to step907 to check ifbar code pattern113 read byscanner204 is valid. For example,microcontroller703 checks to see if thebits0,0 and1 of the predetermined sequence were received in a header field810 (described above). Moreover,microcontroller703 calculates a check sum from bits received in data field811 (FIG. 8), and compares the calculated check sum with a check sum received inchecksum field812.
• In one particular example,[0176]microcontroller703 calculates the check sum by counting the number R of data bits having thevalue 1. Thereafter,microcontrollers703 divides number R by 3 repeatedly, until the remainder becomes 0, and uses the last remainder LR before the remainder becomes 0, by adding 1, e.g. LR+1 as the check sum that is used to verify integrity of thebar code pattern113. Ifheader field810 andchecksum field812 contain the expected bits,microcontroller703 goes to step908 and stores a number derived frombar code pattern113 in amemory703M as an identification code to be transmitted in wireless signal111 (FIG. 3B). Thereafter,microcontroller703 goes to step909 and sets bar code valid flag true (e.g. a value 1), and then goes to sleep instep903.
• In[0177]step907, ifmicrocontroller703 finds an error in either header field810 (FIG. 8) or inchecksum field812,microcontroller703 goes to step910. In step910,microcontroller703 turns LED207 (FIG. 7) on and off alternately, (e.g. every 0.5 second) thereby to create a visible blinking light signal (e.g. of red light) that indicates to a user that an error occurred.Microcontroller703 turnsLED207 on and off for a predetermined time period, e.g. 5 seconds. Thereafter,microcontroller703 goes to step911, sets the bar code valid flag to be false and then goes to sleep instep903.
• In[0178]step905, if a signal transition (e.g. an increase in voltage) did not occur at pin703E (FIG. 7),microcontroller703 goes to step912 to check if a signal transition occurred on one ofpins703D and703F. If a signal transition occurred on one ofpins703D and703F,microcontroller703 goes to step913 to perform the calibration measurements and touch measurements as described above in reference to FIG. 6D. Thereafter,microcontroller703 goes to step914 and scales durations for the x, y coordinates measured instep913 into values in the range 0-255 as described above, for transmission to host device120 (FIG. 2B).
• [0179]Microcontroller703 also sets a variable P to be, for example 0. Thereafter,microcontroller703 goes to step915 and encodes the variables e.g. x, y, P, and the identification code (determined instep908 described above) to form a button code to be transmitted in wireless signal111 (FIG. 3B). For example, instep915,microcontroller703 simply arranges value of variables x, y, P and identification code into a bit sequence to form the button code. Thereafter,microcontroller703 goes to step916 and computes a check sum as described above in reference to checksum field812 (FIG. 8) ofbar code pattern113.
• Next,[0180]microcontroller703 goes to step917 (FIG. 9) and checks to see if the bar code valid flag is true. If the bar code valid flag is true,microcontroller703 goes to step918 and transmits in wireless signal111 (FIG. 3B) a header (e.g. a predetermined bit pattern), the button code, and the check sum determined insteps915 and916. Instep918,microcontroller703 operatesinfrared LED105 as described above. Thereafter,microcontroller703 goes to sleep instep903.
• In[0181]step917, if the bar code valid flag is false,microcontroller703 goes to step910 described above. A bar code valid flag can be false not only because a bar code pattern had an error, but for a variety of other reasons. For example, the bar code valid flag may be false ifswitch202 is not activated (due to a mechanical failure) during insertion ofrail112 into rail104 (FIG. 2C). Moreover, the bar code valid flag is false when batteries108-108M (FIG. 2D) are replaced becausemicrocontroller703 is reset, starts instep901, and initializes the bar code valid flag to be false instep902. Therefore, if insert31 (FIG. 1) was already coupled tobase32 prior to the replacement ofbatteries108A-108M (FIG. 2D), the user must detachinsert31 frombase32 and reattachinsert31 tobase32 thereby to cause bar code pattern113 (FIG. 8) to be read once again.
• Finally, when a user removes insert[0182]31 (FIG. 1) frominsert32, during the removal process a button202 (FIG. 7) is once again closed, thereby triggeringmicrocontroller703 to readbar code pattern113. However, during the removal process, bits inbar code pattern113 are read in the reverse order, e.g. a last bit (also called “stop bit”)802N (FIG. 8) is read first, thereby causing an error instep907 whenchecksum field812 includes, e.g.,frame bar802A, thereby to causemicrocontroller703 to go from step907 (FIG. 9) to step910 and indicate an error. Asmicrocontroller703 sets bar code valid flag to be false in step911 during the removal process, operation of touch panel211 (FIG. 7) after removal of insert31 (FIG. 1) causesmicrocontroller703 to take the “no” branch fromstep917 to step910.
• In an alternative embodiment, a remote control[0183]50 (FIG. 5A) does not have remote control circuit700 (FIG. 7) and rather has remote control circuit1100 (FIG. 11) that includes a number of discrete switches.
• The alternative embodiment is cheaper to manufacture, because an analog multiplexer[0184]702 (FIG. 7) required by the touch panel is eliminated by use of discrete switches. However, a touch panel embodiment can be made cheaper than the discrete switches embodiment ifanalog multiplexer702 is built into a microcontroller, e.g. by use of a custom chip.
• Discrete switches SAA-SUV are formed in one embodiment by a number of conductive traces CA-CV (where A≦J≦V) formed on a[0185]left portion1001 of asubstrate1000, and conductive traces RA-RU (where A≦I≦U) formed on aright portion1002 ofsubstrate1000.Substrate1000 can be formed of, for example, MYLAR, and the conductive traces CA-CV and RA-RU can be formed of, for example, carbon ink available from Atcheson Colloids.
• Each of conductive traces CA-CV and RA-RU is connected to a number of switch portions EAA-EUV and FAA-FUV respectively, as illustrated in FIG. 10A. Switch portions EAA-EUV and FAA-FUV are formed so that when[0186]substrate1000 is folded at center line CL, leftportion1001 is overlaid onright portion1002 and a switch portion EIJ onleft portion1001 overlaps a switch portion FIJ onright portion1002, thereby to form a switch SIJ (FIG. 11). Portions EAA-EUV and FAA-FUV are formed as a comb structure, with teeth in switch portion EIJ on being formed transverse to the teeth of switch portion FIJ. Each comb structure is formed in a square area having a width of, e.g. 0.4 inch.
• Also included in switches S[0187]1 are a number of dielectric traces DA-DM (FIG. 10B) and GA-GL that are supported byportions1001 and1002 ofsubstrate1000 e.g. formed over conductive traces CA-CV and RA-RU and switch portions EAA-EUV and FAA-FUV (that are not shown for clarity in FIG. 10B). In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 10B, also formed onright portion1002 is a trace (called “border trace”) of dielectric material having a width bw of, for example, 0.25 inch. Width of each of conductive traces CA-CV and RA-RU, and switch portions EAA-EUV and FAA-FUV can be, for example, 25 mils. Moreover, dielectric traces formed of, for example, dielectric ink (described above) can also be, for example, ofwidth 25 mils. In this particular embodiment, the width of conductive traces DA-DM, GA-GL is independent of the width of conductive traces CA-CV and RU-RV.
• [0188]Remote control circuit1100 is similar or identical to the above-described remote control circuit700 (FIG. 7), except for the differences noted below. Specifically,remote control circuit1100 includes a switch array S2. In an array S2, each of switches SAA-SUV (where array S2 has U rows and V columns) is coupled to two pins of microcontroller1103. For example, switch SAA is coupled by a trace RA to pin1105 and by a trace CA to pin1109. Similarly, switch SUV is coupled by topin1107 and to pin1110. Such discrete switches are available from, e.g. Henri Membrane Switch Manufacturing Co., 5/F No. 112 Wu-Kung Road, Wu-Ku Industrial Park, Wu-Ku Hsiang, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC, Phone: (886) 2 2990096. In one implementation, microcontroller1103 is part COP820CJ available from National Semiconductor Corporation.
• In another embodiment, row traces RA-RU are formed on one sheet and column traces CA-CV are formed in another sheet (individual sheets are not shown in FIG. 11) and the two sheets are kept separate from each other by, e.g. small nipples, until pressure is applied e.g. by touching. Such discrete switches are described in, e.g. U.S. patent application, Ser. No. 08/269,492 incorporated by reference above.[0189]
• Microcontroller[0190]1103 determines that a switch, e.g. switch SIJ (where A≦I≦U and A≦J≦V) is closed by coupling one of the traces, e.g. column trace CJ to a source of the reference voltage VCC, and the other of the traces, e.g. row trace RI to an internal pulldown resistor (not shown), and the resistor is in turn coupled to a source of the ground reference voltage.
• Initially, when switch SIJ is open, row trace RI is at 0 volts due to being coupled to the ground reference voltage source. Microcontroller[0191]1103 waits for a signal transition on trace RI e.g. monitors a terminal1108 that is coupled the row trace. When switch SIJ (FIG. 14) is closed, switch SIJ connects column trace CJ to row trace RI, thereby to cause a signal transition on terminal1108, e.g. fromlogic level0 to logic level1 (i.e. to the reference voltage VCC from the ground reference voltage). Note thatcircuitry1400 in FIG. 14 operates in a manner similar or identical tocircuitry1100 in FIG. 11, except thatcircuitry1400 includes two touch panels S1 and S2.
• In one embodiment, microcontroller[0192]1103 performs the steps of a method1200 (FIG. 12) that is similar or identical to the above-describedmethod900, except for the steps discussed below. Specifically, instead of steps912-915,method1200 includes steps1212-1215. In step1212, microcontroller1103 checks to see whether any one of the terminals connected to one of row traces RA-RU experienced a signal transition. If not, microcontroller1103 takes the “NO” branch from step1212.
• However, if there was a signal transition, microcontroller[0193]1103 goes to step1213. Instep1213, microcontroller1103 determines the identity of a closed switch SIJ, in the manner described above. Thereafter, microcontroller1103 goes to step1114 and converts the identity of switch SIJ into, for example, the Cartesian coordinates x, y mapped into the range 0-255. In another variant of the embodiment, microcontroller1103 merely translates the identity of switch IJ into the row I and column J.
• Next, in step[0194]1115, microcontroller1103 encodes the identity of switch SIJ, e.g. the x, y coordinates and a variable P that is set to 0 if a switch in array S1 is closed, and set to 1 if a switch in array S2 is closed. Microcontroller1103 encodes the variables x, y, P and an identification code into a button code in a manner similar to that described above in reference to step915. Thereafter, microcontroller1103 performs the above-described steps,e.g. step916.
• In one particular embodiment,[0195]host device120 performs the method1500 (FIG. 15A) to implement the two-touch method described above in reference to marks523A-523N and543A-543N. Specifically,host device120 starts in step1501, and goes to step1502. Instep1502host device120 checks if variable “mode” is set to indicate operation of, for example,remote control550 in the 1-touch mode (wherein all touches by the user are processed immediately by host device120). If so,host device120 goes to step1503 and checks if the coordinates (x,y) of a touched location fall within a command area AR (FIG. 5J) or fall within a content area formed by one of areas A1-A7. If so,host device120 goes to step1504 to execute 1-touch subroutine1510 (illustrated in FIG. 15B). Thereafter,host device120 goes to step1509 and returns to the start step1501.
• In[0196]step1502, if the variable “mode” is not set to the 1-touch mode,host device120 goes to step1505 and checks if the coordinates (x,y) of the touched location fall within the command area AR (FIG. 5J). If so,host device120 goes to step1506 and executes a 2-touch subroutine1520 (described below in reference to FIG. 15C). Instep1505, if the decision is no,host device120 goes to step1507 to check if the coordinates (x,y) of the touched location fall within content area such as one of areas A1-A7. If so,host device120 goes to step1508 and sets previously saved (x,y) coordinates (also called “last (x,y)” coordinates) to be the current (x,y) coordinates. Thereafterhost device120 goes to step1509 and returns to step1501.
• In 1-[0197]touch subroutine1510,host device120 checks if the coordinates (x,y) indicate a command (also called “page select command”) to select a page (in step1511), for example by looking up a table (as described above). If so,host device120 goes to step1512 and switches to a new page as indicated by the table. Next,host device120 goes to step1513 and checks if the last (x,y) coordinates are valid for the current page. If so,host device120 goes to step1514 and executes a subroutine indicated by the table for the last (x,y) coordinates, e.g. to display the selected information. Next,host device120 goes to step1515 and sets to null the last (x,y) coordinates, and exits the subroutine. If instep1513, the decision is no,host device120 exits the subroutine. Instep1511, if the decision is no,host device120 goes to step1516 and changes the variable mode to be 1-touch, and thereafter exits the subroutine.
• In 2-[0198]touch subroutine1520,host device120 checks to see if the coordinates (x,y) fall within the content area, e.g. one of areas A1-A7. If so,host device120 goes to step1522 and executes a subroutine indicated by the table for the (x,y) coordinates, e.g. displays a letter of the alphabet indicated by a key in a keyboard. Thereafter,host device120 exits thesubroutine1520.
• In[0199]step1521, if the answer is no,host device120 goes to step1523 and checks if the (x,y) coordinates indicate (via the table) a page select command. If so,host device120 goes to step1525 and switches to a new page as indicated by the table. Next,host device120 goes to step1526 and executes a subroutine indicated by the table for the last (x,y) coordinates. Next,host device120 goes to step1527 and sets to null the last (x,y) coordinates, and exits the subroutine. Instep1523, if the decision is no,host device120 goes to step1524 and changes the variable mode to indicate the two-touch mode, and then exits the subroutine.
• Numerous variations and modifications will be obvious to a person of skill in the art of remote controls in view of the disclosure.[0200]
• Therefore, in an alternative embodiment, the information to be displayed is not retrieved from a storage media. Instead, wireless signal[0201]111 (aB) causes host device140 to display a currently broadcast TV program on a channel identified by the touched location in the remote control. Therefore, in the alternative embodiment, touching a description of the TV program “HOME IMPROVEMENT” printed in a magazine “TV GUIDE™” mounted on a remote control base as described herein causeshost device120 to automatically switch to a channel that currently carries the TV program “HOME IMPROVEMENT”. If no channel carries a selected TV program,host device120 displays an appropriate error message, e.g. “PLEASE TUNE IN AT 7:30 P.M. FOR HOME IMPROVEMENT”.
• Also, although[0202]leaf11 is illustrated as having only one code,leaf11 can have additional codes, e.g. at edge11F to be read byidentity reader23 whenleaf11 is flipped over sideways and inserted with edge11F adjacent toreader23. Moreover, in one embodiment,base32 includes batteries (not shown) of the “stick-on peel-off” type as described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/692,994 incorporated by reference above.
• Furthermore, although in one embodiment printed[0203]publication 11 is a periodical, in another embodiment, printed publication is a children's picture book. Moreover, although in the above-described embodiment, there is a reserved area AR on each leaf, in an alternative embodiment marks114A-114M are interspersed among various touch sensitive areas with no touch sensitive area overlapping any of marks114A-114M, and none of marks114A-114M overlapping each other. In the alternative embodiment if touch sensitive areas overlap, identity of a touched area is resolved from the identity of the leaves currently in use as described above.
• Moreover, although not described above, a remote control base[0204]32 (FIG. 1) can have (in addition to the above-described button(s)12) buttons labeled with printed content on the button's surface, e.g. buttons labeled “1”, “2”, . . . “0”, “SKIP”, “REPEAT”, “INFO”, “<−”, “−>” as described in U.S. patent application, Ser. No. 08/550,976 incorporated by reference above (see FIG. 6H and the related description).
• Furthermore, although certain fasteners are described above (e.g. rails[0205]104 and112, clip502,sleeve521, and channels531-532), other fasteners can also be used. Hence, in another embodiment, the base has the form of a normal three ring binder (not shown), and the attached printed publication has three holes adjacent to the spine. In yet another embodiment, the base has the form of a manila file folder (not shown) having a clip at the top edge of the inner side of the back cover of the folder.
• Furthermore, although LED[0206]105 (FIG. 2A) has been described above as an infrared LED, in another embodiment, LED is a diffused laser diode as described in U.S. patent application, Ser. No. 08/908,833 that is a continuation of Ser. No. 08/298,648 both referenced above.
• Moreover, although in one[0207]embodiment substrates601 and602 are formed of MYLAR,substrates601 and602 can be formed of other materials such as paper or LDPE plastic in other embodiments. Furthermore, although in some embodiments a leaf11 (FIG. 2B) lies over one or more button(s) inbase32, in another embodiment, a base (not shown) has two touch sensitive strips, e.g. one onchannel35 and another on channel38 (FIG. 2A). In such an embodiment, the user operates the remote control by touching each of the strips once thereby to indicate the two cartesian coordinates to determine the position of content onleaf11.
• Note that although[0208]remote control circuit700, and ahost device120 have been described briefly above in one embodiment of the invention, such a remote control circuit and a host device are described in detail in related applications incorporated by reference above, for example the U.S. patent application, Ser. No. 08/816,616 filed on Mar. 12, 1997.
• Various modifications and adaptations of the described embodiments are covered by the attached claims.[0209]

Claims (37)

What is claimed is:

1. A remote control comprising:

a base having a remote control circuit, a button electrically coupled to operate said remote control circuit, and a sensor coupled to said remote control circuit; and

an insert including a leaf laid over said button, said leaf being sufficiently thin for pressure on said leaf to transfer through said leaf to operate said button, said insert being attached in a detachable manner to said base;

wherein said remote control circuit generates a signal in response to the operation of said button by a touch on said leaf, said signal carrying a number determined by said sensor from a predetermined pattern carried by said insert, said signal also carrying data indicative of the location of said touch on said leaf.

2. The remote control of

claim 1

wherein:

said sensor includes a barcode scanner; and

said predetermined pattern is formed as a bar code printed on an edge of said leaf.

3. The remote control of

claim 1

wherein:

said predetermined pattern is formed at an edge of said leaf;

said base includes a fastener capable of detachably attaching to at least said edge of said leaf and

said sensor is mounted within said fastener, said sensor sensing said predetermined pattern during the detachable attachment of said edge to said fastener.

4. The remote control of

claim 3

wherein:

said fastener includes a first channel and a second channel facing said first channel, said sensor being mounted within said first channel; and

said leaf has a width smaller than or equal to the distance between said first channel and said second channel, said edge is located within said first channel, said predetermined pattern being located at said edge thereby to permit said sensor to sense said predetermined pattern during the sliding of said edge through said first channel.

5. The remote control of

claim 3

wherein:

said fastener includes a single channel, said single channel having a longitudinal cavity formed behind two longitudinal edges that each face the other, said sensor being mounted in said longitudinal cavity; and

said leaf has said edge located in said longitudinal cavity, a portion of said leaf located between said two longitudinal edges having a thickness smaller than or equal to the distance between said two longitudinal edges.

6. The remote control of

claim 5

wherein:

said leaf has another portion folded along said edge so that at said edge said leaf has a thickness larger than said thickness of said portion; and

said insert includes a plurality of leaves, said leaves being mounted in a region of said leaf outside said single channel.

7. The remote control of

claim 5

wherein:

said leaf has, along said first edge, a thickness approximately equal to said thickness of said portion.

8. The remote control of

claim 1

further comprising:

information in the form of electronic content identified at least partially by said signal, said electronic content being related to content printed on said leaf.

9. The remote control of

claim 8

wherein:

said electronic content is encoded on a storage media accessible over the Internet.

10. The remote control of

claim 1

further comprising:

a pointing device coupled to said remote control circuit;

wherein said remote control circuit generates another signal carrying data generated by said pointing device in response to operation of said pointing device.

11. The remote control of

claim 1

further comprising:

a second button coupled to said remote control circuit;

wherein said remote control circuit generates another signal carrying a predetermined number in response to operation of said second button.

12. The remote control of

claim 11

wherein:

said second button is one of a plurality of buttons of a keyboard included in said structure.

13. The remote control of

claim 1

further comprising:

an electromagnetic signal transmitter electrically coupled to said remote control circuit;

wherein said electromagnetic signal transmitter generates an electromagnetic signal carrying said data in response to said signal.

14. The remote control of

claim 1

further comprising:

a cable capable of being coupled to a host device, said cable being electrically coupled to said remote control circuit;

wherein said cable carries said signal.

15. A remote control base comprising:

a file folder including a front cover, a back cover and a spine located between said front cover and said back cover, said file folder further including a fastener mounted on said spine, said fastener being capable of detachably holding a printed publication;

a remote control circuit supported by said file folders; and

a button supported on said back cover and coupled to said remote control circuit;

wherein said remote control circuit generates a remote control signal in response to application of pressure to said button.

16. The remote control base of

claim 15

wherein:

said fastener has three rings; and

said remote control base has the appearance of a normal three ring binder.

17. The remote control base of

claim 15

wherein:

said button included a touch panel capable of indicating the location of application of said pressure.

18. The remote control base of

claim 17

further comprising:

another touch panel supported by said front cover and coupled to said remote control circuit.

19. The remote control base of

claim 15

wherein:

said button includes a switch in a plurality of discrete switches mounted on said back cover;

an internal surface of said back cover is substantially planar;

said fastener has three rings; and

said base has the appearance of a normal three ring binder.

20. The remote control of

claim 15

further comprising:

information in the form of electronic content identified at least partially by said signal, said electronic content being related to content printed on said leaf.

21. The remote control of

claim 20

wherein:

said electronic content is encoded on a storage media physically attached to said printed publication.

22. The remote control base of

claim 15

wherein:

said remote control circuit includes a memory programmed with a predetermined number; and

said electronic content is encoded on a storage media accessible over the Internet by use of said predetermined number.

23. The remote control base of

claim 15

further comprising:

an electromagnetic signal transmitter electrically coupled to said remote control circuit;

wherein said electromagnetic signal transmitter generates an electromagnetic signal carrying said data in response to said signal.

24. A remote control comprising:

the remote control base of

claim 15

; and

said leaf detachably attached to said fastener so that said leaf is laid over said button, said leaf being sufficiently thin for pressure on said leaf to transfer through said leaf to operate said button.

25. The remote control base of

claim 15

wherein:

said fastener consists essentially of a rail having a cross-section in the shape of the letter “C” with a longitudinal cavity formed behind two longitudinal edges that each face the other.

26. An insert for use with a remote control base, said insert consisting essentially of a printed publication and devoid of one or more electronic components permanently attached to said printed publication, said printed publication having a group of leaves connected each to the other at a spine, each of said leaves having three holes adjacent to said spine, each leaf in said group having printed content and a mark, each mark being positioned differently from the position of another mark, each mark being substantially identical to another mark.

27. The insert of

claim 26

further comprising:

a storage media holder for holding a storage media encoded with information in the form of electronic content, said information being related to at least a portion of said printed content.

28. The insert of

claim 26

wherein said mark identifies the leaf in a signal generated by said remote control base when said insert is mounted on said base and said mark is touched.

29. A method comprising:

mounting a printed publication removably on a base having a button so that a leaf of said printed publication is laid over said button;

applying pressure to a first region on said leaf, said pressure being transferred through said leaf to said button; and

transmitting to a host device data representative of the location of said first region.

30. The method of

claim 29

, wherein:

the step of transmitting includes operating a light emitting diode to create an electromagnetic signal.

31. The method of

claim 29

, wherein:

the step of transmitting includes driving an electrical signal on a cable coupled to said host device.

32. The method of

claim 29

wherein:

said leaf carries a predetermined pattern; and

said method further comprises:

sensing said predetermined pattern during said step of mounting.

33. The method of

claim 32

further comprising:

removing said leaf from said base;

mounting another leaf on said base; and

sensing a second pattern on said another leaf during said step of mounting another leaf.

34. The method of

claim 29

further comprising:

removing a storage media from a package that includes said leaf and mounting said storage media in said host device prior to said step of applying.

35. The method of

claim 29

further comprising:

applying pressure to a mark on said leaf, said mark being in a different region from said first region, said mark being also in a different region from another mark of another leaf in said printed publication, thereby to indicate an identity of said leaf.

36. The method of

claim 29

further comprising:

flipping one or more leaves of said printed publication; and applying pressure on a region of another leaf.

37. The method of

claim 29

further comprising:

turning over said leaf, so that said leaf lies over another button included in said base; and

applying pressure to a second region on said leaf, said pressure being transferred through said leaf to said another button;

wherein said first region is on one side of said leaf, and said second region is on another side of said leaf.

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