User interfaces and related devices and systems

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9768746-B2
Application number	US-201314023011-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 10, 2013
Priority date	Sep 10, 2013
Publication date	Sep 19, 2017
Grant date	Sep 19, 2017

Abstract

A user interface includes a rotatable ring for controlling a function on an associated device, and a support ring for supporting the rotatable ring. The support ring includes a plurality of biasing elements, and a plurality of engagement members rotatably mounted on the biasing elements and configured to engage the rotatable ring so as to preload the biasing elements and thereby (i) biasing the rotatable ring toward a center position in which a central axis of the rotatable ring is coincident with a central axis of the support ring, and (ii) increasing resistance to rotational movement of the rotatable ring.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A user interface comprising:
a rotatable ring for controlling a function on an associated device;
a support ring for supporting the rotatable ring;
the support ring comprising:
a plurality of biasing elements; and
a plurality of engagement members rotatably mounted on the biasing elements and configured to engage the rotatable ring so as to preload the biasing elements and thereby (i) biasing the rotatable ring toward a center position in which a central axis of the rotatable ring is coincident with a central axis of the support ring, and (ii) increasing resistance to rotational movement of the rotatable ring,
wherein at least one of the engagement members comprises:
a wheel rotatable relative to an associated one of the biasing elements: and
a complaint member disposed about an outer diameter of the wheel.

2. The user interface of claim 1 , wherein the rotatable ring comprises an encoded pattern and the user interface further comprises one or more sensors for reading the encoded pattern to sense rotational movement of the rotatable ring.

3. The user interface of claim 1 , wherein the rotatable ring is rotatable to control audio volume on an associated audio playback device.

4. The user interface of claim 1 , wherein the support ring defines a grease trough for retaining grease.

5. The user interface of claim 4 , wherein the rotatable ring comprises a rib that is configured to rotate within the trough.

6. The user interface of claim 1 , wherein the biasing elements comprise spring arms.

7. A remote control device comprising the user interface of claim 1 .

8. The remote control device of claim 7 , further comprising a wireless interface for communicating with an associated audio playback device.

9. The remote control device of claim 8 , wherein the wireless interface is configured to communicate with an associated audio playback device via a Bluetooth protocol.

10. An audio playback device comprising the user interface of claim 1 .

11. A user interface comprising:
a plurality of concentrically arranged user interface elements comprising:
a volume ring;
a middle ring comprising a plurality of discrete buttons;
an inner ring comprising an position sensor;
a center button comprising a display; and
a support ring for supporting the volume ring, the support ring comprising:
a plurality of biasing elements; and
a plurality of engagement members mounted for rotation on the biasing elements and configured to engage the volume ring so as to preload the biasing elements and thereby (i) biasing the volume ring toward a center position in which an axis of rotation of the volume ring is coincident with a central axis of the support ring, and (ii) increasing resistance to rotational movement of the volume ring,

wherein the inner ring circumferentially surrounds the center button, the middle ring circumferentially surrounds the inner ring, and the volume ring circumferentially surrounds the middle ring, and
wherein at least one of the engagement members comprises:
a wheel rotatable relative to an associated one of the spring arms; and
a compliant member disposed about an outer diameter of the wheel.

12. The user interface of claim 11 , wherein the volume ring can be activated by rotating the volume ring to adjust the audio volume of an associated audio playback device.

13. The user interface of claim 11 , wherein the biasing elements comprise spring arms.

14. The user interface of claim 11 , wherein the volume ring comprises an encoded pattern and the user interface further comprises at least one sensor for reading the encoded pattern to sense rotational movement of the volume ring.

15. The user interface of claim 11 , wherein the volume ring is rotatable to control audio volume on an associated audio playback device.

16. The user interface of claim 11 , wherein the support ring comprises a grease trough for retaining grease.

17. The user interface of claim 16 , wherein the volume ring comprises a rib that is configured to rotate within the grease trough.

18. The user interface of claim 11 , wherein the plurality of discrete buttons comprise a plurality of capacitive touch buttons.

19. The user interface of claim 18 , wherein at least one of the capacitive touch buttons comprises a backlit icon.

20. The user interface of claim 11 , wherein the plurality of discrete buttons comprise a presets/recents modal button for toggling between a preset mode in which a user can access presets, wherein the presets are a set of user-defined shortcuts to entities for providing content, and a recents mode in which a user can access a list of previously accessed entities for providing content.

21. The user interface of claim 11 , wherein the plurality of discrete buttons comprise: (i) a skip forward button, and (ii) a skip back button.

22. The user interface of claim 11 , wherein the inner ring comprises an position sensor for sensing a position of a user's finger on a surface of the inner ring.

23. The user interface of claim 22 , wherein the inner ring operates as an absolute location of a plurality of preset indicators.

24. The user interface of claim 23 , wherein the center button is displaceable to actuate a switch,
wherein the user interface is configured to interpret actuation of the switch, in the absence of input from the position sensor indicating a position of a user's finger relative to the inner ring, as selection of a function associated with the center button, and
wherein the user interface is configured to interpret actuation of the switch in combination with input from the position sensor indicating a position of a user's finger relative to the inner ring as selection of a preset.

25. The user interface of claim 22 , wherein a circular swiping motion along the position sensor allows a user to browse a recents list, wherein the recents list is a list of entities that is populated from content that the user has chosen to play on one or more audio playback devices.

26. The user interface of claim 25 , wherein the center button is displaceable to actuate a switch,
wherein the user interface is configured to interpret actuation of the switch, in the absence of input from the position sensor indicating a position of a user's finger relative to the inner ring, as selection of a function associated with the center button, and
wherein the user interface is configured to interpret actuation of the switch in combination with input from the position sensor indicating a position of a user's finger relative to the inner ring as selection of an entity from the list of entities.

27. The user interface of claim 22 , wherein the user interface is operable in a presets mode and a recents mode,
wherein, when the user interface is in the presets mode, the inner ring operates as an absolute location of a plurality of preset indicators, and
wherein, when the user interface is in a recents mode, a circular swiping motion along the position sensor allows a user to browse a recents list, wherein the recents list is a list of entities that is populated from content that the user has chosen to play on one or more audio playback devices.

28. The user interface of claim 11 , wherein the center button comprises a lens which covers the display.

29. The user interface of claim 11 , wherein a central push on the center button ca

Assignees

• Bose Corp

Inventors

• Zalisk Michael Andrew
• Sakalowsky John Michael
• Miller Joel H

Classifications

• H03K2217/960755

  Constructional details of capacitive touch and proximity switches · CPC title

• H03G3/02 Primary

  Manually-operated control {(H03G3/001 and H03G3/002 take precedence)} · CPC title

• G08C17/00

  Arrangements for transmitting signals characterised by the use of a wireless electrical link · CPC title

• G06F3/04883

  for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text · CPC title

• G05G1/10

  Details, e.g. of discs, knobs, wheels or handles {(G05G1/085 takes precedence)} · CPC title