Coupled Input and Information System

Abstract

The invention provides the user with a means of information via a display and a device for determining areas able to serve for the input of commands, text or elements having a graphic representation. The device has a detection of 8 or 9 areas marked by guides including an optional central guide. The area detection sensor is positioned in the extension of the palm and the display necessary for the input is made within the extension of the bracelet. This device will be particularly suitable for communication devices usable in a pair with other electronic or mechanical products available for the arms of users in order to enable an input of information limiting problems of musculoskeletal disorders.

Claims

1-11. (canceled)

12. A coupled information and input device, comprising: a contact location sensor comprising: at least eight tactile zones, wherein the at least eight tactile zones are arranged on an elliptical crown segmented radially into eight, and wherein one tactile zone will be assigned to each segment on the elliptical crown characterised in that the touch location sensor is placed on or in a bracelet at the forearm and at the palm side of the hand; and a central tactile zone is placed at the centre of the elliptical crown, and the internal periphery of the elliptical crown has eight pins discernible to the touch or that can be felt under a finger and placed at the eight separations of the segments of the elliptical crown.

13. The device according to claim 12 wherein the centre of the location sensor has a pin that is discernible to the touch or that can be felt under a finger.

14. The device according to claim 12 wherein the external periphery of the elliptical crown has eight pins that are discernible to the touch or that can be felt under a finger and placed at the eight separations of the segments of the elliptical crown.

15. The device according to claim 12 wherein the display extends in the direction of the bracelet and displays the contact locations returned or determined by the touch location sensor from a common edge with the display of the touch location up to and including the edge of the wrist within the extension of the thumb.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATIONS

[0028] FIG. 1: Example of the device placed around an arm

[0029] FIG. 2: Example of tactile zones of the touch location sensor

[0030] FIG. 3: Example of pin distribution on the touch location sensor

[0031] FIG. 4: Example of touch zone distribution on the touch location sensor

DESCRIPTION OF AN EXAMPLE

[0032] With reference to the drawings, the device fits into a FIG. 1 (12) bracelet around a left arm (11), the hand closed in a first being seen from the front. The touch location sensor is placed on the arm on the palm side (14) and the display required to perform the input is located in the extension of the bracelet above the contact location sensor (13). Any instrument can then be positioned in the extension of the back of the hand on the bracelet (15), and the last zone of the bracelet (16) contains the clasp.

[0033] The touch location sensor is like locating a touch from a finger, ideally a thumb, on zones arranged in an ellipse FIG. 2, i.e. an elliptical crown (24) segmented into four zones with no contact between them by four boundaries (23). The elliptical crown is increased by two circles (21) and (22). A central zone (25) is far enough away from the edges of the elliptical crown but also large enough to be sensitive to the passage of a finger. Finally, the orientation of the elliptical crown corresponds to the possible amplitude from top to bottom and right to left of the thumb of the opposite hand to that of the arm carrying the touch location sensor and display and placed on the hand which is within the extension of the touch location sensor; the display screen (26) being within the extension of the touch location sensor on the bracelet towards the top.

[0034] The contact location sensor has seventeen pins identifiable by touch FIG. 3, the first one is in the centre of the sensor (31), and the other sixteen are distributed half (32) on the external ellipse of the elliptical crown and the other half (33) on the internal ellipse of the elliptical crown. These pins are positioned to delimit the eight zones on the elliptical crown FIG. 4 in the form of quadrilaterals (41) (42) and (43).

[0035] The invention is not limited to the particular modes of realisation described above, as many variants can be designed without exceeding the scope defined by the attached claims.

[0036] The invention adapts appropriately to an arm input system by allowing ergonomic input with the arm supporting the device able to be positioned alongside the body and against the body at belly or chest level and the other arm alongside the body with the hand on the hand of the arm supporting the location sensor so as to provide natural support to the limbs during input.