WO1999052028A1

WO1999052028A1 - Interactive keyboard cartridge containing scrollable keyboard menus made on a roll of positive photographic film

Info

Publication number: WO1999052028A1
Application number: PCT/CA1999/000281
Authority: WO
Inventors: Pierre Michel Combaluzier
Original assignee: IC TV Interactive Cyber Television Inc
Current assignee: IC TV Interactive Cyber Television Inc
Priority date: 1998-04-03
Filing date: 1999-04-01
Publication date: 1999-10-14
Anticipated expiration: 2000-10-03
Also published as: AU3021699A; CA2234293A1

Abstract

The interactive keyboard cartridge (10) comprises an elongated positive photographic film (21) bearing a series of keyboard menus (16). The photographic film is stored in a casing defining a central flat casing portion (19) through enclosing a section of the elongated film, a first end film cassette (18) in which a first roller is rotatively mounted for winding and unwinding the elongated film as the elongated film is moved longitudinally through the central flat casing portion, and a second end film cassette (20) in which a second roller is rotatively mounted for winding and unwinding the elongated film as the elongated film is moved longitudinally through the central flat casing portion. The central flat casing portion defines an outer generally flat wall (12) provided with a window (13) to expose one of the keyboard menus of the elongated film. A touch-sensitive transparent membrane (14) extends across the window over the exposed keyboard menu, this touch-sensitive transparent membrane being connectable to an electronic circuit. Finally, a scrolling mechanism moves the elongated film longitudinally in the central flat casing portion and thereby scrolls the keyboard menus past the window to expose through the window and touch-sensitive transparent membrane a selected one of the keyboard menus.

Description

INTERACTIVE KEYBOARD CARTRIDGE

CONTAINING SCROLLABLE KEYBOARD MENUS

MADE ON A ROLL OF POSITIVE PHOTOGRAPHIC FILM

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the invention:

The present invention relates to a keyboard cartridge comprising a plurality of different keyboard menus preferably consisting of pictograms and/or icons.

2. Brief description of the prior art:

Keyboard menus are generally fixed. Therefore, in the prior art keyboards, it is not possible to change the keyboard menu each time a new application is performed, using in particular pictograms and/or icons adapted to that particular new application. OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is therefore to overcome the above discussed drawback of the prior art.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a keyboard cartridge of which the keyboard menu can be easily changed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

More specifically, in accordance with the present invention, there is provided a keyboard cartridge comprising an elongated film, a casing, a touch-sensitive transparent membrane, and a scrolling mechanism. The elongated film bears a series of keyboard menus. The casing stores the elongated film and comprises a casing portion through which a section of the elongated film extends, this casing portion defining an outer generally flat wall provided with a window to expose one of the keyboard menus. The touch-sensitive transparent membrane extends across the window over the exposed keyboard menu, and is connectable to an electronic circuit. The scrolling mechanism moves the elongated film longitudinally in the casing portion and thereby scrolls the keyboard menus past the window in view of exposing through that window and the touch-sensitive transparent membrane a selected one of the keyboard menus. In accordance with preferred embodiments of the keyboard cartridge:

- the elongated film is a positive photographic film;

- the casing portion is a central casing portion, the elongated positive photographic film comprises a lateral, longitudinal series of perforations, the casing comprises first and second opposite end film cassettes, and the scrolling mechanism comprises:

- a first roller rotatively mounted in the first cassette for winding and unwinding the elongated film as the elongated film is moved longitudinally through the central casing portion; and

- a second roller rotatively mounted in the second cassette for winding and unwinding the elongated film as the elongated film is moved longitudinally through the central casing portion;

- the central casing portion defines an access to the lateral, longitudinal series of perforations by a toothed wheel in view of moving longitudinally the elongated positive photographic film through the central casing portion;

- the transparent membrane defines a plurality of touch-sensitive zones, and the keyboard menus each comprise a plurality of pictograms and/or icons corresponding to at least a portion of the touch-sensitive zones; - each keyboard menu is coded for enabling recognition of the keyboard menus, this code being preferably an optically readable code;

- the casing portion comprises means for backlighting the keyboard menu exposed through the window along with the touch-sensitive transparent membrane; and

- the casing further comprises surface-mounted contacts for connecting the touch-sensitive transparent membrane to an external electronic circuit.

The objects, advantages and other features of the present invention will become more apparent upon reading of the following non restrictive description of a preferred embodiment thereof, given by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the appended drawings:

Figure 1 is a top perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the interactive keyboard cartridge according to the present invention; Figure 2 is a rear perspective view of the interactive keyboard cartridge of Figure 1 ;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of a roll of positive photographic film on which the scrollable keyboard menus appear; and

Figure 4 is a side elevational view of a peripheral unit for use in combination with the interactive keyboard cartridge of Figure 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The interactive keyboard cartridge is generally identified by the reference numeral 10 in the appended drawings.

Cartridge 10 comprises a casing 11 advantageously made of molded plastic material. Casing 11 comprises a first end film cassette 18, a central generally flat casing portion 19, and a second end film cassette 20.

Central flat casing portion 19 comprises an outer, front generally flat wall 12 formed with a window 13. A touch-sensitive transparent membrane 14 is mounted across the window 13. Fifteen (15) touch-sensitive rectangular zones such as 15 are delimited on the outer exposed face of the membrane 14. In the illustrated example, there are three (3) columns of five (5) touch-sensitive rectangular zones. The touch-sensitive rectangular zones 15 are electrically connected to a transversal series of contacts 17 (Figure 2). Preferably, the contacts 17 are made of silver polycarbonate and are embedded in the molded plastic material of the casing 11.

The positive photographic film 21 (Figure 3) bearing the keyboard menus such as 22 is moved longitudinally through the central flat casing portion 19 from a roller 23 contained inside film cassette 18 toward a roller 24 contained inside film cassette 20. More specifically, the positive photographic film 21 is moved longitudinally behind the touch- sensitive transparent membrane 14 to display pictograms and/or icons such as 16 appearing through corresponding rectangular zones 15 of the touch-sensitive transparent membrane 14.

The positive photographic film 21 is applied to the rear face of the touch-sensitive transparent membrane 14 and the central flat casing portion 19 comprises a pair of lateral guide rails (not shown) for guiding the positive photographic film 21 through this central flat casing portion 19.

Referring to the example of Figure 3 of the appended drawings, the successive keyboard menus 22 each comprise an array of fifteen (15) pictograms and/or icons 16, more specifically three (3) columns of five (5) pictograms and/or icons 16 to fit the three (3) columns of five (5) touch-sensitive rectangular zones 15 of the touch-sensitive transparent membrane 14. Obviously, the positive photographic film 21 is moved longitudinally through the central flat casing portion 19 from one keyboard menu 22 to the other, more specifically to expose the pictograms and/or icons .16 of the successive keyboard menus 22 through the rectangular zones 15 of the touch-sensitive transparent membrane 14.

The pictograms and/or icons 16 of the keyboard menus 22 can be functional pictograms and/or icons, TV pictograms and/or icons, video pictograms and/or icons, and/or TV program pictograms and/or icons, as well as legends for interactive operation. Preferably, the pictograms and/or icons of each menu 22 constitute a functional group of visual commands. As an example, a keyboard menu 22 including TV program pictograms and/or icons will make a peripheral unit such as 25 (Figure 4) well suited for use during a TV game.

Figure 4 illustrates the application of the interactive keyboard cartridge 10 to a peripheral unit 25. The peripheral unit 25 may comprise peripheral readers, communication portable material, remote controls, interactive interfaces, etc. establishing connections with TV, radio and/or telecommunications information networks. The peripheral unit 25 is formed with a seat 26 having a shape which is complementary to the shape of the rear face 27 of the keyboard cartridge 10. More specifically, the rear face 27 of the keyboard cartridge 10 snugly fits on the seat 26 of the peripheral unit 25.

Seat 26 comprises a central, generally flat face 28 provided with a push button 29, a lighting device 30 and a toothed wheel 31.

When the cartridge 10 is positioned on the seat 26, the rear face 27 pushes push button 29 to turn the lighting device 30 on. Light emitted from the lighting device 30 then propagates through ( a) the plastic material of the rear wall (face 27) of the casing 11 , ( b) the keyboard menu 22 (positive photographic film 21) appearing through the window 13, and ( c) the touch-sensitive transparent membrane 14, to thereby backlight the resulting keyboard (keyboard menu 22 and membrane 14).

Simultaneously, the teeth of wheel 31 engages the lateral perforations such as 32 of the film 21 (Figure 3) through an aperture 39 (Figure 2) of the central flat casing portion 19. Rotation of the toothed wheel 31 by means of a motor (not shown) of the peripheral unit 25 will therefore cause longitudinal movement of the positive photographic film 21 through the central flat casing portion 19. Accordingly, rotation of the wheel 31 will enable positionment of the next or preceding keyboard menu 22 in the window 13. During this operation, film 21 will either ( a) wind on roller 23 and unwind from roller 24, or ( b) wind on roller 24 and unwind from roller 23. Preferably, rollers 23 and 24 are spring biased both ( a) to keep a tension in the portion of film 21 situated in the central flat casing portion 19, and ( b) to wind the film on either roller 23 or 24 while the film unwinds from these either roller 24 or 23.

Of course, the contacts 17 (Figures 2 and 4) surface- mounted on the rear face of the end film cassette 18 will connect to corresponding contacts (not shown) surface-mounted in a transversal semicircular groove 33 of the seat 26. Since the contacts 17 are electrically connected to the touch-sensitive rectangular zones 15, these interconnected contacts will transmit to the peripheral unit 25 information as to which zone 15 has been touched by the user.

The rear face of the end film cassette 20 comprises a pair of surface-mounted contacts 34. Contacts 34 connect to respective contacts (not shown) surface-mounted in a transversal semicircular groove 34 of the seat 26. These interconnected contacts will enable the peripheral unit 25 to supply the interactive keyboard cartridge 10 with electrical energy.

Finally, still referring to Figure 4 of the appended drawings, mechanisms are provided to secure the cartridge 10 to the peripheral unit 25. In the example illustrated in Figure 4, these mechanisms include:

- at a first end of the cartridge 10, a set of pins 35 to be inserted in complementary holes 36 of the seat 26; and

- at the other end of the cartridge 10, a pivoting arcuate arm 37 to be pivoted in direction 38 over the cartridge 10 to lock the cartridge 10 on the seat 26.

Of course, other types of mechanisms can be implemented to lock the cartridge 10 on the seat 26.

The peripheral unit 25 may be remotely controlled through infrared radiation, IRDATA or radio FM or RF. The peripheral unit 25 comprises a microcontroller (not shown) responsive to encoded data transmitted through the above mentioned infrared radiation, IRDATA or radio FM or RF for controlling rotation of the toothed wheel 31 through energization of the corresponding drive motor (not shown) until the desired or selected keyboard menu 22 is displayed through the window 13. The different keyboard menus 22 can be automatically searched and recognized by the microcontroller (not shown) of the peripheral unit 25 through digital, numerical, alphanumerical, etc. codes (not shown) located on the photographic film 21 along the series of perforations 32, these codes being destined to be optically read by an optical cell (not shown) of the peripheral unit 25.

A black thick line such as 40 (Figure 3) is interposed between each pair of successive keyboard menus 22 to allow the optical cell (not shown) and therefore the microcontroller (not shown) of the peripheral unit 25 to locate the different successive keyboard menus 22 and their corresponding codes.

For the purpose of saving energy, the lighting device 30 will preferably be energized by the microcontroller (not shown) of the peripheral unit 25 only when the desired keyboard menu 22 is displayed through the window 13, for example after processing of a search order (encoded data) transmitted to the peripheral unit 25 through the above mentioned infrared radiation, IRDATA or radio FM or RF.

The pictograms and/or icons 16 of the keyboard menu 22 appearing through the rectangular zones 15 of the touch-sensitive transparent membrane 14 indicates all the possible choices and commands available to the user . Touching the zones 15 is made in relation to a theme, a function, a mode or a logo of the original emission channel (TV, radio, Internet TV, digital TV).

A major advantage of the interactive keyboard cartridge is that it greatly facilitates access of the user to any network or system by means of pictograms and/or icons through simple touching of the zones

15 of the touch-sensitive transparent membrane 14 corresponding to these pictograms and/or icons. This is simple and efficient.

In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, the photographic film 21 can be replaced by a MINI DISC CD- ROM containing the application software, surfing and automating tuning icons, as well as interactivity recognition codes.

The touch-sensitive transparent membrane 14 is then disposed over a small color or two-color LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) display and secured on the peripheral unit.

The peripheral unit then comprises, on the side thereof, a CD-ROM reader in which the MINI DISC CD-ROM is inserted. The microcontroller of the peripheral unit is then capable of reading the CD- ROM and to display on the LCD display the associated pictograms and/or icons.

Although the present invention has been described hereinabove by way of a preferred embodiment thereof, this embodiment can be modified at will, within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit and nature of the subject invention.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A keyboard cartridge comprising: an elongated film bearing a series of keyboard menus; a casing for storing the elongated film, said casing comprising a casing portion through which a section of the elongated film extends, wherein said casing portion defines an outer generally flat wall provided with a window to expose one of the keyboard menus of the elongated film; a touch-sensitive transparent membrane extending across the window over the exposed keyboard menu, said touch-sensitive transparent membrane being connectable to an electronic circuit; and a scrolling mechanism for moving longitudinally the elongated film in the casing portion and thereby scrolling the keyboard menus past the window and expose through said window and said touch- sensitive transparent membrane a selected one of the keyboard menus.

2. A keyboard cartridge as defined in claim 1 , wherein said elongated film is a positive photographic film.

3. A keyboard cartridge as defined in claim 2, wherein the casing portion is a central casing portion, wherein the elongated positive photographic film comprises a lateral, longitudinal series of perforations, wherein the casing comprises first and second opposite end film cassettes, and wherein the scrolling mechanism comprises:

- a second roller rotatively mounted in the second cassette for winding and unwinding the elongated film as the elongated film is moved longitudinally through the central casing portion; and wherein the central casing portion defines an access to the lateral, longitudinal series of perforations by a toothed wheel in view of moving longitudinally the elongated positive photographic film through the central casing portion.

4. A keyboard cartridge as defined in claim 1 , wherein the transparent membrane defines a plurality of touch-sensitive zones, and wherein the keyboard menus each comprises a plurality of pictograms and/or icons corresponding to at least a portion of said touch- sensitive zones.

5. A keyboard cartridge as defined in claim 1 , wherein each keyboard menu is coded for enabling recognition of said keyboard menus.

6. A keyboard cartridge as defined in claim 2, wherein the elongated positive photographic film comprises an optically readable code associated to each keyboard menu.

7. A keyboard cartridge as defined in claim 1 , wherein said casing portion comprises means for backlighting the keyboard menu exposed through the window along with the touch-sensitive transparent membrane.

8. A keyboard cartridge as defined in claim 1 , wherein said casing further comprises surface-mounted contacts for connecting said touch-sensitive transparent membrane to an external electronic circuit.