In integrated devices, the touch sensing device 12 is built into the shell of the host computing device. By way of example, the touch sensing device may be a tablet sized touch pad. In stand alone devices, the touch sensing device 12 includes its own shell and is connected to the host computing device via cables or wireless connections (e.g., touch tablet). The input control device 10 may be a stand alone device or it may be integrated with the host computing device. In essence, different overlays can be designed for different applications of the host computing system. The user can simply remove and insert a new mechanical overlay depending on their needs. For example, the user may have one mechanical overlay for video editing, another one for sound editing, another one for gaming, another one for data entry, another one for navigation, etc. For example, the mechanical overlay 16 may transform the touch sensing input device 12 into a control console or panel with particular set of fixed mechanical inputs associated with a particular application of the host computing device.Ī user can have several different mechanical overlays 16, each one with controls for a specific application.
The inputs of the mechanical overlay 16 may be assignable or they may be configured for a particular application of the host computing device. The touch sensing input device 12 is capable of sensing the mechanical inputs provided by the mechanical overlay 16 and causing the host computing device to respond to those inputs. The mechanical overlay 16 is configured to interface with the touch input device 12 so as to produce an input mechanism with particular set of fixed mechanical inputs. The touch sensing input device 12 may for example correspond to touch pads, touch screens, or touch sensitive housings. Alternatively, the touches may be processed locally at the touch input device 12 so as to reduce demand on the host computing device. For example, the host computing device may initiate a task in accordance with a particular touch. The touch sensing device 12 reports the touches to the host computing device and the host computing device interprets the touches in accordance with its programming. The touch sensing input device 12 is configured to detect touches on the touch sensitive surface 14.
The input control device 10 includes a touch sensing input device 12 having a touch sensitive surface 14, and a removable mechanical overlay 16 that is disposed over at least a portion of the touch sensitive surface 14 of the touch sensing input device 12. The input control device 10 is configured to provide various inputs to a host computing device (not shown). 1 is a diagram of an input control device 10, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. When identified, the touch sensing device may configure itself or the host system based on the identified mechanical overlay. In another embodiment, the mechanical overlay includes an identification feature that is capable of being sensed by the touch sensing device. In fact, the touch sensing devices may be multi-touch sensing devices that have the ability to sense multiple inputs from multiple mechanical actuators at the same time. In one embodiment, the mechanical overlay includes a plurality of mechanical actuators so as to provide a control panel or control console to a host device. By way of example, the mechanical actuators may be buttons, keys, sliders, dials, wheels, switches, joysticks, navigation pads, etc. More particularly, the invention pertains to mechanical overlays that include one or more mechanical actuators that provide touch inputs to the touch sensing devices. The invention pertains to overlays for touch sensing devices.