KENNETH MARTIN TWAIN
Pilots at Tompkins Ave, Oakland, CA

6606081, Aug 12, 2003

Nov 22, 2000

09/721364

Denny Jaeger - Oakland CA 94611
Kenneth M. Twain - Oakland CA 92718

G09G 300

345111, 345108, 345619, 345651, 345678, 345764, 345738, 348594, 348595

The invention includes moveable magnetic devices, for use in conjunction with electronic displays associated with computers and electronic devices enable manual input devices and control devices to be joined to the display, whereby the electronic device may be controlled, inputs may be made thereto, and the electronic display may be altered in correspondence to these inputs. In one aspect, the invention includes a fader controller comprised of a longitudinally extending track having a portion thereof extending over an image area of an electronic display, and a fader cap joined to the track for longitudinal sliding translation therealong. A plurality of permanent magnets are spaced along the track, and the fader cap includes at least one electromagnet. Conductive rails extend longitudinally on the track, and the fader cap includes contacts that electrically engage the conductive rails. Some of the fader cap contacts are connected to the electromagnet(s), and at least one track interacts with one contact on the fader cap to detect the instantaneous position of the fader cap.

6642919, Nov 4, 2003

Apr 18, 2000

09/551484

Denny Jaeger - Oakland CA
Kenneth M. Twain - Oakland CA

Intertactile Technologies Corporation - Oakland CA

G09G 500

345161, 345156, 345177, 345204, 345 12, 345 23, 345 31, 455 301, 455 24, 4554262

One or more controls producing control signals for electrical apparatus are disposed at the face of an electronic display screen which display graphics pertinent to the operation of the controls. Controls having a cap which is slidable along a track include a tongue in the track connecting with signal producing components at an off screen location thereby enabling use of a track of minimal bulk. Controls having slidable caps or turnable knobs and controls such as joysticks and switches snap engage at the face of the screen enabling easy replacement and movement to different locations on the screen. Control signals may be transmitted to an off screen location without use of conductors extending along the screen.

5841428, Nov 24, 1998

Sep 20, 1996

8/725201

Denny Jaeger - Oakland CA
Kenneth M. Twain - Oakland CA

Intertactile Technologies Corporation - Oakland CA

G09G 500

345184

An electrical circuit control of the type having a knob which is turned by an operator to vary a circuit condition is affixed to the face of an electronic image display device and at least a portion of the knob overlays the image display area. This enables display of instantly changeable calibration marks and/or other graphics in close proximity to the circuit control including at locations immediately adjacent to the perimeter of the knob. Electronic components of the control are contained within the knob and a base member at the front of the panel. Components of this kind may be embedded in or attached to the knob itself enabling easy repair by simply replacing the knob and/or may be contained in an easily replaced carrier that fits within the base. Knob motion sensors include radio frequency sensors, capacitive sensors, Hall effect sensors and photoelectric sensors among others and enable the controls to be compact, durable and enable economic manufacture. A signal processor can convert initial values of the control signal produced at successive settings of a control to differing assigned values.

5982355, Nov 9, 1999

Aug 25, 1997

8/917094

Denny Jaeger - Oakland CA
Kenneth M. Twain - Oakland CA

G09G 508

345161

Electrical circuit control devices are affixed to the front of an electronic image display screen, within the image displaying area, to provide instantly changeable labels and other graphics which convey information pertaining to operation of the controls. The control devices may be of any of a variety of types that are variously operated by depressing switch buttons, turning a knob, flexing or tilting a joystick or exerting force against an immovable knob. The control devices have compact and durable constructions which enable the devices to be wholly at the front of the display screen as opposed to extending through openings in a screen. Operator manipulation of the control devices is variously sensed by radio frequency sensors, Hall effect sensors, strain gauge sensors, touch sensitive circuits or electromechanical contacts. A remote control unit controls any of variety of different electronic devices and displays different switch button labels and other graphics during controlling of different ones of the devices. A pivotable earpiece enables the same remote control unit to function as a cellular telephone and a cordless telephone.

2008023, Oct 2, 2008

Oct 18, 2007

11/975611

Denny Jaeger - Oakland CA, US
Kenneth M. Twain - Oakland CA, US
John Ream - San Jose CA, US

G06F 3/041

345173

The invention provides mechanical devices to enhance the input process for touch screen devices. Fader tracks with or without fader caps, rotary and fixed knobs, and joysticks may be removably adhered to a touch screen and used to emulate their respective functions, using software interpretation of the touch detections provoked by the devices to carry out the emulations. The devices are inexpensive and simple, and the touch screen and associated software provide the function and feel of electromechanical controllers that are far more expensive and difficult to connect and maintain. The devices may be provided as components on a crack-and-peel sheet. For fixed knobs, the software application accepts initial inputs and determines the location on the touch screen, and also interprets the geometry of the input strokes as commands for selected controller emulations, such as joystick, fader, knob, or mouse. The invention also provides a touch sensor controller having a longitudinal web that incorporates touch sensor electrodes and conductors and emulates a fader controller. The invention further provides a flexible track controller mounted at the periphery of a touch screen and extendable thereover to emulate a fader controller. The flexible track may be motor driven.

8199114, Jun 12, 2012

Sep 26, 2000

09/670610

Denny Jaeger - Oakland CA, US
Kenneth M. Twain - Oakland CA, US
John Ream - San Jose CA, US

G06F 3/041, G06F 3/033, G09G 5/00, G06K 11/06

345173, 345161, 345179, 345184, 178 1801, 178 1803, 178 1901

The invention provides mechanical devices to enhance the input process for touch screen devices. Fader tracks with or without fader caps, rotary and fixed knobs, and joysticks may be removably adhered to a touch screen and used to emulate their respective functions, using software interpretation of the touch detections provoked by the devices to carry out the emulations. The devices are inexpensive and simple, and the touch screen and associated software provide the function and feel of electromechanical controllers that are far more expensive and difficult to connect and maintain. The devices may be provided as components on a crack-and-peel sheet. For fixed knobs, the software application accepts initial inputs and determines the location on the touch screen, and also interprets the geometry of the input strokes as commands for selected controller emulations, such as joystick, fader, knob, or mouse. The invention also provides a touch sensor controller having a longitudinal web that incorporates touch sensor electrodes and conductors and emulates a fader controller. The invention further provides a flexible track controller mounted at the periphery of a touch screen and extendable thereover to emulate a fader controller.

5805146, Sep 8, 1998

Dec 10, 1996

8/763132

Denny Jaeger - Oakland CA
Kenneth M. Twain - Oakland CA

Intertactile Technologies Corporation - Oakland CA

G09G 500

345172

A circuit control device of the type having a knob which an operator travels along a track to vary a circuit condition is disposed on the face of an electronic display screen. This enables a display of calibration marks, symbols and/or other indicia pertaining to operation of the control including at; locations in immediate proximity to the slidable knob which display can change instantly when the function of the control changes or when other conditions call for different graphics. The track and sliding knob and electronic components of the control signal producing circuit are at the front of the display screen thereby enabling easy repair. Components of the control signal producing circuit are contained within the knob and/or track. Knob motion is detected by compact and durable sensors which may include radio frequency sensors, capacitive sensors, photoelectric sensors or Hall effect sensors among others.

5774115, Jun 30, 1998

May 10, 1996

8/644795

Denny Jaeger - Oakland CA
Kenneth M. Twain - Oakland CA

Intertactile Technologies Corporation - Oakland CA

G09G 500

345172

Circuit control devices of the kind having operator manipulated control members are disposed at the face of an electronically controlled flat panel display within the image display area. This enables display of calibration marks and/or other graphics that can change instantly and automatically in response to changing operating conditions. Operating power for the control devices is inductively transmitted from the back of the display or from the back of the transparent cover plate of the display through spaced apart coils. Control signals produced by the control devices are inductively transmitted to the back of the display or to the back of the cover plate through the same coils or through additional coils. This provides for coupling of the control devices with the controlled circuit without internal modifications of the flat panel display and without requiring that conductors extend across displayed images at the front surface of the display.

5018057, May 21, 1991

Jan 17, 1990

7/466467

John D. Biggs - Danville CA
Kenneth M. Twain - Oakland CA

Lamp Technologies, Inc. - Danville CA

F21V 2300

362295

A light module adapted to provide light temporarily in a confined space comprises a generally oblong and relatively thin housing that retains a bulb for providing a source of light, a power source sufficient to activate the bulb, and an electrical control circuit. The circuit includes a touch sensitive sensor for closing a circuit between the bulb and the power source to turn on the bulb, and a timer for opening the circuit to automatically turn off the bulb after it has been on for a predetermined period of time. The circuit also contains elements for requiring the sensor to be touched twice within a limited time period in order to activate the bulb.

6326956, Dec 4, 2001

Aug 24, 1998

9/139078

Denny Jaeger - Oakland CA
Kenneth M. Twain - Oakland CA

Intertactile Technologies Corporation - Oakland CA

G09G 500

345179

A control device provides a variable control signal to electrical apparatus and has a control member, such as a stylus or a turnable or slidable member, that is manipulated to vary the signal. Photoelectric sensors detect and track movement of the control member. The control member is disposed at the face of an electronic image display screen which can display calibration marks, identifying labels, current setting and/or other graphics pertinent to operation of the control device. The display screen also operates as the light source for the photoelectric sensors.