U.S. patent application number 17/175846 was filed with the patent office on 2021-08-19 for dynamic user control system.
The applicant listed for this patent is Kinestral Technologies, Inc.. Invention is credited to Wally Barnum, John Bogdan, Stephen Coffin, Antoine Dubois, Craig Henricksen, Paul Nagel.
Application Number | 20210255530 17/175846 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 1000005557107 |
Filed Date | 2021-08-19 |
United States Patent
Application |
20210255530 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Dubois; Antoine ; et
al. |
August 19, 2021 |
DYNAMIC USER CONTROL SYSTEM
Abstract
A wall controller is provided. The wall controller includes a
projection screen having an input device and a projector arranged
to project a digital image onto the projection screen from the
projector, wherein the projector has an optical axis that is
non-orthogonal to the projection screen. The wall controller
includes a housing having the projection screen mounted thereto at
a first end of the housing, the housing having the projector at a
second end of the housing. The housing is dimensioned to fit the
second end of the housing through an aperture in a first wall, fit
the second end into a wall space between the first wall and a
second wall, and fit a majority of the first end of the housing
into the aperture until the projection screen is parallel to a
surface of the first wall and a front portion of the projection
screen is flush with, recessed in or extends from the surface of
the first wall. The aperture dimensioned to fit the first end of
the housing or the front portion of the projection screen.
Inventors: |
Dubois; Antoine; (Hayward,
CA) ; Bogdan; John; (Hayward, CA) ; Nagel;
Paul; (Hayward, CA) ; Henricksen; Craig;
(Hayward, CA) ; Coffin; Stephen; (Hayward, CA)
; Barnum; Wally; (Hayward, CA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Kinestral Technologies, Inc. |
Hayward |
CA |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
1000005557107 |
Appl. No.: |
17/175846 |
Filed: |
February 15, 2021 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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16748612 |
Jan 21, 2020 |
10921694 |
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17175846 |
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|
15691297 |
Aug 30, 2017 |
10539860 |
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16748612 |
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62381378 |
Aug 30, 2016 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G03B 21/10 20130101;
G06F 3/167 20130101; H04N 9/3194 20130101; G06F 3/0362 20130101;
G06F 3/016 20130101; H04N 9/3185 20130101; G03B 21/145 20130101;
G03B 21/28 20130101; G02F 1/163 20130101; G06F 3/03547 20130101;
H03K 17/962 20130101; G06F 3/0488 20130101; G02F 1/13338
20130101 |
International
Class: |
G03B 21/14 20060101
G03B021/14; H04N 9/31 20060101 H04N009/31; G06F 3/01 20060101
G06F003/01; G06F 3/0354 20060101 G06F003/0354; G06F 3/0362 20060101
G06F003/0362; G06F 3/0488 20060101 G06F003/0488; G03B 21/10
20060101 G03B021/10; G03B 21/28 20060101 G03B021/28; G06F 3/16
20060101 G06F003/16; H03K 17/96 20060101 H03K017/96 |
Claims
1. A wall controller, comprising: a touchscreen with a rotatable
front screen that overlaps the touchscreen; and a projector
arranged to project a digital image onto the touchscreen or the
rotatable front screen, the projector mountable behind a wall
having an aperture to which the wall controller is mountable.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] Wall controllers, for diverse devices and control of
functions such as thermostats, hot water heaters, air-conditioning,
ventilation, lighting, burglar alarms, electrochromic windows,
intercoms, electric gates, etc., are available in many sizes,
shapes and appearances. A typical wall controller or other
controller, interface or user interface platform mounts to a wall,
partition or other surface of a home, office, factory or other
building, and communicates wirelessly or through wires (within or
attached to a wall) to devices controlled by the wall controller.
Functionality, features, design aesthetics and available space are
factors in the design of a wall controller. A wall controller that
mounts entirely to, and not within, a wall may appear bulky and
utilitarian, and be limited in features by available size of the
wall controller and wall space allocated to the wall controller.
Controllers also have an impact on the design of a home. Devices
hanging obtrusively on a wall pull attention away from architecture
itself and towards the device. Subtlety of added elements in a
high-end home environment is important for respect of the
environment. Installation constraints imposed by wall spacing
(e.g., inner wall space) and the desire to minimize the number and
size of holes or other visible alterations made to or in the wall,
and complexity of installation may serve as barriers to the ability
to add further features to wall controllers. It is within this and
further design contexts that the present embodiments arise.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0002] The described embodiments and the advantages thereof may
best be understood by reference to the following description taken
in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. These drawings in no
way limit any changes in form and detail that may be made to the
described embodiments by one skilled in the art without departing
from the spirit and scope of the described embodiments.
[0003] FIGS. 1A is a front view of a wall controller mounted to a
wall and showing a message and/or animation on a rotatable screen
while also projecting a glow onto the wall in accordance with some
embodiments.
[0004] FIGS. 1B and 1C are perspective views of a wall controller
illustrating example user interfaces in accordance with some
embodiments.
[0005] FIG. 2 is a side view of the wall controller of FIG. 1,
depicting a portion of an image projected from a projector onto a
rear projection screen, and a further portion of the image
reflected outward and backward by a shaped, reflective rim
surrounding the rear projection screen in accordance with some
embodiments.
[0006] FIGS. 3A-C illustrate an action sequence showing
installation of the wall controller of FIGS. 1 and 2 in accordance
with some embodiments.
[0007] FIG. 4 is a close-up perspective cutaway view with details
of portions of a rotatable front screen, a capacitive sensing film,
a rear projection screen, a bearing, a base ring, a lock ring and a
housing in accordance with some embodiments of the wall
controller.
[0008] FIG. 5 depicts regions of a digital image suitable for
projection from the projector in embodiments of the wall controller
of FIGS. 1-4 in accordance with some embodiments.
[0009] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a brake for stopping
rotation of a rotatable front screen of a wall controller in
accordance with some embodiments.
[0010] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a tool for installing an
embodiment of the wall controller.
[0011] FIG. 8A depicts an embodiment of a dynamic user input
control system for smart devices including a number of varied user
input devices, one of which may be the wall controller according to
embodiments described herein.
[0012] FIGS. 8B and 8C illustrate a slider controller in accordance
with some embodiments.
[0013] FIG. 9 depicts an embodiment of an overall control system
for smart devices, such as smart windows, which receives user input
from, and communicates with, a dynamic user input control
system.
[0014] FIGS. 10A-10C illustrate control options for a window or
door or group of windows and/or doors in accordance with some
embodiments.
[0015] FIG. 11 illustrates various views of the wall controller
interface in accordance with some embodiments.
[0016] FIGS. 12A-12E illustrate various screens on a user interface
in accordance with some embodiments.
[0017] FIG. 13 is an illustration showing an exemplary computing
device which may implement the embodiments described herein.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0018] A dynamic user control system for use in lighting or energy
control systems is described herein. The light control or energy
control systems may include smart windows that are devices such as
windows or doors having a computer processor and/or connectivity to
the internet. In some embodiments the smart windows may be
electrochromic devices. Other systems such as lights,
non-electrochromic windows and doors, HVAC systems, or cooling or
heating systems may also be part of the lighting or energy control
systems. Embodiments of the dynamic user control system provide a
user to interact with and control the lighting or energy control
systems. The dynamic user control system may include user input
devices such as a wall controller, various types of wall switches,
a user app on a mobile device, or a voice control device. The
dynamic user control system may be augmented by one or more
sensors. The user input devices of this dynamic user control system
may be able to communicate directly with a smart window through
wired or wireless communications, and may also be able to
communicate with a smart window through the internet or through a
local area network. In one embodiment a user input device or
multiple user input devices of the dynamic user control system may
communicate with the electrical drivers of a smart window using a
wireless mesh network. In another embodiment a user input device or
multiple user input devices of the dynamic user control system may
communicate with the electrical drivers of a smart window though a
local gateway device that passes the communications through a cloud
network or the internet.
[0019] In an embodiment of the present invention, a user input
device of the dynamic user control system or of any user control
system may be a wall controller. The wall controller described
herein may be for mounting to a wall and control of household,
office, industrial or other systems, and has a rotatable rear
projection touchscreen for manual input and visible output. A
message or animation projected from a projector hidden in the wall
onto the rear projection screen stays level (i.e., at a fixed
orientation) relative to the wall for viewing even while a front
screen, on which the image is visible, is rotated by a user finger
for input. Arrangement of the components and dimensions of the
housing purposefully support installation through a hole in the
wall, sized to fit the viewable, rotatable face of the wall
controller, with the backside components of the wall controller,
inside the housing, fitting in the wall space between two walls.
Some embodiments feature a glow or animation projected onto the
wall, surrounding the rotatable touchscreen, and/or images or
animation projected onto an opposing wall.
[0020] In some embodiment, a wall controller is provided. The wall
controller includes a housing, dimensioned to insert into an
aperture in a wall and mount to the wall with a majority of the
housing behind a front surface of the wall. The wall controller
includes a transparent or translucent touch film mounted in fixed
relation to the housing and a transparent or translucent rotatable
viewscreen in rotatable relation to the housing, in front of and
overlapping the transparent or translucent touch film. The wall
controller includes electronic and optical components mounted to
the housing to show an image visible on or through the transparent
or translucent rotatable viewscreen and sense, via the transparent
or translucent touch film, position or movement of one or more
fingers on or near the transparent or translucent rotatable
viewscreen. The wall controller can receive audio commands and
interpret the audio commands to distribute instructions to
electrochromic devices in some embodiments. A wall switch may also
receive audio commands and distribute or interpret the commands to
transmit the commands or instructions to other wall switches or to
electrochromic devices.
[0021] FIG. 1A is a front view of a wall controller 102 in
accordance with the present disclosure, mounted to a wall 106 and
showing a message 110 and/or animation 112 on a rotatable screen
108 while also projecting a glow 116 or image onto the wall 106. A
finger 118 of a user is shown touching a textured outer region 114
of the rotatable screen 108, to rotate the rotatable screen 108.
The textured outer region 114 could have micro texture, macro
texture, or be of a different finish, material or paint than an
inner region of the rotatable screen 108, so as to have a grippy
effect on a finger. Touching outer region 114 could increase or
decrease a setting in a device controlled by the wall controller
102, which could be accompanied by a message 110 or animation 112
displayed on the rotatable screen in response to such input in some
embodiments. A user can also tap a finger 118 on the rotatable
screen 108 or move or slide a finger 118 along the rotatable screen
108, which can detect all such finger touches or movement. In some
embodiments, an inner region, i.e. inside of the textured region
114, of the rotatable screen 108 is smooth to suggest to the user
that finger taps or slides are appropriate in this inner region,
and to allow one or multiple finger sliding. This may include a
matte finish as opposed to a glossy surface, although various
surface finishes or textures could be appropriate. Texturing in the
textured outer region 114 could be bumps, ridges, roughness, a wavy
surface, a series of concentric raised circles around the rim,
geometric shapes, crosshatching, or other deviation from a smooth
flat surface to suggest to the user that finger placement for
rotation of the rotatable screen 108 is appropriate in this
textured outer region 114. However, further embodiments are smooth
or textured across the entirety of the rotatable screen 108 and
rely on visual cues for finger placement of the user. Variations of
this, with some textured regions and some smooth regions, are
readily devised. Visual cues could also be applied by projected
image, and appear only when appropriate to a control, mood or other
scenario.
[0022] A majority or the entirety of the housing 104 is inside the
wall 106 as illustrated in FIG. 1A, or more specifically in the
wall space between the wall 106 and another wall or surface. In
various embodiments, the rotatable screen 108 is flush with the
front surface of the wall 106 (e.g., embodiments without the
projected glow 116 onto the wall 106), or is raised slightly from
the front surface of the wall 106 (e.g., embodiments with the
projected glow 116 onto the wall 106). FIGS. 1B and 1C illustrate
various embodiments with examples of user interfaces illustrated on
the rotatable screen 108. It should be appreciated that various
user modes and sub-menus within the different modes may be employed
based on the application as FIGS. 1A and 1B are examples and not
meant to be limiting.
[0023] FIG. 2 is a cutaway side view of the wall controller 102 of
FIG. 1A, depicting a portion of an image projected from a projector
208 onto a rear projection screen 204, and a further portion of the
image reflected outward and backward by a shaped, reflective rim
210 surrounding the rear projection screen 204. The rear projection
screen 204 and a rotatable front screen 202, together form the
rotatable screen 108. These components of the rotatable screen 108
are mounted to a first end 228 of the housing 104. This is
accomplished, in the embodiment shown, with a bearing 212, for
example a ring bearing, rotatably coupling the rotatable front
screen 202 and the rear projection screen 204, which is attached to
a first end 238 of the housing 104. The reflective rim 210 (i.e., a
reflective outer edge) is attached to or at the boundary of the
rotatable front screen 202 and surrounds a boundary of the rear
projection screen 204. A projector 208, which could also be termed
a rear projector since it projects onto the rear projection screen
204, is mounted internal to a second end 230 of the housing 104. A
controller 234, or more than one controller, could be mounted in
various locations in the housing 104, outside the housing, in a
second housing or integrated into the projector 208, in various
embodiments. The controller 234 interprets user input for the wall
controller 102 and develops output, in the form of digital images
or animation to be projected by the projector 208. In the
embodiment shown, a mirror 206 is mounted to a middle section 232
of the housing 104. Selection of mounting arrangement for the
projector 208, and use of and mounting arrangement for the mirror
206, are driven by design objectives. These objectives include
using a rear projected image with sufficient length beam path to
allow for expansion of the beam and a full-size image on the
rotatable screen 108, and fitting the housing into a standard wall
space for ease of installation and attractive appearance of the
wall controller 102. Off-axis projection, without the mirror 206,
could also be used for placement of the projector 208 in a further
embodiment. In reflected-beam and off-axis projection versions, the
projector is other than on a line perpendicular to the rear
projection screen. That is, projector 208 has an optical axis that
is non-orthogonal to rear projection screen 204 and rotatable front
screen 202. In still further embodiments, lenses or combinations of
lenses and mirrors could be used for various folded and or lensed
beam paths and other housing arrangements. A projector with
sufficiently wide beam or rapid beam expansion may be employed, or
a system of lenses achieves this, to enable use of a direct,
on-axis projection arrangement.
[0024] In one embodiment, the overall depth 220 of the housing 104
is less than or equal to four inches, so that the housing 104 of
the wall controller 102 fits into a wall space between
standard-spaced walls in a home or commercial building, as shown in
FIG. 3. The shape of the housing 104, and overall length 222 of the
housing 104 are also dimensioned to so fit, and in some embodiments
the overall length 222 of the housing 104 can be greater than the
overall depth 220 of the housing 104, to accommodate a beam path
from the projector 208 to do the rear projection screen 204.
[0025] In the embodiment depicted in FIG. 2, a majority of the
image from the projector 206 reflects off of the mirror and is
rear-projected onto the rear projection screen 204 and/or the
rotatable front screen 202. That is, in various embodiments, the
image is projected onto a translucent rear projection screen 204
and is visible through a transparent (or translucent) rotatable
front screen 202, or is projected through a transparent (or
translucent) rear projection screen 204 and is visible as projected
onto a translucent rotatable front screen 202, or is visible on
both the rear projection screen 204 and the rotatable front screen
202. Preferably, one or the other of the rear projection screen 204
and the rotatable front screen 202 is transparent, and the other is
translucent. Translucency can be produced by using an opaque
substrate with holes, such as a mesh or a grill, or by tinting
transparent material, thinning opaque material, using a textile,
mesh, grill, diffusion film, etc. In further embodiments, other
optical components could be applied to produce an image.
[0026] This projection is shown in FIG. 2 with the center ray 216
of the projected image, and is seen from the front of the wall
controller 102 as the full-screen message 110 (see FIG. 1A) and/or
animation 112. Since the projector 208 and mirror 206 are in fixed
arrangement with the housing 104, the projected image stays in
fixed orientation relative to these components and the wall 106 to
which the wall controller 102 is mounted, even as the rotatable
front screen 202 is rotated. Moreover, in some embodiments the
projected image extends far enough laterally to fill the rear
projection screen 204 and/or the rotatable front screen 202, all
the way to the edges. In some embodiments, for a frameless screen
result, a light piping effect in the rotatable front screen 202
could be applied to lighten shaded areas. In some embodiments, the
projector 208 is directed, for example by a controller, to rotate
the projected image to match rotation of the rotatable front screen
202. For example, one or more arrows or other symbols could be
shown moving with rotation of the rotatable front screen 202, in
the projected image.
[0027] In some embodiments, and as shown in FIG. 2, the projected
image is greater in extent than the rear projection screen 204 and
the rotatable front screen 202, as depicted with the outer rays
214, 218. A portion of the projected image, e.g. these outer rays
214, 218, escapes through a transparent or translucent portion, or
an opening such as a hole, window or absence of material, of the
housing 104, a transparent or translucent portion of a skirt or
other support of the rear projection screen 204, a gap between the
housing and the rear projection screen 204, or some other window or
transparent or translucent area, and reflects outwards and
backwards off of the shaped, reflective rim 210 or outer edge of
the rotatable screen 108. In a further embodiment, light escapes
straight out to project on outside elements or an opposite wall,
etc. When the wall controller 102 is mounted to a wall 106, as
shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, this outer reflected image appears as the
glow 116 on the wall 106. In the embodiment shown, the shaped
reflective rim 210 is a radially symmetric skirt or other extension
rearward of the rotatable front screen 202, and could be painted,
plated, or polished for better reflectivity. In various
embodiments, the shaped reflective rim 210 is curvilinear, an
angled flat surface, multiple angled flat surfaces, or a
combination of curved and flat surfaces, for even or graduated
light distribution, or could be faceted, ringed, wavy or textured
for various reflective effects, etc. In further embodiments, the
shaped reflective rim 210 is a skirt or other extension rearward
of, aligned with or in front of the rear projection screen 204.
Thus, the shaped reflective rim 210 allows for light from the outer
rays 214 and 218 to appear to emanate from the wall region external
and proximate to the periphery of the housing 104. This light may
be referred to as a glow in some embodiments, or may be an image in
further embodiments. In some embodiments, the shape is designed to
allow a projection closer to the wall interface, or farther from
the wall interface, such that, for example it could project
elements going away from or towards the device, or a circle around
the device, that would expand and contract, e.g. a circle going
from one diameter to another diameter.
[0028] Depending on optical characteristics of the rear projection
screen 204 and rotatable front screen 202, for example a
transparent region, some light (e.g., rays 224, 226) could cast an
image or a glow on an opposite wall to the wall 106 on which the
wall controller 102 is mounted, in some embodiments. This could be
useful for mood lighting, or in an emergency, for example to cast a
bright red glow, message, image of an arrow pointing to an exit, or
a circle oriented to an exit, on the opposite wall.
[0029] FIGS. 3A-C illustrate an action sequence showing
installation of the wall controller 102 of FIGS. 1 and 2. An
aperture 302 is made in the wall 106, for example by a user,
carpenter or installation technician. Generally, the aperture 302
should be circular and dimensioned to fit the first end 228 of the
housing 104 and/or some or all of the rotatable screen 108, or
optional mounting hardware, although further embodiments could use
other shapes such as an oval or a rectangle, and corresponding
cross-sections of the housing 104. The second end 230 of the
housing 104 of the wall controller 102 is inserted through the
aperture 302 and into the wall space 306 between the wall 106 and a
further wall 304. The second end 230 of the housing 104 is then
rotated into the wall space 306, downward in this embodiment but
the rotation could be sideward or upward in further embodiments. As
the downward (or sideward or upward) rotation of the second end 230
of the housing 104 completes, the first end 228 of the housing 104
seats in the aperture 302 in the wall 106, with the majority of the
housing 104 in the wall space 306, and the rotatable screen 108
facing outward from the wall 106. The rotatable screen 108 is then
flush with the wall 106 (e.g., in some embodiments lacking the
reflective rim 210) or nearly flush with the wall 106 (e.g., in
embodiments that have the shaped, reflective rim 210 and cast the
glow 116 as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2). In some embodiments, the
second end 230 of housing 104 has a periscope configuration where
the second end 230 can extend downward through a periscope
mechanism once the controller is situated in place in FIG. 3C. In
further embodiments, the housing 104 could fold or unfold into the
wall space 306 between the wall 106 and the further wall 304, or
extend using a telescoping action. One or more portions of the
housing 104 could pivot or hinge relative to another portion of the
housing 104, or otherwise deploy into the wall space 306 between
the wall 106 and the further wall 304. In some embodiments the wall
controller includes the ability to tune the projector once
assembled. For example, set screws on a surface of the wall
controller may be utilized to adjust the projector to provide for
fine tuning the alignment after assembly. In some embodiments 3 set
screws may provide for alignment in the x, y, and z directions with
one set screw dedicated to each direction. In some embodiments, as
light sensor proximate to the projector may be utilized to adjust
display brightness based on the brightness/light level sensed in
the room.
[0030] FIG. 4 is a close-up perspective cutaway view with details
of portions of a rotatable front screen 202, a capacitive sensing
film 408, a rear projection screen 204, a bearing 212, a base ring
402, a lock ring 404 and a housing 104 in an embodiment of the wall
controller 102 of FIGS. 1-3. To support rotation of the rotatable
front screen 202, the bearing 212 couples the cylindrical rim 414
of the rotatable front screen 202 to the cylindrical rim 412 of the
rear projection screen 204. In this embodiment, the bearing 212 is
a ring of one, two or more pieces made of Teflon.TM. or nylon or
other slippery or low friction plastic material, with the bearing
212 and both cylindrical rims 412, 414 concentric about a rotation
axis of the rotatable front screen 202. Other types of bearings
positioned below or behind the rotatable front screen 202 are
readily devised. For example, the bearing could attach to the
housing 104 and/or the rear projection screen 204, and further
variants for installation other than the lock ring 404 and the base
ring 402 could be devised. One of the cylindrical rims 414 could be
integral with the rotatable front screen 202, and further variants
are readily devised in keeping with the teachings herein. In some
embodiments, a portion of cylindrical rim 414 has a retention
device, such as a bump or bumps, to engage with a corresponding
depression or edge of bearing 212, surface of base ring 402,
surface of cylindrical rim 412, or a surface of housing 104,
etc.
[0031] Still referring to FIG. 4., the rotatable front screen 202,
in this embodiment a circular disk, has a larger diameter or
greater extent than the rear projection screen 204, so that the
rotatable front screen 202 overlaps the rear projection screen 204.
Likewise, the cylindrical rim 414 of the rotatable front screen 202
has a larger diameter than, and surrounds, the cylindrical rim 412
of the rear projection screen 204. In this embodiment, the rear
projection screen 204 and associated cylindrical rim 412 are nested
inside of the rotatable front screen 202 and the associated
cylindrical rim 414. Since the two screens 202, 204, and the
associated two cylindrical rims 414, 412 are coupled together by
the bearing 212 and/or through assembly of further components
including the housing 104, the rotatable front screen 202 is
supported to rotate relative to the rear projection screen 204. The
cylindrical rim 412 of the rear projection screen 204 is attached
to the housing 104, at the first end 228 of the housing 104. This
attaches the entirety of the rotatable screen 108 assembly, as a
rotatable rear projection touchscreen, to the housing 104.
[0032] A transparent or translucent, capacitive sensing film 408 of
FIG. 4, or other touch sensing film or device in various
embodiments, is attached to a front (or in some embodiments, rear)
of the rear projection screen 204, making this a rear projection
touchscreen or clear sensing layer through which a projected image
passes, and tuned (e.g., using electronic circuitry and/or the
controller 234 in FIG. 2)) to sense a finger 118 (see FIG. 1) on
the rotatable front screen 202. In some embodiments, the capacitive
sensing film 408 is inside the rear projection screen 204, e.g.,
inside the disc, for example by layering, buildup, lamination,
deposition, in-mold decoration or in-mold-labeling process. The
capacitive sensing film 408 can sense the finger 118 through the
thickness of the rotatable front screen 202, and can even sense the
finger 118 at an edge of the rotatable front screen 202 extending
past an edge of the rear projection screen 204 and associated edge
of the capacitive sensing film 408, or even a finger 118 near but
not touching, in some embodiments. With such sensitivity, the
capacitive sensing film 408 can sense a finger touch, a finger
slide, or finger movement to rotate the rotatable front screen 202.
In this embodiment, this is the sole mechanism by which rotation of
the rotatable front screen 202 is detected. That is, there may be
no optical or magnetic encoders, no camera detection of finger
position, and no mechanical coupling to gears or a shaft to a
mechanical or electromechanical encoder, etc., although these could
be used in other embodiments. Associated electronics, for example
in a controller 234 (see FIG. 2), interpret the capacitive sensing
film 408 signal(s) to determine input from a user as above, and may
also develop control signals for whichever device(s) the wall
controller 104 is controlling or otherwise interacting with, or
communicate signals to another controller that does so. In some
embodiments capacitive sensing film 408 is a transparent or
translucent film.
[0033] To manage the light path for the portion of the digital
image that gets reflected by the shaped, reflective rim 210, some
embodiments of the rotatable front screen 202 have a step feature
416 on the cylindrical rim 414 of the rotatable front screen 202,
which lets light from that portion of the digital image through to
the reflective rim 210. This could also be accomplished using
spokes and gaps, or other shapes in a transparent or translucent
material. Also, some embodiments have a light pipe 410 in part of
the cylindrical rim 414, for example behind the shaped, reflective
rim 210, or forward of the shaped, reflective rim 210 up to the
rotatable front screen 202. Light pipe 410 allows the visible part
of the cylindrical rim 414 to have a glow surrounding or adjacent
to the rotatable front screen 202. Light pipe 410 is configured to
enable light entering one region of the light pipe to be emitted at
another region, e.g., toward a surface of reflective rim 210, to
give the appearance of a glow rim around the periphery of front of
front screen 202. In some embodiments, a reflective surface on the
reflective rim 210 creates a shadow along the periphery of the
rotatable front screen 202. Because light projected to the
rotatable front screen 202 is blocked in that shadow area, the
light pipe 410 brings light to the surface of the rotatable front
screen 202 where regular projection cannot go, so that all of the
surface of the rotatable front screen 202 is lit.
[0034] Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, for ease of installation and
professional or high-end appearance, some embodiments of the wall
controller 102 have installation pieces, examples of which are
shown in FIG. 4. A base ring 402, or in some embodiments a first
base ring 402 and a second base ring 406, are pieces that can be
installed to the aperture 302 in the wall 106, e.g., by press fit
or with fasteners, fillets or adhesives. In order for the pieces to
work in the assembly procedure shown in FIG. 3, the first base ring
402 may be dimensioned so that the second end 230 of the housing
104 fits through the first base ring 402 and the first end 228 of
the housing 104 fits into the first base ring 402. After the
housing 104 is inserted through the aperture 302, as described with
reference to FIG. 3, and the rotatable screen 108 assembly is
properly aligned flush or nearly flush with the wall 108 (depending
upon embodiment), a lock ring 404 is pressed into the first base
ring 402, to lock the housing 104 in place in the wall 106. The
lock ring 404 has barbs, as shown, threads, hooks, fasteners or
other securing mechanism that mates to the first base ring 402
and/or the second base ring 406. The lock ring 404 could have a
front surface flush to the wall 106, with a majority of the lock
ring 404 below the surface of the wall 106, or could have a back
surface flush to the wall 106 or recessed slightly into the wall
106 and the front surface protruding slightly from the wall 106 or
overlapping a portion of the wall 106, in various embodiments. In
further embodiments, the first base ring 402 or the second base
ring 406 could fix to the wall without need for the lock ring
404.
[0035] In embodiments with the shaped, reflective rim 210 it is
desired that the rotatable front screen 202 be nearly flush with
the top surface of the lock ring 404 and/or the front surface of
the wall 106 for aesthetic purposes, although further embodiments
could extend further from the wall 106. For example, the height of
the shaped, reflective rim 210 could be as small as about one
millimeter or as great as about one inch, although other dimensions
could be used. A portion of the reflective rim 210 could be sunken
below the front surface of the wall 106 in some embodiments.
Reflective rim 210 is depicted having an arc shape in some
embodiments but this is not meant to be limiting as alternative
shapes for the outer edge of the reflective rim may be integrated
with the embodiments. In some embodiments, an encoder ring having
metal lines or laser etched lines disposed on a surface may be
utilized to allow a sensor to detect rotation of the rotatable
front screen. The encoder ring may be integrated with one of the
rings described above or may be a separate ring of the wall
controller. The wall controller may also include a heat sink
disposed within the unit to dissipate heat in some embodiments.
[0036] FIG. 5 depicts regions of a digital image 510 suitable for
projection from the projector 208 in embodiments of the wall
controller of FIGS. 1-4. Portions of the digital image 510 are
circular, to project onto circular optical components as described
above. However, in further embodiments, other shapes of these
optical components could be used, or off-axis projection could be
used, and this could result in a different shape for the digital
image 510 such as oval for off-axis projection onto circular
optical components, or other geometric shapes. In the embodiment
shown, a circular, central region 502 projects onto the backside of
the rear projection screen 204 or the rotatable front screen 202,
i.e., the rotatable screen 108. A first ring region 504,
surrounding the central region 502, projects onto the light pipe
410 to illuminate the rim surrounding the rotatable front screen
202, in embodiments that have the light pipe 410. A second ring
region 506, surrounding the first ring region 504, projects onto
the reflective rim 210, in embodiments that have the reflective rim
210. An outer dark field 508, surrounding the second ring region
506, the first ring region 504 and the central region 502 is black
or dark (e.g., the lowest value for each of the red, green and blue
components in the pixel values) so that stray light from the image
does not bounce around the housing 104 and the image does not need
physical masking. In further embodiments, masking is added to avoid
internal reflections of residual light, since the darkest level
available from a specific projector 208 may not equate to a total
absence of light. Variations on the digital image 510, with
additional regions, combined or overlapping regions, spaces between
the regions, or fewer regions, are readily devised. One or more
further regions could be added around the second ring region 506,
for example to project straight out of the wall interface and onto
other elements in the environment such as an opposite wall. Or, one
or more further regions could be defined within one of the regions
502, 504, 506, corresponding to a transparent region in the rear
projection screen 204 and rotatable front screen 202, for
projecting onto other elements in the environment. Each of these
regions 502, 504, 506 and/or further regions could be provided with
an image independent of the other regions, or these could be
coordinated, for various effects. For example, the central region
502 could have a message or index markings, or an animation
corresponding to perceived rotation of the rotatable front screen
202 or corresponding to action on a device or system being
controlled by the wall controller 102. The first ring region 504 or
the second ring region 506 could be animated, to show perceived
rotation of the rotatable front screen 202 or action on a device or
system. The first ring region 504 could have a constant or changing
color or intensity, for example pulsating or blending from one
color to another, or could have sections or segments that are
stationary or move. The same functionality could be achieved with
the second ring region 506, coordinated with or independent of the
first ring region 504, or the central region 502. A clock could be
implemented with hands on one or more of the regions 506, 504, 502.
Indoor or outdoor temperature could be indicated similarly, as
could other weather information, for example with a combination of
symbols, words or animation. Night and day, phases of the moon,
seasonal displays, photographic images or movie or video images
(still or moving), abstract art, etc., are all candidates for
display using one or more of the regions 502, 504, 506 of the
digital image and corresponding display on the rotatable screen
108, the glowing rim or projection surrounding the rotatable screen
108, and the glow 116 or projection projected onto the wall 106 or
other portion of the environment. Embodiments could react to sound
or music, or size, movement, proximity or changing distance of a
user, for example by being dark in a quiescent state but waking up
or increasing in glow or brightness as a user approaches, with
appropriate sensor(s) in this or another system to which the window
controller 102 is connected and communicates.
[0037] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a brake for stopping,
slowing, countering or otherwise resisting rotation of the
rotatable front screen 202 of FIGS. 1, 2 and 4. There are many ways
a brake could be implemented, such as a drum brake, a disk brake, a
stepper motor operated in reverse, a band brake, a clamp, etc. In
addition, there are many mechanisms for the brake to be attached to
or interact with the rotatable front screen 202, such as directly,
or through a rim, a shaft, gears, a region of a surface, etc. In
the embodiment shown, a solenoid 602 has a plunger 604 which is
electromagnetically activated (e.g., by the controller 234) to
press against the cylindrical rim 414 of the front screen 202,
slowing and stopping rotation of the rotatable front screen 202.
Variations, in which the plunger 604 presses or pulls elsewhere,
and further embodiments as described above, e.g., to slow down,
increase or decrease friction and resistance to rotation, are
readily devised in keeping with the teachings herein. Some
embodiments could be operated under computer control, others could
be directly reactive to a switch, e.g., a capacitive switch, or
other sensing device, or a circuit coupled to the capacitive
sensing film 408, etc. In some embodiments a magnet may be utilized
as an eddy current break where an electrical break is created by a
magnetic field to slow the metal ring without physically contacting
the ring. The amount of slowing may be proportional or inversely
proportional to an amount of current sensed.
[0038] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a tool for installing an
embodiment of the wall controller 102. The tool has a shortened
cylinder body 1002, with teeth 1004. When the tool is rotated on a
wall (e.g., by hand or by an electric motor-equipped tool such as a
drill), the teeth 1004 cut a circular hole in the wall 106. In some
embodiments, the tool or a portion of the tool is left in the wall,
and becomes a base ring through which the housing 104 of the wall
controller 102 is inserted. The tool, as a base ring, then retains
the housing 104 to the wall 106. Retention could be accomplished
using a fastening or latching mechanism, adhesive, or one or more
trim pieces as described above.
[0039] FIG. 8A depicts an embodiment of a dynamic user control
system for smart devices including a number of varied user input
devices, one of which may be the wall controller 102 according to
embodiments described herein. The wall controller 102 and one or
more input or I/O (input/output) devices 808 interact with each
other and/or interact with one or more smart devices, in this
example a smart window 802. The smart window 802 has an
electrochromic window 804 with controllable light transmissivity,
and in some embodiments an indicator 806, for example attached to
the electrochromic window 804, or attached to or integrated with a
frame of the smart window 802. The indicator 806 could be a liquid
crystal display (LCD) or one or more LEDs (light emitting diodes)
such as an organic light emitting diode (OLED), etc., and could
indicate relative transmissivity of the electrochromic window 804,
or changes to the transmissivity of the electrochromic window, etc.
Various input or I/O devices 808 are illustrated, and further input
or I/O devices could also be used for input to or control of smart
devices. A wall switch such as slider 810 could be implemented with
an elongated touchpad, or a slidable knob with encoding, sensing or
other input device coupled to the slidable knob. The wall switch
may have a tactile keypad. In some embodiments, the wall switch
could have an output device such as a liquid crystal display, or
multiple LEDs, perhaps even three color or RGB (red green blue)
LEDs. The wall switch 810 could be mounted, e.g., on a wall, or
portable, as a remote control, and could have one or more buttons
or keys in various embodiments. In one embodiment the wall switch
810 may be a toggle or bar with buttons on either end of the bar to
allow a user to change the tint level of an electrochromic smart
device. As illustrated, a slider 810 may have a portion mounted to
a wall and a portion slidably affixed to the portion mounted to the
wall to enable access to batteries, among other items. A keypad 812
could be mounted, e.g., to a wall, or portable, and include
multiple buttons or keys, which could be physical devices or
regions of a touchpad. A touchpad 814 could be mounted, e.g., to a
wall, or portable, and able to sense one or more fingers. Touchpads
are available with display output, e.g., LCD displays, or other
types of LED displays. A smartphone 816 or other mobile device
could have one or more applications or "apps" and serve as a user
input or I/O device. Smart wearables 818 may also serve as a user
input device, such as a watch, a collar, a badge, a key fob, ear
attachable devices, etc., may have Bluetooth.TM. connectivity. A
tablet 822, with computer and touchscreen capabilities, could have
one or more applications or "apps" to serve as an input or I/O
device. Similarly, a personal computer 824 (e.g., a tower, laptop,
notebook, etc.) could have one or more applications to serve as an
input or I/O device. User input devices such as the smartphone 816,
the smart wearables 818, the tablet 822, or the personal computer
824 may provide passive or active user input to the dynamic user
control system. For example the occupancy of a space may be
determined by the detected presence of such a user input device.
Any of the above could have wireless connectivity and communicate
as depicted in FIG. 9. In some embodiments the wireless
connectivity may be provided by a wireless mesh network using a
protocol such as Zigbee or Thread. Also, voice control 820 could be
used, for example with a user speaking to one of the user input or
I/O devices 808 that has a microphone and speech recognition
capabilities. In some embodiments, the wall switch or wall
controller is capable of receiving an audio command, such as voice
commands form a user either direct or through an intelligent
personal assistant or intelligent home control device, and
distribute instructions based on the received audio command to
another controllers or an electrochromic device. Light sensors,
temperature sensors, motion sensor, occupancy sensor, intelligent
personal assistants, any other intelligent home control device,
including an Internet of things (IOT) device or intelligent
lighting systems, etc., may be integrated with the embodiments and
included as an I/O device 808. The I/O devices 808 can include
sensors on laptops or other portable/mobile computing devices. In
some embodiments, the window may be controlled by touching the
window itself for input. FIGS. 8B and 8C illustrate an example
slider controller 810 that can communicate with the wall controller
in accordance with some embodiments. Slider controller 810 may
communicate with the electrical drivers for one or a portion of the
electrochromic doors or windows in the system. FIGS. 8B and 8C are
not meant to be limiting as any of the user input devices 808 or
I/O devices may communicate directly with the electrical drivers
using either wireless or wired connections. In some embodiments the
user input devices 808 or I/O devices may communicate with the
electrical drivers over a local area network or a local mesh
network. In other embodiments the user input devices 808 or I/O
devices may communicate with the electrical driver though the
internet or a cloud, where the routing of the communications
through the cloud is performed by a network gateway device local to
the dynamic user control system and the smart windows as will be
described below in reference to FIG. 9.
[0040] FIG. 9 depicts an embodiment of an overall control system
for smart devices, such as smart windows 802, which receives user
input from, and communicates with, a dynamic user input control
system. Input or I/O devices 808 are represented in the diagram as
having wireless connectivity through an antenna 904. Multiple
controllers 914 are shown in various devices and FIG. 9, and could
singly or in cooperation control smart devices, in a distributed
control system or a hierarchical control system, or a hybrid
combination of these. Here, the smart devices are smart windows
802, each of which has an antenna 904 and a controller 914,
although some embodiments omit the controller 914. These smart
windows may incorporate electrochromic devices. The wall controller
102 could be any of the embodiments described herein, and could
have a controller 914 and an antenna 904. In some embodiments, a
controller 914 in a smart window driver 912 directs voltage and
current levels for the smart windows to change transmissivity of
the electrochromic window 804 (see FIG. 8A), and in other
embodiments, these functions are controlled by a controller 914
integrated in or external to the smart window 802. Further
information on the smart window driver may be found in application
Ser. No. 14/994,091, which is incorporated by reference for all
purposes. A network gateway device 902, also with a controller 914
and an antenna 904, communicates with any of the above-described
devices, and serves as a gateway to a network 906, such as the
global communication network known as the Internet, or an intranet
or a cloud network. As part of the network 906, smart window
services 908 (which could be implemented using one or more servers)
includes a controller 914, scheduling 916, device statistics 918,
site data 920, an application programming interface (API) 922, a
building management application programming interface 924 and/or
other cloud services for the smart windows 802 or other smart
devices, in various embodiments. External cloud services 910 are
also connected to the network 906, and could provide information
for use by the various controllers 914 in controlling the smart
devices, such as the smart windows 802 in this embodiment. In some
embodiments controller 914 may be embodied as a slider controller
810 as mentioned herein and can control a window/door or a group of
windows/doors. Controllers 914 may communicate through a mesh
network (utilizing a protocol such as Zigbee or Thread) and take
over control of the smart windows or doors in the case of loss of
communication with the gateway 902 or loss of connectivity between
the gateway 902 and network 906. In some embodiments, a mesh
network that is Internet protocol (IP) based enables a border
router in the gateway to allow access and/or control of the smart
window or door drivers or controllers to any IP based device on the
mesh network. Further embodiments with various combinations of
wireless and wired connections are readily devised as
variations.
[0041] As one example, a specified smart window or door 802, a
group of smart windows or doors 802, or all of the smart windows
and doors 802 in a specified installation could respond to
whichever of the input or I/O devices 808, the wall controller 102,
the network gateway device 902, or the smart window services 908 is
actively directing transmissivity control of one or more smart
windows 802 at a given moment. In hierarchical systems, various
levels of control within the system could have specified
priorities, and override other levels. A heuristic embodiment could
learn from conditions and user inputs, and develop control schemes,
user preferences, etc. Hierarchical organization and priorities
could be changed over time as a result of system learning, or
established by a user, or a combination of these.
[0042] As another example, each room or group of smart windows 802
could be associated to a user input or I/O device 808, or a wall
controller 102, or wall switch, for that room, group or a user, and
that device could act comparably to a light switch. Another
controller 914, such as one in the network gateway device 902, or
perhaps the wall controller 102 for groups of smart windows 802,
could handle overall control of the smart windows 802. In a large
commercial building, a building management system (BMS) could have
priority over other user inputs to maintain optimal energy profile
for the building. Priority for input or I/O devices 808 or the wall
controller 102 could be based on which input device a specified
user uses most frequently, and this information could be collected
in the smart window services 908 in the network 906 and analyzed to
establish and adjust over time.
[0043] Further embodiments of the wall controller and/or the
control system for smart devices are envisioned for automotive use.
For example, the wall controller could be mounted to a wall of an
automotive door or dashboard panel, a wall of a roof liner, a wall
of an automotive compartment, etc. The control system could
interact with smart devices for control of smart electrochromic
windows in the automobile, or other smart devices. The term "wall",
relative to embodiments of the wall controller and mounting thereof
may be interpreted broadly as pertaining to various structures of
buildings and vehicles including compartments, partitions,
loadbearing and non-loadbearing walls, ceilings, floors,
separators, dividers, panels, doors, and other structures to which
a controller could be mounted, etc.
[0044] FIGS. 10A-10C illustrate various control options for the
smart devices such as electrochromic windows and or doors in
accordance with some embodiments. In FIG. 10A the wall controller
102 is illustrated as described herein. Wall controller 102 may
control the smart windows and doors for an entire home or business
or a portion or groups of windows and doors. In FIG. 10B a mobile
computing device 1002 is utilized to interface with individual
smart windows or groups of smart windows through an application or
"app" executed on the mobile device. As discussed below in FIGS.
13A-E, the application may be utilized to create and edit scenes or
change settings. FIG. 10C illustrates a controller 810 which in
this embodiment is illustrated as a slider wall switch that may be
utilized to control a smart window or door or a group of smart
windows or doors. The controller 810 may be any of the user input
devices described herein. Controller 810 may be able to communicate
with other controllers 810 that control other windows and doors or
a group of other windows and doors. The communication may be
achieved through a mesh network which may utilize a protocol such
as Zigbee or Thread, an Internet protocol based network
communication, or any other suitable wireless network. In some
embodiments, the communication between the various nodes through
slider controller 810, also referred to as a wall switch, in a peer
to peer type configuration will enable continuity of service where
the gateway is down and communication may be lost through the cloud
interface. In some embodiment, the controllers on the peer to peer
network can execute the last known schedule delivered through the
gateway prior to loss of communication or connectivity with the
cloud. The communication through the mesh network in a peer to peer
network may override control of the smart windows and doors in some
embodiments.
[0045] FIG. 11 is a user interface flow diagram in accordance with
some embodiments. In the illustrated flow a user may click on a
room or full home and then select a scene for the room or home to
be applied to that room or the full home. In the example flow the
user has selected to control the electrochromic windows according
to a scene for the kitchen. Examples for setting up a scene and
editing or adding scenes or windows are illustrated in FIGS.
12A-12E. In FIG. 12A a user interface for a home page on a
controller or slider controller unit is provided. FIG. 12B
illustrates a user interface for adding a new space while FIG. 12C
illustrates a user interface for creating a new scene. FIG. 12D
illustrates a user interface for selecting windows in a scene,
while FIG. 12E illustrates a user interface for editing a scene. It
should be appreciated that each interface can be arranged as a
hierarchy of drop down or related pages and numerous variations are
readily devised.
[0046] It should be appreciated that the methods described herein
may be performed with a digital processing system, such as a
conventional, general-purpose computer system. Special purpose
computers, which are designed or programmed to perform only one
function may be used in the alternative. FIG. 13 is an illustration
showing an exemplary computing device which may implement the
embodiments described herein. For example, in one embodiment the
computing device of FIG. 13 may be used to perform embodiments of
the functionality for detecting input from the rotatable rear
projection touchscreen and generating control signals for devices
controlled by the wall controller and/or data and images for
projection in embodiments of the wall controller in accordance with
some embodiments. The computing device includes a central
processing unit (CPU) 701, which is coupled through a bus 705 to a
memory 703, and mass storage device 707. Mass storage device 707
represents a persistent data storage device such as a floppy disc
drive or a fixed disc drive, which may be local or remote in some
embodiments. The mass storage device 707 could implement a backup
storage, in some embodiments. Memory 703 may include read only
memory, random access memory, etc. Applications resident on the
computing device may be stored on or accessed via a computer
readable medium such as memory 703 or mass storage device 707 in
some embodiments. Applications may also be in the form of modulated
electronic signals modulated accessed via a network modem or other
network interface of the computing device. It should be appreciated
that CPU 701 may be embodied in a general-purpose processor, a
special purpose processor, or a specially programmed logic device
in some embodiments.
[0047] Display 711 is in communication with CPU 701, memory 703,
and mass storage device 707, through bus 705. Display 711 is
configured to display any visualization tools or reports associated
with the system described herein. Input/output device 709 is
coupled to bus 705 in order to communicate information in command
selections to CPU 701. It should be appreciated that data to and
from external devices may be communicated through the input/output
device 709. CPU 701 can be defined to execute the functionality
described herein to enable the functionality described with
reference to FIGS. 1-12. The code embodying this functionality may
be stored within memory 703 or mass storage device 707 for
execution by a processor such as CPU 701 in some embodiments. The
operating system on the computing device may be iOS.TM.,
MS-WINDOWS.TM., OS/2.TM., UNIX.TM., LINUX.TM., or other known
operating systems. It should be appreciated that the embodiments
described herein may also be integrated with a virtualized
computing system implemented with physical computing resources.
[0048] Detailed illustrative embodiments are disclosed herein.
However, specific functional details disclosed herein are merely
representative for purposes of describing embodiments. Embodiments
may, however, be embodied in many alternate forms and should not be
construed as limited to only the embodiments set forth herein.
[0049] It should be understood that although the terms first,
second, etc. may be used herein to describe various steps or
calculations, these steps or calculations should not be limited by
these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one step or
calculation from another. For example, a first calculation could be
termed a second calculation, and, similarly, a second step could be
termed a first step, without departing from the scope of this
disclosure. As used herein, the term "and/or" and the "/" symbol
includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated
listed items.
[0050] As used herein, the singular forms "a", "an" and "the" are
intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context
clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the
terms "comprises", "comprising", "includes", and/or "including",
when used herein, specify the presence of stated features,
integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do
not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other
features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or
groups thereof. Therefore, the terminology used herein is for the
purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not
intended to be limiting.
[0051] It should also be noted that in some alternative
implementations, the functions/acts noted may occur out of the
order noted in the figures. For example, two figures shown in
succession may in fact be executed substantially concurrently or
may sometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon the
functionality/acts involved.
[0052] With the above embodiments in mind, it should be understood
that the embodiments might employ various computer-implemented
operations involving data stored in computer systems. These
operations are those requiring physical manipulation of physical
quantities. Usually, though not necessarily, these quantities take
the form of electrical or magnetic signals capable of being stored,
transferred, combined, compared, and otherwise manipulated.
Further, the manipulations performed are often referred to in
terms, such as producing, identifying, determining, or comparing.
Any of the operations described herein that form part of the
embodiments are useful machine operations. The embodiments also
relate to a device or an apparatus for performing these operations.
The apparatus can be specially constructed for the required
purpose, or the apparatus can be a general-purpose computer
selectively activated or configured by a computer program stored in
the computer. In particular, various general-purpose machines can
be used with computer programs written in accordance with the
teachings herein, or it may be more convenient to construct a more
specialized apparatus to perform the required operations.
[0053] A module, an application, a layer, an agent or other
method-operable entity could be implemented as hardware, firmware,
or a processor executing software, or combinations thereof. It
should be appreciated that, where a software-based embodiment is
disclosed herein, the software can be embodied in a physical
machine such as a controller. For example, a controller could
include a first module and a second module. A controller could be
configured to perform various actions, e.g., of a method, an
application, a layer or an agent.
[0054] The embodiments can also be embodied as computer readable
code on a tangible non-transitory computer readable medium. The
computer readable medium is any data storage device that can store
data, which can be thereafter read by a computer system. Examples
of the computer readable medium include hard drives, network
attached storage (NAS), read-only memory, random-access memory,
CD-ROMs, CD-Rs, CD-RWs, magnetic tapes, and other optical and
non-optical data storage devices. The computer readable medium can
also be distributed over a network coupled computer system so that
the computer readable code is stored and executed in a distributed
fashion. Embodiments described herein may be practiced with various
computer system configurations including hand-held devices,
tablets, microprocessor systems, microprocessor-based or
programmable consumer electronics, minicomputers, mainframe
computers and the like. The embodiments can also be practiced in
distributed computing environments where tasks are performed by
remote processing devices that are linked through a wire-based or
wireless network.
[0055] Although the method operations were described in a specific
order, it should be understood that other operations may be
performed in between described operations, described operations may
be adjusted so that they occur at slightly different times or the
described operations may be distributed in a system which allows
the occurrence of the processing operations at various intervals
associated with the processing.
[0056] In various embodiments, one or more portions of the methods
and mechanisms described herein may form part of a cloud-computing
environment. In such embodiments, resources may be provided over
the Internet as services according to one or more various models.
Such models may include Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS),
Platform as a Service (PaaS), and Software as a Service (SaaS). In
IaaS, computer infrastructure is delivered as a service. In such a
case, the computing equipment is generally owned and operated by
the service provider. In the PaaS model, software tools and
underlying equipment used by developers to develop software
solutions may be provided as a service and hosted by the service
provider. SaaS typically includes a service provider licensing
software as a service on demand. The service provider may host the
software, or may deploy the software to a customer for a given
period of time. Numerous combinations of the above models are
possible and are contemplated.
[0057] Various units, circuits, or other components may be
described or claimed as "configured to" perform a task or tasks. In
such contexts, the phrase "configured to" is used to connote
structure by indicating that the units/circuits/components include
structure (e.g., circuitry) that performs the task or tasks during
operation. As such, the unit/circuit/component can be said to be
configured to perform the task even when the specified
unit/circuit/component is not currently operational (e.g., is not
on). The units/circuits/components used with the "configured to"
language include hardware--for example, circuits, memory storing
program instructions executable to implement the operation, etc.
Reciting that a unit/circuit/component is "configured to" perform
one or more tasks is expressly intended not to invoke 35 U.S.C.
112, sixth paragraph, for that unit/circuit/component.
Additionally, "configured to" can include generic structure (e.g.,
generic circuitry) that is manipulated by software and/or firmware
(e.g., an FPGA or a general-purpose processor executing software)
to operate in manner that is capable of performing the task(s) at
issue. "Configured to" may also include adapting a manufacturing
process (e.g., a semiconductor fabrication facility) to fabricate
devices (e.g., integrated circuits) that are adapted to implement
or perform one or more tasks.
[0058] The foregoing description, for the purpose of explanation,
has been described with reference to specific embodiments. However,
the illustrative discussions above are not intended to be
exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms
disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in view
of the above teachings. The embodiments were chosen and described
in order to best explain the principles of the embodiments and its
practical applications, to thereby enable others skilled in the art
to best utilize the embodiments and various modifications as may be
suited to the particular use contemplated. Accordingly, the present
embodiments are to be considered as illustrative and not
restrictive, and the invention is not to be limited to the details
given herein, but may be modified within the scope and equivalents
of the appended claims.
* * * * *