1. A touch sensor, comprising:
multiple sensor pads arranged about a center point in an iris pattern, where each sensor pad has at least one associated edge that spirals about the center point to a boundary; and
circuitry coupled to the sensor pads to detect contact to one or more of the sensor pads.
2. A touch sensor as recited in claim 1, wherein the multiple sensor pads comprises not more than four sensor pads.
3. A touch sensor as recited in claim 1, wherein the multiple sensor pads are electrically conductive.
4. A touch sensor as recited in claim 1, wherein:
the multiple pads are electrically conductive; and
the circuitry comprises capacitance meters to sense capacitance change in the multiple sensor pads.
5. A touch sensor as recited in claim 1, wherein the circuitry senses pressure applied to one or more of the sensor pads.
6. A touch sensor as recited in claim 1, wherein the circuitry generates values indicative of relative amounts of contact among the sensor pads.
7. A touch sensor as recited in claim 1, wherein the multiple sensor pads are arranged with in multiple, repeating iris patterns set apart by intermediate boundaries, such that within each pattern, each sensor pad has at least one associated edge that spirals about the center point to the intermediate boundary.
8. A system comprising:
the touch sensor as recited in claim 1; and
means for determining a location of the contact on the touch sensor.
9. A system comprising:
the touch sensor as recited in claim 1, wherein the circuitry generates values representative of the contact to one or more of the sensor pads; and
means for determining a location of the contact on the touch sensor from the values by deriving a ratio indicative of relative contact among the one or more sensor pads, the ratio being used to ascertain the location of the contact on the touch sensor.
10. An electronics device comprising the touch sensor as recited in claim 1.
11. A pad assembly for a touch sensor, comprising:
N sensor pads arranged about a center point; and
each sensor pad defining approximately 1N of a contact region defined by first and second boundaries, where the second boundary is farther from the center point than the first boundary, and said each sensor pad having at least one associated edge that originates at the first boundary and spirals about the center point through the contact region to the second boundary.
12. A pad assembly as recited in claim 11, wherein the sensor pads consist of three sensor pads (N=3).
13. A pad assembly as recited in claim 11, wherein the sensor pads are made of an electrically conductive material.
14. A pad assembly as recited in claim 11, wherein sensor pads are arranged such that the second boundary forms a circle.
15. A pad assembly as recited in claim 11, wherein the edge originates at a first point on the first boundary and terminates at a second point on the second boundary, wherein the first and second points are at least 120\xb0 apart.
16. A pad assembly as recited in claim 11, wherein the edge originates at a first point on the first boundary and terminates at a second point on the second boundary, wherein the first and second points are approximately 180\xb0 apart.
17. A pad assembly as recited in claim 11, further comprising a center pad defined within the first boundary.
18. A sensor system, comprising:
the pad assembly as recited in claim 11; and
circuitry coupled to the sensor pads to detect contact to one or more of the sensor pads.
19. A sensor system, comprising:
the pad assembly as recited in claim 11; and
means for detecting contact to one or more of the sensors and determining a location of the contact.
20. A device, comprising:
a processor; and
a circular touch sensor coupled to provide user input controls to the processor, the circular touch sensor comprising:
multiple sensor pads arranged about a center point; and
each sensor pad having at least one associated edge that originates at a first boundary and spirals about the center point to a second boundary, where the second boundary is farther from the center point than the first boundary.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. An exercise apparatus comprising:
a frame with a support point;
a stack of weights comprising a first weight and plurality of additional weights, wherein the first weight includes a first selector pin aperture extending along a first axis in a first direction and wherein each of the plurality of additional weights including a second selector pin aperture extending in the first direction;
a lifting post extending along each of the plurality of additional weights including a plurality of second selector pin apertures spaced along the lifting post and aligned with the second selector pin apertures;
a load-bearing assembly connected to the frame;
an adjustment mechanism for altering the orientation of the load-bearing assembly relative to the support point; and
a mechanism that adds-on at least one additional load, wherein the load adding mechanism comprises:
a first add-on weight, the first add-on weight having a first region of contact; and
a stabilization bracket defining a second region of contact for the first add-on weight, wherein the first region of contact for the first add-on weight comprises a selector pin hole defined in the first add-on weight and adapted to receive a selector pin, wherein the selector pin hole is in alignment with the first selector pin aperture and extends in the first direction.
2. The exercise apparatus of claim 1, wherein the adjustment mechanism comprises:
a telescoping strut including an exposed end region and a distal end, the exposed end region being connected to the load-bearing assembly;
a receiver tube having a proximal end and a distal end connected to the support point; the strut being adjustably positioned within the receiver tube through its proximal end;
a locking member adapted to engage the strut exposed end region; and
a locking member positioning system that selectively releases the engagement of the locking member from the strut; wherein release is possible when the strut is not experiencing a load; when the strut is experiencing a load, the locking member continues engagement with the strut.
3. The exercise apparatus of claim 1 further including an add-on weight support bracket secured to the exercise apparatus, the add-on weight support bracket defining an add-on weight slot, the add-on weight slot acting with the stabilization bracket to cradle at least a portion of the first weight when the selector pin is received by the add-on weight selector pin hole.
4. The exercise apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first add-on weight includes a stabilization pin and the second region of contact for the at least one add-on weight comprises a completely bounded bracket hole formed by the stabilization bracket and into which the stabilization pin extends.
5. The exercise apparatus of claim 1, wherein the load adding mechanism includes a second add-on weight, and wherein the user can select from three additional weight settings by selecting the first add-on weight, selecting the second add-on weight or selecting both the first and second add-on weights.
6. The exercise apparatus of claim 5, wherein the exercise apparatus includes a stack of weights comprising a first weight and plurality of additional weights, and further wherein the user can select additional weight settings via a selector pin hole in the add-on weights accessible through an aperture defined in the first weight.
7. The exercise apparatus of claim 1, wherein the stabilization bracket moves with the first add-on weight during lifting of the first add-on weight when a selector pin is inserted in the first selector pin aperture and in the selector pin hole and wherein the stabilization bracket moves away from the first add-on weight during lifting of the first weight when the selector pin is withdrawn from the first selector pin aperture and the selector pin hole.
8. A mechanism for add-on weights in an exercise apparatus comprising:
a stack of weights comprising a first weight and plurality of additional weights;
a selector pin;
a first add-on weight including a stabilization member, the first add-on weight further defining a selector pin hole adapted to receive the selector pin, wherein the selector pin hole is accessible through an aperture defined in the first weight;
a stabilization bracket adapted to capture at least a portion of the first add-on weight and to vertically move with the first add-on weight during lifting of the first weight when the selector pin is received by the selector pin hole and to move independent of the first add-on weight during lifting of the first weight when the selector pin is withdrawn from the selector pin hole; and
the stabilization bracket further configured to engage the stabilization member.
9. The mechanism for add-on weights of claim 8 further including an add-on weight support bracket secured to the exercise apparatus, the add-on weight support bracket defining an add-on weight slot, the add-on weight slot acting with the stabilization bracket to cradle the weight when the selector pin is received by the add-on weight selector pin hole.
10. The mechanism for add-on weights of claim 8, further including a lifting post extending downwardly from the first weight through an aperture defined in the additional weights.
11. The mechanism for add-on weights of claim 8, further including a second add-on weight, and wherein the user can select from three additional weight settings by selecting the first add-on weight, selecting the second add-on weight or selecting both the first and second add-on weights.
12. The mechanism for add-on weights of claim 8, further wherein the stabilization member comprises a stabilization pin; and the stabilization bracket further defines an aperture into which the stabilization pin extends when the selector pin is received by the selector pin hole.
13. The exercise device of claim 8 further comprising a lifting post including a plurality of apertures spaced along the post and extending through the post in a first direction, wherein the selector pin hole extends into the first add-on weight in the first direction.
14. An exercise apparatus comprising:
a frame;
a stack of main weights including a first main weight movably coupled to the frame;
a cable connected to the first weight;
a first add-on weight;
a first selector pin extending along a first axis and movable between a first position in which the first selector pin couples the first add-on weight to the cable such that the first add-on-weight is liftable with the cable and a second position in which the add and-on weight is decoupled from the cable;
a first stabilization bracket coupled to the first main weight, wherein one of the bracket and the add-on weight includes a first projection and the other of the bracket and the add-on weight includes a first detent configured to removably receive the projection, the first projection and the first detent extending along a second axis substantially perpendicular to the first axis;
a second add-on weight;
a second selector pin extending along a third axis and movable between a third position in which the second selector pin couples the second add-on weight to the cable such that the second add-on-weight is liftable with the cable and a fourth position in which the add-on weight is decoupled from the cable;
a second stabilization bracket coupled to the first main weight, wherein one of the second bracket and the second add-on weight includes a second projection and the other of the bracket and the second add-on weight includes a second detent configured to removably receive the second projection, the second projection and the second detent extending along a fourth axis of substantially perpendicular to the third axis, wherein a user may select from three additional weight settings by selecting the first add-on weight, selecting the second add-on weight or selecting both the first add-on weight and the second add-on weight by moving the first selector pin between the first and second positions and the second selector pin between the third and fourth positions.
15. The exercise apparatus of claim 14, wherein the first stabilization bracket extends on opposite sides of the add-on weight so as to sandwich the first add-on weight.
16. The exercise apparatus of claim 14 further comprising:
a support bracket stationarily fixed to the frame, the support bracket including a slot; and
a protuberance extending from the first add-on weight and configured to be received within the slot while the first selector pin is in the second position to support the first add-on weight while the first weight is being lifted.
17. The exercise apparatus of claim 16, wherein the protuberance extends along a fifth axis substantially perpendicular to the first axis and the second axis.
18. The exercise apparatus of claim 14 further comprising:
a first support bracket stationarily fixed to the frame and configured to retain the first add-on weight against movement along the first axis while permitting the first add-on weight to be lifted along the second axis and to be completely disconnected from a first support bracket and the first stabilization bracket without use of tools.
19. The exercise apparatus of claim 18 further comprising:
a second support bracket stationarily fixed to the frame and configured to retain the second add-on weight against movement along the third axis while permitting the second add-on weight to be lifted along the fourth axis and to be completely disconnected from a second support bracket and the second stabilization bracket without use of tools.
20. The exercise apparatus of claim 14, wherein the first add-on weight includes a first selector pin aperture receiving the first selector pin when the first selector pin is in the first position, wherein the first weight includes a second selector pin aperture in alignment with the first selector pin aperture and wherein the first selector pin extends through the second selector pin aperture of into the first selector pin aperture when in the first position.