Touchpad code entry system
First Claim
1. A system for generating a large number of characters in response to relatively few touchdown, movement, and liftoff actions of a pointing device on a touchpad surface, said system comprising:
- a capacitance sensitive touchpad, including a touchpad surface for performing touchdown, movement, and liftoff of a pointing device on the touchpad surface;
providing a look-up table for generating a character that corresponds to each touchdown, movement, and liftoff of the pointing device on the touchpad surface; and
transmission means for transmitting the character that has been generated from the look-up table.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A touchpad having a plurality of distinct zones, wherein movement of a user'"'"'s finger on the surface of the touchpad between zones, the act of lifting a finger off of the touchpad surface, the act of placing a finger on the touchpad surface, and the movement of a specific pattern of a finger within a single zone are all actions that will generate characters that are transmitted from the touchpad to a receiving device. A small number of movements of a finger across the touchpad are thus capable of generating a large number of characters for use in a password or code, and thereby take advantage of the security benefits that can be achieved, but without having to memorize the exact password, but only a few movements of a finger or stylus.
96 Citations
8 Claims
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1. A system for generating a large number of characters in response to relatively few touchdown, movement, and liftoff actions of a pointing device on a touchpad surface, said system comprising:
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a capacitance sensitive touchpad, including a touchpad surface for performing touchdown, movement, and liftoff of a pointing device on the touchpad surface;
providing a look-up table for generating a character that corresponds to each touchdown, movement, and liftoff of the pointing device on the touchpad surface; and
transmission means for transmitting the character that has been generated from the look-up table. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method for generating a large number of characters by utilizing relatively few keystrokes on a touchpad, said method comprising the steps of:
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(1) providing a capacitance sensitive touchpad that is capable of detecting touchdown, movement, and liftoff of a pointing device on a surface thereof;
(2) dividing the surface of the touchpad into a plurality of zones;
(3) providing a look-up table that defines which touchdown, movement, and liftoff of the pointing device from specific zones will result in generation of characters; and
(4) generating a signal from the look-up table that is representative of a character that corresponds to action of the pointing device relative to the touchpad surface when (1) the finger moves from one zone to another zone, and (2) the finger is lifted off the touchpad surface.
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Specification