Symbol encoding apparatus and method

• US 20040021633A1
• Filed: 03/20/2003
• Published: 02/05/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/06/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Janusz Wiktor Rajkowski
• Original Assignee: Janusz Wiktor Rajkowski
• Inventors: Rajkowski, Janusz Wiktor
• Granted Patent: US 7,038,659 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/156
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04808 Several contacts: gestures triggering a specific function, e.g. scrolling, zooming, right-click, when the user establishes several contacts with the surface simultaneously; e.g. using several fingers or a combination of fingers and pen
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0233 Character input methods
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0338 with detection of limited linear or angular displacement of an operating part of the device from a neutral position, e.g. isotonic or isometric joysticks
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text

Abstract

An apparatus and method of encoding and communicating symbols is provided. A user encodes a symbol using a sliding motion of a fingertip in relation to a proximity and touch-detecting glance pad. The user imagines a polygon on the surface of the pad. The user makes an encoding touch generally coextensive with one of the sides of the polygon in either a clockwise or counterclockwise direction. The glance pad detects the motion and infers the intent of the user, assigning a symbol to the encoding touch.

Claims

1. A method of communicating symbols by a user, the method comprising:

a. identifying a polygon having a first side;

b. associating a first direction with said first side, said first direction having a predetermined relationship with said first side;

b. associating one of the symbols with said first direction and said first side;

c. making by the user of an encoding motion, said encoding motion indicating said first direction thereby communicating the symbol associated with said first direction and first side.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said predetermined relationship between said first direction and said first side of said polygon comprising said first direction being generally contiguous with said first side.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein said predetermined relationship between said first direction and said first side of said polygon further comprising said first direction being selected from the list consisting of a generally clockwise direction with respect to said polygon and a generally counterclockwise direction with respect to said polygon.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein said encoding motion is a first directional motion, said first directional motion indicating said first direction by being generally contiguous with said first direction.

5. A method of communicating symbols by a user, the method comprising:

a. identifying a rectangular polygon having a first side, a second side, a third side and a fourth side;

b. associating a first direction and a second direction with each of said first, second, third or fourth sides, said first direction and said second direction having a predetermined relationship with said first, second, third and fourth sides;

c. associating one of the symbols with each of said first direction and said second direction for each of said first, second, third and fourth sides;

d. making by the user of an encoding motion, said encoding motion indicating one of said first and second directions for one of said first, second, third and fourth sides, thereby communicating the symbol associated with said one of said first and second directions and said one of said first, second, third, and fourth sides.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein said predetermined relationship between said first and second directions and said first, second, third or fourth sides of said rectangular polygon comprising said first direction and said second direction being generally contiguous with said first, second, third, or fourth sides of said rectangular polygon.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein said predetermined relationship between said first direction and said second direction and said first, second, third or fourth side of said rectangular polygon further comprising said first direction being one of a generally clockwise direction and a generally counterclockwise direction with respect to said rectangular polygon, and said second direction being the other of said generally clockwise direction and said generally counterclockwise direction with respect to said rectangular polygon.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein said encoding motion is a directional motion, said directional motion indicating one of said first and second directions for one of said first, second, third and fourth sides by being generally contiguous with said one of said first and second directions for one of said first, second, third and fourth sides,

9. The method of claim 8, the user making said encoding motion using a body part.

10. The method of claim 9, said body part being one of a plurality of fingers of the user.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the user making said encoding motion in relation to a glance pad.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein said polygon being one of a plurality of rectangular polygons, the method further comprising:

a. identifying others of said plurality of rectangular polygons, each of said others of said plurality of rectangular polygons having a first side, a second side, a third side and a fourth side,

b. associating said first direction and said second direction with each of said first, second, third and fourth sides of each of said others of said plurality of polygons;

c. associating one of the symbols with each of said first direction and said second direction for each of said first, second, third, and fourth sides of each of said others of said plurality of polygons;

d. said encoding motion indicating one of said first or said second directions with respect to said first, second, third or fourth sides of one of said others of said plurality of polygons, thereby communicating the symbol associated with said indicated first or second direction, said indicated first, second, third or fourth side and said indicated one of said others of said plurality of polygons.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein said finger being one of a plurality of fingers of user, the method further comprising:

a. identifying others of said plurality of fingers of the user;

b. assigning one of said others of said plurality of rectangular polygons to each of said others of said plurality of fingers of the user.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising:

tracking of each of said plurality of fingers with respect to a glance pad.

15. A method of encoding symbols, the method comprising:

a. tracking a first motion in relation to a glance pad;

b. determining a trajectory of said first motion with respect to said glance pad;

c. selecting one of the symbols from a library of symbols, said selected one of the symbols corresponding to said trajectory of said first motion, thereby encoding said selected one of the symbols.

16. The method of claim 15, the step of determining said trajectory of said first motion comprising the steps of:

a. determining an approach vector based on said first motion;

b. determining a touch vector based on said first motion.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein said step of selecting one of the symbols from a library of symbols comprises selecting the symbol corresponding to said approach vector and said touch vector.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein said touch vector is determined by a direction of said first motion during a first period of time, said first period of time being determined by a first predetermined criteria relating to an encoding touch to said glance pad.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein said approach vector is determined by a direction of said first motion during a second period of time, said second period of time being determined by a second predetermined criteria relating to said encoding touch to said glance pad.

20. The method of claim 17 wherein said first motion is a first finger motion of a user and said encoding touch is a first finger encoding touch, said first finger encoding touch being by said first finger of said user to a surface of said glance pad.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein said approach vector is defined by a beginning point and an ending point, said beginning point being determined by said first finger motion at a beginning time, said ending point being determined by said first finger motion at an ending time, said ending time being determined in relation to a time of said first finger encoding touch to said glance pad.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein said beginning time is a predetermined time prior to said time of said first finger encoding touch to said glance pad.

23. The method of claim 21 wherein said beginning time is determined in relation to a prior encoding touch.

24. The method of claim 20 further comprising:

tracking a second finger motion with respect to said surface of said glance pad.

25. The method of claim 24 wherein said approach vector is defined by a beginning point and an ending point, said ending point determined by said second finger motion at an ending time, said ending time being determined in relation to said time of said first finger encoding touch to said glance pad, said beginning point being determined by said second finger motion a predetermined time prior to said first finger encoding touch.

26. The method of claim 20 further comprising:

tracking a plurality of finger motions with respect to said surface of said glance pad.

27. The method of claim 26 wherein said approach vector is defined by a beginning point and an ending point, said beginning point being determined by said plurality of finger motions.

28. An apparatus for communicating symbols by a user, the apparatus comprising:

a. a glance pad, said glance pad being adapted to detect a motion by the user with respect to said glance pad;

b. a glance pad signal generated or modified by said glance pad in response to said motion by the user;

c. a microprocessor operably connected to said glance pad, said microprocessor adapted to receive said glance pad signal and to determine a trajectory of said motion based on said glance pad signal;

d. a memory accessible to said microprocessor;

e. a library of symbols residing in said memory, said symbols in said library being selectable by said microprocessor based upon said trajectory;

f. an output adapted to transmit a symbol selected by said microprocessor from said library.

29. The apparatus of claim 28 wherein said trajectory comprises an approach vector and a touch vector.

30. The apparatus of claim 29 wherein said motion that said glance pad is adapted to detect includes a proximity motion and an encoding touch.

31. The apparatus of claim 30 wherein said microprocessor is adapted to determine said touch vector by determining a direction of said motion in relation to a time of said encoding touch.

32. The apparatus of claim 31 wherein said microprocessor is adapted to determine said approach vector by determining a beginning point and an ending point, said ending point being determined by said motion in relation to said time of said encoding touch to said glance pad.

33. The apparatus of claim 32 wherein said beginning point is determined by said motion by said user at a predetermined time prior to said time of said encoding touch to said glance pad.

34. The apparatus of claim 32 wherein said beginning point is determined by said motion by said user in relation to a prior touch ending point.

35. The apparatus of claim 32 wherein said motion is a plurality of finger motions of each of a plurality of fingers of the user.

36. The apparatus of claim 35 wherein:

(a) said library comprises a plurality of directories of symbols, each of said plurality of directories of symbols being assigned to one of said plurality of fingers of the user;

(b) said microprocessor being adapted to distinguish among said plurality of finger motions and to identify one of said plurality of fingers associated with said encoding touch;

(c) said microprocessor selecting one of said plurality of directories based upon said one of said plurality of fingers associated with said encoding touch.

37. The apparatus of claim 28 wherein said adaptation of said glance pad to detect said motion being selected from the list consisting of mechanical switch, resistive membrane, acoustic sensors, capacitive sensors, inductive sensors and optical sensors and any combination thereof.

38. An apparatus for encoding a symbol, the apparatus comprising:

(a) a glance pad, said glance pad having a touch surface;

(b) location means adapted to detect a location of a touch to said touch surface at an initial time;

(c) motion means adapted to detect a change in said location of said touch to said touch surface subsequent to said initial time;

(d) one or more directories;

(e) directory selection means adapted to select among said one or more directories;

(f) symbol choosing means adapted to choose the symbol from said directory selected by said directory selection means based on said location of said touch at said initial time as determined by said location means and said change in location of said touch after said initial time as determined by said motion means.

39. The apparatus of claim 38, further comprising:

(a) said glance pad having a plurality of touch surfaces;

(b) said location means being adapted to detect a location of said touch to each of said plurality of said touch surfaces at said initial time;

(c) said motion means being adapted to detect said change in said location of said touch to each of said touch surfaces subsequent to said initial time;

(e) said directory selection means comprising said user selecting among said plurality of touch surfaces.

40. The apparatus of claim 39 wherein each of said plurality of said touch surfaces is assigned to one of a plurality of fingers of said user and said user selecting among said plurality of touch surfaces comprises said user selecting one of said plurality of fingers.

41. The apparatus of claim 40 wherein said first touch is by a finger of a user to said touch surface, said directory selection means comprising a user-selectable switch.

42. The apparatus of claim 41 wherein said user-selectable switch is activated by a position of a hand of said user.

43. The apparatus of claim 42 wherein said user-selectable switch is activated by a lateral motion of said hand of said user.

45. The apparatus of claim 44 wherein said user-selectable switch is activated by a rotary motion of said hand of said user.