Apparatus and method for providing feedback regarding finger placement relative to an input device
First Claim
1. A method, in a computing device, for providing visual feedback of the position of a portion of a user relative to an input device, comprising:
- receiving a signal from a sensor in the input device, the signal being generated based on a presence of a portion of a user within a proximity of the sensor;
determining a key of the input device corresponding to the sensor from which the signal is received;
generating a visual representation of the input device based on the determination of the key of the input device; and
outputting the visual representation of the input device to a display device, wherein the sensor detects the presence of the portion of the user prior to the user operating the key of the input device.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus and method for providing visual feedback regarding the positioning of a user'"'"'s fingers relative to an input device are provided. With the apparatus and method, sensors are provided in the input device to sense the proximity of a user'"'"'s fingers to various portions of the input device. In a preferred embodiment, the sensors are positioned in accordance with the portions of the input device that are manipulated by the user, e.g., keys, buttons, trackball, joystick, and/or the like. When the user places his/her fingers in proximity to the input device, various ones of the sensors will detect the presence of the user'"'"'s fingers and provide an output signal that is transmitted to the computing device. The output signals are received by the computing device via an input/output interface. The signals are interpreted by a position determination module which provides information to a display generation module. The display generation module generates a visual representation of the input device with indications of where the user'"'"'s fingers are in relation to the input device, as determined from the interpreted sensor signals. The display may take many forms including a ghost image superimposed over other displayed images, a window in which the input device and finger placement display are depicted.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. A method, in a computing device, for providing visual feedback of the position of a portion of a user relative to an input device, comprising:
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receiving a signal from a sensor in the input device, the signal being generated based on a presence of a portion of a user within a proximity of the sensor;
determining a key of the input device corresponding to the sensor from which the signal is received;
generating a visual representation of the input device based on the determination of the key of the input device; and
outputting the visual representation of the input device to a display device, wherein the sensor detects the presence of the portion of the user prior to the user operating the key of the input device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A computer program product for providing visual feedback of the position of a portion of a user relative to an input device, comprising:
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first instructions for receiving a signal from a sensor in the input device, the signal being generated based on a presence of a portion of a user within a proximity of the sensor;
second instructions for determining a key of the input device corresponding to the sensor from which the signal is received;
third instructions for generating a visual representation of the input device based on the determination of the key of the input device; and
fourth instructions for outputting the visual representation of the input device to a display device, wherein the sensor detects the presence of the portion of the user prior to the user operating the key of the input device. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. An apparatus for providing visual feedback of the position of a portion of a user relative to an input device, comprising:
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means for receiving a signal from a sensor in the input device, the signal being generated based on a presence of a portion of a user within a proximity of the sensor;
means for determining a key of the input device corresponding to the sensor from which the signal is received;
means for generating a visual representation of the input device based on the determination of the key of the input device; and
means for outputting the visual representation of the input device to a display device, wherein the sensor detects the presence of the portion of the user prior to the user operating the key of the input device.
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21. A system, comprising:
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A computing device; and
an input device, coupled to the computing device, having a sensor for detecting the presence of a portion of a user within a proximity of the sensor, wherein the sensor provides a signal to the computing device indicative of the presence of a portion of the user within proximity of the sensor, and wherein the computing device determines a key of the input device corresponding to the sensor and outputs a visual representation of the input device based on the determination of the key of the input device. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24)
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25. An input device for use with a computing device, comprising:
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one or more user manipulatable keys;
one or more sensors positioned in association with the one or more user manipulatable keys; and
a coupling mechanism for coupling the input device to the computing device, wherein the one or more sensors are configured to detect the presence of a portion of a user within a proximity of the one or more sensors prior to the user operating the associated key of the input device, and wherein the one or more sensors send a signal indicative of the presence of a portion of a user to the computing device via the coupling mechanism.
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Specification