Apparatus and method of determining a user selection in a user interface
First Claim
1. A user interface for an electronic device comprising:
- a capacitive circuit, wherein;
the capacitive circuit is formed in part by a sensing member, wherein the sensing member produces varying capacitive characteristics in cooperation with a user'"'"'s body part depending on a position of the user'"'"'s body part with respect to the sensing member;
a user makes a selection by positioning a body part in proximity to a selected portion of the sensing member; and
a time constant of the capacitive circuit corresponds to the selection; and
a controller configured to determine the selection based on the time constant of the capacitive circuit.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A user interface (210) includes an RC circuit (213). The RC circuit (213) includes a variable capacitance. The variable capacitance is produced by a sensing member (310) in cooperation with a user'"'"'s finger (311). When a user makes a selection with the user interface (210), the user places a finger (311) in close proximity and in a facing relationship to a section, or discrete surface (320, 322, 324), of the sensing member (310). The discrete surfaces (320, 322, 324) can correspond to keys of a keypad (138) or to directions of a directional button (1030), for example. The time constant of the RC circuit (213) varies according to which discrete surface (320, 322, 324) is determining the capacitance of the RC circuit (213). A controller (118) determines the user'"'"'s selection based on the time constant of the RC circuit (213).
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A user interface for an electronic device comprising:
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a capacitive circuit, wherein;
the capacitive circuit is formed in part by a sensing member, wherein the sensing member produces varying capacitive characteristics in cooperation with a user'"'"'s body part depending on a position of the user'"'"'s body part with respect to the sensing member;
a user makes a selection by positioning a body part in proximity to a selected portion of the sensing member; and
a time constant of the capacitive circuit corresponds to the selection; and
a controller configured to determine the selection based on the time constant of the capacitive circuit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 12)
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10. A user interface for an electronic device comprising:
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an RC (Resistor Capacitor) circuit, further comprising a sensing member that forms a part of a capacitor of the RC circuit and varies in capacitive characteristics in cooperation with a position of a user'"'"'s finger, the sensing member producing a different capacitance, the different capacitance depending on the capacitive characteristics of a portion of the sensing member that faces the user'"'"'s finger when a user makes a selection by positioning a finger in proximity to a selected portion of the sensing member; and
a controller configured to provide a means to detect a characteristic corresponding to the RC circuit and configured to provide a means to determine the selection based on the characteristic corresponding to the RC circuit. - View Dependent Claims (11, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method of determining a selection made by a user of a user interface, wherein the method comprises:
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providing a sensing member, which forms part of a capacitive circuit, wherein a user'"'"'s finger determines the capacitance of the capacitive circuit according to physical characteristics of a portion of the sensing member that is in a facing relationship to the user'"'"'s finger;
measuring a characteristic corresponding to the capacitive circuit;
determining the user'"'"'s selection based on the characteristic of the capacitive circuit. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification