TOUCH SENSITIVE DEVICE AND DISPLAY

• US 20070008293A1
• Filed: 07/06/2005
• Published: 01/11/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/06/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Oldrey, Richard
• Application Number:
  US11/160,703
• Publication Number:
  US 20070008293A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04895 Guidance during keyboard input operation, e.g. prompting

Abstract

Disclosed is a system that provides visual feedback to a user indicating which input components (e.g., keys, buttons, dials, etc.) of an input device (e.g., a keyboard, a keypad, a control panel, etc.) are currently being touched in order to avoid engaging the wrong input component. The system comprises a processor connected to both a touch-sensitive input device having a plurality of input components and a display. The touch-sensitive input device is adapted to detect when contact is made with any of the input components. The processor provides an image on the display that dynamically illustrates the input components that are currently being touched. The processor can further be adapted to allow the user to adjust size and/or location of the image on the display. Lastly, the processor can further be adapted to incorporate the image into an instructional application to be used as a teaching tool.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a processor;

an input device connected to said processor, wherein said input device comprises a plurality of input components and wherein said input device is adapted to detect touched, non-engaged input components on said input device and to dynamically convey to said processor an indication of said touched, non-engaged input components; and

a display connected to said processor, wherein said processor is adapted to dynamically provide an image on said display that identifies said touched, non-engaged input components.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a sensor corresponding to each of said plurality of input components, wherein each sensor is adapted to detect when a finger touches a corresponding input component.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said image comprises an illustration of said input device highlighting said touched, non-engaged input components.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said image comprises an illustration of said input device with said touched, non-engaged input components having a different color than other input components on said input device.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said processor is adapted to allow a user to determine a location of said image on said display.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein said processor is adapted to allow a user to determine a size of said image on said display.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein said input device comprises one of a keypad, a typing keyboard, a musical keyboard instrument, and a control panel.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein said processor is further adapted to contrast on said image touched, non-engaged input components and touched, engaged input components.

9. A system comprising:

a processor having an instructional application;

a keyboard in communication with said processor, wherein said keyboard comprises a plurality of keys and wherein said keyboard is adapted to detect touched, non-pressed keys on said keyboard and to dynamically convey to said processor an indication of said touched, non-pressed keys; and

a display in communication with said processor,

wherein said processor is further adapted to dynamically provide an image on said display that identifies said touched, non-pressed keys and to incorporate said image into said instructional application.

10. The system of claim 9, further comprising a sensor corresponding to each of said plurality of keys, wherein each sensor is adapted to detect when a finger touches a corresponding key.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein said image comprises an illustration of said keyboard that highlights said touched, non-pressed keys, that highlights at least one select key on said keyboard, and that contrasts said touched, non-pressed keys with said at least one select key, and

wherein said at least one select key indicates one of a starting finger position on said keyboard and a location of a next keystroke.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein said processor is adapted to allow a user to determine a location of said image on said display.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein said processor is adapted to allow a user to determine a size of said image on said display.

14. The system of claim 9, wherein said keyboard comprises one of a typing keyboard and a musical keyboard instrument.

15. The system of claim 9, wherein said processor is further adapted to contrast on said image touched, non-pressed keys and touched, pressed keys.

16. A method comprising:

detecting touched, non-engaged input components of an input device; and

dynamically displaying on a display an image that identifies said touched, non-engaged input components.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein said displaying of said image comprises displaying an illustration of said input device that contrasts said touched, non-engaged input components with other input components on said input device.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein said displaying of said image comprises displaying an illustration of said input device with said touched, non-engaged components having a different color than other input components on said input device.

19. The method of claim 16, further comprising varying at least one of a location and a size of said image on said display.

20. The method of claim 16, further comprising incorporating said image into an instruction application.