Human Interface System

• US 20070211035A1
• Filed: 05/11/2007
• Published: 09/13/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aplix IP Holdings Corporation
• Original Assignee: Zeemote, Inc.
• Inventors: Marcus, Beth, Lee, W.
• Granted Patent: US 7,463,245 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/169
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/169 the I/O peripheral being an integrated pointing device, e.g. trackball in the palm rest area, mini-joystick integrated between keyboard keys, touch pads or touch stripes G06F1/1643 takes precedence; constructional details of pointing devices G06F3/033
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04809 Textured surface identifying touch areas, e.g. overlay structure for a virtual keyboard
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0202 Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the input device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0238 Programmable keyboards key guide holders G06F3/0224
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04886 by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus

Abstract

A human interface configured to optimize a biomechanical effect of a human user'"'"'s opposing thumb and fingers by including, on one surface, one or more software configurable input elements manipulatable by a user'"'"'s thumb(s) or a stylus, and, on another surface, one or more software configurable selection elements manipulatable by a user'"'"'s finger(s). A selection element may be a pressure sensor pad configurable to represent delineated active areas that are mapped to one or more input functions. Shape changing media may be provided to permit a user to tactilely discriminate between delineated active areas. Tactile feedback may be provided to a user through palpable detents, vibratory or force producing units. Inputting data may include mapping each selection element to a shift function, mapping each input element to text functions, and using the selection elements to shift between text functions associated with an input element to input a desired text function.

Claims

1. A hand-held device comprising:

a processor configured to process a selected application having two or more functions;

a first surface including at least a first input element mapped to at least a first function of the selected application; and

a second surface including at least a second input element having a sensor pad mapped to at least a second function of the selected application, wherein the second surface is substantially in opposition to the first surface.

2. The hand-held device of claim 1, wherein the sensor pad comprises active areas, wherein at least one of the active areas is mapped to the second function of the selected application.

3. The hand-held device of claim 1, wherein the selected application comprises a game application.

4. The hand-held device of claim 3, wherein at least one of the functions of the game application comprises a weapon fire control, directional control, speed control, a size control or a position control.

5. The hand-held device of claim 3, wherein the first function of the game application comprises a directional control, a speed control, a size control or a position control.

6. The hand-held device of claim 1, wherein the second function of the game application comprises a weapon fire control.

7. The hand-held device of claim 1, wherein the second surface further includes a directional pad.

8. The hand-held device of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to communicate with a host device.

9. The hand-held device of claim 1, further comprising an accelerometer.

10. The hand-held electronic device of claim 1, further comprising a gyroscope.

20. A hand-held device of claim 1, wherein the second surface comprises a back surface or a side surface.

11. A hand-held device comprising:

a first surface including at least an input element mapped to at least a first function of an application; and

a second surface including at least a touch sensing input element mapped to at least a second function of the application, wherein the second surface is substantially in opposition to the first surface.

12. The hand-held device of claim 11, wherein the touch sensing input element comprises a sensor pad having active areas, wherein at least one of the active areas is mapped to the second function of the application.

13. The hand-held device of claim 11, wherein the application comprises a game application.

14. The hand-held device of claim 13, wherein first function comprises a directional control, a speed control, a size control or a position control.

15. The hand-held device of claim 13, wherein the second function comprises a weapon fire control.

16. The hand-held device of claim 11, wherein the input element comprises a rotary sensor or a directional pad.

17. The hand-held device of claim 11, wherein the input element and the touch sensing input element are communicatively coupled to a host device.

18. The hand-held device of claim 11, further comprising an accelerometer or a gyroscope.

19. The hand-held device of claim 17, further comprising an accelerometer or a gyroscope.

21. A hand-held device of claim 11, wherein the second surface comprises a back surface or a side surface.