MULTIFUNCTION FLOATING BUTTON

• US 20080129697A1
• Filed: 01/15/2008
• Published: 06/05/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/08/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mark S. Knighton
• Original Assignee: Mark S. Knighton
• Inventors: Knighton, Mark S.
• Granted Patent: US 8,194,040 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/163
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0221 Arrangements for reducing keyboard size for transport or storage, e.g. foldable keyboards, keyboards with collapsible keys G06F3/0216 takes precedence; for keyboards integrated in a laptop computer G06F1/1666
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0234 using switches operable in different directions
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0236 using selection techniques to select from displayed items
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03548 Sliders, in which the moving part moves in a plane
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 25/002 having an operating member rectilinearly slidable in different directions
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/233 including a pointing device, e.g. roller key, track ball, rocker switch or joystick constructional details of pointing devices per se G06F3/033

Abstract

A floating button that may be used to replace a plurality of distinct buttons and/or a graphical pointing device. The floating button translates in a region defined by a housing. A sensor detects the location of the button in the region. The locations within the region may be mapped to a plurality of virtual buttons. This permits a button of a size appropriate for comfortable operation by a finger, while allowing the selection of a large number of functions in a space that is only somewhat larger than a single button. The location of the button within its translation region also provides an immediate tactile and visual reference as to the function to be selected.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a housing;

an array of physical buttons of a size and shape to facilitate manipulation by a finger of a hand of an operator;

a coupling which links each button to the housing while permitting the button, and any components fixed thereto, to translate on a surface relative to the housing; and

a sensor to determine the location of the button wherein the locations of the buttons are mapped to a function of a typewriter keyboard associated a respective finger position.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the typewriter keyboard has a QWERTY type key pattern.