ELECTRONIC DEVICE AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING SAME

• US 20090193361A1
• Filed: 01/30/2008
• Published: 07/30/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Research In Motion Limited (Blackberry Limited)
• Original Assignee: Research In Motion Limited (Blackberry Limited)
• Inventors: Lee, Jong-Suk, Rak, Roman, Mujkic, Alen
• Application Number:
  US12/022,404
• Publication Number:
  US 20090193361A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/810
• 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

An electronic device includes a display device for displaying a graphical user interface including a plurality of user-selectable features. A touch-sensitive input device includes an overlay disposed on the display device and a controller connected to the overlay, the touch-sensitive input device for providing a touch-sensitive area on the overlay, on the plurality of user-selectable features and for detecting an object proximal the user-selectable features on the display device. Functional components are provided including a processor connected to the display device and touch-sensitive input device, and a memory device for storage of computer-readable program code executable by the processor for changing the graphical user interface in response to detecting the object proximal one of the user-selectable features, prior to selection of any of the user-selectable features.

Claims

1. A method of controlling an electronic device, comprising:

providing a graphical user interface including a plurality of user-selectable features on a touch-sensitive display;

detecting an object proximal the user-selectable features on the display; and

changing the graphical user interface in response to detecting the object proximal the user-selectable features, prior to selection of any of the user-selectable features.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein changing the graphical user interface comprises providing a visual indicator associated with a nearest one of the user-selectable features to the object.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein providing a visual indicator comprises isolating the nearest one of the user-selectable features from others of the user-selectable features.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein isolating comprises moving the others of the user-selectable features away from the nearest one of the user-selectable features.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the user-selectable features include user-selectable buttons of the graphical user interface.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the object is conductive and detecting comprises detecting the object spaced from the touch-sensitive display.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein changing the graphical user interface comprises changing the graphical user interface as a function of distance of the object from the touch-sensitive display.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein changing the graphical user interface comprises moving others of the user-selectable features away from the nearest one of the user-selectable features, the others of the user-selectable features being moved farther away with decreasing distance of the object from the touch-sensitive display.

9. The method according to claim 8, comprising selecting the nearest one of the user-selectable features in response to contact of the object with the touch-sensitive display.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein changing the graphical user interface comprises changing the graphical user interface as a function of area of contact of layers of the touch-sensitive display as a result of pressure from the object on the touch-sensitive display.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein changing the graphical user interface comprises moving others of the user-selectable features a distance away from the nearest one of the user-selectable features, the distance increasing with increasing area of contact of the layers.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the nearest one of the user-selectable features is selected when the area of contact of the layers reaches a minimum area of contact.

13. An electronic device comprising:

a display device for displaying a graphical user interface including a plurality of user-selectable features;

a touch-sensitive input device including an overlay disposed on the display device and a controller connected to the overlay, the touch-sensitive input device for providing a touch-sensitive area on the overlay, on the plurality of user-selectable features and for detecting an object proximal the user-selectable features on the display device; and

functional components including a processor connected to the display device and touch-sensitive input device, and a memory device for storage of computer-readable program code executable by the processor for changing the graphical user interface in response to detecting the object proximal one of the user-selectable features, prior to selection of any of the user-selectable features.

14. The electronic device according to claim 13, wherein changing the graphical user interface comprises providing a visual indicator associated with a nearest one of the user-selectable features to the object.

15. The electronic device according to claim 14, wherein providing a visual indicator comprises isolating the nearest one of the user-selectable features from others of the user-selectable features.

16. The electronic device according to claim 14, wherein isolating comprises moving the others of the user-selectable features away from the nearest one of the user-selectable features.

17. The electronic device according to claim 14, wherein the user-selectable features comprise user-selectable buttons displayed on the display device.

18. The electronic device according to claim 13, wherein the touch-sensitive input device comprises a capacitive touch-sensitive input device and the overlay comprises a capacitive touch-sensitive overlay.

19. The electronic device according to claim 18, wherein the capacitive touch-sensitive input device is configured to detect conductive objects when spaced from the touch-sensitive overlay.

20. The electronic device according to claim 19, wherein changing the graphical user interface comprises changing the graphical user interface as a function of distance of the object from the touch-sensitive overlay.

21. The electronic device according to claim 20, wherein changing the graphical user interface comprises moving others of the user-selectable features a distance away from the nearest one of the user-selectable features, the distance increasing with decreasing distance of the object from the touch-sensitive overlay.

22. The electronic device according to claim 13 wherein touch-sensitive input device comprises a resistive touch-sensitive input device and the overlay comprises a resistive touch-sensitive overlay.

23. The electronic device according to claim 22, wherein the resistive touch-sensitive input device is configured to detect an area of contact of layers of the touch-sensitive overlay as a result of pressure from the object on the overlay.

24. The electronic device according to claim 23, wherein changing the graphical user interface comprises changing the graphical user interface as a function of area of contact of layers of the touch-sensitive overlay.

25. The electronic device according to claim 24, wherein changing the graphical user interface comprises moving others of the user-selectable features a distance away from the nearest one of the user-selectable features, the distance increasing with increasing area of contact of the layers of the touch-sensitive overlay.

26. The electronic device according to claim 25, wherein the nearest one of the user-selectable features is selected when the area of contact of the layers of the touch-sensitive overlay reaches a minimum area of contact for selection.

27. A computer-readable medium having computer-readable code embodied therein for execution by a processor for providing a graphical user interface including a plurality of user-selectable features on a touch-sensitive display, detecting an object proximal the user-selectable features on the display, and changing the graphical user interface in response to detecting the object proximal the user-selectable features, prior to selection of any of the user-selectable features.