Method and Apparatus for Executing a Feature Using a Tactile Cue

• US 20090315836A1
• Filed: 06/24/2008
• Published: 12/24/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/24/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Pihlaja, Pekka Juhana
• Granted Patent: US 8,659,555 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04886 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

In accordance with an example embodiment of the present invention, an electronic device is configured to provide a tactile cue associated with a feature. The electronic device is also configured to identify one or more user actuations. After identifying one or more user actuations, the electronic device is configured to execute the feature.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a tactile cue configured to facilitate execution of a feature; and

a touch sensitive area configured to identify one or more user actuations and execute the feature.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the touch sensitive area is further configured to modify a parameter of the feature.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the tactile cue is selectable.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the tactile cue is positioned on a touchscreen, on a screen, a screen edge, on a display cover, or a combination thereof.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the display cover is replaceable.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the tactile cue is concave, convex, or three-dimensional.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the tactile cue comprises at least one of the following:

rubber, leather, plastic, metal, or a combination thereof.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the tactile cue is an embossed icon.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

an actuator configured to create the tactile cue dynamically.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the actuator is a mechanical actuator or a piezo actuator.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the piezo actuator is configured to associate the one or more user actuations with the feature.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the touch sensitive area is further configured to at least one lock feature not associated with the tactile cue.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the touch sensitive area is further configured to detect a sweep, a roll, or a gesture.

14. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the touch sensitive area is further configured to detect multiple sweep motions in sequence.

15. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the feature comprises at least one of the following:

volume control, graphical user interface menu, or at least one playback feature.

16. A method, comprising:

providing a tactile cue associated with a feature;

identifying one or more user actuations; and

executing the feature.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the tactile cue is selectable.

18. The method of claim 16 further comprising modifying a parameter of the feature.

19. The method of claim 16 wherein the tactile cue is positioned on a touchscreen, on a screen, a screen edge, on a display cover, or a combination thereof.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the display cover is replaceable.

21. The method of claim 16 wherein the tactile cue is concave, convex, or three-dimensional.

22. The method of claim 16 wherein the tactile cue comprises at least one of the following:

rubber, leather, plastic, metal, or a combination thereof.

23. The method of claim 16 wherein the tactile cue is an embossed icon.

24. The method of claim 16 further comprising:

creating the tactile cue dynamically.

25. The method of claim 24 wherein the creating the tactile cue dynamically employs a mechanical actuator or piezo actuator.

26. The method of claim 25 further comprising associating the one or more user actuations with the feature using the piezo actuator.

27. The method of claim 16 further comprising:

locking at least one feature not associated with the tactile cue.

28. The method of claim 16 wherein identifying a user actuation further comprises:

detecting a sweep, a roll, or a gesture.

29. The method of claim 16 wherein identifying a user actuation further comprises:

detecting multiple sweeping motions in sequence.

30. The method of claim 16 wherein the feature comprises at least one of the following:

volume control, graphical user interface menu, or at least one playback feature.

31. A computer program product comprising a computer-readable medium bearing computer program code embodied therein for use with a computer, the computer program code comprising:

code for providing a tactile cue associated with a feature;

code for identifying one or more user actuations; and

code for executing the feature.

32. The computer program product of claim 31 further comprising modifying a parameter of the feature.

33. A computer-readable medium encoded with instructions that, when executed by a computer, perform:

providing a tactile cue associated with a feature;

identifying one or more user actuations; and

executing the feature.

34. The computer-readable medium of claim 33 further comprising modifying a parameter of the feature.