PORTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICE AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING SAME

• US 20100020036A1
• Filed: 07/22/2009
• Published: 01/28/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/23/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Inventors: Faubert, Perry, Ma, Zhongming, Hui, Edward, Weber, Arnett
• Application Number:
  US12/507,399
• Publication Number:
  US 20100020036A1
• 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

A method includes displaying an image of a key on a touch-sensitive display and detecting a touch on the touch-sensitive display at a first location. When the first location is located in a predetermined area related the key, tactile feedback is provided that simulates a characteristic of a physical key. The touch-sensitive display may be part of a portable electronic device.

Claims

1. A portable electronic device comprising:

a touch-sensitive display arranged and constructed to detect a touch;

a microprocessor and memory arranged and constructed to;

display an image of a key on the touch-sensitive display;

when the touch is located in a predetermined area associated with the key, providing tactile feedback simulating a characteristic of a physical key.

2. The portable electronic device of claim 1, wherein the predetermined area is near or outside a border of the image of the key.

3. The portable electronic device of claim 1, wherein the predetermined area is internal to a border of the image of the key.

4. The portable electronic device of claim 1, wherein the characteristic is an edge of a key.

5. The portable electronic device of claim 1, wherein the characteristic is a locator disposed on a key.

6. The portable electronic device of claim 1, wherein a plurality of keys are displayed on the touch-sensitive display and the predetermined area is comprised of a plurality of areas associated with each of the plurality of keys.

7. The portable electronic device of claim 6, wherein the at least one actuator is a piezoelectric actuator that provides the tactile feedback.

8. The portable electronic device of claim 1, further comprising at least one actuator that vibrates in an ultrasonic frequency range to provide tactile feedback.

9. The portable electronic device of claim 7, wherein the tactile feedback simulates at least one of an edge, a bump, a ridge, and a groove.

10. The portable electronic device of claim 1, further comprising at least one pressure sensor that provides pressure data associated with a detected touch.

11. A method comprising:

displaying an image of a key on a touch-sensitive display;

detecting a touch on the touch-sensitive display at a first location;

when the first location is located in a predetermined area related the key, providing tactile feedback simulating a characteristic of a physical key.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the tactile feedback simulates an edge of a physical key.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the tactile feedback simulates a locator disposed on a physical key.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising vibrating an actuator in an ultrasonic frequency range to provide tactile feedback.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the tactile feedback simulates at least one of an edge, a bump, a ridge, and a groove.

16. The method of claim 11, further comprising utilizing pressure data to select between two simultaneous touch locations to provide tactile feedback.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein the predetermined area is near or at a border of the image of the key.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein the predetermined area is internal to a border of the image of the key.

19. The method of claim 11, wherein a plurality of keys are displayed on the touch-sensitive display and the predetermined area is comprised of a plurality of areas associated with each of the plurality of keys.

20. A computer-readable medium having computer-readable code executable by at least one processor of the portable electronic device to perform the method of claim 11.