SHAPE DETECTING INPUT DEVICE

• US 20100045627A1
• Filed: 10/30/2009
• Published: 02/25/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: KENNEDY, Peter
• Granted Patent: US 10,296,126 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0416 Control or interface arrangements specially adapted for digitisers
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00034 Measuring, i.e. determining a quantity by comparison with a standard H04N1/00031 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00068 Calculating or estimating
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00411 the display also being used for user input, e.g. touch screen

Abstract

A system and method for recognizing a signet and for performing an action associated with the signet, wherein the signet is an inanimate object. In one embodiment, the method includes generating a touch signal with a signet, the touch signal representing a particular signet pattern, recognizing the particular signet pattern, and performing an action associated with the particular signet pattern.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

generating a touch signal with a signet on a touch sensitive surface having at least one input to an associated computer processor, the touch signal representing a particular non-elementary shape or pattern of the signet itself, wherein said signet is an inanimate object;

recognizing the particular signet shape or pattern with the associated computer processor; and

performing an action associated with the particular signet shape or pattern.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said recognizing includes comparing the touch signal to one or more signet signals.

3. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the action includes opening one or more restricted areas within an associated computer system.

4. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the action includes configuring an associated computer system to a particular user.

5. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the action is configured to launch a program on an associated computer system.

6. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the action includes encrypting or decoding a message.

7. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said generating includes detecting contact with a touch sensitive device, wherein said recognizing includes comparing the shape of a contact area with a list of signet shapes, and wherein the action is performed when the shape of the contact area matches the signet shape.

8. A computer system, comprising:

a display device adapted to provide a graphical user interface to a user of the computer system, wherein said graphical user interface includes a signet menu having settings relating to different signet signals and actions;

a touch screen coupled to said display device that generates signet data associated with a signet shape or pattern when a signet is placed on the touch screen; and

a computer that recognizes the signet data and that initiates an action associated with the recognized signet data, wherein the computer is further adapted to provide and control said signet menu.

9. The computer system as recited in claim 8, wherein the action includes logging onto the computer system, permitting authorized individuals access to restricted areas of the computer system, loading a user profile associated with a user'"'"'s preferred arrangement of the computer system, permitting access to web content, launching a program, opening a file or document, viewing a menu, making a selection, executing instructions, encrypting or decoding a message, or operating an input device.

10. The computer system as recited in claim 8, wherein the signet corresponds to a ring, a tag, a card, a token, a stamp, or a key.

11. The computer system as recited in claim 8, wherein the signet shape or pattern is formed on the signet, the signet shape or pattern being a raised or recessed portion of the signet.

12. The computer system as recited in claim 8, wherein the touch screen is configured with a plurality of sensor coordinates that represent different points on the touch screen, the sensor coordinates activating when the signet is pressed against the touch screen, the activated sensor coordinates representing the shape or pattern of the signet.

13. A signet system, comprising:

a signet having a distinctive shape or pattern thereon, wherein said signet is an inanimate object adapted to be manipulated by a user;

a touch sensitive area for placing said signet; and

a detection system for generating a touch signal when the signet is presented on the touch sensitive area and for extracting shape or pattern data associated with the signet from the touch signal.

14. The signet system as recited in claim 13, wherein said signet is adapted to be worn by the user.

15. The signet system as recited in claim 14, wherein said signet comprises a ring.

16. The signet system as recited in claim 13, wherein said detection system includes a sensing device and a control device, the sensing device being configured to register touches on the touch sensitive area and the control device being configured to monitor the touches and to translate the touches into shape data.

17. The signet system as recited in claim 16, wherein the sensing device corresponds to a resistive sensing device, a capacitive sensing device, an acoustic wave sensing device or an infrared sensing device.

18. The signet system as recited in claim 16, wherein the control device includes a sensor controller and a processor, the sensor controller being configured to convert the touches into touch events, the processor being configured to interpret the touch events into shape data and to transmit the results to other components.

19. The signet system as recited in claim 13, wherein said signet comprises a roller signet having a series of raised items thereupon, wherein rolling said roller signet across said touch sensitive area results in the presentation of the distinctive signet pattern on the touch sensitive area.

20. The signet system as recited in claim 13, wherein said signet comprises a punch card having a series of removable chads, wherein removing said chads results in the presentation of the distinctive signet pattern on the touch sensitive area.

21. A signet system, comprising:

a plurality of signets having a multiplicity of distinctive shapes or patterns thereon, wherein each of said plurality of signets is an inanimate object adapted to be manipulated by a user;

a touch sensitive area for placing two or more of said plurality of signets; and

a detection system for generating respective touch signals when said two or more of said plurality of signets are presented on the touch sensitive area simultaneously and for extracting shape or pattern data associated with each of said two or more of said plurality of signets from the respective touch signals.

22. The signet system of claim 21, wherein said plurality of signets are provided to users as part of a promotion.

23. The signet system of claim 22, wherein said plurality of promotional signets include one or more winning signets.