APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR INTERACTIVE DISPLAY WITH TACTILE FEEDBACK

• US 20100149106A1
• Filed: 02/23/2010
• Published: 06/17/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/19/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: R. O'neal Gray
• Original Assignee: R. O'neal Gray
• Inventors: Gray, R. O'Neal
• Granted Patent: US 9,128,611 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/169
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04809 Textured surface identifying touch areas, e.g. overlay structure for a virtual keyboard
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72466 with selection means, e.g. keys, having functions defined by the mode or the status of the device
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/22 including a touch pad, a touch sensor or a touch detector digitizers for touch screens G06F3/041

Abstract

An electronic device including an interactive display having a first mode and a second mode. The interactive display includes an image display device that displays a first user-interactive imaged keypad when the interactive display is in the first mode, and that displays a second user-interactive imaged keypad when the interactive display is in the second mode, and a substantially transparent keypad including physical keys permanently formed within the display so that the keypad provides tactile feedback to a user indicating location of keys within the first and second imaged keypads.

Claims

1. An electronic device comprising:

an interactive display having a first mode and a second mode, the interactive display comprising;

an image display device that displays a first user-interactive imaged keypad when the interactive display is in the first mode, and that displays a second user-interactive imaged keypad when the interactive display is in the second mode; and

a substantially transparent keypad comprising physical keys permanently formed within the display so that the substantially transparent keypad provides tactile feedback to a user indicating location of keys within the first and second imaged keypads.

2. The electronic device of claim 1 where the interactive display further has a third mode, wherein the image display is not interactive in the third mode.

3. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein a touch screen display element is disposed within each key of the first and second imaged keypads.

4. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the electronic device is selected from one of the following:

a personal digital assistant, a cell phone, an automated teller machine, a computer, a gaming device, a television monitor, video conferencing equipment, and a hand-held mobile device.

5. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the physical keys permanently formed within the display comprise one or more of the following:

bumps, ridges, indented regions, and other physical alteration of the substantially transparent keypad.