VIRTUAL INPUT DEVICES CREATED BY TOUCH INPUT

• US 20100302155A1
• Filed: 05/28/2009
• Published: 12/02/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/28/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Russ, V. Kevin, Sands, Ian M., Snavely, John A., Burtner, Edwin Russ
• Granted Patent: US 9,141,284 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/163
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04808 Several contacts: gestures triggering a specific function, e.g. scrolling, zooming, right-click, when the user establishes several contacts with the surface simultaneously; e.g. using several fingers or a combination of fingers and pen
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/042 by opto-electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• 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 input device is created on a touch screen in response to a user'"'"'s placement of their hand. When a user places their hand on the touch screen, an input device sized for their hand is dynamically created. Alternatively, some other input device may be created. For example, when the user places two hands on the device a split keyboard input device may be dynamically created on the touch screen that is split between the user'"'"'s hand locations. Once the input device is determined, the user may enter input through the created device on the input screen. The input devices may be configured for each individual user such that the display of the input device changes based on physical characteristics that are associated with the user.

Claims

1. A method for creating a virtual input device on a touch input device, comprising:

determining when a portion of a hand is detected by the touch input device;

wherein a portion of the hand includes at least a detected finger and a detected palm of the hand;

automatically determining a size of the hand that is placed on the touch surface;

creating the virtual input device that is sized based on the determined size of the hand;

wherein an inner area of the virtual input device is sized to contain at least the fingers of the hand;

displaying a graphical representation of the virtual input device;

wherein a majority of the virtual input device is displayed beneath the hand; and

receiving user input from the virtual input device through an interaction with the hand and the virtual input device;

wherein a position of the display of the virtual input device moves in response to a movement of the hand.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein movement of the virtual input device on the touch input device moves a cursor on a display screen.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein creating the virtual input device comprises determining a size of each detected finger of the hand and a location of the palm;

and sizing the ring based on the determined sizes and location.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the virtual input device is a virtual mouse ring that includes a virtual mouse button that is disposed beneath each detected finger of the hand;

wherein each virtual mouse button is associated with an action.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the virtual input device is a virtual ring that consists of a single input ring and wherein a displayed cursor moves in response to a movement of the user'"'"'s hand on the touch input device and wherein an inside of the ring is used for touch operations.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining a size of each detected finger and creating a virtual mouse button that is sized according to the determined size of each of the detected fingers.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the virtual input device is a split keyboard when two hands are placed on the touch surface;

wherein keys of the keyboard are divided between a display disposed beneath each hand.

8. The method of claim 4, wherein when a virtual button is selected displaying a list of menu items in place of the display of the virtual button.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining when the hand becomes undetected and when the hand becomes undetected removing the virtual input device from the touch input device.

10. A computer-readable storage medium having computer-executable instructions for creating a virtual input device in response to a touch input, comprising:

determining when a portion of a hand is detected by a touch input device;

wherein a portion of the hand includes at least two detected fingers and a detected palm of the hand;

automatically determining a size of the hand by determining a finger length and a location of a palm of the hand;

creating the virtual input device that is sized based on the determined size of the hand;

wherein an inner area of the virtual input device is sized to contain at least the fingers of the hand;

displaying a graphical representation of the virtual input device;

wherein a majority of the virtual input device is displayed beneath the hand;

receiving user input from the virtual input device through an interaction with the hand with the virtual input device;

wherein a position of the display of the virtual input device moves in response to a movement of the hand and wherein movement of the virtual input device changes a location of a cursor on a display; and

removing the virtual input device when the hand becomes undetected by the touch input device.

11. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 10, wherein creating the virtual input device comprises determining a type of virtual input device based on a context of an application.

12. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 10, wherein the virtual input device is a virtual mouse ring that includes a virtual mouse button that is disposed beneath each detected finger of the hand;

wherein each virtual mouse button is associated with an action.

13. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 10, wherein the virtual input device is a virtual ring that consists of a single input ring wherein an inside of the ring is used for touch operations.

14. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 10, wherein the virtual input device is a portion of a keyboard.

15. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 12, wherein when a virtual mouse button is selected by tapping one of the fingers on the virtual mouse button, displaying a list of menu items in place of the display of the virtual mouse button.

20. The system of claim 12, wherein when a virtual mouse button is selected by tapping one of the fingers on the virtual mouse button, displaying a list of menu items in place of the display of the virtual mouse button.

16. A system for utilizing a virtual input device created in response to touch inputs, comprising:

a touch surface that is configured to receive multiple touches;

a processor and a computer-readable medium;

an operating environment stored on the computer-readable medium and executing on the processor; and

a touch manager operating under the control of the operating environment and operative to;

determining when a portion of a hand is detected on the touch surface;

wherein a portion of the hand includes at least two detected fingers and a detected palm of the hand;

automatically determining a size of the hand;

creating the virtual input device that is sized based on the determined size of the hand;

wherein an inner area of the virtual input device is sized to contain at least a majority of the fingers of the hand;

displaying a graphical representation of the virtual input device on the touch surface;

wherein a majority of the virtual input device is displayed beneath the hand;

receiving user input from the virtual input device through an interaction with the hand with the virtual input device;

wherein a position of the display of the virtual input device moves in response to a movement of the hand and wherein movement of the virtual input device changes a location of a cursor on a display; and

removing the virtual input device when the hand becomes undetected on the touch surface.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein creating the virtual input device comprises determining a type of virtual input device based on a context of an application;

wherein the virtual input device is selected from;

a virtual mouse ring;

a virtual ring and a virtual keyboard.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the virtual input device is a virtual mouse ring that includes a virtual mouse button that is disposed beneath each detected finger of the hand;

wherein each virtual mouse button is associated with an action.

19. The system of claim 16, wherein the virtual input device is a virtual ring that consists of a single input ring wherein an inside of the ring is used for touch operations.