OVERLAY FOR ELECTRONIC DEVICE AND METHOD OF IDENTIFYING SAME

• US 20100328231A1
• Filed: 06/30/2009
• Published: 12/30/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Fyke, Steven Henry, Pasquero, Jerome
• Application Number:
  US12/494,566
• Publication Number:
  US 20100328231A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1643 the display being associated to a digitizer, e.g. laptops that can be used as penpads details related to the relative motion of the display enclosure with respect to the body enclosure, e.g. to move between laptop and tablet PC configuration G06F1/1615
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1662 Details related to the integrated keyboard
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 21/003 using tactile presentation of the information, e.g. Braille displays
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 21/007 using both tactile and audible presentation of the information

Abstract

An overlay includes a sheet corresponding to a plurality of keys that are associated with an application for a portable electronic device. A plurality of magnets has a set of orientations associated with the application. The set of orientations is identifiable by the portable electronic device, such that the application is opened upon identification of the application associated with the set of orientations.

Claims

1. An overlay comprising:

a sheet corresponding to a plurality of keys that are associated with an application for a portable electronic device;

a plurality of magnets having a set of orientations associated with the application, wherein the set of orientations is identifiable by the portable electronic device, such that the application is opened upon identification of the application associated with the set of orientations.

2. The overlay of claim 1, wherein the plurality of magnets is disposed in a plurality of first locations on the sheet;

wherein the plurality of first locations are associated with a plurality of second locations on the portable electronic device, such that when the plurality of first locations and the plurality of second locations are aligned, identification of the set of orientations occurs.

3. The overlay of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of magnets is disposed in one of at least two different orientations.

4. The overlay of claim 3, wherein the at least two different orientations comprise magnetic north and magnetic south.

5. The overlay of claim 3, wherein the at least two different orientations comprise magnetic north, magnetic south, and no magnet.

6. The overlay of claim 1, wherein the plurality of magnets hold the overlay in position with respect to the plurality of keys.

7. The overlay of claim 1, wherein a unique set of orientations is associated with each of a plurality of overlays.

8. The overlay of claim 1, wherein the portable electronic device identifies the set of orientations utilizing one or more Hall effect sensors.

9. The overlay of claim 1, further comprising at least one tactile identification related to the application.

10. The overlay of claim 1, wherein the plurality of keys comprise mechanical keys.

11. The overlay of claim 1, wherein the plurality of keys comprises a plurality of images displayed on a touch-sensitive display.

12. A method comprising:

receiving, by a portable electronic device, an overlay for a plurality of keys, wherein the overlay corresponds to a first of a plurality of applications that run on the portable electronic device;

identifying a set of magnet orientations associated with the overlay;

determining which of the plurality of applications is associated with the set of magnet orientations, yielding an identified application;

opening the identified application on the portable electronic device.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein identifying comprises ascertaining an orientation for each of a plurality of magnets aligned with the portable electronic device, yielding the set of magnet orientations.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein a unique set of orientations is associated with each of a plurality of overlays.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the plurality of keys comprises a plurality of images displayed on a touch-sensitive display.

16. A computer-readable medium having computer-readable code embodied therein, the computer-readable code executable by a processor of the portable electronic device to perform the method of claim 12.

17. A portable electronic device comprising:

a plurality of keys;

a plurality of sensors arranged and constructed to identify an orientation for each of a plurality of magnets associated with an overlay, thereby identifying a set of orientations;

a processor arranged and constructed to;

identify the application based on the set of orientations;

launch an application associated with the overlay.

18. The portable electronic device of claim 17, wherein the plurality of sensors comprises a plurality of Hall effect sensors aligned with the plurality of magnets when the overlay is aligned with the plurality of keys.

19. The portable electronic device of claim 17, wherein the plurality of magnets hold the overlay in position with respect to the plurality of keys.

20. The portable electronic device of claim 17, wherein the plurality of keys comprises mechanical keys.

21. The portable electronic device of claim 17, wherein the plurality of keys comprises a plurality of images displayed on a touch-sensitive display.