Predictive Force Sensitive Keypad

• US 20110074691A1
• Filed: 09/30/2009
• Published: 03/31/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Howard, Jeffrey Norbert, Causey, Mark Edward, Smoak, Andrew Thomas
• Granted Patent: US 8,816,965 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/169
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0202 Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the input device
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/85 characterised by tactile feedback features
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2003/008 with a haptic or a tactile feedback controlled by electrical means, e.g. a motor or magnetofriction
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2215/028 alterable
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2215/05 electromechanical
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2221/062 Damping vibrations

Abstract

Devices and methods are described for improving the efficiency of text input by requiring more pressure to select keys on a dynamic keyboard that are improbable key presses. Examples include a text-entry device which has logic for resisting error while the user enters text on a keyboard of the text-entry device. Each key has a lever mechanism which varies the force required to press the key. Keyboard logic on the text-entry device is programmed to change the force required to enter each key within the dynamic keyboard based on the prior entry. The keyboard logic assigns a prediction value to each key based on a statistical probability that the key will be entered next.

Claims

1. A text-entry device for resisting error while entering text comprising:

a processor;

a memory in communication with the processor;

a keyboard in communication with the processor having a plurality of keys and each key having a force required to press the key;

a display in communication with the processor; and

a keyboard logic stored on the memory;

wherein the keyboard logic;

assigns a prediction value to each key after a user enters a key; and

adjusts the force required to press at least one key relative to the assigned prediction value.

2. The device in claim 1, wherein the keyboard logic adjusts the force required to press each key to a proportion of its prediction value.

3. The device in claim 1, wherein each key includes an electronically adjustable lever.

4. The device in claim 3, wherein the electronically adjustable lever varies the force required to press the key with the current.

5. The device in claim 4, wherein the electronically adjustable lever includes a plunger in a fluid which has a viscosity variable with an induced current.

6. The device in claim 4, wherein the electronically adjustable lever includes a cylindrical magnet slideably coupled with an electric coil sleeve.

7. The device in claim 1, wherein the keyboard logic assigns a prediction value to each key by referencing a language database.

8. The device in claim 7, wherein the language database includes a dictionary and a plurality of statistical data.

9. The device in claim 1, further comprising a transceiver.

10. The device in claim 9, wherein the transceiver uses one of cellular RF, BLUETOOTH, and WiFi.

11. A method of resisting error while entering text on a text-entry device having a keyboard comprising;

assigning a prediction value to each key after a user enters a key; and

adjusting the force required to press at least one key relative to the assigned prediction value;

wherein the keyboard is coupled with a text-entry device.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the adjusting further comprises adjusting the force required to press each key to a proportion of its prediction value.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the adjusting further comprises varying the current to a lever.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the adjusting further comprises varying the viscosity of a damping fluid.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the adjusting further comprises varying the magnetic field surrounding a magnet.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the assigning further comprises referencing a language database.

17. The method in claim 16, wherein the language database includes a dictionary and a plurality of statistical data.

18. The method of claim 11, further comprising resetting a keyboard such that all the keys require the same amount of force to be entered.

19. A computer program stored on a computer readable medium for resisting error while entering text on a text-entry device having a keyboard comprising;

a first code segment for assigning a prediction value to each key after a user enters a key; and

a second code segment for adjusting the force required to press at least one key relative to the assigned prediction value;

wherein the keyboard is coupled with a text-entry device.

20. The computer program of claim 19, wherein the second code segment further comprises adjusting the force required to press each key to a proportion of its prediction value.

21. The computer program of claim 19, wherein the second code segment assigns a prediction value to each key by referencing a language database.

22. The computer program of claims 19, further comprising a third code segment for resetting a keyboard such that all the keys require the same amount of force to be entered.