USER INTERFACE METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR PROVIDING FORCE-SENSITIVE INPUT
First Claim
1. A method for capturing user input on a computing device, comprising:
- receiving an electrical signal from a force sensitive sensor positioned on a case of the computing device;
comparing the received electrical signal to a reference signal template;
determining whether the received electrical signal matches the reference signal template;
identifying a functionality associated with a matched reference signal template; and
implementing the identified functionality on the computing device.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and systems implement touch sensors or force sensitive materials disposed on the case of a computing device in order to enable user input gestures to be performed on portions of the device case. The force sensitive elements may generate an electrical signal in response to a gesture, such as a tap, squeeze, swipe or twist. The properties of the generated electrical signal may be compared to various reference templates to recognize particular input gestures. The force sensitive elements may operate in conjunction with more traditional input methods, such as touch-screen display and electromechanical buttons. By enabling user input gestures on the case of computing devices, the various aspects permit one hand operation of the devices including intuitive gestures that do not require the users focused attention to accomplish. Thus the various aspects may enable users to utilize their computing devices in situations not suitable to conventional user input technologies.
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Citations
76 Claims
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1. A method for capturing user input on a computing device, comprising:
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receiving an electrical signal from a force sensitive sensor positioned on a case of the computing device; comparing the received electrical signal to a reference signal template; determining whether the received electrical signal matches the reference signal template; identifying a functionality associated with a matched reference signal template; and implementing the identified functionality on the computing device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A computing device, comprising:
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a case; a processor positioned within the case; a memory coupled to the processor, the memory storing a reference signal template; and a force sensitive sensor positioned on the case and coupled to the processor, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations comprising; receiving an electrical signal from the force sensitive sensor; comparing the received electrical signal to the reference signal template; determining whether the received electrical signal matches the reference signal template; identifying a functionality associated with a matched reference signal template; and implementing the identified functionality on the computing device. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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39. A computing device, comprising:
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force sensing means for sensing a force applied to a case of the computing device; means for receiving an electrical signal from the force sensing means; means for comparing the received electrical signal to a reference signal template; means for determining whether the received electrical signal matches the reference signal template; means for identifying a functionality associated with a matched reference signal template; and means for implementing the identified functionality on the computing device. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60)
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61. A processor-readable storage medium having stored thereon processor-executable instructions configured to cause a processor to perform operations comprising:
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receiving an electrical signal from a force sensitive sensor; comparing the received electrical signal to a reference signal template; determining whether the received electrical signal matches the reference signal template; identifying a functionality associated with a matched reference signal template; and implementing the identified functionality. - View Dependent Claims (62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76)
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Specification