MULTI-MODE TOUCHSCREEN USER INTERFACE FOR A MULTI-STATE TOUCHSCREEN DEVICE

• US 20110248927A1
• Filed: 04/08/2010
• Published: 10/13/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/08/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Arlington Technologies, LLC (Dominion Harbor Enterprises, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Avaya Incorporated
• Inventors: Robinson, Richard L., Mohler, David Scott, Michaelis, Paul Roller
• Granted Patent: US 9,092,125 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04806 Zoom, i.e. interaction techniques or interactors for controlling the zooming operation
• 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 3/04845 for image manipulation, e.g. dragging, rotation, expansion or change of colour
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text

Abstract

A simple exemplary embodiment can leverage the ability of the touchscreen or touchpad device to distinguish between a fingernail and a palm-side fingertip press as binary distinctions. This can be done via long nails or alternatively, by rotating a hand to invert the finger. The binary distinction can be used to perform different functions. For example, a fingertip press could be the functional equivalent of a left-click on a mouse, and a fingernail press could be the equivalent of a right-click. Another example using a simply binary distinction could be that a fingertip press while typing will result in lower case, and fingernail press while typing will result in upper case. Another example, using a binary distinction, would interpret a light touch for right-clicks or upper case characters and a heavy touch for left-clicks or lower case characters.

Claims

1. An input method for an electronic device comprising:

detecting an input from an input device;

determining a transition from a first finger contact portion to a second, different, finger contact portion; and

correlating the transition, by utilizing a mapping technique, to a corresponding function.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the input device is a touchscreen, a touchpad, a track pad or a device that detects a presence and a location of a touch within an area.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the transition is from a finger contact portion to a fingernail.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the input is from a prosthetic.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the transition is one or more of:

a rotation or degree of rotation about an axis;

a point-of-contact stays at a same X/Y coordinate while one or more fingers rotate; and

the point-of-contact shifts to a different X/Y coordinate while one or more fingers rotate.

8. One or more means for performing the functionality of claim 1.

9. A non-transitory computer-readable storage media, having instructions stored thereon, that when executed cause the steps of claim 1 to be performed.

2. An input method for an electronic device comprising:

detecting an input from an input device, the input corresponding to a fingernail; and

correlating the input, by utilizing a mapping technique, to at least one corresponding function.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the input device is a touchscreen, a touchpad, a track pad or a device that detects a presence and a location of a touch within an area.

10. An input device for an electronic system comprising:

a detection module that detects an input from an input device;

a transition stimulus module that determines a transition from a first finger contact portion to a second, different, finger contact portion; and

a controller that correlates the transition, by utilizing a mapping technique, to a corresponding function.

12. The device of claim 10, wherein the input device is a touchscreen, a touchpad, a track pad or a device that detects a presence and a location of a touch within an area.

14. The device of claim 10, wherein the transition is one or more of:

a rotation or degree of rotation about an axis;

a point-of-contact stays at a same X/Y coordinate while one or more fingers rotate; and

the point-of-contact shifts to a different X/Y coordinate while one or more fingers rotate.

15. The device of claim 10, wherein the input is from a prosthetic.

16. The device of claim 10, wherein the transition is a rotation or degree of rotation about an axis.

17. The device of claim 10, wherein the electronic system is a personal computer, a PDA, a gaming device, a mobile electronics device, a laptop, a netbook, a media player or point of sale equipment.

11. An input device for an electronic system comprising:

detecting an input from an input device, the input corresponding to a fingernail; and

correlating the input, by utilizing a mapping technique, to at least one corresponding function.

13. The device of claim 11, wherein the input device is a touchscreen, a touchpad, a track pad or a device that detects a presence and a location of a touch within an area.

18. The device of claim 11, wherein the electronic system is a personal computer, a PDA, a gaming device, a mobile electronics device, a laptop, a netbook, a media player or point of sale equipment.

19. The device of claim 11, wherein the input corresponds to a fingernail and a finger contact portion.

20. The device of claim 11, wherein the input also includes a rotation or degree of rotation of the fingernail about an axis.