MULTI-REGION TOUCHPAD DEVICE

• US 20110292268A1
• Filed: 08/05/2010
• Published: 12/01/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/26/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: T-Mobile USA, Inc. (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Original Assignee: T-Mobile USA, Inc. (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Inventors: Mann, Jonathan L., Kemery, Michael, Kuncl, Parker Ralph, Collette, Benoit F., Panchal, Prarthana H., Ewing, Richard Alan JR.
• Application Number:
  US12/851,421
• Publication Number:
  US 20110292268A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/333.01
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 1/046 Adaptations on rotatable parts of the steering wheel for accommodation of switches
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/169 the I/O peripheral being an integrated pointing device, e.g. trackball in the palm rest area, mini-joystick integrated between keyboard keys, touch pads or touch stripes G06F1/1643 takes precedence; constructional details of pointing devices G06F3/033
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04809 Textured surface identifying touch areas, e.g. overlay structure for a virtual keyboard
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0213 Arrangements providing an integrated pointing device in a keyboard, e.g. trackball, mini-joystick for pointing devices integrated in a laptop computer G06F1/169; joysticks G05G9/047; constructional details of pointing devices G06F3/033
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03543 Mice or pucks G06F3/03541 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03547 Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20834 Hand wheels
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/2087 Rim grips and covers

Abstract

Techniques utilizing a multi-region touch panel are described for implementing user interfaces in various types of devices.

Claims

1. An input device for use with a graphical user interface, comprising:

at least one control mechanism allowing a user to manipulate an element on the graphical user interface; and

a touchpad having a plurality of tactually-delineated touch bands surrounding a central area.

2. An input device as recited in claim 1, wherein:

the touch bands are successively nested; and

each successively inward touch band is stepped down in elevation to form a concavity.

3. A device as recited in claim 1, further comprising a body that is moveable over a surface to move a cursor on the graphical user interface.

4. A device as recited in claim 1, further comprising a digitizer, wherein the at least one control mechanism comprises a stylus that can be used with the digitizer to manipulate the element on the graphical user interface.

5. A computer mouse comprising:

a body that is moveable over a surface to move a cursor on the graphical user interface; and

a touchpad positioned on the body for access by a user'"'"'s finger, the touchpad having a plurality of tactually-delineated touch bands that surround a central area.

6. A computer mouse as recited in claim 5, wherein:

the touch bands are successively nested; and

each successively inward touch band is stepped down in elevation to form a concavity in the body.

7. A controller for use with a controlled system, comprising:

a touch sensor; and

the touch sensor having a plurality of successively nested touch bands surrounding a central area, the touch bands being tactually delineated from each other.

8. A controller as recited in claim 7, wherein the controller is an entertainment system remote control.

9. A controller as recited in claim 7, wherein the controller is a game controller.

10. A controller as recited in claim 7, each successively inward touch band is stepped down in elevation to form a concavity.

11. A computer keyboard, comprising:

keys that are operable by a user to enter text on a computer; and

a touchpad positioned relative to the keys for access by a user'"'"'s finger, the touchpad having a plurality of adjacent touch-sensitive areas that are tactually delineated from each other and that surround a central area.

12. A computer keyboard as recited in claim 11, wherein the touch-sensitive areas comprise successively nested touch bands surrounding the central area.

13. A computer keyboard as recited in claim 11, the touch-sensitive areas comprising successively nested touch bands surrounding the central area;

and

each successively inward touch band is stepped down in elevation to form a concavity.

14. A camera, comprising:

a camera lens;

an image sensor to capture optical images through the camera lens;

a display that displays the optical images;

a touch input sensor having a plurality of successively nested touch bands that are tactually delineated from each other and that surround a central area; and

operational logic that is responsive to the touch input sensor to set operating parameters of the camera.

15. A camera as recited in claim 14, wherein the operational logic is responsive to the touch input sensor to set exposure parameters used by the camera when capturing optical images.

16. A camera as recited in claim 14, wherein each successively inward touch band is stepped down in elevation to form a concavity.

17. A camera as recited in claim 14, wherein the touch bands are concentric.

18. A vehicle control system for use by a driver in a vehicle, comprising:

a primary control that is grasped by a driver during operation of the vehicle to control an aspect of vehicle operation; and

a touchpad positioned relative to the primary control for touching by the driver while grasping the primary control, the touchpad having a plurality of adjacent touch-sensitive areas that are tactually delineated from each other and that surround a central area.

19. A vehicle control system as recited in claim 18, wherein:

the touch-sensitive areas are concentric; and

each successively inward touch-sensitive area is stepped down in elevation to form a concavity.

20. A vehicle control system as recited in claim 18, wherein the primary control comprises a steering wheel.

21. A vehicle control system as recited in claim 20, wherein the steering wheel comprises a rim that is graspable by the driver to rotate the steering wheel;

and

22. A vehicle control system as recited in claim 20, wherein the touchpad is positioned to face the driver.

23. A vehicle control system as recited in claim 20, wherein the touchpad is positioned to face away from the driver.

24. A vehicle control system as recited in claim 20, further comprising a spoke, wherein the touchpad is positioned on the spoke.