User Interface with Touch Pressure Level Sensing
First Claim
1. An apparatus comprising:
- a housing;
electronics in the housing; and
a user input configured to allow a user to input information into the apparatus, the user input comprising a touch panel on the housing, the user input being connected to the electronics and configured to distinguish between first and second different levels of touch pressure by a user, the user input being configured to display a keyboard keys graphic,the apparatus being configured such that the first level of touch pressure at a first location of the touch panel is determined to correspond to selecting one of the keys of the graphic by the user as first information, and being configured such that the second level of touch pressure at the first location is determined to correspond to second information which does not correspond to selecting one of the keys of the graphic by the user.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus including a housing; electronics in the housing; and a user input configured to allow a user to input information into the apparatus. The user input includes a touch panel on the housing. The user input is connected to the electronics and is configured to distinguish between first and second different levels of touch pressure by a user. The user input is configured to display a keyboard keys graphic. The apparatus is configured such that the first level of touch pressure at a first location of the touch panel is determined to correspond to selecting one of the keys of the graphic by the user as first information. The second level of touch pressure at the first location is determined to correspond to second information which does not correspond to selecting one of the keys of the graphic by the user.
224 Citations
21 Claims
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1. An apparatus comprising:
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a housing; electronics in the housing; and a user input configured to allow a user to input information into the apparatus, the user input comprising a touch panel on the housing, the user input being connected to the electronics and configured to distinguish between first and second different levels of touch pressure by a user, the user input being configured to display a keyboard keys graphic, the apparatus being configured such that the first level of touch pressure at a first location of the touch panel is determined to correspond to selecting one of the keys of the graphic by the user as first information, and being configured such that the second level of touch pressure at the first location is determined to correspond to second information which does not correspond to selecting one of the keys of the graphic by the user. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A user input apparatus comprising:
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a quantum tunneling component (QTC) device; a liquid crystal display located above the QTC device; and a touch panel located above the liquid crystal display, the QTC device being configured to determine different levels of touch pressure of the user pressing against the touch panel, the display being configured to display a keyboard keys graphic at the touch panel, and the touch panel being configured to sense location of touch of a finger of the user. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
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15. A method comprising:
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determining a level of touch pressure by a user on a user input apparatus at a first location, the user input comprising a touch panel; displaying a keyboard keys graphic through the touch panel; when the touch pressure is determined to be a first level, selecting a key indicia of the graphic at the first location as a first user input information; and when the touch pressure is determined to be a second level, using the first location as a different second user input information which does not correspond to selecting one of the keys of the graphic by the user. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A program storage device readable by a machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine for performing operations, the operations comprising:
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determining a level of touch pressure by a user on a user input apparatus at a first location, the user input comprising a touch panel; displaying a keyboard keys graphic beneath the touch panel; when the touch pressure is determined to be a first level, selecting a key indicia of the graphic at the first location as a first user input information; and when the touch pressure is determined to be a second level, using the first location as a different second user input information which does not correspond to selecting one of the keys of the graphic by the user.
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Specification