APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING KEYBOARD FUNCTIONALITY, VIA A LIMITED NUMBER OF INPUT REGIONS, TO A SEPARATE DIGITAL DEVICE
First Claim
1. An apparatus that receives gesture-based touch inputs from a user to provide keyboard functionality, via a limited number of input regions, to a separate digital device, the apparatus comprising:
- a touch-sensitive array that defines a first zone with a plurality of radially-arranged touch regions, wherein the touch-sensitive array detects user touches at the regions of the first zone;
a processor in communication with the touch-sensitive array, wherein the processor distinguishes between various user input types for each region of the first zone, including;
a first input type for a user tap on a region of the first zone;
a second input type for a user touch on the region of the first zone followed by a swipe in the counterclockwise direction to an adjacent touch region and a touch release; and
a third input type for a user touch on the region of the first zone followed by a swipe in the clockwise direction to an adjacent touch region and a touch release;
wherein the processor generates an output that is a character associated with the input type;
a communication module that transmits the output to the digital device; and
a casing that substantially houses the touch-sensitive array, the processor, and the communication module.
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Abstract
One embodiment includes an apparatus that receives gesture-based touch inputs from a user to provide keyboard functionality, via a limited number of input regions, to a separate digital device. The apparatus comprises: a touch-sensitive array; a processor; a communication module; and a casing. The touch-sensitive array defines a first zone with a plurality of radially-arranged touch regions, wherein the touch-sensitive array detects user touches at the regions of the first zone. The processor communicates with the touch-sensitive array, and distinguishes between various user input types for each region of the first zone. The processor generates an output that is a character associated with the input type. The communication module transmits the output to the separate digital device. The casing substantially houses the processor, the communication module and the touch-sensitive array.
28 Citations
25 Claims
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1. An apparatus that receives gesture-based touch inputs from a user to provide keyboard functionality, via a limited number of input regions, to a separate digital device, the apparatus comprising:
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a touch-sensitive array that defines a first zone with a plurality of radially-arranged touch regions, wherein the touch-sensitive array detects user touches at the regions of the first zone; a processor in communication with the touch-sensitive array, wherein the processor distinguishes between various user input types for each region of the first zone, including; a first input type for a user tap on a region of the first zone; a second input type for a user touch on the region of the first zone followed by a swipe in the counterclockwise direction to an adjacent touch region and a touch release; and a third input type for a user touch on the region of the first zone followed by a swipe in the clockwise direction to an adjacent touch region and a touch release; wherein the processor generates an output that is a character associated with the input type; a communication module that transmits the output to the digital device; and a casing that substantially houses the touch-sensitive array, the processor, and the communication module. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method for providing keyboard functionality, via a limited number of input regions, to a separate digital device, by receiving gesture-based touch inputs from a user, the method comprising the steps of:
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determining a user touch and release at a first touch region of a first zone on a touch sensitive array to be a first input type; determining a user touch at the first touch region of the first zone and a transition to and release from a second region of the first zone on the touch sensitive array to be a second input type; determining a user touch at the first touch region of the first zone and a transition to and release from a region of a second zone on the touch sensitive array to be a third input type, wherein the second zone is arranged wholly within the first zone; determining a user touch and release at the touch region of the second zone on the touch sensitive array to be a fourth input type; generating an output that is a character, wherein the character is associated with the determined input type; and transmitting the output to the digital device. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification