ELECTRONIC DEVICE AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING SAME

• US 20120274578A1
• Filed: 04/26/2011
• Published: 11/01/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Snow, Christopher Harris, Almalki, Nazih, Oliver, Robert George
• Application Number:
  US13/094,458
• Publication Number:
  US 20120274578A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/014 Force feedback applied to GUI
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0416 Control or interface arrangements specially adapted for digitisers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures

Abstract

A method includes determining a time between selections utilizing a touch-sensitive display, identifying a tactile feedback based on the time, and providing the tactile feedback in response to a subsequent selection utilizing the touch-sensitive display.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

determining a time between selections utilizing a touch-sensitive display;

identifying a tactile feedback based on the time;

providing the tactile feedback in response to a subsequent selection utilizing the touch-sensitive display.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein identifying the tactile feedback comprises identifying one of a plurality of tactile and wherein the length of time to charge and discharge the actuator differs between the tactile feedback.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein identifying the tactile feedback comprises identifying one of a plurality of tactile feedbacks and wherein the maximum force imparted by an actuator on the touch-sensitive display differs between the tactile feedbacks.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein determining the time comprises determining an average time between selections.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein identifying the tactile feedback comprises identifying a first tactile feedback when the time does not meet a threshold and identifying a second tactile feedback when the time meets the threshold.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein identifying the tactile feedback comprises comparing the time to at least two threshold values and identifying the tactile feedback based on which of the at least two threshold values are met.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein providing the tactile feedback comprises actuating an actuator to impart a force on the touch-sensitive display.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the period of time during which the tactile feedback is provided is dependent on the time between selections.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the tactile feedback comprises simulation of collapse of a dome switch.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the period of time during which actuation is simulated is dependent on the time between selections.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein determining the time between selections comprises determining the time between successive selections by determining the period of time between meeting a threshold force for a first selection and meeting the threshold force for a second selection.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein determining the time between selections comprises determining a representative time based on a plurality of selections.

13. The method according to claim 1, wherein determining the time between selections comprises determining an average time based on a plurality of selections.

14. The method according to claim 1, wherein the time between selections is determined when a threshold number of time values are collected.

15. The method according to claim 1, wherein identifying the tactile feedback comprises identifying one of a plurality of tactile feedbacks.

16. The method according to claim 1, wherein a force imparted by an actuator to provide the tactile feedback is dependent on the time between selections.

17. The method according to claim 1, wherein a force imparted by an actuator to provide the tactile feedback decreases with decreasing time between selections.

18. The method according to claim 1, wherein the time during which force is imparted by an actuator to provide the tactile feedback decreases with decreasing time between selections.

19. A computer-readable medium having computer-readable code executable by at least one processor of the electronic device to perform the method of claim 1.

20. An electronic device comprising:

a touch-sensitive display;

at least one actuator arranged to impart force on the touch-sensitive display to provide at least one tactile feedback;

at least one processor operably coupled to the touch-sensitive display and to the actuator to determine time between selections utilizing the touch-sensitive display, identify the tactile feedback based on the time, and provide the tactile feedback in response to a subsequent selection utilizing the touch-sensitive display.