MULTI-MODAL USER INPUT DEVICE
First Claim
1. A user input device for an electronic device, comprising:
- a base member;
a sensor touchpad module disposed above the base member, the sensor touchpad module comprising a sensor touchpad having a touchable surface;
a plurality of pressure sensors disposed between the base member and the sensor touchpad module; and
a processor, communicatively coupled to the plurality of sensors, the processor configured to manage a set of user input modes based on whether at least one of a first set of signals associated with a first user input mode and a second set of signals associated with a second user input mode has been detected.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A user input device, a portable electronic device including the user input device, and an operating method therefor, manages multiple modes of the user input device based on detected force and direction of tilt. The user input device includes a base member with top surface. A sensor touchpad module is disposed above the top surface of the base member. A plurality of pressure sensors is disposed between the base member and the sensor touchpad module. A processor manages a set of user input modes based on whether at least one of a first set of signals associated with a first user input mode and a second set of signals associated with a second user input mode has been detected.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. A user input device for an electronic device, comprising:
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a base member; a sensor touchpad module disposed above the base member, the sensor touchpad module comprising a sensor touchpad having a touchable surface; a plurality of pressure sensors disposed between the base member and the sensor touchpad module; and a processor, communicatively coupled to the plurality of sensors, the processor configured to manage a set of user input modes based on whether at least one of a first set of signals associated with a first user input mode and a second set of signals associated with a second user input mode has been detected. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method of using a sensor touchpad module, the sensor touchpad module having a touchable surface, the method comprising:
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detecting, with a processor coupled to at least one contact element and a plurality of sensors, a first set of signals; prior to detecting the first set of signals; if the sensor touchpad module is operating in a first user input mode, maintaining the first user input mode; if the sensor touchpad module is operating in a second user input mode deactivating the second user input mode and activating the first user input mode; and monitoring for at least one gesture traversing at least one direction on the touchable surface of the sensor touchpad module; in response to detecting the first set of signals; deactivating the first user input mode and activating the second user input mode; receiving a second set of signals associated with the second user input mode in response to activating the second user input mode; and determining at least a direction of tilt of the sensor touchpad module based on the second set of signals. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A computer program product for operating a user input device, the computer program product comprising:
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a computer readable storage medium having computer readable program code embodied therewith, the computer readable program code comprising instructions for; detecting, with a processor coupled to at least one contact element and a plurality of sensors, if a first set of signals has been detected; prior to detecting the first set of signals; if a sensor touchpad module is operating in a first user input mode, maintaining the first user input mode; if the sensor touchpad module is operating in a second user input mode deactivating the second user input mode and activating the first user input mode; and monitoring for at least one gesture traversing at least one direction on a touchable surface of the sensor touchpad module; in response to detecting the first set of signals, deactivating the first user input mode and activating the second user input mode; receiving a second set of signals associated with the second user input mode in response to activating the second user input mode; and determining at least a direction of tilt of the sensor touchpad module based on the second set of signals. - View Dependent Claims (24)
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25. A portable electronic device, comprising:
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a processor; a memory, communicatively coupled to the processor, configured to store information operated upon by the processor; and a user input device, comprising; a base member; a sensor touchpad module disposed above the base member, the sensor touchpad module comprising a sensor touchpad having a touchable surface; a plurality of pressure sensors disposed between the base member and the sensor touchpad module; a vertical dome-shaped member disposed between the top surface of the base member and the bottom surface of the sensor touchpad module, a peak point of a dome of the vertical dome-shaped member at a location substantially corresponding to a location on a center axis of the sensor touchpad; and a processor, communicatively coupled to the plurality of sensors, the processor configured to manage a set of user input modes based on whether at least one of a first set of signals associated with a first user input mode and a second set of signals associated with a second user input mode has been detected, the at least one of the first set of signals being generated based on a displacement of a contact element associated with the vertical dome-shaped member.
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Specification