HUMAN INTERFACE APPARATUS HAVING INPUT UNIT FOR POINTER LOCATION INFORMATION AND POINTER COMMAND EXECUTION UNIT

• US 20150227213A1
• Filed: 12/29/2012
• Published: 08/13/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/28/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Innopresso, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Innopresso, Inc.
• Inventors: Cho, Eunhyung
• Granted Patent: US 9,612,666 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/0381 Multimodal input, i.e. interface arrangements enabling the user to issue commands by simultaneous use of input devices of different nature, e.g. voice plus gesture on digitizer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0208 Arrangements for adjusting the tilt angle of a keyboard, e.g. pivoting legs for keyboards integrated in a laptop computer G06F1/1667
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/021 Arrangements integrating additional peripherals in a keyboard, e.g. card or barcode reader, optical scanner
• 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 3/0219 Special purpose keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0227 Cooperation and interconnection of the input arrangement with other functional units of a computer G06F3/023 - G06F3/037 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/023 Arrangements for converting discrete items of information into a coded form, e.g. arrangements for interpreting keyboard generated codes as alphanumeric codes, operand codes or instruction codes
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0233 Character input methods
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0304 Detection arrangements using opto-electronic means constructional details of pointing devices not related to the detection arrangement using opto-electronic means G06F3/033; optical digitisers G06F3/042
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03547 Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/038 Control and interface arrangements therefor, e.g. drivers or device-embedded control circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/044 by capacitive means

Abstract

A human interface apparatus comprising the steps of: receiving text input from a user; switching to input mode for pointing location information; receiving input for pointing location information from the user; and switching the human interface apparatus to a text input mode, wherein the text input area and the pointing location information input area have at least a part of the area in common.

Claims

1. A human interface device, comprising:

a text input unit comprising a plurality of physical buttons,

a pointer location information input unit configured to receive information related to a pointer location from a user,

a pointer execution command receiving unit configured to receive a command of the user to perform at least one function at the pointer location,

a first mode shift unit configured to activate and deactivate a pointer location information input mode, and

a pointer location information transmitting unit configured to transmit the information related to the pointer location, which is inputted to the pointer location information input unit, to a digital device being connected to the human interface device via wired or wireless connection,

wherein a pointer location information input area of the pointer location information input unit is located to be parallel to an upper surface of at least a portion of a text input area of the text input unit, which comprises the plurality of physical buttons, wherein the first mode shift unit is operated by a first input of the user being inputted via a first button, and the pointer execution command receiving unit is operated by a second input of the user being inputted via the first button.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the pointer location information input unit comprises an optical emitter and a camera, and wherein an optical signal being received by the camera passes through a light tunnel.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the first mode shift unit is provided at an area separate from the text input area of the text input device.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the first mode shift unit is located at a left side portion outside of the text input area of the text input device, and, wherein, by recognizing that a user input is being received by the first mode shift unit, the first mode shift unit transmits a signal indicating that the pointer location information input mode is activated to the first mode shift command receiving unit.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the physical button is configured of an upper portion of a button receiving a pressure from the user'"'"'s finger, and an elastic body applying a physical force so as to allow the upper portion of the button to return to its initial position, when the pressure of the user'"'"'s finger is released.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the human interface device is provided with a reflector reflecting or an absorber absorbing a light source being generated from the pointer location information input unit on a left side, a right side, and an upper portion of the text input area and is not provided with at least one portion on a lower portion of the text input area.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein at least two sensor modules of the pointer location information input unit are positioned so that at least a portion of each sensor module is included in lower portions of an outer left side area and an outer right side area of the text input area.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein at least two sensor modules of the pointer location information input unit are positioned on an outer lower area of the text input area, so as to be narrower than a width of the text input area.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the first input of the user corresponds to a switch recognizing a touch of the user, or a switch being operated by a pressure that is smaller than a pressure for inputting the pointer execution command, or a switch being operated by a light that is blocked by the user'"'"'s hand.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein the first mode shift unit activates the pointer location information input mode, while a user input is maintained, and wherein the first mode shift unit deactivates the pointer location information input mode when the user input is released.

11. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

a second mode shift unit configured to activate or deactivate the pointer location information input mode, each time a user input is received.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein, while being operated in the pointer location information input mode by the second mode shift unit, when an input is received by the first mode shift unit and then released, the pointer location information input mode is deactivated.

13. The device of claim 11, wherein, while being operated in the pointer location information input mode by the second mode shift unit, when a text input is received, the pointer location information input mode is deactivated.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein, while being operated in the pointer location information input mode by the second mode shift unit, when a text input is received, at least a first text input is disregarded, and, when at least two or more text inputs are received, the mode is shifted to a text input mode.

15. The device of claim 13, wherein, when at least two or more text inputs are received, and when the mode is shifted to the text input mode, a multi human interface device transmits a text input of the user including a disregarded at least first text to a digital device and transmits text input information that is subsequently being inputted to the digital device.

16. The device of claim 11, wherein a second mode shift is performed by a third input of the user, the third input being inputted to a second button, and wherein a pointer execution command is received by a fourth input of the user, the fourth input being inputted to the second button.

17. A method for transmitting a user input of a human interface device to a digital device, comprising the steps of:

receiving, by a text input unit, a text input of a user, the text input unit comprising a plurality of physical buttons,

receiving, by a pointer location information input unit, information related to a pointer location from the user,

receiving, by a pointer execution command receiving unit, a signal from a pointer execution command unit which receives a command of the user to perform at least one function at the pointer location,

receiving, by a mode shift command receiving unit, a signal from a mode shift unit which activates a pointer location information input mode,

supplying power to the pointer location information input unit and the pointer execution command receiving unit and the mode shift command receiving unit, and

transmitting the information related to the pointer location, which is inputted to the pointer location information input unit, to a digital device being connected to the human interface device via wired or wireless connection,

wherein a pointer location information input area of the pointer location information input unit is located to be parallel to an upper surface of at least a portion of a text input area of the text input unit, which comprises the plurality of physical buttons,

wherein the mode shift command receiving unit is operated by a first input of the user being inputted via a first button, and the pointer execution command receiving unit is operated by a second input of the user being inputted via the first button.