FLOATING SOFT TRIGGER FOR TOUCH DISPLAYS ON ELECTRONIC DEVICE

• US 20160179337A1
• Filed: 12/17/2014
• Published: 06/23/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Datalogic USA, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Datalogic Adc, Inc. (Datalogic S.p.A.)
• Inventors: Ballesteros, Elva Martinez, Burke, Thomas
• Granted Patent: US 11,567,626 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04801 Cursor retrieval aid, i.e. visual aspect modification, blinking, colour changes, enlargement or other visual cues, for helping user do find the cursor in graphical user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04804 Transparency, e.g. transparent or translucent windows
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/048 Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04886 by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06028 using bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 30/142 using hand-held instruments; Constructional details of the instruments
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/10 Human or animal bodies, e.g. vehicle occupants or pedestrians; Body parts, e.g. hands

Abstract

A portable electronic device having a touch screen with a floating soft trigger icon for enabling various functions of the electronic device, such as bar code reading, capturing RFID data, capturing video and images, calling applications, and/or placing phone calls. The floating trigger icon is displayed on the touch screen to enable easy identification and access of the trigger icon. The trigger icon may be selected via application of various unique control gestures to configure the electronic device. Based on the selected mode or function of the device, the trigger icon may alter its appearance to facilitate use of the device. The operation and functionality of the trigger icon may be programmed to customize operation of the device.

Claims

1. An electronic device comprising:

a housing adapted for handheld operation;

a touch screen supported on the housing and configured to display information thereon, the touch screen including a touch screen surface having one or more sensors configured to detect an application of one or more unique control gestures on the touch screen surface, the touch screen having a first touch screen region and a different second touch screen region; and

a floating trigger icon displayed on the first touch screen region, wherein the floating trigger icon is selectable to configure an action of the electronic device by applying a first unique control gesture to the first touch screen region at which the floating trigger icon is displayed.

2. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the floating trigger icon overlays at least a portion of the information displayed on the first touch screen region.

3. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the floating trigger icon is movable from the first touch screen region to the second touch screen region by applying a second unique control gesture to the first touch screen region at which the floating trigger icon is displayed.

4. The electronic device of claim 3, wherein, when the floating trigger icon is moved to the second touch screen region, the floating trigger icon is selectable by applying the first unique control gesture to the second touch screen region at which the floating trigger icon is displayed.

5. The electronic device of claim 1, further comprising:

a data capture engine associated with a set of decoding instructions, wherein activation of the data capture engine is associated with the floating trigger icon; and

a processing subsystem in communication with the data capture engine and the one or more sensors of the touch screen surface, wherein, in response to detecting application of the first unique control gesture, the processing subsystem configures the electronic device with the data capture engine for capturing data via the electronic device.

6. The electronic device of claim 5, wherein the data capture engine includes any one of:

a barcode reading engine, an RFID reading engine, or an image capturing engine.

7. The electronic device of claim 1, further comprising:

a plurality of data capture engines each associated with a set of decoding instructions, wherein activation of each of the plurality of data capture engines is associated with a unique control gesture applied to the first touch screen region at which the floating trigger icon is displayed; and

a processing subsystem in communication with the data capture engine and the one or more sensors of the touch screen surface, wherein, in response to detecting application of a selected one of the unique control gestures, the processing subsystem configures the electronic device with the corresponding one of the plurality of data capture engines for capturing data via the electronic device.

8. The electronic device of claim 7, wherein the plurality of data capture engines includes one or more of a barcode reading engine, an RFID reading engine, and an image capturing engine.

9. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the floating trigger icon is configured to change from a first graphic appearance to a different second graphic appearance in response to application of the first unique control gesture.

10. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the information displayed on the touch screen includes one or more of:

textual information, images, icons, and video.

11. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the floating trigger icon is transparent so as to partially obscure the information displayed on the first touch screen region when the floating trigger icon is positioned on the first touch screen region.

12. The electronic device of claim 1, further comprising an accelerometer coupled to the housing and configured to detect a physical movement of the electronic device, wherein the floating trigger icon is moveable from the first touch screen region to a different third region of the touch screen in response to the accelerometer detecting physical movement of the electronic device.

13. The electronic device of claim 1, further comprising a display controller configured to:

determine pixel usage of the touch screen based on the information displayed on the touch screen;

identify a home region on the touch screen for the floating trigger icon based on the pixel usage; and

position the floating trigger icon at the home region on the touch screen.

14. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the floating trigger icon is further selectable to configure a virtual joystick of the electronic device by applying a second unique control gesture to the first touch screen region at which the floating trigger icon is displayed.

15. The electronic device of claim 14, wherein the virtual joystick includes a plurality of joystick actions, wherein each joystick action of the plurality of joystick actions is selectable by applying a selected control gesture from a group of unique control gestures to further configure the electronic device.

16. The electronic device of claim 15, wherein the plurality of joystick actions includes one or more data reader modes that may be enabled and activated via the virtual joystick.

17. The electronic device of claim 14, wherein the virtual joystick includes one or more virtual indicator lights for indicating a result of an action performed via the virtual joystick.

18. The electronic device of claim 14, wherein the information on the screen is hidden and not visible when the virtual joystick action is configured.

19. A method of capturing data with an electronic device having a touch screen the method comprising:

displaying, by the electronic device, a floating trigger icon on a first region of the touch screen of the electronic device;

associating, by a processing system, a unique control gesture with the floating trigger icon, the unique control gesture configuring a data capturing action of the electronic device;

detecting, by the electronic device, application of the unique control gesture on at the first region of the touch screen at which the floating trigger icon is displayed;

determining, by the processing system, the data capturing action that corresponds with the unique control gesture;

configuring, by the processing system, the electronic device to perform the data capturing action; and

triggering, by the processing system, the data capturing action.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the floating trigger icon overlays at least a portion of information displayed on the first region of the touch screen

21. The method of claim 19, further comprising altering a graphic appearance of the floating trigger icon in response to the processing system triggering the data capturing action.

22. The method of claim 19, wherein the information displayed on the touch screen includes one or more of:

textual information, images, icons, and video.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the floating trigger icon is transparent so as to partially obscure the information displayed on the first region of the touch screen when the floating trigger icon is positioned on the first region of the touch screen.

24. The method of claim 19, further comprising moving the floating trigger icon from the first region on the touch screen to a different second region on the touch screen in response to application of a first control gesture on the touch screen.

25. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

determining, via a control system, pixel usage of the touch screen based on the information displayed on the touch screen;

identifying, via the control system, a home region on the touch screen for the floating trigger icon based on the pixel usage; and

positioning, via the control system, the floating trigger icon at the home region on the touch screen.

26. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

detecting, via an accelerometer, a physical movement of the electronic device;

repositioning, via a control system, the floating trigger icon on the touch screen in response to physical movement of the electronic device.

27. The method of claim 19, further comprising indicating, by the electronic device, whether the data capture action has been performed.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the step of indicating the data capture has been performed includes altering a graphic appearance of the floating trigger icon.

29. The method of claim 19, further comprising configuring a virtual joystick of the electronic device in response to detecting a second unique control gesture applied at the first region of the touch screen at which the floating trigger icon is displayed.

30. The method of claim 29, further comprising:

associating one or more data capture modes with the virtual joystick;

detecting selection of one of the one or more data capture modes; and

configuring, by the processing system, the electronic device with the data capture mode.

31. The method of claim 30, further comprising:

triggering, via the virtual joystick, the data capture mode; and

indicating, via the virtual joystick, a result of the data capture mode.