FORCE INDICATION OF A BOUNDARY

• US 20160239085A1
• Filed: 02/18/2015
• Published: 08/18/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/18/2015
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Lenovo Singapore Pte Limited (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Lenovo Singapore Pte Limited (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Inventors: Qian, Ming, Kelso, Scott Edwards, Nicholson, John Weldon, Perrin, Steven Richard
• Application Number:
  US14/625,379
• Publication Number:
  US 20160239085A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/163 Wearable computers, e.g. on a belt
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/014 Force feedback applied to GUI
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/033 Pointing devices displaced or positioned by the user , e.g. mice, trackballs, pens or joysticks; Accessories therefor digitisers characterised by the transducing means G06F3/041
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04812 Interaction techniques based on cursor appearance or behaviour, e.g. being affected by the presence of displayed objects

Abstract

For force identification of a boundary, code detects an attention area on a display intersecting a boundary of the display. In addition the code provides a force indication through a feedback device in response to detecting the attention area intersecting the boundary.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a display;

a feedback device;

a processor;

a memory that stores code executable by the processor, the code comprising;

code that detects an attention area on the display intersecting a boundary of the display; and

code that provides a force indication through the feedback device in response to detecting the attention area intersecting the boundary.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the attention area is one or more of a cursor, a visual area of interest, a pointing device physical position, a pointing device virtual position, and a user position.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the feedback device is embodied in a pointing device that generates the attention area.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein detecting intersecting the boundary comprises one or more of detecting approaching within a boundary buffer distance of the boundary, detecting crossing the boundary, and detecting being located on the boundary.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the force indication comprises an asymmetric signal applied to the feedback device.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the feedback device is a tactile actuator.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the feedback device is embodied in a wearable item and the feedback device provides the force indication by stiffening the wearable item.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the feedback device is selected from the group consisting of a piezoelectric actuator, a thermal actuator, and a mechanical actuator.

9. A method comprising:

detecting, by use of a processor, an attention area on a display intersecting a boundary of the display; and

providing a tactile indication through a feedback device in response to detecting the attention area intersecting the boundary.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the attention area is one or more of a cursor, a visual area of interest, a pointing device physical position, a pointing device virtual position, and a user position.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the feedback device is embodied in a pointing device that generates the attention area.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein detecting intersecting the boundary comprises one or more of detecting approaching within a boundary buffer distance of the boundary, detecting crossing the boundary, and detecting being located on the boundary.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the force indication comprises an asymmetric signal applied to the feedback device.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein the feedback device is a tactile actuator.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein the feedback device is embodied in a wearable item and the feedback device provides the force indication by stiffening the wearable item.

16. A program product comprising a computer readable storage medium that stores code executable by a processor, the executable code comprising code to perform:

detecting an attention area on a display intersecting a boundary of the display; and

providing a tactile indication through a feedback device in response to detecting the attention area intersecting the boundary.

17. The program product of claim 16, wherein the attention area is one or more of a cursor, a visual area of interest, a pointing device physical position, a pointing device virtual position, and a user position.

18. The program product of claim 16, wherein the feedback device is embodied in a pointing device that generates the attention area.

19. The program product of claim 16, wherein detecting intersecting the boundary comprises one or more of detecting approaching within a boundary buffer distance of the boundary, detecting crossing the boundary, and detecting being located on the boundary.

20. The program product of claim 16, wherein the force indication comprises an asymmetric signal applied to the feedback device.