Apparatus and method for audible feedback from input device
First Claim
1. A method for developing different audible signals for different associated contacts made by a pointing device with a touch-sensitive surface of a computer input and cursor manipulation device, said computer input and cursor manipulation device having a non-mechanical electronic switch, actuated by contact of a pointing device with the touch-sensitive surface, to thereby emulate an audible mechanical switch, said method comprising the steps of:
- (a) developing an electrical signal in response to contact by the pointing device with the touch-sensitive surface, the electrical signal indicating actuation of the non-mechanical switch;
(b) storing associated electrical signals for subsequent sequential recall from a memory which stores said electrical signals as a touch function sequence;
(c) comparing a touch function sequence stored in the memory with a plurality of preselected touch function sequences, to identify which preselected sequence matches the stored touch function sequence, each of which is associated with a certain audible response signal;
(d) transmitting to a sound producing device the audible response signal associated with the identified preselected touch function sequence; and
(e) activating said sound producing device by the audible response signal to cause the sound producing device to generate a corresponding audible response.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for developing an audible feedback in the form of a response signal to a tapping motion, a gesture or a series of taps or gestures on an electronic touch-sensitive computer input device which uses an electronic switch having no mechanical switch component. In particular, the present invention is beneficial for a touch-sensitive input device a touch-pad or stylus and tablet because it is difficult for the user to know whether a tapping motion is perceived by the device'"'"'s sensing circuitry. The method is less than perfectly reliable because it is often difficult for the user to know whether sufficient pressure was applied to the touch-sensitive surface of the device, or whether contact was made for a sufficient amount of time. Consequently, the user must wait to see if the computer responds in the desired manner. If not, the user must repeat the motion. In order to overcome losing the benefit of an audible mechanical switch, the present invention provides an audible response signal which generates a sound for each individual tap or gesture only after the entire combination of taps or gestures is entered and a counter times out, after each individual tap or gesture, or a combination of the two methods. The apparatus of the present invention preferably includes a non-mechanical electronic touch- sensitive touch-pad or stylus and tablet, an associated processing device such as a computer, and a sound producing circuit coupled to the system.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A method for developing different audible signals for different associated contacts made by a pointing device with a touch-sensitive surface of a computer input and cursor manipulation device, said computer input and cursor manipulation device having a non-mechanical electronic switch, actuated by contact of a pointing device with the touch-sensitive surface, to thereby emulate an audible mechanical switch, said method comprising the steps of:
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(a) developing an electrical signal in response to contact by the pointing device with the touch-sensitive surface, the electrical signal indicating actuation of the non-mechanical switch; (b) storing associated electrical signals for subsequent sequential recall from a memory which stores said electrical signals as a touch function sequence; (c) comparing a touch function sequence stored in the memory with a plurality of preselected touch function sequences, to identify which preselected sequence matches the stored touch function sequence, each of which is associated with a certain audible response signal; (d) transmitting to a sound producing device the audible response signal associated with the identified preselected touch function sequence; and (e) activating said sound producing device by the audible response signal to cause the sound producing device to generate a corresponding audible response. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method for developing different audible signals for each contact made by a pointing device with a touch-sensitive surface of a computer input and cursor manipulation device, said computer input and cursor manipulation device having a non-mechanical electronic switch, actuated by contact of a pointing device with the touch-sensitive surface, to thereby emulate an audible mechanical switch, said method comprising the steps of:
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(a) developing an electrical signal in response to contact by the pointing device with the touch-sensitive surface, the electrical signal indicating actuation of the non-mechanical switch; (b) storing associated electrical signals for subsequent sequential recall from a memory which stores said electrical signals as a touch function sequence; (c) comparing a touch function sequence stored in the memory with a plurality of preselected touch function sequences, to identify which preselected sequence matches the stored touch function sequence, each of which is associated with a certain audible response signal; (d) transmitting to a sound producing device the audible response signal associated with the identified preselected touch function sequence; and (e) activating said sound producing device by the audible response signal to cause the sound producing device to generate a corresponding audible response. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method for developing different audible signals for each individual contact and for a related sequence of contacts made with a computer input and cursor manipulation device, said computer input and cursor manipulation device having a non-mechanical electronic switch actuated by contact with the touch-sensitive surface, to thereby emulate an audible mechanical switch, said method comprising the steps of:
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(a) developing an electrical signal when contact is made by the pointing device with the touch-sensitive surface, the electrical signal indicating actuation of the non-mechanical switch; (b) identifying what type of contact was made between the pointing device and the touch-sensitive surface as a touch function; (c) comparing the touch function to a plurality of preselected touch functions, to identify which of the plurality of preselected touch functions matches the touch function, each of which is associated with a certain audible response signal; (d) transmitting to a sound producing device the audible response signal associated with the identified preselected touch function; (e) activating said sound producing device by the audible response signal to cause the sound producing device to generate a corresponding audible response signal; (f) storing associated electrical signals for subsequent sequential recall from a memory which stores said electrical signals as a touch function sequence; (i) transmitting to a sound producing device the audible response signal associated with the identified preselected touch function sequence; and (j) activating said sound producing device by the audible response signal to cause the sound producing device to generate a corresponding audible response.
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16. A system for developing audible feedback indicating contact by a pointing device with a touch-sensitive surface of a computer input and cursor manipulation device, said computer input and cursor manipulation device having a non-mechanical switch actuated by contact of a pointing device with the touch-sensitive surface, to thereby emulate an audible mechanical switch, said computer input and cursor manipulation being comprised of:
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(a) means for sensing contact by the pointing device on the touch sensitive surface, and developing an electrical signal in response to said contact; (b) means for storing associated electrical signals in memory for sequential recall; (c) means for comparing the associated electrical signals stored in the memory to selectable electrical signal patterns to as to identify which electrical signal patterns were stored; (d) means for comparing the identified electrical signal pattern to preselected audible response signals so as to identify a corresponding audible response signal; and (e) means for generating the corresponding audible response signal. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification