Touch pad with tactile feature
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A radiotelephone with a touch pad having tactile features associated therewith, said radiotelephone comprising:
- a radiotelephone body having a face with a touch-pad surface thereon;
an array of snap domes arranged in predetermined spaced-apart alignment to contact said touch-pad surface;
a spacer sheet overlaying said snap dome array opposite said radiotelephone body, said spacer sheet including a plurality of apertures for receiving selected ones of said domes therein; and
a user input interface comprising a key and graphic entry pad overlaying said spacer sheet opposite said snap dome array, said entry pad including a plurality of key entry surfaces thereon, each of said plurality of key entry surfaces are aligned with respective ones of said domes received in said spacer sheet, wherein responsive to a user'"'"'s depression of one of said key entry surfaces said dome provides tactile affirmation of the selection to the user and relays the selection to said touch-pad surface.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A touch pad assembly for portable communication devices has a dual entry user interface surface and is configured to overlay a touch pad surface. The touch-pad assembly can operate in both a key entry and graphical (written) input mode via the same input surface. In the key entry mode, the touch-pad assembly provides tactile feedback to the user affirming the selected key input.
322 Citations
44 Claims
-
1. A radiotelephone with a touch pad having tactile features associated therewith, said radiotelephone comprising:
-
a radiotelephone body having a face with a touch-pad surface thereon; an array of snap domes arranged in predetermined spaced-apart alignment to contact said touch-pad surface; a spacer sheet overlaying said snap dome array opposite said radiotelephone body, said spacer sheet including a plurality of apertures for receiving selected ones of said domes therein; and a user input interface comprising a key and graphic entry pad overlaying said spacer sheet opposite said snap dome array, said entry pad including a plurality of key entry surfaces thereon, each of said plurality of key entry surfaces are aligned with respective ones of said domes received in said spacer sheet, wherein responsive to a user'"'"'s depression of one of said key entry surfaces said dome provides tactile affirmation of the selection to the user and relays the selection to said touch-pad surface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 37, 38, 39)
-
-
10. A portable communication device, comprising:
-
a device body having a face with a touch pad surface thereon; an array of snap domes arranged in spaced-apart alignment positioned on said body to contact said touch pad surface; a spacer sheet overlaying said snap dome array opposite said body;
said spacer sheet including a plurality of apertures, each of said apertures configured to receive a corresponding one of said domes therein; anda user input interface comprising a key and graphic entry pad overlaying said spacer sheet opposite said snap dome sheet, said entry pad including a plurality of key entry surfaces thereon, wherein each of said plurality of key entry surfaces are aligned with a respective one of said domes, wherein responsive to a user'"'"'s depression of one of said key entry surfaces, said respective dome travels a predetermined distance towards said touch pad surface to provide tactile affirmation of the selection to the user and relay the selection to the said touch pad surface. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 40)
-
-
21. A touch-pad assembly, comprising:
-
an array of protrusions having opposing top and bottom surfaces, said bottom surface configured to overlay and contact a touch-pad surface; a spacer sheet overlaying and contacting said array top surface, said spacer sheet including a plurality of apertures, each of said apertures configured and sized to receive at least one of said array of protrusions therein; and a user input interface comprising a key and graphic entry pad overlaying said spacer sheet opposite said array of protrusions, said entry pad including a plurality of key entry surfaces thereon, wherein said assembly is configured to engage with a touch-pad surface such that in response to a user'"'"'s depression of one of said key entry surfaces said assembly provides tactile affirmation of the selection to the user and relays the selection to the touch-pad surface. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 41, 42, 43)
-
-
30. A user interface for a touch pad surface, comprising:
a keypad assembly configured to overlay the touch pad surface and receive and relay input from a user, a key entry mode and a graphic entry mode, said keypad assembly comprising an entry surface configured to allow both key entry mode and graphic entry mode on the same input surface and having a plurality of tactile responsive input surfaces thereon, wherein each of said tactile input surfaces is associated with a key entry surface, and wherein said tactile input surfaces comprise areas of increased resistance such that a user receives tactile affirmation simulating a depressed key. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 44)
Specification