Touch-sensitive keyboard/mouse

• US 5,982,302 A
• Filed: 03/07/1994
• Issued: 11/09/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Michael J Ure
• Original Assignee: Michael J Ure
• Inventors: Ure, Michael J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Swarthout, Brent A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MANNAVA, ASHOK K
• Application Number:
  US08/207,469
• Time in Patent Office: 2,073 Days
• Field of Search: 178/18, 178/19, 345/172, 345/173, 345/163, 341/20, 341/21, 341/22-24, 341/32-34
• US Class Current: 341/22
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04808 Several contacts: gestures triggering a specific function, e.g. scrolling, zooming, right-click, when the user establishes several contacts with the surface simultaneously; e.g. using several fingers or a combination of fingers and pen
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03547 Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text

Abstract

A combination keyboard/mouse is realized using a touch-sensitive member. The touch-sensitive member (or an area of a larger touch-sensitive member) may be approximately the size of a business card (2"×3.5"). Data obtained from a touch sensor array is software manipulated to achieve a simple, powerful method of user interaction in which the traditional keyboard and mouse disappear, being replaced by a display window (manipulable like other display windows) overlaid by the touch sensor array. The resulting input window allows for realization of a sketch-pad computer having essentially no external moving parts but providing keyboard/mouse interaction (as opposed to pen-only interaction, for example). The window need not obscure underlying text and graphics but need only delineate its extent. The keyboard/mouse may instead be housed in a housing in the same manner as a conventional mouse.

Claims

1. Using an input device having a touch-sensitive stationary member, a method of interacting with a computer having a display and displaying an icon, the method comprising the step of:

moving a fingertip across said member while a user'"'"'s thumb is applied to said member; and

sensing said fingertip and said thumb by means of said touch-sensitive stationary member in order to drag said icon across said display.

2. Using an input device having a touch-sensitive stationary member, a method of interacting with a computer having a display and displaying a cursor, the method comprising the steps of:

moving a fingertip across said member in order to cause said cursor to moved across said display; and

varying a distance said cursor is moved across said display in response to a distance said fingertip is moved across said member in accordance with whether one or more than one fingertip is moved across said member.

3. A method of inputting characters into a computer using a touch-sensitive member, comprising:

touching different numbers of fingers to the touch-sensitive member to represent different characters;

sensing a number of fingers touched to the touch-sensitive member; and

responsive to said sensing, producing a binary representation of respective ones of said different characters.

4. A method of inputting characters into a computer using a touch-sensitive member, comprising:

touching different combinations of fingers to the touch-sensitive member to represent different characters;

sensing a combination of fingers touched to the touch-sensitive member; and

responsive to said sensing, producing a binary representation of respective ones of said different characters.

5. The method of claim 4, comprising the further steps of:

at a first time, touching a predetermined combination of fingers to the touch-sensitive member;

sensing and storing positions of said predetermined combination of fingers touched to the touch-sensitive member; and

using said positions for determining, from among different possible combinations of fingers, a combination of fingers touched to the touch-sensitive member at a second time.

6. The method of claim 5, comprising the further step of:

producing a binary representation of a space in response to said predetermined combination of fingers.

7. A method of inputting characters into a computer using a touch-sensitive member, comprising:

touching different numbers and combinations of fingers to the touch-sensitive member to represent different characters;

sensing a number and a combination of fingers touched to the touch-sensitive member; and

responsive to said sensing, producing a binary representation of respective ones of said different characters.

8. A touch-sensitive apparatus for inputting characters into a computer, comprising:

a touch-sensitive member;

means for sensing a number of fingers touched to the touch-sensitive member; and

means, responsive to said sensing, for producing a binary representation of respective ones of said characters.

9. A touch-sensitive apparatus for inputting characters into a computer, comprising:

a touch-sensitive member;

means for sensing a combination of fingers touched to the touch-sensitive member; and

means, responsive to said sensing, for producing a binary representation of respective ones of said characters.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising:

means for sensing and storing positions of a predetermined combination of fingers touched to the touch-sensitive member at a first time; and

means for using said positions for determining, from among different possible combinations of fingers, a combination of fingers touched to the touch-sensitive member at a second time.

11. A touch-sensitive apparatus for inputting characters into a computer, comprising:

a touch-sensitive member;

means for sensing a number and a combination of fingers touched to the touch-sensitive member; and

means, responsive to said sensing, for producing a binary representation of respective ones of said characters.

12. A computer input device for inputting characters into a computer, comprising:

touch-responsive means for producing a signal in response to movement of a user'"'"'s fingertips, said touch-responsive means being void of visual indications indicating distinct keys; and

means responsive to said signal for producing a binary representation of respective ones of said characters.

13. A computer input device, comprising:

a touch-sensitive member;

means coupled to said touch-sensitive member and operative in a first mode of operation for producing a position-related signal responsive to movement of a user'"'"'s fingertip across the member;

means coupled to said touch-sensitive member and operative in a second mode of operation for sensing at least one of

     1) a number of fingers touched to the touch-sensitive member, and

     2) a combination of fingers touched to the touch-sensitive member; and

means, responsive to said sensing and operative in said second mode of operation, for producing a binary representation of an input character.

14. A computer input method using a touch-sensitive member, comprising the steps of:

in a first mode of operation, producing a position-related signal responsive to movement of a user'"'"'s fingertip across the member;

in a second mode of operation, sensing at least one of

     1) a number of fingers touched to the touch-sensitive member, and

     2) a combination of fingers touched to the touch-sensitive member; and

in said second mode of operation, producing a binary representation of an input character responsive to said sensing.