Input device that analyzes acoustical signatures

• US 6,525,717 B1
• Filed: 12/17/1999
• Issued: 02/25/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Tang, Denny Duan-lee
• Primary Examiner(s): Shalwala, Bipin
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Jimmy H.
• Application Number:
  US09/465,746
• Time in Patent Office: 1,166 Days
• Field of Search: 345/177, 345/173, 345/773, 345/168, 345/169, 178/18.04
• US Class Current: 345/177
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0202 Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the input device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0236 using selection techniques to select from displayed items
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/043 using propagating acoustic waves

Abstract

A virtual input device uses the acoustical signature of the user'"'"'s fingers to determine which character is selected. Rows of acoustical sensors having different acoustical properties are spaced in the vertical direction. When a user touches a specific row with a particular finger a unique acoustical signature is produced. The acoustical signature is analyzed to determine the finger used, the row, and the specific action by the finger, e.g. slide, press, tap. The combinations of the row, finger and action define the character selected. The characters are associated with the combinations in such a way to provide a traditional keyboard setup. Visual feedback of the character selected is provided by a display device of the system.

Claims

1. An alpha-numeric character entry device comprising:

a plurality of substantially parallel, spaced rows of acoustic sensors, each of said acoustic sensors being associated with a set of alpha-numeric characters, at least one of said acoustic sensors receiving an input alpha-numeric character characterized by an acoustical signature, said acoustical signature corresponding to a specific alpha-numeric character of said set associated with said at least one acoustic sensor, each of said sensors having an output which provides an electrical signal representative of said input;

a signal processor operatively connected to said output; and

a display for displaying at least one set of characters associated with at least one acoustic sensor, said input alpha-numeric character and at least one previously input alpha-numeric character;

wherein said signal processor determines at least one spectral characteristic of said acoustical signature, determines which of said specific characters said acoustical signature corresponds to and the set of characters to which said specific character is a part of, and provides an output representative of said specific character corresponding with said acoustical signature and the set of characters to which said input character is a part of.

2. An alpha-numeric character entry device, as per claim 1, wherein said rows comprise at least four rows.

3. An alpha-numeric character entry device, as per claim 1, wherein said sets are chosen such that a traditional keyboard layout is provided.

4. An alpha-numeric character entry device, as per claim 1, wherein said time domain amplitude is utilized to determine pressure applied to said sensors.

5. An alpha-numeric character entry device, as per claim 4, further comprising,

said display device displaying said characters associated with a sensor when a first level of pressure is applied to said sensor,

said display device shadowing a character of said characters displayed when a second level of pressure is applied to said sensor

said display device highlighting said shadowed character when a third level of pressure is applied to said sensor.

6. An alpha-numeric character entry device, as per claim 5, wherein said third level of pressure is greater than said second level, said second level is greater than said first level.

7. An alpha-numeric character entry device, as per claim 1, wherein said frequency spectrum of said acoustical signature is utilized to determine said corresponding alpha-numeric character.

8. An alpha-numeric character entry device, as per claim 1, further comprising multiple modes of input.

9. An alpha-numeric character entry device, as per claim 8, wherein one of said multiple modes is a stylus mode.

10. An alpha-numeric character entry device, as per claim 1, further comprising hard-wired keys.