Electronic equipment interface with command preselection indication

• US 6,574,083 B1
• Filed: 04/10/2001
• Issued: 06/03/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/04/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Synaptics Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Allen M. Krass, John G. Posa
• Inventors: Krass, Allen M., Posa, John G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tso, Edward H.
• Application Number:
  US09/829,752
• Time in Patent Office: 784 Days
• Field of Search: 341/20, 341/21, 341/22, 341/176, 341/133, 348/162, 348/163, 348/164, 361/114, 361/115
• US Class Current: 361/115
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0489 using dedicated keyboard keys or combinations thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04895 Guidance during keyboard input operation, e.g. prompting
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/00 Arrangements for transmitting signals characterised by the use of a wireless electrical link
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/807 characterised by the spatial arrangement of the contact sites, e.g. superimposed sites
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2217/032 Feedback about selected symbol, e.g. display
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2225/002 superimposed
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2225/018 Consecutive operations
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 9/0235 specially adapted for remote control, e.g. of audio or video apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42204 User interfaces specially adapted for controlling a client device through a remote control device; Remote control devices therefor constructive details of casings for the remote control device H01H9/0235; user interfaces for controlling a tuning device of a television receiver through a remote control H03J9/00; remote control of peripheral devices connected to a television receiver through the remote control device of the television receiver H04B1/205
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42221 Transmission circuitry, e.g. infrared [IR] or radio frequency [RF]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42222 Additional components integrated in the remote control device, e.g. timer, speaker, sensors for detecting position, direction or movement of the remote control, microphone or battery charging device
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4316 for displaying supplemental content in a region of the screen, e.g. an advertisement in a separate window
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications

Abstract

A user input having a first mode of operation relating to the entry of a command is indicated on a display device prior to the actual execution of the command, after which a second mode of operation may be entered wherein the command is actually executed using the displayed information for confirmation purposes. In a preferred embodiment, the user input device takes the form of a hand-held remote-control unit, and the display is a television monitor. In this case, the invention is operative to determine the position of a user'"'"'s finger relative to one or more keys of the keypad on the remote-control unit, and display, on the TV monitor, information relating to the user'"'"'s relative position. For example, the display might show textual information relating to the pushbutton in closest proximity to the user'"'"'s finger or, alternatively, the display may show a graphical representation of at least a portion of the keypad, along with an icon that moves relative to the graphical display in relation to movements made by the user. Embodiments of the invention facilitating use with conventional pieces of equipment such as television receivers are also disclosed.

Claims

1. Reduced-error command-entry apparatus for use with a display device, comprising:

a hand-held remote control unit physically separate from the display device, the remote unit including a keypad having a plurality of keys, wherein at least one of the keys is coupled to first and second electrical switches, with the first switch being used to confirm the identity of a command associated with that key, and the second switch being used to execute that command; and

a physically separate associated unit in electrical communication with the display device, the associated unit including display generation circuitry operative to display, upon activation of the first switch, a visual representation of at least a portion of the keypad, including the key coupled to the first and second switches, enabling a user to confirm the identity of the command prior to the activation of the second switch.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the display device forms part of a television.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein key coupled to the first and second switches is a numerical key.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first switch is a touch sensor on the surface of the key.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second switch is activated by a continued depression of the key.

6. The reduced-error command-entry apparatus of claim 1, further including the generation of a first wireless signal to the associated unit for displaying the visual representation and a second first wireless signal for executing the command.