Method and system for using a keyboard overlay with a touch-sensitive display screen

• US 6,880,998 B2
• Filed: 05/20/2004
• Issued: 04/19/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Kraus, Mark Gerard, Nguyen, Vu Xuan, Shetter, Martin
• Primary Examiner(s): Nolan, Jr., Charles H.
• Application Number:
  US10/850,159
• Publication Number:
  US 20040212598A1
• Time in Patent Office: 334 Days
• Field of Search: 400/714, 400/489, 400/472
• US Class Current: 400/714
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 5/102 Keyboard overlays
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04809 Textured surface identifying touch areas, e.g. overlay structure for a virtual keyboard
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0224 Key guide holders
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0238 Programmable keyboards key guide holders G06F3/0224
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04886 by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus

Abstract

Disclosed is a “keyboard overlay” that sits on top of a touch-sensitive display screen of a computing device. After aligning the overlay on the display screen, the user types on the overlay. When the user presses a key on the overlay, the pressure is transmitted to the display screen below. That pressure is registered by the display screen as a touch. The keyboard overlay is formed to provide tactile finger-position feedback so that a user can keep his fingers oriented properly over the keyboard. The overlay may be opaque with keycap information displayed in the key areas. The overlay may be transparent, allowing a user to see a virtual keyboard painted on the display screen below. The computing device can detect the presence and type of an overlay. Applications may respond differently to different types of overlays. Different applications may be invoked depending upon the type of overlay detected.

Claims

1. A computing system adapted for use with a keyboard overlay, the computing system comprising:

a touch-sensitive display screen;

a connector for removably connecting a keyboard overlay to the computing system; and

a keyboard overlay detector for detecting a presence or absence of a keyboard overlay,

wherein the keyboard overlay detector is adapted for reading a type identifier of a keyboard overlay, and

wherein the keyboard overlay detector is further adapted for supplying power to an electronic component of a keyboard overlay and for reading a keyboard overlay type identifier from the electronic component.

2. The computing system of claim 1 wherein the connector comprises, at least in part, an alignment mechanism for aligning a keyboard overlay with the touch-sensitive display screen.

3. The computing system of claim 1 further comprising a storage space for a keyboard overlay when not in use.

4. The computing system of claim 2 wherein the connector comprises, at least in part, the keyboard overlay detector.

5. The computing system of claim 1 further comprising a utility program for communicating with the keyboard overlay detector and for alerting applications to a presence or absence of a keyboard overlay.

6. The computing system of claim 1 further comprising a utility program for communicating with the keyboard overlay detector and for alerting applications to a type of a keyboard overlay.