Digital information appliance input device

• US 6,909,424 B2
• Filed: 04/30/2002
• Issued: 06/21/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Gateway Incorporated (Acer, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Gateway Incorporated (Acer, Inc.)
• Inventors: Vossler, Stephen, Liebenow, Frank
• Primary Examiner(s): Osorio, Ricardo
• Application Number:
  US10/135,113
• Publication Number:
  US 20020118175A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,148 Days
• Field of Search: 345/156, 345168-170, 345/173, 345/705, 345/771, 345/773, 715/771, 715/773, 715/705
• US Class Current: 345/169
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1656 Details related to functional adaptations of the enclosure, e.g. to provide protection against EMI, shock, water, or to host detachable peripherals like a mouse or removable expansions units like PCMCIA cards, or to provide access to internal components for maintenance or to removable storage supports like CDs or DVDs, or to mechanically mount accessories mounting of accessories to a computer display G06F1/1607; display hoods G06F1/1603; cooling arrangements for portable computers G06F1/203
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1664 Arrangements for ergonomically adjusting the disposition of keys of the integrated keyboard
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1632 Pen holder integrated in the computer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0236 using selection techniques to select from displayed items
• 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

A digital information appliance comprises a housing having a display disposed on a first surface for displaying information to a user of the digital information appliance and an input device disposed on a second surface opposed to the first surface for imputing information. The input device is oriented with respect to the display so as to be operable by the fingers of the user'"'"'s hand for input of information while holding the housing so the display is viewable.

Claims

1. A method of aiding a user in entering information into a digital information appliance, wherein the digital information appliance includes a display disposed on a first surface and an input device disposed on a second surface, the second surface being generally opposed to the first surface, the method comprising:

displaying an indicia on the display for representing the position on the second surface of at least one key of the input device;

sensing a position of a user'"'"'s finger relative to the key prior to actuation of the key;

displaying a second indicia indicating the position of the finger;

sensing actuation of the key by the user pressing the key; and

changing an attribute of the displayed indicia for indicating that the key has been actuated by the user pressing the key.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

sensing an actuation of the key; and

displaying a second indicia on the display for indicating that the key as been actuated.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, comprising displaying the indicia as a semi-transparent image over the display.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

sensing an actuation of the key for inputting data associated with the key.

5. A program of instructions storable on a medium readable by a digital information appliance having a display disposed on a first surface and an input device disposed on a second surface, the second surface being generally opposed to the first surface, for causing the digital information appliance to execute steps for aiding a user in entering information into a digital information appliance via the input device, the steps comprising:

displaying an indicia on the display for representing the position on the second surface of at least one key of the input device;

sensing a position of a user'"'"'s finger relative to the key prior to actuation of the key;

displaying a second indicia indicating the position of the finger;

sensing an actuation of the key by the user pressing the key; and

changing an attribute of the displayed indicia for indicating that the key as been actuated by the user pressing the key.

6. The program of instructions as claimed in claim 5, further causing the digital information appliance to execute the steps of:

sensing an actuation of the key; and

advising a user of the digital information appliance that the key as been actuated.

7. The program of instructions as claimed in claim 5, further causing the digital information appliance to display the indicia as a semi-transparent image over the display.

8. The program of instructions as claimed in claim 5, further comprising:

sensing an actuation of the key for inputting data associated with the key.

9. A digital information appliance, comprising:

a housing having generally opposed first and second surfaces;

a processor disposed in said housing for executing a program of instructions on the digital information appliance;

a memory coupled to the processor for storing the program of instructions executable by the processor;

a display disposed on the first surface for displaying information to a user of the digital information appliance; and

an input device disposed on the second surface for inputting information, said input device being oriented so as to be operable by the user for input of information while the user is holding said housing so said display is viewable by the user;

wherein the program of instructions configures the digital information appliance to display indicia for indicating the position of at least one key of the input device on the display to aid the user in locating the key, sense a position of a user'"'"'s finger relative to the key prior to actuation of the key, display second indicia indicating the position of the finger,

sense an actuation of the key and change an attribute of the displayed indicia to advise a user of the digital information appliance that the key as been actuated by a user pressing the key.

10. The digital information appliance as claimed in claim 9, wherein the input device comprises a keyboard.

11. The digital information appliance as claimed in claim 9, wherein said keyboard comprises left and right key ranges oriented so the user may type thereon in an inverted orientation while holding said housing.

12. The digital information appliance as claimed in claim 11, wherein said keyboard comprises a QWERTY key configuration and wherein keys normally typed by the right hand are positioned in the right key range and keys normally typed by the left hand are positioned in the left key range so as to be generally in the natural QWERTY position relative the user'"'"'s fingers while holding said housing.

13. The digital information appliance as claimed in claim 9, further comprising at least one key disposed on at least one of the first surface and a side surface of the digital information appliance and positioned for actuation by a thumb of the user'"'"'s hand.

14. The digital information appliance as claimed in claim 9, wherein said input device comprises at least one touch sensitive panel, wherein said touch sensitive panel is configured to emulate keys of a keyboard and wherein the keys are divided into left and right key ranges oriented so the user may type thereon in an inverted orientation while holding said housing.

15. The digital information appliance as claimed in claim 9, wherein the program of instructions causes the digital information appliance to display the indicia as a semi-transparent image overlaying information displayed by the display.

16. The digital information appliance as claimed in claim 9, wherein the program of instructions configures the digital information appliance to sense an actuation of the key for inputting data associated with the key.

17. A method of aiding a user in entering information into a digital information appliance, wherein the digital information appliance includes a display disposed on a first surface and a input device having at least one key disposed on a second surface, the second surface being generally opposed to the first surface, the method comprising:

displaying an indicia on the display for representing the position on the second surface of the at least one key of the input device;

sensing a position of the fingers of the hand of a user of the digital information appliance relative to the at least one key of the input device prior to actuation of the key;

displaying a representation of the fingers of the hand of the user on the display, the representation depicting the position of the fingers relative to the at least one key of the input device;

sensing actuation of the key due to movement of the hand of the user; and

changing an attribute of the displayed indicia for indicating that the key has been actuated.

18. The method as claimed in claim 17, further comprising:

sensing a second position of the finders of the hand of the user, the hand of the user having moved while using the input device; and

altering the representation of the fingers of the hand of the user on the display to depict the second position relative to the at least one key of the input device.

19. The method as claimed in claim 17, wherein the representation of the fingers of the hand of the user is at least one of lenticular and semi-transparent and is overlayed onto a representation of the at least one key of the input device.

20. The method as claimed in claim 17, further comprising:

changing one of the function and placement of the at least one key for an application being executed by the digital information appliance.

21. A digital information appliance, comprising;

a housing having generally opposed first and second surfaces;

a processor disposed in said housing for executing a program of instructions on the digital information appliance;

a memory coupled to the processor for storing the program of instructions executable by the processor;

a display disposed on the first surface for displaying information to a user of the digital information appliance; and

an input device disposed on the second surface for inputing information, said input device being oriented so as to be operable by the user for input of information while the user is holding said housing so said display is viewable by the user;

wherein the program of instructions configures the digital information appliance for;

displaying an indicia on the display for representing the position on the second surface of the at least one key of the input device;

sensing a position of the fingers of the hand of a user of the digital information appliance relative to the at least one key of the input device prior to actuation of the key;

displaying a representation of the fingers of the hand of the user on the display, the representation depicting the position of the fingers relative to the at least one key of the input device, sensing actuation of the key due to movement of the hand of the user; and

changing an attribute of the displayed indicia for indicating that the key has been actuated.

22. The digital information appliance as claimed in claim 21, wherein the program of instructions further configures the digital information appliance for:

sensing a second position of the finders of the hand of the user, the hand of the user having moved while using the input device; and

altering the representation of the fingers of the hand of the user on the display to depict the second position relative to the at least one key of the input device.

23. The digital information appliance as claimed in claim 21, wherein the representation of the fingers of the hand of the user is at least one of lenticular and semi-transparent and is overlayed onto a representation of the at least one key of the input device.

24. The digital information appliance as claimed in claim 21, wherein the program of instructions further configures the digital information appliance for:

changing one of the function and placement of the at least one key for an application being executed by the digital information appliance.