Notification mechanisms on a control device

• US 6,937,225 B1
• Filed: 12/27/2000
• Issued: 08/30/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Logitech Europe S A (Logitech International SA)
• Original Assignee: Logitech Europe S A (Logitech International SA)
• Inventors: Merminod, Antoine, Campiche, Olivier, Tiphane, Guy, Plancherel, Laurent, Piot, Julien, Merminod, Baptiste, Dupraz, Jean-Luc, Kehlstadt, Florian
• Primary Examiner(s): Huynh, Ba
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hailu, Tadesse
• Application Number:
  US09/750,889
• Time in Patent Office: 1,707 Days
• Field of Search: 345156-169, 345/701, 345/702, 345/170, 345/184, 345/520, 345/173, 345/177, 463/30, 463/35, 463/37, 340 757- 758, 340/407.1, 340/407.2, 340/815.4
• US Class Current: 345/156
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/0337 Status LEDs integrated in the mouse to provide visual feedback to the user about the status of the input device, the PC, or the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03543 Mice or pucks G06F3/03541 takes precedence

Abstract

The method and system serve to notify the user of an event through a control device. Active notification takes place even when the computer sound and screen are disabled, for example, when in a power saving mode or screen saving mode. Notification may include visual notification, audio notification, vibratory notification, or tactile notification. Tactile notification can also serve to provide a private notification system which will not alert or disturb other people in the vicinity of the user. Such tactile notification can be provided by means of a texture change in the surface of the control device. One way in which this could be done is by raising a plurality of pegs through the surface of a control device to change its texture.

Claims

1. A method of providing information from a host computer to a user through a control device, the host computer located apart from the control device, the method comprising:

receiving an event signal at the control device from the host computer indicating an occurrence of an event; and

responsive to receiving the event signal, generating a notification signal to alter a characteristic within a bounded region of the control device to notify the user that the event has occurred,

wherein generating the notification signal comprises altering a visual indicator within the bounded region on the control device, and altering the visual indicator comprises illuminating a light source on the control device.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the light source blinks to indicate that the event is urgent.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein generating the notification signal further comprises:

providing the user with an audio indication through the control device that the event has occurred.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein generating the notification signal further comprises:

providing the user with a vibratory indication within the bounded region on the control device that the event has occurred.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein generating the notification signal further comprises:

providing the user with a tactile indication within the bounded region on the control device that the event has occurred.

6. A method for notifying a computer user of occurrence of an event, the method comprising:

receiving an event signal from a host computer at a control device that the event has occurred, the control device including a surface having a texture that is alterable; and

responsive to the event signal from the host computer, altering the texture on the surface of the control device to provide a tactile indication to notifying the user that the event has occurred, wherein altering the texture comprises raising a plurality of pegs through a plurality of apertures in the surface of the control device.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein rising the plurality of pegs comprises:

rotating an actuator to push a lever which is communicatively coupled to the plurality of pegs.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the actuator is of electromagnetic type.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the electromagnetic actuator is bi-stable.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the actuator is a solenid.

11. The method of claim 6, wherein the plurality of pegs is in a grid shape.

12. The method of claim 6, the plurality of pegs is in a quincunx shape.

13. The method of claim 6, wherein the control device is a mouse.

14. A method for notifying a computer user of occurrence of an event, the method comprising:

communicating from a host computer to a mouse that the event has occurred, the mouse having a region on its surface for an alterable texture; and

responsive to the communication from the host computer, altering the texture on the region on the surface of the mouse to notify the user that the event has occurred, wherein ale the texture comprises raising a plurality of pegs through a plurality of apertures in the region on the mouse.

15. A system for notifying a computer user of an occurrence of an event by changing a texture of a region on a control device bring used by the user, the system comprising:

a plurality of pegs in the region on the control device for changing the texture of the control device; and

an actuator module for controlling the plurality of pegs.

16. A system for notifying a computer user of an occurrence of an event by changing a texture of a region on a control device being used by the computer user, the system comprising:

a key plate on the region of the control device; and

a pegs plate comprising a plurality of pegs a portion of which can protrude through the key plate to change the texture of the region on the control device.

17. A system for notifying a computer user of an occurrence of an event by changing a texture of a region on a control device being used by the user, the system comprising:

a key plate on the region on the control device;

a pegs plate comprising a plurality of pegs, a portion of which can protrude rough the key plate to change the texture of the region on the control device;

a lever communicatively coupled to the pegs plate to reposition the pegs plate with respect to the key plate;

a cam communicatively coupled to the lever for manipulating the lever; and

an actuator module communicatively coupled to the cam for rotating the cam.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein the actuator module is bi-stable.

19. The system of claim 17 wherein the actuator module comprises a solenoid.

20. The system of claim 17 wherein the lever is flexible.

21. The system of claim 17 wherein the pegs plate comprises a plurality of pegs in a grid shape.

22. The system of claim 17 wherein the pegs plate comprises a plurality of pegs in a quincunx configuration.

23. A method for notifying a computer user of occurrence of an event, the method comprising:

receiving an event signal from a host computer at a control device that the event has occurred, the control device including a surface having a texture that is alterable; and

responsive to the event signal from the host computer, altering the texture in the region on the control device to provide tactile information to notify the user that the event has occurred,

wherein altering the texture comprises raising a plurality of pegs through a plurality of apertures on the surface of the control device.