Input device with pattern and tactile feedback for computer input and control

• US 6,967,642 B2
• Filed: 01/31/2001
• Issued: 11/22/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: SanGiovanni, John
• Primary Examiner(s): Shankar, Vijay
• Assistant Examiner(s): Shapiro, Leonid
• Application Number:
  US09/773,453
• Publication Number:
  US 20020101441A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,756 Days
• Field of Search: 345156-157, 345/173, 345/184, 345/902, 345/702, 345/700, 345856-857
• US Class Current: 715/702
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0233 Character input methods
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03547 Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 345/902 Menu display

Abstract

The tactile input device is a user interface selection device used to transmit user information to a user interface interpretation module. The tactile input device allows a user to activate and operate applications running on a computing system through a single user interface selection device. The tactile input device includes a tactile surface angularly divided into a plurality of sections, or petals. The tactile surface is further separated by a central portion and an outer circumferential portion, neither of which are angularly divided by the petals. Each petal and portion are tactilely distinguished from an adjacent petal or portion. The tactile distinction provides a user with feedback relating to orientation over the surface such that the user may request the performance of a specific task to be implemented by the computer through the user interface interpretation module.

Claims

1. In a computing system having a user interface, the user interface having a user interface selection device for inputting control commands into the computing system, the user interface selection device comprising:

a tactile touchpad having a tactile pattern providing orientation feedback to a user selecting a specific user request, the touchpad angularly divided by a plurality of petals, each petal being tactilely distinguished from an adjacent petal and forming a single section;

a central portion separating the center of the tactile touchpad from the plurality of petals, the central portion being tactilely distinguished from the plurality of petals and forming a single section;

an outer portion separating an outer boundary of the tactile touchpad from the plurality of petals, the outer portion being tactilely distinguished from the plurality of petals and forming a single section; and

a plurality of input sensing devices, each section having at least one input sensing device detecting all or a portion of an input stroke defining a control command and transmitting a selection signal indicative of the control command to the computing system, wherein the input stroke comprises a dial stroke beginning on a petal, continuing to at least one other petal, and terminating on the other petal, the dial stroke requesting rotation of a menu item control command so that the sections of the touchpad are generated updated control commands defined by the menu item control command.

2. In a computing system having a user interface, the user inter face having a user interface selection device for inputting control commands into the computing system, the user interface selection device comprising:

a tactile touchpad having a tactile pattern providing orientation feedback to a user selecting a specific user request, the touchpad angularly divided by a plurality of petals, each petal being tactilely distinguished from an adjacent petal and forming a single section;

a central portion separating the center of the tactile touchpad from the plurality of petals, the central portion being tactilely distinguished from the plurality of petals and forming a single section;

an outer portion separating an outer boundary of the tactile touchpad from the plurality of petals, the outer portion being tactilely distinguished from the plurality of petals and forming a single section; and

a plurality of input sensing devices, each section having at least one input sensing device detecting all or a portion of an input stroke defining a control command and transmitting a selection signal indicative of the control command to the computing system, wherein the input stroke comprises a press stroke beginning and terminating on a petal, the press stroke requesting activation of an application installed on the computing system.

3. In a computing system having a user interface, the user interface having a user interface selection device for inputting inputting control and text commands into the computing system, the user interface selection device comprising:

a tactile touchpad having a tactile pattern providing orientation feedback to a user selecting a specific user request, the touchpad angularly divided by a plurality of petals, each petal being tactilely distinguished from an adjacent petal and forming a single section;

a central portion separating the center of the tactile touchpad from the plurality of petals, the central portion being tactilely distinguished from the plurality of petals and forming a single section;

an outer portion separating an outer boundary of the tactile touchpad from the plurality of petals, the outer portion being tactilely distinguished from the plurality of petals and forming a single section; and

a plurality of input sensing devices, each section having at least one input sensing device detecting all or a portion of an input stroke defining a control or text command and transmitting a selection signal indicative of the a control or text command to the computing system, wherein the input stroke contacts the outer circumferential portion thereby requesting cancellation of the performance of the command identified by the input stroke.

4. In a computing system having a user interface, the user interface having a user input device having a tactile surface, a method for inputting control and text commands into the computing system, the method comprising:

locating a plurality of input sensing devices on a plurality of sections of the tactile surface, each section tactilely distinguished from an adjacent, section thereby providing orientation feedback to a user selecting at least one input sensing device associated with a specific user request;

initializing the plurality of input sensing devices such that each input sensing device is associated with one of a plurality of information elements, wherein each information element is associated with a task to be performed by the computing system;

detecting user input stroke contacting at least one of the plurality of input sensing devices, the input stroke requesting performance of the task associated with the information element associated with the contacted input sensing device; and

in response to the detecting act, transmitting a selection signal to the computing system whereby a command is input into the computing system.

5. The method according to claim 4 wherein the act of initializing comprises:

linking at least one input sensing device on a central portion of the tactile surface with an information element, the central portion being one of the plurality of sections; and

linking at least one input sensing device on each of a plurality of petals angularly dividing the tactile surface with an information element, each petal being one of the plurality of sections.

6. The method according to claim 5 wherein the act of transmitting comprises:

conveying a text selection signal requesting the computing system to enter a text-operating mode if the detecting act detects that the input stroke begins on the central portion.

7. The method according to claim 5 wherein the act of transmitting comprises:

conveying a control selection signal requesting the computing system to enter a control-operating mode if the detecting act detects that the input stroke begins on one of the plurality of petals.

8. The method according to claim 7 wherein the act of conveying comprises:

requesting the computing system to activate an application on the user interface if the initial selection on one of the plurality of petals is the only selection of an input sensing device included in the input stroke.

9. The method according to claim 7 wherein the act of conveying comprises:

requesting the computing system to perform an operation in an application if the initial selection on one of the plurality of petals is a beginning selection point of the input stroke continuing from the petal directly to the central portion.

10. The method according to claim 6 wherein the act of conveying comprises:

requesting the computing system to input a textual character in an application if the central portion is a beginning selection point of the input stroke continuing through at least one of the plurality petals and returning directly to the central portion.

11. The method according to claim 5 wherein the act of associating further comprises:

linking at least one input sensing device on an outer circumferential portion of the tactile surface with an information element, the outer circumferential portion being one of the plurality of sections.

12. The method according to claim 11 wherein the method for inputting control and text commands into a computing system further comprises:

following detection of the input stroke on the outer circumferential portion, conveying a cancel selection signal requesting the computing system to cancel the user request associated with the command.

13. The method according to claim 4 wherein the task to be performed activates an application installed on the computing system.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the act of initializing comprises:

in response to the transmitting act, associating at least one of the input sensing devices with a new information element corresponding to a new task to be performed by the computing system, wherein the new task is a control operation of the application.

15. The method according to claim 13, wherein the act of initializing comprises:

in response to the transmitting act, associating at least one of the input sensing devices with a new information element corresponding to a new task to be performed by the computing system, wherein the new task is an operation for inputting text into the application.