Proportional force input apparatus for an electronic device

• US 7,138,977 B2
• Filed: 01/15/2003
• Issued: 11/21/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/15/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: Wong, Daniel, Kinerk, Keith
• Primary Examiner(s): Eisen, Alexander
• Application Number:
  US10/342,675
• Publication Number:
  US 20040135765A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,406 Days
• Field of Search: 345156-184, 463/37, 463/38, 455/556.1, 455/556.2, 455/566, 178 1801- 1811, 178 1901- 1907
• US Class Current: 345/156
• 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 1/169 the I/O peripheral being an integrated pointing device, e.g. trackball in the palm rest area, mini-joystick integrated between keyboard keys, touch pads or touch stripes G06F1/1643 takes precedence; constructional details of pointing devices G06F3/033
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1632 Pen holder integrated in the computer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03545 Pens or stylus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0487 using specific features provided by the input device, e.g. functions controlled by the rotation of a mouse with dual sensing arrangements, or of the nature of the input device, e.g. tap gestures based on pressure sensed by a digitiser
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72427 for supporting games or graphical animations
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/12 including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion telephones including GPS signal receivers H04M2250/10

Abstract

A proportional force input apparatus for an electronic device includes a mechanism operable by a user of the electronic device, such as a stylus inserted into a spring-loaded socket of the device. The mechanism provides a tactile feedback to the user proportional to a force applied by the user. A variable strength sensor detects the force applied by the user to the mechanism and converts this to an electrical signal proportional to the force applied by the user. A processor operates to input the electric signal from the variable strength sensor and provide force information to an application running on the electronic device. Optionally, a second sensor can detect rotation of the stylus. As a result, a stylus can be used to provide vector information to an application such as a game.

Claims

1. A proportional force input apparatus for an electronic device, the apparatus comprising:

a mechanism operable by a user of the electronic device, the mechanism provides at least two way tactile feedback to the user proportional to a force applied by the user;

at least one variable strength sensor that detects the force applied by the user in at least two directions to the mechanism and converts this to an electrical signal proportional to the force in at least two directions applied by the user;

a processor electrically coupled to the variable strength sensor, the processor operable to input the electric signal from the variable strength sensor and provide force information to an application running on the electronic device wherein the mechanism is spring-loaded socket adapted to receive and engage a removable stylus, the spring provides increasing force against the stylus as the stylus moves the socket.

2. A proportional force input apparatus for an electronic device, the apparatus comprising:

a mechanism operable by a user of the electronic device, the mechanism provides a tactile feedback to the user proportional to a force applied by the user, wherein the mechanism is spring-loaded socket in the electronic device adapted to receive and engage a stylus, the spring provides increasing force against the stylus as the stylus moves the socket;

a variable strength sensor that detects the force applied by the user to the mechanism and converts this to an electrical signal proportional to the force applied by the user;

a processor electrically coupled to the variable strength sensor, the processor operable to input the electric signal from the variable strength sensor and provide force information to an application running on the electronic device

and wherein the stylus includes a key disposed thereon for engaging a keyway in the socket such that a portion of the stylus extends outward from the device, and wherein the socket has a central neutral position and is operable to move against the spring in either of opposite rotary directions with the spring providing increased force against the stylus as the stylus is rotated clockwise from the neutral position aid counterclockwise from the neutral position.

3. A proportional force input apparatus for an electronic device, the apparatus comprising:

a mechanism operable by a user of the electronic device, the mechanism provides a tactile feedback to die user proportional to a force applied by the user, wherein the mechanism is a spring-loaded socket adapted to receive and engage a removable stylus, the spring providing increasing force as the stylus moves the socket;

a variable strength sensor that detects the force applied by the user to the mechanism and converts this to an electrical signal proportional to the force applied by the user;

a processor electrically coupled to the variable strength sensor, the processor operable to input the electric signal from the variable strength sensor and provide force information to an application running on the electronic device

and wherein the stylus includes a key disposed thereon for engaging a keyway in the socket such that a portion of the stylus extends outward from the device, and wherein the socket has a neutral linear position and is operable to move against the spring in either of opposite linear directions with the spring providing increased force against the stylus as the stylus is pushed inward into the device from the neutral position and as the stylus is pulled outward from the device from the neutral position.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, further comprising a rotational sensor that detects a rotation of the stylus in the mechanism and converts this to a second electrical signal to the processor that provides directional information to the application running on the electronic device.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, further comprising a second variable strength sensor that detects a rotational force applied by the user to the mechanism and converts this to a second electrical signal to the processor proportional to the rotational force applied by the user, wherein the stylus includes a jointed portion that can be swung into an angled position to provide increased leverage for a user to apply a rotational force with the stylus, and wherein the socket has a neutral rotational position and is operable to move against the spring in either of opposite rotary directions with the spring providing increased force against the stylus as the stylus is rotated clockwise from the neutral position and counterclockwise from the neutral position.

6. A proportional force input apparatus for a communication device with a display and a stylus for interacting with the display, the apparatus comprising:

a mechanism disposed in the device, the mechanism including a spring-loaded socket adapted to receive and engage the stylus, when engaged the stylus includes a portion thereof extending outward from the device for manipulation by the user, the socket has a neutral linear position and is operable to move against the spring in either of opposite linear directions with the spring providing increased force against the stylus as the stylus is pushed inward into the device from the neutral position and as the stylus is pulled outward from the device from the neutral position;

a variable strength sensor that detects the linear force applied by the stylus to the socket and converts this to an electrical signal proportional to the force applied by the user;

a processor electrically coupled to the variable strength sensor, the processor operable to input the electric signal from die variable strength sensor and provide force information to an application running on the electronic device.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising a rotational sensor that detects a free rotation of the stylus in the socket and converts this to a second electrical signal to the processor that provides directional information, the force and directional information provide vector information to the application running on the electronic device.

8. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the stylus locks into the socket and the socket is operable to move against the spring in either of opposite rotary directions with the spring providing increased force against the stylus as the stylus is rotated clockwise from the neutral position and counterclockwise from the neutral position, and further comprising a second variable strength sensor that detects a rotational force applied by the stylus to the socket and converts this to a second electrical signal to the processor proportional to the rotational force applied by the user.

9. A proportional force input apparatus for a communication device with a display and a stylus for interacting with the display, the apparatus comprising:

a mechanism disposed in the device, the mechanism including a spring-loaded socket adapted to receive and engage the stylus, when engaged the stylus includes a portion thereof extending outward from the device for manipulation by the user, the socket has a neutral linear position and is operable to move against the spring in either of opposite linear directions with the spring providing increased force against the stylus as the stylus is pushed inward into the device from the neutral position and as the stylus is pulled outward from the device from the neutral position;

a variable strength sensor that detects the linear force applied by the stylus to the socket and converts this to an electrical signal proportional to the force applied by the user;

a processor electrically coupled to the variable strength sensor, the processor operable to input the electric signal from the variable strength sensor and provide force information to an application running on the electronic device;

wherein the stylus locks into the socket and the socket is operable to move against the spring in either of opposite rotary directions with the spring providing increased force against the stylus as the stylus is rotated clockwise from the neutral position and counterclockwise from the neutral position, and further comprising a second variable strength sensor that detects a rotational force applied by the stylus to the socket and converts this to a second electrical signal to the processor proportional to the rotational force applied by the user, and the stylus includes a jointed portion that can be swung into an angled position to provide increased leverage for a user to apply a rotational force with the stylus.

10. A proportional force input apparatus for a communication device utilizing an existing stylus therefor, the apparatus comprising:

a mechanism disposed in the device, die mechanism including a spring-loaded socket adapted to receive and engage the stylus and provide a tactile feedback to the user proportional to a force applied by the user with the stylus, when engaged the stylus includes a portion thereof extending outward from the device for manipulation by the user;

two sensors coupled to the mechanism, the sensors detect orthogonal motions of the stylus resulting from force applied to the stylus by the user and converts these motions to two electrical signals proportional to the respective motions;

a processor electrically coupled to the sensors, the processor operable to input the electric signals from the sensors and provide vector information to an application running on the electronic device.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein at least one of the sensors is a variable strength sensor that detects the force applied by the stylus against the spring and converts this to an electrical signal proportional to the force applied by the user.

12. A proportional force input apparatus for a communication device utilizing an existing stylus therefor the apparatus comprising:

a mechanism disposed in the device, the mechanism including a spring-loaded socket adapted to receive and engage the stylus and provide a tactile feedback to the user proportional to a force applied by the user with the stylus, when engaged the stylus includes a portion thereof extending outward from the device for manipulation by the user;

two sensors coupled to the mechanism, the sensors detect orthogonal motions of the stylus resulting from force applied to the stylus by the user and converts these motions to two electrical signals proportional to the respective motions;

a processor electrically coupled to the sensors, the processor operable to input the electric signals from the sensors and provide vector information to an application running on the electronic device

wherein at least one of the sensors is a variable strength sensor that detects the force applied by the stylus against the spring and converts this to an electrical signal proportional to the force applied by the user, and the socket has a central neutral position and is operable to move against the spring in either of opposite directions to provide increased force against the stylus as the stylus is moved away from the neutral position.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the variable force sensor detects linear motion such that the socket is operable to move against the spring in either of opposite linear directions with the spring providing increased force against the stylus as the stylus is pushed inward into the device from the neutral position and as the stylus is pulled outward from the device from the neutral position, and the second sensor is a rotation sensor to detect rotation of the stylus, which is free to rotate in the socket.

14. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein stylus locks into the socket and both sensors are variable force sensors with one of the sensors detecting linear force on the socket and one of the sensors detecting rotary force on the socket, the socket being operable to move against the spring in either of the opposite linear and rotary directions with the spring providing increased force against the stylus in either of the opposite linear and rotary directions from the neutral position.