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

• US 7,215,321 B2
• Filed: 05/14/2004
• Issued: 05/08/2007
• 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): Hjerpe; Richard
• Assistant Examiner(s): Shapiro; Leonid
• Application Number:
  US10/845,646
• Publication Number:
  US 20040207601A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,089 Days
• Field of Search: 345/156, 345/157, 345/173, 345/184, 345/902
• US Class Current: 345/156
• 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 installed 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, a user input device for inputting information into a computing system, the user input device comprising:

a tactile surface divided by a plurality of sections, each section being tactilely distinguished from an adjacent section; and

a plurality of input sensing devices initialized such that each input sensing device is associated with a section and one of a plurality of information elements, wherein each information element is associated with a task to be performed by the computing system, each input sensing device for detecting an input stroke contacting the associated section and transmitting a selection signal indicative of the contacted section to the computing system.

2. The user input device according to claim 1, wherein the task to be performed is text input into an application installed on the computing system.

3. The user input device according to claim 1, wherein the task to be performed activates an application installed on the computing system.

4. The user input device according to claim 3, wherein the application activated is selected from a group consisting of a desktop environment, an operating system, and an application program.

5. The user input device according to claim 1, wherein the task to be performed is a control operation in an application.

6. The user input device according to claim 5, wherein the application is from a group consisting of a desktop environment, an operating system, and an application program.

7. The user input device according to claim 1, wherein:

at least one input sensing device is associated with an application selection information element displayed on the user interface and associated with the task of activating an application installed on the computing system;

at least one input sensing device is associated with an application operation information element displayed on the user interface and associated with the task of providing control over operation of an application installed on the computing system; and

at least one input sensing device is associated with a text input information element displayed on the user interface and associated with the task of textual and character input into an application installed on the computing system.

8. The user input device according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of sections comprises:

a central portion forming a single section; and

a petals portion having a plurality of petals angularly dividing the tactile surface between the central portion to an outer circumferential portion of the tactile surface, each petal forming a single section; and

the outer circumferential portion forming a single section whereby the input stroke contacts at least one section to request performance of a particular task.

9. The user input device according to claim 8, wherein the central portion further comprises:

a raised reference point tactilely identifying the central portion.

10. The input device according to claim 1, wherein the tactile surface is a touchpad having a tactile pattern providing orientation feedback to the user inputting the user request.

11. The input device according to claim 10, wherein each input sensing device is a button detecting the input stroke.

12. In a computing system having a user interface, the user interface having a user interface selection device for 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 inputting 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 initialized such that each input sensing device is associated with a section and one of a plurality of information elements wherein each information element is associated with a task to be performed by the computing system, each section having at least one input sensing device operable to detect an input stroke contacting the associated section and transmitting a selection signal indicative of the contacted section to the computing system.

13. The user interface selection device according to claim 12, wherein the specific user request comprises a text command requested with an out-return stroke beginning on the central portion, continuing to at least one petal, and terminating in the central portion, the out-return stroke requesting textual input to the computing system.

14. The user interface selection device according to claim 12, wherein the specific user request comprises a control command selected with a drag-out stroke beginning on the central portion, continuing to a petal, and terminating on the petal, the drag-out stroke requesting selection of a control operation on the computing system.

15. In a computing system having a user interface, the user interface having a user interface selection device for 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 inputting 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 operable to detect an input stroke defining the specific user request and transmitting a selection signal indicative of the specific user request to the computing system

wherein the specific user request comprises a control command selected with a drag-in stroke beginning on a petal, continuing to the central portion, and terminating on the central portion, the drag-in stroke requesting selection of a control operation on the computing system.