Tactile overlay for an imaging display

• US 7,403,191 B2
• Filed: 01/28/2004
• Issued: 07/22/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Sinclair, Michael J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Shalwala; Bipin
• Assistant Examiner(s): Holton; Steven E
• Application Number:
  US10/767,291
• Publication Number:
  US 20050164148A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,637 Days
• Field of Search: 345173-178, 345/168, 345/169
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0224 Key guide holders
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03547 Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 21/003 using tactile presentation of the information, e.g. Braille displays

Abstract

A tactile overlay for a touchscreen includes one or more button structures, a flexible resilient membrane, and one or more nibs corresponding to the one or more button structures. The overlay is disposed over and in propinquity with the touchscreen display, with button and corresponding nib structure(s) of the overlay corresponding to virtual buttons that are displayed by the touchscreen display. The button structure(s) and corresponding nibs are positioned on the overlay so that a user can press a button structure, which causes the corresponding nib to touch a desired virtual button being displayed by the touchscreen display. The flexible resilient layer causes the nib to return to original position, breaking contact with the touchscreen display.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a membrane including a fiber optic plate configured to direct light from a first side of the membrane to a second side opposite the first side, the first side positioned adjacent to a touchscreen display;

a button structure disposed on the second side of the membrane; and

a nib corresponding to the button structure and disposed on the first side of the membrane, wherein the apparatus is configured to be operatively coupled to the touchscreen display so that when a user applies a force to the button structure the nib contacts the touchscreen display so as to activate a virtual button being displayed by the touchscreen display.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the membrane comprises a flexible and resilient material.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the button structure comprises a translucent portion.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the button structure is configured as a remote control.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the button structure comprises a haptic structure configured to emit an audible sound.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the button structure is one of a plurality of button structures disposed on the membrane, wherein the plurality of button structures implement a QWERTY keyboard.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a lighting device to selectively illuminate the button structure, the lighting device including at least one light emitting diode (LED) and a power source.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a redirector to change a direction of an infrared beam directed onto the redirector.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the membrane is sized to be press fitted into a recessed portion of a mobile electronic device, wherein the membrane is disposed within the recess to position the nib in propinquity with the touchscreen display.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a sleeve to contain a mobile electronic device that includes the touchscreen display, wherein the sleeve is to position the nib in propinquity with the touchscreen display.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the button structure and nib are slidably fitted to a guide slot in the membrane, the guide slot constraining the button structure and nib along a guide slot path.

12. An apparatus to be operatively coupled to a touchscreen display for operating a virtual button displayed by the touchscreen display, the apparatus comprising:

a membrane, wherein the membrane comprises a fiber optic plate; and

tactile means, coupled to the membrane, for selectively contacting a touchscreen display at a desired location in response to a force exerted on the tactile means by a user, wherein the tactile means further includes a means for slidably contacting the touchscreen display along a pre-determined linear slot.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the membrane comprises a flexible and resilient material.

14. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the tactile means comprises a translucent portion.

15. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the tactile means comprises a haptic structure configured to emit an audible sound.

16. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the tactile means comprises a plurality of button structures disposed on the membrane, wherein the plurality of button structures implement a QWERTY keyboard.

17. The apparatus of claim 12 further comprising a lighting device to selectively illuminate a portion of the apparatus.