Method for displaying information responsive to sensing a physical presence proximate to a computer input device

• US 7,602,382 B2
• Filed: 08/25/2005
• Issued: 10/13/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Ladas, Corey M., Bathiche, Steven N., Hinckley, Kenneth P., Fry, Kenneth V., Cauthorn, James H., Vong, William
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; Kevin M
• Application Number:
  US11/210,699
• Publication Number:
  US 20050275637A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,510 Days
• Field of Search: 345/156, 345/173, 345/164, 345/184, 345/473, 715/764
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/212 using sensors worn by the player, e.g. for measuring heart beat or leg activity
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/214 for locating contacts on a surface, e.g. floor mats or touch pads
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/24 Constructional details thereof, e.g. game controllers with detachable joystick handles
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/285 Generating tactile feedback signals via the game input device, e.g. force feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/32 using local area network [LAN] connections
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/33 using wide area network [WAN] connections
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/533 for prompting the player, e.g. by displaying a game menu
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1012 involving biosensors worn by the player, e.g. for measuring heart beat, limb activity
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1037 being specially adapted for converting control signals received from the game device into a haptic signal, e.g. using force feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1043 being characterized by constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1068 being specially adapted to detect the point of contact of the player on a surface, e.g. floor mat, touch pad
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/308 Details of the user interface
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/404 characterized by a local network connection
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 2009/04766 providing feel, e.g. indexing means, means to create counterforce
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 2009/04774 with additional switches or sensors on the handle
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 9/047 the controlling member being movable by hand about orthogonal axes, e.g. joysticks for switches H01H25/04
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04804 Transparency, e.g. transparent or translucent windows
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04805 Virtual magnifying lens, i.e. window or frame movable on top of displayed information to enlarge it for better reading or selection
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0202 Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the input device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0219 Special purpose keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/033 : Pointing devices displaced or positioned by the user , e.g. mice, trackballs, pens or joysticks; Accessories therefor digitisers characterised by the transducing means G06F3/041
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03543 : Mice or pucks G06F3/03541 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03547 : Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03549 : Trackballs G06F3/03541 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/038 : Control and interface arrangements therefor, e.g. drivers or device-embedded control circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 : based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04812 : Interaction techniques based on cursor appearance or behaviour, e.g. being affected by the presence of displayed objects
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 : Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0489 : using dedicated keyboard keys or combinations thereof

Abstract

In a computer system, a touch sensitive input device having touch sensitive auxiliary controls system can be used to anticipate a user'"'"'s action. When a user'"'"'s hand approaches a touch sensitive input device, feedback can be displayed on a display screen. A user can receive feedback without activating the input device. The feedback may take the form of status information related to the feature controlled by the input device and can vary depending upon the application open. Likewise, when the hand of a user is moved away from the touch sensitive input device, the feedback brought on by sensing the user'"'"'s hand may disappear.

Claims

1. In a computer system having a control knob and a display screen, a method for displaying information responsive to sensing a physical presence proximate to or in contact with the control knob comprising a plurality of portions, the method comprising:

detecting the physical presence proximate to or in contact with the control knob for a predefined period in which the control knob is stationary, wherein detecting the physical presence comprises;

detecting the physical presence proximate to or in contact with at least one portion of the plurality of portions,

generating a first set of electrical signals in response to detecting the physical presence proximate to or in contact with the at least one portion, and

generating a second set of electrical signals in response to an activation of the at least one portion;

displaying a display widget on the display screen responsive to detecting the physical presence and the activation, wherein a position of the display widget on the display screen tracks movement of the physical presence across the plurality of portions, the display widget providing;

status information associated with the at least one portion of the control knob, and

location information indicating where a user made contact with the at least one portion or where the user came closest to the at least one portion;

generating a first message indicating that the at least one portion has been contacted;

changing the status information in the display widget responsive to an input control other than the control knob while detecting the physical presence proximate to or contacting the control knob;

generating a second message indicating that the at least one portion has been released;

determining when a cursor or pointer is located within the display widget;

when the cursor or pointer is located within the display widget, causing the display widget to remain visible when the user ceases to contact or remain proximate the at least one portion;

when the cursor or pointer is not located within the display widget, causing the display widget to disappear from the display screen after detecting a release event, wherein the release event comprises detecting both a break of contact and a loss of proximity with the control knob.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the status information includes volume settings.

3. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions stored thereon for performing the method of claim 1.

4. In a computer system having an auxiliary controller and a display screen, a method for displaying information responsive to sensing a physical presence proximate to or in contact with the auxiliary controller comprising a plurality of portions, the method comprising:

detecting a physical presence proximate to or contacting the auxiliary controller for a predefined period in which the auxiliary controller maintains a current state, wherein detecting the physical presence comprises;

detecting the physical presence proximate to or in contact with at least one portion of the plurality of portions,

generating a first set of electrical signals in response to detecting the physical presence proximate to or in contact with the at least one portion, and

generating a second set of electrical signals in response to an activation of the at least one portion; and

displaying a display widget on the display screen responsive to detecting the physical presence and the activation, the display widget providing status information associated with the at least one portion of the auxiliary controller, the status information relating to a game.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the auxiliary controller is one of a rocker switch or dial switch.

6. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions stored thereon for performing the method of claim 4.

7. The method according to claim 4, wherein the auxiliary controller is configured to control scrolling of the display screen, the status information identifying settings for the auxiliary controller device.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the auxiliary controller device is a wheel.

9. In a computer system having an input device and a display screen, a method for displaying information responsive to sensing a physical presence proximate to or in contact with the input device, the method comprising:

detecting the physical presence proximate to or contacting the input device for a first predefined period in which the input device maintains a current control state and information is displayed on the display screen, wherein detecting the physical presence comprises;

detecting the physical presence proximate to or in contact with at least one portion of the plurality of portions,

generating a first set of electrical signals in response to detecting the physical presence proximate to or in contact with the at least one portion, and

generating a second set of electrical signals in response to an activation of the at least one portion; and

causing the information displayed on the display screen to disappear responsive to detecting the physical presence and termination of the second set of electrical signals, wherein causing the information displayed on the display screen to disappear comprises causing the information displayed on the display screen to fade out from view.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the information includes a display widget.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the display widget includes a scroll bar or a tool bar.

12. The method according to claim 9, further comprising the steps of:

detecting absence of the physical presence proximate to or contacting the input device for a second predefined period after causing the information to disappear from the display screen; and

causing the information to reappear on the display screen, responsive to detecting the absence of the physical presence for the second predefined period.

13. The method according to claim 9, wherein the input device is configured to control scrolling.

14. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions stored thereon for performing the method of claim 9.