Capacitive touchpad integrated with a graphical input function

• US 7,768,503 B2
• Filed: 05/17/2005
• Issued: 08/03/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Elan Microelectronics Corporation
• Original Assignee: Elan Microelectronics Corporation
• Inventors: Chiu, Yen-Chang, Chien, Yung-Lieh
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran; Henry N
• Assistant Examiner(s): PHAM, VIET DAVID
• Application Number:
  US11/130,108
• Publication Number:
  US 20050259086A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,904 Days
• Field of Search: 345/156, 345173-178, 455/466, 379/90.01
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/044 by capacitive means
• 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: H04M 2250/22 including a touch pad, a touch sensor or a touch detector digitizers for touch screens G06F3/041

Abstract

A capacitive touchpad provides operational modes including key input, graphical input, handwriting input, and mouse control. The touchpad comprises a panel having several programmed regions thereon, several patterns in the regions are programmed for the operational modes, and a pattern on the panel is programmed as a mode switch to switch the touchpad between the operational modes. In the graphical input mode, the regions include a graphical input region for graphical input. In the key input mode, the patterns include ones for keys to simulate a keyboard. In the handwriting input mode, the regions include a handwriting region for handwriting input. In the mouse control mode, the regions include a cursor control region as well as horizontal and vertical scroll regions.

Claims

1. A capacitive touchpad comprising:

a panel;

a first pattern on the panel, programmed as a mode switch, for being operated to selectively switch the capacitive touchpad between a plurality of operational modes, said operational modes including at least a handwriting input mode and a graphical input mode;

a plurality of regions programmable on the panel in a manner corresponding to each of the operational modes; and

a plurality of second patterns in the plurality of regions, programmable in a manner corresponding to each of the operational modes;

wherein said graphical input mode is independently operable from said handwriting input mode;

wherein an input trace from said graphical input mode is recognized by a recognition module, said recognition module operating in said graphical input mode to selectively complete the input trace responsive to a command issued by a user;

wherein said recognition module in said handwriting input mode automatically detects completion of the input trace based on subsequent occurrence of a response time initiated upon a cessation of said input trace for said recognition module to automatically recognize input trace from said handwriting input mode, the response time being selectively adjustable by said user;

the recognition module during said handwriting input mode, transmitting said input trace to a display.

2. The touchpad of claim 1, wherein the plurality of operational modes further comprises a key input mode.

3. The touchpad of claim 1, further comprising a display for displaying a data inputted on the panel or a current operational mode.

4. The touchpad of claim 1, further comprising a backlight source at a backside of the panel for illuminating the panel.

5. The touchpad of claim 1, further comprising a frontlight source at a frontside of the panel for illuminating the panel.

11. The touchpad of claim 1, wherein the plurality of operational modes further comprises a mouse control mode.

6. A mobile phone having a capacitive touchpad thereof, the capacitive touchpad comprising:

a panel;

a first pattern on the panel, programmed as a mode switch, for being operated to selectively switch the capacitive touchpad between a plurality of operational modes, said operational modes including at least a handwriting input mode and a graphical input mode;

a plurality of regions programmable on the panel in a manner corresponding to each of the operational modes; and

a plurality of second patterns in the plurality of regions, programmable in a manner corresponding to each of the operational modes;

wherein said graphical input mode is independently operable from said handwriting input mode;

wherein an input trace from said graphical input mode is recognized by a recognition module, said recognition module operating in said graphical input mode to selectively complete the input trace responsive to a command issued by a user;

wherein said recognition module in said handwriting input mode automatically detects completion of the input trace based on subsequent occurrence of a response time initiated upon a cessation of said input trace for said recognition module to automatically recognize input trace from said handwriting input mode, the response time being selectively adjustable by said user;

the recognition module during said handwriting input mode transmitting said input trace to a display.

7. The mobile phone of claim 6, wherein the plurality of operational modes further comprises a key input mode.

8. The mobile phone of claim 6, further comprising a display for displaying a data inputted on the panel or a current operational mode.

9. The mobile phone of claim 6, further comprising a backlight source at a backside of the panel for illuminating the panel.

10. The mobile phone of claim 6, further comprising a frontlight source at a frontside of the panel for illuminating the panel.

12. The mobile phone of claim 6, wherein the plurality of operational modes further comprises a mouse control mode.