Haptic key controlled data input

• US 7,890,862 B2
• Filed: 01/19/2005
• Issued: 02/15/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/20/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Deutschland GmbH (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Deutschland GmbH (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Kompe, Ralf, Williams, Jason
• Primary Examiner(s): Pesin; Boris
• Assistant Examiner(s): Parker; Brandon
• Application Number:
  US11/038,447
• Publication Number:
  US 20050184959A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,218 Days
• Field of Search: 715/702, 715/701, 345/168, 345/184, 345/163
• US Class Current: 715/702
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0236 using selection techniques to select from displayed items
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0485 Scrolling or panning

Abstract

An apparatus for entering data into a computing device includes a graphical user interface that presents hierarchically organized information in a menu structure of at least two hierarchy levels, including a topmost hierarchy level and at least one further hierarchy level. The apparatus also includes at least two haptic keys, each having more than one state of activation. Each of the haptic keys is assigned to a particular hierarchy level. A first haptic key is assigned to the topmost hierarchy level. A menu on the topmost hierarchy level is directly accessible using the first haptic key. A menu on a hierarchy level higher than one that is currently presented on the graphical user interface is directly accessible using a haptic key assigned to the menu on the higher level, when a hierarchy level of the currently presented menu is one of the at least one further hierarchy level.

Claims

1. An apparatus for entering data into a computing device, the apparatus comprising:

a graphical user interface configured to display menus in a menu structure of at least two hierarchy levels, the menu structure including a topmost menu at a topmost hierarchy level and a further menu at at least one further hierarchy level;

at least two haptic keys, each configured to receive a pressure to be pressed down, and each providing an increased force-feedback opposing the pressure as the respective haptic key is pressed further down, wherein the graphical user interface displays a graphical indication moving through the topmost menu or the further menu displayed on the graphical user interface, the graphical indication parallel in a position in the topmost menu or the further menu to a position of one of the at least two haptic keys resulting from the pressure opposing the increased force-feedback of the one of the at least two haptic keys; and

control means for generating input data depending on an item of the menu structure selected using the one of the at least two haptic keys, wherein

said control means generates input data causing the graphical user interface to move through the topmost menu on the topmost hierarchy level when a first haptic key of the at least two haptic keys receives the pressure,

said control means generates input data causing the graphical user interface to move through the further menu on said at least one further hierarchy level when a second haptic key of the at least two haptic keys receives the pressure,

the one of the at least two haptic keys is configured to be mechanically locked when the item of the menu structure is selected, and

said control means generates input data causing the graphical user interface to return to a hierarchy level of the menu structure with a single operation of applying a pressure to one of the at least two haptic keys corresponding to the hierarchy level, whereby the one of the at least two haptic keys corresponding to the hierarchy level and each haptic key corresponding to a lower hierarchy level of the at least two hierarchy levels are disengaged.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least two haptic keys are arranged in a line at a first sidewall of the apparatus.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus comprises four haptic keys arranged vertically one above the other in a line on a first sidewall of the apparatus, and

a fifth haptic key configured to have at least one distinguished state of activation prompting the control means to generate a predefined input data irrespective of information presented by the graphical user interface, wherein the fifth haptic key is arranged on an upper edge of the apparatus on a second sidewall opposite the first sidewall.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the fifth key is configured to provide a jog dial function.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said control means generates the input data depending on a defined range of the pressure applied to the one of the at least two haptic keys.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said control means generates the input data causing the graphical user interface to move through the topmost menu or the further menu depending on a sequence of ranges of the pressure.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the graphical user interface is configured to highlight an item, within the topmost menu or the further menu, selected by one of the at least two haptic keys according to a position of the highlighted item in the topmost menu or the further menu corresponding to a position of a state of activation activated in a sequence of subsequent states of activation provided by said one of the at least two haptic keys that selected the highlighted item.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the graphical user interface is configured to display a higher-level menu containing items indicating a collection of characters, and to present a lower level menu, corresponding to a selected one of said items, that presents a plurality of characters to be selected with respect to a text input.

11. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, as the pressure presses the one of the at least two haptic keys further down, a tactual click is mechanically created on the one of the at least two haptic keys as the graphical indicator moves through a first item of the topmost menu or the further menu to a second item of the topmost menu or the further menu.

9. An apparatus for entering data into a computing device, the apparatus comprising:

a graphical user interface configured to display menus in a menu structure of at least two hierarchy levels, the menu structure including a topmost menu at a topmost hierarchy level and a further menu at at least one further hierarchy level;

at least two haptic keys each configured to receive a pressure to be pressed down, and each providing an increased force-feedback opposing the pressure as the respective haptic key is pressed further down, wherein the graphical user interface displays a graphical indication moving through the topmost menu or the further menu displayed on the graphical user interface, the graphical indication parallel in a position in the topmost menu or the further menu to a position of one of the at least two haptic keys resulting from the pressure opposing the increased force-feedback of the one of the at least two haptic keys; and

a controlling unit configured to generate input data depending on an item of the menu structure selected using the one of the at least two haptic keys, and to generate input data that causes the graphical user interface to move through the topmost menu on the topmost hierarchy level when a first haptic key of the at least two haptic keys receives the pressure, said controlling unit being further configured to generate input data that causes the graphical user interface to move through the further menu on said at least one further hierarchy level when a second haptic key of the at least two haptic keys receives the pressure, wherein

the at least one of the at least two haptic keys is configured to be mechanically locked when the item of the menu structure is selected, and

the controlling unit is further configured to generate input data causing the graphical user interface to return to a hierarchy level of the menu structure with a single operation of applying a pressure to one of the haptic keys corresponding to the hierarchy level, whereby the one of the at least two haptic keys corresponding to the hierarchy level and each haptic key corresponding to a lower hierarchy level of the at least two hierarchy levels are disengaged.

10. A method, comprising:

displaying, with a graphical user interface, a menu structure of at least two hierarchy levels, the menu structure including a topmost menu at a topmost hierarchy level and a further menu at at least one further hierarchy level;

receiving a pressure at one haptic key of at least two haptic keys to press the one haptic key down;

providing an increased force-feedback opposing the pressure as the one haptic key is pressed further down;

displaying a graphical indication moving through the topmost menu or the further menu displayed on the graphical user interface, the graphical indication parallel in a position in the topmost menu or the further menu to a position of the one haptic key resulting from the pressure opposing the increased force-feedback of the one haptic key;

generating input data depending on an item of the menu structure selected using the one haptic key;

generating, with a processor, input data to cause the graphical user interface to move through the topmost menu on the topmost hierarchy level when a first haptic key of the at least two haptic keys receives the pressure;

generating, with a processor, input data to cause the graphical user interface to move through the further menu on said at least one further hierarchy level when a second haptic key of the at least two haptic keys receives the pressure;

mechanically locking the one haptic key when the item of the menu structure is selected; and

generating, with a processor, input data to cause the graphical user interface to return to a hierarchy level of the menu structure with a single operation of applying a pressure to one of the at least two haptic keys corresponding to the hierarchy level, whereby the one of the at least two haptic keys corresponding to the hierarchy level and each haptic key corresponding to a lower hierarchy level are disengaged.