Dynamic input graphic display
First Claim
1. An input device associated with a handheld device, comprising:
- a single flexible printed circuit comprising multiple button regions, each button region being associated with a dome switch,a button layout comprising a graphic feature formed with electronic ink, the graphic feature associated with each of the multiple button regions and configured to be dynamically moved and mapped to different mechanical button areas provided in fixed locations within the device,multiple capacitive sensor pads formed from a first conductive layer laminated to a first surface of the flexible printed circuit,multiple display pads formed from a second conductive layer laminated to a second surface of the flexible printed circuit,the first surface and the second surface being on opposite sides of the flexible printed circuit, whereinthe handheld device is moveable between at least a first device orientation and a second device orientation,the button layout having an upright orientation relative to a user of the handheld device when the handheld device is oriented in the first device orientation, andthe button layout relative to the handheld device changing to consistently maintain the upright orientation relative to the user as the handheld device is oriented in the second device orientation.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An input device for providing dynamic displays is disclosed. The input device can modify the appearance and/or location of graphics associated with an input area of a device. For example, the input device can have a button layout that shifts based on the orientation of the electronic device relative to the user, such that the button layout is consistently presented to the user in an upright orientation. The input device can rotate and/or rename a button input area region depending on the context of an application running on the electronic device. The input device can display dynamic graphic content in an input area which is distinct from a display screen of the electronic device.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An input device associated with a handheld device, comprising:
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a single flexible printed circuit comprising multiple button regions, each button region being associated with a dome switch, a button layout comprising a graphic feature formed with electronic ink, the graphic feature associated with each of the multiple button regions and configured to be dynamically moved and mapped to different mechanical button areas provided in fixed locations within the device, multiple capacitive sensor pads formed from a first conductive layer laminated to a first surface of the flexible printed circuit, multiple display pads formed from a second conductive layer laminated to a second surface of the flexible printed circuit, the first surface and the second surface being on opposite sides of the flexible printed circuit, wherein the handheld device is moveable between at least a first device orientation and a second device orientation, the button layout having an upright orientation relative to a user of the handheld device when the handheld device is oriented in the first device orientation, and the button layout relative to the handheld device changing to consistently maintain the upright orientation relative to the user as the handheld device is oriented in the second device orientation. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An input device for a handheld device comprising:
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a single flexible printed circuit comprising an input area and multiple discrete input regions, multiple capacitive sensor pads formed from a first conductive layer laminated to a first surface of the flexible printed circuit, multiple display pads formed from a second conductive layer laminated to a second surface of the flexible printed circuit, the first surface and the second surface being on opposite sides of the flexible printed circuit, wherein each of the discrete input regions is associated with a dome switch configured to detect a button event, each of the discrete input regions is assigned a button function, each of the discrete input regions comprises a display node formed with electronic ink, configured to display graphical information associated with the assigned button function and configured to be dynamically moved and mapped to different mechanical button areas provided in fixed locations within the device, and the button function and associated graphical information shift within the input area in accordance with a change in the orientation of the handheld device and the button layout is consistently presented to the user in an upright orientation. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
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16. An input device associated with a handheld device, comprising:
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a single flexible printed circuit comprising multiple button regions, at least one of the multiple button regions being associated with a dome switch, a button layout comprising a graphic feature formed with electronic ink, the graphic feature associated with at least one of the multiple button regions and configured to be dynamically moved and mapped to different mechanical button areas provided in fixed locations within the device, multiple capacitive sensor pads formed from a first conductive layer laminated to a first surface of the flexible printed circuit, multiple display pads formed from a second conductive layer laminated to a second surface of the flexible printed circuit, the first surface and the second surface being on opposite sides of the flexible printed circuit, wherein the button layout and a user of the handheld device define a first relative orientation, the button layout and the handheld device define a second relative orientation, and the first relative orientation consistently remains substantially constant as the second relative orientation changes. - View Dependent Claims (17)
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18. An input device associated with a handheld device, comprising:
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a single flexible printed circuit comprising multiple button regions, each button region being associated with a dome switch, a button layout comprising icons formed with electronic ink, the icons associated with the multiple button regions and configured to be dynamically moved and mapped to different mechanical button areas provided in fixed locations within the device, multiple capacitive sensor pads formed from a first conductive layer laminated to a first surface of the flexible printed circuit, multiple display pads formed from a second conductive layer laminated to a second surface of the flexible printed circuit, the first surface and the second surface being on opposite sides of the flexible printed circuit, wherein the handheld device is moveable between at least a first device orientation and a second device orientation, the button layout having an upright orientation relative to a user of the handheld device when the handheld device is oriented in the first device orientation, and the button layout relative to the handheld device changing to consistently maintain the upright orientation of the icons relative to the user as the handheld device is oriented between the first device orientation and the second device orientation.
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19. An input associated with a handheld device, the input comprising:
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a flexible printed circuit comprising multiple button regions, each button region being associated with a switch, a button layout comprising a graphic feature formed with electronic ink, the graphic feature associated with each of the multiple button regions and configured to be dynamically moved and mapped to different mechanical button areas associated with the handheld device, multiple capacitive sensor pads formed from a first conductive layer laminated to a first surface of the flexible printed circuit, multiple display pads formed from a second conductive layer laminated to a second surface of the flexible printed circuit, the first and second surfaces being on opposing sides of the flexible printed circuit, the handheld device being moveable between at least a first device orientation and a second device orientation, the button layout having an upright orientation relative to a user of the handheld device when the handheld device is oriented in the first device orientation, and the button layout relative to the handheld device maintaining the upright orientation relative to the user as the handheld device moves toward the second device orientation.
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20. An input for a handheld device, comprising:
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a flexible printed circuit comprising an input area and multiple discrete input regions, multiple capacitive sensor pads formed from a first conductive layer laminated to a first surface of the flexible printed circuit, multiple display pads formed from a second conductive layer laminated to a second surface of the flexible printed circuit, the first and second surfaces being on opposing sides of the flexible printed circuit, wherein each of the discrete input regions is associated with a switch configured to detect a button event, each of the discrete input regions is assigned a button function, each of the discrete input regions comprises a display node foamed with electronic ink, configured to display graphical information associated with the assigned button function and configured to be dynamically moved and mapped to different mechanical button areas provided in fixed locations within the device, wherein as the orientation of the handheld device changes the button function and associated graphical information shift within the input area so that the button layout is presented to the user in an upright orientation.
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Specification