System and method for providing a keyboard type interface for a computing device
First Claim
1. A key sensing interface for one of a laptop computer, personal digital assistant, or other electronic device, comprising:
- a display located on the laptop computer, personal digital assistant, or other electronic device, and wherein the display is viewable to a user of the device, for use in displaying a document having characters in a regular format;
a keyboard or keypad, which includes a plurality of discrete keys, and wherein the keyboard or keypad is positioned relative to the display so that it can be operated by the user while at least some of its plurality of discrete keys are all or partially hidden from the user'"'"'s view;
a sensing mechanism, which includes a separate sensor associated with each of the plurality of discrete keys, for determining which of the plurality of discrete keys on the keyboard or keypad the user is currently selecting and is about to enter as characters within the document;
a feedback mechanism for communicating feedback to the user, while the user is using the plurality of discrete keys to select and enter characters within the document, by successively denoting, as a succession of interim displayed, ghosted, or other differently formatted characters, a preview of that character indicated by a key or plurality of keys currently selected by the user, including,while the user is selecting from the plurality of discrete keys to enter characters within the document,displaying a preview of the character indicated by the current selection of key or plurality of keys, at a current location in the document as displayed on the display, as an interim displayed, ghosted, or other differently formatted character, and without requiring the user to look at the keyboard;
a verification mechanism allowing the user to confirm their key selection; and
a key input mechanism recognizing the confirmation as a valid key stroke or input, wherein each of the plurality of discrete keys on the keyboard or keypad includes as the separate sensor a multi-position switch, and wherein the verification mechanism includes,while the user is typing in the document,allowing the user to depress the key or plurality of keys more fully,from a first non-depressed position to a second partially-depressed position wherein the character is previewed as the interim displayed, ghosted, or other differently formatted character at the current location in the document as displayed on the display, andthen to a third fully-depressed position, wherein that same interim displayed, ghosted, or other differently formatted character is then entered into the current location in the document in its regular format, as the valid key stroke or input.
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Abstract
A system and method for providing an interface for an electronic or computing device. In one embodiment, the invention includes a keyboard positioned adjacent to the posterior side of the computing device in such a way that the user can operate the device in an easy and convenient manner, while at the same time maximizing the amount of available display space to the user viewing the anterior side of the device. In this embodiment the user operates the keyboard while it is hidden from view behind the display. The invention also provides several mechanisms that allow the user to become familiar with this approach to operating the device, some of which are applicable to the improvement of standard keyboards for many common purposes and uses. These mechanisms include, but are not limited to, appropriately spaced keys, chorded keyboards, tactile feedback mechanisms, and key indication, selection and verification methods.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A key sensing interface for one of a laptop computer, personal digital assistant, or other electronic device, comprising:
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a display located on the laptop computer, personal digital assistant, or other electronic device, and wherein the display is viewable to a user of the device, for use in displaying a document having characters in a regular format; a keyboard or keypad, which includes a plurality of discrete keys, and wherein the keyboard or keypad is positioned relative to the display so that it can be operated by the user while at least some of its plurality of discrete keys are all or partially hidden from the user'"'"'s view; a sensing mechanism, which includes a separate sensor associated with each of the plurality of discrete keys, for determining which of the plurality of discrete keys on the keyboard or keypad the user is currently selecting and is about to enter as characters within the document; a feedback mechanism for communicating feedback to the user, while the user is using the plurality of discrete keys to select and enter characters within the document, by successively denoting, as a succession of interim displayed, ghosted, or other differently formatted characters, a preview of that character indicated by a key or plurality of keys currently selected by the user, including, while the user is selecting from the plurality of discrete keys to enter characters within the document, displaying a preview of the character indicated by the current selection of key or plurality of keys, at a current location in the document as displayed on the display, as an interim displayed, ghosted, or other differently formatted character, and without requiring the user to look at the keyboard; a verification mechanism allowing the user to confirm their key selection; and a key input mechanism recognizing the confirmation as a valid key stroke or input, wherein each of the plurality of discrete keys on the keyboard or keypad includes as the separate sensor a multi-position switch, and wherein the verification mechanism includes, while the user is typing in the document, allowing the user to depress the key or plurality of keys more fully, from a first non-depressed position to a second partially-depressed position wherein the character is previewed as the interim displayed, ghosted, or other differently formatted character at the current location in the document as displayed on the display, and then to a third fully-depressed position, wherein that same interim displayed, ghosted, or other differently formatted character is then entered into the current location in the document in its regular format, as the valid key stroke or input. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 9, 19, 23)
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5. A method of assisting a user to interact with one of a laptop computer, personal digital assistant, or electronic device, comprising the steps of:
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displaying a display located on the laptop computer, personal digital assistant, or other electronic device so that the display is viewable to a user of the device, for use in displaying a document having characters in a regular format; monitoring a keyboard or keypad, wherein the keyboard or keypad includes a plurality of discrete keys, and wherein the keyboard or keypad is positioned relative to the display so that it can be operated by the user while at least some of its plurality of discrete keys are all or partially hidden from the user'"'"'s view; determining, using a separate sensor associated with each discrete key, which of the plurality of discrete keys on the keyboard or keypad the user is about to select; communicating feedback to the user, while the user is using the plurality of discrete keys to select and enter characters within the document, by successively denoting, as a succession of interim displayed, ghosted, or other differently formatted characters, a preview of a character indicated by a key or plurality of keys currently selected by the user, including displaying the character indicated by the key or plurality of keys within a current location in the document as displayed on the display, and without requiring the user to look at the keyboard; allowing the user to confirm their key selection and recognizing the confirmation as a valid key stroke or input, wherein each of the plurality of discrete keys on the keyboard or keypad includes as the separate sensor a multi-position switch, and wherein the step of allowing the user to confirm their key selection includes, while the user is typing in the document allowing the user to depress the key or plurality of keys more fully from a first non-depressed position to a second partially-depressed position wherein the character is previewed as the interim displayed, ghosted, or other differently formatted character within the current location in the document as displayed on the display, and then to a third fully-depressed position, wherein that same interim displayed, ghosted, or other differently formatted character is then entered into the current location in the document in its regular format, as the valid key stroke or input wherein that same displayed character is then entered into the current location in the document as the valid key stroke or input. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 10, 20, 24)
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11. A system for providing an electronic device with a keypad and a displayed key feedback, comprising:
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an electronic device including a display viewable to a user of the electronic device, for use in displaying a document having characters in a regular format; a keypad positioned relative to the display and including a plurality of discrete keys so that it can be operated by the user while at least some of its plurality of discrete keys are all or partially hidden from the user'"'"'s view; a sensor for determining which key or plurality of keys on the keypad the user is currently selecting and is about to enter as characters within the document, including a separate sensor associated with each discrete key; a feedback logic for communicating a feedback, while the user is using the plurality of discrete keys to select and enter characters within the document, by successively denoting, as a succession of interim displayed, ghosted, or other differently formatted characters, a preview of that character indicated by a key or plurality of keys currently selected by the user, including displaying that character associated with the key or plurality of keys within a current location in the document as displayed on the display; and a verification logic for receiving a confirmation from the user as to the key displayed on the portion of the display, and recognizing the confirmation as a valid key input, while the user is typing in the document, wherein each of the plurality of discrete keys on the keyboard or keypad includes as the separate sensor a multi-position switch, and wherein the verification mechanism includes allowing the user to depress the key or plurality of keys more fully from a first non-depressed position to a second partially-depressed position wherein a character is previewed as the interim displayed, ghosted, or other differently formatted character within the current location in the document as displayed on the display and then to a third fully-depressed position wherein that same interim displayed, ghosted, or other differently formatted character is then entered into the current location in the document as the valid key input. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
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15. A method for providing an electronic device with a keypad and a displayed key feedback, comprising the steps of:
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displaying on an electronic device a display viewable to a user of the electronic device, for use in displaying a document having characters in a regular format; receiving user input from a keypad positioned relative to the display and including a plurality of discrete keys so that it can be operated by the user while at least some of its plurality of discrete keys are all or partially hidden from the user'"'"'s view; determining, using a separate sensor associated with each discrete key, which key or plurality of keys on the keypad the user is currently selecting and is about to enter as characters within the document; communicating a feedback, while the user is using the plurality of discrete keys to select and enter characters within the document, by successively denoting, as a succession of interim displayed, ghosted, or other differently formatted characters, a preview of that character indicated by a key or plurality of keys currently selected by the user, including displaying that character associated with the key or plurality of keys within a current location in the document as displayed on the display; and receiving a confirmation from the user as to the key displayed on the portion of the display, and recognizing the confirmation as a valid key input, while the user is typing in the document, wherein each of the plurality of discrete keys on the keyboard or keypad includes as the separate sensor a multi-position switch, and wherein the verification mechanism includes allowing the user to depress the key or plurality of keys more fully from a first non-depressed position to a second partially-depressed position wherein a character is previewed as the interim displayed, ghosted, or other differently formatted character within the current location in the document as displayed on the display, and then to a third fully-depressed position wherein that same interim displayed, ghosted, or other differently formatted character is then entered into the current location in the document as the valid key input. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
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21. A system for providing an electronic device with a keypad and a displayed key feedback, comprising:
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an electronic device which includes a display viewable to a user of the electronic device for use in displaying and editing a document having characters in a regular format; a keypad positioned relative to the display and including a plurality of discrete keys so that the keypad can be operated by the user while at least some of its plurality of discrete keys are all or partially hidden from the user'"'"'s view; a touch sensitive sensor for determining which key or plurality of keys on the keypad the user is currently selecting and is about to enter as characters within the document, including a separate sensor associated with each discrete key; a feedback logic for communicating feedback about a character indicated by the key or plurality of keys selected or about to be selected, while the user is using the plurality of discrete keys to select and enter characters within the document, by successively displaying the character as a succession of interim displayed, ghosted or other differently formatted character within a current location in the displayed document, but not yet entered into the document; and a verification logic for receiving a confirmation from the user as to the interim displayed or ghosted character within the current location in the displayed document, including while the user is selecting from the plurality of discrete keys to enter characters within the document, allowing the user to depress or further select the key or plurality of keys, displaying a preview of the character indicated by the current selection of key or plurality of keys, within a current location in the document as displayed on the display, as an interim displayed, ghosted, or other differently formatted character, and without requiring the user to look at the keyboard, recognizing the confirmation as a valid key input, and then entering the same displayed character into that current location in the document, in its regular format, as the valid key stroke or input.
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22. A method for providing an electronic device with a keypad and a displayed key feedback, comprising the steps of:
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displaying on an electronic device a display viewable to a user of the electronic device for use in displaying and editing a document having characters in a regular format; receiving user input from a keypad positioned relative to the display and including a plurality of discrete keys so that the keypad can be operated by the user while at least some of its plurality of discrete keys are all or partially hidden from the user'"'"'s view; determining, using a separate touch sensitive sensor associated with each discrete key, which key or plurality of keys on the keypad the user is currently selecting and is about to enter as characters within the document; communicating a feedback about a character indicated by the key or plurality of keys selected or about to be selected, while the user is using the plurality of discrete keys to select and enter characters within the document, by successively displaying the character as a succession of interim displayed, ghosted or other differently formatted character within a current location in the displayed document, but not yet entered into the document; receiving a confirmation from the user as to the interim displayed or ghosted character within the current location in the displayed document, including while the user is selecting from the plurality of discrete keys to enter characters within the document, allowing the user to depress or further select the key or plurality of keys; displaying a preview of the character indicated by the current selection of key or plurality of keys, within a current location in the document as displayed on the display, as an interim displayed, ghosted, or other differently formatted character, and without requiring the user to look at the keyboard; and recognizing the confirmation as a valid key input, and then entering the same displayed character into that current location in the document, in its regular format, as the valid key stroke or input.
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Specification