Electronic device and method of providing tactile feedback

• US 8,451,240 B2
• Filed: 06/11/2010
• Issued: 05/28/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/11/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Research In Motion Limited (Blackberry Limited)
• Inventors: Pasquero, Jerome, Walker, David Ryan
• Primary Examiner(s): Snyder, Adam J
• Application Number:
  US12/814,127
• Publication Number:
  US 20110304558A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,082 Days
• Field of Search: 345/173
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 21/003 using tactile presentation of the information, e.g. Braille displays

Abstract

A method includes detecting a sheet corresponding to a plurality of characters on a touch-sensitive input device; detecting, by the touch-sensitive input device, a touch; determining a next character output; in response to determining that the touch is associated with a location on the sheet, which location is associated with the next character, providing tactile feedback to identify the next character.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

detecting a sheet including a plurality of raised characters on a touch-sensitive input device;

detecting, by the touch-sensitive input device, a touch at a location on the sheet;

determining a next character of a plurality of characters in sequence to output;

in response to determining that the location is associated with the next character, providing tactile feedback to identify the next character.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the location is associated with the next character when the location is at a corresponding Braille character on the sheet.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the sheet is a Braille overlay.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the touch-sensitive input device comprises a touch-sensitive display.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein providing tactile feedback comprises actuating an actuator.

6. The method according to claim 1, comprising repeating determining the next character and providing tactile feedback for each of the plurality of characters in sequence.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein no tactile feedback is provided when the location is not associated with the next character.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the location is associated with the next alphanumeric character when the location is at a Braille character corresponding to the next character.

9. The method according to claim 7, wherein the location is associated with the next character when the location is at a dot position of a Braille character corresponding to the next character.

10. The method according to claim 9, comprising repeating providing tactile feedback for each of the plurality of characters.

11. A computer-readable medium having computer-readable code executable by at least one processor of a portable electronic device to perform the method according to claim 1.

12. An electronic device comprising:

a touch-sensitive input device configured to detect a touch at a location on a sheet disposed on the touch-sensitive input device, wherein the sheet includes a plurality of raised characters;

an actuator arranged and constructed to provide tactile feedback;

a processor coupled to the touch-sensitive input device and the actuator and configured to detect the sheet on the-sensitive input device and actuate the actuator in response to determining that the location is associated with a next character of a plurality of characters in sequence to output.

13. The electronic device according to claim 12, wherein the touch-sensitive input device comprises a touch-sensitive display.

14. The electronic device according to claim 12, wherein the sheet is a Braille overlay.

15. The electronic device according to claim 12, wherein the location is associated with the next character output when the location is at a corresponding Braille character on the sheet.

16. The electronic device according to claim 12, wherein no tactile feedback is provided when the location is not associated with the next character.

17. The electronic device according to claim 16, wherein the location is associated with the next character when the location is at a Braille character corresponding to the alphanumeric character.

18. The electronic device according to claim 16, wherein the location is associated with the next character when the location is at a dot position of a Braille character corresponding to the next character.

19. The electronic device according to claim 18, wherein tactile feedback is provided for each of the plurality of characters.

20. A method comprising:

associating each of a plurality of Braille characters with a different area of a touch-sensitive input device;

determining a next character of a plurality of characters in sequence to output utilizing tactile feedback;

detecting, by a touch-sensitive input device, a touch;

in response to determining that a location of the touch is within an area associated with a first character of the plurality of Braille characters that is associated with the next character, providing the tactile feedback to identify the first character.

21. The method according to claim 20, wherein the plurality of Braille characters is disposed on an overlay on the touch-sensitive input device.

22. The method according to claim 20, wherein the touch-sensitive input device comprises a touch-sensitive display.

23. The method according to claim 20, wherein providing tactile feedback comprises actuating an actuator.

24. The method according to claim 20, comprising repeating determining the next character output and providing tactile feedback for each of a plurality of characters.

25. The method according to claim 20, wherein no tactile feedback is provided when the touch is not within an area associated with the next character.

26. A computer-readable medium having computer-readable code executable by at least one processor of a portable electronic device to perform the method according to claim 20.

27. An electronic device comprising:

a touch-sensitive input device configured to detect a touch;

a sensor configured to detect a sheet disposed on the touch-sensitive input device, wherein the sheet includes a plurality of Braille characters;

an actuator arranged and constructed to provide tactile feedback through the touch-sensitive input device;

a processor coupled to the touch-sensitive input device, the sensor, and the actuator and configured to;

associate each of the plurality of Braille characters with a different area of the touch-sensitive input device;

determine a next character of text comprising a plurality of characters in sequence to output utilizing the tactile feedback; and

actuate the actuator to provide the tactile feedback in response to determining that the touch is associated with a first area, wherein the first area is associated with a first character of the plurality of Braille characters that is associated with the next character to output.

28. The electronic device according to claim 27, wherein the sheet is an overlay on the touch-sensitive input device.

29. The electronic device according to claim 27, wherein the touch-sensitive input device comprises a touch-sensitive display.

30. The electronic device according to claim 27, wherein no tactile feedback is provided when the touch is not associated with the first area.