Enhanced visual feedback for touch-sensitive input device

• US 8,547,244 B2
• Filed: 12/22/2008
• Issued: 10/01/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Palm, Inc. (TCL Technology Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Duarte, Matias Gonzalo, Shiplacoff, Daniel Marc Gatan, Lyon, Jeremy Godfrey, Skillman, Peter, Dominguez, Dianne Parry, Dellinger, Richard R.
• Primary Examiner(s): CROSLAND, DONNIE L
• Application Number:
  US12/341,514
• Publication Number:
  US 20100156656A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,744 Days
• Field of Search: 340/815.4
• US Class Current: 340/815.4
• 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

Abstract

A touch-sensitive input device provides improved visual feedback at (or near) the point and time of contact. As the user touches a touch-sensitive screen or pad, a portion of the screen or pad changes in visual appearance to indicate that the input has been received. In one embodiment, the change in visual appearance is localized to an area proximate to the point of contact. In one embodiment, the change in visual appearance is accomplished by illuminating an area proximate to and centered around the point of contact. In another embodiment, the change in visual appearance is accomplished by illuminating one or more illuminable elements, such as light-emitting diodes (LEDs) on the touch-sensitive pad.

Claims

1. A device for providing feedback for gesture input, comprising:

a gesture area for detecting user input representing at least one gesture, wherein the at least one gesture corresponds to a command;

a plurality of illuminable elements positioned linearly within the gesture area; and

a processor configured to;

(i) detect the at least one gesture, (ii) identify a command corresponding to the at least one gesture, and (iii) based on the identified command, illuminate the plurality of illuminable elements in a pattern that is indicative of the identified command by illuminating individual illuminable elements at different brightness levels for different time periods.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the gesture area is touch-sensitive, and wherein the user input comprises user contact with the gesture area.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the gesture area is proximity-sensitive, and wherein the user input comprises at least one gesture performed proximate to the gesture area.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of illuminable elements comprises at least one light emitting diode.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of illuminable elements comprises:

at least one light emitting diode; and

an illuminable physical button that is user-activatable by application of pressure thereon, the illuminable physical button being positioned linearly with the plurality of illuminable elements.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to detect the at least one gesture selected from a group comprising:

a swipe gesture;

a half-swipe gesture;

a tap-and-hold gesture;

a scratch gesture; and

an orbit gesture.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to illuminate the plurality of illuminable elements to indicate an approximate location of the user input.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to determine at least one of a state of the device, or an event that occurs on the device, and wherein the processor is configured to illuminate the plurality of illuminable elements in a second pattern based on a detected state of the device or a detected event.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein the second pattern comprises at least one of:

a breathe pattern;

a pulse pattern;

or

a ripple pattern.

10. The device of claim 8, wherein the state of the device comprises at least one of:

a sleep state;

a low-battery state;

a power-saving state;

or

a screen-off state.

11. The device of claim 8, wherein the event comprises at least one of:

an error;

an incoming message;

a stored message;

a missed message;

an incoming telephone call;

or

a missed telephone call.

12. The device of claim 1, wherein the device comprises at least one of:

a telephone;

a smartphone;

a personal digital assistant;

a computer;

a handheld computer;

a kiosk;

an input terminal; and

a remote control.

13. A method for providing feedback for gesture input on a device, the method being performed by a processor and comprising:

detecting a user input representing at least one gesture in a gesture area, the at least one gesture corresponding to a command;

identifying a command that corresponds to the at least one gesture; and

based on the identified command, illuminating a plurality of illuminable elements that are positioned linearly within the gesture area in a pattern that is indicative of the identified command by illuminating individual illuminable elements at different brightness levels for different time periods.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the plurality of illuminable elements comprises at least one light emitting diode.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the gesture area is touch-sensitive, and wherein the user input comprises user contact with the gesture area.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein illuminating the plurality of illuminable elements comprises illuminating at least one illuminable element at an approximate location of the user input.

17. The method of claim 13, further comprising determining at least one of a state of the device or an event that occurs on the device;

and illuminating the plurality of illuminable elements in a second pattern based on a detected state of the device or a detected event.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the second pattern comprises at least one of:

a breathe pattern;

a pulse pattern;

or

a ripple pattern.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the state of the device comprises at least one of:

a sleep state;

a low-battery state;

a power-saving state;

or

a screen-off state.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the event comprises at least one of:

an error;

an incoming message;

a stored message;

a missed message;

an incoming telephone call;

or

a missed telephone call.

21. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions, that when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform steps comprising:

detecting a user input representing at least one gesture in a gesture area, the at least one gesture corresponding to a command;

identifying a command that corresponds to the at least one gesture; and

based on the identified command, illuminating a plurality of illuminable elements that are positioned linearly within the gesture area in a pattern that is indicative of the identified command by illuminating individual illuminable elements at different brightness levels for different time periods.