Touch screen overlays and methods for manufacturing the same

• US 8,564,538 B2
• Filed: 10/21/2008
• Issued: 10/22/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/21/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Belkin International Incorporated (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Belkin International Incorporated (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Wadsworth, John
• Primary Examiner(s): Mengistu, Amare
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rodriguez, Joseph G
• Application Number:
  US12/255,555
• Publication Number:
  US 20100097327A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,827 Days
• Field of Search: 345/168, 345/173
• US Class Current: 345/168
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04809 Textured surface identifying touch areas, e.g. overlay structure for a virtual keyboard
• 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

In one embodiment, a kit to enable non-visual use of a touch screen on an electronic device comprises an overlay comprising a surface, where the surface is substantially flat. A first portion of the surface comprises a smooth tactile characteristic, and a second portion of the surface comprises a first textured tactile characteristic, where the first portion is transparent and the second portion is translucent. The first textured tactile characteristic is proximate to an expected icon location at the surface of the overlay. The kit also comprises an instruction that comprises at least one of an indication of an installation of the overlay over the touch screen, or an identification of the electronic device. Other embodiments are described and claimed herein.

Claims

1. A kit to enable non-visual use of a touch screen on an electronic device, the kit comprising:

an overlay comprising a surface;

a first portion of the surface comprising a smooth tactile characteristic;

a second portion of the surface comprising a first textured tactile characteristic; and

a forming tool with protrusions to texturize the first textured tactile characteristic onto the second portion;

wherein;

the surface is substantially flat;

the first portion is transparent;

the second portion is translucent;

the first textured tactile characteristic is proximate to an expected icon location at the surface of the overlay;

an adhesion mechanism at a backside of the overlay is configured to couple the overlay to the touch screen; and

the overlay is repositionable over the touch screen via the adhesion mechanism.

2. The kit of claim 1, further comprising:

an instruction; and

a packaging comprising dimensions that at least partially encompass the overlay;

wherein;

the instruction comprises at least one of;

an indication of an installation of the overlay over the touch screen;

or an identification of the electronic device; and

the instruction is at least one of;

printed on a surface of the packaging;

or

included within the packaging.

3. The kit of claim 1, wherein:

the overlay comprises proportions that substantially cover the touch screen.

4. The kit of claim 1, wherein:

at least part of the first textured tactile characteristic comprises a raised portion relative to the first portion of the overlay.

5. The kit of claim 1, wherein:

at least part of the first textured tactile characteristic comprises;

a recessed portion configured to be located at the expected icon location at the surface of the overlay, the recessed portion being permanently recessed.

6. The kit of claim 1, wherein:

the first textured tactile characteristic comprises an icon outline shape.

7. The kit of claim 1, wherein:

the overlay comprises a thickness of between 0.05 millimeters and 0.2 millimeters.

8. The kit of claim 1, wherein:

the overlay comprises a memory shape material.

9. The kit of claim 1, further comprising:

a third portion of the surface comprising a second textured tactile characteristic;

wherein the third portion is translucent and the second textured tactile characteristic is proximate to a second expected icon location at the surface of the overlay.

10. The kit of claim 9, wherein:

the first and second textured tactile characteristics are hierarchically located at the surface of the overlay relative to the first and second expected icon locations.

11. The kit of claim 1, further comprising:

the electronic device;

wherein;

the touch screen of the electronic device comprises a first icon; and

the first textured tactile characteristic is proximate to the first icon when the overlay substantially covers the touchscreen.

12. The kit of claim 11 further comprising:

a third portion of the surface comprising a second textured tactile characteristic;

wherein;

the touch screen of the electronic device further comprises a second icon; and

the second textured tactile characteristic is proximate the second icon when the overlay substantially covers the touchscreen.

13. The kit of claim 1, wherein:

the first textured tactile characteristic is embossed onto the surface of the overlay.

14. A kit to enable non-visual use of a touch screen on an electronic device, the kit comprising:

an overlay comprising a surface;

a first portion of the surface comprising a smooth tactile characteristic;

a second portion of the surface comprising a first textured tactile characteristic;

an instruction; and

a forming tool with protrusions to texturize the first textured tactile characteristic onto the second portion;

wherein;

the surface is substantially flat;

the first portion is transparent;

the second portion is translucent;

the first textured tactile characteristic is proximate to an expected icon location at the surface of the overlay; and

the instruction comprises at least one of;

an indication of an installation of the overlay over the touch screen;

or an identification of the electronic device.

15. A kit to facilitate tactile use of a touch screen of an electronic device, the kit comprising:

a first overlay comprising a first palpable feature and a first adhesion mechanism on a backside of the first overlay;

a second overlay comprising a second palpable feature and a second adhesion mechanism on a backside of the second overlay; and

an instruction;

wherein;

the first and second overlays are translucent;

the first palpable feature is tactilely discernible from the touch screen at a first icon expected location over the touch screen;

the second palpable feature is tactilely discernible from the touch screen at a second icon expected location over the touch screen; and

the instruction comprises at least one of;

an indication of an installation of at least the first overlay over the first icon expected location over the touch screen;

or an identification of the electronic device.

16. The kit of claim 15, wherein:

the touch screen comprises one or more icons correlated to one or more functions of a software program of the electronic device;

the instruction further comprises;

an indication to align the first palpable feature proximate to a first one of the one or more icons when the first overlay is positioned over a first portion of the touch screen; and

an indication to align the second palpable feature proximate to a second one of the one or more icons when the second overlay is positioned over a second portion of the touch screen.

17. A method for manufacturing an apparatus for locating an icon on a touch screen of an electronic device, the icon correlated to a software program, the method comprising:

providing an overlay;

forming a first tactile indicator on the overlay to correspond to an expected location of the icon under the overlay;

providing a second overlay; and

forming a second tactile indicator on the second overlay to correspond with an expected location of a second icon under the second overlay;

wherein;

the overlay is substantially flat and translucent; and

the first tactile indicator is tactilely discernible from a surface of the overlay and comprises at least one of;

a texturized portion;

a raised portion relative to the surface of the overlay;

a recessed portion relative to the surface of the overlay;

or a hole.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

forming another tactile indicator on the overlay to correspond to an expected location of a another icon under the overlay.

19. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

providing an instruction configured to indicate at least one of;

a manner of positioning the overlay over the touch screen;

an identification of the electronic device;

or

an identification of the software program; and

further comprising at least one of;

packaging the overlay;

marketing the overlay;

or

distributing the packaged overlay.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein:

forming the first tactile indicator comprises;

forming the first tactile indicator to correspond to a perimeter of the icon when the overlay is positioned over a portion of the touch screen.

21. The method of claim 17, wherein forming the first tactile indicator comprises:

forming the first tactile indicator comprises;

embossing the first tactile indicator onto the surface of the overlay.