Configurable keypad for an electronic device

• US 8,692,736 B1
• Filed: 06/14/2007
• Issued: 04/08/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc. (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc. (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Inventors: Johnston, John E., Zehr, Greg
• Primary Examiner(s): Giesy, Adam R
• Application Number:
  US11/763,346
• Time in Patent Office: 2,490 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 345/1.2
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 15/0291 for reading, e.g. e-books constructional details of portable computers G06F1/1613
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0238 Programmable keyboards key guide holders G06F3/0224
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0483 Interaction with page-structured environments, e.g. book metaphor

Abstract

An electronic book reading device with a configurable keypad is described. The device includes a first display configured to display visual representations of content of an electronic book. The device further includes a second display configured to display a plurality of different button configurations, one button configuration being displayed at a time. The device also includes a switch array disposed under the second display, wherein the switch array is configured to receive user input and provide tactile feedback when the user input is received. The device includes a processor and memory in electronic communication with the processor. Instructions are stored in the memory. The instructions are executable to process the user input and change a button configuration on the second display from a first button configuration to a second button configuration.

Claims

1. An electronic book reading device comprising:

a first bi-stable display configured to couple to a first display controller and display visual representations of content of an electronic book;

a second bi-stable display configured to couple to a second display controller and display a plurality of different button configurations, one button configuration being displayed at a time and comprising one or more button areas;

a switch array disposed under the second bi-stable display, the second bi-stable display comprising a touch-sensitive layer to detect user input, and the switch array comprising dome switches to provide tactile feedback in response to the user input detected by the touch-sensitive layer;

a processor;

memory in electronic communication with the processor; and

instructions stored in the memory, the instructions being executable to;

process the user input; and

direct the second display controller to change a button configuration on the second bi-stable display from a first button configuration to a second button configuration.

2. The electronic book reading device as defined in claim 1, wherein a function of a first button changes when the button configuration is changed from the first button configuration to the second button configuration.

3. The electronic book reading device as defined in claim 1, wherein the first display and the second display are adjacent and coplanar.

4. The electronic book reading device as defined in claim 1, wherein the second display comprises a flexible display.

5. The electronic book reading device as defined in claim 1, wherein the second display comprises a graphic display.

6. The electronic book reading device as defined in claim 1, wherein the second display comprises a character display.

7. The electronic book reading device as defined in claim 1, wherein changing the button configuration on the second display from the first button configuration to the second button configuration causes certain buttons to disappear from the second display, and subsequently changing the button configuration back to the first button configuration causes the certain buttons to reappear.

8. The electronic book reading device as defined in claim 1, wherein the plurality of different button configurations are stored in the memory.

9. The electronic book reading device as defined in claim 8, wherein the plurality of different button configurations includes a reading mode button configuration and a searching mode button configuration.

10. An electronic device comprising:

a bi-stable button display configured to couple to a display controller and display a plurality of button configurations, each of the button configurations presenting an associated character or graphic;

a plurality of dome switches disposed under the bi-stable button display, the bi-stable button display including a touch-sensitive layer configured to detect input, wherein at least one of the dome switches provides tactile feedback in response to the input;

a processor;

memory in electronic communication with the processor; and

instructions stored in the memory, the instructions being executable to;

process the input; and

responsive to the input, direct the display controller to display different button configurations on the bi-stable button display so that different characters or graphics are presented.

11. The electronic device as defined in claim 10, wherein a function of a first button changes when the button configuration is changed from a first button configuration to a second button configuration.

12. The electronic device as defined in claim 10, wherein the plurality of dome switches comprises a switch array.

13. The electronic device as defined in claim 10, wherein the button display comprises a flexible display.

14. The electronic device as defined in claim 10, wherein the button display comprises a graphic display.

15. The electronic device as defined in claim 10, wherein the button display comprises a character display.

16. The electronic device as defined in claim 10, wherein changing the button configuration on the button display causes certain buttons to disappear from the button display, and subsequently changing the button configuration causes the certain buttons to reappear.

17. A method comprising:

displaying a keypad in a first keypad configuration on a bi-stable button display of an electronic device;

receiving input comprising selection of one or more buttons of the displayed keypad from a user;

providing tactile feedback and visual feedback to the user in response to selection of individual buttons of the one or more buttons, the visual feedback comprising changing an appearance of a selected button of the one or more buttons;

determining, based on the input, whether to change the displayed keypad to a second keypad configuration, wherein the second keypad configuration is different from the first keypad configuration; and

displaying the second keypad configuration on the button display if it was determined that the keypad should be changed.

18. The method as defined in claim 17, wherein the electronic device is an electronic book reading device.

19. The method as defined in claim 17, wherein the tactile feedback is provided to the user through a plurality of dome switches disposed below the bi-stable button display, the bi-stable button display comprising a touch sensor configured to receive the input.

20. The method as defined in claim 17, wherein the button display comprises a flexible display.

21. The method as defined in claim 17, further comprising displaying visual representations of content of an electronic book.

22. The method as defined in claim 17, further comprising displaying visual representations of content of an electronic book on a graphic display that is adjacent to and coplanar with the button display.

23. The method as defined in claim 17, further comprising storing a plurality of different keypad configurations in a memory of the electronic device.

24. The method as defined in claim 17, wherein the input is received through at least one dome switch.

25. The method as defined in claim 17, wherein the input is received through a plurality of dome switches positioned under the button display.

26. An electronic device comprising:

one or more processors; and

one or more non-transitory computer-readable media storing instructions that are executable by the one or more processors to perform acts comprising;

displaying visual representations of electronic information on a first display;

displaying visual representations of electronic information describing a plurality of button configurations on a second display separate from the first display;

receiving input corresponding to a selection of a button of one of the button configurations displayed on the second display;

providing sensory feedback in response to the input, the sensory feedback including visual feedback comprising changing an appearance of the selected button to indicate selection of the selected button;

processing the input; and

electronically displaying different button configurations on the second display.

27. The electronic device as defined in claim 26, wherein a function of a first button changes when a button configuration is changed from a first button configuration to a second button configuration.

28. The electronic device as defined in claim 26, wherein the second display comprises a flexible display.

29. The electronic device as defined in claim 26, wherein the second display comprises a graphic display.

30. The electronic device as defined in claim 26, wherein the second display comprises a character display.

31. The electronic device as defined in claim 26, wherein the sensory feedback includes auditory feedback.

32. The electronic device as defined in claim 26, wherein the sensory feedback includes tactile feedback.

33. An electronic book reading device comprising:

a first display configured to display visual representations of electronic content of an electronic book;

a second display, independent and separate from the first display, configured to electronically display visual representations of a plurality of different button configurations, one button configuration being displayed at a time;

a processor;

a memory in electronic communication with the processor; and

instructions stored in the memory, the instructions being executable to;

process user input; and

provide visual feedback in response to selection of one or more buttons of a displayed button configuration, the visual feedback comprising changing an appearance of a selected button of the one or more buttons to indicate the selection of the selected button.

34. The electronic book reading device as defined in claim 33, wherein the first display and the second display are adjacent and coplanar.

35. The electronic book reading device as defined in claim 33, further comprising a switch array including a plurality of dome switches under the second display for providing tactile feedback in response to the selection of the selected button, wherein the second display comprises a touch-sensitive layer to detect the selection of the selected button.

36. The electronic book reading device as defined in claim 33, wherein the second display comprises a flexible electronic paper display.

37. The electronic book reading device as defined in claim 33, wherein the second display comprises a graphic electronic paper display.