Glow touch feedback for virtual input devices

• US 8,750,938 B2
• Filed: 09/29/2008
• Issued: 06/10/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Markiewicz, Jan-Kristian, Clement, Manuel, Silvis, Jason
• Primary Examiner(s): Ferguson, Keith
• Application Number:
  US12/240,180
• Publication Number:
  US 20100081476A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,080 Days
• Field of Search: 455/566, 455/565, 455/556.2, 455/550.1, 455/557, 455 901- 903, 455/426.1, 455/426.2, 455/403, 455/422.1, 345/168, 345/169, 345/173
• US Class Current: 455/566
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/167 Audio in a user interface, e.g. using voice commands for navigating, audio feedback
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/22 Illumination; Arrangements for improving the visibility of characters on dials
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/22 including a touch pad, a touch sensor or a touch detector

Abstract

The claimed subject matter is directed to providing feedback in a touch screen device in response to an actuation of a virtual unit in a virtual input device. Specifically, the claimed subject matter provides a method and system for providing visual feedback in response to an actuation of a virtual key in a virtual keyboard. One embodiment of the claimed subject matter is implemented as a method for providing luminescent feedback in response to an actuation of a virtual key in a virtual keyboard. User input in a virtual keyboard corresponding to a virtual key is received. The corresponding virtual key is actuated and registered in response to the user input, and a luminescent feedback is displayed to the user as confirmation of the actuation of the virtual key.

Claims

1. A method for providing visual feedback in response to an actuation of a virtual key in a virtual keyboard, the method comprising:

receiving a user input corresponding to a first virtual key of a plurality of virtual keys, the plurality of virtual keys comprising a virtual keyboard;

actuating the first virtual key in response to the user input;

registering an actuation of the first virtual key; and

displaying a luminescent confirmation in response to registering the actuation, the luminescent confirmation comprising a visual distinction in a brightness of a graphical representation of the first virtual key relative to a brightness of a plurality of graphical representations corresponding to other virtual keys of the plurality of virtual keys, the visual distinction being displayed temporarily and decreasing over time.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein displaying a luminescent confirmation comprises instantly displaying a luminescent confirmation immediately following a registration of the actuation.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein displaying a luminescent confirmation comprises displaying a visible glow effect over a portion of the graphical representation of the first virtual key.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein illuminating an area surrounding a graphical representation of the first virtual key comprises illuminating the area between a graphical representation of the first virtual key and a plurality of adjacent virtual key images adjacent to the graphical representation of the first virtual key.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein displaying a luminescent confirmation comprises illuminating an area proximate to a graphical representation of the first virtual key.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein displaying a luminescent confirmation comprises displaying a graphical representation of an actuation indicator, wherein the graphical representation is disposed on a graphical representation of the virtual keyboard.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein displaying a graphical representation of an actuation indicator, wherein the graphical representation of the actuation indicator is disposed on the graphical representation of the virtual keyboard at a position distinct from a position of the plurality of virtual keys.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein displaying a luminescent confirmation comprises illuminating the area between each of a plurality of graphical representations, each graphical representation of the plurality of graphical representations corresponding to a virtual key of the plurality of virtual keys comprising the virtual keyboard.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein displaying a luminescent confirmation comprises illuminating an outline of a graphical representation of the virtual keyboard.

10. The method according to claim 1, further comprising providing a haptic indication in response to registering the actuation.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein displaying a luminescent confirmation in response to registering the actuation comprises instantly adjusting a size of the graphical representation of the first virtual key.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein instantly adjusting a size of the graphical representation of the first virtual key comprises increasing the size of the graphical representation of the first virtual key.

13. The method according to claim 11, wherein instantly providing a visible luminescent indication further comprises instantly adjusting a size of a graphical representation of other virtual keys comprising the virtual keyboard to accommodate the adjusted size of the of the first virtual key.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein instantly adjusting a size of a graphical representation of other virtual keys comprising the virtual keyboard to accommodate the adjusted size of the of the first virtual key comprises adjusting a size of a graphical representation of other virtual keys comprising the virtual keyboard such that a total area of the virtual keyboard remains constant through the adjusted size of the first virtual key.

15. A method for providing feedback in response to an actuation of a virtual graphical unit of a virtual graphical user interface, the method comprising:

registering an actuation corresponding to a virtual graphical unit of a plurality of virtual graphical units comprised in a virtual graphical user interface; and

instantly providing an actuation indication in response to registering the actuation,

wherein providing an actuation indication comprises providing a haptic indication and a visible luminescent indication that fades over time in response to registering the actuation.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein instantly providing an actuation indication comprises instantly providing a visual indication in a dedicated indication indicator.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein instantly providing a visual indication comprises instantly providing a visible luminescent indication in the area of the virtual graphical user interface between the plurality of virtual graphical units in response to registering the actuation.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein the visible luminescent indication comprises a visible distinction in brightness that fades over time.

19. The method according to claim 16, wherein instantly providing a visible luminescent indication comprises instantly adjusting a size of a graphical representation of the virtual graphical unit corresponding to the user input.

20. The method according to claim 15, wherein providing an actuation indication comprises generating a brief vibration.

21. A computing device comprising:

a processor;

a computer-readable memory, said computer-readable memory comprising computer-readable instruction such that, when read by said processor, said instructions causes said processor to perform a method comprising;

displaying a virtual keyboard, the virtual keyboard having a graphical representation, said virtual keyboard further comprises a plurality of distinct virtual keys, each of the plurality of distinct virtual keys having a graphical representation displayed in the graphical representation of the virtual keyboard; and

illuminating a portion of the graphical representation of the virtual keyboard when an actuation of a distinct virtual key from the plurality of distinct virtual keys is registered, the illuminated portion of the graphical representation of the virtual keyboard fading over time.

22. The computing device according to claim 21, further comprising a display unit.

23. The computing device according to claim 22, wherein the display unit is a computer display screen.

24. The computing device according to claim 22, wherein the computing device comprises a mobile computing device.

25. The computing device according to claim 24, wherein the mobile computing device comprises a mobile telephone.

26. The computing device according to claim 21, wherein the method further comprising generating an automatic haptic indication in response to registering an actuation of a distinct virtual key.