Device cover with drawing pad input device

• US 8,866,769 B2
• Filed: 03/13/2012
• Issued: 10/21/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Walker, David Ryan, Fyke, Steven Henry, Griffin, Jason Tyler
• Primary Examiner(s): HALEY, JOSEPH R
• Application Number:
  US13/418,440
• Publication Number:
  US 20130241839A1
• Time in Patent Office: 952 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04845 for image manipulation, e.g. dragging, rotation, expansion or change of colour
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text

Abstract

A cover for an electronic device and associated method. A case body has an outer and an inner surface, the inner surface defines at least part of a case compartment that receives an electronic device. A drawing pad is attached to the case body and has a touch sensitive input region, which senses drawing gestures thereon, and a detachable data communications interface that detachably connects a communications link to the electronic device. The communications link conveys indication data corresponding to sensed drawing gestures to the electronic device.

Claims

1. A cover for an electronic device, comprising:

a case body having an outer surface and an inner surface, the case body defining a case compartment around five sides of an electronic device, the case body defining an opening exposing a front of the electronic device the case body being configured to removably receive an electronic device through the opening; and

a flap portion defined by a drawing pad, the drawing pad being attached to the case body along a case hinge and forming the flap portion that is movable between an open position and a closed position, the flap portion completely covering the opening when in the closed position,

the drawing pad comprising a touch sensitive input region and a detachable data communications interface,

the touch sensitive input region configured to sense drawing gestures thereon,

the detachable data communications interface configured to detachably connect a communications link to the electronic device within the case compartment, the communications link conveying indication data to the electronic device, the indication data corresponding to the drawing gestures.

2. The cover of claim 1, wherein the drawing pad comprises at least one indicated input region, each at least one indicated input region comprising a part of the touch sensitive input region that is smaller than the touch sensitive input region,

wherein indication data corresponding to drawing gestures sensed within a respective indicated input region further comprises an indication of the respective indicated input region.

3. The cover of claim 1, wherein the drawing pad comprises at least one indicated input region, each at least one indicated input region comprising a part of the touch sensitive input region that is smaller than the touch sensitive input region,

wherein indication data corresponding to a fill gesture sensed within a respective indicated input region further comprises an indication of the respective indicated input region.

4. The cover of claim 1, the drawing pad further comprising:

a processor, coupled to the touch sensitive input region, the processor configured to;

receive input data corresponding to the drawing gestures; and

generate, in response to receipt of the input data, the indication data corresponding to the drawing gestures.

5. The cover of claim 4, further comprising an user input element, the user input element configured to be activated by a user, and

wherein the processor is further configured to:

accumulate at least one drawing gesture occurring since a previous activation of the user input element;

generate, in response to an accumulation of the at least one drawing gesture, a sequence of indication data corresponding to the at least one drawing gesture; and

output the sequence of indication data in response to a present activation of the user input element, the present activation of the user input element occurring after the previous activation.

18. The cover of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the touch sensitive input region contains no displayed images,

wherein the drawing gestures correspond to device configuration commands and are within the portion of the touch sensitive input region containing no displayed images and,

wherein the drawing pad further comprises a processor, coupled to the touch sensitive input region, the processor configured to:

receive input data corresponding to the drawing gestures; and

generate, in response to receipt of the input data, device configuration commands corresponding to the drawing gestures.

6. A protective carrying case for an electronic device, comprising:

a case body having an outer surface and an inner surface, the case body defining a case compartment around five sides of an electronic device, the case body defining an opening exposing a front of the electronic device the case body being configured to removably receive an electronic device through the opening; and

a flap portion defined by a drawing pad, the drawing pad being attached to the case body along a case hinge and forming the flap portion that is movable between an open position and a closed position, the flap portion completely covering the opening when in the closed position,

the drawing pad comprising a touch sensitive input region and a detachable data communications interface,

the touch sensitive input region configured to sense drawing gestures thereon,

the detachable data communications interface configured to detachably connect a communications link to the electronic device within the case compartment, the communications link conveying indication data to the electronic device, the indication data corresponding to the drawing gestures.

7. The protective carrying case of claim 6, wherein the drawing pad comprises at least one indicated input region, each at least one indicated input region comprising a part of the touch sensitive input region that is smaller than the touch sensitive input region,

wherein indication data corresponding to drawing gestures sensed within a respective indicated input region further comprises an indication of the respective indicated input region.

8. The protective carrying case of claim 6, wherein the drawing pad comprises at least one indicated input region, each at least one indicated input region comprising a part of the touch sensitive input region that is smaller than the touch sensitive input region,

wherein indication data corresponding to a fill gesture sensed within a respective indicated input region further comprises an indication of the respective indicated input region.

9. The protective carrying case of claim 6, the drawing pad further comprising:

a processor, coupled to the touch sensitive input region, the processor configured to;

receive input data corresponding to the drawing gestures; and

generate, in response to receipt of the input data, the indication data corresponding to the drawing gestures.

10. The protective carrying case of claim 9, further comprising an user input element, the user input element configured to be activated by a user, and

wherein the processor is further configured to:

accumulate at least one drawing gesture occurring since a previous activation of the user input element;

generate, in response to an accumulation of the at least one drawing gesture, a sequence of indication data corresponding to the at least one drawing gesture; and

output the sequence of indication data in response to a present activation of the user input element, the present activation of the user input element occurring after the previous activation.

11. A method for accepting handwritten input on an electronic device, the method comprising:

communicatively connecting, through a detachable data communications interface, a drawing pad to an electronic device within a case compartment of a case body having an outer surface and an inner surface, the case body defining a case compartment around five sides of an electronic device, the case body defining an opening exposing a front of the electronic device the case body being configured to removably receive an electronic device through the opening;

sensing drawing gestures on a touch sensitive input region of a drawing pad, wherein the drawing pad defines a flap portion attached to the case body along a case hinge and forming the flap portion that is movable between an open position and a closed position, the flap portion completely covering the opening when in the closed position;

generating, in response to sensing the gestures on the touch sensitive input region, indication data corresponding to drawing gestures sensed on the touch sensitive input region; and

outputting, in response to generating, the indication data to the electronic device.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the sensing drawing gestures further comprises:

sensing an indicated drawing gesture sensed within at least one indicated input region of the drawing pad, and

wherein generating indication data further comprises generating indication data corresponding to the drawing gesture and an indication of the respective indicated input region.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the drawing pad comprises at least one indicated input region, each at least one indicated input region comprising a part of the touch sensitive input region that is smaller than the touch sensitive input region,

wherein generating indication data further comprises generating, in response to recognizing a fill gesture within the drawing gesture, indication data corresponding to the drawing gesture and an indication of the respective indicated input region.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the drawing pad further comprising an user input element, the user input element configured to be activated by a user, and

wherein the method further comprises:

accumulating at least one drawing gesture occurring since a previous activation of the user input element;

generating, in response to accumulating the at least one drawing gesture, a sequence of indication data corresponding to the at least one drawing gesture;

detecting a user activation of the user input element; and

outputting, in response to a present activation of the user input element, the sequence of indication data, wherein the present activation of the user input element occurs after the previous activation.

15. An electronic device with drawing pad cover, comprising:

an electronic device, comprising a processor configured to;

receive indication data representing drawing gestures;

determine, based on the indication data, one of data and commands associated with the drawing gestures; and

perform a function based on the one of data and commands;

a case body having an outer surface and an inner surface, the case body defining a case compartment around five sides of an electronic device, the case body defining an opening exposing a front of the electronic device the case body being configured to removably receive an electronic device through the opening; and

a flap portion defined by a drawing pad, the drawing pad being attached to the case body along a case hinge and forming the flap portion that is movable between an open position and a closed position, the flap portion completely covering the opening when in the closed position,

the drawing pad comprising a touch sensitive input region and a detachable data communications interface,

the touch sensitive input region configured to sense drawing gestures thereon,

a touch sensitive input region processor, coupled to the touch sensitive input region, configured to produce indication data corresponding to the drawing gestures; and

the detachable data communications interface, coupled to the touch sensitive input region processor, configured to detachably connect a communications link to the electronic device within the case compartment, the communications link conveying indication data to the electronic device, the indication data corresponding to the drawing gestures.

16. The electronic device with drawing pad cover of claim 15, wherein the drawing pad comprises at least one indicated input region, each at least one indicated input region comprising a part of the touch sensitive input region that is smaller than the touch sensitive input region,

wherein indication data corresponding to drawing gestures sensed within a respective indicated input region further comprises an indication of the respective indicated input region.

17. The electronic device with drawing pad cover of claim 15, wherein the drawing pad comprises at least one indicated input region, each at least one indicated input region comprising a part of the touch sensitive input region that is smaller than the touch sensitive input region,

wherein indication data corresponding to a fill gesture sensed within a respective indicated input region further comprises an indication of the respective indicated input region.