Instrument-activated sub-surface computer buttons and system and method incorporating same

• US 8,896,580 B2
• Filed: 04/10/2013
• Issued: 11/25/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Doczy, Paul J, Wolff, Stacy, Homer, Steven S, Solomon, Mark C
• Primary Examiner(s): Johnson, M Good
• Application Number:
  US13/860,430
• Publication Number:
  US 20130229393A1
• Time in Patent Office: 594 Days
• Field of Search: 345/173, 345/156, 178/18.01
• US Class Current: 345/179
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1643 the display being associated to a digitizer, e.g. laptops that can be used as penpads details related to the relative motion of the display enclosure with respect to the body enclosure, e.g. to move between laptop and tablet PC configuration G06F1/1615
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1656 Details related to functional adaptations of the enclosure, e.g. to provide protection against EMI, shock, water, or to host detachable peripherals like a mouse or removable expansions units like PCMCIA cards, or to provide access to internal components for maintenance or to removable storage supports like CDs or DVDs, or to mechanically mount accessories mounting of accessories to a computer display G06F1/1607; display hoods G06F1/1603; cooling arrangements for portable computers G06F1/203
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/166 related to integrated arrangements for adjusting the position of the main body with respect to the supporting surface, e.g. legs for adjusting the tilt angle
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1669 Detachable keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1671 Special purpose buttons or auxiliary keyboards, e.g. retractable mini keypads, keypads or buttons that remain accessible at closed laptop G06F1/1666 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/169 the I/O peripheral being an integrated pointing device, e.g. trackball in the palm rest area, mini-joystick integrated between keyboard keys, touch pads or touch stripes G06F1/1643 takes precedence; constructional details of pointing devices G06F3/033
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1614 Image rotation following screen orientation, e.g. switching from landscape to portrait mode
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1634 Integrated protective display lid, e.g. for touch-sensitive display in handheld computer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03545 Pens or stylus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• 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

The present technique provides a system and method for providing instrument-activated buttons having a sub-surface mechanism for triggering a desired function upon interaction with an above-surface electronic/digital user device, such as a digitizing pointing device. The instrument-activated buttons may be disposed in a display device, a tablet computing device, or any other suitable electronic device. A user navigates a housing surface of the electronic device until a signal identifies the sub-surface button, which may then be activated by performing an instrument-based activation event. The activation event may be a button click, a tip movement, or any other suitable trigger on the electronic/digital user device. A wireless communication is then transmitted between the sub-surface mechanism and the electronic/digital user device to initiate the function associated with the instrument-activated button.

Claims

1. A digitizer assembly, comprising:

a flat-panel display screen;

a button disposed under an outer surface layer of the flat panel display screen such that the button is covered by the outer surface layer;

a signaling system comprising an activation signal for the button, wherein the signaling system is communicative with electronics inside a digital pointing device; and

a frame disposed completely around a perimeter of the flat-panel display, wherein the button is disposed in the frame.

2. The digitizer assembly of claim 1, wherein the flat-panel display screen is communicatively coupled to a computer system.

3. The digitizer assembly of claim 1, wherein the flat-panel display screen is disposed in a portable electronic device.

4. The digitizer assembly of claim 3, wherein the portable electronic device is a laptop computer.

5. The digitizer assembly of claim 3, wherein the portable electronic device is a tablet computer.

6. The digitizer assembly of claim 1, wherein the button is disposed within the frame and under the outer surface layer of the display screen such that physical contact with the button is foreclosed.

7. The digitizer assembly of claim 1, wherein the signaling system comprises a wireless communication system.

8. The digitizer assembly of claim 7, wherein the wireless communication system comprises an optical communication system.

9. The digitizer assembly of claim 8, wherein the optical communication system comprises an LED that is mounted between the outer surface layer of the flat-panel display screen and the button.

10. The digitizer assembly of claim 1, wherein the digital pointing device comprises a digitizer pen.

11. The digitizer assembly of claim 1, comprising a plurality of different ones of the button disposed under the outer surface.

12. The digitizer assembly of claim 11, wherein each different one of the button initiates a different function of a computing device when activated.

13. The digitizer assembly of claim 9, wherein the LED is activated when the digital pointing device is in close proximity to the button.

14. A digitizer assembly, comprising:

a flat-panel display screen;

a button disposed under an outer surface layer of the flat panel display screen;

a signaling system comprising an activation signal for the button and an LED mounted between the outer surface layer of the flat-panel display screen and the button, wherein the signaling system is communicative with a digital pointing device; and

a frame disposed completely around a perimeter of the flat-panel display, wherein the button is disposed in the frame.

15. The digitizer assembly of claim 14 wherein the signaling system is communicative with electronics inside the digital pointing device.

16. The digitizer assembly of claim 14, comprising a plurality of different ones of the button disposed under the outer surface.

17. The digitizer assembly of claim 15, wherein each different one of the button initiates a different function of a computing device when activated.