Touchpad combined with a display and having proximity and touch sensing capabilities to enable different functions or interfaces to be displayed
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An electronic appliance having a display screen that does not accept touch or proximity input, and comprised of:
- a display screen that does not accept touch or proximity input;
a display housing for the display screen of an electronic appliance, the display housing being manufactured using materials that enable a capacitive touchpad to operate through the display housing; and
a capacitive touchpad disposed within the display housing and within an inside surface of an outer edge of the display housing that is not part of the display screen, and wherein the touchpad is capable of detecting and tracking movement of an actuating object that is
1) in proximity of but not in contact with the display housing, wherein proximity detection of the actuating object activates a menu that is shown on the display screen and
2) in contact with the display housing that is not part of the display screen, wherein contact of the actuating object on the display housing causes selection of an object in the menu being displayed.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A touch-sensitive and far-field or proximity sensitive touchpad combined with a display, wherein the touchpad is formed as a touchstrip that is concealed inside the display, wherein a first function or interface such as a menu is enabled when an actuating device reaches a threshold distance from the touchpad, wherein a second function or interface is enabled when the actuating device makes contact with the touchpad, and wherein the first function may or may not continue after contact is made with the touchpad.
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Citations
11 Claims
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1. An electronic appliance having a display screen that does not accept touch or proximity input, and comprised of:
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a display screen that does not accept touch or proximity input; a display housing for the display screen of an electronic appliance, the display housing being manufactured using materials that enable a capacitive touchpad to operate through the display housing; and a capacitive touchpad disposed within the display housing and within an inside surface of an outer edge of the display housing that is not part of the display screen, and wherein the touchpad is capable of detecting and tracking movement of an actuating object that is
1) in proximity of but not in contact with the display housing, wherein proximity detection of the actuating object activates a menu that is shown on the display screen and
2) in contact with the display housing that is not part of the display screen, wherein contact of the actuating object on the display housing causes selection of an object in the menu being displayed. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A method of detecting and tracking an actuating object using an electronic appliance, said method comprising the steps of:
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1) providing a display screen that does not accept touch or proximity input, a display housing of an electronic appliance that is manufactured using materials that enable a capacitive touchpad to operate through the display housing, and a capacitive touchpad disposed within the display housing and on an inside surface of an outer edge of the display housing that is not part of the display screen, wherein the touchpad is capable of detecting and tracking movement of an actuating object that is
1) in proximity of but not in contact with the display housing, and
2) in contact with the display housing;2) moving the actuating object within a threshold distance of the touchpad to thereby perform a first proximity gesture, wherein the touchpad detects and tracks movement of the actuating object; 3) activating a first menu of the electronic appliance in response to the first proximity gesture; and 4) detecting the actuating object when it is in contact with the display housing that is not part of the display screen, and selecting an object on the menu in response to contact with the display housing to thereby make a menu selection. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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Specification