Apparatus for providing touch feedback for user input to a touch sensitive surface
First Claim
1. An apparatus comprising:
- a graphic overlay for a touch-sensitive surface with which an object comes into contact, the touch-sensitive surface being divided into a plurality of regions two or more of which are associated with distinct sets of one or more of the plurality of gestures, wherein the plurality of gestures are associated with a respective plurality of functions of a software application operable by a processor, wherein the graphic overlay visibly depicts the regions and a layout of the regions into which the touch-sensitive surface is divided;
a touch-feedback interface disposed on the graphic overlay within a region depicted by the graphic overlay, the touch-feedback interface comprising a structure shaped to provide touch feedback to a user at least prior to the user performing a gesture input within the region, the touch feedback indicative of the distinct set of one or more of the plurality of gestures associated with the respective region within which the touch-feedback interface is disposed,wherein the gesture associated with the respective region within which the touch-feedback interface is disposed comprises a movement interaction defining bidirectional movement in a predetermined direction,wherein the touch-feedback interface comprises one or more elongated elements the length of each of which extends along the predetermined direction, and the width of each of which extends across the predetermined direction, wherein the length is a longer dimension than the width, and the one or more elongated elements include one or more projections or indentions, andwherein the touch-feedback interface is shaped to stimulate with a user a first tactile or haptic perception associated with the distinct set of one or more of the plurality of gestures associated with the respective region in instances in which the user drags the object over the touch-feedback interface along the length of the one or more elongated elements, and a second, different tactile or haptic perception associated with the distinct set of one or more of the plurality of gestures associated with the respective region in instances in which the user drags the object over the touch-feedback interface along the width of the one or more elongated elements.
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Abstract
An apparatus is provided that includes a graphic overlay or display for a touch-sensitive surface with which an object comes into contact. The touch-sensitive surface is divided into a plurality of regions each of a number of which is associated with a distinct set of one or more of the plurality of gestures, where the plurality of gestures are associated with a respective plurality of functions of a software application operable by a processor. According to this aspect, the graphic overlay or display visibly depicts the regions and a layout of the regions into which the touch-sensitive surface is divided. The apparatus may further include a touch-feedback interface configured to provide touch feedback indicative of the gesture associated with the respective region within which the touch-feedback interface is disposed.
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Citations
12 Claims
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1. An apparatus comprising:
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a graphic overlay for a touch-sensitive surface with which an object comes into contact, the touch-sensitive surface being divided into a plurality of regions two or more of which are associated with distinct sets of one or more of the plurality of gestures, wherein the plurality of gestures are associated with a respective plurality of functions of a software application operable by a processor, wherein the graphic overlay visibly depicts the regions and a layout of the regions into which the touch-sensitive surface is divided; a touch-feedback interface disposed on the graphic overlay within a region depicted by the graphic overlay, the touch-feedback interface comprising a structure shaped to provide touch feedback to a user at least prior to the user performing a gesture input within the region, the touch feedback indicative of the distinct set of one or more of the plurality of gestures associated with the respective region within which the touch-feedback interface is disposed, wherein the gesture associated with the respective region within which the touch-feedback interface is disposed comprises a movement interaction defining bidirectional movement in a predetermined direction, wherein the touch-feedback interface comprises one or more elongated elements the length of each of which extends along the predetermined direction, and the width of each of which extends across the predetermined direction, wherein the length is a longer dimension than the width, and the one or more elongated elements include one or more projections or indentions, and wherein the touch-feedback interface is shaped to stimulate with a user a first tactile or haptic perception associated with the distinct set of one or more of the plurality of gestures associated with the respective region in instances in which the user drags the object over the touch-feedback interface along the length of the one or more elongated elements, and a second, different tactile or haptic perception associated with the distinct set of one or more of the plurality of gestures associated with the respective region in instances in which the user drags the object over the touch-feedback interface along the width of the one or more elongated elements. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. An apparatus comprising:
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a touch-sensitive surface with which an object comes into contact, the touch-sensitive surface being divided into a plurality of regions two or more of which are associated with distinct sets of one or more of a plurality of gestures, wherein the plurality of gestures are associated with a respective plurality of functions of a software application operable by a processor, wherein the touch-sensitive surface comprises a display configured to present an image visibly depicting the regions and a layout of the regions into which the touch-sensitive surface is divided; a touch-feedback interface configured to interact with a region depicted by the display, the touch-feedback interface comprising circuitry configured to provide touch feedback to a user at least prior to the user performing a gesture input within the region, the touch feedback indicative of the distinct set of one or more of the plurality of gestures associated with the respective region with which touch-feedback interface is configured to interact, wherein the gesture associated with the respective region within which the touch-feedback interface is disposed comprises a movement interaction defining bidirectional movement in a predetermined direction, wherein the touch-feedback interface comprises one or more elongated elements the length of each of which extends along the predetermined direction, and the width of each of which extends across the predetermined direction, wherein the length is a longer dimension than the width, and the one or more elongated elements include one or more projections or indentions, and wherein the touch-feedback interface is shaped to stimulate with a user a first tactile or haptic perception associated with an axis of the bidirectional movement in the predetermined direction in instances in which the user drags the object over the touch-feedback interface along the length of the one or more elongated elements, and a second, different tactile or haptic perception associated with the axis of the bidirectional movement in the predetermined direction in instances in which the user drags the object over the touch-feedback interface along the width of the one or more elongated elements. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12)
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Specification