Symbol encoding apparatus and method
First Claim
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1. An apparatus for encoding symbols into a computer, the apparatus comprising:
- a. a baseb. a plurality of actuatorsi) each said actuator defining a touch location, each said touch location being located above said base in a spaced-apart relation to said base, each said touch location being tactilely distinct from each other said touch location and from said base;
ii) said actuator defining only two active states, said actuator being configured to actuate a first active state by a first force exerted against said touch location in a first direction, said actuator being configured to actuate a second active state by a second force exerted against said touch location in a second direction, said second direction being substantially opposite to said first direction, said first and said second directions for each said actuator in combination defining a line of actuation of said actuator;
iii) said base defining a plan view when viewed from above along a line generally orthogonal to said base, said lines of actuation of said plurality of actuators in combination defining a polygon in said plan view;
iv) each said actuator being located so that a fingertip of a user can apply a first glancing touch in said first direction and a second glancing touch in said second direction to each said touch location when a forearm of said user supporting a hand to which said fingertip is attached is stationary with respect to said base, and wherein said first and said second glancing touches apply said first and said second force to said touch location;
v) each said active state encoding a different symbol from a set of symbols when said apparatus is operably connected to a computer;
c. a fence, said plurality of touch locations defining a perimeter, said fence being disposed about said perimeter, said fence rising above said base, said fence being configured to allow contact between said fence and said user'"'"'s finger and to inform said user about where said user'"'"'s finger is located with respect to each said touch location.
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Abstract
One hand operated device with the functionality of standard computer keyboard is provided. User encodes a symbol with a sweeping motion of a finger, “flicking” gently at one of plurality of touch sensitive actuators.
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Citations
42 Claims
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1. An apparatus for encoding symbols into a computer, the apparatus comprising:
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a. a base b. a plurality of actuators i) each said actuator defining a touch location, each said touch location being located above said base in a spaced-apart relation to said base, each said touch location being tactilely distinct from each other said touch location and from said base; ii) said actuator defining only two active states, said actuator being configured to actuate a first active state by a first force exerted against said touch location in a first direction, said actuator being configured to actuate a second active state by a second force exerted against said touch location in a second direction, said second direction being substantially opposite to said first direction, said first and said second directions for each said actuator in combination defining a line of actuation of said actuator; iii) said base defining a plan view when viewed from above along a line generally orthogonal to said base, said lines of actuation of said plurality of actuators in combination defining a polygon in said plan view; iv) each said actuator being located so that a fingertip of a user can apply a first glancing touch in said first direction and a second glancing touch in said second direction to each said touch location when a forearm of said user supporting a hand to which said fingertip is attached is stationary with respect to said base, and wherein said first and said second glancing touches apply said first and said second force to said touch location; v) each said active state encoding a different symbol from a set of symbols when said apparatus is operably connected to a computer; c. a fence, said plurality of touch locations defining a perimeter, said fence being disposed about said perimeter, said fence rising above said base, said fence being configured to allow contact between said fence and said user'"'"'s finger and to inform said user about where said user'"'"'s finger is located with respect to each said touch location. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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38. An apparatus for encoding symbols into a computer, the apparatus comprising:
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a. a base b. a plurality of actuators i) each said actuator defining a touch location, each said touch location being located above said base in a spaced-apart relation to said base, each said touch location being tactilely distinct from each other said touch location and from said base; ii) said actuator defining two active states, said actuator being configured to actuate a first active state by a first force exerted against said touch location in a first direction, said actuator being configured to actuate a second active state by a second force exerted against said touch location in a second direction, said second direction being substantially opposite to said first direction, said first and said second directions for each said actuator in combination defining a line of actuation of said actuator, said lines of actuation being substantially parallel; iii) each said actuator being located so that a fingertip of a user can apply a first glancing touch in said first direction and a second glancing touch in said second direction to each said touch location when a forearm of said user supporting a hand to which said fingertip is attached is stationary with respect to said base, and wherein said first and said second glancing touches apply said first and said second force to each said touch location; iv) said plurality of touch locations define a perimeter about said plurality of actuators, the apparatus further comprising a resilient fence, said fence being disposed about said perimeter, said fence rising above said base, said fence being configured to allow contact between the fence wall and the user'"'"'s finger thereby informing the user about where the user'"'"'s finger is located in respect to each touch location; v) each said active state encoding a different symbol from a set of symbols when said apparatus is operably connected to a computer.
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39. A method for encoding symbols into a computer, comprising:
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a. providing a glance keypad, said glance keypad comprising; a body, and a plurality of input-keys being disposed on said body, each said input-key having a plurality of actuators and a base, wherein each said actuator defines a touch location, each said touch location being located above said base in a spaced-apart relation to said base, each said touch location being tactilely distinct from each other said touch location and from said base, each of a plurality of fingers of a user being assigned to one of said input-keys, said plurality of input keys being within simultaneous operative reach of said plurality of said fingers of a user when a user'"'"'s forearm is stationary with respect to said body, each said actuator defining two active states, said actuator being configured to actuate a first active state by a first glancing touch by a fingertip to said touch location in a first direction, each said actuator being configured to actuate a second active state by a second glancing touch of said fingertip to said touch location in a second direction, each said active state encoding a different symbol from a set of symbols when said glance pad is operably connected to a computer, said plurality of touch locations of each of said plurality of input keys defining a perimeter, a flexible resilient fence disposed about each said perimeter defining a plurality of fences, each said fence being upstanding above said base, each said fence being configured to provide a tactile feedback to said user to inform said user about where said user'"'"'s finger is located with respect to each said touch location; b. making a glancing touch to one of said plurality of said touch locations. - View Dependent Claims (40)
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41. An apparatus for encoding symbols into a computer, the apparatus comprising:
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a. a base b. a plurality of actuators i) each said actuator defining a touch location, each said touch location being located above said base in a spaced-apart relation to said base, each said touch location being tactilely distinct from each other said touch location and from said base; ii) said actuator defining only two active states, said actuator being configured to actuate a first active state by a first force exerted against said touch location in a first direction, said actuator being configured to actuate a second active state by a second force exerted against said touch location in a second direction, said second direction being substantially opposite to said first direction, said first and said second directions for each said actuator in combination defining a line of actuation of said actuator; iii) said base defining a plan view when viewed from above along a line generally orthogonal to said base, said lines of actuation of said plurality of actuators in combination defining a polygon in said plan view; iv) each said actuator being located so that a fingertip of a user can apply a first glancing touch in said first direction and a second glancing touch in said second direction to each said touch location when a forearm of said user supporting a hand to which said fingertip is attached is stationary with respect to said base, and wherein said first and said second glancing touches apply said first and said second force to said touch location; v) each said active state encoding a different symbol from a set of symbols when said apparatus is operably connected to a computer. c. the apparatus further comprising a body, wherein said plurality of actuators and said base in combination define an input-key, the apparatus further comprising four of said input-keys disposed on said body so that a user'"'"'s four fingers can each be located proximate to a respective input-key allowing each fingertip to actuate each respective input-key. - View Dependent Claims (42)
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Specification