Multi-mode touchscreen user interface for a multi-state touchscreen device
First Claim
1. An input method for an electronic device comprising:
- detecting an input from an input device;
determining an occurrence of a transition from a first contact portion of a first finger to a second, different, contact portion of the first finger, at the input device, wherein the transition includes a transition from a finger contact portion comprising a first one of a fingernail or a fingertip to a second contact portion comprising a second one of a fingernail or a fingertip, wherein determining the transition to the fingernail is based a different detectable electrical characteristic of the fingernail touching the input device and wherein the transition between the fingertip of the user and the fingernail of the user correlates to at least three different corresponding functions comprising;
a first function based only on the fingertip of the user being in contact with the input device;
a second function based only on the fingertip of the user and the fingernail of the user being in contact with the input device; and
a third function based on only the fingernail of the user being in contact with the input device, wherein the first function, the second function, and the third function are different functions; and
correlating the transition, by utilizing a mapping technique, to a corresponding function.
23 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A simple exemplary embodiment can leverage the ability of the touchscreen or touchpad device to distinguish between a fingernail and a palm-side fingertip press as binary distinctions. This can be done via long nails or alternatively, by rotating a hand to invert the finger. The binary distinction can be used to perform different functions. For example, a fingertip press could be the functional equivalent of a left-click on a mouse, and a fingernail press could be the equivalent of a right-click. Another example using a simply binary distinction could be that a fingertip press while typing will result in lower case, and fingernail press while typing will result in upper case. Another example, using a binary distinction, would interpret a light touch for right-clicks or upper case characters and a heavy touch for left-clicks or lower case characters.
-
Citations
16 Claims
-
1. An input method for an electronic device comprising:
-
detecting an input from an input device; determining an occurrence of a transition from a first contact portion of a first finger to a second, different, contact portion of the first finger, at the input device, wherein the transition includes a transition from a finger contact portion comprising a first one of a fingernail or a fingertip to a second contact portion comprising a second one of a fingernail or a fingertip, wherein determining the transition to the fingernail is based a different detectable electrical characteristic of the fingernail touching the input device and wherein the transition between the fingertip of the user and the fingernail of the user correlates to at least three different corresponding functions comprising; a first function based only on the fingertip of the user being in contact with the input device; a second function based only on the fingertip of the user and the fingernail of the user being in contact with the input device; and a third function based on only the fingernail of the user being in contact with the input device, wherein the first function, the second function, and the third function are different functions; and correlating the transition, by utilizing a mapping technique, to a corresponding function. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
-
-
11. An input device for an electronic system comprising:
-
a detection module that detects an input from an input device; a transition stimulus module that determines an input from the input device that includes a transition from a first contact portion of a first finger to a second, different, contact portion of the first finger, wherein the transition includes a transition between a fingertip of a user and a fingernail of the user while the user maintains contact with the input device, wherein determining the transition to the fingernail is based on a different detectable electrical characteristic of the fingernail touching the input device and wherein the transition between the fingertip of the user and the fingernail of the user correlates to at least three different corresponding functions comprising; a first function based only on the fingertip of the user being in contact with the input device; a second function based only on the fingertip of the user and the fingernail of the user being in contact with the input device; and a third function based on only the fingernail of the user being in contact with the input device, wherein the first function, the second function, and the third function are different functions; and a controller that correlates the transition, by utilizing a mapping technique, to a corresponding function. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
-
Specification