Ergonomic motion detection for receiving character input to electronic devices

• US 9,459,795 B2
• Filed: 12/21/2015
• Issued: 10/04/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/21/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Inpris Innovative Products Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Inpris Innovative Products Ltd.
• Inventors: Yaron, Nissan, Yaron, Ben Etzion
• Primary Examiner(s): OLSON, JASON C
• Application Number:
  US14/976,005
• Publication Number:
  US 20160110095A1
• Time in Patent Office: 288 Days
• Field of Search: 345/173
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04104 Multi-touch detection in digitiser, i.e. details about the simultaneous detection of a plurality of touching locations, e.g. multiple fingers or pen and finger
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0233 Character input methods
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0416 Control or interface arrangements specially adapted for digitisers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• 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

Sliding and non-sliding touch input to an electronic device may be selected so that the motions associated with a character to input are intuitive and thus easy to remember. The motions for the contacts of the touch input may be selected ergonomically in a way enabling touch-typing, thus increasing user comfort for longer periods of use. Multiple repositionable finger contact regions are maintained on a contact surface in an arrangement that is easily accessible for the user'"'"'s fingertips. Each available input character is associated with a unique finger contact or set of simultaneously-entered contacts, each contact being either sliding or non-sliding contact, and the sliding contacts having a direction associated with the character. One example touch surface is a touch screen. Another example touch surface is the table upon which the electronic device sets and thus separate from the electronic device and freeing space on the device for other use.

Claims

1. An electronic device comprising:

a processor;

a touch screen having a touch-sensitive surface; and

a memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to;

when in a mode for positioning finger location regions, position a plurality of finger contact regions on the touch-sensitive surface upon simultaneously sensing the locations of multiple fingers above a surface of the touch-sensitive surface including the finger locations of at least a first finger, a second finger, and a third finger of the user'"'"'s hand including a point location for each of the fingers, wherein the plurality of finger location regions includes a first finger location region including the point location of the first finger, a second finger location region including the point location of the second finger, and a third finger location region including the point location of the third finger, wherein a plurality of command functions are each associated with a unique combination of sliding or non-sliding contact with one or more of the finger location regions, and wherein each finger location region is a unique region of the touch-sensitive surface;

maintain an association of each of the plurality of command functions with a unique combination of sliding or non-sliding contact with one or more of the finger location regions, including one command function associated with sliding or non-sliding contact with only the first finger location region and a different command function associated with the same sliding or non-sliding contact with only the second finger location region;

when in a mode for command function input following the mode for positioning finger contact regions, and following removing the at least first, second, and third fingers from the sensing above the touch-sensitive surface during the positioning mode, entering a plurality of command functions into the electronic device including

(a) entry of a first command function by discerning a first command function input contact of only the first finger location regions, determining whether the first command function input contact was a sliding or a non-sliding contact, determine the direction of the sliding contact with the proviso that the first command function input contact is a sliding contact; and

identifies the first command function based on the finger contact region contacted, whether the contact is a sliding or non-sliding contact, and the direction of any sliding contact, wherein identifying the first control command includes recognizing the first control command using the association of control commands to finger location regions and sliding direction; and

(b) entry of a second command function different from the first command function by discerning a second command function input contact of only the second finger location region;

wherein the second command function input contact is the same sliding or the same non-sliding contact as the first command function input contact, and the direction of any sliding contact is the same as the sliding direction of the command function character input; and

identifying the second command function based on the finger location region contacted, whether the contact is sliding or non-sliding, and the direction of any sliding, wherein identifying the second control command includes recognizing the second control command using the association of commands to contacts with finger location regions and sliding direction.

2. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein, for command function associated with a sliding contact, the processor recognizes a single non-curved motion as the sliding contact.

3. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the positioning of the finger location regions includes simultaneous sensing of four or five fingers of a hand above the touch-sensitive surface.

4. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the touch screen displays an image for each finger location region, each image indicating the location of the associated finger location region.

5. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein

the positioning of the finger location regions includes simultaneous sensing the locations of four or five fingers of a hand above the touch-sensitive surface;

the touch screen displays an image for each finger location region, each image indicating the location of the associated finger location region; and

for a command function associated with a sliding contact, the processor recognizes a single non-curved motion as the sliding contact.

6. An electronic device comprising:

a processor;

a touch screen having a touch-sensitive surface; and

a memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to;

when in a mode for positioning finger contact regions, position a plurality of finger contact regions on the touch-sensitive surface upon receiving an indication on the touch-sensitive surface of simultaneous finger contact of at least a first finger, a second finger, and a third finger of the user'"'"'s hand on the touch-sensitive surface including a point of contact for each of the fingers, wherein the plurality of finger contact regions includes;

a first finger contact region including the point of contact of the first finger, a second finger contact region including the point of contact of the second finger, and a third finger contact region including the point of contact of the third finger, wherein a plurality of command functions are each associated with a unique combination of sliding or no-sliding contact with one or more of the finger contact regions, and wherein each finger contact region is a unique region of the touch-sensitive surface;

maintain an association of each of the plurality of command functions with a unique combination of sliding or non-sliding contact with one or more of the finger contact regions, including one command function associated with sliding or non-sliding contact with only the first finger contact region and a different command function associated with the same sliding or non-sliding contact with only the second finger contact region;

when in a mode for command function input following the mode for positioning finger contact regions, and following removing the at least first, second, and third fingers from the touch-sensitive surface during the positioning mode, entering a plurality of command functions into the electronic device including

(a) entry of a first command function by discerning a first command function input contact of only the first finger contact regions, determining whether the first command function input contact was a sliding or a non-sliding contact, determine the direction of the sliding contact with the proviso that the first command function input contact is a sliding contact; and

identifies the first command function based on the finger contact region contacted, whether the contact is a sliding or non-sliding contact, and the direction of any sliding contact, wherein identifying the first control command includes recognizing the first control command using the association of control commands to finger contact regions and sliding direction; and

(b) entry of a second command function different from the first command function by discerning a second command function input contact of only the second finger contact region;

wherein the second command function input contact is the same sliding or the same non-sliding contact as the first command function input contact, and the direction of any sliding contact is the same as the sliding direction of the command function input; and

identifying the second command function based on the finger contact region contacted, whether the contact is sliding or non-sliding, and the direction of any sliding, wherein identifying the second control command includes recognizing the second control command using the association of commands to contacts with finger contact regions and sliding direction.

7. The electronic device of claim 6, wherein the positioning of the finger contact regions includes identification of simultaneous contact of four or five fingers of a hand to the touch-sensitive surface.

8. The electronic device of claim 6, wherein the touch screen displays an image for each finger contact region, each image indicating the location of the associated finger contact region.

9. The electronic device of claim 6, wherein for a command function associated with a sliding contact, the processor recognizes a single non-curved motion as the sliding contact.

10. The electronic device of claim 6, wherein

the positioning of the finger location regions includes identification of simultaneous contact of four or five fingers of a hand to the touch-sensitive surface;

the touch screen displays an image for each finger location region, each image indicating the location of the associated finger location region; and

a command function associated with a sliding contact, the processor recognizes a single non-curved motion as the sliding contact.

11. A method of inputting control commands by a user having a device including a touch-sensitive surface, the method comprising:

(i) sensing the locations of a plurality of finger location regions over the touch-sensitive surface including the locations of at least a first finger, a second finger, and a third finger of the user'"'"'s hand and positioning a first finger location region including the sensed location of the first finger, a second finger location region including the sensed location of the second finger, and a third finger location region including the sensed location of the third finger;

wherein a plurality of control commands are each associated with a unique combination of sliding or non-sliding contact originating with one or more of the finger location regions, and wherein each finger location region is a unique region of the touch-sensitive surface;

(ii) maintaining an association of each of the plurality of control commands with a unique combination of sliding or non-sliding contact originating with one or more of the finger location regions, including one control command associated with sliding or non-sliding contact originating with only the first finger location region and a different control command associated with the same sliding or non-sliding contact with only the second finger location region;

(iii) following the positioning of the finger location regions and following sensing removing of the at least first, second and third fingers of the positioning step, entering a plurality of control commands into the electronic device including;

(a) entering a first control command by discerning a first control command input contact of only the first finger location region, determining whether the first control command input contact was a sliding or a non-sliding contact, determining the direction of the sliding contact with the proviso that the first control command input contact is a sliding contact, and identifying the first control command based on the finger location region contacted, whether the contact is a sliding or non-sliding contact, and the direction of any sliding, wherein identifying the first control command includes recognizing the first control command using the association of control commands to finger location regions and sliding direction; and

(b) entering a second control command different from the first control command by discerning a second control command input contact of only the second finger location region;

wherein the second control command input contact is the same sliding or the same non-sliding contact as the first control command input contact, and the direction of any sliding contact is the same as the sliding direction of the first control command input contact; and

identifying the second control command based on the finger location region contacted, whether the contact is sliding or non-sliding, and the direction of any sliding, wherein identifying the second control command includes recognizing the second control command using the association of commands to contacts with finger location regions and sliding direction.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the positioning of the finger location regions includes simultaneous sensing of four or five fingers of a hand above the touch-sensitive surface.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the method includes the touch screen displaying an image for each finger location region, each image indicating the location of the associated finger location region.

14. The method of claim 11, including the processor recognizing a single non-curved motion as the sliding contact wherein a command function is associated with said sliding contact.

15. A method of inputting control commands by a user having a device including touch-sensitive surface, the method comprising:

(i) sensing the contact of a plurality of finger location regions over the touch-sensitive surface including the contact of at least a first finger, a second finger, and a third finger of the user'"'"'s hand and positioning a first finger location region including the contact location of the first finger, a second finger contact region including the contact location of the second finger, and a third finger contact region including the contact location of the third finger;

wherein a plurality of control commands are each associated with a unique combination of sliding or non-sliding contact originating with one or more of the finger contact regions, and wherein each finger contact region is a unique region of the touch-sensitive surface;

(ii) maintaining an association of each of the plurality of control commands with a unique combination of sliding or non-sliding contact originating with one or more of the finger contact regions, including one control command associated with sliding or non-sliding contact originating with only the first finger contact region and a different control command associated with the same sliding or non-sliding contact with only the second finger contact region;

(iii) following the positioning of the finger contact regions and following the device sensing removing of the at least first, second and third fingers of the positioning step, entering a plurality of control commands into the electronic device including;

(a) entering a first control command by discerning a first control command input contact of only the first finger contact region, determining whether the first control command input contact was a sliding or a non-sliding contact, determining the direction of the sliding contact with the proviso that the first control command input contact is a sliding contact, and identifying the first control command based on the finger contact region contacted, whether the contact is a sliding or non-sliding contact, and the direction of any sliding, wherein identifying the first control command includes recognizing the first control command using the association of control commands to finger contact regions and sliding direction; and

(b) entering a second control command different from the first control command by discerning a second control command input contact of only the second finger contact region;

wherein the second control command input contact is the same sliding or the same non-sliding contact as the first control command input contact, and the direction of any sliding contact is the same as the sliding direction of the first control command input contact; and

identifying the second control command based on the finger contact region contacted, whether the contact is sliding or non-sliding, and the direction of any sliding, wherein identifying the second control command includes recognizing the second control command using the association of commands to contacts with finger contact regions and sliding direction.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the positioning of the finger contact regions includes identification of simultaneous contact of four or five fingers of a hand to the touch-sensitive surface.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the method includes displaying on the touch screen an image for each finger contact region, each image indicating the location of the associated finger contact region.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the method includes the processor recognizing a single non-curved motion as the sliding contact, wherein a command function is associated with said sliding contact.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the method includes the device executing the first control command and/or the device executing the second control command.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein

the positioning of the finger contact regions includes identification of simultaneous contact of four or five fingers of a hand to the touch-sensitive surface;

the method includes displaying on the touch screen an image for each finger contact region, each image indicating the location of the associated finger contact region;

the method includes the processor recognizing a single non-curved motion as the sliding contact, wherein a command function is associated with said sliding contact, the method includes the device executing the first control command and the second control command.