Glow touch feedback for virtual input devices

• US 9,588,681 B2
• Filed: 04/24/2014
• Issued: 03/07/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Markiewicz, Jan-Kristian, Clement, Manuel, Silvis, Jason
• Primary Examiner(s): Ferguson, Keith
• Application Number:
  US14/260,721
• Publication Number:
  US 20140237413A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,048 Days
• Field of Search: 455/566, 455/565, 455/575, 455/556.2, 455/550.1, 455/557, 455 901- 903, 455/426.1, 455/426.2, 455/403, 455/422.1, 345/168, 345/169, 345/173, 715/773, 715/764, 715/815
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/167 Audio in a user interface, e.g. using voice commands for navigating, audio feedback
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/22 Illumination; Arrangements for improving the visibility of characters on dials
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/22 including a touch pad, a touch sensor or a touch detector digitizers for touch screens G06F3/041

Abstract

The claimed subject matter is directed to providing feedback in a touch screen device in response to an actuation of a virtual unit in a virtual input device. Specifically, the claimed subject matter provides a method and system for providing visual feedback in response to an actuation of a virtual key in a virtual keyboard. One embodiment of the claimed subject matter is implemented as a method for providing luminescent feedback in response to an actuation of a virtual key in a virtual keyboard. User input in a virtual keyboard corresponding to a virtual key is received. The corresponding virtual key is actuated and registered in response to the user input, and a luminescent feedback is displayed to the user as confirmation of the actuation of the virtual key.

Claims

1. A method for providing visual feedback in response to an actuation of a virtual key in a virtual keyboard, the method comprising:

receiving a user input corresponding to a first virtual key of a plurality of virtual keys, the plurality of virtual keys comprising a virtual keyboard;

actuating the first virtual key in response to the user input;

registering an actuation of the first virtual key; and

displaying a luminescent confirmation in response to registering the actuation, the luminescent confirmation comprising a visual distinction in a brightness of a graphical representation of the first virtual key relative to a brightness of a plurality of graphical representations corresponding to other virtual keys of the plurality of virtual keys, the visual distinction further including deterioration of the brightness of the graphical representation of the first virtual key over a period of time, such that upon termination of the period of time the brightness of the graphical representation of the first virtual key is the same as the other virtual keys of the plurality of virtual keys.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein displaying a luminescent confirmation comprises instantly displaying a luminescent confirmation immediately following a registration of the actuation.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein displaying a luminescent confirmation comprises displaying an adjusted display size that is an increase relative to the display size of other virtual keys in the virtual keyboard.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein displaying a luminescent confirmation comprises displaying an adjusted display size that is a decrease relative to the display size of other virtual keys in the virtual keyboard.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein displaying a luminescent confirmation further comprises illuminating an area proximate to an image of the first virtual key between the image of the first virtual key and a plurality of adjacent virtual key images adjacent to the image of first virtual key.

6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

generating a haptic indication along with the luminescent confirmation in response to registering the actuation.

7. A method for providing visual feedback in response to an actuation of a virtual key in a virtual keyboard, the method comprising:

receiving a user input corresponding to a first virtual actuator of a plurality of virtual actuators, the plurality of virtual actuators comprising a virtual input device;

actuating the first virtual actuator in response to the user input;

registering an actuation of the first virtual actuator; and

displaying a luminescent confirmation in response to registering the actuation, the luminescent confirmation comprising a visual distinction in a brightness of a graphical representation of the first virtual actuator relative to a brightness of a plurality of graphical representations corresponding to other virtual actuators of the plurality of virtual input device, the visual distinction further including deterioration of the brightness of the graphical representation of the first virtual actuator over a period of time, such that upon termination of the period of time the brightness of the graphical representation of the first virtual actuator is the same as the other virtual actuators.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the first actuator comprises a virtual button.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the virtual input device comprises one of a group, said group comprising:

a virtual keyboard, a virtual toolbar and a virtual interface.

10. The method according to claim 7, wherein displaying a luminescent confirmation comprises displaying an adjusted display size that is an increase relative to the display size of other virtual actuators in the virtual input device.

11. The method according to claim 7, wherein displaying a luminescent confirmation comprises displaying an adjusted display size that is a decrease relative to the display size of other virtual actuators in the virtual input device.

12. A computing device, comprising:

at least one processor, and

at least one memory device that comprises computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to perform acts including;

causing a virtual keyboard to be displayed, the virtual keyboard having a graphical representation, the virtual keyboard further comprises a plurality of virtual keys, each of the plurality of virtual keys having a graphical representation displayed in the graphical representation of the virtual keyboard;

receiving a user input corresponding to a first virtual key of the plurality of virtual keys;

actuating the first virtual key in response to the user input;

registering an actuation of the first virtual key; and

causing a luminescent confirmation to be displayed in response to registering the actuation, the luminescent confirmation comprising a visual distinction in a brightness of a graphical representation of the first virtual key relative to a brightness of a plurality of graphical representations corresponding to other virtual keys of the plurality of virtual keys, the visual distinction further including deterioration of the brightness of the graphical representation of the first virtual key over a period of time, such that upon termination of the period of time the brightness of the graphical representation of the first virtual key is the same as the other virtual keys of the plurality of virtual keys.

13. The computing device of claim 12, wherein causing the luminescent confirmation to be displayed comprises causing the luminescent confirmation to be instantly displayed immediately following a registration of the actuation.

14. The computing device according to claim 12, wherein causing the luminescent confirmation to be displayed comprises adjusting a display size of the first virtual key, such that the display size of the first virtual key is increased relative to a display size of the other virtual keys in the virtual keyboard.

15. The computing device according to claim 12, wherein causing the luminescent confirmation to be displayed comprises adjusting a display size of the first virtual key, such that the display size of the first virtual key is decreased relative to a display size of the other virtual keys in the virtual keyboard.

16. The computing device according to claim 12, wherein causing the luminescent confirmation to be displayed further comprises causing an area proximate to an image of the first virtual key to be illuminated, the area proximate to the image of the first virtual key being between the image of the first virtual key and a plurality of adjacent virtual key images adjacent to the image of first virtual key.

17. The computing device according to claim 12, further comprising:

a display, wherein the virtual keyboard is displayed on the display and the luminescent confirmation is displayed on the display.

18. The computing device according to claim 12, wherein the at least one memory device further comprises computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to perform acts including:

causing a haptic indication to be outputted along with the luminescent confirmation in response to registering the actuation.

19. The computing device according to claim 12, wherein the at least one memory device further comprises computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to perform acts including:

causing an audible indication to be outputted along with the luminescent confirmation in response to registering the actuation.

20. The computing device according to claim 12 being a mobile computing device.