Multi-function keys providing additional functions and previews of functions
First Claim
1. An input device, comprising:
- a physical keyboard comprising one or more respective key assemblies, the one or more respective key assemblies comprising a multi-function key having a touch sensitive surface and a plurality of capacitive sensor electrodes disposed under the touch sensitive surface; and
a processing system coupled to the multi-function key and configured to;
communicate with an operating environment to provide input from the input device, the operating environment providing actions taken when the multi-function key is pressed by one or more input objects;
determine whether the multi-function key has been contacted or pressed, wherein the one or more input objects are determined to contact or press the multi-function key using a set of capacitive sensor electrodes in the multi-function key;
when the multi-function key has been contacted or pressed only by a single input object, provide a first action taken in the operating environment, andwhen the multi-function key has been contacted simultaneously or pressed simultaneously by multiple input objects, provide a second action taken in the operating environment,wherein the first action is different from the second action.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and devices are provided that employ multi-function keys to present a preview of potential actions to be taken by user key presses. The input device includes a plurality of key assemblies having a touch sensitive surface. The processing system can sense when one or more respective key assemblies have been contacted or pressed by the object. When the one or more respective key assemblies has been contacted by the object, an indication of a potential action taken in the program is provided to the user. The method determines whether the one or more respective key assemblies have been contacted or pressed by an object. A potential action to be taken is determined and an indication of the potential action is provided.
30 Citations
22 Claims
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1. An input device, comprising:
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a physical keyboard comprising one or more respective key assemblies, the one or more respective key assemblies comprising a multi-function key having a touch sensitive surface and a plurality of capacitive sensor electrodes disposed under the touch sensitive surface; and a processing system coupled to the multi-function key and configured to; communicate with an operating environment to provide input from the input device, the operating environment providing actions taken when the multi-function key is pressed by one or more input objects; determine whether the multi-function key has been contacted or pressed, wherein the one or more input objects are determined to contact or press the multi-function key using a set of capacitive sensor electrodes in the multi-function key; when the multi-function key has been contacted or pressed only by a single input object, provide a first action taken in the operating environment, and when the multi-function key has been contacted simultaneously or pressed simultaneously by multiple input objects, provide a second action taken in the operating environment, wherein the first action is different from the second action. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 21, 22)
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9. A method for providing an indication of a potential action to be taken in an operating environment accepting input from an input device, the method comprising:
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determining whether a multi-function key among one or more respective key assemblies of a physical keyboard has been contacted or pressed by one or more input objects, wherein the multi-function key has a touch sensitive surface and a plurality of capacitive sensor electrodes disposed under the touch sensitive surface, wherein the one or more input objects are determined to contact or press the multi-function key using a set of capacitive electrodes in the multi-function key; determining the potential action to be taken based upon the operating environment accepting input from the input device when the multi-function key has been contacted by the one or more input objects; providing, when the multi-function key has been pressed by a single input object, an action within the operating environment that corresponds to the potential action; and providing, when the multi-function key has been pressed simultaneously by multiple input objects, the indication of the potential action taken by the operating environment. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A system, comprising:
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a physical keyboard comprising one or more respective key assemblies, the one or more respective key assemblies comprising a multi-function key having a touch sensitive surface and a plurality of capacitive sensor electrodes disposed under the touch sensitive surface; a display, coupled to a processing system for displaying information provided by the processing system; and the processing system being coupled to the multi-function key and configured to; communicate with an operating environment to accept input from the input device, the operating environment providing actions taken in the operating environment when the multi-function key is pressed by one or more input objects; determine whether the multi-function key has been contacted or pressed, wherein the one or more input objects are determined to contact simultaneously or press simultaneously the multi-function key using a set of capacitive sensor electrodes in the multi-function key; when the multi-function key has been contacted or pressed only by a single input object, provide an action taken in the operating environment; and when the multi-function key has been contacted simultaneously or pressed simultaneously by multiple input objects, provide an indication of the action taken in the operating environment should the multi-function key be pressed only by the single input object. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification