Input having concentric touch pads

• US 20070057922A1
• Filed: 09/13/2005
• Published: 03/15/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Schultz, Kevin, Tierney, Kelly
• Application Number:
  US11/225,680
• Publication Number:
  US 20070057922A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03547 Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface

Abstract

Methods and apparatus include an input device for controlling an electronic device. The input device includes concentric touch pads. Contact with the touch pads includes tapping and/or sliding movement in order to provide signals that are processed and sent to the electronic device, which performs operations based on these inputs.

Claims

1. An input device for generating commands to control an electronic device, comprising:

a center touch pad defining a substantially circular shape;

an outer touch pad generally concentric with the center touch pad and defining a ring shape; and

an inactive surface surrounding the center touch pad and physically separating the center touch pad from the outer touch pad.

2. The input device of claim 1, wherein the touch pads and inactive surface are integrated within a portable multimedia device configured to output video and audio.

3. The input device of claim 1, wherein the outer touch pad is angled downward from an inside diameter to an outside diameter thereof.

4. The input device of claim 1, wherein the center touch pad is recessed by a lip of the inactive surface protruding upward around a perimeter of the center touch pad.

5. The input device of claim 1, wherein the center touch pad surrounds a middle area that is not a touch sensitive surface.

6. The input device of claim 1, wherein the touch pads are configured to change from a first configuration to a second configuration having one or more different input functions than the first configuration.

7. The input device of claim 1, wherein the touch pads are configured to change from a first configuration to a second configuration, wherein an area adapted to process a tap contact in the first configuration is adapted to process a sliding movement in the second configuration.

8. The input device of claim 1, wherein the touch pads are configured to change from a first configuration to a second configuration based on an action performed by the electronic device.

9. The input device of claim 1, wherein the touch pads are configured to change from a first configuration to a second configuration based on a user selection.

10. The input device of claim 1, wherein the touch pads are configured to change from a first configuration to a second configuration after a predetermined time following an event performed by the electronic device.

11. The input device of claim 1, wherein the touch pads and inactive surface are disposed on a remote control for the electronic device.

12. The input device of claim 1, wherein the touch pads and inactive surface are disposed on a video game controller.

13. An electronic device configured with a program for receiving and implementing control signals from an input device, comprising:

a processor and memory containing the program, wherein the processor when configured with the program performs an operation responsive to receiving signals from the input device, the signals corresponding to interactions with a center touch pad and an annular touch pad separate from the center touch pad and disposed concentrically around the center touch pad, the operation comprising;

adjusting a first function of the electronic device based on receiving a first input signal due to direction of a first rotational sliding motion on the center touch pad; and

adjusting a second function of the electronic device based on receiving a second input signal due to direction of a second rotational sliding motion on the annular touch pad.

14. The electronic device of claim 13, wherein the operation further comprises selecting a specific function based on receiving a third input signal due to contact with one of the touch pads with a tapping motion.

15. The electronic device of claim 13, wherein adjusting one of the functions includes in manipulating an audio track with the electronic device.

16. The electronic device of claim 13, wherein adjusting one of the functions includes manipulating a video clip with the electronic device.

17. An input device for generating commands to control an electronic device, comprising:

a first concentric touch pad assembly having a first center touch pad separated from a first annular touch pad disposed around the first center touch pad; and

a second concentric touch pad assembly having a second center touch pad separated from a second annular touch pad disposed around the second center touch pad, wherein the first and second concentric touch pad assemblies are spaced from one another to prevent overlap.

18. The input device of claim 17, wherein the first and second concentric touch pad assemblies are disposed on a handheld controller for the electronic device.

19. The input device of claim 17, wherein each of the annular touch pads are angled downward from an inside diameter to an outside diameter thereof.

20. The input device of claim 17, wherein the center touch pads are physically separated from the annular touch pads.

21. The input device of claim 17, wherein each of the center touch pads are disposed within a recess that identifies an outer boundary of each of the center touch pads.

22. A method of generating commands to control an electronic device, comprising:

providing an input device in communication with the electronic device, comprising;

a center touch pad;

an annular touch pad disposed concentrically around the center touch pad; and

an inactive surface disposed between the center touch pad and the annular touch pad;

receiving input corresponding to contact on the center touch pad with a first rotational sliding motion to provide a first input signal to the electronic device to adjust a first function of the electronic device based on direction of the first rotational sliding motion; and

receiving input corresponding to contact on the annular touch pad with a second rotational sliding motion to provide a second input signal to the electronic device to adjust a second function of the electronic device based on direction of the second rotational sliding motion.