APPARATUS, SYSTEM, AND METHOD FOR ELECTRONIC PAPER FLEX INPUT

• US 20070242033A1
• Filed: 04/18/2006
• Published: 10/18/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/18/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Cradick, Ryan, Garbow, Zachary
• Granted Patent: US 7,880,718 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/156
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0412 Digitisers structurally integrated in a display

Abstract

An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed to control an application interface displayed on electronic paper. A detection module is included to detect intentional bending of an electronic paper at a particular location. A correlation module is included to correlate the particular location where the electronic paper is bent with a user interface command in an application. An execution module is included to execute the user interface command. In one embodiment, a display module is included to update display information on the electronic paper in response to execution of the user interface command. The electronic paper may include a detector in contact with the electronic paper to provide electronic paper bend position information to the detection module.

Claims

1. An apparatus to control an application interface displayed on electronic paper, the:

apparatus comprising;

a detection module configured to detect intentional bending of an electronic paper at a particular location;

a correlation module configured to correlate the particular location where the electronic paper is bent with a user interface command in an application; and

an execution module configured to execute the user interface command.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a display module configured to update display information on the electronic paper in response to execution of the user interface command.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the electronic paper further comprises a detector in contact with the electronic paper and configured to provide electronic paper bend position information to the detection module.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the detector comprises fiber-optic cable configured to provide the fiber-optic cable'"'"'s spatial resolution.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the fiber-optic cable is configured in a grid pattern in contact with the electronic paper.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the detection module further comprises a filter module configured to distinguish between unintentional movement of the electronic paper and intentional bending of the electronic paper at a particular location.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an assignment module configured to assign a region of the electronic paper to at least one corresponding user interface command.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a profile module configured to store a profile referenced by the detection module, wherein the profile comprises sensitivity parameters associated with an environmental condition.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the profile module further comprises a sensor adjustment module configured to adjust sensitivity parameters based on input from an environmental sensor.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the profile module further comprises a pattern adjustment module configured to adjust sensitivity parameters based on a pattern of use.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a shutdown module configured to stop detecting intentional bending of at least a portion of the electronic paper based on a group of factors consisting of non-use, user input, and an application interface configuration.

12. A system to control an application interface displayed on electronic paper, the system comprising:

an electronic paper;

a processor in communication with the electronic paper and configured to execute an application; and

a memory in communication with the processor comprising

a detection module configured to detect intentional bending of the electronic paper at a particular location;

a correlation module configured to correlate the particular location where the electronic paper is bent with a user interface command in the application;

an execution module configured to execute the user interface command; and

a display module configured to update display information on the electronic paper in response to the user interface command.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the processor and memory are onboard the electronic paper and the system further comprises a port connected to the processor configured to exchange data between the processor and a computer, wherein the port supports a wireless communication.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the electronic paper further comprises fiber-optic cable in contact with the electronic paper to provide electronic paper bend position information to the detection module, wherein the fiber-optic cable is configured to provide the fiber-optic cable'"'"'s spatial resolution.

15. The system of claim 12, further comprising a power supply onboard the electronic paper and configured to provide power to the electronic paper, processor and memory.

16. A computer program product comprising a computer readable medium having computer usable program code programmed to control an application interface displayed on electronic paper, the operations of the computer program product comprising:

detecting intentional bending of an electronic paper at a particular location;

correlating the particular location where the electronic paper is bent with a user interface command in an application; and

executing the user interface command.

17. The computer program product of claim 16, further comprising updating display information on the electronic paper in response to execution of the user interface command.

18. The computer program product of claim 16, further comprising distinguishing between unintentional and intentional bending of the electronic paper at a particular location.

19. The computer program product of claim 16, further comprising adjusting sensitivity parameters based on input from an environmental sensor.

20. The computer program product of claim 16, further comprising adjusting bending detection sensitivity parameters based on a pattern of use.