Input device with display buttons and portable electronic device having the same

• US 20070296694A1
• Filed: 06/25/2007
• Published: 12/27/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Kim, Nam-woo, Kim, Seong-woon, Hong, Sun-gi, Yoo, Byung-in, Yi, Kwon-ju, Yim, Yill-myung
• Application Number:
  US11/819,133
• Publication Number:
  US 20070296694A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/156
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1656 Details related to functional adaptations of the enclosure, e.g. to provide protection against EMI, shock, water, or to host detachable peripherals like a mouse or removable expansions units like PCMCIA cards, or to provide access to internal components for maintenance or to removable storage supports like CDs or DVDs, or to mechanically mount accessories mounting of accessories to a computer display G06F1/1607; display hoods G06F1/1603; cooling arrangements for portable computers G06F1/203
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1684 Constructional details or arrangements related to integrated I/O peripherals not covered by groups G06F1/1635 - G06F1/1675
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1692 the I/O peripheral being a secondary touch screen used as control interface, e.g. virtual buttons or sliders
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/014 Force feedback applied to GUI
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0238 Programmable keyboards key guide holders G06F3/0224
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0443 using a single layer of sensing electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2215/05 electromechanical

Abstract

Provided are an input device with display buttons and a portable electronic device having the same. The input device with display buttons may include a button frame having at least one button window; a touch interface, which is disposed below the button frame and generates a signal by sensing a user'"'"'s touch on each of the button windows; a display panel, which is disposed below the touch interface and provides an image corresponding to each of the button windows; and an operation feeling generator generating mechanical vibration in response to the signal input from the touch interface. The portable electronic device may include the input device with display buttons.

Claims

1. An input device comprising:

a button frame having at least one button window;

a touch interface, which is disposed below the button frame and generates a signal by sensing a user'"'"'s touch on each button window;

a display panel, which is disposed below the touch interface and provides an image corresponding to each button window; and

a sensation generator, which generates mechanical vibration in response to the signal input from the touch interface.

2. The input device of claim 1, wherein the sensation generator comprises a vibration motor.

3. The input device of claim 1, wherein the sensation generator comprises at least one electric responsive material member.

4. The input device of claim 3, wherein the electric responsive material member comprises a transparent speaker.

5. The input device of claim 1, wherein:

the touch interface comprises a capacitive touch sensor,

the button frame further comprises a window cover, which covers up each button window, and

the rear surface of the window cover contacts the capacitive touch sensor.

6. The input device of claim 5, wherein:

the sensation generator comprises an electric responsive material member, and

the electric responsive material member is formed integrally with the window cover.

7. The input device of claim 5, wherein:

the sensation generator comprises an electric responsive material member, and

the electric responsive material member is disposed close to the window cover to transfer vibration due to an electric signal to the window cover.

8. The input device of claim 1, wherein:

the button frame has a plurality of button windows, and

the touch interface comprises a single transparent touch sensor in a zone corresponding to all button windows.

9. The input device of claim 1, wherein:

the button frame has a plurality of button windows, and

the touch interface comprises transparent touch sensors in respective zones corresponding to all button windows.

10. The input device of claim 1, wherein:

the button frame has a plurality of button windows, and

the touch interface comprises at least one non-transparent touch sensor in a zone below the button frame, which is not exposed through the button windows.

11. An input device comprising:

a button frame having at least one button window;

a touch interface, which is disposed below the button frame and generates a signal by sensing a user'"'"'s touch on each button window;

a display panel, which is disposed below the touch interface and provides an image corresponding to each button window;

a sensation generator which generates mechanical vibration in response to a control signal; and

a controller which receives the signal from the touch interface and provides the control signal to the operation feeling generator.

12. The input device of claim 11, wherein the sensation generator comprises a vibration motor.

13. The input device of claim 11, wherein the sensation generator comprises at least one electric responsive material member.

14. The input device of claim 13, wherein the electric responsive material member comprises a transparent speaker.

15. The input device of claim 11, wherein:

the touch interface comprises a capacitive touch sensor,

the button frame further comprises a window cover, which covers up each of the button windows, and

the rear surface the window cover contacts the capacitive touch sensor.

16. The input device of claim 15, wherein:

the sensation generator comprises an electric responsive material member, and

the electric responsive material member is formed integrally with the window cover.

17. The input device of claim 15, wherein:

the sensation generator comprises an electric responsive material member, and

the electric responsive material member is disposed close to the window cover to transfer vibration due to an electric signal to the window cover.

18. The input device of claim 11, wherein the controller generates a first control signal when the signal according to the user'"'"'s touch starts to be input from the touch interface and generates a second control signal when the signal according to the user'"'"'s touch ends.

19. The input device of claim 18, wherein the controller generates the first control signal for a longer period of time than for the second control signal.

20. The input device of claim 18, wherein the controller generates the first control signal stronger than the second control signal.

21. An input device comprising:

a plurality of buttons, which display a plurality of images;

a controller, which recognizes an operated button from among the plurality of buttons and generates a control signal, the control signal instructing the recognized button to experience mechanical vibration; and

a sensation generator, which responds to the control signal and generates mechanical vibration for the recognized button.

22. The input device of claim 21, wherein the sensation generator comprises a vibration motor.

23. The input device of claim 21, wherein the sensation generator comprises at least one electric responsive material members.

24. A portable electronic device having an input device, the input device comprising:

a button frame having at least one button window;

a touch interface, which is disposed below the button frame and generates a signal by sensing a user'"'"'s touch on each button window;

a display panel, which is disposed below the touch interface and provides an image corresponding to each button window; and

a sensation generator which generates mechanical vibration in response to the signal input from the touch interface.

25. A portable electronic device having an input device, the input device comprising:

a button frame having at least one transparent button window;

a touch interface, which is disposed below the button frame and generates a signal by sensing a user'"'"'s touch on each button window;

a display panel, which is disposed below the touch interface and provides an image corresponding to each button window;

an operation feeling generator which generates mechanical vibration in response to a control signal; and

a controller which receives the signal from the touch interface and provides the control signal to the operation feeling generator.

26. A method of providing mechanical vibration to a user of a portable electronic device having a plurality of display buttons, the method comprising:

recognizing an operated display button from among the plurality of display buttons; and

generating a control signal which instructs the recognized display button to experience mechanical vibration.

27. At least one computer readable medium storing computer readable instructions that control at least one processor to implement the method of claim 26.