Interface with and communication between mobile electronic devices

• US 20090036176A1
• Filed: 08/01/2007
• Published: 02/05/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/01/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Michael J Ure
• Original Assignee: Michael J Ure
• Inventors: Ure, Michael J.
• Application Number:
  US11/888,811
• Publication Number:
  US 20090036176A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/575.300
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04106 Multi-sensing digitiser, i.e. digitiser using at least two different sensing technologies simultaneously or alternatively, e.g. for detecting pen and finger, for saving power or for improving position detection
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0443 using a single layer of sensing electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/045 using resistive elements, e.g. a single continuous surface or two parallel surfaces put in contact
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/026 Details of the structure or mounting of specific components
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/23 Construction or mounting of dials or of equivalent devices; Means for facilitating the use thereof by improving visibility H04M1/22
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72427 for supporting games or graphical animations
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/16 including more than one display unit
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/22 including a touch pad, a touch sensor or a touch detector digitizers for touch screens G06F3/041
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/70 methods for entering alphabetical characters, e.g. multi-tap or dictionary disambiguation methods for entering alphabetical characters per se G06F3/0237

Abstract

An input device and mobile electronic devices having improved user interface capabilities are described. In one embodiment, An input device includes a display device, a capacitive touch sensor overlying the display device, and a pressure-sensing layer underlying the display device. The display device may be, for example, a cholesteric liquid crystal display that directly captures and displays writing in response to applied pressure. Such an input device may be used to greatly facilitate input of text and graphical information to mobile electronic devices. In another embodiment, a mobile electronic device includes a first housing portion and a second housing portion connected together in a hinged manner, a display housed by the first housing portion, and a pressure-sensing layer housed by the second housing portion for performing writing capture in response to a stylus. In another embodiment, a method of sending a message includes establishing a communication session, capturing stylus input, and as part of the communications session, sending a representation of the captured stylus input. The representation may be a textual representation or a graphical representation. The graphical representation may be sent in real time and displayed as a succession of images, each successive image updating a prior image, and the communications session may include voice communications.

Claims

1. An input device comprising:

a display device;

a capacitive touch sensor overlying the display device; and

a pressure-sensing layer underlying or overlying the display device.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the pressure-sensing layer is a resistive sensor.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the display device is non-volatile.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the display device directly captures and displays writing in response to applied pressure.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the display device is a cholesteric liquid crystal display.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein indicia are visible on the capacitive touch sensor, indicative of at least one of the following functions:

enter/send;

recognize handwriting then enter/send; and

, clear display.

7. A mobile electronic device comprising:

a first housing portion and a second housing portion connected together in a hinged manner;

a display housed by the first housing portion; and

a pressure-sensing layer housed by the second housing portion for performing writing capture in response to a stylus.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, comprising a capacitive touch sensor housed by the second housing portion.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein indicia are visible on the capacitive touch sensor, indicative of at least one of the following functions:

enter/send;

recognize handwriting then enter/send; and

clear display.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, comprising a keypad overlay delineating multiple key areas and overlying at least a portion of the capacitive touch sensor.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the keypad overlay comprises at least one flexible key dome, wherein depression of the flexible key dome is sensed by at least one of the pressure-sensing layer and the capacitive touch sensor.

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21. A method of sending a message, comprising:

establishing a communication session;

capturing stylus input; and

as part of the communications session, sending a representation of the captured stylus input.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the representation is a textual representation.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein the representation is a graphical representation.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the graphical representation is sent in real time and displayed as a succession of images, each successive image updating a prior image.

25. The method of claim 21, wherein the communications session includes voice communications.

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