Touch Feedback With Hover

• US 20090225043A1
• Filed: 03/05/2008
• Published: 09/10/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/05/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Plantronics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Plantronics, Inc.
• Inventors: Rosener, Douglas K.
• Application Number:
  US12/043,084
• Publication Number:
  US 20090225043A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/044 by capacitive means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures

Abstract

An electronic device includes one or more touch sensors. Upon detection that a user'"'"'s finger or hand is brought within close proximity to a touch sensor, the electronic devices provides a user feedback to the user. The user feedback may be specifically associated with a touch sensor, thereby allowing the user to distinguish between different touch sensors prior to contacting them.

Claims

1. A headset comprising:

a microphone;

a speaker;

a proximity sensing touch sensor for detecting a close proximity status whereby a user'"'"'s finger is within a proximity to the proximity sensing touch sensor and for detecting a subsequent touch status whereby the user'"'"'s finger is in contact with the proximity sensing touch sensor;

a user feedback mechanism associated with the proximity sensing touch sensor; and

a processor, wherein the processor responsively processes a close proximity status detection by outputting a feedback to the user with the user feedback mechanism and processes the subsequent touch status by performing a desired user action.

2. The headset of claim 1, wherein the user feedback mechanism comprises one or more selected from the following group:

a vibrate motor, an audible sound output through the speaker, and a light source.

3. The headset of claim 1, wherein the proximity sensing touch sensor comprises a capacitive sensor.

4. The headset of claim 1, wherein the proximity sensing touch sensor is associated with a headset control operation comprising one or more selected from the following group:

volume control, power control, call answer, call terminate, item select, next item, and previous item.

5. The headset of claim 1, wherein the user feedback mechanism comprises a heads-up display.

6. An apparatus comprising:

a plurality of proximity sensing touch sensors for detecting a plurality of close proximity statuses, wherein each close proximity status detected is associated with a particular proximity sensing touch sensor;

a plurality of user feedback mechanisms, wherein each user feedback mechanism is associated with a particular proximity sensing touch sensor; and

a processor, wherein the processor responsively processes a detected close proximity status by outputting a feedback to the user with the particular user feedback mechanism associated with the particular proximity sensing touch sensor.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the plurality of user feedback mechanisms comprise one or more selected from the following group:

a vibrate motor, an audible sound, and a light source.

8. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the plurality of user feedback mechanisms comprise a vibrate motor having a plurality of vibrate patterns.

9. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the plurality of proximity sensing touch sensors comprises a plurality of capacitive sensors.

10. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the plurality of user feedback mechanisms comprise a plurality of distinct audio tones or audio patterns.

11. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the plurality of user feedback mechanisms comprise a plurality of graphics displayed on a display screen.

12. An apparatus comprising:

a plurality of proximity sensing touch sensors for detecting a plurality of close proximity statuses, wherein each close proximity status detected is associated with a particular proximity sensing touch sensor;

a plurality of non-visual user feedback mechanisms, wherein each non-visual user feedback mechanism is associated with a particular proximity sensing touch sensor; and

a processor, wherein the processor responsively processes a detected close proximity status by outputting a feedback to the user with the particular non-visual user feedback mechanism associated with the particular proximity sensing touch sensor, thereby enabling the user to determine non-visually which proximity sensing touch sensor the user is in close proximity to.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the plurality of non-visual user feedback mechanisms comprise a vibrate motor or an audible sound.

14. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the plurality of non-visual user feedback mechanisms comprise a vibrate motor having a plurality of vibrate patterns.

15. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the plurality of proximity sensing touch sensors comprises a plurality of capacitive sensors.

16. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the plurality of non-visual user feedback mechanisms comprise a plurality of distinct audio tones or audio patterns.

17. A method for interfacing with an electronic device comprising:

providing a plurality of proximity sensing touch sensors on an electronic device;

providing a plurality of user feedback mechanisms for the electronic device;

associating a particular user feedback mechanism with a particular proximity sensing touch sensor;

detecting a close proximity status to a particular proximity sensing touch sensor; and

outputting the particular user feedback mechanism associated with the particular proximity sensing touch sensor for which a close proximity status is detected.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising receiving a user touch of a proximity sensing touch sensor subsequent to outputting the particular user feedback mechanism associated with the particular proximity sensing touch sensor for which a close proximity status is detected.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the plurality of user feedback mechanisms comprise one or more selected from the following group:

a vibrate motor, an audible sound, and a light source.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the plurality of user feedback mechanisms comprise a vibrate motor having a plurality of vibrate patterns.

21. The method of claim 17, wherein the plurality of proximity sensing touch sensors comprises a plurality of capacitive sensors.

22. The method of claim 17, wherein the plurality of user feedback mechanisms comprise a plurality of distinct audio tones or audio patterns.

23. A system comprising:

a plurality of proximity sensing means for detecting a plurality of close proximity statuses, wherein each close proximity status detected is associated with a particular proximity sensing means;

a plurality of user feedback means for outputting a user feedback, wherein each user feedback means is associated with a particular proximity sensing means; and

a processing means for outputting a feedback to the user with the particular user feedback means associated with the particular proximity sensing means for which a close proximity status is detected.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the plurality of proximity sensing means are disposed on a first electronic device and the plurality of user feedback means are disposed on a second electronic device.