CONFIGURABLE INPUT DEVICE

• US 20120227006A1
• Filed: 03/03/2011
• Published: 09/06/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/03/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Amm, David T.
• Granted Patent: US 8,799,803 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/773
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/169 the I/O peripheral being an integrated pointing device, e.g. trackball in the palm rest area, mini-joystick integrated between keyboard keys, touch pads or touch stripes G06F1/1643 takes precedence; constructional details of pointing devices G06F3/033
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/01 Input arrangements or combined input and output arrangements for interaction between user and computer G06F3/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0216 Arrangements for ergonomically adjusting the disposition of keys of a keyboard for keyboards integrated in a laptop computer G06F1/1664
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0425 using a single imaging device like a video camera for tracking the absolute position of a single or a plurality of objects with respect to an imaged reference surface, e.g. video camera imaging a display or a projection screen, a table or a wall surface, on which a computer generated image is displayed or projected tracking a projected light spot to determine a position on a display surface G06F3/0386
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/048 Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04886 by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus

Abstract

There are provided methods and systems related to having an input device configured according to a position of a user'"'"'s hand relative to the input device. In particular, in some embodiments, a method of operating a computing system is provided that includes determining an operational context of the computing system utilizing a processor of the system and configuring an input device for the system based on the operational context. The input device includes a plurality of discrete input members. The method also includes displaying a virtual image representative of the input device on a display of the system. A position of a user'"'"'s digits relative to the input device is sensed and the input device is reconfigured based on the sensed position of the user'"'"'s digits. An image of the user'"'"'s digits overlaying the virtual image representative of the input device is provided on a display of the computing system.

Claims

1. A method of operating a computing system comprising:

determining an operational context of the computing system utilizing a processor of the system;

configuring an input device for the system based on the operational context, wherein the input device comprises a plurality of discrete input members;

displaying a virtual image representative of the input device on a display of the system;

sensing a position of a user'"'"'s digits relative to the input device;

reconfiguring the input device based on the sensed position of the user'"'"'s digits; and

displaying an image of the user'"'"'s digits overlaying the virtual image representative of the input device on a display of the computing system.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein reconfiguring the input device comprises assigning input received from at least one of the plurality of discrete input members of the input device based on its location relative to at least one of the user'"'"'s digits and reassigning the remainder of the plurality of discrete input members of the input device based on the assignment of the at least one of the plurality of discrete input members.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein displaying the image of the user'"'"'s digits overlaying the virtual image representative of the input device comprises displaying the input device and the image of the user'"'"'s digits in positions approximating the relative position of the user'"'"'s digits to each other.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein displaying the image of the user'"'"'s digits overlaying the virtual image representative of the input device comprises displaying the input device and the user'"'"'s digits so that the user'"'"'s digits appear aligned with the input device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein displaying the virtual image representative of the input device comprises displaying images of a backside of the computer system on a display located on a front side of the computer system.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein displaying the virtual image representative of the input device comprises aligning the display of the virtual image with the sensed position of the user'"'"'s digits.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

sensing contact of the user'"'"'s digits with the input device; and

determining if the contact is interpretable as input.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein if the contact is determined to be input:

indicating receipt of the input; and

performing a function indicated by the input.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein indicating receipt of the input comprises at least one of:

generating a haptic feedback, altering an appearance of at least one of the discrete input members corresponding to the determined input, and generating an audible signal.

10. A computer system comprising:

an input device comprising;

a surface utilized for providing input to the computer in response to a user input;

a first sensor configured to determine a position of a user'"'"'s hand relative to the surface; and

a second sensor configured to determine a touch of the user'"'"'s hand on the surface; and

a processor communicatively coupled with the input device;

a memory communicatively coupled with the processor; and

a display in communication with the processor, wherein the display is configured to receive data from the processor to provide a virtual image of the user'"'"'s hand overlaying an image of the input device, the image of the input device showing discrete input members, wherein further the displayed discrete input members are aligned at least in part based on the determined position of the user'"'"'s hand relative to the surface.

11. The computer system of claim 10, wherein the first sensor comprises a proximity sensor.

12. The computer system of claim 10, wherein the first sensor comprises a camera.

13. The computer system of claim 10, wherein the second sensor comprises a touch sensitive sensor.

14. The computer system of claim 10, wherein the second sensor comprises at least one of a pressure sensor or a force sensor.

15. The computer system of claim 10, wherein the computer system comprises a notebook computer.

16. The computer system of claim 10, wherein the computer system comprises a tablet computer.

17. A computer system comprising:

a processor;

a memory communicatively coupled to the processor;

a plurality of sensors communicatively coupled to the processor, the plurality of sensors configured to sense a position of a user'"'"'s digits relative to a surface of the computer system and to sense an input from a user; and

a display communicatively coupled to the processor, wherein the display is configured to show an image representing a virtual input device and the user'"'"'s digits overlaying the image representing the input device, wherein the virtual input device comprises a plurality of discrete virtual buttons configured to correspond in location with the sensed position of the user'"'"'s digits.

18. The computer system of claim 17, wherein the plurality of sensors comprises an array of sensors distributed adjacent to an input surface of the device.

19. The computer system of claim 17 further comprising a haptic feedback device configured to provide user feedback when user input is registered.

20. The computer system of claim 17 wherein further the virtual buttons are reconfigured after a rest period wherein the user'"'"'s digits are relocated relative to the plurality of sensors.