Additional Touch-Gesture Sensors for Rear or Sides of Mobile Devices

• US 20130321337A1
• Filed: 08/05/2013
• Published: 12/05/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/15/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Lester Ludwig
• Original Assignee: Lester F. Ludwig
• Inventors: GRAHAM, ANDREW D., SIMON, STEVEN H.
• Application Number:
  US13/959,619
• Publication Number:
  US 20130321337A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/174
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03547 Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04144 using an array of force sensing means position sensing using the local deformation of sensor cells G06F3/0447
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text

Abstract

A method for providing user interface features to a mobile device involving locating a touch-responsive sensor touchpad to the rear and/or at least one side of a mobile device. Touch-gesture measurement information from the touch-responsive sensor touchpad is processed and used to create an output signal responsive to a touch gesture imparted wherein the output signal is used to control an aspect of a software application operating on the mobile device. The mobile device can be configured to be selectively responsive to particular temporal patterns of touch, particular regions of touch, and/or particular movements of touch. Touch gestures can include various types of squeezing gestures, path-tracing touch gestures, and touch pattern gestures. Recognized gestures can be used to control the mobile device and/or software application running on the mobile device.

Claims

1. A method for providing user interface features to a mobile device, the method comprising:

Locating a touch-responsive sensor touchpad to a side of a mobile device;

Receiving touch-gesture measurement information from the touch-responsive sensor touchpad and translating the measurement information into numerical measurement data;

Processing the numerical measurement data on processor comprised by the mobile device to produce touch gesture recognition; and

Providing an output signal responsive to the touch gesture recognition,

Wherein the output signal is responsive to a touch gesture imparted to the touch-responsive sensor touchpad, and

Wherein the output signal is used to control an aspect of a software application operating on the mobile device.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein at least a second a touch-responsive sensor touchpad is located on another side of the mobile device.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the mobile device is further configured to be responsive to at least one squeezing gesture executed by squeezing the sides of the mobile device.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the mobile device is further configured to be responsive to a squeezing gesture comprising two squeeze actions made in quick succession.

5. The method of claim 3 wherein the mobile device is further configured to be responsive to a squeezing gesture comprising three squeeze actions made in quick succession.

6. The method of claim 3 wherein a squeezing gesture is used on power off the mobile device.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the touch-responsive sensor touchpad comprises a low-resolution tactile sensor.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the touch-responsive sensor touchpad comprises a capacitive tactile sensor.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the mobile device is configured to be selectively responsive to particular temporal patterns of touch.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the mobile device is configured to be selectively responsive to particular regions of touch.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the mobile device is configured to be selectively responsive to particular movements of touch.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the mobile device is configured to be selectively responsive to a touch gesture tracing a path on the surface of the touchpad.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein the mobile device is configured to be selectively responsive to a touch pattern rendered on the surface of the touchpad.

22. The method of claim 1 wherein the mobile device is configured to be selectively responsive to a touch pattern rendered on the surface of the touchpad.

14. A method for providing user interface features to a mobile device, the method comprising:

Locating a touch-responsive sensor touchpad to the rear area of a mobile device;

Receiving touch-gesture measurement information from the touch-responsive sensor array touchpad and translating the measurement information into numerical measurement data;

Receiving touch-gesture measurement information from the touch-responsive sensor touchpad and translating the measurement information into numerical measurement data;

Processing the numerical measurement data on processor comprised by the mobile device to produce touch gesture recognition; and

Providing an output signal responsive to the touch gesture recognition,

Wherein the output signal is responsive to a touch gesture imparted to the touch-responsive sensor touchpad, and

Wherein the output signal is used to control an aspect of a software application operating on the mobile device.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein at least a second a touch-responsive sensor touchpad is located on a side of the mobile device.

16. The method of claim 14 wherein the touch-responsive sensor touchpad comprises a low-resolution tactile sensor.

17. The method of claim 14 wherein the touch-responsive sensor touchpad comprises a capacitive tactile sensor.

18. The method of claim 14 wherein the mobile device is configured to be selectively responsive to particular temporal patterns of touch.

19. The method of claim 14 wherein the mobile device is configured to be selectively responsive to particular regions of touch.

20. The method of claim 14 wherein the mobile device is configured to be selectively responsive to particular movements of touch.

21. The method of claim 14 wherein the mobile device is configured to be selectively responsive to a touch gesture tracing a path on the surface of the touchpad.