Method and apparatus for selecting input modes on a palmtop computer

• US 6,498,601 B1
• Filed: 11/29/1999
• Issued: 12/24/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/29/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Goldberg, David, Fishkin, Kenneth P., Harrison, Beverly L., Want, Roy, Gujar, Anuj Uday
• Primary Examiner(s): WU, XIAO MIN
• Application Number:
  US09/450,238
• Time in Patent Office: 1,121 Days
• Field of Search: 345/173, 345/174, 345/175, 345/176, 345/177, 345/178, 345/179, 345/168, 345/169, 178/18.01, 178/18.1, 178/19.01, 178/18.03
• US Class Current: 345/173
• 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 1/1671 Special purpose buttons or auxiliary keyboards, e.g. retractable mini keypads, keypads or buttons that remain accessible at closed laptop G06F1/1666 takes precedence
• 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 1/169 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 2203/014 Force feedback applied to GUI
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04809 Textured surface identifying touch areas, e.g. overlay structure for a virtual keyboard
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/011 Arrangements for interaction with the human body, e.g. for user immersion in virtual reality blind teaching G09B21/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0234 using switches operable in different directions
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03545 Pens or stylus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03547 Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface

Abstract

A palmtop computer for entering characters using one or more input modes. In one example, a physical sensor is coupled to select the input mode. The physical sensor may be in the form of a button, rocker switch, dial, pressure strip, moveable bar, or accelerometer mounted to the device. The physical sensor may also be mounted to a pen. In another example, a ridge is formed on the digitizer pad and positioned to define input regions associated with particular input mode. In another example, a border is formed around the digitizer pad. The border includes a ridge coupled to select the input mode. The digitizer pad may also be textured. A first textured region is associated with one input mode and a second textured region is associated with another input mode.

Claims

1. A palmtop computer for receiving input of characters, the computer comprising:

a casing;

a digitizer pad coupled to said casing; and

,

a bar mounted with said casing and positioned over said digitizer pad to define a first input region and a second input region, wherein said bar maybe moved to select a character type input mode.

2. The palmtop computer of claim 1, wherein said bar may be moved to select a first input mode for said first region and a second input mode for said second region.

3. The palmtop computer of claim 1, wherein bar may be used to cycle through a plurality of input modes.

4. A palmtop computer for receiving input of characters, the computer comprising:

a casing;

a digitizer pad coupled to the casing; and

a ridge formed on the digitizer pad to define a first input region associated with a first character type input mode and a second input region associated with a second character type input mode.

5. The palmtop computer of claim 4, wherein said first input region includes a first textured region and said second input region includes a second distinct textured region.

6. The palmtop computer of claim 4, further comprising:

a second ridge formed on the digitizer pad to define, within said first input region, a first sub-region and a second sub-region.

7. The palmtop computer of claim 6, further comprising:

a third ridge formed on the digitizer pad to define, within said second input region a third sub-region and a fourth sub-region.

8. The palmtop computer of claim 7, wherein each said sub-region is assigned a character type input mode.

9. A palmtop computer for receiving input of characters, the computer comprising:

a casing;

a digitizer pad coupled to the casing; and

a border formed around the digitizer pad, the border including an actuable ridge to select a character type input mode, wherein said actuable ridge includes a stepped inner edge that may be actuated by applying a pressure to said stepped inner edge to select a character type input mode.

10. The palmtop computer of claim 9 wherein the ridge includes a pressure sensitive material.

11. The palmtop computer of claim 9 wherein the ridge may be positioned in a plurality of locations on said digitizer pad.