3633 results about "Touchpad" patented technology

A method and apparatus for displaying the evolution of an electronic document (e.g. word-processing document, portable-document-format file, spreadsheet, drawing, and the like), containing tracked changes, is disclosed. In accordance with the disclosed method and apparatus, the revisions of an electronic document may be treated as parent frames. In between the parent frames, child frames may be constructed from the combined images of their parent frames. To form a child frame, an image of a parent frame has a degree of translucency as it is combined with the translucent image of the other parent frame, such that every child frame contains traces of the images of both its parent frames. An input device (e.g. keyboard, mouse, touchpad, stylus, voice activation, and the like) may be used to control the frame visible to the user at any one time. The user may use the input device to traverse the frames at various speeds and in either direction, creating the visual illusion that a certain revision of the document is being morphed into its future revisions—or stripped off its changes as it is morphed into previous revisions—depending on the direction chosen by the user.

Specific ambient and user behaviour sensing systems and methods are presented to improve friendliness and usability of electronic handheld devices, in particular cellular phones, PDAs, multimedia players and similar.The improvements and special functions include following components:a. The keypad is locked / unlocked (disabled / enabled) and / or the display activated based on the device inclination relative to its longitudinal and / or lateral axes.b. The keypad is locked if objects are detected above the display (for example the boundary of a bag or pursue).c. The keypad is locked / unlocked (disabled / enabled) and / or the display activated based on electric field displacement or bio-field sensing systems recognizing the user hand in any position behind the handheld device.d. The electric response signal generated by an electric field through the user hand in contact with a receiver plate is used to identify the user and in negative case lock the device.e. Connection with incoming calls is automatically opened as soon as a hand is detected behind the device and the device is put close to the ear (proximity sensor).f. The profile (ring-tone mode, volume and silent mode) can be changed just putting the device in a specific verse (upside up or upside down).g. Has a lateral curved touchpad with tactile markings over more surfaces to control a mouse pointer / cursor or selection with the thumb finger.

An input device is disclosed. The input device includes a movable touch pad capable of detecting an object in close proximity thereto so as to generate a first control signal. The input device also includes a movement indicator capable of detecting the movements of the movable touch pad so as to generate one or more distinct second control signals. The control signals being used to perform actions in an electronic device operatively coupled to the input device.

A touch panel is described which uses at least one infrared source and an array of infrared sensors to detect objects which are in contact with, or close to, the touchable surface of the panel. The panel may be operated in both reflective and shadow modes, in arbirary per-pixel combinations which change over time. For example, if the level of ambient infrared is detected and if that level exceeds a threshold, shadow mode is used for detection of touch events over some or all of the display. If the threshold is not exceeded, reflective mode is used to detect touch events. The touch panel includes an infrared source and an array of infrared sensors.

A touch pad system is disclosed. The system includes mapping the touch pad into native sensor coordinates. The system also includes producing native values of the native sensor coordinates when events occur on the touch pad. The system further includes filtering the native values of the native sensor coordinates based on the type of events that occur on the touch pad. The system additionally includes generating a control signal based on the native values of the native sensor coordinates when a desired event occurs on the touch pad.

A method and apparatus of actuator mechanisms for a multi-touch tactile touch panel are disclosed. The tactile touch panel includes an electrical insulated layer and a tactile layer. The top surface of the electrical insulated layer is capable of receiving an input from a user. The tactile layer includes a grid or an array of haptic cells. The top surface of the haptic layer is situated adjacent to the bottom surface of the electrical insulated layer, while the bottom surface of the haptic layer is situated adjacent to a display. Each haptic cell further includes at least one piezoelectric material, Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems (“MEMS”) element, thermal fluid pocket, MEMS pump, resonant device, variable porosity membrane, laminar flow modulation, or the like. Each haptic cell is configured to provide a haptic effect independent of other haptic cells in the tactile layer.

Accordingly, a virtual keypad system for inputting text is provided. A virtual keypad system includes a remote controller having at least one touchpad incorporated therein and divided into a plurality of touch zones. A display device is in data communication with the remote controller and is operable to display a user interface including a keypad, where each key of the keypad is mapped to a touch zone of the touchpad. A prediction module, in response to an operator pressing a given touch zone to select a particular character, performs one or more key prediction methods to predict one or more next plausible keys. A key mapping module remaps the touch zones of the touchpad to the keys of the keypad based on the one or more next plausible keys.

An improved apparatus and method is provided for operating devices and systems in a motor vehicle, while at the same time reducing vehicle operator distractions. One or more touch sensitive pads are mounted on the steering wheel of the motor vehicle, and the vehicle operator touches the pads in a pre-specified synchronized pattern, to perform functions such as controlling operation of the radio or adjusting a window. At least some of the touch patterns used to generate different commands may be selected by the vehicle operator. Usefully, the system of touch pad sensors and the signals generated thereby are integrated with speech recognition and / or facial gesture recognition systems, so that commands may be generated by synchronized multi-mode inputs.

A high dimensional touchpad (HDTP) controls a variety of computer windows systems and applications by detecting a user's finger movement in the left-right, forward-backward, roll, pitch, yaw, and downward pressure directions. Measurements obtained from the touchpad of at least two attributes of finger movement at two different time intervals are used to provide a first and a second finger position attribute used to control an application on an electronic device. The finger roll angle is determined by detecting the edge and the peak region of a finger contact area. Also, a visual color displayed in an application operating on an electronic device is controlled by a measured-angle value of a finger in contact with a touchpad.

Abstract of Disclosure Products and processes for providing tactile sensations to input devices or electronic devices are provided. Input devices include mechanical input devices (such as, for example, mechanical switches) and non-mechanical input devices (such as, for example, touchpads). Tactile feedback is provided by using an actuator or other means in communication with the input device or electronic device. A controller may be employed to receive signals from the input devices and control the actuator. Tactile feedback to an input device or electronic device may be provided in response to one or more events or situations. Such an event or situation may be any one designated. Examples of such events and situations include the level of pressure placed on an input device; the availability or lack of availability of a function associated with an input device; and the function, menu, or mode of operation associated with an input device s activation. A variety of feedback types and combinations may be selected.

A camera which can perform operations by touching a screen of an image display and can give different instructions according to different pressures applied on the touching. A digital camera has an LCD for displaying the captured image or a reproduced image. A touch panel for determining the position of a touched portion and the pressure applied to the touched portion is provided over the LCD. The camera gives a variety of instructions with respect to a camera operating system according to pressure applied to the touched portion on the touch panel. For example, the touch panel instructs an image-recording preparation in a case that the pressure is no more than a predetermined pressure, and instructs image-recording in a case that the pressure is more than the predetermined pressure. In short, adjusting a focus and an exposure to the principal subject by touching the principal subject displayed on the LCD, and touching the principal subject harder can record an image of the principal subject.

A capacitive two-dimensional (2D) touch panel has three sets of interleaved electrodes. A first set of electrodes is spaced apart along the y-direction and these are galvanically connected to each other by a resistive strip connected at either end to a connection line. A second set of electrodes is also arrayed along the y-direction and these are galvanically connected to each other via a notionally non-resistive first connection. A third set of electrodes is also arrayed along the y-direction and these are galvanically connected to each other via a notionally non-resistive second connection. The second and third sets of electrodes are interleaved without galvanic cross-conduction to provide a gradient along the x-direction to resolve touch position in the x-direction. The first set of electrodes resolves touch position along the y-direction. Passive or active capacitive sensing techniques may be used to acquire the position information from the 2D touch panel.

A selective input system and associated method is provided which tracks the motion of a pointing device over a region or area. The pointing device can be a touchpad, a mouse, a pen, or any device capable of providing two or three-dimensional location. The region or area is preferably augmented with a printed or actual keyboard / pad. Alternatively, a representation of the location of the pointing device over a virtual keyboard / pad can be dynamically shown on an associated display. The system identifies selections of items or characters by detecting parameters of motion of the pointing device, such as length of motion, a change in direction, a change in velocity, and or a lack of motion at locations that correspond to features on the keyboard / pad. The input system is preferably coupled to a text disambiguation system such as a T9® or Sloppytype™ system, to improve the accuracy and usability of the input system.

The present invention enables to easily perform a graphic processing even when a touch panel is used. When a resistance film unit is pressed with a pen or a finger, output voltages associated with the X coordinate and the Y coordinate position are changed and these output voltages are transmitted as the X coordinate data and the Y coordinate data to a touch panel driver. According to the output from the resistance film unit, the touch panel driver generates an event for supply to a GUI handler. The touch panel driver includes a two-point specification detector which detects two point specifications and causes to calculate coordinates of the two points. The GUI handler generates a message corresponding to the GUI according to the event and supplies the message to an application. The GUI handler includes a processing mode modification block which differently interprets the event when a single point is specified and when two points are specified, thereby modifying the graphic processing mode.

A method, apparatus, and system of flexible multi-touch touch are provided. The invention comprising: a flexible layer; and one or more sensors configured to detect a plurality of simultaneous touching positions at distinct locations of the layer and to generate distinct signals representative of the locations for each of the touches. And a method for flexible touch panel comprising: driving one or more sensors; and detecting a plurality of simultaneous touching positions at distinct locations of a touch panel, wherein the touch panel comprising a flexible property. The invention is also directed towards a flexible multi-touch screen device, comprising: a display as user interface; and a multi-touch panel with flexible property to combine with the display configured to detect a plurality of simultaneous touching positions at distinct locations of the multi-touch panel.

In a method for scroll bar control on a touchpad, the fingers touching on the touchpad are detected to start up and terminate a scroll bar control function. In the scroll bar control function, the movement of the finger or fingers touching on the touchpad is detected for scrolling on a window, and the vertical distance and the horizontal distance of the movement are evaluated for determining the scrolling amount of a vertical scroll bar or a horizontal scroll bar of the window.

An interactive display system for a vehicle including a heads up display system for projecting text and / or graphics into a field of view of a forward-facing occupant of the vehicle and an occupant-controllable device enabling the occupant to interact with the heads up display system to change the text and / or graphics projected by the heads up display system or direct another vehicular system to perform an operation. The device may be a touch pad arranged on a steering wheel of the vehicle (possibly over a cover of an airbag module in the steering wheel) or at another location accessible to the occupant of the vehicle. A processor and associated electrical architecture are provided for correlating a location on the touch pad which has been touched by the occupant to the projected text and / or graphics. The device may also be a microphone.

A proximity-based mutually capacitance-sensitive touchpad that is disposed directly beneath a keypad keymat of a mobile telephone, wherein posts associated with each key pass through a mutually capacitance-sensitive sensor electrode grid of the touchpad such that the keypad posts do not interfere with touchpad detection and tracking of a pointing object that moves along the keypad surface, to thereby enable touchpad data entry, cursor control, and scroll bar control on a display of the mobile telephone, wherein the keypad posts actuate mechanical switches underneath the touchpad.

A haptic feedback touch control used to provide input to a computer. A touch input device includes a planar touch surface that provides position information to a computer based on a location of user contact. The computer can position a cursor in a displayed graphical environment based at least in part on the position information, or perform a different function. At least one actuator is also coupled to the touch input device and outputs a force to provide a haptic sensation to the user. The actuator can move the touchpad laterally, or a separate surface member can be actuated. A flat E-core actuator, piezoelectric actuator, or other types of actuators can be used to provide forces. The touch input device can include multiple different regions to control different computer functions.

Home entertainment devices may be controlled and on-screen games played with a single controller. At least one gesture by a user is made on a touch pad. If the gesture was made for controlling the home entertainment device, at least one control signal is generated for the home entertainment device based on the gesture. If the gesture was made for playing a game, a game activity based on the gesture is performed and the results displayed on a display screen.

An improved apparatus and method is provided for operating devices and systems in a motor vehicle, while at the same time reducing vehicle operator distractions. One or more touch sensitive pads are mounted on the steering wheel of the motor vehicle, and the vehicle operator touches the pads in a pre-specified synchronized pattern, to perform functions such as controlling operation of the radio or adjusting a window. At least some of the touch patterns used to generate different commands may be selected by the vehicle operator. Usefully, the system of touch pad sensors and the signals generated thereby are integrated with speech recognition and / or facial gesture recognition systems, so that commands may be generated by synchronized multi-mode inputs.

Methods and apparatus adapted to ensure that contact from a stylus will be detected on a low resolution touch sensor panel irrespective of the location of the region of contact upon the touch surface. In some embodiments, a metallic or otherwise conductive disk may be attached to one end of the stylus. The disk may be sized so as to guarantee sufficient electrical interaction with at least one sensory element of the touch sensor panel. In some embodiments, the stylus may be powered so as to provide a stimulus signal to the capacitive elements. Optionally, one or more force and / or angle sensors disposed within the stylus can supply additional data to the touch panel.

A handheld device with a compact integrated touch panel is disclosed. A handheld device incorporating a touch panel display requiring electrical connections is reduced in size by incorporating electrical pathways within the support structure of the touch panel display, obviating the need for a flex circuit extension from the touch panel display for connection to the handheld device. A further reduction in size is obtained by providing an inherent visually homogeneous perimeter for the touch panel display by matching the colors of the conductive and dielectric materials, thereby eliminating the need for a bezel.

A pressure sensitive Display Pad having embedded dual functionality such as operating as a mouse for pointer navigation and an array of Virtual Programmable Applications Buttons for selection on the computing device and displaying applications such as a calculator, currency converter, daily event calendar, etc. The device is an improvement to existing resistive and capacitive touch pads that eliminates the need for additional dedicated mechanical buttons for launching utility applications. An exemplary embodiment is disclosed in the context of a laptop computer wherein the Display Pad performs the pointing and selection functions of existing laptop touchpads, and additionally provides for fixed or programmable pressure sensitive application functions using virtual buttons on the touchpad which can launch utility applications associated with those buttons, either on the computer screen or on the Display Pad display or both.

An entertainment system has a personal computer as the heart of the system with a large screen VGA quality monitor as the display of choice. The system has digital satellite broadcast reception, decompression and display capability with multiple radio frequency remote control devices which transmit self identifying signals and have power adjustment capabilities. These capabilities are used to provide context sensitive groups of keys which may be defined to affect only selected applications running in a windowing environment. In addition, the remote control devices combine television and VCR controls with standard personal computer keyboard controls. A keyboard remote also integrates a touchpad which is food contamination resistant and may also be used for user verification. Included in the system is the ability to recognize verbal communications in video signals and maintain a database of such text which is searchable to help identify desired programming in real time.

A method and system for preventing unintended touch pad input resulting from accidental touching of a touch pad device in an electronic device. A user can execute one or more touch pad functions by touching the touch pad device. The electronic device includes a key lock function to put the electronic device in a locked state such that only a limited number of selected input functions are available when the electronic device is in the locked state. When touch pad device is touched, a software program is used to determine whether the electronic device is the locked state and whether the touch function is one of the selected input functions in order to carry out or to block the touch pad function.

A silicon-based transducer assembly coupled to a movable structure in a hearing instrument. The transducer assembly includes at least one microphone chip and an ASIC having multiple integrated components such as any combination of a DSP, an A / D converter, an amplifier, a filter, or a wireless interface. The movable structure may be a battery access door, a volume dial, a switch, or a touch pad. A protection strip can be disposed across the battery access door to prevent debris from clogging the silicon-based transducer assembly. The transducer assembly may also include an array of microphone chips to achieve adaptive beam steering or directionality. When equipped with a wireless interface, the hearing instrument wirelessly communicates with another hearing instrument or with a network.

An operating device for controlling electronic devices that are controlled by displaying plural operation keys on a touch panel is shown. The operating device stores the correspondence of a key code with an area on the touch panel, and outputs the key code corresponding to the area including a designated point. When there is a key that invalidates an operation input to the key, the operating device expands the areas of the keys adjacent thereto. Even if a user presses a border area between a desired key and its adjacent key, the operating device will judge that the desired key has been pressed.

The present invention combines the functionality of a computer pointing device with a fingerprint authentication system, In the preferred embodiment, by regularly scanning fingerprints acquired from the pointing device touch pad, fingerprint features may be extracted and compared to stored data on authorized users for passive authentication. Furthermore, calculations based upon the acquired fingerprint images and associated features allows the system to determine six degrees of freedom of the finger, allowing the user to control a variety of functions or to manipulate a three-dimensional model or virtual reality system.