Multi-Functional Human Interface Integrating Touch, Text, and Pointer Input
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional text input devices and pointing devices are often separate, requiring frequent hand movement between text input and pointing operations, leading to decreased work efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A multi-functional human interface device integrates pointing location information input regions with text input regions, allowing mode switching between keyboard, mouse, and digitizer modes, and includes a controller to process touch and hovering inputs for efficient operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If text input devices and pointing devices are provided separately, then each device can be optimized for its specific function, but users hand must move frequently between text input and pointing operations, degrading work efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines text input device and pointing device into a single integrated device. The text input region and pointing location input region are merged into one physical device, allowing users to perform both text input and pointing operations without moving their hand to a separate device, thereby improving work efficiency and reducing hand movement frequency.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated device serves multiple functions: it can operate as a text input device, a pointing device, and support mode switching between keyboard mode and mouse mode. This multi-functionality allows a single device to replace what previously required separate devices, eliminating the need for frequent hand movements between different input devices.
2Productivity
If a single device integrates both text input and pointing functions, then hand movement is minimized, but the device complexity increases due to multiple input regions and mode switching mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The integrated device is segmented into distinct functional regions: a text input region with multiple buttons for text input and a pointing location input region for pointing operations. This segmentation allows each region to be optimized for its specific function while being part of a unified device structure, managing complexity through organized functional divisions.
Solution Approach 2:
The device incorporates dynamic mode switching capability, allowing transition between keyboard mode and mouse mode. This dynamic behavior enables the device to adapt its functionality based on operational needs, managing complexity through flexible mode switching rather than requiring entirely separate static devices.
3Ease of operation
If multiple input modes are integrated in one device, then seamless transitions between text input and pointing operations are enabled, but the difficulty of detecting and measuring input type increases
Solution Approach 1:
The device includes a mode switching unit that provides feedback mechanisms for mode transitions. The system can detect the current mode and switch between keyboard mode and mouse mode based on user input, providing clear feedback about the active mode to ensure smooth transitions and proper detection of input types.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The integrated device reduces unnecessary user movement, improves work efficiency by allowing seamless transitions between input modes, and supports various input types including touch and hovering.
Implementation Method 1
an electrode interposed between the keycap and the button body and configured to receive a touch input from a user by means of a first block group composed of blocks that are electrically connected in a first direction, which is any one of a length direction and a width direction of the keyboard layout, and a second block group composed of blocks that are electrically connected in a second direction different from the first direction
Data Source
AI summary
A multi-functional human interface device includes a control unit and a first multi-functional input button. The first multi-functional input button includes a cover unit configured to receive a touch input of a user's finger, an electrode unit including a transmitter and a receiver to form an electric field, an elastic unit configured to move from a first height to a second height when a first pressure is applied from the cover unit and configured to move back to the first height when the first pressure from the cover unit is released, and a switch unit configured to generate an electric signal representing an input of a predetermined letter.