U.S. patent application number 10/437017 was filed with the patent office on 2004-11-11 for multifunction floating button.
Invention is credited to Knighton, Mark S..
Application Number | 20040222979 10/437017 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 33417292 |
Filed Date | 2004-11-11 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040222979 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Knighton, Mark S. |
November 11, 2004 |
Multifunction floating button
Abstract
A floating button that may be used to replace a plurality of
distinct buttons and/or a graphical pointing device. The floating
button translates in a region defined by a housing. A sensor
detects the location of the button in the region. The locations
within the region may be mapped to a plurality of virtual buttons.
This permits a button of a size appropriate for comfortable
operation by a finger, while allowing the selection of a large
number of functions in a space that is only somewhat larger than a
single button. The location of the button within its translation
region also provides an immediate tactile and visual reference as
to the function to be selected.
Inventors: |
Knighton, Mark S.; (Santa
Monica, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BLAKELY SOKOLOFF TAYLOR & ZAFMAN
12400 WILSHIRE BOULEVARD
SEVENTH FLOOR
LOS ANGELES
CA
90025-1030
US
|
Family ID: |
33417292 |
Appl. No.: |
10/437017 |
Filed: |
May 8, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
345/184 ;
348/E5.025; 348/E5.047 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04M 1/233 20130101;
H01H 25/002 20130101; G06F 3/0234 20130101; G06F 3/0236 20130101;
G06F 3/0221 20130101; G06F 3/03548 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
345/184 |
International
Class: |
G09G 005/00 |
Claims
1. An apparatus comprising: a housing; a physical button of a size
and shape to facilitate manipulation by a finger, the physical
button to permit the actuation of a plurality of different
functions; a coupling which links the button to the housing while
permitting the button and any component fixed thereto, to translate
on a surface relative to the housing; and a sensor to provide a
proportional indication of the amount of translation of the
physical button relative to a defined origin.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the housing defines a region
with an opening defined in the region and wherein the button
resides within the region and is moveable in two orthogonal
directions within the region, the button having a retention
mechanism passing through the opening, and wherein the size permits
translation throughout the region without exposing the opening.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein there is no physical constraint
around a perimeter of the physical button that constrains its
motion.
4. The apparatus claim 1 wherein the housing defines a region with
an opening corresponding to a range of translation, and the
physical button has a flange captured below the opening, and the
flange of a size which permits translation throughout the region
without exposing an edge of the flange.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising: a textured surface
coupled to the housing to provide a tactile indication to a user of
a location of the physical button on the surface.
6. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising: a mechanical drive
coupled to the button to provide a tactile indication to a user of
a location of the physical button on the surface.
7. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising: a display wherein a
range of translation of the physical button defines a region which
is absolutely mapped to the display such that each possible button
location maps to exactly one display location.
8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the defined region has a shape
and an orientation relating directly to a shape and an orientation
of the display.
9. The, apparatus of claim 7 further comprising: a mechanical drive
coupled to the button to provide a tactile indication of a property
of a virtual environment relative to a cursor on the display.
10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the coupling permits limited
motion in a direction substantially orthogonal to the surface to
actuate the button.
11. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising: a first linear
bearing coupled to the housing; and a second linear bearing mounted
substantially orthogonally to the first linear bearing, wherein the
physical button is mounted on the second linear bearing, the
physical button and the second bearing as a unit, to translate
along the first bearing responsive to a force component parallel to
the first bearing and the physical button to translate along the
second bearing responsive to a force component parallel to the
second bearing.
12. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the apparatus is linked to a
display having a region absolutely mapped to a portion of the
surface.
13. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising: a sensor coupled
to the physical button to detect when a user is in contact with the
button.
14. The apparatus of claim 10 further comprising: a mechanism to
provide tactile response to an actuation.
15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the physical button is
mounted cantilevered to facilitate the tactile response.
16. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising: an optical
emitter; and an optical detector in optical communication with the
optical emitter to form an optical pair, each member of the optical
pair coupled to at least one of the physical button and housing to
encode a position of the button on the surface.
17. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the sensor further comprises:
a target pattern coupled to the other of the physical button and
housing from the optical emitter such that the position of the
button on the surface is encoded from reflection of the optical
emitter off the target.
18. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the sensor comprises: a
electromagnetic (EM) emitter; and an EM detector
electromagnetically coupled to the EM emitter to form an EM pair,
each member of the EM pair coupled to one of the physical button
and the housing to encode a position of the button on the
surface.
19. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein a member of the EM pair is a
component of one of a capacitor, a resistor, and an inductor.
20. An apparatus comprising: a housing; a physical button of a size
and shape to facilitate manipulation by a finger, the physical
button to permit the actuation of a plurality of different
functions; a coupling which links the button to the housing while
permitting the button and any components fixed thereto, to
translate on a surface relative to the housing; and an array of
switches to provide an indication of a location of the physical
button to a granularity of at least ten positions.
21. An apparatus comprising: a housing; a physical button of a size
and shape to facilitate manipulation by a finger, the physical
button to permit the actuation of a plurality of different
functions; a coupling which links the button to the housing while
permitting the button to translate on a substantially planar
surface relative to the housing; a sensor to provide a proportional
indication of the amount of translation of the physical button
relative to a defined origin.
22. An apparatus comprising: a housing; an array of physical
buttons of a size and shape to facilitate manipulation by a finger
of a hand of an operator; a coupling which links each button to the
housing while permitting the button, and any components fixed
thereto, to translate on a surface relative to the housing; and a
sensor to determine the location of the button wherein the
locations of the buttons are mapped to a function of a typewriter
keyboard associated a respective finger position.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The embodiments of the invention relate to a button to
provide selection between a plurality of options. More
specifically, the embodiments relate to one button that can replace
a plurality of individual buttons.
[0003] 2. Background
[0004] Cursor control devices have been the ubiquitous for many
years. Both the Macintosh.RTM. and Windows.RTM. operating systems
provide for drag and drop using a mouse, trackball or similar
cursor control device. Such devices also permit selection of a
plurality of, for example, screen icons, by moving the cursor to
overlap the icon. These devices tend to be relatively mapped.
"Relatively mapped" means that wherever the cursor is, movement of
the control device, e.g., trackball, will move the cursor in the
direction the control device moves. However, the position of the
control device gives no indication of where on the display the
cursor might be found. Advances in mouse technology have largely
been in the area of improved responsiveness of the cursor to
movement of the mouse. For example, early mice relied on a
physically moveable ball protruding from the bottom side of the
device. Those mice tended to become dirty and then become
increasingly less reliable in moving the cursor in response to any
movement of the mouse. For laptops, and other handheld devices,
small joysticks such as used on the IBM Thinkpad.RTM. or touchpads
as are commonly found on Macintosh.RTM. Powerbooks, proliferated to
avoid the inconvenience of having to carry and use the separate
mouse in the mobile environment. Common to these cursor control
devices is that they are relatively mapped. Additionally, with
respect to the touchpad over time, dragging one's finger across the
touchpad can reduce sensitivity on both the touchpad and the user's
finger.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0005] The invention is illustrated by way of example and not by
way of limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings in
which like references indicate similar elements. It should be noted
that references to "an" or "one" embodiment in this disclosure are
not necessarily to the same embodiment, and such references mean at
least one.
[0006] FIG. 1 is a partial sectional view of a floating button of
one embodiment of the invention.
[0007] FIG. 2 is a partial bottom perspective view of a floating
button of one embodiment of the invention removed from the
housing.
[0008] FIG. 3 is a partial sectional view of floating button
assembly of one embodiment of the invention.
[0009] FIG. 4a is a schematic diagram of a sensor of one embodiment
of the invention.
[0010] FIG. 4b is a schematic diagram of a portion of a sensor of
one embodiment of the invention.
[0011] FIG. 4c is a schematic diagram of a portion of the sensor of
an alternative embodiment of the invention.
[0012] FIGS. 4d and 4e are alternative optical sensors of one
embodiment of the invention.
[0013] FIGS. 5a and 5b are schematic diagrams of an alternative
configuration of the floating button.
[0014] FIG. 6 is a block diagram with button and control system of
one embodiment of the invention.
[0015] FIG. 7 is a perspective environmental view of a device
having a floating button in one embodiment of the invention.
[0016] FIG. 8 is a perspective view an embodiment of the invention
used in connection with a cellular telephone.
[0017] FIG. 9 is a bottom rear perspective view of an embodiment of
the invention.
[0018] FIG. 10a is a diagram of a compact touch type keyboard.
[0019] FIG. 10b is the mapping for the J key corresponding to
button 1010 in FIG. 10a.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0020] FIG. 1 is a partial sectional view of a floating button of
one embodiment of the invention. A housing 112 defines a region 114
in which button 110 may translate. In one embodiment, button 110 is
selected to have a size and shape suitable for engagement by a
finger of a user. As used herein, "finger" is deemed to include the
digits or a human hand including the thumb. Thus, the button 110
may be large enough to accommodate a user's thumb.
[0021] Region 114 defines an opening 116 there through. In one
embodiment, button 110 is coupled through the opening 116 to a
transport mechanism including a first linear bearing 120 and a
second linear bearing 122 which is orthogonal to the first bearing
120. The button 110 is coupled to translate along the first linear
bearing 120 responsive to a force component parallel to the first
bearing 120. The button 110 and first bearing 120 in turn are
mounted on the second linear bearing 122 which in one embodiment
includes a pair or rods. The combination of the button and the
first linear bearing translate along the second linear bearing 122
responsive to the force component parallel to the axis of second
linear bearing 122. In this manner, button 110 is free to translate
in two orthogonal directions within the region 114 defined by
housing 112.
[0022] The translation is typically substantially planar following
a surface defined by the housing 112. The button 110 and any
structures fixed thereto translate relative to the housing. This is
distinct from control devices that have one end fixed in relation
to their housing such that the fixed end can only pivot rather than
translate. Substantially, planar is deemed to include large radius
arcs that may be desirable for aesthetic or ergonomic purposes.
There is no requirement that the button 110 maintains contact with
the housing within the translation region. In some embodiments, the
button 110 is elevated slightly (or even substantially) off the
housing 112 within the region 114 and translates on a surface
substantially parallel to, though elevated from the housing 112.
Such embodiments reduce or eliminate friction between the housing
112 and button 110. Constraints to the translation may be imposed
by a physical barrier, e.g., a rim surrounding the region or by the
dimensions of the opening. When the range of motion is defined by
the opening, no physical constraint on the button is required
permitting a frameless design for the button (see e.g., FIGS. 7 and
8 below). In one embodiment, the dimension of the opening is chosen
consistent with a size and shape of the button such that the
opening is not exposed even when the button is at the limit of its
translation range. For example, a half inch square opening can
certainly be covered by an inch and a half square button. While
this 3 to 1 ratio works, other ratios are also suitable. Insuring
the opening is always covered reduces the risk of debris
contaminating or fouling the internal electrical or mechanical
components. It is also possible to provide environmental resistance
with a separate sliding cover element or flexible cover within the
coupling mechanism, thereby allowing larger translation with a
given button size without exposing the opening. By coupling a
sensor such as an electromagnetic or optical pair (described below)
to the button and housing, a location of the button 110 within the
region 114 may be determined to a desired resolution. In one
embodiment, the region 114 is provided with a textured surface. As
used herein, a "textured surface" includes one or more of grooves,
bumps, detents or any other surface feature that passively provides
a tactile experience to the user when the button 110 passes over
it.
[0023] FIG. 2 is a partial bottom perspective view of a floating
button of one embodiment of the invention removed from the housing.
Surface 210 of retention mechanism 118 is concentric (though
displaced in a direction normal to the plane of translation) with
button 110. As such, a surface 210 provides a suitable mounting
location for one component, e.g., an emitter, detector, or target
of a sensor to identify the location of the button within the
translation region.
[0024] FIG. 3 is a partial sectional view of floating button
assembly of one embodiment of the invention. The button 110 is free
to translate throughout the region 114 defined by housing 112.
Button 110 is coupled to a first linear bearing 120 and the button
110 and first linear bearing 120 are coupled to the second linear
bearing 122. A sensor portion 310 is disposed on an internal
surface of retention member 118 so that that sensor portion 310
translates with the button 110. A second sensor portion 330 is
disposed in a desired relation to sensor portion 310 to permit the
sensor as a whole to discern the location of the button 110 within
region 114 to a desired level of granularity.
[0025] In one embodiment, an additional sensor 340 is provided to
detect a selection input from the button 110. In one embodiment, a
sensor 340 is a click dome and the button and/or additional
portions of the button assembly are permitted limited motion in a
direction substantially perpendicular to the translation region 114
to actuate the click dome and effect a selection. This permits the
single button to be used to replace multiple buttons or keys by
allowing the selection of a plurality of different functions with a
single press of the button at different locations. As used herein,
selection of a different alpha numeric character is deemed a
separate function. In one embodiment, the button and bearing
assemblies are cantilevered over the sensor 340 to permit actuation
by pressure in the Z direction (first linear bearing is the X
direction and the second linear bearing is the Y direction). In one
embodiment, sensor element 310 is an electromagnetic (EM) emitter
and sensor element 330 is an electromagnetic detector. As used
herein, EM is deemed to include both electric and magnetic fields.
The electric and magnetic fields or the electric and magnetic
components are permitted to have any magnitude including zero.
Thus, a purely electric field or a purely magnetic field is still
deemed to be an EM field as the term is used herein.
[0026] In one embodiment, sensor portion 310 may be part of a
capacitor and element 330 forms a second part of the capacitor,
e.g., parallel plates. In another embodiment, element 310 may be
part of an inductor and element 330 forms another part of the
inductor. In another embodiment, element 310 may be a probe in
surface contact with a resistive pad. A distance between elements
310 and 330 may be selected based on the characteristics of a
particular EM system employed. For example, as noted above, while
there would certainly be a finite distance between the two
capacitor plates (which could be defined by a layer of dielectric
material) contact may be required for the resistive detection.
[0027] In an alternative embodiment, sensor portions 310 and 330
form an optical sensor. In such an embodiment, portion 310 may, for
example, be a light source, such as a light emitting diode (LED)
and sensor portion 330 may be a plurality of photo detectors.
Alternatively, portion 310 may, for example, be a target pattern
while sensor portion 330 includes an imaging array and a light
source such that imaging of the target permits derivation of the
location of the button 110 within the region 114. Some of these
embodiments are described further below in connection with FIGS.
4a-e.
[0028] FIG. 4a is a schematic diagram of a sensor of one embodiment
of the invention. In the shown embodiment, a plurality of
amplifiers 450 supply voltage to capacitive plates 470 of sensor
portion 430. In this embodiment, a passive plate having footprint
410 is coupled to and moveable with the floating button and
preferably concentric therewith. Concentricity is not necessary, it
merely changes the transformation required to determine the
position within the translation region. A plurality of amplifiers
460 supply an indication of the electric field and therefore the
capacitance between the various plates 470 and the passive plate
having footprint 410. Since capacitance is proportional to the area
of overlap, a ratio of this capacitance with respect to each of the
four fixed plates, uniquely determines the location of the moving
plate with footprint 410. Since the footprint has a known relation
to the floating button, this necessarily also gives the location of
the button within the region. An origin can be defined as, for
example, when the passive plate is centered over the four active
plates such that the capacitance of each plate is the same. The
location of the button within the region can then be determined
relative to this origin. While this is a possible origin, the
origin can be substantially arbitrarily defined with the change in
capacitance indicating relative motion from the origin. This idea
of relative motion to a defined origin is common to the EM and
optical sensors described below. In an alternative embodiment, the
moveable plate may be connected to a power source such as amplifier
450. Amplifiers 450 and 460 provide a signal and permit readout
under the control, for example, a microcontroller. It is also
within the scope and contemplation of the invention for the four
plates to be coupled to the button moveable therewith with a single
plate underlying. Thus, the portion of the electromagnetic pair
coupled with a sensor may be either half of the pair.
[0029] FIG. 4b is a schematic diagram of a portion of a sensor of
one embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, a plurality of
inductive elements 472 are placed in relation to an inductive
element having a footprint 412 coupled and moveable with the
pointer button. Again, the ratio of inductance between the plural
inductive elements 472 and the inductive element having footprint
412 provides a unique location of the button within the region.
Also, similarly, sensor portion 432 could be coupled to the button
moveable therewith while the inductive element having footprint 412
is retained in a fixed location in the housing.
[0030] FIG. 4c is a schematic diagram of a portion of the sensor of
an alternative embodiment of the invention. A resistive pad 434
with a resistance that varies in the X and Y direction has as a
power source 435 to apply a voltage in an X direction and a power
source 454 to apply a voltage in a Y direction. By testing the
voltage at a probe 414 in contact with the surface, a location of
the probe in the variable resistance pad 434 may be determined.
Because the probe is maintained in a known location relative to the
floating button, the location of the button may then be discerned
from the voltage at the probe. In one embodiment, a non-contact
probe employs capacitive coupling to measure the voltage on the
resistive pad.
[0031] FIGS. 4d and 4e are alternative optical sensors of one
embodiment of the invention. In FIG. 4d, a light source 416 is
disposed to illuminate photo sensing elements 436. A ratio of
intensities at the various photo sensitive elements 436 provides a
unique indication of the location of the button within the region.
Alternatively, the light source may be fixed to the housing and the
photo sensing elements may move with the button. In the embodiment
of FIG. 4e, a light source 460 and a photo detective element such
as a phototransistor may be mounted to move with the floating
button. A target pattern 438 is fixed relative to the housing to
permit illumination by the light source 460 and imaging by the
photo detective element 462 to permit determination of location of
the button within the region. Again, the attachment of the target
could be to the button while the imager and light source are
retained in fixed relation to the housing. All such embodiments are
contemplated and within the scope of the invention.
[0032] FIGS. 5a and 5b are schematic diagrams of an alternative
configuration of the floating button. In this embodiment, the
housing 512 defines a region for movement of the floating button
510 as an opening in the housing such that the edges of the opening
are the constraint on the movement of the button 510. An integrally
formed flange 518 is captured by the housing. The flange 518
insures that the button 510 can translate throughout the region
without exposing an edge of the flange 518, e.g., no gaps exist
between the edges of the flange and the housing when the button is
at the extremes of its translation region. Other aspects as
described above in connection with other embodiments may be
employed with this button formation.
[0033] FIG. 6 is a block diagram with button and control system of
one embodiment of the invention. Button 610 may include a contact
sensor 612. Contact sensor 612 may be, for example, a biometric
detector responding to, e.g., galvanic skin response, a photo
detector responding to the absence of light, a pressure sensor
responding to contact between the user's finger and the button, or
a "break switch" which breaks contact when the button is pushed
away from its rest position, or any other suitable sensor that
permits detection of a user's finger. In an alternative embodiment,
contact sensor 612 may be external to the button. Contact sensor
612 may provide a signal to the processor which in one embodiment
may signal the processor to awaken from a lower power mode and
power up the overall system.
[0034] Processor 670 may be any of the myriad microcontrollers
suitable for consumer electronic products, a nicroprocessor, an
application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) or merely logic
sufficient to affect the control functions required in the context
of the application. Position sensor 630 is coupled in communication
with the button 610 to identify the position of the button 610
within its region of possible translation. Position sensor 630
provides this information to the processor 670 which may take
appropriate action based on the information provided. For example,
the power 670 may cause the cursor to move or the display 680
responsive to the location within the translation region. This is
particularly true for those embodiments in which the region is
absolutely mapped to the display 680.
[0035] Position sensor 630 may be any of the embodiments previously
described or for relatively low granularity systems, it may be
merely a switch array. A switch array is suitable for providing
access to a plurality of possible selectable options, but the
granularity is necessarily less than in the context of some of the
electromagnetic and optical embodiments described in connection
with FIGS. 4a through 4e. One embodiment in which a switch array
may be suitable is where the only selection is, e.g., the twelve
keys on a standard telephone keypad. Thus, a switch array may be
suitable for some television remote control, security code keypads,
telephone, etc.
[0036] Selection sensor 640 provides the mechanism for a selection
input responsive to pressure or perpendicular movement of the
button 610. Thus, selection sensor 640 may be a click dome,
conductive rubber dome, a pressure sensor, a capacitive switch,
rocker switch or other suitable detector for indicating this
selection has occurred. In the case of a rocker switch, a small
switch might be disposed in the button to permit actuation
responsive to an orientation change of the controlling finger.
Other suitable sensors for identifying a selection input will occur
to those of ordinary skill in the art. Selection input provides a
signal to the processor 670 which correlates the position derived
from the position sensor with a selection input to identify which
of the plural options have been selected. In one embodiment, the
processor is connected to a driver 660 which in turn is coupled to
the button 610. The driver 660 may provide force feedback along one
or more axes of motion of the button or other tactile indication,
such as vibration. This either indicates the button's position
within the translation region, or a feature of in the virtual
environment provided by the display 680 as it relates to the
position of the cursor as defined by the button's position. In some
embodiments, the driver 660 may be a motor, a servo, a galvo or
other suitable mechanical drive to apply the desired force on the
button 610. Some embodiments of the invention will have a display
680 with the translation region may be absolutely mapped to at
least a portion of the display. As used herein, "absolutely mapped"
means that the physical location of the button within its
translation region is correlated with a particular location on the
display. Location on the display may represent a single pixel or a
plurality of contiguous pixels depending on the granularity of the
sensor 630 associated with detecting the location of the button
610. In some embodiments, the region in which the button 610 is
permitted to translate will have a shape and orientation consistent
with the display 680 to which it is absolutely mapped. Thus, for
example, if the display has a 3.times.4 aspect ratio, the
translation region may have a 3.times.4 aspect ratio. The button
610 may be mapped to all or only a portion of the display. It is
also contemplated that multiple floating buttons may be used in a
single device. In such embodiments, mapping to the display may be
partitioned amongst the buttons. In some embodiments, mapping and
remapping may occur responsive to detection of contact with the
button. It is also contemplated that there will be systems in which
the button 610 is purely a selection mechanism unassociated with
the display such as the security key pad mentioned above.
[0037] FIG. 7 is a perspective environmental view of a device
having a floating button of one embodiment of the invention. This
embodiment is suitable for a remote control such as for a
television or computer. In one embodiment, it may wirelessly signal
an associated display device to cause a function to be selected. In
one embodiment, motion of the button may control a cursor on a
remote display device. Either infrared or radio frequency signaling
protocols could be used. A housing 712 defines a region 714 in
which a floating button 710 may translate. In this view, the user's
finger 700 is shown engaging the floating button 710. In this
embodiment, no physical constraint, e.g., rim or physical barrier,
exists around the perimeter of the button to define region 714.
Rather, the button is constrained within the region by the
dimensions of the opening (not shown) through which it is coupled
to its transport mechanism within the housing 712. By appropriately
defining the opening, the translation of the button 710 can be
constrained so that it does not extend beyond the edges of the
housing 712. It is of course within the scope and contemplation of
the invention to constrain the motion of the button 710 so it does
not reach the edges or in some embodiments the button 710 may be
permitted to extend beyond the edges of the housing 712.
[0038] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the
invention used in connection with a handheld communicator. In one
embodiment, housing 812 defines a region 814 over which the
floating button 810 can translate in two orthogonal directions. The
position of the button may be absolutely mapped to all of display
880 or only a portion thereof. For example, display region 884 may
be the absolutely mapped portion of the display and display region
882 may be inaccessible with the button. Various selectable options
886, which may correspond to a telephone keypad or other more
advanced functions, may reside within absolutely mapped region 884
to be selectable by the pointer button. For example, assuming the
selection option 886 includes a telephone keypad, the user could
select the numbers which would then appear in unmapped region 882
awaiting a send command. In another embodiment, a floating button
810 may be used to select functions without any mapping or
association with the phone display. Force feedback and/or passive
tactile indicators may facilitate user selection without the need
to look at the display. The selected function may then cause the
display to change commensurate with that function.
[0039] FIG. 9 is a bottom rear perspective view of an embodiment of
the invention. A digital camera with a binocular display resides
within a compact housing 902. The housing defines a pair of lobe
handgrips 928. These handgrips 928 may be coated within an
elastomeric material to provide improved grip and holding comfort
for a user. The housing 902 defines openings in which a pair of
binocular lenses 904 may be disposed. The lenses 904 are in the
optical path of a pair of megapixel displays, which also serve as a
viewfinder. As such, a user looking through the lenses is provided
a high-resolution binocular view of what the camera lens currently
sees. Additionally, details of such a manner can be formed in
copending application entitled, DISPLAY, INPUT AND FORM FACTOR FOR
PORTABLE INSTRUMENTS, Ser. No. 09/990,831, filed Nov. 9, 2001.
[0040] In one embodiment, a left and a right hand floating button
920 and 922, respectively, provide pointer functionality on the
display. Each floating button may reside in a region 916, 918,
which is absolutely mapped to at least a portion of the display. In
one embodiment, the regions are mapped to, for example, the right
and left-hand side of the display and do not overlap.
Alternatively, each region could be mapped to the entire display or
have some overlap, e.g. each mapped to two-thirds of the display.
Typically, the regions 916, 918 will be shaped and oriented
similarly to the area of the display to which they map. Each
floating button 920, 922 is moveable in two orthogonal directions
within its respective region. The floating button may be actuated
by pressing the pad substantially perpendicular to the two
orthogonal directions of movement. For example, if the floating
button moves in an x-y plane, actuation occurs when the pad is
pressed in a z direction. Additionally, each floating button may be
provided with a sensor 924, 926 to indicate when a user is engaging
the respective floating button. Such sensors may include biometric
sensors, e.g., to detect galvanic skin response, pressure sensors,
temperature sensors, or a "break switch" which breaks contact when
the button is pushed away from its rest position, or any other
sensors which would give a reasonable indication that a user is
engaging the floating button 920, 922. In one embodiment, when both
floating buttons are engaged, each floating button is mapped to
half the display, but if only one floating button is engages, the
floating button is remapped to the entire display.
[0041] Various devices that may employ the floating button of
various embodiments of the invention are illustrated and described
above. Additional examples include, notebook, laptop, and handheld
computers, personal digital assistants (PDA's) or any other device
where size constraints would make desirable the use of a single
button to replace many buttons.
[0042] FIG. 10a is a diagram of a compact touch type keyboard. A
housing 1012 is coupled to a plurality of floating buttons 1010,
1002, 1004, 1006, 1022, 1024, 1026, 1028 and 1020. Button 1020 may
correspond to a mouse or a pointing device that may be mapped
relatively or absolutely to a display (not shown). The remaining
buttons may be mapped to functions of a typewriter keyboard. In one
embodiment, button 1022 maps to letter A and the functions on a
QWERTY keyboard to be actuated by the little finger of the left
hand of a user. Button 1024 maps to S and the other functions
controlled by the left ring finger. Button 1026 maps to D and the
other functions controlled by the left middle finger. Button 1028
maps to F and the other functions controlled by the left index
finger. Button 1010 maps to J and the other functions controlled by
the right index finger. Button 1002 maps to K and the other
functions controlled by the right middle finger. Button 1004 maps
to L and the other functions controlled by the right ring finger.
Button 1006 corresponds to the semicolon and the other functions
controlled by the right little finger. Touch typists will recognize
that this corresponds to the home row of a QWERTY keyboard. In one
embodiment, when the user has their fingers on this home row, the
spacebar 1030 is provided in a position to be actuatable by a
user's thumb. In one embodiment, the three lobes of housing 1012
may be hinged together to collapse into a more compact form. While
the above description describes mapping for the QWERTY keyboard,
mappings for other keyboard arrangements are within the scope and
contemplation of the invention.
[0043] FIG. 10b is the mapping for the J key corresponding to
button 1010 in FIG. 10a. As shown, actuating the button with
downward pressure at its home position operates as a J select.
Moving the button towards six o'clock prior to actuation selects an
M; toward seven o'clock N; towards nine o'clock H; towards eleven
o'clock Y; towards twelve o'clock U; further towards twelve o'clock
"7", with eleven o'clock from the U selecting a "6". From this
mapping, one of ordinary skill in the art will understand how the
remaining buttons in FIG. 10a may be mapped to a QWERTY keyboard.
Give the relatively small number of functions associated with each
button, the appropriate sensor to use could be either a switch
array or any of the other sensing embodiments discussed above.
Tactile responses may be provided to provide a user an indication
that, for example, they have moved far enough towards 12 o'clock to
pass the "U" and get into the "7" zone.
[0044] It should be noted that features shown or described with
reference to one embodiment may be applicable to another embodiment
even when not explicitly called out and such is within the scope
and contemplation of the invention. In the foregoing specification,
the invention has been described with reference to specific
embodiments thereof. It will be further evident that various
modifications and changes can be made thereto without departing
from the broader spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in
the appended claims. The specification and drawings are,
accordingly, to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a
restrictive sense.
* * * * *