User interface with enlarged icon display of key function
View Patent ↗To improve the consumer experience with portable electronic devices, a user interface combines the use of capacitive sensors with tactile sensors in an input device. When a user places a finger, stylus, or other input instrument near a given key button, a capacitive sensor causes the display to display temporarily an indication of the function of that key in an enlarged format. The user may then press the associated key button to activate the desired function. In one exemplary embodiment, the capacitive sensor fixes the functionality to the function indicated in the display. In this embodiment, a tactile input applied to any key, whether the correct key, multiple keys, or a single incorrect key, results in activating the function indicated in the display as a result of the capacitive input.
1. A user interface for use in an electronic device comprising:
a display; and
an input device having a plurality of keys, wherein each of the plurality of keys includes a proximate sensor for receiving a proximate input and a tactile sensor for receiving a tactile input; and
a controller, wherein the controller is configured to receive a proximate input of a given one of the plurality of keys, and upon receiving the proximate input, the controller causes the display to display an enlarged indication of the function of the given one of the plurality of keys; and
wherein the controller is further configured to receive a tactile input from at least one of the plurality of keys, and upon receiving the tactile input, the controller causes the electronic device to carry out the function indicated on the display regardless of the key from which the tactile input is received.
2. The user interface according to claim 1 , wherein the controller causes the electronic device to carry out the function indicated on the display when the tactile input is received from a key different from the key from which the proximate input was received.
3. The user interface according to claim 1 , wherein the controller causes the electronic device to carry out the function indicated on the display when the tactile input is received from multiple keys simultaneously.
4. The user interface according to claim 1 , wherein the controller causes the electronic device to carry out the function indicated on the display when the tactile input is received from a key that is the same as the key from which the proximate input was received.
5. The user interface according to claim 1 , wherein the proximate sensor of each of the plurality of keys is a capacitive sensor for receiving a capacitive input.
6. The user interface according to claim 1 , wherein the keys are keypad buttons.
7. The user interface according to claim 1 , wherein the keys are touch screen surfaces.
8. The user interface according to claim 1 , wherein the proximate sensor is configured to receive the proximate input from a stylus.
9. The user interface according to claim 1 , wherein the electronic device is configured to operate in a plurality of modes, and the controller is further configured to cause the display to display an enlarged indication of the function of the proximate input key in a current mode of operation.
10. The user interface according to claim 9 , wherein the controller is further configured to cause the display additionally to display an indication of the current mode of operation of the electronic device.
11. The user interface according to claim 1 , wherein the electronic device is a mobile telephone.
12. The user interface according to claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to lock into the function indicated in the display for a predetermined amount of time, and during such predetermined time, the controller is configured to carry out the function indicated on the display regardless of the key from which the tactile input is received.