ELECTRONIC DEVICE INCLUDING TACTILE TOUCH-SENSITIVE INPUT DEVICE AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING SAME

1 . A method of controlling an electronic device having a touch-sensitive input device, the method comprising:

detecting a touch on the touch-sensitive input device;

determining an input based on the touch; and

providing a response to the touch by modulating a force applied by an actuating arrangement on the touch-sensitive input device based on the input.

2 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein providing the response comprises selecting the response, from at least two responses, based on the input.

3 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein providing the response comprises modulating the force to simulate actuation of a dome switch and, during simulation of actuation of the dome switch, varying the force at high frequency and low magnitude relative to modulating the force to simulate actuation of the dome switch.

4 . The method according to claim 3 , wherein varying the force comprises varying at high frequency and low magnitude based on the input.

5 . The method according to claim 3 , wherein determining an input comprises determining a selected character.

6 . The method according to claim 5 , comprising adding the selected character to a character string, determining if objects stored in reference data have an initial portion that match the character string, and providing the response based on whether or not an object or objects stored in reference data have an initial portion that matches the character string.

7 . The method according to claim 6 , wherein providing the response comprises providing a first response when an object stored in reference data has an initial portion that matches the character string and providing a second response, different from the first response, when no objects stored in reference data have an initial portion that matches the character string.

8 . The method according to claim 6 , wherein providing the response comprises providing a first response when one object stored in reference data has an initial portion that matches the character string and providing a second response, different from the first response, when more than one object stored in reference data has an initial portion that matches the character string.

9 . The method according to claim 8 , comprising providing a third response, different from the first response and the second response, when no objects stored in reference data have an initial portion that matches the character string.

10 . The method according to claim 3 , wherein modulating the force to simulate actuation of a dome switch comprises reducing the force over a collapse time period to cause the touch-sensitive input device to move toward the base to simulate collapse of a dome switch.

11 . The method according to claim 10 , wherein modulating the force to simulate actuation of the dome switch comprises increasing the force on the touch-sensitive input device, in a direction away from the base, over a ramp-up time period prior to reducing the force over the collapse time period, wherein the ramp-up time period is longer than the collapse time period.

12 . The method according to claim 11 , wherein modulating the force to simulate actuation of the dome switch comprises increasing the force over a release time period to cause the touch-sensitive input surface to move away from the base to simulate release of the dome switch.

13 . The method according to claim 12 , wherein modulating the force to simulate actuation of the dome switch comprises decreasing the force over a ramp-down time period after increasing the force over the release time period, wherein the ramp-down time period is longer than the release time period.

14 . An electronic device comprising:

a base;

a touch-sensitive input device moveable relative to the base; and

an actuating arrangement comprising at least one actuator between the base and the touch-sensitive input device to modulate a force on the touch-sensitive input device, based on an input determined in response to detecting a touch.

15 . A computer-readable medium having computer-readable code embodied therein for execution by a processor in an electronic device having a base, a touch-sensitive input device moveable relative to the base, and an actuating arrangement comprising at least one actuator between the base and the touch-sensitive input device, to cause the electronic device to modulate a force on the touch-sensitive input device based on an input determined in response to detecting a touch.