Touch-sensitive motion device
View Patent ↗A method of entering data to an electronic device is outlined using a modified touch-pad. The touch-pad is modified to include the addition of surface features, which provide distinguishable tactile feedback to the user allowing improved spatial resolution of the positioning of an object onto the surface of the touch-pad. In this manner the touch-pad allows the user to select from multiple positions across the surface of the touch-pad, the outcomes of each position being optionally different, such as alphanumeric character selection.
1. A method for entering information comprising;
contacting at a contact point a pad comprising a tactile feature;
receiving from the tactile feature distinguishable tactile feedback relating to the contact point within the pad;
sensing the contact point to provide location data;
determining based on the location data, motion of the contact point relative to the tactile feature of the pad; and,
providing a value in dependence at least upon the determined motion relative to the tactile feature of the pad.
2. A method according to claim 1 wherein,
determining motion comprises determining the motion in dependence upon a direction and at least one of a duration, velocity and length of the determined motion relative to the tactile feature.
3. A method according to claim 1 wherein,
determining motion comprises determining the motion in dependence upon a detected location of the contact point relative to the tactile feature.
4. A method according to claim 1 wherein,
contacting is performed with at least one of a finger, a thumb, a toe, a tongue, and a stylus placed in at least one of contact and proximity with the pad.
5. A method according to claim 1 wherein,
contacting at a contact point a pad is performed other than when a user sees the contact point.
6. A method according to claim 1 wherein,
the pad comprises at least one of touchpad, position detector, and touchscreen.
7. A method according to claim 1 wherein,
the distinguishable tactile feedback is for providing a user with an indication of where the user is contacting the pad.
8. A method according to claim 1 wherein,
the distinguishable tactile feedback comprises a variation in surface texture from a first location to a second location.
9. A method according to claim 1 wherein,
the distinguishable tactile feedback comprises providing a perturbation of the surface of the pad.
10. A method according to claim 9 wherein,
providing the perturbation of the surface comprises providing at least one of an indentation into the surface of the pad and a protrusion from the surface of the pad.
11. A method according to claim 10 wherein,
the distinguishable tactile feedback comprises a protrusion at least one of integrated within the pad, attached to the pad, and inserted between at least two sensing pads forming part of the pad.
12. A method according to claim 11 comprising,
providing a processor, the processor for providing to the pad at least a tactile control signal, the tactile control signal generated in dependence upon at least one of the determined motion and a command from the electronic device; wherein an aspect of the tactile feature is adjusted in dependence upon the tactile control signal.
13. A method according to claim 12 wherein,
adjusting an aspect of the tactile feature comprises adjusting a position of an upper surface of the tactile feature relative to the surface of the pad absent the tactile feature.
14. A method according to claim 10 wherein,
the protrusion comprises a ridge extending along a fixed path.
15. A method according to claim 10 wherein,
the protrusion comprises a ridge extending along a fixed straight path.
16. A method according to claim 1 wherein,
providing the tactile feature comprises providing a surface element that senses the contact point.
17. A method according to claim 1 wherein the value provided in dependence at least upon the determined motion is reflective of a symbol.
18. A method according to claim 1 wherein,
determining motion comprises distinguishing between motion along a single side of the tactile feature and motion from one side of the tactile feature to another side.
19. A method according to claim 1 wherein,
determining motion comprises determining a direction of the motion relative to the tactile feature.
20. A method according to claim 1 wherein,
the pad comprises a plurality of tactile features.
21. A method according to claim 1 wherein,
the pad comprises a tactile feature that is deformable.
22. A system for entering information to an electronic device comprising;
a pad comprising a sensing portion and a tactile feature surrounded by the sensing portion of the pad providing distinguishable tactile feedback to a user of the pad when an object controlled by the user is in contact with the tactile feature, the feedback relating to a specific location of the object, and a sensor for detecting at least one of a position and motion of the object controlled by the user relative to the pad and within the sensing portion; and
a controller for determining and communicating to the electronic device a value in dependence upon the at least one of a position and motion relative to the tactile feature of the pad.