IP Library › Granted Patent US 9,099,971
Granted Patent B2
US 9,099,971 · App. 13/681,298 · Granted Aug 4, 2015

Virtual keyboard interaction using touch input force

Inventors: Lapoe E. Lynn (Los Altos, CA); Samuel W. Sheng (Saratoga, CA); Shih-Ming Shih (San Jose, CA); Yenyu Hsieh (San Jose, CA)
Assignee: Sentons Inc.
H03G3/02G06F3/041G06F3/043G06F3/0414G06F3/0418G06F3/0436
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,099,971
App. No.
13/681,298
Granted
Aug 4, 2015
Kind
B2
Abstract

Providing a virtual keyboard interaction is disclosed. An indicator identifying a force intensity of a touch input provided on a touch input surface is received. It is determined that the touch input is associated with a virtual keyboard. A virtual keyboard interaction is provided based at least in part on the indicator identifying the force intensity of the touch input.

Claims (34)

1. A system for providing a virtual keyboard interaction, comprising:

a communication interface configured to receive an indicator identifying a force intensity value of a touch input provided on a touch input surface; and

a processor configured to determine that the touch input is associated with a virtual keyboard and provide a virtual keyboard interaction based at least in part on the indicator identifying the force intensity value of the touch input, wherein providing the virtual keyboard interaction includes registering the touch input as a normal input key press of the virtual keyboard in the even the force intensity value meets a first threshold but is below a second threshold and registering the touch input as a shifted input key press of the virtual keyboard in the even the force intensity value meets the second threshold;

wherein the force intensity value was determined at least in part by analyzing a disturbance caused by the touch input to a signal;

wherein the signal freely propagates in all directions through the touch input surface.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the virtual keyboard is displayed under the touch input surface.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the second threshold that defines a boundary between the normal input key press and the shifted input key press is configurable.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first threshold is configurable.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the second threshold that defines a boundary between the normal input key press and the shifted input key press and the first threshold are configurable.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the shifted input key press is a capitalized input key press.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein providing the virtual keyboard interaction includes displaying the virtual keyboard at a location on the touch input surface where the touch input was received.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the displayed virtual keyboard is oriented to place a home row of the virtual keyboard at the location.

9. The system of claim 7 , wherein the displayed virtual keyboard is a split keyboard.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to provide a feedback in the event the force intensity value meets a threshold.

11. The system of claim 1 , wherein providing the virtual keyboard interaction includes displaying a magnified view of at least a portion of the virtual keyboard in the event the force intensity value does not meet the first threshold.

12. The system of claim 1 , wherein the signal includes an ultrasonic signal.

13. The system of claim 1 , wherein the communication interface is further configured to send a signal to be used to propagate a propagating signal through a propagating medium with the touch input surface and receive the propagating signal that has been disturbed by the touch input with an amount of force on the touch input surface.

14. The system of claim 1 , wherein the force intensity value was determined at least in part by determining a signal amplitude associated with a portion of the signal disturbed by the touch input.

15. The system of claim 14 , wherein the signal amplitude is a function of the magnitude force intensity value.

16. The system of claim 1 , wherein the communication interface is configured to receive a location on the touch input surface where the touch input was received.

17. A method for providing a virtual keyboard interaction, comprising:

receiving an indicator identifying a force intensity value of a touch input provided on a touch input surface;

determining that the touch input is associated with a virtual keyboard; and

using a processor to provide a virtual keyboard interaction based at least in part on the indicator identifying the force intensity value of the touch input, wherein providing the virtual keyboard interaction includes registering the touch input a normal input key press of the virtual keyboard in the even the force intensity value meets a first threshold but is below a second threshold and registering the touch input as a shifted input key press of the virtual keyboard in the event the force intensity value meets the second threshold;

wherein the force intensity value was determined at least in part by analyzing a disturbance caused by the touch input to a signal;

wherein the signal freely propagates in all directions through the touch input surface.

18. A computer program product for providing a virtual keyboard interaction, the computer program product being embodied in a non-transitory computer readable storage medium and comprising computer instructions for:

receiving an indicator identifying a force intensity value of a touch input provided on a touch input surface;

determining that the touch input is associated with a virtual keyboard; and

using a processor to provide a virtual keyboard interaction based at least in part on the indicator identifying the force intensity value of the touch input, wherein providing the virtual keyboard interaction includes registering the touch input a normal input key press of the virtual keyboard in the even the force intensity value meets a first threshold but is below a second threshold and registering the touch input as a shifted input key press of the virtual keyboard in the event the force intensity value meets the second threshold;

wherein the force intensity value was determined at least in part by analyzing a disturbance caused by the touch input to a signal;

wherein the signal freely propagates in all directions through the touch input surface.

19. The method of claim 17 , wherein the second threshold that defines a boundary between the normal input key press and the shifted input key press is configurable.

20. The method of claim 17 , wherein providing the virtual keyboard interaction includes displaying the virtual keyboard at a location on the touch input surface where the touch input was received.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 20, 2013
From: LYNN, LAPOE E.; SHENG, SAMUEL W.; SHIH, SHIH-MING; HSIEH, YENYU
To: SENTONS INC.
Reel/Frame 029838/0650 →
Continuity (4)
Provisional Application 61561660 · Nov 18, 2011
Provisional Application 61561697 · Nov 18, 2011
Provisional Application 61673102 · Jul 18, 2012
Related Publication 20130141396A1 · Jun 6, 2013