GB2552977A - Wearable user input device for a touch screen display - Google Patents
Wearable user input device for a touch screen display Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2552977A GB2552977A GB1614073.3A GB201614073A GB2552977A GB 2552977 A GB2552977 A GB 2552977A GB 201614073 A GB201614073 A GB 201614073A GB 2552977 A GB2552977 A GB 2552977A
- Authority
- GB
- United Kingdom
- Prior art keywords
- strap
- screen display
- touch screen
- portable electronic
- user input
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Withdrawn
Links
Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G06—COMPUTING OR CALCULATING; COUNTING
- G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
- G06F1/00—Details not covered by groups G06F3/00 - G06F13/00 and G06F21/00
- G06F1/16—Constructional details or arrangements
- G06F1/1613—Constructional details or arrangements for portable computers
- G06F1/163—Wearable computers, e.g. on a belt
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G06—COMPUTING OR CALCULATING; COUNTING
- G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
- G06F3/00—Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
- G06F3/01—Input arrangements or combined input and output arrangements for interaction between user and computer
- G06F3/048—Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI]
- G06F3/0487—Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI] using specific features provided by the input device, e.g. functions controlled by the rotation of a mouse with dual sensing arrangements, or of the nature of the input device, e.g. tap gestures based on pressure sensed by a digitiser
- G06F3/0488—Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI] using specific features provided by the input device, e.g. functions controlled by the rotation of a mouse with dual sensing arrangements, or of the nature of the input device, e.g. tap gestures based on pressure sensed by a digitiser using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G06—COMPUTING OR CALCULATING; COUNTING
- G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
- G06F2203/00—Indexing scheme relating to G06F3/00 - G06F3/048
- G06F2203/048—Indexing scheme relating to G06F3/048
- G06F2203/04809—Textured surface identifying touch areas, e.g. overlay structure for a virtual keyboard
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
- General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Human Computer Interaction (AREA)
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Computer Hardware Design (AREA)
- User Interface Of Digital Computer (AREA)
Abstract
A wearable user input device for a touch screen display of a portable electronic device, preferably in the form of a wristband, comprising an elongate flexible strap arranged, in use, to overlie the touch screen display of the portable electronic device, said strap including markings defining a plurality of touch input locations. The markings may comprise modifications in the profile of the strap. The markings may comprise raised buttons that may be integrally formed with the strap. A portion of the buttons may be at least formed or incorporate an electrically conductive material which may be located within each button. The flexible strap may be formed from silicone rubber. The strap may comprise a fastener such as a buckle to fasten the strap around the wrist of a user and be unfastened in order to lay the input device flat on a touch screen for use. The device may be used with computer software products such as games or music players. Such a device would give a user a more tactile experience with a smartphone or tablet when interacting with the digital domain.
Description
(54) Title of the Invention: Wearable user input device for a touch screen display Abstract Title: Wearable User Input Device for a Touch Screen Display (57) A wearable user input device for a touch screen display of a portable electronic device, preferably in the form of a wristband, comprising an elongate flexible strap arranged, in use, to overlie the touch screen display of the portable electronic device, said strap including markings defining a plurality of touch input locations. The markings may comprise modifications in the profile of the strap. The markings may comprise raised buttons that may be integrally formed with the strap. A portion of the buttons may be at least formed or incorporate an electrically conductive material which may be located within each button. The flexible strap may be formed from silicone rubber. The strap may comprise a fastener such as a buckle to fasten the strap around the wrist of a user and be unfastened in order to lay the input device flat on a touch screen for use. The device may be used with computer software products such as games or music players. Such a device would give a user a more tactile experience with a smartphone or tablet when interacting with the digital domain.
Figure 1
1/1
Figure 2
Wearable User Input Device for a Touch Screen Display
FIELD OFTHE INVENTION
This invention relates to a wearable user input device for a touch screen display of a portable electronic device.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Touch screen displays are commonly used on portable electronic devices, such as mobile telephones, tablet computers, portable lap top computers and media players, as combined graphical displays and user interfaces. Touch screens incorporate touch sensitive surfaces such as capacitive or pressure sensitive displays. Portable electronic devices are commonly used to access the Internet as an alternative to less portable personal computers. Modern marketing practices have developed to take advantage of the Internet and it is desirable to direct customers to particular websites to offer goods and services to customers. Various methods are used to encourage customers to visit particular websites, including giving away various promotional products, such as wristbands, upon which the URL of the target websites is printed. Another method is to encourage the customer to download software (typically referred to as “aps”) onto their electronic devices, such as playable games, access to discount schemes and other brand loyalty schemes. In order to further encourage customers to visit target websites it is desirable to increase the functionality between such promotional products and the customer’s portable electronic device used to access the target websites.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a wearable user input device for a touch screen display of a portable electronic device comprising an elongate flexible strap arranged, in use, to overlie the touch screen display of the portable electronic device, said strap including markings defining a plurality of touch input locations.
The markings may comprise modifications in the profile of the strap. In a preferred embodiment said markings comprise raised buttons. Said raised buttons may be integrally formed with the strap. At least a portion of each button may be formed from or incorporates an electrically conductive material to allow the buttons to more readily interact with a capacitive touch screen display. An electrically conductive core may be located within each button.
Said elongate flexible strap may be formed from silicone rubber.
In one embodiment said device comprises a wrist band wearable on a customer’s wrist. Preferably the device includes a fastener for fastening the elongate flexible strap around a customer’s wrist, said fastener being releasable to allow the strap to be laid flat upon a touch screen display of an electronic device. Said fastener may comprise a buckle, preferably having a pin selectively insertable into one of a row of holes to facilitate adjustment of the wrist band to suit different wearers.
According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a system comprising a wearable user input device as claimed in any preceding claim arranged, in use, to overlie a touch screen display of a portable electronic device, and a computer software product adapted to display graphical elements at predetermined locations on said touch screen display corresponding with said touch input locations, whereby the wearable user input device can be used to interact with said computer software product.
Said computer software product may comprises a game or a music player.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
An embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which :Figure 1 is a perspective view of a wearable user input device for a touch screen display of a portable electronic device in its wrist band configuration; and
Figure 2 is a perspective view of the device of Figure 1 in its flat configuration to be overlaid on a touch screen display.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
A wearable user input device for a touch screen display of a portable electronic device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. The device comprises an elongate flexible strap 2 formed from silicone rubber or any other suitable resilient and flexible material, having cooperating fastenings at either end thereof to allow the ends of the strap to be connected together to define a loop, enabling the device to be worn as a wrist band. As shown in the drawing, the fastenings may comprise a pin 4 provided at a first end of the strap receivable in a selected one of a row of holes 6 provided in a second, opposite end of the strap, a loop 8 being provided in said second end for receiving the first end of the strap so that the strap can be fastened around the user’s wrist in a similar manner to a wristwatch.
A plurality of raised buttons 10 are defined along the length of the strap, said buttons being integrally moulded with the strap. Each button 10 may contain an electrically conductive core 12, as best shown in Figure 3, to enable the button to interact with a capacitive touch screen display. The buttons 10 are shaped so that, when the strap 2 is placed upon a touch screen display, the electrically conductive core 12 of each button 10 is spaced above the surface of the touch screen display. When a selected button 10 is depressed by placing pressure upon an upper surface of the button by a finger, the button is deformed, bringing the conductive core 12 thereof into contact with or at least closer to the surface of the touch screen display. The resilience of the material from which the strap 2 is made enables the buttons 10 to return to their original shape once finger pressure is released therefrom.
The device may be used as a promotional product to be given away at festivals and other events.
When placed onto the touch screen display of a portable electronic device, such as a smartphone or tablet, the device can give users a more tactile experience when interacting with the digital domain. What would usually be a flat and unresponsive surface turns into an array of tactile buttons. The buttons can be used to interact with a website or with an “app” (i.e. downloadable software) installed onto the portable electronic device, for example to facilitate the playing of games, or to facilitate interaction with a music or DJ “app” in a tactile manner.
As discussed above, each button may contain a conductive core that allows the touch screen display to sense a change in capacitance when a finger is placed onto a button and the button pressed down onto the surface of the touch screen display. In order to avoid the carbon of the core to leave traces on the screen or the fingers, the strap may be coated with a thin layer of silicone paint, not impacting the touch sensing.
The invention is not limited to the embodiment(s) described herein but can be amended or modified without departing from the scope of the present invention.
Claims (13)
1. A wearable user input device for a touch screen display of a portable electronic device comprising an elongate flexible strap arranged, in use, to overlie the touch
5 screen display of the portable electronic device, said strap including markings defining a plurality of touch input locations.
2. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said markings comprise modifications in the profile of the strap.
3. A device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said markings comprise raised buttons.
4. A device as claimed in claim 3, wherein said raised buttons are integrally formed with the strap.
5. A device as claimed in claim 3 or claim 4, wherein at least a portion of each button is formed from or incorporates an electrically conductive material.
6. A device as claimed in claim 5, wherein an electrically conductive core is located 20 within each button.
7. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said elongate flexible strap is formed from silicone rubber.
25
8. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said device comprises a wrist band wearable on a customer’s wrist.
9. A device as claimed in claim 8, incorporating a fastener for fastening the elongate flexible strap around a customer’s wrist, said fastener being releasable to
30 allow the strap to be laid flat upon a touch screen display of an electronic device.
10. A device as claimed in 9, wherein said fastener comprises a buckle.
11. A system comprising a wearable user input device as claimed in any preceding claim arranged, in use, to overlie a touch screen display of a portable electronic device, and a computer software product adapted to display graphical elements at predetermined locations on said touch screen display corresponding with said touch
5 input locations, whereby the wearable user input device can be used to interact with said computer software product.
12. A system as claimed in claim 11, wherein said computer software product comprises a game.
o
13. A system as claimed in claim 12, wherein said computer software product comprises a music player.
Intellectual
Property
Office
Application No: GB1614073.3 Examiner: Mr Aaron Saddington
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB1614073.3A GB2552977A (en) | 2016-08-17 | 2016-08-17 | Wearable user input device for a touch screen display |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB1614073.3A GB2552977A (en) | 2016-08-17 | 2016-08-17 | Wearable user input device for a touch screen display |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| GB201614073D0 GB201614073D0 (en) | 2016-09-28 |
| GB2552977A true GB2552977A (en) | 2018-02-21 |
Family
ID=56985862
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB1614073.3A Withdrawn GB2552977A (en) | 2016-08-17 | 2016-08-17 | Wearable user input device for a touch screen display |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| GB (1) | GB2552977A (en) |
Citations (3)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US20110241999A1 (en) * | 2010-04-01 | 2011-10-06 | Thier Clifford S | Keyboards for touch-operated devices with capacitive displays |
| US20120050165A1 (en) * | 2010-08-27 | 2012-03-01 | Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd. | Keyboard pad for touch screen |
| US20140267048A1 (en) * | 2013-03-15 | 2014-09-18 | Charles Albert Morris | Home Row Key Strip for Touch Screens |
-
2016
- 2016-08-17 GB GB1614073.3A patent/GB2552977A/en not_active Withdrawn
Patent Citations (3)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US20110241999A1 (en) * | 2010-04-01 | 2011-10-06 | Thier Clifford S | Keyboards for touch-operated devices with capacitive displays |
| US20120050165A1 (en) * | 2010-08-27 | 2012-03-01 | Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd. | Keyboard pad for touch screen |
| US20140267048A1 (en) * | 2013-03-15 | 2014-09-18 | Charles Albert Morris | Home Row Key Strip for Touch Screens |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| GB201614073D0 (en) | 2016-09-28 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| WAP | Application withdrawn, taken to be withdrawn or refused ** after publication under section 16(1) |