WO2011077448A1

WO2011077448A1 - Improved touch based electronic device

Info

Publication number: WO2011077448A1
Application number: PCT/IN2010/000810
Authority: WO
Inventors: Rohan Pandey
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2009-12-21
Filing date: 2010-12-15
Publication date: 2011-06-30
Anticipated expiration: 2012-06-21

Abstract

An improved touch based electronic device (210) particularly applied to a touch- based device comprising a screen (212), mounted on the front surface to take the input from other objects and perform corresponding operations; a touch pad / track pad (214) disposed on the back side, inside a casing, and placed ergonomically anywhere on the back side; a plurality of buttons (215) to perform the right/left click functionality and to enhance the operation capability, a signal detector (314) to detect the input signals and a control unit (311, 312, 313) for displaying information related to an operation input on the display panel (310), a track pad driver (312) to provide coordinate information, corresponding to the touch and a display driver (311) configured for the display of cursor (612).

Description

IMPROVED TOUCH BASED ELECTRONIC DEVICE

Field of Invention:

[0001] The present invention relates to an improved touch based electronic device and particularly an improved touch based electronic device to ergonomically control the cursor on the screen.

Background Art

[0002] With the advent of better touch sensors, the adoption of touch devices has increased tremendously. But above touch sensors have not solved the following problems and/or issues which are very essential for the efficient operation of touch sensors:

1. maintaining cleaner touch screens;

2. avoiding accumulation of dust and sweat stains because of continuous finger strokes;

3. in order to use the screen for performing input action hand is used which becomes obstruction between the user and the screen content;

4. providing cursor feedback to the user informing him of the current area of focus;

5. Reaching to the next object of focus from the current location of cursor quickly;

6. Stylus can't be used in moving vehicles with precision;

7. The interfaces for applications and websites are designed for mouse interactivity and not finger touch (larger touch area as compared to pixel level mouse control);

[0003] Reference is also made to the following prior arts which disclose touchpad which can be used to control the cursor but has interalia disadvantages mentioned above. [0004] An US patent US 7,088,342 B2 by SONY CORPORATION discloses a display panel disposed on the front surface of a device shows information related to an operation input. A sensor for detecting a touch of an object is disposed on the back surface of the device. A mark representing the touch position is displayed at a position directly above the position of a touch detected by the sensor on the display panel. When the mark representing the touch position and the display position of the information are overlapped, an input process corresponding to the overlapped information is performed:

[0005] Another US Patent US US 6, 415,165 B1 by NEC CORP discloses a portable terminal comprises a main body having a front surface and a rear surface opposite to the front surface. The portable terminal comprises a display section formed on the front surface for displaying input information of the portable terminal, a main operating section formed on the front surface for carrying out input operation of said input information, and a touch panel formed on the rear surface for carrying out input operation of the input information. The touch panel is operated by a user with gripping the main body on a hand. The portable terminal monitors the touch panel in a predetermined interval to produce a monitored signal and is responsive to the monitored signal for make the display section display the input information.

[0006] Yet another US patent US 7,403,192 by MITAC TECHNOLOGY CORP discloses a portable electronic device. A main body includes a first surface and a second surface opposite thereto. A display screen is disposed on the first surface and is electrically connected to the main body. A touchpad is disposed on the second surface and is electrically connected to the main body and display screen, providing a user to access or deal with data displayed on the display screen.

[0007] Other disadvantages of the Prior Art are as under:

1. The biggest problem here is that the touchpad on the back side is same as screen size. This creates difficulty in determining what the user input is as the fingers here are not only used for input but also for holding the device. If the screen size is big, the user will continuously have to move his hand from one corner to another for any fruitful operation to be achieved.

2. Is applicable only for Portable Telephone Device with additional Display. We are using the idea for tablets, touch-based devices and handheld touch devices. It does not solve the problem of continuously dragging the cursor towards the current focus are from its originating position.

3. Is applicable for General PDA - limited operational flexibility. We are using the idea for tablets, touch-based devices and handheld touch devices. It does not solve the problem of continuously dragging the cursor towards the current focus are from its originating position.

[0008] It is therefore been long felt need to develop an improved touch based electronic device which overcomes the disadvantages of prior art discussed above.

Object of the invention:

[0010] Thus the object of the present invention is to provide an improved touch based electronic device and particularly a backside touch pad to economically control the cursor on the screen.

[0011] Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to enable the input operation of a touch-sensitive input device, such as a touch panel, alongwith a combination of dual switches to be easily and reliably performed.

[0012] According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided an input method including an operation-input display step of displaying information related to an operation input over a screen at a display position, a detecting step of detecting a touch of an object at a touch position on a touch pad and / or switches present at the back surface of the said display, a position display step of displaying a cursor at a mark position directly over the touch position, the cursor representing the touch position, a controlling step of controlling the movement of the cursor in the direction inverse to the direction of the movement of the finger touch over the touch pad, the input step of determining whether the display position of the information displayed at the operation-input display step and the cursor position displayed at the touch- position display step are overlapped, and on overlapping, executing an input process corresponding to the overlapped information.

[0013] According to another aspect of the present invention, an improved touch based electronic device particularly applied to a touch-based device comprising a screen, mounted on the front surface to take the input from other objects and perform corresponding operations, a touch pad / track pad disposed on the back side, inside a casing, and can be placed economically anywhere on the back side and further comprising a plurality of buttons to perform the right/left click functionality to enhance the operation capability, a signal detector to detect the input signals and a control unit for displaying information related to an operation input on the display panel, a track pad driver to provide coordinate information, corresponding to the touch and a display driver configured for the display of cursor.

[0014] According to yet another aspect of the present invention the touch pads and the buttons are placed on the same side of the electronic device and are place on opposite directions so that they can be operated by both hands simultaneously.

[0015] As per another aspect of the present invention the screen is a touch screen.

[0016] As per another aspect of the present invention the control unit is configured for the reversal of horizontal axis for calibration and input purposes, i.e. when a user moves his finger from left to right on the backside of the touch / track pad, the signal generated is from right to left.

[0017] As per another aspect of the present invention the control unit is configured for sensing the input signals from the screen in case of a touch screen and simultaneously sense the input signal from the touch pad and the buttons present at the back of the said electronic device and output the movement of the curser accordingly.

[0018] As per another aspect of the present invention the controller is further configured for the detection of the first touch, the calibration is performed which scales the backside touch / track pad in proportion with the front-side screen.

[0019] Therefore such as herein described the object of the present invention is to provide an improved touch based electronic device wherein the cursor present in the screen / display is controlled by the application of both the hands / object simultaneously to the touch pad and the plurality of buttons disposed on the backside of the display at the opposite sides .

Brief description of the accompanying drawings

[0020] Reference is now made to accompanying drawings wherein:

[0021] FIGS. 1A and 1B illustrates an electronic device provided with touch screen as an input method of the present invention.

[0022] FIGS. 2A, 2B and 2C illustrates the constructional details of an apparatus provided with a touch pad on back side as an input method according to one embodiment of the present invention;

[0023] FIG. 3 illustrates the diagram of a track pad according to one embodiment of the present invention;

[0024] FIGS. 4A and 4B illustrates the graphs showing detection characteristics of one embodiment of the present invention;

[0025] FIG. 5 illustrates the flowchart showing an example input process of one embodiment of the present invention;

[0026] FIGS. 6A, 6B and 6C illustrate an example of single handed operation of the device according to one embodiment of the present invention; [0027] FIG. 7 illustrates an example of the different operations the device according to another embodiment of the present invention;

[0001] FIG. 8 illustrates the reversal of horizontal axis for calibration and input operation purposes of one embodiment of the present invention;

Detailed Description

[0028] We shall now describe the present invention by way of illustration with reference to accompanying drawings which are given by way of illustration but does not restrict the scope of the present invention.

[0029] Fig. 1A shows a view of a touch based electronic device (110). While using the touch screen (111) in the conventional way creates a lot of problems, maintaining cleaner screens and hand hindering the view, for example. FIG 1 B illustrates the use the device (110) while performing the input action with the hand (112). The hand (112) itself becomes the obstruction between the users and the screen content.

[0030] FIG. 2A, 2B and 2C show a view of an input device according to the present invention applied to a touch-based device (210). In the touch-based device (210), a screen (212) is mounted on the front surface (211) to take the input from other objects and perform corresponding operations. A touch pad/ track pad (214) is disposed on the back side (213), inside a casing. The size of the touch pad (214) is smaller than the back side (213) and can be placed anywhere on the back side (213). Buttons (215) are used to perform the right/left click functionality. The operation of touch pad is described below,

[0031] FIG.3 is an illustration showing an example diagram of a sensor according to one embodiment of the present invention. The present invention is not restricted to a particular touch pad (214) technology and applicable to all. It also shows the controller being capable of calibrating the signal for the first touch as shown in Fig.8 and reversing the horizontal signal (also described in Fig. 8). [0032] When an object (316) touches the touch pad (214) at the point (315), the change in signal intensity is detected by the Signal Detector (314). The output of the signal detector (314) is fed to the input of track pad controller (313). The controller (313) determines the operation state of track pad (214) based on fed data, and issues the corresponding command to the track pad driver (312.).

[0033] In the present invention the controller (313) determines the first touch/tap/click on the backside track pad (214) and considers that as the point of origin of cursor (310) on the screen 212.

[0034] The track pad driver (312) takes input from controller (313) and gives coordinate information, corresponding to the touch, to the display driver (311).

[0035] The display driver (311) determines, based on input from track pad driver (312), the coordinate of the cursor (310) on the screen and displays the cursor (310) at the corresponding position on the screen.

[0036] In the said an improved touch based electronic device the object (316) / hand /finger touches the touch pad (214) at the point (315), the change in signal intensity is detected by the Signal Detector (314), the output of the signal detector (314) is fed to the input of track pad controller (313), the controller (313) determines the operation state of track pad (214) based on fed data, and issues the corresponding command to the track pad driver (312).

[0037] The controller (313) as provided in the said improved touch based electronic device is to determine the first touch/tap/click on the backside track pad (214) and consider that as the point of origin of cursor (310) on the screen (212) and further the track pad driver (312) is provided to take input from controller (313) and to give coordinate information, corresponding to the touch, to the display driver (311) wherein the said the display driver (311) determines, based on input from track pad driver (312), the coordinate of the cursor (310) on the screen and displays the cursor (310) at the corresponding position on the screen.

[0038] Therefore in accordance with the disclosure the input method for the said electronic device includes an operation-input display step of displaying information related to an operation input at a display position, a detecting step of detecting a touch of an object at a touch position on a touch pad and / or switches present at the back surface of the said display by the signal detector, a position display step of displaying a cursor at a mark position directly over the touch position (proportionate to the set up coordinates) wherein the cursor represents the touch position, a controlling step of controlling the movement of the cursor in the direction inverse to the direction of the movement of the finger touch over the touch pad. Further including the input step of determining whether the display position of the information displayed at the operation-input display step and the cursor position displayed at the touch- position display step are overlapped, and on overlapping, executing an input process corresponding to the overlapped information.

[0039] Further the cursor is provided to determine the origin by the first touch (610) on the backside touchpad (214) in the disclosed improved touch based electronic device.

[0040] This way the user is saved from continuously dragging the cursor from one point to another (especially a nuisance while moving from one side corner to opposite corner). Placing a backside track pad is also economically straining for the finger, so here we propose the use of the 2 buttons on the backside of the device disposed in opposite direction of the touch pad and configured to be controlled by the other hand. This way the left hand is used for navigation and the right hand for clicks. This also allows the text to be selected in far more controlled manner, as the user can place the cursor where ever he wants over the text, the text selection can be initiated by pressing the button on the right hand side. [0041] The backside touchpad is used to control the cursor on the front screen. There are additional two buttons on the right hand side of the device which will be used as the two buttons available on the mouse (can be Used for other functionalities as and when any application demands).

[0042] FIG 4A shows the variation in the signal intensity when one finger touches a particular part of the track pad (214). (SO) represents the normal signal-reception intensity; (Si) is obtained when the finger touches the track pad (214).

[0043] FIG. 4B shows the variation of signal intensity when finger touches the track pad (214) at different positions. According to one embodiment of the present invention, if the time difference between two touch events is less than the customized time period then the touch position is considered as the previous touch position. For example, if finger touched the track pad (214) at position (P1), the cursor will be displayed at (P1), and after that if finger touches the position (T2) with in 300ms, the cursor will still be displayed at position (T1).

[0044] Next, the complete process executed by the controller (313) in response to touch pad 214 event is described in the flow chart in FIG 5. Initially controller (313) waits for first touch, before that the position of the cursor is undefined (origin of cursor is defined by the first touch). After first touch is detected, the cursor will start from corresponding position and performs the normal operations of track pad (214). If system remains ideal for more than the customized time period, the cursor will again start from position corresponding to next touch.

[0045] The touch-based device (210) with back-surface touch pad (214) for detecting the input is operated shown in, FIG 6A. A user holds the touch- based device (210) in one hand so as to face the front surface (211). At least one finger of a hand holding the touch-based device (210) rests on the track pad (214).

[0046] As described in one embodiment of the present invention, the origin of the cursor is determined by the first touch (610) on the backside touchpad (214). That would mean, that if the user wants to perform some action on the right top corner, the user just need to hit / touch the right top corner of the backside touchpad. This informs the system about the originating position of the cursor (612). From thereon, the backside touchpad acts exactly the same as any other track pad (214).

[0047] FIG. 6A describes the example in which user touched the track pad (214) at right top corner and correspondingly the cursor appeared on the screen (612). Now user performed a normal dragging operation on the track pad (214) and cursor moved to bottom left 611 positions.

[0048] The touch-based device (210) can be handled with 2 hands as shown in FIG 7. This example shows both hands in operation, with the palms of the both hands providing support to the touch-based device (210). Left hand (710) is being used for navigation (711) and right hand (712) for tapping/clicking 713 via a profiled button (215). A person skilled in the art will be able to understand and appreciate the different operations which can be carried out by navigating of the cursor using the touch pad and in addition the purpose of clicking the buttons disposed on the opposite side of the touchpad. For a better illustration the use of the buttons and the touchpad can be operationalized in isolate or in combination with each other,

[0049] FIG. 8 describes the reversal of horizontal axis for calibration and input purposes. As the backside touch pad (811) and the front screen (812) are 180 degrees to each other, there is a need to flip the signals along the horizontal axis. So when a user moves his finger from left to right on the backside of the track pad (811), the signal generated is from right to left. And this reversal will result in the cursor being showed as moving from left to right on the front screen (812) as expected. Similarly for the detection of the first touch, the calibration is performed which scales the backside touchpad (811) in proportion with the front-side screen (812) (is the backside track pad is 5X3units and front screen is 20X12units, the scaling proportion is 4X4).

[0050] In the said an improved touch based electronic device the backside touch pad (811) is provided for an input operation to be displayed on the front screen (812) which is 180 degrees to each other, there is a need to flip the signals along the horizontal axis, so when a user moves his finger from left to right on the backside of the track pad (811), the signal generated is from right to left, and this reversal will results the cursor being showed as moving from left to right on the front screen (812).

[0051] In the said an improved touch based electronic device for the detection of the first touch, the calibration is performed which scales the backside touchpad (811) in proportionate ratio with the front-side screen (812) (For example, if the backside track pad is 5X3 units and front screen is 20X12units, the scaling proportion is 4X4).

[0052] To get rid of the problems of sweat stain and dust accumulating on the screen, we are proposing a backside touchpad which can be used to control the cursor on the screen. This way, the user will not have to slide his finger on the screen for various actions, as all the similar tasks (tracking, clicking, and tapping) can be done using the track pad on the backside. Though this reduces the use of the touch screen facing the user, it introduces its own problems which were not solved earlier.

[0053] The backside touchpad needs to be small as discussed earlier. This introduces the problem of dragging the cursor from its current position to the position of interest (similar problem is faced while using a normal mouse, when one need to go from one corner of the screen to the other). The induction of the touchpad at the backside of the device took the freedom the user had of touching anywhere on the front side touch screen. The present invention solves this problem by considering the first touch/ tap/click on the backside touchpad as the point of origin of the cursor on the front screen.

[0054] That would mean, that if the user wants to perform some action on the right top corner, the user just need to hit / touch the right- top corner of the backside touchpad. This informs the system about the originating position of the cursor. From there on, the backside touchpad acts exactly the same as any other trackpad.

[0055] Although the foregoing description of the present invention has been shown and described with reference to particular embodiments and applications thereof, it has been presented for purposes of illustration and description and is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the particular embodiments and applications disclosed. It will be apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art that a number of changes, modifications, variations, or alterations to the invention as described herein may be made, none of which depart from the spirit or scope of the present invention. The particular embodiments and applications were chosen and described to provide the best illustration of the principles of the invention and its practical application to thereby enable one of ordinary skill in the art to utilize the invention in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. All such changes, modifications, variations, and alterations should therefore be seen as being within the scope of the present invention as determined by the appended claims when interpreted in accordance with the breadth to which they are fairly, legally, and equitably entitled.

Claims

WHAT CLAIMED IS:

1. An input method for an improved touch based electronic device particularly applied to a touch-based device comprising the steps of :

an operation-input display step of displaying information related to an operation input over a screen at a display position;

a detecting step of detecting a touch of an object at a touch position on a touch pad and / or buttons switches present at the back surface of the said screen;

a position display step of displaying a cursor at a mark position directly over the touch position wherein the cursor represents the touch position;

a controlling step of controlling the movement of the cursor in the direction inverse to the direction of the movement of the finger touch over the touch pad;

a input step of determining whether the display position of the information displayed at the operation-input display step and the cursor position displayed at the touch-position display step are overlapped, and on overlapping or by the operation of the plurality of buttons provided, executing an input process corresponding to the overlapped information.

2. An input method for an improved touch based electronic device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the touch pads and the buttons are placed on the same side of the electronic device and are place on opposite directions so that they can be operated by both hands simultaneously.

3. An input method for an improved touch based electronic device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the screen is a touch screen.

4. An input method for an improved touch based electronic device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the controlling of the cursor is configured for the reversal of horizontal axis for calibration and input purposes, i.e. when a user moves his finger from left to right on the backside of the touch / track pad, the signal generated is from right to left.

5. An improved touch based electronic device particularly applied to a touch-based device comprising a screen, mounted on the front surface to take the input from other objects and perform corresponding operations; a touch pad / track pad disposed on the back side, inside a casing, and placed economically anywhere on the back side; a plurality of buttons to perform the right/left click functionality and to enhance the operation capability, a signal detector to detect the input signals and a control unit for displaying information related to an operation input on the display panel, a track pad driver to provide coordinate information, corresponding to the touch and a display driver configured for the display of cursor.

6. An improved touch based electronic device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the control unit is configured for the reversal of horizontal axis for calibration and input purposes, i.e. when a user moves his finger from left to right on the backside of the touch / track pad, the signal generated is from right to left.

7. An improved touch based electronic device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the touch pads and the buttons are placed on the same side of the electronic device and are place on opposite directions so that they can be operated by both hands simultaneously.

8. An improved touch based electronic device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the screen is a touch screen.

9. An improved touch based electronic device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the control unit is configured for sensing the input signals from the screen in case of a touch screen and simultaneously sense the input signal from the touch pad and the buttons present at the back of the said electronic device and output the movement of the curser accordingly.

10. An improved touch based electronic device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the controller is further configured for the detection of the first touch, the calibration is performed which, scales the backside touch / track pad in proportion with the front-side screen.

11. An improved touch based electronic device as claimed in claim 5, wherein when an object touches the touch pad at a point resulting in the change in signal intensity detected by the Signal Detector and the output of the signal detector is fed to the input of track pad controller and thereafter the controller determines the operation state of track pad based on fed data, and issues the corresponding command to the track pad driver.

12. An improved touch based electronic device as claimed in any one of claims preceding claims wherein the control unit / controller is configured to determine the first touch/tap/click on the backside track pad and considering that as the point of origin of cursor on the screen the track pad driver records the input from controller and provides coordinate information, corresponding to the touch, to the display driver wherein the said display driver determines, based on input from track pad driver, the coordinate of the cursor on the screen and displays the cursor at the corresponding position on the screen.

13. An improved touch based electronic device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the said controller is configured to execute complete process of controlling the movement of cursor which includes with response to touch pad, waits for first touch (origin of cursor is defined by the first touch), after first touch is detected, the cursor starts from corresponding position and performs the normal operations of track pad and the system if remains ideal for more than a customized time period, the cursor again starts from position corresponding to next touch.

14. An improved touch based electronic device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the cursor is provided to determine the origin as reflected by the first touch of the touchpad and / or any of the plurality of buttons disposed on the back side of the screen / display.

15. An improved touch based electronic device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the cursor present in the screen / display is controlled by the application of both the hands / object simultaneously to the touch pad and the plurality of buttons disposed on the backside of the display at the opposite sides .