Patent Application
20130135243
The present disclosure relates to electronic devices, including but not limited to, portable electronic devices displays and their control.
Electronic devices, including portable electronic devices, have gained widespread use and may provide a variety of functions including, for example, telephonic, electronic messaging and other personal information manager (PIM) application functions. Portable electronic devices include, for example, several types of mobile stations such as simple cellular telephones, smart telephones, wireless personal digital assistants (PDAs), and laptop computers with wireless 802.11 or Bluetooth capabilities.
Portable electronic devices such as PDAs or smart telephones are generally intended for handheld use and ease of portability. Smaller devices are generally desirable for portability. A touch-sensitive display, also known as a touchscreen display, is particularly useful on handheld devices, which are small and have limited space for user input and output. The information displayed on the touch-sensitive displays may be modified depending on the functions and operations being performed. With continued demand for decreased size of portable electronic devices, touch-sensitive displays continue to decrease in size.
Improvements in devices with touch-sensitive displays are desirable.
The following describes an apparatus for and method of displaying, for example, by previewing, at least one character associated with a physical key. When a touch that meets a threshold is detected, at least one character associated with the physical key is previewed in response to the detecting. The preview format is advantageously a format different than the format of information previously entered in an information entry field. Convenience characters may be previewed in addition to the number associated with the convenience characters, for example, to facilitate entering of phone numbers including letters or characters. Previewed characters may be entered or subsequently changed.
For simplicity and clarity of illustration, reference numerals may be repeated among the figures to indicate corresponding or analogous elements. Numerous details are set forth to provide an understanding of the embodiments described herein. The embodiments may be practiced without these details. In other instances, well-known methods, procedures, and components have not been described in detail to avoid obscuring the embodiments described. The description is not to be considered as limited to the scope of the embodiments described herein.
The disclosure generally relates to an electronic device, such as a portable electronic device or non-portable electronic device. Examples of portable electronic devices include mobile, or handheld, wireless communication devices such as pagers, cellular phones, cellular smart-phones, wireless organizers, personal digital assistants, wirelessly enabled notebook computers, tablet computers, mobile internet devices, and so forth. The portable electronic device may be a portable electronic device without wireless communication capabilities, such as handheld electronic games, digital photograph albums, digital cameras, media players, e-book readers, and so forth. Examples of non portable electronic devices include desktop computers, electronic white boards, smart boards utilized for collaboration, built-in displays in furniture or appliances, and so forth.
A block diagram of an example of a portable electronic device 100 is shown in
The processor 102 interacts with other components, such as Random Access Memory (RAM) 108, memory 110, a display 112 with an optional touch-sensitive overlay 114 operably coupled to an optional electronic controller 116 that together comprise an optional touch-sensitive display 118, one or more actuators 120, one or more force sensors 122, an auxiliary input/output (I/O) subsystem 124, a data port 126, a speaker 128, a microphone 130, short-range communications 132, and other device subsystems 134. User-interaction with a graphical user interface is performed through the touch-sensitive overlay 114. The processor 102 interacts with the touch-sensitive overlay 114 via the electronic controller 116. Information, such as text, characters, symbols, images, icons, and other items that may be displayed or rendered on a portable electronic device, is displayed on the touch-sensitive display 118 via the processor 102. The processor 102 may interact with an accelerometer 136 that may be utilized to detect direction of gravitational forces or gravity-induced reaction forces.
To identify a subscriber for network access, the portable electronic device 100 uses a Subscriber Identity Module or a Removable User Identity Module (SIM/RUIM) card 138 for communication with a network, such as the wireless network 150. Alternatively, user identification information may be programmed into memory 110.
The portable electronic device 100 includes an operating system 146 and software programs or components 148 that are executed by the processor 102 and are typically stored in a persistent, updatable store such as the memory 110. Additional applications or programs may be loaded onto the portable electronic device 100 through the wireless network 150, the auxiliary I/O subsystem 124, the data port 126, the short-range communications subsystem 132, or any other suitable subsystem 134.
A received signal such as a text message, an e-mail message, or web page download is processed by the communication subsystem 104 and input to the processor 102. The processor 102 processes the received signal for output to the display 112 and/or to the auxiliary I/O subsystem 124. A subscriber may generate data items, for example e-mail messages, which may be transmitted over the wireless network 150 through the communication subsystem 104. For voice communications, the overall operation of the portable electronic device 100 is similar. The speaker 128 outputs audible information converted from electrical signals, and the microphone 130 converts audible information into electrical signals for processing.
Physical keys on electronic devices, such as portable electronic devices, may be small. When more physical keys are provided, such keys tend to be smaller than when fewer physical keys are provided. Small keys have limited space available to print, stamp, engrave, or otherwise mark one or more characters associated with the physical key. Characters include numbers, letters, symbols, and so forth, for any language. In some instances, space is available for only one or two characters. Such small keys are unable to identify multiple characters, such as letters, that may be associated with a number on the physical key. When dialing a phone number or entering text, a user cannot see associated letters or characters marked on the physical key because such letters or characters are not labeled on the key. For example, dialing a phone number given with letters or characters, such as 1-800-THE-AQUA, may be difficult. Further, smaller keys may be covered by an input member, such as a finger or thumb, and the character on the key may not be visible. The following describes a method and apparatus for displaying, for example, by previewing, a character associated with a physical key. The character may be previewed before the character is entered. Errors entering characters are reduced.
A flowchart illustrating a method of previewing a character is shown in
Information is displayed 202 in an information entry field on the display 112. The information may include selection options, for example, icons, text, lists such as emails or contacts, and selection windows or decision boxes such as unlock, delete, cancel, and so forth. The information may also include an information entry field, such the field utilized to enter or input information, for example, text in an email or text message, names and related information in a contacts list, information in a game, addresses for websites, and so forth.
When a touch is detected 204 on a physical key, which touch meets a threshold 206, at least one character associated with the physical key is previewed 208 by displaying information associated with the at least one character, for example, in a preview format. The threshold may be a time threshold, a force threshold, an actuation threshold, a capacitive threshold, and so forth. A value meets a threshold when the value equals or exceeds the threshold. Previewed characters are not entered into the information entry field or input to the electronic device, but rather are displayed prior to entry of any character.
A preview format may be any suitable format, such as a noticeably different format than the format of information previously entered in the information entry field. For example, when information is previewed in the information entry field, a character may be displayed in a ghosted, faded, highlighted, shadowed, shaded, underscored, italicized, bolded, blinking, animated, encircled, or other version of the character, which format is different than the format of the information entered in the information entry field. Preview formatting may also include a different color or font, as well as different size, e.g., enlarged or shrunken version, of the character. Preview formatting may be utilized in conjunction with a cursor. Combinations of formatting may be utilized, such as bold, italics, and underlined in an off color, or highlighted with a cursor, and so forth. The previewed character may be displayed after the last character entered in the information field, i.e., next to any previously entered character. Alternatively, the previewed selection option may be displayed in an information field shaped like a balloon, box, or window in a location that is remote from the location of the touch such that the information is visible.
A portable electronic device 300, similar to the portable electronic device 100 of
When one of the physical keys is actuated or selected 210, and the physical key is associated with a character, the character indicated for selection is entered or input in the information entry field and displayed 212, for example, in the format of information previously entered in the information entry field, which may be referred to as a normal, standard, or default format. When one of the physical keys is actuated or selected 210, and the physical key is associated with a function, the function is performed. For example, when the physical key is associated with an alternate keyset such as numbers, symbols, punctuation, shift, shift lock, and so forth, the function is performed, for example, a numerical keyset is displayed. When a touch is detected on a physical key associated with a function, one or more characters, including symbols, associated with that function are previewed.
A user may hover over or touch several different physical keys before selecting or actuating one. A preview of each of the different characters associated with the physical keys is provided as long as a touch is detected meeting the threshold for each option. When the touch does not meet the threshold, the preview is discontinued. A physical key may optionally be selected or actuated without a preview being displayed, such as when a longer time threshold is utilized. A profile may be utilized to store a user's preferences for thresholds.
A side view of an example of a physical key 400 with a touch-sensitive element 406 is shown in
One or more touches, also known as touch contacts or touch events, may be detected by the touch-sensitive element 406. The processor 102 may determine attributes of the touch, including a location of a touch, which may simply be which physical key is touched, how long the physical key is touched, the character(s) associated with each physical key, and so forth. Touch location data may include an area of contact or a single point of contact, such as a point at or near a center of the area of contact. The location of a detected touch may include x and y components, e.g., horizontal and vertical components, respectively, with respect to one's view of the touch-sensitive element. For example, the x location component may be determined by a signal generated from one touch sensor, and the y location component may be determined by a signal generated from another touch sensor. Optionally, a single touch sensor may be provided for each physical key, which touch sensor may provide simple touch data, such as a binary output of “0” when a touch is not detected and “1” when a touch is detected. A signal is provided to the controller 116 in response to detection of a touch. A touch may be detected from any suitable input member, such as a finger, thumb, appendage, or other objects, for example, a stylus, pen, or other pointer, depending on the nature of the touch-sensitive element. Multiple simultaneous touches may be detected on different physical keys.
A touch or time threshold may be utilized with a physical key 400 including a touch-sensitive element 406. The threshold may be a touch threshold that may simply be a touch detected by a touch-sensitive element 406. The threshold may alternatively be a time threshold, wherein the time that a touch remains detected in association with the same physical key 400 without actuating the physical key 400 is compared to the time threshold. For example, the threshold may be 0 seconds, 0.25 seconds, 0.5 seconds, 0.75 seconds, 1 second, and so forth. The time that the touch remains detected may be referred to as a hover time. The threshold time may be an option selected by the user. A range of time thresholds may be chosen from effectively 0 seconds, i.e., from detection of a touch, to a longer period such as 1 second or longer. A user may be able to turn on previewing for every touch (e.g., 0 seconds) or turn off previewing completely (e.g., infinite hover time).
A side view of an example of a physical key 500 with a force sensor 122 is shown in
One or more force values may be utilized as thresholds. One force threshold may be utilized to preview one or more characters associated with the physical key 500, and a second force threshold may be utilized to enter or input the character associated with the physical key 500. For example, the second force threshold may be the force that actuates the physical key. In this example, characters are previewed while the lower force threshold is met, but the second force threshold is not met. Characters are entered when the second force threshold is met. Different types of thresholds may utilized for the two different thresholds. For example, the first threshold may be a time or capacitive threshold and the second threshold may be a force threshold.
The actuator 120 may be depressed or activated by applying sufficient force to a physical key 400, 500 to overcome the actuation force of the actuator 120. The actuator 120 may provide input to the processor 102 when actuated, which input may be utilized as meeting one of two thresholds. A two-level actuator may be utilized, wherein meeting the first threshold occurs when the first level of actuation occurs, e.g., a lower force, resulting in preview of an associated character, and meeting the second threshold occurs when the second level of actuation occurs, e.g., pressing further or harder, in response to which the character associated with the key is entered. Actuation of the actuator 120 may result in provision of tactile feedback.
A combination of elements may be utilized to provide two different thresholds. For example, a touch-sensitive element may provide the first threshold when a touch is detected that meets a time threshold, e.g., 50 ms, and an actuator may provide the second threshold, e.g., when the actuator is actuated, which may be referred to as depressing a physical key. Such a device may be, for example, a physical key with a touch sensor disposed on, within, or under the physical key, such as shown in
Character or letter mapping is known for use with phone numbers. For example, the Aqua Restaurant may simplify its phone number 1-800-843-2782 as 1-800-THE-AQUA for the purpose of providing a more memorable phone number in advertising. Character or letter mapping may also be utilized for text messaging, entering contact information in a portable electronic device, and so forth. One example of character or letter mapping is as follows:
0=none
1=none
2=ABC
3=DEF
4=GHI
5=JKL
6=MNO
7=PQRS
8=TUV
9=WXYZ
Other characters may be utilized than the letters shown. Other number-character mappings may be utilized than the above example. Such characters will be referred to herein as convenience characters or convenience letters.
The physical keys on a portable electronic device may be too small to mark the convenience characters. The example portable electronic device of
A flowchart illustrating a method of previewing characters associated with a number, for example, in a phone application is shown in
Information is displayed 602 in an information entry field on the display 112, for example, as described above. When a touch is detected 604 on a physical key, which touch meets a threshold 606, at least one character associated with the physical key is previewed 608 by displaying information associated with the at least one character, for example, in a preview format, such as described above. The threshold may be a time threshold, a force threshold, an actuation threshold, and so forth. Previewed characters are not entered into the information entry field or input to the electronic device, but rather are displayed prior to entry of any character.
A portable electronic device 700, similar to the portable electronic device 100 of
If an option is not selected 610, and the touch moves 614 to a different physical key, the options for the new physical key are displayed in a different format, such as the preview format described above. For example, if the touch moves to the right to the “9” physical key, a large “9” is displayed next to the “1800” previously entered, and “WXYZ” is displayed below the “9” on the display 112. If the touch moves to the left to the “7” physical key, a large “7” is displayed next to the “1800” previously entered, and “PQRS” is displayed below the “7” on the display 112. Thus, convenience characters for numbers on physical keys may be previewed in a visible manner before being entered or selected by a user. The electronic device provides the user with the ability to change the character prior to selection or entry. When the user does not know which characters are associated with a number, as the user moves a finger along the number keys, the associated convenience characters or letters are displayed.
Optionally, the convenience character may be entered and displayed in addition to the number. When this option is utilized, the numbers and characters are displayed. For example, “1-800-843-2782” may be displayed with “THE-AQUA” displayed below or above “843-2782” on the display 112. The “T” is shown in a blinking format 712 in
When one of the physical keys is actuated or selected 610, and the physical key is associated with a character, the character selected is entered in the information entry field and displayed 612, for example, in the format of information previously entered in the information entry field, which may be referred to as a normal, standard, or default format. When one of the physical keys is actuated or selected 612, and the physical key is associated with a function, the function is performed, such as described above.
A plurality of characters associated with a physical key are shown displayed in
Multiple characters associated with a physical key are shown displayed in
A plurality of characters associated with a physical key are shown highlighted in
A user may hover over or touch several different physical keys before selecting or actuating one. Alternatively, a touchscreen, trackpad, optical joystick, or other device may be utilized to select or enter a character. For example, the previewed character may selected when a touch is detected in an area associated with the displayed character, e.g., when a user directly touches the touch-sensitive display at or near the area where the desired character is displayed. A preview of the number and the convenience characters associated with the number is provided as long as a touch is detected meeting the threshold. When the touch does not meet the threshold, the preview is discontinued. A physical key may optionally be selected or actuated without a preview being displayed, such as when a longer time threshold is utilized.
Optionally, a text indicator, such as a cursor, may be displayed to assist with text editing, such as inserting or deleting characters. The text indicator may be displayed, for example, when a double or triple tap is detected on a single key, when simultaneous touches or touches that overlap in time are detected on two different physical keys, by menu selection, and so forth. Such taps may be detected, for example, by touch-sensitive elements 406 on the physical keys 400. The text indicator may be moved through the displayed characters in the information entry field based on relative movement of detected touches on the plurality of physical keys 400. For example, the text indicator may be moved upward by touching the “6” and “3” keys in order. The text indicator may be moved downward by touching the “1” and “4” keys in order. The text indicator may be moved to the left by touching the “6” and “5” keys in order. The text indicator may be moved to the right by touching the “1” and “2” keys in order. Any physical keys may be touched in sequence to provide the desired movement of the text indicator. In this way, the plurality of keys 400 acts as a unified touch-sensitive device, such as a trackpad, optical joystick, or touch-sensitive display.
Optionally, tactile feedback may be provided in conjunction with the preview of the information. For example, a low-amplitude vibration or buzz may be provided at the beginning of a preview or for the duration of the preview. Such tactile feedback may be provided, for example, by one or more piezoelectric devices or a vibrator motor.
Circles are shown representing locations 308, 706 of touches for the simplicity of the drawing, although the detected touch may be resolved into a single point, multiple points, or an area of contact other than a circle.
Characters associated with physical keys are previewed in an information entry field prior to selection or entry. A user may hover over or touch several different physical keys before selecting or actuating one, thereby reducing input errors. Convenience characters are displayed with numbers to facilitate easier entry of phone numbers that include letters or characters. By previewing multiple characters associated with a physical prior to entering the characters, a user may be able to learn which physical keys are associated with which characters. By utilizing two different thresholds, a touch that meets a first threshold facilitates previewing one or more characters, and a touch that meets a second threshold facilitates entering one of the one or more characters. Different types of thresholds may be utilized for the two different thresholds. Physical keys may be integrated into an electronic device or may be part of a keyboard or keypad accessory.
A method and apparatus include detecting a first touch meeting a first threshold, which first touch is detected on a first physical key and displaying, without entering, at least a first character associated with the first physical key in an information entry field on an electronic device in response to the detecting. An electronic device comprises a display, a plurality of physical keys, and a processor operably coupled to the display and the plurality of keys and configured to detect a first touch meeting a first threshold, which first touch is detected on a first physical key of the plurality of physical keys and display and not enter at least a first character associated with the first physical key on the display in an information entry field in response to the detecting.
The present disclosure may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the disclosure is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. All changes that come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/US11/42304 | 6/29/2011 | WO | 00 | 2/6/2013 |
