Patent Application
20140062895
Touchscreen devices employ many different technologies to detect input. Common types of touchscreens include resistive touchscreens, surface acoustic wave (SAW) touchscreens, capacitive touchscreens, infrared touchscreens, etc.
Touchscreen devices are typically controlled through user input in the form of touching a desired place or icon on the screen. In addition to touching the screen, many touchscreen devices can be controlled by sliding one or more fingers across the screen. Touchscreen devices can also receive input commands based on predefined gestures.
In addition to receiving input through single data points, many touchscreen devices are able to interpret and process distinct simultaneous inputs through touch input from more than one finger. These devices (multi-touch devices) enable a greater number of predefined gestures. For example, a common multi-touch gesture is the “pinch-to-zoom” gesture. The “pinch-to-zoom” gesture allows a user to enlarge the image displayed on the touchscreen by placing two fingers on the multi-touch touchscreen and then sliding the two fingers apart while remaining in contact with the touchscreen. Another multi-touch feature requires a user to make and maintain contact with the touchscreen with three fingers. Doing so with an iPhone honk. in “accessibility mode” may allow the user to pan an enlarged image.
Although multi-touch devices allow for a greater number of predefined gestures, it can often be difficult or cumbersome to execute gestures requiring the user to make and maintain contact with the touchscreen with more than one finger. Specifically, gestures requiring more than one finger on a small touchscreen can be especially difficult for those with limited dexterity. Furthermore, placing several fingers on the screen and maintaining contact with the display may obstruct the view of the touchscreen making use difficult, affecting the use of the product for those without limited dexterity, etc.
Some embodiments of the inventive subject matter include a method for using a multi-touch device to enter multi-touch user input on a multi-touch display device. The method can include initiating a multi-touch mode for a computing device including a multi-touch display. The method can also include touching the multi-touch display with a multi-touch device, wherein the multi-touch device includes a sleeve configured to hold the multi-touch device to a finger, and a plurality of nubs connected to the sleeve and protruding radially outward from the sleeve, wherein the plurality of nubs make contact with multi-touch device. The method can also include moving the multi-touch device across the multi-touch touchscreen to provide user input.
The present embodiments may be better understood, and numerous objects, features, and advantages made apparent to those skilled in the art, by referencing the accompanying drawings.
a depicts a perspective view of one embodiment of the inventive subject matter wherein the device comprises a sleeve and a plurality of nubs affixed to the sleeve oriented to the anterior surface of the user's hand.
b depicts a perspective view of one embodiment of the inventive subject matter showing the sleeve and the nubs.
a depicts a perspective view of one embodiment of the inventive subject matter wherein the device utilizes three nubs,
b depicts a perspective view of one embodiment of the inventive subject matter wherein the device utilizes four nubs.
c depicts one embodiment of the inventive subject matter wherein the device utilizes five nubs.
Some embodiments of the invention allow a user to make and maintain multiple contact points with a touchscreen using only one linger. In one embodiment, the present invention comprises a sleeve with a plurality of nubs attached to the sleeve. This embodiment may allow the user to utilize pre-defined gestures with one finger as opposed to multiple fingers. Using one finger enables the user to see more of the touchscreen. Additionally, some embodiments of the invention may improve gaming, or other activities requiring rapid successive input from the user by allowing a greater number of available gestures without adding additional hotkeys.
The description that follows includes exemplary models that embody techniques of the present inventive subject matter. However, it is understood that the described embodiments may be practiced without these specific details. For instance, although examples refer to the device comprising a sleeve which fits over the user's finger, other embodiments of the inventive subject might include a ring-shaped apparatus to which the nubs are connected. In other instances, well-known adhesive materials and shapes have not been shown in detail in order not to obfuscate the description.
a depicts a perspective view of one embodiment of the inventive subject matter wherein the fingertip multi-touch input device comprises a sleeve 404 and a plurality of nubs 402 affixed to the sleeve 404 oriented to the anterior surface of the user's hand. In some embodiments, the shape of the nubs 402 can be conical, cylindrical (e.g., with rounded or square edges, etc.), spherical, or any other suitable shape to achieve a single contact point for each nub 402 with the touchscreen, additionally, in some embodiments, the nubs 402 may be constructed from a material which does not scratch the touchscreen. In other embodiments, the nubs 402 may be coated with a material that will not scratch the touchscreen.
b depicts a perspective view of one embodiment of the fingertip multi-touch device showing the sleeve 404 and the nubs 402. The view of the inventive subject matter in
a depicts a perspective view of one embodiment of the inventive subject matter wherein the device utilizes three nubs 504 affixed to the sleeve 502. It is unnecessary that the nubs 504 be oriented in the same plane relative to one another. In some embodiments, the nubs 504 may be oriented in distinct planes, allowing the user to alter the number of nubs 504 making contact with the touchscreen at any one time by pivoting the finger about any axis. Additionally, groupings of nubs 504 could be oriented in the same plane, while other groupings of nubs 504 could be oriented in a distinct common plane. For example, in one embodiment, a multi-touch device could have five nubs 504, three of which are oriented in a plane on the right side of the multi-touch device and two of which are oriented on the left side of the multi-touch device. This configuration may allow a user to select between a five-finger simultaneous touch event, a three-finger simultaneous touch event, and a two-finger simultaneous multi-touch event. In the (previous example, a user may simulate a five-finger simultaneous touch event by contacting the screen with the multi-touch device where the multi-touch device is oriented in a plane similar to that of the touchscreen, allowing five nubs 504 to contact the touchscreen. A user may simulate a three-finger simultaneous touch event by rotating the multi-touch device clockwise from the user's perspective, allowing only three nubs 504 to contact the touchscreen. Similarly, a user may simulate a two-finger simultaneous touch event by rotating the multi-touch device counter-clockwise from the user's perspective, allowing only two nubs 504 to contact the screen.
b depicts a perspective view of one embodiment of the inventive subject matter wherein the device utilizes four nubs 508 affixed to the sleeve 506.
c depicts one embodiment of the inventive subject matter wherein the device utilizes five nubs 512 affixed to the sleeve 510.
At block 704, the computing device detects multi-touch input resulting from the fingertip multi-touch device contacting the touchscreen. The flow continues at block 706.
At block 706 the fingertip multi-touch device moves across the computing device's touchscreen. As the fingertip multi-touch device moves across the touchscreen, the fingertip multi-touch device's nubs maintain a plurality of contact points with the touchscreen. The computing device can interpret the movement as multi-touch input. From block 706, the flow ends.
Plural instances may be provided for components, operations or structures described herein as a single instance. Finally, boundaries between various components, operations and data stores are somewhat arbitrary, and particular operations are illustrated. in the context of specific illustrative configurations. Other allocations of functionality are envisioned and may fall within the scope of the inventive subject matter. in general, structures and functionality presented as separate components in the exemplary configurations may be implemented as a combined structure or component. Similarly, structures and functionality presented as a single component may be implemented as separate components. These and other variations, modifications, additions, and improvements may fall within the scope of the inventive subject matter.
