User control of electronic devices
AssigneeElliptic Laboratories AS
InventorsTobias Dahl, Elad Shabtai
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Abstract
An electronic device (2; 26) comprises a first input means adapted to detect that a first digit of a user's hand (6; 28) is in contact with the device and a second input means adapted to detect movement of a second digit 30 of the user's hand which is not in contact with the device. The device is configured to respond to detection of the movement by the second input means while the contact is detected by the first input means or within a predetermined mined time thereafter.
Claims46
An electronic device comprising:
- a first input means adapted to detect that a first digit of a user's hand is in contact with the device;
- and a second input means adapted to detect movement of a second digit of the user's hand which is not in contact with the device, wherein the device is configured to respond to detection of said movement by said second input means while said contact is detected by said first input means or within a predetermined time thereafter.
A device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the detections by the first and second input means are simultaneous.
A device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the first input means comprises a physical or virtual button which detects pressure or touch from a user's finger in a single place.
A device as claimed in any preceding claim configured to respond differently to a given movement of the second digit depending on the nature of the contact by the first digit.
A device as claimed in any preceding claim arranged to detect motion of the second digit comprising a rotary motion of the second digit around the first digit.
A device as claimed in any preceding claim arranged to detect a movement of the second digit in the direction towards or away from the first digit.
A device as claimed in any preceding claim comprising a touch-pad or touch-screen which is able to detect the location of a user's touch, wherein the second input means is configured to detect movement of the second digit within a region of based on said location.
An electronic device comprising:
- a first input means adapted to detect that at least part of a user's hand is in contact with the device;
- and a second input means adapted to detect movement of at least part of a user's hand which is not in contact with the device, wherein the device is configured to respond to detection of said movement by said second input means differently depending on whether said contact with the device is detected by said first input means before said movement is detected.
A method of operating an electronic device comprising detecting that a first digit of a user's hand is in contact with the device using a first input means;
- detecting movement of a second digit of the user's hand which is not in contact with the device using a second input means, and responding to detection of said movement by said second input means while said contact is detected by said first input means or within a predetermined time thereafter.
Computer software, preferably on a carrier or other computer readable medium, which is adapted, when run on suitable data processing means, to:
- receive a first signal from a first input means of an electronic device indicating a detection that a first digit of a user's hand is in contact with the device;
- receive a first signal from a second input means of the electronic device indicating a detection of a movement of a second digit of a user's hand which is not in contact with the device;
- and
- provide a response in the event that said movement of the user's second digit is detected while said contact by the first digit is detected or within a predetermined time thereafter.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.