Active edge user interface
AssigneeNortel Networks Limited
InventorsMichel A. Brisebois, Laura Mahan, Marilyn French-St. George, Frederic F. Trasmundi, Jobe L. W. Roberts
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An active edge user interface includes dynamically configurable flexible touch areas positioned near the perimeter of a display to support interactive communication between a user and a user environment for flexible active touch areas surrounding a display. The interface allows for multiple levels of sensitivity, texture, key travel, and varying widths of active touch areas based on the user environment.
Claims21
A user interface, comprising:
- a display;
- an input device located adjacent an edge of the display, and operatively connected to the display to respond to a physical contact having a plurality of electrical contacts positioned to electrically couple in response to the physical contact, wherein each electrical contact includes a first set of mating contacts positioned a first distance from one another and a second set of mating electrical contacts positioned a second distance from one another;
- and
- a processor for executing user interface software configured to implement a function in response to the physical contact on the input device.
A method for implementing a user interface, comprising the steps of:
- highlighting an image on a display in response to a first contact applied with a first pressure at a location on an input device adjacent an edge of the display;
- and
- implementing a function associated with the image when a second contact is applied with a second pressure at the location, wherein the second pressure is different from the first pressure.
A user interface, comprising:
- a display;
- an input device comprising a flexible strip having a plurality of touch areas each associated with contacts and extending along at least one edge of the display, the input device being operatively connected to the display to respond to a physical contact on the touch areas;
- and
- a processor for executing a user interface software configured to implement a function in response to the physical contact on the input device, wherein the contacts comprise first and second mating contacts and the function comprises a first function and a second function, the contacts being responsive to a physical contact with a first pressure to close the first mating contacts and cause implementation of the first function and the contacts being responsive to physical contact with a second pressure to close the second mating contacts and cause implementation of the second function.
A user interface, comprising:
- a display;
- an input device comprising a flexible strip having a plurality of touch areas each associated with contacts and extending along at least one edge of the display, the input device being operatively connected to the display to respond to a physical contact on the touch areas;
- and
- a processor for executing a user interface software configured to implement a function in response to the physical contact on the input device, wherein the contacts comprise first and second mating contacts and the function comprises a select function and a second function, a selected contact being responsive to a physical contact with a first pressure to close the first mating contacts and cause implementation of the select function, and the selected contact and immediately adjacent contacts then being responsive to a physical contact with a second pressure to close the second mating contacts and cause implementation of the second function.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.