US 6,636,203 B1 · Keyboard equivalent pad overlay encasement for a handheld electronic device

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention relate to methods of enabling a portable electronic device with a transparent, flexible, removable, pushbutton overlay that lays over at least a portion of the graphic touch-screen display on the portable electronic device. The pushbuttons in the overlay are designed to transmit finger pressure to the pressure-sensitive touch-screen display and also to provide a natural feeling tactile feedback to the user. At the same time, being transparent, the overlay allows the user to view the contents of the Graphical User Interface that are presented directly beneath the buttons and allow the user to respond to those contents. The buttons are, in some embodiments, enabled as magnifying lenses in order to better present the GUI contents.

Claims21

Dependent claims

A portable electronic device, comprising:

an electronic circuit;
a housing enclosing said electronic circuit;
a touch-screen display, coupled to said electronic circuit and for displaying on-screen selections;
and,
a flexible membrane deployable for overlaying at least a portion of said on-screen selections of said touch-screen display, wherein said flexible membrane is operable to transfer pressure to said touch-screen display and wherein said flexible membrane is enabled to magnify information presented in said touch-screen display.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Keyboard equivalent pad overlay encasement for a handheld electronic device

Life of this patent

Keyboard equivalent pad overlay encasement for a handheld electronic device

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims21