US 7,191,401 B2 · Pushbutton user interface with functionality preview

Abstract

A pushbutton user interface enables a user to preview the effect of activating a pushbutton of the interface before the pushbutton is activated. The pushbutton user interface can be implemented so that an input (preview input) to the pushbutton that does not produce an activation of the pushbutton is sensed and, in response to the sensed input, a preview is displayed that indicates the effect of activating the pushbutton. The preview input can be sensed using, for example, a force-sensitive resistor, potentiometer or strain gauge. The preview display can include, for example, a visual display, an audio display, a haptic display, or a combination of two or three such displays. The pushbutton user interface can be implemented so that the preview input and an activation input (i.e., an input that produces an activation of the pushbutton) are sensed as a result of an input to the pushbutton along the same axis or along different (e.g., orthogonal) axes.

Claims25

Dependent claims

A method of displaying a preview, comprising:

sensing that a physical input mechanism has been engaged to a degree that does not produce an activation of the physical input mechanism;
and
displaying a preview comprising at least a portion of content data that would be provided as output if the physical input mechanism were activated, wherein the content of the preview varies in accordance with the degree to which the physical input mechanism has been engaged.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application

11/248,631Filed 11 Oct 2005 · continuation

Priority

20 Dec 1999

Published

US 2006/0031765 A19 Feb 2006

Granted

13 Mar 2007

Term ends

Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification11 codes

G06F 3/016
Input arrangements or combined input and output arrangements for interaction between user and computer: input arrangements with force or tactile…
G06F 3/0202
Input arrangements using manually operated switches, e.g. using keyboards or dials: constructional details or processes of manufacture of the…
G06F 3/038
Pointing devices displaced or positioned by the user , e.g. mice, trackballs, pens or joysticks; Accessories therefor: control and interface…
G06F 3/0489
Using specific features provided by the input device, e.g. functions controlled by the rotation of a mouse with dual sensing arrangements, or of…:…

Family

Application60/172,980Us provisional application · filed 20 Dec 1999

Application09/740,587Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 18 Dec 2000

Application09/918,789Parent of this continuation · filed 27 Jul 2001

US 2006/0031765 A1Pre-grant publication · published 9 Feb 2006

US 6,976,215 B1Parent of this continuation

Application09/918,789Parent of this continuation-in-part

US 7,191,401 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.

Pushbutton user interface with functionality preview

Life of this patent

Pushbutton user interface with functionality preview

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims25