Reconfigurable user interface systems
AssigneeNCR Corporation
InventorWilliam Douglas Poynter
Life of this patent
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Abstract
User interface systems comprising a touch screen actuator and a tactile key, in which the tactile key is placed adjacent to the touch screen actuator so that manipulation of the tactile key can be detected by the touch screen actuator. Tactile key modules that can be so placed adjacent to a touch screen actuator, and methods of producing such user interface systems, as well as, repositioning such tactile key modules, are also described.
Claims15
A user interface system for inputting information, comprising:
- a touch screen;
- a tactile key mechanism placed adjacent to a first touch screen actuator within said touch screen, the key mechanism including a housing and a key moveable relative to the housing having a tactile surface, the key mechanism including components responding to a keypress of the key by acting on the first touch screen actuator so as to cause detection of a touch by the first touch screen actuator, the key mechanism further including components responding to a keypress of the key resulting in detection of a touch by the first touch screen actuator so as to produce a tactile feedback to a user indicating that the keypress has been sufficient to produce a successful detection of a touch by the first touch screen actuator;
- and
- a choice-driven interface application program controlling displays on the touch screen of a specific sequence of overlays based on choices entered by an operator.
A method of utilizing a user interface system for inputting information comprising a touch screen and a tactile key mechanism including a key having a tactile surface within a tactile key housing, comprising the steps of:
- placing said tactile key housing adjacent to a first touch screen actuator within said touch screen, such that a keypress of the key results in movement of the key relative to the tactile key housing and a response by components of the key mechanism detected as a touch by the first touch screen actuator, a keypress of the key sufficient to result in detection of a touch by the touch screen actuator further resulting in a tactile feedback by the key mechanism indicating that the keypress has been sufficient to produce successful detection of a touch by the first touch screen actuator;
- and
- controlling the touch screen utilizing a choice-driven interface application program to display a specific sequence of overlays based on choices entered by an operator.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.