Abstract: A method for controlling a control region on a display screen of a computerized system is presented. The method includes obtaining data from a touchpad. The data is associated with a position of a portion of the hand of a user when the user operates the touchpad. The method includes transmitting the data from the touchpad to the computerized device and analyzing the data in accordance with a model of a human hand. In certain embodiments, the method includes identifying different sets of virtual keys to be associated with the different fingers of the user's hand and generating a control region comprising the sets of virtual keys. In some embodiments, the method may include displaying the control region in a position on the display screen in accordance with a position of one or more fingers of the user's hand on the touchpad.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a detachable touchpad for a handheld computerized device. This detachable touchpad is configured to reversibly attach to the back of a handheld computerized device that lacks a rear mounted touchpad, and with appropriate software, allow the user to at least in part control the handheld computerized device from behind the device. In some embodiments, the detachable touchpad may further separate into a left and right hand section when detached from the computerized device, and may alternatively or additionally also have an optional second touchpad that is normally hidden from the user when the touchpad is attached to the computerized device, but which is exposed when the touchpad is removed from the computerized device. The detachable touchpad may be also equipped with various optional haptic transducers, motion sensors, and other types of sensors.

Abstract: A method for controlling a control region on a display screen of a computerized system is presented. The method includes obtaining data from a touchpad. The data is associated with a position of a portion of the hand of a user when the user operates the touchpad. The method includes transmitting the data from the touchpad to the computerized device and analyzing the data in accordance with a model of a human hand. In certain embodiments, the method includes detecting an interaction of at least the portion of the hand of the user on the first touchpad with at least one object displayed on the display screen causing at least one property of the object to be controlled in accordance with the interaction of the portion of the hand of the user on the first touchpad.

Abstract: A method for controlling an input from a user to a computerized system including a touchpad is presented. The method includes obtaining data from the touchpad. The data is associated with the location and force of a finger and/or a hand of the user upon the touchpad and not associated with an image of the finger from an image sensor, when the user operates the computerized system using the touchpad. The method further includes communicating the data from the touchpad to the computerized system and analyzing the data in accordance with a model of a human hand. The method further includes determining, using the model, that at least one finger of the user is touching a first control region of the touchpad using a first force.

Abstract: An improved software magnifier for computerized devices equipped with touch sensitive display screens and touchpads located in locations separate from said touch sensitive display screens. In one embodiment, touch information from the touchpad is used to select an area of the screen to magnify, and both images and touch sensitive control areas from this area of the screen, which might normally be located too close together for easy selection, are also magnified. The user can then use the touch sensitive display screen to more conveniently select between these close together control areas by instead interacting with the magnified version of these control areas as shown in the magnified region of the screen.

Abstract: System and method for controlling interactive objects on a display screen of a computerized system. First data associated with a position of the user's hand on the touchpad is transmitted to the computerized system, and a control point on a portion of this screen is generated in accordance with this first data. Second data associated with a plurality of contact points of the hand of the user on the touchpad is also obtained. This second data is analyzed in accordance with a model of a human hand, thus determining an angular position of the user's hand. The angular position of the user's hand is associated with this control point on the screen. The combination of this angular position and the control point can be used to in conjunction with various other software techniques to control various interactive objects on the screen.

Abstract: A method for controlling an input from a user to a computerized system including a touchpad is presented. The method includes obtaining data from the touchpad. The data is associated with the location and movement of fingers and/or a hand of the user and not associated with an image of a first finger from an image sensor. The method further includes communicating the data from the touchpad to the computerized system and analyzing the data in accordance with a model of a human hand. The method further includes predicting the location of the first finger in accordance with the analyzed data and the location of at least a second finger and/or the hand. The second finger and/or the hand is touching the touchpad. The method further includes determining, using the model, that the first finger is positioned above but not touching a control region of the touchpad.

Abstract: A method for controlling an input from a user to a computerized system including a touchpad is presented. The method includes obtaining data from the touchpad. The data is associated with the location and movement of a finger and/or a hand of the user and not associated with an image of the finger from an image sensor, when the user operates the computerized system using the touchpad. The method further includes communicating the data from the touchpad to the computerized system and analyzing the data in accordance with a model of a human hand. The method further includes determining, using the model, that at least one finger of the user is positioned above but not touching a first control region of the touchpad.

Abstract: Software implemented user interface oriented for one-hand operation of small handheld computerized devices, such as smartphones, which in addition to a front touchscreen additionally have been augmented with rear mounted touchpads. With one hand operation, the user typically holds their thumb in front of the device, and holds their other various fingers in back of the device. The disclosed user interface can be viewed a semi-persistent button group, typically invoked by either simultaneous front and back touches or double taps. The semi-persistent button group can contain multiple virtual touch sensitive buttons, and can be maneuvered to be within easy reach of the user's thumb so that various buttons can then be easily thumb activated.

Abstract: Methods of processing touchpad data are disclosed. The touchpad data indicates one or more areas of the touch pad contacted by a user, and indicates print information indicating a pattern of epidermal ridges of the user in the contacted areas. The methods may also include analyzing the touchpad data in accordance with a model of a human hand. The methods may also include associating the content areas with particular anatomical portions, such as fingers, where the associating is based at least in part on the model, the contact areas, and the print information. The methods may also include modifying one or more parameters of the model based on the print information. The methods may also include obtaining print information from contact areas selected based on features associated with the contact areas.

Abstract: A method includes obtaining data from a touchpad, the data being associated with the location and movement of a user's finger and/or hand and not associated with an image of the user's finger from an image sensor, when the user operates the computerized system using the touchpad. The method further includes communicating the data from the touchpad to the computerized device, the touchpad being located in a location that is different from the location of the display screen. The method further includes analyzing the data in accordance with a model of a human hand, and assigning the data to at least one of a multitude of fingers of the model, computing a graphical representation of at least one finger of the user in accordance with the model, and displaying the graphical representation on the display screen.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a handheld computerized device with a bit mapped display screen on the front panel, and a touchpad installed in an alternative location. More particularly, the invention relates to a method and graphical user interface that can, for example, enable the user to see the user's finger position and motion from behind the device superimposed upon a virtual keyboard layout on the front panel. This can allow the user to use a touchpad keypad on the back of the device to input keystrokes and mouse actions, and these will be reflected on the display screen on the front of the handheld computerized device as “virtual fingers” or equivalent. The system operates by inputting touchpad data into a software biomechanical and anatomical model of the human hand, optionally supplemented by video or image information to refine this model.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a detachable touchpad for a handheld computerized device. This detachable touchpad is configured to reversibly attach to the back of a handheld computerized device that lacks a rear mounted touchpad, and with appropriate software, allow the user to at least in part control the handheld computerized device from behind the device.

Abstract: Methods of processing touchpad data are disclosed. The touchpad data indicates one or more areas of the touch pad contacted by a user, and indicates print information indicating a pattern of epidermal ridges of the user in the contacted areas. The methods may also include analyzing the touchpad data in accordance with a model of a human hand. The methods may also include associating the content areas with particular anatomical portions, such as fingers, where the associating is based at least in part on the model, the contact areas, and the print information. The methods may also include modifying one or more parameters of the model based on the print information. The methods may also include obtaining print information from contact areas selected based on features associated with the contact areas.

Abstract: Methods of processing touchpad data are disclosed. The systems include a touchpad, a processor, and a memory. The method includes obtaining touchpad data from the touchpad, where the touchpad data indicates a first area of the touch pad contacted by a heel of a hand. The methods also include communicating the touchpad data from the touchpad to the processor, and, with the processor, calculating an orientation of the hand. The methods further include storing the orientation of the hand in the memory.

Abstract: An electronic device includes a housing, a touchpad at a first surface of the housing, and at least one first electrode adapted to transmit a first signal to a first hand of a user when the user holds the housing with the first hand. The electronic device further includes a circuit adapted to detect the first signal when the touchpad receives a first input from the first hand. The first signal is coupled from the first electrode to the touchpad via the first hand.

Abstract: A method for controlling a control region on a display screen of a computerized system is presented. The method includes obtaining data from a touchpad. The data is associated with a position of a portion of the hand of a user when the user operates the touchpad. The method includes transmitting the data from the touchpad to the computerized device and analyzing the data in accordance with a model of a human hand. In certain embodiments, the method includes identifying different sets of virtual keys to be associated with the different fingers of the user's hand and generating a control region comprising the sets of virtual keys. In some embodiments, the method may include displaying the control region in a position on the display screen in accordance with a position of one or more fingers of the user's hand on the touchpad.

Abstract: A method for controlling a control region on a display screen of a computerized system is presented. The method includes obtaining data from a touchpad. The data is associated with a position of a portion of the hand of a user when the user operates the touchpad. The method includes transmitting the data from the touchpad to the computerized device and analyzing the data in accordance with a model of a human hand. In certain embodiments, the method includes detecting an interaction of at least the portion of the hand of the user on the first touchpad with at least one object displayed on the display screen causing at least one property of the object to be controlled in accordance with the interaction of the portion of the hand of the user on the first touchpad.

Abstract: A method for controlling a virtual keyboard on a display screen of a computerized system includes obtaining data from a touchpad. The data is associated with the location and movement of a finger and/or hand of a user when the user operates the computerized system using the touchpad. The method includes communicating the data from the touchpad to the computerized device, the touchpad being located in a location that is different from the location of the display screen. The method further includes analyzing the data in accordance with a model of a human hand, and assigning the data to at least one of a plurality of fingers of the model. The method also includes generating a virtual keyboard on the display screen and repositioning the virtual keyboard according to either a verbal command from the user or a user input from the touchpad.

Abstract: A method includes obtaining data from a touchpad, the data being associated with the location and movement of a user's finger and/or hand and not associated with an image of the user's finger from an image sensor, when the user operates the computerized system using the touchpad. The method further includes communicating the data from the touchpad to the computerized device, the touchpad being located in a location that is different from the location of the display screen. The method further includes analyzing the data in accordance with a model of a human hand, and assigning the data to at least one of a multitude of fingers of the model, computing a graphical representation of at least one finger of the user in accordance with the model, and displaying the graphical representation on the display screen.