Abstract: A system is provided comprising a switching device and a response module. The switching device has a critical switch and a plurality of non-critical switches. The switching device generates an analog output voltage based on a switching state of the critical switch and each of the non-critical switches. The response module monitors the analog output voltage. The response module detects when the critical switch is closed, regardless of whether any non-critical switch is closed or any non-critical switch is open.

Abstract: Architecture for a keyboard that supports the n-key rollover feature, while being compatible with well established, high volume, inexpensive manufacturing techniques. The design is a matrix design that uses resistors at each key rather than diodes, and employs novel circuits which allow any combination of simultaneous key presses to be detected using this resistive matrix. The resistors can be screen printed on the flexible sheets in a manner similar to the conductors. A resistive keyboard matrix employs circuit techniques that eliminate phantom key presses. The resistors can be created by screen-printing carbon ink. Additionally, various implementations of the decoder circuits can be employed to provide the n-key rollover feature on flexible sheets for inexpensive production.

Abstract: A data entry device includes a pair of key pods adapted for use with left and right hands of a user. Each key pod includes a base housing, a carrier housing mounted on and rotate about the longitudinal pivot of the base housing. The carrier housing has at least a center position, a first rotational position in the clockwise direction, and a second rotational position in the counter-clockwise direction. Each key pod further includes a set of data input keys correspond to the fingers of the user's hand and a thumb key. The set of data input keys provides first, second and third sets of input signals corresponding to the carrier housing being in the center position, the first and the second rotational positions, respectively. The carrier housing may further include overtravel rotational positions in the clockwise and counter-clockwise direction to implement further control or keyboard functions.

Abstract: Disclosed is a “keyboard overlay” that sits on top of a touch-sensitive display screen of a computing device. After aligning the overlay on the display screen, the user types on the overlay. When the user presses a key on the overlay, the pressure is transmitted to the display screen below. That pressure is registered by the display screen as a touch. The keyboard overlay is formed to provide tactile finger-position feedback so that a user can keep his fingers oriented properly over the keyboard. The overlay may be opaque with keycap information displayed in the key areas. The overlay may be transparent, allowing a user to see a virtual keyboard painted on the display screen below. The computing device can detect the presence and type of an overlay. Applications may respond differently to different types of overlays. Different applications may be invoked depending upon the type of overlay detected.

Abstract: A control mechanism for an electrical appliance comprises a deformable or elastic control panel, for example, embodied as a frame of an electric cooking hob. Several piezo sensor elements are arranged under the control panel. The piezo sensor elements are arranged on the rear side of a printed circuit board, the opposite front side of said printed circuit board being arranged or fastened to the underside of the control panel in a planar manner. By determining the difference of the signals of the sensor elements arranged next to each other, it is possible to accomplish an extremely good and safe evaluation of a location where a finger is placed with light pressure on the control panel.

Abstract: A keypad module (114) including at least one key (20) is described. The key includes a keycap (24), a rocker (28) and a plurality of domes (32). The rocker includes a central shaft (281 ) and extending portions (282) extending from the central shaft. A top (2811a) of the central shaft joins with the keycap. The domes are located on a circuit board (50) corresponding to the central shaft and the extending portions. The corresponding dome is activated when the central shaft or the extending portions receive an external force.

Abstract: A character entry method and apparatus in a terminal in which characters are grouped into a plurality of character sets and a representative character of each of the character sets is imprinted on a respective key are provided. In the character entry method, when a key imprinted with a representative character is pressed, characters belonging to a character set represented by the representative character are displayed. When a directional key is pressed, the number or duration of key presses of the directional key is counted or measured. A character corresponding to the number or duration of key presses is selected among the displayed characters and entered.

Abstract: The aim of the invention is to provide a device for inputting text by a single actuation of a key on a numerical keypad and a method for processing input impulses for portable electronic devices comprising a display. To achieve this, sensors that measure the finger position of the operator on the key are located under each key and control electronics, which evaluate said position and assign the latter to one of the possible input options, are provided. During the actuation of a key on the keypad, a list containing the possible input options appears on the display and a single input option that corresponds with each respective actuation position is highlighted by a block. The actuation position can be modified during actuation, thus displacing the highlighting at will onto the displayed input options. When the respective key is released, the input option that was last highlighted is registered as the keyed input.

Abstract: A keypad assembly for a wireless device is provided. The keypad assembly comprises a circuit board, a keypad portion, a light guide, and at least one friction device. The keypad portion has a number of keys for physical actuation, each of the keys having an actuator post attached to a back side of the key. The circuit board has one or more electrical switches, the electrical switches corresponding to keys of the keypad. The light guide is located between the keypad portion and the circuit board. The light guide has a number of holes formed therein. The holes provide paths for respective actuator posts of the keys to travel through to contact the respective electrical switches on the circuit board. The at least one friction device is located in at least one of the holes of the light guide.

Abstract: A computer receives data from a keyboard having one or more keys which cause generation of keyboard data that quantitatively describe the relative force applied to those keys. The keyboard data are transmitted in an HID report containing identifiers for one or more keys that have been pressed and force data for each key. The force data may be a multi-bit value quantifying the key force, or a null indicator signaling that the key is not force-sensing. Keyboard data messages are then prepared which identify keys pressed, contain force data, and may indicate whether the force data updates previous force data. Force updates are only provided to application programs registering for key force data. In other aspects of the invention, key repeat messages are automatically generated for a key held pressed by a user. The key repeat messages are generated at a rate controlled by the amount of force applied to the key.

Abstract: A switching element for polymer electronic devices is constructed from organic materials.

Abstract: A data input device is disclosed. In one embodiment, the data input device includes a plurality of input keys in which a one-stage input for inputting a first character and a two-stage input for inputting a second character are independently performed, a sensor for sensing the one-stage input and the two-stage input to the input keys, and a controller for extracting the first character or the second character redundantly assigned to the corresponding input key based on the sense result of the sensor from a memory to input the first character or the second character.

Abstract: A first separate area insulated from a top conductive layer and extending in a direction perpendicular to an extending direction of top electrodes is provided near an inner periphery of a spacer on a surface of the top substrate where the top conductive layer is provided. And/or a second separate area insulated from a bottom conductive layer and extending in a direction perpendicular to an extending direction of bottom electrodes is provided near an inner periphery of the spacer on a surface of the bottom substrate where the bottom conductive layer is provided.

Abstract: A device (2600) includes a controllable skin texture (2606) defining a keypad (2610), a sensor (2602), and control logic (200). The sensor senses a proximity of a pointing element (2900) to a particular key (2800, 2808, 2902, 2908) of the keypad based on a user input. The control logic adjusts a height of the particular key with respect to another key of the keypad in response to the sensor sensing the proximity of the pointing element to the particular key. In one example, the device includes a display (2700) for displaying a plurality of keys (2612). The control logic adjusts visual characteristics of the particular key (2800, 2808, 2902, 2908) and an adjacent key (2802, 2810, 2904, 2910) with respect to each other and with respect to other keys of the plurality of keys in response to the sensor sensing the proximity of the pointing element to the particular key.

Abstract: A control apparatus having at least one pushbutton switch can be used, for example, in a control panel of an electronic domestic appliance. The control apparatus includes a mount element, a piezo-film having at least one sensor field corresponding to the at least one pushbutton switch, a first adhesive layer connecting the piezo-film to the mount element, a cover layer facing a user side, a second adhesive layer connecting the cover layer to the piezo-film, and at least one attachment element for attachment of the control apparatus to the control panel. An electronic domestic appliance having a control apparatus is also provided.

Abstract: A wearable communication device includes a bone conduction actuator which is applicable for being in contact with a user's wrist, hand, back of the hand, finger or nail in order to transmit voice signals. The user inserts the user's finger into the user's ear canal, or touches the user's finger to a part near the user's ear, or puts the user's fingertip or nail on the user's ear canal so as to block the user's ear canal when the user uses the wearable communication device.

Abstract: A touch control input device includes a flexible dielectric touch plate disposed above a dielectric substrate. A conducting unit includes first conductive membrane patterns formed on a top surface of the substrate and spaced apart from each other, and second conductive membrane patterns formed on a bottom surface of the touch plate and corresponding respectively to the first conductive membrane patterns. A spacer is disposed between the substrate and the touch plate for spacing each first conductive membrane pattern apart from the corresponding second conductive membrane pattern. Pressing of the touch plate so that at least one first conductive membrane pattern electrically contacts the corresponding second conductive membrane pattern results in outputting of an input signal by the conducting unit. One of the substrate and the touch plate is formed with a predetermined pattern that is visible from above the touch plate.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an input apparatus, and more particularly, to an information input apparatus and position recognition apparatus using an ultrasonic wave. The information input apparatus includes an input unit for generating an ultrasonic signal and a receiver for receiving the ultrasonic signal generated in the input unit, wherein the input unit includes ultrasonic generator for generating an ultrasonic signal according to a movement of the input unit, and a controller for generating a control signal to enable the ultrasonic generator to generate the ultrasonic waves, the receiver includes an ultrasonic receiver for receiving the ultrasonic signal generated in the ultrasonic generator, and a signal processor for performing a signal processing in a phase sensitive cross-correlation scheme in order to track the position of the input unit using the ultrasonic signal received in the ultrasonic receiver.

Abstract: Interpreting keystrokes from the key pad of a device incorporates both key touch and key stroke into the decision to display a character, advance a cursor or execute a command. The device contains switches capable of determining when a keystroke cycle is completed. The switches may include touch sensitive switches or two position switches. The touch sensitive switches detect when a user breaks touch contact with the switch. The two position switches detect the completion of the keystroke sequence when the switch is pressed into the second position. Several different types of touch sensitive switches can be used including capacitive coupled, light sensing, pressure sensing and heat sensing.

Abstract: A keyboard (32, 1230) for a handheld electronic device (100, 1100, 1200) comprising a row of keys (102) wherein each of said keys (102) represents at least two alphanumeric characters and the characters of each key (102) are positioned relative to the characters on adjacent keys (102) so as to form a QWERTY or DVORAK layout.

Abstract: A keyboard includes a key module comprising at least one key cell with an output end which is selectively connected to a first voltage or a second voltage, a detect circuit electrically connected to the output end of the key cell for generating a control signal whenever the voltage on the output end of the key cell becomes the second voltage or the first voltage, a parallel-to-serial register electrically connected to the output end of the key module, and a processor electrically connected to the parallel-to-serial register and the detect circuit for controlling the parallel-to-serial register according to the control signal.

Abstract: According to an aspect of the invention, an enhanced audible feedback solution has been invented for electronic devices using an input device facilitating navigation though a plurality of available user interface input options and confirmation of a selected input option. The electronic device is arranged to define, as a response to detecting a selection of a character on the basis of a detection of a first input to an input device of the electronic device, an audio segment specific to the character. The electronic device is arranged to output the defined audio segment via the audio output means prior to a confirmation by a second input to the input device, the second input being associated with a function adding the character as part of a character sequence entered by the user.

Abstract: There are provided an input means 2 that allows information to be input as touched by an operator, a vibration application means 3 disposed on a back side of the input means 2, and a control means 5. The input means 2 is a touch panel 6. The vibration application means 3 is shaped like a flexible sheet, and includes a plurality of actuators 17 arranged as vibration sources. Each of the actuators 17 includes a first electrode 13, a second electrode 14, and an insulating layer 15 is provided between the first electrode 13 and the second electrode 14 and containing a ferroelectric layer. The control means 5 drives a preset actuator 17 of the actuators 17 according to input from the control panel 6.

Abstract: The invention is a flexible mat that can be placed on a floor or other large flat surface for the purpose of serving as a fully functional, oversized membrane computer keyboard with enlarged characters and keypad area. Each character depicted on the keyboard indicates a particular letter, numeral, function or symbol for input. Thereby, its user can enter information into a computer or electronic device through the keyboard by using alternative methods of input to traditional finger keystrokes. Rather, the user may utilize feet, knees, hands or other body parts and non-body parts instead of only fingers.

Abstract: A text entry system for an electronic device comprising: an input subsystem receives user input operations, interprets them as letters, characters, symbols, commands or functions, where the said received user operations interpreted as letters are comprising: (1) single letter operations that select any possible letter from the alphabet, (2) letter group operations that select a group of possible letters from the alphabet; and a text prediction subsystem receives a sequence of the said single letter entries and letter group entries, and produces a list of possible words the user intends to enter based on a priori database of words; and a word processing subsystem, receives the said list of possible words, displays them to the user, receives the user selection of the desired word and further processes the text entry as required.

Abstract: A keyboard key has a key portion that forms a cantilevered beam pivotable about an axis. A switch is disposed relative to the cantilevered beam, such that rotation of the cantilever beam about the axis causes depression of the switch. The switch is offset from an applied force-receiving portion of the key portion. A touch sensitive key also includes a touch sensor detecting contact with the key portion of the key. The invention can be extended such that the key portion is formed of transparent or semi-transparent material. The invention can also be extended to include touch sensitive areas on any portion of an upper case of the computer keyboard.

Abstract: An operation input device according to the present invention displays a plurality of keys (7) on a liquid crystal panel (6), and prompts a user to press the keys (7) in the order of numbers assigned to the respective keys (7). On the basis of key pressing periods during which the respective keys (7) are pressed, the characteristics of a key input operation performed by the user (the average and standard deviation of the pressing periods) are detected, and judgment reference values are determined on the basis of the detected characteristics for judgment of the type of the user's key input operation (an ordinary key input operation, a longer pressing key input operation or a double click key input operation). When a key input operation is performed, the type of the key input operation is judged on the basis of the judgment reference values thus determined, and a process according to the judged key input operation type is performed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for inputting a character in a terminal are provided, in which a key input portion has at least one multi-key for use in inputting a plurality of characters, and when an other key is pressed while one of the at least one multi-key is pressed, a controller determines that one of characters following a first character among a plurality of characters mapped to the pressed multi-key has been input according to the distance between the pressed multi-key and the pressed other key.

Abstract: A key activation system for use in an electronic device is provided. The system comprises an activation mechanism associated with a key in the system, a first feedback system and a second feedback system. The activation mechanism is associated with the key activation system and provides a first feedback sense when the activation mechanism has triggered the first activation condition. The second feedback system provides a second feedback sense indicating when the key triggers the second activation condition. In the system, the second feedback system operates independently from the activation mechanism and the first activation condition is triggered before the second activation condition when the activation mechanism is initially engaged. An activation mechanism may be centrally located for a set of keys.

Abstract: An input device for a content providing device and a method of operating the same are provided.

Abstract: A hand-held electronic device has a keyboard with a plurality of keys, each key having a substantially flat contact surface extending to the sides of each key. One of the sides of the key is beveled.

Abstract: This invention discloses a sequential two-key system to input letters of the English alphabet and of many world languages, numbers, punctuation marks, page-control characters, line-control characters, cursor-control characters and many other symbols on keypads with few buttons. Character repeating, shifting and control access are feasible. Brief and easy to understand notations are displayed on the keypads. The system is easy to learn and the keypads may be used on portable devices such as PDA, hand-held computers, hand-held text-messaging devices and telephones.

Abstract: A touch pad (101) includes transducers (201-204) for receiving acoustic signals resulting from touch events, such as the continuous movement of a fingertip across the surface (105) of the touch pad. The acoustic signals are acquired at different transducer locations in the surface. Signals from different transducers are combined, preferably in antiphase, to improve signal characteristics. The transducer signals are supplied to a stereo analogue to digital converter (407). Phase differences (706) are obtained and compared (703) with phase difference profiles (607) of known location, in order to identify the location of the touch event. An index (606) is used to identify candidate locations to reduce the amount of processing. Interpolation (705) is used to locate the touch event between profile locations.

Abstract: A keypad and a keypad assembly are disclosed. The keypad includes a light guide layer, inside which light travels and electronic paper which is illuminated by light irradiated from the light guide layer and expresses at least one symbol by reflection of the light.

Abstract: A portable information handling system, user interface components thereof, and methods of user control interface and assembly are disclosed. In one embodiment a keyboard assembly, including a large plurality of contacts for a keyboard matrix, connects directly to a palmrest assembly. The palmrest assembly includes a keyboard controller, which decodes keystrokes and then passes the decoded keystrokes to, e.g., an I/O controller on the motherboard of the portable information handling system. This results in greatly improved layout and usage of the motherboard routing spaces, improved reliability, and simplified assembly.

Abstract: An input interface for an electronic device, comprises: a first directionally articulatable central element for pressure operation by a user to indicate one of a first plurality of inputs depending on a direction of application of pressure, and a first directionally articulatable surrounding element arranged at least partially concentrically about the first central element for pressure operation by a user to indicate one of a second plurality of inputs depending on a direction of application of pressure. A four button keyboard constructed from such elements provides a compact but full alphanumeric keyboard, and such elements may double as a cursor manipulation tool. A touchscreen version of the interface is also described, and vectors are used in place of tilting.

Abstract: The present invention provides a key input electronic device controlled in operation by a control circuit to which input signals in accordance with input operations are fed, and including a key input unit including an array of a plurality of switches; a key sheet detachably provided over the key input unit; and a sheet identification chip attached to the key sheet. The key sheet has a plurality of press operation portions for pressing and operating the switches, defined by forming on the sheet body a plurality of easily displaceable portions corresponding to the switches. The control circuit changes the image display control based on the sheet identification information recorded on the sheet identification chip.

Abstract: Abstract of the Disclosure A display apparatus having a display layer (2) and a touch-sensitive layer (3) running parallel thereto. An antireflection lattice is provided which is arranged on the touch-sensitive layer (3), the lattice elements being able to move toward one another or having a touch sensitivity which is independent of other lattice elements.

Abstract: A key activation system for use in a handheld communication device is provided. The system comprises an activation mechanism associated with a key in the system, a first feedback system and a second feedback system. The activation mechanism is associated with the key activation system and provides a first feedback sense when the activation mechanism has triggered the first activation condition. The second feedback system provides a second feedback sense indicating when the key triggers the second activation condition. In the system, the second feedback system operates independently from the activation mechanism and the first activation condition is triggered before the second activation condition when the activation mechanism is initially engaged. An activation mechanism may be centrally located for a set of keys.

Abstract: An input is disclosed that includes a zoom apparatus for increasing or decreasing the size of an image rendered on a display screen. The zoom apparatus has an actuator that is movable in a first direction to induce the image to zoom in. The actuator is also movable in a second direction to induce the image to zoom out. The zoom apparatus may include a sensor for detecting movement of the actuator in the first direction and movement of the actuator in the second direction. The input device may be a keyboard, for example, that includes a plurality of keys for inputting alphanumeric data, with the sensor also detecting actuation of the keys.

Abstract: A touchpad testing machine for testing resistive touchpad includes a conductive rubber; a processing unit for generating a pressure control signal and a positioning control signal; a positioning controller for moving the conductive rubber to touch test points of the touchpad, according to the positioning control signal; a pressure controller for exerting a pressing force on a touchpad via the conductive rubber, according to the pressure control signal; and an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) for receiving sensing signals generated from the touchpad through the conductive rubber when receiving the pressing force, and for converting the sensing signals into digital values Another touchpad testing machine for testing capacitive touchpad is also provided in the invention.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide an input apparatus and input key capable of reducing the number of operations on the input key for input of symbols and permitting a user to designate a symbol to be inputted, by a simpler operation. An input key 10a to which a plurality of symbols or marks are assigned, has a key top 30a to be pushed, a sensor part 32 for detecting a push position on a surface of the key top 30 by a finger or the like used to push the key top 30a, a moving direction detector 34 for detecting a change of the push position of the finger or the like detected by the sensor part 32 and for detecting a moving direction of the finger or the like during movement thereof on the surface of the key top 30, and a switch 40a to change a state with a push on the key top 30, and has a converter 50 for converting a state of the switch 40a and the moving direction detected by the moving direction detector 34, into symbol information.

Abstract: An outside door handle includes a handle and a switching component which is coupled to the handle in such a manner that, when there is an opening force which acts in a correct manner on the handle in order to open it, the switching component automatically responds and generates a switching signal. Operating convenience may be achieved by a response threshold of the switching component selected to be at such a low level that the switching component responds even before the opening force overcomes a restoring force counteracting it and prestressing the handle into an unactuated starting position.

Abstract: The method relates to the input of a security code by means of a touch screen of an electronic device such as a watch for access to a specific function, an apparatus or a given location. This touch screen comprises control keys, which can be activated by a manual action of a user using a finger or a stylus. Each key is linked to a microprocessor unit of the electronic device.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate to a hierarchical method for generating force feedback effects. In one embodiment, a method comprises receiving a first force contribution associated with a first (e.g., previous) position of a manipulandum; determining a second force contribution associated with a second (e.g., current) position of the manipulandum; and outputting a force signal to an actuator coupled to the manipulandum, such that the actuator renders a feedback force having a sum of the first and second force contributions. The method may further include classifying force effects according to a predetermined “hierarchy” (or “priority”) scheme, whereby the second force contribution is related to “high” priority force effects associated with the second position, and the first force contribution is related to “low” priority force effects associated with the first position.

Abstract: A touch sensors with improved topological equivalence between an equipotential space and a Cartesian space to which the equipotential space will be mapped. The touch sensor comprises a substrate with a touch region, and a set of electrodes that are electrically coupled to the touch region. The touch sensor further comprises a plurality of resistive band segments that frames the touch region. The electrodes are located between the resistive band segments. Each resistive band segment has a resistivity that is intermediate between the resistivity of the electrodes and the resistivity of the touch region, thereby providing a transition between the low resistivity electrodes and the high resistivity touch region, and improving the topological equivalence within the corners of the touch region. At least one of the band segments has a non-uniform linear resistance to provide further improvement to the topological equivalence.

Abstract: A stick lever unit for a radio-controlled device that is capable of easily changing the type of stick lever holding mechanism by a user is provided. The stick lever unit includes a fixing member to which a variable resistor is attached, a rotational member equipped with a stick lever, the rotational member being journaled to the fixing member and having an arc-shaped groove on a periphery thereof, and a pressure member bridged to the fixing member for pressing the arc-shaped groove. The pressure member has resilient plates of two types which can be suitably selected by means of an adjustment member.

Abstract: A touch panel apparatus includes a touch panel for recognizing a contact position and a touch panel controller for computing a coordinate value corresponding to the contact position on the touch panel, wherein an activation force is set to a value between 80 g˜150 g, and the touch panel controller compensates for an error of the coordinate value due to double touching of the touch panel.

Abstract: A remote controller includes a holder having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface, a first positioning boss and a second positioning boss protruding from the first surface and the second surface of the holder, respectively, a first wiring board provided over the first surface of the holder and having a first positioning hole formed therein, a second wiring board provided under the second surface of the holder and having a second positioning hole formed therein, an operation portion provided on at least one of the first wiring board and the second wiring board, a control circuit for transmitting a remote control signal according to an activation of the operation portion, and a case accommodating the first wiring board and the holder and having a third positioning hole formed therein.

Abstract: A touchpad is formed of an electrically insulating membrane (10) with a first series of spaced apart conductors (12) on a first face of membrane (10) and a second series of spaced apart conductors (14) on or proximal thereto, in which there is no electrical contact between the first and second series of conductors (12, 14) Each conductor in the first and second series of conductors is sensitive to the proximity of a finger to modify the capacitance of the proximate conductor to detect the presence of the finger positioned close to that conductor. A scanning system operative to sample one of the conductors in turn from both the first and second series of conductors (12, 14) in order to measure and store a capacitance value associated with that respective conductor. The scanning system is operative to maintain all conductors (12-n, 14-n) at a common potential equal to the potential of the conductor being sampled when the remaining conductors are not actively being sampled by the scanning system.