Abstract: In a system, as well as a method for the generation of a signal correlated with a manual input operation, especially a gesture-like input operation is executed by a user with his hands or fingers in front of a physical device and it input signals for signal processing operations are generated which correlate in a particularly reliable and accurate way with manual input operations. A system may have an electrode group integrated into an equipment component, that has several plane shaped electrodes adjacent to each other, and a circuit arrangement coupled to the electrodes of the electrode group, wherein the electrode group and the circuit arrangement constitute a sensor circuit allowing both a detection of a status to evaluate as a physical contacting of the equipment component, and a position detection of the hand or a finger of a user in a area placed spatially upstream of the equipment component.

Abstract: An adjustable ergonomic keyboard includes keyboard segments coupled by a joint allowing the keyboard segments to pivot relative to one another. A retainer secures a corresponding keyboard segment with respect to a base support and allows the corresponding retained keyboard segment to rotate thereabout and to travel laterally with respect to the base support. The base support may be part of a portable laptop chassis or body or may be a stand alone base for use of the keyboard as a peripheral data input device.

Abstract: An operating apparatus has a manually operable touch-sensitive surface with an associated actuator system for providing a haptic feedback signal on the basis of a touch, which represents triggering operation, on the surface. The actuator system can be used to provide a haptic feedback signal upon release of the pressure on the surface. The feedback signal is provided on the basis of a sensed change in the contact area of the finger pushing the surface.

Abstract: Embodiments provide methods, apparatuses, and articles of manufacture for arranging keys of a number keypad based on movement of another key. In various embodiments, a contact may be detected, and a key associated with the contact moved to a second location in accordance with movement of the contact. Based on the second location a second key may be arranged.

Abstract: A primary game controller for use by a mobility impaired person by interfacing with a peripheral controller that allows the user to input precise movements needed for certain game functions. The peripheral controller may be operated by a part of a user's body in which the user has sufficient motor control, while the primary game controller may provide control inputs that require lesser motor control to operate. A control unit on the game controller may transmit control signals from the game controller and the peripheral controller, or may exclusively use the peripheral controller as the input for certain game functions. The game controller may be sized to be able to rest on a user's lap and to provide bigger control inputs.

Abstract: A mobile phone terminal includes a touch panel that detects a gesture with respect to a display surface thereof, and a control unit that displays a plurality of buttons on the display surface of the touch panel. When the touch panel detects a gesture in which touch is started at a first position on the touch panel and is maintained to a second position on the touch panel, the control unit displays a character string obtained by prediction processing or conversion processing based on a character string including characters corresponding to buttons displayed on a trajectory obtained by connecting each position in which the touch is detected from when the touch is started at the first position to when the touch is maintained to the second position in a predetermined area on the touch panel as a candidate of a character string input by the gesture.

Abstract: A system for implementing the sliding input of a text based upon an on-screen soft keyboard on an electronic equipment is provided, and the system comprises a feature lexicon module, a feature lexicon establishment module, a user interface module, a sliding trajectory feature extraction module, a rough classifying and filtering module, a rough matching and filtering module and an accurate matching and sorting module. A method for implementing the sliding input of a text based upon an on-screen soft keyboard on an electronic equipment according to the system is also provided.

Abstract: Interchangeable input modules, such as keypads, having user input devices configured to mate with base devices are described herein. The user input devices may include pluralities of inputs, such as input keys, associated with languages. The interchangeable input modules may further include storage components configured to store configuration data, linguistic structures, and/or predictive logic. Additionally, the interchangeable input modules may have interfaces configured to electrically couple the interchangeable input modules to the base devices after the interchangeable input modules are mated with the base devices.

Abstract: A portable device and a key hit area adjustment method are provided. The portable device includes a touch screen and a processor coupled with the touch screen. The touch screen is configured to display an input method editor comprising a plurality of virtual keys. The processor is configured to detect an input event triggered via the input method editor and adjust key hit areas of the virtual keys in response to the input event. The key hit area adjustment method is applied to the portable device to implement the aforesaid operations.

Abstract: Voice commands and gesture recognition are two mechanisms by which an individual may interact with content such as that on a display. In an implementation, interactivity of a user with content on a device or display may be modified based on the distance between a user and the display. An attribute such as a user profile may be used to tailor the modification of the display to an individual user. In some configurations, the commands available to the user may also be modified based on the determined distance between the user and a device or display.

Abstract: The motion of an object is characterized by transmitting acoustic signals over first and second transmitter-receiver channels. Information relating to signals received over the first channel is compared with information relating to signals received over the second channel, to identify a similar pattern in both channels arising from reflections from the object. A relative timing difference between the channels, associated with the similar pattern, is used to characterize the motion of the object.

Abstract: A vehicle entertainment system (1) is adapted to be mounted to a vehicle. It has a mounting bracket (2) adapted for coupling to a dashboard of a vehicle, a vehicle seat, its headrest if present, or mounting posts for such a headrest, or into an arm-rest for a vehicle seat. A mounting arm (7) is mounted for rotation relative to the mounting bracket about a main axis (6) arranged in use to extend generally horizontally. A monitor unit (3) has a front side (5) and a rear side (29). The monitor unit has at least one structure enabling access to entertainment for a user. The structure may be at least one of a monitor screen on the front side, controls for an audio system on the front side, controls for an audio system on the rear side, and a slot (30) adapted for a tablet computer to dock therein both physically and electronically with the screen of the tablet computer (35) exposed on the rear side.

Abstract: A telephone keypad for one touch text messaging the QWERTY pattern of keys in a matrix of nine keys. Using the multi position biasing keys only one touch is needed for each character, so in use to input the letter “C” you touch one key one time, decreasing the time spend text messaging from cell phones or desk tops and dialing phone numbers advertised in letters. The keypad also has a shift key to get upper case included in the nine keys, and a 2nd key to double functionality of the keys.

Abstract: A method includes, at an electronic device with a display and a touch-sensitive surface: concurrently displaying a first text entry area and an unsplit keyboard on the display; detecting a gesture on the touch-sensitive surface; and, in response to detecting the gesture on the touch-sensitive surface, replacing the unsplit keyboard with an integrated input area. The integrated input area includes a left portion with a left side of a split keyboard, a right portion with a right side of the split keyboard, and a center portion in between the left portion and the right portion.

Abstract: An improved handheld electronic device and associated method enable spell checking in a reduced keyboard and disambiguation environment. The improved spell checking routine converts a misspelled word into a canonical version thereof and receives from a dictionary 42 proposed letter for possible acceptance by the spell checking routine. The spell checking routine advantageously maintains states of various spell check algorithms in order to ensure that no letter is accepted that would require an edit distance of more than one from the misspelled word. The improved spell checking routine advantageously reduces unnecessary processor operation by reducing the extent to which certain portions of the dictionary 42 are searched multiple times during a spell checking operation.

Abstract: An illuminated keyboard includes a keycap, a keycap guiding frame, a light guide plate and a sensing circuit layer, which are sequentially arranged from top to bottom. The keycap guiding frame is used for fixing the keycap and guiding movement of the keycap. The light guide plate is used for fixing the keycap guiding frame and transferring the light beam from a light-emitting element. As the keycap is depressed by the user, the approaching keycap is sensed by the sensing circuit layer, and thus the sensing circuit layer generates a corresponding non-contact key signal.

Abstract: A device includes a display panel configured to display one or more interfaces. The device includes one or more motion sensors. The device includes circuitry configured to determine, based on an input from the one or more motion sensors, a tilt angle of the device. The circuitry is configured to select, based on the determined tilt angle, an interface, of the one or more interfaces, and to control the display panel to display the selected interface.

Abstract: The embodiments described herein provide devices and methods that facilitate improved sensor device usability. Specifically, the devices and methods provide the ability to determine more reliably that sensed object positions correspond to a single input object or multiple input objects. For example, the devices and methods may be used to determine if a first sensed object position and a second sensed object position correspond to a single input object. The determination of a single input object or multiple input objects may be used to facilitate the reliable activation of user interface actions, such as cursor control and the use of virtual button zones, and thus can improve sensor device usability.

Abstract: Pressure sensitive key techniques are described. In one or more implementations, a device includes at least one pressure sensitive key having a flexible contact layer spaced apart from a sensor substrate by a spacer layer, the flexible contact layer configured to flex responsive to pressure to contact the sensor substrate to initiate an input, for a computing device, associated with the pressure sensitive key. At least one of the flexible contact layer or the sensor substrate are configured to at least partially normalize an output resulting from pressure applied at a first location of the flexible contact layer with an output resulting from pressure applied at a second location of the flexible contact layer that has lesser flexibility than the first location.

Abstract: An input apparatus for, in response to a user's sliding operation on an operation surface, inputting a coordinate point in the operation surface to move a pointing image to a target button image is disclosed. The apparatus acquires the coordinate point in the operation surface and sets, as a characteristic line, a tendency of trace of the coordinate point in the user's sliding operation directed to a lateral direction or a longitudinal direction of the operation surface. The apparatus corrects the coordinate point with reference to the set characteristic line so that the trace of the coordinate point is corrected to be a horizontal line or a vertical line. The apparatus outputs the corrected coordinate point for moving the pointing image.

Abstract: A touch panel and an electronic device are provided. The touch panel includes a sensing electrode array, a touch controller, and an electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection circuit. The sensing electrode array is arranged in two dimensional array of n rows and m columns for generating a sensing signal in response to a touch on the touch panel. The touch controller is operationally connected to the sensing electrode array for receiving the sensing signal and identifying the touch on the touch screen. The ESD protection circuit includes ESD protection units each being electrically connected to a corresponding row or column of the sensing electrode array and the touch controller for electrostatic discharge protection.

Abstract: A reader is utilized to detect motion of a user's fingers when a user mimics a typing motion. The system can be used to define various key press states for particular finger positions and then monitor the motion of fingers to detect when a key state is entered. The system can then provide the detected key state as input to a system expecting the data input.

Abstract: An interface system for a tub system comprises a screen plate adapted to be mounted to a tub wall. The screen plate has keys representing functions of the tub system, and being made of a material allowing light to pass therethrough. Lights are positioned in register with the keys of the screen plate and concealed from a visible surface of the tub. A controller is adapted to receive commands from a user of the tub to actuate any selected function of the tub system. A light actuator actuates the lights to light up the keys associated with the selected function to visually indicate actuation of the selected function of the tub system through the keys.

Abstract: An electronic device with a switchable display screen, a computer system of the electronic device and a method therefor are provided. The electronic device includes a processing unit, a DisplayPort interface, a keyboard control unit, a switch module, and a display panel module. The processing unit generates a first display data according to a DisplayPort standard. When the DisplayPort interface is coupled to an external device, the DisplayPort interface receives an external display data transmitted by the external device. The keyboard control unit generates a switch signal according to a switch event. The switch module selects the first display data or the external display data to be a screen data according to the switch signal. The display panel module coupled to the switch module receives and displays the screen data on a display panel. Thus, the external device may share display content with the display panel of the electronic device.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed that may be implemented to allow a user and/or a software entity to define particular variable pressure or variable pressure or displacement sensor (VPD) system configurations to achieve a desired system functionality as a function of varying key pressure or varying displacement applied to one or more sensors, such as VPD keys of a keyboard or other VPD sensors such as game controller or mouse buttons, etc. The disclosed systems and methods may be implemented using these defined VPD system configurations to control interaction between VPD subsystem hardware components and software application/s of interest that are executing on a host processing device of an information handling system.

Abstract: A 3 dimensional (3-D) user interface system employs: one or more 3-D projectors configured to display an image at a first location in 3-D space; one or more sensors configured to sense user interaction with the image and to provide user interaction information; and a processor configured (i) to receive the user interaction information from the one or more sensors; (ii) to correlate the user interaction with the image; and (iii) to provide one or more indications responsive to a correlation of the user interaction with the image, including displaying the image at a second location in 3-D space.

Abstract: A system and method for entering text from a user includes a programmed processor that receives inputs from the user and disambiguates the inputs to present word choices corresponding to the text. In one embodiment, inputs are received in two or more modalities and are analyzed to present the word choices. In another embodiment, a keyboard is divided into zones each of which represents two more input characters. A sequence of zones selected by the user is analyzed to present word choices corresponding to the zone selected.

Abstract: A compact input device for fast text input. Ten perimeter regions are defined in a decagon shaped ring on a touch pad, and nine more center regions arranged in a 3 by 3 matrix are defined at the center of the perimeter regions. In alphanumeric mode, each of the ten perimeter regions represents a numeral or a character of the same order, found on a corresponding key of the ten numeric keys, 0 to 9, found on a standard 12-key telephone keypad. All perimeter regions synchronously switch to another group of characters of the same order, in accordance with the direction of a swipe on any of the perimeter regions. A tap on a perimeter region selects the character represented by the region at the moment. In addition, it is capable of operating in a standard 12-key telephone keypad mode, pointing device mode, and symbol mode.

Abstract: An embodiment provides an apparatus, including: an input device having one or more keys; and a controller receiving input from the one or more keys; one or more of the one or more keys having a recessed surface relative to a bezel surface of the input device; the recessed surface responding to user input in the absence of mechanical displacement. Other aspects are described and claimed.

Abstract: A portable terminal includes an input device and processing hardware which operates a predetermined method. The input device includes a keypad unit consisting of a plurality of key buttons, a board consisting of a plurality of pressure sensors and dome switches for generating signals when pressed, and an actuator for simultaneously pressing the corresponding dome switch and the corresponding pressure sensor when a key button is pressed, with the processing hardware for performing and finishing a first operation based on the signal generated by the corresponding dome switch if generation of the signal generated by the dome switch stops before a valid time has expired, and for performing a second operation based on a pressure change sensed by the corresponding pressure sensor simultaneously pressed until the generation of the signal generated by the corresponding dome switch remains after the valid time has expired.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes an operation panel as a touch panel and a CPU for performing processing based on a gesture thereon. The CPU includes a determination unit for determining a detail of processing corresponding to the gesture. When the detail of processing corresponding to the gesture includes a first detail of processing as processing on a file and a second detail of processing as processing on a displayed image and when the file targeted for the processing is stored in a storage device, the determination unit determines the detail of processing as the first detail of processing.

Abstract: In a first embodiment, an input device includes at least one keycap, a support mechanism configured to move the keycap from a first position to a second position, a feature plate having at least one anchoring mechanism operably connected to the support mechanism, and an illumination panel. The illumination panel is positioned between the at least one keycap and the feature plate. The at least one anchoring member extends through a portion of the illumination panel. In a second embodiment, an input device includes a keycap, a support mechanism configured to move the keycap, a support plate operably connected to the support mechanism, and an illumination panel. The illumination panel includes a light source, a light guide, and a frame substantially surrounding the light guide. Light illuminated from the light source is directed by the light guide and the frame towards the keycap.

Abstract: A keypad comprises a keypad frame and a metal spacer disposed on a backside thereof. At least one metal fret having a plurality of metal standoffs is disposed amongst the corresponding keycaps. These metal standoffs connect to the metal spacer (for example, via laser welding). The keypad frame can include a plurality of registration components and the metal spacer can include corresponding registration component-receiving openings disposed therein.

Abstract: A cradle for a portable terminal includes a cradle body, cradle grooves extending from a surface of the cradle body in parallel with each other, and a support plate able to emerge by a pivoting action from the surface of the cradle body that is between the cradle grooves. When the portable terminal is cradled, the support plate emerges from the surface of the cradle body to support the surface of the portable terminal, and one of the cradle grooves is selectively used to support a portion of an edge of the portable terminal so as to provide a selected facing direction for the portable terminal.

Abstract: This specification describes apparatus, computer-implemented methods, and systems for interacting with computing systems using finger-specific input. In one general embodiment, a finger-specific input device can identify and differentiate each finger of a user. For example, the finger-specific input device may be able to detect features of each individual finger, such as fingerprints or detectable finger attachments, and to determine a set of fingers using the input device by camera or other visual cue, among others. A user can use multiple fingers to interact with a computing system and generate commands based on the use of a particular finger, a particular combination of fingers, and particular gestures of specific finger or combination of finger movements. In some implementations, specific commands are assigned to corresponding fingers and/or finger-specific multi-touch gestures in a program environment.

Abstract: It enables a user to easily confirm whether or not a process corresponding to a key was correctly performed. To do so, there is provided a control method for controlling an information processing apparatus, comprising: controlling, in a case where, after a key in a screen displayed on a display unit was depressed, the key comes to be not depressed inside a display area of the key, to perform a process corresponding to the key, and, in a case where, after the key in the screen displayed on the display unit was depressed, the key comes to be not depressed outside the display area of the key, to not perform the process corresponding to the key; and notifying, in the case where the key comes to be not depressed outside the display area of the key, the user that the process corresponding to the key is not performed.

Abstract: An electronic apparatus includes a first body, a second body, a keyboard, at least one pair of body linkages and at least one pair of keyboard linkages. The second body is pivoted at the first body and has a second side facing the first body. The keyboard is adjacent to and movable connected to the second body. The keyboard side of the keyboard and the second side are located at the same side. The body linkages are protruded from the first side and movably connected to the second body. The keyboard linkages are opposite to each other and movably disposed at the keyboard and two side-edges of the second body. When the first body is extended relatively to the second body, the keyboard is able to move to a side of the second body near to the first body.

Abstract: A touch display apparatus of a vehicle includes: a touch panel including a display area for displaying an image and a button area for displaying a button; an ultrasonic wave generator irradiating an airborne ultra sound wave to the button area so that the button area is deformed to a shape of three dimensional button; an image irradiator irradiating the image to the touch panel; and an image capturer capturing the button area in order to determine whether the three dimensional button is touched.

Abstract: Methods and systems for text input are provided. In one example, a head-mountable device (HMD) having a touch interface may be configured to receive touch inputs from a user to enter text. The touch interface may include input areas corresponding to characters. The HMD may be configured to determine characters and words the user wishes to enter according to different touch inputs, including land inputs, lift inputs, flick inputs, drag inputs, tap inputs, and scratch inputs. In one case, the HMD may determine subsets of characters for each letter in a word the user wishes to enter, and determine the word the user wishes to enter according to the subsets of characters. In another case, the HMD may determine a vector array corresponding to the word the user wishes to enter, and determine the word the user wishes to enter by comparing the vector array against word vector templates.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes displaying a keyboard on a touch-screen of a computing device; in response to a touch gesture within a display area of the touch-screen, the touch gesture comprising one or more paths that comprise two or more points on the touch-screen, determining a particular one of a plurality of characters corresponding to the touch gesture; and entering the particular one of the characters as user input to the computing device.

Abstract: An exhaust after-treatment system including a first exhaust treatment device having a first mounting surface and a second mounting surface, and a second exhaust treatment device and a third mounting surface and a fourth mounting surface. A first mounting structure is attached to the first mounting surface of the first exhaust treatment device, and a second mounting structure attached to the third mounting surface of the second exhaust treatment device, wherein the second and fourth mounting surfaces are secured to each other.

Abstract: An image display apparatus includes: a display unit configured to display an original image and a processed image obtained by applying image processing to the original image so that a lesion that is unidentifiable owing to a bone can be identified; an operation unit configured to receive an operation performed by a user; and a control unit configured to switch display on the display unit to the processed image when one operation at the operation unit is detected in a state in which the original image is displayed on the display unit, and switch the display on the display unit to the original image when the one operation at the operation unit is detected in a state in which the processed image is displayed on the display unit.

Abstract: User input is received, specifying a continuous traced path across a keyboard presented on a touch sensitive display. An input sequence is resolved, including traced keys and auxiliary keys proximate to the traced keys by prescribed criteria. For each of one or more candidate entries of a prescribed vocabulary, a set-edit-distance metric is computed between said input sequence and the candidate entry. Various rules specify when penalties are imposed, or not, in computing the set-edit-distance metric. Candidate entries are ranked and displayed according to the computed metric.

Abstract: An ergonomic keyboard is described. In one aspect, a keyboard layout for a subject language is developed by determining a percent of frequency of monograph characters and digraphs of characters used in writing in the subject language. Thereafter, each key for the characters from each most frequent digraph is positioned under different hands on the keyboard layout, on a middle row of the keyboard layout, and under the index or middle fingers of a keyboard user. Other most frequent characters are positioned in the middle row of the keyboard layout or in a position on the keyboard layout to be struck using the index or middle fingers. The least frequent monograph characters are positioned in the bottom and top rows of the keyboard, with the least frequent characters under pinky fingers of a keyboard user. An optimized Arabic keyboard layout is also disclosed.

Abstract: A keyboard device for a small size tablet personal computer is provided. The keyboard device includes a first casing, a connecting plate, and a second casing. The first casing includes a first keyboard plate and a first recess. The second casing includes a second keyboard plate and a second recess. The connecting plate is connected with the first casing and the second casing. Consequently, the second casing is rotatable relative to the first casing. The first keyboard plate and the second keyboard plate are collectively defined as a whole keyboard to be operated by both hands of the user. Moreover, the small size tablet personal computer is accommodated within the first recess and the second recess collaboratively.

Abstract: A method of controlling an electronic device, an electronic device using the same, and a computer program product are provided. The method includes detecting a plurality of touch areas on a touch screen so that a plurality of touch points contained within each of the touch areas are obtained, respectively determining a typical coordinate value corresponding to each of the touch areas according to a coordinate value of each of the touch points within the touch areas, selecting one or more active objects displayed on the touch screen according to the typical coordinate value corresponding to each of the touch areas, and triggering an action associated with the one or more active objects.

Abstract: A dynamically updated virtual keyboard may be presented on a touchscreen of a user device by detecting a first hand position on the touchscreen. A virtual keyboard may then be displayed on the touchscreen, the virtual keyboard based on the first hand position. Characteristics of the virtual keyboard, such as size, position, orientation, and selection of the keys can also vary based on the first hand position and on other input features.

Abstract: A display method for distinguishing multiple linking target aims to switch data transmission link between an input device and at least two information processing systems through a plurality of transmission channels in a wireless transmission fashion. The input device includes a display module with a first display zone and a second display zone. The display method comprises steps of: detecting linkable information processing systems, setting transmission channels, determining a linking target and displaying information of linked transmission channel. Through the steps of detecting linkable information processing systems, setting transmission channels and determining a linking target, a data transmission link can be established with one of the information processing systems. Users can further display the device identification code through the step of displaying information of linked transmission channel to be informed of the information processing system currently linked to the input device.

Abstract: Touch sensitive mechanical keyboards for detecting touch events and key depressions on the keyboard are provided. The keyboard can include a set of individually depressible mechanical keys having a touch sensitive area located on their surface. A touch sensor can be included to detect touch events on the surface of the keys. A keypad can also be included to detect a depression of the mechanical keys. One or more of the depressible mechanical keys can be multi-purpose keys capable of being depressed to multiple levels. The touch sensitive mechanical keyboard can receive key depression input, touch event input, or combinations thereof at the same time. The touch sensitive mechanical keyboard can further include a processor for distinguishing detected touch events from detected key depressions. The processor can generate a key depression command or a touch event command in response to the detected touch events and key depressions.

Abstract: An electronic apparatus includes a communication interface configured to, when a docking apparatus including a keyboard and a display is connected, perform communication with the docking apparatus, a user interface configured to receive a user control command using a touch screen, and a controller configured to display image data on at least one of the display of the docking apparatus and the touch screen according to the input control command and whether the docking apparatus is mounted, and the electronic apparatus is disposed between the keyboard and the display.